JP2001093651A - Ion-generating substrate and electronic printing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ion-generating substrate capable of changing the quantity of ion generation by part and an electronic printing apparatus using. SOLUTION: There are provided an insulating substrate 2, first electrodes 3 formed on the insulating substrate with a comb-tooth part, second and third electrodes 5 and 6 with comb-tooth parts respectively disposed corresponding to the clearances between the comb-tooth part of the first electrodes, a dielectric layer 4 between the first electrodes and the second and third electrodes, a first feeder means A for feeding electricity to the first electrodes, a second feeder means B for feeding electricity to the second electrodes, a third feeder means C for feeding electricity to the third electrodes, a protection layer 7 for covering the outer surfaces of the first electrodes or the second and third electrodes so that they are not exposed, and heater means 8 and 9 for heating the first, second, and third electrodes directly or indirectly.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an ion generating substrate and an electronic printing apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a comb-shaped lower electrode, a dielectric layer, and a comb-shaped upper electrode formed at regular intervals as well as a dielectric layer and a lower electrode are formed on an insulating substrate. A heater for heating these electrodes is attached to the back surface of the insulating substrate, a voltage is applied between the lower electrode and the upper electrode, and a corona discharge is caused between the upper and lower electrodes. An ion generating substrate has been developed which is generated to ionize air in the vicinity of these electrodes.

[0003] Such an ion generating substrate is built in an electronic printing apparatus such as a printer or an electronic copying machine, for example, and is about to be used to appropriately charge a charging drum as a photosensitive member.

In such a conventional ion generating substrate, the arrangement of the upper electrode and the lower electrode is relatively constant, and the ion generated from the ion generating substrate is changed even when the voltage applied to these electrodes is changed. Although the amount changes in response to the voltage change, the amount of ion generation cannot be changed depending on the portion of the ion generating substrate.

[0005]

However, in an electronic printing apparatus, the surface of the photoreceptor may not be uniformly charged, and uneven charging may occur.

If the number of rotations of the photoreceptor is increased to eliminate charged spots due to uncharging, and ions are continuously generated from the ion generating substrate during this rotation, the uncharged portion can be charged. There is a problem that the charged portion is further charged, and an image having a uniform density cannot be formed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide an ion generating substrate capable of changing the amount of ions generated from the ion generating substrate depending on a site and an electronic printing apparatus using the same. And

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ion generating substrate comprising: an insulating substrate; a first electrode formed directly or indirectly on the insulating substrate and having a comb tooth portion; Second having respective comb teeth arranged between the comb teeth
And a third electrode; a dielectric layer disposed between the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode; first power supply means for supplying power to the first electrode; and a first power supply means for supplying power to the second electrode. Second power supply means; third power supply means for supplying power to the third electrode; a protective layer covering the outer surface of the first or second electrode and the third electrode so as not to be exposed; first, second and third power supply means; And heating means for directly or indirectly heating the electrode.

Therefore, the first electrode, the second electrode and the third electrode
Since it becomes possible to change, for example, the voltage and frequency applied between the first electrode and the second electrode, the amount of ions generated between the first electrode and the second electrode and the distance between the first electrode and the third electrode can be changed. And the amount of generated ions can be independently changed.

Also, the pitch interval between the comb teeth of the second electrode,
By presetting the pitch interval between the comb teeth of the third electrode to a different pitch, the amount of generated ions can be changed depending on the portion of the substrate.

The insulating substrate of the present invention is formed of alumina or the like, but is not limited to this.

The first electrode, the second electrode and the third electrode are made of a gold or silver-based material (including gold / platinum using silver / platinum, silver / palladium alloy, or organometallic compound paste). And can be formed by a screen printing method, but is not limited thereto.

The dielectric layer uses lead borosilicate glass,
Like the electrodes, they can be formed by a screen printing method or the like. At this time, the thickness of the dielectric layer is desirably 15 to 35 microns.

The protective layer is formed for protecting the electrode exposed on the outer surface, and can be formed by a screen printing method using a low melting point lead borosilicate glass paste. Preferably, the thickness is between 2 and 10 microns.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic printing apparatus comprising: the ion generating substrate according to the first aspect; and a photoreceptor which is arranged to face the ion generating substrate and is charged by ions generated from the ion generating substrate. It is characterized by being built in.

