JPH05232425A - Image making unit and image forming device having the image making unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the image making unit which can emit the image making light for image formation by using reflected light and the image forming device having the image making unit which can commonly possess a copying function and a printer function. CONSTITUTION:This image making unit 10 has a liquid crystal substance 11 of a white color system, glass plates 12a and 12b which constitute a liquid crystal cell 17 by holding and mounting the liquid crystal substance 11, transparent electrodes 13a and 13b which are respectively stuck to the liquid crystal substance 11 side of the glass plates 12a and 12b and apply electrical control signals to the liquid crystal substance 11, a mirror plate 14 which consists of small mirror pieces disposed on one rear surface of the liquid crystal cell 17 in order to totally reflect the light transmitted through the liquid crystal substance 11 in the state of opening a shutter constituted by the liquid crystal cell 17, polarizers 15a and 15b which are respectively provided on the outer side of the transparent electrodes 13a and 13b in order to enhance an irregular reflection state on the electrode surfaces by the material quality of the liquid crystal and a spacer 16 for the liquid crystal cell 17.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming unit utilizing the optical shutter effect of liquid crystal and an image forming apparatus equipped with this image forming unit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 7 is a sectional view of an image forming unit using a conventional transmissive liquid crystal cell or liquid crystal cell array.

As shown in the figure, a conventional image forming unit 80
Includes a light source 81 such as a fluorescent lamp, a drive circuit 82, a light guide 83, a liquid crystal cell 84 which is a liquid crystal filter, and a converging lens 85.

In the image forming unit 80 having such a structure, the reflected light is not used, and the direct light from the light source 81 is used as the light guide.
The liquid crystal cell 84 is irradiated via 83. Using the optical shutter effect of the liquid crystal contained in the liquid crystal cell 84, the drive circuit 82
Controls the light transmission state based on the image signal so that the light from the light source 81 is blocked and transmitted.

The light thus transmitted is focused by the focusing lens 85, and the photosensitive drum 91 is directly exposed.

Instead of the liquid crystal cell 84, a liquid crystal cell row in which liquid crystal cells having the same structure as the liquid crystal cell 84 are arranged in a row may be used.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an essential part of an image forming apparatus equipped with the conventional image forming unit 80 shown in FIG.

As shown in the figure, a conventional image forming unit 80
The image forming apparatus including the image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit 80, a photosensitive drum 91, a charge electrode 92, a developing device 93, a transfer electrode 94, a cleaner 95, a paper feed roller 96, and a paper discharge roller 97.

In the image forming apparatus having such a structure, the light from the light source 81 which has passed through the liquid crystal cell 84 of the image forming unit 80 is charged to a predetermined potential by the charge electrode 92 via the converging lens 85. The surface of the body drum 91 is exposed to form an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image signal. This electrostatic latent image is first developed by the developing device 93 according to a so-called electrophotographic process to form a toner image. Next, this toner image is transferred onto the paper 100 fed by the paper feed roller 96 by the transfer electrode 94, so that an image is formed. The toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 91 after the transfer is removed by the cleaner 95.

[0010]

In such a conventional image forming apparatus, since the light from the light source directly exposes the photoconductor, it is necessary to provide a transmission type optical shutter in the middle of the optical path. Therefore, the conventional image forming apparatus is provided with an image forming unit having a liquid crystal cell that functions as an optical shutter.

As described above, since the light from the light source is directly exposed on the photoconductor through the liquid crystal cell,
When an attempt is made to provide a printer function by using a print mechanism such as an electrophotographic copying machine, a restriction on the structure and mounting of the copying machine becomes strict, so a dedicated machine having a printer function is required. There is a problem.

Further, due to structural and packaging restrictions, it is difficult to realize a compound device that shares a copying function and a printer function by using a light source and an optical system of the copying machine, and it must be limited to a dedicated printer function machine. There is a problem that you cannot get it.

Therefore, the present invention includes an image forming unit capable of emitting an image forming light for forming an image by using reflected light, and an image forming unit capable of sharing a copying function and a printer function. An image forming apparatus is provided.

