JP3454089B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus applied to a copying machine, a printer, a plotter, a facsimile and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional image forming apparatus is disclosed in, for example, US Pat. No. 3,689,935. This image forming apparatus is provided with a continuous reference electrode on one surface across an insulating layer and a plurality of control electrodes on the other surface, which are insulated from each other for each pixel, and at least one column is provided for each insulated plurality of control electrodes. Recording control electrode having an opening, voltage control means for selectively applying a voltage between the control electrode and the reference electrode according to an image signal, and image forming particles for supplying charged image forming particles to the vicinity of the opening. It is composed of a supply means, and electrostatically controls the passage of the image forming particles through the openings by applying a voltage according to the image signal to each control electrode, thereby forming an image on the recording medium. In addition, the image forming method is very simple, and the size of the device can be reduced.
It has a great feature that cost can be reduced.

By the way, in this type of image forming apparatus, necessary and sufficient amount of image forming particles are uniformly supplied to the vicinity of the opening of the recording control electrode so that high speed and high image quality can be achieved. It is necessary to supply the image-forming particles so that they can move freely without being constrained by an unnecessary external force and can move faithfully according to the electric field formed by the recording control electrode, and an image-forming particle supply means for realizing this is required. ing.

On the other hand, as a conventional image forming apparatus provided with an image forming particle supplying means which meets such a demand, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 3-203686 and 3-215.
It is proposed by Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 874 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-168064.

FIG. 12 shows an image forming apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-203686. This image forming apparatus is
Image forming particle storage chamber 10 containing image forming particles 11
And an air generating portion 12 provided on the image forming particle storage chamber 10 for spraying high pressure air to the image forming particles 11 in the image forming particle storage chamber 10 to disperse them in a mist form, and image forming particles dispersed in a mist form. The image forming particle flow passage 13 in which 11 circulates, the opening 14 formed in the image forming particle flow passage 13, the recording control electrode 15 formed around the opening 14, and the image signal to the recording control electrode 15. And a voltage control section 16 for applying a control voltage according to the above, and the recording control electrode 15 are opposed to each other with a minute distance, and a bias voltage is applied by a voltage application section 18 so that the voltage is transferred between the voltage control section 16 and the opening 14. The recording medium 19 is provided with a counter electrode 17 for adhering the image forming particles 11.

According to this image forming apparatus, the air generator 1
The image-forming particles 11 charged by blowing high-pressure air from 2 are sprinkled in the form of mist, and the particles are conveyed to the vicinity of the opening 14 of the recording control electrode 15 by the flow of air. By increasing the flow rate of air and increasing the flow rate of air, a large amount of mist-like image-forming particles 11 can be continuously supplied, and therefore high speed can be expected.

FIG. 13 shows an image forming apparatus disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 3-215874. This image forming apparatus is
Image forming particles 11 housed in the image forming particle housing chamber 10
And a blade 21 that scrapes the brush portion of the brush roller 20 and supplies the carried image-forming particles 11 to the opening portion 14. Since other configurations are the same as in FIG. 12, The description is omitted.

According to this image forming apparatus, the charged image forming particles 11 are carried on the brush roller 20, and the brush portion is scratched by the blade 21, whereby the image forming particles 11 are formed.
Are separated from the brush to form a cloud shape and are supplied to the vicinity of the opening 14 of the recording control electrode 15. By increasing the rotation speed of the brush roller 20, a large amount of cloud of the image forming particles 11 can be supplied continuously. Therefore, speedup can be expected.

FIG. 14 shows an image forming apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-168064. This image forming apparatus is
A replenishing roller 10A for replenishing the image forming particles 11 in the image forming particle accommodating chamber 10 and a conveyor belt 24 that is hung over the rollers 23A and 23B and conveys the image forming particles 11 replenished by the replenishing roller 10A. The vibrating member 25 is provided for vibrating the. Note that the same parts as those in FIG. 12 are designated by the same reference numerals and symbols, and a duplicate description will be omitted.

According to this image forming apparatus, the charged image forming particles 11 are carried on the conveyor belt 24 and conveyed to the vicinity of the opening 14 of the recording control electrode 15, and the vibration arranged on the back side of the conveyor belt 24 is carried out. Transport belt 24 by member 25
The image forming particles 11 are separated from the surface of the conveyor belt 24 in a cloud shape and supplied by vibrating the sheet. By increasing the conveying speed of the conveyor belt 24, the cloud of the image forming particles 11 is continuously and in large amounts. Since it can be supplied, higher speed can be expected.

