EP0032424B1 - Apparatus for developing latent images - Google Patents

Apparatus for developing latent images Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0032424B1
EP0032424B1 EP19810300054 EP81300054A EP0032424B1 EP 0032424 B1 EP0032424 B1 EP 0032424B1 EP 19810300054 EP19810300054 EP 19810300054 EP 81300054 A EP81300054 A EP 81300054A EP 0032424 B1 EP0032424 B1 EP 0032424B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
belt
developer material
developer
magnetic
tubular member
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
EP19810300054
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0032424A1 (en
Inventor
John J. Kopko
Dan A. Hays
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Xerox Corp
Original Assignee
Xerox Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Xerox Corp filed Critical Xerox Corp
Publication of EP0032424A1 publication Critical patent/EP0032424A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0032424B1 publication Critical patent/EP0032424B1/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/75—Details relating to xerographic drum, band or plate, e.g. replacing, testing
    • G03G15/754—Details relating to xerographic drum, band or plate, e.g. replacing, testing relating to band, e.g. tensioning
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/06—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing
    • G03G15/08—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing using a solid developer, e.g. powder developer
    • G03G15/0806—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing using a solid developer, e.g. powder developer on a donor element, e.g. belt, roller
    • G03G15/0813—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing using a solid developer, e.g. powder developer on a donor element, e.g. belt, roller characterised by means in the developing zone having an interaction with the image carrying member, e.g. distance holders
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G2215/00—Apparatus for electrophotographic processes
    • G03G2215/06—Developing structures, details
    • G03G2215/0602—Developer
    • G03G2215/0604—Developer solid type
    • G03G2215/0607—Developer solid type two-component
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G2215/00—Apparatus for electrophotographic processes
    • G03G2215/06—Developing structures, details
    • G03G2215/0634—Developing device
    • G03G2215/0636—Specific type of dry developer device
    • G03G2215/0648—Two or more donor members

