JP2005308900A - Developing apparatus - Google Patents

Developing apparatus Download PDF

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JP2005308900A
JP2005308900A JP2004123345A JP2004123345A JP2005308900A JP 2005308900 A JP2005308900 A JP 2005308900A JP 2004123345 A JP2004123345 A JP 2004123345A JP 2004123345 A JP2004123345 A JP 2004123345A JP 2005308900 A JP2005308900 A JP 2005308900A
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toner
developing
roller
supply roller
developing device
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Yoshihiko Tanaka
好彦 田中
Yukio Takano
幸雄 高野
Hiroshi Emori
弘 江森
Tadashi Asakawa
唯志 浅川
Takeshi Kumagai
健 熊谷
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Fuji Electric Imaging Device Co Ltd
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Fuji Electric Imaging Device Co Ltd
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Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a developing apparatus which can prolong its life while suppressing dropping of a non-charged toner, low charged toner, oppositely charged toner or deteriorated toner as aggregation of these inferior toners apt to be generated immediately after replenishing toner in a developing apparatus employing a contact developing system using a positive charge nonmagnetic single component toner, even when the developing apparatus judged to be at the end of its life from the viewpoint of image qualities is replenished with a new external toner to be continuously used. <P>SOLUTION: The developing apparatus 100 employing a developing system using a nonmagnetic single component toner 20 is equipped with such a mechanism that controls the voltage (A) applied on a supply roller 3 to be higher by ≥50 V than the voltage (B) applied on a developing roller 4 after the toner is replenished and during the predetermined number of paper sheets are printed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

本発明は、レーザープリンタや複写機に代表される電子写真装置において用いられる、電子写真方式の非磁性一成分正帯電型のトナーを用いた現像装置、特に寿命とされた現像装置を継続使用するために行なう新規外部トナーの補給後にも画像品質の安定性に優れた現像装置に関する。   The present invention continues to use a developing device using an electrophotographic non-magnetic one-component positively charged toner, particularly a developing device that has reached the end of its life, used in an electrophotographic apparatus typified by a laser printer or a copying machine. The present invention relates to a developing device having excellent image quality stability even after replenishment of new external toner.

レーザープリンタや複写機などの電子写真装置のうち、特に小型の装置では、最近、非磁性一成分正帯電接触現像方式が普及してきた。この一成分正帯電現像方式は、二成分現像剤を用いた現像方式に比べて現像装置の小型化、低価格化が可能であるだけでなく、高解像度画像に優れているという利点を有しているため、広く用いられるようになってきた。さらにクリーナレス現像方式と組み合わせると、未転写トナーを現像工程で回収して再利用でき、トナーの有効利用性も高くなるので、多く採用されるようになってきたのである。   Among electrophotographic apparatuses such as laser printers and copiers, the non-magnetic one-component positively charged contact developing system has recently become widespread, particularly for small-sized apparatuses. This one-component positively-charged developing system has the advantage that it can not only reduce the size and price of the developing device, but also excel in high-resolution images compared to a developing system that uses a two-component developer. Therefore, it has come to be widely used. Furthermore, when combined with a cleanerless development method, untransferred toner can be collected and reused in the development process, and the effective utilization of the toner is increased.

一方、非磁性一成分トナーを用いた現像装置は、二成分現像剤を用いた現像装置に比べて、トナーを搬送するキャリアを持たないことに起因してトナーの帯電性、搬送性に劣り、特に粉砕トナーでは長期の繰り返し使用と共にベタ黒濃度の均一性の低下、カブリの増加等の画像品質の低下が見られるという問題点がある。この点に着目した発明として、トナー供給ローラに印加するバイアス電圧を、通紙枚数の増加と共にトナー供給ローラ表面に生じる物性変化に対応させて可変制御することにより、負帯電現像ではあるが、ベタ黒画像における均一性低下を少なくなるように改良した現像装置が知られている(特許文献1−0006、0010段落)。   On the other hand, a developing device using a non-magnetic one-component toner is inferior in chargeability and transportability of the toner due to the fact that it does not have a carrier for transporting the toner, compared to a developing device using a two-component developer. In particular, the pulverized toner has a problem in that image quality such as a decrease in uniformity of solid black density and an increase in fogging are observed with long-term repeated use. As an invention paying attention to this point, the bias voltage applied to the toner supply roller is variably controlled in accordance with the change in physical properties generated on the surface of the toner supply roller as the number of sheets to be passed increases. There has been known a developing device improved so as to reduce a decrease in uniformity in a black image (Patent Documents 1-0006, paragraph 0010).

さらにまた、非磁性一成分正帯電トナーを用いた画像形成では、カブリの発生、ベタ濃度の均一性が劣るという欠陥を、トナー粒子の比表面積を特定すると共に、供給ローラに対して、現像ローラのバイアス電位(絶対値)より100〜400V高いバイアス電位を与えることにより改善した発明も知られている(特許文献2−0004、0005段落)。   Furthermore, in image formation using a non-magnetic one-component positively charged toner, defects such as fogging and poor solid density uniformity are identified, the specific surface area of the toner particles is specified, and the developing roller is compared with the supply roller. An invention improved by applying a bias potential that is 100 to 400 V higher than the bias potential (absolute value) is also known (Patent Document 2-0004, paragraph 0005).

また、薄層部材に印加するバイアス電圧を、トナー凝集度に応じて制御することにより、凝集トナーに妨げられることなく、良好な薄層形成、良好な画像形成を得る発明が知られている(特許文献3−課題、解決手段)。
特開平6−194944公報 特開平9−197710公報 特開2000−221776公報
In addition, an invention is known in which a bias voltage applied to a thin layer member is controlled in accordance with the degree of toner aggregation to obtain a good thin layer formation and a good image formation without being disturbed by the aggregation toner ( Patent Document 3-Problem, Solution).
JP-A-6-194944 JP-A-9-197710 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-221776

しかしながら、前記非磁性一成分正帯電トナーとクリーナレス現像方法とを組み合わせた現像装置についての一般的な問題点としては、やはり現像ユニットの寿命が短いことがあげられるが、未だ充分には解決されていない。前記短寿命の原因は、未転写トナーが現像ユニットに回収され再利用されるが故に、繰り返し印字によって現像装置内部に外添剤や電荷制御剤が剥離したものや砕けたトナー片などの劣化トナーが蓄積され次第に増加していくことにある。そのため、トナーの帯電性や搬送性が悪くなって画質の低下を招き易く、通紙枚数が多くなるにつれて良好な画像を維持することは次第に困難となるのである。しかも、このことは前述の特許文献1、2、3に記載の発明によっても基本的には解決されていないのである。   However, a general problem with a developing device that combines the non-magnetic one-component positively charged toner and the cleaner-less developing method is that the life of the developing unit is still short, but it has not been solved sufficiently. Not. The cause of the short life is that the untransferred toner is collected and reused in the developing unit, and therefore, the deteriorated toner such as the one in which the external additive or charge control agent is peeled off inside the developing device by repeated printing or the crushed toner pieces It is to increase gradually as it accumulates. For this reason, the chargeability and transportability of the toner are deteriorated and the image quality is liable to deteriorate, and it becomes increasingly difficult to maintain a good image as the number of sheets passed increases. Moreover, this is not basically solved by the inventions described in Patent Documents 1, 2, and 3.

