JP4211181B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the present invention, a latent image corresponding to image information is formed on an image carrier, the latent image is visualized with liquid ink, and then the ink image is transferred to a sheet (for example, a recording medium or an intermediate transfer member). The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus for creating an image and the image carrier.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, a latent image (for example, an electrostatic latent image using static electricity or a magnetic latent image using magnetism) is formed on the surface of an image carrier based on image information, and the latent image is visualized with ink. Subsequently, an image forming apparatus that transfers an ink image to a sheet is known.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In such an image forming apparatus, there is a problem that a so-called fog is generated in which ink adheres to a portion that should originally be whitened by a developing process, and thus the image quality is deteriorated.
[0004]
An object of the present invention is to reduce or prevent the above-described fogging and thereby provide a high-quality image.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the first aspect of the present inventionIs
An image carrier that forms a latent image according to image information;
A developing device for developing the latent image on the image carrier with liquid ink;
In an image forming apparatus having a transfer device that transfers an ink image developed with the ink to a sheet,
The image carrier includes an electrode, a latent image forming layer that forms an electrostatic latent image provided on the electrode, and a pattern layer that is an outermost layer provided on the latent image forming layer,
The pattern layer is formed in a predetermined pattern using materials having different surface energies..
[0006]
The second aspect of the present invention is:
  An image carrier that forms a latent image according to image information;
A developing device for developing the latent image on the image carrier with liquid ink;
In an image forming apparatus having a transfer device that transfers an ink image developed with the ink to a sheet,
The image carrier has an electrode, a ferroelectric layer which is a latent image forming layer provided outside the electrode, and a pattern layer provided further outside the ferroelectric layer,
The pattern layer includes a first portion formed in a predetermined pattern and a second portion that occupies a region other than the first portion and has a surface energy smaller than that of the material of the first portion. And a portion.
[0007]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The image forming apparatus in the first to third embodiments uses an electrostatic latent image, and the image forming apparatus in the fourth embodiment uses a magnetic latent image.
[0008]
(First embodiment)
1 and 2 show a first embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention using an electrostatic latent image and an image carrier used in the apparatus, respectively. The image forming apparatus 10 has a roller-shaped or cylindrical image carrier 20 (cylindrical in the figure), and the image carrier 20 is formed in a predetermined pattern on the outer periphery as will be described in detail later. Provided with a ferroelectric pattern. The image carrier 20 can be driven to rotate in the direction of the arrow 21 by a motor (not shown). Around the image carrier 20, a voltage applying device 22 that uniformly polarizes the ferroelectric on the surface of the image carrier 20 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the surface along the rotation direction 21 of the image carrier 20; In accordance with image information, the image carrier 20 is selectively irradiated with light 23 to thereby form a latent image on the image carrier 20 and an ink 25 is supplied to the image carrier 20. A developing device 26 that visualizes a latent image, a transfer roller 28 that transfers an ink image formed on the image carrier 20 to a recording medium 27, and a cleaning that removes ink remaining on the image carrier 20 after transfer. A device 29 is sequentially arranged.
[0009]
More specifically, the voltage application device 22 is connected to the conductive roller 32 that contacts the image carrier 20 and rotates in the direction of the arrow along with the rotation of the image carrier 20, and thereby conductive. And a bias power source 34 for applying a predetermined bias voltage (for example, positive polarity of +100 V in this embodiment) to the neutral roller 32.
[0010]
The developing device 26 includes an ink containing portion 36 that contains the ink 25, and a conductive developing roller 38 that is close to the image carrier 20 and can be rotationally driven in the direction of an arrow by a motor (not shown) and is grounded. A part of the developing roller 38 is located below the ink surface. As a result, the ink 25 adhering to the surface of the developing roller 38 reaches the area facing the image carrier 20 while being carried on the developing roller 38, and adheres to the latent image portion of the image carrier 20 due to the Coulomb force. can do.
[0011]
As shown in FIGS. 3A and 4A, the image carrier 20 includes a ferroelectric pattern 40, a conductive substrate 42, and an electrode 43 arranged in a lattice pattern. Is coated with a material (not shown) whose surface energy is smaller than that of the ferroelectric pattern 40 (that is, less wettability to ink) (in the following description, the “surface of the substrate 42” is coated). The outermost surface.) In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3A, the ferroelectric pattern 40 is embedded in a recess provided on the surface of the base 42, whereby the surface of the base 42 and the surface of the ferroelectric pattern 40 are obtained. Are on the same plane. The electrode 43 of the image carrier 20 is grounded as shown in FIG. 1, but a bias voltage may be applied according to other conditions. At this time, a voltage corresponding to the difference between the voltage from the bias power source 34 and the voltage applied to the electrode 43 is applied to the ferroelectric pattern 40 of the image carrier 20.
