JPH04204679A - Electrophotographic image recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an electrophotographic image recorder having the toner developing part of excellent maintenance properties by constituting the develop ing part to be pulled outside the housing of a device. CONSTITUTION:The developing part 18 integrally constituting with a developing tank 30 and a covering body 36, is constituted so as to be pulled outside the housing 14 (a plate making device 10), by a rail 48 disposed on the bottom surface of the housing 14 and a guiding member 50 disposed on the side surface of the developing tank 30. On the other hand, a knob 52 for easily pulling out the developing part 18 is disposed. By this constitution. repairs, cleaning, the exchange of a concentrated liquid tank 32 and a mother liquor tank 34, etc., are easily carried out, and the excellent maintenance properties can be realized.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <Industrial Application Field> The present invention relates to an electrophotographic image recording apparatus that is easy to maintain and performs wet toner development.

<Prior Art> As an electrophotographic image recording device, an electrophotographic light-sensitive material (hereinafter referred to as a light-sensitive material) in which an electrostatic latent image is formed by imagewise exposure after -like charging, for example, a light-sensitive material made of 2nO and a binder, is used. A toner developer (hereinafter referred to as developer) in which electrodeposited solids such as toner particles are dispersed in an organic solvent is applied to a photosensitive material in which a conductive layer is laminated on a waterproof and conductive support. A wet-type electrophotographic image recording apparatus is known that develops the photosensitive material by visualizing an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive material.

In such a wet electrophotographic image recording device (hereinafter referred to as an image recording device), a toner developing section that performs development is
- Numerically, it includes a developer tank filled with a developer, a developer electrode, a supply means for supplying the developer to the exposed photosensitive material (on which an electrostatic latent image has been formed), a developer replenisher, etc. Toner development is performed by applying (spraying) a developer onto the exposed photosensitive material using a supply means such as a circulation pump while applying a charge with a developing electrode.

During this development process, the toner particles in the developer adhere to the photosensitive material in an imagewise manner and are consumed, while the organic solvent and other components of the developer also evaporate from the developer or are deposited on the electrophotographic photosensitive material. It sticks and is consumed.

By the way, the consumption of toner particles, organic solvents, etc. in the developer is not always constant, but depends on the ratio of the image area on the photosensitive material (image area ratio), the installation environment of the image recording device, etc. greatly influenced by.

Therefore, it is difficult to keep the toner concentration (hereinafter referred to as "developer concentration") and amount of developer constant in the developer filled in the developer tank by simply replenishing the specified developer. Depending on the usage conditions of the recording apparatus, the concentration of the developer may decrease or the amount of the developer may decrease, causing a decrease in the developing ability. If development is performed using a developer with reduced developing ability, good image recording cannot be achieved, and for example, when used in photolithography, a sufficient amount of toner particles may not adhere to the resulting electrophotographic original plate. Since the required number of plates cannot be printed, sufficient printing durability cannot be obtained.

In order to prevent such a decrease in developer concentration, keep the developer concentration and amount constant, and always record good images without deterioration of developing ability, replenishment of the developer is carried out using the mother solution of the developer. (Hereinafter, the developer, solvent, developer with low toner concentration, etc. are collectively referred to as mother solution) and the concentrated developer with high toner concentration (developer concentration). A toner developing device has been proposed. .

This device adjusts the concentration by replenishing the developer tank with concentrated developer from the concentrated developer tank according to the consumption amount of toner particles, and on the other hand, replenishes the mother liquor according to the decrease in the amount of developer in the developer tank. This adjusts the amount of developer in the developer tank. According to this toner developing device, the developer concentration can be adjusted using a concentrated developer, and the amount of developer in the developer tank can be adjusted using a mother liquor, so that development can be performed without depending on the image area ratio or the installation environment of the device. It is possible to adjust the amount of liquid and the concentration of the developer, and it is possible to suitably keep them in a predetermined state.

<8 Problems to be Solved by the Invention> However, although such a toner developing device can suitably adjust the developer concentration and amount, it requires two replenisher tanks, a mother solution tank and a concentrated developer tank. Furthermore, in some cases, it may be necessary to add a flow path from the tank to the developer, a means for opening and closing the flow path, etc., which makes the toner development device itself relatively complex, making maintenance difficult. There is a problem with storing it away.