In all of these image forming apparatuses, the image forming particles are supplied to the vicinity of the opening of the recording control electrode in a state where the adhesion between the image forming particles and the image forming particle conveying means is reduced or completely separated. Therefore, the image-forming particles are not bound by an unnecessary external force, and can move faithfully according to the electric field formed by the recording control electrode, so that the image quality can be improved. Further, since the image forming particles are supplied in the vicinity of the opening of the recording control electrode, the control voltage applied to the recording control electrode can be lowered and the cost of the control circuit can be reduced.

[0012]

However, the conventional image forming apparatus has the following problems. (1) In JP-A-3-203686, it is difficult to disintegrate the agglomerates of the image-forming particles only by the action of blowing air, and in particular, in order to increase the speed, the air supply amount or supply pressure The higher the value, the more noticeable the generation of aggregates. When the aggregates are generated, they are attached to the openings to cause a problem such as clogging, and the image quality of a recorded image is deteriorated. (2) In JP-A-3-215874, it is difficult to individually hold the image-forming particles in the brush, and it is difficult to disintegrate the agglomerates of the image-forming particles by scraping with a blade. Therefore, the generation of aggregates becomes remarkable and the above-mentioned problems occur. (3) In JP-A-4-168064, when image-forming particles are conveyed in multiple layers on a belt, the image-forming particles form aggregates due to mechanical vibration, and the individual cloud of particles is very small. I can only get it. Further, when the vibrating action of the belt is increased in order to increase the supply amount, the flying of the agglomerates becomes remarkable and the above-mentioned problems occur. Further, when one layer of particles is conveyed on the belt, it is difficult for the adjacent image forming particles to coagulate unless they are separated from the belt at the same time, but it is difficult to increase the speed because the absolute number of image forming particles is insufficient.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of stably supplying image forming particles in a high-concentration cloud state free from agglomerates while aiming at high speed to improve the quality of recorded images. Is to provide.

[0014]

In order to achieve the above object of the present invention, an image forming particle supplying means for supplying charged image forming particles and a large number of openings through which the image forming particles pass are provided. At least a recording control electrode, a voltage control unit connected to the recording control electrode, and a counter electrode facing the recording control electrode with a small distance are provided, and the voltage control unit applies a voltage according to an image signal to the recording control. By applying to the electrode, the image forming particles supplied from the image forming particle supply unit are caused to fly toward the counter electrode through the opening of the recording control electrode, and between the recording control electrode and the counter electrode. an image forming apparatus for forming the in the recording medium by attaching the image forming particles image to be conveyed, the image forming particle supply means, with respect to water <br/> horizontal direction An image forming particles discharging member having an inclined sloping surface, thereby vibrating the image forming particles ejection member
To allow the imaging particles to climb along the inclined surface.
By ejecting from the tip of the image forming particle ejecting member,
An image forming apparatus comprising: a vibrating member for supplying to the opening of the recording control electrode .

It is desirable that the image forming particle ejecting member has a sine wave, a triangular wave, or a sawtooth wave whose inclined surface has a regular cycle and amplitude. With such a configuration, it is possible to regulate the magnitude and directionality of the force generated in the image forming particles when an acting force due to mechanical vibration is applied, and it is possible to form a more uniform and stable cloud.

It is preferable that the image forming particle discharge member has a structure in which the inclined surface is covered with particles having a uniform size. With this configuration, it is possible to regulate the magnitude and directionality of the force generated in the image forming particles with a simple configuration,
A more uniform and stable cloud can be formed. Also,
The same effect can be obtained by arranging extremely thin rod-shaped members having a uniform shape and thickness instead of particles.

It is preferable that the image forming particle discharge member includes at least a conductive member, and the conductive member has a structure to which an arbitrary voltage is applied. With such a configuration, the same effect as arranging the electrode near the opening of the recording control electrode can be obtained. That is, it is possible to add an electrostatic action between the image forming particle ejecting member and the recording control electrode, and it is possible to supply the image forming particles in a more controlled manner.

The image forming particle discharge member has a structure divided into a plurality in the recording width direction, and the vibrating member individually applies mechanical vibration to the divided image forming particle discharge members. It is preferable to have With such a configuration, the supply amount of the image forming particles can be divided and controlled in the recording width direction by controlling each oscillating voltage.

