JPH032911Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a processing device for an image holding drum. More specifically, the present invention relates to a processing device for a photoreceptor applied to the surface of an image holding drum for holding an electrostatic image or a toner image used in electrophotography.

In an electrophotographic apparatus, the gap between a drum having a photoreceptor layer formed on its surface, that is, an image holding drum, and a developing sleeve must be extremely small and strictly maintained within a certain value (for example, 200 to 400 microns). For this reason, the end of the image holding drum is usually covered with a colored ring to maintain a constant value. For this reason, if the photoreceptor layer extends to the edge of the drum, it will be rubbed by the color ring, causing that part to wear and peel off, and the cut end at this time will reach the image forming area and impair the image retention function of the drum. become. Therefore, it is desirable that both ends of the drum have portions of a constant width where no photoreceptor is coated. A dipping method is preferable as a method for coating the photoconductor. In this method, the drum is immersed vertically into the photoconductor tank, so it is easy to form a non-coated area at the top end, but the bottom end is always immersed. Since this is done, all the parts are coated. Even if masking is used, it is difficult to treat the boundary line, and even if a portion of the liquid drips at the bottom end, the liquid gradually accumulates, resulting in the formation of a thick band of paint film around the outer circumference of the drum. There is a drawback that coloring causes inconvenience.

The present invention solves these problems by providing an uncoated portion of a certain width precisely at the lower end of the drum during the process of coating the image holding drum with a photosensitive material by dipping to form a photosensitive layer. The purpose is to provide a processing device that can perform

That is, the present invention has a circular solvent tank with an open top and a drum wiping member provided on the inner peripheral side wall toward the center, and a solvent is placed in the center of the solvent tank at a position lower than the upper opening surface and higher than the bottom surface. An overflow pipe is formed with an overflow port opened and a lower end protruding below the solvent tank main body, and the solvent tank main body is supported horizontally rotatably around the overflow pipe as an axis by a vertically movable support. This is an image holding drum processing device.

The present invention normally involves the steps of gripping the drum with an appropriate gripping device, immersing it in the liquid of the photoreceptor up to a predetermined position, and applying the photosensitive material to the surface by contacting only the outer peripheral surface, and then air-drying the applied layer after application. This will be carried out following the next step. In the embodiments exemplified below, a moving mechanism from the stage before reaching the device of the present invention is not shown, but a plurality of drums are simultaneously subjected to the same process and sequentially moved to the next stage. . Therefore, it is preferable that a plurality of processing apparatuses of the present invention are usually arranged and operated simultaneously.

An embodiment of the device of the present invention will be explained below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a mode in which the drum body is inserted into the processing apparatus of the present invention from above and the lower end thereof is processed.

Reference numeral 22 denotes a disk-shaped solvent tank, and the drum wiping member 1 is attached to the inside of the side wall thereof toward the center. Although one is shown in the figure, a plurality of 2 to 4 are normally provided at equal intervals on the inner wall of the solvent tank. Reference numeral 23 denotes a solvent overflow pipe provided at the center of the solvent tank 22, and the solvent overflow port 23a at the upper end opens at a position higher than the bottom surface of the solvent tank and lower than the upper opening, and the solvent liquid contained in the tank is opened at a position higher than the bottom surface of the solvent tank and lower than the upper opening. Face 14
is maintained, and when the liquid level exceeds this level, it overflows from 23a and is discharged from lower part 23b. This overflow pipe 23 is attached to a needle bearing 17 by an appropriate means (not shown) on a vertically movable support 18.
It is rotatably supported horizontally via the Rotation is performed by a motor 21, a belt 20, and a pulley 19.

