JPH07137331A - Electrostatic recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a small-sized electrostatic recording apparatus capable of stably forming an image of high quality having no image obstacle such as image missing over a long period of time. CONSTITUTION:A large number of recording electrode wires 18a are parallely provided on the base film 18b of a recording electrode sheet 18 provided on the peripheral surface of a developing sleeve 15 over the 1/4 periphery thereof at a predetermined pitch in the lateral direction of the film. One end parts thereof become the recording electrodes EL on the planar part 15a of the developing sleeve 15 and form a recording part in opposed relation to counter electrodes out of a drawing to form a recording part and the other end parts thereof are divided into a plurality of circuit elements 19 by a proper number of electrode wires to be connected thereto. The circuit elements 19 output the voltage (a recording signal) according to image data to the recording electrode wires 18a to drive the recording electrodes EL. A reinforcing material 21 is attached to the rear surfaces of the recording electrodes EL and vibrators 22 composed of solenoids are arranged on the plarnar part 15a in opposed relation to the magnetic member other than the recording electrodes EL.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrostatic recording apparatus which removes retention of a developer which is conveyed along a predetermined path to be transferred to a recording medium by an electric field formed according to recorded information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a toner image is formed on a drum-shaped intermediate recording medium as an electrostatic recording system in which plain paper can be used and a minute gap between the image medium and the recording electrode tip can be accurately secured. , There is a method of transferring the toner image onto a sheet. This method tends to increase the size of the apparatus because it uses an intermediate recording medium. However, in recent years, a method has been adopted in which a process of simultaneously recording an image on an intermediate recording medium and developing the image is adopted to avoid an increase in the size of the apparatus. In this method, a plurality of recording electrodes are installed in parallel on the developer transport path at equal intervals in the width direction (main scanning direction), and counter electrodes that also serve as an intermediate recording medium are brought into contact with or at minute intervals with respect to these recording electrodes. Are arranged facing each other. Then, an electric field is formed in a portion where the recording electrode and the counter electrode face each other (hereinafter, referred to as a recording portion) according to recording information, and the conveyed developer is selectively electrostatically adsorbed from the recording electrode to the counter electrode side. To form a recorded image (development).

[0003]

However, since the above-mentioned developer transport path is formed so as to be narrowed abruptly in the recording portion, the developer transported on this developer transport path is a part thereof. Tend to stay on the upstream side of the recording section. When the retention of the developer exceeds a certain limit, a stationary developer that does not move on the transport path is generated on the upstream side of the recording unit, and the stationary developer hinders the movement of the following developer,
Causes image defects such as image loss. Therefore, there is a problem that a high quality image cannot be stably formed for a long period of time.

In view of the above-mentioned conventional circumstances, the present invention is capable of preventing the generation of a stationary developer, stably forming a high-quality image free from image defects such as image loss, for a long time, and being small in size. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electrostatic recording device.

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided a developer carrying member provided along a predetermined path, a developer carrying means for carrying the developer along a surface in the developer carrying member, and A step formed on the surface of the developer carrying member, a plurality of recording electrodes arranged in parallel above the upper surface of the step at intervals with a direction perpendicular to the developer transport direction, and arranged to face the recording electrode. And a counter electrode having a cylindrical surface of an elastic body,
It is applied to an electrostatic recording apparatus that applies a recording voltage to each recording electrode according to recording information and selectively transfers the developer conveyed along the surface of the developer conveying path to the counter electrode side.

The electrostatic recording apparatus of the present invention comprises a vibrator provided on a step portion formed on the surface of the developer carrying member,
And a vibration control means for vibrating the recording electrode by vibrating the vibrator during the non-image forming period so as to shake off the developer staying in the facing portion of the recording electrode and the counter electrode.

[0007]

In the electrostatic recording apparatus of the present invention, under the control of the vibration control means, the vibrator vibrates during the non-image forming period to vibrate the recording electrode, so that the development stays in the opposing portion of the recording electrode and the counter electrode. Shake off the agent.

