JP3290924B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electric field applied to a charged charged body which is thinned and carried, thereby causing the charged body to fly and directing the charged body onto a recording medium. It belongs to the technical field of an image forming apparatus for forming an image by attaching the image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as one type of this type of image forming apparatus, there are provided a large number of small openings (hereinafter, referred to as apertures) through which a charged body such as toner passes, and a control electrode is provided around the apertures. An electrode array equipped with a control electrode is applied, and a drive voltage based on recording information to be recorded is applied to the control electrode to generate an electric field, thereby selecting which aperture the toner flies through and passes through. There is an image forming apparatus that obtains an image by directly controlling the toner and passing the toner passing through the aperture directly onto the recording medium such as a recording sheet. The details thereof are disclosed in, for example, JP-A-6-155798. ing.

As such an image forming apparatus, for example, as shown in FIG. 8, an electrode array 101 on which the aperture 106 and the control electrode 104 are formed is sandwiched.
The recording paper 120 is opposed to the toner carrying roller 114 that carries the thinned toner 116, and further, a back electrode 122 to which a back voltage from the back voltage application circuit 110 is applied is provided on the back of the recording paper 120. There is an image forming apparatus 100 having a configuration. In the image forming apparatus 100, a control voltage corresponding to recording information to be recorded is applied to the control electrode 104 from the control voltage application circuit 108, and the aperture 10 of the toner 116 carried by the toner carrying roller 114 is applied.
6 is controlled to form a toner image on the recording paper 120.

On the other hand, with respect to the supply of the toner 116 to the toner carrying roller 114, the toner 116 stored in the housing is attached to the surface of the toner carrying roller 114 via the toner supply roller 112, and the attached toner The thickness 116 was controlled by a metal blade-like layer thickness control blade 118 to reduce the thickness.

On the other hand, a color image forming apparatus capable of performing color printing using the image forming apparatus 100 has also been proposed. In the color image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus 100 is rotated in a belt shape. A toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer member by using a toner of a different color for each image forming apparatus 100 disposed around the intermediate transfer body, and forming a toner image on the intermediate transfer body by all the image forming apparatuses 100 ( The color image on the intermediate transfer member is transferred to recording paper at the time when color image formation using toners of different colors is completed.

According to this configuration, the image forming apparatus 10
By using 0, a color image can be easily formed.

[0007]

Here, when a toner image is formed on an intermediate transfer member using the image forming apparatus 100, if the image formation is continued for a long time, the aperture 1
Unnecessary toner 116 that has been ejected based on the application of the control voltage but did not fly adheres to the vicinity of the outside of the area 06, and the surface of the electrode array 101 may be contaminated. Therefore, when image formation with good image quality is continued, it is necessary to periodically clean the surface of the electrode array 101, for example.

The same is true for the above-described color image forming apparatus. When it is desired to continue forming a good color image, the surface of the electrode array 101 of each image forming apparatus 100 is always kept in a clean state. It is necessary to keep it.

However, conventionally, in a color image forming apparatus having such a plurality of image forming apparatuses 100, there is no effective method for cleaning each image forming apparatus 100.

[0010] Accordingly, the present invention provides a plurality of image forming apparatuses 1.
00, an image is formed on the intermediate transfer member, and the image is transferred onto a recording sheet to form a color image. In the image forming apparatus, each image forming apparatus 100 is kept clean to form a clear toner image. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of performing such operations.

[0011]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a charged member such as a toner is attached to a moving intermediate transfer member in accordance with recording information to be recorded. A charged body supply image forming unit such as an image forming unit for forming a charged body image corresponding to the recording information on the intermediate transfer body; an image forming area where the charged body image is to be formed; the by and having a free space of the vacuum unit or the like adjacent to the area, on the free area, sucking in contact with the charged member supplying image forming means
The unnecessary charged body on the charged body supply image forming means is removed.
The intermediate transfer body such as an intermediate transfer drum including a suction removing unit such as a suction unit , and a charged body image on the intermediate transfer body,
A transfer unit such as a transfer roller for transferring the recording information onto a recording medium on which the recording information is to be recorded, wherein the suction and removal unit cleans the charged body supply image forming unit with the movement of the intermediate transfer body. An image forming apparatus comprising:

According to the operation of the first aspect of the invention, the charged body supply image forming means attaches the charged body to the moving intermediate transfer body in accordance with the record information, and records on the intermediate transfer body. A charged body image corresponding to the information is formed.

On the other hand, the intermediate transfer body has an image forming area in which a charged body image is to be formed, and a vacant area adjacent to the image forming area, and the suction removing means provided in the vacant area has Contacting the charged body supply image forming means
By suction, an irregularity on the charged body supply image forming means is caused.
Remove the required charge .

Further, the transfer means transfers the charged body image on the intermediate transfer body onto a recording medium.

At this time, suction is performed with the movement of the intermediate transfer member.
The charged member supply image forming unit is cleaned by the removing unit.