Definitions

  • This invention relates generally to electrophotographic printing, and more particularly concerns an apparatus for developing a latent image.
  • the developer material is made from a mixture of carrier granules and toner particles.
  • the toner particles adhere triboelectrically to the carrier granules.
  • This two-component mixture is brought into contact with the latent image.
  • Toner particles are attracted from the carrier granules to the latent image forming the powder image thereof.
  • Different techniques have been utilized to improve development of the latent image. For example, cascade systems, fur brush systems, magnetic brush systems and combinations of these systems have heretofore been used in electrophotographic printing machines.
  • U.S. Patent No. 4,013,041 discloses an electrophotographic printing machine having a magnetic brush developer roller contacting one side of a flexible photoconductive belt. As shown in Figure 3, guide rollers maintain a portion of the belt in a slackened condition so that the belt is capable of moving freely toward and away from the developer roller in response to the varying contours thereof.
  • the present invention provides means for compressing the developer solely by the longitudinal tension in a belt-like member pushed out of its path by developer carried by a transport member, and is as claimed in the appended claims.
  • the electrophotographic printing machine employs a belt 10 having a photoconductive surface deposited on a conductive substrate.
  • the photoconductive surface comprises a transport layer containing small molecules of m-TDB dispersed in a polycarbonate, and a generation layer of trigonal selenium.
  • the conductive substrate is made preferably from aluminized Mylar (trademark) which is electrically grounded.
  • Belt 10 moves in the direction of arrow 12 to advance successive portions of the photoconductive surface sequentially through the various processing stations disposed about the path of movement thereof.
  • the path of belt 10 is defined by stripping roller 14, tensioning system 16, and drive roller 18.
  • tension system 16 includes a roller 20 over which belt 10 moves.
  • Roller 20 is mounted rotatably in yoke 22.
  • drive roller 18 is mounted rotatably and in engagement with belt 10. Motor 26 rotates roller 18 to advance belt 10 in the direction of arrow 12. Roller 18 is coupled to motor 26 by suitable means such as a belt drive. Stripping roller 14 is freely rotatable so as to readily permit belt 10 to move in the direction of arrow 12 with a minimum of friction.
  • a corona-generating device indicated generally by the reference numeral 28, charges the photo- conductive surface of belt 10 to a relatively-high, substantially-uniform protential.
  • the charged portion of the photoconductive surface is advanced through exposure station B.
  • an original document 30 is positioned face-down upon transparent platen 32.
  • Lamps 34 flash light rays onto original document 30.
  • the light rays reflected from original document 30 are transmitted through lens 36 forming a light image thereof.
  • Lens 36 focuses the light image onto the charged portion of the photo- conductive surface to selectively dissipate the charge thereon. This records an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductive surface which corresponds to the informational areas on original document 30.
  • belt 10 advances the electrostatic latent image recorded on the photo-conductive surface to development station C.
  • a magnetic brush development system indicated generally by the reference numeral 38, advances a conductive developer material into contact with the electrostatic latent image.
  • magnetic brush development system 38 includes a developer roller 40 and a transport roller 42.
  • Developer roller 40 transports a brush of developer material comprising magnetic carrier granules and toner particles into contact with belt 10.
  • developer roller 40 is positioned such that the brush of developer material deforms belt 10 in an arc such that belt 10 conforms, at least partially, to the configuration of the developer material.
  • the electrostatic latent image attracts the toner particles from the carrier granules, forming a toner powder image on the photoconductive surface of belt 10.
  • Transport roller 42 returns the unused developer material to the sump of development system 38 for subsequent re-use.
  • the detailed structure of magnetic brush development system 38 will be described hereinafter with reference to Figures 3 and 4.
  • Belt 10 then advances the toner powder image to transfer station D.
  • a sheet of support material 44 is moved into contact with the toner powder image.
  • the sheet of support material 44 is advanced to transfer station D by a sheet-feeding apparatus (not shown).
  • the sheet-feeding apparatus includes a feed roll contacting the uppermost sheet of a stack of sheets. The feed roll rotates so as to advance the uppermost sheet from the stack into a chute. The chute directs the advancing sheet of support material into contact with the photoconductive surface of belt 10 in a timed sequence so that the toner powder image developed thereon contacts the advancing sheet of support material at transfer station D.
  • Transfer station D includes a corona-generating device 46 which sprays ions onto the backside of sheet 44. This attracts the toner powder image from the photoconductive surface to sheet 44. After transfer, sheet 44 moves in the direction of arrow 48 onto a conveyor (not shown) which advances sheet 44 to fusing station E.
  • Fusing station E includes a fuser assembly, indicated generally by the reference numeral 50, which permanently affixes the transferred toner powder image to sheet 44.
  • fuser assembly 50 includes a heated fuser roller 52 and a back-up roller 54.
  • Sheet 44 passes between fuser roller 52 and back-up roller 54 with the toner powder image contacting fuser roller 52. In this manner, the toner powder image is permanently affixed to sheet 44.
  • a chute guides the advancing sheet 44 to a catch tray for subsequent removal from the printing machine by the operator.
  • Cleaning station F includes a rotatably-mounted fibrous brush 56 in contact with the photoconductive surface. The particles are cleaned from the photoconductive surface by the rotation of brush 56 in contact therewith. Subsequent to cleaning, a discharge lamp (not shown) floods photoconductive surface 12 with light to dissipate any residual electrostatic charge remaining thereon prior to the charging thereof for the next sucessive imaging cycle.
  • tensioning system 16 includes roller 20 having belt 10 passing thereover.
  • Roller 20 is mounted in suitable bearings in a yoke, indicated generally by the reference numeral 22.
  • yoke 22 includes a U-shaped member 58 supporting roller 20 and a rod 60 secured to the mid-point of cross member 62 of U-shaped member 58.
  • a coil spring 64 is wrapped around rod 60.
  • Rod 60 is mounted slidably in the printing machine frame 66.
  • Spring 64 is compressed between cross member 62 and frame 66. Compressed spring 64 resiliently urges yoke 22 and, in turn, roller 20 against belt 10.
  • Spring 64 is designed to have the appropriate spring constant such that when placed under the desired compression, belt 10 is tensioned to about 0.1 kilograms per linear centimeter. Belt 10 is maintained under a sufficiently-low tension to enable the developer material on developer roller 40 to deform belt 10 through an arc ranging from about 10° to about 40°.
  • Development system 38 includes a housing 66 defining a chamber for storing a supply of developer material therein.
