JP3323302B2 - Developer transport method and 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 using an electrophotographic recording system in a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, and the like, and more particularly, to forming a region having a surface potential on a developer carrying member and developing the region in this region. The present invention relates to a method of transporting a developer to which a developer is adhered and transported to a developing area, and a recording apparatus using the method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art [A]. 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a recording apparatus of an electrophotographic recording system generally includes a two-component developer having a toner and a carrier or a carrier as a developer for visualizing an electrostatic latent image to obtain a recorded image. One-component developers have not been used.

Of these, the two-component developing method using a two-component developer has advantages such as relatively stable recorded images being obtained or high-speed development. There are problems such as being complicated and easy to increase in size, deteriorating the developer, and apt to fluctuate the mixing ratio of the toner and the carrier, which necessitates toner concentration control.

For this reason, attention has been paid to a one-component developing method using a one-component developer free of these problems, and its development has been carried out. As the one-component developer, a toner consisting of only a toner, a toner to which a charge control agent or a surface treatment agent is added as necessary, a so-called magnetic toner containing a magnetic material in the toner, or a And the like.

When color recording is performed using this magnetic toner, the magnetic material contained in the toner itself is opaque,
Since a clear color image cannot be obtained, a non-magnetic toner containing no magnetic material is excellent for color recording. Therefore, it is desirable to use a non-magnetic one-component developing method which can be realized with a simple configuration without controlling the toner density.

However, in the non-magnetic one-component developing system, a one-component developer is carried on a developer carrier (toner carrier) and a developing area (a latent image carrier such as a photoconductor and a toner carrier are separated). (A facing area) is required.

When the developer supply section and the development area are separated from each other, a transport device for supplying toner from the developer supply section to the developer carrier is required. Further, after the toner is transferred to the recording paper, the toner remaining on the image carrier is collected by a cleaning means such as a blade, and is conveyed to a waste toner collecting means such as a bottle. It is necessary to transport the toner.

[0008] When a magnetic toner is used to convey the toner, the magnetic force of a magnet is used to transfer the toner.
The toner can be relatively easily carried on the toner carrier and transported.

However, as described above, since the non-magnetic one-component developer does not contain a magnetic material, it cannot be transported by magnetic force when transporting the toner.

As a countermeasure against this problem, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.
JP-A-42672 discloses a method in which a dielectric layer is formed on the surface of a developing roller, which is a toner carrier, and a developer supply unit such as a sponge roller is pressed against the surface to make the toner and the dielectric have opposite polarities. A method is disclosed in which a toner is triboelectrically charged, a toner is electrostatically adhered on a dielectric layer, and transported to a development area.

Further, with respect to this method, many inventions have been devised in which a developer supply means and a developing roller are devised. For example, as a developer supply means, a roller or fur brush composed of an elastic body with a skin layer (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-229060) or a foamed flexible material is used (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-1986). No. 42672) has been proposed. The developing roller has a surface roughness of 0.2 μm.
~ 5 μm roller (JP-A-60-53976),
A method of forming each with an insulating film roller (JP-A-55-46768), a medium-resistance film roller (JP-A-58-132768), an electrode roller having an insulating surface and a conductive surface, and the like is disclosed. I have. Further, using a sponge roller, an elastic roller, a fur brush, or the like, a charge is applied to the toner by frictional charging between the toner and the developer supply unit, and the toner is electrostatically applied to the developing roller by friction in contact with the developing roller. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-42672 and the like show an example in which the toner layer thickness is regulated and the toner layer thickness is regulated using a toner layer thickness regulating member on a developing roller such as a blade.

The toner is adhered to the developing roller by frictional charging between the developer supply means and the developing roller. However, it is difficult to sufficiently charge the toner. As a result, the toner supply becomes insufficient, and the toner adheres to the recording paper. There was a problem that the amount was insufficient.

For this reason, in general, the shortage of toner supply has been solved by setting the linear velocity of the developing roller to 2 to 4 times the linear velocity of the latent image carrier (photoreceptor, etc.). It is disadvantageous for high-speed recording, and there is also a problem that when a solid portion is developed, the density at the rear end of the image becomes high.

As a solution to this problem, the present applicant has formed a large number of micro-closed electric fields (microfields) on the surface of the developer carrier by selectively retaining electric charges on the surface of the developer carrier. However, a developing method and a developing device have been proposed in which the toner is carried by the closed electric field to increase the amount of toner attached to the developer carrying member. This has the advantage that the intensity of the electric field can be significantly increased by the minute closed electric field on the surface of the developer carrier, and as a result, a large amount of sufficiently charged non-magnetic toner can be carried on the developer carrier and transported to the development area. Have.

[B]. In the recording apparatus using the developing device of the prior art [A], there is a problem that a good image with high density is obtained or a good image is not obtained from a halftone to a highlight portion. As a developing device which has solved the problem, there is an apparatus described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 53-36245.

However, in this developing device,
Since triboelectric charging is used as a charging method, it is difficult to accurately obtain a desired charge amount. The present applicant has proposed the following recording apparatus as a recording apparatus which has solved the problems of these conventional techniques.

[0017] The toner carrier is heated in a state where the toner carrier at least partially made of resin is in contact with the solid, or the toner carrier is brought into contact with the solid in a heated state, and after cooling, the solid is removed. A recording apparatus using a novel developing method in which a region having a surface potential corresponding to a heating temperature is formed, toner is adhered to this region, and the region is transported to a developing region.

[0018] At least a part of the surface is pressurized in a state where the toner carrier made of a resin is in contact with a solid, and then the solid is removed to form a region having a surface potential corresponding to the pressing force on the toner carrier surface. A recording apparatus using a novel developing method in which toner is attached to an area and transported to a developing area.

[0019]

However, as for the above-mentioned prior art [A], the method of forming the minute closed electric field is, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-35071, composed of a conductor. A portion made of an insulating member (dielectric) is formed on the surface of the developing roller, and the insulating member is charged by frictional charging with the developer supply roller to form a minute closed electric field with the conductive portion. Things.

Therefore, the developing roller used in this case requires a complicated process of forming a fine groove on the surface of the conductive roller, applying an insulating material, and further polishing the same. And the structure becomes complicated. In addition, there is a problem that a fine processing technique is required as a manufacturing technique, which results in a high price.

The developing method of [B] of the prior art includes the problem of [A] of the prior art. Further, in addition to this, when the thickness of the resin layer of the developer carrying member is constant, an accurate charge amount can be obtained by controlling the heating temperature, but when the thickness of the resin layer changes during recording, Cannot obtain a stable recorded image because the obtained surface potential changes.Also, it is difficult to obtain a high-density good image or a good image from a halftone to a highlight portion. There was a problem that.

The developing method of [B] of the prior art also includes the problem of [A] of the prior art. Further, in addition to this, when the thickness of the resin layer of the developer carrying member is constant, the charge amount can be controlled by controlling the pressing force, but when the thickness of the resin layer changes during recording, Cannot obtain a stable recorded image because the obtained surface potential changes.Also, it is difficult to obtain a high-density good image or a good image from a halftone to a highlight portion. There was a problem that.

Therefore, the present invention is a non-magnetic one-component developing system, which can supply a developer stably to a developing area, has no development unevenness, and has a high image quality even when a large number of sheets are printed. The present invention provides a developer transporting method and a recording apparatus having a simple configuration in which deterioration is not caused and low energy is achieved, and a stable recorded image is obtained without a change in the obtained surface potential. It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording apparatus capable of obtaining an image having a good density or obtaining a good image from a halftone to a highlight portion.

[0024]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has the following constitution. (1). A developer transporting method in a recording apparatus comprising a developer carrier for transporting a developer, at least a part of a surface of which is formed of a resin layer, and developer supply means for carrying the developer on the developer carrier. In addition, it has a heating means for heating in a state of being in contact with the developer carrying member, or in a state of contact in a heated state, after heating by this heating means, cooled, according to the heating temperature to the resin layer A portion having a surface potential is formed, and a developer is attached to this region by the developer supply means (claim 1).

(2). An image carrier for forming an electrostatic latent image, and a developing device for disposing a developer to the electrostatic latent image, the image carrier being disposed close to the image carrier, at least a part of the surface being made of a resin layer; In a recording apparatus including a developer carrier and a developing device having a developer supply unit for supplying a developer to the developer carrier, heating is performed in a state where the developer carrier is in contact with the developer carrier, or a heated state is provided. After heating by the heating means, cooling is performed to form a portion having a surface potential corresponding to the heating temperature on the developer carrier, and the developer supply means is provided in this region by the developer supply means. A developer is attached (claim 2).

(3). In (2), a developer removing means for removing the developer is provided on the developer carrier on the upstream side of the heating means (Claim 3).

(4). In (3), the developer removing means is a roller, and a voltage is applied to this roller at least at the time of removing the developer.

(5). In (3), the developer removing means includes a heating means for heating the developer carrying member and removing the surface of the developer carrying member (claim 5).

(6). In (2), the charging operation of the developer carrier by the heating means is performed every predetermined number of rotations of the developer carrier.

(7). In (2), the charging operation of the developer carrying member by the heating means is performed at predetermined time intervals (claim 7).

(8). In (2), there is provided a surface potential detecting means for detecting a surface potential of the developer carrying member, and a charging operation of the developer carrying member by the heating means is performed according to a detection signal by the surface potential detecting means. (Claim 8).

(9). At least the developer carrier is brought into contact with a solid in a heated state, or at least the developer carrier surface is heated in a state in contact with the solid, and after cooling, separated from the solid, the developer carrier surface Forming a region having a surface potential corresponding to the heating temperature, attaching a developer to the region, and transporting the developer to the development region, and visualizing the electrostatic latent image with the transport developer. In the recording apparatus, the heating temperature is equal to or lower than a softening temperature of the developer carrier and / or the developer.

(10). At least the developer carrier is brought into contact with a solid in a heated state, or at least the developer carrier surface is heated in a state in contact with the solid, and after cooling, separated from the solid, the developer carrier surface ,
Forming a region having a surface potential according to the heating temperature,
A recording device for attaching a developer to the region and transporting the developer to the development region, wherein the recording device visualizes an electrostatic latent image with the transported developer, wherein the developer carrier is at least porous; A developer carrying layer formed by infiltrating a resin into a body is provided (claim 10).

(11). At least the developer carrier is brought into contact with a solid in a heated state, or at least the developer carrier surface is heated in a state in contact with the solid, and after cooling, separated from the solid, the developer carrier surface ,
Forming a region having a surface potential according to the heating temperature,
A recording device for adhering a developer to the area and transporting the developer to a development area, wherein the recording apparatus visualizes an electrostatic latent image with the transported developer; It was formed of different kinds of materials (claim 11).

(12). At least the developer carrier is brought into contact with a solid while being heated, or at least the surface of the developer carrier is heated while being in contact with the solid, and after cooling, separated from the solid, the surface of the carrier is heated. A recording device for forming a region having a surface potential corresponding to the temperature, attaching a developer to the region, and transporting the developer to the development region, wherein the electrostatic latent image is visualized by the transported developer; In this case, the developer carrying member is formed of a substrate having irregularities and a resin layer provided thereon (Claim 12).

(13). At least the developer carrier is brought into contact with a solid in a heated state, or at least the developer carrier surface is heated in a state in contact with the solid, and after cooling, separated from the solid, the developer carrier surface ,
Forming a region having a surface potential according to the heating temperature,
A recording device for attaching a developer to the area and transporting the developer to the development area, and a recording apparatus for visualizing an electrostatic latent image by the transport developer, wherein the solid surface has irregularities. (Claim 13).

(14). At least the developer carrier is brought into contact with a solid in a heated state, or at least the developer carrier surface is heated in a state in contact with the solid, and after cooling, separated from the solid, the developer carrier surface ,
Forming a region having a surface potential according to the heating temperature,
A recording device for attaching a developer to the area and transporting the electrostatic latent image to the developing area, wherein the solid surface has at least two types of materials. (Claim 14).

[0038]

According to the first aspect, at a predetermined position of the developer carrier, the developer is heated in a state of being in contact with the resin layer by a heating means.
Alternatively, after contacting in a heated state, cooling is performed to form a portion having a surface potential in accordance with the heating temperature on the resin layer. Thereafter, the developer is uniformly attached to the region having the surface potential by the developer supply unit, and the developer is transported by moving the developer carrier.

According to the second aspect, at a predetermined position of the developer carrying member, heating is performed in a state where the developer layer is in contact with the resin layer by heating means, or after the heated layer is brought into contact with the resin layer, the substrate is cooled and heated. A portion having a surface potential corresponding to the temperature is formed. After that, the developer is supplied to the region having the surface potential by the developer supply unit and is carried thereon, and the developer is conveyed to the developing region by rotating the developer carrying member.

According to the third, fourth and fifth aspects, the residual toner remaining on the developer carrier after the development is removed by the developer removing means. That is, if the developer removing means is a removing roller, a voltage is applied to the removing roller to electrostatically remove the residual toner, and if the heating means is used, the residual toner is removed by heating to remove the resin layer of the developer. And removes the electrostatic attraction force of the developer to easily release the developer.

According to the sixth, seventh and eighth aspects, the charging operation of the developer carrier by the heating means is performed at every predetermined number of rotations of the developer carrier, at every predetermined time, or at the time of detecting the surface potential. By performing the process only when the surface potential becomes equal to or lower than a predetermined value in response to the detection signal by the means, the energy consumption for charging the resin layer is greatly reduced as compared with the case where the charging is always performed.

According to the ninth to twelfth aspects, by heating the resin material in contact with the contact member, or by bringing the heated resin material into contact with the contact member, and then removing the contact member, By the charging method of forming a region having a charging potential on the surface of the resin material, the problem of the prior art [A] can be solved, and further, the thickness of the resin material layer can be kept constant during the recording operation. As a result, the magnitude of the generated surface potential can be kept constant. Such an operation leads to an effect of obtaining a stable recorded image.

