EP0368617B1 - Appareil de formation d'images avec des moyens de contrôle de l'attraction électrostatique de matière de transfert - Google Patents

Appareil de formation d'images avec des moyens de contrôle de l'attraction électrostatique de matière de transfert Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0368617B1
EP0368617B1 EP19890311512 EP89311512A EP0368617B1 EP 0368617 B1 EP0368617 B1 EP 0368617B1 EP 19890311512 EP19890311512 EP 19890311512 EP 89311512 A EP89311512 A EP 89311512A EP 0368617 B1 EP0368617 B1 EP 0368617B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
transfer
image
transfer material
attraction
conveying belt
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 - Lifetime
Application number
EP19890311512
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0368617A2 (fr
EP0368617A3 (en
Inventor
Takashi Hasegawa
Atsushi Takeda
Kenichi Matsumoto
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.)
Canon Inc
Original Assignee
Canon Inc
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Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from JP63281596A external-priority patent/JP2701154B2/ja
Priority claimed from JP32203688A external-priority patent/JPH02168287A/ja
Application filed by Canon Inc filed Critical Canon Inc
Publication of EP0368617A2 publication Critical patent/EP0368617A2/fr
Publication of EP0368617A3 publication Critical patent/EP0368617A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0368617B1 publication Critical patent/EP0368617B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime 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
    • G03G15/14—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for transferring a pattern to a second base
    • G03G15/16—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for transferring a pattern to a second base of a toner pattern, e.g. a powder pattern, e.g. magnetic transfer
    • G03G15/163—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for transferring a pattern to a second base of a toner pattern, e.g. a powder pattern, e.g. magnetic transfer using the force produced by an electrostatic transfer field formed between the second base and the electrographic recording member, e.g. transfer through an air gap
    • G03G15/1635—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for transferring a pattern to a second base of a toner pattern, e.g. a powder pattern, e.g. magnetic transfer using the force produced by an electrostatic transfer field formed between the second base and the electrographic recording member, e.g. transfer through an air gap the field being produced by laying down an electrostatic charge behind the base or the recording member, e.g. by a corona device
    • G03G15/165—Arrangements for supporting or transporting the second base in the transfer area, e.g. guides
    • G03G15/1655—Arrangements for supporting or transporting the second base in the transfer area, e.g. guides comprising a rotatable holding member to which the second base is attached or attracted, e.g. screen transfer holding drum
    • 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
    • G03G15/65—Apparatus which relate to the handling of copy material
    • G03G15/6555—Handling of sheet copy material taking place in a specific part of the copy material feeding path
    • G03G15/6558—Feeding path after the copy sheet preparation and up to the transfer point, e.g. registering; Deskewing; Correct timing of sheet feeding to the transfer point
    • G03G15/6561—Feeding path after the copy sheet preparation and up to the transfer point, e.g. registering; Deskewing; Correct timing of sheet feeding to the transfer point for sheet registration
    • 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
    • G03G15/14—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for transferring a pattern to a second base
    • G03G15/16—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for transferring a pattern to a second base of a toner pattern, e.g. a powder pattern, e.g. magnetic transfer
    • G03G15/1665—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for transferring a pattern to a second base of a toner pattern, e.g. a powder pattern, e.g. magnetic transfer by introducing the second base in the nip formed by the recording member and at least one transfer member, e.g. in combination with bias or heat
    • 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
    • G03G2215/00362—Apparatus for electrophotographic processes relating to the copy medium handling
    • G03G2215/00367—The feeding path segment where particular handling of the copy medium occurs, segments being adjacent and non-overlapping. Each segment is identified by the most downstream point in the segment, so that for instance the segment labelled "Fixing device" is referring to the path between the "Transfer device" and the "Fixing device"
    • G03G2215/00409—Transfer device
    • 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
    • G03G2215/00362—Apparatus for electrophotographic processes relating to the copy medium handling
    • G03G2215/00367—The feeding path segment where particular handling of the copy medium occurs, segments being adjacent and non-overlapping. Each segment is identified by the most downstream point in the segment, so that for instance the segment labelled "Fixing device" is referring to the path between the "Transfer device" and the "Fixing device"
    • G03G2215/00413—Fixing device
    • 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
    • G03G2215/00362—Apparatus for electrophotographic processes relating to the copy medium handling
    • G03G2215/00535—Stable handling of copy medium
    • G03G2215/00611—Detector details, e.g. optical detector
    • 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
    • G03G2215/00362—Apparatus for electrophotographic processes relating to the copy medium handling
    • G03G2215/00535—Stable handling of copy medium
    • G03G2215/00649—Electrodes close to the copy feeding path
    • 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
    • G03G2215/00362—Apparatus for electrophotographic processes relating to the copy medium handling
    • G03G2215/00535—Stable handling of copy medium
    • G03G2215/00654—Charging device
    • 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
    • G03G2215/00362—Apparatus for electrophotographic processes relating to the copy medium handling
    • G03G2215/00535—Stable handling of copy medium
    • G03G2215/00717—Detection of physical properties
    • G03G2215/00772—Detection of physical properties of temperature influencing copy sheet handling
    • 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
    • G03G2215/00362—Apparatus for electrophotographic processes relating to the copy medium handling
    • G03G2215/00535—Stable handling of copy medium
    • G03G2215/00717—Detection of physical properties
    • G03G2215/00776—Detection of physical properties of humidity or moisture influencing copy sheet handling

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to an image forming apparatus for forming an image on an image receiving member, in which the image receiving member is electrostatically attracted to a carrying means by the action of an attraction means.
  • an image forming apparatus is known from the document DE-A-2 027 008.
  • the invention relates to a monochromatic or multi-color image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine or a monochromatic or color printer provided with an image transfer device wherein a transfer material is electrostatically attracted and carried on transfer material carrying means; an electric field is applied to the transfer material to transfer onto the transfer material a visualized image formed with a developer on an image bearing member such as an electrophotographic photosensitive member.
  • a monochromatic or multi-color image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine or a monochromatic or color printer provided with an image transfer device wherein a transfer material is electrostatically attracted and carried on transfer material carrying means; an electric field is applied to the transfer material to transfer onto the transfer material a visualized image formed with a developer on an image bearing member such as an electrophotographic photosensitive member.
  • a typical image forming apparatus of this type has a structure shown in Figure 19, for example.
  • the structure will be described in detail.
  • the primary charger 2 and the developing device 4 define a clearance therebetween, through which image exposure light 3 is projected onto the outer periphery of the photosensitive drum 1 from image exposure means.
  • the transfer material conveying belt 5 is stretched around the metal rollers 13, 14 and 15 generally in the form of triangle.
  • the metal rollers 13, 14 and 15 are electrically grounded.
  • the transfer material conveying belt 5 is rotatable in the direction indicated by an arrow in Figure 19 (counterclockwise direction) by a driving motor, not shown, operatively coupled with the metal roller 15.
