EP0445718B1 - Bilderzeugungsgerät mit Entstaubung - Google Patents
Bilderzeugungsgerät mit Entstaubung Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0445718B1 EP0445718B1 EP19910103290 EP91103290A EP0445718B1 EP 0445718 B1 EP0445718 B1 EP 0445718B1 EP 19910103290 EP19910103290 EP 19910103290 EP 91103290 A EP91103290 A EP 91103290A EP 0445718 B1 EP0445718 B1 EP 0445718B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- developing roller
- reversing
- image forming
- forming apparatus
- sheets
- 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
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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
- G03G15/06—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
- G03G15/081—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 the developer handling means after the supply and before the regulating, e.g. means for preventing developer blocking
Definitions
- the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus used for a graphic type non-impact printer, and particularly to an image forming apparatus in which toner is fed to an electrostatic latent image bearing medium.
- an image forming apparatus in a graphic type non-impact printer is operated by a process comprising the steps of electric charge, exposure, development, transfer and fixation.
- toner stored therein is dropped onto an agitating shaft and guide plate.
- Toner is fed toward the supply roller from the agitating shaft through holes in a guide plate, and is then fed to the developing roller by the rotating supply roller. Toner sticking to the outer surface of the developing roller is turned into a thin layer by a developing blade, and is then fed toward the photosensitive drum. At this time, the toner is negatively charged. Meanwhile, the outer surface of the photosensitive drum is uniformly and negatively charged by a charger, and is then exposed to light by a printing head in accordance with image signals. Then, negative charge is released from a part which is exposed to the light. Accordingly, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to an image to be printed is formed by the part which is exposed to the light and the part which is not exposed to the light.
- the photosensitive drum When the photosensitive drum is rotated so that the section on which the latent image is formed comes to a position where it faces the developing roller, it attracts the negatively charged toner so as to effect development.
- the image on the outer surface of the photosensitive drum is transferred from the latter to a sheet by the charger when the sheet passes between the photosensitive drum and the charger.
- the image obtained by the transfer of the toner image is thereafter is fixed by a fixing unit.
- the toner remaining on the outer surface of the photosensitive drum after the transfer is scraped off by a cleaning blade so as to stand by for the next printing.
- the toner scraped off is fed toward the agitating shaft by a screw shaft so as to be reused.
- the toner which has been retained in a retaining part is fluidized circulately by the supply roller and the developing roller which are rotated.
- US-A-4 837 940 discloses an image forming apparatus according to the preamble of claim 1.
- JP-A-60-11 857 discloses a magnetic brush developing method where, after a copying process is ended, a developing sleeve is rotated in reverse and a developer is scraped down from the sleeve in order to prevent a contamination of the optical system due to scattering of toner.
- one object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus in which the rotation of a developing roller is periodically reversed so as to remove paper dust held between a developing roller and a cleaning blade.
- the invention refers to an image forming apparatus comprising: a developing blade for regulating thickness of toner layer; a developing roller for supplying toner onto photosensitive drum through rotation; and drive means for rotation said developing roller; and is characterized by means including control means for periodically controlling the drive means for reversing the rotation of the developing roller, so as to remove dust caught between the developing roller and the developing blade.
- Fig. 1 is a sectional view illustrating the image forming apparatus.
- a toner cartridge 2 is set in the upper section of an apparatus 1.
- Toner 3 is filled in the toner cartridge 2.
- the cartridge 2 is mounted and set in the apparatus 1, the toner 3 is discharged from the inside of the cartridge 2, and is fed into a developing section. After the toner in the cartridge being all consumed, the cartridge is replaced with a new one.
- An agitating shaft 4 is laid below the toner cartridge 2, and further, a supply roller 6 is disposed obliquely below the agitating shaft 4 with a guide plate 5 being laid therebetween.
- the agitating shaft 4 is constituted such that a wire is wound around a coiled shaft so that the toner 3 can be fed to the supply roller 6, uniformly in the axial direction.
- Several holes are formed in the guide plate in order to regulate the volume of the toner 3 to be fed.
- a supply roller 6 is made of sponge, and is adapted to supply the toner, further to a developing roller 7.
- a developing blade 8 makes contact with the developing roller 7 with a predetermined pressure.
- the toner 3 which is conveyed by the rotating developing roller 7, is regulated in its layer thickness since the developing blade 8 makes contact with the outer surface of the developing roller 7.
- a photosensitive drum 9 as a latent image bearing medium is rotatably mounted making contact with the developing roller 7.
- a charger 10, a printing head 11, a transfer unit 12 and a cleaning unit 13 are arranged surrounding around the photosensitive drum 9.
