JP2006133369A - Liquid developing device, image forming apparatus and image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent dislocation of a developer supply roller in an axial direction thereof. <P>SOLUTION: A liquid developing device is provided which comprises: a developer carrier for carrying a liquid developer; a developer supply roller having a spiral groove in a surface thereof for supplying the liquid developer to the developer carrier; a pressing member which presses the surface of the developer supply roller; and a first spiral gear attached to one end of the developer supply roller in an axial direction thereof to rotate the developer supply roller, wherein the spiral direction of the tooth trace of the first spiral gear is reverse to the spiral direction of the spiral groove and reverse to the spiral direction of the tooth trace of a second spiral gear engaged with the first spiral gear. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid developing device, an image forming apparatus, and an image forming system.

As an image forming apparatus, for example, there is a printer having an image carrier for carrying a latent image and a liquid developing device for developing the latent image carried on the image carrier.
The liquid developing apparatus includes a developer carrier for carrying a liquid developer, a developer supply roller for supplying the developer carrier to the developer carrier, and the surface of the developer supply roller. And a pressing member that is pressing. The developer supply roller is rotated by a gear provided on one end side in the axial direction.
JP-A-11-153906

By the way, the above-described developer supply roller is provided with a spiral groove on the surface thereof from the viewpoint of appropriately supplying the liquid developer to the developer carrier.
However, when the developer supply roller has a spiral groove on the surface, a part of the pressing force of the pressing member that presses the surface of the developer supply roller acts in the axial direction of the developer supply roller. However, the developer supply roller may be displaced in the axial direction.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object thereof is to prevent the developer supply roller from being displaced in the axial direction.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a main aspect of the present invention is to provide a developer carrier for carrying a liquid developer, a spiral groove on the surface thereof, and supply the liquid developer to the developer carrier. A developer supply roller, a pressing member pressing the surface of the developer supply roller, and a first end side in the axial direction of the developer supply roller for rotating the developer supply roller. One is a helical gear, and the twisting direction of the tooth stripe is opposite to the twisting direction of the groove, and the first helical gear meshes with the second helical gear. And a first helical gear having a direction opposite to the twist direction.

  Other features of the present invention will become apparent from the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

  At least the following will be made clear by the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

A developer carrying member for carrying a liquid developer, a spiral groove on the surface thereof, a developer supply roller for supplying the developer to the developer carrying member, and a developer supply roller A pressing member that presses the surface and a first helical gear provided on one end side in the axial direction of the developer supply roller for rotating the developer supply roller. The first helical screw whose twisting direction is opposite to the twisting direction of the groove and that is opposite to the twisting direction of the second helical gear meshing with the first helical gear. And a liquid gear.
According to such a liquid developing device, since the force acting in the axial direction of the developer supply roller is reduced as a whole, the developer supply roller having a spiral groove pressed against the pressing member. , The developer supply roller can be prevented from shifting in the axial direction.

Further, in this liquid developing device, the developer supply roller includes a spiral groove extending from one end side to the other end side in the axial direction, and the pressing member is in the axial direction of the developer supply roller. The surface of the developer supply roller may be pressed from one end side to the other end side.
In such a case, when the developer supply roller rotates, the developer supply roller is likely to be displaced in the axial direction. Therefore, when the developer supply roller includes the groove and the pressing member is in contact with the surface of the developer supply roller from one end side to the other end side in the axial direction, The effect of preventing the developer supply roller from shifting in the axial direction due to the provision of the gears is more effectively exhibited.

  Further, in this liquid developing device, the pressing member is a regulating member that abuts on the surface of the developer supply roller and regulates the amount of the liquid developer on the developer supply roller. Also good.

In the liquid developing device, the groove may be formed by cutting the surface of the developer supply roller.
In such a case, the size of the groove can be managed with high accuracy.

Further, in this liquid developing device, the developer supply roller has a cylindrical base material and a wire wound around the cylindrical base material, and the groove is formed by an adjacent portion of the wire. It may be formed.
In such a case, the groove can be easily formed.

In the liquid developing apparatus, the second helical gear may be provided on one end side in the longitudinal direction of the developer carrier, and the developer carrier may be rotated.
In such a case, the second helical gear functions to rotate the developer carrier, and the first helical gear transmits the force to prevent the developer supply roller from shifting in the axial direction. Therefore, the number of parts can be reduced, and the liquid developing device can be downsized.

  In the liquid developing device, the liquid developer may be a non-Newtonian fluid.

A developer carrying member for carrying the liquid developer; a developer supply roller for supplying a liquid developer to the developer carrying member provided with a spiral groove on a surface thereof; and the developer supply. A pressing member that presses the surface of the roller; and a first helical gear that is provided on one end side in the axial direction of the developer supply roller and rotates the developer supply roller. The first twisting direction of the stripe is opposite to the twisting direction of the groove, and the first helical gear meshes with the first helical gear and the second helical gear is opposite to the twisting direction of the tooth stripe. A helical gear, and the developer supply roller includes a spiral groove extending from one end side to the other end side in the axial direction, and the pressing member is in the axial direction of the developer supply roller. The surface of the developer supply roller is pressed from one end side to the other end side of The member is a regulating member that contacts the surface of the developer supply roller to regulate the amount of the liquid developer on the developer supply roller, and the groove cuts the surface of the developer supply roller. The developer supply roller has a cylindrical base material and a wire wound around the cylindrical base material, and the groove is formed by an adjacent portion of the wire. The second helical gear is formed on one end side in the longitudinal direction of the developer carrier, rotates the developer carrier, and the liquid developer is a non-Newtonian fluid. A liquid developing apparatus characterized by the above.
According to such a liquid developing device, the effect that the deviation of the developer supply roller in the axial direction can be prevented is most effectively achieved.

