JPH01173078A - Developer stirring mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the sedimentation of a toner grain in a developer at the time when a developing work is stopped for a long period of time by providing a stirring member consisting of a shape memory alloy whose shape is varied at a specific temperature in the developer. CONSTITUTION:In a developer 75 in a developer tank 64, a stirring member 100 is arranged, and from the outer periphery of a columnar base part 102 of the member 10, six pieces of a planar blades 104-114 are projected. These blades 104-114 are formed by a shape memory alloy whose shape is varied at a specific temperature, respectively. For instance, the blade 104 is twisted in the direction as indicated with arrow A at 5 deg.C and its shape is varied, and the blade 106, the blade 108, the blade 110, the blade 112 and the blade 114 are twisted in the same way at 10 deg.C, 15 deg.C, 20 deg.C, 25 deg.C and 30 deg.C, respectively and the shapes are varied, by which the developer 75 can be stirred. In such a way, the shape is varied by the temperature variation of the open air and the toner grains are stirred, therefore, the sedimentation of the toner grain in the developer can be prevented.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a developer stirring mechanism for stirring a developer containing toner particles.

[Conventional technology]

2. Description of the Related Art Electrophotographic apparatuses are known that are capable of recording images on predetermined frames of electrophotographic film and projecting or copying the recorded images.

Further, a process head that is disposed in an electrophotographic apparatus and performs charging, exposure, development, etc. on an electrophotographic film is known from Japanese Patent Laid-open Nos. 59-100479 and 59-162580.

The process head disclosed in the above publication includes a charging exposure section, a developing section, a drying section, and a fixing section. These parts are arranged adjacent to each other in the above order along the feeding direction of the electrophotographic film, and the arrangement pitch of each part is a constant pitch equal to the frame pitch of the electrophotographic film.

The developer contained in the developer bottle is supplied to the developer unit through a conduit provided between the developer bottle and the developer unit, and is applied to the electrophotographic film. Ru. As a result, the electrostatic latent image is visualized and developed.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

However, toner particles in the developer contained in the developer bottle settle within the developer bottle while the supply of developer to the developing section is stopped for a long period of time. Therefore, when the supply of developer to the developing section is started again with the toner particles settled, the developer in which the toner particles are not evenly mixed is supplied to the developing section, making the electrostatic latent image uniform. There is a problem that it becomes impossible to visualize the image and uneven development occurs.

In consideration of the above-mentioned facts, the present invention aims to provide a developer stirring mechanism that can prevent toner particles from settling in the developer when the development operation is stopped for a long period of time.

[Means for solving problems]

The present invention provides a developer stirring mechanism that stirs a developer containing toner particles, and is characterized by having a stirring member made of a shape memory alloy that is disposed in the developer and whose shape changes at a specific temperature. .

[Effect]

According to the present invention, the stirring member made of a shape memory alloy that is placed in the developer and changes its shape at a specific temperature changes its shape when the developer reaches a specific temperature due to a change in outside air temperature, and Stir.

As a result, the toner particles contained in the developer are stirred,
Sedimentation is prevented.

〔Example〕

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a microfilm image forming process head 10 to which the present invention is applied.

As shown in FIG. 2, the process head 10 includes a main body 12 that is relatively flat and has an approximately rectangular parallelepiped shape;
2 and a pair of leg portions 13 located at the bottom thereof are integrally formed, and are integrally molded from synthetic resin except for the attachments.

As shown in FIG. 2, the main body 12 of the process head 10 includes a charging exposure section 14, a developing section 16, and
, the drying section 18 and the fixing section 20 are formed at a constant pitch corresponding to one frame interval of the electrophotographic film 22.

In the charging exposure section 14, the electrophotographic film 22 (corresponding to the - frame) located in this portion is charged and then exposed to image light of the original. As a result, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image pattern of the original is formed on the electrophotographic film 22. In the developing section 16, a liquid developer is applied to the electrophotographic film 22 exposed in the charging exposure section 14 to visualize the electrostatic latent image. In the drying section 18, dry air is blown onto the electrophotographic film 22 moistened with the liquid developer to remove moisture. In the fixing section 20, the image is fixed on the electrophotographic film 22 by a fixing lamp or the like.

In the developing section 16, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,
A mask 24 is formed, and the mask 24 covers the upper frame 2.
4A and left and right frames 24B and 24C stand up from the surface of the recess 28 formed in the front wall 26. The lower side of the lower frame 24D of the mask 24 stands up from the front wall 26. In addition, both ends of the lower frame 24D are connected to the left and right frames 24B, 24
It further extends in the left-right direction from the connecting portion with C.