  • a cylindrical member 68 mounted rotatably in the chamber of housing 66, includes a plurality of vanes extending outwardly therefrom so as to act as a paddle wheel when rotating in the direction of arrow 70. In this way, cylindrical member 68 advances the developer material in an upward direction to developer roller 40.
  • a metering blade 71 is positioned closely adjacent to developer roller 40 defining a gap therebetween through which the developer material passes. This gap regulates the quantity of developer material being advanced into development zone 72 by developer roller 40.
  • metering blade 71 extends in a longitudinal direction substantially across the width of developer roller 40 so as to provide a uniform gap controlling the quantity of material being moved into development zone 72.
  • the other end portion of metering blade 71 is secured to housing 66.
  • Developer roller 40 includes a non-magnetic tubular member 74 journaled for rotation.
  • tubular member 74 is made from aluminum having the exterior circumferential surface thereof roughened.
  • An elongated magnet76 is positioned concentrically within tubular member 74 being spaced from the interior circumferential surface thereof. Magnet 76 has a plurality of magnetic poles impressed thereon.
  • magnet 74 comprises a keeper having a layer of magnetic rubber secured thereto.
  • the layer of magnetic rubber is omitted in the region of development zone 72.
  • no magnetic poles are positioned in development zones 72, i.e. in the nip opposed from belt 10. In this way, the magnetic poles generate a strong magnetic field in the development zone entrance and a weak magnetic field in the development zone itself.
  • the radial magnetic field in the development zone is preferably about 0.01 T.
  • Tubular member 74 is electrically biased by a voltage source (not shown) to a suitable polarity and magnitude, preferably to a level intermediate that of the background voltage level and the image voltage level recorded on the photo- conductive surface of belt 10.
  • the voltage source preferably electrically biases tubular member 74 to a voltage ranging from 50 to 350 volts.
  • a motor 90 ( Figure 4) rotates tubular member 74 at a constant angular velocity.
  • a brush of developer material is formed on the peripheral surface of tubular member 74. As tubular member 74 rotates in the direction of arrow 78, the brush of developer material advances into contact with belt 10 in development zone 72.
  • the compressed pile height of the developer material in development zone 70 ranges from about 0,4 to 1,5 mm.
  • the brush of developer material in development zone 72 deforms belt 10.
  • belt 10 is deformed in development zone 72 so as to form an arc about tubular member 74.
  • the deformation arc ranges from about 10° to about 40°.
  • Magnet 76 is preferably mounted stationarily being arranged to attract the developer material thereto because of the magnetic properties of the carrier granules which have the toner particles adhering triboelectrically thereto. These toner particles are attracted from the carrier granules to the latent image in the development zone so as to form a toner powder image on the photo- conductive surface of belt 10.
  • transport roller 42 After the electrostatic latent image has been developed, the unused developer material and denuded carrier granules are received by transport roller 42.
  • Transport roller 42 inrl. !-:!es a non-magnetic tubular member 80 journaled for rotation.
  • tubular member 80 is made from -aluminum having the exterior circumferential surface thereof roughened.
  • tubular member 80 is spaced from belt 10.
  • An elongated magnet 82 is disposed interiorly of tubular member 80 and spaced therefrom.
  • magnet 82 comprises a keeper having a layer of magnetic rubber secured thereto. Magnetic poles are impressed about the magnet, with the exit region being devoid of magnetic poles.
  • Cross-mixer 86 includes a plurality of spaced, transversely-extending baffles arranged to cause the unused developer material and denuded carrier granules to mix with new toner particles being furnished to the development system.
  • Toner dispenser 88 is positioned above cross-mixer 86 so as to furnish a supply of new toner particles to the development system.
  • toner dispenser 88 includes a helical auger positioned in a flexible, elongated tube having a plurality of apertures therein.
  • the tube extends across housing 66 above cross-mixer 86.
  • This tube is also connected to a remotely located supply of toner particles.
  • the helical auger advances the toner particles along the tube to be dispensed through the apertures therein into cross-mixer 86.
  • cross-mixer 86 the new toner particles mix with the denuded carrier granules and unused developer material.
  • a new supply of developer material is continually returned to the sump of housing 66 in the region of cylindrical member 68 for subsequent re-use in developing the electrostatic latent image recorded on belt 10.
  • the developer material includes carrier granules having a feromagnetic core with a thin layer of magnetite overcoated with a noncontinuous layer of resinous material.
  • Suitable resins include polyvinylidene fluoride and polyvinylidene fluor ⁇ deco-tetrafluoroethylene.
  • the developer materials can be prepared by mixing the carrier granules with the toner particles. Generally, any of the toner particles known in the art are suitable for mixing with the carrier granules. Suitable toner particles are prepared by finely grinding a resinous material and mixing it with a coloring material.
  • the resinous material may be a vinyl polymer such as polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinylacetals, polyvinyl ether, and poly acrylic.
  • Suitable coloring materials may be, amongst, others, chromogen black and solvent black.
  • the developer material comprises about 95% to about 99% by weight of carrier granules, and from about 5% to about 1% by weight of toner particles.
  • FIG 4 there is shown a drive system for developer roller 40.
  • magnet 76 is positioned concentrically and stationarily within tubular member 74.
  • Tubular member 74 is coupled to motor 90.
  • motor 90 rotates tubular member 74 at a substantially-constant angular velocity.
  • Magnet 76 has the exterior circumferential surface thereof spaced from the interior circumferential surface of tubular member 74. In this way, the magnetic field generated by magnet 76 attracts the developer material to the exterior circumferential surface of tubular member 74.
  • motor 90 rotates tubular member 74 in the direction of arrow 78 ( Figure 3), the developer material is advanced into development zone 72. The advancing developer material contacts belt 10, and deforms belt 10 in an arc.
  • the development apparatus of the present invention has a developer roller positioned closely adjacent to the photoconductive surface of a belt so as to transport developer material into contact with the latent image in the development zone.
  • the belt is maintained at a pre-selected tension of sufficient magnitude to enable the developer material being transported into contact therewith by the developer roller to deform the belt in the development zone. In this way, the belt conforms, at least partially, to the developer material being transported into contact therewith so as to improve significantly development of the latent image.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Dry Development In Electrophotography (AREA)
  • Magnetic Brush Developing In Electrophotography (AREA)
EP19810300054 1980-01-11 1981-01-07 Apparatus for developing latent images Expired EP0032424B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US11145080A 1980-01-11 1980-01-11
US111450 1987-10-22

