JP3310230B2 - Solvent recovery device and electrophotographic 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 solvent recovery apparatus and an electrophotographic apparatus, and more particularly to a solvent recovery apparatus and an electronic apparatus for recovering excess solvent from a liquid developer supplied onto an image carrier in a wet development process. Related to photographic equipment.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A wet electrophotographic apparatus using a liquid developer containing a toner and a solvent has various advantages which cannot be realized by a dry electrophotographic apparatus using a powdery developer. ing. For example, according to a wet-type electrophotographic apparatus, extremely fine toner of the order of submicron can be used, so that high image quality can be realized. In addition, since a sufficient amount of image density can be obtained with a small amount of toner, it is economical and can achieve a texture similar to that of offset printing. Further, since the toner can be fixed on the paper at a relatively low temperature, it is possible to save energy.

[0003] While the wet electrophotography technique has various advantages as described above, it has some essential problems. For this reason, in electrophotography, wet technology has long been a dominant factor in dry technology.

[0004] One of the problems in wet electrophotography is due to the use of organic solvents in the developer.
According to a wet electrophotographic apparatus, not only toner but also an organic solvent is supplied to the surface of a photosensitive drum as an image carrier in a developing process. Particularly, in a color type electrophotographic apparatus, since the four colors of developer are sequentially supplied to the same area on the surface of the photoconductor drum, the total amount of the organic solvent supplied to the surface of the photoconductor drum is extremely large.

[0005] Therefore, in a wet electrophotographic apparatus, the organic solvent is consumed very quickly and needs to be replenished frequently. Further, when the solvent is released to the outside of the apparatus, there is a possibility that a problem such as generation of an odor or adverse effect on a human body may occur.

To solve such a problem, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-159
Japanese Patent Publication No. 81 discloses a device for removing excess solvent using a roller made of a porous material. According to this device, the roller is brought into contact with the photosensitive drum while being sucked from the inside thereof, whereby it is possible to recover an excess of the solvent from the developer supplied to the surface of the photosensitive drum.

[0007] However, the above-mentioned excess solvent removing device recovers the solvent by suction, so that a mist of the solvent is generated. That is, since the above-described device performs suction using a pump, air and mist-like solvent are exhausted from the pump. When such a mist is generated, the mist is diffused into the housing, causing a problem in an optical system or an electric system, and the reliability of the electrophotographic apparatus may be reduced.

Further, in order to prevent the above-mentioned inconvenience, the mist must be collected by providing a porous filter or the like at the exhaust port of the pump. However,
In that case, the suction capacity of the pump is reduced, so that a pump with a larger capacity is required. As a result, there arises a problem that the power consumption of the electrophotographic apparatus increases.

[0009]

As described above, conventionally, when a solvent is recovered in an electrophotographic apparatus using a wet developing method, the reliability of the apparatus has been reduced and the power consumption has been increased.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is intended to reduce the reliability and increase the power consumption of a surplus solvent from a developer supplied to an image carrier in a wet development process. It is an object of the present invention to provide a solvent recovery apparatus and an electrophotographic apparatus capable of recovering without any problem.

[0011]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a developer comprising supplying a developer containing a toner and a solvent to the surface of an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed. A solvent recovery device used in an electrophotographic apparatus for forming an image, for recovering excess solvent from the surface of the image carrier on which the developer image is formed, wherein the solvent is brought into contact with the surface of the image carrier to form the image; A belt-shaped belt that absorbs a part of the solvent on the surface of the carrier, a nozzle that injects a gas onto one main surface of the belt that has absorbed the solvent, and discharges the absorbed solvent from the other main surface of the belt, And a solvent recovery device disposed on the other main surface side of the belt and provided with a recovery container for recovering the released solvent.

Further, the present invention provides a developing means for forming a developer image by supplying a developer containing a toner and a solvent to the surface of an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, and developing the developer image. A transfer unit that transfers the image from the image carrier to the transfer material, and a transfer unit that is disposed between the developing unit and the transfer unit and contacts the surface of the image carrier to remove the solvent on the surface of the image carrier. A belt that absorbs part of the belt, a nozzle that injects gas onto one main surface of the belt that has absorbed the solvent, and that releases the absorbed solvent from the other main surface of the belt, and the other of the belt Placed on the main surface side of
A collection container for collecting the released solvent; and an electrophotographic apparatus including a solvent collection unit for collecting excess solvent from the surface of the image carrier.

