JP2002225329A - Imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging apparatus in which cleaning of a developer passing hole is effected with high efficiency by generating a resonant deflection wave. SOLUTION: The length of a deflection wave generating means constituting a vibration generating means is set longer than one half of the wavelength of a deflection wave and shorter than the wavelength of a deflection wave.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a copying machine, a facsimile, and a printer, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium by causing a powdery developer to fly by the action of an electric field.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known an image forming apparatus which forms an image on a recording medium by causing a powdery developer to fly by the action of an electric field. In this apparatus, a head in which toner as a developer is stored, an intermediate image holding belt disposed opposite to the head, and an image formed on the intermediate image holding belt are transferred onto recording paper. It comprises a transfer unit and a fixing unit for fixing the image on the recording paper.

As shown in FIG. 12, a sleeve 11 for carrying a toner 7 charged to a negative charge and a toner 7 carried on the sleeve 11 are provided on the head 1.
And a developer passage member 17 which is one of the components of the developer passage control means for controlling the passage of the developer. A row of developer passage holes is formed in the developer passage member 17, and a control electrode 17b is provided so as to surround the periphery of each developer passage hole 17a constituting the row of developer passage holes. I have. Further, a back electrode 23 is provided at a position facing the head 1 with the intermediate image holding belt 2 interposed therebetween.

In the image forming apparatus, an electric field is generated by applying a voltage to the control electrode 17b, and the toner 7 carried on the sleeve 11 is caused to fly by the action of the electric field. The flying toner 7 passes through the developer passage hole 17a, and after passing through the developer passage hole 17a, is pulled by the electric field formed by the back electrode 23 and adheres to the intermediate image holding belt 2. By controlling the voltage applied to the control electrode 17b in this manner, the flying of the toner 7 is controlled, and an image is formed on the intermediate image holding belt 2.

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional image forming apparatus, as the image formation is continued, as shown in FIG.
Around the inner side of the developer passage 17a, the inner wall of the developer passage hole 17a, or the periphery of the developer passage hole 17a on the intermediate image holding belt 2 side. Then, there is a disadvantage that the developer passage hole 17a is finally closed by the toner.

As a method for solving such a problem, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-80053 discloses a method in which a vibrating mechanism is provided in a developer passage control means. In this configuration, since the electrode surface is always vibrating and exerting a mechanical action, the toner does not adhere, and even if it adheres, the toner can be removed immediately.

However, in this configuration, there is a problem that the resonance of the vibration system is not assumed, and the input electric energy is not effectively used.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to actively utilize the resonance of a vibrator to vibrate a vibration system with higher efficiency. is there.

[0009]

According to the present invention, there is provided a developer carrying means for carrying a developer electromagnetically and rotating, and a plurality of developer passage holes provided at least along a rotation axis direction of the developer carrying means. A developer passage control unit that electromagnetically controls a developer that passes through the developer passage hole in accordance with an image signal; an image receiving unit to which the passed developer is applied; and a rear surface of the image receiving unit. Suction means for electromagnetically sucking the developer, vibration generation means, and vibration transmission means provided on the developer passage control means along the developer passage hole and connected to the vibration generation means. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the image forming apparatus has the vibration generating means for operating the vibration generating means at the time of non-printing, wherein the vibration generating means includes a bending wave generating means for generating a bending wave. Is a vibration The length of the vibration wave propagating direction means is greater than half the wavelength of bending waves generated by the vibration generating means and smaller that than the wavelength of the flexural wave.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the vibration generating means is constituted by arranging a plurality of flexural wave generating means whose traveling directions of the flexural waves are longitudinal directions in parallel. .

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the vibration generating means includes a pressurizing means for applying a compressive stress to the bending wave generating means in a vibration direction of the bending wave generating means without generating vibration. It is characterized by doing.

The invention according to claim 6 is characterized in that the vibration generating means includes frequency adjusting means for finely adjusting the resonance frequency.

[0013] The invention according to claim 7 is characterized in that the vibration generating means is constituted by laminating flexural wave generating means.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, the vibration transmitting means is endless.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, the vibration transmitting means is endless by being formed of an annular plate.