An image carrier for carrying a latent image, and a liquid developing device for developing the latent image carried on the image carrier, the developer carrier for carrying a liquid developer, A developer supply roller for supplying a liquid developer to the developer carrying member, a pressing member pressing the surface of the developer supply roller, and the development A first helical gear provided on one end side in the axial direction of the agent supply roller for rotating the developer supply roller, wherein the twisting direction of the tooth stripe is opposite to the twisting direction of the groove And the first helical gear that is in a direction opposite to the twist direction of the tooth lines of the second helical gear meshing with the first helical gear. An image forming apparatus.
According to such an image forming apparatus, it is possible to prevent the developer supply roller from being displaced in the axial direction.

A computer, and an image forming apparatus connectable to the computer, an image carrier for carrying a latent image, and a liquid developing device for developing the latent image carried on the image carrier A developer carrying member for carrying a liquid developer, a spiral groove on the surface thereof, a developer supply roller for supplying the liquid developer to the developer carrying member, and the development A pressing member pressing the surface of the developer supply roller, and a first helical gear provided on one end side in the axial direction of the developer supply roller, for rotating the developer supply roller, The twisting direction of the tooth stripe is opposite to the twisting direction of the groove, and the first helical gear meshing with the helical gear is opposite to the twisting direction of the tooth stripe of the second helical gear. A first helical gear, and a liquid developing device having Image forming system, characterized in that provided with the image forming apparatus, was e.
According to such an image forming system, it is possible to prevent the developer supply roller from being displaced in the axial direction.

=== Overview of Image Forming Apparatus ===
Next, a configuration example and an operation example will be described using a laser beam printer (hereinafter also referred to as a printer) 10 as an example of the image forming apparatus with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating main components constituting the printer 10. In FIG. 1, the vertical direction is indicated by arrows. For example, the developing units 50Y, 50M, 50C, and 50K are arranged in the lower part of the printer 10, and the intermediate transfer member 70 is arranged in the upper part of the printer 10. Is arranged.

<Configuration of Printer 10>
As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 10 according to the present embodiment includes four developing units 15Y, 15M, 15C, and 15K, an intermediate transfer member 70, a secondary transfer unit 80, and a fixing unit (not shown). The display unit includes a liquid crystal panel that serves as an informing means for the user, and a control unit 100 (FIG. 2) that controls these units and operates as a printer.

  The developing units 15Y, 15M, 15C, and 15K have a function of developing a latent image with a yellow (Y) developer, a magenta (M) developer, a cyan (C) developer, and a black (K) developer, respectively. ing. Since the developing units 15Y, 15M, 15C, and 15K have the same configuration, the developing unit 15Y will be described below.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the developing unit 15Y includes a charging unit 30Y, an exposure unit 40Y, a yellow developing unit 50Y, a primary transfer unit 60Y, and a charge eliminating unit 73Y along the rotation direction of a photoconductor 20Y as an example of an image carrier. And a photoreceptor cleaning unit 75Y.

  The photoreceptor 20Y has a cylindrical base material and a photosensitive layer formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof, and is rotatable about a central axis. In the present embodiment, as shown by an arrow in FIG. Rotate clockwise. The charging unit 30Y is a device for charging the photoconductor 20Y, and the exposure unit 40Y is a device for forming a latent image on the photoconductor 20Y charged by irradiating a laser. The exposure unit 40Y has a semiconductor laser, a polygon mirror, an F-θ lens, and the like, and charges the modulated laser based on an image signal input from a host computer (not shown) such as a personal computer or a word processor. Irradiation is performed on the photoconductor 20Y.

  The yellow developing unit 50Y is a device for developing a latent image formed on the photoreceptor 20Y using a yellow (Y) developer. Details of the yellow developing unit 50Y will be described later.

  The primary transfer unit 60Y is a device for transferring the yellow developer image formed on the photoreceptor 20Y to the intermediate transfer body 70. When the four color developers are sequentially transferred by the primary transfer units 60Y, 60M, 60C, and 60K, a full color developer image is formed on the intermediate transfer member 70. The intermediate transfer member 70 is an endless belt stretched around a plurality of support rollers, and is driven to rotate while contacting the photoreceptors 20Y, 20M, 20C, and 20K. The secondary transfer unit 80 is a device for transferring a single color developer image or a full color developer image formed on the intermediate transfer body 70 to a medium such as paper, film, or cloth.

  The neutralization unit 73Y is a device that removes residual charges on the photoreceptor 20Y after the developer image is transferred onto the intermediate transfer body 70 by the primary transfer unit 60Y. The photosensitive member cleaning unit 75Y has a rubber photosensitive member cleaning blade 76Y that is in contact with the surface of the photosensitive member 20Y. After the developer image is transferred onto the intermediate transfer member 70 by the primary transfer unit 60Y, the photosensitive member cleaning unit 75Y is photosensitive. This is a device for scraping and removing the developer remaining on the body 20Y by the photoreceptor cleaning blade 76Y.

  A fixing unit (not shown) is a device for fusing a single color developer image or a full color developer image transferred onto a medium onto a medium such as paper to form a permanent image. As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 100 includes a main controller 101 and a unit controller 102. An image signal and a control signal are input to the main controller 101, and in response to a command based on the image signal and the control signal. A unit controller 102 controls each of the units and forms an image.

<Operation of Printer 10>
Next, the operation of the printer 10 configured as described above will be described with reference to other components. First, when an image signal and a control signal from a host computer (not shown) are input to the main controller 101 of the printer 10 via the interface (I / F) 112, the unit controller 102 based on a command from the main controller 101. Under the control, the photoconductors 20Y, 20M, 20C, and 20K, the developing rollers (described later) provided in the developing units 50Y, 50M, 50C, and 50K, the intermediate transfer body 70, and the like rotate. The photoconductors 20Y, 20M, 20C, and 20K are sequentially charged by the charging units 30Y, 30M, 30C, and 30K at the charging positions while rotating.