- the charger 10 is adapted to charge the outer surface of the photosensitive drum 9 uniformly thereover, and the printing head 11 irradiates light to the outer surface of the photosensitive drum 9 in accordance with an image signal.
- the transfer unit 12 is adapted to produce an electric charge having a polarity reverse to that of the charger 10 so as to transfer the toner 3 sticking to the outer surface of the photosensitive drum 9, to a sheet.
- the cleaning unit 13 is attached thereto with a cleaning blade 14 and a screw shaft 15.
- the cleaning blade 14 is formed of a rubber material bonded to a sheet metal, having its free end making contact with the outer surface of the photosensitive drum 9 so as to serve to scrape off the toner 3 remaining on the outer surface of the photosensitive drum 9 after the transfer.
- the screw shaft 15 has a helical blade attached to a shaft, and is connected to the above-mentioned agitating shaft 4 through the intermediary of another screw shaft inside of a side plate, which is not shown. That is, the toner 3 scraped off and trapped in the cleaning unit 13 is returned to the agitating shaft 4 so as to be reused.
- a guide 16 for conveying sheets is provided in the lower section of the apparatus 1, by which sheets 17 can pass between the photosensitive drum 9 and the transfer unit 12.
- the sheets 17 are conveyed by supply rollers 18, 19.
- sensors 31, 32 are laid along the sheet conveying path so as to detect a number of the sheets 17. These sensors 31, 32 are composed of light emitting diodes 31a, 32a and light receiving diodes 31b, 32b, respectively.
- Fig. 2 shows a control section for controlling the drive of the image forming apparatus in this embodiment.
- the control section 35 controls the image forming apparatus in its entirety, and includes a memory unit 36, a central processing unit (which will be hereinbelow denoted as CPU) 37, a counting means 38 and a timer 40.
- the memory unit 36 is ROM (read only memory) in which a control program 41 for controlling the operation of the apparatus in its entirety is stored.
- a set value m of a predetermined number of sheets is stored in the memory unit 36.
- This value m can be set, arbitrarily to, for example, 50, at the time of factory delivery.
- the memory unit 36 is connected to the CPU 37.
- the CPU 37 conducts a computing process in accordance with the control program 41, and accordingly, it incorporates a comparing section 42, a storage section 43 and a drive control section 45.
- the comparing section 42 compares data stored in the storage section 43 with the set sheet number value m stored in the above-mentioned memory unit 36.
- the storage section 43 is connected to a counting means 38, and accordingly, it stores therein a result of counting by a counting means 38.
- the drive control section 45 is connected to a drive circuit 46 so as to control the latter.
- the drive circuit 46 is adapted to drive a main motor for rotating the photosensitive drum 9, the developing roller 7 and the like in the image forming apparatus. That is, the drive control section 45 issues an instructing signal to the drive circuit 46 so as to normally and reversely rotate the main motor 47.
- the drive control section 45 is connected to the comparing section 42 so as to change the drive control for the main motor 47 in accordance with an output signal from the comparing section 42. Further, the drive control section 45 is connected to the timer 40.
- the counting means 38 is connected to the sheet number detecting sensors 31, 32 attached to the sheet conveying path so as to count a number of printed sheets 17.
- the counting means 38 stores a result of counting in the storage section 43.
- Fig. 3 is a view explaining a gear train.
- a main motor gear 48 is fitted on a shaft of the main motor 47 and is engaged with a photosensitive drum gear 50 through the intermediary of an idle gear 49.
- the photosensitive drum gear 50 is rotated integrally with the photosensitive drum 9, and is meshed with a developing roller gear 51.
- the developing roller gear 51 is rotated integrally with the developing roller 7, and is engaged with a supply roller gear 53 through the intermediary of an idle gear 52.
- the supply roller gear 53 is rotated integrally with the supply roller 6.
- Step 1 When a power source is turned on (Step 1), the control section 35 is initialized (Step 2) while the image forming apparatus makes a preparation for printing.
- the timer 40 in the control section 35 is energized (Step 3).
- the timer 40 measures a predetermined time after the power source being turned on. However, this predetermined time is few seconds, which is shorter than the time by which the preparation of printing is completed.
- the timer 40 delivers a time elapse signal to the drive control section 45 in the CPU 37.
- the drive control section 45 delivers a signal for reversing the main motor 47 to the drive circuit 46.
- the main motor 47 is reversed, the developing roller 7 is rotated in a direction reverse to the direction indicated by the arrow C (Step 5).