As a result, it is possible to prevent the generation of the immobile developer, stably form a high-quality image free from image defects such as image loss, for a long period of time, and reduce the size.

[0009]

EXAMPLES Examples of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the overall configuration of an electrostatic recording device (hereinafter, referred to as a main body device) of one embodiment. In FIG. 1, the paper feed cassette 1 is configured to stack and store paper P made of plain paper, and is removably inserted into a side portion of the main body device. A paper feed roller 2 is rotatably arranged in the counterclockwise direction shown by an arrow in the drawing above the leading end of the inserted paper feed cassette 1, and intermittently makes one rotation to feed the paper from the paper feed cassette 1. P is fed and fed forward (downstream in the paper feeding direction). A standby roll pair 3 is arranged in front of the paper feed roller 2. The standby roll pair 3 temporarily stops the progress of the paper P fed by the paper feed roller 2, adjusts the conveyance posture of the paper P, and directs the paper P to the downstream side in synchronization with the transfer timing of the recorded image. Redeliver. A transport guide plate 4 is arranged obliquely downwardly downstream thereof, and guides the paper P re-fed by the standby roll pair 3 forward. A transfer roll 5 and a counter electrode 6 facing the transfer roll 5 are arranged in front of the transport guide plate 4. An image transfer portion T is formed by both of these peripheral surface facing portions. Counter electrode 6 above
The image forming unit U also serves as an image carrier and is rotatably arranged in a clockwise direction indicated by an arrow A in the image forming unit U which is detachably attached to the main body. The image transfer portion T includes the counter electrode 6
The toner image formed above is transferred to the lower surface of the paper P passing between the transfer roll 5 and the counter electrode 6. The toner image formed on the counter electrode 6 is created in the recording unit W described later.

On the downstream side of the image transfer section T, an air-suction type conveyor belt 7 is stretched in a substantially horizontal direction, and the paper P is conveyed.
Convey while sucking up. A fixing device 8 is arranged in front of the conveyor belt 7. The fixing device 8 includes a heating roll 8a and a pressure contact roll 8b.
The toner image transferred to the lower surface of the paper is thermally fixed while the paper P is sandwiched and conveyed. The paper P on which the toner image is heat-fixed is discharged from the discharge port 9 onto the paper discharge tray 10 in a face-down state with the image side facing down.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the image forming unit U. As shown in the figure, the image forming unit U
Is composed of a toner storage tank 11 and a development recording tank 12. Toner to is stored in the toner storage tank 11, and a stirring blade 11a for rotatably disposing the toner to prevent aggregation of the toner to. A toner supply port Os is formed at the boundary between the toner storage tank 11 and the development recording tank 12, and a toner supply roll 13 is installed at this toner supply port Os. The toner replenishing roll 13 is rotated according to the toner concentration of the developer d flowing in the developing / recording tank 12, and the replenishment toner to is replenished into the developing / recording tank 12 by an appropriate amount to control the toner concentration within an appropriate range. To do. In this example,
Although the two-component developer is used as the developer, the developer is not limited to the two-component developer, and may be a one-component developer such as an insulating resin, magnetic fine powder, and a magnetic toner including colorant particles. In the case of a one-component developer, the above-mentioned control of toner concentration is unnecessary.

In the developing and recording tank 12, two auger rolls 14a and 14b are extended in parallel with each other in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing. These auger rolls 14a and 14b are
Each has a plurality of stirring blades, and the auger roll 14a rotates in the clockwise direction indicated by the arrow B, and conversely, the auger roll 14b rotates in the counterclockwise direction indicated by the arrow C. As a result, the developer d (toner and carrier) in the development recording tank 12 is circulated in the horizontal direction while being stirred, and the developer d is subjected to predetermined frictional charging.