According to the present invention, since the surface potential can be controlled by controlling the heating temperature, regions having different desired surface potentials can be easily formed on the surface of the developer carrier, and a minute closed electric field is formed. be able to. Such an operation leads to an effect of obtaining a good recorded image from a high density to a highlight portion.

[0044]

1 and 2, a developing belt 1 as a developer carrying member is supported by conveying rollers 12a and 12b. The developing belt 1 has a base film 6 and a toner carrying layer as a resin layer. 7 is comprised.

The contact member 2 is in contact with a predetermined position on the toner carrying layer 7 side, and a pressure roller 5 is disposed on the base film 6 side of the contact portion (charging portion). Can be pressurized. Further, a developer supply roller 3 serving as a developer supply unit for supplying the developer 4 in the developer tank 13 to the developing belt 1 is disposed in the developer tank 13.

As the material of the base film 6, any of an insulating material, a dielectric material, and a semiconductive material can be used, but a material having a high conductivity is particularly preferable in that a uniform electric field can be formed. . The conductivity is 10 Sc
m ^-1 or more is appropriate.

On the other hand, as the material of the toner carrying layer 7, a resin material (organic polymer material) is desirable. Among them, particularly, a vinyl polymer material having a side chain is excellent in that an extremely large charging potential can be obtained. Examples of the vinyl polymer material having this side chain include polyalkyl acrylate and polyalkyl methacrylate.

Further, a polymer containing fluorine having a high electronegativity in a polymer is more preferable because a particularly large charging potential can be obtained. It is desirable that the thickness of the toner carrying layer 7 is higher as the charging potential is higher, and it is desirable. However, considering the ease of forming the resin layer, it is appropriate that the thickness is about 1 μm to 500 μm.

The contact member 2 is made of an insulating material such as glass or a resin such as polyimide, Al, Cu, Au,
Any of metals such as Pt and Ni may be used. Since the rate of change in potential is higher for a metal, it is desirable to use a metal material.

In this configuration, the contact member 2 and the pressure roller 5 rotate at substantially the same speed as the developing belt 1 as the developing belt 1 moves. The surface of the developing belt 1 in the low potential state contacts the contact member 2 at the charging section, is further pressurized by the pressure roller 5, passes through the charging section, and then has a large voltage corresponding to the pressing force as described above. Generates a surface potential.
Thereafter, the developing belt 1 rotates, and the charging unit passes the position of the developer supply roller 3. A positively charged toner is supplied to the developer supply roller 3 in advance by a charging device (not shown). When the charged portion passes through the developer supply roller 3, the toner adheres to the entire surface of the charged portion. The toner is carried on the developing belt 1. Then, by rotating the transport rollers 12a and 12b, the toner at the position of the developer supply roller 3 is carried on the developing belt 1 and transported.

Although the toner is supplied by the developer supply roller 3 here, when the waste toner is collected in the waste toner tank, the residual toner obtained by a cleaning means such as a blade can be supplied. . Further, due to the configuration of the recording apparatus, when the developer supply port is separated from the developing device, the supplied developer may be supplied. In this case, the developing belt 1 includes a waste toner conveying belt,
The replenishment toner transport belt, that is, the developing belt referred to here is a belt having a function of transporting toner.

Next, the change in the surface potential on the developing belt 1 will be described. When the contact member 2 is pressed from the toner carrying layer 7 side of the developing belt 1 and then the contact member 2 is removed, a large charging potential is generated in the pressing portion. The state at this time will be described in an easy-to-understand manner. As shown in FIG. 3A, the surface of the toner carrying layer 7 has a constant specific surface potential σ 0 (low potential state) corresponding to the thickness of the toner carrying layer 7. ing.

Then, as shown in FIG. 2B, a part of the toner carrying layer 7 from the base film 6 side or the contact member 2 side in a state where the contact member 2 such as a metal is in contact with the developing belt 1. Press. Next, as shown in FIG. 3C, when the contact member 2 was removed and the surface potential of the toner carrying layer 7 was measured, the surface potential σ
However, the surface potential σ2 which fluctuates greatly in the pressurized portion is generated. It was found that these surface potentials had a relationship of | σ0 | <| σ1 | ≪ | σ2 |. In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, it can be seen that the surface potential increases as the pressing force increases.
However, if the pressing force is too large, the toner carrying layer 7 will be destroyed, so that about 100 g to ¹⁰ kgf / cm ² is appropriate.

Although the example in which the toner carrying layer 7 is formed on the base film 6 is shown here, the invention is not limited to this. If the surface layer is made of the resin material, the base film 6 The lower layer may be made of another material, for example, another resin layer such as a polyimide resin or PET may be further provided between the base film 6 and the toner carrying layer 7. The latent image carrier of this structure is formed by forming a thin layer of a metal such as Al or Au by vapor deposition on one surface of a polyimide film or a PET film, for example, and applying the resin material on the other surface. Can be easily obtained. Further, here, the developer carrier is the developing belt 1 using a base film, but may be a drum-shaped one based on a metal roller.

Referring to FIG. 1, the recording apparatus will be described. Using a Ni belt as the base film 6, the toner carrying layer 7
A polymer obtained by solution polymerization using Biscoat 17F (manufactured by Osaka Organic Chemical Co., Ltd.) as a fluorine-containing acrylate monomer was used. This polymer was diluted with Freon 113 to obtain a coating solution. By the blade coating, the Ni
The toner carrying layer 7 was formed on the belt, and dried by heating at 90 ° C. to produce the developing belt 1. The thickness of the toner carrying layer 7 was about 100 μm. When the potential on the surface of the developing belt 1 was measured, it was -0.8 V.

Further, an Al roller was used as the contact member 2, and the developing belt 1 was moved while applying a pressure of about 1 kgf / cm ^{2 by} the pressing roller 5. Then, when the potential of the toner carrying layer 7 after passing through the charging section was measured by a surface potentiometer (manufactured by Trek), the potential was -300 V over the entire pressure area.
And significant changes were observed. In addition, the surface potential of the unpressurized portion was -1 to -8 V, and no large change was observed. Further, when the developing belt 1 is moved and toner is supplied to the developing belt 1 by the developer supply roller 3, as shown in FIG. 5, the toner is uniformly attached to the entire contact-pressed portion (the hatched portion). ) Was confirmed.
Further, by moving the developing belt 1, the toner could be conveyed to the point A in FIG. 1 while carrying the toner.

The developing device 19 is arranged close to the photosensitive drum 18. The developing device 19 stores a toner 4 and a toner tank 21 provided with a stirring member 20 for forcibly sending the toner 4 to a toner supply area.
And the contact member 2 disposed close to the photosensitive drum 18.
Is provided with a developing roller 1 which is a developer carrying member pressed and contacted by a spring 25 (or other suitable pressing means), and a toner layer thickness regulating member 26 which regulates a toner layer thickness adhering to the surface of the developing roller 1. And a developing unit. On the surface of the developing roller 1, a toner carrying layer 7, which is a resin layer (not shown), is formed.

In this configuration, the contact member 2 also rotates with the rotation of the developing roller 1, and the surface of the developing roller 1a is charged by this contact and pressure. On the other hand, the toner in the toner tank is charged by a known method such as frictional charging and charge injection (positive charging), sent to the toner supply area by the stirring member 20, and electrostatically carried on the surface of the developing roller 1a. . Thereafter, the toner thinned by the toner layer thickness regulating member 26 is conveyed to the developing area 22. An electrostatic latent image 24 corresponding to the recorded image is formed on the photoreceptor drum 18, and the toner carried on the developing roller 1 a is brought into contact with the electrostatic latent image 24 in the developing area 22 by contact or non-contact development.
Developed by adhering to Here, if necessary, a bias voltage such as direct current, alternating current, direct current superimposed alternating current, or pulse is applied to the base of the developing roller 1a to control so as to obtain an optimal image.

As the toner carrying layer 7 of the developing roller 1a, a bis-coat 17F which is a fluorine-containing acrylate monomer is used.
(Osaka Organic Chemical Co., Ltd.) was used as the material, and a polymer obtained by solution polymerization was used. This polymer was diluted with Freon 113 to form a coating solution, and the toner carrying layer 7 was formed on a base (not shown) of the developing roller 1a by blade coating,
The film was heated and dried at a temperature of ℃ ° C. to produce a developing roller 1a.

The thickness of the toner carrying layer 7 is about 100 μm.
Met. Further, the contact member 2 is set to about 500 gf / cm ²
The developing roller 1a was rotated while pressurizing with the above force. When an OPC was used as the photosensitive drum 18, the latent image pattern was solid, and a DC superimposed alternating current was applied as a bias voltage to the developing roller 1a, a good image was obtained.

[Explanation Corresponding to Claim 1] Next, a first embodiment based on claim 1 will be described with reference to FIG. A developing belt 1 as a developer carrier is supported by transport rollers 12a and 12b. The developing belt 1 includes a base film 6 and a toner carrying layer 7 made of a resin material. At a predetermined position on the toner carrying layer 7 side, a contact belt 17 serving as a contact member is supported by the contact member carrying rollers 15 and 16 and held so as to contact the toner carrying layer 7. The contact part (charging part)
The heating roller 1 as a heating means is provided on the side of the base film 6.
4 is provided so that the developing belt 1 can be heated in the charging section. Further, a developer supply roller 3 serving as a developer supply unit for supplying the developer 4 in the developer tank 13 to the developing belt 1 is disposed in the developer tank 13.

As the material of the base film 6, any of an insulating material, a dielectric material, and a semiconductive material can be used, but a material having a high conductivity is particularly preferable in that a uniform electric field can be formed. . The conductivity is 10 Sc
m ^-1 or more is appropriate. However, when another resin layer is provided between the base film 6 and the toner carrying layer 7,
Those having sufficient durability to the heating temperature are good, and for example, polyimide resin, PET and the like are desirable.

On the other hand, as the material of the toner carrying layer 7, a resin material (organic polymer material) is desirable. Among them, particularly, a vinyl polymer material having a side chain is excellent in that an extremely large charging potential can be obtained. Examples of the vinyl polymer material having this side chain include polyalkyl acrylate and polyalkyl methacrylate. Further, a polymer containing fluorine having a high electronegativity in a polymer is more preferable since a particularly large charging potential can be obtained. The larger the thickness of the toner carrying layer 7 is, the higher the charging potential is, and it is desirable. However, the smaller the thickness is, the better the thermal conductivity is.
Therefore, the thickness of the toner carrying layer 7 is 1 μm to 500 μm.
μm is appropriate.

As the contact member (contact belt 17), an insulating material such as glass or resin such as polyimide,
Any of metals such as 1, Cu, Au, Pt, and Ni may be used.
Since the rate of change in potential is higher for a metal, it is desirable to use a metal material. Further, as a heating source, an infrared lamp, a laser, or the like can be used in addition to a ceramic heater or the like.

In this configuration, the contact belt 17 and the heating roller 14 rotate at substantially the same speed as the developing belt 1 with the movement of the developing belt 1, and the developing belt 1 is heated by the heating roller 14 during the rotation. Is done. Therefore,
The heated toner carrying layer 7 and the contact belt 17 are not heated by the heating roller 14 as they move, and the contact belt 17 and the toner carrying layer 7 are separated.
That is, it is cooled until it reaches the position of point B in the figure. As described above, the surface of the developing belt 1 in the low potential state (σ0) contacts the contact belt 17 at the charging section, is further heated by the heating roller 14, passes through the charging section, and then heats as described above. A large surface potential is generated depending on the temperature. Thereafter, the developing belt 1 rotates, and the charged portion passes through the position of the developer supply roller 3, so that the toner adheres to the entire charged area and the toner is carried on the developing belt 1. The developer supply roller 3 is supplied with a toner that is positively charged in advance by a charging device (not shown), and the toner adheres to the entire surface of the charging unit when the charging unit passes through the portion of the developer supply roller 3. Then, by rotating the transport rollers 12a and 12b, the toner at the position of the developer supply roller 3 is carried on the developing belt 1 and transported. Note that the cooling temperature may be lower than the softening point temperature of the material of the toner carrying layer 7, and is preferably in the range of room temperature to softening point.

The structure of the charging section (heating section) is not limited to this structure as long as the contact belt 17 and the toner carrying layer 7 are separated in a cooled state after heating. For example, FIG. As described above, the configuration may include only the roller-shaped contact member 2. In this case, by appropriately setting the contact width d between the contact member 2 and the toner carrying layer 7, cooling within the contact width is possible.

In this embodiment, the toner is supplied by the developer supply roller 3. However, when the waste toner is collected in the waste toner tank, the remaining toner obtained by the cleaning means such as a blade is supplied. Can be. In this case, the developing belt is a waste toner conveying belt, that is, the developing belt in the present embodiment has a function of conveying toner.

Next, the change in the surface potential on the developing belt 1 will be described. The contact belt 17 is brought into contact with the developing belt 1 from the side of the toner carrying layer 7 and is heated by the heating roller 14. Thereafter, when the toner carrying layer 7 is separated from the contact belt 17, a large charging potential is generated in the heating section. The state at this time will be described in an easy-to-understand manner. As shown in FIG. 9A, the surface of the toner carrying layer 7 has a constant specific surface potential σ 0 according to the thickness of the toner carrying layer 7. Then, as shown in FIG.
7 (may be a metal) in contact with the toner carrying layer 7 from the base film 6 side or the contact member 2 side.
Heat a portion of the. Next, as shown in FIG.
When the surface potential of the toner carrying layer 7 is measured after the contact belt 17 is separated, the surface potential σ slightly fluctuates even in the portions other than the heating portion.
3, but a very large fluctuation of the surface potential σ4 occurs in the heating part. It was found that these surface potentials had a relationship of | σ0 | <| σ3 | ≪ | σ4 |. Further, as shown in FIG. 10, it can be seen that the higher the heating temperature, the higher the surface potential. However, the heating temperature cannot be higher than the decomposition temperature of the toner carrying layer 7, and the heating temperature needs to be about 35 ° C. or higher in order to obtain a substantially constant charging potential without being affected by the use environment. . Therefore, the heating temperature is desirably selected from the range of about 35 ° C. to the decomposition temperature of the toner carrying layer 7.