Therefore, the charged body supply image forming means is cleaned by the suction removing means provided in the empty area of the intermediate transfer body as the intermediate transfer body moves, so that the charged body supply image forming means is always kept in a clean state. , And a charged image can be clearly formed on the intermediate transfer member.

[0017] Further , the suction and removal means is provided for forming a charged body supply image.
Remove unnecessary charged substances on the means by suction
To clean the charged material supply image forming means without damaging it.
Can be kept.

Further, the charged body supply image forming means removes by suction.
Means for sucking the unnecessary load conductor by contacts
Thus, the unnecessary charged body can be surely removed by suction.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 2 moves according to recording information to be recorded.
A charged member is attached to the intermediate transfer member, and
A charged material provider for forming a charged material image corresponding to the record information;
Image forming means, which passes through the charged charged body.
Multiple openings to be opened and the position corresponding to each of the openings
A control electrode disposed in the device to control the passage of the charged body
An electrode array including a plurality of control electrodes for controlling
The charged object is supported on a surface, and the charged object is
Contact the back surface of the surface on which the control electrode is formed
A charge carrier for supplying the charge to the opening;
Charger supply body for supplying the charged body to the charged body carrier
And a layer of the charged body supported on the charged body support
A layer thickness control blade for controlling the thickness;
And independently applying a voltage based on the recorded information.
By doing so, the charged body from the charged body carrier
Through the opening to selectively adhere to the intermediate transfer member
Controlling the formation of the charged body image on the intermediate transfer body.
An electrode driving unit, and the electrode array with the intermediate transfer member interposed therebetween.
And a voltage mark to each of the control electrodes.
When a voltage is applied corresponding to the applied voltage,
A back electrode for assisting adhesion to the intermediate transfer member,
Charged body supply image forming means, wherein the charged body image is formed
Image forming area to be formed, and empty space adjacent to the image forming area.
And supplying the charged body into the empty area.
The intermediate including cleaning means for cleaning the image forming means;
A transfer body and a charged body image on the intermediate transfer body,
Transfer means for transferring information onto a recording medium to be recorded.
The electrode array in the charged body supply image forming means by the cleaning means as the intermediate transfer body moves.
B) Clean the surface on which the control electrode is formed .

According to the operation of the second aspect of the present invention, the load
The power supply image forming means moves in accordance with the recording information.
A charged member is attached to the intermediate transfer member, and
A charged body image corresponding to the recorded information is formed.

At this time, the charged material supply image forming means
Electrode array controls multiple openings and the passage of charged objects
And a plurality of control electrodes.

The charged carrier is charged on its surface.
Control body of the electrode array
Contact the back side of the surface that is
Supply.

On the other hand, the load in the charged body supply image forming means
The electric body supply body supplies the electric charge to the electric charge carrier.

At this time, the charged material supply image forming means
The thickness control blade is supported by a charge carrier.
The thickness of the charged body is controlled.

Then, in the charged body supply image forming means,
The control electrode drive unit controls each control electrode based on the recorded information.
By applying a voltage independently of each other
Select the intermediate transfer member by passing it through the opening from the charge carrier.
To form a charged material image on the intermediate transfer member.
You.

Further, in the charging member supply image forming means,
The back electrode of the intermediate transfer drum, etc.
It is placed opposite the array and the voltage applied to each control electrode is
When a voltage is applied corresponding to the applied voltage,
Assists the adhesion to the intermediary transfer member.

On the other hand, the intermediate transfer body has a charged body image
An image forming area to be formed and adjacent to the image forming area
Having an empty area, and being provided in the empty area.
Cleaning means for cleaning the charged body supply image forming means.
You.

Further, the transfer means includes a charged member on the intermediate transfer member.
The image is transferred onto a recording medium.

At this time, as the intermediate transfer member moves, cleaning is performed.
Electrode arrangement in the charged material supply image forming means
The surface on which the control electrode is formed is cleaned.

Therefore, the intermediate transfer member is provided in an empty area.
The charged member is supplied by the cleaning means
The control electrode of the electrode array in the image forming means is formed.
The charged surface is cleaned by cleaning the charged surface.
Can always be kept clean and clear on the intermediate transfer member.
To form a charged body image.

Further , the charged body on the charged body carrier is moved to an electrode array.
A charge member is attached directly to the intermediate transfer member through the opening
Since an image is formed, there is no need to form an electrostatic latent image, etc.
In addition, the size of the entire image forming apparatus can be reduced.

[0032] In order to solve the above problems, the invention according to claim 3, in the image forming apparatus according to claim 2, the cleaning means with the movement of said intermediate transfer member
Charging the charged body while cleaning the charged body supply image forming means.
It is configured to form a body image.

According to the operation of the third aspect, in addition to the operation of the second aspect, the movement of the intermediate transfer member is achieved.
Of the charged material supply image forming means by the cleaning means.
Since the charged body image is formed while purifying, the charged body supply
Simultaneous cleaning of image forming means and formation of charged image
can do.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus according to the second or third aspect, wherein the cleaning means comprises the charged material supply image forming apparatus.
Unnecessary charged body on the step is removed by suction
It is configured to be a suction removing unit such as a suction unit.