The protruding height of the mask 24 is set to be at the same level as the mask 30 formed on the charging exposure section 14.

The opening width of the mask 24 is made very slightly shorter than the opening width of the mask 30. In addition, the opening height of the mask 24,
That is, the distance between the inner walls of the upper frame 24A and the lower frame 24D is
The inner wall of the lower frame 24D is located lower than that of the mask 30, and is lengthened accordingly.

As shown in FIG. 1, a developing electrode 34 is disposed within the opening of the mask 24 and supported by a rear wall 32. The developing electrode 34 is connected to the bias power supply 3 via a relay contact 36.
8 is connected. The contact 36 of this relay is normally closed and applies a bias voltage to the developing electrode 34.
When it is in the open state, the bias voltage can be cut off.

The contact 36 of this relay and the bias power supply 38 are connected to the control circuit 3.
5 is connected. As shown in FIG. 1, the control circuit 35 is composed of a CPU 41, a RAM 43, a ROM 45, an input port 37, and an output port 39, which are connected to each other by a data bus 47.

The surface of the developing electrode 34 is located slightly inside from the end surface of the mask 24, and a space surrounded by the developing electrode 34 and the inner wall of the mask 24 is defined as a developing chamber 40. Development electrode 34
The upper and lower portions are opened and serve as a developer/squeeze air inlet 42 and a developer/squeeze air outlet 44, respectively.

The air inlet 42 for developer and squeeze is located in the process head 1.
It communicates with a passageway 46 that has an internal space of 0.0 mm.

The passage 46 communicates with a developer supply port 48 and a squeeze air supply port 50 that are opened on the back side of the process head 10 . Further, the developer/squeeze air outlet 44 is communicated with a passage 52 formed in the internal space of the process head 10 . The passage 52 communicates with a developer/squeeze air outlet 54 opened on the lower surface of the process head 10.

As shown in FIG. 1, the developer supply port 48 is connected to the developer tank 6 through a conduit 60, 62 via a solenoid valve 58.
It is connected to 4. The developer tank 64 is located above the solenoid valve 58.

A liquid pouring needle 70 is attached to the tip of the conduit 62 and is inserted into the lower side wall of the developer tank 4 to communicate the conduit 62 and the developer tank 64 . These pipe lines 60,62 have a diameter of 0.8 to 1.5 mm.

The stirring member 1 is contained in the developer 75 in the developer tank 64.
00 is placed. As shown in FIG. 3, this stirring member 100 has six plate-shaped blades 104 to 114 protruding from the outer periphery of a cylindrical base 102. These blades 104 to 114 are arranged with the width direction along the axial direction of the base 102, and are arranged radially on the outer circumference of the base 102 at equal intervals.

Each of these blades 104 to 114 is made of a shape memory alloy whose shape changes at a specific temperature.

For example, among these blades 104 to 114, blade 104
is designed to change its shape by twisting in the direction of the arrow at 5°C, blade 106 at 10°C, blade 108 at 15°,
The temperature of the blade 110 is 20°C, the temperature of the blade 112 is 25°C, and the blade 114 is
At 30°C, each twists in the same way and changes its shape, allowing the developer to be stirred.

In the middle of the conduit 62, an air retention part 66 for removing air bubbles, which is a well-known type provided in a drip pipe or the like, is provided. Further, a first liquid feed detector 68 is disposed between the developer tank 64 and the air reservoir 66 of the conduit 60. The first liquid feed detector 68 is configured to detect the presence or absence of the developer 75 in the developer tank 64 by detecting the presence or absence of toner particles contained in the developer 75 in the pipe line 62. . This first liquid feed detector 68 is connected to the input port 37 of the control circuit 35.

The pipe line 60 has one end connected to the electromagnetic valve 58 and extends vertically downward, has a substantially horizontally bent middle part to provide a bent part, and has a tip communicating with the developer supply port 48. There is.

Between the bent portion of the pipe line 60 and the developer supply port 48 is a developer remaining portion 72 which is lower than the developer supply port 48 .

Between this developer residual portion 72 and the developer supply port 48,
A second liquid feeding detector 74 is arranged.

This second liquid feeding detector 74 detects the developing liquid 7 passing through the pipe line 60.
5 to detect the flow of toner particles. That is, it is detected that the developer 75 is flowing inside the pipe 60. This second liquid feed detector 74 is connected to the input port 37 of the control circuit 35.

The squeezing air supply port 50 is connected via a conduit 76 to an air pump 78 for pressurized squeezing.

