JP2001162855A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To form a high quality image by preventing variation of a gap between a toner carrier body 1 and a toner pass-through control member 3 in a direction of arrangement of toner pass-through holes 4 in an image forming apparatus having the toner pass-through control member 3 that includes the plurality of toner pass-through holes 4 arranged in a row, controls the pass- through of toner 2 at the toner pass-through holes 4 and is attached to a housing 27 by means of attachment members 16, 17. SOLUTION: A waving suppressing member 14 for suppressing occurrence of waving at a portion of the row of toner pass-through holes 4 on the toner pass-through control member 3 is bonded to the toner pass-through control member 3 provided between the row of the toner pass-through holes 4 and the attachment members 16, 17.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus applied to a copying machine, a facsimile, a printer, and the like, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus having a developer passage hole having a developer passage hole. It belongs to the technical field of controlling the flight of a developer and forming an image by attaching the developer to an image receiving member located between a developer passage control member and a counter electrode.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the improvement of personal computer capabilities and the advancement of network technology, there has been a demand for a printer or copier having a high processing capability capable of handling a large number of documents (or capable of handling color documents). It is getting stronger. However, an image forming apparatus that can output satisfactory high-quality black and white or color documents and has a high processing speed is under development and is expected to appear.

As one of them, there is a so-called "toner jet (registered trademark)" type image forming technique in which toner is caused to fly onto an image receiving body such as a recording paper or an image carrying belt by the action of an electric field to form an image. Are known.

As this type of image forming apparatus, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 44-26333, US Pat. No. 3,689,
No. 935 (Japanese Patent Publication No. 60-20747) and Japanese Patent Publication No. 9-500842 are known.

As shown in FIG. 7, for example, a grounded toner carrier 31 that carries a negatively charged toner (developer) and conveys it by rotating around its central axis, as shown in FIG. A regulating blade 32 for controlling and charging the toner on the carrier 31 in one to three layers and a supply roller 33 for supplying toner to the toner carrier 31 and charging the toner are provided. A counter electrode 38 for sucking toner is provided at a position of the toner carrier 31 opposite to the toner conveying position. The counter electrode 38 has a counter electrode for applying a positive voltage to the counter electrode 38. A power supply 39 is connected. Then, the toner carrier 31
A toner passage control member 34 is provided between the toner carrier 31 and the counter electrode 38. The toner passage control members 34 are arranged in a row in a direction perpendicular to the toner conveying direction of the toner carrier 31 (a direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 1). It has a plurality of toner passage holes 35 arranged in a line and a control electrode 36 disposed around each of the toner passage holes 35. A voltage is applied to the control electrode 36 from a control power source 37 such as an IC chip in accordance with an image signal. In FIG. 7, reference numeral 40 denotes an image receiving body such as a recording paper transferred between the counter electrode 38 and the toner passage control member 34.

In the above configuration, by operating (rotating) the supply roller 33 and the toner carrier 31, a uniform toner layer is formed on the toner carrier 31 by the regulating blade 32, and the toner layer passes through the toner passage. The sheet is conveyed to a portion of the control member 34 facing the toner passage hole 35. Then, when a voltage is applied to the counter electrode 38 by the counter electrode power supply 39 and the voltage is applied to the control electrode 36 according to the image signal by the control power supply 37 in synchronization with the movement while moving the image receiving body 40, The toner on the toner carrier 31 flies and adheres to the image receiving body 40 through the toner passage hole 35 according to the image signal, and a desired image is formed on the image receiving body 40.

In the above-described image forming apparatus, in order to form a fine image of, for example, 600 dpi (a density of 600 dots per inch) on the entire surface of the image receiving body 40, the toner passing control member 34 has the Hole 35
Since it is difficult to arrange the toner passage holes in one line, as shown in FIG. 9, the toner passage holes 35 and the control electrodes 36 are arranged in many lines (eight lines in the illustrated example). The toner passage hole 35 and the control electrode 36 are substantially circular.
Each control electrode 36 has a wiring portion 36 a extending in a direction perpendicular to the row of the toner passage holes 35. In order to avoid mutual interference, the wiring portion 36a of the control electrode 36 in the right half column of FIG. 9 is on the right side, and the wiring portion 36a of the control electrode 36 in the left half column of FIG. Each of the wiring portions 36a is provided at both ends of the toner passage control member 34 across the row of the toner passage holes 35 and is connected to an IC chip or the like that outputs a control voltage.

FIG. 7 shows an example in which the image receiving body 40 is made of a recording paper or the like and an image is formed directly on the recording paper or the like. In the case of a color printer, there are problems such as difficulty in synchronizing the image forming timings of the respective colors due to variations in recording paper transport, and easy deterioration of image quality. In some cases, it is preferable to use an image carrying belt and to transfer the images formed on the image carrying belt to recording paper or the like at once.

This structure will be described with reference to FIG. 8. Reference numeral 43 denotes an endless image carrying belt as an image receiving body 40.
It is made of a film having a resistance of about 10 ¹⁰ Ω · cm in which a conductive filler is dispersed in a resin.
It is wound between 44b. Reference numeral 45 denotes a pickup roller that feeds the recording paper 46 one by one from a paper feed tray 50, 47 denotes a timing roller that synchronizes the fed recording paper 46 with the image position, and 48 denotes an image carrying belt 42.
This is a transfer roller for transferring the toner image formed thereon to the recording paper 46. The transfer roller is pressed toward the roller 44a with the image carrying belt 43 interposed therebetween, and a transfer voltage is applied. A fixing device 49 fixes the toner image on the recording paper 46 by heating and pressing the recording paper 46 onto which the toner image has been transferred.