On the diagonally upper side of the auger roll 14b,
The developing sleeve 15 is fixed. The developing sleeve 15 has a magnet roll 16 provided therein, and a recording electrode sheet 18 for driving electrodes is laid on the peripheral surface. A cover film 20 is formed on the recording electrode sheet 18.
And a vertical transport path for the developer is formed on the cover film 20. The developing sleeve 15 is arranged such that the upper portion thereof faces the lower peripheral surface of the counter electrode 6 in parallel, and the lower portion is immersed in the surface layer of the developer d circulating in the developing recording tank 12. The developing sleeve 15 carries the developer d by the rotation of the magnet roll 16, and the developer d
Is conveyed to the recording portion W located above on the developer vertical conveying path formed on the cover film 20.

As shown in the drawing, on the normal line r'rotated by the angle .theta. At the central angle of the developing sleeve 15 from the vertical normal line r of the developing sleeve 15 to the upstream side with respect to the conveying direction E of the developer d. The developing sleeve 15 and the counter electrode 6 are arranged such that the center of the counter electrode 6 is located at. Therefore, the peripheral surface of the counter electrode 6 comes closest to the developer carrying path formed along the peripheral surface of the developing sleeve 15 on the normal line r '. The position where the peripheral surface of the counter electrode is closest to the developer transport path is the recording portion W where the toner image is formed. In this way, by setting the recording section W at a position inclined by the angle θ to the upstream side, the developer stays on the upstream side of the recording section W, as will be described later in detail, without providing the developer transport restricting member. The amount of developer can be automatically controlled to a substantially constant suitable amount.

The magnet roll 16 disposed inside the developing sleeve 15 has N and S magnetic poles alternately magnetized on its peripheral surface, and rotates counterclockwise as indicated by arrow D in the figure. A rotating magnetic field for rotating the magnetic carrier particles in the developer d is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the developing sleeve 15. Due to this magnetic field, the developer d in the developing and recording tank 12 is attracted to the peripheral surface of the bottom of the developing sleeve 15, and the developing sleeve 15
On the conveyance path formed on the cover film 20 on the peripheral surface, the magnet roll 16 is conveyed counterclockwise as indicated by arrow E in the counterclockwise direction in the upward direction. The developer d that has reached the recording portion W by this conveyance is transferred to the surface of the counter electrode 6 according to the recording information, and is conveyed upward as the counter electrode 6 rotates in the clockwise direction indicated by arrow a. Then, the developer d is a peripheral surface facing portion of both the transfer roller 5 rotating in the paper P transport direction, that is, the counterclockwise direction indicated by the arrow in the figure, and the counter electrode 6 rotating in the clockwise direction indicated by the arrow a. Is transferred to the surface (lower surface in the figure) of the sheet P conveyed from the upper left side to the oblique lower right direction indicated by the arrow G in the figure, and is transferred by the transfer roll 5.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the construction of the recording electrode sheet 18, the developing sleeve 15 and the vibrator, which are the main parts of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the recording electrode sheet 18 is adhered onto the developing sleeve 15 in such a manner that the circumferential surface of the developing sleeve 15 makes about 1/4 round. The recording electrode sheet 18 is composed of a flexible printed circuit board (EPC), and is formed on a base film 18b made of a flexible insulating material and has a number of nonmagnetic materials corresponding to the maximum number of data for one main scanning line of an image. The recording electrode wires 18a made of a conductive material are juxtaposed in the film width direction at a predetermined fine pitch, for example, 300 pitches per inch. These recording electrode wires 18a
Is the recording electrode E at one end of the recording electrode sheet 18.
L is formed, and the other end is divided and connected to a plurality of circuit elements 19 mounted on the recording electrode sheet 18 by an appropriate number. These circuit elements 19 are respectively connected to a recording control unit (not shown) that controls the entire recording operation of the main body device. The recording controller supplies a control signal to the circuit element 19, and based on this control signal, the circuit element 19 outputs a voltage (recording signal) according to the image data to the recording electrode line 18a to drive the recording electrode EL. .