Furthermore, in order to improve maintainability, an image recording device is known in which the developer tank can be pulled out from the device. There is a problem in that it is necessary to remove the flow path to the tank, which also requires time and effort for maintenance.

An object of the present invention is to solve the problems of the prior art described above, and in order to accurately adjust the amount of developer in the developer tank and the concentration of developer, replenishment of developer is carried out using mother liquor and concentrated developer. An object of the present invention is to provide an electrophotographic image recording apparatus having a toner developing section that can be used separately, and in which the maintenance of the toner developing section is extremely good.

<Means for solving aa> In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an electrophotographic image recording apparatus that performs wet toner development, which includes at least a developer tank filled with a toner developer, and a developer tank filled with a toner developer. It has a toner developing section which integrally constitutes a concentrated developer tank for replenishing the developer tank with concentrated developer and a mother solution tank for replenishing the developer tank with a mother solution of toner developer. To provide an electrophotographic image recording device characterized in that it can be drawn out from a housing.

Further, it is preferable that the mother liquid tank replenishes the mother liquid to the developing tank using a chicken feeder method.

<Operation of the Invention> The electrophotographic image recording apparatus of the present invention applies wet toner development, and the toner development section has a developer tank, a mother liquor tank, a concentrated developer tank, etc., and these are integrated. Furthermore, this toner developing section is configured to be able to be drawn out from the apparatus.

Therefore, in the electrophotographic image recording apparatus of the present invention, the toner concentration of the developer in the developer tank of the toner developing section can be adjusted by the concentrated developer tank, and the amount of developer can be adjusted by the mother liquor tank. The state of the developer can always be kept in a predetermined state, and images can be recorded in a good developing state at all times.

Moreover, the development can be maintained in good condition at all times, and maintenance of the toner development section, such as cleaning and repair of the toner development section, and replacement of the mother liquor tank or concentrated developer tank, can be performed by pulling the entire toner development section out of the device. In addition, the drawer can be pulled out without removing the mother liquor tank or the pipes connecting the concentrated developer tank and the developer tank, so the workability is extremely good and maintenance is not troublesome.

<Embodiments> Hereinafter, an electrophotographic image recording apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail based on preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of the electrophotographic image recording apparatus of the present invention applied to an electrophotographic plate making apparatus.

The electrophotographic plate making apparatus (hereinafter referred to as plate making apparatus) 10 shown in FIG.
The housing 14 includes an image recording section 16 disposed on the right side, a developing section 18 disposed in the center, and a fixing section 20 disposed on the left side. Also, on the front side of the housing 14, there is a rotatable #22
and 24 are provided to enable the housing 14 to be opened and closed.

The image reading unit 12 is a part that reads an image of a document placed on a document table disposed on the lower surface of the document presser 26, and includes:
It is configured by arranging various optical elements such as a reading light source and an imaging lens that are arranged in a normal image reading device. In the plate-making apparatus 10 of the present invention, the image reading section 12 can be of any known type, and may be of any type, such as a digital type or an analog type.

Note that a control panel 2 is provided on the side of the document presser 26.
8 are deployed.

The image information read by the image reading section 12 is sent to the image recording section 16 by an optical or electrical method, and an electrophotographic latent image is formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive material (hereinafter referred to as photosensitive material). .

The image recording section 16 is a part that exposes a photosensitive material to form an electrostatic latent image according to the original image read by the image reading section, and whether the reading method of the image reading section 12 is a digital method or not. The photosensitive material is exposed to light depending on whether it is an analog method or an analog method, and an electrophotographic latent image of the read original image is recorded on the photosensitive material.

The photosensitive material on which the electrostatic latent image has been recorded is then sent to the developing section 18, where it is developed with wet toner and the electrostatic latent image is visualized into a toner image.

