JPH0149630B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention uses magnetic force to hold and raise magnetic ink on a recording needle made of a magnetic material, and applies a Coulomb force corresponding to an image signal to the raised magnetic ink. This relates to a magnetic ink recording device that records images by flying magnetic ink onto a recording surface, and prevents drying and concentration of the magnetic ink due to magnetic force by circulating the magnetic ink, and prevents the magnetic ink from drying out or concentrating due to magnetic force. The purpose of the present invention is to enable stable recording of images of good quality.

Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 1, a stylus 1 is formed by a multi-needle recording section 1 (hereinafter simply referred to as a stylus) in which recording needles made of magnetic material are arranged in a row, and a bumping magnet 5 provided on the stylus 1. is magnetized and a bump of magnetic ink 2 is formed on the stylus 1 by magnetic force, and an image signal voltage is applied between the stylus 1 and the back electrode 3 (by applying a Coulomb force) to the recording paper 4. The image forming apparatus had the following drawbacks. That is, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the magnetic ink 2 is always in contact with the bump magnet 5 and the auxiliary magnet 6 and is subjected to the magnetic force. Upper and auxiliary magnet 6
Magnetic concentration (magnetic field segregation) 2' was occurring at the top.
For this reason, the flow of the magnetic ink 2 on the bump magnet 5 was inhibited, and stable supply could not be performed as the magnetic ink 2 was consumed. In addition, by evaporating, drying and magnetically concentrating the magnetic ink 2, the magnetic ink 2
When the viscosity of stylus 1 and back electrode 3 increase,
Another drawback is that even if a Coulomb force is applied between the two, the magnetic ink 2 will not fly.

In addition, in order to improve the drawbacks of the conventional example as described above, a lid member 7 that can be opened and closed as shown in FIG.
A method has already been proposed in which the magnetic ink 2 is circulated by providing a
The sealing mechanism of the lid member 7 is complicated and requires a strong one. Furthermore, if ink mist, droplets, etc. adhere to the lid member 7, the lid member 7 cannot be opened.

The present invention eliminates the above-mentioned drawbacks, and makes it possible to stably produce high-quality images without hindering the supply and flight of magnetic ink when recording is performed after being left unused or after a long recording stoppage. The present invention provides a magnetic ink recording device capable of recording.

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described in FIGS. 6 to 10.
This will be explained using figures.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a magnetic ink recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Recording head section 10
The stylus 11 is made of a magnetic material and is arranged to face a recording paper 15, and a fixed housing 13 fixes a protruding magnet 12 provided in contact with the surface of the stylus 11.

An auxiliary magnet 16 forming a slit portion 14 is provided at a position facing the magneto-generating magnet 12.
Further, a part of the magnet surface of the auxiliary magnet 16 excluding the end face portion 18 is covered with a shield plate 19. Note that the uplift magnet 12 and the auxiliary magnet 16 constitute a part of the storage chamber 21 for the magnetic ink 20.

The magnetic ink supply pipe 22 is for supplying the magnetic ink 20 to the recording head unit 10, and one end thereof is connected to the magnetic ink storage chamber 21, and the other end is provided in a sub-tank 23 for storing the magnetic ink 20. There is.

A pump 24 provided in the middle of the magnetic ink supply pipe 22 is driven by a pump driving means 25 to supply the magnetic ink 20 from the sub-tank 23 to the ink storage chamber 21 .

The sub tank 23 has a main tank (not shown)
Magnetic ink 20 is sent from there through a pump 26 and a pipe 27. The liquid level of the sub-tank 23 is always maintained at a constant level by a detection means 28 such as a Hall element and a pump 26 driven in response to a liquid level position detection signal.

The stylus 11 is connected to a voltage applying means 29 that causes magnetic ink 20 raised at the tip of the stylus to fly onto the recording paper 15 in response to an image signal. Further, a bias voltage is applied between the stylus 11 and the back electrode 30 by a power source 31. The guide member 35, which rotates around a fulcrum shaft 32 provided in the case body 39, is composed of a guide member body 33 and a packing member 34, as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 8, the guide member 35 is connected by links 36 and 37 to a rotating lever 38 that rotates about a fulcrum shaft 32. As shown in FIG. One end 38' of the rotating lever 38 engages with a recess 44' of the sealing lid 44, and as shown in FIG. 43 detects the movement of the sealing lid 44 which rotates, and rotates the guide member 35 in conjunction with the movement of the sealing lid 44. A gasket 46 is provided on the outer periphery of the sealing lid 44 for sealing the opening 45 of the case body 39.

Further, when the guide member 35 rotates in the direction of arrow A as shown in FIG. The inner surface 47 of the ink guide groove 48 is configured to form a channel, and an ink guide groove 48 is provided on the inner surface 47 thereof. The ink recovery path 54 is formed by a part of the case body 39, but is located on the side of the auxiliary magnet 16. Further, the end of the case body 39 on the side of the sealing lid 44 that forms the ink recovery path 54 protrudes forward from the slit portion 14 to form the ink receiving portion 44.
9.

The sealing lid 44 is opened and closed by an arm 51 that is rotated by a motor 50. The torsion spring 52 applies a negative force to the guide lid 35 in the direction of arrow B.

Also, a filter 5 is provided in the middle of the ink recovery path 54.
3 is provided.

Next, the operation of this device will be explained.