According to the operation of the invention described in claim 4, in addition to the operation of the invention described in claim 2 or 3, the cleaning means
Sucks unnecessary charged bodies on the charged body supply image forming means
This is a suction removal means that removes
It is possible to keep the image forming means clean without damaging it.
Wear.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus according to the fourth aspect , wherein the charged body supply image forming means is provided to the suction removing means.
Unnecessary charged bodies are sucked by contact .

According to the operation of the fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the operation of the fourth aspect of the present invention, a charged member supply image type
Unnecessary charging due to the contact of the forming means with the suction removal means
Suction removes unwanted charged objects
be able to.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus according to the second or third aspect , wherein the cleaning means includes the charged member supply image forming apparatus.
Brush hand such as a brush for removing unnecessary charged bodies on the step
And a suction unit such as a suction unit for sucking the discharged charged body.
Pulling means.

According to the operation of the invention described in claim 6, in addition to the operation of the invention described in claim 2 or 3 , the cleaning means
The brush means in (1) is an unusable brush on the charged body supply image forming means.
Get rid of the required charge.

The suction means in the cleaning means is
The removed charged body is sucked.

Therefore, the physical removal by the brush means
Since the charged body is sucked, the charged body supply image forming means
Can be further purified.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus according to any one of the second to sixth aspects, wherein the charged members of different colors are respectively connected to the intermediate portions. A plurality of said charged body supply image forming means to be attached to the transfer body, and a plurality of said cleaning means for respectively cleaning said charged body supply image forming means corresponding to each said charged body supply image forming means, And all of the plurality of cleaning means are formed in the empty area.

According to the operation of the invention described in claim 7, in addition to the operation of the invention described in any one of claims 2 to 6, in addition to the operation of the invention, the plurality of charged body supply image forming means are charged with different colors. Each body is attached to an intermediate transfer body.

The plurality of cleaning means cleans the charged body supply image forming means corresponding to the respective charged body supply image forming means.

At this time, all of the plurality of cleaning means are formed in the empty area.

Therefore, even when performing the so-called color recording, the charged body images of the respective colors can be formed clearly while cleaning the charged body supply image forming means.

Further, since all of the plurality of cleaning means are formed in empty areas in the intermediate transfer member, the size of the intermediate transfer member can be reduced.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, according to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the seventh aspect, the intermediate transfer member is a drum-shaped intermediate transfer member, and a plurality of the charged members are provided. Supply image forming means are respectively arranged around the drum-shaped intermediate transfer body, and the charged body is attached to the rotating drum-shaped intermediate transfer body from the respective charged body supply image forming means, and The cleaning unit is configured to perform the cleaning of each of the charged body supply image forming units while the drum-shaped intermediate transfer body rotates.

According to the operation of the invention described in claim 8, in addition to the operation of the invention described in claim 7, the intermediate transfer member is a drum-shaped intermediate transfer member, and the plurality of charged member supply image forming means are provided. The charged bodies are attached from the charged body supply image forming means to the drum-shaped intermediate transfer bodies, which are respectively arranged around the drum-shaped intermediate transfer bodies, and the rotating drum-shaped intermediate transfer bodies are rotated. Each of the cleaning means performs cleaning of the respective charged body supply image forming means.

Therefore, since the intermediate transfer member is in the form of a drum and the charged member supply image forming means is arranged around the drum, the size of the image forming apparatus can be reduced.

[0051]

Next, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the embodiment described below, an electric field is applied to toner, such as a charged charged body, which is thinned and carried, so that the toner flies, and the toner is directly applied to recording paper. This is an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to an image forming apparatus for forming a color image by providing an image forming unit for forming an image by attaching toner for each of different color toners. (I) First Embodiment First, a first embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view showing a configuration of a mechanical system of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment, FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view showing a configuration of a mechanical system of the image forming unit, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an electric control system of the image forming apparatus of the embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing image formation in an image forming unit of the embodiment. FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the structure of the intermediate transfer drum.

First, the overall configuration and operation of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment includes an intermediate transfer drum 1 as an intermediate transfer body and a charged material supply for forming an image on the intermediate transfer drum 1 using yellow toner. An image forming unit 20a as an image forming unit, an image forming unit 20b as a charged material supply image forming unit for forming an image on the intermediate transfer drum 1 using magenta toner, and a cyan toner An image forming unit 20c as a charged body supply image forming unit for forming an image on the intermediate transfer drum 1, and a charged body supply image forming unit for forming an image on the intermediate transfer drum 1 using black toner The image forming unit 20d, the paper feed cassette 2, the paper separating roller 3,
A pair of transport rollers 4, a transport path 5, a pair of registration rollers 6, a transfer roller 7 as a transfer unit, a fixing device 8, a pair of discharge rollers 9, a discharge tray 10, a cleaning roller 11, , Cleaning roller blade 1
2 is constituted.

The fixing device 8 is a heat fixing type fixing device comprising a pressure roller 8a having a surface layer of silicon rubber or the like and a heat roller 8b having a halogen heater inside.

