JPH07199723A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an image forming device which is small in size, light in weight, capable of displaying an image of high precision and color image and has a function as a printer. CONSTITUTION:The image forming device (a display device used in common with a printer device) is constituted by providing at least an insulating toner 2, a nonmagnetic cylinder (a developing means) 8, a photoreceptor drum (an image carrier) 13, a transferring body 3 and a display window 10. A toner image is transferred from the photoreceptor drum 13 on which the toner image is formed by the insulating toner 2 to the transferring body 3 by the nonmagnetic cylinder 8 and then the transferring body 3 is transported to the display window 10 and is stopped and the toner image is displayed via the display window 10. As all recording methods using a conventional insulating toner can be utilized for this toner image forming method, the developing means 8 which is comparatively light in weight of a fixed magnet system can be used and thereby the device is small-sized, and further color image can be displayed by using a nonmagnetic one component developing means, etc., capable of forming the color image. Function of a printer is also added to the device by performing an image transfer to a transfer material 15.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a still image display device, a printer or a facsimile machine using an electrophotographic system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a device for displaying a still image by using an unfixed toner image, a device for forming an image by the method described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 51-46707 has been heretofore known. An example of a product manufactured by using such a method is a display device as shown in FIG.

In FIG. 12, 1 is a recording electrode, 2 is a conductive magnetic toner, 3 is a recording medium, and the recording medium 3 is a conductive layer of a surface dielectric layer 3a and a resistance layer 3b as shown in FIG. 3c and the support layer 3d.

In FIG. 12, 4 is an image forming unit, 5 is a circuit board, 6 is a cleaning brush, 7 is a rotating magnet, 8 is a non-magnetic cylinder, 9 is a conveying roller for conveying a recording medium, and 10 is a display window. , 11 are body frames.

Thus, in this display device, by rotating the rotating magnet 7, the conductive magnetic toner 2 which is a coloring substance is conveyed on the non-magnetic cylinder 8 and is composed of a magnetic material. It is supplied onto the recording electrode 1. The circuit board 5 is provided between the conductive layer 3c of the recording medium 3 and the recording electrode 1.
Apply a voltage corresponding to the image signal generated by
Due to the charge (10 ⁻⁸ to 10 ⁻⁷ c) induced in Toner 2,
The toner 2 is electrostatically attached to the recording medium 3 (1000 to 10,000 pF / cm ² ) to form an image. still,
The image once formed is returned to its original position by rotating the endless belt-shaped recording medium 3 once, and the toner 2 is scraped off from the recording medium 3 by the cleaning brush 6 and placed directly below the brush 6. The recording medium 3 is collected on the recording electrode 1 and reused.

[0006]

Since such an image forming system can simplify the constituent elements and can be easily thinned as compared with the electrophotographic recording method which has been used in the conventional copying machine and page printer. Although it is suitable for a display device such as an electronic bulletin board, on the other hand, since the rotating magnet 7 is used, the weight becomes heavy, and when the pitch of the recording electrodes 1 is reduced too much, the insulating property between the electrodes is deteriorated by the conductive toner 2. However, there is a problem that the toner 2 is fused on the electrode 1 due to the deterioration of the image due to the crosstalk of the recording signals and the heat generation due to the leak, and thus there is a drawback that the high definition cannot be achieved, and the small and high definition display device is provided. Is not suitable.

Further, in such a recording principle, due to the conductivity of the toner, when the process of transferring an image onto a paper or the like which is performed by a conventional electrophotographic recording method using an insulating toner is carried out, the resistance of the paper is reduced. The charge injected into the toner via the leaks, causing a transfer failure and preventing transfer to paper,
There is a problem that the function as a printer cannot be provided, and it is difficult to color a color other than black because the toner needs to be magnetic, and a color image cannot be formed.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus which is compact and lightweight and is capable of displaying a high-definition image or a color image, and further has a function as a printer. To do.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises an image forming apparatus having at least an insulating toner, a developing means, an image carrier, a transfer body, and a display window. After the toner image is transferred from the image carrier on which the toner image is formed with the insulating toner by the developing means to the transfer body, the transfer body is conveyed to the display window and stopped, and the transfer is performed through the display window. The toner image on the transfer member is displayed.

