JPH0833699B2 - Cleaning cassette - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial field of application] The present invention relates to a cleaning cassette used for cleaning a developing electrode of an electrophotographic apparatus.

[Conventional technology]

2. Description of the Related Art There is known an electrophotographic apparatus capable of recording an image on a predetermined frame of an electrophotographic film and projecting or copying the recorded image. Further, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 59-79234 discloses a cassette in which a tape-shaped electrophotographic film is housed in a roll state. The film in the cassette has a number of advantages that cannot be obtained by using the film of the conventional silver salt photosensitive material by applying it to the document data storage and inspection system.

A process head for charging and exposing the electrophotographic film in the cassette and developing the film is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 59-10.
No. 0479, JP-A-59-162580 and the like.

According to this, the electrophotographic film is sequentially moved to the charging / exposure section, the developing section, the drying section and the fixing section provided in the process head, and an image is recorded. In the developing section, a clear image is obtained by sufficiently applying a developer over the entire exposed section of the electrophotographic film and applying a bias voltage to the developing electrode.

However, since the bias voltage is applied to the developing electrode in this way, the developer is attracted and adhered to the developing electrode, which causes the developer to solidify after development. When the adhered and solidified developer is gradually deposited, the bias effect of the developing electrode is reduced,
Further, it becomes a cause of hindering the passage of the developer. In order to eliminate this, it is necessary to periodically perform repair work to remove the solidified developer from the developing electrode.

However, since the developing electrode is recessed from the surface of the process head, cleaning work is not easy.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

In consideration of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to obtain a cleaning cassette capable of easily removing an unnecessary substance attached to a recessed portion such as a developer attached to a developing electrode.

[Means for solving problems]

The cleaning cassette according to the present invention includes a cassette case, a pair of reels axially supported in the cassette case, a base film having both ends locked to these reels, and a base film provided on the base film. It is located at a position opposite to the detection mark for position detection and the developing electrode provided on the base film and located on the bottom surface of the predetermined recess when the detection mark is detected and the base film is stopped. A protrusion having an adhesive surface at the front end on the direction side, and by setting the protrusion amount of the protrusion larger than the depth of the recess by a predetermined amount, a predetermined pressing force is applied to the base film. Maintain the non-contact state between the base film and the periphery of the recess even when the adhesive surface of the protrusion is pressed against the developing electrode. It is characterized.

According to the above configuration, when the detection mark provided on the base film is detected, the base film is stopped.
In this state, the projection provided on the base film faces the developing electrode arranged on the bottom surface of the predetermined recess. In this state, when a predetermined pressing force is applied to the base film, the protrusions on the base film enter the recesses and are pressed against the developing electrodes. Since the protrusion has an adhesive surface at the tip on the protrusion side, impurities such as solidified developer adhering to the surface of the developing electrode are adhered to the adhesive surface of the protrusion and removed.

Here, in the present invention, by setting the protrusion amount of the protrusion to be larger than the depth of the recess in which the developing electrode is arranged, a predetermined pressing force is applied to the base film and the adhesive surface of the protrusion is pressed against the developing electrode. Even in this case, since the non-contact state between the base film and the periphery of the recess is maintained, it is possible to prevent the base film from coming into contact with the periphery of the recess and being damaged. That is, even if the protrusion amount of the protrusion is set to be equal to or less than the depth of the recess portion, it is possible to remove the unwanted matter attached to the surface of the developing electrode by increasing the amount of bending of the base film. However, such a problem occurs that the base film comes into contact with the periphery of the recess. However, according to the present invention, since the protrusion amount of the protrusion is made larger than the depth of the recess portion in which the developing electrode is arranged, such a problem does not occur.
In other words, in the present invention, it can be said that not only the protrusion has the function of removing unnecessary substances, but also the function of preventing damage to the base film.