前記クリーナレス現像方式には正帯電型および負帯電型の両プロセスの方式があるが、前述の画質が低下し易いという問題点は、特に正帯電型プロセスであって、さらに加えてスチレン−アクリル共重合樹脂をベースレジンとするトナーを使用する場合に顕著となり易い。前者の正帯電プロセスでの問題点は正帯電トナーを構成するベースレジンとして使用される樹脂材料はすべて本来的に負帯電化し易いことである。すなわち、正帯電トナーは負帯電化し易いベースレジン材料を電荷制御剤により強制的に正帯電化させているので、構造的にも形状的にも接触摩擦等の機械的ダメージあるいは電気化学的ダメージにより電荷制御剤や外添剤がベースレジンから剥がれやすいこと、埋没しやすいこと、あるいは化学的に変化しやすいこと等により、容易に負帯電化するのである。この負帯電トナーの増加と共に、前述のように次第にトナーの帯電性や搬送性が悪くなり、画質が低下するのである。後者のスチレン−アクリル共重合樹脂をベースレジンとするトナーを使用する場合は、ポリエステル樹脂をベースレジンとするトナーに比べて正帯電量の点で優位であって高画質が得られることなどの点で優れているものの、樹脂自体の機械的強度が低いことが問題である。そのためトナーは機械的ダメージを受け易く、前述のように、やはりトナーの負帯電化が起き易く、画像品質が低下するのである。   The cleanerless development method includes both a positively charged type and a negatively charged type process. However, the problem that the image quality is likely to deteriorate is a positively charged type process. This tends to be remarkable when using a toner having a copolymer resin as a base resin. The problem with the former positive charging process is that all resin materials used as the base resin constituting the positively charged toner are inherently easily negatively charged. In other words, the positively charged toner forcibly positively charges the base resin material that is easily negatively charged by the charge control agent, so that it is structurally or geometrically damaged by mechanical damage such as contact friction or electrochemical damage. The charge control agent and the external additive are easily negatively charged because they are easily peeled off from the base resin, buried easily, or easily changed chemically. As the negatively charged toner increases, as described above, the chargeability and transportability of the toner gradually deteriorate and the image quality deteriorates. When using the latter toner based on styrene-acrylic copolymer resin as a base resin, it is superior to the toner based on polyester resin in terms of positive charge and can provide high image quality. However, the mechanical strength of the resin itself is low. Therefore, the toner is easily damaged mechanically, and as described above, the toner is easily negatively charged, and the image quality is deteriorated.

このように、正帯電型非磁性一成分の粉砕トナーを用いたクリーナレス方式の現像装置または現像ユニットでは、前述のとおり、現像装置の小型化、低価格化、高解像度さらにトナーの有効利用性等の数多くの優れた点を有する一方で、繰り返し使用後に得られる画質の安定性、信頼性には問題がある。この問題を回避するため、実際の装置では、劣化トナーの比率が高くなって画質の低下が目立つようになる前に、おおよそ、当初のトナー量の3分の2程度を消費した時点で、トナーを含む現像装置または現像ユニットを寿命とみなして、新しい物に交換するという方法が多く採られている。このことが正帯電型非磁性一成分クリーナレス方式の現像装置またはユニットの寿命を短くし、ランニングコストの点で不利と言われる所以であった。それだけでなく、廃棄される現像装置またはユニットには相対的に高価といえる現像ローラ、供給ローラなどのように未だ寿命に達していない部品も含まれていた。   Thus, in the cleanerless type developing device or developing unit using the positively charged non-magnetic one-component pulverized toner, as described above, the developing device is downsized, the price is reduced, the resolution is high, and the toner is effectively used. On the other hand, there are problems in the stability and reliability of image quality obtained after repeated use. In order to avoid this problem, in an actual apparatus, the toner is consumed when about two-thirds of the initial toner amount is consumed before the deteriorated toner ratio becomes high and the deterioration in image quality becomes conspicuous. In many cases, a developing device or a developing unit including the above is regarded as a life and replaced with a new one. This shortens the life of the positively charged non-magnetic one-component cleaner-less developing device or unit and is a disadvantage in terms of running cost. In addition, the developing device or unit to be discarded includes parts that have not reached the end of their life, such as a developing roller and a supply roller, which are relatively expensive.

前述のように、寿命の来た現像装置またはユニットを廃棄し新規のものに交換することにしたもうひとつの理由は、前記寿命とされたトナーを含む前記現像装置または現像ユニットに新規トナーのみを補給し再度新たに画像形成を行なうと、トナー補給直後、トナーの攪拌が充分に行われる前の、しばらくの間、トナー容器部中のトナーには補給前の劣化トナーを多く含んだトナーが特に供給ローラ、現像ローラ近辺に特に多く存在する状態がそのまま維持されていることになる。このような状態において電子写真プロセスを作動させると、劣化トナーが供給ローラによって現像ローラに搬送され、感光体ドラム表面近傍に到達する比率が高く、しかもそれらの劣化トナーは感光体ドラム表面の近傍では、未帯電トナー、低帯電トナー、逆帯電トナーのように有効な現像機能を有さない無効トナーとなって、現像ローラと感光体ドラム間に存在することになる。このような無効トナーは感光体ドラムの現像の際に、未露光部へ付着してカブリの原因となる。さらに、前記無効トナーはいずれも現像ローラの表面での保持力が弱く、また、逆帯電トナーとして存在する場合は、この逆帯電トナーが他の正常トナーを吸着して凝集しやすい。このように凝集したトナーも現像ローラでの保持力が弱く、未帯電トナー、低帯電トナーと共に感光体ドラムと現像ローラ間から記録用紙上に落下し、画像を汚染させ易いのである。このような理由もあって、非磁性一成分でクリーナレス現像方法ではトナー補給をして、現像装置の寿命を延ばすことは実用的な方法とは考えられず、廃棄して新規の現像装置に交換していたのである。   As described above, another reason why the developing device or unit that has reached the end of its life is discarded and replaced with a new one is that only the new toner is applied to the developing device or developing unit that contains the toner that has reached the end of its life. When a new image is formed again after replenishment, the toner in the toner container portion contains a lot of deteriorated toner before replenishment for a while immediately after toner replenishment and before the toner is sufficiently stirred. That is, the state that exists particularly near the supply roller and the developing roller is maintained as it is. When the electrophotographic process is operated in such a state, the deteriorated toner is conveyed to the developing roller by the supply roller, and the ratio of reaching the vicinity of the surface of the photosensitive drum is high, and the deteriorated toner is near the surface of the photosensitive drum. The toner becomes an invalid toner having no effective developing function, such as uncharged toner, low-charged toner, and reversely-charged toner, and exists between the developing roller and the photosensitive drum. Such invalid toner adheres to the unexposed area during development of the photosensitive drum and causes fogging. Furthermore, any of the invalid toners has a weak holding force on the surface of the developing roller, and when present as a reversely charged toner, the reversely charged toner easily adsorbs other normal toners and aggregates. The agglomerated toner also has a weak holding force on the developing roller, and easily falls on the recording sheet from between the photosensitive drum and the developing roller together with the uncharged toner and the low-charged toner, and easily contaminates the image. For this reason, it is not considered a practical method to replenish the toner in the non-magnetic single component cleaner-less development method and extend the life of the development device. It was exchanged.