The above is the main structure of the present invention, and the embodiments shown in the drawings will be described in detail below. drum 15 inserted concentrically within the
surrounding and touching its lower end surface. The image holding drum is generally used with a driving flange fitted to its end. At this time, if a coating film is formed on the lower end of the inner side of the drum, this will cause problems in flange fitting, so it is desirable to remove the coating film also on the inner side of the lower end of the drum. For this purpose, the wiping member 1 may be formed into a U-shape or the like so that both the inner and outer surfaces of the drum can be wiped at once. A drum holder 16 securely fixes the lower end of the drum (the part from which the coating is to be removed) immersed in the liquid in the solvent tank. By rotating the solvent tank in this state, the lower end portion of the photoreceptor coating film 15a is removed in a band shape by the dissolution by the solvent and the rubbing action of the wiping member, thereby forming a non-coated portion. 2 and 3 are enlarged views of the configuration of the above-mentioned wiping member, in which 1 is a wiping member made of felt or the like, 2 is its fixing base, 3 is a ball,
4 is a ball fixing cover, 5 is a spring, 6 is a nut, and 7 is its housing. This mechanism provides variable felt surface and pressing force to the drum surface, and the vertical movement of the piston 8 applies pressure to the drum surface. Contact and separation will take place.

The coating film components adhering to the wiping member due to the rubbing with the drum are washed away when the wiping member is separated from the drum and immersed in a solvent. 12,13
13 is a stopper that restricts the detachment state from the drum surface shown in FIG. 2, and 12 maintains the contact state shown in FIG. 3. The piston 8 is driven by an air cylinder 9 through air supply and discharge ports 10 and 11. Air supply and exhaust is performed by air headers 26 and 29 provided within the overflow pipe 23.

That is, air is supplied and discharged by the rotary joint 28 through the pipes 27 and 30, the air supply/discharge port 10 is connected to the air header 26 through the inlet 25 through the port 31, and the air supply/discharge port 11 is connected to the air header 29 via the port 32. 26 supplies compressed air to push out the piston, and 29 supplies compressed air to retract the piston, so the air header 2
The piston 8 is operated by the air cylinder 9 by operating the supply/discharge operations of 6 and 29 in the opposite manner.

In addition, in FIG. 1, the air header 26
and 29 ports are provided (ie, three wiping members are provided).

With the structure described above, the solvent tank 22 is raised by the support 18 toward the fixed drum, and the lower end of the drum body 15 is concentric with the solvent tank to a predetermined depth from the solvent liquid level 14 in the solvent tank. In this state, the wiping member 1 is brought into contact with the drum surface as shown in FIG.
The parts that are in contact with each other are removed cleanly by the action of the solvent and the rubbing of the wiping member. Note that the drum side can also be adjusted up and down as appropriate. By replenishing the solvent tank with fresh solvent from time to time or intermittently, the overflowing solvent passes from the overflow port 23a through the overflow pipe to the receiving pipe 2 connected to its lower end 23b.
4, the solvent can be kept fresh at all times. Once the coating on a predetermined portion of the drum has been removed, the drum and processing device are separated from each other by an operation opposite to that described above, and the drum is moved to the next stage position.

It is also possible to use a method in which the wiping member is rotated while spraying a solvent onto the lower end of the drum, and then immersed in a solvent bath for rinsing the drum and cleaning the wiping member. In this case, it is preferable to fix the rotating brush and move the drum chuck and solvent tank up and down, respectively.

Note that the drive mechanism for bringing the wiping member into contact with the drum surface, pressing it, and releasing the same is not limited to the illustrated example, and it goes without saying that any other suitable means may be used.

According to the processing device of the present invention, it is possible to cleanly remove the photoreceptor layer of the image holding drum formed by the immersion method by forming a clear boundary of a predetermined width, and it is possible to cleanly remove the photoreceptor layer of the image holding drum formed by the immersion method. Since it can be applied to many areas, its effects are extremely large.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is a partially enlarged view of the wiping member when it is not in contact with the drum surface, and Figure 3 is when it is in contact with the drum surface. FIG. 1... Wiping member, 18... Support, 20... Belt, 21... Motor, 22... Solvent tank, 23
...overflow pipe.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] In the center of a circular solvent tank with an open top surface and a drum wiping member provided on the inner peripheral side wall toward the center, a solvent overflow port at the top end is located at a position lower than the top opening surface of the solvent tank and higher than the bottom surface. An image holder characterized in that an overflow tube is formed with an open opening and a lower end protruding below the solvent tank body, and the solvent tank body is supported horizontally rotatably around the overflow pipe by a vertically movable support. drum processing equipment.