By thus disposing the circuit element 19 for driving the recording electrode EL on the recording electrode sheet 18 adhered on the peripheral surface of the developing sleeve 15, the recording electrode sheet 18 is arranged in, for example, other constituent parts. Since it is not necessary to extend to the circuit element substrate provided, the recording electrode sheet 18 is small and inexpensive. In addition, the recording electrode EL and the circuit element 1
The length of the recording electrode wire 18a serving as a connecting member with the recording electrode wire 9 is extremely short, so that the so-called antenna effect due to the recording electrode wire 18a is reduced and noise is reduced. As a result, the recording signal that correctly corresponds to the recording information is stably supplied to the recording electrode EL.

On the other hand, on the peripheral surface of the developing sleeve 15, a flat surface portion 15a is formed on the upper side, another flat surface portion 15b is formed on the upstream side, and another flat surface portion 15c is formed on the downstream side. The recording electrode EL formed at the leading end of the recording electrode sheet 18 is arranged above the approximately half upstream region of the flat surface portion 15a. The recording electrode EL is laid on a spring plate material (not shown) which is curved to have substantially the same curvature as the peripheral surface of the developing sleeve 15, and is projected in a curved shape on the flat surface portion 15a and elastically supported in the hollow. Will be placed in. As a result, the recording electrode EL forms a recording portion W consisting of an extremely small gap with the peripheral surface of the counter electrode 6 shown in FIG.

A reinforcing plate 21 is attached to the back surface of the recording electrode W at the recording portion W position in the longitudinal direction of the recording portion W. The reinforcing plate 21 is made of a non-magnetic material at the recording electrode EL portion, and is made of a magnetic material at one end or both ends outside the recording electrode EL portion (the portion shown by the solid line in the figure). Further, the reinforcing plate 21 is configured to have sufficient rigidity so that the force applied to one end or both ends is transmitted in the longitudinal direction. A vibrator 22 composed of a solenoid is arranged on the flat surface portion 15a of the developing sleeve 15 facing the portion of the reinforcing plate 21 made of the magnetic material. The above-described recording control unit transmits a drive control signal to a vibrator driving unit (not shown) at the time of non-image recording (non-printing), and the vibrator driving unit receives an alternating current of an appropriate frequency based on the drive control signal. Current 2
2, the oscillator 22 generates a periodically fluctuating magnetic field corresponding to the frequency of the alternating current, and this periodically fluctuating magnetic field acts on the magnetic material portion of the stiffening plate 21 and the stiffening plate 21.
The recording electrode EL is vibrated by vibrating the reinforcing plate 21.
Vibrates.

Thus, even if the image recording operation is continuously performed, the immobile developer is prevented from being formed in the pool Rt of the developer d described later in detail. Further, an end portion of the recording electrode sheet 18 on which the circuit element 19 is mounted is laid on the flat surface portion 15b on the upstream side of the developing sleeve 15. The flat portion 15b is formed to facilitate installation of the circuit element 19 on the recording electrode sheet 18. Further, since the circuit element 19 for driving the recording electrode EL is arranged on the upstream side of the recording electrode EL in this way, the recording electrode EL is configured to project in the forward direction with respect to the rotation direction of the counter electrode 6 (FIG. 3), there is no risk of damaging the recording electrode EL.

The flat portion 1 immediately downstream of the flat portion 15a.
5c is formed for promptly conveying the residual developer d '(see FIG. 3), which is carried out without being transferred to the counter electrode 6 in the recording portion W, to the downstream side. By cutting the peripheral surface of the developing sleeve 15 to form the flat surface portion 15c, the developer transport path (the flat surface portion 15c) can be formed as compared with the case where the cutting surface is not cut off.
The surface c) is closer to the magnet roll 16, and the magnetic force of the magnet roll 16 becomes stronger due to the closer proximity to the magnet roll 16, and this strong magnetic force causes the residual developer d ′ to be quickly carried out. Therefore, there is no possibility that the developer-recorded image formed on the peripheral surface of the counter electrode 6 is disturbed by the residual developer d '.

