JP2930241B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus configured to be able to directly attach a toner image to plain paper or other recording material without using a photosensitive drum or other latent image carrier. .

"Conventional technology" Conventionally, an electrostatic latent image carried on a photosensitive drum or other latent image carrier using a dot pattern modulated light corresponding to an original image or image information is developed using a developing device. An electrophotographic apparatus in which the visualized toner image is transferred to plain paper after being visualized is known, and a printer,
It is frequently used in copiers and other image forming apparatuses.

However, since such an electrophotographic apparatus is based on transferring a toner image to a recording material via a latent image forming means, a means for converting image information into optical information, a latent image carrier,
In addition to a transfer unit and the like, a unit for removing residual toner adhering to the latent image carrier, a unit for removing and recharging the toner written on the latent image carrier are required, and the apparatus configuration is extremely complicated. In addition to the above, the various means must be disposed around the photosensitive drum functioning as a latent image carrier,
As a result, the apparatus becomes larger.

In order to eliminate such a drawback, using electrostatic recording paper, the needle electrodes arranged in a row are brought into direct contact with the recording paper, and while selectively applying a high voltage to the needle electrodes, After carrying the electrostatic latent image, an electrostatic recording device that applies a toner image to the recording paper by a developing device to visualize the recording paper, and further, a source that causes corona discharge in air and an electrostatic recording paper A control electrode having a large number of micro holes in the main scanning direction, and forming a latent image on the electrostatic recording paper while controlling the flow of ions from the source by the control electrode. There is also an ion-flow type electrostatic recording device that has been used.

However, in each of these cases, the electrostatic recording paper must be used, so that not only the versatility but also the formation of the electrostatic latent image is the same as the electrophotographic method, and the latent image forming process and the developing Since the process and the process must be configured separately, there is a limit in reducing the size of the apparatus.

For this reason, various devices have been developed that can directly form a toner image on a recording material without forming a latent image even using plain paper.

For example, in Japanese Patent Publication No. 60-45430, a screen-like member in which a plurality of through-holes each of which can be controlled to be energized is arranged in a matrix is disposed on a conductive ink liquid surface, and a gap between the control electrode and the conductive liquid surface is provided. After selectively applying a voltage according to the information signal to selectively introduce the conductive ink into the corresponding through-hole, the screen-like member is brought into contact with the surface of the recording material to perform image transfer. Although an image forming apparatus has been proposed, such an apparatus not only requires a step of holding ink on a screen member and a step of transferring an image, but also does not allow formation of a clear image with minute dots in a configuration using liquid ink. It is possible.

As a method using a so-called dry toner, for example, in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 52-7208, a toner container for supplying toner to a screen described later, a screen as a first electrode in which a desired print pattern is formed by a large number of holes, There is also proposed an apparatus having a second electrode opposed thereto and performing image formation by inserting a recording material while applying a high DC voltage between the two electrodes. Since an image pattern formed by using a screen on which a desired print pattern is formed is greatly restricted, it is generally impossible to form an image other than mathematical and alphabetical characters.

For this reason, there has been a long-felt demand for the development of an apparatus capable of eliminating all the disadvantages of the above-mentioned image forming apparatus. Recently, however, a Swedish patent application No. 8704883 (published on June 9, 1989).
Has proposed an image forming apparatus meeting the above purpose (hereinafter referred to as basic technology).

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the basic configuration of such a basic technology, in which a toner carrier 1 in the form of a sleeve holding the toner electromagnetically in a thin film.
A matrix control electrode 3 is disposed between the control electrode 3 and the back electrode 2 facing the toner carrier 1.
Is controlled in the X-Y direction to selectively block or conduct the developing electric field acting on the holes 3a between the matrices in accordance with the image information. The toner corresponding to the image information can be transferred from the toner carrier 1 onto the recording paper 4 disposed in the control electrode 3 through the holes 3a in the control electrode 3.

Further, in the present invention, the recording paper 4 is configured to be movable in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the sleeve forming the toner carrier 1, in other words, by utilizing the two electrodes and the toner carrier 1. A wide area image having a predetermined area can be formed by combining a band-shaped image formed in one line or a plurality of lines in the main scanning direction and a recording material conveyed in the sub-scanning direction.

"Technical problem to be solved by the invention" However, although the above basic technology is theoretically excellent, there are various problems in realizing practical use.

