JP2000326540A - Image-forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To exert a stable cleaning efficiency and realize highquality image formation in a cleaning system by ultrasonic vibration. SOLUTION: In the image-forming apparatus including a developing roller for holding and transferring a charged toner, a developer pass control means 4 having a pore array 24 to pass the toner which controls the toner to pass small holes in accordance with image signals from outside, and an image receiving means to which the toner passing through pores adheres, a diaphragm 28 is secured to a lateral part of a base material of the developer pass control means 4 along an arrangement direction of the pore array 24, and an ultrasonic vibration generation means 30 for generating ultrasonic vibration is set. The ultrasonic vibration generation means 30 and the vibrator 28 are coupled by a coupling plate part 31 having a narrow width part 32, a bend part 33 and a U-shaped fold part 34 to allow a mutual relative shift of the ultrasonic vibration generation means and the vibrator and to transmit the ultrasonic vibration.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus applied to a copying machine, a facsimile, a printer, and the like.
In particular, the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that forms an image by ejecting a developer to a recording member.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in offices, with the improvement of personal computer capabilities and the advancement of network technology,
High-performance printers that can handle large volumes of documents,
Facsimiles and copiers are becoming widespread. On the other hand, color documents are also increasing due to the rapid spread of inkjet printers and the like. However, engines capable of outputting satisfactory black-and-white or color documents, including speed, are under development and are expected to appear.

One of the conventional image forming apparatuses uses a direct marking method for forming an image directly on paper. For example, an image forming apparatus disclosed in JP-B-44-26333 proposes a developer injection type apparatus which is one of direct marking methods. This is achieved by inputting an image signal to a control electrode provided in the print head to generate an accelerating electric field, passing the charged developer through a small hole near the control electrode, and applying the developer to a voltage applied to a counter electrode. The image is formed by landing on a recording member.

In this type of image forming apparatus, for example, 100 μm
In order to form a dot of about m, the small hole of the print head must also have a fine size of about 100 μm, and there is a problem that the small hole is clogged and the dot becomes thin or the dot does not come out. This is due to the fact that the developer used for image formation is clogged in the small holes, in addition to the dust or dust scattered in the apparatus clogging the small holes. The deposited developer and foreign matter affect the electric field formed by the control electrode or mechanically impede the passage of the developer, causing thinning and non-formation of dots. Therefore, an appropriate print head cleaning means is required.

Conventionally, as means for cleaning the small holes, a method using an electric field or a method using an air flow has been effectively used for an uncharged developer or a developer solidified in the small holes. As a method capable of acting and cleaning, a method of applying ultrasonic vibration to a print head has been proposed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-57658.

Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. H4-164659 and H5-77479 disclose a vibration generator for applying vibration to a developer passage control member having a small hole and a control electrode. The vibration is a traveling wave propagating through the developer passage control member so that it can be uniformly cleaned with the small holes.For this purpose, a vibrating body is fixed to the developer passage control member along the row of small holes, A vibrator in which a vibration generator is coupled to one end is disclosed.

[0007]

However, in the image forming apparatus having the above structure, it is necessary to fix the relative positions of the developer passage control member, the vibrator, and the vibration generator. On the other hand, if the gap between the developer carrying means for supplying the developer to the small holes of the developer passage control member and the developer passage control member is not regulated with high precision, the magnitude of the accelerating electric field of the developer is increased. Is greatly different, and a high-quality image cannot be formed. Therefore, it is necessary to automatically adjust and set the mutual position with the developer passage control member when the developer carrying means is mounted and when the center runout occurs during the operation of the developer carrying means. Therefore, when the position of the developer passage control member is configured to be finely adjusted by contacting the developer carrying means, if the vibration generator is fixedly provided, vibration on the developer passage control member can be reduced. The relative position with respect to the body is not appropriate, vibration is not properly transmitted, stable cleaning ability can not be exhibited, and proper image formation can not be performed due to distortion of the developer passage control member. There's a problem.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and has as its object to provide an image forming apparatus which can exhibit stable cleaning ability and realize high quality image formation in a cleaning system using ultrasonic vibration. I do.

