JPH0429175A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain the simplification of a process, the miniaturization, of a printer the reduction in cost and high speed by plastically deforming toner through the use of ultrasonic energy and fixing the toner on a sheet in a transfer and fixing process. CONSTITUTION:In a transfer and fixing part 4, a recording sheet 7 is carried and simultaneously, development formed on a drum 1, that is, the toner 32 is transferred and fixed on the recording sheet 7. At this time, the toner 32 is plastically deformed with the ultrasonic energy. In other words, an advancing wave is produced on the transfer and fixing part 4 by giving the ultrasonic energy, and the toner 32 stuck on the drum is plastically deformed and rigidly fixed on the recording sheet 7. Thus, a transfer and fixing are simultaneously carried out. Even if static pressure between the drum 1 and the transfer and fixing part 4 at this time is low, the toner 32 is rigidly fixed by the action of dynamic pressure by the amplitude of a standing wave by a ultrasonic wave.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Fields] The present invention relates to a printing device that receives signals from a computer or the like and records characters, figures, images, etc. on paper, and characters, figures, images recorded on paper. The present invention relates to a copying apparatus that reads information such as information and records it on paper in a similar form.

[Prior Art] In a printing device or a copying device using a conventional toner process, a latent image is formed and then developed to deposit toner on a drum, which is a recording medium, and then transferred to recording paper. Transfer methods include electrostatic transfer and pressure transfer. Next, the image is passed through a fixing roller and fixed, completing the series of processes. Fixing methods include heat fixing and solvent fixing.

The transfer process and the fixing process are often separated, and the toner is plastically deformed in the transfer process and adhered to the fiber bundle of the recording paper, and the toner is further firmly fixed in the fixing process. Some pressure transfer methods perform the transfer process and fixing process at the same time.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Market demands for the above-mentioned device are miniaturization, lower price, and higher speed. In order to satisfy these demands, it is important to reduce the number of steps as much as possible. However, if the transfer process and the fixing process are separated, there is a problem that a fixing roller and the like are required in addition to the transfer roller, which impedes miniaturization and cost reduction. Furthermore, in the case of thermal fixing, etc., there is a problem that fixing takes a certain amount of time, which hinders speeding up.

In addition, in the above-mentioned pressure transfer method, transfer and fixing are performed only by the pressure between the drum and the transfer roller, so the transfer pressure increases and the gloss of the paper surface increases, making it difficult to read, and the structure that supports these problems. There is a problem that the mechanical strength of the body is required, resulting in large size and heavy weight.

The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and includes:
The purpose is to provide a compact, low-cost, high-speed printing device and copying device that performs a transfer process and a fixing process simultaneously. Furthermore, the purpose is to achieve an easy-to-read printed state without increasing the gloss of the paper surface.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above problems, the transfer and fixing process of the present invention is characterized in that the toner is plastically deformed and fixed to paper using ultrasonic energy.

[Embodiment] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side view of the printing apparatus of the present invention.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a drum, which has a recording medium layer on its surface for recording a latent image, and rotates at a constant rotational speed ωe.

A latent image forming section 2 forms a latent image on the recording medium layer of the drum 1. Methods for forming latent images include optical methods that use laser beams, liquid crystal shutters, light emitting diode arrays, etc., and magnetic recording methods that use magnetic recording. In the case of an optical type, a mechanism for applying static electricity to the recording medium layer of the drum 1 in advance is included. The recording density of the printing device is determined by the recording density of the latent image forming section 2.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a developing section, which attaches toner 32 to the latent image formed on the drum 1 to perform development.

Normally, the mechanism of the developing section 2 includes a mag roller 31 and a toner 32.
The toner 32 is magnetically attracted to stand up, and the toner 32 is supplied to the surface of the drum 1 for development.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a transfer/fixing section, which conveys the recording paper 7 and also transfers and fixes the developed image, that is, toner, formed on the drum 1 onto the recording paper 7.

A cleaning section 5 removes toner remaining on the drum 1 from the transfer/fixing section.

Cleaning methods include plate-shaped resin or metal blade types and brush types.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a latent image erasing section, which erases the latent image to facilitate the formation of the next latent image.