As described above, the entire surface of the recording electrode sheet 18 laid on the peripheral surface of the developing sleeve 15 is covered with the circuit element 19 except the recording electrode EL portion, and a cover film (protective coating) made of a non-magnetic material. ) 20 (see FIG. 3) is arranged so as to be curved to have substantially the same curvature as the peripheral surface of the developing sleeve 15. This cover film 20 is
The surface of the recording portion W is rotated counterclockwise as shown by arrow E in FIG.
By forming a developer transport path in the direction, the developer d is prevented from directly contacting the circuit element 19, and the circuit element 19 is prevented from being damaged by friction with the developer d or the like.

Next, the processing operation at the time of image recording (printing) and the processing operation at the time of non-printing in the embodiment having the above-mentioned configuration will be described with reference to FIG. This figure is an enlarged view of only the main part of the image forming unit U shown in FIG. 2 or FIG. 3 according to the present invention. That is, in the figure, the counter electrode 6 described above, a cylindrical developing sleeve 15 facing the counter electrode 6, a magnet roll 16 coaxially rotatably disposed and incorporated inside the cylinder of the developing sleeve 15, and a developing sleeve 15. The recording electrode sheet 18 attached / laid on the peripheral surface, the reinforcing plate 21 attached to the back surface of the recording electrode EL at the tip of the recording electrode sheet 18, and the developing sleeve 15 facing the magnetic material portion of the reinforcing plate 21. The vibrator 22 disposed at the position on the flat surface portion 15a of the
Shows a scraping plate 17 and the like which is vertically installed with its tip abutting on the lower part of the peripheral surface of the developing sleeve 15 on the opposite side to which it is attached and laid. By these, the printing operation is normally performed at the time of printing, and the operation of preventing the generation of the immobile developer of the present invention is performed at the time of non-printing. Hereinafter, these operations will be described.

First, at the time of printing, the magnet roll 16
Is rotated in the clockwise direction indicated by arrow D in the figure. By this rotation, a rotating magnetic field is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the developing sleeve 15, so that the developer d in the developing recording tank 12 moves upward from the bottom of the developing sleeve 15 on the cover film 20 in the counterclockwise direction shown by the arrow E in the figure. Be transported to.

As described above, since the recording portion W is set at the position inclined by the angle θ to the upstream side, the surface of the cover film 20 has a substantially vertical conveying path to the recording portion W. There is. The developer d transported upward along this transport path is regulated in transport amount upstream of the recording section W where the counter electrode 6 approaches and the transport path becomes narrow. Of the developer d whose progress is restricted in this way, the magnet roll 16
The developer d in the area near the surface of the developing sleeve 15 (the surface of the cover film 20 on the surface of the recording electrode sheet 18) where the magnetic force is sufficiently circulated in the area in the clockwise direction as shown by the arrow C in the figure, On the other hand, the developer particles that have moved far from the surface of the developing sleeve 15 are released from the magnetic field of the magnet roll 16, spontaneously fall as shown by the arrow in the figure, and the developer flowing in the developing recording tank 12 below. Join d.

As a result, the developer d on the conveying path is not transferred to the recording portion W.
A developer pool Rt is formed on the upstream side of. Then, the amount of the developer forming the developer pool Rt is automatically controlled by the above-mentioned natural fall, and thereby the developer carried into the recording portion W is controlled to an appropriate amount. That is, the recording unit W
The developer d can be easily transported without providing a complicated mechanism for adjusting the transport amount of the developer d carried into the device, for example, disposing a transport restricting member such as a doctor blade and controlling its posture. As a result, the developer particles are smoothly carried in an appropriate amount into the extremely small gap of the recording portion W between the elastically supported recording electrode EL and the peripheral surface of the counter electrode 6 and are sandwiched flexibly.