Therefore, since the amount of ions generated on the ion generating substrate can be changed depending on the portion, the charge amount of the photoreceptor can be appropriately changed depending on the portion, and the unevenness of charge can be reduced.

[0017]

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention.
It will be described based on. FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional side view showing an ion generating substrate.

The ion generating substrate (1) is an insulating substrate (2)
A first electrode (3) formed on the surface of the insulating substrate (2) and having a comb-teeth portion; a dielectric layer (4) covering the first electrode (3); and a dielectric layer (4). ) Formed on the upper layer,
A second electrode (5) and a third electrode (6) each having a comb tooth portion located between the comb tooth portions of the first electrode, and covering the second electrode (5) and the third electrode (6). It comprises a protective layer (7) and heaters (8) and (9) formed on the lower surface of the insulating substrate (2).

In this embodiment, the insulating substrate (2) is made of a material mainly composed of alumina.

The first electrode (3), the second electrode (5) and the third
The electrode (6) is formed by a screen printing method or the like using a gold or silver-based material (including gold / platinum using silver / platinum, silver / palladium alloy, or organometallic compound paste).

The first electrode (3), the second electrode (5),
The third electrode (6) is arranged so that the comb teeth are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the photoconductor (20) (the direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 1), and extends along the circumferential direction of the photoconductor (20). As shown in FIG.

The comb teeth of the first electrode (3) have an arrangement pitch p
Is about 600 microns, and the width a of each comb tooth is about 10
0 microns.

The arrangement pitch of the comb teeth of the second electrode (5) and the third electrode (6) is the same as the pitch of the comb teeth of the first electrode (3), and the width b of the comb teeth is about 200 microns.

The dielectric layer (4) is formed by forming a lead borosilicate glass paste into two layers on the first electrode by a screen printing method and firing each time a single screen printing is performed. The film thickness after firing is 15 to 3
It is set to 5 microns.

The protective layer (7) is formed by printing a lead borosilicate glass paste having a low melting point on the second electrode (5) and the third electrode (6) by a screen printing method, followed by firing. And a film thickness of 2 to 10 microns.

The heaters (8) and (9) formed on the back surface of the insulating substrate (2) screen a resistor paste (including an alloy of silver / platinum and silver / palladium) mainly composed of silver. It is formed by printing and firing.

As shown in FIG. 2, the first electrode (3), the second electrode (5) and the third electrode (6) are supplied with power independently of each other. ), The second power supply wiring (b) and the third power supply wiring (c).

According to the ion generating substrate of the present embodiment configured as described above, the first electrode (3) and the second electrode (5)
And the first electrode (3) and the third electrode (6)
By changing the voltage applied to the first electrode (3) and the second electrode
Since the degree of corona discharge between the electrode (5), the first electrode (3) and the third electrode (6) can be changed independently, it is possible to change the amount of ions generated thereby.

For example, a first electrode (3) and a second electrode (5)
When the AC bias voltage applied to the first electrode (3) and the third electrode (6) is lower than the AC bias voltage applied to the first electrode (3) and the third electrode (6), , The amount of ions generated due to the corona discharge can be relatively reduced.

Further, the first electrode (3) is set higher than the AC frequency applied to the first electrode (3) and the second electrode (5).
Even when the AC frequency applied to the first electrode (3) and the third electrode (6) is reduced, the amount of ions generated due to corona discharge between the first electrode (3) and the third electrode (6) is relatively low. can do.

Alternatively, the photoconductor (20) and the second electrode (5)
When the bias voltage applied to the photoconductor (20) and the third electrode (6) is lower than the bias voltage applied to the first electrode (3) and the third electrode (6), The amount of generated ions due to corona discharge can be relatively reduced.

Here, when the ion generating substrate (1) is disposed so as to face the photoconductor (20), the amount of ion generation is low on the side of rotation of the photoconductor (20) in the rotational direction (the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1). When the third electrode (6) is positioned and the second electrode (5) having a high ion generation amount is positioned on the side of the photoconductor (20) which is delayed in the rotation direction, the photoconductor (20) firstly moves to the second electrode (5). Is charged to a sufficient level by many ions generated. At this time, even if a charge spot is generated, when the lastly charged portion reaches the third electrode (6), it is charged by a small amount of ions by the third electrode (6).