  • an attraction charger 6 for attracting the transfer material P which is a member for receiving the image onto the transfer material conveying belt 5, an opposing roller 7, a charge removing discharger 11 and a fur brush cleaner 12.
  • the residual developer remaining on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 1 is scraped off by the cleaner 9, and the residual electric charge remaining on the outer periphery of the photosensitive drum 1 is removed by the pre-exposure lamp 10. Thereafter, the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 1 is uniformly charged by the primary charger 2. After the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 is uniformly charged by the primary charger 2, image exposure light 3 is projected onto the photosensitive drum 1 surface, by which an electrostatic latent image is formed corresponding to original image information on the photosensitive drum 1. After the electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1, the developing device 4 is operated to visualize the electrostatic latent image. With continued rotation of the photosensitive drum 1 (clockwise direction in Figure 19), the visualized image is conveyed to an image transfer station where the outer surface of the photosensitive drum 1 and the transfer charger 8 are opposed to each other.
  • the transfer material P is supplied by an unshown sheet supply system in the direction indicated by an arrow A in Figure 19.
  • the transfer material P conveyed to the transfer material conveying belt 5 is attracted on the transfer material conveying belt 5 by applying to the attraction charger 6 a high DC voltage or a high DC-biased AC voltage.
  • the attraction charge is injected by the opposing roller 7 functioning as an opposite electrode of the attraction charger 6, and the transfer material P is press-contacted to the transfer material conveying belt 5 by the roller 7.
  • the transfer material P thus attracted and pre-contacted on the transfer material conveying belt 5 is carried to the above-described station by movement of the transfer material conveying belt 5, and the visualized image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 is transferred onto the transfer material P by applying to the transfer charger 8 a high voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the charge of the developer forming the visualized image.
  • the transfer material P onto which the visualized image has been transferred by the transfer charger 8 is electrically discharged by the discharger 11 supplied with a high AC voltage. Then, the transfer material P is separated from the transfer material conveying belt 5, and thereafter, it is conveyed in the direction B in Figure 19 to an image fixing device (not shown) where the image is fixed.
  • the developer remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 is removed by the cleaner 9, and the residual electric charge remaining on the photosensitive drum 1 is removed by the pre-exposure lamp 10 having sufficient illumination, by which the photosensitive drum 1 is prepared for the next image formation process.
  • the level of the high voltage applied to the attraction charger 6 is constant irrespective of whether variation in the ambience conditions under which the image forming apparatus is installed, and therefore, the attraction of the transfer material P to the transfer material conveying belt 5 is performed with the constant voltage.
  • the volume resistivity of the transfer material P used is lower approximately by two orders than when the image forming apparatus is placed under a normal temperature and humidity condition (temperature of 23 °C and the relative humidity of 60 %, for example), in the case of the transfer material P made of paper, as regards the transfer material conveying belt 5, the surface resistance thereof decreases due to the moisture on the surface.
  • the constant voltage level applied to the attraction charger 6 is to low, with the result that the attraction of the transfer material P onto the transfer material conveying belt becomes insufficient. If this occurs, the transfer material P is shifted on the transfer material conveying belt 5, or it may be separated therefrom.
  • the volume resistivity of the transfer material P is higher approximately by two orders than when the image forming apparatus is placed under normal temperature and normal humidity condition (23 °C and 60 %), in the case of the transfer material P made of paper.
  • the transfer material conveying belt 5 the amount of moisture absorbed on the surface thereof decreases with the result that the surface resistance of the transfer material conveying belt 5 increases. Therefore, the constant voltage level is enough to provide sufficient attraction force between the transfer material P and the transfer material conveying belt 5.
  • a surface potential V1 of the transfer material conveying belt 5 before the execution of the image transfer process or operation and a surface potential V2 after the transfer operation are such that V1 ⁇ V2 when the polarity of the transfer charge is positive. It is empirically known that the difference between the voltages, that is, V2 - V1 is not less than 0.5 KV.
  • the transfer material conveying belt 5 receives a high potential by the attraction charging step, not only the difference V2 - V1, but also a difference (V3 - V′2) between the potential V′2 prior to the execution of the second transfer process and a potential V3 after the execution of the second image transfer process, a difference (V4 - V′3) between a potential V′3 prior to the execution of the third transfer process and a potential V4 after the execution of the third transfer process and a difference (V5 - V′4) between the potential V′4 prior to the execution of the fourth transfer process and the potential V5 after the execution of the fourth transfer process are all smaller than 0.5 KV. Therefore, the above-described improper image transfer occurs in the multi-colour electrophotographic copying machine.
  • Figure 1 is a sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure 2 is a block diagram illustrating a control system in the image forming apparatus in accordance with the first embodiment.
  • Figure 3 shows contents of a table stored in a memory shown in Figure 2.
  • Figure 4 shows another table stored also in the memory shown in Figure 2.
  • Figure 5 shows data on the basis of which the table shown in Figure 4 is determined.
  • Figure 6 illustrates measurement method of the attraction force to provide the force Fc shown in Figure 5.
  • Figure 7 is a sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure 8 is a block diagram illustrating a control system of the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment.
  • Figure 9 shows data on the basis of which the data of a table in Figure 10 is determined.
  • Figure 10 shows a table stored in a memory shown in Figure 8.
  • Figure 11 shows data on the basis of which a table of Figure 12 is determined and which is different from those shown in Figure 10.
  • Figure 12 shows a table having data different from that of Figure 10 stored in the memory of Figure 8.
  • Figure 13 is a sectional view of a color image forming apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure 14 is a block diagram illustrating a control system contained in the color image forming apparatus in accordance with the third embodiment.
  • Figure 15 shows data on the basis of which the proper attraction current data shown in table of Figure 16 are obtained.
  • Figure 16 shows a table contained in the memory shown in Figure 14.
  • Figure 17 shows data on the basis of which the proper transfer current data stored in the table of Figure 16 are obtained.
  • Figure 18 shows data obtained when the color image forming apparatus according to the third embodiment is operated, and the charge potential of the transfer sheet on the transfer drum is measured along the copy sequential operation.
  • Figure 19 shows an example of a conventional image forming apparatus.
  • Figure 20 is a sectional view of a color image forming apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure 21 is a sectional view of a color image forming apparatus according to a further embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure 22 is a sectional view of a conventional image forming apparatus.
  • FIG. 1 shows an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
  • the general structure of the image forming apparatus of the first embodiment is similar to the image forming apparatus shown in Figure 19.
  • the image forming apparatus is provided with a transfer material conveying belt as a transfer material carrying means.
  • a transfer material conveying belt as a transfer material carrying means.
  • a transfer material conveying belt stretched around metal rollers 13, 14 and 15, as major components.
  • the primary charger 2 and the developing device 4 define a clearance therebetween through which image exposure light 3 is projected onto the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 1 by an unshown image exposure means.
