JPH03102363A - Electrostatic recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the attachment of toner splashing due to an electric field to an ion flow supply means and the deterioration of picture quality by forming an air flow that does not orient the ion supply means. CONSTITUTION:The toner 14 in a hopper 15 is carried and attached to the surface of a developer carrier 10, is made into a thin layer by a layer forming member 20 and is given with triboelectrified charges. On the other hand, ions generated by applying a voltage to a high voltage power source 36 are modulated by an ion flow modulating means 50, are moved to the side of the image carrier 10 by the static electricity of an electric field between the ion flow supply means 30 and the image carrier 10 to form a latent image on a toner thin layer. At this time, the toner 14 splashing due to the electric field is prevented from moving to the side of the means 30, which may cause by an air flow from an air flow forming means 40. Consequently, the attachment of the toner to the means 50, etc., can be prevented. Ultimately, the latent image on the image carrier 10 is transferred onto a recording body 62.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] This invention relates to an electrostatic recording device, and more specifically, the present invention relates to an electrostatic recording device, and more specifically, an image is formed on a thin layer of charged developer formed by a developer using an ion flow modulation means. The present invention relates to an electrostatic recording device that forms a latent image according to a signal.

[Prior Art] As disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,689,935, a conventional technique related to this type of electrostatic recording method is to supply toner from a toner supply source and to form arrays facing each other with an insulating layer interposed therebetween. A method has been proposed in which the amount of charged toner passing through a pair of aperture electrodes is controlled by a certain control element, and a toner image corresponding to an image signal is formed on a recording member.

However, this method has not been put into practical use due to problems such as toner adhering to the opening and not only staining the area around the opening but also causing clogging, and low recording speed.

In addition, as other prior art, Japanese Patent Publication No. 58-33550
The electrostatic printing method described in Japanese Patent Publication No. According to this printing method, an ion flow control element modulates the ion flow according to the image signal, solid or atomized toner particles are supplied between the ion flow control element and the recording member, and the ion flow is modulated according to the image signal. The toner particles are charged in accordance with the image signal by selectively colliding the ion flow modulated in accordance with the image signal, and the charged toner particles are caused to adhere to the recording member by an electric field to produce toner particles in response to the image signal. An image can be formed on the recording member.

However, this method has problems such as difficulty in providing a means for uniformly supplying toner and removing dirt inside the machine, and also has problems such as poor image density.

Therefore, the applicant has developed an electrostatic recording method and apparatus that solves the above problems (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-25166). As shown in FIG. 6, in this electrostatic recording method, a layer forming member C imparts a uniform triboelectric charge to developer b supplied onto developer carrier a, and A thin layer of developer is formed on the ion flow generating means d, the ions generated by the ion flow generating means d are modulated according to the image signal, and the modulated ions are distributed between the ion flow generating means d and the developer carrier a. A device characterized by forming a latent image consisting of a charged developer corresponding to an image signal on a thin developer layer by flying the developer using an electric field and selectively colliding with a thin layer of developer having a uniform charge. It is.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the above-mentioned recording means, the developer (
It is not possible to completely prevent toner) from adhering to the ion flow modulator e1 or, in some cases, to the ion flow generating means d, and during long-term image output, the progress of toner adhesion may cause images to become white or blurred. There were problems such as deterioration of image quality due to occurrence of density unevenness, etc.

Therefore, it is desired to develop an electrostatic recording device that can improve image quality without causing toner flying between the ion flow generation means and the developer carrier to adhere to the ion flow generation means.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above problems, the electrostatic recording device of the present invention includes a developer carrier that carries a developer in a thin layer on its upper surface, and a developer carrier on the developer carrier. An ion flow supply means for selectively supplying an ion flow toward a charged developer thin layer, and an ion flow modulation method for modulating the ion flow between the ion flow supply means and the developer carrier by electrostatic lines of force. an electrostatic recording device comprising means for forming a latent image corresponding to an image signal on a thin layer of developer by selectively colliding a modulated ion flow with a thin layer of charged developer. As a prerequisite, an air flow forming means is provided between the developer carrier and the ion flow supply means for forming an air flow directed toward a direction other than the ion flow supply means side.