The passage 46 communicates with a rinse liquid bottle 82 through a conduit 80 that passes through the upper surface of the main body 12 . A rinsing solenoid valve 84 is arranged in the middle of the pipe line 80. This rinsing solenoid valve 84 is connected to the output port 39 of the control circuit 35. 5 Also, a liquid pouring needle 85 is attached to the tip of the pipe line 80 in the same way as the pipe line 62, and a rinse liquid bottle 8
It is inserted into the side wall of 2 and 1. The rinse liquid bottle 82 and the passage 46 are communicated with each other. The rinse liquid bottle 82 contains Isopar G (trade name: Etsuo ■), which is a solvent component in the developer.
) is stored as a rinse liquid 83.

A waste liquid mold 8 is located below the air outlet 54 for developer/squeeze.
6 is placed. There is a collection port 86 at the bottom of the waste liquid mold 86.
A part of the periphery of the recovery port 86A is bent and protrudes inward of the waste liquid mold 86, that is, in the direction of decreasing the depth of the dish, and a protrusion 86B is formed. There is. The surplus developer discharged from the developer/squeeze air outlet 54 is accommodated in the bottom portion surrounded by the protruding portion 86B and one side wall.

A recovery tank 90 is arranged below the recovery port 86A. The surplus developer that overflows the protrusion 86B and is discharged from the collection port 86A is collected into the collection tank 90. A level detector 92 is arranged outside the recovery tank 90, and a control circuit 3
5 input port 37. This level detector 92 detects the level of the developer collected in the collection tank 90 and sends a signal to the control circuit 35.

A heater 94 serving as drying means is arranged below the waste liquid tray 86. This heater 94 is connected to a power source 98 via a relay contact 96. Also, contact 9 of this relay
6 is connected to the output port 39 of the control circuit 35.

A press plate is disposed in front of the front wall 26 of the process head 10 and is operated by a film press mechanism (not shown) to press the electrophotographic film 22 against the front wall 26 of the process head 10. In this case, each frame of the electrophotographic film 22 that is pressed is connected to the charged exposure section 14.
, the developing section 16, the drying section 18, and the fixing section 20, respectively.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained.

Each frame of the electrophotographic film 22 is sent in the above order to the charging/exposure section 14, the developing section 16, the drying section 18, and the fixing section 20, which are arranged adjacent to the process head 10, respectively, and are processed respectively. The image is recorded to 22.

In this case, a film movement motor (not shown) is driven to position a predetermined frame freely selected from among the frames that have not been recorded yet in front of the mask 30 of the charging/exposure section 14. This operation is performed by specifying a predetermined frame using a control keyboard (not shown) that operates the electrophotographic apparatus in which the process head 10 is incorporated.

Focusing on a predetermined frame, the fourth section describes the case where this predetermined frame is sent from the charging/exposure section 14 to the developing section 16, drying section 18, and fixing section 20 to record an image.
This will be explained using figures.

A predetermined frame freely selected from among the frames that have not yet been recorded is placed in the charging/exposure section 14, and this predetermined frame is charged and exposed to form an electrostatic latent image. It is determined in step 200 whether or not this charging/exposure has been completed. This judgment is repeated if charging and exposure are not completed.

When charging and exposure are completed and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the electrophotographic film, the film is released from being held by the holding plate.
A film movement motor (not shown) is activated (steps 202 and 204). As a result, the predetermined frame on which the electrostatic charge latent image has been formed moves from the charging/exposure section 14. As a result of this movement, it is determined in step 206 whether a predetermined frame has been positioned in the developing section 16. In this case, by counting a large number of blip marks (not shown) formed at regular intervals on the electrophotographic film 22,
The moving distance is determined, and it is determined from this whether a predetermined frame has been positioned in the developing section 16. Further, if the predetermined frame is not located in the developing section 16, the film moving motor continues to operate, and when the predetermined frame is located in the developing section 16, the film moving motor is stopped (step 208).
.

Prior to the operation of the presser plate, as shown in FIG. 4, the relay contacts 36 change from the normally closed state to the open state, and the application of the bias voltage to the developing electrode 34 is stopped (step 21).
0). When the film moving motor is stopped, the holding plate is activated to press the electrophotographic film 22 into contact with the developing chamber 40 (step 212). The predetermined time H for stopping the application of the bias voltage is set to about 3 Qmsec, and the electrophotographic film 22 is held in the process head 10 by the holding plate.
This is the time during which the vibrations generated when the mask 24 is pressed are attenuated. This prevents the electrophotographic film 22 from inadvertently coming too close to the developing electrode 34 and causing discharge between the electrophotographic film 22 and the developing electrode 34 . If the predetermined time H has not elapsed, the relay contacts 36 are in an open state, and when the predetermined time H has elapsed, the relay contacts 36 are in a closed state (
step 216). As a result, the bias voltage is applied to the developing electrode 34 again.