[0009]

According to the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus comprising: a developer carrying means for carrying and transporting a charged developer;
A plurality of small holes through which the developer passes through the base material are formed in rows in a direction orthogonal to the developer transport direction, and a developer passage control means for controlling the passage of the small holes of the developer according to an image signal from the outside; In an image forming apparatus provided with an image receiving unit to which the developer that has passed through the small holes adheres, a vibrating body is fixed to a side of the base of the developer passage control unit along the direction in which the small holes are arranged, and an ultrasonic wave is applied. Ultrasonic vibration generating means for generating vibration is provided, and the ultrasonic vibration generating means and the vibrating body are connected by a connecting means which allows mutual relative displacement and transmits ultrasonic vibration.

Accordingly, the ultrasonic vibration can be transmitted to the vibrating body fixed to the base material of the developer passage control means and the ultrasonic vibration generating means through the connecting means permitting relative displacement between the vibrating body and the ultrasonic vibration generating means. Even if the developer passage control means is slightly displaced, the ultrasonic vibration can be reliably transmitted, a stable cleaning ability can be exhibited, an image can be formed stably, and there is no possibility that the developer passage control means will be distorted. Image formation can be realized.

Specifically, a connecting portion extending integrally toward the ultrasonic vibration generating means is provided at one end of the vibrating body, and the distal end of the connecting portion is fixed to the ultrasonic vibration generating means, and the connecting portion has a width. It is possible to provide a configuration in which details are provided, or a bent portion is provided in the connecting portion, or a U-shaped folded portion is provided in the connecting portion, and it is possible to transmit ultrasonic vibration while allowing relative displacement with a simple configuration. it can.

Also, a vibrating body is fixed to a side of the base material of the developer passage control means along the arrangement direction of the small holes, and an ultrasonic vibration generating means for generating ultrasonic vibration is provided. Even if the ultrasonic vibration generating means is fixedly connected and the ultrasonic vibration generating means is displaceably supported, the same operation and effect can be obtained.

In particular, the developer passage control means has one end fixed on the upstream side of the base material in the developer conveyance direction and the other end connected to the tension means, and is one of the developer carrying means and the developer passage control means. By applying the above configuration to a configuration in which the portions are directly or indirectly contacted to set a gap therebetween, high-quality image formation can be reliably realized and a stable cleaning ability can be exhibited. It has a great effect.

Conversely, the developer passage control means has one end on the downstream side of the base material in the developer conveying direction fixed and the other end connected to the tension means, and the developer carrying means and the developer passage control means. Even if the above configuration is applied to a configuration in which a part of the above is directly or indirectly contacted to set a gap between the two, a large effect can be exerted in the same manner as described above.

Further, the vibrating member is provided on the developer passage control unit at a position where the developer carrying unit and a part of the developer passage control unit are in direct or indirect contact with each other with respect to the row of small holes.
When it is arranged on the side opposite to the developer conveying direction, the vibration by the vibrating body is reliably transmitted to the row of small holes of the developer passage control means, and the effect of preventing clogging is more reliably obtained. At this time, if one end of the developer passage control means on the downstream side in the developer conveyance direction is fixed as described above, and the vibrating body is arranged between the fixed end and the row of small holes, the displacement of the vibrating body is reduced, The relative displacement between the ultrasonic vibration generating means and the vibrating body can be easily allowed, and the above effects can be obtained with a simple configuration.

Further, when a vibrator is arranged at a position downstream of the small hole row arrangement position of the developer passage control means in the developer conveying direction, and the base material of the developer passage control means is bent by the vibrator, The vibrating body can be used as a member that bends the developer passage control means to prevent its waving, thereby realizing high cleaning performance and high-quality image formation while simplifying the configuration.

When the vibrator is rotatably supported around its axis and the ultrasonic vibration generating means is rotatably supported coaxially, the rotation of the vibrator absorbs the displacement of the developer passage control means. Therefore, the displacement can be reasonably absorbed, and the transmission of the ultrasonic vibration can be performed reliably and efficiently.

Further, a vibrating body is fixed to the side of the base material of the developer passage control means along the arrangement direction of the small holes, and the vibrating body is rotatably supported around its axis so that the ultrasonic vibration is prevented. When the ultrasonic vibration generating means is provided and the connected vibration body fixedly connected to the ultrasonic vibration generating means and the vibration body are relatively rotatably coupled, the displacement of the developer passage control means can be absorbed by the rotation of the vibration body. In addition, the ultrasonic vibration generating means can be fixedly provided, and the arrangement of the ultrasonic vibration generating means can be simplified, the displacement of the developer passage control means can be easily absorbed, and the ultrasonic vibration can be transmitted. It can be performed reliably and efficiently.