When the temperature of the developing belt 1 at the position of the developer supply roller 3 is higher than the temperature at which the toner softens, the toner may be fused to the developing belt.
To prevent this, the heating temperature is optimally selected from the range of about 35 ° C. to the softening temperature of the toner.

In this embodiment, the base film 6
Although the example in which the toner carrying layer 7 is formed is shown above, the present invention is not limited to this. If the surface layer is made of the resin material, the configuration of the lower layer corresponding to the base film 6 is as follows.
Another material may be used. For example, as described above, another resin layer such as a polyimide resin or PET may be further provided between the base film 6 and the toner carrying layer 7.

Next, a specific embodiment in which a predetermined material is used in the recording apparatus of the first embodiment (FIG. 7) will be described. A Ni belt was used as the base film 1, and a polymer obtained by solution polymerization using Biscoat 17F (manufactured by Osaka Organic Chemicals), which is a fluorine-containing acrylate monomer, was used as the toner carrying layer 7. This polymer was diluted with Freon 113 to obtain a coating solution. The toner carrying layer 7 was formed on the Ni belt by blade coating, and dried by heating at 90 ° C. to produce the developing belt 1. The thickness of the toner carrying layer 7 was about 50 μm. When the potential on the surface of the developing belt 1 was measured, it was -0.6 V. Further, using a Ni belt as a contact member, while heating the heating belt 14 to about 50 ° C., the developing belt 1
Moved. Therefore, the toner carrying layer 7 after passing through the charging section
Was measured with a surface voltmeter (manufactured by Trek). As a result, the potential was about -280 V over the entire heating area, and a large change was recognized. In addition, the surface potential of the portion that was not heated was -1 to -10 V, and no significant change was observed. Further, when the developing belt 1 is moved to supply the positively charged toner to the developing belt 1 by the developer supply roller 3, the toner is uniformly attached to the entire contact-heated portion as in FIG. (Shaded area) was confirmed.
Further, by moving the developing belt 1, the toner could be conveyed to the point A in FIG. 7 while carrying the toner.

[Explanation Corresponding to Claim 2] Next, a second embodiment based on claim 2 will be described. In FIG. 11, a developing device 19 is arranged close to the photosensitive drum 18. This developing device 19
Includes a toner tank 21 provided with a stirring member 20 for accommodating the toner 4 and forcibly sending the toner 4 to the toner supply area, a developing roller 1 a disposed in close proximity to the photosensitive drum 18, and A developing unit provided with a toner layer thickness regulating member 26 for regulating the thickness of the toner layer adhering to the surface of the developing roller 1a. A not-shown toner carrying layer 7 is formed on the developing roller 1a, and a contact belt 17 as a contact member supported by a heating roller 14 and a transport roller 16 is in contact with a moderate pressure.

In this configuration, the contact belt 17 also rotates with the rotation of the developing roller 1a, and the surface of the developing roller 1a is charged by a series of steps of contact, heating and separation of the contact belt 17. On the other hand, the toner 4 in the toner tank 21 is charged by a known method such as frictional charging and charge injection (positive charging in this embodiment), sent to the toner supply area by the agitating member 20, and stuck on the surface of the developing roller 1. It is held electrically. Thereafter, the toner thinned by the toner layer thickness regulating member 26 is conveyed to the developing area 22. An electrostatic latent image 24 corresponding to the recorded image is formed on the photosensitive drum 18, and the toner carried on the developing roller 1 adheres to the electrostatic latent image 24 in the developing area 22 by contact or non-contact development. Is developed. Here, if necessary, a bias voltage such as direct current, alternating current, direct current superimposed alternating current, or pulse is applied to the base of the developing roller 1a to control so as to obtain an optimal image.

Here, a specific embodiment using a predetermined material in the recording apparatus of the second embodiment (FIG. 11) will be described. Biscoat 17F which is a fluorinated acrylate monomer as the toner carrying layer 7 of the developing roller 1
(Osaka Organic Chemical Co., Ltd.) was used as the material, and a polymer obtained by solution polymerization was used. This polymer was diluted with Freon 113 to form a coating solution, and a toner carrying layer 7 was formed on a base (not shown) of the developing roller 1 by blade coating.
To form a developing roller 1. The thickness of this toner carrying layer was about 50 μm. Further, the developing roller 1 was rotated while heating at a heating temperature of the heating roller 14 of 50 ° C. When the OPC was used as the photosensitive drum 18, the latent image pattern was solid, and DC bias AC was applied to the developing roller 1 as a bias voltage, a good image was obtained.

[Explanation Corresponding to Claim 3] Next, a third embodiment based on claim 3 will be described. In FIG. 12, a toner removing member 27 as a developer removing means is provided between the developing area 22 and the charging section. As the toner removing member 27, a blade, a roller, or the like made of urethane rubber or the like is desirable.

In this configuration, the contact member 2 (the contact belt 17 in FIG. 11) also rotates with the rotation of the developing roller 1a, and a series of steps of contact, heating, cooling, and contact member separation separates the developing roller 1a. Surface is charged. On the other hand, the toner in the toner tank is charged by a known method such as frictional charging and charge injection (positive charging in this embodiment), sent to the toner supply area by the stirring member 20, and electrostatically charged on the surface of the developing roller 1 Is held. Thereafter, the toner thinned by the toner layer thickness regulating member 26 is transferred to the developing region 2.
2 is transferred.

An electrostatic latent image 24 corresponding to a recorded image is formed on the photosensitive drum 18.
By the contact or non-contact development, the toner carried on the developing roller 1 is developed by adhering to the electrostatic latent image 24 side.

The toner remaining on the developing roller 1 after the development is carried to the portion where the toner removing member 27 is located as the developing roller 1 further rotates. Here, the residual toner is removed from the developing roller 1 by the toner removing member 27.
Removed from

As described above, the developing roller 1 from which the residual toner has been removed is again charged by a charging means such as the contact member 2 to a potential sufficient to carry and transport the toner. Therefore, in the charging portion where the contact member 2 is located, the contact member 2 and the toner carrying layer 7 are always contacted and heated with no toner on the surface of the developing roller 1, so that the same amount is always sufficient for development. The amount of toner is conveyed to the development area 22.

Here, a specific embodiment using predetermined materials in the recording apparatus of the third embodiment (FIG. 12) will be described. Biscoat 17F which is a fluorinated acrylate monomer as a toner carrying layer of the developing roller 1a
(Osaka Organic Chemical Co., Ltd.) was used as the material, and a polymer obtained by solution polymerization was used. The polymer was diluted with Freon 113 to form a coating solution, and the developing roller 1a was blade-coated.
A toner carrying layer is formed on a substrate (not shown) of
The film was heated and dried at a temperature of ℃ ° C. to produce a developing roller 1a.

The thickness of the toner carrying layer was about 100 μm. Further, the pressing force of the contact member 2 is set to 500 gf / c.
m ² , the developing roller 1 a was rotated. OPC is used as the photosensitive drum 18, the latent image pattern is solid,
DC bias AC was applied as a bias voltage to the developing roller 1a.

Further, under the above conditions that a urethane rubber blade was used as the toner removing member 27, the initial image and the image on the photosensitive drum 18 after forming an image corresponding to 100 sheets (A4 length) were evaluated. As a result, a good image which was not different from the original image was obtained. However, the photosensitive drum 1
The image on No. 8 was subjected to cleaning, charging, exposure, and the like by a method similar to that of a general electrophotographic recording apparatus for each rotation.

[Explanation Corresponding to Claim 4] Next, a fourth embodiment based on claim 4 will be described. In FIG. 13, this embodiment is substantially the same as the third embodiment, except that a toner removing roller 28 is provided between the developing area 22 and the toner removing member 27 as a toner removing means. It is a point. Examples of the toner removing roller 28 include metals such as Al, Cu, and Ni.
Alternatively, an alloy such as brass steel is used.
As shown in FIG. 4 (a), all made of metal;
As shown in FIG. 2B, the multilayer structure may be a multilayer structure, a part of which is formed of a metal 28a (28b is a resin layer). If the surface of the metal toner removing roller 28 is covered with the insulating layer 28c as shown in FIG. 3C, it is possible to prevent a large current from flowing due to electrical short-circuit due to contact with other members. preferable. Further, the toner removing roller 28 and the developing roller 1a may be in contact with each other, but it is preferable that the toner removing roller 28 and the developing roller 1a be in non-contact because the contact may damage the toner carrying layer 7.

In this configuration, the toner removing roller 28
In the fourth embodiment, the remaining toner can be more reliably removed by applying a voltage to the toner carrier layer 7 to electrostatically remove the remaining toner.

It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which an adhesive material is applied to the surface of the toner removing roller 28 and the remaining toner is adhered to the roller side by the adhesive force to remove the remaining toner from the developing roller 1a.

Here, a specific embodiment using various materials in the recording apparatus of the fourth embodiment (FIG. 13) will be described. Biscoat 17F which is a fluorinated acrylate monomer as the toner carrying layer 7 of the developing roller 1a
(Osaka Organic Chemical Co., Ltd.) was used as the material, and a polymer obtained by solution polymerization was used. This polymer was diluted with Freon 113 to form a coating solution, and the toner carrying layer 7 was formed on a base (not shown) of the developing roller 1a by blade coating,
The film was heated and dried at a temperature of ℃ ° C. to produce a developing roller 1a. The thickness of the toner carrying layer 7 was about 100 μm.

Further, the pressing force of the contact member 2 is set to 500 gf
/ Cm ² , and the developing roller 1a was rotated. OPC was used as the photosensitive drum 18, the latent image pattern was solid, and DC bias AC was applied to the developing roller 1a as a bias voltage. Further, the toner removing roller 28 is provided as shown in FIG.
The structure shown in FIG.

Under the above conditions, the initial image and the image on the photosensitive drum 18 after forming an image corresponding to 100 sheets (A4 portrait) were evaluated. As a result, a good image which was not different from the original image was obtained. . However, the image on the photosensitive drum 18 was cleaned, charged, exposed, and the like every rotation by the same method as a general electrophotographic recording apparatus.

[Explanation Corresponding to Claim 5] Next, a fifth embodiment based on claim 5 will be described. In FIG. 15, this embodiment is substantially the same as the fourth embodiment, except that a heater 29 is provided between the developing region 22 and the toner removing member 27.

The heater 29 heats the toner carrier layer 7 to which the residual toner has adhered. As a result, the toner carrier layer 7 is neutralized, the electrostatic attraction between the toner and the toner carrier layer 7 is lost, and the remaining toner is easily removed.

It is desirable that the heating temperature be higher, because the charge elimination time is shortened. However, if the heating temperature is too high, the remaining toner is melted, and then cooled to be fixed to the toner carrier layer 7. Therefore, the range of the heating temperature is desirably not lower than the room temperature and not higher than the softening point of the toner.

As a method for removing the residual toner after the heat is removed by static electricity, natural fall by gravity may be used. However, in order to remove the toner reliably, vibration or air suction is applied. Alternatively, a method combined with the toner removing member 27 or the toner removing roller 28 described above may be used.

Here, a specific embodiment using a predetermined material in the recording apparatus of the fifth embodiment (FIG. 15) will be described. Biscoat 17F which is a fluorinated acrylate monomer as a toner carrying layer of the developing roller 1a
(Osaka Organic Chemical Co., Ltd.) was used as the material, and a polymer obtained by solution polymerization was used. This polymer was diluted with Freon 113 to form a coating solution, and a toner carrying layer was formed on a base (not shown) of the developing roller 1a by blade coating.
To form a developing roller 1a.

The thickness of the toner carrying layer was about 100 μm. Further, the pressing force of the contact member 2 is set to 500 gf / c.
m ² , the developing roller 1 a is rotated, the OPC is used as the photosensitive drum 18, the latent image pattern is solid, DC bias AC is applied to the developing roller 1 a as a bias voltage, and the heating temperature of the heater 29 is 50 ° C. did.

Under the above conditions, the initial image and the image on the photosensitive drum 18 after forming an image equivalent to 1,000 sheets (A4 length) were evaluated. As a result, a good image which was not different from the original image was obtained. . However, the image on the photosensitive drum 18 was cleaned, charged, exposed, and the like every rotation by the same method as a general electrophotographic recording apparatus.

[Explanation Corresponding to Claims 6, 7, and 8] Next, sixth, seventh, and eighth embodiments based on claims 6, 7, and 8 will be described. 17, 18 and 19, the overall structure is substantially the same as that of the second embodiment (claim 2 and FIG. 11), except that the contact belt 17 is As a means for contacting the heating roller 7 with the heating roller 14 and the conveying roller 16, a solenoid 30 (and a solenoid driving circuit 32 associated therewith) is attached, and a blade 31 is disposed as a toner removing means. In this embodiment, a surface potential sensor 33 (and a surface potential measurement circuit 36 accompanying the surface potential sensor 33), which is a means for detecting the surface potential of the toner carrying layer 7, is additionally provided.

In these configurations, after the charging for one rotation of the toner carrying layer 7 is initially performed, the solenoid 30 is driven to separate the contact belt 17 from the toner carrying layer 7 so that the charging is not carried out. The heating of the heating roller 14 is turned off. Thereafter, in the sixth embodiment, each time the developing roller 1a makes a predetermined rotation (the rotation counting circuit 34).
In the seventh embodiment, at predetermined time intervals (detected by the timer circuit 35), and in the eighth embodiment, in response to a surface potential detection signal from the surface potential sensor 33 of the toner carrying layer 7. (After being detected by the surface potential measuring circuit 36, it is compared with a predetermined value by the comparing circuit 37), the contact belt 17 is again brought into contact with the toner carrying layer 7 and heated to perform the charging operation of the toner carrying layer 7.