In this case, since the second charge amount by the third electrode (6) is relatively small, the charge increase amount of the first charged portion is relatively negligible, and the uncharged portion is removed. It can be charged and can reduce spots.

In this embodiment, a heater (8) for heating the first electrode (3) and the second electrode (5) includes:
In the description, the heater (9) for heating the first electrode (3) and the heater (9) for heating the third electrode (6) are separately provided. However, these electrodes are commonly heated by a single heater. Further, in the case where a plurality of heaters are attached as in the present embodiment, it is also possible to adjust the amount of ions generated at each corresponding electrode by changing the heat generation temperature thereof. .

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

The same parts as those of the above embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description is omitted. FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional side view showing the ion generating substrate (10).

The ion generating substrate (10) of the present embodiment
As in the above-described embodiment, an insulating substrate (2), a first electrode (3) formed on the surface of the insulating substrate (2), and a dielectric layer (4) covering the first electrode (3) A second electrode (5) and a third electrode (6) formed on the surface of the dielectric layer (4); a protective layer (7) covering these electrodes (5) and (6); A heater (not shown) formed on the lower surface of the substrate (2).

In the present embodiment, the first electrode (3) and the third electrode (3) are arranged in the arrangement direction of the first electrode (3) due to the distance c between the first electrode (3) and the second electrode (5). 6) is characterized in that the distance C is increased.

Therefore, the applied voltage between the first electrode (3) and the second electrode (5) is made equal to the applied voltage between the first electrode (3) and the third electrode (6), Photoconductor (20)
When the bias voltage applied to the first electrode (3) and the bias voltage applied to the second electrode (5) are equal to the bias voltage applied to the photoconductor (20) and the third electrode (6), the distances c and C to the first electrode (3) are increased.
Of the second electrode (5),
The amount of ions generated at the electrode (6) can be reduced.

Also in the case of the present embodiment, when the ion generating substrate (10) is disposed to face the photoconductor (20), the ion is generated on the moving side of the photoconductor (20) in the rotational direction (the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1). When the third electrode (6) having a low generation amount is located and the second electrode (5) having a high ion generation amount is located on the side of the rotation direction delay of the photoconductor (20), the photoconductor (20) firstly becomes the second electrode. The electrode (5) is charged to a sufficient level by the relatively large amount of generated ions.

At this time, even if a charged spot occurs, when the uncharged portion reaches the third electrode (6), the portion is charged by a relatively small amount of ions by the third electrode (6).

Further, since the charge amount of the second charge is small, the charge amount of the first charge portion is not excessively increased, and the charge spots can be reduced.

In the description of the above embodiment, the first electrode (3) is formed on the surface of the insulating substrate (2), and the dielectric layer (4) and the second Electrode (5)
And the third electrode (6) are sequentially laminated. For example, the second electrode (5) and the third electrode (6) are disposed directly or indirectly on the insulating substrate (2). A dielectric layer (4) and a first electrode (3) may be sequentially arranged on the second electrode (5) and the third electrode (6).

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of the electronic printing apparatus.

In the drawing, reference numeral (20) denotes a photosensitive member which is driven to rotate clockwise. Around the photosensitive member (20), a charging device (21) for charging the surface of the photosensitive member (20) and a charge removing device (22) for applying a charge for discharging the photosensitive member (20) to the photosensitive member (20). ), An exposure device (not shown) for writing an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member (20), a developing device (23), and a transfer sheet (S) as a member to be charged is charged to charge the photosensitive member (20). A transfer device (24) for transferring the upper image to the transfer paper (S), a peeling device (25) for peeling the transfer paper (S) from the photoconductor (20), and cleaning the surface of the photoconductor (20). A cleaning unit (26) is arranged.

A sheet cassette (27) stores a large number of transfer sheets (S) in a stacked state.
A paper feed roller (30) for feeding the transfer papers (S) in a paper feed cassette (27) one by one, and a photoconductor (20) are provided in a paper path (29) extending from 7) to the fixing device (28). And a registration roller (31) that rotates in synchronization with the image forming process described above.