Further, in such a configuration, the developer passage control means fixes one end of the base material on the upstream side in the developer conveyance direction and connects the other end to the tension means. Even if the base material of the passage control means is bent, high cleaning performance and high quality image formation can be realized while simplifying the configuration as described above.

A developer carrying means for carrying and transporting the charged developer, and a plurality of small holes through which the developer passes through the substrate are formed in a row in a direction perpendicular to the developer transport direction to form an image from outside. A developer passage control means for controlling the passage of the developer in accordance with the signal; an image receiving means on which the developer having passed through the hole adheres; and In an image forming apparatus provided with an ultrasonic cleaning unit for performing cleaning, a developer is developed at a position where the developer carrying unit and the developer passage control unit are in direct or indirect contact with each other based on the row of small holes of the developer passage control unit. When a seal blade, the tip of which contacts the inner surface at the position opposite to the developer conveying direction, is attached to the wall of the developer container or the case wall in which the developer container is accommodated, ultrasonic vibration is applied to the cleaner for controlling the passage of the developer. To together to perform grayed prevents the developer leaking to the outside along the inner surface of the developer passing controller by the vibration.

[0021]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (First Embodiment) Hereinafter, a first embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus.
In FIG. 1A, reference numeral 1 denotes a print head, a housing member 2 having an open upper surface and a developer supply opening 3 formed at a lower end.
A developer passage control means 4 disposed on the lower outer surface of the housing member 2 so as to cover the developer supply opening 3; and a developer supply unit (hereinafter, referred to as a detachable unit) installed in the housing member 2 in a detachable manner. A back electrode 6 is disposed at an appropriate interval below the print head 1, and an image receiving member 7 such as a recording paper is provided between the back electrode 6 and the print head 1. Is configured to pass through.

The toner cartridge 5 includes a developer container 9 for storing the toner 8 as a developer, and a developer provided so as to face a developer supply port 10 which is largely opened at a lower portion of the developer container 9. Developing roller 1 as agent carrying means
1 and a regulating blade 12 for regulating a toner layer carried on the developing roller 11 and conveyed outside the developer supply port 10.
And a supply roller 13 that stirs the toner 8 in the developer container 9 to frictionally charge the toner 8 and supplies the toner 8 to the developing roller 11.

Outside the both ends of the developing roller 11 in the axial direction, a regulating collar 14 is provided coaxially with the rear electrode 6 to abut on the rear electrode 6 to regulate the distance between the developing roller 11 and the rear electrode 6 to be constant. ing. The distance between the back electrode 6 and the developing roller 11 is set to 150 to 1000 μm by the regulating collar 14.
m, and is set to 350 μm in this embodiment.

Further, a guide shaft 1 coaxial with the developing roller 11
5 project from both ends of the developer container 9. 16
Is the developer supply port 10 when the toner cartridge 5 is transported.
Is a protective cover for protecting the developing roller 11 by closing the cover.

The toner 8 is sandwiched between the developing roller 11 and the regulating blade 12 and receives a small amount of charge from the developing roller 11 to be charged. In the embodiment, the toner 8 has a negative charge of −10 μC / g.
A non-magnetic material having an average particle size of 8 μm was used.

The developing roller 11 is made of a metal such as aluminum or iron, or an alloy. In this embodiment, an aluminum cylinder having an outer diameter of 20 mm and a thickness of 1 mm is used. The regulating blade 12 is made of an elastic member such as urethane, and has a hardness of 40 to 80 degrees (JIS).
K6301A scale), the free end length (the length of the portion protruding from the mounting portion) is 5 to 15 mm, and the developing roller 11
The linear pressure on the developing roller 11 is suitably 5 to 40 g / cm.
One to three layers of the toner 8 are formed thereon. In this embodiment, the regulating blade 12 is electrically floated.

The supply roller 13 is formed by providing a synthetic rubber such as urethane foam on a metal shaft such as iron (diameter: 8 mm in this embodiment) of about 2 to 6 mm, and has a hardness of 30 degrees (rolled shape). Is measured according to the method of the JIS K6301A scale) to control the supply of the toner 8 in addition to assisting the charging of the toner 8. The amount of biting into the developing roller 11 is preferably about 0.1 to 2 mm.

The developing roller 11 and the regulating blade 1
2. The supply roller 13 may be electrically grounded or applied with a DC or AC voltage.
2 may be in an electrically floating state.