By the way, as shown in FIG. 16, it can be seen that the surface potential of the toner carrying layer 7 of the second aspect is attenuated with time. Therefore, if the toner carrying layer 7 is once charged and then printing is performed for a long time without performing the charging operation, the amount of toner attached decreases due to the surface potential attenuation of the toner carrying layer 7, and in the worst case, No longer adheres.
To prevent this, the charging operation may be repeatedly performed, but in this case, high energy is consumed particularly when a method of charging by contact and heating is used. In the case of charging by contact or pressure, the toner carrying layer 7
Is constantly pressurized, which causes deterioration of the toner carrying layer 7.

However, if charging is performed as necessary before the surface potential of the toner carrying layer 7 is attenuated as in the above embodiment, the heating roller 14 is not always heated, and the Energy consumption. The predetermined time in the seventh embodiment is selected from the time required to attenuate to the surface potential necessary for adhering toner to the toner carrying layer 7 and the potential range in which the amount of toner transported to the developing area does not greatly vary. Is done.

Further, the developing roller 1 in the sixth embodiment
The predetermined number of rotations of a is selected based on the rotation speed of the developing roller 1a in addition to the potential range. Here, a specific example using a predetermined material in the recording apparatus of the sixth embodiment (FIG. 17) will be described. As the toner carrying layer 7 of the developing roller 1a, a polymer obtained by solution polymerization using biscoat 17F (manufactured by Osaka Organic Chemical Co., Ltd.) as a fluorine-containing acrylate monomer was used. This polymer was diluted with Freon 113 to form a coating solution, a toner carrying layer was formed on a base (not shown) of the developing roller 1a by blade coating, and heated and dried at 90 ° C. to produce the developing roller 1a.

The thickness of the toner carrying layer was about 50 μm. Further, the developing roller 1a was rotated while heating at a heating temperature of the heating roller 14 of 50 ° C. OPC is used as the photosensitive drum 18, the latent image pattern is solid, DC bias AC is applied as a bias voltage to the developing roller 1a, and a urethane rubber blade is used as a toner removing unit. 2,5,3
The measurement was performed for each rotation of 0, 50, 100, 1000, and 10000.

Under the above conditions, the latent image on the photosensitive drum 18 was developed, and the original image and the image on the photosensitive drum 18 immediately before the charging operation were evaluated. In this case, the linear velocity of the developing roller 1a was set at 5, 50, 100 mm / sec. As a result, the energy consumption for charging the toner carrying layer 7 was reduced in all the charging operations, but the image immediately before the charging operation was performed when the charging operation was performed every 10,000 times. The amount of toner attached to No. 18 was reduced, resulting in a poor image. In other cases, good images were obtained. Therefore, usually 2-1
It is appropriate to carry out every 000 revolutions. However, the image on the photosensitive drum 18 was cleaned, charged, exposed, and the like every rotation by the same method as a general electrophotographic recording apparatus.

Next, the recording apparatus of the seventh embodiment (FIG. 1)
8) A specific example using a predetermined material will be described. Biscoat 17F which is a fluorinated acrylate monomer as the toner carrying layer 7 of the developing roller 1a
(Osaka Organic Chemical Co., Ltd.) was used as the material, and a polymer obtained by solution polymerization was used. This polymer was diluted with Freon 113 to form a coating solution, and a toner carrying layer was formed on a base (not shown) of the developing roller 1a by blade coating.
To form a developing roller 1a. The thickness of the toner carrying layer was about 50 μm. The developing roller 1 a was rotated while heating the heating roller 14 at a heating temperature of 50 ° C. Further, OPC is used as the photosensitive drum 18, the latent image pattern is solid, DC bias AC is applied as a bias voltage to the developing roller 1a, and toner removing means is used.
Using a urethane rubber blade, the charging operation execution time is 10
Performed every minute.

Under the above conditions, the latent image on the photosensitive drum 18 was developed, and the original image and the image on the photosensitive drum 18 immediately before the charging operation were evaluated. As a result, the energy consumption for charging the toner carrying layer 7 was reduced. Also,
The image immediately before the charging operation did not show a large difference compared to the image immediately after the charging operation, and a good image was obtained.

However, the image on the photosensitive drum 18 was subjected to cleaning, charging, exposure and the like every rotation by a method similar to that of a general electrophotographic recording apparatus.

Next, the recording apparatus of the eighth embodiment (FIG. 1)
In 9), a specific example using a predetermined material will be described. Biscoat 17F which is a fluorinated acrylate monomer as the toner carrying layer 7 of the developing roller 1a
(Osaka Organic Chemical Co., Ltd.) was used as the material, and a polymer obtained by solution polymerization was used. The polymer was diluted with Freon 113 to form a coating solution, and the developing roller 1a was blade-coated.
A toner carrying layer is formed on a substrate (not shown) of
The film was heated and dried at a temperature of ℃ ° C. to produce a developing roller 1a. The thickness of the toner carrying layer was about 50 μm. The developing roller 1 a was rotated while heating the heating roller 14 at a heating temperature of 50 ° C. Further, OPC is used as the photosensitive drum 18, the latent image pattern is solid, DC bias AC is applied as a bias voltage to the developing roller 1a, and a urethane rubber blade is used as a toner removing means. The potential was reduced to 80% or less of the charge amount immediately after the charging operation was performed, or to -100 V or less.

Under the above conditions, the latent image on the photosensitive drum 18 was developed, and the original image and the image on the photosensitive drum 18 immediately before the charging operation were evaluated. As a result, the energy consumption for charging the toner carrying layer 7 was greatly reduced.
Further, the image immediately before performing the charging operation did not have a large difference compared to the image immediately after performing the charging operation, and a good image was obtained. However, the image on the photosensitive drum 18 was cleaned, charged, exposed, and the like every rotation by the same method as a general electrophotographic recording apparatus.

[Description Corresponding to Claim 9] Claim 9 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG.
It is a schematic diagram for explaining the toner conveying method according to the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 41 denotes a toner (developer) carrier (endless belt shape), and reference numeral 42 denotes a solid contacting member (endless belt shape) to contact. Reference numeral 43 denotes a toner supply unit (toner supply roller), reference numeral 44 denotes toner (non-magnetic one-component toner), and reference numeral 45 denotes a heating roller.

Reference numerals 48a and 48b denote conveying rollers for rotating the toner carrier, and reference numerals 49a and 49b denote contact member conveying rollers for rotating the contact member. FIG.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a toner carrier according to an embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 46 indicates a base material (base film), and reference numeral 47
Denotes a toner carrying layer on which the toner is carried.

From the toner carrying layer side of the toner carrying member,
When the contact member is brought into contact and heated, and after cooling, the contact member is removed, a large charged potential is generated in the heating section. FIG. 22, FIG.
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining this clearly. In these figures, a resin material is applied on a base material 46 to prepare a toner carrier 41 having a toner carrier layer 47 formed thereon.

The surface of the toner carrying layer in the initial state has a constant specific surface potential σ 0 according to the thickness of the toner carrying layer (FIG. 22A). While a contact member such as a metal is in contact with the toner carrier, a part of the toner carrier layer is heated from the substrate side or the contact member side (FIG. 22).
(B)). Then, after stopping heating and cooling naturally, removing the contact member and measuring the surface potential of the toner carrying layer,
A slightly fluctuated surface potential (σ1) is generated in areas other than the heated part, but a very large fluctuated surface potential (σ2) in the heated part
(FIG. 22 (c)). 3 (a), (b),
The surface potential in each state of (c) has a relationship such as | σ0 | <| σ1 | << | σ2 |.

When the charged toner carrier is heated without contact with the contact member, the potential returns to the original low potential.

FIG. 23 shows the relationship between the heating temperature and the surface potential of the heating section when the surface of the toner carrying layer is heated in the state shown in FIG. As can be seen from FIG. 23, the higher the heating temperature, the higher the surface potential.

Here, the structure of the toner carrier will be described in more detail. As a material of the base film as the base material, any of an insulating substance, a conductive substance, and a semiconductive substance can be used. A material having high conductivity is desirable in that the charge can be easily removed.

The electric conductivity is suitably 10 Scm ^-1 or more. Among such materials, in particular, Al, Ni,
Metal materials such as Au, Cu, and Ag are excellent. Further, as a material of the toner carrier, a material having a side chain of a vinyl polymer is particularly excellent in that an extremely large charging potential can be obtained. As a vinyl polymer material having a side chain,
Examples thereof include polyalkyl acrylate and polyalkyl methacrylate. Further, a polymer containing fluorine having a large electronegativity in a polymer is more preferable because a particularly large charging potential can be obtained.

The relationship between the film thickness of the material layer and the charging potential is shown in FIG. 24. As can be seen from FIG. 24, the larger the film thickness, the higher the charging potential. However, if the thickness is too large, the thickness of the resin layer varies, or the processing itself becomes difficult. Therefore, in consideration of the easiness of processing and the like, about 1 μm to 500 μm is appropriate. Further, in this embodiment, the example in which the toner carrying layer is formed on the base film is shown, but the configuration of the lower layer is not particularly limited as long as at least a part of the surface layer is made of the resin material. .

Therefore, another resin layer such as a polyimide resin or PET may be further provided between the base film and the toner carrying layer. The toner carrier of this structure can be easily formed, for example, by forming a thin layer of a metal such as Al or Au on one surface of a polyimide film or a PET film by a method such as vapor deposition and applying the resin material on the other surface. Obtainable. Further, the base film may be such that a conductive layer is formed on a resin film such as polyimide or PET. The toner carrier of this structure is formed by forming a thin layer of a metal such as Al or Au on one surface of a polyimide film or a PET film, for example, by vapor deposition, and then applying the resin material on the metal layer. Can be easily obtained. Further, in the present embodiment, the belt-shaped toner carrier using the base film is used. However, a drum-shaped toner carrier based on a metal roller may be used.

As the contact member, an insulating material such as glass or a resin such as polyimide, Al, Cu, Au, P
Any of metals such as t and Ni may be used. Since the rate of change in potential is higher for metals, the use of metal materials is more desirable.

A recording apparatus using this toner carrier is shown in FIG.
5 will be described. In FIG. 25, an endless belt-shaped toner carrier 41 is provided with conveying rollers 49a and 49 as contact members.
By b, it is held so as to rotate in the direction of the arrow in the figure. In the charging section, the toner carrying layer is in contact with the contact member 42. A heating roller 45 is provided on the base material side, that is, on the base film side, and can heat the toner carrier.

The contact member 42 and the heating roller 45 rotate at substantially the same speed as the toner carrier 41 as the toner carrier 41 moves. On the other hand, a toner supply unit is provided downstream of the charging unit, and the toner stirred and charged by the stirring device 412 is in contact with the toner carrier 41.

Next, the charging of this device and the method of attaching toner will be described in detail. The surface of the toner carrier in the low potential state (corresponding to σ 0) contacts the contact member at the charging unit and is further heated by the heating roller.

As shown in FIG. 23, the higher the heating temperature is, the higher the surface potential is obtained. However, if the heating temperature is too high, there is a problem that the material of the toner carrying layer is deteriorated. Further, in the charging section, when the toner is heated in a state where the toner is present on the surface, if the temperature is equal to or higher than the temperature at which the toner is softened, the toner melts and is fixed to the toner carrier surface after cooling. There is also a problem that the toner carrier is separated from the toner carrier and cannot be attached to the photoconductor.

When the toner carrying layer softens,
There is also a problem that the toner is mixed in the softened toner carrying layer and a required charge amount cannot be obtained. Further, in a state where the toner carrying layer is softened, in order to contact the contact member, the contact pressure with the contact member pressurizes the toner carrying layer, and the thickness of the toner carrying layer changes. Problems also occur. Therefore, the heating temperature is desirably equal to or lower than the temperature at which the toner carrying layer does not soften and / or equal to or lower than the temperature at which the toner does not soften.

After passing through the heating portion of the material for forming the toner carrying layer and before being separated from the contact member, the surface of the toner carrying member is cooled by heat conduction to the contact member.
After separation from the contact member, a large surface potential corresponding to the heating temperature is generated on the surface of the toner carrier as described above.

On the other hand, the toner supply roller is supplied with a positively charged toner in advance by a charging device (not shown), and the charged area passes through the toner supply roller section, so that the toner is applied to the entire charged area. Adheres,
The toner is carried on the toner carrier. By rotating the transport roller, the toner at the toner supply roller position can be carried on the toner carrier and transported.

Although the embodiment in which the heating and charging method is used in the developing device is shown here, other than that, for example, in the configuration of the toner conveying device and the recording device when collecting waste toner in a waste toner tank, The invention can be applied to a toner supply device for supplying the supplied toner to the developing device when the toner supply port is separated from the developing device, and the present invention can be suitably applied to such a case.

[Specific Example of Claim 9] In the structure of FIG. 20, a Ni belt is used as a base film, and a solution using a bis-coat 17F (manufactured by Osaka Organic Chemical Co., Ltd.) which is a fluorine-containing acrylate monomer as a material for a toner carrying layer is used. A polymer obtained by polymerization was used. This polymer was diluted with Freon 113 to obtain a coating solution. A toner carrying layer was formed on the Ni belt by blade coating, and dried by heating at 90 ° C. to form a toner carrying body.

The thickness of the toner carrying layer was about 100 μm. When the potential of this toner carrier was measured,
-0.8V. The softening temperature of the toner carrying layer is
It was about 70-80 ° C. The softening temperature of the used toner was 55 to 60 ° C.