  The charged regions of the photoconductors 20Y, 20M, 20C, and 20K reach the exposure position as the photoconductors 20Y, 20M, 20C, and 20K rotate, and are exposed to yellow Y and magenta by the exposure units 40Y, 40M, 40C, and 40K. A latent image corresponding to the image information of M, cyan C, and black K is formed in the area. The latent images formed on the photoreceptors 20Y, 20M, 20C, and 20K reach the development position as the photoreceptors 20Y, 20M, 20C, and 20K rotate, and are developed by the development units 50Y, 50M, 50C, and 50K. . As a result, developer images are formed on the photoreceptors 20Y, 20M, 20C, and 20K.

  The developer images formed on the photoconductors 20Y, 20M, 20C, and 20K reach the primary transfer position as the photoconductors 20Y, 20M, 20C, and 20K rotate, and are transferred by the primary transfer units 60Y, 60M, 60C, and 60K. Then, it is transferred to the intermediate transfer body 70. At this time, a primary transfer voltage having a polarity opposite to the charging polarity of the developer is applied to the primary transfer units 60Y, 60M, 60C, and 60K. As a result, the four color developer images formed on the respective photoconductors 20Y, 20M, 20C, and 20K are transferred to overlap with the intermediate transfer member 70, and a full color developer image is formed on the intermediate transfer member 70. Is done.

  The full color developer image formed on the intermediate transfer member 70 reaches the secondary transfer position as the intermediate transfer member 70 rotates, and is transferred to the medium by the secondary transfer unit 80. The medium is transported from a paper feed tray (not shown) to the secondary transfer unit 80 via various rollers (the arrows in FIG. 1 indicate the transport direction of the medium). When performing the transfer operation, the secondary transfer unit 80 is pressed against the intermediate transfer body 70 and a secondary transfer voltage is applied.

  The full color developer image transferred to the medium is heated and pressed by the fixing unit and fused to the medium. Thereby, a full color image is formed on the medium. On the other hand, the photoreceptors 20Y, 20M, 20C, and 20K are neutralized by the neutralization units 73Y, 73M, 73C, and 73K after passing the primary transfer position, and are further supported by the photoreceptor cleaning units 75Y, 75M, 75C, and 75K. The developer adhering to the surface is scraped off by the photoconductor cleaning blades 76Y, 76M, 76C, and 76K to prepare for charging to form the next latent image. The developer that has been scraped off is collected in a remaining developer collecting section provided in the photoreceptor cleaning units 75Y, 75M, 75C, and 75K.

=== Overview of Control Unit ===
Next, the configuration of the control unit 100 will be described with reference to FIG. The main controller 101 of the control unit 100 is connected to a host computer via an interface 112 and includes an image memory 113 for storing image signals input from the host computer.

  The unit controller 102 includes units (charging units 30Y, 30M, 30C, and 30K, exposure units 40Y, 40M, 40C, and 40K, developing units 50Y, 50M, 50C, and 50K, primary transfer units 60Y, 60M, and 60C, and the like. 60K, static elimination units 73Y, 73M, 73C, 73K, photoconductor cleaning units 75Y, 75M, 75C, 75K, secondary transfer unit 80, fixing unit, display unit), and signals from sensors included in these , Each unit is controlled based on a signal input from the main controller 101 while detecting the state of each unit.

=== Overview of Development Unit ===
Next, a configuration example and an operation example of the developing unit will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing main components of the developing unit. FIG. 4 is a conceptual perspective view showing the surface of the developer supply roller 550. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an angle θ formed by the twist direction X1 of the groove 552a and the axial direction X2 of the developer supply roller 550. 6A to 6C are views showing the shapes of grooves provided on the surface of the developer supply roller 550. FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a driving unit of the developing unit. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an angle θ formed by the twist direction X3 of the tooth stripe of the supply roller driving gear 581 and the axial direction X2 of the developer supply roller 550. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the force applied to the developer supply roller 550. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the trail regulation of the regulation blade 560. In FIG. 3, the vertical direction is indicated by arrows as in FIG. 1. For example, the developing roller 510 is above the developer pumping roller 540.

  The printer 10 includes, as developing units, a black developing unit 50K containing black (K) developer, a magenta developing unit 50M containing magenta (M) developer, and a cyan developing unit 50C containing cyan (C) developer. , And a yellow developing unit 50Y containing yellow (Y) developer is provided. Since the configuration and operation of each developing unit are the same, the configuration and operation of the yellow developing unit 50Y will be described below.

<Configuration of development unit 50Y>
The yellow developing unit 50Y includes a developing roller 510 as an example of a developer carrier, a developer container (hereinafter also referred to as a container) 530, a developer pumping roller (hereinafter also referred to as a pumping roller) 540, and a developing unit. An agent supply roller (hereinafter also referred to as a supply roller) 550, a regulating blade 560 as an example of a pressing member, and a developing roller cleaning unit 570 are provided.

  The storage unit 530 stores a developer D for developing the latent image formed on the photoconductor 20Y. The developer D accommodated in the accommodating portion 530 is a low-concentration (about 1 to 2 wt%) and low-viscosity, generally used conventionally, carrier with Isopar (trademark: exon) as a carrier, and is volatile at room temperature. It is not a volatile liquid developer having the property, but a non-volatile liquid developer D having a high concentration and high viscosity and having a non-volatile property at room temperature. That is, the liquid developer D according to the present embodiment contains toner particles made of resin, pigment, etc. having a particle size of about 0.1 to 5 μm in a non-volatile insulating low-viscosity carrier liquid made of paraffin oil or the like. Developer D having a high viscosity (about 100 to 10,000 mPa · s) by being dispersed at a high concentration (about 5 to 40 wt%). The liquid developer D according to the present embodiment is a so-called non-Newtonian fluid. That is, as a result of dispersing the toner particles at a high concentration in the carrier liquid which is a Newtonian fluid, the liquid developer D becomes a fluid having non-Newtonian properties.