Next, the detailed structure and operation of the transfer/fixing section 4 of the present invention will be explained.

FIG. 2(a) shows the detailed structure of the transfer/fixing section 4. As shown in FIG. 4
1 has piezoelectric elements arranged in two layers, which are shifted by a quarter wavelength λ/4.

42 is an elastic body, which is placed in close contact with the piezoelectric element.

AC voltages proportional to sin ωt and −cos ωt are applied to the picture electrodes on the surface of the piezoelectric element, respectively, with respect to the intermediate common electrode. The situation is shown in FIG. 2(b). The alternating current voltages applied to the piezoelectric element are temporally out of phase by 90°. Due to the electrostrictive effect, each piezoelectric element produces a displacement corresponding to the alternating current voltage, which is converted into mechanical vibration.

Figure 2 (C), (d), and (e) are each time ts, t
The state of standing wave vibration at 1 and t2 is shown.

The composite fiA+B of the standing wave A generated in one piezoelectric element and the standing wave B generated in the other piezoelectric element changes with time,
The result is as shown in FIG. 2(f). That is, the composite wave A+B becomes a progressive wave that travels spatially.

At this time, since the elastic body 42 and the piezoelectric element 41 are closely arranged, a traveling wave is generated in the elastic body 42 that has an amplitude in the vertical direction in FIG. 2(a) and moves in the right direction in the figure. . If the traveling direction of the traveling wave is made to match the conveying direction of the recording paper 7, the transfer/fixing section 4 will have a conveying force, and its conveying speed will be proportional to the angular velocity ω. At the same time, the transfer/fixing section 4 has a displacement proportional to the composite wave A+B. If the gap between the drum 1 and the transfer/fixing section 4 is selected to be continuous, it will have the effect of applying pressure to the recording paper 7. This pressure makes it possible to plastically deform the toner 32 adhering to the drum 1. A condition for stably transporting the recording paper 7 is to keep the rotation speed ωe of the drum 1 and the transport speed substantially the same.

Next, the relationship between toner and stress is shown in FIG. 3(a). −
Due to the mechanical properties of toner, brittle materials, plastic materials,
It can be divided into three types of elastic materials. Toner G is made of a brittle material, toner H is made of a plastic material, and toner E is made of an elastic material, and they are in a deformed state as shown in FIG. 3(b). Toner H is suitable for the present invention.

The stress necessary for plastic deformation of the toner is applied by the traveling wave of the ultrasonic wave, and the toner is transferred and fixed onto the recording paper 7. The recording paper 7 is made up of fiber bundles of wood or the like that overlap each other in a mesh pattern, and transfer and fixing are performed by a mechanism in which plastically deformed toner bites into the outermost fiber bundles and the gaps between them. The direction of the stress acting on the toner is not only perpendicular to the recording paper 7, but also in the direction of travel of the traveling wave, so that the toner is more firmly fixed. Moreover, as the gloss of the recording paper 7 increases, the static pressure is not applied, so that good printing quality can be obtained.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, by applying ultrasonic energy, traveling waves are generated on the transfer/fixing section, and the toner adhering to the drum is plastically deformed and firmly attached to the recording paper. Transfer and fixing can be performed simultaneously by adhering to. Even if the static pressure between the drum and the transfer/fixing section is small at this time, dynamic pressure is applied due to the amplitude of the standing wave caused by the ultrasonic waves, and the toner is firmly fixed. That is, good transfer and fixing can be performed without increasing the gloss of the recording paper.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of the printing apparatus of the present invention, and FIG.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the detailed structure of the transfer/fixing section and its operation, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the relationship between stress and strain amount of the toner and the state of deformation of the toner due to pressure. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Drum, 2...Latent image forming section, 3...Developing section, 4...Transfer/fixing section, 5...Cleaning section, 6...Latent image erasing section, 7... - Recording paper, 1...Mag roller, 32...Toner 1...Piezoelectric element, 42...Elastic body.

Claims (1)

[Claims] Using toner process, latent image forming section, developing section, transfer/
A printing device comprising a fixing section, a cleaning section, and a latent image erasing section, and plastically deforming toner using ultrasonic energy.