[0010]

According to the present invention, since all the conventional recording methods using an insulating toner can be used for forming a toner image, a relatively small and lightweight developing means of a fixed magnet system can be used. In addition to further miniaturization, it is possible to display a color image by using a non-magnetic one-component developing means capable of forming a color image.

Regarding the image quality, a high-definition image of the same level as that of a page printer can be obtained, and by transferring the image onto a transfer material, it is possible to freely add a function as a printer to the apparatus.

[0012]

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

<First Embodiment> FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of a recording medium. In these drawings, FIGS. The same elements as those shown are designated by the same reference numerals.

In the display device according to this embodiment, a new insulating toner 2 ', a transfer body 3'having a medium resistance conductive elastic body processed into an endless belt shape, a fixed magnet 7', and an exposure device 12 are provided. Inner surface exposure type photosensitive drum 1 included
3. A conductive magnetic brush 14 (conductive toner or conductive carrier) for simultaneously performing charging, development and cleaning is provided.

The cross-sectional structure of the transfer body 3'has a four-layer structure as shown in FIG. 2. In FIG. 2, 3a 'is a medium-resistance conductive surface obtained by adding a white resistance control material to urethane resin. The coat layer 3b 'is a conductive foamed elastic body layer having a medium resistance to which a white resistance control material is added.

Then, by applying a transfer bias to the conductive layer 3c of the transfer body 3 ', the inner surface exposure type photosensitive drum 1 is exposed.
The toner image formed on the surface of No. 3 is transferred to the surface of the transfer body 3 ', and the conveying roller 9 is driven to move the transfer body 3'to the display window 10 in the arrow direction of FIG. For example, the toner image transferred to the transfer body 3'is displayed on the display window 10
Be displayed through.

Incidentally, the toner 2'which once adheres to the transfer body 3 '
Is strongly held on the surface of the transfer body 3'mainly by the Van der Waals force even when the transfer bias is turned off, so there is little risk that the toner 2'will fall even if the device is tilted or the device is vibrated. The image can be displayed for a long time even if is dropped.

After the display is completed, the transfer member 3 '
And the cleaning brush 6 transfers the transfer member 3 ′.
The toner 2'attached to the toner is scraped off to the developing section, and the scraped toner 2'is reused as the next display developer.

<Second Embodiment> Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a display device / printer device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In this drawing, the same elements as those shown in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals.

In the display device / printer device according to this embodiment, the transfer material 15, the transfer material supplying means 16, the transfer material cleaning means 6 ', the toner collecting means 6 ", and the pressure roller 17' are provided.
And a fixing device 17 including a fixing roller 17 ″ is newly added.

Thus, the display device / printer device according to the present embodiment functions as a display device when the transfer material 15 is not present in the nip portion between the photosensitive drum 13 and the transfer body 3 ', and a transfer material supply means. When the transfer material 15 is conveyed to the nip portion 16 by means of 16, the printer functions as a printer. When the transfer material 15 functions as a printer, the toner image on the photosensitive drum 13 is transferred to the back surface of the transfer material 15, and the toner image is transferred. The transfer material 15 that has received the toner passes through the fixing device 17 as it is, so that the toner image is fixed and an image is formed on the transfer material 15.

As described above, the display device / printer device according to this embodiment can be selectively used as the display device and the printer as required.

In this embodiment, the transfer material 1 is fed from the rear side of the apparatus.
In order to prevent the transfer material 15 from being contaminated at the time of collecting the displayed toner image, the toner collecting means 6 ″ is removed from the surface of the transfer body 3 by the transfer body cleaning means 6 ′ using a screw or a slope so as to supply 5. Toner 2 '
Are collected at the left and right ends of the apparatus, and the toner 2'is collected in the developing container through both ends. Further, any of a brush, a rotating brush and a blade may be used for the transfer member cleaning means 6 ', and it is more effective to use these in combination. Further, an appropriate bias may be applied to the cleaning member so that the toner 2 ′ on the transfer body 3 can be electrically attracted and collected.