The vibrating member is a vibration converting member for converting electric vibration into mechanical vibration, and the vibration converting member preferably has a vibrating voltage control means for providing electric vibration and controlling the vibrating voltage. With such a configuration, it is possible to arbitrarily change the frequency, the amplitude, and the vibration time of the mechanical vibration, which makes it possible to arbitrarily control the supply amount of the image forming particles.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The following embodiment is one embodiment according to the present invention, and the present invention should not be limited to the following embodiment, but is carried out within a range not departing from the gist of the present invention. It also includes all the above design changes.

FIG. 1 shows the overall schematic structure of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows the detailed structure of the image recording section of FIG.

First, referring to FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1
00 will be described. The image forming apparatus 100 includes recording medium conveying rollers 101A to 101C that convey a recording medium 118 in the arrow direction, and image forming particles 102 negatively charged from a plurality of openings formed for each recording pixel according to image information. Image forming particle ejecting unit 1 for flying toward the recording medium side
03, a counter electrode 104 facing the image forming particle ejecting portion 103 with a small distance, and adhering the image forming particles 102 flying from the image forming particle ejecting portion 103 to the recording medium 118, and the image forming attached to the recording medium. Particle 1
The image fixing unit 105 for fixing 02 to the recording medium 118 is provided.

The image forming particles 102 are not particularly limited in shape, material and configuration as long as they can be charged and can finally form a visible image. In the present embodiment, a color toner (toner for copying machine A-color manufactured by Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.) having a particle diameter of about 7 μm and using a polyester resin as a binder was used.

The image fixing unit 105 is not particularly limited in system and structure as long as the image forming particles 102 to be used can be fixed on a desired recording medium 118. In this embodiment,
It was composed of a heating roller.

Next, the image recording section will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

The image forming particle ejecting section 103 comprises an image forming particle supplying section 106A and an image forming particle supplying section 106B.

The image forming particle replenishing section 106A is rotated arbitrarily by an image forming particle accommodating chamber 107 accommodating the image forming particles 102 and a rotation driving means (not shown) so as to remove the image forming particles 102 in the image forming particle accommodating chamber 107. It is configured by a replenishing roller 108 that replenishes the required amount.

The image-forming particle supply unit 106B is a top plate 1 made of an insulating plate or film having a bottom plate 109A and an opening 112A, and a bottom plate 109A receiving supply of a necessary amount of the image-forming particles 102 from the image-forming particle supply unit 106A.
A supply chamber 109 having 12 and a vibrating member 11 fixed to the back surface of the bottom plate 109A for giving mechanical vibration to the bottom plate 109A.
0, an oscillating voltage control unit 110A that applies an arbitrary oscillating voltage to the oscillating member 110, and is fixed to the bottom plate 109A at a predetermined angle with respect to the horizontal direction. An ejection member 111 having an inclined surface 111A for supplying the image forming particles 102 to the opening 112A, and an image forming particle 102 provided around the opening 112A and supplied by the ejecting member 111 depending on image information. 112 to recording medium 1
It has a recording control electrode 113 for flying to the 18 side.

In the image forming particle supply unit 106B, since toner using a polyester resin as a binder is used as the image forming particles 2, the inner wall of the casing is made of a metal such as copper or aluminum, or an appropriate metal in consideration of the order of triboelectrification. It is composed of a member made by plating metal on a different engineering plastic. As a result, the image forming particles 102 are favorably triboelectrically charged by collision with the wall surface due to mechanical vibration.

The vibrating member 110 vibrates the entire bottom plate 109A, and at the same time vibrates the ejection member 111, whereby the image forming particles 102 are allowed to vibrate in the bottom plate 109A.
Flow well and have a sufficient amount of imaging particles 102
Are always supplied to the ejection member 111. The vibrating member 110 is not particularly limited in method and configuration as long as it can provide mechanical vibration action. For example, mechanical vibration due to mechanical sliding is applied, or vibration action of an electric field or a magnetic field is converted into mechanical vibration. Members can be used. In the present embodiment, a piezoelectric element is used as a vibration member that converts electric vibration into mechanical vibration. Of course, as long as a vibration frequency and an amplitude capable of forming a good cloud state of the image forming particles 102 can be obtained and an electric signal can be finally converted into mechanical vibration, not only the piezoelectric element but also another vibration member or vibration. Means may be used.