This developing section 18 is a characteristic part of the present invention, and includes a developing tank 30, a concentrated developer tank 32 (hereinafter referred to as concentrated developer tank 32), and a mother liquor tank 34, and is integrally It is structured as a unit. In addition, the developing section 18
As shown by the dotted line in FIG. 1, it is configured to be able to be pulled out of the housing 14 in the direction of arrow a.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic perspective view of the developing section 18.

The developing section 18 has a developer tank 30 filled with a toner developer (hereinafter referred to as developer) and a body 36 that prevents evaporation of the developer, and an electrostatic latent image is formed inside the housing formed by the two. A developing solution is sprayed onto the photosensitive material on which the electrostatic latent image has been formed, and the electrostatic latent image is visualized into a toner image.

That is, the photosensitive material on which the electrostatic latent image has been formed in the image recording section 16 is placed in the roller pair 38 with the surface on which the electrostatic latent image is formed facing upward.
The developer is conveyed while being held between the developer tank 30 and the lid 36, and is carried into the developer section 18 through a slit-shaped entrance 39 formed by the developer tank 30 and the lid 36. The transported photosensitive material is filled into a developing tank 30,
A developer that is circulated by a circulation pump 40, passes through a vibrator 401, and is ejected from a developer discharge spray 42 is applied, and then a developing electrode 44 (having a back electrode not shown) is applied.
The toner is developed by applying a charge to it,
A toner image is formed corresponding to the previously formed electrostatic latent image. The photosensitive material on which the toner image has been formed is removed from the excess developer (
While the mother liquid) is removed, the liquid is conveyed to the fixing unit 20 through a slit-shaped discharge port (not shown).

In such a developing section 18, the developer tank 30 is replenished with the developer from the concentrate tank 32 and the mother liquor tank 34.

The concentrated liquid tank 32 is filled with a concentrated developer having an extremely high toner concentration.
The developer tank 30 is replenished with concentrated developer by opening and closing a solenoid valve provided in the developer tank 30. That is, in the developing section 18 according to the present invention, the developer tank 30 is replenished with concentrated developer from the concentrate tank 32 according to the amount of toner particles consumed in the developer, and the developer filled in the developer tank 30 is refilled with concentrated developer. Toner density (hereinafter referred to as
Adjust the developer concentration. Note that the consumption amount of toner particles may be obtained empirically, or may be obtained by measuring the developer concentration using a light density detection device or the like.

In such a concentrated liquid tank 32, the concentrated developing liquid may be added according to the consumption amount, or it may be formed into a cartridge and replaced with the entire tank.

On the other hand, the mother liquid tank 34 replenishes the developer tank 30 with a mother liquid of the developer (in the present invention, the mother liquid includes the developer, a solvent, a developer with a low toner concentration, etc.) and replenishes the developer in the developer tank 30. The amount of liquid is always kept constant, and in the illustrated example, a chicken feeder method is applied as a preferred embodiment.

As is well known, the chicken feeder method is a method in which a bottle-shaped object filled with replenisher is placed with the outlet facing downward so that the outlet is at a predetermined level of the liquid level at the refill destination. When the bottle is below a predetermined height, the outlet of the bottle is removed from the liquid level, and atmospheric pressure fills the bottle with replenisher until the liquid level reaches the predetermined height (until the outlet is blocked), keeping the liquid level at a constant level. It is something to do. Therefore, in the illustrated developing section 18, although it has a simple configuration, the level of the developer in the developer tank 30 can be kept at a predetermined height, and the total amount of developer can always be kept at a predetermined amount.

In addition, in the present invention, the method of replenishing the mother liquor is not limited to one that can be used with such a chicken feeder, but may be one that uses various level sensors, electromagnetic valves, and the like. Further, the mother liquor tank 34 may be one in which mother liquor is added according to consumption, or it may be made into a cartridge and the entire tank may be replaced.

In the present invention, the replenishment of the developer in the developing section 18 can be adjusted by adjusting the concentration of the developer with a concentrated developer and the amount of developer in the developer tank 30 with a mother liquor. The developer amount and developer concentration can be maintained at a predetermined level regardless of the environment, and a printing original plate with excellent printing resistance can be obtained.