Using a Ni belt as a contact member, the surface of the toner carrying layer was heated to about 40 ° C. with a heating roller. When the potential of the surface of the toner carrying layer after passing through the charging section was measured by a surface potentiometer (manufactured by Trek), it was about -200 V over the entire heating area, and a large change was recognized.

The surface potential of the unheated portion is-
No significant change of 1 to -8 V was observed. When the toner carrier was further moved and the toner was supplied to the toner carrier by the toner supply roller, it was confirmed that the toner was uniformly attached to the entire heated area. Further, by moving the toner carrier, the toner could be transported to the developing area (A in the figure). By continuously rotating these, toner was allowed to adhere to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor in the developing area, and a good visible image could be obtained.

For comparison, a heating roller was heated to a heating temperature of 70 or 200 ° C. on the surface of the toner carrying layer, and a toner conveyance experiment was performed in the same manner. It was found that the concentration gradually decreased. As a result of observing the toner carrying layer at that time, when the heating temperature was 70 ° C., the toner was fixed on the surface of the toner carrying body. When the temperature was 200 ° C., it was confirmed that the toner was not only fixed on the surface but also mixed into the toner carrying layer.

[Explanation Corresponding to Claim 10] FIGS. 26 and 27 are views showing the structure of an apparatus and a toner carrier suitably embodying claim 10. The toner carrying member is a toner carrying roller 414, and a part of the surface (charging portion) is in contact with the contact belt. The contact belt is rotated by the heating roller 45 and the transport roller 49 as the toner carrying roller 414 rotates.

The developer supply roller 43 is located downstream of the charging section.
Is provided, and the toner is supplied to the surface of the toner carrying roller. The toner carrying roller 414 has a structure in which a porous layer 416 is formed on the surface of a metal roller 415 as a base material.

The porous layer 416 is filled with a resin material that generates a surface potential by contact heating, cooling, and solid separation with a solid as described in claim 9. The material and forming method of the toner carrier will be described. As a metal roller serving as a base material, a material generally used as a core metal such as Al or SUS is suitably used in terms of low cost.

A porous (sponge) layer made of a resin material such as polyurethane is formed around the core metal. The porous layer is impregnated with a resin material exhibiting the above-described charging characteristics, which has been reduced in viscosity by heat melting, or a solution dissolved in a solvent. By further cooling it, the resin material is solidified to form a toner carrier. At this time, the porous body and the resin layer are mixed on the surface of the toner carrying layer. In this state, the toner carrier may be used, but in order to charge the entire surface of the toner carrier, furthermore,
It is preferable that the resin material is coated on the surface of the solidified toner carrying layer, so that the entire surface of the toner carrying layer is made of the resin material.

As described above, by filling the porous layer with the resin material having the above-mentioned charging characteristics to form the toner carrying layer, the film thickness of the resin material is relatively large even when the resin material is pressed or heated. Does not change. Therefore, a change in surface potential caused by a change in the thickness of the resin layer is reduced, and a stable surface potential can be always obtained.

As a result, the amount of toner adhering to the toner carrier is stabilized, and a good recorded image can be obtained. Further, when processing the resin layer, it is difficult to coat the resin material thickly (500 μm or more) and uniformly, but it is easy to impregnate a porous material to form a thick film. A thick toner carrying layer can be created.

[Specific Example of Claim 10] In the configuration shown in FIG. 27, SU as the base material of the toner carrier is used.
For the metal roller 415 made of S, Rubicell (polyurethane rubber made by Toyo Polymer) was used as a material constituting the porous layer 416.

The thickness of the porous layer 416 was 2 mm. As the resin material, a polymer obtained by solution polymerization using biscoat 17F (manufactured by Osaka Organic Chemical Co., Ltd.) as a fluorine-containing acrylate monomer as a raw material was used. A solution obtained by diluting this polymer with Freon 113 was impregnated into a porous body. Thereafter, the toner carrying layer was formed by heating and drying at 90 ° C.

After cooling, the solution was coated and dried by heating in the same manner to obtain a toner carrier. Using this toner carrier, a recording device as shown in FIG. 28 was created, and an image was formed. The recording conditions were as follows.
The latent image pattern on the photoconductor was developed at a temperature of 0 ° C. using a solid pattern on the photoconductor, and the image on the photoconductor was evaluated. As a result, it was possible to obtain a good recorded image that was the same as the initial state even after continuously forming 10 (A4 lengthwise) recorded images.

[Explanation Corresponding to Claim 11] Claim 11 will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 29 shows an example of the structure of a toner carrier that suitably implements claim 11. FIGS. 29A to 29C show examples in which the toner carrier is formed in a film shape or a belt shape. FIG. 29A shows an example in which an opening is provided in the base film 50 and a toner carrying layer 51 (a hatched portion for convenience) is formed in the opening, and FIG. (C) shows an example in which the toner supporting layer 51 is formed in the concave portion by using the base film 50 having the concave portion formed by the method (1).
This is an example in which a concave portion or a groove portion is formed by a method such as the above.

FIGS. 29B and 29C can be formed in a roller shape. As the material of the base material of the base film and the roller, a conductive material is preferable.
Metal materials such as i, Au, and Cu and alloys thereof are preferable.
The present invention will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. The base film 50 has minute concave portions. FIG. 30 shows an example of the shape of the concave portion. 30A shows an example in which a circular concave portion is formed, FIG. 30B shows an example in which a rectangular shape is formed, FIG. 30C shows an example in which a groove is formed in one direction, and FIG.
Are examples of vertical and horizontal grooves.

However, it is not particularly limited to this shape, and a resin material (FIG. 2) that generates a surface potential by contact heating, cooling, and solid separation with the contact member is formed inside.
9 (c), in order to distinguish it from other resin materials, hereinafter referred to as a toner carrying material).

The size of the concave portion may be any size as long as the toner-carrying material can be filled and held therein, and is usually 20 mm or less as the width of the shortest portion. With the structure of the toner carrier as in the present invention, the thickness of the toner carrier material is always kept constant by the height of the opening or the recess. Also, in forming the toner carrier,
The height of the opening or the concave portion can be used as a reference when filling the toner carrying material, and a toner carrying layer having no variation in film thickness can be formed relatively easily.

Looking at the surface potential form of the toner carrying material, the toner carrying material portion on the surface of the toner carrying member is brought into contact with the contact member through heating, cooling, and removal of the contact member.
A surface potential is generated according to the heating temperature. The portions other than the toner carrying material are ground level when they are formed of a conductive material as shown in FIGS. 29A and 29B, for example, or when a developing bias voltage is applied, the developing bias potential (toner carrying member charging). (A potential different from the potential).

When a resin other than the toner carrying material is exposed on the surface as shown in FIG. 29C, the contact charging potential between the material and the contact member or the frictional charging potential (usually, (Which is much smaller than the heating charge potential of the toner carrying material). In this manner, regions having different potentials are formed on the surface of the toner carrier, and a minute closed electric field is formed between the regions. This small closed electric field also has the effect that a larger amount of toner can be carried than when a uniform surface potential is generated.

[Specific Example of Claim 11] There are various configurations as shown in FIG.
Among them, an Al knurl provided with a concave portion as shown in FIG. 30C was used as a base material. Biscoat 17F which is a fluorine-containing acrylate monomer as a toner carrying layer material
(Osaka Organic Chemical Co., Ltd.) as a raw material was used as a polymer by solution polymerization.

This polymer was diluted with Freon 113,
A coating solution was used. A toner carrying layer was formed on the Ni belt by blade coating, and dried by heating at 90 ° C. to form a toner carrying body 41 (see FIG. 31). The thickness of the toner carrying layer was about 100 μm. The potential on the surface of the toner carrier was measured to be -0.6 V.

Next, using a Ni belt as a contact member, the toner carrier 4 was heated to about 50 ° C. with a heating roller.
Moved one. Further, when the toner carrier 41 is moved and the toner supply roller supplies the toner carrier with the positively charged toner, the toner adheres around the boundary between the toner carrier material and other portions. confirmed.

Further, a recording apparatus as shown in FIG. 31 was manufactured by using a developing apparatus using the toner carrier 41. When a recording image from a highlight portion to a complete solid was formed as a recording image using this recording apparatus, an extremely good recording image was obtained.

[Explanation Corresponding to Claim 12] Claim 12 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 32 is a diagram illustrating a structure of a toner carrier that suitably implements the present invention.
FIGS. 32A to 32C show that the toner carrier is in the form of a film.
This is an example of forming a belt shape. 32 (a) shows an example in which an opening is provided in the base film 50, a toner carrying layer is formed in the opening, and one surface is further coated with a toner carrying material, and (b) is a method such as etching, electroforming or the like. (C) shows an example in which a toner carrying layer is formed in a concave portion using a base film 50 provided with a concave portion, and a toner carrying material is further coated thereon. In this example, a groove and a groove are formed, and further coated with a toner carrying material.

FIGS. 32 (d) and (e) show FIGS.
This is an example in which (c) is formed in a roller shape. As a material of the base film 50, a conductive material is preferable, and among them, a metal material such as Al, Ni, Au, and Cu and an alloy thereof are preferable. In FIG. 32D, a roller 5 serving as a base material is used.
As 8, various commonly used knurls can be used.

The roller 58 serving as the base material shown in FIG.
For example, a roller made of Al, SUS, or the like can be used. FIG.
The present invention will be described in more detail using (b). In this base film, minute concave portions are formed. The shape and size of the concave portion can be the same shape (FIG. 30) as in the eleventh aspect. When the toner carrier has the structure as in the present invention, the thickness of the toner carrier material is always kept substantially constant by the height of the opening or the concave portion. Also, in forming the toner carrier, the height of the opening or the concave portion can be used as a reference when filling the toner carrier material, and a thin layer of the toner carrier material is formed thereon. It is possible to easily and easily form a toner carrying layer having a small thickness variation (though the variation of the thin layer portion of the toner carrying layer is generated but extremely small).

FIG. 33 is a diagram for explaining the charging mode of this embodiment. Toner carrying layer 51 in initial state
The surface has a constant intrinsic surface potential σ0 of the toner carrying layer 51 (FIG. 33A).

With the contact member 42 in contact with the toner carrier, the entire surface of the toner carrying layer is heated from the substrate side or the contact member side (FIG. 33B). Then, after the heating is stopped and natural cooling is performed, the contact member 42 is removed, and the surface potential of the toner carrying layer 51 is measured. In the thick part, the surface potential (σ
4) was found to have occurred (FIG. 33 (c)).

It has been confirmed that the surface potentials in the respective states shown in FIGS. 33 (a), (b) and (c) have a relationship such as | σ0 | << | σ3 | << | σ4 |. Thus, even though the surface of the toner carrier is uniformly heated and charged, regions having different potentials are generated on the surface of the toner carrier, and a minute closed electric field is formed therebetween. This small closed electric field also has the effect that a larger amount of toner can be carried than when a uniform surface potential is generated.

[Specific Example of Claim 12] A knurl having the configuration shown in FIG. 32 and provided with a concave portion having the shape shown in FIG. 32D was used as a base material. Biscoat 17F which is a fluorine-containing acrylate monomer as a toner carrying layer material
(Osaka Organic Chemical Co., Ltd.) as a raw material was used as a polymer by solution polymerization. The polymer was filled in a solution diluted with Freon 113, and filled in a concave portion of a substrate, and dried by heating at 90 ° C. to form a toner carrier. After cooling, the solution was coated with a blade coat to about 10 μm to form a toner carrier.

The thickness of the toner carrying layer 51 is about 110 μm.
Met. The potential on the surface of the toner carrier was measured to be -0.6 V. Next, using a Ni belt as a contact member, the toner carrier was moved while heating to about 50 ° C. with a heating roller.

Further, when the toner carrier was moved and the toner supply roller supplied the positively charged toner to the toner carrier, it was confirmed that the toner adhered according to the shape of the base film.

Further, using a developing device using the toner carrier 59, a recording device as shown in FIG. 34 was manufactured. When a recording image from a highlight portion to a completely solid portion was formed as a recording image using this recording apparatus, an extremely good recording image was obtained.

[Explanation Corresponding to Claim 13] Claim 13 will be described with reference to FIGS. 35 and 36. FIG.
Is a schematic view for explaining a toner conveying method according to the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 41 denotes a toner (developer) carrier (endless belt shape), and reference numeral 62 denotes a solid contact member (endless belt). Reference numeral 3 denotes a developer supply roller as a toner supply unit, reference numeral 4 denotes a toner (non-magnetic one-component toner), and reference numeral 5 denotes a heating roller.

Reference numerals 48a and 48b denote transport rollers for rotating the toner carrier, and reference numerals 49a and 49b denote contact member transport rollers for rotating the contact member 62.

As the toner carrier of the present invention, a carrier having a structure in which a toner carrier layer is uniformly provided on a substrate as in FIG. 21 can be used. FIG. 36 shows a contact member 62 of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 36, the contact member 62 has an opening or a recess 63 on the surface. FIG. 37 is a view showing the shape of the opening and the recess 63.

FIG. 37A shows an opening or recess 63.
Is a circular shape, FIG. 37 (b) is a square shape,
FIG. 37 (c) shows an example in which slits or grooves are formed in substantially one direction, and FIG. 37 (d) shows an example in which slits or grooves are formed in vertical and horizontal directions.

From the toner carrying layer side of this toner carrying member,
When the contact member is brought into contact, heated and cooled, and then removed, a large charging potential is generated on the surface of the toner carrier contacting the contact member. FIG. 40 is a diagram for explaining this clearly. Now, the resin material 64 is placed on the base material 80.
To prepare a toner carrier having a toner carrier layer formed thereon.

The surface of the toner carrying layer in the initial state has a constant specific surface potential σ 0 according to the thickness of the toner carrying layer (FIG. 40 (a)). FIG. 37 shows the toner carrier.
While the contact member 62 is in contact, the entire toner carrying layer is heated in the direction indicated by the arrow from the base material side or the contact member side (FIG. 40 (b)).