The back electrode 6 functions as a counter electrode and forms an electric field between the back electrode 6 and the developing roller 11, and is made of a metal plate or resin in which conductive fillers are dispersed. Although a DC voltage of about 500 to 2000 V is applied to the back electrode 6, a voltage of 1000 V is applied in the present embodiment.

The housing member 2 has guide grooves 17 for positioning the toner cartridge 5 by inserting the guide shaft 15 of the toner cartridge 5 on both end walls facing both ends in the axial direction of the developing roller 11. Developer supply opening 3
An opening 18 through which the regulating collar 14 penetrates is formed outside the both ends of the opening. Further, the developer supply opening 3 of the housing member 2
A fixing portion 19 for fixing one end of the developer passage control means 4 is formed on one side of the developer supply opening 4, and the other end of the developer passage control means 4 faces upward on the other side of the developer supply opening 3. A stay portion 20 having an arc-shaped cross section to be bent is formed so as to protrude, and a pair of spring hooks 21 is provided at an upper end portion at an appropriate interval.

The developer passage control means 4 perforates a large number of small holes 23 at a fine pitch in the width direction of the image receiving member 7 in the insulating base material 22 to form one or a plurality of small hole rows 24. Small hole 2
3 to form a ring-shaped image signal electrode,
Further, a control signal electrode is formed on the back surface of the insulating base material 22 so as not to overlap with the image signal electrode. The insulating base material 22 is preferably made of a material such as polyimide or polyethylene terephthalate, and the thickness is suitably from 10 to 100 μm.

In this embodiment, the insulating substrate 22 has a thickness of 50 μm.
m of polyimide is used. The diameter of the small hole 23 is 145
μm, the image signal electrode has an inner diameter of 150 μm and an outer diameter of 250 μm.
The control signal electrode has an inner diameter of 250 μm in a ring shape of μm. Further, a thin resin layer of 1 to 2 μm is provided on the surface of each electrode. The image signal electrodes are made of metal foil such as copper having a thickness of about 5 to 30 μm, and are independently connected to image signal output units as image signal voltage switching means through lead wires. Normally, a voltage of 400 V or less is applied to the image signal electrode.
A voltage of 00 V and a voltage of -100 V are applied for non-dot formation.

One end of the developer passage control means 4 is fixed to a fixing portion 19 of the housing member 2 by a fixing screw 25, and the other end is bent by a stay 20 and the other end is a pair of tension springs. It is locked to the spring hook 21 via 26. Further, a spacer 27 is mounted on the inner surface of the developer passage control means 4 at a position above the small hole row 24 in the moving direction of the developing roller 11, and the spacer 27 controls the toner layer on the developing roller 11 and the developer passage control. The distance from the means 4 is set with high accuracy in the range of 0 to 200 μm, and in this embodiment, 50 μm.

Then, the small hole array 2 of the developer passage control means 4
A diaphragm 28 made of a metal plate is fixed along the small hole row 24 on the outer surface at a position between 4 and the stay portion 20. Specifically, for example, a stainless steel plate having a width of 5 mm and a thickness of 0.2 mm can be used. As shown in FIG. 2, a mounting bracket 29 mounted on one end surface of the housing member 2 is provided.
The ultrasonic vibration generating means 30 for generating ultrasonic vibration is fixedly supported, and a tip of a connecting plate portion 31 extending to one end of the vibration plate 28 is screwed to an output end of the ultrasonic vibration generating means 30. Stopped and fixed. The vibration frequency of the ultrasonic vibration generating means 30 may be a sine wave of 1 MHz or less, for example, a frequency of about 20 KHz is suitably used.
This is because if the vibration frequency increases, the toner 8 and the developer passage control means 4 vibrate in the same manner, and it becomes impossible to prevent the toner 8 from adhering and accumulating.
Ultrasonic vibration generating means 30 and diaphragm 2
A width detail 32 is provided so that ultrasonic vibrations can be transmitted while allowing the relative displacement of each other.

In the image forming apparatus having the above structure, when the toner cartridge 5 is mounted, the guide shaft 15 is guided and engaged with the guide groove 17 with the protective cover 16 opened, as shown in FIG. The toner cartridge 5 is inserted into the housing member 2 and is installed in a state where the toner cartridge 5 is urged by a predetermined pressing force or more. Then, by the engagement of the guide shaft 15 and the guide groove 17, the developing roller 11 and the small hole array 24 of the developer passage control means 4 are positioned so as to be parallel in a predetermined positional relationship in the horizontal direction in FIG. , Regulatory collar 14
Is brought into contact with the back electrode 6 so that the developing roller 11
The gap between the electrode and the back electrode 6 is set to a predetermined value with high accuracy. At the same time, the developing roller 11
Abuts on the developer passage control means 4 through the contact member to displace the developer passage control means 4 against the urging force of the tension spring 26. The gap between them is set to a predetermined value with high accuracy.