In this invention, the above-mentioned developer may be either one type or two type as long as it is supported on the developer carrier, and it may be either magnetic or non-magnetic. Good too. In this case, when the developer is a one-component type, the developer is directly supplied to the developer carrier, and a thin layer of the developer is formed by a layer forming means that applies triboelectric charge by contacting the developer on the developer carrier. form. In the case of a two-component system, the developing roll and developer carrier of a two-component developing device for electrophotography are placed opposite each other, and a bias voltage is applied between the two to uniformly spread the developer onto the developer carrier. A thin layer of developer is formed by a method of developing.

The ion flow supply means may be of any type as long as it has an ion source that generates ions by applying a high voltage. A discharge electrode is provided on one surface of a shaped element to generate ions by creeping discharge, or a discharge wire is surrounded by a shield and ions are generated by corona discharge by applying high voltage from a high voltage power supply. It doesn't matter if it's something you do.

In addition, the upper air flow forming means forms the air flow in a direction in which the flying direction of the developer, which is flown by the electric field between the developer carrier and the ion flow supply means, is not directed toward the ion flow supply means. The ion flow supply means may be of any type, such as one that sends an air flow into a chamber formed in the ion flow supply means, one that sends an air flow to an ion outlet opening of the ion flow supply means, or , or one that sends an air flow to forcefully transport the ions generated by the ion source to the developer carrier side.

[Work] The above technical means works as follows.

The developer carried on the developer carrier is thinned to a uniform thickness by a layer forming member and charged positively or negatively. Further, a voltage is applied to the ion flow supply means to generate ions, these ions are modulated by the ion flow modulation means, and the ion flow is adjusted to the developer by the electric field between the developer carrier and the ion flow supply means. It selectively collides with the thin layer of developer carried on the carrier, and a latent image corresponding to the image signal is formed on the thin layer of developer. Then, the latent image is transferred onto a recording medium by a transfer means having a polarity opposite to that of the latent image, thereby forming an image.

[Embodiments] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

◎First Embodiment FIG. 1 shows a schematic sectional view of a first embodiment of the electrostatic recording apparatus of the present invention.

The electrostatic recording device of this invention uses one portion of non-magnetic developer l4.
a developer carrier 10 that carries (toner) on its upper surface;
It contacts the toner 14 on the developer carrier 1G and imparts a triboelectric charge thereto, and the toner 14 is transferred onto the developer carrier 10.
4, a layer forming member 20 for forming a thin layer of toner; an ion flow supply means 30 for supplying ions toward the thin layer of toner; The ion flow modulating means 50 modulates the ion flow supplied by the electrostatic force lines into electrostatic lines of force, and the air flow forming means 40 forms an air flow between the developer carrier lO and the ion flow supply means 30. has been done.

Further, a recording body 62 is disposed so as to be conveyable at a lower, opposing, and proximate portion of the developer carrier IO, and this recording body 62
A transfer electrode 60 is provided on the back of the holder.

The developer carrier lO has a structure in which a dielectric layer l2 such as a thermosetting phenolic resin is formed on the surface of a conductive cylindrical carrier body ll made of stainless steel, for example, and a DC power supply 16 It is connected to the.

In addition to the layered power member 20, a rubber toner transport roll l8 for replenishing the toner 14 is rotatably contacted with the developer carrier lO, and the toner l4 contained in the hopper 15 is rotatably contacted.
can be supplied to the surface of the developer carrier 10.

The layer forming member 20 is formed of a silicone rubber member attached to the other end of a stainless steel support 22 whose one end is fixed to a fixed part of the device, and is carried by the toner conveying roll 18. A charged charge can be applied to the toner 14 by frictional contact. In this case, the charging potential of the toner layer is -30 to -70V.