[0012]
Referring to FIG. 3 again, the ferroelectric pattern 40 may be formed in a thin film on the surface of the base 42 as shown in FIG. 3B instead of the configuration shown in FIG. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 3 (c), the ferroelectric pattern 40 is formed in a convex shape having a predetermined height on the surface of the base body 42, whereby a ferroelectric material is formed as described later. Ink adhering to the pattern 40 may be prevented from touching the substrate 42. Moreover, you may form a convex part gently like FIG.3 (d). Furthermore, if necessary, the surface of the ferroelectric pattern 40 may be roughened so that the ink 25 is easily attached.
[0013]
In the present embodiment, the ferroelectric patterns 40 arranged in a lattice form are composed of strip-like columns and rows that form 90 ° with each other, as shown in FIG. The width L of these columns₁, L₂Is preferably about 0.5 to 15 μm. If it is larger than 15 μm, fog cannot be prevented, and if it is smaller than 0.5 μm, pattern formation is difficult. In addition, the pitch P of the column and the row₁, P₂Is preferably about 1 to 20 μm. If it is larger than 20 μm, the image resolution is lowered, and if it is smaller than 1 μm, pattern formation is difficult. The shape of the lattice is not limited to FIG. 4 (a). For example, as shown in FIG. 4 (b), the angle formed by the vertical and horizontal lines is other than 90 °, or as shown in FIG. 4 (c). Anything can be used, such as zigzag rows.
[0014]
Next, an image creating operation of the image forming apparatus 10 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. First, a ferroelectric pattern 40 is polarized in the thickness direction by the voltage application device 22 with respect to the image carrier 20 that is rotationally driven in the direction of the arrow 21 [FIG. 5 (A)] (note that in FIG. The arrow in the pattern 40 indicates that the polarization process is performed so that the distal end side is positive and the proximal end side is negative. Subsequently, based on the image information, the exposure device 24 selectively irradiates the image carrier 20 (the ferroelectric pattern 40) with the light 23 [FIG. 5B]. As a result, charge carriers are generated in the exposed portion of the ferroelectric pattern 40, and at least one of the positive charge and the negative charge of the charge carrier moves in the thickness direction, and the surface of the image carrier 20. A latent image is formed by the positive charge [FIG. 5C]. After that, at the portion of the image carrier 20 facing the developing device 26, the ink 25 (coulomb between the charge of the latent image portion and the induced charge induced in the ink from the ground destination) with respect to the latent image portion (positive). It adheres (by attractive force) and forms an ink image [FIG. 5 (D)]. The ink image moves to a portion facing the transfer roller 28 according to the rotation of the image carrier 20, and is transferred to the recording medium 27 [FIG. 5E].
[0015]
Residual ink 25 that has not been transferred to the recording medium 27 at the portion facing the transfer roller 28 is removed by the cleaning device 29. Further, a positive voltage is applied from the voltage application device 22, and the positive electric charge on the surface of the ferroelectric pattern 40 is moved to the electrode 43 side by the electric field generated by this voltage. The latent image portion in the dielectric pattern 40 is erased [FIG. 5F], and the image forming apparatus 10 prepares for the next image creation.
[0016]
Conventionally, unlike the present invention, a ferroelectric material is provided on the entire outer surface of the image carrier 20. In this case, when an image creation operation similar to that shown in FIG. 5 is performed, as shown in FIG. 5G, which is a partially enlarged view of FIG. The interface of the ink 25 adhering to the body 20 (represented by a dotted line 25 ') extends beyond the latent image portion, and thus fogging occurs and the edge of the obtained image tends to become unclear. On the other hand, in the present invention, the ferroelectric material is formed in a pattern, and the surface energy of the ferroelectric pattern 40 is made larger than the surface energy of the region other than the pattern portion. According to this configuration, since the ink 25 tends to adhere to the ferroelectric pattern 40, the obtained image can be made sharper than in the past.