At the time of image formation, when a voltage of a predetermined value or more is applied to the image signal electrode of the developer passage control means 4 in accordance with an external signal, an electric field formed between the developing roller 11 and the back electrode 6 is generated. An accelerating electric field is formed between the developing roller 11 and the image signal electrode by exposing, or the electric field causes the toner 8 to be pulled directly or indirectly toward the back electrode 6 so that the toner 8 lands on the image receiving member 7. I do. On the other hand, when a voltage lower than a predetermined value is applied to the image signal electrode, the electric field formed between the developing roller 11 and the back electrode 6 is blocked, and the toner 8 does not land on the image receiving member 7. Thus, an image is formed on the image receiving member 7 with the landed toner 8.

By activating the ultrasonic vibration generating means 30 during the image forming operation or at appropriate time intervals, the ultrasonic vibration is transmitted to the connecting plate portion 31 and the vibration plate 28.
The toner 8 is transmitted to the developer passage control means 4 via the
Is effectively removed, and the developer passage control means 4 is always maintained in a cleaned state.

Here, the connecting plate portion 3 having the narrow width 32 formed so that the vibration plate 28 fixed to the developer passage control means 4 and the ultrasonic vibration generating means 30 allow mutual relative displacement.
1, the toner cartridge 5
Ultrasonic vibration is reliably transmitted while allowing the developer passage control means 4 to be displaced at the time of mounting, so that a stable cleaning ability can be exhibited, an image can be formed stably, and distortion occurs in the developer passage control means 4. A high quality image can be formed without fear.

In the above description, an example is shown in which the connecting plate portion 31 is provided with the narrow portion 32 in order to reliably transmit the ultrasonic vibration while allowing the displacement of the developer passage control means 4.
The connecting plate portion 31 may be provided with a bent portion 33 as shown in FIG. 2 (b), or may be provided with a U-shaped folded portion 34 as shown in FIG. 2 (c). The character-shaped folded portion 34 may be formed to have a small width, and may be appropriately designed according to the actual structure and dimensions of the print head 1 so as to obtain an optimum operation.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the following description of the embodiment, the first
The same constituent elements as those of the embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. Only different points will be described.

In the present embodiment, a stay rod 35 rotatable around its own axis within a predetermined rotation range is provided on the housing member 2 instead of the stay portion 20 integral with the housing member 2. By fixing the developer passage control means 4 to the stay rod 35 and connecting the ultrasonic vibration generating means 30 to one end of the stay rod 35, the stay rod 35 also serves as a vibrator. 36 is a backing plate applied to the developer passage control means 4, and 37 is a fixing screw. Also,
The ultrasonic vibration generating means 30 is installed on a support (not shown) mounted on the housing member 2 so as to be rotatable around the axis of the stay rod 35.

According to the present embodiment, the ultrasonic vibration generated by the ultrasonic vibration generating means 30 can be efficiently transmitted to the developer passage control means 4 by the stay rod 35 as a vibrator, and a large cleaning effect can be obtained. The rotation of the stay rod 35 allows the displacement of the developer passage control means 4 to be smoothly and smoothly absorbed.

As shown by the imaginary line in FIG. 3, a rotational connection is provided between the developer passage control means 4 and the ultrasonic vibration generating means 30 so as to be rotatable relative to a stay rod 35 in a predetermined range. It is good also as composition provided with means 38,
Then, the ultrasonic vibration generating means 30 can be fixedly supported on the housing member 2, and the supporting configuration of the ultrasonic vibration generating means 30 can be simplified.

(Third Embodiment) Next, a third embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

In the present embodiment, the fixing portion 19 of the housing member 3
Is arranged on the lower side in the moving direction of the developing roller 11 with respect to the small hole row 24, and one end of the developer passage control means 4 is fixed to this fixing portion by a fixing screw 25. The other end of the developer passage control means 4 is bent at the stay 20 and the other end is locked to the spring hook 21 via a pair of tension springs 26. The tension springs 26 have small holes. The developing roller 11 is disposed upstream of the row 24 in the rotation direction.