In the image forming apparatus having the structure shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the distance between the toner carrier 31 and the toner passage control member 34, that is, the distance between the toner carrier 31 and the control electrode 36. The toner passage hole 3
5 will be greatly affected. For this reason, as shown in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-500842, a scraper blade is disposed between the toner carrier 31 and the toner passage control member 34 so as to maintain an interval therebetween. Can be considered.
However, since the toner passage control member 34 is made of several kinds of different materials, the surface of the toner passage control member 34 is likely to undulate due to tension. There is a problem that the image quality is degraded in the direction in which the toner passing holes 35 are arranged in a row, and the image quality is deteriorated.

Therefore, conventionally, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-3928
As shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-209, when attaching a toner passage control member to a toner case as a device main body member,
By clamping and clamping the toner passage control member between a rigid mounting member and a rigid pressing plate via an elastic member,
It has been proposed to suppress the occurrence of waving.

Further, as shown in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-30032, a plurality of mounting members for mounting a toner passage control member to a toner case on both sides of a row of toner passage holes are provided, and provided on a control electrode. It has been proposed that a wiring portion connected to the IC chip be formed to extend in a direction perpendicular to the toner passage hole array between the plurality of mounting members.

[0013]

However, in the case of the former proposed example (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-30032), when the both ends of the toner passage control member in the toner passage hole row direction are clamped with screws, the center is reduced. In the portion, the tension applied to the toner passage control member varies due to uneven clamping pressure on the toner passage control member. As a result, the portion where the mounting member of the toner passage control member is provided is provided. There is a problem that the undulation is transmitted to the toner passage hole array portion and the image quality is degraded. Also, if a rigid member whose central part does not bend is used as the mounting member, the thickness of the rigid member becomes too large and it is difficult to install the member near the toner passage hole. A member must be provided, and in such a case, the distance between the mounting member and the toner passage hole array becomes large, and the toner passage control member is likely to be wavy during this time.

On the other hand, in the case where an attempt is made to fix the toner passage control member with screws by forming screw holes not only at both ends in the toner passage hole row direction but also at the center, the latter proposed example (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. As described in Japanese Patent No. 30032), a wiring portion cannot be formed. That is, if the wiring portion is formed so as to extend in a direction orthogonal to the toner passage hole array, the wiring portion can be arranged at a substantially uniform density in the toner passage hole row direction in the vicinity of the toner passage hole, resulting in poor rigidity. Although it is possible to suppress the occurrence of waving due to uniformity, if a screw hole is provided in the central portion in the toner passage hole row direction, the wiring portion must avoid the screw hole, and therefore, the toner passage hole row is sandwiched. The wiring portion cannot be formed uniformly between the plurality of attachment members on both sides, and the unevenness of the wiring portion causes the toner passage control member to undulate, thereby deteriorating the image quality.

As described above, in an image forming apparatus which forms an image by selectively flying a developer onto an image receiving body by an electric field, the distance between the developer passage control member and the developer carrying member has a large recording characteristic. In order to form a uniform image without unevenness, the distance needs to be kept constant over the entire developer passage hole array.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide the above-described image forming apparatus with a developer carrier over the entire developer passage hole array. It is an object of the present invention to make uniform the distance between a developer passage control member and a high quality image.

[0017]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a developer passage control member is provided between a row of developer passage holes and a mounting member to thereby control the passage of the developer. A undulation suppressing member for suppressing undulation in the developer passage hole array portion of the member is provided.

More specifically, according to the first aspect of the present invention, as the image forming apparatus, a developer carrying member for carrying and transporting a developer, and the developer carrying member are disposed so as to face the developer carrying member. A plurality of developer passage holes arranged between the counter electrode and the developer carrier and the counter electrode, and a control electrode disposed around each of the developer passage holes. A developer passage control member that controls the passage of the developer through the developer passage hole by applying a voltage to the control electrode in accordance with an image signal; and the counter electrode and the developer passage control member. And the developer passing through the developer passage holes of the developer passage control member is sucked by the counter electrode and adhered to the image receiving body, and sandwiches the developer passage hole array of the developer passage control member. Provided on at least one of both sides, and passing the developer An attachment member for attaching the control member to the apparatus main body member; and a developer passage hole of the developer passage control member which is in contact with the developer passage control member between the developer passage hole row and the attachment member. It is assumed that the row portion is provided with a waving suppressing member for suppressing the occurrence of waving.