The invention according to claim 10 is characterized in that the vibration transmitting means is endless by being constituted by a cylindrical plate.

According to this configuration, vibration utilizing the resonance of the vibration system can be positively realized, and the input power can be reduced with respect to the output vibration. Can be cleaned.

Even if any one of the control means, the signal generation means and the amplification means fails, the vibration means can be safely stopped without continuing to vibrate.

[0019]

(Embodiment 1) Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, in which 1 is a head having a sleeve 11 as a developer carrying means, 2 is an intermediate image holding belt as an image receiving means, and 3 is Transfer means 4 for transferring the image formed on the intermediate image holding belt 2 to the recording paper 5 is a fixing means for fixing the image transferred on the recording paper to the recording paper 5. The four heads 1 are provided. Each of the heads 1 stores a toner as a developer of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, respectively. The apparatus is configured to form a color image.

Further, the toner has an average diameter of about 10 μm, and such a diameter can be measured by a small-hole passing method (Multisizer manufactured by Coulter Inc.).

The intermediate image holding belt 2 is of an endless type and includes a belt driving roller 21 for driving the intermediate image holding belt 2 and a ground roller 22. A back electrode 23 is provided on the back of the intermediate image holding belt 2.
And its power supply 24. Back electrode 23
Are arranged at positions facing each of the heads 1. Further, a belt cleaning 25 is disposed on the intermediate image holding belt 2 at a position facing the belt driving roller 21, and the belt cleaning 25 is pressed against the intermediate image holding belt 2. The toner or dirt forming an image on the image holding belt 2 is removed.

As such an intermediate image holding belt 2,
For example, a material obtained by dispersing conductive carbon in a polycarbonate having a thickness of about 150 μm may be used.
It may be set to about 340 mm for A4 paper. The belt drive roller 21 and the ground roller 22 include:
Both may have a diameter of about 25 to 30 mm. Further, as the back electrode 23, a metal plate or a film in which a conductive filler is dispersed in a resin may be used.
The voltage may be set to about 000 V, for example, 1000 V.

The transfer means 3 includes a transfer roller 31 disposed opposite to the ground roller 22, and the transfer roller 31 is configured to be able to freely contact and separate from the ground roller 22. The transfer roller 31 is provided with a transfer power source 32. An electric field is generated by applying a voltage to the transfer roller 31 so that the toner on the intermediate image holding belt 2 is attracted to the recording paper 5 side. ing. Then, the transfer means 3 moves the intermediate image holding belt 2 and the recording paper 5 between the transfer roller 31 and the ground roller 22.
The image on the intermediate image holding belt 2 is transferred to the recording paper 5 by bringing the recording paper 5 into close contact.

As the transfer roller 31, a roller having an outer diameter of about 20 mm by winding a urethane sponge around a shaft having a diameter of 8 mm, for example, has a resistance value of about 10 ⁷ Ω when 500 V is applied. What is necessary is just to become.

The fixing means 4 is constituted by disposing a fixing roller 41 and a pressure roller 42 opposite to each other.
The peripheral surface of the fixing roller 41 is set at a high temperature by the heat generated by the heat source 41a. Then, the fixing unit 4 applies heat to the recording paper 5 by applying heat between the fixing roller 41 and the pressure between the pressure roller 42 and the fixing roller 41, thereby melting the toner and fixing the toner to the recording paper 5. Like that.

As shown in FIG. 2, the head 1 has a toner 7, a sleeve 11, a toner regulating blade 12 disposed so as to be in contact with the sleeve 11, and faces the sleeve 11. A toner supply roller 13 disposed in the frame 16, a hopper 14 provided on the side of the sleeve 11 for storing the toner 7, and a stirring means 15 disposed in the hopper 14 for stirring the toner are provided on a frame 16. Each of them is arranged and configured.

The sleeve 11 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and is configured to convey the toner 7 by rotating counterclockwise while carrying the toner 7 (see the arrow in the figure). Although the sleeve 11 is grounded (see FIG. 1), a DC or AC voltage may be applied to the sleeve 11.

The sleeve 11 is formed of, for example, a metal such as aluminum or iron, an alloy, or rubber, and has an outer diameter of 16 to 20 mm and a thickness of 1 mm.
What is necessary is just to form it. The rotation speed of the sleeve 11 may be set to, for example, 20 to 400 mm / sec.