At the same time as the device power is switched on, the drive means 25 drives the pump 24 for a certain period of time, and the magnetic ink 20 is sent from the sub-tank 23 to the ink storage chamber 21 to fill it. At this time, since the magnetic force of the protrusion magnet 12 and the auxiliary magnet 16 is acting on the opening slit portion 14 of the ink storage chamber 21, the magnetic ink 20 in the pipe 22 is moved from the opening to the ink liquid level of the sub-tank 23. It can be maintained without falling even when pressure equivalent to a head difference is applied. For this purpose, magnetic ink 20 is supplied to the tip of the stylus 11 through the slope portion 17 of the bump magnet 12, forming a bump as shown in FIG.

When a voltage is applied between the stylus 11 and the back electrode 30 by the voltage applying means 29 in accordance with the image signal with the above-mentioned protuberance formed, the magnetic ink 20 is ejected from the tip of the stylus 11 by Coulomb force. and forms an image on the recording paper. Incidentally, as the magnetic ink 20 is consumed, it is automatically supplied onto the stylus 11 through the pipe 22 by magnetic force.

When recording is finished and the next recording is to be performed after a certain period of pause, the sealing lid 44 is rotated in the direction of arrow A by driving the motor 50 and moving the arm 51 before starting recording, and the opening of the case body 39 is opened. 45 is sealed. At this time, the rotating lever 38 rotates in conjunction with the movement of the sealing lid 44 to rotate the guide member 35 in the direction of arrow A, thereby forming a flow path from the slit portion 14 to the ink recovery path 54.

In the above state, the pump 24 is driven by the pump driving means 25 to forcefully blow out the magnetic ink 20 from the opening slit 14. At this time, the guide member 35 is configured to receive the ejected ink flow and guide the flow in the direction of the auxiliary magnet 16, so that the slope portion 17 of the uplifting magnet 12, the stylus portion 11 following the slope, and the end face of the auxiliary magnet. 18 is washed by a rapidly flowing stream of magnetic ink. Therefore, the ink 20 that has dried or magnetically concentrated on the surfaces of the magnet 12 and the stylus 11 is washed away and is collected into the sub-tank 23 via the filter 53 of the ink collection path 54.

At this time, an ink receiving portion 49 provided at the tip of the ink recovery path 54 configured as a part of the case body 39
Since it is provided at a position that protrudes beyond the position of the opening slit portion 14 and the guide member 35, the airtight lid 44 is not contaminated by splashes generated from the ink flow guided by the guide member 35. There is no. Furthermore, since the guide member 35 and the sealing lid 44 are separated from each other, the gasket 46 of the sealing lid 44 does not come into direct contact with the magnetic ink 20, which prevents the magnetic ink 20 from leaking outside the case body 39. Also, the situation where the ink 20 is stuck between the surface of the case body 39 and the gasket 46 and the sealing lid cannot be opened does not occur.

Incidentally, since the magnetic ink 20 blown out from the opening slit portion 14 is attracted by the magnetic force of the auxiliary magnet 16, the magnetic ink flow is directed in the direction of arrow B by the magnetic force. The ink is guided by an ink groove 48 provided on the inner surface 47 of the guide member 35. Therefore, since the magnetic ink flow is collected into the ink recovery path 46 without being disturbed, the upper and side surfaces of the guide member 35 are not significantly contaminated, and the generation of ink mist can be reduced.

After driving the pump 24 for a certain period of time, the pump 24
At the same time, the sealing lid 44 is rotated in the direction of arrow B, the guide member 35 is also rotated, and the opening 45 of the case body 39 is opened. At this time, the magnetic ink 20 that does not dry or magnetically concentrate is supplied onto the bump magnet 12, the auxiliary magnet 16, and the stylus 11 to form bumps, so that high-quality images can be stably recorded.

As described above, according to the present invention, the concentrated magnetic ink generated in the vicinity of the recording needle and on each of the magnets due to the magnetic force of the bumping magnet and the auxiliary magnet, evaporation, drying, etc. when recording is stopped or left unused is concentrated. By providing a guide member for flushing and cleaning with a flow of magnetic ink that has not been removed, an ink recovery path with an ink receiving part, and a sealing lid that does not come into direct contact with the ink, the magnetic ink can be circulated as needed and kept dry. , it is possible to form magnetic ink ridges without magnetic concentration, and it is possible to stably record images of good quality.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the head section of a conventional magnetic ink recording device, FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the same recording device, FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the head section, and FIG. 4 is another conventional example. FIG. 5 is a plan view of the head portion of a magnetic ink recording device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of the same recording device, and FIG. 7 is a plan view of the head portion in FIG. 5. Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C' of the same head section in Figure 5.
9 is a side view of the same, and FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the guide member of the device. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11...Multi-stylus, 12...Elevation magnet, 20...Magnetic ink, 22...Ink supply path, 35...Ink guide member, 44...Sealing lid, 46...Sealing gasket, 54...Ink recovery Road, 42, 43...Link, 50...Motor.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A recording needle made of a magnetic material, a protrusion magnet provided on the recording needle, a magnetic ink supply path and a magnetic ink recovery channel having openings arranged in parallel near the protrusion magnet, and a magnetic ink collection path in front of the recording needle. A sealing lid member that seals or opens a space from the magnetic ink supply path to the magnetic ink recovery path, and covers a space in the space that includes at least the recording needle, the bump magnet, and the opening of the magnetic ink supply path. An ink guide member movably provided so as to be able to take a first position and a second position stored in the magnetic ink recovery path, and a moving means for moving the ink guide member and the sealing lid member. Magnetic ink recording, characterized in that the ink guide member moved to the first position constitutes a flow path for magnetic ink from the magnetic ink supply path to the magnetic ink recovery path. Device.