The belt has a first layer having a plurality of holes disposed in contact with the image carrier and a second layer provided on the first layer. The material constituting the layer preferably has a higher solvent absorbing ability than the material constituting the first layer. The belt has a third layer provided on the second layer and having a plurality of holes.
It is preferable that the material forming the layer has a higher solvent absorbing ability than the material forming the third layer.

Further, it is preferable that the belt has a metal layer having a plurality of holes. Also, the belt is
It is preferable that a pair of metal layers having a plurality of holes be provided, and the pair of metal layers be stacked so that a space for holding a solvent is formed therebetween. When the belt has a metal layer, it is preferable that the belt further include a voltage applying unit that applies a voltage to the metal layer. Further, it is preferable that at least a part of the surface of the belt is made of a material having an affinity for the solvent.

Further, the solvent recovery apparatus and the electrophotographic apparatus further include a driving roller and a driven roller around which the belt is wound, and the belt is preferably circulated between the driving roller and the driven roller. .

Preferably, the nozzle is arranged so as to inject gas at a position where the radius of curvature of the belt is substantially minimized. Further, the nozzle preferably has a plurality of injection ports.

[0017]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 schematically shows a solvent recovery apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the solvent recovery device 1-1
Are a driving roller 2, a driven roller 3, a belt-shaped belt 4 stretched over the driving roller 2 and the driven roller 3, a nozzle 5 having an ejection port arranged to face the belt 4, and a belt 4. And a collection container 6 whose opening is opposed to the nozzle 5 through the collection container 6.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 7 denotes a photosensitive drum which is an image carrier of an electrophotographic apparatus.
Has a structure in which a photoreceptor layer 9 containing an organic or amorphous silicon-based photoreceptor that changes in a charged state or the like by light irradiation is formed on a cylindrical conductive substrate 8. A toner (not shown) for forming a developer image and an excessive amount of a solvent 10 adhere to the surface of the photoconductor drum 7. The developer is usually prepared by dispersing a toner in a solvent. In FIG. 1, the solvent 10 is indicated by a circle for convenience, but is actually in the form of a film and covers the surface of the photosensitive drum 7 with an appropriate thickness.

The solvent recovery device 1-1 is disposed at a position between the driving roller 2 and the driven roller 3 such that the belt 4 is in contact with the photosensitive drum 7. As described above, since the belt 4 is in contact with the photosensitive drum 7, the driving roller 2 is rotated counterclockwise as the photosensitive drum 7 rotates clockwise, so that the belt 4 travels on the photosensitive drum 7. It is possible to do. In the solvent recovery device 1-1, the belt 4 has the solvent 10 that easily absorbs the solvent 10 from its outer surface and absorbs the solvent 10 by injecting gas.
Those that readily release 0 are selected.

According to the solvent recovery apparatus 1-1, the excess of the solvent supplied onto the photosensitive drum 7 is recovered by the following method. First, the photosensitive drum 7 is moved so that the surface of the photosensitive drum 7 and the belt 4 move at substantially the same speed.
Rotates the driving roller 2 counterclockwise in accordance with the clockwise rotation.
As described above, the belt 4 has an ability to absorb the solvent 10. Therefore, the surplus of the solvent 10 adhering to the photosensitive drum 7 is absorbed by the belt 4 and removed from the photosensitive drum 7. Also, as described above, the belt 4
When the solvent 10 is absorbed by running on the photosensitive drum 7, the developer image formed on the photosensitive drum 7 is not disturbed.

It should be noted that the excess solvent 10 can be sufficiently absorbed by the belt 4 only by lightly bringing the belt 4 into contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum 7. The removal of the solvent 10 by the belt 4 is usually performed only by bringing the belt 4 and the photosensitive drum 7 into contact with each other, and does not involve any heat treatment of the photosensitive drum 7. Therefore, usually, the photosensitive drum 7
The solvent 10 is not completely removed from the surface, and an appropriate amount of solvent (not shown) remains on the surface of the photosensitive drum 7.

Further, when the excess solvent 10 is absorbed by the belt 4, the toner forming the developer image may be adsorbed on the belt 4. In such a case, it is preferable that the belt 4 be made of metal or have a laminated structure of a metal layer and a layer made of another material. When the belt 4 is formed using a metal layer, when absorbing the excess solvent 10, FIG.
By applying a bias voltage to the belt 4 from the power supply 11 to charge the belt 4 to the same polarity as the charge polarity of the toner, as shown in FIG.