[0014]

An image forming unit according to the present invention is provided between two substrates each having a transparent electrode, and adjusts the transmission of incident light on the basis of a control signal applied to the electrode. A possible liquid crystal layer and a reflection plate provided on the opposite side of the liquid crystal layer from which incident light is incident.

An image forming apparatus having an image forming unit according to the present invention is provided between two substrates each having a transparent electrode, and adjusts the transmission of incident light based on a control signal applied to the electrode. Based on the incident light transmitted through the liquid crystal layer and reflected by the reflector, the imaging unit including a possible liquid crystal layer and a reflector provided on the opposite side of the liquid crystal layer from which the incident light is incident. A latent image forming means for forming an electrostatic latent image on the sheet and a transfer means for transferring the electrostatic latent image on a sheet are provided.

[0016]

According to the image forming unit of the present invention, the liquid crystal layer adjusts the transmission of incident light based on the control signal applied to the transparent electrode. When the liquid crystal layer does not transmit the incident light, the incident light is diffusely reflected by the liquid crystal, and when the liquid crystal layer transmits the incident light, the incident light is totally reflected by the reflection plate, and the reflected light by total reflection is obtained. .. Therefore, by using this totally reflected light, it is possible to emit image forming light for image formation.

According to the image forming apparatus provided with the image forming unit according to the present invention, the liquid crystal layer adjusts the transmission of the incident light based on the control signal applied to the transparent electrode. When the liquid crystal layer does not transmit the incident light, the incident light is diffusely reflected by the liquid crystal, and when the liquid crystal layer transmits the incident light, the incident light is totally reflected by the reflection plate, and the reflected light by total reflection is obtained. .. The latent image forming means forms an electrostatic latent image based on the totally reflected light, and the transfer means transfers the formed electrostatic latent image onto a sheet to form an image. As described above, since the image can be formed on the sheet by using the reflected light, it is not necessary to change the configuration of the image forming apparatus and the copying process, and therefore, the image can share the copying function and the printer function. A forming device can be realized.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the configuration of a first embodiment of an image forming unit according to the present invention.

As shown in the figure, the image forming unit 10 of this embodiment is of the so-called liquid crystal filter type, and a liquid crystal cell 17 is constructed by sandwiching the white liquid crystal body 11 and the liquid crystal body 11. The two glass plates 12a and 12b, the transparent electrodes 13a and 13b for applying an electric control signal to the liquid crystal body 11 and the liquid crystal cell 17, which are attached to the glass plates 12a and 12b on the liquid crystal body 11 side, respectively. A mirror plate 14 composed of a mirror small piece arranged on one rear surface of the liquid crystal cell 17 in order to totally reflect the light transmitted through the liquid crystal body 11 with the shutter being opened, and an electrode depending on the material of the liquid crystal. Polarizer plates 15a and 15b, which are provided outside the transparent electrodes 13a and 13b, respectively, in order to enhance the irregular reflection state on the surface,
In addition, a spacer 16 for the liquid crystal cell 17 is provided.

A liquid crystal film sheet may be used instead of the liquid crystal body 11. A transparent resin body may be used instead of the glass plates 12a and 12b.

The liquid crystal body 11 is an embodiment of the liquid crystal layer of the present invention. The glass plates 12a and 12b are examples of the substrate of the present invention. The transparent electrodes 13a and 13b are examples of the electrodes of the present invention. The end plate 14 is an example of the reflector of the present invention.

Next, the operation of the image forming unit 10 of this embodiment will be described.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining the operation of the image forming unit 10 of FIG. FIG. 2A shows transparent electrodes 13a and 1
With voltage applied to 3b, transparent electrode 1 is shown in Fig. 2 (B).
No voltage is applied to 3a and 13b, respectively.

In these figures, the same components as those of FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals as those of FIG.

As shown in these figures, by applying a voltage to the transparent electrodes 13a and 13b of the liquid crystal cell 17, there is an electric field generated between the transparent electrodes 13a and 13b. The way of passing light changes, and the liquid crystal cell 17 has an effect as a shutter filter for light, that is, an optical shutter effect.