Then, after the heating was stopped and natural cooling was performed, the contact member 62 was removed. When the contact member was in contact with the contact member, a very large surface potential (σ2) was generated. , The surface potential becomes the same as the initial state. (FIG. 40 (c)). FIGS. 40 (a), (b),
The surface potential in each state of (c) has a relationship such as | σ0 | << | σ2 |.

By forming the contact member in a shape having openings or irregularities as described above, even if the toner carrying layer is formed to have a uniform thickness, it is necessary to perform complicated processing as the toner carrying body. Instead, regions having different surface potentials can be formed. As a result, a small closed electric field can be generated between regions having different surface potentials.

This small closed electric field has the effect that a larger amount of toner can be carried than when a uniform surface potential is generated. In this embodiment, an example in which an endless belt-shaped contact member is used has been described, but a roller-shaped contact member may be used.

[Specific Example of Claim 13] A specific example of claim 13 will be described with reference to FIG. An Al roller was used as a base material of the toner carrier 59, and a polymer obtained by solution polymerization using biscoat 17F (manufactured by Osaka Organic Chemical Co., Ltd.) as a fluorine-containing acrylate monomer as a toner carrier layer material was used. This polymer is converted to Freon 11
The solution diluted in 3 was coated on a base film, and 9
It was dried by heating at 0 ° C. to form a toner carrier. The thickness of the toner carrying layer was about 50 μm.

The potential on the surface of the toner carrier was measured to be -0.6 V. Next, FIG.
Using a Ni belt provided with a slit having the shape of (c),
The toner carrier was moved while heating to about 50 ° C. with a heating roller. Further, when the toner carrier was further moved and positively charged toner was supplied to the toner carrier by the toner supply roller, it was confirmed that the toner adhered according to the shape of the contact member.

Using this recording apparatus, when a recorded image from a highlight portion to a completely solid portion was formed as a recorded image, an extremely good recorded image was obtained.

[Description Corresponding to Claim 14] Claim 14 will be described with reference to FIG. As the toner carrier, a carrier having a structure in which a toner carrier layer is uniformly provided on a base material 46 as in FIG. 21 can be used. FIG. 38 is an example of a contact member suitably implementing the present invention. As shown in FIG. 38, the contact member 62 is formed of a resin material (a material different from the base material floor) in the opening or the recess of the base material 66 having the unevenness on the surface (the shape of FIG. 37). 64 is filled.

Here, the base material 66 is formed on the base material 81 of the contact member. By using the base material having the shape shown in FIG. 37, the shape of the resin material becomes the same as that shown in FIG.
7 is filled with a resin material). Therefore, by using the contact member 62 as shown in FIG. 38 in the apparatus having the configuration shown in FIG. 35, the surface on the side contacting the toner carrier is formed of two different materials.

Therefore, the toner carrier comes into contact with two kinds of materials. In this state, the toner carrying layer is heated from the base material side (or may be carried out from the contact member side), and after cooling, the contact member 62 is removed. Occurs. FIG.
It is a figure for explaining it clearly. Now, the resin material 57 is applied on the base material 80 to prepare the toner carrier 41 having the toner carrier layer formed thereon.

The surface of the toner carrying layer in the initial state has a constant specific surface potential σ 0 according to the thickness of the toner carrying layer (FIG. 39 (a)). FIG. 38 shows the toner carrier.
In the state where the contact member 62 is in contact with (a), the entire toner carrying layer is heated from the substrate side or the contact member side (FIG. 39).
(B)). Next, the heating was stopped, and the contact member 62 was removed after natural cooling. When the contact member 62 was removed, the surface potential (σ5,
σ6) (FIG. 39 (c)). At this time, since the materials to be contacted are different, the values of σ5 and σ6 are greatly different.

As described above, since the contact member is formed of two or more kinds of materials having different contact surfaces, even if the toner carrying layer is formed to have a uniform thickness, a region having a different surface potential is used. Can be formed. As a result, a small closed electric field can be generated between regions having different surface potentials. This small closed electric field has the effect that a larger amount of toner can be carried than when a uniform surface potential is generated.

[Specific Example of Claim 14] A solution polymerization using an Al roller as the base material of the toner carrier, and using Biscoat 17F (manufactured by Osaka Organic Chemicals Co., Ltd.), which is a fluorine-containing acrylate monomer, as the toner carrier layer material Was used. This polymer is Freon 1
The solution diluted in 13 was coated on a base film and dried by heating at 90 ° C. to form a toner carrier.
The thickness of the toner carrying layer was about 50 μm.

When the potential on the surface of the toner carrier was measured, it was -0.6 V. Next, as a base material of the contact member, a Ni belt provided with a slit having a shape shown in FIG. 37 (c) was used, and a one-component RTV rubber (manufactured by Shin-Etsu Silicone Co., Ltd., KE40) was filled into the opening. It was left to stand for a day and solidified to produce a contact member. While the contact member was in contact with the toner carrier, the toner carrier was moved while being heated to about 50 ° C. by a heating roller. Further, when the toner carrier was further moved and positively charged toner was supplied to the toner carrier by the toner supply roller, it was confirmed that the toner adhered according to the shape of the contact member.

Further, using a developing device using the contact member 23, a recording device as shown in FIG. 20 was manufactured.
When a recording image from a highlight portion to a completely solid portion was formed as a recording image using this recording apparatus, an extremely good recording image was obtained.

Referring to FIG. 43 and FIG. FIG.
3 is a schematic view for explaining the charging method and the toner conveying method of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 100 denotes a toner (developer) carrier (endless belt shape), and reference numeral 200 denotes a solid contacting member. A member (endless belt shape), reference numeral 300 denotes toner supply means (toner supply roller), reference numeral 400 denotes toner (non-magnetic one-component toner), and reference numeral 500 denotes a pressure roller.

Reference numeral 800 denotes a transport roller for rotating the toner carrier, and reference numeral 900 denotes a contact member transport roller for rotating the contact member. FIG. 44 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a toner carrier.

Reference numeral 600 denotes a base material (base film), and reference numeral 700 denotes a toner carrying layer on which toner is carried. When a contact member is brought into contact with the toner carrying layer from the side of the toner carrying layer and pressurized by a pressure roller, and then the contact member is removed, a large charging potential is generated in the pressurized portion. FIG. 22, FIG.
Is a diagram for explaining it in an easy-to-understand manner. now,
A resin material is applied on the base material 800 to prepare a toner carrier having a toner carrier layer formed thereon. The surface of the toner carrying layer in the initial state has a constant intrinsic surface potential σ0 according to the thickness of the toner carrying layer (FIG. 22A).

While a contact member such as a metal is in contact with the toner carrier, a part of the toner carrier layer is pressed from the substrate side or the contact member side (FIG. 22B). Next, when the pressure is stopped and the contact member is removed, and the surface potential of the toner carrying layer is measured, a slightly fluctuating surface potential (σ1) is generated in the portions other than the pressing portion, but the surface potential fluctuates greatly in the pressing portion. (Σ2) (FIG. 22 (c)). FIG.
The surface potentials in the states 2 (a), (b), and (c) have a relationship such as | σ0 | <| σ1 | << | σ2 |.

After the surface of the toner carrier is pressurized and charged in this way, when the toner is supplied to the surface of the toner carrier by the toner supply means, the toner adheres to the charging section. Further, by rotating the transport roller, the toner can be transported while being held on the toner carrier. Further, the charged toner carrier can be returned to the original low potential state by heating in the air.

FIG. 45 shows the relationship between the pressing force when the surface of the toner carrying layer is pressed in the state shown in FIG. 22B and the surface potential of the pressing portion. As can be seen from FIG. 45, the surface potential increases as the pressing force increases.

Here, the structure of the toner carrier will be described in more detail. As a material of the base film, any of an insulating substance, a conductive substance, and a semiconductive substance can be used, but a reference potential can be easily obtained, and therefore, a uniform electric field can be formed. A material having a high conductivity is desirable in that the charge on the surface can be easily removed when the charge is removed by heating. An appropriate conductivity is 10 ¹ Scm ^-1 or more. Among such materials, metal materials such as Al, Ni, Au, Cu, and Ag are particularly excellent.

As a material for the toner carrier, a vinyl-based polymer having a side chain is particularly excellent in that an extremely large charging potential can be obtained. Examples of the vinyl polymer material having a side chain include polyalkyl acrylate and polyalkyl methacrylate. Further, a polymer containing fluorine having a large electronegativity in a polymer is more preferable because a particularly large charging potential can be obtained.

Examining the relationship between the thickness of the material layer and the charging potential, it is desirable that the thicker the film thickness, the higher the charging potential. However, if the thickness is too large, the thickness of the resin layer varies, or the processing itself becomes difficult. Therefore, considering the ease of processing, etc., 1 μm to 500 μm
Is appropriate. Here, the example in which the toner carrying layer is formed on the conductive base film is shown, but the structure of the lower layer is particularly limited as long as at least a part of the surface layer is made of the resin material. is not.

Therefore, another resin layer such as a polyimide resin or PET may be further provided between the base film and the toner carrying layer. As a method for producing a toner carrier having this structure, for example, Al or A is formed on one surface of a resin film such as polyimide or PET by a thin film forming method such as vapor deposition.
It can be easily obtained by forming a thin layer of a metal such as u and applying the resin material on the metal layer. In place of the base film, a roller-shaped or drum-shaped one based on a metal roller may be used.

As the contact member, an insulator such as glass or a resin such as polyimide, Al, Cu, Au, P
Any of metals such as t and Ni may be used. Since the rate of change in potential is higher for metals, the use of metal materials is more desirable. Although the contact member has a belt shape here, it may have a roller shape (contact roller). In this case, it is also possible to perform the contact member and the pressing means by one roller by further providing the pressing means to the contact roller.

It is extremely important to keep the thickness of the toner carrier uniform in a recording apparatus that performs recording by using this charging and toner conveying method in a developing apparatus. FIG.
FIG. 47 is a diagram showing the structures of the apparatus and the toner carrier, respectively. The toner carrying member 140 is a toner carrying roller, and a part of its surface (charging portion) is in contact with the contact member 200 on the belt. The contact member 200 is rotated by the pressure roller 500 and the transport roller 900 according to the rotation of the toner carrying roller.

A toner supply means 300 composed of a developer supply roller is provided downstream of the charging section, and toner is supplied to the surface of the toner carrying roller. Next, a method of charging and attaching toner of this apparatus will be described in detail. Low potential state (σ0
The contact surface of the toner carrier (corresponding to (1)) contacts the contact member at the charging section, and is further pressed by the pressing roller. As shown in FIG. 45, the higher the pressure, the higher the surface potential is obtained. However, if the pressure is too high, there is a problem that the material of the toner carrying layer is destroyed.

Even if it is not destroyed, there occurs a problem that the thickness of the toner carrying layer is changed by the pressing force. Further, in the charging section, when the toner is pressurized in a state where the toner is present on the surface, the toner is crushed and adheres to the surface of the toner carrier. There is also a problem that a body-shaped electrostatic latent image cannot be developed. Also, at worst,
There is also a problem that the toner is mixed into the toner carrying layer due to the applied pressure, and a required charge amount cannot be obtained. Therefore, the pressing force has an appropriate value, usually 50 kg / cm.
² or less.

After separation from the contact member, a large surface potential corresponding to the pressing force is generated on the surface of the toner carrier as described above. On the other hand, the toner supply roller is supplied with a toner that has been positively charged in advance by a charging device (not shown), and the toner adheres to the entire charged area by passing the charged area through the toner supply roller unit. The toner is carried on the toner carrier. By rotating the transport roller, the toner at the toner supply roller position can be carried on the toner carrier and transported.

The toner carrying roller has a structure in which a porous layer is formed on the surface of a metal roller as a base material. The porous layer is filled with a resin material (hereinafter, referred to as a toner-carrying material) that generates a surface potential by the above-described contact pressure, cooling, and solid separation with a solid. The material and forming method of the toner carrier will be described.

As the metal roller serving as the base material, Al, S
A material generally used as a core metal such as US is suitably used in terms of low cost. Around the metal core,
For example, a porous (sponge) layer formed of a resin material such as polyurethane is formed. The porous layer is impregnated with a toner-carrying material whose viscosity has been reduced by thermal melting or a solution dissolved in a solvent.

By cooling it, the resin material is solidified to form a toner carrier. At this time, the surface of the toner carrying layer is in a state where the porous body and the resin layer are mixed.
In this state, the toner carrier may be used.However, in order to uniformly charge the surface of the toner carrier, the surface of the toner carrier layer after the solidification is further coated with the resin material so that the entire surface of the toner carrier layer is coated. It is preferable to use the resin material.

As described above, by filling the porous layer with the resin material having the above-mentioned charging characteristics to form the toner carrying layer, the film thickness of the resin material is relatively soft even if the resin material is pressed. And the change in the surface potential caused by the change in the thickness of the toner carrying layer is reduced, and a stable surface potential can be always obtained.

As a result, the amount of toner adhering to the toner carrier is stabilized, and a good recorded image can be obtained. Furthermore, in processing the resin layer, it is difficult to coat the resin material thickly (500 μm or more) and uniformly, but there is a problem that it is impregnated into a porous body to form the resin material. A toner carrying layer having a large thickness can be easily formed.

Here, the description has been given of the case where the pressure charging method is used for the developing device. However, in addition to the above, the configuration of the toner conveying device and the recording device when the waste toner is collected in the waste toner tank, The present invention can be applied to a toner supply device for supplying the supplied toner to the developing device when the toner supply port and the developing device are separated from each other, and can be suitably applied at that time.