〔Example〕

(Electrophotographic Apparatus) FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of an electrophotographic apparatus to which the present invention is applied. In this electrophotographic apparatus, a camera function for photographing an original and recording the image on an electrophotographic (micro) film, a reader function for enlarging and projecting the image recorded on the electrophotographic film on a screen, and an electronic function It has a copy function of enlarging and copying an image recorded on a photo film onto a copy sheet.

The electrophotographic apparatus is configured by integrating an electrophotographic apparatus main body 510 and a copying apparatus 512 in which a housing 511 also serves as a stand for the electrophotographic apparatus main body 510. If the copy function is not required, the electrophotographic apparatus main body 51
It is also possible to use 0 alone. The housing 514 of the electrophotographic apparatus main body 510 includes a portion 514A located on the left side and having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and a portion 514B located on the right side and having a stepped upper surface.
The interior spaces of A and 514B are connected at the rear part.

A transmissive screen 516 is provided on the outer side of the housing 514A by closing the front opening of the housing and tilted slightly backward, and a document table 518 is provided on the upper part. Platen 5
In 18, a transparent glass plate is arranged below the document holding plate 520 that can be opened and closed to close the upper opening of the housing. On the outer side of the housing 514B, an image recording cassette (not shown) or a cleaning tape 222 in which an electrophotographic (micro) film 222A (see FIG. 1D) is stored.
Cleaning cassette 525 (see Figure 1A)
A cassette loading section 526 for loading the above is formed near the central portion of the upper portion, and a control keyboard 528 for performing various operations of the electrophotographic apparatus is disposed in the front portion of the upper portion.

Further, the housing 511 of the copying machine 512 is formed with an opening 532 through which the copied copy paper is discharged.

To record an image on the electrophotographic film 222A, a process head 554 (see FIGS. 8 to 10) in which the cassette for image recording is loaded in the cassette filling section 526 and is arranged in the housing 511.
Corresponding to the desired frame of the electrophotographic film 222A, the charging / exposure, development, drying, and fixing operations are sequentially performed. An image to be recorded on this electrophotographic film 222A corresponds to the process head 554 by placing an original having this image on the original table 518 and passing the internal optical means by a light source (not shown). The electrophotographic film 222A is exposed.

The image on the electrophotographic film 222A is projected on the screen 516 by switching the optical means, and a hard copy can be obtained as necessary.

(Process Head) As shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, the process head 554
Is a charging / exposure unit 564 for a predetermined frame of the electrophotographic film 222A,
The image recording work is performed by sequentially corresponding to the developing unit 566, the drying unit 568, and the fixing unit 570.

In the developing unit 566, the mask 590 is an upper frame 590A, a left frame 590B,
The right frame 590C and the lower frame 590D are formed in a frame shape, and these stand up from the surface of the recess 592 formed in the front wall 574.

In the opening of the mask 590, as shown in FIG.
A developing electrode 596 is supported by the back wall 594 and is connected to a bias power source. The surface of the developing electrode 596 is a mask 5
A space that is located slightly inside (0.3 to 1.0 mm) from the end surface of 90 and is surrounded by the developing electrode 596 and the inner wall of the mask 590 is a developing chamber 598. The upper and lower portions of the developing electrode 596 are opened, and the developer / squeeze air inlets 60 are provided.
0 and a developer / squeeze air outlet 602.

Air inlet 600 for developer / squeeze is process head 5
It communicates with a passage 604 formed by 54 internal spaces.
The passage 604 communicates with a developer supply port 606 and a squeeze air supply port 608 that are opened on the back surface of the process head 554. The developer supply port 606 is connected to a developer tank via a valve (not shown), and the squeeze air supply port 608 is connected to an air pump. Further, the developer / squeeze air outlet 602 communicates with a passage 610 formed by the internal space of the process head 554. The passage 610 communicates with the developer / squeeze air discharge port 612 opened on the back surface of the process head 554 to return the excess developer to the developer bottle.

(Film pressing mechanism) As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the process head is
A holding plate 698 is provided on the front wall 574 of the 554 for holding the film.