Then, the circuit element 19 selectively applies the recording voltage according to the recording information to the recording electrode EL. In this case, when the 1-bit recording data is “H”, for example,
In this example, a voltage (ON voltage) of −200 V is applied to the corresponding recording electrode EL. A bias power source 6a that applies a bias having the same polarity as the charging polarity of the toner is connected to the counter electrode 6 that faces the recording electrode EL. In this example,
A two-component developer comprising a toner having a negative (-) triboelectric charging characteristic and a magnetic carrier having a positive (+) triboelectric charging characteristic is used, and the bias power source 6a opposes a bias having a voltage value of -50V. It is applied to the electrode 6. Therefore, an electric field based on the potential difference of 150 V is formed from the counter electrode 6 toward the recording electrode EL. When the developer d passes through the recording portion W in which such an electric field is formed while being in contact with the peripheral surface of the counter electrode 6, the toner particles charged in the negative polarity move to the higher potential side. Therefore, only the toner particles on the recording electrode EL to which the ON voltage of −200 V is applied are selectively transferred to the peripheral surface of the counter electrode 6 to form a 1-dot toner image.

On the other hand, when the 1-bit recording data is "L", the ground voltage (off voltage) is applied to the corresponding recording electrode EL. As a result, in this case, an electric field in the opposite direction based on the potential difference of −50 V is formed from the counter electrode 6 toward the recording electrode EL, and the negative polarity toner particles are not transferred while being held by the recording electrode EL.

In this way, the counter electrode 6 continues to rotate while forming a toner image on the peripheral surface, and the toner image reaching the image transfer portion T is transferred onto the surface of the paper P by the transfer roll 5. Despite the transfer to the peripheral surface of the counter electrode 6,
The untransferred toner d ″ that has not been transferred to the paper P at the image transfer portion T reaches the developer pool Rt, is agitated in the developer pool Rt, and is separated from the peripheral surface of the counter electrode 6 by this. The peripheral surface of the counter electrode 6 on which the image has been transferred is cleaned.

In the recording portion W, the counter electrode 6
The residual developer d ′ that is carried out without being transferred to the recording medium W is promptly conveyed to the downstream side via the flat surface portion 15c immediately downstream of the flat surface portion 15a of the developing sleeve 15 in which the recording portion W is present.
The scraping plate 17 scrapes off the peripheral surface of the developing sleeve 15 and drops it to join the developer d in the developing and recording tank 12.

As described above, the developer d is conveyed, and the potential of each recording electrode EL is -200 V according to the input recording data.
And the ground voltage are selectively controlled, and the toner recording image is formed on the surface of the counter electrode 6 by the transfer of the toner particles of the developer d in the recording portion W. The density of the toner recording image is adjusted by changing the voltage of the bias power source 6a. An appropriate adjustment range of this bias is 0 to -50V, and the closer to 0V, the higher the image density.

However, when the printing process is continued over a large number of pages, the circulation of the developer d, which circulates in the developer pool Rt along the path indicated by the arrow H, is repeated several times with the same developer d. The charge amount of the developer d forming the developer pool Rt deteriorates and decreases.
Further, as a result, the developer d is excessively compacted and welded to the recording electrode EL to generate a stationary developer. If the charge amount of the developer d deteriorates / decreases, the toner particles transferred onto the counter electrode 6 do not correctly correspond to the recording signal, and
If the immovable developer is generated, it obstructs the conveyance path and the recording unit W
Non-uniformity occurs in the flow rate of the developer d carried in. In either case, the formation of a toner image is inconvenient, and a proper recorded image cannot be obtained.