 The first is the problem of maintenance.

That is, according to the basic technology, the control electrode 3 is arranged in a narrow gap (for example, several hundred μm) between the toner carrier 1 and the back electrode 2 where a developing electric field can be formed, and the control electrode 3 is not in contact with the control electrode 3. Since the recording paper is transported along the back electrode, there is an extremely high risk of occurrence of a jam or the like at the image forming site.

If the jammed portion is to be pulled out from the entrance side or the exit side of the minute slit gap, the control electrode is formed in a thin layer or a mesh shape, which may damage the control electrode. There is also.

Also, the pores 3a of the control electrode 3 through which the toner passes need to be made smaller as the dot density is increased. However, with such a configuration, clogging tends to occur. As described above, since the control electrode is sandwiched between the back electrode and the toner carrier, its removal is very troublesome.

 There are various technical issues such as:

The present invention has been made in view of the technical problems of the basic technology, and has as its object to provide an image forming apparatus that facilitates maintenance.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus which facilitates color change and replacement of consumables.

"Technical Means for Solving the Problems" Next, the invention which can achieve the above object will be described step by step according to the claims. Generally corresponds to the control electrode 3,
The present invention is not necessarily limited to the control electrode 3 alone, and includes, for example, an electrode that performs the above-described operation by a combination of a plurality of electrodes. (Hereinafter, the passage means will be exemplarily described by the term control electrode 3.) The recording material described in each claim is not necessarily limited to only the recording paper 4 but includes a resin film and the like. This will also be described by way of example with the term recording paper 4.

A, First, in order to facilitate the cleaning of the jam and the control electrode, the invention described in claim 1 integrates the toner carrier 1 and the control electrode 3 into a unit body 10A, and The unit body 10A is configured so as to be detachable from the apparatus main body in the direction in which the unit body 10A comes into contact with and separates from the back electrode 2.

As a result, since the portion through which the recording paper is inserted is opened, the jam processing is facilitated, and the unit body 10A is separated from the back electrode 2 instead of being moved in parallel with the back electrode 2. In addition, the recording paper in the jammed state does not damage the control electrode 3 due to sliding friction.

In addition, since the control electrode 3 is directly exposed by extracting the unit body 10A, cleaning is easy and clogging of holes can be easily removed.

In addition, since the toner carrier 1 is provided above the control electrode 3 and the unit body 10A includes the toner container together with the toner carrier 1, the weight burden is large.
For this reason, when the unit body 10A is mounted, the impact force causes the toner to drop from the toner carrier 1 and easily contaminate the control electrode 3 and the back electrode 2.

Therefore, the invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the position between the unit body 10A and the back electrode 2 can be elastically held through the position regulating means 5.

As a result, the rear electrode 2 and the unit body 10A face each other via the position restricting means 5, so that only the unit body
Control electrode 3 and back electrode 2 automatically when only 10A is installed
The gap accuracy between them can be set strictly, and the unit body 10A can be mounted in a shock-absorbing manner without generating an impact force, so that the above-mentioned drawback can be completely eliminated, and the position regulating means can be completely eliminated due to the presence of the elastic member. 5 can be prevented, and high accuracy can be maintained over a long period of time.

In the case of a color change or the like, the control electrode 3 together with the toner carrier 1 is used.
The present invention in which these are unitized as a unit is also preferable, since it is also soiled.

B. Since the control electrode 3 is formed of a mesh or a thin plate as described above, the control electrode 3 is easily damaged by pressing of paper during a jam or other accidents. Disconnection of the current-carrying line occurs.

Therefore, it is possible to set only the control electrode 3 so that it can be detached independently. However, if only the control electrode 3 is detachable, a manufacturing error at the time of assembly and processing causes
The gap between the control electrode 3 and the toner carrier 1 or the back electrode 2 is incorrectly set, making it difficult to form an accurate image.

In view of the above, the present invention resides in that the control electrode 3 and the back electrode 2 are integrated to form a unit, and the unit body 50 is configured to be detachable from the apparatus main body in a direction in which the unit body 50 is separated from and brought into contact with the toner carrier 1.