The intermediate transfer drum 1 has a cylindrical shape which rotates about a shaft 1b, and a vacuum portion 1a as a cleaning means and a suction removing means is provided on a surface of the drum other than a region where a toner image to be described later is to be formed. Are formed.

Next, the general operation of each section will be described.

The recording paper P as a recording medium, which is a cut sheet stacked and held in the paper feed cassette 2, is extracted one by one by a paper separating roller 3, and is extracted into a transport path 5 by a transport roller 4. Conveyed. In FIG. 1,
The conveyance path PR of the recording paper P is indicated by a two-dot chain line.

On the other hand, in parallel with this, on the surface of the intermediate transfer drum 1 whose surface is formed by a metal cylinder coated with fluorine or silicon, etc. Image forming unit 20
a, 20b, 20c and 20d respectively yellow color,
A toner image corresponding to each color using magenta, cyan, and black toners (when a color image to be recorded on one sheet of recording paper P is separated for each of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black) The toner images of the respective colors are superimposed one by one for one rotation of the intermediate transfer drum 1 (that is, the intermediate transfer drum 1 is rotated).
Is completed during one rotation so that a toner image corresponding to the original color image to be recorded is completed.

The recording paper P conveyed along the conveyance path 5 is transferred by the registration roller 6 so that the leading end of the toner image formed on the intermediate transfer drum 1 and the leading end of the recording paper P are aligned. It is sent to the roller 7. Then, the transfer roller 7 sandwiches the recording paper P sent between the transfer roller 7 and the intermediate transfer drum 1 and
, The color toner image formed on the intermediate transfer drum 1 is transferred onto the recording paper P.

Thereafter, the recording paper P on which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to the position of the fixing device 8 by the transfer roller 6, and is heated and pressed by the fixing device 8.
The toner image is fixed on the recording paper P, and is discharged onto a discharge tray 10 by a discharge roller 9.

At this time, the surface of the intermediate transfer drum 1 on which the toner image has been formed once is left on the surface by the cleaning roller 11 rotating in the opposite direction at the contact portion with the intermediate transfer drum 1. Unnecessary toner is scraped off and cleaned. Unnecessary toner attached to the cleaning roller 11 is scraped off from the surface of the cleaning roller 11 by the cleaning roller blade 12, and is stored for discarding.

Further, each image forming unit 20a, 20
The surfaces of the electrode arrays b, 20c and 20d facing the intermediate transfer drum 1 which will be described later are the vacuum units 1 which come into contact with the respective electrode arrays by the rotation of the intermediate transfer drum 1.
Unnecessary toner adhering to the surface is absorbed and removed by a.

Next, each image forming unit 20a, 20
The configuration and operation of b, 20c and 20d will be described with reference to FIG. The configuration and operation of each image forming unit are the same except that toners of different colors are used. Therefore, the image forming unit 20a will be described as a representative.

As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming unit 20
a denotes a toner case 21 for storing the toner T in an external housing 23, and an aperture 27b and a control electrode 27c to be described later.
Array, a toner carrying roller 26 as a charged body carrier, a supply roller 25 as a charged body supply body, an agitator 24 in the toner T storage section 22, and a layer thickness control blade. 28.

Further, the electrode array 27 is fixed to an array holder 29 which is rotatable about a shaft 31 in the direction of the double arrow in FIG. Due to the force, the back surface (the left surface in FIG. 2) of the electrode array 27 is
6 so as to be pressed. At this time, a gap of a distance D is provided between the opposing intermediate transfer drum 1.

On the other hand, the vacuum portion 1a in the intermediate transfer drum 1 is rotated by the rotation of the intermediate transfer drum 1 so that the electrode array 2
7, the array holder 29 is rotated clockwise in FIG. 2 by a drive unit (not shown) about the shaft 31 to bring the electrode array 27 into contact with the vacuum unit 1a.

Next, a detailed configuration of the electrode array 27 will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 3A, the electrode array 27
A plurality of rectangular apertures 27b are formed in a row on an insulating sheet 27a made of zirconia ceramics having a thickness of about 100 μm at intervals of 127 μm in the longitudinal direction of the electrode array 27, and a position between the apertures 27b A control electrode 27c made of a thin gold film having a thickness of 1 μm is formed. FIG. 3A shows the surface of the electrode array 27 on which the control electrodes 27c are formed, and the back surface of the surface shown in FIG. . Further, both ends in the short direction of the electrode array 27 are fixed to the array holder 29.

Next, the positional relationship between the electrode array 27 and the toner carrying roller 26 will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 3B, the electrode array 27
Are arranged so that the vicinity of the central axis in the longitudinal direction of the insulating sheet 27a is in contact with the surface of the toner carrying roller 26 with the toner T interposed therebetween. The center line of each aperture 27b in the longitudinal direction of the electrode array 27 and the toner carrying roller 2
6 are located on the same plane 33.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3B, the electrode array 2 itself is pressed against the toner carrying roller 26 so as to bend left and right by the same angle about the longitudinal central axis. Thereby, the contact area between the electrode array 27 and the toner carrying roller 26 can be increased.