一方、前記特許文献1には、トナー供給ローラに印加するバイアス電圧を、トナー供給ローラ自体の物性変化に伴ない可変制御することにより、ベタ画像においても濃度低下を少なくした現像装置の記載がある。確かにこのようにすれば、若干現像装置の寿命をのばせる。しかし、ここに記載のトナーはポリエステル樹脂をベースレジンとするトナーであり、負帯電トナーであるし、また、ここには、交換時期の来た現像装置または現像ユニットに新規外部トナーを補給して寿命を延ばすという考えは全く無いばかりかその示唆すらなく、さらに前記トナー供給ローラ表面の物性変化という現象はトナー補給の有無とは無関係と思われるので、トナー補給時後に生じる特有の問題の解決のためには特許文献1は有効ではないと思われる。   On the other hand, Patent Document 1 describes a developing device that reduces density reduction even in a solid image by variably controlling the bias voltage applied to the toner supply roller in accordance with the change in physical properties of the toner supply roller itself. . Certainly, this will slightly extend the life of the developing device. However, the toner described here is a toner using a polyester resin as a base resin, and is a negatively charged toner. In addition, a new external toner is supplied to a developing device or a developing unit that has come to be replaced. There is no idea to extend the service life, and there is no suggestion, and further, the phenomenon of physical property change on the surface of the toner supply roller seems to be irrelevant to the presence or absence of toner replenishment. Therefore, Patent Document 1 seems not to be effective.

さらに、前記特許文献2には、非磁性一成分正帯電トナー(ただし、ポリエステル樹脂をベースレジンとするトナー)を用いた画像形成では、カブリの発生、ベタ濃度の均一性が劣るという欠陥をトナー粒子の比表面積を特定すると共に供給ローラに対して、現像ローラのバイアス電位(絶対値)より100〜400V高いバイアス電位を与えることにより改善した発明の記載があるが、供給ローラの印加電圧を現像ローラより高くすることに関する開示は無い。いずれにしても、交換時期の来た現像装置または現像ユニットの高寿命化に関する記載または示唆は全く見られない。   Further, Patent Document 2 discloses a defect in which fogging and solid density uniformity are inferior in image formation using a nonmagnetic one-component positively charged toner (a toner having a polyester resin as a base resin). Although the specific surface area of the particles is specified and the supply roller is applied with a bias potential that is 100 to 400 V higher than the bias potential (absolute value) of the developing roller, there is a description of the invention. There is no disclosure regarding making it higher than the roller. In any case, there is no description or suggestion regarding the life extension of the developing device or the developing unit that has come to be replaced.

特許文献3は、薄層化部材へのバイアス電位を可変にして制御することに関する発明であり、供給ローラへの印加電圧を増加させることとは直接的な関係は希薄と思われる。   Patent Document 3 is an invention relating to control by varying the bias potential to the thinned member, and it seems that the direct relationship with increasing the applied voltage to the supply roller is thin.

本発明は、以上、述べた点に鑑みてなされたものであり、その目的は、正帯電型非磁性一成分トナーを用いた接触現像方式の現像装置において、画像品質の観点から寿命と判断される現像装置に新規外部トナーを補給して継続使用しても、トナー補給直後に発生しやすい未帯電トナー、低帯電トナー、逆帯電トナーまたはそれらが凝集した劣化トナーの落下またはカブリ画像の発生を抑制して高寿命化を可能にする現像装置を提供することである。   The present invention has been made in view of the above points. The object of the present invention is determined to be a lifetime from the viewpoint of image quality in a contact developing type developing device using a positively charged nonmagnetic one-component toner. Even if new external toner is replenished to the developing device to be used continuously, uncharged toner, low-charged toner, reverse-charged toner, or deteriorated toner aggregated from them, which is likely to be generated immediately after toner replenishment, or fogged images are generated. It is an object of the present invention to provide a developing device that can suppress the life of the developing device.

特許請求の範囲の請求項1記載の本発明によれば、非磁性一成分トナーを用いる現像方式による現像装置であって、少なくとも新規外部トナーの補給可能な構造を有するトナー容器部と供給ローラと現像ローラと層厚規制部材とを備え、前記供給ローラは前記トナー容器部中のトナーを供給ローラ表面に保持し供給ローラの回転により前記現像ローラに運び、前記現像ローラは前記供給ローラから受けた前記トナーを、前記現像ローラと層厚規制部材との間の摩擦帯電により帯電し現像ローラ表面に保持すると共に薄層化した後、現像ローラの回転により感光体表面との接触面に搬送し、該感光体表面の静電潜像を可視像化する機構を備える現像装置において、供給ローラへの印加電圧をA、現像ローラへの印加電圧をBとしたとき、トナー補給後、所定の印刷枚数を処理する間、前記供給ローラへの印加電圧Aを前記現像ローラへの印加電圧Bより、50ボルト以上高く設定する機構を備える現像装置とすることにより、前記目的は達成される。   According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a developing device using a developing system that uses non-magnetic one-component toner, at least a toner container having a structure capable of replenishing new external toner, a supply roller, A developing roller and a layer thickness regulating member, wherein the supply roller holds the toner in the toner container portion on the surface of the supply roller and carries the toner to the developing roller by rotation of the supply roller, and the developing roller receives from the supply roller The toner is charged by frictional charging between the developing roller and a layer thickness regulating member, held on the surface of the developing roller and thinned, and then conveyed to a contact surface with the surface of the photoreceptor by rotation of the developing roller, In the developing device having a mechanism for visualizing the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive member, when the applied voltage to the supply roller is A and the applied voltage to the developing roller is B, the toner By providing a developing device having a mechanism for setting the applied voltage A to the supply roller to be 50 volts or more higher than the applied voltage B to the developing roller while processing a predetermined number of printed sheets after feeding, the object is Achieved.

特許請求の範囲の請求項2記載の本発明によれば、前記所定の印刷枚数をA4用紙で10枚乃至30枚とする特許請求の範囲の請求項1記載の現像装置とすることが好ましい。   According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the predetermined number of printed sheets is 10 to 30 sheets of A4 paper.