If the inclination angle of the ejection member 111 is too small or the length thereof is too short, the aggregate of the image-forming particles 102 is ejected from the tip, and if the inclination angle is too large or the length thereof is too long, an image is formed. Insufficient supply or uneven supply of the formed particles 102 occurs. Therefore, in consideration of the shape and material of the image forming particles 102 and the surface property and material of the ejection member 111,
The inclination angle and length are determined so that the above problems do not occur. In the present embodiment, the inclination angle is 40 degrees to 60 degrees,
The length was 5 mm to 15 mm.

The recording control electrode 113 includes a reference electrode 114 continuously provided over the pixels on the surface of the top plate 112 on the side of the supply chamber 109, and a voltage application unit for applying a bias voltage of negative polarity to the reference electrode 114. 115, a plurality of control electrodes (only one is shown) 116 provided on the surface of the top plate 112 opposite to the supply chamber 109 side for each pixel, and the control electrode 116 is controlled according to an image signal. It has a voltage controller 117 for applying a voltage.

The counter electrode 104 is connected to the voltage application section 119 and is applied with a bias voltage of positive polarity. The image forming particles 102 supplied from the ejection member 111 and passed through the opening 112A are directed to the recording medium 118. It is configured to adhere.

Now, voltage control of the recording control electrode 113 and the counter electrode 104 will be described. In the present embodiment, since the image forming particles 102 are charged with a negative polarity, a voltage is applied to each electrode so that at least the following relationship is established in the image portion. Counter electrode voltage> Control electrode voltage> Reference electrode voltage

Further, in the non-image portion, a voltage is applied to each electrode so that at least the following relationship is established. Control electrode voltage <reference electrode voltage

As a result, the negatively charged image-forming particles 102 formed in the vicinity of the opening 112A of the recording control electrode 113 pass through the opening 112A in the image portion,
The recording control electrode 1 is electrostatically attracted to the counter electrode 104 side.
It is possible to form a desired image on the desired recording medium 118 that is conveyed between the electrode 13 and the counter electrode 104 without passing through the opening 112A in the non-image portion.

If the relationship of the voltage applied to each electrode surely satisfies the above-mentioned condition, the counter electrode 104
Also, either of the reference electrodes 114 may be grounded.

Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 100 will be described.

In the image forming mode, the replenishing roller 108 of the image forming particle replenishing section 106A in the image forming particle ejecting section 103 rotates in the direction of the arrow to move the image forming particles 102 in the image forming particle accommodating chamber 107 to a predetermined position. The amount is replenished on the bottom plate 109A of the image forming particle supply unit 106B.
Further, a predetermined oscillating voltage is applied to the oscillating member 110 from the oscillating voltage control unit 110A, so that the oscillating member 110 causes the bottom plate 109
Vibration is applied to A and the ejection member 111. Further, a bias voltage of negative polarity is applied to the reference electrode 114 from the voltage applying unit 115, and the counter electrode 1 is applied from the voltage applying unit 119.
A positive polarity Bais voltage is applied to 04.

At this time, the entire bottom plate 109A vibrates, and at the same time the ejection member 111 also vibrates, whereby the image-forming particles 102 flow well in the bottom plate 109A, and a sufficient amount of the image-forming particles 102 are constantly ejected to the ejection member 111. Supplied. The image forming particles 102 supplied to the ejection member 111.
Due to the vibration of the discharge member 111, its inclined surface 111A
And is discharged from the tip and supplied to the opening 112A.

3 (a), 3 (b) and FIG. 4 show how the image forming particles 102 are supplied to the opening 112A. When mechanical vibration is applied to the ejection member 111, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the adhesive force F1 between the image forming particles 102 and the ejection member 111, the adhesive force F2 between the image forming particles 102, and Due to the balance with the acting force F3 due to the mechanical vibration, the image forming particles 102 of the second layer and above are given a force particularly in the direction of climbing the inclination, and as a result, the image forming particles 102 separated from the inclined surface 111A of the ejection member 111. Is part of the inclined surface 111A
And is transported to the upper part of the inclined surface 111A. On the other hand, the image forming particles 1 separated from the inclined surface 111A
A part of 02 is agglomerated by the adhesive force F2 between particles.
Form A. Aggregate 102A, as shown in FIG.
It increases while taking in a part of the peeled image forming particles 102, and falls down due to its own weight. Therefore, the discharge member 111
And only the image-forming particles 102 separated from the binding force from the agglomerate 102A or in a state close to that,
It is conveyed to the tip of the ejection unit 111 and finally ejected as shown in FIG. The forces of F1, F2, and F3 mean the resultant forces of forces corresponding to the respective forces received from all the surrounding particles.