In the configuration shown in FIG. 47, a SUS roller 150 was used as the base material of the toner carrier, and Rubicell (polyurethane rubber made by Toyo Polymer) was used as the porous material 160.
The thickness of the porous layer was 2 mm. Biscoat 1 which is a fluorine-containing acrylate monomer as the resin material
A polymer obtained by solution polymerization using 7F (manufactured by Osaka Organic Chemical Company) as a raw material was used. A solution obtained by diluting this polymer with Freon 113 was impregnated into a porous body.

Thereafter, the resultant was dried under pressure at 90 ° C. to form a toner carrying layer. After cooling, the solution was coated and dried under pressure to form a toner carrier. The potential on the surface of the toner carrier was measured to be -0.8 V. A Ni belt as a contact member is brought into contact with the toner carrier, and the contact member and the surface of the toner carrying layer are moved about
It was pressurized at a pressure of kgf / cm ² . When the potential of the surface of the toner carrying layer after passing through the charging section was measured with a surface potentiometer (manufactured by Trek), it was about -800 V over the entire pressurized area, and a large change was recognized.

Further, the surface potential of the part which was not pressurized was-
No significant change of 1 to -8 V was observed. Further, when the toner carrier was moved and the toner was supplied to the toner carrier by the toner supply roller, it was confirmed that the toner was uniformly attached to the entire pressure area. Using this toner carrier, a recording device as shown in FIG. 48 was created, and an image was formed. As an image pattern, a solid pattern was formed on the photoreceptor, and the image on the photoreceptor after development was evaluated. As a result, it was possible to obtain a good recorded image that was the same as the initial state even after continuously forming 10 (A4 lengthwise) recorded images.

Referring to FIG. Since the structural example of the toner carrier is similar to the example already described with reference to FIG. 29, the description of the corresponding portions will be omitted.

Even if the toner carrier is pressed, the thickness of the toner carrier material is controlled by the height of the opening or the concave portion of the base film, so that a substantially constant charging potential can be always obtained.

Looking at the form of the surface potential of the toner-carrying material, the toner-carrying material portion on the surface of the toner-carrying member has a surface potential corresponding to the pressing force due to contact with the contact member, pressurization, and removal of the contact member. Occurs. The portions other than the toner carrying material are ground level when they are formed of a conductive material as shown in FIGS. 29A and 29B, for example, or when a developing bias voltage is applied, the developing bias potential (toner carrying member charging). (A potential different from the potential).

When a resin other than the toner carrying material is exposed on the surface as shown in FIG. 29C, the contact charging potential between the material and the contact member (usually, the pressure of the toner carrying material is increased). (Very small compared to the charged potential). In this manner, regions having different potentials are formed on the surface of the toner carrier, and a minute closed electric field is formed between the regions. This small closed electric field also has the effect that a larger amount of toner can be carried than when a uniform surface potential is generated.

With the configuration shown in FIG. 29 (b), FIG.
An Al knurl provided with a concave portion having the shape shown in FIG. As the toner carrying layer material, a polymer obtained by solution polymerization using Biscoat 17F (manufactured by Osaka Organic Chemical Co., Ltd.) as a fluorine-containing acrylate monomer was used.

This polymer was diluted with Freon 113,
A coating solution was used. This coat was applied to the surface of the Al knurl and filled into the concave portions of the surface by capillary force to form a toner carrying layer. This was heated and dried at 90 ° C. to form a toner carrier 100.

[0212] The thickness of the toner carrying layer was about 100 µm. When the potential of this toner carrier was measured,
-0.6V. Next, a Ni belt was used as a contact member, and about 1 kgf / cm ² and 70 kgf
The toner carrier was moved while applying a pressure of / cm ² . When the toner carrier was further moved and the toner supply roller supplied the positively charged toner to the toner carrier, it was confirmed that the toner was attached around the boundary between the toner carrier material and other portions. Was done.

Further, a recording apparatus as shown in FIG. 49 was manufactured by using the developing apparatus using the toner carrier.
When a recording image from a highlight portion to a completely solid portion was formed as a recording image using this recording apparatus, an extremely good recording image was obtained. Observation of the toner carrying layer at that time showed that no change was observed on the surface under any applied pressure.

For comparison, a toner carrier formed by coating a coating solution on a flat Al roller with a blade coat as a toner carrier 250 and heating and drying at 90 ° C. (thickness of toner carrier layer: 50 μm) in a similar but damage of the toner carrying layer when the pressurized at 1 Kgf / cm ² in pressure was observed, when pressurized with pressure of 70 kgf / cm ^2, the crack is generated across the toner carrying layer over the entire surface And was damaged. As you can see,
By filling the opening or the recess with the toner-carrying material, the pressing force that can be applied is also improved. That is, the obtained charging voltage is also increased, and the toner carrying force is improved. further,
Since the resin material layer is held in the opening or the concave portion, the resin material is not damaged even by a large pressing force.

Referring to FIG. FIG. 32 is a diagram illustrating the structure of the toner carrier. FIGS. 32A to 32C show examples in which the toner carrier is formed in a film shape or a belt shape. 32A shows an example in which an opening is provided in the base film 50, a toner carrying layer 51 is formed in the opening, and one surface is further coated with a toner carrying material.
An example in which a base film 50 having a concave portion formed by a method such as etching and electroforming is used, a toner carrying layer 51 is formed in the concave portion, and a toner carrying material is further coated thereon.
(C) shows an example in which a concave portion or a groove portion is formed on a base film by a photosensitive resin or the like, and further coated thereon with a toner carrying material.

FIGS. 32B and 32C can be formed in a roller shape. As a material of the base film 50, a conductive material is preferable, and among them, Al, Ni, A
Metal materials such as u and Cu and alloys thereof are preferable. FIG.
In (d), as the roller 58 serving as a base material, various knurls generally used can be used.

As the roller serving as the base material in FIG. 32E, a roller made of Al, SUS, or the like can be used. FIG.
This will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. The base film 50 has minute concave portions. The shape and size of the recess can be the same as those in FIG.

With such a structure of the toner carrying member, the thickness of the toner carrying material is always kept substantially constant by the height of the opening or the concave portion. Also,
In forming the toner carrying member, the height of the opening or the concave portion can be used as a reference when filling the toner carrying material, and since the foil layer of the toner carrying material is formed thereon, it is relatively easy. The toner carrying layer can be formed with a small variation in the film thickness (the dispersion of the thin layer portion of the toner carrying layer is generated but extremely small).

FIG. 33 is a diagram for explaining a charging mode. The toner carrying layer surface in the initial state has a constant intrinsic surface potential σ0 of the toner carrying layer (FIG. 33).
(A)). While the contact member is in contact with the toner carrier, the entire surface of the toner carrying layer is pressed from the substrate side or the contact member side (FIG. 33B).

Next, when the contact member was removed and the surface potential of the toner carrying layer was measured, the surface potential (σ 3) greatly changed from the initial state was generated in the thin portion, and was higher in the thick portion. It was found that a changed surface potential (σ4) was generated (FIG. 33 (c)). FIG.
The surface potential in each state of (a), (b) and (c) is | σ
0 | << | σ3 | << | σ4 | Thus, even though the surface of the toner carrier is uniformly pressurized and charged, regions of different potentials are generated on the surface of the toner carrier, and a minute closed electric field is formed therebetween. This small closed electric field also has the effect that a larger amount of toner can be carried than when a uniform surface potential is generated.

With the configuration shown in FIG.
An Al knurl provided with a concave portion having the shape shown in FIG. As the toner carrying layer material, a polymer obtained by solution polymerization using Biscoat 17F (manufactured by Osaka Organic Chemical Co., Ltd.) as a fluorine-containing acrylate monomer was used. A solution obtained by diluting this polymer with Freon 113 was filled into the concave portion of the substrate by capillary force, and dried by heating at 90 ° C. to form a toner carrier. After cooling, the solution was coated with a blade coat to about 10 μm to form a toner carrier.

The thickness of the toner carrying layer was about 110 μm. When the potential of this toner carrier was measured,
-0.6V. Next, using a Ni belt as a contact member, the toner carrier was moved while applying a pressure of about 1 kgf / cm ² with a pressure roller. When the toner carrier was further moved and positively charged toner was supplied to the toner carrier by a toner supply roller, it was confirmed that the toner adhered according to the concave shape of the Al knurl.

Further, a recording apparatus as shown in FIG. 50 was manufactured by using a developing apparatus using the toner carrier 190. Using this recording device, when a recorded image from a highlight portion to a completely solid was created as a recorded image,
An extremely good recorded image was obtained.

FIG. 44, FIG. 51 and FIG. 52 will be described. FIG.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining a toner conveying method;
In the figure, reference numeral 100 denotes a toner (developer) carrier (endless belt shape), reference numeral 200 denotes a solid contact member (endless belt shape) that contacts, reference numeral 300 denotes toner supply means (toner supply roller), and reference numeral 400 denotes A toner (non-magnetic one-component toner), and reference numeral 500 denotes a pressing roller receiving a pressing force in the direction of the arrow.

Reference numeral 800 denotes a conveying roller for rotating the toner carrier, and reference numeral 900 denotes a contact member conveying roller for rotating the contact member. As shown in FIG. 44, a toner carrier having a structure in which a toner carrier layer is uniformly formed on a base material can be used. FIG. 52 shows the contact member 200.

As shown in FIG. 52, the contact member 200 has an opening or an uneven surface. FIG.
(A) is an example in which an opening 210 is formed in a belt, (b)
Is an example in which a groove (recess) 210 is formed on the surface of a belt or a roller by etching, electroforming, machining, or the like. FIG.
In this example, a pattern of the resin layer 170 is formed by photolithography, printing, or the like, and a groove (recess) 210 is thereby formed.

The shapes of the openings and recesses are in accordance with the example described with reference to FIG. When the contact member is brought into contact with the toner carrying layer from the side of the toner carrying layer, pressurized, and cooled, and then removed, a large charging potential is generated on the surface of the toner carrying member in contact with the contact member.

FIG. 40 is a diagram for explaining this clearly. Here, the arrow in FIG. 40B indicates the pressing force. Now, a resin material is applied on the base material 80 to prepare a toner carrier having a toner carrier layer formed thereon. The surface of the toner carrying layer in the initial state has a constant specific surface potential σ 0 according to the thickness of the toner carrying layer (FIG. 40).
(A)).

With the contact member shown in FIG. 40 (c) in contact with the toner carrier, from the substrate side or the contact member side,
Pressurize the toner carrying layer and the entire contact member (FIG. 40)
(B)). Then, when the contact member is removed, the surface potential (σ2) that fluctuates greatly in the portion in contact with the contact member
Occurs, and the portion not in contact with the contact member has the same surface potential as the initial state. (FIG. 40 (c)). FIG.
The surface potential in each of the states (a), (b), and (c) has a relationship such as | σ0 | << | σ2 |.

By forming the contact member in a shape having openings or irregularities, even if the toner carrying layer is formed to have a uniform thickness, it is necessary to perform complicated processing as the toner carrying body. Instead, regions having different surface potentials can be formed. As a result, a small closed electric field can be generated between regions having different surface potentials. This small closed electric field has the effect that a larger amount of toner can be carried than when a uniform surface potential is generated.

Although an example using an endless belt as the contact member has been described, a roller may be used.

An Al roller was used as the base material of the toner carrier, and a polymer produced by solution polymerization using biscoat 17F (manufactured by Osaka Organic Chemical Co., Ltd.), a fluorine-containing acrylate monomer, as the toner carrier layer material. A solution obtained by diluting this polymer with Freon 113 is coated on a base film, and dried by heating at 90 ° C.
Was made. The thickness of the toner carrying layer was about 50 μm.

The potential on the surface of the toner carrier was measured to be -0.6 V. Next, FIG.
A pressure roller 500 was obtained by using an Al knurl provided with a groove having the shape of (c) and pressing it against the toner carrier with a spring or the like. The toner carrier was moved while pressing the pressure roller with a pressure of about 1 kgf / cm ² . Further, when the toner carrier was further moved and positively charged toner was supplied to the toner carrier by the toner supply roller, it was confirmed that the toner adhered according to the shape of the contact member.

Further, a recording apparatus as shown in FIG. 53 was manufactured by using a developing apparatus using the toner carrier 230 and a contact roller (also serving as a pressure roller) 260. When a recording image from a highlight portion to a completely solid portion was formed as a recording image using this recording apparatus, an extremely good recording image was obtained.

Referring to FIG. As the toner carrying member, one having a structure in which a toner carrying layer is uniformly provided on a base material as shown in FIG. 44 can be used. FIG. 54 is an example of a contact member.

As shown in FIGS. 54 (a) and 54 (b), the contact member 200 is provided in the opening or the recess of the base 220 having the unevenness on the surface (the shape of FIG. 37 is used). , A resin material (a material different from the base material 170) 2500 is filled.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 54C, a recess is formed in the resin 170 serving as the base material on the flat base material 220, and the recess is filled with the resin material 2500. By using the base material having the shape shown in FIG. 37, the shape of the resin material becomes the same as that shown in FIG. 37 (reference numeral 63 in FIG. 37).
The portion indicated by is the resin material).

Therefore, by using the contact member as shown in FIG. 54 in the apparatus having the configuration shown in FIG. 51, the surface in contact with the toner carrier is formed of two different types of materials. Therefore, the toner carrier comes into contact with two types of materials.

In this state, when pressure is applied from the base material side of the toner carrying layer (or from the contact member side) and then the contact member is removed, the surface of the toner carrying member in contact with the contact member becomes
A large charging potential occurs. FIG. 55 is a diagram for explaining this clearly. Now, the resin material 57 is coated on the base material 80, and the toner carrier 4 having the toner carrier layer formed thereon is formed.
Prepare 1

The surface of the toner carrying layer in the initial state has a constant specific surface potential σ 0 according to the thickness of the toner carrying layer (FIG. 55 (a)). FIG. 54 shows the toner carrier.
5A, the entire toner carrying layer is pressed from the substrate side or the contact member side while the contact member 200 is in contact with the contact member 200 (FIG. 5).
5 (b)).