特許請求の範囲の請求項3記載の本発明によれば、現像方式が、未転写トナーを現像工程で回収して再利用するクリーナレス現像方式である特許請求の範囲の請求項1または2記載の現像装置とすることがより好ましい。   According to the present invention as set forth in claim 3, the developing system is a cleanerless developing system in which the untransferred toner is recovered and reused in the developing process. It is more preferable to use the developing device.

特許請求の範囲の請求項4記載の本発明によれば、トナーがスチレン−アクリル共重合樹脂をベースレジンとする請求項1乃至3のいずれか一項に記載の現像装置とすることが望ましい。   According to the present invention described in claim 4, it is desirable that the developing device according to claim 1, wherein the toner is a styrene-acrylic copolymer resin as a base resin.

前記本発明によれば、正帯電型非磁性一成分トナーを用いた接触現像方式の現像装置において、画像品質の観点から寿命と判断される現像装置に新規外部トナーを補給して継続使用しても、トナー補給直後に発生しやすい未帯電トナー、低帯電トナー、逆帯電トナーまたはそれらが凝集した劣化トナーの落下またはカブリ画像の発生を抑制して高寿命化を可能にする現像装置を提供することができる。   According to the present invention, in a contact developing type developing device using a positively charged non-magnetic one-component toner, a new external toner is replenished to a developing device that is determined to have a lifetime from the viewpoint of image quality and used continuously. In addition, the present invention provides a developing device capable of extending the life by suppressing the occurrence of uncharged toner, low-charged toner, reverse-charged toner, or deteriorated toner in which the toner is aggregated or fogged images that are likely to occur immediately after toner replenishment. be able to.

以下、本発明の現像装置について、図を用いて詳細に説明する。本発明はその要旨を超えない限り、以下、説明する実施例に限定されるものではない。図1は本発明にかかる現像装置を含む電子写真方式で非磁性一成分接触現像方式の画像形成装置の概略断面図である。   Hereinafter, the developing device of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to the examples described below as long as the gist thereof is not exceeded. FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an electrophotographic non-magnetic one-component contact developing image forming apparatus including a developing device according to the present invention.

正帯電用のトナーは微粒子化する方法で分けると、顔料や染料等の着色剤や電荷制御剤等を溶融させたポリエステル樹脂、スチレン−アクリル共重合体等の各種熱可塑性樹脂などを粉砕した樹脂粉体を母体として、シリカ、アルミナ、酸化チタン微粒子などの外添剤が加えられた粉砕トナーや、着色剤、電荷制御剤等を添加したスチレン、アクリル系等の高分子化合物の単量体を懸濁重合、乳化重合などの公知の重合法により共重合させて得られる球状のスチレン−アクリル共重合体微粒子を母体として、さらに流動性や帯電性を良くするためのシリカ、酸化チタンなどの微粒子からなる外添剤が加えられた重合トナーなどがある。   The positively charged toner can be divided by the method of making fine particles. A resin obtained by pulverizing various thermoplastic resins such as a polyester resin in which a colorant such as a pigment or a dye, a charge control agent or the like is melted, or a styrene-acrylic copolymer. Using powder as a base, pulverized toner to which external additives such as silica, alumina and titanium oxide fine particles have been added, and monomers of polymer compounds such as styrene and acrylic to which colorants and charge control agents are added Using spherical styrene-acrylic copolymer fine particles obtained by copolymerization by a known polymerization method such as suspension polymerization or emulsion polymerization as a base, fine particles such as silica and titanium oxide for further improving fluidity and chargeability There are polymerized toners to which an external additive comprising:

本発明にかかる非磁性一成分粉砕トナー20に用いられる結着樹脂としては通常よく知られており定着性もよい一般的な熱可塑性樹脂を主成分とする樹脂、例えば、ポリエステル樹脂、ポリスチレン樹脂、スチレンアクリル共重合樹脂、エポキシ樹脂、塩化ビニル樹脂、酢酸ビニル樹脂等を単独、混合または2種以上の共重合樹脂等を主成分とする樹脂などが挙げられる。特には、スチレン−アクリル共重合樹脂を結着樹脂とすると、同系の共重合樹脂をベースとする電荷制御剤を用いる場合に相溶性に優れトナーの繰り返し使用後に電荷制御剤が離脱することの防止に効果があるので好ましい。たとえば、スチレンアクリル共重合樹脂の場合、トナーの良好な定着性と耐オフセット性の両方を満足させるには、200〜9000000の範囲の重量分子量分布を示し、数千の低分子量と数十万の高分子量の両方において、それぞれピーク分布を有する樹脂が好ましい。   As the binder resin used in the nonmagnetic one-component pulverized toner 20 according to the present invention, a resin mainly composed of a general thermoplastic resin which is well known and has good fixability, for example, a polyester resin, a polystyrene resin, Examples thereof include a styrene acrylic copolymer resin, an epoxy resin, a vinyl chloride resin, a vinyl acetate resin and the like, and a resin having a main component of a mixture or two or more copolymer resins. In particular, when a styrene-acrylic copolymer resin is used as a binder resin, the charge control agent is excellent in compatibility when a charge control agent based on a similar copolymer resin is used, and prevents the charge control agent from being detached after repeated use of the toner. It is preferable because it is effective. For example, in the case of a styrene acrylic copolymer resin, in order to satisfy both good fixability and offset resistance of the toner, a weight molecular weight distribution in the range of 200 to 9000000 is shown, thousands of low molecular weights and hundreds of thousands of A resin having a peak distribution in both high molecular weights is preferred.

スチレン−アクリル共重合樹脂をベースとする粉砕トナーは前記ポリエステル樹脂をベースとするトナーに比べて低価格である点と、より高画質が得られる点で優れているが、トナーの耐久性の点で劣っている。しかし、前者のスチレン−アクリル共重合樹脂をベースとするトナーの方が後者のポリエステル樹脂をベースとするトナーより、本発明により得られる効果が大きく、その低価格、高画質という特長を活かす上でメリットが大きい。   The pulverized toner based on the styrene-acrylic copolymer resin is superior to the polyester resin-based toner in that it is less expensive and has higher image quality. It is inferior. However, the former toner based on the styrene-acrylic copolymer resin is more effective than the latter toner based on the polyester resin, so that the advantages of the low price and high image quality can be obtained. The benefits are great.

図1に示す画像形成装置は、現像装置(現像ユニット)100とドラムユニット200を現像ローラ4と感光体ドラム6とが対向するように組み合わせたところを示す要部断面図である。   The image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a principal part showing a developing device (developing unit) 100 and a drum unit 200 combined so that the developing roller 4 and the photosensitive drum 6 face each other.

