JPH07228387A - Recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a recorder without damaging a toner flow control means when a jam is generated during conveying a carrier and capable of easily removing also the jammed carrier. CONSTITUTION:A process unit of aperture electrode 1, toner supplier 10, etc., in a recorder is mounted on a jack, and the jack is operated by drive force from a motor 17 so as to vertically move the process unit. At the time of recording operation, when a jam is generated in conveying a carrier P, the process unit is moved downward, to form a relatively large clearance between the aperture electrode 1 and an opposed electrode 6, so that the jammed carrier P is easily removed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording device applied to copying machines, printers, facsimiles and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as one of recording devices of this type,
An aperture electrode that has an opening and is a toner flow control unit that modulates and controls the flow of toner passing through the opening, and is provided on the back surface of the aperture electrode and supplies charged toner to the opening of the aperture electrode. Toner supply device,
A recording apparatus has been proposed which includes a counter electrode that guides the toner, which is supplied by the toner supply device and has passed through the opening of the aperture electrode, to a support disposed on the surface of the aperture.

However, in this recording apparatus, since the diameter of the aperture of the aperture electrode is extremely small, the recording apparatus may be clogged with toner, which may make recording impossible. The clogging of the opening portion due to the toner is caused by the accumulation of the toner on the toner supply device side of the aperture electrode, the aggregation of the toner starts around the opening portion, and the toner bridge is formed in the opening portion. .

Therefore, in order to prevent the toner from clogging the opening, the applicant supplies the toner while carrying the toner and feeding the toner carrier to be conveyed in contact with the opening of the aperture electrode. We have proposed a recording apparatus in which a toner bridge is not formed in the opening.

[0005]

However, in the recording apparatus as described above, the gap between the aperture electrode and the counter electrode is narrow, and the support is conveyed through the gap, so that the support does not move. If a jam occurs during transportation, the support may damage the aperture electrode. Also, when the jammed support is taken out of the apparatus, it is difficult to take it out because the gap between the aperture electrode and the counter electrode is small, and if it is forcibly taken out, the aperture electrode may be damaged.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and provides a recording apparatus in which the toner flow control means is not damaged when a jam occurs during conveyance of a support. The purpose is to do.

[0007]

In order to achieve this object, the recording apparatus of the present invention comprises a toner flow control means for modulating and controlling the flow of charged toner, and a toner for supplying toner to the toner flow control means. An interval is provided between the carrier and the toner flow control unit so as to guide the toner supplied by the toner carrier and passed through the toner flow control unit to a support disposed on the surface of the toner flow control unit. A recording device having a counter electrode disposed at a distance, the detection unit detecting a jam of the support, and a gap between the counter electrode and the toner flow control unit when the detection unit detects a jam. And a control means for controlling so as to widen.

[0008]

In the recording apparatus of the present invention having the above-described structure, for example, when the detecting means detects a jam of the support during recording,
The control means controls to widen the interval between the counter electrode and the toner flow control means.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram embodying the configuration of the recording apparatus of the present invention. An insertion opening 21 for inserting a support P on which an image is to be recorded is provided on the right side of the exterior 26 of the apparatus. The left side is provided with an outlet 22 through which the support P on which an image is recorded is discharged. Then, inside the apparatus, an aperture electrode 1 as a toner flow control means is provided.
The counter electrode 6 and the toner supply device 10 are provided.

As shown in detail in FIG. 3, the aperture electrode 1 is composed of a plate-shaped insulating layer 2 made of an insulating material described later, and has a large number of openings 4 at equal intervals in the longitudinal direction. They are arranged in a line. Further, a large number of control electrodes 3 are provided on the upper surface of the insulating layer 2 so as to individually surround each opening 4. The insulating layer 2 is
The control electrode 3 is made of a polymer resin film having a thickness of 25 μm, such as polyimide, and has a thickness of 1 μm.
m conductive metal film, for example, copper.
Each control electrode 3 is connected to the control voltage generator 5. The opening 4 has a hole diameter of about 80 μm.
m through hole.