A columnar portion 712 is formed on the back surface of the holding plate 698 facing the process head 554, and a notch portion 714A formed at one end of an arm 714 is engaged with the columnar portion 712. A boss portion 714B is formed at the other end of the arm 714. A shaft 716 is fixed to the boss portion 714B.

The shaft 716 is rotatably inserted into and supported by a stand 718 provided upright on a frame 560 to which the process head 554 is attached, and a lower end portion of the shaft 716 projects from the back surface of the frame 560. This protruding portion is connected to the plunger 734A of the solenoid 734 via the first lever 720 and the second lever 726, and when the solenoid 734 is excited, the holding plate 698 is connected to the process head 554.
The mask 590 is pressed (in the direction of arrow E in FIG. 11).

A blip sensor 696 is attached to the front wall 574 of the process head 554, and a blip mark (not shown) provided for each frame of the electrophotographic film 222A is photoelectrically detected by a difference in light reflectance, and each blip mark is moved to a predetermined position. You can stop the pieces.

(Cleaning Cassette) FIGS. 1 to 6 show a cleaning cassette 525 for an electrophotographic apparatus used in an embodiment of the present invention, in which a cleaning tape 222 of a process head developing section is accommodated. The cassette 525 has the same shape as the image recording cassette for accommodating the electrophotographic film 222A (see FIG. 1D) for image recording except for a part. Each part will be described in detail below.

(Lower Cassette Case) As shown in FIG. 1, in the lower cassette case 10, a peripheral wall is erected around a substantially U-shaped bottom plate 12 whose left and right ends project forward. The peripheral walls are a rear wall 14 standing upright on the rear of the bottom plate 12, left and right side walls 16 and 18 standing upright on the left and right sides of the bottom plate 12, and upright from the front part of the bottom plate 12 to the left and right sides. It is composed of the front wall 20 and the front wall 20. Back wall 14
And the left and right side walls 16 and 18 are integrated into a U shape and the bottom plate
Located at the outermost perimeter of twelve.

Front wall 20A of the part located inside the left side wall 16
Runs to the rear in parallel with the left side wall 16 and curves inward from the middle to the rear wall 14. The front wall 20B of the portion located inside the right side wall 18 is parallel to the right side wall 18 with a slight gap and is parallel to the rear side, and then curved outward and continuously to the right side wall 18. There is.

In the lower cassette case 10, a partition wall, a columnar shape, a cylindrical projection, an uneven portion, or the like is formed on the inner surface of the bottom plate 10 inside the peripheral wall. The lower cassette case 10 is constructed by integrally molding all of them.

Inside the lower cassette case 10, left and right reel accommodating chambers 30, 32 accommodating a pair of reels, left and right guide roller accommodating chambers 34, 36 accommodating a pair of guide rollers, and a reel brake mechanism. Brake mechanism housing chamber 38
A lock plate accommodating chamber 40 for accommodating a lock plate for fixing the guard panel and an independent chamber 42 for accommodating the claw member are formed by partitioning.

The left and right reel accommodating chambers 30 and 32 are located on the left and right of a central partition wall 44 that is erected from the bottom plate 12 at a position slightly rightward from the center of the lower cassette case 10 in the left-right direction. In the left and right reel accommodating chambers 30 and 32, circular through holes are formed in the bottom plate 12 at the center of each accommodating chamber.
46, 46 are formed. Around the openings of these through holes 46, convex portions 48 having a rectangular cross section are formed in an annular shape on the inner surface of the bottom plate. A convex portion 50 having a rectangular cross section is formed around the outer periphery of the annular convex portion 48.
Are formed in an annular shape concentric with the annular convex portion 48. Annular protrusion
Between the 48 and the annular protrusion 50, an annular recess 51 is slightly recessed from the surface of the bottom plate 12.