By thus continuously supplying the image-forming particles 102 to the ejection member 111 and mechanically vibrating the ejection member 111, the image-forming particles 102 in the cloud state are ejected from the ejection member 111 by the above-mentioned action. It is continuously discharged from the tip with a high concentration without the aggregate 102A.

Then, the recording medium 118 is conveyed between the image forming particle ejecting section 103 and the counter electrode 104 by the recording medium conveying roller 101A, and in synchronization therewith, the voltage control section 117 controls the control voltage according to the image signal. Electrode 116
Is applied to the opening 1 and is discharged from the discharge member 111.
The image forming particles 102 supplied to 12A are passed through the opening 112A in the image portion and the opening 112 in the non-image portion.
By not allowing A to pass through, only the image forming particles 102 that have passed through the opening 112A are electrostatically attracted to the counter electrode 104 side and adhere to the recording medium 118.
8 to form the desired image.

The recording medium 118 on which the image forming particles 102 are attached and the image is formed is the recording medium conveying roller 101B.
Is conveyed to the image fixing portion 105, where the image forming particles 102 are fixed, and further, the recording medium conveying roller 1
It is discharged to the outside by 01C.

Since the image forming particles 102 are supplied to the vicinity of the opening 112A by vibrating the discharge member 111 in this manner, the image forming particles 102 can be supplied in a cloud state without agglomerates. In addition, the image forming particle supply unit 10
By continuously performing mechanical vibrations of the bottom plate 109A of 6B and the discharge member 111, a sufficient amount of the image forming particles 1 can be obtained.
02 can be stably supplied.

Further, since the amount of the image forming particles 102 ejected from the ejection member 111 is determined by the frequency and amplitude of the mechanical vibration applied by the vibrating member 110 and the time during which the mechanical vibration is applied, the vibration voltage controller By controlling the mechanical vibration by 110A, the discharge member 111
The amount of the image forming particles 102 discharged from the can be arbitrarily changed. Therefore, the supply or deficiency of the supply of the image forming particles 102 does not occur in an image having many image portions or an image having many non-image portions.

In this embodiment, the vibrating member 110 is used.
Thus, the entire bottom plate 109A of the image forming particle supply unit 106 is vibrated and the ejection member 111 is also vibrated at the same time. However, depending on the configuration of the image forming particle ejection unit 103, only the ejection member 111 may be vibrated. For example, the bottom plate 109A of the image forming particle supply unit 106B is provided with an inclination, and the image forming particles 102 or aggregates thereof are always fed down to the ejection member 111 arranged below the bottom plate 109A by descending from the bottom plate 109A inclined by its own weight. There is a configuration like that. Further, the entire image forming particle supply unit 106B or the image forming particle ejection unit 103 may be vibrated.

Further, the ejection member 111 is divided into a plurality of pieces in the recording width direction, and the vibrating member 110 which gives mechanical vibration to each of them.
By providing an oscillating voltage applying unit 110A that applies an oscillating voltage to the oscillating member 110, the supply amount of the image forming particles 102 can be divided and controlled in the recording width direction by controlling each oscillating voltage. This makes it possible to supply the image-forming particles 102 according to the required amount of the image-forming particles 102 for each of the divided areas. For this reason,
It is possible to prevent the supply and deficiency of the supply of the image forming particles 102 from occurring even in an image in which there are a large number of images and a small number of images in one image.

Further, as an example of an applied mode, the image may be transferred from the intermediate recording medium to a desired recording medium 118 after the image is once formed on the intermediate transfer medium by the image forming particle ejecting unit 103.

FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the present invention,
The discharge member 111 of the first embodiment is composed of a thin conductive plate 120 made of stainless steel, which is a conductive member, and the voltage applying section 121 is connected to the conductive plate 120. As a result, the ejection member 111 can be given an electrode action, and an electrostatic action can be added to the recording control electrode 113.

In this case, the recording control electrode 113 has a structure in which the reference electrode 114 is arranged on the counter electrode 104 side and the control electrode 116 is arranged on the ejection member 111 side as shown in the drawing, or is not shown. However, only one of the surfaces has the control electrode 116.