Next, when the contact member 200 is removed, very large surface potentials (σ5, σ6) are generated at the portions in contact with the resin material and the base material, respectively (FIG. 55).
(C)). At this time, the contacting materials are different, so σ5, σ
The value of 6 is very different.

As described above, since the contact member is formed of two or more kinds of materials having different contact surfaces, even if the toner carrying layer is formed to have a uniform thickness, a region having a different surface potential can be used. Can be formed. As a result, a small closed electric field can be generated between regions having different surface potentials. This small closed electric field has the effect that a larger amount of toner can be carried than when a uniform surface potential is generated.

An Al roller was used as a base material of the toner carrier, and a polymer obtained by solution polymerization using biscoat 17F (manufactured by Osaka Organic Chemicals Co., Ltd.), which is a fluorine-containing acrylate monomer, was used as a toner carrier layer material. A solution obtained by diluting this polymer with Freon 113 was coated on a base film, and dried by heating at 90 ° C. to form a toner carrier. The thickness of the toner carrying layer was about 50 μm. When the potential on the surface of the toner carrier was measured, it was -0.6.
V.

Next, an Al knurl provided with a groove having the shape shown in FIG. 37 (c) was used as a contact member.
Filled with TV rubber (KE40, manufactured by Shin-Etsu Silicone Co., Ltd.)
It was left at room temperature for one day to be solidified, thereby producing a contact member. This is pressed against the toner carrier by a spring or the like as shown in FIG.
And

With the contact member serving as the pressure roller and the toner carrier 2300 in contact with each other, the pressure roller
The toner carrier 2300 was moved while applying a pressure of about 1 kgf / cm ² at 0.

Further, by rotating the toner carrier 2300,
When the positively charged toner was supplied to the toner carrier 2300 by the stirring member 412, it was confirmed that the toner adhered according to the shape of the contact member.

Further, a recording apparatus was manufactured using a developing apparatus using the toner carrier 2300 and a pressure roller (also serving as a contact member) 2700. When a recording image from a highlight portion to a completely solid portion was formed as a recording image using this recording apparatus, an extremely good recording image was obtained.

[0248]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, at least the surface is formed of a resin layer, and the developer carrier for transporting the developer and the developer supply means for carrying the developer on the developer carrier are provided. The recording apparatus includes a heating unit that is heated while being in contact with the developer carrier, or has a heating unit that is brought into contact with the developer while being heated. Since a portion having a surface potential corresponding to the heating temperature is formed, a large charge potential is obtained with a simple configuration in which a resin layer (toner carrying layer) is formed on the surface of the developer carrying member, and a uniform charging potential is obtained in this region. The toner (developer) can be adhered and transported.

According to the second aspect, the image carrier for forming an electrostatic latent image and the image carrier arranged close to the image carrier, at least the surface of which is made of a resin layer, And a developing device having a developer supply unit for supplying the developer to the developer carrier, and a developing device having a developer supply unit for supplying the developer to the developer carrier. Heating in a state, or having a heating means to contact in a heated state, after heating by this heating means, cooling, to form a portion having a surface potential according to the heating temperature in the toner carrying layer, With a simple configuration, the toner can be stably supplied to the development area.

According to Claims 3, 4 and 5, a roller or a heating means is provided on the developer carrier on the upstream side of the heating means as a developer removing means for removing the developer. This eliminates charging unevenness and destruction of the resin layer caused by heating while remaining toner remains after development, and does not cause deterioration in image quality even when printing a large number of sheets. High quality images can be obtained.

According to the sixth, seventh and eighth aspects, the charging operation of the developer carrier by the heating means is performed at every predetermined number of rotations of the developer carrier, at every predetermined time, or at the time of detecting the surface potential. Since the operation is performed in response to the detection signal by the means, the energy consumption for charging the resin layer is greatly reduced, and the energy can be reduced. Further, it is possible to prevent the resin layer from deteriorating when the pressure means or the like is constantly contacted and pressed with the resin layer. Further, since the charging operation is performed before the surface potential is greatly attenuated and the toner conveyance amount is reduced, there is an effect that deterioration of image quality can be prevented.

According to the ninth to twelfth aspects, by heating the resin material in contact with the contact member, or by bringing the heated resin material into contact with the contact member, and then removing the contact member. In addition, the charging method of forming a region having a charging potential on the surface of the resin material solves the drawbacks of the prior art, and further records the thickness of the resin material layer in a novel developing device using this charging method. During operation, the surface potential can be kept constant. As a result, the magnitude of the generated surface potential can be kept constant, and a stable recorded image can be obtained.

According to Claims 11 to 14, since the surface potential can be controlled by controlling the heating temperature, regions having different desired surface potentials can be easily formed on the surface of the developer carrier, and a minute closed electric field can be reduced. Can be formed. As a result, a good recorded image can be obtained from a high density to a highlight portion.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an example of a recording apparatus.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a developer carrier.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a charging operation in a pressure unit of a developer carrier.

FIG. 4 is a characteristic diagram illustrating a relationship between a surface potential of a pressing unit and a pressing force.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the developer is transported in the recording apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating another example of a recording apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration in which heating is performed only by a roller-shaped contact member.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a charging operation in a heating section of the developer carrying member.

FIG. 10 is a characteristic diagram illustrating a relationship between a surface potential of a heating unit and a heating temperature.

FIG. 11 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example of a toner removing roller.

FIG. 15 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a characteristic diagram illustrating a relationship between a surface potential of pressure (or a heating unit) of a developing roller and time.

FIG. 17 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a toner carrier according to claim 9 of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram showing a charging operation in a heating section of the developer carrier according to the ninth aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a characteristic diagram showing the relationship between the heating temperature of the developer carrying layer and the surface potential of the heating section according to claim 9 of the present invention.

FIG. 24 is a characteristic diagram illustrating the relationship between the film pressure of the developer carrying layer and the charging potential according to claim 9 of the present invention.

FIG. 25 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a recording apparatus according to claim 9 of the present invention.

FIG. 26 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a recording apparatus according to claim 10 of the present invention.

FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating the structure of a developer carrier according to claim 10 of the present invention.

FIG. 28 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a recording apparatus according to claim 10 of the present invention.

FIG. 29 is a view for explaining an example of the structure of a developer carrying member for suitably realizing claim 11 of the present invention.

FIG. 30 is a diagram illustrating a partial structure of a developer carrier according to claim 11 of the present invention.

FIG. 31 is a schematic diagram showing a recording apparatus according to claim 11 of the present invention.

FIG. 32 is a view illustrating the structure of a developer carrier according to claim 12 of the present invention.

FIG. 33 is a diagram illustrating a charging mode when the developer carrier is heated according to claim 12 of the present invention.

FIG. 34 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 35 is a view illustrating a developer conveying method according to claim 13 of the present invention.

FIG. 36 is a diagram illustrating the shape of a contact member according to claim 13 of the present invention.

FIG. 37 is a diagram illustrating the shape of a contact member according to claim 13 of the present invention.

FIG. 38 is a diagram illustrating the structure of a developer carrier according to claim 14 of the present invention.

FIG. 39 is a diagram illustrating the charging operation of the developer carrier according to claim 14 of the present invention.

FIG. 40 is a diagram illustrating the charging operation of the developer carrier according to claim 13 of the present invention.

FIG. 41 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a recording apparatus according to claim 13 of the present invention.

FIG. 42 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a recording apparatus according to claim 14 of the present invention.

FIG. 43 is a diagram illustrating another example of the recording apparatus.

FIG. 44 is a diagram illustrating still another example of the developing carrier.

FIG. 45 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the surface potential of the pressurizing portion of the developer carrier and the pressing force.

FIG. 46 is a diagram illustrating still another example of the recording apparatus.

FIG. 47 is a diagram illustrating still another example of the developer carrying member.

FIG. 48 is a diagram illustrating a recording apparatus having a toner carrying roller.

FIG. 49 is a diagram illustrating another recording apparatus having a toner carrying roller.

FIG. 50 is a diagram illustrating still another recording apparatus having a toner carrying roller.

FIG. 51 is a diagram illustrating still another recording apparatus having a toner carrying roller.

FIG. 52 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a contact member.

FIG. 53 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a recording apparatus having a roller in which a contact member roller also serves as pressure.

FIG. 54 is a diagram illustrating another example of the configuration of the contact member.

FIG. 55 is a diagram illustrating the charging operation of the developer carrying member.

FIG. 56 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of another recording apparatus in which a contact member roller has a roller that also serves as pressure.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 developer carrier 2 pressurizing means 5 pressurizing means 3 developer supplying means 7 resin layer 14 heating means 18 image carrier 19 developing device 27 developing device 28 developing device 29 developer removing device 33 surface potential detecting means 41 toner carrying Body 42 Contact member 45 Heat roller 59 Developer carrier 62 Contact member 100 Toner carrier 140 Toner carrier 190 Toner carrier 200 Contact member 250 Toner carrier 500 Pressure roller

Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Tomoko Takahashi 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo, Ricoh Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-3-39980 (JP, A) JP-A-4- 66977 (JP, A) JP-A-4-127177 (JP, A) JP-A-3-287183 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G03G 15/08

Claims (14)

(57) [Claims] At least a part of the surface is made of a resin layer,
A developer carrying member for transporting the developer;
A developer supply means for supporting the developer on the carrier.
In the developer conveying method in the recording apparatus, the recording medium has a heating unit that is heated in a state of being in contact with the developer carrier, or is in a heated state, and is heated by the heating unit and then cooled, A method for transporting a developer, comprising: forming a portion having a surface potential according to a heating temperature on a resin layer; 2. An image carrier for forming an electrostatic latent image, comprising :
At least part of the surface, which is arranged in close proximity to the image carrier
Consists of a resin layer and transports the developer to the electrostatic latent image.
Developer supply member, and supplying the developer to the developer support member.
And a developing device having a developer supply means for supplying the developer
In the apparatus, heating or heating is performed in a state of being in contact with the developer carrier.
Heating means for contacting in a heated state;
And then cooled and applied to the developer carrier.
Form a part having a surface potential corresponding to the heat temperature, and
The developer is supplied to the area by the developer supply means.
And a recording device. 3. An upstream side of said heating means on said developer carrier.
On the side, a developer removing means for removing the developer was provided.
3. The recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein: 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said developer removing means is a roller.
At least when removing the developer, apply voltage to this roller.
4. The recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein: 5. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said developer removing means includes said developer carrying means.
Heating means for heating the body and discharging the surface of the body are included.
The recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the recording apparatus is provided. 6. A band of the developer carrier by the heating means.
The electric operation is performed every predetermined number of rotations of the developer carrying member.
3. The recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein: 7. A band of the developer carrying member by the heating means.
The electric operation is performed at predetermined time intervals.
Item 3. The recording device according to Item 2. 8. A method for detecting a surface potential of the developer carrying member.
Having a surface potential detecting means for developing by the heating means.
The charging operation of the agent carrier is detected by the surface potential detecting means.
3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the step is performed in response to a knowledge signal.
Recording device. 9. A method in which at least the developer carrier is heated.
At least in contact with or in contact with solids
Also heats the developer carrier surface and separates from the solid after cooling.
By doing so, the surface of the developer carrying member is heated to a heating temperature.
A region having a corresponding surface potential is formed, and
Has a developing device that deposits developer and transports it to the development area
A recording device for visualizing an electrostatic latent image with the transport developer.
A location, wherein the heating temperature of said developer carrying member and / or developer
A recording device having a softening temperature or lower. 10. A state in which at least the developer carrying member is heated.
Contact with a solid or with a solid
Both, the surface of the developer carrier is heated and, after cooling, separated from the solid.
By separating the developer carrier, the heating temperature
Forming a region having a surface potential corresponding to
Has a developing device that attaches the developer to the
A recording device for visualizing an electrostatic latent image with the transport developer.
A location, the developer carrying member is infiltrated with resin to at least the porous body
Having a developer carrying layer formed by
Recording device. 11. A state in which at least the developer carrying member is heated.
Contact with a solid or with a solid
Both, the surface of the developer carrier is heated and, after cooling, separated from the solid.
By separating the developer carrier, the heating temperature
Forming a region having a surface potential corresponding to
Has a developing device that attaches the developer to the
A recording device for visualizing an electrostatic latent image with the transport developer.
A location, the result developer carrier a metal material, micro its surface
Has an opening or a concave portion, and the portion is filled with a resin material.
A recording device characterized in that it is formed by forming. 12. A state in which at least the developer carrying member is heated.
Contact with a solid or with a solid
Both, the surface of the developer carrier is heated and, after cooling, separated from the solid.
By separating the developer carrier, the heating temperature
Forming a region having a surface potential corresponding to
Has a developing device that attaches the developer to the
A recording device for visualizing an electrostatic latent image with the transport developer.
A location, a base material wherein the developer carrying member has an uneven, provided thereon
Recording device characterized by being formed of a resin layer provided
Place. 13. A state in which at least the developer carrying member is heated.
Contact with a solid or with a solid
Both, the surface of the developer carrier is heated and, after cooling, separated from the solid.
By separating the developer carrier, the heating temperature
Forming a region having a surface potential corresponding to
Has a developing device that attaches the developer to the
A recording device for visualizing an electrostatic latent image with the transport developer.
A location, serial, characterized in that the surface of the solid has irregularities
Recording device. 14. A state in which at least the developer carrying member is heated.
Contact with a solid or with a solid
Both, the surface of the developer carrier is heated and, after cooling, separated from the solid.
By separating the developer carrier, the heating temperature
Forming a region having a surface potential corresponding to
Has a developing device that attaches the developer to the
A recording device for visualizing an electrostatic latent image with the transport developer.
A location, the solid is made of a metal material, its surface is very small opening
Alternatively, it has a recess and is formed by filling the portion with a resin material.
A recording device characterized by being recorded.