The toner regulating blade 12 forms a toner layer on the sleeve 11 and charges the toner 7 by friction. The toner regulating blade 12 is provided so as to abut against the rotation direction of the sleeve 11 in the counter direction. Have been.
The toner is negatively charged by the toner regulating blade 12, and the toner layer formed on the sleeve 11 is set to be one layer. Such a toner regulating blade 12 may be configured by attaching an elastic member such as a urethane rubber sheet to a phosphor bronze plate material, for example.

The supply roller 13 supplies the toner 7 to the sleeve 11 and is provided so as to be in contact with the sleeve 11. The supply roller 13 is configured to rotate in the opposite direction with respect to the sleeve 11.
The amount of bite into, for example, 0.1-0.2m
m is preferable. Such a supply roller 13
For example, a material obtained by winding a synthetic rubber such as a urethane sponge around a metal shaft may be used, and its outer diameter may be formed, for example, to about 12 mm.

Then, the toner 7 in the hopper 14 is agitated by the agitating means 15 and thereafter, the supply roller 13 and the sleeve 11 are rotated on each other to be carried on the surface of the sleeve 11. The toner regulating blade 12 removes excess toner from the carried toner, while the sleeve 11
Is charged to a negative polarity.

As shown in FIG. 3, the head 1 has a flexible print circuit as a developer passage member which constitutes a developer passage control means facing the sleeve 11 at the opening of the frame 16. (Flexible
A Print Circuit (hereinafter abbreviated as FPC) 17 is provided. The insulating member 17c of the FPC 17 has a developer passage hole 17a through which the toner passes. A control electrode 17b for generating an electric field for pulling the toner carried on the sleeve 11 is provided around the developer passage hole 17a and on the surface on the sleeve 11 side. Further, the toner that has passed through the developer passage hole 17a spreads and flies on the surface around the developer passage hole 17a and on the side opposite to the sleeve 11 side (on the side of the intermediate image holding belt 2). Guard electrode 17d for generating an electric field for preventing the occurrence of an electric field may be provided. The control electrode 17b and the guard electrode 17d are both resin 17
e, 17f.

The FPC 17 may be formed of, for example, a polyimide resin as the insulating member 17c, and its thickness may be set to 10 to 70 μm. The diameter of the developer passage hole 17a is 50 μm.
The thickness may be set to 200 μm, for example, 130 μm. Further, the control electrode 17b and the guard electrode 1
7d may both be set to a thickness of 10 μm and formed of, for example, copper. The resin coatings 17e and 17f have a thickness of 1-2.
It may be set to μm.

The FPC 17 has viscoelasticity because the insulating member 17c is made of a polyimide resin. Although not shown, the FPC 17 has one end fixed and the other end fixed. Are arranged, for example, by being pulled by a spring member. For this reason,
A tension acts on the FPC 17.

Further, the voltage applied to the control electrode 17b may be set to, for example, 300 V or less, and the voltage applied to the guard electrode 17d may be, for example, -10.
Setting to 0V is good.

As shown in FIG. 4, the developer passage holes 17a are arranged in rows in the FPC 17 so that a developer passage hole array 17g is formed. In the present embodiment, the case where the developer passage holes are arranged in one row of 17 g has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this.

A vibration transmitting means 63 is provided in parallel with the developer passage hole row 17g. The vibration transmitting means 63 is formed in a rod shape or a plate shape,
Adhered to C17. Such bonding may be performed by, for example, thermocompression bonding or an epoxy adhesive. In addition, since the both ends of the vibration transmitting means 63 are free without being fixed, the influence on the shape of the FPC can be reduced.

The vibration transmitting means 63 is provided with a vibration generating means 61. As such a vibration generating means 61, any means can be used as long as it generates a bending wave on a vibration plate as a vibration transmitting means by a transverse electrostriction effect of a piezoelectric element, for example, such as lead zirconate titanate (PZT). A bimorph vibrator using a simple piezoelectric element as a flexural wave generating means may be used. For example, a first-order mode vibration appears on the vibrator. As shown in FIG. 5, the vibrator vibrates so that λ / 2 <L <λ with respect to the wavelength λ on the vibrator corresponding to the vibration frequency. The length L in the propagation direction is determined.

The width of the vibrator may be determined so that vibration in the width direction does not occur, and the length may be set to be approximately 1.5 times or more the width. Although the electrode area of the piezoelectric element must be determined according to the amount of electric energy to be input, a double vibration generating means as shown in FIG. The vibrator may generate vibration only in the length direction.

In general, a piezoelectric element is a brittle material and has a small tensile breaking stress as compared with a compressive breaking stress. Therefore, as shown in FIG. It is advisable to increase the resistance to tensile stress by applying a preload. The pressurizing means 65 may be pressurized by applying a material having a larger thermal expansion coefficient than that of the piezoelectric element, for example, a phosphor bronze plate and heating and bonding with a thermosetting adhesive.

The vibration transmitting means 63 and the vibration generating means 61
So that they can be removed if needed,
Even if the service life of the vibration generating means is shorter than that of the FPC 17 or the like, it can be replaced to extend the service life of the entire apparatus.

The resonance frequency of the vibration generating means 61 is determined by its own mass and rigidity. As shown in FIG. 8, by connecting a mass body 66 to the vibration generating means 61 as required, a desired resonance frequency is obtained. Of the vibration generating means 61
Individual differences regarding the resonance frequency can be absorbed.

The vibration transmitting means 63 may have any rigidity capable of transmitting the vibration without absorbing the vibration, and may be made of, for example, metal. Specifically, for example, stainless steel may be used. Further, the plate width may be set to 5 mm and the plate thickness may be set to about 0.5 mm. In this embodiment, a bimorph vibrator is used as the vibrator, but a unimorph monomorph or the like may be used as the vibrator.

The vibration frequency of the vibrator 61 is 1
MHz or less, for example, 20 kHz. This is because when the vibration frequency increases, toner and FPC
17 vibrate in the same manner, and this toner and FP
This is because the bond between the two at the interface with C17 cannot be broken, and the accumulation of the toner cannot be prevented.

The vibration transmitting means 63 may include a standing wave suppressing means 64 for suppressing the generation of a standing wave in order to keep the amplitude in the toner passage hole array constant. Specifically, for example, a vibrator is provided at one end of the vibration transmitting unit, and a vibration absorber 64 is provided as a standing wave suppressing unit that attenuates and absorbs vibration generated at the other end by the vibrator and propagated on the vibration transmitting unit. Only the traveling wave may be generated on the vibration transmitting means.
Of course, the standing wave suppression means is not limited to this. For example, a vibrator having the same specification is disposed at both ends, and vibration generated from one vibrator is generated by the piezoelectric effect of the other vibrator. The generation of the standing wave may be suppressed by absorbing the vibration by consuming the power with a resistor or the like.

Next, the operation and effects of the embodiment will be described while explaining image formation in the image forming apparatus.

First, when a predetermined voltage (for example, 200 V) is applied to the control electrode 17b by an image signal from the outside, an electric field is formed between the control electrode 17b and the sleeve 11, and the electric field forms the sleeve. 11 is pulled. Then, the toner pulled by the electric field passes through the developer passage hole 17 a of the FPC 17. The toner that has passed through the developer passage hole 17a is pulled toward the intermediate image holding belt 2 by an electric field formed by the back electrode 23, and the toner adheres to the intermediate image holding belt 2. On the other hand, when a voltage equal to or less than a predetermined value is applied to the control electrode 17b, an electric field is not formed between the control electrode 17b and the sleeve 11, so that the toner carried on the sleeve 11 is carried on the sleeve 11. Will remain. For this reason,
The toner does not adhere to the intermediate image holding belt 2. As described above, by controlling the voltage applied to the control electrode 17b provided in each developer passage hole 17a of each head 1, toner adheres to the intermediate image holding belt 2 to form an image. I have.

Between the end of one unit image forming process and the next image forming process (between the sheets), a voltage is applied to the vibrator 61 on the vibration transmitting means 63 provided in the FPC 17. Is applied, and the vibration of the vibrator 61 is transmitted to the FPC through the vibration transmitting means 63.
17 is transmitted. Of course, the timing of application is not limited to the interval between papers, and may be applied during image formation. FPC1
Vibration applied to the developer passage hole 17a on the substrate 7 cuts off the adhesive force between the toner and the FPC, and removes the toner adhered and deposited on the FPC, thereby eliminating the clogging of the developer passage hole array. . At this time, by determining the length L of the vibrator as described above, the vibration transmitting means can be vibrated at the resonance frequency of the vibrator,
The input energy can be used effectively. When the guard electrode 17d is provided, a large vibration can be obtained due to the rigidity of copper. When the vibration wave propagates on the FPC, the amplitude may be attenuated. However, by reducing the rigidity of the vibration transmitting means as the distance from the vibrator 61 increases, the amplitude can be stabilized. it can.

By determining the size of the vibrator as in this embodiment, the electromechanical efficiency of the vibrator can be kept high.
An economical vibration system can be constructed. In this embodiment, a single-layered bimorph vibrator is used. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a laminated vibrator as shown in FIG. 9 may be used. By doing so, driving at a lower voltage can be realized. In particular, when an even number of laminated vibrators are used, the upper surface of the vibrator can be grounded, which is advantageous in terms of user safety.

(Embodiment 2) Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Since the basic operation and operation are the same as those of the first embodiment of the present invention, only different parts will be described.

The developer passage holes 17a are arranged in a row in the FPC 17, as shown in FIG. 10, so that a developer passage hole array 17g is formed. In addition,
In the present embodiment, the case in which the developer passage holes are 17 g / line is shown, but the invention is not limited to this, and the developer passage holes may be formed in two lines or more.

An endless vibration transmitting means 63 is provided in parallel with the developer passage hole row 17g. The vibration transmitting means 63 is formed of a torus-shaped plate.
It is adhered to the FPC 17. Such bonding may be performed by, for example, thermocompression bonding or an epoxy adhesive.

The vibration transmitting means 63 is provided with a plurality of vibration generating means 61. As such a vibration generating means 61, any means can be used as long as it generates a bending wave on a vibration plate as a vibration transmitting means by, for example, a transverse electrostriction effect of a piezoelectric element. For example, lead zirconate titanate (PZT)
A bimorph vibrator using such a piezoelectric element as a flexural wave generator may be used. For example, a primary mode vibration appears on the vibrator, and the length L of the vibrator in the vibration propagation direction is set so that λ / 2 <L <λ with respect to the wavelength λ on the vibrator corresponding to the vibration frequency. decide.

The vibration transmitting means 63 may have any rigidity capable of transmitting the vibration without absorbing the vibration, and may be formed of, for example, metal. Specifically, for example, stainless steel may be used. Further, the plate width may be set to 5 mm and the plate thickness may be set to about 0.5 mm. In the present embodiment, a bimorph vibrator is used as a vibrator, but a unimorph or a monomorph may be used as a vibrator.

The arrangement interval of these vibrators is set so that the quarter of the oscillation wavelength on the vibration transmitting means 63, that is, the spatial phase is 90 degrees, and the time of the alternating voltage applied to the oscillator is The phase is also shifted by 90 degrees. By doing so,
A traveling wave can be formed on the vibration transmitting means 63.

The curved portion of the torus plate, which is the vibration transmitting means, is formed thick on the outside and thin on the inside in order to curve the vibration wavefront. By doing so, the outer wavelength is longer than the inner wavelength, and the phase velocity of the vibration wave is higher on the outer side, so that the vibration wavefront can be curved.
In the present embodiment, the vibration wavefront is curved by changing the thickness inside and outside the curved portion. However, it is sufficient that the outside and inside of the curved portion have higher bending rigidity. For example, a groove is formed by pressing the outside of the curve. This may increase the rigidity.

Next, the operation and effects of the embodiment will be described while explaining image formation in the image forming apparatus.

Between the sheets, an alternating voltage is applied to the vibrator 61 on the vibration transmitting means 63 provided on the FPC 17, and the vibration of the vibrator 61 propagates on the vibration transmitting means 63. I do. Of course, the timing of application is not limited to the interval between papers, and may be applied during image formation. At this time, the vibration wave that propagates by shifting the plurality of transducers by 90 degrees in both the spatial phase and the time phase becomes a traveling wave. FPC1
The vibration applied to the developer passage holes 17a on the substrate 7 cuts off the adhesion between the toner and the FPC, and removes the toner adhered and deposited on the FPC, thereby eliminating the clogging of the developer passage hole array. . At this time, since the vibration wave is a traveling wave, uneven cleaning due to the standing wave does not occur on the developer passage row holes. Further, compared with the case where the vibration absorbing means is used, there is no portion that wastes energy, so that the input energy can be significantly reduced. In addition, the traveling direction of the traveling wave can be reversed by reversing the direction in which the time phase is shifted, so that the amplitude attenuation generated when the traveling wave propagates on the FPC is sequentially vibrated from both the left and right sides of the FPC. By causing the waves to travel, uniform cleaning can be realized.

In this embodiment, an example of a torus-shaped diaphragm as the vibration transmitting means has been described. However, the vibration transmitting means may be endless, and a cylindrical diaphragm as shown in FIG. 11 may be used. .

By using the cleaning means of the present embodiment, it is possible to construct a high-efficiency vibration cleaning system with no cleaning unevenness and little input energy.

[0062]

According to the present invention, a highly efficient vibration system can be constructed by positively utilizing the resonance of the vibrator. Therefore, the amplitude around the toner passage hole can be increased and the cleaning property can be improved, so that the reliability of the apparatus can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a head.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory sectional view showing a developer passage portion of a head.

FIG. 4 is a perspective explanatory view showing an FPC provided with a vibration generating unit and a vibration transmitting unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing details of the length of the vibration generating unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing details of a vibration generating unit provided with a plurality of flexural wave generating units according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing details of a pressurizing unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing details of a frequency adjusting unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing details of a vibration generating unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention in which a plurality of bending wave generating units are stacked and arranged;

FIG. 10 is a perspective explanatory view showing an FPC provided with a vibration generating unit and a torus-shaped vibration transmitting unit according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a perspective explanatory view showing an FPC provided with a vibration generating unit and a cylindrical vibration transmitting unit according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory sectional view showing an image forming state in a conventional image forming apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Head 2 Intermediate image holding belt 3 Transfer means 4 Fixing means 5 Recording paper 7 Toner 11 Sleeve 17 Developer passing member (FPC) 61 Vibration generating means 63 Vibration transmitting means

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Masahiko Hashimoto 1006 Kadoma Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture Inside Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. F term (reference) 2C162 AE25 AE31 AE47 AE69 AE74 AE94 AJ07 CA03 CA12 CA24 2H029 DB04

Claims (11)

[Claims] A developer carrying means for carrying the developer; and a plurality of developer passage holes provided at least along a rotation axis direction of the developer carrying means, wherein the developing means is provided in accordance with an image signal. Developer passage control means for electromagnetically controlling the developer passing through the developer passage hole; image receiving means to which the passed developer is applied; suction means disposed on the back of the image receiving means for sucking the developer And a vibration transmission means provided on the developer passage control means along the developer passage hole and connected to the vibration generation means, and operating the vibration generation means during non-printing. An image forming apparatus. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said vibration generating means is constituted by a bending wave generating means for generating a bending wave. 3. The vibration generation means, wherein the length of the vibration generation means in the vibration wave propagation direction is greater than half the wavelength of the bending wave generated by the vibration generation means and smaller than the wavelength of the bending wave. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 4. The image according to claim 1, wherein said vibration generating means is constituted by arranging a plurality of said bending wave generating means long in a traveling direction of the bending wave in parallel. Forming equipment. 5. The vibration generating means includes a pressurizing means for applying a compressive stress to the flexural wave generating means in a free state in a vibration direction of the flexural wave generating means. 3. The image forming apparatus according to 1 or 2. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said vibration generating means includes a frequency adjusting means for finely adjusting a resonance frequency. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the vibration generating unit is configured by stacking a plurality of the bending wave generating units. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the vibration transmitting unit is endless. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the vibration transmitting unit is formed of an annular plate. 10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said vibration transmitting means is formed of a cylindrical plate. 11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the vibration generating unit can be arbitrarily removed.