A toner supply device 10 is provided below the aperture electrode 1. This toner supply device 10
Is a toner carrying roller 11 as a toner carrying member, a supply roller 12,
It is composed of a blade 13. The toner 14 is stored inside the toner case 15.
The long side of the aperture electrode 1 is supported by the toner case 15, so that the lower surface of the aperture electrode 1 is in contact with the top of the toner carrying roller 11 via the toner 14. The supply roller 12 is configured to rotate in the arrow direction in the figure in order to supply the toner 14 to the toner carrying roller 11. Further, the blade 13 is arranged so as to be in pressure contact with the toner carrying roller 11.

The aperture electrode 1 and the toner supply device 1
A process unit such as 0 is mounted on the jack 16. The jack 16 is connected to a motor 17 so that the driving force of the jack 16 can vertically move the process unit such as the aperture electrode 1 and the toner supply device 10. At the time of recording, as shown in FIG. 1, the process unit such as the aperture electrode 1 and the toner supply device 10 is lifted by the jack 16, and the aperture electrode 1 and the counter electrode 6 arranged above the aperture electrode 1 are separated from each other. A gap of 0.5 mm is formed between the gaps, and the support P inserted from the insertion port 21 is conveyed through this gap.

Further, when the support P is jammed or the like, the aperture electrode 1 and the toner supply device 10 are driven by the jack 16.
Etc., the process unit is lowered, and a relatively large gap between the aperture electrode 1 and the counter electrode 6, for example, 10 m.
A gap of m is formed.

A voltage of plus 1 kilovolt is applied to the counter electrode 6 by a power source 7.

The support P is conveyed by the pair of guide rollers 23 from the insertion opening 21 toward the gap formed between the aperture electrode 1 and the counter electrode 6, and after passing through the counter electrode 6, the inside Heat roller 24 with a heat source
And the press roller 25, the toner on the support is thermally fixed, and then discharged from the take-out port 22 to the outside of the apparatus. Further, sensors 8 for detecting a jam of the support P are arranged near the insertion port 21 and the ejection port 22, respectively.

Next, the electrical construction of the recording apparatus will be described with reference to FIG.

A control device as a control means for controlling the operation of the entire recording device is composed of a well-known CPU 30, and the CPU 30 has a ROM 31 in which a control program for controlling the operation of the entire recording device is stored. RA
M32 are connected to each other, and the sensor 8
Also, an interface 33 for receiving an image signal or the like from the host side is also connected.

Further, the CPU 30 includes a motor 17 for driving the jack 16 via the driver 34, a motor 23a for driving the guide roller 23, a motor 6a for driving the counter electrode 6, and a press roller 25. It is possible to control a motor 25a for driving and a motor for driving the toner carrying roller 11, the supply roller 12, and the like (not shown), and a control voltage generator based on an image signal received via the interface 33. 5 can be controlled.

Next, the operation of the recording apparatus configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG.

First, in step 1 (hereinafter simply referred to as S1), the CPU 30 operates the aperture electrode 1, the toner supply device 10, etc. based on a control program stored in the ROM 31 for controlling the operation of the recording device. It is determined whether or not the process unit is in the raised normal position, and if it is not in the normal position, then in step S2, the motor 17
And the jack 16 raises the process unit. In this state, as shown in FIG. 1, a gap of 0.5 mm is formed between the aperture electrode 1 and the counter electrode 6, and the preparation for recording is completed.

Next, when the support P is inserted from the insertion opening 21 and a print command is received via the interface 33 (S3: Y), the guide roller 23 is driven via the driver 34 in S4. Motor 23a,
The motor 6a for driving the counter electrode 6 and the motor 25a for driving the press roller 25 are rotated to convey the support P, and at the same time, the toner carrying roller 11 and the supply roller 12 are driven. At the same time, in S5, the control voltage generator 5 is controlled based on the image signal received through the interface 33 in association with the conveyance of the support P to form an image on the support P.

That is, in the toner supply device 10, the toner 14 stored in the toner case 15 is supplied to the supply roller 1.
By the rotation of 2, the toner is supplied to the toner carrying roller 11. At this place, the toner 14 is contacted and rubbed by the supply roller 12 and the toner carrying roller 11 to be negatively charged. The charged toner 14 is conveyed to the opening 4 of the aperture electrode 1 via the blade 13 by the rotation of the toner carrying roller 11. Further, the toner 14 carried on the toner carrying roller 11 by the blade 13 becomes a thin and uniform toner layer.

The negatively charged toner 14 supplied to the opening 4 of the aperture electrode 1 is provided with the opening 4 provided corresponding to the control electrode 3 by the voltage applied from the control voltage generator 5 to the control electrode 3. Is controlled. More specifically, when a voltage of plus 35 V is applied as a toner passing voltage from the control voltage generator 5 to the control electrode 3, the toner carrying roller 11 and the control electrode 3 which are grounded are connected.
And the inside of the opening 4 corresponding to the control electrode, an electric field is generated so that the negatively charged toner 14 can pass through the opening 4, and the toner 14 passes through the opening 4.

When a voltage of -5 V is applied to the control electrode 3 as the toner shielding voltage from the control voltage generator 5, it is between the toner carrying roller 11 and the control electrode 3 which are grounded, that is, the opening. In the inside of the toner 4, an electric field is generated in which the negatively charged toner 14 is blocked from passing through the opening 4, and the toner 14 does not pass through the opening 4.

On the other hand, the support P inserted into the apparatus through the insertion port 21 is conveyed to the counter electrode 6 by the pair of guide rollers 23.

A voltage of plus 1 kilovolt is applied to the counter electrode 6 by the power supply 7. By applying this voltage, an electric field is formed between the counter electrode 6 and the aperture electrode 1, and the toner 14 that has passed through the opening 4 of the aperture electrode 1 is attracted to the counter electrode 6 along the electric field. Then, the toner 14 is applied to the conveyed support P. Then, the toner images are formed on the support P by sequentially conveying the support.

While the toner image is formed on the support P, it is determined in S6 whether or not a jam has occurred in the conveyance of the support P. The detection of the jam is detected by the sensor 8, and more specifically, the insertion port 21 and the ejection port 2
When the end of the support P does not pass the sensor 8 even if the support 8 is conveyed by a predetermined amount (drives a predetermined rotation amount motor 23a etc.) after the front end of the support P has passed the sensor 8 arranged in the vicinity of 2, Even if the tip of the support body P passes through the sensor 8 arranged near the insertion opening 21 and then the support body P is conveyed by a predetermined amount (the predetermined rotation amount motor 23a or the like is driven), the end of the support body P is near the extraction opening 22. It is determined that a jam has occurred when it does not pass through the arranged sensor 8.

When a jam occurs (S6: Y), immediately in S7, the motor 23a for driving the guide roller 23, the motor 6a for driving the counter electrode 6, the motor 25a for driving the press roller 25, The rotation of the toner carrying roller 11 and the supply roller 12 is stopped, and the application of the voltage from the control voltage generator 5 to the control electrode 3 is stopped to stop the printing (S8).

Next, the motor 17 is driven to drive the jack 16
To lower the process unit (S9). In this state, as shown in FIG. 2, a gap of about 10 mm is formed between the aperture electrode 1 and the counter electrode 6. After that, the user is notified that a jam has occurred by a notification means such as a buzzer (S10). Thus, in the present embodiment, when a jam occurs, the conveyance of the support P is stopped and a wide gap is formed between the aperture electrode 1 and the counter electrode 6, so that the jammed support P or Moreover, when the user removes the jammed support P, the risk of damaging the aperture electrode 1 is reduced, and the conveyance path is wide, so that the support P can be removed easily.

If no jam has occurred (S
6: N), and then in S11, it is judged whether or not the printing is completed, and if it is not completed (S11: N), the above-mentioned S4 is executed.
The steps S6 to S11 are repeatedly executed.
As a result, the support P is conveyed in the direction of the outlet while the toner image is gradually formed on the lower surface of the support P, and is sandwiched by the heat roller 24 and the press roller 25, whereby the toner image on the support P is removed. Heat fixed,
Further, the support P on which the toner image is thermally fixed is conveyed to the takeout port 22 and discharged.