With the above arrangement, even if the tension applied to the portion where the mounting member of the developer passage control member is provided fluctuates in the direction of the row of developer passage holes, even if the portion is wavy, The waving does not reach the developer passage hole array portion by the suppressing member. Also, since the waving suppressing member is provided independently of the mounting member,
A support rigidity such as a mounting member is not required, and it is sufficient if the rigidity is such that waving can be suppressed, and it can be constituted by a thin plate. As a result, the undulation suppressing member can be arranged in the vicinity of the developer passage hole row, so that the distance between the undulation suppression member and the developer passage hole row can be set to be extremely small, and the developer passage The possibility that a new waving occurs in the control member is extremely small. Therefore, the distance between the developer carrier and the developer passage control member can be made constant in the developer passage hole row direction, and the amount of the developer passing through each developer passage hole becomes uniform, thereby achieving high quality. An image can be formed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the developer passage control member is provided with an IC chip for applying a voltage to a plurality of control electrodes of the developer passage control member. It is assumed that the waving suppressing member is located between the IC chip and the developer passage hole array.

As a result, the developer passage control member I
In the vicinity of the C chip, the wiring portions of the control electrodes connected to the IC chip are unevenly arranged, so that undulation is likely to occur. Similarly to the waving occurring at the portion where the mounting member of the control member is provided, the waving suppressing member is not transmitted to the developer passage hole array portion. Therefore, IC
It is also possible to suppress unevenness in the distance between the developer carrying member and the developer passage control member due to the provision of the chip.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, each of the control electrodes has a wiring portion extending along the surface of the developer passage control member from each of the control electrodes toward the waving suppressing member. The wiring portions are arranged at a substantially uniform density in the developer passage hole row direction between the developer passage hole row and the waving suppressing member.

Thus, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of new undulation between the undulation suppressing member and the developer passage hole array.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the present invention, a wiring portion of a plurality of control electrodes is connected to a side of the developer passage control member opposite to the row of developer passage holes of the waving suppressing member. An IC chip for applying a voltage to the control electrode is provided, and at least a part of the plurality of wiring portions includes:
The bent portion is bent between the waving suppressing member and the IC chip, and an angle formed between both bent portions of the bent wiring portion is formed to be an obtuse angle.

By doing so, the arrangement of the wiring portions between the waving suppressing member and the IC chip does not change abruptly in the direction of the developer passage hole row, and the interval between the wiring portions gradually changes toward the IC chip. I do. As a result, the rigidity change in the direction of the developer passage hole becomes gradual, and the generation rate of the waving generated in the developer passage control member is reduced as compared with the case where the wiring portion is sharply bent.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the waving suppressing member is provided so as to extend in the developer passage hole row direction.

As a result, tension is applied to the developer passage control member only between the waving suppressing member and the developer passage hole array in a direction perpendicular to the developer passage hole array. Rippling does not occur.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the fifth aspect of the invention, the waving suppressing member is continuously bonded to the developer passage control member in the direction of the developer passage hole row.

Thus, it is possible to prevent the developer passage control member from floating from the waving suppressing member, and to reliably prevent the developer passage controlling member from waving at the row of the developer passage holes.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the sixth aspect of the invention, the waving suppressing member is formed to be longer than the length of the developer passage hole array, and is continuously formed over a range longer than the length of the developer passage hole array. It is assumed that it is adhered to the developer passage control member.

According to the present invention, the distance between the developer carrying member and the developer passage control member can be reliably made constant over the entire developer passage hole array.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the waving suppressing member is a thin plate member.

According to this configuration, since the waving suppressing member can be disposed in the vicinity of the developer passage hole row, the distance between the waving suppressing member and the developer passing hole row can be set extremely small. As a result, the possibility that new waving occurs in the developer passage control member becomes extremely small. Also,
The developer passage control member can be given a degree of freedom to bend following the minute undulation on the surface of the developer carrying member. As a result, the image passage control member can be extended over the entire developer passage hole row direction. To contact the surface of the developer carrying member via a spacer or the like. Therefore, the distance between the developer carrying member and the developer passage control member can be more reliably made constant in the developer passage hole row direction.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the eighth aspect of the present invention, the waving suppressing member is made of a metal material. Thus, the thickness of the waving suppressing member can be considerably reduced.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the waving suppressing member is made of ceramics. According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the waving suppressing member is made of a resin material. According to these inventions, the degree of freedom of the shape of the waving suppressing member is increased.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the eleventh aspect, the waving suppressing member is made of a thermosetting resin. By doing so, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of waving without lowering the rigidity even at a high temperature.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the waving suppressing member is joined via an adhesive layer that allows relative movement with respect to the developer passage control member.

As a result, the difference in the amount of expansion between the waving suppressing member and the developer passage controlling member caused by the temperature change due to the difference in the linear expansion coefficient between the two members is usually determined by the adhesive layer. Since it is absorbed by deformation, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of warpage that occurs when the difference in the amount of expansion is restricted.

According to a fourteenth aspect, in the thirteenth aspect, the adhesive layer is made of a viscoelastic adhesive. According to a fifteenth aspect, in the thirteenth aspect, the adhesive layer is made of an adhesive tape. Thus, the function and effect of the invention of claim 13 can be easily achieved.

According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the developer carrying member and the developer passage control member are interposed via a spacer provided near a row of developer passage holes of the developer passage control member. Contact.

By doing so, the developer passage control member can be brought into contact with the surface of the developer carrier over the entire developer passage hole row direction, and the developer carrier and the developer passage control member can be in contact with each other. The interval can be more reliably made constant in the developer passage hole row direction.

According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the mounting members are provided on both sides of the developer passage hole array in the developer passage control member, and one of the two mounting members is elastic. Assume that it is attached to the apparatus main body member via a member.

Thus, the developer passage control member can be brought into contact with the surface of the developer carrier at a predetermined contact pressure by the elastic member, and the same effect as that of the sixteenth aspect can be obtained.

According to the eighteenth aspect of the present invention, as an image forming apparatus, a developer carrying member for carrying and transporting a developer, and a counter electrode arranged to face the developer carrying member and sucking the developer are provided. And a plurality of developer passage holes arranged between the developer carrier and the counter electrode, and a plurality of developer passage holes arranged in a row and control electrodes arranged around each of the developer passage holes, By applying a voltage to the control electrode in accordance with an image signal, a developer passage control member that controls the passage of the developer through the developer passage hole, and is transferred between the counter electrode and the developer passage control member. The developer passing through the developer passage hole of the developer passage control member is attracted to and adhered to the counter electrode by at least one of the two sides of the developer passage control member. The developer passage control member is provided. An attachment member for attaching the developer passage control member to the apparatus main body member via the attachment member. It is configured to prevent transmission to According to this invention, the same function and effect as the first aspect of the invention can be obtained.

[0045]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIGS. 1 and 2 show an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus includes a toner carrier 1 (developer carrier) which carries and transports charged toner 2 (developer) on its surface. A regulating blade 21 for controlling and charging the toner 2 on the toner carrier 1 in one to three layers, and a supply roller 22 for supplying the toner 2 to the toner carrier 1 and charging the toner 2 And

The toner carrier 1 is made up of a grounded cylindrical sleeve, and is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 1 around its central axis (extending in a direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 1). The layered toner 2 formed by the regulating blade 21 is transported to a position facing a counter electrode 6 (toner passage hole 4 of the toner passage control member 3) described later.

The supply roller 22 is applied to the outer peripheral surface of the toner carrier 1 and rotates in the opposite direction to the toner carrier 1 to supply the toner 2 to the toner carrier 1.
Excess toner 2 is dropped from the toner carrier 1. The supply roller 22 is used for the toner carrier 1 of the toner 2.
In addition to controlling the amount of toner supplied to the toner carrier 1, the toner carrier 1 has a peripheral speed difference and makes frictional contact with the toner carrier 1. Therefore, the toner carrier 2 also has a function of assisting charging of the toner 2 (charging of the toner 2 is mainly performed by the regulating blade 21). Is done).

The regulating blade 21 applies a negative charge to the toner 2 by pressing the toner 2 supplied onto the toner carrier 1 by the supply roller 22 with a predetermined pressing force. Charged toner 2 with charge
Is formed on the toner carrier 1 in a layered manner.

A cylindrical opposing electrode 6 for sucking the toner 2 is disposed at a position facing the toner 2 conveying position of the toner carrier 1 so as to extend in the central axis direction of the toner carrier 1. 6 is connected to a counter electrode power supply 24 for applying a positive voltage to the counter electrode 6.
The length of the opposing electrode 6 in the central axis direction is set substantially equal to the length of the toner carrier 1 in the central axis direction.

A toner passage control member 3 (developer passage control member) formed of a flexible printed board is disposed between the toner carrier 1 and the counter electrode 6.
The toner passage control member 3 is provided with a plurality of toner passage holes 4 (developer passage holes) through which the toner 2 passes. In this embodiment, the plurality of toner passage holes 4 are enlarged in FIG. As shown, the toner carrier 1 is arranged in two rows in the center axis direction, and the toner passage holes 4 in both rows are formed so as to be shifted from each other by a half pitch in the row direction. The toner passage hole 4 is provided substantially corresponding to the entire length of the toner carrier 1 in the central axis direction. In addition, the toner passage hole 4 is formed in a circular shape having a diameter of about 70 to 120 μm, but may be an oval shape or an elliptical shape having an area of this size without being circular.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, control electrodes 10 are provided around the entire periphery of each toner passage hole 4, and each control electrode 10 has a resin main body having a thickness of about 50 μm. The film 8 is formed of a Cu film having a thickness of about 8 to 20 μm, which is pattern-formed on the surface on the toner carrier 1 side. On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a pair of deflection electrodes 11 a and 11
b is provided. The deflection electrodes 11a and 11 are also formed of a Cu film having a thickness of about 8 to 20 μm, which is patterned on the main film 8, similarly to the control electrode 10. In addition, on both surfaces in the thickness direction of the toner passage control member 3, an insulating film 9 having a thickness of 5 to 30 μm is coated to prevent a short circuit between the electrodes 10, 11a, 11 respectively.

Each of the control electrodes 10 is connected to each of the control electrodes 10.
Wiring section 1 extending along the surface of toner passage control member 3 from
0a. Then, at both ends of the toner passage control member 3 in the direction perpendicular to the row of the toner passage holes 4,
Eight IC chips 15 for applying a voltage to each of the control electrodes 10 according to image signals are provided, and each of the IC chips 15 is connected to a wiring portion 10a of the plurality of control electrodes 10. The pair of deflection electrodes 11
a, 11b are also wiring portions 11c, 11 extending from the respective deflection electrodes 11a, 11b along the surface of the toner passage control member 3.
d, and these wiring portions 11 c and 11 d are also connected to the IC chip 15.

An image receiving member 7 such as a recording paper or an image carrying belt is transferred between the counter electrode 6 and the toner passage control member 3 in a direction A in FIG. The toner 2 that has passed through the toner passage hole 3 is attracted and adhered by the counter electrode 6, whereby an image is formed on the image receiving body 7.

On both sides of the toner passage control member 3 across the row of the toner passage holes 4, the toner passage control member 3 is provided with a bottomed cylindrical housing 27 as an apparatus main body member (inside the toner carrier 1). , Regulating blade 21, supply roller 2
2, for accommodating the toner 2 and the like). The mounting members 16 and 17 extend in the row direction of the toner passage holes 4, and have a screw 18 at both ends (corresponding to a portion where the wiring portions 10 a, 11 c and 11 d do not exist).
It is fixed to. Of the two mounting members 16 and 17, the mounting member 16 provided on the side opposite to the side on which the toner passage control member 3 of the toner carrier 1 moves by rotation with respect to the row of the toner passage holes 4 is the housing. On the other hand, the other mounting member 17 is directly fixed to the housing 27 and is mounted on the housing 27 via a spring 13 as an elastic member. The toner carrier 1 of the toner passage control member 3
In the vicinity of the row of the toner passage holes 4 on the side surface, there is provided a spacer 12 extending in the row direction of the toner passage holes 4 and having a length substantially equal to the axial length of the toner carrier 1. The spacer 12 comes into contact with the surface (toner 2) of the toner carrier 1 by the urging force of the spring 13 over substantially the entire length thereof. The contact pressure is preferably from 1.96 to 19.6 kPa. this is,
If the contact pressure is smaller than 1.96 kPa, the toner carrier 1 and the toner passage control member 3 may not contact in the same state following the eccentricity of the central axis (rotation axis) of the toner carrier 1 in some cases. While the distance between the toner carrier 1 and the toner passage control member 3 cannot always be kept constant in the row of the toner passage holes 4, if it is larger than 19.6 kPa, the toner 2 on the toner carrier 1 Is deformed. The preferred range of the contact pressure is
The value slightly varies depending on the material of the toner carrier 1 and the toner passage control member 3.

The toner passage control member 3 between the row of the toner passage holes 4 and the mounting member 16 and between the row of the toner passage holes 4 and the mounting member 17 includes
4 are joined together. That is, each of the waving suppressing members 14 contacts the surface of the toner passing controlling member 3 on the side of the counter electrode 6 to suppress the occurrence of waving in the row of the toner passing holes 4 in the toner passing controlling member 3 as described later. Is what you do. Each of the waving suppressing members 14 is desirably a thin plate member having a thickness of about 0.05 to 0.5 mm. In this case, a highly rigid material (for example, a metal material such as carbon tool steel, stainless steel, and titanium) is used. preferable. Also,
It may be made of ceramics or a resin material. In the case of a resin material, a thermosetting resin whose rigidity does not decrease at high temperatures is preferable. In addition, it is preferable that each of the waving suppressing members 14 is arranged at an interval of about 3 to 30 mm with respect to the row of the toner passage holes 4.

Each of the waving suppressing members 14 is disposed so as to extend in the column direction of the toner passage holes 4.
, And is continuously bonded (adhered) to the toner passage control member 3 via an adhesive layer over a range longer than the line length of the toner passage holes 4. The adhesive layer desirably allows each wave suppression member 14 to relatively move with respect to the toner passage control member 3, and may be made of a viscoelastic adhesive or adhesive tape. That is, since the linear expansion coefficients of the waving suppressing members 14 and the toner passage controlling member 3 are different from each other,
The amount of expansion differs depending on the temperature change, and when both are completely fixed, warpage occurs. However, by using an adhesive that allows relative movement in this way, the difference in the amount of expansion can be absorbed by shearing deformation of the adhesive layer, and warpage can be prevented.

Since the IC chips 15 are disposed at both ends in the direction perpendicular to the rows of the toner passage holes 4 of the toner passage control member 3 as described above, the rows of the IC chips 15 and the toner passage holes 4 are arranged. , The respective waving suppressing members 14 are arranged. The wiring portions 10a of the control electrodes 10 connected to the IC chip 15 are substantially equal to each other in a direction perpendicular to the row of the toner passage holes 4 between the row of the toner passage holes 4 and each of the waving suppressing members 14. They extend at intervals and are arranged at a substantially uniform density in the row direction of the toner passage holes 4. Then, the plurality of wiring portions 10
a part of each of the undulation suppressing members 14 and the IC chip 1
5 and is connected to the IC chip 15. The angle formed between both sides of the bent wiring portion 10a is formed at an obtuse angle so that the interval between the wiring portions 10a gradually changes toward the IC chip 15.
The wiring portions 11c, 11d of the deflection electrodes 11a, 11b
The configuration is the same as that of the wiring portion 10a of the control electrode 10.

The image forming operation of the image forming apparatus having the above configuration will be described. First, the toner 2 is supplied to the toner carrier 1 by the supply roller 22, and the supplied toner 2 is conveyed to the regulating blade 21 by the toner carrier 1, and then pressed by the regulating blade 21 to be negatively charged. At the same time, a layer of charged toner 2 is formed on toner carrier 1.

Next, the charged toner 2 is conveyed by the toner carrier 1 to a position opposed to the toner passage hole 4 of the toner passage control member 3, and a voltage is applied to the control electrode 19 by the IC chip 15 according to the image signal. Then, the toner 2 separates from the toner carrier 1 and flies to the image receiving member 7 through the toner passage hole 4.

The flying control of the toner 2 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 6. As shown in FIG. 6A, first, +150 V is applied to the left deflection electrode 11a and -1 is applied to the right deflection electrode 11b.
In a state where the negatively charged toner 2 is deflected to the left by applying 50 V, the control electrode 10 is applied with 250 V
Is applied to cause the toner 2 on the toner carrier 1 to fly. The toner 2 is pulled by the electric field generated between the toner carrier 1 and the counter electrode 6 by the application of a voltage to the counter electrode 6 by the counter electrode power supply 24, passes through the toner passage hole 4, and is deflected. The light is deflected to the left by the electrodes 11a and 11b and flies, thereby attaching to a position on the image receiving member 7 which is displaced by about 40 μm from a position facing the toner passage hole 4.

Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 6B, a voltage of 250 V is applied to the control electrode 10 with both the left and right deflection electrodes 11a and 11b set to 0V. As a result, the toner 2 adheres to the position on the image receiving member 7 that faces the toner passage hole 4.

Next, as shown in FIG. 6C, -150 V is applied to the left deflection electrode 11a, and ++ V is applied to the right deflection electrode 11b.
A voltage of 250 V is applied to the control electrode 10 with 150 V applied to deflect the toner 2 to the right. As a result, the toner passage hole 4 on the image receiving body 7
The toner adheres to a position displaced by about 40 μm to the right from the position facing. In this way, by sequentially switching the voltage applied to the control electrode 10 and the deflection electrodes 11a and 11b, the toner 2 is applied to the left, right, and center three points on the image receiving body 7 by one toner passage hole 4.

When the image is not formed, the voltage applied to the control electrode 10 is set to −50 V, so that the toner 2 does not fly from the toner carrier 1 without fail.

In the above embodiment, each waviness suppression member 14
As a result, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of waving in the row of the toner passage holes 4 in the toner passage control member 3, so that the distance between the toner carrier 1 and the toner passage control member 3 is It is uniform over the entire area, and a high-quality image can be formed. That is, since the toner passage control member 3 is formed of a flexible resin film including the control electrode 10 and the like and made of different materials having different elastic coefficients, the phenomenon that the toner passage control member 3 undulates due to the tension occurs. In particular, when the toner passage control member 3 is attached to the housing 27 via the attachment members 16 and 17, the tension applied to the toner passage control member 3 fluctuates in the row direction of the toner passage holes 4.
The undulation occurs at the portion where the toner carriers 6 and 17 are provided.
The distance between the toner passage control member 3 and the toner passage control member 3 becomes uneven in the row direction of the toner passage holes 4. However, in the above embodiment, the waving suppressing members 14 are respectively joined between the rows of the toner passage holes 4 and the respective attaching members 16 and 17, so that the attaching members 16 and 17 of the toner passage controlling member 3 are provided. Even if undulation occurs in the portion where the undulation occurs, transmission of the undulation to the row of toner passage holes 4 is prevented by each of the undulation suppressing members 14. Moreover, each of the waving suppression members 14 is formed longer than the row length of the toner excess holes 4 and is continuously bonded to the toner passage control member 3 over a range longer than the row length of the toner passage holes 4. Therefore, the entire waviness suppression member 14 does not float from the toner passage control member 3,
No waving occurs at any of the toner passage holes 4. Also, in the vicinity of the row of the toner passage holes 4, the distance between the toner carrier 1 and the toner passage control member 3 can be set to a constant value equal to the thickness of the spacer 12 in the row direction of the toner passage holes 4.

Further, the toner passage control member 3
In a method in which the fixing member is sandwiched between the mounting members 16 and 17 and the rigid pressing plate, the mounting members 16 and 17 are bent at the center in the longitudinal direction, and the clamping pressure on the toner passage control member 3 is unevenly applied. And the toner passage control member 3
Of the toner passing control member 3, and the undulation is transmitted to the row of the toner passage holes 4. If the attachment members 16 and 17 are prevented from bending to prevent this, the thickness of the attachment members 16 and 17 becomes too large and the attachment members 16 and 17 become too thick.
7 becomes difficult to be installed in the vicinity of the row of the toner passage holes 4, and therefore can be provided only at a position distant from the row of the toner passage holes 4.
The distance between the toner passage control member 3 and the row of the toner passage holes 4 becomes too large. However, in the above embodiment, the mounting members 16, 1
Since each of the undulation suppressing members 14 is provided independently of 7, each undulation suppressing member 14 does not need to have high support rigidity for mounting, and has a rigidity enough to suppress the undulation. If it is good, thickness is 0.05-0.5m
m. For this reason,
Each of the waving suppressing members 14 is moved from the row of the toner passage holes 4 by about 3 to
It can be installed at a distance of about 30 mm,
The possibility that a new wave is generated in the toner passage control member 3 between the row of the toner passage holes 4 and each wave suppression member 14 is extremely small.

Further, in the above embodiment, each of the waving suppressing members 14 is disposed between the IC chip 15 and the row of the toner passage holes 4 and the wiring portion 1 of the control electrode 10 is provided.
0a is arranged at a substantially uniform density in the row direction of the toner passage holes 4 between the row of the toner passage holes 4 and each of the waving suppressing members 14, and is bent between each of the waving suppressing members 14 and the IC chip 15. Since the undulations are connected to the IC chip 15, undulations caused by uneven rigidity between the undulation suppressing members 14 and the IC chip 15 are not transmitted to the row of the toner passage holes 4, and furthermore, the No new waving is caused by the wiring portion 10a in the row portion of the holes 4. That is, the IC chip 15 of the toner passage control member 3
In the vicinity, the wiring portion 10a of the control electrode 10 is non-uniform in the column direction of the toner passage holes 4 and the rigidity is also non-uniform, so that the surface of the toner passage control member 3 is wavy by the application of tension. Will happen. However, in the above-described embodiment, since each waving suppressing member 14 is provided between the IC chip 15 and the row of the toner passing holes 4 as described above, the waving generated near the IC chip 15 is There is no way to reach column 4.
Since the interval between the wiring portions 10a gradually changes toward the IC chip 15 between each of the waviness suppression members 14 and the IC chip 15, the distance between each of the waviness suppression members 14 and the IC chip 15 is reduced. Wiring unit 10 between
The rate of occurrence of undulations due to a is quite small.

In the above-described embodiment, since each wave suppression member 14 is provided independently of the mounting members 16 and 17, the wiring portion 10a is connected to the wave suppression member 1 as described above.
In the vicinity of 4, the toner passage holes 4 can be arranged at a substantially uniform density in the column direction. That is, when each of the waving suppressing members 14 is shared by the same members as the mounting members 16 and 17, screw holes are formed not only at both ends in the column direction of the toner passage holes 4 of the toner passage control member 3 but also at the center. When the toner passage control member 3 is sufficiently held by fixing with a screw, the wiring portion 10a is formed to be bent because it is necessary to avoid such a screw hole. Due to the non-uniformity, undulation occurs in the portion of the toner passage control member 3 where the attachment members 16 and 17 are provided, and the undulation is transmitted to the row of the toner passage holes 4.
However, in the above embodiment, since each of the waving suppressing members 14 is provided independently of the mounting members 16 and 17, the wiring portion 10a is not provided in the portion of the toner passage control member 3 where the mounting members 16 and 17 are provided. Even if the undulations are uniform, the undulations are not transmitted to the row of the toner passage holes 4 by the respective undulation suppressing members 14, and the respective undulation suppressing members 14 are formed by the toner passage control member by an adhesive or the like. 3, no screws or the like are required, and since there is no need to provide a screw hole in the toner passage control member 3, a wiring portion is provided between the row of the toner passage holes 4 and each of the wavy suppressing members 14. 10a can be formed uniformly, and no new waving occurs.

Further, as described above, each of the waving suppressing members 14 can be formed of a thin plate member, so that the toner passage controlling member 3 follows a minute undulation on the surface of the toner carrier 1 in a span of several centimeters. It has a degree of freedom to bend, and comes into contact with the surface of the toner carrier 1 over the entire column direction of the toner passage holes 4 via the spacers 12 provided on the toner passage control member 3. Therefore, no gap is generated between the spacer 12 and the toner carrier 1.

Therefore, in the above-described embodiment, the distance between the toner carrier 1 and the toner passage control member 3 in the row of the toner passage holes 4 can be always constant in the row direction of the toner passage holes 4. The amount of toner passing through the toner passage hole 4 becomes uniform, and a high-quality image is obtained.

In the above-described embodiment, the toner passage control member 3 is brought into contact with the toner carrier 1 via the spacer 12 disposed near the row of the toner passage holes 4. Without providing the toner passage control member 3
And the toner carrier 1 may be in direct contact.
In this case, the distance between the opening of the toner passage hole 4 of the toner passage control member 3 and the toner carrier 1 can be minimized. Further, the present invention can be applied even when the toner passage control member 3 and the toner carrier 1 are not in contact with each other without the spacer 12.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, each wave suppression member 14 is adhered to the surface of the toner passage control member 3 on the side of the counter electrode 6, but is adhered to the surface of the toner passage control member 3 on the side of the toner carrier 1. Is also good. In addition, not only the adhesion but also any attachment may be used as long as the entire waving suppressing member 14 can be brought into contact with the toner passage control member 3 to suppress waving.

In addition, in the above embodiment, both mounting members 1
The mounting member 16 provided on the side opposite to the side on which the toner passage control member 3 of the toner carrier 1 is rotated by rotation with respect to the row of the toner passage holes 4 is directly fixed to the housing 27. On the other hand, the other mounting member 17 is
3 to be attached to the housing 27,
Conversely, the mounting member 16 is connected to the housing 27 via the spring 13.
Alternatively, the mounting member 17 may be directly fixed to the housing 27. In addition, both mounting members 16, 1
7 may be attached to the housing 27 via the spring 13.
It may be fixed directly to the. That is, regardless of the mounting method, the provision of the waving suppressing member 14 for suppressing the waving of the toner passage control unit 3 stabilizes the distance between the toner carrier 1 and the toner passage controlling member 3. To work effectively.

[0073]

As described above, according to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, by contacting the developer passage control member between the developer passage hole array and the mounting member, the developer passage control member By providing a waving suppressing member for suppressing the occurrence of waving in the developer passage hole array portion, the interval between the developer carrier and the developer passage control member can be made uniform over the entire developer passage hole array. The image quality can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view schematically showing an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a development view of the toner passage control member viewed from a toner carrier side.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a control electrode and a wiring portion thereof.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view in the direction of the arrow V in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating toner flight control.

FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a conventional example of an image forming apparatus.

FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a conventional example of an image forming apparatus using an image carrying belt as an image receiving member.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing an example of the arrangement of toner passage holes.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 toner carrier (developer carrier) 2 toner (developer) 3 toner passage control member (developer passage control member) 4 toner passage hole (developer passage hole) 6 counter electrode 7 image receiver 10 control electrode 10 a wiring section DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 Spacer 13 Spring (elastic member) 14 Waving suppressing member 15 IC chip 16, 17 Mounting member 27 Housing (device main body member)

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing from the front page (71) Applicant 597063831 Announced Brygga 13 421 57 Vestro Fround a Sweden (72) Inventor Taichi Ito 1006 Odakadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Pref. Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Ken Morishima 1006, Kazuma Kadoma, Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Kotaro Takada, inventor DB04

Claims (18)

[Claims] A developer carrying member for carrying and transporting the developer; a counter electrode arranged to face the developer carrying member and sucking the developer; and a developer carrying member and the counter electrode. And a plurality of developer passage holes arranged in a line, and control electrodes respectively arranged around the respective developer passage holes, and a voltage is applied to the control electrode according to an image signal. Is applied, a developer passage control member that controls the passage of the developer in the developer passage hole, and is transferred between the counter electrode and the developer passage control member,
An image receiving member to which the developer passing through the developer passage hole of the developer passage control member is attracted and adhered by the counter electrode; and provided on at least one of both sides of the developer passage hole row of the developer passage control member. An attachment member for attaching the developer passage control member to the apparatus main body member; and a developer passage control member that contacts the developer passage control member between the developer passage hole array and the attachment member. An image forming apparatus, comprising: a wavy suppressing member configured to suppress waving in a portion of the developer passage hole array. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the developer passage control member is provided with an IC chip for applying a voltage to a plurality of control electrodes of the developer passage control member. An image forming apparatus, wherein a ripple suppressing member is disposed between an IC chip and a row of developer passage holes. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the control electrodes has a wiring portion extending along the surface of the developer passage control member from each of the control electrodes toward the waving suppressing member. An image forming apparatus is arranged between the row of developer passage holes and the waving suppressing member at a substantially uniform density in the direction of the row of developer passage holes. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a wiring portion of a plurality of control electrodes is connected to a side of the developer passage control member opposite to the row of the developer passage holes of the waving suppressing member, and the plurality of control electrodes are connected to each other. An IC chip for applying a voltage to the electrode is provided, at least a part of the plurality of wiring portions is bent between the waving suppressing member and the IC chip, and between the both side portions of the bent wiring portion. An image forming apparatus, wherein an angle formed by the image forming apparatus is formed at an obtuse angle. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the waving suppressing member is provided so as to extend in a row direction of the developer passage holes. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the waving suppressing member is continuously adhered to the developer passage control member in the direction of the developer passage hole row. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the waving suppressing member is formed to be longer than the length of the developer passage hole array, and is continuously formed over a range longer than the developer passage hole array length. An image forming apparatus adhered to a developer passage control member. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the waving suppressing member is a thin plate member. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the waving suppressing member is made of a metal material. 10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the waving suppressing member is made of ceramic. 11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the waving suppressing member is made of a resin material. 12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the waving suppressing member is made of a thermosetting resin. 13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the waving suppressing member is joined via an adhesive layer that allows relative movement with respect to the developer passage control member. . 14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the adhesive layer is made of a viscoelastic adhesive. 15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the adhesive layer is made of an adhesive tape. 16. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the developer carrier and the developer passage control member are in contact with each other via a spacer provided near a row of the developer passage holes of the developer passage control member. An image forming apparatus, comprising: 17. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the attachment members are provided on both sides of the developer passage control member with the developer passage hole row interposed therebetween, and one of the two attachment members includes an elastic member. An image forming apparatus, wherein the image forming apparatus is attached to an apparatus main body member via an image forming apparatus. 18. A developer carrier for carrying and transporting a developer, a counter electrode arranged to face the developer carrier and sucking the developer, and a developer carrier and a counter electrode. And a plurality of developer passage holes arranged in a row and control electrodes respectively arranged around the respective developer passage holes, and a voltage is applied to the control electrode in accordance with an image signal. Is applied, a developer passage control member that controls the passage of the developer in the developer passage hole, and is transferred between the counter electrode and the developer passage control member,
An image receiving member to which the developer passing through the developer passage hole of the developer passage control member is attracted and adhered by the counter electrode; and provided on at least one of both sides of the developer passage hole row of the developer passage control member. An attachment member for attaching the developer passage control member to the apparatus main body member, and a wavy generated in the developer passage control member by attaching the developer passage control member to the apparatus main body member via the attachment member. The image forming apparatus is configured to prevent transmission to the developer passage hole array portion.