The solvent absorbing portion of the belt 4 that has absorbed the excess solvent 10 by coming into contact with the photosensitive drum 7,
It is sent to the position of the nozzle 5. The nozzle 5 is arranged so as to inject gas toward the outer surface of the belt 4. Further, as described above, the belt 4 easily releases the absorbed solvent 10 by injecting the gas. Therefore,
By injecting gas from the nozzle 5 toward the outer surface of the belt 4, the solvent 10 absorbed by the belt 4 is discharged from the inner surface of the belt 4 toward the bottom of the collection container 6. The solvent 10 absorbed by the belt 4 in this manner is
It is collected in the collection container 6.

As described above, the solvent recovery apparatus 1
According to -1, suction of a pump or the like is not used for recovery of the solvent absorbed by the belt 4, but gas injection from a nozzle is used. Therefore, according to the solvent recovery device 1-1, no mist of the solvent is generated from the exhaust port of the pump. Therefore, when the surplus solvent is collected, the mist is not diffused into the housing, so that the inconvenience of the optical system and the electric system does not occur. That is, the solvent recovery device 1-1
According to the method, the excess solvent can be recovered without lowering the reliability of the electrophotographic apparatus.

Since the solvent recovery device 1-1 does not generate mist of the solvent, it is not necessary to provide a pump with a porous filter or the like for recovering the mist. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a reduction in the suction / exhaust ability of the pump. That is, the solvent recovery device 1-1 can recover the solvent without requiring a pump having a larger capacity, and can prevent an increase in power consumption of the electrophotographic apparatus.

In the solvent recovery device 1-1, it is preferable that the recovery container 6 is disposed so as to be surrounded by the belt 4. By arranging in this manner, it is possible to prevent the solvent 10 released from the belt 4 from scattering to the outside of the collection container 6. The opening of the collection container 6 is preferably narrowed. In that case, scattering of the solvent 10 to the outside of the container is less likely to occur. Furthermore, it is preferable to arrange the mesh 12 inside the collection container 6.
Thereby, the collision of the solvent 10 discharged from the belt 4 with the liquid surface of the solvent 10 collected in the collection container 6 or the inner wall of the collection container 6 is buffered by the mesh 12. Therefore, scattering of the solvent 10 to the outside of the container is more unlikely to occur.

In the solvent recovery device 1-1, the belt 4
As the material, a porous material, metal, cloth and the like can be used. However, when the belt 4 is formed of a metal layer or has a laminated structure of a metal layer and a layer made of another material, it is necessary to form a plurality of holes in the metal layer. This is because, in the solvent recovery device 1-1, by injecting gas from one surface of the belt 4, the solvent 10 absorbed by the belt 4 is released from the other surface.

In the solvent recovery device 1-1, the belt 4
May have the structure shown in FIG. FIG.
1 is a sectional view schematically showing a belt used in a solvent recovery device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 2, the belt 4 has a structure in which a second layer 22 and a third layer 23 are sequentially laminated on a first layer 21 arranged so as to be in contact with the photosensitive drum 7. I have. The material forming the second layer 22 includes the first layer 2
A material having a higher solvent-absorbing ability than the material constituting 1 is selected. Therefore, the solvent 10 absorbed from the surface of the first layer 21 is immediately absorbed and held by the second layer 22. Therefore, the solvent absorption capacity of the first layer 21 does not decrease and the absorbed solvent 10 does not flow backward.

The material constituting the second layer 22 includes:
A material having a higher solvent absorbing capacity than the material constituting the third layer 21 is selected. Although the third layer 23 is not necessarily provided, the provision of the third layer 23 can prevent undesired leakage of the solvent 10 on the driven roller 3 or the like.

The first layer 21 and the third layer 23 include:
It is preferable to form a plurality of holes respectively. In this case, the absorption of the solvent and the permeation of the injected gas depend on the first layer 2.
There is no hindrance by the first and third layers 23.

As a material for the first and second layers 21 and 23, for example, a porous material or a metal can be used. When the first and second layers 21 and 23 are made of metal, it is necessary to allow a solvent or a gas flow to pass therethrough in a mesh shape or a film shape having holes. As a material of the second layer 22, a material having a higher ability to absorb and retain the solvent 10, such as cloth, can be used.

When at least one of the first and third layers is made of a conductive material such as a metal, the excess solvent 10
It is preferable that a bias voltage be applied to the layer made of a conductive material when absorbing the hydrogen. In this case, as described above, the adhesion of the toner to the belt 4 can be prevented.