Next, the operation of the image forming unit 20a will be described with reference to FIGS.

The agitator 24 in the storage section 22 formed adjacent to the inside of the toner case 21 is a cylindrical supply roller which is arranged adjacent to the toner T while rotating in the direction C in FIG. Feed in small amounts toward 25. Then, the supply roller 25 rotatably mounted in the direction B in FIG. 2 conveys the toner T to the cylindrical toner carrying roller 26 disposed adjacent thereto by its rotation.

The surface of the supply roller 25 is formed of a foamed rubber such as urethane or silicon, and rotates while being in contact with the toner carrying roller 26. The toner T is negatively triboelectrically charged at the contact portion by the rotation accompanying the contact, and is then carried on the surface of the toner carrying roller 26.

Next, the toner carrying roller 26 is rotatably mounted in the direction A in FIG.
Is supplied to the aperture 27b of the electrode array 27. At this time, the layer thickness control blade 28 disposed at a position in contact with the toner carrying roller 26 controls the layer of the toner T carried on the surface of the toner carrying roller 26 to be thin and uniform, and The charged toner T is more uniformly triboelectrically charged.

The layer thickness control blade 28 is formed by using a spring material such as phosphor bronze as a base material, and is attached so that the front end thereof presses the surface of the toner carrying roller 26 by the elastic force of the base material. ing.

Next, the image forming units 20a to 20d
A configuration of a control system for electrically controlling the control will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 4, each image forming unit 2
The control system 0a to 20d includes a control unit 70 that receives an image signal corresponding to an image to be recorded on the recording sheet P from outside.
A drive voltage generation circuit 71 as a control electrode drive unit for independently supplying a drive voltage to the control electrodes 27b of the electrode array 27 included in each of the image forming units 20a to 20d; Voltage generation circuit 72 for applying a later-described voltage to the axis 1b
And an application unit 76 for applying the voltage generated by the back voltage generation circuit 72 to the rotating shaft 1b.

Next, the intermediate transfer drum 1 by the control system
FIGS. 2 to 5 show the formation of a color toner image on
This will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 70
A color image to be recorded input from outside is separated into three primary colors and black, and four types of image signals (yellow image signal S
y, a magenta image signal Sm, a cyan image signal Sc, and a black image signal Sb) are generated and output to the drive voltage generation circuit 71. Here, as an external device that inputs an image signal corresponding to an image to be recorded on the recording paper P to the control unit 70, for example, an external computer or an image reading device that reads an image to be recorded is connected. Can be.

At this time, the image forming units 20a to 20a
If 0d are arranged at equal intervals in the rotation direction of the intermediate transfer drum 1, and if the rotation time for rotating the intermediate transfer drum 1 by that interval is τ, the control unit 70
After outputting the yellow image signal Sy, the time τ, 2τ and 3τ
After each delay, a magenta image signal Sm, a cyan image signal Sc, and a black image signal Sb are output. By this operation, a color image to be recorded is formed on the intermediate transfer drum 1 using the image forming units 20a to 20d while the intermediate transfer drum 1 makes one rotation.

Next, the drive voltage generation circuit 71
0, the yellow image signal Sy, the magenta image signal Sm, the cyan image signal Sc, and the black image signal Sb
Based on the electrode array 2 for each image forming unit.
7, a voltage of -10 V or +35 V is applied to the control electrode 27b.

On the other hand, in parallel with this, under the control of the control unit 70, the backside voltage generation circuit 72 constantly applies a voltage of +1 kV to the shaft 1b via the application unit 76, whereby the backside of a metal cylinder is +1 kV to the intermediate transfer drum 1 as an electrode
Is applied.

Then, the thinned toner T carried on the toner carrying roller 26 (the negative charge is made uniform by the layer thickness control blade 28) is applied to the toner carrying roller 26 in the direction A in FIG. With the rotation of, the toner is transported toward the electrode array 27 while being carried on the surface of the toner carrying roller 26. Then, the transported toner T is supplied under the aperture 27b while being rubbed by the insulating sheet 27a of the electrode array 27.

At this time, the drive voltage generation circuit 71 supplies the yellow image signal Sy, magenta image signal Sm, cyan image signal Sc, and black image signal Sc corresponding to the respective colors.
In accordance with b, a voltage of +35 V is applied to the control electrode 27c corresponding to the position of the image in each image signal.
As a result, the aperture 27b on both sides of the control electrode 27c to which the voltage is applied goes from the control electrode 27c to the toner carrying roller 26 due to the potential difference between the control electrode 27c and the toner carrying roller 26 (grounded). Lines of electric force are formed. Accordingly, the negatively charged toner T being conveyed to the aperture 27b receives an electrostatic force in a direction of higher potential, and as shown in FIG.
It is pulled out from above through the aperture 27b to the control electrode 27c side. After that, the extracted toner T is applied to the intermediate transfer drum 1 by the back voltage generating circuit 72 +1.
The electric field formed between the intermediate transfer drum 1 and the electrode array 27 by the voltage of kV causes the intermediate transfer drum 1
, And adhere to the intermediate transfer drum 1 to form pixels.

