GB2273173A - Image formation apparatus with combined cleaner developer unit - Google Patents
Image formation apparatus with combined cleaner developer unit Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2273173A GB2273173A GB9224874A GB9224874A GB2273173A GB 2273173 A GB2273173 A GB 2273173A GB 9224874 A GB9224874 A GB 9224874A GB 9224874 A GB9224874 A GB 9224874A GB 2273173 A GB2273173 A GB 2273173A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- toner
- photosensitive drum
- image
- writing surface
- unit
- 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.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G21/00—Arrangements not provided for by groups G03G13/00 - G03G19/00, e.g. cleaning, elimination of residual charge
- G03G21/0005—Arrangements not provided for by groups G03G13/00 - G03G19/00, e.g. cleaning, elimination of residual charge for removing solid developer or debris from the electrographic recording medium
- G03G21/0064—Arrangements not provided for by groups G03G13/00 - G03G19/00, e.g. cleaning, elimination of residual charge for removing solid developer or debris from the electrographic recording medium using the developing unit, e.g. cleanerless or multi-cycle apparatus
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G21/00—Arrangements not provided for by groups G03G13/00 - G03G19/00, e.g. cleaning, elimination of residual charge
- G03G21/10—Collecting or recycling waste developer
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G2221/00—Processes not provided for by group G03G2215/00, e.g. cleaning or residual charge elimination
- G03G2221/0005—Cleaning of residual toner
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
- Sustainable Development (AREA)
- Cleaning In Electrography (AREA)
Description
2273173 1 IMAGE FORMATION APPARATUS The present invention relates to image
formation apparatuses such as a printer using toner and a copier, and particularly to an imag ,e formation apparatus CP which reuses toner removed from a photosensitive drum and has a simplified structure.
An image formation apparatus using an optical system comprises, roughly 11-11 -M) t centering on a photosensitive drum, an optical system for providing the C C photosensitive drum with a latent image, a development unit for coating toner in a pattern corresponding to the latent image so as to form a toner image, and a transfer zl M t unit for transferring the toner image on the photosensitive drum to a transfer I I medium Such as paper.
The apparatus' structure is shown in Fig. 1. Referring to Fig. 1, a t:$ 1= photosensitive drum 7 on which a photoconductive writing surface 7' is formed is rotated by a drive motor 7". Centering on photosensitive drum 7 is a development unit 3 provided on one side (on the left in the drawing) in which toner is incorporated and a development roller 3' abuts photosensitive drum 7 and is rotated by an additional drive motor 3". A cleaning unit 5 having a cleaning blade 5' is provided on the other side (on the right in the drawing) so as to remove toner adhering to photosensitive drum 7.
Meanwhile, an optical systenn 2 for emitting laser light toward 1z t7 photoconductor 7' on the.surface of photosensitive drum 7 is installed above photosensitive drurn 7. A transfer unit 4 for transferring a toner image formed on photoconductor 7' of photosensitive druin 7 to a transfer medium 8 such as paper is provided under photosensitive drum 7. An electrification unit 1 for electrifying writing surface 7' of photosensitive drum 7 is placed between optical system 2 and cleaning unit 5. A light-irradiating unit 6 for removing the static electricity of 0 0 Z writing surface 7' is positioned to one side of conducting unit 1.
1 C In such a structure, photosensitive drum 7 is used as an image storing device. A corona electrification device of electrification unit 1 electrifies writin.
0 surface 7' and the static electricity of the writing surface is locally removed by light projected from optical system 2, so that an electrostatic latent image is written.
According to the electrostatic image, toner supplied by development roller 3' of 0 0 development unit 3 is discriminately stuck to writing surface 7' of photosensitive drum 7 so as to form a toner image corresponding to the latent image on the surface of Photosensitive drum 7.
The developed toner image is transferred to the transfer medium such as 9:1 paper in transfer unit 4 installed under photosensitive drum 7. The toner image transferred to the transfer medium passes a heat-compression roller 9 to be heat compressed as a visual picture, and is discharged from the apparatus. The toner remaining on writing surface 7' of photosensitive drum 7 is removed by cleaning C C blade 5' of cleaning unit 5. Meanwhile, the static electricity remaining in photosensitive drum 7 after the transferring, is removed by light- irradiating unit 6.
However, in the conventional image formation apparatus, development unit 3 for supplying toner and cleaning unit 5 for eliminating toner remaining after being transferred to paper, are separately provided around photosensitive drum 7. This requires two separate toner reservoirs, complicating the apparatus' structure. In 1 cl 1 3 addition, the removed toner cannot be reused during operation.