Such a printing section 18 is integrally constituted by the developer tank 3o and the lid 36, and the housing 14
The housing 14 (plate-making device 10) can be pulled out in the direction of arrow a by the rail 48 provided on the bottom surface and the guide member 50 provided on the side surface of the developer tank 30, that is, as shown by the dotted line in FIG. It can be configured. Furthermore, a handle 52 is provided on the lower surface of the developer tank 30 to facilitate pulling out the developer section 18.

As mentioned above, the developing section 1 of the plate making apparatus 10 according to the present invention
8, it has a concentrated liquid tank 32 and a mother liquid tank 34, thereby making it possible to always keep the amount of developer and the concentration of the developer in a predetermined state. Therefore, compared to a device that directly replenishes a developer tank with a normal developer, the number of tanks, piping, etc. increases, resulting in poor maintainability.

In contrast, in the present invention, the entire developing section 18 is integrated and constructed so that it can be pulled out, thereby making it possible to always maintain the developer concentration, etc. in a predetermined state, and making it possible to carry out repairs, cleaning, and maintenance of concentrated liquid. This makes it easy to replace the tank 32 and the mother liquor tank 34, and achieves good maintainability. Furthermore, by integrating the entire developing section 18,
There is no need to remove the pipes connecting the concentrated liquid tank 32, the mother liquid tank 34, and the developing tank 30 when pulling out the developing tank, thereby ensuring better maintainability.

The method of making it possible to draw out the developing section 18 is not limited to the method using the rail 50 shown in the example shown, but various known methods such as using various guide members and link mechanisms may be used. is also applicable. In addition, using casters, Teflon plates, etc., the developing section 18
It may also be possible to smoothly draw out and store the items.

The photosensitive material subjected to toner development in the developing section 18 is then carried into the fixing section 20, where it is fixed by a method such as heating, and is discharged from the plate-making device 10 as a printing original plate.

As described above, regarding the electrophotographic image recording device according to the present invention,
Although the present invention has been described using an electrophotographic printing plate-making device as an example, the present invention is not limited thereto, and is suitable for various electrophotographic image recording devices that apply wet toner development, such as various printers and copying devices. Applicable to

Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments,
Of course, various changes and improvements may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

<Effects of the Invention> As explained in detail above, according to the electrophotographic image recording apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to always maintain the developer concentration and amount in the developer tank of the toner developing section at a predetermined state. This allows image recording to be performed in good developing conditions at all times. What's more, you can maintain the development in good condition, and you can clean and repair the toner development section, replace the concentrated developer tank, etc.
Maintenance of the toner developing section can be carried out by pulling the entire toner developing section out of the device, so workability is extremely good and maintenance is not time consuming.
Also, there is no need to remove the pipe connecting the concentrated developer tank and the developer tank when pulling it out.

Furthermore, by using the chicken feeder system in the mother liquid tank, the structure of the developing section can be simplified and better results can be obtained.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view when the electrophotographic image recording apparatus according to the present invention is applied to an electrophotographic plate making apparatus. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing a developing section of the electrophotographic plate making apparatus shown in FIG. 1. FIG. Explanation of symbols 10... Electrophotographic plate making device, 12... Image reading section, 14... Housing, 16... Image recording section, 18... Developing section, 20... Fixing section, 22 .24--Door, 26--Document holder, 28--Control panel, 30--Developer tank, 32--Concentrated developer tank, 34--Mother liquid tank, 36--Lid body , 38... Roller pair, 40... Circulation pump, 42... Developer discharge spray, 44... Development electrode, 46... Discharge roller pair, 48... Rail, 50... Guide Member, 52...Handle patent applicant Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. Agent
Person Patent Attorney Minoru WatanabeFIG, 1FIG, 2 Posted

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) An electrophotographic image recording apparatus that performs wet toner development, which includes at least a developer tank filled with a toner developer, a concentrated developer tank that replenishes the developer tank with a concentrated developer, and the developer tank. An electrophotographic image recording device comprising: a toner developing section that is integrally formed with a mother solution tank for replenishing a mother solution of a toner developer, and the toner developing section is configured to be able to be drawn out from the housing of the device. Device.