  The pumping roller 540 pumps up the developer D stored in the storage unit 530 and conveys it to the supply roller 550. The lower part of the draw-up roller 540 is immersed in the developer D accommodated in the accommodating portion 530, and is separated from the supply roller 550 with a width of about 1 mm.

  Further, the pumping roller 540 can rotate around its central axis, and the central axis is below the rotational central axis of the supply roller 550. The pumping roller 540 rotates in the same direction (clockwise in FIG. 3) as the rotation direction of the supply roller 550 (clockwise in FIG. 3). The pumping roller 540 has a function of pumping up the developer D stored in the storage unit 530 and transporting it to the supply roller 550, and a function of stirring the developer D in order to maintain the developer D in an appropriate state. It also has.

  The supply roller 550 supplies the developer D conveyed by the pumping roller 540 from the storage unit 530 to the developing roller 510. The supply roller 550 is a metallic roller such as iron and has a large diameter portion 552 and a shaft portion 554 as shown in FIG.

  The large-diameter portion 552 is provided with a groove 552a as shown in FIG. 6A uniformly and spirally from one end side to the other end side in the axial direction of the supply roller 550 and subjected to nickel plating. The large diameter portion 552 has a diameter of 25 mm. As shown in FIG. 5, the spiral groove 552a is twisted to the surface of the large-diameter portion 552 so that the acute angle formed by the advance direction X1 of the groove 552a and the axial direction X2 of the supply roller 550 is an angle θ1. Is formed.

  As the groove, a groove having an inverted triangular cross section as shown in FIG. 6B may be provided instead of the groove 552a having a trapezoidal cross section as shown in FIG. 6A, or a semicircular shape as shown in FIG. 6C. You may provide the groove | channel which has these cross sections. As shown in FIG. 6A, the groove dimensions of supply roller 550 in the present embodiment are a groove pitch of about 170 μm, a peak width of about 45 μm, a valley width of about 30 μm, and a groove depth of about 50 μm. The groove 552a is formed by cutting the surface of the supply roller 550 (large diameter portion 552). For example, the groove 552a is formed by cutting the surface of the roller using a lathe equipped with a cutting tool. Therefore, each dimension such as the groove pitch can be managed with high accuracy.

  Further, the surface of the supply roller 550 is in pressure contact with a later-described elastic layer of the development roller 510 in order to appropriately transfer the developer D on the supply roller 550 to the development roller 510. Further, the supply roller 550 is provided such that its axial direction X2 is along the axial direction of the developing roller 510 (see FIG. 7).

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the supply roller 550 is rotatably supported by a shaft portion 554 supported by a frame 586 via a bearing 587. A supply roller drive gear 581 that is an example of a first helical gear for rotating the supply roller 550 is provided on one end side in the axial direction X2 of the supply roller 550. The supply roller drive gear 581 is a cylindrical gear whose tooth stripe is a spiral line, that is, a helical gear. Here, the tooth streak means an intersection line between the tooth surface and the pitch surface. The teeth of the supply roller drive gear 581 are formed such that the acute angle formed by the advancing direction (twist direction) X3 of the teeth (tooth stripe) and the axial direction X2 of the supply roller 550 is an angle θ2. . As shown in FIG. 7, the twist direction X3 of the tooth stripe of the supply roller drive gear 581 is opposite to the twist direction X1 of the groove 552a. Note that the shaft portion 554 of the supply roller 550 is below the rotation center shaft of the developing roller 510. Further, the supply roller 550 rotates in a direction (clockwise in FIG. 3) opposite to the rotation direction of the developing roller 510 (counterclockwise in FIG. 3).

  As shown in FIG. 9, the regulating blade 560 contacts the surface of the supply roller 550 from one end side to the other end side in the axial direction of the supply roller 550 to reduce the amount of the developer D on the supply roller 550. It is a regulating member to regulate. That is, the regulating blade 560 plays a role of scraping off excess developer on the supply roller 550 and measuring the developer D on the supply roller 550 supplied to the development roller 510. The restriction blade 560 is made of urethane rubber as an elastic body, and is supported by a restriction blade support member 562 made of metal such as iron. The rubber hardness of the regulating blade 560 is about 77 degrees according to JIS-A, and the hardness (about 77 degrees) of the contact portion of the regulating blade 560 with the surface of the supply roller 550 is about 77 degrees of the developing roller 510 described later. It is lower than the hardness (about 85 degrees) of the press contact portion of the elastic layer to the surface of the supply roller 550.

  Further, the edge of the regulation blade 560 is in contact with the surface of the supply roller 550 and performs so-called edge regulation. Further, as shown in FIG. 10, the regulation blade 560 is viewed from the contact position where the tip of the regulation blade 560 that contacts the supply roller 550 contacts the supply roller 550. The supply roller 550 is provided so as to face the downstream side in the rotation direction, and performs so-called trail (trailing) regulation. As shown in FIG. 10, in this embodiment, the trail (trailing) angle is about 15 degrees. The regulating blade 560 presses the surface of the supply roller 550 from one end side to the other end side in the axial direction X2 of the supply roller 550.

  As described above, the regulation blade 560 presses the surface of the supply roller 550 on which the spiral groove 552a is formed. Therefore, the direction of the pressing force P applied to the surface from the regulating blade 560 is not a direction orthogonal to the axial direction X2 of the supply roller 550, but a direction orthogonal to the twist direction X1 of the groove 552a as shown in FIG. It is. For this reason, the component P1 along the axial direction X2 of the pressing force P acts on the axial direction X2 of the supply roller 550. This force P1 is a force that moves the supply roller 550 in the axial direction X2.