[0017]
Referring to FIG. 1, conventionally, when the ink 25 is supplied from the developing roller 38 of the developing device 26 to the image carrier 20 by receiving the Coulomb force, the ink 25 is moved while the image carrier 20 moves. In order to adhere to the carrier 20, the rear end portion (with respect to the rotation direction 21 of the image carrier 20) of the attached ink 25 was easily disturbed. On the other hand, in the present invention, the ferroelectric pattern 40 in the latent image portion is surrounded by a region having a small surface energy, and the ink 25 tends to adhere to the pattern 40. There is an effect that the disturbance of the part is reduced.
[0018]
As is well known to those skilled in the art, various methods other than the above-described embodiment are possible as a method of forming a latent image in a ferroelectric body. As an example, there is a method of forming a latent image by applying a voltage to a ferroelectric substance and partially inverting the polarization after the ferroelectric substance is polarized in one direction.
[0019]
As a ferroelectric material used for the ferroelectric pattern 40 of the image carrier 20, either an inorganic material or an organic material can be used. Specifically, as an inorganic type, PLZT, SrBi₂Ta₂O₉, PZT, BaTiO_Three, LiNbO_Three, PbTiO_Three, KNbO_Three, KTaO_Three, PbNb₂O₆, SrTiO_Three, LiTaO_Three, Sr_1-XBa_XNb₂O ₆ , Pb_1-XLa_XNb₂O₆, BiNaTiO₆As the organic system, vinylidene fluoride and tetrafluoroethylene copolymer, polyvinylidene cyanide, vinylidene cyanide and vinyl acetate copolymer, polyvinylidene fluoride, vinylidene fluoride and trifluoroethylene copolymer are used. it can. A composite material of these inorganic ferroelectric materials and organic ferroelectric materials may also be used.
[0020]
If necessary, an overcoat layer may be further provided on the ferroelectric pattern 40 in order to enhance durability. As the material for the overcoat layer, a material having desired insulation that enhances the polarization holding ability of the ferroelectric pattern 40 and high surface wettability with respect to ink and wear resistance is used. For example, epoxy resin, polyurethane resin, polyamide resin, polycarbonate resin, etc. are used as the resin, and Al is used as the ceramic.₂O_Three, SiC, BaTiO_ThreeExamples of the glass include elemental glass, hydrogen-bonded glass, chloride glass, and fluoride glass.
[0021]
Further, in this embodiment, the ferroelectric is formed in a lattice shape, but instead, it may be formed as a dot arranged in a matrix as shown in FIG. The dot diameter D (the length of the major axis and minor axis diameter when the dot is elliptical) is preferably about 0.5 to 15 μm. If it is larger than 15 μm, a sharp image cannot be obtained, and if it is smaller than 0.5 μm, pattern formation is difficult. In addition, the pitch P of the column and the row₁, P₂Is preferably about 1 to 20 μm. If it is larger than 20 μm, the image resolution is lowered, and if it is smaller than 1 μm, pattern formation is difficult. The dots may be arranged in a staggered manner as shown in FIGS. 6B and 6C instead of arranging them in a matrix. Moreover, what is necessary is just to employ | adopt suitable things, such as a square, a rectangle, and a rhombus, as a dot shape.
[0022]
Further, two or more kinds of ferroelectric materials having different remanent polarizations may be used for the ferroelectric pattern 40. This has the effect of improving the gradation. Also in this case, as the image carrier 20, an appropriate combination of the positional relationship between the base 42 and the ferroelectric pattern 40 (see FIG. 3) and the shape of the pattern (see FIGS. 4 and 6) is used. it can. When two types of ferroelectric materials 40A and 40B are used, for example, an example corresponding to the positional relationship between the base 42 and the ferroelectric pattern 40 shown in FIG. Examples corresponding to the dot matrix arrangement shown in FIGS. 6A and 6C are shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, respectively.
[0023]
(Experiment 1)
The inventors of the present invention formed a line image on an image carrier under the following conditions using an image carrier on which a ferroelectric material was formed in a pattern as shown below. As a comparative example, a line image was formed on an image carrier using an image carrier provided with a ferroelectric material on the entire surface.
[0024]
・ Image carrier
The nickel-chromium alloy plate on which Pt was deposited was hydrophobized. Then, a mask having circular holes arranged in a matrix is applied, and PbO, La₂O_Three, ZrO_2,TiO₂The mixed alkoxide solution was applied by a dip method, and dried and calcined repeatedly until the height from the surface of the alloy plate was 2 μm. Thereafter, high-temperature baking was performed for crystallization, and a plate-shaped image carrier was prepared. As a result, a pattern in which circular dots (dot diameter 3 μm, pitch 5 μm) as shown in FIGS. 3C and 6A were arranged in a matrix as a ferroelectric pattern was obtained.