現像装置(現像ユニット)100はトナー容器部1とトナー攪拌翼2と供給ローラ3と現像ローラ4とステンレススチールなどの導電性部材からなる層厚規制ブレード5とを備える。供給ローラ3と現像ローラ4と層厚規制ブレード5に印加される直流電圧については、それぞれいわゆる電気回路図記号を用いて図1に示した。供給ローラ3と層厚規制ブレード5には好ましくは同電位が印加される。トナー容器部1とトナー攪拌翼2には直流電圧が印加されない。トナー容器部1は、内部にトナー20とトナー攪拌器2を備え、トナー20が凝集しないように攪拌すると共に、供給ローラ3、現像ローラ4側に面して開口部を有し、この開口部からトナー20を供給ローラ3ヘ送り出す機能を有する。トナー攪拌器2は前記トナー容器部1内にあり、前記供給ローラ3、現像ローラ4、層厚規制ブレード5等はトナー容器部1の前記開口部の外側にある。   The developing device (developing unit) 100 includes a toner container portion 1, a toner stirring blade 2, a supply roller 3, a developing roller 4, and a layer thickness regulating blade 5 made of a conductive member such as stainless steel. The DC voltages applied to the supply roller 3, the developing roller 4, and the layer thickness regulating blade 5 are shown in FIG. 1 using so-called electric circuit diagram symbols. The same potential is preferably applied to the supply roller 3 and the layer thickness regulating blade 5. A DC voltage is not applied to the toner container portion 1 and the toner stirring blade 2. The toner container portion 1 includes a toner 20 and a toner stirrer 2 therein, and stirs the toner 20 so that the toner 20 does not aggregate. The toner container portion 1 has an opening facing the supply roller 3 and the developing roller 4 side. From the toner 20 to the supply roller 3. The toner agitator 2 is in the toner container 1, and the supply roller 3, the developing roller 4, the layer thickness regulating blade 5, etc. are outside the opening of the toner container 1.

ドラムユニット200は感光体ドラム6と帯電器7を備える。さらに前記感光体ドラム6の外周には該ユニット外の露光装置8、転写装置等9などの電子写真プロセス部材が配置され、その他に定着装置10等を備えることにより画像形成装置が構成される。前記感光体ドラム6としては、正帯電用の単層感光層が形成された感光体ドラムが好ましいが、正帯電用であれば、単層感光層でなくともよい。正帯電装置7としては、コロトロン、スコロトロン、帯電ローラ等があるが、低コストで信頼性の高いスコロトロン帯電装置が好ましい。   The drum unit 200 includes a photosensitive drum 6 and a charger 7. Furthermore, an electrophotographic process member such as an exposure device 8 and a transfer device 9 outside the unit is disposed on the outer periphery of the photosensitive drum 6, and an image forming apparatus is configured by including a fixing device 10 and the like. The photosensitive drum 6 is preferably a photosensitive drum on which a single-layer photosensitive layer for positive charging is formed. However, it may not be a single-layer photosensitive layer for positive charging. Examples of the positive charging device 7 include a corotron, a scorotron, a charging roller, and the like. A low-cost and highly reliable scorotron charging device is preferable.

図1では現像装置(現像ユニット)100とドラムユニット200とがそれぞれ分離されたユニットとしたが、現像ユニットとドラムユニットが実質的に一ユニットとして一体化されたものであってもよい。また、図示はしないが、現像装置(現像ユニット)100中のトナー容器部1を分離して取り外しが可能なトナーカートリッジとしてもよい。本発明にかかるトナー容器部1の頂部には蓋1aがあって、容器部頂部の全体が開口可能にされているが、開閉可能な窓状の小さい開口部であってもよい。   In FIG. 1, the developing device (developing unit) 100 and the drum unit 200 are separated from each other. However, the developing unit and the drum unit may be substantially integrated as one unit. Although not shown, the toner container 1 in the developing device (developing unit) 100 may be separated and removed as a toner cartridge. The top of the toner container portion 1 according to the present invention has a lid 1a and the entire top of the container portion can be opened, but may be a small window-like opening that can be opened and closed.

本発明にかかる現像装置100は、感光体ドラム6の外周に配置される正帯電装置7、露光装置8、転写装置9、紙粉除去装置11等と共に電子写真プロセス機能を感光体ドラム6の回転と共に順に奏することにより、画像形成が行われ、定着装置10を介して用紙に記録されて出力される。   The developing device 100 according to the present invention performs the electrophotographic process function together with the positive charging device 7, the exposure device 8, the transfer device 9, the paper dust removing device 11, and the like disposed on the outer periphery of the photosensitive drum 6. In addition, the image is formed in order and recorded on a sheet via the fixing device 10 and output.

トナー20は、スチレン−アクリル共重合樹脂からなるベースレジン微粒子をトナー母材として、この母材表面に電荷制御剤、着色剤、シリカなどが均一に固着されて形成されている。このトナー20は攪拌器2により供給ローラ3に運ばれ、供給ローラ3の矢印方向(図1)の回転により現像ローラ4との接触部へ搬送され、現像ローラ4側に送られる。前記供給ローラ3はトナー20をスポンジ状の凹凸表面に保持してその回転により搬送する。この供給ローラ3には当初は現像ローラ4と同電位の直流電圧Aが印加される。その理由は、供給ローラ3への印加電圧値が現像ローラ4への印加電圧値Bより低いと供給ローラ3から現像ローラ4へのトナー20の搬送が抑制されトナーの必要量が足りなくなり、高いと搬送量、帯電量は多くなるが、劣化トナー発生の原因にもなるなど、いずれの場合も画像品質の点から好ましくないからである。前述のトナー20の搬送が少ない場合は、具体的には現像に必要なトナー20量が足りなくなってベタ黒画像濃度の不均一性(ベタ黒が次第にかすれるようになること)が現れる。
ところが、繰り返し使用するうちに次第にトナー容器中のトナーに劣化トナーが増えてくると正常なトナーの比率が下がるので、前記同電位のままではやはり、現像に必要なトナー量が足りなくなり、画像不良が現われるようになる。この場合は、供給ローラ3への印加電圧値Aを現像ローラ4への印加電圧値Bより高くすることにより、前述のように劣化トナーが増加する原因にもなるが、現像に必要なトナー量を確保することを優先させてトナーの帯電量、搬送量を上げて正常なトナー量を確保するのである。しかし、印加電圧Aをあまり高くしすぎると、逆帯電トナー、低帯電トナーなどの劣化トナーによるカブリ画像が現れ易いので、避けなければならない。
The toner 20 is formed by using base resin fine particles made of styrene-acrylic copolymer resin as a toner base material, and a charge control agent, a colorant, silica and the like are uniformly fixed on the surface of the base material. The toner 20 is conveyed to the supply roller 3 by the agitator 2, conveyed to the contact portion with the developing roller 4 by the rotation of the supply roller 3 in the direction of the arrow (FIG. 1), and sent to the developing roller 4 side. The supply roller 3 holds the toner 20 on a sponge-like uneven surface and conveys the toner 20 by its rotation. Initially, a DC voltage A having the same potential as that of the developing roller 4 is applied to the supply roller 3. The reason is that if the applied voltage value to the supply roller 3 is lower than the applied voltage value B to the developing roller 4, the toner 20 is suppressed from being conveyed from the supplying roller 3 to the developing roller 4, and the necessary amount of toner becomes insufficient and high. This is because the transport amount and the charge amount are increased, but it is also not preferable from the viewpoint of image quality in any case such as causing the generation of deteriorated toner. When the above-described toner 20 is transported little, specifically, the amount of toner 20 necessary for development is insufficient, and solid black image density non-uniformity (solid black gradually fades) appears.
However, if the deteriorated toner gradually increases in the toner in the toner container as it is repeatedly used, the ratio of normal toner decreases. Will appear. In this case, by setting the applied voltage value A to the supply roller 3 to be higher than the applied voltage value B to the developing roller 4, the amount of toner required for development may be increased, although this may cause an increase in deteriorated toner as described above. Therefore, priority is given to ensuring the toner amount, and the toner charge amount and transport amount are increased to ensure a normal toner amount. However, if the applied voltage A is too high, a fogged image due to deteriorated toner such as reversely charged toner or lowly charged toner tends to appear, and must be avoided.