  • the transfer material conveying belt 5 is stretched around the metal rollers 13, 14 and 15 in the form of a triangle.
  • the metal rollers 13, 14 and 15 are electrically grounded.
  • the transfer material conveying belt 5 is rotated in the direction indicated by an arrow in Figure 1 (that is, the counterclockwise direction) by a driving motor (not shown) operatively coupled with the metal roller 15.
  • attraction charging means that is, an attraction charger 6 for attracting the transfer material P (image receiving material) onto the transfer material conveying belt 5, an opposing roller 7, a charge removing discharger 11 and a fur brush cleaner 12 and others.
  • the attraction charger 6 has a width of opening of 22 mm, and is disposed such that the distance between the discharging wire thereof and the transfer material conveying belt 5 is 11 mm.
  • the transfer material conveying belt 5 is made of PVdF (polyvinylidene fluoride) having a thickness of 150 microns. It is rotated at a peripheral speed of 160 mm/sec.
  • the opposing roller 7 is made of aluminum and has a diameter of 20 mm. It is electrically grounded and is rotatable following the transfer material conveying belt 5.
  • a temperature and humidity detecting means that is, a temperature and humidity sensor 16 is provided.
  • the temperature and humidity sensor 16 is disposed adjacent to the transfer material conveying belt 5 without interference with the moving transfer material P.
  • the temperature and humidity sensor 16 produces a voltage output in accordance with the temperature and humidity in the apparatus detected.
  • the image forming operation of the color image forming apparatus is the same as with Figure 19 apparatus, and therefore, the detailed description is omitted for simplicity.
  • FIG. 2 shows a control system of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment.
  • the temperature and humidity sensor 16 produces a temperature signal which will be hereinafter be called “T signal” and a humidity detection signal which will hereinafter be called “H signal”.
  • An A/D converter 506 converts the analog T signal to a digital signal and supplies it to I/O port 508, and an A/D converter 515 converts the H signal to a digital signal and supplies its to an I/O port 507.
  • a variable adjusting means that is, a CPU 510 leads the signals supplied to the I/O ports 507 and 508 prior to the series of image forming operations of the image forming apparatus.
  • the CPU 510 refers to a table 2 ( Figure 4) stored in the memory 511, and reads from the table 2 attraction current level data corresponding to the T signal and H signal. Then, it produces the attraction current level data through the I/O port 512 to a D/A converter 513.
  • the D/A converter 513 receives the attraction current level data produced from the CPU 510 through the I/O port 512 and converts it to an analog signal, which in turn is supplied to a high voltage power source 514. Then, the high voltage power source 514 supplies to the attraction charger 6 an attraction current on the basis of the attraction current level data.
  • the series of processing by the CPU 510 is executed prior to the image forming, that is, the copying operation.
  • FIG 3 shows the content of table 1 stored in the memory 511 shown in Figure 2.
  • the table 1 there are regions (1) - (6) divided and defined by plural constant moisture amount lines determined on the basis of the temperature and the humidity. It is reasonably deemed that in the same region, the charging property of the developer, the charging property of the transfer material P, and the moisture absorbing and charging properties of the transfer material carrying sheet (the transfer material conveying belt 5) are substantially the same, in other words, the ambience is substantially the same.
  • the data shown in Figure 4 are the content of the table 2 stored in the memory 511.
  • optimum attraction current levels at representative points in the regions (1) - (6) on the basis of the temperature and humidity of the ambience where the image forming apparatus is placed are contained correspondingly to the regions.
  • the representative regions are indicated by "x" in Figure 3.
  • the proper attraction current levels for the regions (1) - (6) shown in Figure 4 are determined through the following process. First, a representative point ("x" in Figure 3) in each of the regions (1) - (6) in Figure 3 is determined. Then, under the ambience represented by "x", a relationship is measured between the attraction current level and the attraction force between the transfer material P (80 g paper) and the transfer material conveying belt 5. The attraction force Fad between the transfer material P and the transfer material conveying belt 5 is determined in this embodiment in the following manner.
  • the attraction current Iad is supplied to the attraction charger 6 to attract the transfer material P to the transfer material conveying belt 5, and immediately thereafter, a spring balancer is engaged at a leading edge side of the transfer material with respect to the conveyance direction of the transfer material P, and the transfer material P is pulled along the conveying direction of the transfer material conveying belt by the spring balancer.
  • the critical tension force F (dyne) with which the transfer material P starts to slide on the transfer material conveying belt 5 is measured.
  • Figure 5 shows data determined by carrying out the measuring method described above for the respective regions (1) - (6).
  • FC indicates minimum required attraction force for conveying the transfer material P by the transfer material conveying belt 5. In this embodiment, it is approximately 50 dyne per cm2.
  • the optimum attraction current Iad shown in Figure 4 is set such that the attraction force Fad which is slightly larger than the attraction force FC shown in Figure 5, is provided.
  • the optimum attraction current is set to be 40 micro-ampere which is slightly higher than the determined optimum level, since this region is within unstable area in which the discharge from the attraction charger easily occurs with the determined attraction current.
  • the attraction charger 6 can be supplied with the attraction current which changes in accordance with the change of the volume resistivity of the transfer material P and the change of the surface resistance of the transfer material conveying belt 5 due to the change in the moisture absorption of the transfer material P.
  • FIG. 7 shows an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
  • an outside attraction charger 17 corona charger
  • the outside attraction charger 17 has the same structure as the attraction charger 6.
  • the outside attraction charger 17 has an opening width of 22 mm, and the distance between the discharging wire and the transfer material conveying belt 5 is 11 mm.
  • FIG 8 shows a control system incorporated in the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment.
  • the outside attraction charger 17 is used in place of the opposing roller 7, and therefore, the control system in this embodiment contains in addition to the elements contained in the control system of the first embodiment, an I/O port 516 connected with an outside attraction charger 17, a D/A converter 517 and a high voltage electric source 518.
  • the I/O port 516 corresponds to the I/O port 512
  • the D/A converter 517 corresponds to the D/A converter 513
  • the high voltage source 518 corresponds to the high voltage source 514, and therefore, the detailed description of those elements will be omitted for simplicity.
  • the series of processing operations by the CPU 510 is similar to that in Figure 1, and therefore, the detailed description thereof is omitted for simplicity.
  • Memory 511 stores a table 3 in place of the table 2 described in the foregoing.
  • the data contained in the table 3 are related to ambient conditions (regions (1) - (6)) under which the image forming apparatus is placed, an optimum attraction current (Iadi) to be supplied to the inside attraction charger 6 for each of the regions, and an optimum attraction current (Iado) supplied to the outside attraction charger 17 ( Figures 10 and 12).
  • the inside optimum attraction current and the outside optimum attraction current for each of the regions (1) - (6) shown in Figure 10 are determined through the following process.