On the other hand, the yellow image signal Sy, the magenta image signal Sm, the cyan image signal Sc and the black image signal S
Since a voltage of -10 V is applied from the control voltage generation circuit 71 to the control electrode 27c corresponding to the non-image portion in b, the control electrode 27c is disposed between the toner carrying roller 26 and the control electrode 27c corresponding to the non-image portion. Since no electric field is formed and the toner T on the toner carrying roller 26 does not receive an electrostatic force, the toner T does not pass through the aperture 27b and the control electrode corresponding to the non-image portion on the intermediate transfer drum 1. No pixel is formed in the portion facing 27c.

When the pixels for one scan in each image signal are formed on the surface of the intermediate transfer drum 1 by the toner T, the intermediate transfer drum 1 is then moved in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the electrode array 27 by a motor (not shown) or the like. (Each aperture 27b
Is rotated by one pixel in the direction perpendicular to the aperture row formed by (1), and an image for the next one scan is formed.

The above process is performed for each image forming unit 20.
a to 20d and the intermediate transfer drum 1
Makes one rotation, a color toner image using the toner of each color is formed on the intermediate transfer drum 1.

The color toner image thus formed is transferred to the transfer roller 7 by the intermediate transfer drum 1.
And is transferred to the recording paper P and fixed as described above.

Next, the intermediate transfer drum 1 according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 6, in the intermediate transfer drum 1 of the present invention, the surface thereof has a region (indicated by Ld in FIG. 6) where the color toner image is formed and the vacuum portion 1a (see FIG. 6). 6 (indicated by Lc). Then, in the vacuum section 1a, a suction port 1c for sucking unnecessary toner T attached to the surface of each electrode array 27 on which the control electrode 27b is formed, and a suction section 1d for actually executing a suction operation. And Also,
The diameter of the intermediate transfer drum 1 is set such that the circumference thereof is longer than the length of the recording paper P in the transport direction by the length Lc. It has been.

When the intermediate transfer drum 1 rotates while sucking air by the suction section 1d, the toner T of each color is rotated.
The suction port 1c is located at the position of the electrode array 27 immediately after the completion of the formation of the toner image. Then, in synchronization with this timing, the surface of the electrode array 27 (the surface on which the control electrode 27b is formed) closes the suction port 1c by rotating the array holder 29 clockwise in FIG. In this way, unnecessary toner T on the surface is absorbed and the surface is cleaned. This cleaning operation is sequentially performed on each of the image forming units 20a to 20d by rotating the intermediate transfer drum 1 as shown in FIG.

More preferably, the suction port 1c is formed exclusively for each of the image forming units 20a to 20d.
If the suction is performed at the timing when the suction port 1c corresponding to the position of each of the image forming units 20a to 20d is located, it is possible to prevent the toner T of each color from being mixed at the time of the suction.

As described above, according to the image forming apparatus S of the first embodiment, the electrode section 27 is cleaned with the movement of the intermediate transfer drum 1 by the vacuum section 1a of the intermediate transfer drum 1. The surface of the array 27 can always be kept clean, and a clear toner image can be formed on the intermediate transfer drum 1.

Further, since the toner image is formed while the electrode array 27 is being cleaned with the movement of the intermediate transfer drum 1, the cleaning of the electrode array and the formation of the toner image can be executed in parallel.

Further, the vacuum section 1a is connected to the electrode array 27.
The unnecessary toner T is removed by suction, and the electrode array 27 is in contact with the suction port 1c. Therefore, the unnecessary toner T can be reliably removed by suction.

Further, the image forming units 20a to 20a
0d directly adheres the toner T on the toner carrying roller 26 to the intermediate transfer drum 1 via the aperture 27b of the electrode array 27 to form a toner image. Therefore, there is no need to form an electrostatic latent image or the like. A clear image can be formed while reducing the size of the entire forming apparatus S.

Further, even when performing so-called color recording, it is possible to form toner images of respective colors clearly while cleaning the electrode array 27.

Each of the image forming units 20a to 20a
When the suction port 1c is provided for each d, by forming all the suction ports 1c in the vacuum portion 1a, the size of the intermediate transfer drum 1 can be reduced.

Further, since the plurality of image forming units 20a to 20d are arranged around the intermediate transfer drum 1, the size of the image forming apparatus S can be reduced. (II) Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment which is another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

In the first embodiment described above, the unnecessary toner T on the electrode array 27 is removed only by the suction operation. However, in the second embodiment, in addition to the suction operation, the rotating brush is used. The unnecessary toner T is scraped off and sucked.

As shown in FIG. 7, the intermediate transfer drum 1 'according to the second embodiment is provided in a vacuum section 1'a as a brush means which rotates about an axis parallel to the axis 1b of the intermediate transfer drum 1. A brush 50, a suction unit 1'd as a suction unit formed inside the brush 50,
The cleaning apparatus includes a scraping roller 51 for scraping off the unnecessary toner T attached to the brush 50, and a blade 52 for stripping off and sucking the unnecessary toner T attached to the scraping roller 51.