As shown in FIG. 2, the ion flow supply means 30 has an ion source 3z, which has a discharge electrode 35 on one surface of a plate-shaped element in which a flat plate electrode 34 is embedded in a ceramic plate 33. , this ion source 32 and the developer carrier lO
A bias voltage from a DC high voltage power supply 16 is applied between the two. In this case, the flat electrode 34 and the discharge electrode 35
is formed by applying thick film printing, and is made of nickel, tungsten, etc., which is less affected by the oxidizing effect of ozone, which is one of the discharge products generated in the ion source. Further, there is a gap of 0.0 mm between the flat plate electrode 34 and the discharge electrode 35.
A ceramic layer with a thickness of 5 mm is interposed between the plate electrode 34 and the discharge electrode 35.
10KH2, peak-to-peak voltage v pp is 3.5~8K
Ions are generated by creeping discharge when an AC voltage of V is applied by a high-voltage power supply 3G. The ion flow supply means 30 configured as described above is arranged at an interval of 0.02 to 5 mm, preferably 0.1 to 3 mm, from the developer carrier 10 by a holding means such as a tracking roll (not shown). ing.

The ion flow modulating means 50 is formed of a ring-shaped electrode that is integrated with the ion source 32 via a support 37 to form a chamber 3l. In this case, the support body 31 is made of, for example, synthetic resin, ceramics, glass, or insulating material such as rubber. A control power source 52 that applies a voltage according to an image signal is connected to an ion flow modulation electrode (not shown) that constitutes a part of the ion flow modulation means 50. Note that the ion flow modulating means 5
0 does not necessarily have to be a ring-shaped electrode, and may be formed by a slit-shaped electrode.

On the other hand, the air flow forming means 40 has a structure in which a pressurized air source 44 is connected to an air flow supply pipe 42 communicating with the chamber 31. In this case, the static pressure in the chamber 3I is between 1 and 1. 0 00 mmHz O, more preferably in the range of 10 to 500 mmH20.

The transfer electrode 60 is made of stainless steel, chalcopyrite, or the like, and a DC power source 17 is connected between the transfer electrode 60 and the developer carrier lO.

In the electrostatic recording apparatus of the present invention configured as described above, the toner 14 accommodated in the hopper 15 is supplied to the developer carrier 10 by the toner transport roll 18 and is deposited on the surface of the developer carrier 10. Thereafter, the layer is uniformly thinned by the layer forming member 20 and a triboelectric charge is applied thereto. On the other hand, in the ion flow supply means 30, ions are generated by applying a high voltage AC voltage from the DC high voltage power supply 35, and these ions are modulated by the ion flow modulation means 50, and the ion flow supply means 30 and the developer carrying body lO
The developer carrier 10 receives electrostatic force due to the electric field between
It moves to the side to form a charged toner latent image corresponding to the image signal on the toner thin layer. At this time, the ion flow supply means 30
The toner 1 that flies due to the electric field between the
4 is prevented from moving toward the ion flow supply means 30 by the air flow from the air flow forming means 40, so that toner does not adhere to the control electrode of the ion flow modulation means 50 or the ion source 32
This prevents toner from adhering to the surface.

The latent image of the charged toner on the developer carrier 10 is transferred to the recording medium 62 by a bias voltage applied to the transfer electrode 60.
transferred on top.

◎Second Embodiment FIG. 3 shows a schematic sectional view of a second embodiment of the electrostatic recording apparatus of the present invention.

In the electrostatic recording device of the second embodiment, the air flow formed by the air flow forming means is supplied to the ion outlet side of the ion flow supply means.

That is, an air flow supply tube 42 that connects to a source of pressurized air 44
The nozzle 43 is connected to the developer carrier l of the ion flow modulating means 5G.
By arranging the toner along the O side surface, toner flying due to the electric field between the ion flow supply means 30 and the developer carrier 10 is prevented from adhering to the ion flow supply means 30 side.

In this case, the speed of the air flow can be ignored relative to the speed of movement of the ion flow toward the developer carrier 10 due to the electric field, so there is no risk of hindering writing of the latent image on the charged toner layer.