  The developing roller 510 carries the developer D and conveys it to the developing position facing the photoconductor 20Y in order to develop the latent image carried on the photoconductor 20Y with the developer D. The developing roller 510 includes a conductive elastic layer on the outer peripheral portion of an inner core made of metal such as iron, and has a diameter of about 20 mm. The elastic body layer has a two-layer structure. As the inner layer, urethane rubber having a rubber hardness of about 30 degrees JIS-A and a thickness of about 5 mm is used, and as the surface layer (outer layer), the rubber hardness is JIS. A urethane rubber having a thickness of about 30 μm at about 85 ° A is provided. The developing roller 510 is in pressure contact with each of the supply roller 550 and the photoreceptor 20Y in a state of being elastically deformed with the surface layer serving as a pressure contact portion.

  Further, the developing roller 510 can rotate around its central axis, and the central axis is below the rotational central axis of the photoconductor 20Y. Further, the developing roller 510 rotates in a direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 3) opposite to the rotation direction of the photoreceptor 20Y (clockwise in FIG. 3). When developing the latent image formed on the photoconductor 20Y, an electric field is formed between the developing roller 510 and the photoconductor 20Y.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the developing roller 510 is rotatably supported by a shaft portion 514 supported by a frame 586 via a bearing 588. Further, a developing roller driving gear 582 that is an example of a second helical gear for rotating the developing roller 510 is provided on one end side in the axial direction of the developing roller 510. The developing roller drive gear 582 is a helical gear and meshes with the supply roller drive gear 581. As shown in FIG. 7, the twisting direction X3 of the tooth stripe of the developing roller driving gear 582 is opposite to the twisting direction of the tooth stripe of the supply roller driving gear 581. Further, the developing roller driving gear 582 is meshed with a motor gear 583 which is a helical gear supported by a rotating shaft of a motor 585 which is a driving source. As shown in FIG. 7, the twisting direction of the tooth stripe of the motor gear 583 is opposite to the twisting direction of the tooth stripe of the developing roller drive gear 582.

  Further, when the teeth of the developing roller drive gear 582 come into contact with the supply roller drive gear 581, a force Q is applied to the supply roller drive gear 581 in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the tooth stripe as shown in FIG. Acted. Of this force Q, a component Q1 along the axial direction X2 acts on the teeth of the supply roller drive gear 581. The force Q1 is transmitted to the supply roller 550 via the supply roller drive gear 581. Therefore, the force Q1 is a force that moves the supply roller 550 in the axial direction X2. As shown in FIG. 9, the direction of the force Q1 is opposite to the direction of the force P1.

  The developing roller cleaning unit 570 has a rubber developing roller cleaning blade 571 in contact with the surface of the developing roller 510, and the developer D remaining on the developing roller 510 after development is performed at the developing position. Is scraped off by the developing roller cleaning blade 571 and removed.

<Operation of Development Unit 50Y>
In the yellow developing unit 50 </ b> Y configured as described above, the scooping roller 540 rotates around its central axis, thereby scooping up the developer D stored in the storage unit 530 and transporting it to the supply roller 550.

  The developer D conveyed to the supply roller 550 reaches the contact position of the regulating blade 560 by the rotation of the supply roller 550. Then, when passing through the contact position, the excess amount of the developer D is scraped off by the regulating blade 560, and the amount of the developer D supplied to the developing roller 510 is measured. That is, since the supply roller 550 is provided with the groove 552a as described above, the regulating blade 560 that contacts the supply roller 550 causes the developer D on the supply roller 550 to be held in the groove 552a. Will be scraped off. Further, since the dimension of the groove 552a is determined so that the developer amount of the developer D supplied to the developing roller 510 is an appropriate amount, the regulating blade 560 scrapes off the developer D on the supply roller 550. In this case, the developer D measured to an appropriate amount by the groove 552a remains in the groove 552a.

  The developer D held in the groove 552 a of the supply roller 550 reaches a pressure contact position with the development roller 510 by further rotation of the supply roller 550. The developer D that has reached the pressure contact position is transferred from the supply roller 550 to the development roller 510 by the action of pressure generated by the pressure contact between the supply roller 550 and the development roller 510, and the developer D is transferred onto the development roller 510. A thin film is formed.

  The developer D thin film formed on the developing roller 510 in this manner reaches the developing position (that is, the pressure contact position with the photoconductor 20Y) facing the photoconductor 20Y by the rotation of the developing roller 510, and the development The latent image formed on the photoconductor 20Y is subjected to development at a position under an electric field of a predetermined magnitude. The developer D on the developing roller 510 that has passed the developing position reaches the contact position of the developing roller cleaning blade 571 as the developing roller 510 further rotates. When passing through the contact position, the developer D attached to the surface of the developing roller 510 is scraped off by the developing roller cleaning blade 571, and the developer D thus scraped off is removed from the developing roller cleaning unit. It is collected in a residual developer collecting unit provided in 570.

=== Function of Supply Roller Driving Gear 581 According to this Embodiment ===
As described above, the developing units 50Y, 50M, 50C, and 50K (liquid developing devices) according to this embodiment include the developing roller 510 (developer carrying member) for carrying the developer D (liquid developer), A supply roller 550 (developer supply roller) for supplying the developer D to the developing roller 510, and a regulating blade 560 (pressing member) pressing the surface of the supply roller 550 are provided with a spiral groove 552a on the surface. ) And a supply roller driving gear 581 (first helical gear) that is provided on one end side in the axial direction of the supply roller 550 and rotates the supply roller 550. As shown in FIG. 9, the developing roller drive gear 582 that meshes with the supply roller drive gear 581 in which the twist direction of the tooth stripe of the supply roller drive gear 581 is opposite to the twist direction of the groove 552a. The second direction is the direction opposite to the twist direction of the tooth stripe of the helical gear. This makes it possible to prevent the supply roller 550 from being displaced in the axial direction X2 when the supply roller 550 having the spiral groove 552a that is pressed by the pressing member rotates. This will be described in detail below.