After the electrophotographic film 22 is pressed into contact with the developing chamber 40, the developer supplying solenoid valve 58 is opened for a predetermined time T (steps 218 and 220). When the electromagnetic valve 58 is opened, the developer 75 in the developer tank 64 naturally flows down the pipe 62.60 and reaches the process head IO, where it is developed from the developer/squeeze air inlet 42 of the developer section 16. Flows into chamber 40.

In the case of the first development, the pipe line 60, the developer residual area 7
2 does not contain developer, and it is necessary to extend the time required to open the solenoid valve 58 by the time required to fill the developer remaining portion 72 of the pipe line 60. A rechargeable second liquid feeding detector 74 is provided in the developer remaining portion 72 to detect whether or not the developer is filled into the pipe line 60. , second
A predetermined time period T elapses after the developer is detected by the liquid feed detector 74.
After the lapse of time, the electromagnetic valve 58 is closed to prevent insufficient development due to a delay. This developer 75
As a result, the toner particles dispersed in the developer and charged to ``e'' adhere to the portion of the electrophotographic film that is charged to ``■'', and an electrostatic latent image is visualized. Developing chamber 4
0 and flowed down the developing chamber 40.
5 is a conduit 52 from the developer/squeeze air outlet 44;
, and is discharged into the waste liquid container 86 from the developer/squeeze air outlet 54.

The excess developer 75 discharged to the waste liquid container 86 is transferred to the heater 94.
is heated and dried to evaporate the solvent component.

This heating dries and evaporates the solvent component in the developer. After the solvent component has evaporated, toner particles in the developer remain in the waste container 86 in the form of solids. The operator can dispose of the waste liquid after development simply by removing the solidified toner particles. In addition, the waste liquid container 86 is replaced with another waste liquid container 86.
You can also exchange it with This eliminates the need for piping such as a return pipe for returning the developer 75 after development into the developer tank 64. Further, each time the development process is performed, the developer solution after development is stored in a waste liquid container and the solvent component is evaporated, so that the waste liquid treatment does not take much time.

When the amount of surplus developer 75 discharged to this waste liquid container 86 is large, that is, when the development frequency is high, and the amount of evaporation is small because the outside air temperature is particularly low, it cannot be stored in this waste liquid container 86. There are cases.

In this case, the developer 75 overflows the protrusion 86B and is collected into the collection tank 90 from the collection port 86A. During normal use (when the outside air temperature is not particularly low), the protrusion 86B will not overflow.

When a predetermined time T has elapsed since the solenoid valve 58 was opened, the solenoid valve 58 is closed in step 222.

After the solenoid valve 58 is closed, the rinsing solenoid valve 84 is activated for a predetermined time T in steps 224 and 226. It will be released. By opening the rinsing electromagnetic valve 84, the rinsing liquid 83 in the rinsing liquid bottle 82 is supplied into the developing chamber 40. This rinsing liquid 83 washes away the excess developer adhering to the inside of the developing electrode 34 and discharges it together with the rinsing liquid 83 into a waste liquid container 86 . The rinse liquid 83 and surplus developer discharged into the waste liquid container 86 are heated by a heater 94, and are dried and evaporated.

The rinsing solenoid valve 84 is opened for a predetermined time T.

After the lapse of time, the rinsing solenoid valve 84 is closed (step 228). Simultaneously with the closing of the rinsing solenoid valve 84, the squeeze air pump 78 shown in FIG. 1 is activated.
Pressurized air is supplied from the squeeze air supply port 50 to the developing chamber 40 (steps 230 and 232), and the excess developer 75 adhering to the electrophotographic film 22 is blown off and drained. The developer 75 that has been blown off is stored in a waste liquid container 8.
6.

The pressurized air is supplied to the developing chamber 40 in a weak manner while a sufficient amount of excess developer remains in the developing chamber 40 (step 230), thereby preventing image deterioration due to high-speed blow-off. After a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the start of air blowing, the wind becomes strong. The operation of the air pump 78 is stopped (step 234), the supply of pressurized air is stopped, and the suppression of the film by the holding plate is released (step 236). This completes the development in the developing section 16 (step 238).

