JP3306694B2 - Recording device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording apparatus for generating a latent charge pattern of an electric signal and attaching toner to recording paper in accordance with the latent charge pattern.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The Swedish patent application 8704883-1
And the following international application, PCT-SE88-00653, teaches from computer-generated electrical signals without the need to temporarily convert to optical energy and store it intermediately as in the case of photoconductive printers such as laser printers. A method of developing a picture or text with pigment particles directly on the information carrier is shown.

[0003]

The above method has the problem that the quality of the resulting print is not high enough, especially when used repeatedly and continuously.
One of the problems encountered when using such devices continuously and repeatedly in this manner is that the electrodes of the electrode matrix are gradually covered with toner. This does not necessarily directly result in poor print quality, but in some cases can cause mesh clogging, resulting in poor print uniformity and reduced amount of toner adhering to the bite. Too much and the borders are blurred and the print is too black overall.

Therefore, a recording region (a region having a weak magnetic force) and a cleaning region (a region having a strong magnetic force) are provided on the developing roller, and the toner adhering to the electrodes of the electrode matrix is moved by the magnetic force of the cleaning region and the air flow. A method for preventing mesh clogging and obtaining stable image quality has been introduced in Japanese Patent Publication No. 4-505899.

In this method, recording and cleaning of one recording sheet are performed by one rotation of the developing roller. Therefore, the cleaning area is not allowed to reach the recording section before the recording of one recording sheet is completed, and the outer diameter of the developing roller must be inevitably increased. For example, when recording on A4 recording paper, the length of the A4 recording paper in the longitudinal direction is about 300 mm. When the transport speed of the recording paper and the peripheral speed of the developing roller are the same speed, the diameter of the developing roller is obtained by setting the cleaning area to the rotation angle of the developing roller of 60 ° and the recording area to the rotating angle of the developing roller of 300 °. , 30
0 mm × 300 ° / 360 ° × 1 / π ≒ 80 mm, which is larger than a conventional developing roller having a diameter of 10 to 20 mm.

The method using the magnetic force of the developing roller has a problem that the diameter of the developing roller becomes large and the recording apparatus becomes large.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 62-248662 introduces a method of applying a high voltage to the control electrode to apply toner to the control electrode and electrostatically removing the toner. In this method, it is necessary to apply a high voltage on the order of several kV to the control electrode, so that there is a problem that the durability of the control electrode is deteriorated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and a first object of the present invention is to provide a control electrode for controlling the toner flight of a recording apparatus as described above in which clogging with unnecessary toner is prevented. It is to remove the clogging so as not to cause the deterioration of the recorded image.

A second object is to carry out the first object, that is, to remove clogs more effectively.

A third object of the present invention is to stably operate the first and second cleaning means for a long period of time so that clogging can be removed for a long period of time.

A fourth object is to remove the first object, that is, clogging, and to prevent the inside of the recording apparatus from being stained with unnecessary toner by means different from the first object.

A fifth object of the present invention is to effectively remove the fourth clogging and not to increase the size of the recording apparatus itself.

A sixth object is to more effectively remove the fifth clogging.

A seventh object is to remove the fourth clogging more effectively and not to increase the size of the recording apparatus itself.

It is an eighth object of the present invention to more effectively remove the seventh clogging and to make the recording apparatus compact and less vibrating.

[0016]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
A toner carrier including a magnet for carrying a magnetic toner, a back electrode disposed opposite to the toner carrier, and disposed between the toner carrier and the back electrode and arranged in the main scanning direction; An opening through which the toner passes, and an image control electrode body having a control electrode for electrostatically opening and closing the opening, wherein the main scanning direction is provided between the image control electrode body and the back electrode. A recording device that selectively opens and closes the opening with the control electrode in accordance with image information while conveying the recording paper in a sub-scanning direction perpendicular to the recording medium, and attracts the toner to the recording paper; Cleaning means for removing the toner, and a transport means for transporting the image control electrode body, when the cleaning means the image control electrode body is transported by the transport means,
A suction port opposed to the opening; suction means for suctioning air from the suction port; and air-passing magnetic force generating means disposed in the suction port for magnetically sucking the residual toner. And

