JPS59228271A - Toner flying device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a toner flying device for performing development, etc. in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or an electrostatic printer.

Conventional Structures and Problems Conventionally, copying machines and the like that perform development by flying toner include a jumping development method that uses one component of magnetic insulating toner. The structure of the jumping development system is a rotating sleeve placed opposite the photosensitive drum,
It has a fixed magnet installed inside the rotating sleeve and a magnetic blade installed at a position facing the rotating sleeve, and a high frequency AC voltage is applied between the photosensitive drum and the rotating sleeve to attract the photosensitive drum onto the rotating sleeve. It makes the toner fly.

In this developing method, toner is attracted onto a rotating sleeve by the magnetic force of a fixed magnet and transported. Therefore, it is necessary to use magnetic toner. However, since magnetic materials are generally colored, it is difficult to obtain clear color images, and therefore it is difficult to produce color images. As yet, only the toner near the surface of the rotating sleeve is frictionally charged among the insulating toner that is frictionally charged with the rotating sleeve. However, in order to make the toner fly onto the photosensitive drum, it was necessary to form an ultra-thin layer of toner on the rotating sleeve. As a countermeasure, a magnetic blade with good straightness is installed at a position facing the rotating sleeve, and the gap between the rotating sleeve and the magnetic blade is accurately installed to create a magnetic curtain between the fixed magnet and the magnetic blade. The toner was formed into an ultra-thin film layer. As a result, there have been disadvantages such as an increase in the cost of the magnetic blade and the assembly cost for high-precision adjustment.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the problems of the conventional art, and makes it possible to develop toner that does not contain a magnetic material, makes color printing possible, and provides an inexpensive toner flying device that does not require high-precision adjustment. The purpose is to provide.

Structure of the Invention The toner flying device of the present invention comprises two photoreceptors made of zinc oxide, selenium, etc., a toner receptor made of paper, metal, etc., a first electrode provided closely or close to the toner receptor, and a roller and a belt. , an insulator using a movable dielectric material such as a sheet, a rotating or fixed second electrode surrounded by the insulator, and a rotating or fixed third electrode surrounded by the insulator. a hopper for storing toner made of a non-magnetic insulator or conductive material; and a rotating or fixed fourth electrode in close contact with the toner; and a second electrode are provided to face each other, and third and fourth electrodes are further provided to face each other with the toner and the insulator interposed therebetween, and a voltage is applied between the third and fourth electrodes. toner is electrostatically deposited on the insulator, and then a voltage is applied between the first and second electrodes to cause the toner on the insulator to fly to the toner receptor. be.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows a toner flying device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and is an example used in a developing process of a copying machine.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a photosensitive drum which is a toner receptor. For example, zinc oxide, selenium, O,
It is provided by coating a photosensitive material such as PC. Reference numeral 3 denotes a charger, which applies, depending on the photosensitive material of the photosensitive drum 1, a negative corona in the case of zinc oxide, a positive corona in the case of selenium, from the high voltage power source 4, and charges the photosensitive drum 1 with a negative corona.
It charges the surface of the Reference numeral 6 denotes an optical section that projects a turn light image onto the photosensitive drum 1 to form a latent image. Reference numeral 6 denotes an insulating belt, which is made of a dielectric material such as polyvinylidene fluoride, polyester, or neoprene rubber. 7°8 is the second. The third electrode is composed of a metal roller, and the belt 6
is installed around the outer periphery of the second electrode 7 and the third electrode 8. 9 is a conductive toner, for example, and 10 is a hopper containing the conductive toner 9. Reference numeral 11 denotes a fourth electrode, which is made of a metal plate and is provided at a position in close contact with the conductive toner 9 stored in the hopper 10.