  First, a comparative example will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a comparative example. In the comparative example, the regulating blade 560 presses the surface of the supply roller 550 provided with the spiral groove 552a. Therefore, a force P is applied to the surface of the supply roller 550. Of this force P, a component P1 in the direction along the axial direction X2 acts on the supply roller 550. The supply roller driving gear 681 that rotates the supply roller 550 and the developing roller driving gear 682 that rotates the developing roller 510 are spur gears. Therefore, the force R acting on the supply roller driving gear 681 when the developing roller driving gear 682 rotates is a force in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction X2. Thus, in the comparative example, since the pressing blade P1 in one direction is applied to the axial direction X2 of the supply roller driving gear 681 by the regulating blade 560, the supply roller 550 is displaced in the axial direction X2.

  On the other hand, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the supply roller drive gear 581 for rotating the supply roller 550 is a helical gear. The twisting direction of the tooth stripe of the supply roller driving gear 581 is opposite to the twisting direction of the spiral groove 552a provided in the supply roller 550, and the developing roller drive meshes with the supply roller driving gear 581. The direction of twisting of the tooth stripe of the gear 582 is the opposite direction.

  In this case, as shown in FIG. 9, when the developing roller driving gear 582 rotates, a force Q is applied to the supply roller driving gear 581. Of the force Q, a component Q1 in the direction along the axial direction X2 of the supply roller 550 acts on the supply roller 550. As described above, the supply roller 550 is applied with the pressing force P1 by the pressing member (the regulating blade 560) in the axial direction X2. At this time, the direction of the force Q1 is opposite to the direction of the force P1, and is a direction that cancels each other. Therefore, when the force P1 and the force Q1 cancel each other, the force acting in the axial direction of the supply roller 550 is reduced as a whole. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the supply roller 550 from moving in the axial direction X2.

  From the above, when the supply roller 550 has the supply roller drive gear 581 (first helical gear), the force acting in the axial direction of the supply roller 550 is reduced as a whole, and the pressing member is pressed. When the supply roller 550 having the spiral groove 552a is rotated, the supply roller 550 can be prevented from shifting in the axial direction X2.

=== Supply roller 650 according to the second embodiment ===
As described above, the groove 552a provided in the supply roller 550 (also referred to as the supply roller according to the first embodiment) is formed by cutting. On the other hand, the groove 656 of the supply roller 650 according to the second embodiment, which will be described below, is formed by adjacent portions of the wire 654 wound around the columnar substrate 651. The supply roller 650 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 12 is a view showing a state in which the wire 654 is wound around the columnar substrate 651. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an acute angle θ3 formed by the advancing direction X4 of the wire 654 and the axial direction X2 of the supply roller 650. FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a groove 656 is formed on the surface of the supply roller 650.

  Similarly to the supply roller 550, the supply roller 650 also supplies the developer D conveyed from the storage unit 530 by the pumping roller 540 to the development roller 510. The supply roller 650 includes a columnar substrate 651 and one (one) wire 654.

  The columnar substrate 651 is an aluminum member and has a large diameter portion 652 and a shaft portion 653. The diameter of the large diameter portion 652 is about 25 mm. The wire 654 is a member made of SUS304 and has a circular cross section as shown in FIG. The diameter r of the cross section, that is, the wire diameter of the wire 654 is about 100 μm.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the wire 654 is wound around a columnar base material 651 in a spiral. The wire 654 is wound so that adjacent portions of the wire 654 (for example, a portion indicated by reference numeral 654a in FIG. 14) come into contact with each other. That is, the wire 654 is wound around the columnar substrate 651 by so-called tight winding. As shown in FIG. 13, the wire 654 has a cylindrical base 651 so that the acute angle formed by the advance direction (twist direction) X4 of the wire 654 and the axial direction X2 of the supply roller 650 is an angle θ3. It is wound while twisting. Note that the wire 654 is fixed to the columnar substrate 651 only at both ends of the wire 654. That is, the end portion 655 (FIG. 12) of the wire 654 is joined to the fixed position 652 a (FIG. 12) on the circumferential surface of the columnar substrate 651 located by the longitudinal end of the columnar substrate 651 with solder. Has been. Therefore, the wire 654 is appropriately positioned with respect to the columnar base material 651 by the joining force by the solder and the frictional force with the columnar base material 651.

  As described above, the supply roller 650 includes the columnar base material 651 and the wire 654 wound around the columnar base material 651. Therefore, the surface of the supply roller 650 has a surface as shown in FIG. , A groove 656 (in FIG. 14, the portion surrounded by the adjacent portion of the wire 654 and the dotted line) is formed. The groove 656 is formed from one end side to the other end side in the axial direction X2 of the supply roller 650. The groove 656 serves to hold the developer D. In the present embodiment, the maximum width w of the groove 656 is equal to the diameter r of the wire 654 and is about 100 μm, and the maximum depth d of the groove 656 is the diameter r of the cross section of the wire 654. It is equal to 1/2 and is about 50 μm.

  The regulating blade 560 that presses the surface of the supply roller 650 having the above-described configuration applies a pressing force P to the supply roller 650. In such a case, a component P1 of the pressing force P in the direction along the axial direction X2 of the supply roller 650 acts in the axial direction of the supply roller 650. This force P1 is a force that moves the supply roller 650 in the axial direction X2.

