JPH06206339A - Ion flow electrostatic recording head - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To suppress a dielectric paste from flowing and spreading at the time of application, uniformize a distance between a first electrode and a second electrode at any position, uniformize an ion generating amount at any position and obtain a high image quality and an enhanced durability. CONSTITUTION:On the both sides of a group of first electrodes 13 of an ion flow electrostatic recording head 11, dummy electrodes 14 extending in parallel to the first electrodes 13 are so disposed as to be spaced from the first electrode group by a distance not less than a distance between the first electrodes 13.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ion flow electrostatic recording head used for electrostatic printing and copying.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, for example, in electrostatic printing, ions of high current density are generated, and the ions are extracted and selectively applied to a member to be charged, and the member to be charged is imagewise charged. Electronic recording devices are known.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic structure of an ion flow electrostatic recording head 1 used in this electrostatic recording apparatus. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 2 denotes an insulating substrate, on which a plurality of first electrodes 3 ... Are provided. First of these multiple
The electrodes 3 ... Are arranged substantially parallel to each other in one direction.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a dielectric layer, and the first electrodes 3 ... Are fixed to one surface of the dielectric layer 4. Further, a plurality of second electrodes 6 extending in a direction intersecting with the extending direction of the first electrodes 3 are fixed to the other surface of the dielectric layer 4 with an adhesive 5, and the first electrodes 3 ... And the second electrode 6 ... Form a matrix. Further, the second electrodes 6 ... Are respectively formed with openings 6a for ion generation at the portions corresponding to this matrix.

Further, an insulator layer 7 is provided on the side of the dielectric layer 4 on which the second electrodes 6 are arranged side by side in a state of embedding the second electrodes 6. In this insulator layer 7, openings 7a ... Are formed at portions corresponding to the openings 6a.

Further, the surface of the insulating layer 7 has a strip-shaped third layer.
The electrode 8 is adhered. The third electrode 8 is provided with openings 8a ... In a portion corresponding to the matrix of the first electrode 3 ... And the second electrode 6 ... The openings 8a of the third electrode 8 are the openings 7a of the insulator layer 7 and the second electrode 6.
The ion flow passage opening 9 of the ion flow electrostatic recording head 1 is formed in communication with the openings 6a of.

When the ion flow electrostatic recording head 1 is in operation, the matrix between the first electrodes 3 ... And the second electrodes 6 ... Is properly selected based on the print signal, and the matrix corresponding to the selected matrix portion is selected. An alternating voltage is applied between the first electrode 3 and the second electrode 6.

As a result, positive / negative ions are generated in the vicinity of the openings 6a ... Of the second electrodes 6 ... Corresponding to the selected matrix portion. At this time, a bias voltage is applied between the second electrode 6 ... And the third electrode 8, and only the ions determined by the polarity thereof are opened 6a of the second electrode 6.
It is extracted from the ions generated in the vicinity of the inside.

Then, the extracted ions pass through the opening 7a of the insulator layer 7 and the opening 8a of the third electrode 8,
A dielectric drum (not shown) is locally charged. Therefore, a dot latent image can be formed on the dielectric drum by selectively driving the first electrode 3 ... And the second electrode 6 ...

Insulating substrate 2 and first electrode 3 used here
As the material of the first electrode, for example, a copper foil is directly adhered onto a glass reinforced epoxy resin substrate with or without an adhesive, and the copper foil is etched to form a plurality of first electrodes 3 ... What formed the circuit pattern of 3 is used.

Further, it is required that the dielectric material forming the dielectric layer 4 does not cause dielectric breakdown even at a high voltage applied to generate ions. Furthermore, this dielectric layer 4 needs to have a thickness that can efficiently generate ions and withstand dielectric breakdown, so that one having a high dielectric constant is suitable.

Therefore, for example, in JP-A-2-153760, a copper foil is used as the material of the first electrode 3 of the ion flow electrostatic recording head 1, and a silicone-modified polyester alkyd resin is used as the material of the dielectric layer 4. A dielectric paste in which titanium oxide powder is mixed is used.

A foil of stainless steel is used as the material of the second electrode 6. When the second electrode 6 is fixed to the dielectric layer 4, a silicone pressure sensitive adhesive is used.

[0014]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Generally, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-1
Since the dielectric paste for forming the dielectric layer 4 as disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 53760 is liquid, it has a high viscosity, but there is a problem in that it easily flows. Therefore,
When the dielectric paste is applied to the insulating substrate 2 and the first electrode 3 by screen printing or the like as shown in, the edge portion of the dielectric layer 4 slowly flows and spreads to the periphery, and is hardened under curing conditions. Since it is hardened by, the thin-walled portion T whose thickness is thinner than the position of the central smooth surface S at the edge portion of the fixed dielectric layer 4 after being applied on the insulating substrate 2 and the first electrode 3.
Is formed.