[0025]
・ Latent image formation method
By passing the light from the mercury lamp through a band-pass filter, only light having a wavelength of around 365 nm was taken out, and this light was collected by a lens and irradiated to the image carrier.
[0026]
・ Ink composition
Pigment: Carbon black 10wt%
Solvent: Water 86.99 wt%
Surfactant: Fluorosurfactant 0.01wt%
Viscosity modifier: Polyethylene glycol 1wt%
Dispersant: Styrene acrylate 2wt%
[0027]
(result)
A sharp image could be obtained as compared with the comparative example having no ferroelectric pattern shape.
[0028]
(Second Embodiment)
9 and 10 show a second embodiment of the image carrier. In the image carrier 20 ′, the ferroelectric material is formed in a ring shape having a predetermined length in the thickness direction, and is recessed in the ring. Further, the surface of the ferroelectric pattern 40 (the surface facing the developing roller 38 in FIG. 1) may be made of a material having a small surface energy due to the ferroelectric material (the same material as that of the substrate 42), or another material. It may be a material). As a result, as shown in FIG. 9, only a part of the inner surface of the ring 40 made of a ferroelectric material is exposed to the outside through the depression 44. Note that the rings constituting the ferroelectric pattern 40 may be arranged in a matrix as shown in FIG. 10A, or may be arranged in a staggered manner as shown in FIG. 10B.
[0029]
Next, an image forming operation of the image forming apparatus using the image carrier 20 'according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Since the ferroelectric ring 40 is partially exposed to the outside through the recess 44, the ink 25 is attracted to the exposed portion and collected in the recess 44 in the developing process of this operation. It has become. The other steps are almost the same as the steps described in the first embodiment.
[0030]
The outer diameter of the ferroelectric ring 40 is preferably about 10 to 100 μm. If it is larger than 100 μm, the resolution is lowered, and if it is smaller than 10 μm, pattern formation is difficult. The inner diameter of the ferroelectric ring 40 is preferably about 5 to 80 μm. If it is larger than 80 μm, the Coulomb force due to the latent image is not sufficient when forming the latent image, and if it is smaller than 5 μm, it is difficult to suck the ink 25 into the depression 44. The pitch of the ring 40 is preferably about 20 to 200 μm.
[0031]
First, the latent image is formed only on the ferroelectric ring 40 surrounding the left and right depressions 44L and 44R, and no latent image is formed on the ferroelectric ring 40 surrounding the central depression 44C [FIG. (A)]. Subsequently, development is performed and ink 25 is stored only in the depressions 44L and 44R [FIG. 11B]. When the ink 25 is transferred to the recording medium, a part of the ink 25 remains in the recesses 44L and 44R [FIG. 11C]. Next, the latent image is erased to prepare for the next image creation (FIG. 11D).
[0032]
In the next image creation, the latent image and development are performed so that the ink 25 is stored in the left and center depressions 44L and 44C [FIGS. 11E and 11F]. At this time, the ink 25 at the time of the previous image creation may remain in the right depression 44R. However, it is not transferred to the recording medium in the subsequent transfer process.
[0033]
In the first embodiment, the ink 25 remaining after the transfer is removed by cleaning so that the previous image history does not occur at the time of creating the next image. On the other hand, this embodiment can obtain a high-quality image without an image history without performing cleaning.
[0034]
(Experiment 2)
The inventors of the present invention used an image carrier in which a ferroelectric material was formed in a pattern as shown below, and created an image in the process shown in FIG. 11 under the following conditions. That is, first, a latent image was formed and developed to obtain an image pattern 1 [FIGS. 11A and 11B]. Subsequently, after the image pattern 1 was transferred to the paper [FIG. 11C], the latent image was erased while the untransferred ink remained on the image carrier [FIG. 11D]. . Next, a latent image for image pattern 2 was written on the image carrier [FIG. 11E] and developed to obtain image pattern 2 [FIG. 11F].
[0035]
・ Image carrier
A mixed alkoxide solution of PbO, La2O3, ZrO2, and TiO2 is printed on a nickel-chromium alloy plate on which Pt is deposited in a donut shape (inner diameter 20 μm, outer diameter 40 μm) arranged in a matrix by screen printing, followed by drying The calcination was repeated to form a columnar shape having a height of about 10 μm. Next, high temperature baking was performed for crystallization. Then, photosensitive resin was apply | coated on the alloy plate, and it was set as the uniform thickness more than the height of a cylinder (about 12 micrometers). Lastly, the photosensitive resin at the center of the cylinder was removed by etching at a diameter of 20 μm and a depth of 8 μm to prepare a plate-shaped image carrier.