The belt 4 may have the structure shown in FIG. FIG. 3 schematically shows a cross-sectional view of a belt used in the solvent recovery device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 3, the belt 4 has a pair of metal layers 31 and 32 in which a plurality of holes are formed. The metal layer 31 and the metal layer 32 are stacked with a predetermined gap therebetween via a leaf spring 33, and a space for holding the solvent 10 is formed between the metal layers 31 and 32. The metal layer 3
1 and 32 may be in a mesh shape.

In the belt 4 shown in FIG. 2, the solvent was absorbed and held by a material having a high solvent absorbing ability. On the other hand, in the belt 4 shown in FIG. 3, the solvent is held in the space formed by the metal layers 31 and 32. Therefore, according to the belt 4 shown in FIG. 3, the absorbed solvent can be easily released from the belt 4 by injecting the gas.

The belt 4 described above is used for the photosensitive drum 7
Is preferably made of a material having an affinity for the solvent 10 or coated. In this case, the absorption efficiency of the belt 4 can be improved.

Next, an electrophotographic apparatus using the above-mentioned solvent recovery apparatus will be described. FIG. 4 schematically shows an electrophotographic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 4, an electrophotographic apparatus 41 includes a cleaner 4 around a photosensitive drum 7.
2. Chargers 43-1 to 43-4, laser exposure units 44-1 to 44
-4, developing devices 45-1 to 45-4, transfer means 46, and a solvent recovery device 1-2. FIG.
The solvent recovery device 1-2 shown in FIG. 1 is a solvent recovery device 1-1 shown in FIG.
Is slightly different in structure.

According to the electrophotographic apparatus 41, first, the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 is cleaned by the cleaner 42.
Next, the surface of the photosensitive drum 7 is charged to a predetermined polarity by the charger 43-1. Thereafter, the charged surface of the photosensitive drum 7 is irradiated with light using a laser exposure device 44-1.
As a result, a difference occurs in the surface potential between the irradiated portion and the non-irradiated portion, and an electrostatic latent image corresponding to, for example, yellow image information is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 7. Further, a liquid developer containing a yellow toner and a solvent is supplied from the developing device 45-1. As a result, a yellow developer image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 7 due to the electrostatic action between the surface of the photosensitive drum 7 and the toner.

Next, charging units 43-2 to 43-4 and laser exposing units 44-2 to 4-4 are applied to other colors in the same manner.
A developer image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 7 by using the developing devices 4-4 and 45-2 to 45-4.

On the surface of the photosensitive drum 7 on which the full-color developer image has been formed as described above, an excessive amount of solvent exists. According to the electrophotographic apparatus 41 shown in FIG. 4, the excess of the solvent is recovered by the solvent recovery device 1-2.

The solvent recovery device 1-2 is connected to the drive roller 2, the cylindrical nozzle 5, the belt 4 wrapped around the drive roller 2 and the nozzle 5, the recovery container 6, and the recovery container 6. And a container 6-1. That is, in the solvent recovery device 1-2, the nozzle 5 is used as one of members for applying tension to the belt 4. Therefore, there is no need to separately provide a driven roller, and the size of the apparatus can be reduced.

In the solvent recovery device 1-2 shown in FIG. 4, the nozzle 5 is provided with an injection port facing downward, and the belt 4 driven by the driving roller 2 slides on the surface of the nozzle 5. Moving. In addition, the collection container 6 is arranged so that its opening faces the above-described injection port.

The recovery of the solvent by the solvent recovery device 1-2 is performed as described below. First, as the photosensitive drum 7 is rotated clockwise, the drive roller 2 is rotated counterclockwise to move the belt 4 at substantially the same speed as the surface of the photosensitive drum 7. As a result, the photosensitive drum 7 is
Absorb excess solvent on the surface. The solvent absorbed by the belt 4 is released from the outer surface of the belt 4 by gas injected from the nozzle 5 when the portion of the belt 4 that has absorbed the solvent slides on the surface of the nozzle 5. Belt 4
The solvent released from is recovered by the recovery container 6 and then stored in the container 6-1. As described above, the surplus of the solvent on the surface of the photosensitive drum 7 is recovered.