The first electrode 2 and the second electrode 7 are provided facing each other with the photosensitive drum 1 and the belt 6 in between, and the third electrode
The electrode 8 and the fourth electrode 11 are provided facing each other with the conductive toner 9 and the belt 6 interposed therebetween. Although the driving source is not shown, the driving force is transferred to the second electrode 7 or the third electrode 7.
The belt 6 is moved by transmitting the signal to the roller of the electrode 8. Reference numeral 12 denotes a high-voltage power supply that applies a voltage between the third electrode 8 and the fourth electrode 11 to electrostatically adhere the conductive toner 9 onto the belt 8. Reference numeral 13 denotes a high-voltage power supply that applies a voltage between the first electrode 2 and the second electrode 7 to fly the conductive toner 9 electrostatically adhered onto the belt 8 onto the photosensitive drum 1 by electrostatic force. It is. Reference numeral 14 denotes a blade that uniformly regulates the amount of conductive toner 9 electrostatically deposited on the belt 8 when the belt 8 is rotated.

The operation of the developing process using the toner flying device of the first embodiment configured as described above will be described below.

In FIG. 1, in order to make the operation easier to understand, a case will be described in which zinc oxide is used as the photosensitive material of the photoreceptor 1. A negative corona is applied to the charger 3 by a high-voltage power source 4 to negatively charge the entire surface of the photoreceptor drum 1.

Next, a shiver-turn optical image is projected onto the charged photosensitive drum 1 by the optical section 6 to form a latent image.

During this time, a high voltage power source 12.
13 makes the third electrode 8 side negative, and the second electrode 7
The belt 6 is polarized by applying a positive voltage to its side. When the belt 6 is polarized, the conductive toner 9 is electrostatically deposited with a positive charge on the belt 6 between the third electrode 8 and the fourth electrode 11, and then the belt 6 moves and the conductive toner 9 is electrostatically deposited. When the conductive toner 9 comes to a position facing the photoreceptor drum 1, an electrostatic force acts on the conductive toner 9, causing it to fly toward the photoreceptor drum 1. Next, the flying conductive toner also adheres to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 1.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIGS. 2 and 3 are examples of use in the development process of an electrostatic printer.

In FIG. 2, 18 is an electrostatic recording paper which is a toner receptor. An electrostatic head 16 forms a latent image of an image pattern from an electric signal on the surface of the electrostatic recording paper 1a by, for example, negative charging.

6a is an insulating roller, such as polyvinylidene fluoride,
It is made of dielectric material such as polyester or acrylic resin. 2a is a first electrode fixed to the main body.

7a and 8a are the second. The third electrode is a fixed electrode that is integrally formed with the insulating plate 16 in between. Second. The third electrodes 7a, 8a are provided inside the insulating roller 6a,
The insulator roller 6a is rotatably provided with respect to the fixed electrode. Reference numeral 9a is an insulating toner, which is charged with, for example, a positive charge by a well-known method. 10a is a hopper containing insulating toner 9a. 11a is the fourth electrode,
It is made of a metal plate and is provided at a position in close contact with the insulating toner 9a stored in the pump 10a.

The first electrode 2a and the second electrode 7a are provided facing each other via the electrostatic recording paper 1a and the insulating roller 6a, and the third electrode 8a and the fourth electrode 11a are provided oppositely. teeth,
The insulating toner 9a and the insulating roller 6a are provided to face each other. Although a driving source is not shown, the driving force is transmitted to the insulating roller 6a, and the driving force is transmitted to the insulating roller 6a.
It rotates a.

12a is a high voltage power supply, which connects the third electrode 8a and the fourth electrode 11.
By applying a voltage between the insulating roller 6a and the insulating toner 9a, positively charged insulating toner 9a is electrostatically deposited on the insulating roller 6a. 13a is a high-voltage power supply that applies voltage between the first electrode 2a and the second electrode 7a, and transfers the toner 9a electrostatically adhered onto the insulating roller 6a to the electrostatic recording paper 1a by electrostatic force. It is made to fly by. Reference numeral 14a denotes a blade that when the insulating roller 6a is rotated, the insulating roller 6a is rotated.
This is to uniformly control the amount of insulating toner 9a electrostatically deposited on surface a. A transport roller 17 transports the electrostatic recording paper 1a.