  Further, the supply roller 650 is rotatably supported by the shaft portion 653 supported by the frame 586 described above. Further, the supply roller driving gear 581 described above is provided on one end side of the supply roller 650 in the axial direction X2. The twist direction X3 of the tooth stripe of the supply roller drive gear 581 is opposite to the twist direction X4 of the groove 656. In this case, the direction of the force Q1 applied in the axial direction of the supply roller 650 via the supply roller driving gear 581 is opposite to the direction of the force P1, and is a direction that cancels each other. Therefore, when the force P1 and the force Q1 cancel each other, the force acting in the axial direction of the supply roller 650 is reduced as a whole. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the supply roller 650 from moving in the axial direction X2.

=== Other Embodiments ===
The image forming apparatus and the like according to the present invention have been described above based on the above embodiment. However, the above embodiment of the present invention is for facilitating understanding of the present invention and limits the present invention. is not. The present invention can be changed and improved without departing from the gist thereof, and the present invention includes the equivalents thereof.

  In the above embodiment, the intermediate transfer type full color laser beam printer has been described as an example of the image forming apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to the intermediate transfer type, but a full color laser beam printer, a monochrome laser beam printer, a copying machine, a facsimile machine. The present invention can be applied to various image forming apparatuses.

  In the above embodiment, the photoconductor as the image carrier has been described as a configuration in which the photosensitive layer is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical conductive base material, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a so-called photosensitive belt configured by providing a photosensitive layer on the surface of a belt-like conductive substrate may be used.

Further, in the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the supply roller 550 is provided with a spiral groove 552a extending from one end side to the other end side in the axial direction X2. Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the pressing member (restricting blade 560) presses the surface of the supply roller 550 from one end side to the other end side in the axial direction X <b> 2 of the supply roller 550. However, it is not limited to the above.
However, when the supply roller 550 includes the groove 552a and the pressing member presses the surface of the supply roller 550 from one end side to the other end side in the axial direction X2, the supply roller 550 rotates. In this case, the supply roller 550 is likely to be displaced in the axial direction X2. Therefore, in the above case, the effect of preventing the supply roller 550 from shifting in the axial direction X2 by providing the supply roller driving gear 581 (first helical gear) is more effective. Played. Therefore, the above embodiment is more desirable.

  Furthermore, in the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the pressing member abuts on the surface of the supply roller 550 and restricts the amount of the developer D on the supply roller 550 (regulation blade 560 (regulation). However, the present invention is not limited to this.

Further, in the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the developing roller driving gear 582 (second helical gear) is provided on one end side in the longitudinal direction of the developing roller 510, and rotates the developing roller 510. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the second helical gear may be a so-called idler gear that is supported on a fixed shaft without rotating the developing roller 510.
However, when the second helical gear rotates the developing roller 510, the second helical gear functions to rotate the developing roller 510 and the supply roller driving gear 581 in the axial direction of the supply roller 550. The function of transmitting the force Q for preventing the deviation is also reduced, leading to a reduction in the number of parts and the development unit can be downsized. Therefore, the above embodiment is more desirable.

  Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the developer D (liquid developer) is a non-Newtonian fluid, but is not limited to this. For example, the developer D may be a Newtonian fluid.

=== Configuration of Image Forming System etc. ===
Next, an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing an external configuration of the image forming system. The image forming system 700 includes a computer 702, a display device 704, a printer 10, an input device 708, and a reading device 710.

  In this embodiment, the computer 702 is housed in a mini-tower type housing, but is not limited thereto. The display device 704 is generally a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), a plasma display, a liquid crystal display device, or the like, but is not limited thereto. As the printer 10, the printer described above is used. In this embodiment, the input device 708 uses a keyboard 708A and a mouse 708B, but is not limited thereto. In this embodiment, the reading device 710 uses a flexible disk drive device 710A and a CD-ROM drive device 710B. However, the reading device 710 is not limited to this. For example, an MO (Magneto Optical) disk drive device or a DVD (Digital Versatile) is used. Disk) etc. may be used.

  FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the image forming system shown in FIG. An internal memory 802 such as a RAM and an external memory such as a hard disk drive unit 804 are further provided in a housing in which the computer 702 is housed.

  In the above description, an example in which the printer 10 is connected to the computer 702, the display device 704, the input device 708, and the reading device 710 to configure the image forming system has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Absent. For example, the image forming system may include the computer 702 and the printer 10, and the image forming system may not include any of the display device 704, the input device 708, and the reading device 710.

  For example, the printer 10 may have a part of each function or mechanism of the computer 702, the display device 704, the input device 708, and the reading device 710. As an example, the printer 10 includes an image processing unit that performs image processing, a display unit that performs various displays, a recording medium attachment / detachment unit for attaching / detaching a recording medium that records image data captured by a digital camera or the like. It is good also as a structure to have.

  The image forming system realized in this way is a system superior to the conventional system as a whole system.

1 is a diagram illustrating main components constituting an image forming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a control unit of the image forming apparatus in FIG. 1. It is sectional drawing which showed the main components of the developing unit. 5 is a perspective conceptual diagram showing the surface of a developer supply roller 550. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an angle θ formed by a twist direction X1 of a groove 552a and an axial direction X2 of a developer supply roller 550. FIG. 6A to 6C are views showing the shapes of grooves provided on the surface of the developer supply roller 550. FIG. It is a figure which shows the drive part of a developing unit. 6 is a diagram illustrating an angle θ formed by a twisting direction X3 of the tooth stripe of the supply roller driving gear 581 and an axial direction X2 of the developer supply roller 550. FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a force applied to a developer supply roller 550. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating trail (trailing) regulation of the regulation blade 560. It is a figure for demonstrating a comparative example. It is the figure which showed a mode that the wire 654 was wound around the cylindrical base material 651. FIG. It is a figure which shows acute angle (theta) 3 which the advance direction X4 of the wire 654 and the axial direction X2 of the supply roller 650 form. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where a groove 656 is formed on the surface of a supply roller 650. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an external configuration of an image forming system. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the image forming system shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