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0032424A1 EP0032424A1 (en) 1981-07-22
EP0032424B1 true EP0032424B1 (en) 1985-04-24

Family

ID=22338621

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19810300054 Expired EP0032424B1 (en) 1980-01-11 1981-01-07 Apparatus for developing latent images

Country Status (6)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0032424B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
JP (1) JPS56104359A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
AR (1) AR228585A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
BR (1) BR8100129A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
CA (1) CA1140806A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE3170076D1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CA1169716A (en) * 1980-06-02 1984-06-26 Xerox Corporation Self-agitated development process
US4544618A (en) * 1982-01-18 1985-10-01 Xerox Corporation Development process utilizing conductive materials
JPS604965A (ja) * 1983-06-13 1985-01-11 ゼロツクス・コ−ポレ−シヨン 電子写真式複写機の現像装置
US4537494A (en) * 1984-01-26 1985-08-27 Xerox Corporation Multi-roll development system
KR0159306B1 (ko) * 1993-01-13 1999-03-20 모리시타 요이찌 전자사진장치

Family Cites Families (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3880518A (en) * 1974-06-21 1975-04-29 Xerox Corp Floating developer platen for reproduction apparatus
US3974952A (en) * 1974-09-10 1976-08-17 Eastman Kodak Company Web tracking apparatus
US4013041A (en) * 1975-10-24 1977-03-22 Eastman Kodak Company Self-compensating photoconductor web
GB1549413A (en) * 1976-08-16 1979-08-08 Eskofot Res As Method and apparatus for triboelectrically charging toner particles in a xerographic system
JPS5360237A (en) * 1976-11-11 1978-05-30 Ricoh Co Ltd Developing device for electrophotographic copier
US4106562A (en) * 1977-05-16 1978-08-15 Union Oil Company Of California Wellhead apparatus
JPS5477140U (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1977-10-28 1979-06-01
JPS5477140A (en) * 1977-12-01 1979-06-20 Ricoh Co Ltd Electrostatic latent image developing apparatus
US4279496A (en) * 1979-05-21 1981-07-21 Xerox Corporation Belt support system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS56104359A (en) 1981-08-20
DE3170076D1 (en) 1985-05-30
CA1140806A (en) 1983-02-08
BR8100129A (pt) 1981-07-28
EP0032424A1 (en) 1981-07-22
JPH0338594B2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1991-06-11
AR228585A1 (es) 1983-03-30

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