Then, the small hole array 2 of the developer passage control means 4
A diaphragm 28 made of a metal plate is fixed along the small hole row 24 on the outer surface at a position between 4 and the fixing portion 19. Also,
As in the first embodiment, a spacer 27 is mounted on the inner surface of the developer passage control unit 4 at a position farther from the small hole array 24 in the moving direction of the developing roller 11.

Here, the vibration plate 28 and the ultrasonic vibration generator 30 fixed to the developer passage control means 4 are configured such that the vibration plate 28 can be relatively displaced. However, in the present embodiment, the diaphragm 28 is located on the opposite side of the tension spring 24 (developer passage) with respect to the position where the developing roller 11 and the developer passage control means 4 are in direct or indirect contact. (The position between the small hole array 24 of the control means 4 and the fixing portion 19), the displacement of the diaphragm 28 when the toner cartridge 5 is mounted is smaller than that in the first embodiment. Small. Therefore, diaphragm 2
The diaphragm 28 and the ultrasonic wave are formed only at the connecting portion 31 between the ultrasonic vibration generator 8 and the ultrasonic vibration generator 30 by forming the width detail 32 with a slightly reduced width of the diaphragm, or without forming the width detail 32 at all. A configuration in which the vibration generating device 30 is relatively displaced by a required amount can be realized very easily.

(Fourth Embodiment) Next, a fourth embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

In FIG. 6, a seal blade 39 whose front end is pressed against the inner surface of the developer passage control means 4 is mounted on the outer surface of the side edge of the developer supply opening 3 in the housing member 2 on the lower side in the rotation direction of the developing roller 11. Have been.

In FIG. 7, the developer supply opening 3 of the housing member 2 is formed on the outer surface of the side of the developer supply port 10 in the developer storage container 9 of the toner cartridge 5 on the lower side in the rotation direction of the developing roller 11. And a seal blade 40 whose leading end is in pressure contact with the inner surface of the developer passage control means 4 is mounted.

The seal blades 39 and 40 are made of PET having a thickness of 0.1 mm or less, or urethane rubber having a thickness of 0.3 mm or less.

According to the present embodiment, cleaning of the developer passage control unit 4 is performed by applying ultrasonic vibration to the developer passage control unit 4 through the vibration plate 28 as in the first embodiment. In addition, the seal blades 39 and 40 can reliably prevent the toner 8 from leaking outside along the inner surface of the developer passage control means 4 due to the vibration.

[0054]

According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, as described above, the vibrating body is fixed to the base of the developer passage control means along the direction in which the small holes are arranged, and the ultrasonic vibration is generated. The ultrasonic vibration generating means to be generated is provided, and the ultrasonic vibration generating means and the vibrating body are connected by the connecting means for allowing mutual relative displacement and transmitting the ultrasonic vibration. Also, it is possible to reliably transmit ultrasonic vibrations, exhibit stable cleaning ability, stably form an image, and realize high-quality image formation without fear of causing distortion in the developer passage control means.

Further, a connecting portion integrally extending toward the ultrasonic vibration generating means is provided at one end of the vibrating body, and the distal end of the connecting portion is fixed to the ultrasonic vibration generating means, and the connecting portion is provided with a small width. Alternatively, if the connecting portion is provided with a bent portion or the connecting portion is provided with a U-shaped folded portion, ultrasonic vibration can be transmitted with a simple configuration while allowing relative displacement.

Also, a vibrating body is fixed to the side of the base of the developer passage control means along the arrangement direction of the small holes, and an ultrasonic vibration generating means for generating ultrasonic vibration is provided. Even if the ultrasonic vibration generating means is fixedly connected and the ultrasonic vibration generating means is displaceably supported, the same operation and effect can be obtained.

Further, the developer passage control means has one end on the upstream side of the base material in the developer conveying direction fixed and the other end connected to the pulling means, and one of the developer carrying means and the developer passage control means. By applying the above configuration to a configuration in which the portions are directly or indirectly contacted to set a gap therebetween, high-quality image formation can be reliably realized and a stable cleaning ability can be exhibited. It has a great effect.

Conversely, the developer passage control means has one end on the downstream side of the base material in the developer transport direction fixed and the other end connected to the tension means, and the developer carrying means and the developer passage control means. Even if the above configuration is applied to a configuration in which a part of the above is directly or indirectly contacted to set a gap between the two, a large effect can be exerted in the same manner as described above.

