Measurements of Toner Motion in the Development Process

Abstract

The measurement system for toner motion in the development process was constructed. By employing laser sheet visualization method, the system can measure individual toner motions around the spaced single component development system in a Laser Beam Printer cartridge. The system can also measure motions of toners developing onto the latent electrostatic image on the photoreceptor. The dependences of toner motions on development bias parameters were measured. Besides the basical characteristics, some defective images, sweep-up at a developed solid image area and fading in between solid black and half-tone, were measured. The results show that the defective images are due to a stretch of the development nip length. In adittion to toner motions, the air flow fields in the development process were measured. Quantifying the toner motions and air flow fields in the development process has allowed us to control the development process and to simulate toner motion more accurately.