- the developing roller 7 When the developing roller 7 is reversed, if dust such as paper dust or the like is held between the developing roller 7 and the developing blade 8, the dust such as paper dust or the like can come away from the position therebetween. Or, even though it does not come away completely, it is slightly moved so that it is released from its held condition, and it is easy to come off. Since the toner 3 in the retaining section 20 is circulately fluidized, if the dust falls in such a condition that it can easily come away from the position between the developing roller 7 and the developing blade 8, the dust can be removed by the fluidization of the toner 3. As mentioned above, owing to the reverse rotation of the developing roller 7, the dust such as paper dust or the like held between the developing roller 7 and the developing blade 8 can be removed. It is noted here that a distance of movement by the reverse rotation of the developing roller 7 is few millimeters which is sufficient for removing the dust.
- Step 6 After the reverse rotation of the developing roller 7, whether the preparation of printing is completed or not is determined (Step 6).
- the operation of printing is carried out (Step 7).
- the printing operation is carried out in accordance with a series of steps of an image forming process for the sheets 17 one by one.
- the sheet number detecting sensors 31, 32 deliver detection signals to the counting means 38.
- the counting means 38 reads a set printed sheet number value previously stored in the storage section 43, and adds one to the value. The thus added value is then stored as a printed sheet number n in the storage section 43 (Step 8).
- the comparing section 42 in the CPU 37 reads the printed sheet number value n and the set printed sheet number value m which are stored in the storage section 43, and compares them with each other (Step 9). If the printed sheet number value n reaches the set printed sheet number value m, the process is advanced to Step 10, but if it does not yet reaches the value m, the process is returned to Step 7 so as to repeat the printing operation.
- the CPU 37 determines whether continuous printing operation is carried out at the present or not, and if it is on the way of the continuous printing, the printing is continuously carried out (Step 11) in order to complete the continuous printing.
- the drive control section 45 shown in Fig. 1 delivers an instructing signal for stopping the main motor 47, to the drive circuit 46 (Step 12) after a printed sheet being discharged. Thereafter, the drive control section 45 delivers an instructing signal for reversing the main motor 47, to the drive circuit 46 (Step 13). Accordingly, the developing roller 7 is reversed through the intermediary of the gears 48, 49, 50, 51 shown in Fig. 3. The operation of this reverse rotation is similar to the operation at Step 5 mentioned above.
- the present invention should not be limited to the above-mentioned embodiment. That is, there may be considered for example, such an arrangement that a number of revolutions of the photosensitive drum 9 may be detected, and when this revolution number reaches a predetermined number, the developing roller can be reversed.
- the developing roller is periodically reversed so as to remove dust such as paper dust or the like caught between the developing roller and the developing blade, and thereby it is possible to eliminate a lack of supply of toner onto the photosensitive drum.
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Dry Development In Electrophotography (AREA)
- Cleaning In Electrography (AREA)
- Control Or Security For Electrophotography (AREA)
Claims (7)
- Bilderzeugungsvorrichtung, die folgendes aufweist:
eine Entwicklungsklinge (8), um die Dicke der Tonerschicht zu regulieren;
eine Entwicklungswalze (7), um mittels Rotation Toner auf eine lichtempfindliche Trommel (9) zu transportieren; und
eine Antriebseinrichtung (46, 47) zum Rotieren der Entwicklungswalze (7);
dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Vorrichtung weiterhin folgendes aufweist:
eine Einrichtung (35; 40, 45; 32, 36, 38, 41, 42) einschließlich einer Steuereinrichtung zum periodischen Steuern der Antriebseinrichtung, um die Rotation der Entwicklungswalze (7) umzukehren, um Staub zu entfernen, der sich zwischen der Entwicklungswalze (7) und der Entwicklungsklinge (8) festgesetzt hat. - Bilderzeugungsvorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, bei der die Umkehreinrichtung eine Steuereinrichtung (35) zum periodischen Steuern der Antriebseinrichtung (46, 47) aufweist, um die Rotation der Entwicklungswalze (7) nach einer vorgegebenen Zeitdauer umzukehren.
- Bilderzeugungsvorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, bei der die Umkehreinrichtung eine Steuereinrichtung (35) aufweist, die der Antriebseinrichtung (46, 47) Befehlssignale zuführt, um die Rotation der Entwicklungswalze (7) umzukehren, wenn eine vorgegebene Anzahl von Blättern bedruckt worden ist.
- Bilderzeugungsvorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, bei der die Umkehreinrichtung eine Steuereinrichtung (35) aufweist, die der Antriebseinrichtung (46, 47) Befehlssignale zuführt, um die Rotation der Entwicklungswalze (7) umzukehren, wenn die lichtempfindliche Trommel (9) um einen vorgegebenen Wert rotiert ist.
- Bilderzeugungsvorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, bei der die Umkehreinrichtung folgendes aufweist:
eine Zeitgebereinrichtung (40), um vom Einschalten einer Stromversorgungsquelle an eine vorgegebene Zeitdauer zu messen; und
eine Steuereinrichtung (45), um der Antriebseinrichtung (46, 47) Befehlssignale zuzuführen, um die Rotation der Entwicklungswalze (7) umzukehren, wenn die Zeitgebereinrichtung die vorgegebene Zeitdauer ab dem Zeitpunkt mißt, zu dem die Stromversorgungsquelle eingeschaltet wurde. - Bilderzeugungsvorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, bei der die Umkehreinrichtung folgendes aufweist:(a) eine Blatt-Detektionseinrichtung (32), um ein Blatt zu detektieren und ein Detektionssignal abzugeben;(b) eine Zähleinrichtung (38), um mittels des Detektionssignals die Anzahl der zugeführten Blätter zu zählen;(c) eine erste Speichereinrichtung (43), um die von der Zähleinrichtung (38) gezählte Anzahl der Blätter zu speichern;(d) eine zweite Speichereinrichtung (36), um eine vorgegebene Blattzahl zu speichern;(e) eine Vergleichseinrichtung (42), um die Anzahl der zugeführten Blätter mit der vorgegebenen Blattzahl zu vergleichen; und(f) eine Steuereinrichtung (45), um der Antriebseinrichtung (46, 47) Befehlssignale zum Umkehren der Rotation zuzuführen, wenn die Anzahl der übermittelten Blätter gleich der vorgegebenen Blattzahl wird.
- Bilderzeugungsvorrichtung nach Anspruch 6, bei der die in der ersten Speichereinrichtung (43) gespeicherte, gezählte Anzahl zugeführter Blätter nach der Umkehrung initialisiert wird.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP2052698A JPH03255482A (ja) | 1990-03-06 | 1990-03-06 | 画像形成装置 |
JP52698/90 | 1990-03-06 |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0445718A2 EP0445718A2 (de) | 1991-09-11 |
EP0445718A3 EP0445718A3 (en) | 1992-05-06 |
EP0445718B1 true EP0445718B1 (de) | 1995-07-19 |
Family
ID=12922109
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP19910103290 Expired - Lifetime EP0445718B1 (de) | 1990-03-06 | 1991-03-05 | Bilderzeugungsgerät mit Entstaubung |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0445718B1 (de) |
JP (1) | JPH03255482A (de) |
DE (1) | DE69111268T2 (de) |
Families Citing this family (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP2007333810A (ja) | 2006-06-12 | 2007-12-27 | Konica Minolta Business Technologies Inc | 画像形成装置および画像形成方法 |
JP6447483B2 (ja) * | 2015-12-18 | 2019-01-09 | 京セラドキュメントソリューションズ株式会社 | 現像装置、画像形成装置 |
JP6723138B2 (ja) * | 2016-10-24 | 2020-07-15 | 株式会社沖データ | 画像形成装置 |
JP7377447B2 (ja) * | 2019-06-06 | 2023-11-10 | 株式会社リコー | 画像形成装置 |
Family Cites Families (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JPS55121462A (en) * | 1979-03-13 | 1980-09-18 | Fuji Xerox Co Ltd | Magnetic brush developing device |
DE3232341A1 (de) * | 1981-08-31 | 1983-03-24 | Minolta Camera K.K., Osaka | Magnetbuersten-entwicklungseinrichtung |
JPS6011857A (ja) * | 1983-06-30 | 1985-01-22 | Mita Ind Co Ltd | 磁気ブラシ現像方法 |
US4873940A (en) * | 1985-10-23 | 1989-10-17 | Ricoh Company, Ltd. | Image developing device |
JPS63118170A (ja) * | 1986-11-06 | 1988-05-23 | Fuji Xerox Co Ltd | 現像装置 |
JPS6462681A (en) * | 1987-09-02 | 1989-03-09 | Sharp Kk | Electrophotographic device |
JPH0218582A (ja) * | 1988-07-06 | 1990-01-22 | Minolta Camera Co Ltd | 現像装置 |
-
1990
- 1990-03-06 JP JP2052698A patent/JPH03255482A/ja active Pending
-
1991
- 1991-03-05 DE DE1991611268 patent/DE69111268T2/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1991-03-05 EP EP19910103290 patent/EP0445718B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP0445718A3 (en) | 1992-05-06 |
EP0445718A2 (de) | 1991-09-11 |
DE69111268T2 (de) | 1996-04-18 |
DE69111268D1 (de) | 1995-08-24 |
JPH03255482A (ja) | 1991-11-14 |
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