<Third Embodiment> Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a display / printer apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, the same members as those shown in FIG. 3 are designated by the same reference numerals.

In the display device / printer device according to the present embodiment, as a method of transferring the toner image onto the transfer material 15, the toner image is once transferred onto the transfer member 3'at the nip portion between the photosensitive drum 13 and the transfer member 3 '. A method of retransferring the formed toner image onto the transfer material 15 conveyed to the nip portion is used. Therefore, a sequence for switching the transfer bias is set so that the polarity of the potential between the transfer body 3 ′ and the photosensitive drum 13 at the time of retransfer becomes the opposite polarity of the potential at the time of transfer onto the first transfer body 3 ′. There is.

Further, in order to make the best use of the characteristics of this constitution, in the present embodiment, as a method for cleaning the toner 2'on the surface of the transfer body 3 ', the reverse polarity bias is applied at the nip to electrically transfer. Toner 2'on body 3 '
Is returned to the photosensitive drum 13 side.

<Fourth Embodiment> Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Note that FIG. 5 and FIG.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a display device / printer device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, and in these drawings, the same elements as those shown in FIG. 3 are designated by the same reference numerals.

In the display device / printer device according to this embodiment, the display unit 19 used as a display device and the main body are separated in advance, and the display unit 19 is the main body side door 1
8 and the display unit side door 18 '.

When the main body is used as a printer in the display device / printer device according to this embodiment, the transfer roller 3 "is set instead of the transfer member 3'as shown in FIG. Can realize a small printer,
When used as a display device, the display device can be realized by opening the doors 18 and 18 'and incorporating the display unit 19 into the main body as shown in FIG.

According to this embodiment, the display unit 19 is once displayed.
After forming an image on the display unit, only the display unit 19 can be removed from the main body to use the display unit 19 itself as a bulletin board or a circulation board.
Of the transfer material 15 by returning the toner to the main body and collecting the toner 2 ′.
It is also possible to build a resource saving system that does not waste toner or toner 2 '.

<Fifth Embodiment> Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a display device / printer device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention, and in this drawing as well, the same elements as those shown in FIG. 33 are designated by the same reference numerals.

In the display / printer device according to this embodiment, a transport roller 9 is newly added, and a transfer roller 3 "having a separating function in the direction of the arrow in the figure is provided at a position facing the transport roller 9. ing.

Thus, in this embodiment, as in the case of the third embodiment, the toner image once formed on the transfer body 3'is used as a transfer method of the toner image on the transfer material 15. Although the method of re-transferring to the upper side is used, in the first to fourth embodiments, the image display and the image formation on the transfer material 15 cannot be performed at the same time, but in the present embodiment, the apparatus is used. When using as a display device, the transfer body 3 '
The transfer roller 3 ″, which is set to be separated from the transfer roller 3 ″, is brought into contact with the transfer member 3 ′, and the transfer member 3 ′ is attached to the transfer roller 3 ″.
By applying a strong transfer bias that attracts the charged toner 2 ′ more strongly than that, the toner image can be transferred onto the transfer material 15 at the same time while displaying.

<Sixth Embodiment> Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a display device / printer device according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. Also in this drawing, the same elements as those shown in FIG. 3 are designated by the same reference numerals.

In the display device / printer device according to this embodiment, the developing method using only the one-component magnetic toner without using the magnetic brush is used, and the photoconductor cleaning means 18, the charging means 19 and the developing blade 2 are used.
0, a developing container 21 is newly added.

Thus, in the present embodiment, since the magnetic brush is not used for the development as described above, it is not necessary to use a developer such as a conductive toner or a conductive carrier which is not necessary for direct image formation, and the apparatus The weight reduction and the filling rate of the developer facilitate the downsizing and the long life of the developer.

<Seventh Embodiment> Next, a seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the display / printer apparatus according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention, and in this figure also, the same elements as those shown in FIG. 3 are designated by the same reference numerals.