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the recording apparatus of the first aspect, there is provided a moving means for reciprocating the cleaning means relatively to the opening.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the recording apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the cleaning means has a toner removing means for removing toner attached to the magnetic force generating means. I do.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a toner carrier including a magnet for carrying a magnetic toner, a back electrode disposed to face the toner carrier, and a back electrode disposed between the toner carrier and the back electrode. An image control electrode body having an opening that allows the toner to pass therethrough and a control electrode that electrostatically opens and closes the opening, and is arranged in the main scanning direction, While the recording paper is being conveyed between the back electrode and the sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction, the opening is selectively opened and closed by the control electrode according to image information, and the toner is recorded on the recording paper. A recording device that removes residual toner attached to the opening; and a transport unit that transports the image control electrode body, wherein the cleaning unit is configured to transfer the image control electrode body to the transport unit. When conveyed, the ejection port facing the opening, an ejection means for ejecting an air flow from the ejection port, and the ejection means are arranged so as to sandwich the image control electrode body, and are blown off by the ejection means. And a magnetic force generating means for magnetically attracting the residual toner.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the recording apparatus of the fourth aspect, the magnetic force generating means is formed in a roller shape and rotates.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the recording apparatus of the fifth aspect, the magnetic force generating means alternately changes magnetic poles.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the recording apparatus of the fourth aspect, there is provided a moving means for reciprocating the cleaning means relatively to the opening.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the recording apparatus of the seventh aspect, the magnetic poles of the magnetic force generating means are alternately changed.

[0024]

According to the present invention, while the recording paper is being conveyed in the sub-scanning direction between the control electrode body and the back electrode, the opening is opened and closed by the control electrode electrostatically in accordance with the image information. The toner is electrically attracted to the recording paper, and the image is recorded. The residual toner attached to the opening is removed by the magnetic force of the cleaning means and the air flow.

[0025]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 represents a recording unit in the recording apparatus, and reference numeral 20 represents a cleaning unit.

The recording means 10 is provided with a toner carrier 1 for carrying the toner T, a back electrode 2 arranged opposite to the toner carrier 1, and between the toner carrier 1 and the back electrode 2. And an image control electrode body 3 for selectively electrically attracting the toner T on the toner carrier 1 in accordance with the image information.

The toner carrier 1 is made of aluminum or the like and has a diameter of 10
The magnet 4 is formed in a cylindrical shape having a size of about 20 mm, and the magnet 4 is disposed inside the cylindrical shape to magnetically hold the toner T. In this embodiment, a magnetic toner that is negatively charged is used as the toner T. The thickness of the toner T on the toner carrier 1 is
It is regulated by a blade 5 arranged close to the toner carrier 1.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the image control electrode body 3 is made of an insulating sheet 7 having an opening 6 formed in the main scanning direction S.
And a control electrode 8 that is arranged so as to surround each opening 6 and that opens and closes the opening 6 electrostatically. A signal voltage for electrostatically opening and closing the opening 6 according to image information is applied to the control electrode 8.

The insulating sheet 7 is formed of, for example, a polyimide having a thickness of 30 to 50 μm. The insulating sheet 7 has an opening 6 having a diameter of 50 to 100 μm for allowing the toner T to pass therethrough. . Note that a reinforcing member may be attached to improve the transportability of the insulating sheet 7. In order to increase the resolution of the recorded image, the openings 6 may be arranged in two rows in a staggered manner as shown in FIG. Hereinafter, the apertures 6 arranged in a line in the main scanning direction S are referred to as aperture rows 6a, and the aperture row 6a is referred to as aperture row group A.

The back electrode 2 is formed in a roller shape, and conveys the recording paper P in a sub-scanning direction F orthogonal to the main scanning direction S. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a high DC voltage is applied to the back electrode 2 to attract the toner T passing through the opening 6 onto the recording paper P.

