JPH09311604A - Wet type image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent beforehand leakage of a developing solution, by alarming a user by an indication before leakage of the developing solution occurs and nextly by alarming a serviceman by an indication. SOLUTION: A latent image forming device which forms latent image on a latent image carrying body and a cleaning device which cleans surplus developing solution on the latent image carrying body are provided on the left and right of the latent image carrying body. The cleaning device has, on one end part thereof, a recovery hole 104 for collecting the developing solution into a developing solution refilling container, and has, on the other end part thereof, a detecting member 105 for detecting a height of a liquid surface of the developing solution which has been cleared off the above-mentioned latent image carrying body. The detecting member 105 detects the height of the liquid surface in two steps, and when the first step is detected B, it is shown that the devices are inclined as a whole and, a user guiding call being shown to enable copying, and when the second step is detected C, a serviceman call being shown to disable copying.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a wet image forming apparatus, and more particularly to a cleaning apparatus for a wet image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile, a printer or the like which performs wet development.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the vicinity of a drum-shaped photosensitive member which is a latent image carrier in a conventional wet development type electrophotographic copying machine. As is well known, the conventional wet electrophotographic copying machine is known. A photosensitive member 1, and a charging charger portion 10 for forming a charging area for forming a latent image on the photosensitive member 1,
A developer containing device having a latent image forming part 20 for exposing the charged area to form a latent image, and a mounting part (not shown) for mounting a developer replenishing container containing a replenishing developer ( (Not shown), and a developer carrier which is disposed with a predetermined gap from the photoconductor 1 and to which the developer is supplied from the developer tank of the developer accommodating device by the developer supply means (supply nozzle) 34. The developing device 30 that visualizes the latent image on the photoconductor 1 having the developing rollers 31 and 32, and the transfer paper P conveyed from the sheet feeding unit (not shown) are aligned with the movement timing of the development image on the photoconductor. Registration roller 41 for feeding
Transfer charger 4 for transferring the toner image onto the transfer paper P
2, a separation roller 43 for separating the transfer paper P after transfer from the photoconductor 1, and a transfer device 40 having a turn belt 44 for transferring the development on the photoconductor 1 to the recording paper P; The cleaning device 50 includes a cleaning roller 51 that removes residual toner on the photoconductor 1, a blade 52, and a discharge lamp 53.

In the above-mentioned wet electrophotographic copying machine, on the photoconductor 1 which has been uniformly charged to a positive polarity, for example, by the corona discharger 2 which is a charger, and which has the charges outside the image forming area removed by the eraser 3. Then, the original document on the contact glass is irradiated with a scanning illumination device, and the reflected light from the original document is exposed 20 through a scanning mirror, a lens, and a reflection mirror (none of which is shown), and the photoconductor 1 is statically exposed. Form a latent image.

Next, in the developing device 30, the two developing rollers 31 and 32, which are developer carrying members, are used to
The developer containing negatively charged toner is supplied to the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image, and then the reverse roller 33 removes the excess developer on the photoreceptor 1.

Next, on the peripheral surface of the photoconductor 1 that has passed through the portion facing the developing device 30, the transfer paper P that has been conveyed from the paper feed portion and is waiting at the registration roller 41 portion is transferred to the roller 41.
To transport the toner image at the same timing as the leading edge of the toner image. A charge having a polarity opposite to that of the toner is applied to the back surface of the transfer paper P that is in close contact with the photoconductor 1 by the transfer charge 42, and the toner image is transferred to the transfer paper P. The transfer paper P on which the toner image is transferred is separated from the photoconductor 1 by the separation roller 43 and the turn belt 44, and is ejected to the outside of the machine as a hard copy through a fixing device (not shown).

On the other hand, on the surface of the photoconductor 1 after the transfer, the residual toner is removed by the cleaning roller 51 and the cleaning blade 52 of the cleaning device 50 provided on the left side thereof, and the residual charge is discharged by the neutralization lamp 53. Is removed to prepare for the next uniform charging by the corona discharger 2.

3A and 3B are views for explaining the cleaning unit 50. FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the cleaning unit and FIG. 3B is a side view of the cleaning unit. After being supplied to the central portion of the cleaning unit 50 through the tube 100 and supplied to the cleaning roller 51 and the cleaning blade 52 by the distribution plate 101 to clean the surface of the photoconductor 1, it is collected in the bottom portion 103 of the casing 102. The casing bottom 103 is inclined from the rear side to the front side of the machine, and is returned to the developer tank through the drain tube 104.