  • Figure 9 shows the relation between the inside attraction current Iadi and the outside attraction current Iado in the regions (1) - (6) when the inside attraction current Iadi and the outside attraction current -Iado are changed at the same rate.
  • Figure 10 shows, as described hereinbefore, the inside optimum attraction current and the outside optimum attraction current are determined on the basis of Figure 9.
  • the curves determining the regions (1) - (6) shown in Figure 9 are generally steep, and particularly in the regions (1) and (2), the optimum level are set at the shoulder of the respective curves for stabilization against the steepness of the curves. For this reason, the actual attraction force is quite higher than the force indicated by the point FC indicating the critical attraction force in Figure 9.
  • Figure 11 shows the relation between the current Iadi and the attraction force when the current Iado is fixed at -100 micro-ampere.
  • Figure 12 shows the inside optimum attraction current determined on the basis of Figure 11.
  • the image forming operation of the image forming apparatus was performed under the conditions determined on the basis of the experiments (1) and (2), and good high quality copy images were provided without improper image transfer or oblique conveyance of the transfer material.
  • the regions shown in Figure 3 are defined, and the inside attraction current and the outside attraction current supplied through the inside attraction charger 6 and the outside attraction charger 17, respectively are controlled with the target levels of the inside optimum attraction current and the outside optimum attraction current determined on the basis of a selected one of the regions shown in Figure 3. Therefore, the inside attraction charger 6 and the outside attraction charger 17 can be supplied with the attraction currents corresponding to the change of the surface resistance of the transfer material conveying belt 5 and the change of the volume resistivity of the transfer material P due to the moisture absorption condition of the transfer material P.
  • FIG. 13 shows a color image forming apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
  • This color image forming apparatus is provided with a transfer material carrying means in the form of a transfer drum.
  • the general structure thereof is known, and therefore, the description will be made briefly.
  • an image transfer drum 18 having an outer peripheral opening region covered with a transfer sheet made of PVdF sheet having a thickness of 150 microns.
  • the transfer drum 18 is supported for rotation in the direction indicated by an arrow (clockwise direction) within the transfer drum 18, there are disposed an attraction charger 6, a transfer charger 8, a transfer sheet discharger 17a and a back-up brush 12b. Outside the transfer drum 18, opposite roller 7 is disposed opposed to the attraction charger 6, and in addition, a transfer material discharger 17b is disposed opposed to the transfer sheet discharger 17a.
  • Adjacent the transfer material discharger 17b, a separation discharger 11 and a separation pawl 21 are disposed, and also transfer sheet cleaning brush 12a and a temperature and humidity sensor are disposed.
  • a transfer material guiding mechanism for conveying and guiding the transfer material supplied from a sheet supply tray 22 mounted at the right side of the apparatus 100 in Figure 13.
  • the separation pawl 21 is provided, there is an image fixing device 19, and between the fixing device 19 and the separating pawl 21, a transfer material conveying belt is disposed.
  • an end of the discharge tray 20 is disposed at a position corresponding to the fixing device 19.
  • an original scanning station 3a constituting an optical system 3.
  • a color separation filter 3b constituting the optical system 3 together with the original scanning station 3a.
  • the original scanning station 3a comprises an original illuminating lamp, various reflection mirrors, a lens system, a color image sensor or the like.
  • an image bearing member in the form of a photosensitive drum 1 is disposed which has an outer periphery to which the outer periphery of the transfer drum 18 is contactable.
  • four developing devices which are movable in a horizontal plane adjacent to the outer periphery of the photosensitive drum.
  • the horizontally movable developing devices 4 will be described in detail hereinafter.
  • the photosensitive drum 1 is rotatable in the direction of arrow in Figure 13 (counterclockwise direction).
  • the transfer drum 1 various elements required for executing the image formation sequential operation together with the photosensitive drum 1 are disposed. They are the transfer drum 18, the transfer charger 8 and the horizontally movable developing devices which have been described hereinbefore, a cleaner 9, a primary charger 2 and the like.
  • the horizontally movable developing devices 4 will be described. They include a movable member 4a movable substantially in a horizontal plane, a yellow developing device 4Y, a magenta developing device 4M, a cyan developing device 4C and black developing device 4BK carried on the movable member 4a. The details of the respective elements and the image forming operations are not explained here, because they are known.
  • Figure 14 shows a control system employed in the color image forming apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention.
  • the attraction current supplied to the attraction charger 6 is controlled, and in addition the transfer current supplied to the transfer charger 8 is also controlled. Therefore, the control system in this embodiment includes in addition to the elements explained in conjunction with Figure 2, an I/O port 519 connected to the transfer charger 8, a D/A converter 520 and a high voltage power source 521.
  • the I/O port 519 corresponds to the I/O port 512; the D/A converter 521 corresponds to the D/A converter 513; and the high voltage source 521 corresponds to the high voltage source 514, and therefore, the detailed description of those elements are omitted for simplicity.
  • the series of operations of the CPU 510 are similar to the first embodiment, and therefore, the description thereof is omitted for simplicity.
  • the memory 511 stores a table 4 in place of the table 2 described hereinbefore.
  • the data in the table 4 contain ambient conditions (regions (1) - (6)) such as temperature and humidity under which the color image forming apparatus is placed shown in Figure 13, proper attraction currents (Iad) to the attraction charger 6 determined for the respective ambient conditions, and optimum transfer current levels supplied to the transfer charger 8 for the respective image transfer actions of yellow, magenta, cyan and black developed images ( Figure 16).
  • the optimum attraction current and the optimum transfer current for each of the regions (1) - (6) are determined through the following process. First, a representative point ("x" in Figure 3) is selected for each of the regions (1) - (6) in Figure 3. Then, the relation is determined between the attraction current Iad and the attraction force between the transfer material P (80 g sheet) and the transfer sheet at each of the representative points. Figures 15 and 16 show the data obtained.
  • the point F′C indicates a minimum required attraction force for the transfer sheet stretched over the opening of the transfer drum 18 to carry the transfer material P. In this embodiment, as will be understood from Figure 15, it is approximately 55 dyne/cm2.
  • the reason why the attraction force F′C is slightly larger than the attraction force FC in the foregoing embodiments is that the transfer drum 18 is employed in this embodiment, and therefore, the influence by the curvature of the transfer material supporting member has to be taken into account. Due to the curvature, the transfer material P tends to separate from the transfer drum or shift thereon due to the rigidity of the transfer material P.
  • an optimum attraction current level Iad is so selected that the attraction force Fad which is slightly larger than the attraction force FC can be provided.
  • the optimum attraction current Iad providing the attraction force F′C falls within a region in which the discharging operation is not stable, and therefore, the relatively low level 40 micro-ampere is selected in this embodiment although the optimum attraction current is desired to be as high as possible, for example, approximately 70 - 80 micro-ampere.
  • an optimum transfer current for the transfer of each of the visualized yellow, magenta, cyan and black images are determined.