Therefore, the thickness of the dielectric layer 4 on the first electrode 3 is smaller in the portion of the first electrode 3 disposed on the outermost sides on both sides of the plurality of first electrodes 3 ... Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, when the second electrode 6 is pasted on the dielectric layer 4 using the silicone pressure-sensitive adhesive 5, the portion of the first electrode 3 located on the outermost sides on both sides. The first electrode 3
There is a problem that the distance between the second electrode 6 and the second electrode 6 becomes smaller than that in other places.

As described above, when the distance between the first electrode 3 and the second electrode 6 is not uniform at all the places, the discharge between the electrodes 3 and 6 has a different strength depending on the place. It becomes impossible to generate uniform ions. Therefore, since the amount of generated ions is different in the portions of the first electrodes 3 arranged on the outermost sides of both sides compared with other places, there is a problem that high-definition image quality cannot be obtained.

Further, the thickness of the dielectric layer 4 on the first electrode 3 is thinner than that of the other portions, and the first electrodes 3 arranged on the outermost sides on both sides.
There is also a problem in that the durability is low under high voltage during the operation of the electrostatic recording head 1.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to suppress the flow and spread at the time of coating the dielectric paste, and to set the distance between the first electrode and the second electrode to any value. An object of the present invention is to provide an ion flow electrostatic recording head having high image quality and high durability, which is uniform in location and the amount of generated ions is uniform in any location.

[0019]

According to the present invention, a plurality of first electrodes extending in one direction and in parallel on an insulating substrate and a plurality of first electrodes extending in a direction intersecting with the first electrodes are provided. And a plurality of second electrodes each having an opening formed in a portion corresponding to the matrix and the second electrode.
A dielectric provided between the first electrode and the second electrode, which is disposed on the side opposite to the first electrode with respect to the electrode and has a third electrode having an opening formed in a portion corresponding to the matrix. An ion flow electrostatic recording head comprising a layer and an insulator layer provided between the second electrode and the third electrode and having an opening formed in a portion corresponding to the matrix, wherein the first electrode Dummy electrodes extending in parallel with the first electrodes are provided on both sides of the group with a space equal to or larger than the space between the first electrodes.

[0020]

When the dielectric paste applied on the insulating substrate and the first electrode flows during the process of manufacturing the ion flow electrostatic recording head until it hardens, the flow is generated only on the dummy electrode. The thickness of the dielectric layer on the first electrode group is made uniform to ensure a uniform distance between the first electrode and the second electrode.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to (A), (B) to FIG. Figure 1
(A) and (B) show a schematic structure of the ion flow electrostatic recording head 11 of the electrostatic recording apparatus, and 12 is an insulating substrate of the ion flow electrostatic recording head 11.

A plurality of first electrodes 13, which are induction electrodes for ion generation, are provided on the insulating substrate 12.
The plurality of first electrodes 13 ... Are arranged in parallel in one direction. Further, dummy electrodes 14 extending in parallel with the first electrodes 13 are provided on both sides of the first electrode 13 ... Group with a space equal to or larger than the space between the first electrodes 13.

Further, the insulating substrate 12 and the first electrode 13 ...
A dielectric layer 15 is provided on the upper and dummy electrodes 14. A plurality of second electrodes 17, which are discharge electrodes, are fixed to the surface of the dielectric layer 15 via an adhesive 16.

Further, the plurality of second electrodes 17 ... Are arranged on the surface of the dielectric layer 15 opposite to the insulating substrate 12,
Are arranged side by side in a direction intersecting with the first electrodes 13 ...
A matrix is composed of the electrodes 13 and the second electrodes 17. Then, the second electrodes 17 ... Are respectively formed with openings 17a for ion generation at the portions corresponding to this matrix.

Further, the insulator layer 1 is formed by embedding the second electrodes 17 on the side of the dielectric layer 15 on which the second electrodes 17 are arranged in parallel.
8 are provided. The second electrode 1 is formed on the insulator layer 18.
An opening 18a is provided at a portion corresponding to each opening 17a of 7 ...
... is formed.

Further, a strip-shaped third electrode 19 is adhered to the surface of the insulating layer 18. The third electrode 19 is provided with openings 19a ... In a portion corresponding to the matrix of the first electrode 13 ... And the second electrode 17. This third
The openings 19 a of the electrode 19 are the openings 18 of the insulator layer 18.
a and the opening portions 17a of the second electrodes 17 ... Are communicated with the ion flow passage opening 2 of the ion flow electrostatic recording head 11.
0 ... is formed.

Then, the ion flow electrostatic recording head 11
During the operation of, the matrix between the first electrode 13 ... And the second electrode 17 ... Is appropriately selected based on the print signal, and the first electrode 13 ... And the second electrode 17 ... Corresponding to the selected matrix portion. An alternating voltage is applied between them.