[0008]

One of the major drawbacks of the wet type image forming apparatus as described above is the leakage of the developer.
In particular, the cleaning device cleans the excess developer on the latent image carrier,
Since the sludge-like developer is collected in the developer replenishing container, the sludge is likely to be accumulated inside and the flow of the developer is obstructed, so that the developer leak easily occurs. The developer leak not only stains the inside of the machine, but also flows out of the machine and stains the floor and jutan.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances. Before the developer leak occurs, first, a warning is displayed to the user, and then a warning is displayed to a serviceman. The present invention provides a wet image forming apparatus that prevents leakage.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, a latent image forming device for forming a latent image on the latent image carrier on the left and right of the latent image carrier and a cleaning for cleaning an excess developer on the latent image carrier. In a wet image forming apparatus having a device, the latent image forming apparatus supplies a developer from a developer supply container containing a developer, and the cleaning apparatus collects excess developer, wherein the cleaning apparatus includes: A recovery hole for recovering the recovered developer to the developer supply container is provided at one end, and the liquid level of the recovered developer after cleaning the latent image carrier is detected at the other end. A detection member, which detects the liquid level in two stages,
When the first stage is detected, copying is possible with a user guidance call. 2
It is characterized in that copying is not possible by a serviceman call when the stage is detected. Therefore, in the cleaning device, the liquid level is detected in two stages, and the leveling of the machine is performed by the user before the machine becomes unusable. In addition, even if the maintenance of the service person is poor, it is possible to issue a service call before the liquid drip occurs, thereby preventing the liquid drip which is one of the major drawbacks of the wet image forming apparatus. It was made possible.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a main part for explaining an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, parts having the same functions as those of the cleaning device shown in FIG. The same reference numerals as in the above are attached. Thus, in the present invention, a float switch 105 for detecting the liquid surface position in two stages is installed on the bottom 103 of the casing 102 on the machine rear side. Normally, the float switch 105 is OF
Although it is in the F state (FIG. 1 (A)), it may be inclined to the rear side of the machine depending on the conditions of the machine installation place. If this inclination is large, the developer liquid level on the rear side of the casing bottom 103 may be increased. Becomes higher and the first stage of the float switch 105 becomes O.
The N state is entered (FIG. 1 (B)).

Even in this state, the machine can be copied,
When the main switch is turned on, a message "Machine is installed tilted rearward, please level it" is displayed on the operation unit (not shown) by the ON signal. Next, as the machine is used more, the sludge H of the developer is accumulated on the bottom 103 of the casing. A service person may perform regular cleaning, but it is rarely done overseas. Is the actual situation,
When the sludge H accumulates abnormally, the casing bottom 10
The flow of the developer of No. 3 becomes worse, the liquid surface of the developer on the rear side of the casing bottom 103 becomes higher, and the second stage of the float switch 105 is turned on (FIG. 1C). This ON signal disables copying of the machine, and "service call" is displayed on the operation unit (not shown).

[0013]

According to the present invention, a latent image forming device for forming a latent image on the latent image carrier and a cleaning device for cleaning an excess developer on the latent image carrier are provided on the left and right sides of the latent image carrier. Then
In a wet-type image forming apparatus in which a developer is supplied from a developer supply container containing a developer to the latent image forming apparatus, and excess developer is collected in the cleaning apparatus, the cleaning apparatus collects at one end. Has a recovery hole for recovering the recovered developer into the developer supply container, and has a detection member at the other end for detecting the liquid level of the recovered developer after cleaning the latent image carrier. , The detection member detects the liquid level in two steps, and when the first step is detected, copying is possible with a user guidance call, and when the second step is detected, copying is not possible with a serviceman call, so the machine cannot be used. The user can perform leveling of the machine before the problem occurs, and even if the maintenance of the service person is poor, a service call can be issued before the liquid drip occurs, which is a major drawback of the wet image forming apparatus. No liquid drip is one It can be prevented in.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a main part configuration diagram for explaining an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of essential parts near a photoconductor in an electrophotographic copying machine.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a conventional cleaning unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Photoreceptor, 2 ... Corona discharger, 3 ... Eraser, 10 ...
Charging charger, 20 ... Exposure light, 30 ... Developing device, 3
1, 32 ... Developing roller, 33 ... Reverse roller, 40 ...
Transfer device, 41 ... Registration roller, 42 ... Transfer charger, 43 ... Separation roller, 44 ... Turn belt, 50 ...
Cleaning device, 51 ... Cleaning roller, 52 ...
Blade, 53 ... static elimination lamp, 100 ... tube, 10
1 ... Distribution plate, 102 ... Casing, 103 ... Casing bottom, 104 ... Drain tube, 105 ... Float S
W.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A latent image forming device for forming a latent image on the latent image carrier and a cleaning device for cleaning an excess developer on the latent image carrier are provided on the left and right sides of the latent image carrier. In a wet-type image forming apparatus in which a developer is supplied from a developer supply container containing a developer to the forming apparatus, and excess developer is collected in the cleaning apparatus, the cleaning apparatus has a developer collected at one end. Has a recovery hole for recovering to the developer replenishing container, and has a detection member at the other end for detecting the liquid level of the recovered developer from which the latent image carrier has been cleaned. The wet image forming apparatus is characterized in that the member detects the liquid level in two stages, the user guidance call can be used for copying when the first stage is detected, and the serviceman call cannot be used when the second stage is detected. .