  • the optimum transfer current shown in Figure 16 is determined in the manner shown in Figure 17.
  • the abscissa represents a transfer current supplied to the transfer charger 8 from the high voltage source 521, and the ordinate represents the transfer efficiency.
  • the transfer efficiency is determined in this manner.
  • An area of 50 mm x 50 mm is defined on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 1.
  • Latent image forming conditions and developing conditions are determined so as to provide a reflection image density of approximately 1.5, and a visualized image is formed on the photosensitive drum 1.
  • a curve (1) shows a relation between the transfer current and the transfer efficiency when an image visualized with a yellow developer (first developer) is transferred onto the transfer material P under the condition that the transfer material P is attracted on the transfer sheet with the attraction current Iad of 40 micro-ampere.
  • the transfer current In the region between 0 - 100 micro-amperes, the transfer current is so small that the transfer is not sufficient, whereas in the region between 120 - 320 micro-ampere, the transfer current is so sufficient for the good image transfer. In the region above the 340 micro-ampere, the transfer current is so large that the polarity of the charge of the developer once attracted to the transfer material P from the transfer drum 1 surface is reversed by the transfer charge supplied from the transfer charger 8, and therefore, the developer starts to transfer back from the transfer material P to the photosensitive drum 1 surface. From the characteristic curvature (1), the optimum transfer current (IY) in the region (1) when the first color developer is transferred is set to be 140 micro-ampere.
  • curve (2) shows a relation between the transfer current IM and the transfer efficiency during the image transfer step for a magenta developer (a second color developer) image when the transfer current IY during the first color developer transfer operation is 140 micro-ampere under the condition that the attraction current Iad is 40 micro-ampere.
  • the characteristic curve (2) shows the relation between the transfer current IM and the transfer efficiency as a result of the operation in which during execution of the image formation sequence under the region (1), the attraction current is set to 40 micro-ampere, and the transfer current for the first color is set to 140 micro-ampere, and thereafter, the second color transfer current IM is applied to the transfer charger 8. From the characteristic curve (2), the optimum transfer current (Im) in the region (1) during the transfer operation for the second color developer is set to 240 micro-ampere.
  • a curve (3) shows the relation between the transfer current Ic and the transfer efficiency during the image transfer process for a cyan developer (a third developer) image when the transfer current Iy in the first color developer image transfer is 140 micro-ampere, and the transfer current Im during the second color developer image transfer is 240 micro-ampere under the condition that the attraction current Iad is 40 micro-ampere in the region (1).
  • a curve (4) shows the relation between a transfer current Ibk and the transfer efficiency during the transfer process of a black developer (fourth developer) image when the transfer current Iy during the first color developer image transfer operation is 140 micro-ampere, and the transfer current Im during the second color developer image transfer operation is 240 micro-ampere, and the transfer current Ic during the third color developer image transfer operation is 340 micro-ampere, under the condition that the attraction current Iad in the region (1) is 40 micro-ampere.
  • the same method as in obtaining the characteristics curves (1) and (2) were used when the characteristic curve (3) and (4) are obtained.
  • the optimum transfer current (Ic) during the third color developer transfer operation is set to 340 micro-ampere
  • the optimum transfer current (Ibk) during the fourth color developer image transfer operation is set to 440 micro-ampere.
  • the currents are determined in the similar manner.
  • a curve (4)′ shows a relation between a transfer current Ibk relating to the fourth color developer and the transfer efficiency when the same experiments as above are performed under the condition that the attraction current Iad is 70 micro-ampere.
  • the level of the transfer current Ibk has a peak at a position where Ibk is approximately 400 micro-ampere, but the transfer efficiency is as low as 65 %.
  • the transferred image provided at this time was not good containing void spots.
  • the transfer efficiency providing a good high quality image is said to be not less than 75 %. Therefore, it is considered that the improper transfer results from too large attraction current which leads to saturation of the charge potential of the transfer sheet in the transfer process of the visualized image formed by the black developer (the fourth developer).
  • FIG. 18 shows the results.
  • the voltages (V2 - V1), (V3 - V′2), (V4 - V′3) and (V5 - V′4) were approximately 0.6 kV.
  • the voltage V5 - V′4 was 0.3 kV.
  • the currents to the attraction charger 6 and the transfer charger 8 are controlled to be constant, but a constant voltage control is possible.
  • the polarity is determined to be the same as the transfer charging, but it may be opposite.
  • the number of regions ((1) - (6)) may be increased or decreased as desired.
  • the transfer material is always attracted on the transfer material carrying means in good order irrespective of the variation in the ambient conditions under which the image forming apparatus is placed, and in addition, the image transfer operation can be performed properly.
  • a single photosensitive drum is used. Therefore, when toner images are transferred superimposedly onto the same transfer material, the transfer material is passed through the same transfer position a plurality of times.
  • the superimposed image formation on the same transfer material is possible by using plural photosensitive drums.
  • charging means are disposed to the opposite sides of the transfer material conveying belt, and the electrostatic force is applied from the belt side and the transfer material side to attract the transfer material onto the belt.
  • the description will be made as to such a case.
  • the apparatus comprises a transfer material conveying belt 608 (conveying means) for conveying transfer material 60, a fixing station 607 and four image forming stations or image formation units Pa, Pb, Pc and Pd juxtaposed along the conveyance direction of the transfer material conveying belt 608.
  • the image formation unit Pa, Pb, Pc and Pd each include a photosensitive drum 601a, 601b, 601c or 601d, latent image forming station 602a, 602b, 602c or 602d, a developing station 603a, 603b, 603c or 603d, a transfer station 604a, 604b, 604c or 604d and cleaning means 605a, 605b, 605c or 605d around the photosensitive drum 601a, 601b, 601c or 601d.
  • a latent image of an yellow component of an original image is formed on the photosensitive drum 601a through a known electrophotographic process by the latent image forming station 602a of the first image formation unit Pa. Thereafter, the latent image is visualized with a developer having yellow toner in the developing station 603a, and the yellow toner image thus formed is transferred onto a transfer material 606 in the transfer station 604a.
  • the second image formation unit Pb produces a latent image by the latent image forming station 602b on the photosensitive drum 601b for a latent image of a magenta component of the original image. Then, the developing station 603b develops the latent image to produce a magenta toner image.
  • the transfer material 606 having received the image from the first image formation unit Pa is introduced into the transfer station 604b of the second image formation unit Pb. Then, the magenta toner image is transferred onto the predetermined position on the transfer material 606.
  • the cyan color image and the black color images are formed in the similar manner, and are transferred onto the transfer material 606 to provide four color superposed toner image is formed.
  • the transfer material 606 is conveyed to an image fixing station 607 where it is subjected to an image fixing operation, whereby the multi-color or full-color image is fixed on the transfer material 606.