According to the present invention, since the back electrode 2 is simply formed of a plate-shaped conductive member and the control electrode 3 is also formed of a mesh or a thin plate, the back electrode 2 is integrated and each time the control electrode 3 is damaged. Even if it is configured to be replaceable, there is no problem in terms of cost, and it is possible to easily set the interval between the control electrode 3 and the back electrode 2 which requires the strictest accuracy by the integration. Further, since the unit body 50 is configured to be detachable in the direction of coming and going with respect to the toner carrier 1, it is easy to set the interval between the control electrode 3 and the toner carrier 1 by abutting the toner carrier 1 or its support. It is.

The toner carrier 1 does not need to be fixed to the main body of the apparatus. Even if the toner carrier 1 is configured to be replaceable due to color change or other necessity, it naturally belongs to the technical scope of the invention.

C. In order to perform the interval accuracy more strictly, it is better to integrate the toner carrier 1, the control electrode 3 and the back electrode 2 into a unit. In this case, the unit
When 60 is a direction orthogonal to the recording material moving direction, in other words, when the recording paper conveyance direction is the left and right horizontal direction (X direction), it can be extracted in the vertical direction (Y direction) or the front-back direction (Z). What is necessary is just to comprise.

As a result, the unit body 60 can be easily extracted without obstructing various members existing in the recording paper conveyance path.

"Example" Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be illustratively described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, unless otherwise specified, the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative arrangements, and the like of the components described in this embodiment are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, but are merely illustrative examples. Not just.

FIG. 2 is an overall configuration diagram showing an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which a paper feeding unit including a paper cassette 15 and a paper feeding roller 16 along a recording paper 4 conveyance path, a registration roller 17, an insertion guide 6 The recording paper 4 fed from the paper cassette 15 by the paper feed roller 16 is composed of an image generation unit 10, a transport plate 7, and a fixing roller pair 18, which are described in detail in FIG. After waiting at a time, the control electrode 3 is fed into the image generating unit 10 via the transport guide 6 at a timing and timing for controlling the energization.

Then, as described later, the recording paper 4 carrying an unfixed toner image corresponding to the image information is inserted into the fixing roller pair 18 via the transport plate 7 in the image generating unit 10 to fix the image.

The image generation unit 10 includes a detachable unit body 10A and a back electrode 2 which is disposed facing the unit body 10A and is mounted on the apparatus main body side.

The unit body 10A includes a toner container 8 having a band-shaped opening 21 formed on the lower surface side, and a toner container 8 having the band-shaped opening 21 opposed thereto.
A toner transport roller (toner carrier 1) disposed therein;
A control electrode 3 extending substantially flush with the bottom surface of the toner container 8 is integrally fixed or fixed to form a unit, and the unit body 10A is separated from the back electrode 2 in a substantially vertical direction. It is configured to be able to be pulled out in the direction.

Next, each of these members will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 1. In the toner container 8, a one-component magnetic toner is contained, and a doctor blade 22 is provided on an inner wall surface facing the transport roller. A thin knife-edge-shaped spacer 23 is fixed on the bottom surface of the container so as to extend over the maximum width of the recording paper 4 adjacent to the belt-shaped opening 21 on the side of the bottom of the container where the recording paper 4 is conveyed. The guide of the recording paper 4 is regulated by the spacer 23. Further, the corners of the bottom surface on the upstream side of the spacer 23 are curved in an R-shape to form a wedge-shaped guide space between the conveyance guide 6 and the width gradually narrowing as it advances in the approach direction.

In the toner container, as shown in FIG. 3, insulating position regulating members 5 are fixedly provided on the bottom surfaces at both ends in the longitudinal direction, and the distance between the toner container and the control electrode 3 can be set accurately by the position regulating members 5. The recording paper guide portion 5a is extended toward the center side to the non-printing position of the control electrode 3 while being configured so as to be performed well.

That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the guide portion 5a has a downwardly arcuate shape, and a resin or the like having a low sliding resistance is applied to the lower surface thereof, and the recording paper 4 can be inserted between the guide electrode 5a and the back electrode 2. The recording papers are opposed to each other through the minute gaps, thereby enabling the recording papers to be smoothly inserted along the surface of the back electrode 2 while preventing the recording papers from floating at the non-image forming portion.