As shown in FIG. 4, the entire periphery of the image control electrode body 3 is fixed to a frame 11.
A rack 12 for transporting the image control electrode body 3 in the sub-scanning direction F is fixed to an end of the main scanning direction S.
The rack 12 meshes with a pinion 13 that is rotated forward and backward by a driving unit (not shown). At the end of the rack 12,
The blade 14 is provided as a toner removing unit for removing the toner T attached to the magnetic force generating unit 25 of the cleaning unit 20 described later. Here, the rack 12, the pinion 13, and the driving unit constitute a transport unit. The transport unit moves the image control electrode body 3 to a recording position between the toner carrier 1 and the back electrode 2 (a position indicated by a solid line in FIG. 1) and a cleaning position separated from the toner carrier 1 and the back electrode 2. (The position shown by the phantom line in the figure).

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the cleaning means 20 has a suction port 21a arranged to face the opening row group A when the image control electrode body 3 is transported to the cleaning position. Unit 21 and suction port 21a
A fan 22 as suction means for sucking the toner T remaining in each opening 6 of the opening row group A by the suction force of air;
A driving unit 23 for driving the fan 22, a magnetic force generating unit 25 disposed at the suction port 21a for magnetically sucking the toner T remaining in each opening 6, and detachably supported by the suction unit 21; It is mainly composed of a collection container 24 for collecting the toner T sucked from the opening 6, and is reciprocated relatively to the opening 6 by moving means (not shown).

The moving means includes the cleaning unit 21
At the time of cleaning, as shown in FIG. 6A, it is moved from a position facing the opening 6 (hereinafter referred to as a home position) to the left as shown in FIG. 6B and further to the right as shown in FIG.

When the cleaning unit 21 moves,
The direction of the magnetic field generated by the magnetic force generating means 25 and the direction of the streamline of the air flow generated by the fan 22 change, and the toner T attached to the opening 6 moves, and the adhesive force to the opening 6 is reduced.

The magnetic force generating means 25 is constituted by, for example, a magnet having a mesh shape or a fine opening in order to allow the toner T to pass therethrough. In this example, the size of the mesh or the opening of the magnetic force generating means 25 is generally at least 20 μm because the size of the toner T is generally 5 to 10 μm.
m or more.

Although the fan 22 and the driving means 23 are shown in the vicinity of the suction port 21a in FIG. 2, they may be installed at a place remote from the cleaning means 20. Further, although the example in which the cleaning unit 20 is moved with respect to the opening 6 has been described, the image control electrode body 3 may be moved by the above-described transport unit.

Next, the operation based on the above configuration will be briefly described. As shown in FIG. 1, the image control electrode body 3 is carried by the carrying means to a recording position where the opening row group A is located between the toner carrier 1 and the back electrode 2. The thickness of the toner T adhered on the toner carrier 1 by the magnetic force of the magnet 4 is regulated by the blade 5. A signal voltage is applied to the control electrode 8 according to image information, the opening 6 is selectively opened and closed by an electrostatic action, and the recording paper P conveyed by the back electrode 2
Then, the toner T that has passed through the opening 6 adheres, and an image is recorded.

When a predetermined recording is performed, the pinion 13 is rotated by a driving means (not shown), the rack 12 is moved in the sub-scanning direction F, and the image control electrode body 3 is moved to the cleaning position indicated by a virtual line in FIG. Transported. On the other hand, at the same time as the conveyance of the image control electrode body 3 is started, the driving means 23 rotates the fan 22 to start suction. While the image control electrode body 3 is being conveyed, the blade 14 fixed to the rack 12 slides on the surface of the magnetic force generating means 25 as shown in FIG. 7 to scrape off the toner T attached to the surface. Clean.

When the image control electrode body 3 is transported to the cleaning position, the moving means (not shown)
0 from the home position shown in FIG. 6A to the left as shown in FIG. 6B and further to the right as shown in FIG.
Changes the direction of the stream line of the air flow. The toner T attached to the opening 6 is sucked by the rotation of the fan 22 while being weakened in the adhesive force to the opening 6, and is stored in the collection container 24. The toner T stored in the collection container 24
Is periodically discarded. Further, the toner T stored in the collection container 24 may be reused.

FIG. 8 shows another example of the cleaning means 30. The cleaning means 30 has an ejection port 31a arranged to face the opening row group A when the image control electrode body 3 is transported to the cleaning position by the transport means (see FIG. 4) as in the above-described embodiment. An injection unit 31,
A fan 32 for ejecting air to the ejection port 31a, a driving means 33 for driving the fan 32, and the ejection unit 31 are disposed with the image control electrode body 3 interposed therebetween. And the magnetic force generating means 35 that attracts the toner T blown off by the fan 32 and is reciprocated relatively to the opening 6 by moving means (not shown).