As a result, positive and negative ions are generated in the vicinity of the openings 17a of the second electrodes 17 corresponding to the selected matrix portion. At this time, the second electrode 17
A bias voltage is applied between ... And the third electrode 19,
Only the ions determined by the polarity are extracted from the ions generated in the vicinity of the openings 17a of the second electrodes 17 ...

Then, the extracted ions are used as the insulator layer 18
Through the openings 18a and the openings 19a of the third electrode 19 to locally charge the dielectric drum (not shown). Therefore, the first electrode 13 ... And the second electrode 17 ...
It is possible to form a dot latent image on the dielectric drum by selectively driving.

Next, a method of manufacturing the ion flow electrostatic recording head 11 of FIGS. 1A and 1B will be described in detail. First, the first electrodes 13 ... Are formed on the insulating substrate 12. In this case, the insulating substrate 12 is, for example, a flexible glass fiber reinforced epoxy substrate having a thickness of 100 μm. Then, a copper foil having a thickness of 5 μm is laminated on the insulating substrate 12 without an adhesive, and a predetermined circuit pattern of the first electrode 13 is formed by photoetching.

At this time, at the same time, the dummy electrodes 14 extending parallel to the first electrodes 13 on both sides of the first electrode group 13 ...
Is formed. The dummy electrode 14 is the first electrode 13 ...
An interval (for example, 110 μm) or more between the pair of first electrodes 13 and 12 adjacent to the group (for example, 100 μm)
Has been placed. Further, the width dimension of the dummy electrode 14 is set to be substantially the same as the width dimension of the first electrode 13 (for example, 110 μm).

Further, a dielectric layer 15 is formed on the insulating substrate 12 between the patterns of the first electrodes 13, the first electrodes 13 and the dummy electrodes 14. During the work of forming the dielectric layer 15, titanium oxide is used as a filler and a dielectric paste made of a silicone-modified polyester alkyd resin-based binder is prepared in advance.

This dielectric paste is applied by screen printing on the insulating substrate 12, the first electrodes 13, ..., And the dummy electrodes 14. Further, the applied dielectric paste is dried and then cured at 150 ° C. for 5 hours to form a dielectric layer 15 having a thickness of 33 μm on the insulating substrate 12 and the first electrodes 13.

Next, as shown in FIG. 3, the second electrode 1 is formed on the surface of the dielectric layer 15 via a silicone pressure sensitive adhesive 16.
The electrode plates 7 ... are fixed. The second electrodes 17 ... Are formed by an electrode plate in which a 30 .mu.m thick stainless steel foil is previously patterned by etching or the like to form a plurality of second electrodes 17 ... And an opening 17a of each second electrode 17 is patterned. ing.

The electrode plate of the second electrodes 17 ... As shown in FIG. 1 (A), the openings 17a of the second electrodes 17 ...
Are aligned with the plurality of first electrodes 13 and are joined to the dielectric layer 15 via the adhesive 16.

Further, the insulating substrate 12 and the second electrode 17 are provided.
, And its openings 17a on the dielectric layer 15 are vacuum laminated with a photosensitive insulating film (solder resist) to form an insulating layer 18. Thereafter, this insulating film is subjected to photoetching treatment such as exposure and development in the same manner as a normal photosensitive film, so that a plurality of second electrodes 17 are formed.
The openings 18a for passing the ion flow are formed corresponding to the openings 17a.

Next, the insulator layer 18 thus formed
A third electrode 19 in which openings 19a ... Corresponding to the openings 17a of the second electrodes 17 ... Are formed on a stainless steel foil having a thickness of about 30 μm is bonded by a silicone pressure sensitive adhesive.

At the time of bonding the third electrode 19, the third electrode 19 is superposed on the insulator layer 18 with the opening 18a of the insulator layer 18 and the opening 19a of the third electrode 19 positioned. The ion flow electrostatic recording head 11 is manufactured. The insulator layer 18 and the third electrode 19 may be attached to the insulator layer 18 with a single-sided tape, instead of being attached with an adhesive or a double-sided tape.

Therefore, in the structure described above, dummy electrodes 14 extending parallel to the first electrodes 13 are provided on both sides of the first electrode 13 ... Since the gaps are provided at intervals, the insulating substrate 12 and the first electrode 13 ... When the ion flow electrostatic recording head 11 is manufactured.
When the dielectric paste is applied on top, the flow of the edge portion of the dielectric paste until the dielectric paste is hardened can be generated only on the dummy electrode 14.