The left and right guide roller accommodating chambers 34, 36 are located adjacent to the left and right reel accommodating chambers 30, 32, respectively, on the front left and right protrusions of the lower cassette case 10. In the left and right guide roller accommodating chambers 34, 36, the cylindrical projection 52 from the bottom plate 12 at the center of each accommodating chamber,
52 is formed so as to project to the height of the peripheral wall, and the tape guide reel 23
It is used for 6 shafts.

Partition walls 54, 54 for partitioning the left and right guide roller accommodating chambers 34, 36 and the left and right reel accommodating chambers 30, 32 are partially open,
Further, the front wall 20 facing the left and right guide roller accommodating chambers 34, 36
Notches 58, 58 are formed in a part of each of them to pass the cleaning tape 222, respectively.

The brake mechanism accommodating chamber 38 is located adjacent to the left and right reel accommodating chambers 30 and 32 in the central portion on the rear side of the lower cassette case 10. The brake mechanism accommodating chamber 38 is further divided into three chambers by two partitions 60, 60 parallel to the central partition 44. The central chamber is a release piece accommodating chamber 62, and the left and right chambers thereof are brake lever accommodating chambers 64. It is 64.

The independent chamber 42 is located adjacent to the rear of the lock plate accommodating chamber 40, and the lower portion is closed by the bottom plate 12. However, in the image recording cassette, a erroneous erasure prevention claw that can be cut by bending is formed on the bottom plate of the accommodation chamber 40.

Cylindrical projections 98, 98, 98 are formed to project from the inner surface of the bottom plate 12 to the height of the peripheral wall at the rear left and right corners and the front center of the lower cassette case 10 for connection with the upper cassette case 104. ing.

As shown in the upper left portion of FIG. 3 and the left portion of FIG. 4, a cylinder 103 having an upper end closed is formed in a part of the bottom plate 12, and the lower end portion thereof is opened to the outside of the lower cassette case 10 for cleaning. It has a cassette detection hole 103A. The cleaning cassette detection hole 103A is not provided in the image recording cassette, and it can be discriminated whether the cleaning cassette or the image recording cassette is mounted when the cassette is loaded.

(Upper Cassette Case) As shown in FIG. 1, the upper cassette case 104 has a peripheral wall hanging around the top plate 106 in which the left and right end portions 106B and 106C of the rectangular main body portion 106A slightly project forward. It is set up. The peripheral wall is a rear wall standing on the lower cassette case 10.
14, the left and right side walls 16 and 18 and the front wall 20 and the like are abutted so as to correspond to respective main parts.

Further, inside the upper cassette case 104, there is formed a portion corresponding to each chamber formed in the lower cassette case so as to close each chamber.

In addition, a cylindrical projection (not shown) is formed to project from the top plate 106 up to the height of the peripheral wall, and the upper cassette case 104
When joined to the lower cassette case 10, they are positioned directly above the cylindrical projections 52, 52 formed in the left and right guide roller accommodating chambers 34, 36 of the lower cassette case 10, respectively, and are in contact therewith. .

Like the lower cassette case 10, the upper cassette case 104 is integrally formed of synthetic resin.

(Reel) As shown in FIGS. 1A and 2, in the reel 180, the flange 182 and the hub 184 are integrally formed of synthetic resin. The outer peripheral surface of the flange 182 has rectangular teeth 186 at equal intervals.
Are formed in large numbers.

On the lower surface side of the flange 182, a convex portion 194 having a rectangular cross section and concentric with the flange 182 is formed in an annular shape. This annular protrusion 1
The annular outer diameter of 94 is formed to a diameter that allows free fitting with through holes 46 formed in the lower cassette case 10.
In addition, a convex portion 196 having a rectangular cross section is provided around the outer periphery of the annular convex portion 194.
Are formed in an annular shape concentric with the annular convex portion 194.

As shown in FIGS. 1A and 2, a clamp 204 is fitted into the hub 184 to lock the end of the cleaning tape 222 to the reel 180.