That is, as shown in FIG. 2A, in a state where a voltage is applied from a power source (not shown) (when voltage V = V _H ), the liquid crystal body 11 of the liquid crystal cell 17 is compared, for example. With the shutter open, the incident light 18 is transmitted, and the transmitted incident light 18 is totally reflected by the rear mirror plate 14,
It becomes 19 and goes out from the image forming unit 10.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2B, no voltage is applied (voltage V = V ₀ <V _H , V ₀ is almost zero).
Then, the liquid crystal body 11 of the liquid crystal cell 17 does not transmit the incident light 18 as if the shutter is closed, and the incident light 18 is diffusely reflected by the white liquid crystal body 11 to become diffusely reflected light 20, which is in a diffuse reflection state.

Depending on the nature of the material used for the liquid crystal, a polarizer plate may be inserted in the electrode surface to apply a bias electric field in order to enhance the diffused reflection state.

The liquid crystal cell 17 can be made to correspond to a pixel for image recording to form an image forming cell utilizing the optical shutter effect by the electric field of the liquid crystal.

Therefore, by using the reflected light totally reflected by the mirror plate 14, it is possible to emit the image forming light for image formation.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of an image forming apparatus equipped with the image forming unit of FIG. Here, an example in which the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is applied to, for example, an electrostatic copying machine is shown.

As shown in the figure, the image forming apparatus of this embodiment includes an image forming unit 31, a white light source 32 including a halogen lamp, a photosensitive drum 33, a charge electrode 34, and a developing device.
35, a transfer electrode 36, a cleaner 37, a paper feed roller 38, a paper discharge roller 39, and an image processing device 40.

The image forming unit 31 is the image forming unit shown in FIG.
Equivalent to 10.

In the image forming apparatus of this embodiment, the white light from the light source 32 is applied to the image forming unit 31 as incident light, and the reflected light 42 from the image forming unit 31 can expose the photosensitive drum 33. Has been done.

The image forming unit 31 is an embodiment of the image forming unit according to the present invention. Photoconductor drum 33 and charge electrode
34 is an embodiment of the latent image forming means of the present invention. Developer
The transfer electrode 35 and the transfer electrode 36 are an example of the transfer means of the present invention.

When an image signal 41 is sent from the image processing device 40 to the transparent electrodes (corresponding to the transparent electrodes 13a and 13b shown in FIG. 1) included in the image forming unit 31, the image forming unit blocks and transmits light. 31 liquid crystal cells (liquid crystal cell 17 shown in FIG.
The optical shutter effect of (1) corresponds to diffused reflection light reflected by the liquid crystal cell when the shutter is closed, and the mirror plate of the image forming unit 31 when the shutter is open (corresponding to the mirror plate 14 shown in FIG. 1). ) Reflected light 42 totally reflected by
And is obtained.

The image signal 41 is an information signal corresponding to a space / dot mark as a pixel of an image to be recorded, and is an electrical control signal indicating an on / off state.

Reflected light having two different states depending on the electric field applied to the liquid crystal cell corresponding to the on / off state.
42 exposes the surface of the photoconductor drum 33 charged to a predetermined potential by the charge electrode 34 to form an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image signal 41. According to the so-called electrophotographic process, this electrostatic latent image is developed and visualized by the developing device 35. The visible toner image is transferred onto the paper 43 fed by the paper feed roller 38 by the transfer electrode 36, so that a dot image which is a space / dot mark is formed. The toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 33 after the transfer is removed by the cleaner 37.

According to this embodiment, the image forming unit is illuminated by the light source, an electric control signal corresponding to an image signal of a pixel as an image to be recorded is given to the image forming unit, and the image is transmitted through the liquid crystal unit to be reflected by the mirror body. Totally reflected reflected light is obtained. The reflected light exposes the photoreceptor to form an image on paper using the electrophotographic process principle.

Therefore, by combining the function of a copying machine capable of copying on paper without changing the structure of the image forming apparatus and the electrophotographic process, the light source of the copying machine and the image forming unit, a high speed page printer can be obtained. It is possible to configure a composite type OA (office automation) device that shares functions.

Next, another embodiment of the image forming unit according to the present invention will be described.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the configuration of the second embodiment of the image forming unit according to the present invention. 4 (A) and 4 (B) are an exploded perspective view and a plan view of a main part of the image forming unit.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the image forming unit 50 of this embodiment is of a so-called liquid crystal filter type,
Basically, the image forming units 10 shown in FIG. 1 are arranged in a line, and are provided with a liquid crystal panel 52, polarizing plates 53a and 53b, and a mirror plate 54.