By applying a voltage to these electrodes so that at least the following relationship is established based on the image signal, the image forming particles 102 can be supplied closer to the opening 112A in the image section. In the non-image part, the image forming particles 102 can be kept away from the opening 112A to prevent unnecessary passage of the image forming particles 2 through the opening 112A, and more controlled supply of the image forming particles 102 can be achieved. It will be possible. (1) When there is a reference electrode Image area: Counter electrode voltage> Reference electrode voltage> Control electrode voltage>
Ejection member electrode voltage Non-image area: Reference electrode voltage <Control electrode voltage <Ejection member electrode voltage (2) Without reference electrode Image area: Counter electrode voltage> Control electrode voltage> Ejection member electrode voltage Non-image area: Control electrode voltage <Discharge member electrode voltage

If the relationship of the voltage applied to each electrode surely satisfies the above-mentioned conditions, the counter electrode 1
04, the reference electrode 114, or the conductive plate 120 may be grounded.

If the discharge member 111 does not include a conductive member, as shown in FIG. 6, a conductive member layer connected to the voltage applying unit 123 on the bottom plate 109A of the image forming particle supply unit 106B. 122 may be formed and a bias voltage may be applied, or the conductive member layer 122 may be grounded depending on conditions.

Further, an electrode member such as a wire including at least a conductive member may be arranged near the opening 112A, and a bias voltage may be applied to the electrode member, or the electrode member may be grounded depending on conditions. .

FIG. 7A shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention, in which the inclined surface 111A of the ejection member 111 is formed in a sine wave shape. As described above, by forming the inclined surface 111A into a shape having a regular period and amplitude,
As shown in (b), the magnitude and direction of the force of the image forming particles 102 on the inclined surface 111A of the ejection member 111 can be regulated, and a uniform cloud state can be formed in the recording width direction. You can In this embodiment, the best result is obtained when the period and the amplitude of the inclined surface 111A of the ejection member 111 are set to 0.5 times to 1.7 times the diameter of the image forming particles 102 used. .

FIG. 8A shows the fifth embodiment of the present invention, in which the inclined surface 111A of the discharge member 111 has a triangular wave shape, and this configuration is also the same as that of the fourth embodiment. The effect can be obtained.

FIG. 8 (b) shows a sixth embodiment of the present invention, in which the inclined surface 111A of the discharge member 111 has a sawtooth shape, and this configuration is also the same as that of the fourth embodiment. The effect can be obtained.

FIG. 9 shows a seventh embodiment of the present invention,
The inclined surface of the discharge member 111 is formed on the inclined surface of the fine particles 12
It is coated with 4. With this configuration, it is possible to form a regular uneven shape on the inclined surface 111A of the ejection member 111 relatively easily and inexpensively. In this embodiment, as the fine particles 124, a substantially spherical metal sphere, a glass sphere, a silicon sphere or the like can be used. The best results are obtained when the size of the fine particles 124 is 0.5 to 1.5 times the diameter of the image forming particles 102 used. In addition, the fine particles 124
Instead, the same effect can be obtained even if an extremely fine rod-shaped member having a uniform shape and thickness is arranged and fixed on the inclined surface 111A of the ejection member 111.

Further, in the above embodiment, the discharge member 1
Although 11 has a plate shape, as shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, it may have a triangular shape or a curved surface shape. In addition, FIG.
As shown in (b) and (c), a plurality of discharge members 111 may be provided to form a cloud state with higher concentration.

FIG. 11 shows a color image forming apparatus 200 as a twelfth embodiment. This color image forming apparatus 2
Reference numeral 00 has a configuration in which image forming particle ejection units 103Y to 103K filled with image forming particles 102 that visualize each color of yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) are arranged, and recording is performed. Medium transport rollers 101A-10
The image of each color is sequentially formed on the recording medium conveyed in the arrow direction by 1F to form a full-color image. The configurations and functions of the respective image forming particle ejecting units 103Y to 103K are the same as those in the above-described embodiment, and thus description thereof will be omitted.

[0063]

As described above, according to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the vibrating member for giving at least mechanical vibration to the image forming particle supplying means and the image forming particle ejecting member having the inclined surface inclined with respect to the horizontal direction. Since the image forming particle ejecting member is vibrated by the vibrating member to supply the image forming particles to the opening, the image forming particles are supplied to the opening from the tip of the image forming particle ejecting member in a cloud state without aggregates. Can be supplied. Therefore, it is possible to solve the problem that the aggregates are attached to the openings and the openings are clogged, and it is possible to improve the quality of the recorded image.