In such a configuration, the photoconductor (20)
The surface is charged by a charging device (21) in the process of being driven to rotate in a clockwise direction, and a laser beam (32) modulated based on an image signal is emitted from an exposure device to the charged portion. An image is formed. This electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing device (23).

On the other hand, the transfer sheet (S) fed by the feed roller (30) reaches the nip of the registration roller (31) and stands by, and the registration roller (31) is synchronized with the image forming process. When driven, the transfer paper (S) is fed between the photoconductor (20) and the transfer device (24).

The developed image on the photoreceptor (20) is transferred to the transfer paper (S) by the transfer device (24), and the transferred image is fixed when the transfer paper (S) reaches the fixing device (28). It is fixed by the device (28). The fixed transfer sheet (S) is discharged to a discharge tray (not shown).
The residual toner remaining on the photoconductor (20) is wiped by the cleaning unit (26).

By the way, the charging device (21) is replaced with the ion generating substrates (1), (1) described with reference to FIGS.
0) and the ion generating substrates (1), (1)
0) and a support (not shown) attached to a frame member of an electronic printing apparatus, so that the photoconductor (20) is formed by the ion generating substrates (1) and (10) as described above. ) Can be uniformly charged.

The charge removing device (22) is also a charging device for charging the photoconductor (20) for charge removal.

Therefore, by configuring the static eliminator (22) to include any one of the above-described ion generating substrates (1) and (10), ions are generated without unevenness, and static elimination of the photoconductor (20) is performed. Can be performed favorably.

Further, the transfer device (24) and the peeling device (2)
5) is a charging device for charging the transfer paper (S) as a member to be charged. Therefore, these transfer devices (2
4) By forming the peeling device (25) including any one of the above-described ion generating substrates (1) and (10), ions are generated without unevenness, and the photosensitive member ( The transfer of the image onto the photoconductor (20) and the peeling of the transfer paper (S) from the photoconductor (20) can be favorably performed.

[0054]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, for example, the voltage or frequency applied between the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode can be changed. The amount of ions generated between the first electrode and the second electrode and the amount of ions generated between the first electrode and the third electrode can be independently changed, and
By setting the pitch between the comb teeth of the second electrode and the pitch of the comb teeth of the third electrode to different pitches in advance, the amount of generated ions can be changed. An ion generating substrate whose amount can be changed depending on the site can be provided.

According to the electronic printing apparatus of the second aspect,
Since the ion generating substrate according to the first aspect and the photoconductor charged by the ion generating substrate are built in, an electronic printing apparatus capable of reducing the unevenness of charging of the photoconductor can be realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional side view of an ion generating substrate according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the ion generating substrate shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional side view of an ion generating substrate according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an electronic printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1,10: Ion generating substrate 2: Insulating substrate 3: First electrode 4: Dielectric layer 5: Second electrode 6: Third electrode 7: Protective layer 20: Photoconductor 21, 22, 24, 25: Charging device : 1st power supply wiring b: 2nd power supply wiring c: 3rd power supply wiring

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Shiro Ezaki 4-3-1 Higashishinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Toshiba Litec Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 2H003 BB11 CC00 DD03 EE00 EE08 EE12

Claims (2)

[Claims] An insulating substrate; a first electrode formed directly or indirectly on the insulating substrate and having a comb-teeth portion; a comb tooth disposed between the comb-teeth portions of the first electrode. Second and third electrodes each having a portion; a dielectric layer disposed between the first electrode and the second and third electrodes; a first power supply to the first electrode
Power supply means; and second power supply means for supplying power to the second electrode;
Third power supply means for supplying power to the third electrode; first or second power supply means;
A protective layer covering the outer surface of the electrode and the third electrode so as not to be exposed; and heating means for directly or indirectly heating the first, second and third electrodes. Generating substrate. 2. An electronic device, comprising: an ion generating substrate according to claim 1; and a photoreceptor arranged opposite to the ion generating substrate and charged by ions generated from the ion generating substrate. Type printing device.