  • the respective photosensitive drums 601a, 601b, 601c and 601d are subjected to the cleaning operations by the cleaning means 605a, 605b, 605c and 605d, respectively so that the respective residual toners are removed to be prepared for the subsequent latent image forming operations.
  • the material constituting the transfer material conveying belt 608 a thin dielectric material sheet made of polyethylene terephthalate resin or polyimide resin is used.
  • the material proposed has a high tension elasticity and high transmission efficiency of the speed control of the transfer material conveying belt 608, and the volume resistivity is generally as high as 1016 ohm.cm, and therefore, it is preferable for attracting the transfer material 606 on the transfer material conveying belt 608.
  • the belt of such a material is used for the transfer material conveying belt 608 of the color image forming apparatus, plural image transfer operations are carried out for one image forming process, and the transfer material conveying belt 608 is electrically charged each time the image transfer process is executed.
  • the uniform image transfer can not be maintained unless the transfer current is sequentially increased with the repetition of the transfer process. Therefore, before completion of one image formation process, it is preferable that the residual electric charge on the transfer material conveying belt 608 is removed by some means such as a discharging brush or an AC discharger down to a predetermined low potential level. If the discharging brush which is advantageous from the standpoint of cost is used, non-uniform discharge tends to occur, and the portions of the transfer material conveying belt 608 which are not sufficiently discharged result in improper image transfer in the transfer process in the next image formation. On the other hand, if the AC discharger is used, the attraction charging has to be performed after the discharging with the result of wasteful consumption of power, although the above-describe non-uniform discharging can be eliminated.
  • some means such as a discharging brush which is advantageous from the standpoint of cost is used, non-uniform discharge tends to occur, and the portions of the transfer material conveying belt 608 which are not sufficiently discharged result in improper image transfer in
  • an outlet 614 for the transfer material and an image fixing device 607 is faced to the outlet 614 at the left side of the main body 610 of the image forming apparatus in Figure 21.
  • a sheet feeding mechanism 613 is disposed at the right side of the main body 610 of the apparatus in Figure 21.
  • the transfer material conveying belt 608 is stretched.
  • the belt 608 is in the form of an endless belt which is stretched between driving roller means, that is, a driving roller 611 disposed adjacent to the sheet feeding mechanism 613 and follower roller means, that is, an idler roller 612 disposed adjacent to the fixing device 607.
  • the tension of the belt is adjustable by an adjusting roller 676. Further, in the region from the driving roller 611 to the idler roller 612, the image formation unit Pa, Pb, Pc and Pd are juxtaposed adjacent to the transfer material conveying belt 608 in the order named from the sheet feeding mechanism 613.
  • the transfer material conveying belt 608 is driven in the direction of an arrow in Figure 21 by the driving roller 611 to receive the transfer material 606 fed from a sheet feeding mechanism 613 and to convey it to the image formation units Pa, Pb, Pc and Pd sequentially.
  • the transfer material conveying belt 608 is made of a material having a small elongation to efficiently transfer the rotation control of the driving roller 611 and having not significant influence to the transfer corona current during the transfer process, such as polyurethane belt having a thickness of 100 microns, a rubber hardness of 97 ° D and attention elasticity of 16000 kg/cm2, available from Hokushin Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Japan.
  • the sheet feeding mechanism 613 comprises a sheet feeding guide 651 for guiding the transfer material 606 externally supplied, a pair of registration rollers a sensor 6052 for producing an output signal when it detect a leading edge of the transfer material 606 moving in the sheet feeding guide 651. It delivers the transfer material 606 from the driving roller 611 to the transfer material conveying belt 608.
  • the fixing device 607 receives the transfer material 606 from the idler roller 612 side and fixes the visualized image transferred onto the transfer material 606 by the image formation units Pa, Pb, Pc and Pc.
  • the image formation units Pa, Pb, Pc and Pd have substantially the same structure.
  • Each of the image formation units Pa, Pb, Pc and Pd comprises a latent image bearing member in the form of an electrophotographic photosensitive drum 601a, 601b, 601c and 601d rotatable in the direction indicated by an arrow, a charger 615a, 615b, 615c or 615d, a developing device 603a, 603b, 603c or 603d, a transfer discharger 604a, 604b, 604c or 604d, cleaning means 605a, 605b, 605c or 605d and a laser beam scanner 616a, 616b, 616c or 616d which are disposed around the associated one of the photosensitive drums in the order named in the direction of the drum rotation.
  • the developing devices 603a, 603b, 603c and 603d contain yellow toner, magenta toner, cyan toner and black toner, respectively.
  • Each of the laser beam scanners 616a, 616b, 616c and 616d comprises a semiconductor laser, a polygonal mirror and an f- ⁇ lens. It receives electric digital dot signals to produce a laser beam modulated in accordance with the signal to scan the drum surface in the direction of the generating line of the drum at a position between the charger 615a, 615b, 615c or 615d and the developing device 603a, 603b, 603c or 603d to expose imagewisely each of the drums to the respective laser beam scanners 616a, 616b, 616c and 616d, picture element signals corresponding to an yellow component image, a magenta component image, a cyan component image and a black component image are supplied, respectively.
  • a first charging means that is, an attraction charger 659 and a second charging means, that is, an attraction charger 662 are disposed with the transfer material conveying belt 608 therebetween.
  • the attraction chargers 659 and 662 effect corona discharge in order to assuredly attract the transfer material 606 supplied from the sheet feeding mechanism 613 to the transfer material conveying belt 608.
  • the attraction charger 659 and the attraction charger 662 will be described further hereinafter.
  • a discharger 661 is disposed between the image formation unit Pd and the fixing device 607 substantially right above the idler roller 612. To the discharger 661, an AC voltage is applied to separate the transfer material 606 from the conveying belt 608.
  • a sensor 660a, 660b, 660c or 660d Upstream of each of the image formation units Pa, Pb, Pc and Pd, there is disposed a sensor 660a, 660b, 660c or 660d.
  • Each of the sensors 660a, 660b, 660c and 660d detects a leading edge of the transfer material 606 conveyed by the transfer material conveying belt 608 to supply to an electronic circuit control means, that is, a control unit not shown a signal for starting the image forming process in each of the image formation units Pa, Pb, Pc and Pd.
  • the transfer material 606 in the form of a cut sheet is inserted on the sheet feed guide 651 of the sheet feeding mechanism 613, the leading edge thereof is detected by the sensor 652, in response to which a start signal is produced by the sensor 652 to start rotations of the photosensitive drum 601a, 601b, 601c and 601d of the image formation units Pa, Pb, Pc and Pd.
  • the driving roller 611 is simultaneously driven, so that the transfer material conveying belt 608 starts to rotate in the detection indicated by an arrow.
  • the transfer material 606 When the transfer material 606 is guided along the sheet feed guide 651 and is placed on the transfer material conveying belt 608, it is subjected to the corona discharge from the attraction charger 659 and is assuredly attracted on the transfer material conveying belt 608.