In the display device / printer device according to the present embodiment, the developing method using the non-magnetic one-component toner 2 ″ is used as the developing method. Particularly, in the present embodiment, the color toner utilizing the characteristics of the non-magnetic toner is used. 1 shows a configuration of a color image display device / printer device by means of a color fixing device 22 having a release agent applying means 22 ′ and a cleaning web 22 ″, a tertiary transfer roller 23, a yellow image forming unit 24, and a cyan image forming unit. 25, magenta image forming unit 26, black image forming unit 27
A transfer roller 3 "for newly providing a secondary transfer
A transfer body cleaning means 6'for cleaning the surface of the transfer roller 3 "is added around the area.

Further, inside each of the image forming units 24 to 27, a developing container for one-component non-magnetic toner (not shown), a developing roller, a developing blade, a photosensitive drum, a charging means, an exposing device, a drum cleaning means, and a developing device. It includes constituent elements such as a toner stripping roller on the roller, multiple color images are transferred in sequence of yellow, cyan, magenta, and black onto the transfer body 3 ′, and an unfixed color image is displayed on the display window 10. It

After that, the color image is conveyed to a portion facing the transfer roller 3 ", and by applying an appropriate transfer bias between the transfer body 3'and the transfer roller 3", all the color toners are transferred to the transfer roller 3 ". At the same time, the transfer material 15 is conveyed to the nip portion between the transfer roller 3 ″ and the tertiary transfer roller 23, and all the color toners on the transfer roller 3 ″ can be transferred onto the transfer material 15. By applying an appropriate transfer bias between the transfer roller 3 ′ and the tertiary transfer roller 23, a color image is transferred onto the transfer material 15,
The color toner on the transfer material 15 is fixed through the color fixing device 22.

Incidentally, the color toner after display on the transfer body 3'and the transfer roller 3 "and the residual toner after transfer are removed by the transfer body cleaning means 6'and accumulated as waste toner, and then periodically. Be abandoned.

In this embodiment, an example in which the apparatus is mainly used as a display apparatus for a multi-color image in which color toners are not multiplexed has been described. However, when the apparatus according to this embodiment is used as a printer, Can be used as a device capable of forming an image.

<Eighth Embodiment> FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a display / printer apparatus according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, the same elements as those shown in FIG. is doing.

In this embodiment, the inner surface exposure type photosensitive drum 13 is used.
A transfer roller 3 "is provided around the periphery of the.

Thus, in this embodiment, a bias for re-transferring the toner image once formed on the transfer body 3'to the photosensitive drum 13 is applied between the transfer body 3'and the photosensitive drum 13, The image is finally transferred onto the transfer material 15 by re-transferring the image onto the photosensitive drum 13 and applying a bias to the transfer roller 3 ″ so that the toner on the photosensitive drum 13 is transferred onto the transfer material 15. The method of transfer is used.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the image formed on the transfer body 3'can be directly formed on the transfer material 15, and the image data at the time of display as in the third embodiment. When printing, it is not necessary to process the image data into a mirror image data, and the image once displayed and confirmed can be printed as it is.

<Ninth Embodiment> FIG. 11 is a sectional view of a display / printer apparatus according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention. In this drawing, the same elements as those shown in FIG. 12 are designated by the same reference numerals. is doing.

In the present embodiment, when the image is transferred onto the transfer material 15, the lower conveying roller 9 in the figure can be moved in the direction of the thick line arrow, and the transfer member 3'is once moved from the surface of the photosensitive drum 13 at the time of printing. The transfer roller 3 ″ provided around the photosensitive drum 13 is separated from the photosensitive drum 13 in the same process as a normal printer.
The image is transferred to the transfer material 15 at the nip portion of the.

Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to freely print the same image as the displayed image or another image while displaying the image formed on the transfer body 3 '.