When the vacuum unit 1'a comes to the position of the electrode array 27 to be cleaned, the brush 50 wipes off unnecessary toner T on the surface of the electrode array 27 coming into contact by the operation of the array holder 29. It is taken into the section 1'd, and is scraped by the scraping roller 51 and the blade 52 and sucked.

Other operations in the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment.
Detailed description is omitted.

According to the intermediate transfer drum 1 'of the second embodiment described above, the toner T physically removed from the electrode array 27 is sucked, so that the electrode array 1 can be further cleaned. .

In each of the above embodiments, the image forming apparatus for forming a color image has been described. However, only one image forming unit is provided, and a single color image is formed with a single color toner using an intermediate transfer drum. The present invention can be applied to an image forming apparatus.

Further, the recording paper P of the cut sheet as described above is used.
The present invention can be applied to an image forming apparatus that forms a color image using continuous paper, in addition to the application of the present invention to image formation using the image forming apparatus. In this case, when the vacuum section 1a passes the position of the transfer roller 7, transfer of the continuous sheet is temporarily stopped, and control is performed to convey the continuous sheet only when the area where the toner image is formed passes. is necessary.

Furthermore, the present invention relates to an ink jet printer using a so-called solid ink, in which an intermediate transfer member is provided to form an image when an intermediate transfer member is provided to form an ink jet head. It can also be applied when cleaning.

[0109]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the suction provided in the empty area of the intermediate transfer member is provided.
Since the removing means cleans the charged body supply image forming means with the movement of the intermediate transfer body, the charged body supply image forming means can always be kept in a clean state, and the charged body image is clearly printed on the intermediate transfer body. Can be formed.

Therefore, a clear image corresponding to the recorded information can be finally formed.

Further , the suction / removal means may be used to form a charged body supply image.
Remove unnecessary charged substances on the means by suction
To clean the charged material supply image forming means without damaging it.
Can be kept.

Further, the charged body supply image forming means removes by suction.
The unnecessary charge is sucked by the contact of the means.
Thus, the unnecessary charged body can be surely removed by suction.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the intermediate transfer
Cleaning means provided in the empty area of the body
Of the charged material supply image forming means
Since the surface on which the control electrode of the ray is formed is cleaned,
Keeping the charged material supply image forming means clean at all times
To form a charged image clearly on the intermediate transfer member.
it can.

Further , the charged body on the charged body carrier is moved to an electrode array.
A charge member is attached directly to the intermediate transfer member through the opening
Since an image is formed, there is no need to form an electrostatic latent image, etc.
In addition, the size of the entire image forming apparatus can be reduced.

According to the invention set forth in claim 3, according to claim 2
In addition to the effects of the invention described in the above , with the movement of the intermediate transfer member
To clean the charged body supply image forming means by the cleaning means
While forming the charged body image, the charged body supply image formation
The cleaning of the means and the formation of the charged body image should be performed in parallel.
Can be.

According to the invention set forth in claim 4, according to claim 2,
Or in addition to the effect of the invention described in 3, the cleaning means is charged
To suck unnecessary charged material on the body supply image forming means
Since it is a suction removal unit that removes more, the charged body supply image
The forming means can be kept clean without damaging it.

According to the invention set forth in claim 5, according to claim 4
In addition to the effects of the invention described in the above, the charged body supply image forming means
Contacting the suction / removal means to absorb unnecessary charged
To ensure that unnecessary charged objects are removed by suction.
it can.

[0118] According to the invention described in 請 Motomeko 6, claim 2
Or in addition to the effect of the invention of the 3, physically pay taken
Since the charged body is sucked, the charged body supply image forming means is used.
It can be more purified.

According to the invention described in claim 7, claim 2 is provided.
In addition to the effects of the invention described in any one of the above-described embodiments, even when so-called color recording is performed, a charged body image of each color can be formed clearly while cleaning the charged body supply image forming unit.

Further, since all of the plurality of cleaning means are formed in empty areas in the intermediate transfer body, the size of the intermediate transfer body can be reduced.

According to the invention of claim 8, according to claim 7,
In addition to the effects of the invention described in the above, since the intermediate transfer body is a drum-shaped intermediate transfer body, and a plurality of charged body supply image forming means are arranged around the drum-shaped intermediate transfer body, the image forming apparatus Can be downsized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming unit.