In the second embodiment, other parts are the same as those in the first embodiment, so the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and the explanation thereof will be omitted.

◎Third Embodiment FIG. 4 shows a schematic sectional view of a third embodiment of the electrostatic recording apparatus of the present invention.

In the electrostatic recording device of the third embodiment, the ion flow supply means is a corona discharge method instead of the creeping discharge method shown in the first and second embodiments, and the ion flow is actively applied to the developer. This is a case where a method of supplying to the carrier side is adopted. That is, the ion source 32 of the ion flow supply means 30 is
As shown in FIG. 5, the discharge wire 38 is surrounded by a shield 39, and is made of a material that generates ions by corona discharge due to a high voltage applied between the discharge wire 38 and the shield 39 from a high voltage power source 36a. This is a case in which the ion flow supply means 30 is disposed opposite to the developer carrier 10 and an air flow is supplied into the chamber 31 of the shield 39 from the pressurized air source 44.

In this case, a 2 to 5 KY DC high voltage power source 36a is connected to the discharge wire 38 via an IMΩ resistor 39a, and the static pressure in the chamber 3l of the ion flow supply means 3o is the same as in the first embodiment. Similarly 1~1.000mm H2
0, more preferably in the range of 10 to 500 mH20.

The ion flow modulating means 5o is provided with an insulating substrate 58 having an ion flow modulating electrode 56 provided therebetween with the shield 39 via an insulating spacer 54.

Further, in the third embodiment, other parts are the same as those in the first and second embodiments, so the same parts are given the same reference numerals and the explanation thereof will be omitted.

By configuring as described above, the ion flow supply means 3
A high bias voltage is applied from the DC high voltage power supply 36a to the ion source 32 of 0, generating ions, and the ions are moved to the passage outlet 5 by the air flow supplied from the pressurized air source 44.
It is sent to the 1st side. After being modulated in accordance with a predetermined image signal by the ion flow modulating means 50, ions are selected to the charged toner layer on the developer carrier 1O by the electric field between the ion flow supply means 30 and the developer carrier 10. and a latent image corresponding to the image signal is formed on the thin toner layer.

At this time, since the air flow flows from the passage outlet opening 53 of the ion flow supply means 30 toward the developer carrier lO side, the flying toner is ionized by the electric field between the ion flow supply means 30 and the developer carrier 10. There is no risk of it adhering to the flow supply means 30 side.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the electrostatic recording device of the present invention, the air that forms the air flow toward the side other than the ion flow supply means between the developer carrier and the ion flow supply means Since it is equipped with flow form force means, the following effects can be obtained.

1) Since it is possible to prevent toner flying due to the electric field between the ion flow supply means and the developer carrier from adhering to the ion flow supply means, deterioration in image quality can be prevented.

2) Since it is possible to prevent toner from adhering to the ion flow supply means even during long-term use, the life of the ion flow supply means can be increased, and the life of the entire apparatus can be extended.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a first embodiment of the electrostatic recording device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the ion source in the first embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of the electrostatic recording device of the present invention. 4 is a schematic sectional view of the third embodiment of the electrostatic recording device of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the principle of the ion source in the third embodiment, and FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional view of the second embodiment. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the principle of an electrostatic recording device. Description of symbols (10)...Developer carrier (20)...Layer forming member (30) (32) (40) (42) (44) (50)...Ion flow supply means...Ions Source: Air flow forming means: Air flow supply pipe: Pressurized air source: Ion flow modulating means

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A developer carrier that carries a developer in a thin layer on its upper surface, and an ion flow supply means that selectively supplies an ion flow toward the charged developer thin layer on the developer carrier. ,
The ion flow modulation means modulates the ion flow using electrostatic lines of force between the ion flow supply means and the developer carrier, and the modulated ion flow selectively impinges on the charged developer thin layer. In an electrostatic recording device in which a latent image corresponding to an image signal is formed on a thin layer of developer, air directed toward a side other than the ion flow supply means is provided between the developer carrier and the ion flow supply means. An electrostatic recording device comprising an air flow forming means for forming an air flow.