Therefore, the flow portion of the edge portion of the dielectric paste until the dielectric paste is hardened is the first electrode arranged on the outermost side on both sides of the plurality of first electrode 13 ... Since it can be prevented from spreading to the portion of 13, the thickness of the dielectric layer 15 on the first electrode 13 ... Group is made uniform as compared with the conventional case, and the gap between the first electrode 13 and the second electrode 17 is made uniform. It is possible to secure a uniform distance. Therefore, the distance between the first electrode 13 and the second electrode 17 can be kept uniform at any place, and the amount of generated ions can be kept uniform at any place.
It is possible to improve the image quality and improve the durability under high voltage during the operation of the electrostatic recording head 1.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in the above embodiment, the insulating substrate 1
Instead of forming the first electrode 13 and the dummy electrode 14 on the second electrode 13 by using a copper foil, a predetermined circuit pattern of the first electrode 13 and the dummy electrode 14 is screen-printed on the insulating substrate 12 by using a silver-based conductive paste. You may make it the structure formed on it.

The conductive paste used here is, for example, "1110-S" (trade name) manufactured by ESL Nippon. Then, this conductive paste is used as the insulating substrate 1.
2 is applied by screen printing on 2 and then 150 ℃
Then, it is cured for 5 hours to obtain a thickness of 15 μm.

Further, an alumina substrate is used as the insulating substrate 12, and a predetermined circuit pattern of the first electrode 13 and the dummy electrode 14 is formed on the insulating substrate 12 by screen printing using a gold-based organic metal conductor paste. You may The conductor paste used here is, for example, “D-8083” (trade name) manufactured by ESL Nippon. Then, this conductive paste is applied to the insulating substrate 12 by screen printing, and then 58
It is cured at 0 ° C. for 10 minutes to obtain a thickness of 3 μm.

Polyimide may be used as the insulating substrate 12. Furthermore, although the thickness of the dummy electrode 14 is set to be the same as that of the first electrode 13 in principle, it may be appropriately changed depending on the width of the dummy electrode 14 and the surface material. In addition, in the electrode control circuit, a configuration may be adopted in which an applied voltage is applied to the dummy electrode 14 to balance the applied voltage to the other first electrodes 13.

As the dielectric layer 15, a dielectric powder, for example, an inorganic powder having a large dielectric constant is dispersed in an organic polymer material containing a solvent or in a ceramic binder, and a paste-like material is formed on the insulating substrate 12. It is used after being applied and dried and cured. Here, as the dielectric powder, for example, titanium oxide, barium titanate, lead zirconate, or the like can be used. However, if the viscosity of the dielectric paste is too high, the fluidity can be reduced but the surface smoothness cannot be ensured. On the contrary, if the viscosity is too low, the surface smoothness can be ensured but the fluidity becomes large, and thus the surface of the first electrode 13 cannot be ensured. The dielectric layer 14 cannot be formed. Therefore, it is necessary to have a viscosity that can secure the desired thickness.

As the organic polymer material of the dielectric paste, a resin component such as thermosetting alkyd resin or epoxy resin dissolved in an organic solvent is used, and as the ceramic binder, low melting glass or water glass is used. Can be used. Furthermore, it goes without saying that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0047]

According to the present invention, since the dummy electrodes extending in parallel with the first electrodes are provided on both sides of the first electrode group with a spacing not less than the respective spacings between the first electrodes. , It is possible to suppress the flow and spread at the time of applying the dielectric paste, make the distance between the first electrode and the second electrode uniform at any place, and make the ion generation amount uniform at any place,
Higher image quality and improved durability can be achieved.

[Brief description of drawings]

1A and 1B show an embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1A is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part showing a schematic configuration of an ion flow electrostatic recording head, and FIG. 1B is a sectional perspective view of the ion flow electrostatic recording head. Fig.

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a main part showing a laminated state of dielectric layers.

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a main part showing a state in which a second electrode is adhered to a dielectric layer.

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a main part showing a schematic configuration of a conventional ion flow electrostatic recording head.

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a main part showing a laminated state of dielectric layers.

FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a main part showing a state in which a second electrode is bonded to a dielectric layer.

[Explanation of symbols]

12 ... Insulating substrate, 13 ... First electrode, 14 ... Dummy electrode,
15 ... Dielectric layer, 17 ... Second electrode, 18 ... Insulator layer, 1
9 ... Third electrode.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of first electrodes extending in one direction and in parallel on an insulating substrate, and a plurality of first electrodes extending in a direction intersecting with the first electrodes to form a matrix together with the first electrodes. A plurality of second electrodes each having an opening formed in a portion corresponding to the matrix, and the second electrode being disposed on the side opposite to the first electrode, and having an opening formed in the portion corresponding to the matrix. A third electrode, a dielectric layer provided between the first electrode and the second electrode, and an opening portion provided between the second electrode and the third electrode and corresponding to the matrix. In an ion flow electrostatic recording head including a formed insulator layer, dummy electrodes extending parallel to the first electrodes are provided on both sides of the first electrode group between the first electrodes. Characterized by being provided with an interval larger than the interval Ion flow electrostatic recording head.