The moving means reciprocates the cleaning means 30 with respect to the opening 6 at the time of cleaning, as in the above-described embodiment, to change the direction of the magnetic field by the magnetic force generating means 35 and the direction of the streamline of the jet air flow by the fan 32. Change the aperture 6
The toner T adhered to the opening 6 is moved to weaken the adhesive force to the opening 6.

In this embodiment, the magnetic force generating means 35 is constituted by a single band-shaped magnet.

When the image control electrode body 3 is transported to the cleaning position, the moving means (not shown)
0 is reciprocated with respect to the opening 6 to change the direction of the magnetic field of the magnetic force generating means 35 and the direction of the streamline of the air flow by the fan 32. The toner T adhered to the opening 6 is blown off by the rotation of the fan 32 and is attracted to the magnetic force generating unit 35 while the adhesion force to the opening 6 is reduced.

According to this embodiment, the toner T removed from the opening 6 does not scatter inside the recording apparatus, so that contamination by the toner can be reduced and stable recording can be performed for a long time.
If the magnetic force generating means 35 is formed of a single band-shaped magnet, the size of the apparatus can be reduced.

FIG. 9 shows another example of the magnetic force generating means 45.
The magnetic force generating means 45 is formed by arranging a plurality of band-shaped magnets such that the magnetic poles alternate. The use of the magnetic force generating means 45 in which the magnetic poles are alternately changed as described above makes it possible to reduce the number of reciprocating movements by the moving means as compared with the case of the cleaning means 30 shown in FIG.
5 can sufficiently change the direction of the magnetic field, and the vibration and noise of the apparatus caused by the movement of the cleaning means can be reduced.

FIG. 10 shows another embodiment. The magnetic force generating means 55 shown in this embodiment is formed in a roller shape having a diameter of 10 to 20 mm, and is formed by arranging a plurality of magnets so that the magnetic poles alternately change. Is done. On the outer peripheral surface of the magnetic force generating means 55, a blade 51 for scraping the adhered toner T, a blade 51
A container 52 for collecting the toner T scraped in the step is provided.

When the image control electrode body 3 is conveyed to the cleaning position as in the above-described embodiment, the magnetic force generating means 55 is rotated, the direction of the magnetic field is changed, and the toner T adhered to the opening 6 is removed. Is blown off by the rotation of the fan 32 while weakening the adhesive force to the magnetic force generating means 55.
Adsorb to. The toner T adsorbed on the magnetic force generating means 55 is scraped off by the blade 51 and collected in the container 52.

According to this embodiment, since the surface of the magnetic force generating means 55 is constantly cleaned by the blade 51 and the attraction force of the toner T is kept constant, the cleaning ability of the image control electrode body 3 is also kept constant. .

[0049]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the residual toner adhered to the opening is removed by the magnetic force of the cleaning means and the suction force of the air, so that scattering of the toner can be prevented, and stable high image quality can be achieved. Is obtained. In addition, since the air suction function is used, the toner does not scatter inside the recording apparatus, and a highly reliable high-quality recording apparatus is realized.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the direction of the magnetic field is changed by reciprocating the cleaning means relative to the opening, the toner attached to the opening is easily moved in addition to the effect of the first aspect. Therefore, the image control electrode body can be reliably cleaned.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the toner removing means removes the toner attached to the magnetic force generating means.
The cleaning ability can be maintained at a constant level, and stable high-quality recording can be performed over a long period of time.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the residual toner adhered to the opening is removed by the two functions of the magnetic force of the cleaning means and the jet air flow, so that stable high-quality recording can be performed for a long time. Was. In addition, since the jet air flow is used, the air flow can be applied to the clogged area in a concentrated manner, so that the action force is stronger than that of the air suction method and the cleaning effect is high. Furthermore, since the magnetic force generating means is disposed at the opposed position, the toner scattered by the air flow can be reliably captured, and a highly reliable high-quality recording apparatus has been realized while keeping the inside of the recording apparatus clean. .