3A and 3B are diagrams illustrating an electrode array, FIG. 3A is an external perspective view, and FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating a contact relationship with a toner carrying roller.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an electric control system of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view showing image formation by toner adhesion.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a configuration of an intermediate transfer drum according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a configuration of a vacuum unit according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a conventional image forming apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 1 '... intermediate transfer drum 1a, 1'a ... vacuum section 1b, 31 ... shaft 1c ... suction port 1d, 1'd ... suction section 2 ... paper cassette 3 ... paper separating roller 4 ... transport roller 5 ... transport Path 6 Registration roller 7 Transfer roller 8 Fixing device 8a Pressure roller 8b Heat roller 9 Discharge roller 10 Discharge tray 11 Cleaning roller 12 Cleaning roller blade 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d Image forming unit DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 21 ... Toner case 22 ... Storage part 23 ... External housing 24 ... Agitator 25, 112 ... Supply roller 26, 114 ... Toner carrying roller 27, 101 ... Electrode array 27a ... Insulating sheet 27b, 106 ... Aperture 27c, 104 ... Control electrodes 28, 118 Layer thickness control blade 29 Array holder 30 Spring 32 Medium Mandrel 33 ... Plane 50 ... Brush 51 ... Scraping roller 52 ... Blade 70 ... Control unit 71 ... Drive voltage generation circuit 72 ... Back voltage generation circuit 76 ... Applying unit 108 ... Control voltage application circuit 122 ... Back electrode plate 110 ... Back Voltage application circuit Sy: yellow image signal Sm: magenta image signal Sc: cyan image signal Sb: black image signal T, 116: toner P, 120: recording paper S, 100: image forming apparatus PR: transport path

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B41J 2/385

Claims (8)

(57) [Claims] 1. A charged body supply image forming apparatus for attaching a charged body to a moving intermediate transfer body in accordance with recording information to be recorded, and forming a charged body image corresponding to the recorded information on the intermediate transfer body. means, and the image formation region for said charged body image is formed, which has a free space adjacent to the image forming region, on the free area, in contact with the charged member supplying the image forming unit intake
Unnecessary on the charged body supply image forming means
The intermediate transfer body provided with a suction removing unit that removes the charged body, and a transfer unit that transfers a charged body image on the intermediate transfer body onto a recording medium on which the recording information is to be recorded. An image forming apparatus, wherein the charged and supplied image forming unit is cleaned by the suction and removal unit as the intermediate transfer member moves. 2. A moving device according to recording information to be recorded.
A charged member is attached to the intermediate transfer member, and
A charged material provider for forming a charged material image corresponding to the record information;
Image forming means, which passes through the charged charged body.
Multiple openings to be opened and the position corresponding to each of the openings
A control electrode disposed in the device to control the passage of the charged body
An electrode array including a plurality of control electrodes for carrying out the operation, and carrying the charged body on a surface thereof, and attaching the charged body to the electrode array.
B) contact the back surface of the surface on which the control electrode is formed
A charging member carrier that supplies the charged member to the opening , and a charged member supply member that supplies the charged member to the charging member carrier
And the layer thickness of the charged body carried on the charged body carrier
A layer thickness control blade to be controlled, and each of the control electrodes, based on the recorded information.
By independently applying a voltage, the charged body is
The intermediate transfer member is passed through the opening from the electric-conductor carrier.
On the intermediate transfer member.
A control electrode driving section for forming an image, and a control electrode driving section disposed to face the electrode array with the intermediate transfer member interposed therebetween
And voltage corresponding to the application of voltage to each of the control electrodes.
The intermediate transfer member of the charged member is applied when pressure is applied.
Back electrode to assist in adhesion to the substrate, and charged body supply image
Forming means, an image forming area where the charged body image is to be formed, and the image
Having an empty area adjacent to the formation area, and
Cleaning means for cleaning the charged body supply image forming means
The intermediate transfer member provided with a purifying unit, and the charged material image on the intermediate transfer member is recorded with the recording information.
Comprising a transfer unit that transfers onto the recording medium to be, a, before the electrode array in the charged-supplying image forming means by said cleaning means in accordance with the movement of said intermediate transfer member
An image forming apparatus for cleaning a surface on which the control electrode is formed . 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the cleaning unit moves the intermediate transfer member forward as the intermediate transfer body moves.
The charged object image is formed while cleaning the charged object supply image forming means.
An image forming apparatus characterized in that the formation of the image. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the cleaning unit includes a cleaning unit provided on the charged body supply image forming unit.
Suction removal to remove the required charged body by suction
Image forming apparatus, characterized in that the means. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the charged body supply image forming unit contacts the suction removing unit.
An image forming apparatus, comprising: 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the cleaning unit removes unnecessary charged bodies on the charged body supply image forming unit.
An image forming apparatus comprising a brush means taking had, and suction means for sucking the payment taken charged body, in that it comprises. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein a plurality of charged body supply image forming means for attaching the charged bodies of different colors to the intermediate transfer body, respectively. A plurality of cleaning means for cleaning the charged body supply image forming means, respectively, corresponding to each of the charged body supply image forming means, wherein all of the plurality of cleaning means are in the free space. An image forming apparatus characterized by being formed. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the intermediate transfer body is a drum-shaped intermediate transfer body, and a plurality of charged body supply image forming units are respectively arranged around the drum-shaped intermediate transfer body. The charged body is attached from the charged body supply image forming unit to the rotating drum-shaped intermediate transfer body, and each of the cleaning units is rotated by rotating the drum-shaped intermediate transfer body. Wherein the cleaning of the charged body supply image forming means is performed.