[0036]
・ Latent image forming method, ink composition
Same as Experiment 1.
[0037]
・ Latent image erasing method
An electric field of 50 V / μm was applied in the same direction as the polarization direction of the ferroelectric.
[0038]
(result)
In image pattern 2, no history of image pattern 1 was seen.
[0039]
(Third embodiment)
FIG. 12 shows a third embodiment of the image carrier. The image carrier 20 ″ is composed of a ferroelectric layer 50 which is a latent image forming layer provided on the outer periphery of the electrode 43, and a pattern layer 52 provided on the outer periphery of the ferroelectric layer 50. The pattern layer 52, which is the surface layer, is formed in a predetermined pattern and made up of a first portion 52A made of a material having a high surface energy, and occupies a region other than the first portion 52A and is made of the material of the first portion 52A. In this embodiment, since the ink 25 tends to adhere to the first portion 52A made of a high surface energy material, as in the first embodiment, the second portion 52B has a small surface energy. An image can be obtained, and disturbance of the rear end portion of the ink 25 when the ink 25 adheres to the image carrier 20 can be reduced in the development process.
[0040]
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, the surface of the first portion 52A and the surface of the second portion 52B are configured to be flush with each other, but the surface of the first portion 52A is You may comprise so that it may become higher than the surface of the 2nd part 52B. Further, the pattern of the first portion 52A may be a lattice shape as shown in FIG. 13A, or may be a pattern in which dots are arranged in a matrix shape as shown in FIG. 13B. Good. The dimensions of these patterns (grating width / pitch, dot diameter / pitch) are preferably about the same as those described with reference to FIGS. Furthermore, these patterns are not limited to FIG. 13 (see FIGS. 4B and 4C and FIGS. 6B and 6C). In addition, two or more types of ferroelectric materials may be used as the high surface energy material, as in the first embodiment.
[0041]
The high surface energy material constituting the first portion 52A preferably has a surface tension value of 45 dyne / cm or more, specifically, polyvinyl chloride, polyoxymethylene, polyvinylidene chloride, nylon 6-6, Examples include polyacrylamide. The low surface energy material constituting the second portion 52B preferably has a surface tension value of 30 dyne / cm or less. Specifically, polypropylene, tetrafluoroethylene / ethylene copolymer, paraffin, poly Examples thereof include tetrafluoroethylene, hexatriacontane, and hexafluoropropylene.
[0042]
As described above, the first to third embodiments have been described. In the present invention, a photoconductive material is used as a material for forming an electrostatic latent image, and image formation is performed using a photosensitive drum in which this material is formed in a pattern. It has the same effect on the apparatus.
[0043]
(Fourth embodiment)
FIG. 14 shows an image forming apparatus according to the present invention using a magnetic latent image. The image forming apparatus 60 is similar to the image forming apparatus 10 of FIG. Therefore, only different points will be described here. In the image forming apparatus 60, the image carrier 20 ′ ″ is formed in a predetermined pattern, for example, Fe.₂O_ThreeAnd a conductive substrate 42 having a surface energy smaller than that of the magnetic pattern 40 '. A magnetic head 62 for forming a magnetic latent image on the image carrier 20 ′ ″ according to image information is provided on the upstream side of the developing device 26 with respect to the rotation direction 21 of the image carrier 20 ′ ″. A degaussing head 64 for erasing a latent image on the magnetic pattern 40 ′ of the image carrier 20 ′ ″ is provided downstream of the cleaning device 29. The ink 25 stored in the ink storage unit 36 of the developing device 26 is a magnetic ink. In the present embodiment, the electrode 43 of the image carrier 20 ′ ″ electrically transfers the ink 25 on the image carrier 20 ″ ″ to the recording medium 27 due to a potential difference with the transfer roller 28. Is provided.
[0044]
Next, an image creating operation of the image forming apparatus 60 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG. First, the image carrier 20 ′ ″ is rotationally driven in the direction of the arrow 21, and a magnetic latent image is formed on the magnetic pattern 40 ′ of the image carrier 20 ′ ″ using the magnetic head 62 based on the image information. To do. Subsequently, at the portion of the image carrier 20 ′ ″ that faces the developing device 26, the magnetic ink 25 receives the magnetic force and adheres to the latent image portion to form an ink image. The ink image moves to a portion facing the transfer roller 28 according to the rotation of the image carrier 20 ′ ″, and is transferred to the recording medium 27.