0 Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image c formation apparatus which is simplified in structure and reuses toner removed during operation.
To accomplish the object, there is an image formation apparatus of the present invention comprising: a photosensitive drum on which a latentimage-writing 0 surface made of photoconductor layer is formed; an electrification unit for electrifying the writing surface of the photosensitive drum; an optical system for 1 1 projecting light to the electrostatic photosensitive drum; a development unit for Z"> C1 supplying toner to the writing surface of the photosensitive drum which bears a 0 latent imaae, so as to form a toner image corresponding to the latent image; a 0 tP transfer unit for transferring the toner imas.
0 ge to a transfer medium; and means for collecting toner remaining on the writing surface of the photosensitive drum after 0 C 0 transferring and supplying it to the development unit.
C1 In the image formation apparatus of the present invention, since the toner remaining on the writing surface of the photosensitive drum after transferring is collected by the toner collecting means and the collected toner is supplied to the C development unit, the toner can be reused and the whole apparatus is simplified.
The above object and other advantages of the present invention will becorne -)o more apparent by describing in detail a preferred embodiment thereof with reference to the attached drawinas in which:
0 Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a conventional image formation apparatus; and Fig.21 is a schematic view of an image formation apparatus according to the 0 0 present invention.
4 Ficr.2 g 2 illustrates an image formation apparatus such as a printer or a copier according to the present invention. Referring to Fig.2, a photosensitive drum 40 on which a photoconductive writing surface 40' is formed is rotated by a drive motor 4T. Centering on photosensitive drum 40 is a toner collector provided on one side (on the left in the drawing, so as to collect toner remaining on writing surface 40' of photosensitive drum 40 and supply the toner to an after-mentioned development unit 50.
The collector comprises a cleaning blade 15 for removing toner adhered to photosensitive drum 40 in a case 51 which carries the development unit 50 containing toner and having a development roller 13 positioned near photosensitive drum 40 and rotated by an additional drive motor 1Y. Here, cleaning blade 15 is placed above development roller 13. Additionally, case 51 comprises a toner supply blade 16 for supplying fresh toner, a toner supplying roller 17 and an auxiliary roller 18 for assisting in supplying toner to development roller 13.
0 C Meanwhile, an optical system 12 for emitting laser light toward photoconductor 40' on the surface of photosensitive drum 40 is installed above photosensitive drum 40. A transfer unit 14 for transferring a toner image formed on 0 photoconductor 40' of photosensitive drum 40 to a transfer medium 32 such as paper is provided under photosensitive drum 40. An electrification unit 11 for electrifying writing surface 40' of photosensitive drum 40 is placed on one side of 0 photosensitive drum 40. A light-irradiating unit 21 for removing the static electricity C 0 of writing surface 40' is positioned to one side of electrification unit 11.
In such a structure, photosensitive drum 40 is used as an image storing device. A corona electrification device of electrification unit 11 electrifying writing I- 1 surface 40' and tile static electricity of the writing surface is locally removed by light projected from optical system 12, so that an electrostatic latent image is t) written. According to the electrostatic image, toner applied by development roller 1 13 of development unit 50 is discriminately stuck to writing surface 40' of photosensitive drum 40 so as to form a toner image corresponding to the latent c image on the surface of photosensitive drum 40.
The developed toner image is transferred to the transfer medium 32 such as paper supplied from a paper cassette 30 by a paper supply roller 31 in transfer unit 14 installed under photosensitive drum 40. The toner image transferred to the transfer medium 32 passes a heat-compression roller 19 to be heat-compressed as a visual picture, and is discharged from the apparatus by a discharge roller 20. The toner remaining on writing surface 40' of photosensitive drum 40 is removed by cleaning blade 15. The removed toner is collected in case 51 having development unit 50.
Meanwhile, the static electricity remaining on writing surface 40' of 0 Z> photosensitive drum 40 is removed by light-irradiating unit 21.
C> As described above, since, in the present invention, development unit 50 for supplying fresh toner to form an electrostatic image on writing surface 40' of 1 1 0 photosensitive drum 40 and cleaning blade 15 for transferring the toner image to 1 0 transfer medium 32 and eliminating remaining toner are housed together in case 51, the toner removed by cleaning blade 15 can be collected in development unit 50.
C Accordingly, contrary to the conventional apparatus which cannot reuse the toner removed by the cleaning unit, the image formation apparatus of the present 0 0 invention can reuse the toner.
6 Further, the image formation apparatus of the present invention is simplified since cleaning blade 15 and development unit 50 are provided together in case 51.