  • the transfer material conveying belt 608 moves in the direction indicated by an arrow in Figure 21, the leading edge of the transfer material 606 is detected by each of the sensors 660a, 660b, 660c and 660d, in response to which each of image forming operations on the photosensitive drum 601a, 601b, 601c and 601d are started, sequentially.
  • the first image formation unit Pa forms an yellow image on the photosensitive drum 601a; the second image formation unit Pb forms a magenta image; the third image formation unit Pc forms a cyan image; and the fourth image formation unit Pd forms a black image.
  • the image formation process in each of the image formation units Pa, Pb, Pc and Pd is Carlson process which is well-known, and therefore, the detailed description is omitted for simplicity.
  • the transfer material 606 is conveyed toward the fixing device 607 through the portions below the photosensitive drums 601a - 601d of the first, second, third and fourth image formation units Pa - Pd, during which the transfer discharger 604a, 604b, 604c and 604d sequentially transfer the respective color images on the same transfer material 606 to provide a combined color image.
  • the transfer material 606 is electrically discharged by the discharger 661 supplied with an AC voltage, and is separated from the transfer material conveying belt 608.
  • the transfer material 606 separated from the transfer material conveying belt 608 is introduced into the fixing device 607, where it is subjected to the image fixing operation. Thereafter, it is discharged outside the apparatus 610 through the outlet 614. Thus, one printing cycle terminates.
  • the polarity of the high voltage applied to the attraction charger 662 is the same as the high voltage applied to the transfer discharger 604a, 604b, 604c and 604d.
  • the polarity of the high voltage applied to the attraction charger 662 is the opposite to the charger 659.
  • the distance between the attraction discharging wire of each of the attraction chargers 659 and 662 and the transfer material conveying belt 608 is 15 mm, and the distance between the attraction discharging wire and the backing electrode plate of each of the attraction chargers is 8.5 mm.
  • the total amount of the current supplied to the attraction charger 659 is 500 micro-ampere, and that of the attraction charger 662 is 300 micro-ampere.
  • the attraction charger 659 is connected with a constant voltage AC source 680 only, so that it is supplied only with an AC voltage.
  • the attraction charger 662 is connected with a high constant voltage AC source 681 connected in series with a DC source 682 so that it is supplied with a DC biased AC voltage.
  • a humidity sensor (known type, not shown) is disposed.
  • the humidity sensor will be explained hereinafter.
  • the power supply system will be described in further detail.
  • the high constant voltage AC source 680 and a high constant voltage AC source 681 have the same rating.
  • the DC source 682 functions to add a DC voltage of positive polarity to the AC voltage of the constant voltage AC source 681, and the added voltage is supplied to the attraction charger 662.
  • the increase of the attraction force of the transfer material 606 to the transfer material conveying belt 608 under the low humidity condition as shown in the data of Table 1, may give rise to a difficulty in separating the transfer material 606 from the transfer material conveying belt 608 after the superimposing image transfer process is executed to the transfer material 606. Particularly when the used transfer material 606 is thin, 60 g paper for example, the separation becomes more difficult.
  • the difficulty in the separation of the transfer material 606 from the transfer material conveying belt 608 is different depending upon various conditions during the separation such as the curvature of the idler roller 612 ( Figure 21) or a moving speed of the transfer material conveying belt 608.
  • the unsatisfactory separation occurs if the attraction force is not less than 200 g, when the rollers 611 and 62 have a diameter of 40 mm, the movement speed of the transfer belt 608 is 85 mm/sec, the discharger 661 is not energized, the relative humidity is 10 %, and the transfer material 606 is a copy paper of base weight of 60 g.
  • the reduction of the attraction force of the transfer material 606 to the transfer material conveying belt under the high humidity condition is remarkable when the used transfer material 606 is thicker, more particularly, not less than 120 g of base weight. In that case, the attraction force is not sufficient with the result that the registrations among the images provided by the image formation units Pa - Pd is disturbed.
  • the color image forming apparatus is provided with a humidity sensor (known type) in the main body of the apparatus 610.
  • a humidity sensor known type
  • the attraction force between the transfer material 606 and the transfer material conveying belt 608 is controlled. More particularly, in this embodiment, the humidity condition is divided into three ranges, namely not more than 30 %, 30 % - 70 % and not less than 70 %, on the basis of the regions, the attraction condition on the transfer material 606 to the transfer material conveying belt 608 is changed.
  • the DC voltage applied to the attraction charger 662 is lowered to approximately +1.0 kV from +2.32 kV which is the voltage under the normal condition (the relative humidity of 30 - 70 %).
  • the DC voltage is increased to approximately +4.0 KV.
  • the data in the right column of Table 1 are, similarly to the described above, when the transfer material 606 has the base weight of 80 g (copy sheet), and under a normal temperature and normal humidity condition (25 °C and 60 %RH), under a high temperature and high humidity condition (30 °C, 90 %RH) and under a low temperature and low humidity condition (10 °C, 10 %RH). Similarly to the foregoing, under the high humidity and low humidity conditions, respectively, the level of the DC voltage applied to the attraction charger 662 is controlled.
  • the attraction force in this control system is generally stronger than the control system described in the foregoing.
  • the attraction condition in this control system is sufficiently usable when the separation between the transfer material 606 and the transfer material conveying belt 608 is made easier by, for example, increasing the curvature of the idler roller 612.
  • the level of the DC voltage applied to the attraction charger 662 may be generally lowered. It has been confirmed that the transfer material conveying belt 608 is uniformly discharged electrically by the AC voltage applied to the attraction chargers 659 and 662, so that it has a uniform surface potential, by a surface potentiometer, and image data or the like.
  • an image forming apparatus can be provided wherein without increasing the cost and without requiring addition space, the transfer material conveying means can be discharged uniformly, the transfer material can be electrostatically attracted on the transfer material conveying means, and the separation of the transfer material from the transfer material conveying means is easy after the completion of the superimposing transfer process, irrespective of the humidity of the ambience.
  • the present invention is not limited to the case of color image formation, but is effective to a black monochromatic color transfer device.
  • the attracting means has been described as being a corona discharger, that it may be of another form, if it applies a bias voltage to provide the electrostatic attraction force.
  • the present invention is not limited to an image forming apparatus requiring the image transfer step, but is applicable to an image forming apparatus in which an image is directly formed on a member receiving the image.

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  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electrostatic Charge, Transfer And Separation In Electrography (AREA)

Claims (15)

  1. Appareil de formation d'images destiné à former une image sur un élément de réception d'image (P, 606), dans lequel l'élément de réception d'image (P, 606) est attiré électrostatiquement vers un moyen transporteur (5, 18, 608) par l'action d'un moyen d'attraction (6, 7, 17, 659, 662), caractérisé en ce que des moyens capteurs (16, 510) sont prévus pour capter l'humidité et/ou la température de l'élément de réception d'image (P, 606) et des moyens de modification (510, 511) sont prévus pour commander le fonctionnement des moyens d'attraction (6, 7, 17, 659, 662) en fonction de signaux de sortie desdits moyens capteurs (16, 510).
  2. Appareil de formation d'images selon la revendication 1, comportant en outre un élément (1, 601) porteur d'image, des moyens (2, 3, 4, 615, 616, 603) de formation d'image destinés à former une image sur ledit élément (1, 601) porteur d'image, et des moyens de report (8, 604) destinés à reporter électrostatiquement l'image dudit élément (1, 601) porteur d'image sur le milieu (P, 606) de réception d'image porté sur lesdits moyens de transport (5, 18, 608), de manière que les moyens d'attraction (6, 7, 17, 659, 662) soient conçus pour attirer électrostatiquement l'élément (P, 606) de réception d'image sur lesdits moyens de transport (5, 18, 608) avant l'opération de report d'image, et que lesdits moyens de modification (510, 511) soient conçus pour modifier le signal de sortie électrostatique desdits moyens de report (8, 604) et le signal de sortie desdits moyens d'attraction (6, 7, 17, 659, 662), par rapport au même élément (P, 608) de réception d'image, conformément aux signaux de sortie provenant desdits moyens capteurs (16, 510).
  3. Appareil selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisé en ce que lesdits moyens de transport (5, 18, 608) comprennent un élément diélectrique pour transporter l'élément (P, 608) de réception d'image qui est mobile le long d'un trajet sans fin.
  4. Appareil selon la revendication 2 ou 3, caractérisé en ce que des moyens sont prévus pour effectuer une répétition dudit report d'image par lesdits moyens de report (8, 604) sur le même élément (P, 608) de réception d'image, et en ce que le signal de sortie électrostatique desdits moyens de report (8, 604) est augmenté avec la répétition.
  5. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications 2 à 4, caractérisé en ce que lesdits moyens capteurs (16) servent à la détection de température et d'humidité dans ledit appareil, lesdits moyens (510, 511) de modification contenant plusieurs zones ambiantes définies par plusieurs courbes de quantité d'humidité constante déterminées par une température et une humidité, une zone étant sélectionnée en fonction de la température et de l'humidité détectées par lesdits moyens capteurs, lesdits moyens de modification effectuant une modification des signaux de sortie électrostatique desdits moyens de report et desdits moyens d'attraction en fonction de la zone sélectionnée.
  6. Appareil selon l'une des revendications 2 à 5, caractérisé en ce que lesdits moyens d'attraction (6, 7, 17, 659, 662) comprennent des moyens de décharge d'effluves faisant face auxdits moyens de transport (5, 18, 608), et lesdits moyens de modification modifient le signal de sortie desdits moyens de décharge d'effluves.
  7. Appareil selon la revendication 6, caractérisé en ce que lesdits moyens d'attraction comprennent un élément rotatif (7) mis à la masse, en contact avec le côté desdits moyens de transport qui est éloigné desdits moyens (6) de décharge d'effluves.
  8. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications 2 à 7, caractérisé en ce que ledit élément (1, 601) porteur d'image est un élément photosensible.
  9. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications 2 à 8, caractérisé en ce que lesdits moyens de modification (510, 511) modifient le courant électrique fourni aux moyens d'attraction (6).
  10. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications 2 à 9, caractérisé en ce que lesdits moyens de report (8) reportent plusieurs images sur le même élément (P, 606) de réception d'image transporté sur lesdits moyens de transport (5, 18, 608).
  11. Appareil selon la revendication 10, caractérisé en ce qu'il est capable de former une image en couleurs intégrales.
  12. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications 2 à 10, caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte des moyens (604a-d) pour reporter séquentiellement sur un élément (P, 606) de réception d'images plusieurs images développées et en ce que lesdits moyens (510, 511) de modification augmentent le signal de sortie desdits moyens de report (8, 604) dans le report d'image initiale de la séquence, avec un accroissement du signal de sortie des moyens d'attraction (6).
  13. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications 2 à 12, caractérisé en ce que lesdits moyens d'attraction comprennent un moyen d'attraction intérieur (6, 662) disposé dans lesdits moyens de transport (5, 18, 608) ayant une polarité de charge qui est la même que celle desdits moyens de report (8, 604), et en ce qu'un signal de sortie des moyens de report augmente avec un accroissement du signal de sortie du moyen d'attraction intérieur (6, 662).
  14. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 13, caractérisé en ce que lesdits moyens d'attraction (6, 662) sont alimentés sous une tension variant périodiquement polarisée avec une tension continue.
  15. Appareil selon la revendication 14, caractérisé en ce que lesdits moyens de modification modifient la tension continue.
EP19890311512 1988-11-08 1989-11-07 Appareil de formation d'images avec des moyens de contrôle de l'attraction électrostatique de matière de transfert Expired - Lifetime EP0368617B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP63281596A JP2701154B2 (ja) 1988-11-08 1988-11-08 画像形成装置
JP281596/88 1988-11-08
JP32203688A JPH02168287A (ja) 1988-12-22 1988-12-22 画像形成装置
JP322036/88 1988-12-22

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0368617A2 EP0368617A2 (fr) 1990-05-16
EP0368617A3 EP0368617A3 (en) 1990-11-28
EP0368617B1 true EP0368617B1 (fr) 1994-02-02

Family

ID=26554246

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19890311512 Expired - Lifetime EP0368617B1 (fr) 1988-11-08 1989-11-07 Appareil de formation d'images avec des moyens de contrôle de l'attraction électrostatique de matière de transfert

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0368617B1 (fr)
DE (1) DE68912889T2 (fr)

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0520819B1 (fr) * 1991-06-28 1998-08-19 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Appareil de formation d'images comprenant un élément de chargement
JP3271811B2 (ja) * 1992-04-09 2002-04-08 株式会社リコー 画像形成装置
US5461461A (en) * 1992-01-22 1995-10-24 Ricoh Company, Ltd. Image transferring device and medium separating device for an image forming apparatus
JP3256010B2 (ja) * 1992-12-22 2002-02-12 キヤノン株式会社 画像形成装置

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3642362A (en) * 1969-06-02 1972-02-15 Xerox Corp Apparatus for conveying sheet material
JPS59105666A (ja) * 1982-12-09 1984-06-19 Canon Inc 画像形成装置
DE3879722T2 (de) * 1987-01-19 1993-10-07 Canon Kk Bilderzeugungseinrichtung.
US4989039A (en) * 1987-01-19 1991-01-29 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Image forming apparatus responsive to environmental conditions
JPH0750362B2 (ja) * 1987-07-09 1995-05-31 キヤノン株式会社 画像形成装置

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE68912889T2 (de) 1994-08-25
DE68912889D1 (de) 1994-03-17
EP0368617A2 (fr) 1990-05-16
EP0368617A3 (en) 1990-11-28

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