[0045]
Residual ink 25 that has not been transferred to the recording medium 27 at the portion facing the transfer roller 28 is removed by the cleaning device 29. The latent image portion of the magnetic pattern 40 ′ of the image carrier 20 ′ ″ is erased by the degaussing head 62, and the image forming apparatus 60 prepares for the next image creation.
[0046]
In this embodiment, the magnetic material is formed in a pattern, and the surface energy of the magnetic pattern 40 'is made smaller than the surface energy of the region other than the pattern portion. According to this configuration, as in the first to third embodiments, the obtained image can be made sharper.
[0047]
Examples of magnetic materials used for the magnetic pattern 40 ′ of the image carrier 20 ′ ″ include Gd_ThreeFe_FiveO₁₂Single crystal material such as MnBi, EuO, MnAlGl, MnGaGe, CrO₂, MnTiBi, MnCuBi, PtCo, or other polycrystalline materials, or GdCo, TbFe, DyFe, TbCo, GdFe, YGdFe, GdFeBi, GdTbFe, or other amorphous materials.
[0048]
The embodiment of the present invention has been described above, but the present invention is not limited to this and can be variously modified. For example, in the above embodiment, the surface energy of a latent image forming material such as a ferroelectric pattern is set to be larger than the surface energy of other regions (substrates). The surface energy is made smaller than the surface energy of other regions.
[0049]
【The invention's effect】
According to the image carrier and the image forming apparatus using the image carrier according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the fog phenomenon in which the ink adheres to the portion that should originally be whitened by the development process, and therefore, it is sharp. A good quality image can be provided.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an image forming apparatus using a first embodiment of an image carrier according to the present invention.
2 is a perspective view of the image carrier in FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of an image carrier.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a ferroelectric pattern formed on the outer surface of an image carrier.
FIG. 5 is a process diagram showing an image forming method in the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1;
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing another ferroelectric pattern example formed on the outer surface of the image carrier.
FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of an image carrier when two types of ferroelectric materials are used for a ferroelectric pattern.
8 is a diagram showing an example of a ferroelectric pattern formed on the outer surface of the image carrier when the image carrier of FIG. 7 is used.
FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the image carrier according to the present invention.
10 is a diagram showing an example of a ferroelectric pattern formed on the outer surface of the image carrier when the image carrier of FIG. 9 is used.
11 is a process diagram showing an image forming method in an image forming apparatus using the image carrier of FIG.
FIG. 12 is a partial cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of an image carrier according to the present invention.
13 is a diagram showing an example of a ferroelectric pattern formed on the outer surface of the image carrier when the image carrier of FIG. 12 is used.
FIG. 14 is a schematic view showing an image forming apparatus using a fourth embodiment of an image carrier according to the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
10: Image forming device, 20: Image carrier, 22: Voltage applying device, 24: Exposure device, 25: Ink, 26: Developing device, 27: Recording medium, 28: Transfer roller, 29: Cleaning device, 40: Strong Dielectric pattern, 42: substrate, 43: electrode, 50: ferroelectric layer, 52A: high surface energy (first) portion, 52B: low surface energy (second) portion, 60: image forming apparatus, 62 : Magnetic head, 64: Demagnetizing head.

Claims (2)

An image carrier that forms a latent image according to image information;
A developing device for developing the latent image on the image carrier with liquid ink;
In an image forming apparatus having a transfer device that transfers an ink image developed with the ink to a sheet,
The image carrier includes an electrode, a latent image forming layer that forms an electrostatic latent image provided on the electrode, and a pattern layer that is an outermost layer provided on the latent image forming layer,
The image forming apparatus , wherein the pattern layer is formed in a predetermined pattern using materials having different surface energies . An image carrier that forms a latent image according to image information;
  A developing device for developing the latent image on the image carrier with liquid ink;
  In an image forming apparatus having a transfer device that transfers an ink image developed with the ink to a sheet,
  The image carrier has an electrode, a ferroelectric layer which is a latent image forming layer provided outside the electrode, and a pattern layer provided further outside the ferroelectric layer,
  The pattern layer includes a first portion formed in a predetermined pattern and a second portion that occupies a region other than the first portion and has a surface energy smaller than that of the material of the first portion. And an image forming apparatus.

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