次にトナー20が現像ローラ4上で、ブレード状金属弾性体(層厚規制部材)5と現像ローラ4との押圧部に達すると、トナー20は押圧または圧接により現像ローラ4および層厚規制ブレード5から摩擦帯電を受けると共にさらにトナー粒子の二層弱程度の薄層にされた後、図1の矢印方向への回転と共に感光体ドラム6の表面にまで搬送され、そこで静電潜像を可視像化する。この現像ローラ4には所定の正の直流電圧が印加され、トナー20を前記静電潜像における相対的な低電位部である印字部(露光部)に正帯電トナーを適切に転移させる重要な機能を有している(反転現像)ので、その直流電圧値は一定とした方がよい。   Next, when the toner 20 reaches the pressing portion between the blade-shaped metal elastic body (layer thickness regulating member) 5 and the developing roller 4 on the developing roller 4, the toner 20 is pressed or pressed against the developing roller 4 and the layer thickness regulating blade. The toner particles 5 are triboelectrically charged and further thinned to about two layers of toner particles, and are then conveyed to the surface of the photosensitive drum 6 along with the rotation in the direction of the arrow in FIG. Visualize. A predetermined positive direct current voltage is applied to the developing roller 4 to transfer the toner 20 appropriately to the printing portion (exposure portion) which is a relatively low potential portion in the electrostatic latent image. Since it has a function (reversal development), the DC voltage value should be constant.

供給ローラ3はA4用紙用で、直径6mmの金属軸に導電性発泡シリコーン樹脂等のスポンジまたはブラシローラを直径14〜15mmの円柱状または円筒状に形成したものからなり、金属軸に前述した直流電圧Aを印加しながら、図1の矢印で示す方向に回転して、接触する現像ローラ4にトナー20を送り出す。前記発泡シリコーン樹脂は発泡ウレタン樹脂としてもよい。供給ローラ3の表面は発泡性樹脂の場合、スポンジ状表面特有の凹凸状であるので、形状的にもトナーを搬送し易くなる他、スポンジの弾性力がゴムより小さいため、現像ローラ4との接触部における相互の接触摩擦力を回転可能な大きさに抑えることができるので望ましい。現像ローラ4は供給ローラ3との接触部において、適切な速度差で逆方向となるように矢印方向(図1)に回転するので、現像前のトナー20は、両ローラの上側で供給ローラ3から現像ローラ4へ送られ、現像後のトナー20は、現像ローラ4の下側表面上で残留トナーとして供給ローラ3との接触部下部に達すると、供給ローラ3により掻き落とされる。掻き落とされたトナー20はトナー容器部1に戻り、再度攪拌されて再使用される。   The supply roller 3 is for A4 paper. The supply roller 3 is formed by forming a sponge or brush roller of conductive foamed silicone resin or the like on a metal shaft having a diameter of 6 mm in a cylindrical or cylindrical shape having a diameter of 14 to 15 mm. While applying the voltage A, the toner 20 is rotated to the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. The foamed silicone resin may be a foamed urethane resin. When the surface of the supply roller 3 is a foamable resin, it has irregularities peculiar to the sponge-like surface, so that the toner can be easily conveyed in terms of shape, and the elastic force of the sponge is smaller than that of the rubber. It is desirable because the mutual contact friction force at the contact portion can be suppressed to a rotatable size. Since the developing roller 4 rotates in the direction of the arrow (FIG. 1) so as to be in the opposite direction at an appropriate speed difference at the contact portion with the supply roller 3, the toner 20 before development is supplied to the supply roller 3 above both rollers. Then, the developed toner 20 is scraped off by the supply roller 3 when it reaches the lower part of the contact portion with the supply roller 3 as residual toner on the lower surface of the development roller 4. The toner 20 thus scraped off returns to the toner container 1 and is stirred again and reused.

供給ローラと現像ローラへの印加電圧に差を設ける考え方は、現像に必要なトナーの帯電性、搬送量に問題がない場合は両ローラ間に電位差を設けない方が好ましいということをベースとしている。というのは電位差を設けると、むしろ電位差が起因となり劣化トナーを生む頻度が高くなるからである。ところが、通紙枚数が多くなってトナー容器部中のトナーに劣化トナーが多くなると、現像ローラに搬送されるトナーだけでなく劣化トナーも搬送される頻度が高くなる。このような劣化トナーは搬送されたとしても、現像ローラの表面上での摩擦帯電による適正な正帯電を受けられ難く、有効な現像トナーにはなり得ず、感光体ドラムの未露光部に付着してカブリの原因となる。それだけでなく、感光体ドラム表面の近くに搬送された劣化トナーは現像ローラ表面での保持力が弱いので、感光体ドラムと現像ローラとの間から下方の用紙上に落下し易いのである。さらに劣化トナーの中に、前述のように逆帯電トナーが含まれると、他のトナー等を引き付けて凝集しやすく、この凝集トナーもまたローラ表面での保持力が弱いので、用紙上に落下することになる。しかし、前述のように劣化トナーの比率が高くなると、現像に必要な正常なトナー量が足りなくなって、画像不良が発生するようになるので、供給ローラへの印加電圧Aを現像ローラへの印加電圧Bより高くして低帯電トナーの帯電量を上げて劣化トナーを少なくするのである。このとき、供給ローラと導電性層厚規制ブレードとが同電位にされていると、層厚規制ブレードと現像ローラとの間にも電位差が生じ、トナーへの帯電量が増加して好ましい。また、導電性層厚規制ブレードへのトナーのフィルミング防止効果も得られるので、さらに好ましい。   The idea of providing a difference in the voltage applied to the supply roller and the developing roller is based on the fact that it is preferable not to provide a potential difference between the two rollers when there is no problem in the chargeability and transport amount of the toner necessary for development. . This is because if a potential difference is provided, the frequency of the deteriorated toner is increased due to the potential difference. However, when the number of sheets to be passed increases and the amount of deteriorated toner increases in the toner in the toner container, the frequency of not only the toner conveyed to the developing roller but also the deteriorated toner increases. Even if such deteriorated toner is conveyed, it is difficult to receive proper positive charging due to frictional charging on the surface of the developing roller, and it cannot be an effective developing toner, and adheres to an unexposed portion of the photosensitive drum. And cause fogging. In addition, since the deteriorated toner conveyed near the surface of the photosensitive drum has a weak holding force on the surface of the developing roller, it easily falls onto the lower sheet from between the photosensitive drum and the developing roller. Further, when the reversely charged toner is included in the deteriorated toner as described above, the toner easily attracts and aggregates with other toner, and the aggregated toner also has a weak holding force on the roller surface, and thus falls on the paper. It will be. However, as described above, when the ratio of the deteriorated toner increases, the amount of normal toner necessary for development becomes insufficient and an image defect occurs. Therefore, the application voltage A to the supply roller is applied to the development roller. By increasing the charge amount of the low-charged toner to be higher than the voltage B, the deteriorated toner is reduced. At this time, it is preferable that the supply roller and the conductive layer thickness regulating blade have the same potential, because a potential difference also occurs between the layer thickness regulating blade and the developing roller, and the charge amount to the toner increases. Further, it is more preferable because an effect of preventing toner filming on the conductive layer thickness regulating blade can be obtained.