The liquid crystal panel 52 includes glass plates 55a and 55b,
It includes transparent electrodes 56a and 56b provided on the glass plates 55a and 55b, respectively, and a liquid crystal body 57 provided between the glass plates 55a and 55b.

As shown in FIG. 4B, adjacent transparent electrodes
A liquid crystal window 58 is arranged between 56a.

The mirror plate 54 is an embodiment of the reflection plate of the present invention. The glass plates 55a and 55b are an example of the substrate of the present invention. The transparent electrodes 56a and 56b are examples of the electrodes of the present invention. The liquid crystal body 57 is an example of the liquid crystal layer of the present invention.

By applying a voltage to the transparent electrodes 56a and 56b of the liquid crystal panel 52, the transparent electrodes 56a and 56b are
Depending on the presence or absence of an electric field generated between the
The way in which light passes through 57 changes, and the liquid crystal body 57 exhibits an optical shutter effect.

That is, when a voltage is applied from a power source (not shown), the liquid crystal 57 of the liquid crystal panel 52 has the shutter open and the incident light from the white rod-shaped light source 51 composed of a halogen lamp tube or the like. Incident light transmitted through 59a
59a is totally reflected by the rear end plate 54, and the total reflected light 59b
And exits the image forming unit 50.

On the other hand, when no voltage is applied, the liquid crystal body 57 of the liquid crystal panel 52 has the shutter closed,
The incident light 59a from the rod-shaped light source 51 is not transmitted, the incident light 59a is diffusely reflected by the liquid crystal body 57, and the image forming unit 50 exhibits a diffuse reflection state.

FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view showing the configuration of the third embodiment of the image forming unit according to the present invention.

In the image forming unit of this embodiment, a liquid crystal panel is basically constructed by arranging the image forming units 10 shown in FIG. 1 in two staggered rows, and as shown in FIG. The liquid crystal windows 60 corresponding to the rows are arranged in two staggered rows.

The arrangement of the glass plate, the transparent electrode, the polarizing plate and the mirror plate included in the image forming unit of this embodiment is the same as that of the image forming unit 50 shown in FIG.

The operation of this image forming unit is also similar to the operation of the image forming unit shown in FIG.

Each of the liquid crystal bodies 57 of the image forming units of the second and third embodiments is regarded as a pixel, and
57 rows are pixel rows in the main scanning direction for image recording (pixel rows)
By corresponding to the above, it is possible to configure an image forming bar utilizing the optical shutter effect by the electric field of the liquid crystal.

Therefore, by using the reflected light totally reflected by the mirror plate 54, the image forming light for image formation can be emitted.

FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of an image forming apparatus equipped with the image forming unit shown in FIG. 4 or 5. Here, an example in which the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is applied to, for example, an electrostatic copying machine is shown.

As shown in the figure, the image forming apparatus of this embodiment has an image forming unit 61, a white rod-shaped light source 51 including a halogen lamp, a photosensitive drum 62, a charge electrode 63, a developing device 64, a transfer electrode. The apparatus includes a cleaner 65, a cleaner 66, a paper feed roller 67, a paper discharge roller 68, and an image processing device 69.

The image forming unit 61 corresponds to the image forming unit 50 shown in FIG. 4 or FIG.

The rod-shaped light source 51 is arranged such that the longitudinal direction of the rod-shaped light source 51 and the longitudinal direction of the image forming unit 61 are parallel to each other, and white light from the rod-shaped light source 51 is formed in the image forming unit.
It is configured to uniformly irradiate 61.

The image forming apparatus of this embodiment is constructed so that the reflected light 71 from the image forming unit 61 can expose the photosensitive drum 62.

The photosensitive drum 62 and the charge electrode 63 are an example of the latent image forming means of the present invention. The developing device 64 and the transfer electrode 65 are an example of the transfer means of the present invention.