Next, the electrophotographic film 2 is moved by the drive of the film moving motor.
2 is moved by one frame, and the predetermined frame that was located in the developing section 16 is now located in the drying section 18. After the film moving motor is stopped, the presser plate is activated and pressed into contact with it, and after a predetermined period of time, hot air is blown out to the drying section 18 and the developer 75 is
is dried.

Next, the film suppression by the holding plate is released, the film moving motor is driven, and the frame located in the drying section 18 is moved to the fixing section 20. After the drive of the film moving motor is stopped, the holding plate is activated by the film holding mechanism and pressed into contact with the holding plate, thereby supplying cold air to the fixing section 20.

After a predetermined period of time has elapsed from the operation of the film holding mechanism, a xenon lamp (not shown) emits light, and the toner particles are fused and fixed on the surface of the electrophotographic film 22, thereby completing the fixing process.

By completing the above steps, recording of the image on the electrophotographic film 22 is completed.

At the stage where all the processing is completed, the pipeline 62, 60 between the developer tank 64 and the developer supply port 48, the developer remaining part 7
2 is filled with toner liquid.

If the toner liquid is left in the pipe for a long period of time, the toner particles dispersed in the liquid will settle, resulting in uneven toner concentration in the pipe, which is not preferable.

Therefore, after all processes are completed, the presser plate is pressed against the front of the process head 10, the air pump 78 is activated, and the solenoid valve 58 is kept open for 2 to 3 seconds to utilize the air pressure of the air pump 78. , developer supply port 48,
After the developer in the pipelines 60, 62 and the developer residual portion 72 is returned to the developer tank 64, the solenoid valve 58 is closed, the air pump 78 is stopped, and the pressure on the presser plate is released.

It is known that there is less sedimentation in the developer tank 64 than in the pipe line, and it is also possible to completely prevent sedimentation by using some kind of stirring means (not shown).

The developer that was not completely drained from the pipe by this operation remains in the pipe, but in this embodiment, a developer residual part 72 is provided at a lower location than the other parts, and the remaining developer remains in the pipe. is accumulated in this developer residual portion 72. The developer residual portion 72 is connected to the developer supply port 48 via a thin tube portion with a diameter of 0.8 to 1.5 mm, and is a portion where almost no evaporation of the developer occurs, so that the liquid is Even if it remains, there is no need to worry about it drying or solidifying and clogging the pipes.

At this point, the series of operations described above is completed, and while the supply of the developer 75 to the developing section 16 is stopped, the developer is stirred by the stirring member 100. That is, as the temperature of the outside air changes, the temperature of the developer 75 in the developer tank 64 also changes, and when the temperature of the developer 75 changes to, for example, 10°C, the blades 104 of the stirring member 100 change. The shape is twisted.

Due to this twisting, the developer 75 is stirred, and the developer 75 is stirred.
The toner particles in 5 are stirred. The stirring speed is such that the developer solution 75 is stirred approximately - times per day.

Further, when the temperature of the outside air changes and the temperature of the developer changes to 15°C, the blade 106 is twisted and the developer 75
is agitated, and the toner particles are agitated.

In this way, the shape of the toner particles changes and the toner particles are agitated due to changes in the temperature of the outside air. Therefore, the stirring member 100 can prevent toner particles from settling in the developer. Moreover, since this stirring member 100 is molded from a shape memory alloy, there is no need for any special driving means, and once it is placed in the developer tank 64, either blade 104 can be moved by the difference in outside air temperature throughout the day and night. ~Since the blade 114 is deformed,
Maintenance is also unnecessary.

In addition, in this embodiment, the stirring member 10 made of a shape memory alloy is used.
0 is six plate-shaped blades 1 from the outer periphery of the cylindrical base 102
Although the blades 04 to 114 are shaped to protrude radially, the blades 104 to 114 may be placed in the developer 75 in a state where they are each separated from the base 102.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, the present invention provides a developer stirring mechanism that stirs a developer containing toner particles, and includes a stirring member made of a shape memory alloy that is disposed in the developer and whose shape changes at a specific temperature. Because of this feature, an excellent effect can be obtained in that sedimentation of toner particles in the developer can be prevented when the development operation is stopped for a long period of time.

[Brief explanation of the drawings] Fig. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the process head developing section and other equipment, Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the process head, and Fig. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the process head developing section and other equipment.
The figure is a perspective view showing the stirring member, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the developing section. 75... Developer, 100... Stirring member, 104-114... Blade.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A developer stirring mechanism that stirs a developer containing toner particles, which is characterized by having a stirring member made of a shape memory alloy that is placed in the developer and whose shape changes at a specific temperature. Liquid stirring mechanism.