After the recovery of the solvent is completed, the developer image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 7 is transferred by the transfer means 46 to a sheet 49 as a material to be transferred. The transfer unit 46 includes, for example, a transfer roller 47 provided opposite to the photosensitive drum 2 and capable of applying a predetermined voltage, and a pressure roller 48 disposed at a predetermined gap from the transfer roller 47. can do.

When the transfer means 46 is composed of a transfer roller 47 and a pressure roller 48,
The transfer of the developer image to the surface is performed as follows. First, the paper 49 is inserted between the transfer roller 47 and the pressure roller 48. Next, the photosensitive drum 7, the transfer roller 47,
By rotating the pressure roller 48, the developer image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 7 is brought into contact with the surface of the transfer roller 47, and a voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the toner is applied to the transfer roller. As a result, the developer image is transferred onto the transfer roller 47 from the surface of the photosensitive drum 7 by electrostatic attraction between the transfer roller 47 and the developer image.

The developer image transferred onto the transfer roller 47 moves with the rotation of the transfer roller 47 and comes into contact with the paper 49. At this time, from the pressing roller 48 to the transfer roller 4
Since the pressure is applied to 7, the developer image is transferred onto the sheet 49 from the surface of the transfer roller 47.

In the electrophotographic apparatus 41, the nozzle 5
Are disposed close to the belt 4. Therefore, according to the solvent recovery device 1-2, the solvent can be released from the belt 4 with higher efficiency.

Further, in the electrophotographic apparatus 41, the transfer means 46 is constituted by the transfer roller 47 and the pressure roller 48, but may have another structure. That is, the structure of the transfer unit 46 is not particularly limited as long as the developer image can be transferred onto the sheet 49 from the surface of the photosensitive drum 7.

In the electrophotographic apparatus 41 described above,
The nozzle 5 of the solvent recovery device 1-2 has only one injection port, but preferably has a plurality of injection ports. FIG.
FIG. 1 schematically shows a solvent recovery apparatus having a plurality of injection ports. In FIG. 5, the drive roller is omitted.

In FIG. 5, a solvent recovery device 1-3 includes a driving roller (not shown), a nozzle 5, a driven roller 3 rotatably supported by the nozzle 5, and a driving roller and a driven roller 3. It is composed of the passed belt 4, the collection container 6, and a container 6-1 connected to the collection container 6.

In the solvent recovery device 1-3 shown in FIG. 5, the nozzle 5 is provided with a plurality of injection ports. for that reason,
During one rotation of the belt 4, a plurality of gas injections are performed on the same area. Therefore, the solvent absorbed by the belt 4 can be released with higher efficiency.

In FIG. 5, the driven roller 3 is rotatably mounted on the nozzle 5. That is, the driven roller 3 is interposed between the belt 4 and the ejection port of the nozzle 5. Since the gas injected from the injection port needs to reach the belt 4, it is preferable to form a plurality of holes or the like in the driven roller 3 or make the driven roller 3 mesh. In addition, since the driven roller 3 needs to rotate around the nozzle 5, it is preferable to adopt a structure such as a sliding bearing or a ball bearing at both ends of the nozzle 5 and the driven roller 3, for example.

In order to release the solvent absorbed by the belt 4 with higher efficiency, for example, the structure shown in FIG. 6 can be used.

FIG. 6A is a view schematically showing a solvent recovery apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6B is an enlarged view of a part thereof. In FIG. 6A, the solvent recovery device 1-4 includes a drive roller 2, a driven roller 3, a nozzle 5, a belt 4 wrapped around the drive roller 2, the driven roller 3, and the nozzle 5, and a recovery container 6. It is configured. The belt 4 and the photosensitive drum (not shown) come into contact between the nozzle 5 and the driven roller 3. Further, the belt 4 has a structure similar to that shown in FIG.

In the solvent recovery device 1-4, the nozzle 5
Are in contact with the belt 4, and the radius of curvature of the belt 4 is minimized at the contact portion. As described above, at the portion where the radius of curvature of the belt 4 is minimum, the outer surface of the belt 4 is extended as compared with the inner surface as shown in FIG. 6B. As a result, the diameter of the hole formed on the outer surface of the belt 4 is enlarged, and the release of the solvent 10 is promoted. Therefore, it is possible to keep the absorption efficiency of the belt 4 always high.

In the solvent recovery device 1-4, the belt 4
Moved on the surface of the nozzle 5 by sliding. However, as described with reference to FIG. 5, the driven roller may be provided rotatably with respect to the nozzle 5 using the nozzle 5 as a shaft. Regardless of the structure of the member that applies tension to the belt 4, the above-described effects can be obtained as long as the radius of curvature of the belt 4 is minimized at the position of the injection port.