Reference numeral 18 denotes a heat roller for thermally fixing the insulating toner 9a electrostatically deposited on the electrostatic recording paper 1a.

The operation of the developing process using the toner flying device of the second embodiment configured as described above will be described below.

The electrostatic head 15 forms a negatively charged latent image on the surface of the electrostatic recording paper 1a. Next, while the electrostatic recording paper 1a is positioned between the first electrode 2a and the insulating roller 6a by the transport roller 17, the third electrode 8a and the fourth electrode 11
A voltage is applied from the high voltage power supply 12a between the third electrode 8a and the third electrode 8a to polarize the insulating roller 6a.

When the insulating roller 6a is polarized, the insulating toner 9a with a positive charge electrostatically adheres to the insulating roller 6a, and then the insulating row 26a rotates, and the electrostatically attached insulating toner 9a and the first The electrode 2a faces the electrode 2a. Next, when the electrostatic recording paper 1a is positioned between the first electrode 2a and the insulating roller 6a, between the first electrode 2a and the second electrode 7a,
A voltage is applied by the high voltage power supply 13a so that the second electrode 7a becomes positive, and the insulating roller 6a is polarized. When the insulating roller 6a is polarized, an electrostatic force acts on the insulating toner 9a having a positive polarity on the roller, and the toner flies to the electrostatic recording paper 1a. Next, the flying insulating toner 9a adheres to the electrostatic latent image on the electrostatic recording paper 1a.

Note that in the first and second embodiments, the fourth electrode 11
．． 11a is provided inside the hoppers 10 and 10a, but
It may be provided in a part of the hopper 10.degree. 10a that is in close contact with the toners 9, 9a. Providing the fourth electrode 11.11a in a part of the hopper 10.10a has the effect of making the toner flying device smaller. Furthermore, the fourth electrodes 11, 11
Although a is composed of a fixed electrode, it may also be a cylindrical rotating electrode with an uneven outer peripheral surface. Fourth electrode 11.11
By using a as a rotating electrode, the toners 9, 9a are agitated, and the toners 9, 9a are effectively supplied to the insulators 6, 6a. In the embodiment, the developing process has been described, but it can also be used in a toner dispersion device for electronic marking, which marks metal in shipbuilding and the like.

Effect of the invention According to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

(1) Since the toner is conveyed and ejected using electrostatic force, there is no problem with high-precision adjustment as in the conventional jumping development method.

(2) Since toner that does not contain magnetic substances can be used, color printing is now possible.

(3) Conductive to insulating toners can be used to develop and dispense conductive to insulating toner receptors.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view of a main part of a toner flying device in a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of a main part of a toner flying device in a second embodiment, and FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view with main parts of the insulating roller section cut away. 1.1a... Toner receptor, 2,2a...
...First electrode, 6, 6a... Insulator, 7, 7a
...Second electrode, 8, 8a... Third electrode, 9, 9a... Toner, 10, 10 a.
River...Hopper, 11.11a...Fourth electrode. Name of agent: Patent attorney Toshio Nakao (1st person)
Figure 2

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) The first one provided closely or close to the toner receptor.
and second and third electrodes surrounded by a movable insulator.
an electrode, a hopper for storing toner, and a fourth electrode in close contact with the toner, and the first and second electrodes are provided facing each other with the toner receptor and the insulator interposed therebetween, A toner flying device further comprising third and fourth electrodes facing each other with the toner and an insulator interposed therebetween. (2) The toner flying device according to claim 1, wherein the first electrode is integrated with the toner receptor. (3) The toner flying device according to claim 1, wherein the fourth electrode is provided in a part of the hopper. (4) The toner flying device according to claim 1, wherein the insulator is a cylindrical roller, and the second and third electrodes are provided inside the cylindrical roller with an insulating plate sandwiched between them.