By supplying the image-forming particles to the image-forming-particle discharging member and continuously performing mechanical vibration of the discharging member, a sufficient amount of the image-forming particles can be stably discharged from the image-forming particle discharging member. It can be ejected, and the image-forming particles can be supplied to the opening portion in a cloud state of high concentration. Therefore, the speed of image formation can be increased.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an image recording unit according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a state of supply of image forming particles to an opening according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a supply state of image forming particles to an opening according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an image recording unit according to a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an image recording unit according to a third embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a discharge member according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing a discharge member according to fifth and sixth embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a discharge member according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory view showing a discharge member according to eighth to eleventh embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a color image forming apparatus according to a twelfth embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory view showing a conventional image forming apparatus.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing another conventional image forming apparatus.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing another conventional image forming apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Image Forming Particle Storage Chamber 11 Image Forming Particle 12 Air Generating Part 13 Image Forming Particle Flow Path 14 Opening Part 15 Recording Control Electrode 16 Voltage Control Part 17 Counter Electrode 18 Voltage Applying Part 19 Recording Medium 20 Brush Roller 21 Blades 23A, 23B Roller 24 Conveyor Belt 25 Vibrating Member 100 Image Forming Apparatus 101A to 101F Recording Medium Conveying Roller 102 Image Forming Particle 102A Aggregate 103 Image Forming Particle Ejection Unit 103Y, 103M, 103C, 103K Image Forming Particle Ejection Unit 104 Counter Electrode 105 Image Fixing Unit 106A Image forming particle supply unit 106B Image forming particle supply unit 107 Image forming particle storage chamber 108 Replenishing roller 109 Image forming particle supply chamber 109A Bottom plate 110 Vibration member 111A Inclined surface 110A Voltage applying unit 112 Top plate 112A Opening 113 Recording control electrode 11 Reference electrode 115 voltage applying unit 116 control electrode 117 voltage control unit 188 recording medium 119 voltage applying unit 120 conductive plate 121 voltage applying unit 122 conductive member layer 123 voltage applying unit 124 microparticles 200 color image forming apparatus

Continuation of front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B41J 2/385

Claims (8)

(57) [Claims] 1. An image forming particle supplying unit for supplying charged image forming particles, a recording control electrode having a large number of openings for passing the image forming particles, and a voltage control connected to the recording control electrode. And a counter electrode facing the recording control electrode with a small distance, and a voltage corresponding to an image signal is applied to the recording control electrode from the voltage control unit to supply the image forming particle supply unit. The formed image forming particles are flown toward the counter electrode through the opening of the recording control electrode, and the image forming particles are adhered to the recording medium conveyed between the recording control electrode and the counter electrode. an image forming apparatus for forming an image, the image forming particle supply means includes an image forming particles discharging member having an inclined surface inclined with respect to horizontal direction, the Image type
The image formation is performed by vibrating the particle discharge member.
Particles are allowed to climb along the inclined surface to eject the image forming particles.
The recording control electrode is opened by ejecting from the tip of the member.
An image forming apparatus characterized by comprising a vibration member for supplying the. 2. The image forming particle ejecting member, wherein the inclined surface has a sine wave, a triangular wave, having a regular cycle and amplitude,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus has a sawtooth wave shape. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming particle ejecting member has the inclined surface covered with particles having a uniform size. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming particle discharging member includes at least a conductive member, and the conductive member has a configuration to which an arbitrary voltage is applied. 5. The image forming particle ejecting member has a structure divided into a plurality in the recording width direction, and the vibrating member individually applies mechanical vibration to the divided image forming particle ejecting members. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, having a configuration for providing. 6. The vibrating member is a vibration converting member for converting electric vibration into mechanical vibration, and the vibration converting member has a vibrating voltage control means for providing the electric vibration and controlling a vibrating voltage. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 5. 7. The image forming particle ejecting member includes a conductive portion.
Constructed without material The bottom of the image forming particle forming section
A conductive member layer on the conductive member layer,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus has a structure to which a pressure is applied.
Place 8. The image forming particle ejecting member includes a conductive portion.
And the opening of the recording control electrode
An electrode member including at least a conductive member is arranged in the vicinity of
And has a configuration in which an arbitrary voltage is applied to the electrode member.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: