JP2002192762A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To form a high quality image by a constitution wherein a toner pass- through control means 5 having a toner path-through hole 6 is stably provided in an image forming apparatus for sticking toner 2 carried on a toner carrier body 1 to an image receiving means 11. SOLUTION: Lead electrodes 19 each being electrically connected to a control electrode 7 which is provided at a periphery of each toner pass-through hole 6 or dummy electrodes 21 each being not electrically connected thereto are arranged such that the wiring densities of the electrodes at both sections with a toner pass-through hole arrangement 6a therebetween in the toner pass-through control means 5 are roughly the same with each other.

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 used for a copying machine, a facsimile, a printer, or the like.
More particularly, the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that controls the flight of toner from a toner carrier by a toner passage control unit, and forms an image by attaching toner to an image receiving unit.

[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 an increasing demand for printers and copiers capable of handling a large amount of documents and capable of handling color documents. ing.

Therefore, as one of image forming apparatuses capable of outputting a high-quality black-and-white or color document and having a high processing capability, toner is caused to fly on an image receiving means such as recording paper by the action of an electric field. 2. Related Art An image forming apparatus of a “toner jet (registered trademark)” type that forms an image on an image receiving unit is known.

As an image forming apparatus of this toner jet type, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 44-26333 and US Pat. No. 3,689,935 (Japanese Patent Publication No. 60-207)
No. 47) and Japanese Patent Publication No. 9-500842.

An example of the above-described toner-jet type image forming apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. 14. This apparatus includes a cylindrical toner carrier 1 which carries and conveys charged toner. The toner carrier 1 is configured to be rotatable in a counterclockwise direction around an axis extending in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG.

The toner carrier 1 is provided with a regulating blade 3 and a supply roller 4 so as to be in contact with the peripheral side surface of the toner carrier 1. In addition, while the toner is laminated in one to three layers and the toner is charged,
The supply roller 4 supplies the toner to the toner carrier 1 and charges the toner.

A toner passage control means 5 is provided so as to face the toner carrier 1 and along the peripheral side surface of the toner carrier 1. In the attached state, the end is attached to a frame (not shown). As shown in FIG. 15, the toner passage control means 5 is provided with a plurality of toner passage holes 6 through which the toner carried by the toner carrier 1 passes (in the illustrated example, six rows). A row of toner passage holes 6a is formed, and a control electrode 7 is arranged on the periphery of each of the toner passage holes 6. A voltage corresponding to an image signal is applied to the control electrode 7 by a control power supply 8 (see FIG. 14). As the control power supply 8, for example, an IC chip, a transistor or a diode is used.

A back electrode 9 is disposed on the opposite side of the toner carrier 1 with the toner passage control means 5 therebetween at a predetermined distance from the toner passage control means 5. In addition, a back electrode power supply 10 for applying a voltage to the back electrode 9 is provided.

The recording paper 15 as the image receiving means is used.
Is arranged between the toner passage control means 5 and the back electrode 9. In this image forming apparatus, an image is formed on the recording paper 15 in the following manner. Is done.

That is, when the supply roller 4 and the toner carrier 1 are operated, a uniform toner layer is formed on the toner carrier 1 by the regulating blade 3, and the toner is conveyed by the toner carrier 1. . In this state,
A voltage is applied to the back electrode 9 and the recording paper 15 is moved, and a voltage corresponding to an image signal is applied to the control electrode 7 by the control power supply 8 in synchronization with the movement. As a result, the toner carried on the toner carrier 1 flies and adheres to the recording paper 15 through the toner passage hole 6 in accordance with the image signal, and a desired image is formed on the recording paper 15. You.

In the image forming apparatus for forming a color image, the toner carrier 1 is provided for each color.
A row of toner passage holes 6a is provided corresponding to the toner carrier 1 of each color, and the timing of passing the toner from the row of toner passage holes 6a of each color is synchronized while moving the recording paper 15. And a color image is formed on the recording paper 15.

The image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 14 is configured to directly form an image on a recording paper 15 as an image receiving means, but the recording paper 15 varies in thickness or has a property due to humidity. In addition to the problem that the recording paper 1 is liable to change or to be deformed during the movement, especially in an image forming apparatus for forming a color image, the recording paper 1
Due to the variation at the time of movement of 5, it is difficult to synchronize the image forming timing of each color, and there is a problem that the image quality is easily deteriorated.

To solve this problem, the toner from the toner carrier 1 is caused to fly on an image carrying belt as an image receiving means to form an image on the image carrying belt once. An image forming apparatus that transfers a formed image to a recording sheet 15 is known.

The image forming apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. 16. The image carrying belt 12 is formed endless and is wound between a pair of rollers 13a and 13b. This is made of, for example, a film having a resistance of about 10 ¹⁰ Ω · cm in which a conductive filler is dispersed in a resin. Then, as described above, the toner carried by the toner carrier 1 flies and adheres to the image carrying belt 12 through the toner passage hole 6 in accordance with the image signal. A desired image is formed.

Reference numeral 14 denotes a pickup roller for feeding the recording paper 15 one by one from a paper feed tray, 16 a timing roller for synchronizing the recording paper 15 with the image position, and 17 a roller formed on the image carrying belt 12. The transfer roller 17 transfers the toner image to the recording paper 15. The transfer roller 17 is one of the rollers 1 on the image carrying belt 12.
3a, the image carrying belt 12 and the recording paper 15 are sandwiched therebetween so as to press the recording paper 15 toward the image carrying belt 12, and the toner adhered to the image carrying belt 12 is The transfer voltage is applied so as to be attracted to the recording paper 15 side.

In this image forming apparatus, the recording paper 15 on which the image is transferred by the transfer roller 17 is heated and pressed by the fixing device 18 comprising a pair of rollers, so that the image is fixed on the recording paper 15. It is configured to be.

Incidentally, as shown in FIG.
Are provided in a plurality of rows in a staggered manner (six rows in the illustrated example). This is for forming a fine image of, for example, 600 dpi (a density of 600 dots per inch). Accordingly, the control electrodes 7 are arranged at a very high density in the vicinity of the toner passage hole array 6a. The control electrode 7 and the control power supply 8 not shown in FIG. 15 are connected to each other by a lead electrode 19.
The toner passage control means 5 is provided on both sides of the toner passage hole array 6a so as to extend in a direction orthogonal to the toner passage hole array 6a.

In any of the above image forming apparatuses, the distance between the toner carrier 1 and the toner passage control means 5, that is, the distance Lk between the toner carrier 1 and the control electrode 7 (see FIG. 14). Therefore, the amount of toner passing through the toner passage hole 6 is greatly affected. Therefore, in order to form a high-quality image, it is important that the distance Lk is constant in the direction of the toner passage hole array 6a.

Therefore, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-500842 discloses that the toner carrier 1 and the toner passage control means 5 are described.
A spacer is disposed between the toner passing hole rows 6 by the spacer.
It is set to be constant in the direction a.

However, the toner passage control means 5
An insulating member having a toner passage hole 6 formed therein, a control electrode 7, etc.
Since the toner passage control means 5 is made of several kinds of different materials, a tension is applied to the toner passage control means 5 to cause a waving, and even if the spacers are provided, the distance Lk is equal to the toner passage hole array 6a. It will not be constant in the direction. For this reason, the toner passage hole array 6a
There is a problem that image unevenness occurs in the direction and image quality deteriorates.

Therefore, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-39289, an end of the toner passage control means 5 is held by an elastic member, and the elastic member is clamped by a rigid body.
It is described that the toner passage control unit 5 is attached to a frame to prevent the toner passage control unit 5 from waving.

In contrast to this, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-300
No. 32 discloses that both sides of the toner passage control means 5 across the toner passage hole array 6a are attached to the frame by a pair of attachment means, and that a portion between the pair of attachment means is provided. ,
By disposing the lead electrode 19 so as to extend in a direction orthogonal to the toner passage hole array 6a, the toner passage control means 5
It is described that the wave is prevented.

[0023]

The toner passage control means 5 is bent along the peripheral side surface of the cylindrical toner carrier 1 for the purpose of downsizing and the like. Here, if the toner passage control means 5 is not provided with a fixed curvature, the following problems 1) to 4) will occur.

1) When a driving load is applied to the toner carrier 1, the relative position of the toner carrier 1 to the toner passage control means 5 before and after the application of the driving load moves in a direction orthogonal to the toner passage hole array 6a. In some cases. At this time, if the toner passage control means 5 is not disposed with a constant curvature, the toner carrier 1 and the control electrode 7 are applied before and after the application.
Is greatly changed. As a result, the amount of toner passing through the toner passage hole 6 varies, and the image becomes uneven. To prevent this, the position of the toner carrier 1 may be regulated with high precision, but this is not effective because productivity is deteriorated. This problem is caused by the fact that the toner carrier 1
This is also a problem that occurs when the frame is configured to be detachable from the frame. That is, even when the relative position of the toner carrier 1 with respect to the toner passage control means 5 before and after the attachment and detachment of the toner carrier 1 with respect to the frame is moved in a direction perpendicular to the toner passage hole array 6a, the above-described problem is also caused. Will occur.

2) If the rigidity of both sides of the toner passage hole array 6a in the toner passage control unit 5 is different from each other, the toner passage control unit 5 is not provided with a constant curvature. In this case, the curvature of the toner passage control unit 5 greatly changes in the portion where the rigidity changes, and the toner passage control unit 5 bends in a direction orthogonal to the toner passage hole array 6a (generation of a bending point). When such a bending point occurs, the distance Lk greatly changes near the bending point.

3) Normally, the toner passage control means 5 and the toner carrier 1 come into contact with each other via a spacer. However, if the interval Lk is short when the bending point occurs, the toner There is a possibility that the passage control means 5 and the toner carrier 1 may come into contact at an irregular place (a place other than the spacer). As a result, regular contact between the spacer and the toner carrier 1 becomes unstable, and the distance Lk may not be constant.

4) When the control power supply 8 for controlling the control electrode 7 is arranged only on one of the two sides of the toner passage control means 5 across the toner passage hole array 6a, The lead electrodes for connecting to the control power supply 8 are provided only on the side where the control power supply 8 is provided, on both sides of the toner passage hole array 6a. Therefore, the toner passage hole array 6 in the toner passage control means 5
The rigidity of both sides sandwiching a is greatly different from each other, and the problems 2) and 3) occur.

As described above, by disposing the toner passage control means 5 at a constant curvature, the distance Lk between the toner carrier 1 and the control electrode 7 is set to be orthogonal to the toner passage hole array 6a. Although it is extremely important to stably maintain a constant value in the direction in which the image is formed to form a high-quality image, the configuration described in JP-A-9-39289 and JP-A-9-30032 is very important. The curvature of the toner passage control means 5 is allowed to change on both sides of the toner passage hole array 6a.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming method in which toner carried on a toner carrier is passed through a toner passage hole and adhered to an image receiving means. It is an object of the present invention to form a high-quality image by stably disposing toner passage control means in a forming apparatus.

[0030]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has been completed by focusing on the following points.

That is, the toner passage control means includes an insulating member having a toner passage hole, a lead electrode electrically connected to the control electrode, and the like. The parameters to be determined include an elastic coefficient by the material of the insulating member, an elastic coefficient by the material of the lead electrode, and the like.

Here, since the material of the insulating member is homogeneous, the elastic coefficient is uniform throughout the insulating member. Therefore, the curvature of the toner passage control means does not change in the direction orthogonal to the toner passage hole array due to the insulating member.

On the other hand, since the lead electrode is wired to the insulating member in a predetermined wiring pattern, the wiring density of this lead electrode (the degree of distribution of the lead electrode per unit area) is reduced in the toner passage hole row. If it changes in the orthogonal direction, the curvature of the toner passage control means will change. Accordingly, the present invention has been completed by focusing on the wiring density of the lead electrodes.

More specifically, the invention according to claim 1 is characterized in that a toner carrier for carrying a charged toner while carrying the toner, an image receiving means disposed at a position opposed to the toner carrier, An insulating member disposed between the toner carrier and the image receiving means and having an array of toner passage holes in which a plurality of toner passage holes through which the toner passes are arranged; and a periphery of each of the toner passage holes And a control power supply for controlling a voltage applied to the control electrode, and a control electrode and a control power supply extending in a direction away from the toner passage hole array and electrically connecting the control electrodes to each other. And a toner passage control means having a lead electrode to be electrically connected, and by applying a voltage corresponding to an image signal to the control electrode via the lead electrode by the control power source, And controls the passage of the supported toner passage hole of the toner in the target image forming apparatus to be attached to the image receiving means.

It is a specific matter that the toner passage control means is configured so that the bending stiffness on both sides of the toner passage hole array is substantially the same. Here, the “bending stiffness” may be a bending stiffness of the substantially plate-shaped toner passage control means with respect to bending in the thickness direction.

Thus, when the toner passage control means is bent in the thickness direction, the curvatures on both sides of the toner passage hole array become substantially constant. For this reason, when the toner passage control means is disposed along the peripheral side surface of the substantially cylindrical toner carrier, the toner passage control means is separated from the peripheral side surface of the toner carrier by a certain distance. It is installed stably in the state where it was. As a result, it is possible to form a high quality image while keeping the distance Lk between the toner carrier and the control electrode constant.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the first aspect, the lead electrode is distributed on a unit area on both sides of the toner passage hole array in the toner passage control means. And that the wiring density is substantially the same.

Thus, the bending rigidity of both sides of the toner passage control means across the toner passage hole array becomes substantially the same, and the same operation and effect as the first aspect of the invention can be obtained.

If the distribution of the wiring density of the lead electrodes is arranged so as to be substantially uniform in the toner passage control means, there is no portion in the toner passage control means where the bending rigidity changes abruptly. For this reason, the occurrence of a bending point in the toner passage control means is suppressed, and the distance Lk
Is largely prevented from changing.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the second aspect, it is a specific matter that the control power supply is disposed on each of both sides of the toner passage control means with the toner passage hole array therebetween. Things.

As a result, the lead electrodes are arranged separately on both sides of the toner passage hole array in the toner passage control means, and the wiring density of the lead electrodes can be reduced at each of the two sides. It is planned. For this reason,
The distance between adjacent lead electrodes is increased, and the problem of poor insulation between the lead electrodes is eliminated.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, different from the third aspect of the present invention, the control power supply is disposed on one of both sides of the toner passage control means with the toner passage hole array therebetween. Is a specific matter.

By arranging the control power supply on one side of the toner passage control means with the toner passage hole array therebetween, the area of the entire toner passage control means can be reduced. Therefore, the material cost of the toner passage control unit can be reduced, and the size of the image forming apparatus can be reduced.

When the control power source is disposed on one side of the toner passage control means with the toner passage hole array interposed therebetween, the both sides of the toner passage control means with the toner passage hole array interposed therebetween. Of these, the lead electrode provided on the side where the control electrode is not provided may be configured as a dummy electrode that does not apply a voltage to the control electrode.

Thus, even when the control power source is disposed on one side of the toner passage control means between the toner passage hole arrays, the lead electrode and the dummy electrode sandwich the toner passage hole array in the toner passage control means. Wiring is provided on both sides, respectively, so that the wiring density on both sides sandwiching the toner passage hole array can be made substantially the same. As a result, when the toner passage control means is bent in the thickness direction, the curvatures on both sides of the toner passage hole array become substantially constant.

It is preferable that the dummy electrode is electrically disconnected from the control electrode in the vicinity of the toner passage hole.

Thus, even when a voltage is applied to the control electrode, the control electrode and the dummy electrode are not electrically connected to each other, so that no voltage is applied to the dummy electrode, and thus the electric field is not applied. Does not occur. Therefore, the toner does not fly from the toner carrier toward the dummy electrode, and the toner is prevented from adhering to the dummy electrode. Therefore, for example, when toner adheres to the dummy electrode, the distance Lk between the toner carrier and the control electrode substantially changes, but this is avoided.
High quality images can be formed.

Also, for example, the end positions of at least some of the dummy electrodes on the toner passage hole row side are different from the end positions of the other dummy electrodes on the toner passage hole row side. May be set.

That is, the rigidity of the toner passage control means is largely different between the dummy electrode portion and the insulating member portion where the dummy electrode is not provided. Therefore, the end position of the dummy electrode on the toner passage hole row side is such that the line connecting the ends of the dummy electrode on the toner passage hole row side is parallel to the toner passage hole row. When the toner passage control means is all the same in the column direction, the bending rigidity of the toner passage control means changes abruptly near the end of the dummy electrode on the toner passage hole row side, and the bending point is provided to the toner passage control means. Will occur.

On the other hand, if the end positions of at least some of the dummy electrodes on the side of the toner passage hole array are different from the end positions of the other dummy electrodes on the side of the toner passage hole array, That is, by preventing the line connecting the tip positions of the dummy electrodes from being parallel to the toner passage hole array, the change in rigidity of the toner passage control means is reduced, and the occurrence of the bending point is reduced. Is prevented. In particular, if the line connecting the ends of the dummy electrodes on the toner passage hole row side is a wave-like curve such as a sine curve, the occurrence of a bending point is further prevented.

When an image is formed by passing the toner through the toner passage hole, part of the toner adheres to the vicinity of the toner passage hole, and the toner passage hole is blocked by the toner. . Therefore, as means for removing the toner closing the toner passage hole, it is conceivable to mechanically vibrate the toner passage control means. Therefore, as described in claim 8, between the control electrode and the control power supply in the toner passage control means, the toner supply hole extends along the toner passage hole row, and mechanically vibrates near the toner passage hole through the toner passage control means. May be provided.

Thus, the mechanical vibration imparted by the mechanical vibration imparting member is transmitted to the toner passage control means, so that the vicinity of the toner passage hole vibrates, and the toner closing the toner passage hole is removed. Will be done. At this time, the rigidity between the toner passage hole in the toner passage control means and the mechanical vibration transmitting member is enhanced by the lead electrode. Mechanical vibration is more easily transmitted by a rigid member such as a lead electrode formed of metal or the like than an insulating member formed of resin or the like. It is efficiently transmitted to the passage hole. As a result, the toner passage hole can be more effectively removed.

In this case, it is preferable that the lead electrode is tapered from the mechanical vibration imparting member side to the toner passage hole row side.

That is, the vibration imparted to the toner passage control means by the mechanical vibration imparting member is attenuated as it moves away from the mechanical vibration imparting member when transmitting the toner passage control means, and the vibration amplitude decreases. Become like Therefore, the lead electrode is formed so as to be tapered from the mechanical vibration imparting member side to the toner passage hole row side, so that the lead electrode easily vibrates as the distance from the mechanical vibration imparting member increases. Characteristics. Accordingly, the attenuation of the vibration transmitted to the toner passage control means from the mechanical vibration imparting member toward the toner passage hole is suppressed, and the vicinity of the toner passage hole can be vibrated with a large amplitude. As a result, the toner in the vicinity of the toner passage hole can be more efficiently removed.

Further, for example, it is preferable that the end of the lead electrode on the side of the row of toner passage holes extends to a position intersecting with the row of toner passage holes.

Thus, the toner passage control means is
The vibration transmitted to the toner passage hole is transmitted to the lead electrode and transmitted to the vicinity of the toner passage hole more effectively. As a result, the toner passage hole can be more effectively removed.

The eighth to tenth aspects relate to the invention relating to the lead electrode, but the eleventh to thirteenth aspects relate to the invention relating to the dummy electrode, and specifically, the invention according to the eleventh aspect relates to the toner passage control. A mechanical vibration imparting member extending along the toner passage hole array and applying mechanical vibration to the vicinity of the toner passage hole via the toner passage control unit; and separating from the toner passage hole array in the dummy electrode. It is a special matter to extend the end on the side of the mechanical vibration to the mechanical vibration imparting member. Thus, the same operation and effect as those of the eighth aspect are obtained.

The invention according to claim 12 is characterized in that the dummy electrode is formed to be tapered from the mechanical vibration imparting member side to the toner passage hole row side. Thus, the same operation and effect as those of the ninth aspect are obtained.

Further, the invention of claim 13 is a specific matter in that the end of the dummy electrode on the toner passage hole row side is extended to a position intersecting the toner passage hole row. Thus, the same operation and effect as those of the tenth aspect can be obtained.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the configuration according to any one of the first to thirteenth aspects, the toner passage control means is provided on at least a part of the periphery of each toner passage hole. A second control electrode, a second control power supply for controlling a voltage applied to the second control electrode, and a second control electrode extending in a direction away from the toner passage hole array and electrically connecting the second control electrode and the second control power supply to each other. A second lead electrode to be electrically connected to each other, and the second lead electrode is disposed at both sides of the toner passage hole array in the toner passage control means so as to have substantially the same wiring density. Is a specific matter. Here, the second control electrode includes:
An electrode for controlling the flying direction of the toner passing through the toner passage hole may be used.

According to this structure, the second lead electrode is disposed so that the wiring density is substantially the same on both sides of the toner passage control means, with the toner passage hole row interposed therebetween. When the toner passage control means is bent in the thickness direction, the curvature of both sides of the toner passage hole row becomes substantially constant, and the toner passage control means is moved to the peripheral side surface of the toner carrier. The toner passage control means is stably disposed at a predetermined distance from the peripheral side surface of the toner carrier.

[0062]

As described above, according to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, when the toner passage control means is bent in the thickness direction, the curvature on both sides of the toner passage hole array is substantially constant. Therefore, when the toner passage control means is disposed along the peripheral side surface of the cylindrical toner carrier,
The toner passage control means can be stably disposed in a state where it is separated from the peripheral side surface of the toner carrier by a certain distance. As a result, the distance L between the toner carrier and the control electrode is determined.
By keeping k constant, a high quality image can be formed.

[0063]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment, which includes a head H for causing toner 2 to fly as described later, And an image receiving unit 11 on which an image is formed by attaching the toner 2 flying from H.

The head H is provided with a substantially box-shaped frame 32 having an opening on the image receiving means 11 side. Inside the frame 32, the head H is provided on the opening side, and is provided on the paper surface of FIG. Cylindrical toner carrier 1 rotatable counterclockwise about a central axis extending in a direction orthogonal to
And a regulating blade 3 and a supply roller 4 which are disposed so as to be in contact with the peripheral side surface of the toner carrier 1.

The toner carrier 1 is configured to convey the toner 2 to the opening side of the frame 32 by rotating while carrying the toner 2 on the peripheral side surface of the toner carrier 1. The toner carrier 1 can be made of metal or alloy such as aluminum and iron. In the present embodiment, an aluminum cylinder having an outer diameter of 20 mm and a thickness of 1 mm is used as the toner carrier 1. In this embodiment, the toner carrier 1 is grounded. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a DC or AC voltage may be applied to the toner carrier 1.

The regulating blade 3 forms one to three toner layers on the toner carrier 1 and
Is negatively charged by friction, and a base end portion thereof is fixed to the frame 32, while a front end portion is arranged to protrude from the frame 32. The regulating blade 3 may be made of an elastic member such as urethane, for example, and has a hardness of 40 degrees to 80 degrees.
Degree (JIS K6301 A scale). The length of the portion protruding from the frame 32 is 5
And a linear pressure on the toner carrier 1 is 5 to 4 mm.
It is preferably 0 g / cm. The above regulating blade 3
May be electrically floated or grounded. Further, a DC or AC voltage may be applied. In this embodiment, a float state is set.

The supply roller 4 controls the supply of the toner 2 to the toner carrier 1 and assists the charging of the toner 2. The supply roller 4 has a direction opposite to the toner carrier 1 (clockwise in FIG. 1). ) Is configured to be rotatable.
The supply roller 4 may be configured by providing a synthetic rubber such as foamed urethane about 2 to 6 mm around a metal shaft such as iron (an axis having a diameter of 8 mm in the present embodiment), and has a hardness of 30 degrees ( What is processed on the roller is JI
SK6301 A scale). Further, the amount of the supply roller 4 biting into the toner carrier 1 is preferably about 0.1 to 2 mm. The supply roller 4 also
It may be grounded or may be configured to apply a DC or AC voltage.

The toner 2 is supplied to the toner carrier 1 by the supply roller 4 and the toner carrier 1 rotating relative to each other, and is carried on the surface of the toner carrier 1. Thereafter, the toner carrier 1 and the regulating blade 3 And receives a small charge from the toner carrier 1 to receive and charge the toner. In this state, the frame 32 is conveyed to the opening side. In the present embodiment, a non-magnetic material having a negative charge of −10 μC / g and an average particle diameter of 8 μm is used as the toner 2.

The opening of the frame 32 is closed by the toner passage control means 5. That is, the toner passage control means 5 is disposed between the toner carrier 1 and the image receiving means 11.

As will be described later, the toner passage control means 5 has a toner passage hole 6 through which the toner 2 carried on the toner carrier 1 passes, along the rotation center axis direction of the toner carrier 1. A row of toner passage holes 6a arranged in a row is formed. Then, the toner passage control means 5 is arranged so that the toner passage hole array 6a is located in the vicinity of the toner carrier 1 so as to sandwich one side of the toner passage hole array 6a (in the rotation direction of the toner carrier 1). The upstream side (hereinafter simply referred to as the upstream side in the rotation direction) is the frame 3
2 while the other side (the downstream side in the rotation direction of the toner carrier 1 (hereinafter referred to as the
Is simply fixed to the main body via an elastic member 33 such as a tension coil spring. As a result, a tension in the rotation direction of the toner carrier 1 is applied to the toner passage control unit 5.
A spacer 20 is provided on a surface of the toner passage control means 5 on the side of the toner carrier 1, and the toner passage control means 5 and the toner carrier 1 correspond to the spacer 2.
0 are in contact with each other. In addition to applying the tension to the toner passage control means 5 in the rotation direction of the toner carrier 1, the toner passage control means 5 and the toner carrier 1 are always in contact with a constant pressing force. This prevents the toner carrier 1 from being eccentric and causing the distance Lk between the toner passage control means 5 (control electrode 7 described later) and the toner carrier 1 to vary. The attachment of the toner passage control unit 5 to the frame 32 is performed by disposing the elastic member 33 on the upstream side in the rotation direction and fixing the toner passage control unit 5 to the frame 32 on the downstream side in the rotation direction. Alternatively, the elastic member 33 may be provided on both the upstream side and the downstream side in the rotation direction. Further, the toner passage control means 5 may be fixed to the frame 32 on both the upstream side and the downstream side in the rotation direction.

The above-mentioned toner passage control means 5 is shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG.
3 is formed with one or a plurality of rows of toner passage holes 6a in which a number of toner passage holes 6, 6, ... penetrating in the thickness direction are arranged along the rotation axis direction of the toner carrier 1. .

The insulating member 23 is preferably made of a material such as polyimide or polyethylene terephthalate, and has an appropriate thickness of 10 to 100 μm. In this embodiment, a polyimide having a thickness of 50 μm is used.

The toner passage hole 6 has a diameter of 50 to 50.
The shape of a circle or an ellipse of 200 μm is preferable, but other shapes such as a square, a triangle, and the like may be used. In this embodiment, each toner passage hole 6 has a short diameter of 65 μm.
m, an elliptical shape having a major axis of 90 μm, and arranged in a two-row staggered structure to form a toner passage hole array 6a. The pitch of the holes 6 in each of the toner passage hole rows 6a (the interval between a pair of adjacent holes 6) is set to 100 dpi = 0.254 mm, and the interval between the two rows (the interval in the rotation direction of the toner carrier 1) is set. ) Is set to 50 dpi = 0.508 mm, and the two rows of the toner passage hole rows 6 a are arranged to be displaced from each other by 0.3 mm in the rotation axis direction of the toner carrier 1.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, a ring-shaped control electrode 7 is disposed on the peripheral portion of each of the toner passage holes 6 and on the surface of the insulating member 23 on the toner carrier 1 side. On the other hand, a deflection electrode 22 composed of a pair of substantially semicircular electrodes is disposed on the peripheral portion of each of the toner passage holes 6 and on the surface of the insulating member 23 on the side of the back electrode 9. I have. The control electrode 7 controls the flight of the toner 2 carried on the toner carrier 1, while the deflection electrode 22 controls the flight direction of the toner 2 passing through the toner passage hole 6. 6A to 6C, different electric fields are generated by applying different voltages to the pair of electrodes 22a and 22b, thereby causing the toner 2 to fly. The directions can be changed to three directions, that is, a hole axis direction of the toner passage hole 6 and two directions inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the hole axis direction. Thus,
By controlling the direction of the toner 2 flying from one toner passage hole 6, the image forming apparatus can operate at 600 dpi.
Image formation is enabled.

The control electrode 7 has an inner diameter of 60 to 150 μm.
It is appropriate that the outer diameter is about 70 to 160 μm and the thickness is 5 to 30 μm. The material is preferably made of a metal such as copper. In this embodiment, the inner diameter is 100 μm and the outer diameter is 200 μm
Was used.

As shown in FIG. 2, on both sides of the insulating member 23 on both sides of the toner passage hole array 6a on the side of the toner carrier 1 (both on the upstream side and the downstream side in the rotational direction),
A plurality of control power supplies 8 are provided, respectively. The control power supply 8 and the control electrode 7 extend in the rotational direction (extend in a direction perpendicular to the toner passage hole array 6a).
9 are connected to each other. As a result, a voltage corresponding to the image signal is transmitted from the control power supply 8 to the control electrode 7 via the lead electrode 19. In addition, the lead electrode 19
The wiring density is substantially the same between the upstream side and the downstream side in the rotation direction of the toner passage control means 5, and the toner carrier 1 is disposed on each side of the upstream side and the downstream side. They are arranged so that the distribution of the wiring density is substantially uniform in the direction of the rotation axis. That is, each of the lead electrodes 1
Numerals 9 are disposed at substantially equal intervals in the rotation axis direction of the toner carrier 1 on both the upstream side and the downstream side in the rotation direction of the toner passage control means 5. The lead electrode 19 is preferably made of the same material and has the same thickness as that of the control electrode 7. In the present embodiment, a copper thin film having a thickness of 5 μm is used as the lead electrode 19.

Although not shown, the insulating member 23
A second control power supply is provided on the image receiving means 11 side, and the second control power supply and the deflection electrode 22 are connected to each other by a second lead electrode. This allows
The voltage output from the control power supply 8 according to the image signal is transmitted to the control electrode 7 via the lead electrode 19. Similarly to the lead electrode 19, the second lead electrode is provided with substantially the same wiring density on the upstream side and the downstream side in the rotation direction of the toner passage control means 5, and has the same wiring density. The wiring density is arranged so that the distribution of the wiring density is substantially uniform in the direction of the rotation axis of the toner carrier 1 on each of the side and the downstream side.

A voltage of about 400 V is normally applied to the lead electrode 19 and the control electrode 7 by the control power supply 8. In the present embodiment, during the image formation (when the toner 2 flies), A voltage of 300 V was applied to the lead electrode 19 and the control electrode 7, while a voltage of -50 V was applied during non-image formation.

As shown in FIG. 4, the insulating member 23 is provided with the control electrode 7 and the deflecting electrode 2 disposed close to each other.
2 is covered by a cover substrate 24 for electrical insulation. The cover substrate 24 is preferably made of a material such as polyimide or parylene, and has a thickness of 2 to 2.
40 μm is appropriate. In this embodiment, a polyimide having a thickness of 25 μm is used as the cover base material. Further, the outer periphery of the cover substrate 24 is covered with an antistatic substrate 25. This is to prevent the surface of the toner passage control unit 5 from being rubbed and charged by the toner 2 or the like, since the electric field generated by the control electrode 7 or the deflection electrode 22 is affected. The antistatic substrate 25
Is preferably a semiconductive material having a resistance of about 10 ⁷ to 10 ¹³ Ω · cm, and has a thickness of 0.1 μm to 0.2 μm.
m is appropriate. In this embodiment, 0.1 μm SiB
A semiconductive material having N was used.

Further, on both sides of the toner passage control means 5 across the toner passage hole array 6a,
As shown in FIG. 2, about 3
The toner passage hole array 6a is separated by about 30 mm.
A bar-shaped correction means 26 is disposed in parallel with the first correction means.
The correction unit 26 prevents the toner passage control unit 5 from waving due to the tension applied to the toner passage control unit 5. That is, as described above, the toner passage control means 5 is made of a flexible resin film including the control electrode 7 and the like, and is made of different materials having different elastic coefficients. For this reason, by applying tension to the toner passage control unit 5, the toner passage control unit 5 becomes wavy. Therefore, the correction means 26 is uniformly joined to the toner passage control means 5 over the entire area in the longitudinal direction, so that the toner passage control means 5 is prevented from floating from the correction means 26, and this toner passage control is performed. The waving of the means 5 can be prevented. The correcting means 26 is preferably made of a material having a thickness of about 0.05 to 0.5 mm and a high rigidity, for example, a metal such as SK material, SUS, Ti, ceramics or thermosetting resin.

Since the correction means 26 and the toner passage control means 5 have different linear expansion coefficients, the amount of expansion due to a temperature change differs between the correction means 26 and the toner passage control means 5. For this reason, if both 26 and 5 are completely fixed, a warp will occur. However, if the correcting means 26 is formed with an adhesive layer using, for example, a viscoelastic adhesive or an adhesive tape and is joined to the toner passage control means 5, the difference in the amount of expansion is absorbed by the adhesive layer being sheared. Therefore, the occurrence of the warpage can be avoided.

As shown in FIG. 1, a back electrode 9 is provided on the opposite side of the head H with respect to the image receiving means 11, and this back electrode 9 contacts the image receiving means 11. It has been like that. The back electrode 9 forms an electric field between the back electrode 9 and the toner carrier 1.
A DC voltage of about V is applied. As the back electrode 9, a metal plate, a metal roller, a film obtained by disassembling a conductive filler in a resin, or the like can be suitably used. The resistance of the film in the case of using the film is preferably 10 ² to 10 ¹ of about ¹ Omega · cm. The distance between the back electrode 9 and the toner passage control means 5 is 50
１０００1000 μm is preferred. In the present embodiment, the voltage applied to the back electrode power supply 10 was 1000 V, and the distance between the back electrode 9 and the toner passage control means 5 was 200 μm.

The image receiving means 11 is provided with the toner passage hole 6.
An image is formed by adhering the toner passing therethrough, and is constituted by an endless image carrying belt wound around a pair of rollers (not shown). The image carrying belt has a resistance of 10 ⁷ to 1 in which a conductive filler is dispersed in a resin.
It is preferable to use a material of about 0 ¹² Ω · cm. In the present embodiment, an image carrying belt having a resistance of 10 ⁹ Ω · cm was used.

The image forming apparatus is configured such that the image receiving means 11 is an image carrying belt, and the image formed on the image carrying belt is transferred to the recording paper 15 or the like (see FIG. 16). However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 14, the image receiving means 11 is used as a recording paper 15 or the like, and the toner passing through the toner passage hole 6 is directly attached to the recording paper 15 or the like. Alternatively, an image may be formed directly on the image.

Next, the recording method of this image forming apparatus will be described. As described above, this image forming apparatus
The toner 2 is adhered to the image receiving means 11 to form a desired image, and the image adhered to the image receiving means 11 is transferred to a recording paper and fixed on the recording paper. In forming an image, the recording paper is conveyed at a predetermined speed by a timing roller. In this embodiment, the conveyance speed of the recording paper is set to 100 mm / s.

The operation of the image forming apparatus according to this embodiment will be described in detail. In this embodiment, the transport speed of the image receiving unit 11 (toner carrying belt) is 100 mm / s, which is the same as the transport speed of the recording paper. On the other hand, the rotation speed of the toner carrier 1 is twice as high as that of the image receiving unit 11.
The image density is improved by increasing the flying amount of the toner 2 to 00 mm / s.

The control power supply 8 supplies a voltage to be applied to the control electrode 7 in accordance with an image signal. The control power supply 8 applies a voltage of -50 V during non-image formation and 300 V during image formation. I do. And the control electrode 7
When a voltage of 300 V is applied to the toner carrier 1, the toner 2 carried on the toner carrier 1 flies through the toner passage hole 6, lands on the toner carrying belt 12, and a desired image is formed on the toner carrying belt 12. Is formed. When the toner 2 flies, a voltage is also applied to the deflection electrode 22 as described above. In the present embodiment, the deflection electrode 2
2, -50V, + 50V,
A voltage of +80 V is applied, and +80 V, +50 V, and -50 V are also applied to the other electrode 22b. By applying different voltages to each of the pair of electrodes 22a and 22b constituting the deflection electrode 22, mutually different electric fields are generated, thereby causing the toner 2 passing through the toner passage holes 6 to be separated from each other. By flying in three different directions, an image of 600 dpi is formed on the toner carrying belt 12.

In this way, at the same time that the image is formed on the image receiving means 11, the recording paper is conveyed one by one from the paper feed tray to the timing roller by the pickup roller. The timing roller synchronizes the recording sheet with the image formation, and conveys the recording sheet at a timing so that the image of the image receiving unit 11 is at a predetermined position on the recording sheet. Then, +1 is applied to the recording paper by the transfer roller.
The image (toner 2) is transferred to the recording paper by applying a voltage of 000V. Further, the toner 2 transferred to the recording paper
Is performed by a fixing device. This is about 18
This is performed by passing the recording paper between a pair of rollers heated to 0 ° C. Thus, a desired image is formed on the recording paper.

In the present embodiment, the wiring density of the lead electrodes 19 is substantially the same at the upstream and downstream sides in the rotation direction of the toner passage control means 5 across the toner passage hole array 6a. In addition, on each side of the upstream side and the downstream side, the distribution of the wiring density is substantially uniform in the rotation axis direction of the toner carrier 1 (see FIG. 2). For this reason, the bending rigidity of both sides of the toner passage control means 5 across the toner passage hole array 6a becomes substantially the same, and when the toner passage control means 5 is bent in the thickness direction, the toner passage hole array 6a The curvature on both sides sandwiching is substantially constant. For this reason, as shown in FIG.
The toner passage control means 5 disposed along the peripheral side surface of the toner carrier 1 is stably disposed at a predetermined distance from the peripheral side surface of the toner carrier 1. . As a result, a high-quality image can be formed while keeping the distance Lk between the toner carrier 1 and the control electrode 7 constant.

The wiring density of the second lead electrode connected to the deflecting electrode 22 is made substantially the same between the upstream and downstream portions in the rotation direction across the toner passage hole array 6a in the toner passage control means 5. In addition, the second lead electrode is disposed on each of the upstream side and the downstream side so that the distribution of the wiring density is substantially uniform in the rotation axis direction of the toner carrier 1. Therefore, similarly to the above, a high-quality image can be formed by keeping the distance Lk between the toner carrier 1 and the control electrode 7 constant.

The control power source 8 is provided on both the upstream and downstream portions of the toner passage control means 5 in the rotation direction, that is,
Since the toner passage control means 5 is provided on both sides of the toner passage hole array 6a with the toner passage hole array 6a interposed therebetween, the lead electrodes 19 provided on the toner passage control means 5 are rotated in the rotation direction of the toner passage control means 5. It will be arranged separately on the upstream side and the downstream side. For this reason, it is possible to reduce the wiring density of the lead electrode 19 in each of the upstream and downstream portions. As a result, the distance between the adjacent lead electrodes 19, 19 increases, and
The problem of insulation failure between 9 and 19 can be solved.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 7 is a view in which the toner passage control means 5 of an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention is developed on a plane. The difference from the first embodiment is that the control power supply 8 is provided only on one side (the upstream side in the rotation direction) of the passage control means 5 across the toner passage hole array 6a.

The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.
Only the differences will be described.

The control power source 8 is provided only in the upstream portion of the toner passage control means 5 in the rotation direction.
The lead electrode 19 is provided only on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the toner passage control means 5.

On the other hand, the other side of the toner passage hole array 6a (the downstream side in the rotation direction of the toner passage control means 5).
The dummy electrodes 21 correspond to the respective lead electrodes 19.
Are arranged. Each of the dummy electrodes 21 is disposed so as to extend in the rotational direction of the toner carrier 1. As shown in FIG. 8, the tip (the end on the side of the toner passage hole array 6a) is connected to the control electrode 7 as shown in FIG. Are arranged at a predetermined distance L1 from each other. Thereby, the dummy electrode 21 and the control electrode 7 are electrically disconnected from each other. On the other hand, the base end of the dummy electrode 21 (the end remote from the toner passage hole array 6a) extends to the position of the correction unit 26.

Since the dummy electrodes 21 are arranged corresponding to the lead electrodes 19, the wiring density thereof is equal to the wiring density of the lead electrodes 19. Specifically, in the present embodiment, since the toner passage holes 6 are formed in two rows in a staggered manner at intervals of 100 dpi, the wiring density of the lead electrodes 19 (the interval between adjacent lead electrodes 19) is 0.127 mm. It has been. The wiring density of the dummy electrodes 21 (the distance between adjacent dummy electrodes 21) is also set to 0.127 mm.

The dummy electrode 21 is preferably made of the same material as the lead electrode 19.

As described above, the dummy electrode 21 is disposed on the downstream side in the rotation direction of the toner passage control unit 5 corresponding to the lead electrode 19 disposed on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the toner passage control unit 5. Thus, the wiring densities (wiring densities of the lead electrode 19 and the dummy electrode 21) on both sides of the toner passage hole array 6a are made substantially the same. Therefore, when the toner passage control means 5 is bent in a direction orthogonal to the toner passage hole array 6a, the curvature of both sides of the toner passage control means 5 across the toner passage hole array 6a becomes substantially constant, The distance Lk between the toner passage control means 5 and the toner carrier 1 in the rotation direction of the toner carrier 1 can be stably kept constant. As a result, the variation in the flying amount of the toner 2 can be reduced.

The dummy electrode 21 is connected to the control electrode 7.
Is electrically disconnected, no electric field is generated at the dummy electrode 21 even when a voltage is applied to the control electrode 7. Therefore, the toner 2 flying from the toner carrier 1 is prevented from adhering to the dummy electrode 21. Here, the dummy electrode 21 and the control electrode 7 need to be separated from each other by such an extent that the dummy electrode 21 is not affected by the electric field by the control electrode 7. In the present embodiment, the distance L1 between the dummy electrode 21 and the control electrode 7 is set to 0.1 mm.

Further, by extending the base end of the dummy electrode 21 to the position of the correcting means 26,
6, the effect of preventing the toner carrier 1 from waving in the rotation axis direction can be further improved. Therefore, the distance Lk can be stably maintained constant in the rotation axis direction of the toner carrier 1.

On the contrary, the control power source 8 is installed only on the downstream side in the rotational direction, and the lead electrode 19 is provided only on the downstream side in the toner passage control means 5, while the toner A dummy electrode 21 may be provided on the upstream portion of the passage control means 5 so as to have the same wiring density as the lead electrode 19.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 9 shows a third embodiment of the present invention.
The vicinity of the toner passage hole array 6a of the toner passage control means 5 according to the embodiment is enlarged and shown in FIG.
The second embodiment is different from the second embodiment in that the end position (tip position) on the side is set to be different from the tip positions of the other dummy electrodes 21. Note that the same components as those of the second embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted, and only different points will be described here.

The dummy electrode 21 has its tip disposed at a predetermined distance from the control electrode 7 so as to be electrically disconnected from the control electrode 7. All the dummy electrodes 21 are not set to be the same in the rotation direction of the toner carrier 1, but are set to be different from each other in the rotation direction by the adjacent dummy electrodes 21 and 21 (the dashed line in FIG. reference). Thus, the line connecting the tip positions of the dummy electrodes 21 is not parallel to the toner passage hole array 6a.

This point will be described in detail. The dummy electrode 21 and the control electrode 7 (the peripheral portion of the toner passage hole 6 constituting the row on the downstream side in the rotation direction among the two rows of toner passage holes 6a) And the minimum distance between the control electrode 7) and the control electrode 7) is set to 0.1 mm.
mm and the maximum interval are set to 0.15 mm, respectively. Then, the eight dummy electrodes 21 adjacent to each other form a set, and each of the dummy electrodes 2 in the set of the dummy electrodes 21 is formed.
The tip positions of the dummy electrodes 21 were set such that the interval between the tip 1 and the control electrode 7 had a sine distribution centered on the average interval 0.1 mm. It should be noted that the number of lines constituting one set of dummy electrodes 21 is not limited to eight, but may be other numbers.

Thus, for example, when the line connecting the tip positions of the dummy electrodes 21 is parallel to the toner passage hole array 6a, the toner passage control means 5 is located at the tip positions of the dummy electrodes 21. The rigidity of the dummy electrode 21 suddenly changes and a bending point occurs.
By varying the tip positions of the dummy electrodes 21, the change in bending stiffness near the tip position of the dummy electrode 21 is reduced, and the occurrence of the bending point can be prevented.

(Fourth Embodiment) FIG. 10 is an expanded view of a toner passage control unit 5 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention on a plane. A mechanical vibration applying member 34 that applies mechanical vibration to the passage control unit 5 is provided. Note that the same components as those of the third embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. Here, only differences will be described.

The mechanical vibration applying member 34 is provided with a mechanical vibration transmitting member 27 disposed on the surface of the toner passage control means 5 on the toner carrier 1 side, and one end of the mechanical vibration transmitting member 27 in the longitudinal direction. Vibration generator 28 disposed in
And a vibration absorber 29 disposed at the other end in the longitudinal direction.

The mechanical vibration transmitting member 27 is a substantially rod-shaped member. The mechanical vibration transmitting member 27 is parallel to the toner passage hole 6 at the downstream portion in the rotation direction (the portion where the dummy electrode 21 is disposed) of the toner passage control means 5. Further, the toner passage hole 6 is fixed on the toner passage control means 5 at a predetermined interval. The mechanical vibration transmitting member 27 may be fixed by bonding or the like, for example, by thermocompression bonding or an epoxy-based adhesive. Further, as described above, the mechanical vibration transmitting member 27 may have any rigidity capable of transmitting the vibration without absorbing the vibration, and may be formed of metal, for example. Specifically, for example, stainless steel may be used. The plate width may be set to 5 mm and the plate thickness may be set to about 0.2 mm.

The vibration generator 28 includes a vibrator 30 and a vibration amplifier (horn) 31 to which the vibrator is attached. As the vibrator 30, for example, a bolted Langevin type vibrator or the like can be used. it can. The horn 31 is formed such that its cross-sectional area is continuously reduced as it goes downward, and its lower end is fixed to the mechanical vibration transmitting member 27. Thus, the horn 31 is configured to concentrate the vibration energy of the vibrator 30 and transmit the vibration energy to the mechanical vibration transmission member 27. The horn 31 has a rigidity capable of transmitting the vibration without absorbing the vibration, and preferably has the same resonance frequency as the resonance frequency of the vibrator 30, and may be formed of, for example, metal. Specifically, it is particularly preferable to use stainless steel or aluminum, for example, because the molding is easy.

The vibration absorber 29 is provided with the mechanical vibration transmitting member 27.
Vibration transmitted from one end to the other end is absorbed at the other end, and a material having viscoelasticity enough to sufficiently attenuate the vibration is sandwiched between rigid plates. I have. As the viscoelastic material, silicone rubber is suitable. If a material having a sufficient thermal conductivity, for example, aluminum is used as the material of the rigid plate, it is preferable that the heat generated from the vibration absorber 29 can be easily released during the vibration absorbing process.

The mechanical vibration imparting member 34 is used to remove the toner 2 and foreign matters accumulated around the toner passage hole 6 of the toner passage control means 5 while the image formation is continued. That is, when the image forming operation is stopped, for example, immediately after the power is turned on to the apparatus, or when a plurality of papers are conveyed during continuous image formation, the next recording paper is The vibrator 30 is actuated until it is sent, and the vibrator 30 is caused to vibrate by applying a vibrating voltage to the vibrator 30. In this case, the vibration of the vibrator 30 is transmitted to the mechanical vibration transmitting member 27 via the horn 31, and propagates from one end of the mechanical vibration transmitting member 27 to the other end. Since the vibration propagating through the mechanical vibration transmitting member 27 is absorbed by the vibration absorber 29 provided at the other end, the vibration propagating through the mechanical vibration transmitting member 27 is a traveling wave. The vibration propagating through the mechanical vibration transmission member 27 is transmitted to the toner passage control unit 5.
Is transmitted toward the toner passage hole 6 in the rotation direction of the toner carrier 1.

Here, the base end of each of the dummy electrodes 21 (the end remote from the toner passage hole array 6a) is extended to the mechanical vibration transmitting member 27. Is transmitted by the toner passage control unit 5.
Since the rigidity of the dummy electrode 21 (made of metal) is higher than that of the insulating member 23 (made of resin) in the toner passage control means 5, the dummy electrode 21 is mainly provided near the toner passage hole 6 by the dummy electrode 21. Is transmitted. Then, the periphery of the toner passage hole 6 is vibrated, and the accumulated toner 2 and the like are removed.

The vibration of the vibrator 30 is preferably a sine wave of 1 MHz or less, for example, 40 kHz. This is because when the vibration frequency increases, the mechanical vibration transmitting member 27
This is because heat generation of the vibrator 30 and the heat generation of the vibrator 30 cannot be ignored, and the degree of vibration attenuation is increased.

As described above, by providing the base end of the dummy electrode 21 so as to extend to the mechanical vibration transmitting member 27, the dummy electrode 21 allows the mechanical vibration from the toner passage hole 6 in the toner passage control means 5 to be mechanically vibrated. Transmission member 2
Rigidity up to 7 is increased. The mechanical vibration applied by the mechanical vibration transmitting member 27 is more likely to be transmitted by the rigid member such as the dummy electrode 21 formed of metal or the like than the insulating member 23 formed of resin or the like. Is efficiently transmitted to the toner passage hole 6. As a result, the removal of the toner 2 near the toner passage hole 6 can be performed more effectively.

In the fourth embodiment, a mechanical vibration imparting member 34 is provided on the downstream side in the rotation direction of the toner passage control means 5, and the vibration from the mechanical vibration transmitting member 27 is transmitted by the dummy electrode 21 to the toner passage. Although the transmission is performed to the hole 6, the invention is not limited thereto, and the mechanical vibration applying member 34 may be provided in a portion of the toner passage control unit 5 on the upstream side in the rotation direction. In this case, if the mechanical vibration transmitting member 27 is disposed between the control electrode 7 and the control power source 8,
The vibration from the mechanical vibration transmitting member 27 can be transmitted to the toner passage hole 6 by the lead electrode 19.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the mechanical vibration imparting member 34 may be provided in the toner passage control means 5 in which the control power supply 8 is disposed on both sides of the toner passage hole array 6a. In this case, as long as the mechanical vibration transmitting member 27 is disposed between the control electrode 7 and the control power supply 8, the mechanical vibration transmitting member 27 may be disposed on either side of the toner passage hole array 6a.

(Fifth Embodiment) FIG. 11 is an enlarged view showing the vicinity of a toner passage hole 6 in a toner passage control means 5 according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.
The fourth embodiment is different from the fourth embodiment in that the dummy electrode 21 is formed so as to be tapered from the mechanical vibration transmitting member 27 toward the toner passage hole 6a. Note that the same components as those of the fourth embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. Here, only differences will be described.

That is, the dummy electrode 21 is tapered toward the tip near the toner passage hole 6.
Specifically, the width is set to 70 μm at the base end near the mechanical vibration transmitting member 27, which is the same as that of the lead electrode 19, while the width is set to 40 μm at the tip near the toner passage hole 6. It is continuously tapered from the end to the tip.

As described above, by forming the dummy electrode 21 to be tapered, the dummy electrode 21 has a vibration characteristic in which the dummy electrode 21 easily vibrates from the base end to the front end. For this reason, the mechanical vibration transmitting member 27 to the toner passage hole 6
, And the vicinity of the toner passage hole 6 can be vibrated more. As a result, the toner in the vicinity of the toner passage hole 6 can be more efficiently removed.

In FIG. 11, the tip positions of the dummy electrodes 21 are different from each other in the rotation direction of the toner carrier 1 as in the fourth embodiment. The position may be set to be the same in the rotation direction. However, as described above, when the tip positions of the dummy electrodes 21 are different from each other in the rotation direction, the rigidity change of the toner passage control means 5 at the tip position of the dummy electrode 21 is reduced, and the occurrence of a bending point is prevented. Is preferred.

When the mechanical vibration transmitting member 27 is disposed on the upstream side in the rotational direction so as to intersect with the lead electrode 19, the lead electrode 19 is separated from the mechanical vibration transmitting member 27 side. It may be formed so as to taper toward the toner passage hole row 6a side. This allows
The same operation and effect as above can be obtained.

(Sixth Embodiment) FIG. 12 is an enlarged view showing the vicinity of a toner passage hole 6 in a toner passage control means 5 according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.
The fourth embodiment is different from the fourth embodiment in that the tip of the dummy electrode 21 is extended to a position intersecting the toner passage hole array 6a. Note that the same components as those of the fourth embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. Here, only differences will be described.

As described above, the toner passage hole array 6a is formed by arranging the toner passage holes 6 in two rows in a staggered manner. The distal end of the dummy electrode 21 provided corresponding to the toner passage hole 6 constituting the first row extends to a position between the pair of adjacent toner passage holes 6 in the downstream row in the rotation direction. As a result, the tip of the dummy electrode 21 is extended to a position intersecting the toner passage hole array 6a. That is, each dummy electrode 21
The dummy electrodes 21 are arranged such that the distance between the tip of the control electrode 7 and the control electrode 7 corresponding to the dummy electrode 21 is substantially the same for all the control electrodes 7.

Thus, the vibration from the mechanical vibration transmitting member 27 is transmitted by the dummy electrodes 21 to the center position in the width direction (rotation direction of the toner carrier 1) of the toner passage hole array 6a. The removal of the toner 2 in the vicinity of the toner passage hole 6 can be performed more effectively.

(Seventh Embodiment) FIG. 13 is an enlarged view showing the vicinity of a toner passage hole 6 in a toner passage control means 5 according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.
The difference from the sixth embodiment is that the dummy electrode 21 is tapered from the mechanical vibration transmitting member 27 side to the toner passage hole array 6a side as in the fifth embodiment.

In this manner, as described above, the attenuation of the mechanical vibration from the vibration transmitting member 27 toward the toner passage hole array 6a is suppressed, and the mechanical vibration transmitting member 27 is suppressed.
Is transmitted to the center position in the width direction of the toner passage hole array 6a, and the toner in the vicinity of the toner passage hole 6 can be more effectively removed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded plan view showing a toner passage control unit according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view showing the vicinity of a toner passage hole on the toner carrier side of the toner passage control unit according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing an AA section in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the toner passage hole on the image receiving unit side of the toner passage control unit according to the embodiment, corresponding to FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a flying direction of toner is changed by a deflection electrode.

FIG. 7 is an expanded view of a toner passage control unit according to a second embodiment, corresponding to FIG.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of a toner passage hole on the toner carrier side of the toner passage control unit according to the embodiment.
FIG.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of a toner passage hole on a toner carrier side of a toner passage control unit according to a third embodiment, corresponding to FIG. 3;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a toner passage control unit according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of a toner passage hole on a toner carrier side of a toner passage control unit according to a fifth embodiment, corresponding to FIG.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of a toner passage hole on a toner carrier side of a toner passage control unit according to a sixth embodiment, corresponding to FIG. 3;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of a toner passage hole on a toner carrier side of a toner passage control unit according to a seventh embodiment, corresponding to FIG.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of a conventional image forming apparatus.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged plan view showing the vicinity of a toner passage hole on a toner carrier side of a conventional toner passage control unit.

FIG. 16 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 14, showing a schematic configuration of a conventional image forming apparatus different from FIG. 14;

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 toner carrier 2 toner 5 toner passage control means 6 toner passage hole 7 control electrode 8 control power supply 11 image receiving means 12 toner carrying belt (image receiving means) 15 recording paper (image receiving means) 19 lead electrode 21 dummy electrode 22 deflection electrode (first electrode) 2 Control electrode) 23 Insulating member 27 Mechanical vibration transmitting member (Mechanical vibration applying member) 29 Vibration absorber (Mechanical vibration applying member) 30 Vibrator (Mechanical vibration applying member) 31 Horn (Mechanical vibration applying member) 34 Mechanical vibration applying member 6a Row of toner passage holes

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (71) Applicant 597063831 Onnereds Brygga 13 421 57 Vestro Fround a Sweden (72) Inventor Taichi Ito 1006 Odakadoma, Kadoma, Osaka Pref. Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Takuya Kitahara 1006 Kadoma Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yoshitaka Kitaoka 1006 Kadoma Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Inside the Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Yasutaka Tamai 1006 Kadoma Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture Address Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 2C162 AE25 AE31 AE47 AH22 CA02 CA12 CA24

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. A toner carrier for carrying a charged toner while carrying the toner, an image receiving unit disposed at a position facing the toner carrier, and a portion between the toner carrier and the image receiving unit. Placed in
An insulating member in which a plurality of toner passage holes through which the toner passes are formed in a row, and a control electrode provided on at least a part of a peripheral portion of each of the toner passage holes; A control power supply for controlling the voltage applied to the toner supply hole, and a toner passage control means having a lead electrode extending in a direction away from the toner passage hole row and electrically connecting the control electrodes and the control power supply to each other. By applying a voltage corresponding to an image signal to the control electrode via the lead electrode by the control power supply,
An image forming apparatus which controls the passage of the toner carried by the toner carrier through a toner passage hole and causes the toner to adhere to the image receiving unit, wherein the toner passage control unit includes two side portions sandwiching the toner passage hole array. An image forming apparatus characterized in that the bending stiffness is substantially the same. 2. The lead electrodes are arranged on both sides of the toner passage hole array in the toner passage control means so that the wiring density, which is the degree of distribution of the lead electrodes per unit area, is substantially the same. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein
The image forming apparatus as described in the above. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control power supply is provided on each of both sides of the toner passage control means with the toner passage hole row interposed therebetween. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control power supply is disposed on one of both sides of the toner passage control means with the toner passage hole row interposed therebetween. 5. A lead electrode provided on a side on which a control electrode is not provided among both side portions of a toner passage control means sandwiching a row of toner passage holes is a dummy electrode which does not apply a voltage to the control electrode. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the image forming apparatus is configured. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the dummy electrode and the control electrode are electrically disconnected near the toner passage hole. 7. An end position of at least a part of the dummy electrodes on the toner passage hole row side is set to be different from an end position of the other dummy electrodes on the toner passage hole row side. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein 8. A toner passage control means extending between the control electrode and the control power supply along the toner passage hole array to apply mechanical vibration to the vicinity of the toner passage hole via the toner passage control means. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a mechanical vibration applying member. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the lead electrode is tapered from the mechanical vibration imparting member side to the toner passage hole row side. 10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein an end of the lead electrode on the toner passage hole row side is extended to a position intersecting the toner passage hole row. apparatus. 11. A mechanical vibration imparting member which extends along the toner passage hole array and imparts mechanical vibration to the vicinity of the toner passage hole via the toner passage control means is provided in the toner passage control means, The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein an end of the dummy electrode on a side away from the toner passage hole row extends to the mechanical vibration applying member. 12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the dummy electrode is tapered from the mechanical vibration imparting member side to the toner passage hole row side. 13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein an end of the dummy electrode on the toner passage hole row side extends to a position intersecting the toner passage hole row. . 14. A toner control device comprising: a second control electrode provided on at least a part of a peripheral portion of each toner passage hole; a second control power supply for controlling a voltage applied to the second control electrode; A second lead electrode extending in a direction away from the toner passage hole array and electrically connecting the second control electrodes and a second control power source to each other; wherein the second lead electrode includes the toner passage control means. 2. A wiring structure according to claim 1, wherein the wiring density is substantially the same on both sides of the toner passage hole array.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 13.