When the image signal 72 is sent from the image processing device 69 to the transparent electrodes (corresponding to the transparent electrodes 56a and 56b shown in FIG. 4) included in the image forming unit 61, the image forming unit blocks and transmits light. Due to the optical shutter effect of the 61 liquid crystal cell (corresponding to the liquid crystal body 57 shown in FIG. 4), irregularly reflected light reflected by the liquid crystal cell when the shutter is closed and the image forming unit when the shutter is opened 61 end plate (Fig. 4
The reflected light 71 is totally reflected by the mirror plate 54 shown in FIG.

The image signal 72 is an information signal corresponding to a space / dot mark as a pixel of an image to be recorded, and is an electrical control signal indicating an on / off state.

Reflected light having two different states depending on the electric field applied to the liquid crystal cell corresponding to the on / off state.
71 exposes on the bellows ridgeline on the surface of the cylindrical photosensitive drum 62 charged to a predetermined potential by the charge electrode 63,
An electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image signal 72 is formed. According to the so-called electrophotographic process, this electrostatic latent image is developed and visualized by the developing device 64. The visible toner image is transferred by the transfer electrode 65 onto the paper 73 fed by the paper feed roller 67, so that a line image is formed as a pixel row in the main scanning direction of the space / dot mark. The toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 62 after the transfer is
Removed by Cleaner 66.

Therefore, by combining the function of a copying machine capable of copying on paper without changing the structure of the image forming apparatus and the electrophotographic process, and the light source and the image forming unit of the copying machine, a high-speed page printer can be obtained. It is possible to configure a composite OA device that shares functions and functions.

[0067]

As described above, the image forming unit according to the present invention is provided between two substrates each having a transparent electrode and transmits incident light on the basis of a control signal applied to the electrode. And a reflective plate provided on the opposite side of the liquid crystal layer from the side where incident light enters. Therefore, by using the reflected light that is transmitted through the liquid crystal layer and totally reflected by the reflector, it is possible to emit the image forming light for image formation.

An image forming apparatus having an image forming unit according to the present invention is provided between two substrates each having a transparent electrode, and adjusts the transmission of incident light based on a control signal applied to the electrode. Based on the incident light transmitted through the liquid crystal layer and reflected by the reflector, the imaging unit including a possible liquid crystal layer and a reflector provided on the opposite side of the liquid crystal layer from which the incident light is incident. A latent image forming means for forming an electrostatic latent image on the sheet and a transfer means for transferring the electrostatic latent image on a sheet are provided. Since the image can be formed on the sheet by using the reflected light as described above, it is not necessary to change the configuration of the image forming apparatus and the copying process, and thus the image forming can share the copying function and the printer function. The device can be realized.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a configuration of a first embodiment of an image forming unit according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining the operation of the image forming unit in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of an image forming apparatus including the image forming unit of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a configuration of a second embodiment of the image forming unit according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view showing the configuration of a third embodiment of the image forming unit according to the present invention.

6 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of an image forming apparatus including the image forming unit of FIG. 4 or FIG.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of an image forming unit using a conventional transmissive liquid crystal cell or liquid crystal cell array.

8 is a main part configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus including the conventional image forming unit of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10, 31, 50, 61 Image forming unit 11, 57 Liquid crystal body 12a, 12b, 55a, 55b Glass plate 13a, 13b, 56a, 56b Transparent electrode 14, 54 End plate 17 Liquid crystal cell 33, 62 Photoreceptor drum 34, 63 Charge Electrodes 35, 64 Development device 36, 65 Transfer electrodes

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A liquid crystal layer, which is provided between two substrates each having a transparent electrode and is capable of adjusting transmission of incident light based on a control signal applied to the electrode, and an incident light with respect to the liquid crystal layer. An image forming unit, comprising: a reflection plate provided on a side opposite to a side where light enters. 2. A liquid crystal layer provided between two substrates each having a transparent electrode and capable of adjusting transmission of incident light based on a control signal applied to the electrode, and an incident light with respect to the liquid crystal layer. Forming an electrostatic latent image based on the incident light transmitted through the liquid crystal layer and reflected by the reflection plate An image forming apparatus provided with an image forming unit, comprising: a latent image forming means; and a transfer means for transferring the electrostatic latent image onto a sheet.