The toner conveying roller 1 includes a developing sleeve 1a and the sleeve.
After the fixed magnet assembly (not shown) included in 1a, the toner having the charge injected by frictional charging between the toners is carried on the sleeve 1a using the magnetic holding force of the fixed magnet assembly, After the layer thickness is regulated by the doctor blade 22 while rotating the sleeve 1a in the direction of the arrow, the toner layer whose thickness is regulated is conveyed to the position of the belt-shaped opening 21.

Further, a bias power supply 24 is applied to the transport roller 1, whereby a developing electric field is formed between the transport roller 1 and the back electrode 2 described later.

As shown in FIG. 5, the control electrode 3 extends in the longitudinal direction (X) and a plurality of X-axis lines X1, X2,... Each pair of Y axis
Consisting of Ya1, Ya2, etc., which are sandwiched from both front and back sides by an insulating thin film, for example, FPC, and a through hole is formed in a portion sandwiched between the Y-axis line and the X-axis line of each pair, and the toner passes therethrough. Void 3a.

As a result, X1 and X2 lines are sequentially energized with a time difference as shown in FIG. 5 (b) by the energization control circuit 38 in correspondence with the insertion speed of the recording paper 4, so that the dots passing through the holes 3a are As a result, the toner pattern is formed in a single line, and as a result, the toner pattern becomes denser on the recording paper 4 from the side of the transport roller 1 through the holes 3a in the control electrode 3 without particularly narrowing the Y-axis line width. A toner dot pattern can be formed.

The back electrode 2 is formed of a strip-shaped flat conductive member so that the main body 2a can face the control electrode 3 with a parallel slit gap therebetween, and the main body 2a is similarly extended in the longitudinal direction. Is fixed on the supporting member 2b so as to be substantially flush.

The back electrode 2 is engaged with a support 30 forming a part of the apparatus main body while being urged by an elastic member provided on the back side.

That is, to explain in more detail, the back electrode 2 is
2a is formed of a strip-shaped flat conductive member so as to face the control electrode 3 with a parallel slit gap therebetween, and
2a is fixed so as to be substantially flush with an insulating support member 2b which also extends in the longitudinal direction.

On the other hand, the support 30 forms a rectangular concave space 32 in which the back electrode 2 can be displaced in the vertical direction.
The upper end of the entry side 32 is formed in a key shape, and the back electrode 2
Are restricted in position and can be locked.

As shown in FIG. 4, the position of the back electrode 2 is regulated by an insulating position regulating member provided on the bottom surface of the toner container 8 located at both ends in the longitudinal direction, and is elastically attached to the unit body 10A. The position can be held, and thereby the distance between the control electrode 3 and the control electrode 3 can be set accurately.

According to this embodiment, the unit body 10A is configured to be detachable in the vertical direction adjacent to the back electrode 2, and
When the unit body 10A is mounted, the back electrode 2 urged by the elastic member is elastically urged by the elastic member, so that the toner is dropped from the toner transport roller and the various members are damaged. Can be prevented and the unit body 10
The interval between the control electrode 3 on the A side and the back electrode 2 can also be set with high accuracy.

FIG. 8 shows another embodiment in which the back electrode 2 and the control electrode 3 are integrally formed as a unit. A toner container 51 rotatably supports the toner conveying roller 1 and has a guide surface on the apparatus body 52 side.
It is configured to be able to withdraw upward along 52c.

Reference numeral 50 denotes a unit body in which the back electrode 2 and the control electrode 3 are integrated, and is configured to be able to be pulled out downward by using a vertical wall 52a of the apparatus main body 52 and a guide plate 53 that can be angularly displaced downward at right angles. .

On the other hand, the apparatus main body 52 side has the vertical wall 52a serving as the guide surface of the unit body 50 and the horizontal surface 52b serving as the position regulating surface of the toner container 51 as described above. Is attached to the projection 55.

Further, a guide plate 53 is pivotally supported on the vertical wall 52a side below the projection member 55 so that a side surface thereof can coincide with the vertical wall 52a when rotated vertically downward, and a base end of the guide plate 53. A clip spring 56 pivotally supported on the device main body 52 side is attached to the side, and the guide plate 53 is configured to be capable of rotating horizontally and vertically and holding the position at that position by the spring force of the clip spring 56. I have.

The bottom of the side wall 51A of the toner container 51 has a rectangular corner portion located on an extension of the vertical wall 52a of the apparatus main body 52, and is formed in a rectangular shape so that the unit body 50 can be fitted into the concave portion 51a. .