Further, the vibrating member is provided on the developer passage control means at a position where the developer carrying means and a part of the developer passage control means are in direct or indirect contact with each other based on the row of small holes.
When it is arranged on the side opposite to the developer conveying direction, the vibration by the vibrating body is reliably transmitted to the row of small holes of the developer passage control means, and the effect of preventing clogging is more reliably obtained.

Further, when a vibrator is arranged at a position downstream of the small hole array of the developer passage control means in the developer conveying direction, and the base material of the developer passage control means is bent by the vibrator, The vibrating body can be used as a member that bends the developer passage control means to prevent its waving, thereby realizing high cleaning performance and high-quality image formation while simplifying the configuration.

When the vibrator is rotatably supported around its axis and the ultrasonic vibration generating means is rotatably supported coaxially, displacement of the developer passage control means is absorbed by rotation of the vibrator. Therefore, the displacement can be reasonably absorbed, and the transmission of the ultrasonic vibration can be performed reliably and efficiently.

Further, a vibrating body is fixed to the side of the substrate of the developer passage control means along the arrangement direction of the small holes, and the vibrating body is rotatably supported around its axis, thereby preventing the ultrasonic vibration. When the ultrasonic vibration generating means is provided and the connected vibration body fixedly connected to the ultrasonic vibration generating means and the vibration body are relatively rotatably coupled, the displacement of the developer passage control means can be absorbed by the rotation of the vibration body. In addition, the ultrasonic vibration generating means can be fixedly provided, and the arrangement of the ultrasonic vibration generating means can be simplified, the displacement of the developer passage control means can be easily absorbed, and the ultrasonic vibration can be transmitted. It can be performed reliably and efficiently.

Also, in an image forming apparatus provided with an ultrasonic cleaning means for cleaning small holes by applying ultrasonic vibration to the developer passage control means, the developer is controlled based on a row of small holes of the developer passage control means. A sealing blade whose tip contacts the inner surface at a position opposite to the developer conveying direction with respect to the position where the carrier means and the developer passage control means directly or indirectly contact the developer accommodating container wall or the developer accommodating container. When attached to the case wall to be housed, the developer can be prevented from leaking to the outside along the inner surface of the developer passage control means due to ultrasonic vibration for cleaning the developer passage control means.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a first embodiment of an image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a print head according to the embodiment;
(A) is a perspective view showing a configuration of a print head and a mounting process of a toner cartridge, (b) is a partial plan view showing another configuration example of a connecting plate portion of a vibrating body, and (c) is a connecting plate of a vibrating body. FIG. 14 is a partial plan view showing still another configuration example of the section.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a print head and a process of mounting a toner cartridge in a second embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a schematic configuration of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a third embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of a fourth embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a modified configuration example of the same embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 4 Developer Passage Control Means 7 Image Receiving Means 8 Toner (Developer) 11 Developing Roller (Developer Carrier) 20 Stay Unit 22 Insulating Base Material 23 Small Hole 24 Small Hole Row 26 Tension Spring 27 Spacer 28 Vibrating Plate (Vibrating Body) REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 30 ultrasonic vibration generating means 31 connecting plate part (connecting means) 32 detailed width 33 bent part 34 U-shaped folded part 35 stay rod (vibrating body) 38 rotational connecting means 39 seal blade 40 seal blade

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (71) Applicant 597063831 Owneds Brygga 13 421 57 Vestro Fround a Sweden (72) Inventor Katsutoshi Ogawa 1006 Odakadoma, Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Taichi Ito 1006 Kadoma Kadoma, Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture Inside Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Masayoshi Miura 1006 Kadoma Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Inside the Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Yoshitaka Kitaoka 1006 Kadoma Kadoma, Osaka Pref. Address Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Takahiro Tsujimoto 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Masaichiro Tachikawa 1006 Odaka, Kadoma, Kadoma, Osaka Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. 72) Inventor Akira Fukano, Osaka Prefecture Gate City Oaza Kadoma 1006 address Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. in the F-term (reference) 2C162 AE25 AE74 AE84 AE93 AE94 CA02 CA12 CA24

Claims (13)