When the support P is ejected from the take-out port 22, the recording operation is completed (S11: Y).
In S12, rotation of the motor 23a for driving the guide roller 23, the motor 6a for driving the counter electrode 6, the motor 25a for driving the press roller 25, the toner carrying roller 11, the supply roller 12, etc. is stopped. At the same time, the application of the voltage from the control voltage generator 5 to the control electrode 3 is stopped, whereby all the controls are completed.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described in detail above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the process unit such as the aperture electrode 1 and the toner supply device 10 is lowered to form a relatively large gap between the aperture electrode 1 and the counter electrode 6, but The electrode 6 may be moved in a direction away from the aperture electrode so that a relatively large gap is formed between the aperture electrode 1 and the counter electrode 6.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, when a jam occurs, the motor 23a for driving the guide roller 23 and the motor 6 for driving the counter electrode 6 are immediately driven.
a, the motor 25a for driving the press roller 25 is stopped to stop the conveyance of the support P. However, when a jam occurs, the process unit such as the aperture electrode 1 and the toner supply device 10 or the counter electrode 6 is immediately generated. Is moved to form a relatively large gap between the aperture electrode 1 and the counter electrode 6, and thereafter, a motor 23a for driving the guide roller 23 and a motor 6a for driving the counter electrode 6 for a predetermined time. Alternatively, the support body P may be conveyed by continuing to drive the motor 25a for driving the press roller 25, and when the jam still does not disappear, the motors may be stopped to notify the user of the jam.

In this case, when the jam is generated in the gap between the aperture electrode 1 and the counter electrode 6, the support P can be discharged from the take-out port 22 to the outside of the apparatus by widening the gap. There is a nature.

Further, the process unit such as the aperture electrode 1 and the toner supply device 10 or the counter electrode 6 is moved to form a relatively large gap between the aperture electrode 1 and the counter electrode 6, and then the aperture electrode 1 The side surface of the counter electrode 6 may be covered with a cover to further protect the aperture electrode 1. In this case, the aperture electrode 1 and the counter electrode 6
Since the gap between and is wide, it is easy to move and retract the cover to the gap.

Further, although the aperture electrode is used as the toner flow control means in this embodiment, it is easily understood that a mesh toner flow control means can be used.

[0039]

As is clear from the above description, according to the recording apparatus of the present invention, the toner flow control means is not damaged when a jam occurs during the conveyance of the support,
Also, the jammed support can be easily removed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a state during a recording operation in a recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state at the time of jamming in the recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a configuration of an aperture electrode mounted on the recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an electrical configuration of a recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a flowchart of the operation of the recording apparatus of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Aperture Electrode 4 Opening 6 Counter Electrode 8 Sensor 10 Toner Supply Device 11 Toner Carrying Roller 16 Jack 17 Motor 30 CPU P Support

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A toner flow control means for modulating and controlling the flow of charged toner, a toner carrier for supplying toner to the toner flow control means, and a toner flow control means for supplying the toner by the toner carrier. A recording apparatus comprising: a counter electrode arranged at a distance from the toner flow control means so as to guide the passed toner to the support arranged on the surface of the toner flow control means. A recording apparatus comprising: a detection unit that detects a jam; and a control unit that controls to widen a gap between the counter electrode and the toner flow control unit when the detection unit detects a jam. 2. The control means controls, when the detecting means detects a jam, to widen a gap between the counter electrode and the toner flow control means, and stops the conveyance of the support. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The control means, when the detection means detects a jam, moves the toner flow control means in a direction in which a gap between the counter electrode and the toner flow control means widens. Or the recording device according to 2. 4. The control means, when the detection means detects a jam, moves the counter electrode in a direction in which the distance between the counter electrode and the toner flow control means increases. The recording device according to 1.