According to this embodiment, when the toner container 51 is attached,
While the projecting member 55 urged from below by the A bottom is pressed against the upper surface of the apparatus main body 52 while being pressed, the guide plate is maintained vertically downward after the container 51 is mounted. After the unit body 50 is inserted and fitted into the recessed portion of the toner container 51, the guide plate 53 is
By rotating the unit 50 in the horizontal direction by the spring force, the pin 50a of the unit body 50 and the engaging recess 53a of the guide plate 53 are engaged, and the unit body 50 can be elastically held from below. .

As a result, the position between the control electrode 3 of the unit body 50 and the toner conveying roller 1 can be accurately positioned and held without any play.

When the unit is to be removed, the reverse operation may be performed.

FIG. 9 shows a unit body 60 in which the toner container control electrode 3 and the back electrode 2 are integrated. A horizontal plane 61a serving as a position regulating surface of the unit body 60 and a guide in the width direction are regulated on the apparatus main body side 61. A projection member 63 having a vertical wall 61b and having an elastic force urged by a coil spring 62 from below is mounted on the horizontal surface 61a as in the above-described embodiment.

The unit body 60 has the corner 61a of the side wall 61A and the main body of the apparatus.
It is recessed in a rectangular shape to match the 61 side.

According to this embodiment, when the unit body 60 is mounted from above, the protrusion member 6 whose elastic force is urged from below the side wall 60A.
Since it is held in a cushioning manner on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 61 while pressing 3, it can be mounted without the risk of toner falling.

[Effects] As described above, according to the present invention, the toner carrier, the control electrode, and the back electrode are selectively integrated to achieve the most effective unitization, thereby facilitating maintenance such as toner contamination and jam. It is also possible to easily replace the control electrodes and the like, which are particularly worn out, and also to change colors.

 And so on.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 to 5 show an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 2 is an overall configuration diagram, and FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an image generation unit which is a main part thereof. 3 is a sectional view of the shaft end side, FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 3, and FIG.
5 (a) is a front view of a main part showing a control electrode, FIG. 5 (b) is an operation diagram showing an energization signal, and FIGS. 6 and 7 are schematic structural views showing a basic invention to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 5 is an operation diagram showing a state of power supply control. FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a main part showing an axial end side of an image generating unit according to an embodiment of each of the third and fourth aspects of the present invention.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Masayuki Tone 2--14-9 Tamagawadai, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo Inside Kyocera Corporation's Tokyo Yoga Office (72) Inventor Eiji Aiba 2--14 Tamagawadai, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo No. 9 in Kyocera Corporation Tokyo Yoga Office (72) Inventor Keiji Itsukushima 2-14-9 Tamagawadai, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo Kyocera Corporation Tokyo Yoga Office (56) References JP-A-2-175163 (JP, A) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B41J 2/385 G03G 15/05

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A toner carrier and a back electrode are arranged with toner passing means for forming toner passage holes corresponding to image information by energization control, and a recording material is moved along the surface of the back electrode. In an image forming apparatus configured to transfer toner passing through the passing means onto a recording material, the toner carrier and the toner passing means are integrated into a unit, and the unit body is brought into contact with and separated from a back electrode. Image forming apparatus characterized in that it is detachable from the apparatus main body in the direction in which 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a position between the unit body and the back electrode can be elastically held through a position regulating means. 3. A toner carrier and a back electrode are arranged with toner passing means for forming a toner passage hole corresponding to image information by energization control, and a recording material is moved along the surface of the back electrode. In an image forming apparatus configured to transfer toner passing through the passage unit onto a recording material, the toner passage unit and a back electrode are integrated into a unit, and the unit body is separated from and brought into contact with the toner carrier. Image forming apparatus characterized by being detachable from the apparatus main body in the direction 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the toner carrier is detachably mounted on the apparatus main body. 5. A toner carrier and a back electrode are arranged with toner passing means for forming toner passage holes corresponding to image information by energization control, and a recording material is moved along the surface of the back electrode. In an image forming apparatus configured to transfer toner passing through the passing means onto a recording material, the toner carrier, the toner passing means, and the back electrode are integrated into a unit, and the unit body is formed. An image forming apparatus characterized in that it is detachable from an apparatus main body in a direction orthogonal to a recording material moving direction.