As described above, according to the solvent recovery apparatus of the present invention, suction of a pump or the like is not used for recovery of the solvent absorbed by the belt, but gas injection from a nozzle is used. Therefore, no mist of the solvent is generated from the exhaust port of the pump. Therefore, the excess solvent can be collected without causing inconvenience of the optical system and the electric system due to the diffusion of the mist in the housing. That is, according to the solvent recovery apparatus of the present invention, the excess solvent can be recovered without lowering the reliability of the electrophotographic apparatus.

Further, since the solvent recovery device of the present invention does not generate mist of the solvent, it is not necessary to provide a pump with a porous filter or the like for recovering the mist. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a reduction in the suction / exhaust ability of the pump. That is, the solvent recovery device of the present invention can recover the solvent without requiring a pump having a larger capacity, and can prevent an increase in power consumption of the electrophotographic apparatus.

Further, since the solvent recovery apparatus of the present invention can recover the solvent with high efficiency, it is possible to reduce the diffusion of the solvent to the outside of the housing and to provide a high-performance solvent that can be used safely in offices and the like. A wet electrophotographic apparatus can be realized.

[0062]

As described above, according to the solvent recovery apparatus of the present invention, the solvent absorbed by the belt is recovered into the recovery container by injecting gas. Therefore, according to the solvent recovery apparatus of the present invention, unlike the case of using gas suction, no mist of the solvent is generated. That is, the reliability of the electrophotographic apparatus is not reduced due to the generation of the mist, and the power consumption is not increased by installing a filter or the like in the pump.

Therefore, according to the present invention, there is provided a solvent recovery apparatus and an electrophotographic apparatus capable of recovering without reducing reliability and increasing power consumption.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a solvent recovery device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view schematically showing a belt used in the solvent recovery device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view schematically showing a belt used in the solvent recovery device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a view schematically showing an electrophotographic apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing a solvent recovery device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing a solvent recovery device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1-n Solvent recovery device 4 Belt 5 Nozzle 6 Recovery container 7 Photoconductor drum 10 Solvent 31, 32 Metal layer 41 Electrophotographic device 45-n Developing unit 46 Transfer unit 49 Paper

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-7-225516 (JP, A) JP-A-53-145636 (JP, A) JP-A-53-111739 (JP, A) JP-A-7-225 319291 (JP, A) JP-A-8-69186 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G03G 21/10-21/12 G03G 15/10-15/10 117

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. An electrophotographic apparatus for forming a developer image by supplying a developer containing a toner and a solvent to the surface of an image carrier on which a latent image is formed, wherein the developer image is formed. A solvent recovery device for recovering excess solvent from the surface of the image carrier, wherein a belt-shaped belt that absorbs a part of the solvent on the surface of the image carrier by being brought into contact with the image carrier; A nozzle, which injects a gas onto one main surface of the absorbed belt and discharges the absorbed solvent from the other main surface of the belt, is disposed on the other main surface side of the belt, and is discharged. A solvent recovery device comprising a recovery container for recovering a solvent. 2. The belt comprises: a first layer having a plurality of holes arranged in contact with the image carrier; and a second layer provided on the first layer. The developer collecting device according to claim 1, wherein the material forming the second layer has a higher solvent absorbing ability than the material forming the first layer. 3. The developer collecting device according to claim 1, wherein the belt includes a metal layer having a plurality of holes, and further includes a voltage applying unit that applies a voltage to the metal layer. apparatus. 4. The nozzle according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle is arranged to inject gas at a position where a radius of curvature of the belt is substantially minimized. Developer collection device. 5. A developing means for forming a developer image by supplying a developer containing a toner and a solvent to the surface of the image carrier on which the latent image has been formed, wherein the developer image is transferred from the image carrier. A transfer unit that transfers the image onto the transfer material, and a belt-shaped member that is disposed between the developing unit and the transfer unit and absorbs a part of the solvent on the surface of the image carrier by being brought into contact with the image carrier. And a nozzle that injects a gas onto one main surface of the belt that has absorbed the solvent and discharges the absorbed solvent from the other main surface of the belt, and a nozzle that is on the other main surface side of the belt. An electrophotographic apparatus, comprising: a recovery container disposed to recover the released solvent; and a solvent recovery unit configured to recover excess solvent from the surface of the image carrier.