Z CI 1 7
Claims (6)
- An image formation apparatus comprising:a photosensitive drum on which a latent-imagewriting surface made of photoconductor layer is formed; an electrification unit for electrifying said writing surface of said photosensitive drum; an optical system for projecting light to said electrostatic photosensitive drum; a development unit for supplying toner to said writing surface of said photosensitive drum which bears a latent image, so as to f orm a toner image corresponding to the latent image; a transfer unit for transferring said toner image to a transfer medium; and means for collecting toner remaining on the writing surface of said photosensitive drum after transferring and supplying it to said development unit.
- 2. An image formation apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said toner collecting means comprises a cleaning blade installed above said development unit and near to the surf ace of said photosensitive drum so that toner collected by said cleaning blade is supplied to said development unit.
- 3. An image formation apparatus substantially 8 as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
- 4. An image forming apparatus which reuses toner during operation.
- 5. An image forming apparatus comprising a photoconductive writing surface arranged to move relative to an image writing station, means for supplying toner to the writing surface, and means for removing toner from the writing surface, in which the removing means and the supplying means are arranged so that the surface passes both without encountering the writing station between the two.
- 6. An image formation apparatus comprising a drum, a cleaning means and a development unit, in which the cleaning means and the development unit are provided together in a common case.
Priority Applications (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9224874A GB2273173A (en) | 1992-11-27 | 1992-11-27 | Image formation apparatus with combined cleaner developer unit |
| DE4240216A DE4240216A1 (en) | 1992-11-27 | 1992-11-30 | Electrophotographic printer - has recovery of toner from light sensitive drum surface during operation for return to developer section |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9224874A GB2273173A (en) | 1992-11-27 | 1992-11-27 | Image formation apparatus with combined cleaner developer unit |
| DE4240216A DE4240216A1 (en) | 1992-11-27 | 1992-11-30 | Electrophotographic printer - has recovery of toner from light sensitive drum surface during operation for return to developer section |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB9224874D0 GB9224874D0 (en) | 1993-01-13 |
| GB2273173A true GB2273173A (en) | 1994-06-08 |
Family
ID=25920852
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9224874A Withdrawn GB2273173A (en) | 1992-11-27 | 1992-11-27 | Image formation apparatus with combined cleaner developer unit |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| DE (1) | DE4240216A1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2273173A (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JP3443942B2 (en) * | 1994-07-05 | 2003-09-08 | 日立プリンティングソリューションズ株式会社 | Cleaning method of transfer / transport means of image forming apparatus |
Citations (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0208243A1 (en) * | 1985-07-05 | 1987-01-14 | Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha | Copying machine comprising cleaning device and disposable developer box for copying machine |
| EP0249928A2 (en) * | 1986-06-17 | 1987-12-23 | Mita Industrial Co. Ltd. | Image forming machine |
| EP0282223A1 (en) * | 1987-03-03 | 1988-09-14 | Mita Industrial Co. Ltd. | Device for circulating developer |
| GB2239721A (en) * | 1989-12-05 | 1991-07-10 | Ricoh Kk | Improvements in, or relating to, image recording apparatus |
| US5045879A (en) * | 1989-09-29 | 1991-09-03 | Mita Industrial Co., Ltd. | Image forming apparatus using photosensitive toner |
-
1992
- 1992-11-27 GB GB9224874A patent/GB2273173A/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1992-11-30 DE DE4240216A patent/DE4240216A1/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0208243A1 (en) * | 1985-07-05 | 1987-01-14 | Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha | Copying machine comprising cleaning device and disposable developer box for copying machine |
| EP0249928A2 (en) * | 1986-06-17 | 1987-12-23 | Mita Industrial Co. Ltd. | Image forming machine |
| EP0282223A1 (en) * | 1987-03-03 | 1988-09-14 | Mita Industrial Co. Ltd. | Device for circulating developer |
| US5045879A (en) * | 1989-09-29 | 1991-09-03 | Mita Industrial Co., Ltd. | Image forming apparatus using photosensitive toner |
| GB2239721A (en) * | 1989-12-05 | 1991-07-10 | Ricoh Kk | Improvements in, or relating to, image recording apparatus |
Non-Patent Citations (1)
| Title |
|---|
| JOURNAL OF IMAGING SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, VOL 36 NO 4,JULY 1992, PP 382-388, ESPECIALLY P 383 * |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB9224874D0 (en) | 1993-01-13 |
| DE4240216A1 (en) | 1994-06-01 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |