JP2003021974A - Liquid developer applying device and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid developer applying device that decreases streaks resulting from ingress of foreign matter and is highly durable, and to provide an image forming device that uses a developing device having the applying device. SOLUTION: The liquid developer applying device is provided with an applying roller 404 which rotates holding a liquid developer in its surface, and a doctor blade 409 which regulates an amount that the liquid developer held in the surface of the applying roller is applied. The applying device applies the liquid developer to the surface of a developing roller 402 by the contact of the surface of the applying roller with the surface of the developing roller 402. In the applying device, the applying roller 404 is axially swung.

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 such as a copying machine, a facsimile and a printer, and a liquid developer coating apparatus used therein.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Using a high-viscosity, high-concentration liquid developer,
There is known an image forming apparatus that visualizes an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of an image carrier (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-1522).
54, JP 7-209922 A, JP 7
No. 219355). In this type of image forming apparatus, first, the surface of a photoconductor as an image carrier is uniformly charged by a charging means. Then, the surface of the photoconductor is exposed according to the image data by the optical writing means to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoconductor. Then, the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photoconductor is developed by a developing device to be visualized.

The above-mentioned developing device is a liquid developer for applying a liquid developer stored in a storage tank in a thin layer on a surface of a developer carrier including a developing roller and a developing belt. Equipped with a coating device. The developer carrying member is arranged close to the surface of the photoconductor. Then, in the developing area, which is the vicinity of the developer carrying member and the photosensitive member, the liquid developer applied to the surface of the developer carrying member by the applying device comes into contact with the surface of the photosensitive member. As a result, the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor is visualized by the toner in the thin layer of the liquid developer, and a toner image is formed on the photoconductor. The liquid developer remaining on the developer carrier after passing through the developing area is removed by a cleaning member such as a blade and collected in a storage tank.

In this way, the toner image formed on the photoconductor is transferred onto a transfer material such as a transfer paper or an OHP sheet. Then, the toner image is fixed on the transfer material by a fixing device, so that an image is formed on the transfer material. The toner remaining on the photoconductor during the transfer of the toner image onto the transfer material is removed by the photoconductor cleaning means.

As the liquid developer, a carrier liquid which is an insulating liquid in which a solid content consisting of a resin and a pigment is dispersed, for example, a developer solvent which is an insulating liquid such as dimethylpolysiloxane oil. , 50 to 10000 mPa · S in which toner, which is image-forming particles, is dispersed in a high concentration.
The high viscosity liquid developer is used. When the liquid developer contacts the surface of the photoconductor, the charged toner in the liquid developer moves in the insulating liquid by the force of static electricity to develop the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor. To do. Therefore, as the liquid developer, the shorter the moving distance of the toner, the higher the developing efficiency. Therefore, it is desirable to form a thin layer of liquid developer on the developer carrying member in a unit of micron, and bring the thinned liquid developer into contact with the photoconductor to develop the electrostatic latent image. . This is especially
It is more remarkable when a high-viscosity liquid developer of 10,000 mPa · S is used.

Thus, when the electrostatic latent image is developed with a thin layer of liquid developer, the density is determined by the thickness of the thin layer. Therefore, in the developing device, it is important to form a uniform thin layer of the liquid developer on the developer carrier. Therefore, in this type of developing device, as a coating member for coating the liquid developer on the developer carrying member, for example, JP-A-11-2651 is used.
As shown in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 22-22, a liquid developer coating device having a coating roller (anilox roller) having regular concave portions formed on its surface is used. That is, in this coating apparatus, first, the liquid developer is carried on the surface of the coating roller. Then, the excess liquid developer carried on the surface of the application roller is brought into contact with the surface of the application roller to serve as an application amount control member for controlling the application amount of the liquid developer carried on the surface of the application roller. Of the doctor blade. As a result, the amount of liquid developer carried on the surface of the coating roller is measured. The thus-measured liquid developer is directly transferred and coated on the developer carrying member to form a uniform liquid developer thin layer of the liquid developer on the developer carrying member of the developing device. Will be done.

However, in the conventional liquid developer coating device, since the liquid developer is directly transferred and coated on the developer carrier by the coating roller, the contact between the coating roller and the developer carrier is made. Rotation wears and even damages their surfaces. If such surface damage occurs, a uniform thin layer of liquid developer cannot be formed, and streak-like density unevenness occurs on the image. In particular, when using a coating roller having regular concave portions formed on the surface,
There is also a problem of shortening the life of the development carrier that comes into contact with this. Therefore, the present applicant has filed a patent application 2001-
89,871 proposes that the life of the developer carrier is extended by providing an intermediate roller between the developer carrier and the application roller.

[0008]

However, in the conventional liquid developer coating device, when a foreign substance is mixed in for some reason during liquid development, the foreign substance is abutted between the rollers constituting the coating device, or It may be caught in the contact portion with the coating amount regulating member. As a result, a uniform coating surface cannot be formed on the developer carrying member, and streak-like density unevenness occurs. Further, if the state in which the foreign matter is sandwiched continues, the surface of the roller is damaged, and the damage is gradually deepened. Therefore, there is a problem that streaky coating unevenness remains even after the foreign matter is removed. Further, over time, the contacting member is abraded at the contact portion between the rollers forming the coating device or the contact portion with the coating amount regulating member. When this abrasion locally occurs, there is a problem in that coating unevenness occurs due to the abrasion and durability cannot be obtained.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to reduce the occurrence of streak unevenness due to the inclusion of foreign matter and to provide a liquid developer coating apparatus having excellent durability. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that employs a developing device equipped with the coating device.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention of claim 1 provides a coating member which carries a predetermined amount of liquid developer on its surface and rotates, and a contacting member which contacts the surface of the coating member. And a coating amount regulating member for regulating the coating amount of the liquid developer carried on the surface of the coating member, the coating member surface contacting the surface of the coated member on which the liquid developer is coated, In a liquid developer coating device for coating a liquid developer on a member to be coated, the coating member or the coating amount regulating member is configured to swing in the axial direction.

In the liquid developer applying apparatus according to the first aspect, even when foreign matter is clogged between the applying member and the applying amount restricting member due to the applying member or the applying amount restricting member swinging in the axial direction. The partial defect of the liquid developer layer due to the foreign matter can be changed from a streak parallel to the circumferential direction to an inclined and inconspicuous streak. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the streak unevenness of the liquid developer layer applied to the surface of the member to be coated. In addition, the rocking of the coating member or the coating amount regulating member makes it easier for the clogged foreign matter itself to come out, and it is possible to prevent streak unevenness in the liquid developer layer due to this. Furthermore, it is possible to suppress local abrasion of the coating amount regulating member and improve durability.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a single or a plurality of developer conveying members which carry a liquid developer on its surface and rotate.
A coating member that carries a predetermined amount of liquid developer on its surface and rotates, and a coating amount regulating member that regulates the coating amount of the liquid developer carried on the surface of the developer conveying member or the coating member, At least one of the developer conveying members contacts the surface of the applying member to apply the liquid developer to the applying member, and the surface of the applying member makes contact with the surface of the applied member to which the liquid developer is applied. In the liquid developer coating device configured to coat the member to be coated with the liquid developer, the coating member or the developer conveying member is configured to swing in the axial direction. .

In the liquid developer coating apparatus of the second aspect, the coating member or the developer transport member swings in the axial direction so that the space between the coating member and the developer transport member, or between the coating member and the development member. Even if foreign matter is clogged between the agent transporting member and the coating regulation member that is in contact with the agent transporting member, a partial defect of the liquid developer layer caused by the foreign matter can be changed from a streak parallel to the circumferential direction to an inconspicuous streak. . Therefore,
It is possible to reduce the streak unevenness of the liquid developer layer applied to the surface of the member to be coated. In addition, the swinging of the coating member or the developer transport member makes it easier for the clogged foreign matter itself to come out, and it is possible to prevent streak unevenness in the liquid developer layer due to this. In addition, the time during which a certain point of the developer transport member contacts the same surface of the coating member becomes shorter. Therefore, even if there is some defect in a part of the developer transport member or the coating member, the defect does not intensively damage the outer peripheral surface of the abutting member on the same peripheral line. Further, the wear generated on the outer peripheral surface of the developer transport member or the coating member is dispersed,
The durability of the coating member can be improved.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the liquid developer applying apparatus according to the second aspect, at least one of the developer conveying members contacts the surface of the applying member such that their contact surfaces are in the same direction and at the same speed. The coating member is configured to move and the contact surfaces of the coating member with respect to the coating target member move in opposite directions, and the coating member is configured to swing in the axial direction. is there.

According to another aspect of the liquid developer coating apparatus of the present invention, the coating member swings in the axial direction so that it is between the coating member and the developer conveying member or between the coating member and the coated member. Even when foreign matter is clogged in, the partial defect of the liquid developer layer due to the foreign matter can be made into a streak-inclined streak from a streak parallel to the circumferential direction. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the streak unevenness of the liquid developer layer applied to the surface of the member to be coated. Also, due to the swinging of the coating member,
The clogged foreign matter itself easily comes out, and it is possible to prevent streak unevenness of the liquid developer layer due to this. Furthermore, the time during which one point of the coating member contacts the same surface of the developer transporting member surface or the coating target member surface is shortened. Therefore, even if there is some defect in these members, the defect does not intensively damage the outer circumferential surface of the member on the same peripheral line. Further, it is possible to disperse local abrasion generated on the outer peripheral surface of the developer transport member, the coating member or the coated member, and improve the durability of the developer transport member, the coating member or the coated member.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the liquid developer applying apparatus according to the third aspect, the application member regulates the application amount of the liquid developer onto the developer conveying member which is in contact with the application member. It is characterized in that it also serves as a quantity regulating member.

In the liquid developer coating device of the fourth aspect, since the coating member also serves as the coating amount regulating member, it is necessary to dispose the coating amount regulating member such as a doctor blade in contact with the developer conveying member. Disappears. As a result, the layout around the developer carrying member can be made compact, and the coating device can be made compact. Also,
By swinging the coating member that also serves as the coating amount regulating member, streak unevenness due to a foreign substance sandwiched between the coating member and the coating member is reduced, and the clogged foreign substance itself easily comes out.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the liquid developer applying apparatus according to the third or fourth aspect, a cleaning member is provided which contacts the surface of the applying member and cleans the surface. is there.

In the liquid developer coating apparatus of the fifth aspect, the member to be coated can be cleaned by bringing the cleaning member into contact with the coating member. Further, by swinging the coating member, local wear of the cleaning member can be dispersed and the durability of the cleaning member can be improved.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the liquid developer coating apparatus according to the second, third, fourth or fifth aspect, the coating member has a lubricous layer formed of a low friction member on the surface thereof. To do.

In the liquid developer coating apparatus of the sixth aspect, the coating member rotates at a higher surface speed than that of the developer conveying member which is in contact with the coating member. Further, the developer transport member can freely rotate in the forward direction by the one-direction rotation. As a result, in the state where the contact surface between the developer transport member and the coating member does not slip, the developer transport member comes into contact with the coating member and is driven to rotate. When slippage occurs on the contact surface between the developer transport member and the coating member, the developer transport member is forcibly driven by the drive means to eliminate the slippage on the contact surface. Accordingly, it is possible to eliminate a variation in the coating amount of the liquid developer due to the sliding of the contact surface between the developer transport member and the coating member and a difference in the peripheral speed at the contact surface between the developer transport member and the coating member. it can. Further, the contact surfaces between the developer transport member and the coating member are not worn away due to rubbing, and the developer transport member and the coating member have a long life.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus comprising: a latent image carrier that carries an electrostatic latent image; and a developing device that develops the electrostatic latent image on the latent image carrier. As a device, a developing device using the liquid developer applying device according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 is used.

The image forming apparatus according to claim 7 is a developing device which visualizes the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the latent image carrier with a liquid developer.
Since the developing device using the liquid developer coating device of 4, 5, or 6 is used, it becomes possible to obtain a high-quality image with no streaks over time.

According to the invention of claim 8, in the image forming apparatus of claim 7, an amorphous silicon photoconductor is used as the latent image carrier.

In the image forming apparatus according to the eighth aspect, the surface layer of the photoconductor is formed of amorphous silicon. As a result, the durability of the surface of the photoconductor is improved, and stable image formation is performed.

[0026]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A first embodiment in which the present invention is applied to an electrophotographic copying machine (hereinafter referred to as a copying machine) which is a liquid developing image forming apparatus will be described below. Figure 1
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a copying machine according to a first embodiment.
This copying machine includes a photoconductor 1 as an image carrier.
Around the photoconductor 1, an image forming unit including a charger 2, an exposure device 3, a developing device 4, a transfer device 5, a photoconductor cleaning device 6 and the like is provided. As the material of the photoreceptor 1, a-Si, OPC, etc. can be used. The charger 2 may be in the form of a roller, a charger or the like. Further, as the exposure device 3, an LED, a laser scanning optical system, or the like can be used.

A case where an image is formed by reversal development using the copying machine having the above structure will be described. In FIG.
The photoconductor 1 is rotationally driven in the arrow direction at a constant speed during image formation by a driving unit such as a motor (not shown). Then, first, the surface of the photoconductor 1 is uniformly charged by the charger 2 in the dark. Then, a light image of the original is irradiated and formed on the surface of the photoconductor 1 by the exposure device 3. As a result, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photoconductor 1. Then, when the electrostatic latent image passes through the developing area A, the electrostatic latent image is visualized (developed) by the developing device 4, and a toner image is formed on the surface of the photoconductor 1. It The toner image is transferred in the transfer area B to the transfer device 5.
By the transfer bias applied through the transfer roller 501, the primary transfer is performed on the intermediate transfer body (belt) 502 of the transfer device 5. The toner image primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer body 502 is secondarily transferred onto a transfer material such as copy paper or an OHP sheet by a secondary transfer means (not shown) in a secondary transfer area (not shown). Then, the transfer material to which the toner image is secondarily transferred has the toner image fixed by a fixing device (not shown), and is then ejected outside the machine as a copy print.

On the other hand, after the primary transfer, the residual potential remaining on the photoconductor 1 is removed by the static elimination lamp 7.
After the primary transfer, the residual toner remaining on the photoconductor 1 is removed by the photoconductor cleaning device 6 to prepare for the next image formation. As the transfer device 5, for example, a method using corona discharge, an adhesive transfer method, a thermal transfer method, or the like can be used other than the method using the illustrated electrostatic roller. As the fixing device, for example, a thermal transfer system, solvent fixing, UV fixing, pressure fixing or the like can be used.

In the copying machine of the present embodiment, as a developer for developing the electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor 1, low viscosity using Isopar (Exxon trademark), which is generally commercially available in the past, as a carrier is used. A high-viscosity high-concentration liquid developer is used instead of a low-concentration (about 1 cSt) liquid developer (about 1%). The range of viscosity and concentration of this developer is, for example, a viscosity of 50 to 10,000 mPa ·
It is preferable to use one having S and a concentration of 5% to 40%. As the carrier liquid, silicone oil, normal paraffin, IsoparM (Exxon trademark), vegetable oil, mineral oil or the like having high insulating property can be used. Further, as the liquid developer, depending on the purpose,
A volatile or non-volatile one can be selected and used. Further, the particle size of the toner of the liquid developer can be selected from submicron to about 6 μm according to the purpose.

Next, the developing device 4 which is a characteristic part of the copying machine according to this embodiment will be described. This developing device 4
As shown in FIG. 1, a developing roller 402 rotatably disposed in a developer accommodating tank 401 that accommodates the liquid developer D therein, and a sweep roller 403 rotatably disposed in a casing 410. Is equipped with. Further, the developing device 4 includes the developing roller 402 as a member to be coated.
And a coating device for coating the liquid developer D. This coating device is mainly configured by a coating roller 404 having a uniform pattern engraved on the surface as a coating member, a stirring / conveying screw 406 as a stirring / conveying means for the liquid developer D, and the like. Further, the developing roller 402 and the sweep roller 403 are provided with cleaning members 407 and 408, which are metal blades or rubber blades, respectively. The cleaning members 407 and 408 may be roller type instead of blade type. Further, the coating roller 404 is equipped with a doctor blade 409.

Each of the developing roller 402 and the sweep roller 403 has a structure in which an elastic layer made of an elastic material is provided on the outer peripheral surface of a core metal, and a conductive layer is further provided on the outer peripheral surface of the elastic layer. Therefore, urethane rubber can be used as the material of the elastic layer. Further, the developing roller 402 and the sweep roller 403 have a rubber hardness of JIS-A hardness of the elastic layer in order to efficiently form a developing nip and a removing nip between the developing roller 402 and the sweep roller 403. , 50 degrees or less is desirable.

The elastic layers 402b and 403b of the developing roller 402 and the sweep roller 403 are made of the following materials.
The material is not limited to the urethane rubber, and any material that does not swell or dissolve in the carrier liquid / developer may be used. Further, the developing roller 402 and the sweep roller 40
No. 3 is a material whose surface has conductivity and which does not swell or dissolve with the carrier liquid / developer, and has a structure in which the carrier liquid / developer does not come into contact with the inner layer. The elastic layers 402b and 403b may be made of any material as long as they have elasticity without restriction of conductivity and swelling dissolution. Here, when the elastic layers 402b and 403b are insulators, the developing bias voltage and the sweep bias voltage are set to the developing roller 502 and the sweep roller 5, respectively.
It is necessary to apply it from the surface of each core metal 502a, 503a of No. 03.

As another method for efficiently forming the developing nip and the removing nip between the developing roller 402 and the sweep roller 403 and the photosensitive member 1, the developing roller 502 and the sweep roller 503 are rigid. Alternatively, an elastic layer may be formed on the side of the photoconductor 1. Further, as another method of giving elasticity to the side of the photoconductor 1 as described above, the photoconductor 1 may be constituted by an endless belt member. Further, the developing roller 402 and the sweep roller 403 are subjected to treatment such as coating or tube coating so that the surface thereof has a smoothness of Rz 3 μm or less.

In FIG. 1, when the developing roller 402 and the sweep roller 403 are brought into contact with the photosensitive member 1 at appropriate pressures, the elastic layers 502b and 503b of the developing roller 402 and the sweep roller 403 are elastic. By being deformed, a developing nip and a removing nip are formed between the photosensitive body 1 and the photosensitive body 1. In particular, by forming the developing nip, a certain developing time is ensured for the toner in the liquid developer to move and adhere to the photoconductor 1 due to the developing electric field in the developing area A. become. Further, the developing roller 402, the sweep roller 403, and the photoconductor 1
By adjusting the contact pressure with and, it is possible to adjust the nip width, which is the width of each nip portion in the surface movement direction. These nip widths are set to be larger than the product of the linear velocity of the developing roller 402 and the sweep roller 403 and the developing time constant. Here, the development time constant is the time required until the amount of development is saturated, and is the required minimum nip width divided by the process speed. For example, the minimum required nip width is 3 mm and the process speed is 300 mm / s.
If ec, the development time constant is 10 msec.

When the developing device 4 is operating,
On the surface of the developing roller 402, the coating roller of the coating device
By 404, a thin developer layer made of a liquid developer is formed.
To be done. At this time, it is applied on the developing roller 402.
The thickness of the liquid developer is 1 cm on the surface of the developing roller 402.
^TwoThe content of pigment in the toner carried per hit is 3 μg or less
The upper limit was set to 60 μg or less. Therefore, development
The surface of the roller 402 has a thin developer with a thickness of 3 to 10 μm.
The layers were applied. The reason for this is that the developing roller 40
The coating thickness of the liquid developer applied to the surface of 2 is
1 cm of la surface ^TwoThe toner contained in the toner
If the thickness is less than 3 μg, a sufficient amount
Of the pigment to the image area formed on the photoconductor 1
Because there is a risk that the image density of the image area will decrease.
is there. 1 cm of the surface of the developing roller 402^TwoHit
The content of pigment in the toner carried on the toner is greater than 60 μg.
In such a thickness, the electrostatic charge formed on the photoconductor 1
Excess toner remaining on the background of the photoconductor 1 after developing the latent image.
Excessive amount due to excess sweeper 403
This is because the removal of toner may be incomplete.

The thin developer layer thus formed on the surface of the developing roller 402 passes through the developing nip formed by the photoreceptor 1 and the developing roller 402, and the surface of the photoreceptor 1 To contact. As a result, the toner in the developer thin layer moves to the electrostatic latent image (image portion) formed on the surface of the photoconductor 1 to develop the electrostatic latent image.
That is, in the image part of the photoconductor 1, the toner moves to the photoconductor 1 side, and in the background part (non-image part) of the photoconductor 1,
An electric field formed by the developing bias potential and the photoconductor potential moves the toner to the surface of the developing roller 402 and prevents the toner from adhering to the background portion of the photoconductor 1.

Here, if a part of the toner adhered to the background portion of the photoconductor 1 remains on the photoconductor 1 without being able to move to the surface of the developing roller 402, an image formed on the photoconductor 1 is formed. Fog occurs. The sweep roller 403 is provided for sweeping (cleaning) toner (hereinafter, referred to as “fogging toner”) that causes such image fogging. The sweep roller 403 is, as shown in FIG. 1, the developing roller 4 in the rotation direction of the photoconductor 1.
The toner image (developer layer) developed on the photoconductor 1 by the developing roller 402 is interposed between the photoconductor 1 and the photoconductor 1 at a position downstream of the photoconductor 02. Then, the surface of the sweep roller 403 moves in contact with the surface of the photoconductor 1 at a substantially constant speed, so that the fog toner on the background portion of the photoconductor 1 is removed.

The residual toner remaining on the surface of the developing roller 402 after the development of the electrostatic latent image is a cleaning member 407 formed of a blade for preventing ghost.
Are removed by. In addition, the liquid developer removed by the sweep roller 403 is transferred to the sweep roller 403.
In order to maintain the sweep (cleaning) performance, the cleaning member 408 composed of a blade removes it.

In this way, the rollers 402, 4
The liquid developer removed from 03, 404, and 405 is collected in a temporary storage unit 412 provided adjacent to the developer storage tank 401. The liquid developer collected in the temporary storage unit 412 is transferred by the transport screw 413.
After being sent to a density adjusting unit (not shown) and the developer density is adjusted in the density adjusting unit, the developer containing tank 40
It is returned to 1 and reused. In the temporary storage unit 412,
A stirring unit 413, a concentration detecting unit (not shown), a liquid amount detecting unit (not shown), and the like are provided, and the temporary storage unit 41 is provided.
The concentration and the liquid amount of the liquid developer collected in 2 are detected. Based on this detection result, the concentration adjusting unit replenishes a new liquid developer or a carrier and adjusts the concentration of the recovered liquid developer to be uniform.
Here, the supply amount of the liquid developer into the developer storage tank 401 is set to be slightly larger than the consumption amount of the liquid developer. As a result, the developer storage tank 4
The liquid developer overflowing from 01 is returned to the temporary storage section 412. In this way, the liquid developer is constantly circulated.

By the way, in the developing device having the above-mentioned structure, the density of the image formed on the photoconductor 1 is
It is determined by the thickness of the liquid developer (developer thin layer) applied to the surface of the developing roller 402. Therefore, in the developing device according to the present embodiment, as the coating roller 404 of the coating device, for example, an anilox roller having concave portions 404a having a uniform pattern formed on the surface thereof as shown in FIG. 2 is used. . Such anilox rollers are used for gravure printing and are therefore also called gravure rollers. The shape of the concave portion 404a on the surface of the coating roller 404 is, for example, a diagonal type as shown in FIG. 3 (a), a pyramid type as shown in FIG. 3 (b), and a lattice type as shown in FIG. 3 (c). And so on. In the coating apparatus according to the present embodiment, the coating roller 404 having the hatched concave portion 404a is used for reasons such as good transferability. Then, as shown in FIG. 4, the excess amount of the liquid developer carried on the surface of the coating roller 404 is scraped off by the doctor blade 409. here,
By using the anilox roller as the coating roller 404, the concave portion 40 is formed on the surface of the coating roller 404.
A predetermined amount of the liquid developer accurately measured is carried by 4a.

The liquid developer, which is accurately weighed and carried on the surface of the coating roller 404 composed of the anilox roller, is transferred onto the surface of the developing roller 402, so that the liquid roller is formed on the developing roller 402. A uniform thin layer of a predetermined amount of liquid developer is formed. Here, the application roller 404, in the contact portion with the developing roller 402,
The developing roller 402 rotates at a speed equal to or higher than the peripheral speed of the surface of the developing roller 402 and in a reverse direction whose moving direction is opposite to the rotating direction of the developing roller 402. As a result, a thin layer of liquid developer having a uniform thickness is formed on the surface of the developing roller 402.

That is, the thin layer of the liquid developer on the coating roller 404 is the concave portion 40 on the surface of the coating roller 404.
It has a pattern of 4a. Therefore, at the contact portion between the coating 404 and the developing roller 402, the developing roller 40 is
The coating roller 404 is rotated at a speed equal to or higher than the peripheral speed of the surface of No. 2 and in a reverse direction in which the moving direction is opposite to the rotating direction of the developing roller 402. Thereby, the coating roller 40
4 and the developing roller 402 have a linear velocity difference, the thin developer layer transferred to the surface of the developing roller 402 is flattened and stretched, and the developer having a uniform thickness is formed on the surface of the developing roller 402. A thin film is formed. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a uniform coating surface without the influence of the engraving pattern on the surface of the coating roller.

Further, the coating apparatus of this embodiment is provided with a mechanism for swinging the coating roller 404 in the axial direction thereof. FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of a swing mechanism of the coating roller 404. The end surface of the coating roller 404 is an inclined surface 404b having an inclination. A cam follower 416 is provided at the tip of an arm 415 fixed to the support of the coating roller so as to contact the inclined surface 404b at the end of the coating roller 404.
Similarly, the end surface on the opposite side of the coating roller 404 is also made to be the inclined surface 404c, and the phases thereof are shifted so that the arms 41 having the same shape are formed.
7 and a cam follower 418 are provided. Coating roller 404
The rotation causes the inclined surface 404b at the end to act as a cam, and receives a force in the axial direction by the cam follower 416 at the tip of the fixed arm 415 to move in the axial direction. Further, at the end portion on the opposite side of the coating roller 404, the inclined surface 404c of the end portion acts as a cam by the rotation thereof, and receives a force in the axial direction by the cam follower 418 at the tip of the fixed arm 417 to move in the axial direction. . In this way, the rotation of the coating roller 404 causes axial movements of which phase is shifted at both ends thereof, and the coating roller 404 swings due to these movements.

In addition to the swing mechanism of the coating roller 404 shown in FIG. 5, the cam mechanism is limited to one side and the other end is pressed by a spring 419 for pressing the cam as shown in FIG. Means may be provided. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, a groove 42 having an inclination at the end of the coating roller 404
0 is used as a cam, and a cam follower 4 fixed here
It can also be rocked by inserting 17. Further, in addition to the mechanism for swinging by utilizing the rotation of the coating roller 404 as described above, as shown in FIG. 8, a cam 421 as another driving means may be provided to swing the coating roller 404.

As described above, by swinging the coating roller 404 in the axial direction, even if foreign matter is clogged between the coating roller 404 and the doctor blade 409, the portion of the developer layer on the coating roller 404 caused by the foreign matter. The target defect can be a streak from a streak parallel to the circumferential direction. Therefore, the defects of the developer layer become conspicuous, and the unevenness of the thin developer layer on the developing roller 402 can be reduced. Further, the swinging of the coating roller 404 makes it easier for the clogged foreign matter to come out. In particular, when the above-mentioned anilox roller is used as the coating roller 404 as in the present embodiment, it is possible to suppress local wear of the doctor blade 409 that comes into contact with the roller.

Further, the developing roller 402 and the applying roller 40
4 also at the contact portion with the developing roller 402, the application roller 404 swings so that one point where the application roller 404 is present.
The contact time with the same surface is reduced. Therefore, even if a part of the coating roller 404 has some defect, the defect does not intensively damage the outer peripheral surface of the developing roller 402 on the same circumferential line. Further, it is possible to disperse the wear generated on the outer peripheral surface of the developing roller 402 and make the streaks on the image inconspicuous. Further, it has an effect of extending the life of the developing roller 402 itself.

As described above, in the liquid developer coating apparatus of the first embodiment, it is possible to prevent the formation of a uniform thin layer of liquid developer due to the inclusion of foreign matter, and to prevent streaks on the image. You can make it inconspicuous. Also,
Even if there is some defect in the coating roller 404, the wear of the developing roller 402 that comes into contact with the coating roller 404 is dispersed, the streak caused by the above-mentioned wear is made inconspicuous on the image, and the life of the developing roller 402 itself is extended. be able to.

Further, although the coating roller 404 is swung in the first embodiment, the doctor blade 409 may be swung. As a result, it is possible to prevent the formation of a uniform thin layer of liquid developer due to the inclusion of foreign matter, and it is possible to make streaks on the image inconspicuous.

Next, a second embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a copying machine will be described. FIG. 9 is a schematic configuration diagram of a copying machine according to the second embodiment. This copying machine has the same configuration as the copying machine of the first embodiment except for the liquid developer coating device of the developing device, and performs the same operation, so description thereof will be omitted.

The liquid developer applying apparatus according to the second embodiment is the same as the liquid developer applying apparatus according to the first embodiment.
An intermediate roller 405 is provided between the application roller 404 and the developing roller 402 as an applying member for applying the liquid developer to the developing roller 402. That is, in this coating device, the intermediate roller 405 and the intermediate roller 405 as a coating member that coats the liquid developer D on the developing roller 402.
A developer transport member for transporting the liquid developer onto the coating roller 404 having a uniform pattern engraved on its surface,
The liquid developer D is mainly configured by a stirring / conveying screw 406 as a stirring / conveying means. Further, the developing roller 402 is provided with a cleaning member 407 made of a metal blade or a rubber blade.
The cleaning member 407 may be a roller type instead of a blade type.

In this coating apparatus, the intermediate roller 405 comes into contact with the surface of the coating roller 404 to remove excess liquid developer on the surface, and the coating roller 40
4 also functions as a doctor roller that regulates the amount of developer carried on the surface of No. 4. And this intermediate roller 4
The liquid developer, which is applied to the applying roller 404 and measured by a doctor blade 409 as an application amount regulating member, is transferred onto the surface of 05.

In the intermediate roller 405, as shown in FIG. 11, an elastic layer 405b made of an elastic material is provided on the outer peripheral surface of a core metal 405a, and a slipping layer 405c is further provided on the outer peripheral surface of the elastic layer 405b. It has a configuration provided.
Urethane rubber can be used as the material of the elastic layer 405b of the intermediate roller 405. The material of the elastic layer 405b is not limited to the above urethane rubber, and may be any material that does not swell or dissolve in the carrier liquid / developer.

Then, similarly to the first embodiment, when the developing roller 402 and the sweep roller 403 are brought into contact with the photosensitive member 1 at appropriate pressures, the developing nip between the developing roller 402 and the sweeping roller 403 and the photosensitive member 1 is increased. And a removal nip is formed.
In particular, by forming the developing nip, a certain developing time is ensured for the toner in the liquid developer to move and adhere to the photoconductor 1 due to the developing electric field in the developing area A. become.

When the developing device 4 is operating, a thin developer layer made of a liquid developer is formed on the surface of the developing roller 402 by the coating roller 404 of the coating device and the intermediate roller 405. The thin developer layer formed on the surface of the developing roller 402 contacts the surface of the photoconductor 1 when passing through the developing nip formed by the photoconductor 1 and the developing roller 402. As a result, the toner in the developer thin layer moves to the electrostatic latent image (image portion) formed on the surface of the photoconductor 1 to develop the electrostatic latent image.
That is, in the image part of the photoconductor 1, the toner moves to the photoconductor 1 side, and in the background part (non-image part) of the photoconductor 1,
An electric field formed by the developing bias potential and the photoconductor potential moves the toner to the surface of the developing roller 402 and prevents the toner from adhering to the background portion of the photoconductor 1.

The residual toner remaining on the surface of the developing roller 402 after the development of the electrostatic latent image is a cleaning member 407 made of a blade for preventing ghost.
Are removed by.

By the way, in the developing device having the above-mentioned structure, the density of the image formed on the photoconductor 1 is
It is determined by the thickness of the liquid developer (developer thin layer) applied to the surface of the developing roller 402. Here, by using the ANIEX roller as the application roller 404, the surplus amount of the liquid developer carried on the surface is squeezed out at the contact portion with the intermediate roller 405 which also serves as the application amount regulating member. The coating roller 404
A predetermined amount of the liquid developer accurately measured by the recess 404a is carried on the surface of the.

The liquid developer accurately weighed and carried on the surface of the coating roller 404 composed of the anilox roller is transferred to the surface of the developing roller 402 through the intermediate roller 404, whereby A uniform thin layer of a predetermined amount of liquid developer is formed on the developing roller 402. Here, the intermediate roller 405 rotates at the contact portion with the coating roller 404 so as to be equal to the peripheral speed of the coating roller 404 and move in the same direction, and at the contact portion with the developing roller 402. Developing roller 40
It rotates in the reverse direction opposite to the rotation direction of 2. As a result, a thin layer of liquid developer having a uniform thickness is formed on the surface of the developing roller 402.

That is, the thin layer of the liquid developer immediately after being transferred from the coating roller 404 to the intermediate roller 405 has a shape in which the pattern of the concave portions 404a on the surface of the coating roller 404 is directly transferred. Therefore, at the contact portion between the intermediate roller 405 and the developing roller 402, the intermediate roller 405 is rotated in the reverse direction opposite to the rotating direction of the developing roller 402. As a result, due to the linear velocity difference between the intermediate roller 405 and the developing roller 402, the thin developer layer transferred to the surface of the developing roller 402 is evenly stretched and uniformly spread on the surface of the developing roller 402. A developer thin film having a uniform thickness is formed.

By the way, the application roller 404 having a concave portion 404a formed on the surface thereof, such as the anilox roller, is brought into direct contact with the developing roller 402, and the liquid developer applied on the surface of the application roller 404 is When the surface of the developing roller 402 is configured to be applied, the surface of the developing roller 402 is abraded by the concave portion 404a of the surface of the applying roller 404 rubbing the surface of the developing roller 402. And will be damaged. That is, in the case of such a configuration, the developing roller 402
The surface of the coating roller 404 and the surface of the coating roller 404 move in different directions, so that the concave portion 404a of the surface of the coating roller 404 always contacts with a large linear velocity difference.
As a result, the surface of the developing roller 402 is damaged by the friction due to the difference in linear velocity. Therefore, in the coating device having such a configuration, there is a problem that the life of the developing roller 402 is significantly shortened.

On the other hand, in the coating apparatus according to the second embodiment, as described above, the liquid developer coated on the surface of the coating roller 404 is transferred to the intermediate roller 405.
It is configured to be applied to the surface of the developing roller 402 via. As a result, the developing roller 402 and the coating roller 404 do not come into direct contact with each other, and the surface of the developing roller 402 is not worn or damaged by the recess 404a on the surface of the coating roller 404.
The intermediate roller 405 makes contact with the developing roller 402 while rotating in the reverse direction. However, since the surface of the intermediate roller 405 has no unevenness, the surface of the developing roller 402 is not damaged. Absent. Therefore, in the coating device according to the present embodiment, the developing roller 4 is
The mechanical stress on 02 is reduced, and the life of the developing roller 402 can be extended.

Although the intermediate roller 405 of the coating apparatus according to the second embodiment is in contact with the coating roller 404, the surface of the intermediate roller 405 and the coating roller 404 are in contact with each other.
Since they rotate at the same speed in the same direction as the surface of, the peripheral speed difference does not occur at the contact portion with the coating roller 404. Therefore, the intermediate roller 405 receives a small mechanical stress from the coating roller 404, and the surface of the intermediate roller 405 is not worn or damaged by the recess 404a on the surface of the coating roller 404.

Furthermore, in the coating apparatus of the second embodiment,
A mechanism for swinging the intermediate roller 405 in the axial direction is provided. As the swing mechanism of the intermediate roller, the same swing mechanism as the swing mechanism of the coating roller described in the first embodiment is used. That is, both end surfaces of the intermediate roller 405 are formed into inclined surfaces, and cam followers arranged so as to be in contact with the inclined surfaces are provided at both ends of the intermediate roller 405 at the ends of the arms fixed to the support to rotate the intermediate roller 405. To rock. Further, the cam mechanism may be provided only on one side and the other end may be provided with a pressing means such as a spring for pressing the cam against the cam.
It is also possible to swing the groove by providing a groove having an inclination at the end of the intermediate roller 405 to form a cam and inserting a cam follower fixed here. Further, a cam as another driving means may be provided to swing the intermediate roller 405.

As described above, by swinging the intermediate roller 405 in the axial direction, even if foreign matter is clogged between the intermediate roller 405 and the coating roller 404 or between the intermediate roller 405 and the developing roller 402, the intermediate roller is caused by the foreign matter. 40
Partial defects in the developer layer on No. 5 can be converted from a streak parallel to the circumferential direction to an inclined streak. Therefore, the defects of the developer layer become conspicuous, and the unevenness of the thin developer layer on the developing roller 402 can be reduced. Further, the rocking of the intermediate roller 405 facilitates the escape of the jammed foreign matter. Further, even when scratches occur, the defects on the coated surface due to scratches are less noticeable by inclining from a line parallel to the circumferential direction.

Further, at the contact portion between the application roller 404 and the developing roller 402, which is in contact with the intermediate roller 405, one point where the intermediate roller 404 is present is the application roller 404,
The contact time with the same surface of the developing roller 402 is shortened. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a part of the intermediate roller 405 and the developing roller 402 from being concentrated and worn. Therefore, streaks on the image can be made inconspicuous. Further, it has an effect of extending the life of the developing roller 402 itself.

Further, in the above coating apparatus, the coating roller 404 may be swung instead of the intermediate roller 405. In this case, even if foreign matter is caught between the doctor blade 409 or the intermediate roller 405 which is in contact with the coating roller, the streak in the thin layer of the developer due to the foreign matter is inconspicuous and the foreign matter can be removed. . Further, the effect of preventing partial wear of the doctor blade 409 and the intermediate roller 405 can be obtained.

By the way, as described above, the application roller 404 composed of the anilox roller is used, and the application amount regulating member is brought into contact with the application roller 404 to apply the liquid developer carried on the surface of the application roller 404. In the coating device configured to measure the amount, generally, as the coating amount regulating member,
Doctor blade 40 such as the coating apparatus according to the present embodiment
9 or a doctor roller is used. Here, the doctor blade 409 is used as a coating amount regulating member.
In the case of a coating apparatus using the above, the coating apparatus has a relatively simple structure and is suitable for downsizing of the coating apparatus. However, in this case, the contact portion of the doctor blade 409 with respect to the coating roller 404 is easily worn. Also, the doctor blade 4
09 and the surface of the coating roller 404 are clogged with foreign matter mixed in the liquid developer, which causes uneven coating on the thin developer layer coated on the surface of the coating roller 404.

On the other hand, as the coating amount regulating member,
In the case of the coating device using the doctor roller, there is less wear of the doctor roller, and there is less clogging of foreign matter mixed in the liquid developer, which is advantageous as compared with the case of using the doctor blade. Become. However, when a doctor roller is used as the coating amount regulating member, there is a problem that the coating device itself becomes large.

Therefore, in the coating apparatus according to this embodiment, the intermediate roller 405 may also be used as the doctor roller. That is, the surface of the intermediate roller 405 is brought into contact with the surface of the coating roller 404 with a sufficient pressure to measure and apply a proper amount of the liquid developer. This allows the intermediate roller 405 to function as the doctor roller.

FIG. 10 shows an example of a copying machine equipped with a coating device having a structure in which the intermediate roller 405 also serves as the doctor roller. In the coating device of this copying machine,
The doctor blade 409 of the coating device shown in FIG. 9 becomes unnecessary. In this way, by making the intermediate roller 405 also serve as a doctor roller, the size of the apparatus can be reduced. Since the intermediate roller 405 is swung, the intermediate roller 405 as a doctor roller is less worn at the contact portion with the application roller 404, and clogging of foreign matter mixed in the liquid developer can be reduced. The effect can be obtained.

Further, in the coating apparatus shown in FIG.
The cleaning member 407 (see FIG. 9) disposed in contact with the developing roller 402 is not provided, but the cleaning member 407 is disposed in contact with the intermediate roller 405. As a result, the residual developer remaining on the developing roller 402 after the development of the electrostatic latent image is removed by the developing roller 402.
The intermediate roller 405 comes into contact with the surface of the intermediate roller 405 to be cleaned. Then, the intermediate roller 40
The residual developer that has moved to the surface of
Is removed from the surface of the intermediate roller 405 by the cleaning member 407 disposed in contact with. As described above, by eliminating the cleaning member 407 that contacts the developing roller 402, the surface of the developing roller 402 is not worn or damaged due to the rubbing of the cleaning member 407, and the life of the developing roller 402 can be extended. .

The cleaning member 407 is not the developing roller 402 but the swinging intermediate roller 405.
Is arranged so as to abut. Therefore, even when foreign matter is clogged with the cleaning member 407, the streaks of the developer layer on the intermediate roller 405 due to the foreign matter are conspicuous, and the clogged foreign matter is likely to come out. Further, it is possible to prevent a part of the cleaning member 411 from being concentrated and worn.

Further, also in the coating device shown in FIG.
Instead of the intermediate roller 405, the coating roller 404 may be swung. In this case, even if foreign matter is caught between the doctor blade 409 or the intermediate roller 405 which is in contact with the coating roller, the streak in the thin layer of the developer due to the foreign matter is inconspicuous and the foreign matter can be removed. . Further, the effect of preventing partial wear of the doctor blade 409 and the intermediate roller 405 can be obtained. However, the intermediate roller 4
When 05 is rocked, the above-mentioned effect in many contact portions can be expected because there are more objects to contact.

By the way, it is desirable that the surface of the intermediate roller 405 is brought into uniform contact with the surface of the coating roller 404 along the rotation axis direction of the coating roller 404. Therefore, the intermediate roller 405 needs to include the elastic layer 405b as described above. Further, in order for the intermediate roller 405 to have a function as the coating amount regulating member, the intermediate roller 405 is required.
However, it is necessary to contact the coating roller 404 with a certain pressure or more. That is, in the coating apparatus according to the present embodiment, the volume of the concave portion 403a of the coating roller 404 determines the coating amount of the liquid developer on the coating roller 404. Therefore, when the contact pressure of the intermediate roller 405 as the coating amount regulating member against the coating roller 404 is insufficient, the concave portion 404a of the coating roller 404 is formed.
The liquid developer may pass through between the surface other than the above and the surface of the intermediate roller 405.

Therefore, as described above, when the contact pressure of the intermediate roller 405 with respect to the application roller 404 is insufficient, the application amount of the liquid developer applied to the application roller 404 is the application roller. The coating amount is not determined by the volume of the concave portion 404a of 404, and an image having an appropriate density cannot be formed. The amount of liquid developer that passes between the surface of the coating roller 404 other than the concave portion 404a and the surface of the intermediate roller 405 is determined by the linear velocity of the intermediate roller 405 and the coating roller 404, the viscosity of the liquid developer, and the like. Also changes. For example, the higher the viscosity of the liquid developer, the more noticeable the passing through of the liquid developer. For this reason, for example, the viscosity of the liquid developer changes due to the temperature change of the image forming environment, etc., so that the application amount of the liquid developer on the application roller 404 varies and becomes unstable.

Therefore, in the coating apparatus according to the present embodiment, the contact pressure of the intermediate roller 405 with respect to the coating roller 404 is set to 0.2 MPa so that the contact pressure of the intermediate roller 405 with respect to the coating roller 404 is sufficient. The intermediate roller 405 also has a function as a regulating member (doctor roller) that is enlarged to efficiently regulate the amount of the developer applied to the applying roller 404.

Further, it is desirable that the coating roller 404 and the intermediate roller 405 are rollers which are ideally circular in cross section and have no rotational runout. However, the mechanical precision of this type of roller is limited. Therefore, in the intermediate roller 405 of the coating apparatus according to the present embodiment, the rotation shake is absorbed by the elastic layer 405b (see FIG. 11), and the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate roller 405 becomes the outer peripheral surface of the coating roller 404. On the other hand, I always try to make a stable contact.

The rubber hardness of the elastic layer 405b of the intermediate roller 405 is preferably JIS-A hardness of 70 degrees or less. That is, the elastic layer 4 of the intermediate roller 405
When the rubber hardness of 05b is greater than 70 degrees, it becomes difficult to uniformly contact the surface of the intermediate roller 405 with the surface of the coating roller 404. Here, if the surface of the intermediate roller 405 is forcibly brought into contact with the surface of the coating roller 404, the energy required for the deformation of the elastic layer 405b increases, so the core metal of the intermediate roller 405 that receives this load. 405a must be thicker and stronger than necessary. In addition, the intermediate roller 4
When the elastic layer 405b of No. 05 has a low rubber hardness of 30 degrees or less, it is difficult to obtain the contact pressure required to give the intermediate roller 405 a function as the coating amount regulating member. Elastic layer 405 of the intermediate roller 405
Since it is necessary to greatly deform b, the intermediate roller 4
05 has a problem of shortening the life.

Therefore, in the coating apparatus according to this embodiment, the rubber hardness of the elastic layer 405b of the intermediate roller 405 is 40 degrees in JIS-A hardness. As the elastic layer 405b of the intermediate roller 405, a rubber material such as the urethane rubber can be used. However, since this type of rubber material generally has a large friction coefficient, a very large frictional resistance is generated at the contact portion between the elastic layer 405b and the developing roller 402 as the coated member. Such frictional resistance not only increases the load on the drive system of the intermediate roller 405 and the developing roller 402, but also increases the load of the intermediate roller 405 and the developing roller 4.
02, the life of 02 is remarkably reduced.

Therefore, in the coating apparatus according to this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, a slipping layer 405c made of a low friction member is provided on the surface of the intermediate roller 405. The slippery layer 405c is made of, for example, PTFE, PFA,
Fluorine resin such as PVDF or PVF is used as the elastic layer 40.
It is formed by coating the outer peripheral surface of 5b or coating a tube made of these resins. Specifically, the elastic layer 405b is used as the intermediate roller 405.
The outer peripheral surface of was coated with a PFA tube having a thickness of 50 μm. Similarly, as the developing roller 402, a developing roller coated with a conductive PFA tube having a thickness of 50 μm was used.

When a continuous copying test was conducted by the copying machine shown in FIG. 10 using the liquid developer coating device having such a structure, the developing roller 402 was damaged due to the mechanical stress as described above. It was found that there was no image deterioration due to, and sufficient durability quality was obtained. Further, by using a photoconductor whose surface is formed of amorphous silicon (a-Si) as the photoconductor 1 of the copying machine, it exhibits mechanical strength superior to that of the organic photoconductor (OPC). I was able to extend its life.

As described above, in the liquid developer coating apparatus according to the second embodiment, it is possible to prevent the formation of a uniform thin layer of liquid developer due to the inclusion of foreign matter, and to prevent streaks on the image. You can make it inconspicuous. Further, it is possible to disperse the wear of the developing roller 402, the intermediate roller 405, the cleaning 407, etc., so that the streak caused by the wear becomes inconspicuous on the image and the life of each component can be extended.

[0082]

According to the first to eighth aspects of the present invention, there is provided a liquid developer coating device which reduces the occurrence of streak unevenness due to the inclusion of foreign matter and has excellent durability, and a developing device including the coating device. There is an excellent effect that the image forming apparatus to be adopted can be provided.

Particularly, according to the second aspect of the invention, it is possible to reduce the mechanical stress applied to the developer transport member and the coating member, and to improve the durability of the developer transport member or the coated member. There is an effect.

Particularly, according to the invention of claim 2 or 3,
There is an excellent effect that the mechanical stress applied to the developer transport member and the coating member can be reduced, and the durability of the developer transport member or the coated member can be improved.

Particularly, according to the invention of claim 4, there is an excellent effect that the coating apparatus can be downsized.

In particular, according to the invention of claim 5, there is an excellent effect that the durability of the cleaning member can be improved.

In particular, according to the invention of claim 6, there is an excellent effect that the fluctuation of the coating amount of the liquid developer can be eliminated and the driving force can be reduced. Furthermore, there is an excellent effect that the durability of the developer transport member and the coating member can be improved.

Particularly, according to the invention of claim 7, there is an excellent effect that a high quality image can be obtained over time.

Particularly, according to the invention of claim 8, there is an excellent effect that the durability of the image carrier is improved and a high quality image can be obtained over time.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a main part of a copying machine according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a front view of an anilox roller serving as the coating roller, in which concave portions having a uniform pattern are formed on the surface.

3A, 3B, and 3C are enlarged perspective views showing an example of the shape of a concave portion formed on the surface of a coating roller of the coating device.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the arrangement of the coating roller and the doctor blade.

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a swing mechanism of the coating roller.

FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram showing another swing mechanism of the coating roller.

FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram showing another swing mechanism of the coating roller.

FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram showing another swing mechanism of the coating roller.

FIG. 9 is a schematic configuration diagram of a main part of a copying machine according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram showing another coating device of the copying machine according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a configuration of an intermediate roller of a coating device used in the developing device of the copying machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 photoconductor 2 charger 3 exposure equipment 4 Developing device 5 Transfer device 6 Photoconductor cleaning device 7 Static elimination lamp 401 developer storage tank 402 developing roller 403 Sweep roller 404 Coating roller 404a Recesses formed on the surface of the coating roller 404b, 404c Coating roller inclined surface 405 Intermediate roller 405a Intermediate roller core metal 405b Elastic layer of intermediate roller 405c Sliding layer of intermediate roller 406 Stirrer / conveyor screw 407, 408 Cleaning member 409 doctor blade 410 casing 412 temporary storage 413 Conveyor screw 415 and 417 arms 416, 418 Cam follower 419 spring 420 groove 421 cam 501 transfer roller 502 Intermediate transfer body D liquid developer

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A coating member which holds a predetermined amount of liquid developer on its surface and rotates, and regulates the coating amount of the liquid developer which is brought into contact with the surface of the coating member and carried on the surface of the coating member. A coating amount regulating member, wherein a surface of the coating member contacts a surface of a member to be coated on which the liquid developer is coated to coat the member to be coated with the liquid developer; A coating device for a liquid developer, wherein the coating member or the coating amount regulating member is configured to swing in the axial direction. 2. A single or a plurality of developer transporting members carrying a liquid developer on the surface and rotating, a coating member carrying a predetermined amount of the liquid developer on a surface and rotating, and the developer carrying member or A coating amount regulating member that regulates the coating amount of the liquid developer carried on the surface of the coating member, and at least one of the developer transporting members comes into contact with the surface of the coating member to perform liquid development on the coating member. A liquid developer coating apparatus configured to coat a liquid developer and to apply the liquid developer to the member to be coated by contacting the surface of the member to be coated with the liquid developer. The coating member or the developer transport member is configured to swing in the axial direction. 3. The liquid developer applying apparatus according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the developer conveying members moves to the surface of the applying member such that their contact surfaces move in the same direction and at a constant speed. A coating device apparatus for a liquid developer, characterized in that the contact surfaces of the coating member move in opposite directions with respect to the coating target member, and the coating member swings in the axial direction. 4. The liquid developer coating device according to claim 3, wherein the coating member also serves as a coating amount regulating member for regulating the coating amount of the liquid developer onto the developer conveying member which is in contact with the coating member. An apparatus for applying a liquid developer, characterized in that 5. The liquid developer coating apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, further comprising a cleaning member that contacts the surface of the coating member and cleans the surface. 6. A liquid developer coating apparatus according to claim 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein the coating member has a lubricous layer formed of a low friction member on the surface thereof. Coating equipment. 7. An image forming apparatus, comprising: a latent image carrier that carries an electrostatic latent image; and a developing device that develops the electrostatic latent image on the latent image carrier. An image forming apparatus using a developing device using a liquid developer coating device of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein an amorphous silicon photoconductor is used as the latent image carrier.