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the magnetic force generating means is formed in a roller shape and rotated, the size and cost of the apparatus can be reduced in addition to the effect of the fifth aspect.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the direction of the magnetic field is changed by rotating the roller-shaped magnetic force generating means in which the magnetic poles are alternately changed. Became easier to move, and the cleaning removal effect was further enhanced.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the direction of the magnetic field is changed by reciprocating the magnetic force generating means relatively to the opening, so that the toner attached to the opening moves in addition to the effect of the fourth aspect. And the cleaning removal effect was even higher. Also, since the magnetic force generating means is reciprocated relatively to the opening, the rotation mechanism of the roller makes it possible to reduce the movement mechanism as compared with the method in which the direction is changed next time, thereby making the entire recording apparatus compact.

According to the eighth aspect of the invention, the magnetic poles of the magnetic force generating means are formed so as to be alternately changed. Therefore, in addition to the effect of the seventh aspect, the reciprocating motion by the moving means can be performed at high speed and frequently. , The direction of the magnetic field can be changed sufficiently,
The driving source of the moving means can be reduced, and the entire recording apparatus can be made compact. Further, vibration and noise of the apparatus caused by movement of the cleaning means can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a recording apparatus showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a main part of the image control electrode body shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a main part of another image control electrode body.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a main part of a transport unit of the image control electrode body illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a side view illustrating an image control electrode body and a cleaning unit during cleaning.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an operation of a cleaning unit moved by the moving unit.

FIG. 7 is a side view illustrating a main part of a magnetic force generating unit and a toner removing unit.

FIG. 8 is a side view showing another cleaning means of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing another magnetic force generating means.

FIG. 10 is a schematic side view of a recording apparatus showing another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Toner carrier 2 Back electrode 3 Image control electrode body 4 Magnet 5 Blade 6 Opening 7 Insulating sheet 8 Control electrode 10 Recording unit 20, 30 Cleaning means 25, 35, 45, 55 Magnetic force generating means A Opening row group

Claims (8)

(57) [Claims] A toner carrier including a magnet for carrying a magnetic toner; a back electrode disposed opposite to the toner carrier; and a back electrode disposed between the toner carrier and the back electrode. An opening arranged in the scanning direction, through which the toner passes, and an image control electrode body having a control electrode that electrostatically opens and closes the opening, and has a space between the image control electrode body and the back electrode. While transporting the recording paper in a sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction,
A recording device that selectively opens and closes the opening with the control electrode according to image information and attracts the toner to the recording paper; a cleaning unit that removes residual toner attached to the opening; and Transport means for transporting, when the cleaning means is transported by the image control electrode body by the transport means, a suction port facing the opening; a suction means for sucking air from the suction port; A recording device provided with an air-permeable magnetic force generating means disposed at a suction port for magnetically sucking the residual toner. 2. A recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising moving means for reciprocating said cleaning means relative to said opening. 3. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said cleaning means has a toner removing means for removing toner attached to said magnetic force generating means. 4. A toner carrier including a magnet for carrying a magnetic toner, a back electrode disposed opposite to the toner carrier, and a back electrode disposed between the toner carrier and the back electrode. An image control electrode body having an opening arranged in the scanning direction, through which the toner passes, and a control electrode for electrostatically opening and closing the opening, between the image control electrode body and the back electrode; While transporting the recording paper in the sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction,
A recording device that selectively opens and closes the opening with the control electrode according to image information and attracts the toner to the recording paper; a cleaning unit that removes residual toner attached to the opening; and Transport means for transporting, when the cleaning means the image control electrode body is transported by the transport means, an ejection port facing the opening, an ejection means for ejecting an air flow from the ejection port, A recording apparatus, comprising: a magnetic force generating means disposed so as to sandwich the image control electrode body with the ejecting means, and magnetically attracting residual toner blown off by the ejecting means. 5. A recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said magnetic force generating means is formed as a roller and rotates. 6. The recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said magnetic force generating means changes magnetic poles alternately. 7. A recording apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising moving means for reciprocating said cleaning means relative to said opening. 8. A recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said magnetic force generating means changes magnetic poles alternately.