10 Printer, 15Y, 15M, 15C, 15K Development section,
20Y, 20M, 20C, 20K photoreceptor,
30Y, 30M, 30C, 30K charging unit,
40Y, 40M, 40C, 40K exposure unit,
50Y, 50M, 50C, 50K development unit,
60Y, 60M, 60C, 60K primary transfer unit,
70 Intermediate transfer member, 73Y, 73M, 73C, 73K
75Y, 75M, 75C, 75K photoconductor cleaning unit,
76Y, 76M, 76C, 76K photoconductor cleaning blade,
80 Secondary transfer unit,
100 control unit, 101 main controller,
102 unit controller, 112 interface, 113 image memory,
510 developing roller, 514 shaft portion, 530 housing portion, 540 pumping roller,
550 supply roller, 552 large diameter portion, 552a groove, 554 shaft portion,
560 regulating blade, 562 regulating blade support member,
570 Development roller cleaning unit,
571 Development roller cleaning blade,
581 Supply roller drive gear, 582 Development roller drive gear, 583 Motor gear,
585 motor, 586 frame, 587 bearing, 588 bearing,
650 supply roller, 651 cylindrical base material, 652 large diameter portion, 652a fixed position,
653 shaft, 654 wire, 654a adjacent part, 655 end,
656 groove, 681 supply roller driving gear, 682 developing roller driving gear,
700 image forming system, 702 computer, 704 display device,
708 input device, 708A keyboard, 708B mouse, 710 reader,
710A flexible disk drive device,
710B CD-ROM drive, 802 internal memory, D developer

Claims (10)

A developer carrier for carrying a liquid developer;
A developer supplying roller for supplying a liquid developer to the developer carrying member, comprising a spiral groove on the surface;
A pressing member pressing the surface of the developer supply roller;
A first helical gear provided on one end side in the axial direction of the developer supply roller for rotating the developer supply roller, wherein the twist direction of the tooth stripe is the twist direction of the groove The first helical gear in a reverse direction and in a direction opposite to the twist direction of the tooth lines of the second helical gear meshing with the first helical gear;
A liquid developing apparatus comprising: The liquid developing device according to claim 1,
The developer supply roller includes a spiral groove extending from one end side in the axial direction to the other end side,
The liquid developing device, wherein the pressing member presses the surface of the developer supply roller from one end side to the other end side in the axial direction of the developer supply roller. The liquid developing device according to claim 1 or 2,
The liquid developing device according to claim 1, wherein the pressing member is a regulating member that abuts on a surface of the developer supply roller to regulate the amount of the liquid developer on the developer supply roller. A liquid developing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The liquid developing device, wherein the groove is formed by cutting a surface of the developer supply roller. A liquid developing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The developer supply roller is
A cylindrical substrate;
A wire wound around the cylindrical substrate,
The liquid developing apparatus, wherein the groove is formed by an adjacent portion of the wire. The liquid developing device according to claim 1,
The second helical gear is provided on one end side in the longitudinal direction of the developer carrying member, and rotates the developer carrying member. The liquid developing device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The liquid developer is characterized in that the liquid developer is a non-Newtonian fluid. A developer carrier for carrying a liquid developer;
A developer supplying roller for supplying a liquid developer to the developer carrying member, comprising a spiral groove on the surface;
A pressing member pressing the surface of the developer supply roller;
A first helical gear provided on one end side in the axial direction of the developer supply roller for rotating the developer supply roller, wherein the twist direction of the tooth stripe is the twist direction of the groove The first helical gear in a reverse direction and in a direction opposite to the twist direction of the tooth lines of the second helical gear meshing with the first helical gear;
Have
The developer supply roller includes a spiral groove extending from one end side in the axial direction to the other end side,
The pressing member presses the surface of the developer supply roller from one end side to the other end side in the axial direction of the developer supply roller,
The pressing member is a regulating member for coming into contact with the surface of the developer supply roller to regulate the amount of liquid developer on the developer supply roller,
The groove is formed by cutting the surface of the developer supply roller,
The developer supply roller is
A cylindrical substrate;
A wire wound around the cylindrical substrate,
The groove is formed by the adjacent part of the wire,
The second helical gear is provided on one end side in the longitudinal direction of the developer carrier, and rotates the developer carrier.
The liquid developer is characterized in that the liquid developer is a non-Newtonian fluid. An image carrier for carrying a latent image, and
A liquid developing apparatus for developing a latent image carried on the image carrier, comprising a developer carrier for carrying a liquid developer and a spiral groove on the surface thereof, the developer carrier A developer supply roller for supplying a liquid developer to the body, a pressing member pressing the surface of the developer supply roller, and one end side in the axial direction of the developer supply roller. A first helical gear for rotating the agent supply roller, wherein the twist direction of the tooth stripe is opposite to the twist direction of the groove, and the first first gear meshes with the helical gear. A liquid developing device having the first helical gear that is opposite to the direction of twisting of the tooth lines of the helical gear;
An image forming apparatus comprising: Computer, and
An image forming apparatus connectable to the computer, comprising: an image carrier for carrying a latent image; and a liquid developing device for developing the latent image carried on the image carrier, wherein the liquid developer A developer carrying member for carrying the developer, a spiral groove on the surface thereof, a developer supply roller for supplying a liquid developer to the developer carrying member, and the surface of the developer supply roller And a first helical gear provided on one end side in the axial direction of the developer supply roller for rotating the developer supply roller, and a twist direction of the tooth stripe However, the first helical gear is in a direction opposite to the twisting direction of the groove and is opposite to the twisting direction of tooth lines of the second helical gear meshing with the first helical gear. An image forming apparatus comprising: a liquid developing device comprising:
An image forming system comprising:

Images