In order to prevent this, in this embodiment,
During the next non-printing period, while the rotation of the magnet roll 16 is stopped, the recording control unit supplies an alternating current of a predetermined frequency to the vibrator 22 for an appropriate time via the vibrator driving unit (not shown). As a result, the vibrator 22 generates a periodically varying magnetic field to vibrate the magnetic material portion of the reinforcing plate 21, and the reinforcing plate 21 vibrates. Due to this vibration, the recording electrode EL to which the reinforcing plate 21 is attached vibrates, and the recording electrode E
The above described developer pool Rt formed on and near L is released. As a result, the developer d in the developer pool Rt that has collapsed spontaneously falls and merges with the developer d in the development recording tank 12, and the charge amount of the deteriorated developer d is regenerated.

As described above, even if the printing process is continued over a large number of pages, the pool Rt of the developer d is reliably released during non-printing between the printing process and the printing process, and the pool Rt is always maintained during the next printing. Developer with sufficient electric charge
Is supplied. Therefore, the immobile developer is not formed. As a result, it is possible to always obtain a good high-resolution recorded image having a sufficient image density on the circumferential surface of the counter electrode 6.

In this embodiment, a solenoid is used for the vibrator 22, but the vibrator is not limited to the solenoid, and an electrostrictive vibrator may be used, for example. In this case, the reinforcing plate 21 may be entirely made of a non-magnetic member, and the electrostrictive oscillator may be arranged by fixing the upper and lower sides to the reinforcing plate 21 and the flat surface portion 15a of the developing sleeve 15, respectively.

[0036]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the recording portion for recording / developing an image is provided with the vibrator vibrating during non-printing, so that the retention of the developer is surely performed during non-printing. It can be released and the developer having a sufficient electric charge can be constantly supplied to the recording portion. Further, as a result, the immovable developer is not formed, so that the developer conveying path is always kept normal, and therefore it is possible to always supply the developer at a uniform flow rate. These results,
It is possible to always obtain a good recorded image with a high resolution and a sufficient image density.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a recording electrode sheet and a developing sleeve of an electrostatic recording device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the overall configuration of the electrostatic recording device.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of an image forming unit of the electrostatic recording device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating prevention of developer retention in the electrostatic recording apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Paper Feed Cassette 2 Paper Feed Roller 3 Standby Roll Pair 4 Conveyance Guide Plate 5 Transfer Roll 6 Counter Electrode 7 Conveyor Belt 8 Fixer 8a Heating Roll 8b Pressure Contact Roll 9 Discharge Port 10 Discharge Tray 11 Toner Storage Tank 11a Stirring Blade 12 Development Recording tank 13 Toner supply roll 14a, 14b Auger roll 15 Developing sleeve 16 Magnet roll 17 Scraping plate 18 Recording electrode sheet 18a Recording electrode wire 18b Base film 19 Circuit element 20 Cover film 21 Reinforcing plate 22 Transducer U Image forming unit d Development Agent EL Recording electrode T Image transfer part W Recording part Os Toner supply port

Front page continuation (72) Inventor Shigeru Shimizu 3-2-1 Sakaemachi, Hamura, Tokyo Casio Computer Co., Ltd., Hamura Technical Center

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A developer carrying member installed along a predetermined path, a developer carrying means for carrying a developer along a surface inside the developer carrying member, and a developer carrying member formed on the surface of the developer carrying member. And a plurality of recording electrodes arranged above the upper surface of the step in parallel with each other in the direction perpendicular to the developer transport direction at intervals, and in the shape of a cylinder having an elastic body and facing the recording electrodes. And a recording voltage is applied to each of the recording electrodes according to recording information to selectively transfer the developer carried along the surface of the developer carrying path to the counter electrode side. In an electrostatic recording device, a vibrator provided on a step portion formed on the surface of the developer carrying member, and the vibrator so as to shake off the developer staying at the facing portion of the recording electrode and the counter electrode. By vibrating during the non-imaging period Serial electrostatic recording apparatus according to claim recording electrodes that and a vibration control means for vibrating.