現像ローラ4はA4用紙用で、直径6mmの金属軸に直径20mmになるように導電性処理されたシリコンゴムを巻き付け、表面にテフロン(登録商標)あるいはウレタンコート処理することにより所望の特性を得ている。直径は16mm〜24mmなどから適宜選択することができる。この現像ローラ4の金属軸にも前述のように供給ローラ3と同電位正の直流電圧Bが印加される。   The developing roller 4 is for A4 paper, and a desired property is obtained by winding a 6 mm diameter metal shaft with a conductive silicon rubber having a diameter of 20 mm and treating the surface with Teflon (registered trademark) or urethane coating. ing. The diameter can be appropriately selected from 16 mm to 24 mm. A positive DC voltage B having the same potential as that of the supply roller 3 is also applied to the metal shaft of the developing roller 4 as described above.

トナー補給をした場合の、現像ローラへの印加電圧に対する供給ローラへの印加電圧の増加方法および画像品質との関係とについて説明する。   A method of increasing the voltage applied to the supply roller with respect to the voltage applied to the developing roller and the relationship with the image quality when toner is supplied will be described.

非磁性一成分の正帯電粉砕トナーを用いたクリーナレス現像方法についての一般的な欠点としては、前述のように現像ユニットの寿命が短いことがあげられる。その原因は、未転写トナーが現像ユニットに回収され再利用されるため、繰り返し印字によって現像ユニット内部に劣化トナーが蓄積されやすく、次第に劣化トナーの比率が増加してトナーの帯電性や搬送性が悪くなって画質の低下を招き易いためである。そこで、予め、画像劣化が現れる前に、所定通紙(印刷)枚数(A4)が終わると、トナー容器部の頂部の蓋を開けて新規外部トナーが補給される。ところが、トナー補給後、しばらくの間、劣化画像が生じるという問題が発生することが分かった。そこで、トナー補給後の通紙枚数と画像品質との関係を調べた。その結果、トナー補給直後、しばらくの間、供給ローラへの印加電圧を増加すれば、導電性層厚規制ブレードによるトナーへの帯電量増加効果も加わって画像劣化が解消されることが分かった。供給ローラへの印加電圧の増加と画像品質との関係を調べた。   A general drawback of the cleanerless development method using a non-magnetic one-component positively charged pulverized toner is that the life of the development unit is short as described above. The cause is that untransferred toner is collected and reused in the developing unit, so that it is easy to accumulate deteriorated toner in the developing unit by repeated printing, and the ratio of deteriorated toner gradually increases, and the chargeability and transportability of the toner are increased. This is because the image quality deteriorates and the image quality is likely to deteriorate. Therefore, when the predetermined number of sheets (printed) (A4) is completed before the image deterioration appears, the top of the toner container is opened and new external toner is supplied. However, it has been found that there is a problem that a deteriorated image is generated for a while after toner replenishment. Therefore, the relationship between the number of sheets passed after toner replenishment and the image quality was examined. As a result, it was found that if the voltage applied to the supply roller is increased for a while immediately after the replenishment of toner, the effect of increasing the charge amount to the toner by the conductive layer thickness regulating blade is also added and the image deterioration is eliminated. The relationship between the increase in applied voltage to the supply roller and the image quality was investigated.

市販の非磁性一成分正帯電現像方式のプリンターをベースにして、本発明の現像装置を組み込んだ装置を用い、トナー消費量が3分の2になるまで、通紙して印刷を行った現像装置について新規外部トナーを補給し、その直後に、供給ローラのへの印加電圧を0ボルトから400ボルトの範囲で現像ローラより増加させ、画像品質との関係を調べたところ、下記表1に示す結果が得られた。   Development using a non-magnetic one-component positively charged developing type printer based on a commercially available printer and incorporating the developing device of the present invention until the toner consumption is reduced to two-thirds. A new external toner was replenished to the apparatus, and immediately after that, the voltage applied to the supply roller was increased from the developing roller in the range of 0 to 400 volts, and the relationship with the image quality was examined. Results were obtained.

Figure 2005308900
Figure 2005308900

前述のような感光体ドラムと現像ローラとの間に搬送されてきた劣化トナーによる用紙上への落下またはカブリ画像を防ぐには、表1に示すように、供給ローラへの印加電圧を現像ローラの電圧に対して50ボルト以上上げるとよいことが分かった。50ボルト未満ではトナー落ちがあるという結果であった。50ボルト以上上げると、供給ローラと現像ローラ表面において、正常なトナーへの帯電量の増加またはトナーの搬送性が増すため、トナー落ちが無くなるものと思われる。しかし、前記両ローラ間の電位差を高くし過ぎると、たとえば、400ボルトより大きくし過ぎると、トナー落ちはなくなるが、電位差に起因する電気的な劣化トナーの発生が多くなり、カブリ画像の原因になることがあるので、避けなければならないこともわかった。   In order to prevent the deteriorated toner conveyed between the photosensitive drum and the developing roller from falling on the sheet or fogging image as described above, as shown in Table 1, the voltage applied to the supply roller is set to the developing roller. It has been found that it is better to increase the voltage by 50 volts or more. When the voltage was less than 50 volts, the toner was dropped. When the voltage is increased by 50 volts or more, it is considered that the toner drop does not occur because the charge amount to the normal toner increases or the toner transportability increases on the surfaces of the supply roller and the developing roller. However, if the potential difference between the two rollers is too high, for example, if it is greater than 400 volts, toner drop will not occur, but the occurrence of electrically deteriorated toner due to the potential difference will increase, causing fogging images. I also found that I have to avoid it.