By the way, by using the white conductive treated potassium titanate whiskers as the resistance control material of the transfer body 3'in each of the above-mentioned embodiments, a transfer body having a uniform medium resistance with less resistance unevenness can be realized. The mechanical strength, heat resistance, light resistance, and other durability of the transfer member can also be increased at the same time. In addition, since the white conductive potassium titanate whiskers have a higher whiteness than other white resistance control materials, it is possible to obtain a high contrast as a display medium for a display device such as the present invention. Since it can be easily colored, it is possible to freely color the board suitable for it.

[0051]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, since all the conventional recording methods using the insulating toner can be used for forming the toner image, the fixed magnet system is relatively small and lightweight. A developing means can be used, and the size of the apparatus can be further reduced, and a color image can be displayed by using a non-magnetic one-component developing means capable of forming a color image.

Regarding the image quality, a high-definition image of the same level as that of a page printer can be obtained, and the function as a printer can be freely added to the apparatus by transferring to a transfer material.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a display device according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of a recording medium used in the display device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a display / printer device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a display / printer device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a separated state of a display device / printer device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a combined state of a display device / printer device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a display / printer device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a display / printer device according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a display / printer device according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a display device / printer device according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of a display / printer device according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional display device.

FIG. 13 is a partial cross-sectional view of a recording medium used in a conventional display device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Recording Electrode 2 Conductive Magnetic Toner 3 Recording Medium 3a Surface Dielectric Layer 3b Resistive Layer 3c Conductive Layer 3d Supporting Layer 3'Transfer 3a 'Surface Medium Resistance Coating Layer 3b' Medium Resistance Elastic Layer 4 Image Forming Unit 5 Circuit Board 6 Cleaning Brush 6'Transfer cleaning means 6 "Cleaning brush 7 Rotating magnet 8 Non-magnetic cylinder 9 Conveying roller 10 Display window 14 Magnetic brush 15 Transfer material 16 Transfer material supplying means 17 Fixing device

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI Technical display location G03G 21/10 H04N 1/23 Z

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. An image carrier comprising at least an insulating toner, a developing means, an image carrier, a transfer body, and a display window, from which the toner image of the insulating toner is formed by the developing means. An image forming apparatus, comprising: transferring a toner image to a transfer body, conveying the transfer body to the display window and stopping the transfer body, and displaying the toner image on the transfer body through the display window. 2. A transfer material supply unit and a toner image fixing unit are newly provided, the transfer material is supplied to a nip portion between the image carrier and the transfer member, and the image is transferred from the image carrier at the nip portion. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a function of fixing the toner image on the transfer material by the fixing unit after the toner image is transferred onto the material. 3. The transfer method to the transfer material is a method of secondarily transferring the toner image once transferred onto the transfer body onto the transfer material at the nip portion. The image forming apparatus described. 4. A transfer roller is newly provided around the transfer member, and a toner image is transferred onto the transfer material at a nip portion between the transfer roller and the transfer member. Image forming device. 5. The transfer roller is provided around the image carrier, the toner image once transferred onto the transfer body is retransferred onto the image carrier, and then the transfer roller and the image carrier are separated from each other. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the toner image is transferred onto the transfer material at the nip portion. 6. A second transfer roller is newly provided around the transfer roller, the toner image on the transfer body is transferred onto the transfer roller, and then the toner image on the transfer roller is transferred onto the second transfer roller. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the image is transferred onto the transfer material by a transfer roller. 7. The cleaning unit for removing unnecessary toner on the transfer member also has a function of collecting the removed toner by the developing unit and reusing it. 5. The image forming apparatus according to 5 or 6. 8. The image bearing member is used as the cleaning unit, the toner on the transfer member is transferred to the image bearing member and collected, and the toner is developed through a cleaning unit provided around the image bearing member. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the toner removed by the means is collected by the developing means and reused. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transfer body is made of an elastic body having a medium resistance. 10. The sectional structure of the elastic body is a structure in which a low resistance conductive layer, a middle resistance conductive rubber layer, and a middle resistance releasable thin film layer are laminated in this order on an endless belt-shaped substrate surface. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein 11. The color of the elastic body is set to white by a white conductivity control material.
The image forming apparatus described. 12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein a white conductive potassium titanate whisker is used as the white conductivity control material.