[Claims] A developer carrying means for carrying and transporting a charged developer, and a plurality of small holes through which the developer passes through the base are formed in a row in a direction orthogonal to the developer transport direction, and an image from the outside is formed. In an image forming apparatus provided with a developer passage control means for controlling the passage of the developer in accordance with a signal and an image receiving means to which the developer having passed through the small hole adheres, the base material of the developer passage control means A vibrating body is fixed to the side along the arrangement direction of the holes, and an ultrasonic vibration generating means for generating ultrasonic vibration is provided,
An image forming apparatus, wherein an ultrasonic vibration generating means and a vibrating body are connected by a connecting means which allows mutual relative displacement and transmits ultrasonic vibration. 2. A connecting part extending integrally to the ultrasonic vibration generating means is provided at one end of the vibrating body, and a distal end of the connecting part is fixed to the ultrasonic vibration generating means, and the connecting part is provided with a small width. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 3. A connecting portion integrally extending toward the ultrasonic vibration generating means is provided at one end of the vibrating body, and a distal end of the connecting portion is fixed to the ultrasonic vibration generating means, and a bent portion is provided on the connecting portion. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 4. A connecting portion integrally extending toward the ultrasonic vibration generating means is provided at one end of the vibrating body, and a tip of the connecting portion is fixed to the ultrasonic vibration generating means, and a U-shaped folded portion is provided on the connecting portion. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a unit. 5. A developer carrying means for carrying and carrying a charged developer, and a plurality of small holes through which the developer passes through the base are formed in a row in a direction orthogonal to the developer carrying direction, and an image from the outside is provided. In an image forming apparatus provided with a developer passage control means for controlling the passage of the developer in accordance with a signal and an image receiving means to which the developer having passed through the small hole adheres, the base material of the developer passage control means A vibrating body is fixed to the side along the arrangement direction of the holes, and an ultrasonic vibration generating means for generating ultrasonic vibration is provided,
An image forming apparatus, wherein a vibrator and an ultrasonic vibration generating means are fixedly connected, and the ultrasonic vibration generating means is displaceably supported. 6. The developer passage control means has one end fixed on the upstream side of the base material in the developer transport direction and the other end connected to a pulling means, and one of the developer carrying means and the developer passage control means. Wherein the gap is set by directly or indirectly contacting the parts.
6. The image forming apparatus according to any one of 5. 7. The developer passage control means includes one end on the downstream side of the base material in the developer conveyance direction, and the other end connected to the pulling means, and one of the developer carrying means and the developer passage control means. Wherein the gap is set by directly or indirectly contacting the parts.
6. The image forming apparatus according to any one of 5. 8. A vibrating member is provided on the developer passage control means at a position where the developer carrying means and a part of the developer passage control means are in direct or indirect contact with each other with respect to the row of small holes. 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is disposed on a side opposite to the conveying direction.
The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, 9. A vibrating body is arranged at a position downstream of the small hole row arrangement position of the developer passage control means in the developer conveyance direction, and the base material of the developer passage control means is bent by the vibrator. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein: 10. The vibrating body according to claim 5, wherein said vibrating body is rotatably supported around its axis, and said ultrasonic vibration generating means is rotatably supported coaxially. Image forming device. 11. A developer carrying means for carrying and transporting a charged developer, and a plurality of small holes through which the developer passes through the substrate are formed in a row in a direction perpendicular to the developer transport direction, and an image from the outside is provided. In an image forming apparatus provided with a developer passage control means for controlling the passage of the developer in accordance with a signal and an image receiving means to which the developer having passed through the small hole adheres, the base material of the developer passage control means A vibrating body is fixed to the side portion along the arrangement direction of the holes and the vibrating body is rotatably supported around its axis, and an ultrasonic vibration generating means for generating ultrasonic vibration is provided,
An image forming apparatus, wherein a connected vibrating body and a vibrating body fixedly connected to an ultrasonic vibration generating means are relatively rotatably connected. 12. The developer passage control means includes one end on the upstream side of the base material in the developer transport direction, and the other end connected to the tension means. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the image forming apparatus is bent. 13. A developer carrying means for carrying and transporting a charged developer, and a plurality of small holes through which the developer passes through the base material are formed in a row in a direction perpendicular to the developer transport direction to form an image from outside. A developer passage control means for controlling the passage of the developer in accordance with the signal; an image receiving means on which the developer having passed through the hole adheres; and In an image forming apparatus provided with an ultrasonic cleaning unit for performing cleaning, a developer is developed at a position where the developer carrying unit and the developer passage control unit are in direct or indirect contact with each other based on the row of small holes of the developer passage control unit. An image forming apparatus, wherein a seal blade having a tip contacting an inner surface at a position opposite to a developer conveyance direction is attached to a wall of a developer storage container or a case wall in which a developer storage container is stored.