通常、前述のように、新規現像装置を使用する場合、通紙(印刷)枚数(A4)10000〜20000枚を終えた時点で、供給ローラへの印加電圧を前記所定の電圧以上に上げても、なお画像品質を良好に保てない場合は、トナー容器部へ外部から新規トナーを補給することになる。このように新規外部トナーをトナー容器部に補給するということは、トナー容器部内に、それまでのトナーが当初のトナー量の3分の1程度が残留トナーとして残っている状態で新規外部トナーを補給することである。しかも、この残留トナーは劣化トナーの含まれる比率が高く、前述のように画像品質を良好に保てないから補給したのである。従って、残留トナー中の劣化トナーをそのままにして新規トナーを補給することにより、いわば、劣化トナーの濃度を薄めて再度の使用を可能とするものと言える。   Normally, as described above, when a new developing device is used, the applied voltage to the supply roller may be increased to the predetermined voltage or higher when the number of passed (printed) sheets (A4) is 10000 to 20000. If the image quality cannot be maintained satisfactorily, new toner is supplied to the toner container from the outside. Replenishing the toner container with the new external toner in this way means that the new external toner is placed in the toner container in a state where about one third of the original toner amount remains as the residual toner. It is to replenish. Moreover, since the residual toner has a high ratio of the deteriorated toner, the image quality cannot be kept good as described above. Therefore, it can be said that by replenishing the new toner while leaving the deteriorated toner in the residual toner as it is, the concentration of the deteriorated toner is reduced and the toner can be used again.

なお、前述のように、供給ローラへの印加電圧を50ボルト以上、400ボルト未満の範囲で増加して得られる画像劣化の抑制効果は、新規トナーを補給した直後であって、未だ、新規補給トナーと残留トナーが充分に攪拌されるまでの間、すなわち、供給ローラと現像ローラ表面上およびその近傍に、未だ残留トナーが多く残っている間で顕著である。前記両トナーが相互に充分攪拌された後はほとんど必要性がなくなるのである。前記両トナーが相互に充分攪拌されるに必要な期間は通紙枚数が約10枚〜30枚である。従って、この期間後は、供給ローラへの印加電圧を、トナーの電気的な劣化の観点からは、現像ローラへの印加電圧と同電位に戻すことが好ましい。しかし、通常は、電気的な劣化以外の、機械的な摩擦などによる劣化トナーの増加もあるので、トナー補給後は印加電圧Aを印加電圧Bより、高くすることが好ましい。   As described above, the image deterioration suppression effect obtained by increasing the applied voltage to the supply roller in the range of 50 volts or more and less than 400 volts is immediately after the new toner is replenished. This is conspicuous until the toner and the residual toner are sufficiently stirred, that is, while a large amount of residual toner still exists on and near the surfaces of the supply roller and the developing roller. After both the toners are sufficiently stirred together, there is almost no necessity. The period required for the two toners to be sufficiently stirred together is about 10 to 30 sheets. Therefore, after this period, the voltage applied to the supply roller is preferably returned to the same potential as the voltage applied to the developing roller from the viewpoint of electrical deterioration of the toner. However, since there is usually an increase in deteriorated toner due to mechanical friction other than electrical deterioration, it is preferable to make the applied voltage A higher than the applied voltage B after toner replenishment.

本発明の現像装置を含む電子写真方式の非磁性一成分画像形成装置の概略断面図である。1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an electrophotographic non-magnetic one-component image forming apparatus including a developing device of the present invention.

符号の説明Explanation of symbols

1 トナー容器部
3 供給ローラ
4 現像ローラ
5 層厚規制部材(層厚規制ブレード)
6 感光体(感光体ドラム)
20 トナー
100 現像装置
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Toner container part 3 Supply roller 4 Developing roller 5 Layer thickness control member (Layer thickness control blade)
6 Photoconductor (Photoconductor drum)
20 toner 100 developing device

Claims (4)

非磁性一成分トナーを用いる現像方式による現像装置であって、少なくとも新規外部トナーの補給可能な構造を有するトナー容器部と供給ローラと現像ローラと層厚規制部材とを備え、前記供給ローラは前記トナー容器部中のトナーを供給ローラ表面に保持し供給ローラの回転により前記現像ローラに運び、前記現像ローラは前記供給ローラから受けた前記トナーを、前記現像ローラと層厚規制部材との間の摩擦帯電により帯電し現像ローラ表面に保持すると共に薄層化した後、現像ローラの回転により感光体表面との接触面に搬送し、該感光体表面の静電潜像を可視像化する機構を備える現像装置において、供給ローラへの印加電圧をA、現像ローラへの印加電圧をBとしたとき、トナー補給後、所定の印刷枚数を処理する間、前記供給ローラへの印加電圧Aを前記現像ローラへの印加電圧Bより、50ボルト以上高く設定する機構を備えることを特徴とする現像装置。   A developing device using a developing method using non-magnetic one-component toner, comprising at least a toner container having a structure capable of supplying new external toner, a supply roller, a developing roller, and a layer thickness regulating member, wherein the supply roller The toner in the toner container is held on the surface of the supply roller and is carried to the developing roller by rotation of the supply roller. The developing roller receives the toner received from the supply roller between the developing roller and the layer thickness regulating member. A mechanism that is charged by frictional charging and held on the surface of the developing roller and thinned, and then transported to a contact surface with the surface of the photosensitive member by rotation of the developing roller to visualize the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive member. In the developing apparatus, when the applied voltage to the supply roller is A and the applied voltage to the development roller is B, the supply roller is processed while a predetermined number of printed sheets are processed after toner replenishment. Than the applied voltage B of the applied voltage A to La to the developer roller, a developing device, characterized in that it comprises a mechanism for setting high 50 volts or more. 前記所定の印刷枚数をA4用紙で10枚乃至30枚とすることを特徴とする請求項1記載の現像装置。   2. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined number of printed sheets is 10 to 30 sheets of A4 paper. 現像方式が、未転写トナーを現像工程で回収して再利用するクリーナレス現像方式であることを特徴とする請求項1または2記載の現像装置。   3. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the developing system is a cleanerless developing system in which untransferred toner is collected and reused in a developing process. トナーがスチレン−アクリル共重合樹脂をベースレジンとすることを特徴とする請求項1乃至3のいずれか一項に記載の現像装置。   The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the toner uses a styrene-acrylic copolymer resin as a base resin.
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Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20120155901A1 (en) * 2010-12-20 2012-06-21 Canon Finetech Inc. Image forming apparatus

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20120155901A1 (en) * 2010-12-20 2012-06-21 Canon Finetech Inc. Image forming apparatus
US9110405B2 (en) * 2010-12-20 2015-08-18 Canon Finetech Inc. Image forming apparatus having a developer install mode

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