(Tape) As shown in FIG. 1B, the cleaning tape 222 housed in the cassette case is one end of the base film 223.
A cassette removal mark 225 is provided at a predetermined distance from 223A. Further, a plurality of similar cassette removal marks 225 are formed at regular intervals from the cassette removal mark 225. On the other end 223B side of the base film of these cassette take-out marks 225, detection marks 227 are arranged at regular intervals (dimension LA).
Is provided. Six of these detection marks 227 are formed at regular intervals near the other end 223B of the cassette ejection mark 225.

Further, these detection marks 227 have one end 223A each.
The adhesive tape piece 229 is attached so as to be separated from the side, and the adhesive is applied to the surface.

In this cassette, the adhesive tape piece 229 between the cassette ejection mark 225 and the next ejection mark 225 is used by one cleaning. The case where the above-mentioned developing electrode 596 is vertically divided into three parts, and six pieces of the adhesive tape pieces are set between the extraction marks 225 so that each divided part can be cleaned twice, will be explained. The method is not limited to this.

This cleaning tape 222 is wound around the reel 180 in the cleaning cassette 525 from the other end 223B side,
At the time of use, it is wound up toward one end 223A side (direction of arrow FR in FIG. 1B).

In this embodiment, the base film 223 is made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and has a wall thickness of 50 μm. The back surface opposite to the surface to which the adhesive tape piece 229 is applied is coated with silicon to give the adhesive tape piece 229.
To prevent adhesion. The base film 223 has a color and a material through which the light detected by the blip sensor 696 of the process head 554 can pass.

On the other hand, the cassette ejection mark 225 and the detection mark 227 are provided at a position corresponding to the blip sensor 696 in a color that does not allow the detection light of the blip sensor 696 to pass therethrough. Although it is formed by printing, it can be provided by printing or the like.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the tape having the opaque portion is used as the cassette ejection mark 225, but any tape can be used as long as it can be detected by the sensor, and conversely, a portion having a certain length is identified as transparent. Mark may be used.

Further, the adhesive tape piece 229 has a protruding shape protruding from the base film 223, and the protruding height thereof is 1.1 times or more the step H between the mask 590 and the developing electrode 596 as shown in FIG. . However, when the cleaning tape 222 is not pressed by the pressing plate 698, the adhesive tape piece 229 is in the state of FIG. 10 and receives tension, so that it does not contact the process head 554 even when the cleaning tape 222 moves in the longitudinal direction. Has become.

Therefore, even though the developing electrode 596 is arranged to be recessed from the surface of the mask 590, the surface of the adhesive tape piece 229 does not come into contact with the developing electrode 596 during running, and the pressing force of the pressing plate 698 causes The developing electrode 596 can be surely contacted. The holding plate 698 is the cleaning tape 222.
When the electrophotographic film 222A is used instead of,
It has the role of pressing it against the process head 554.

The dimension of the adhesive tape piece 229 in the longitudinal direction, that is, the length in the width direction of the cleaning tape 222 is larger than the vertical height of the developing electrode 596 shown in FIG.
The developing electrode 596 is in contact with the entire area above and below. However, the longitudinal end portion of the adhesive tape piece 229 is separated from the widthwise end portion of the base film 223, and the adhesive tape piece 229 is not detected by the blip sensor 696.

The adhesive tape piece 229 in this embodiment is obtained by cutting a double-sided adhesive tape into strips, and this double-sided adhesive tape has a surface opposite in adhesive strength to the base film 223, that is, an adhesive surface to the developing electrode 596. Even when pressed against the developing electrode 596, the adhesive tape piece 229 adheres to the developing electrode 596 and is prevented from falling off from the base film 223. Further, it is preferable that the adhesive tape piece 229 has elasticity in the thickness direction, and even when the developer is solidified in the developing electrode 596 with an uneven thickness, the difference in height between them is absorbed to develop the developing electrode. It is preferable to be able to adhere to the entire surface of the developer of uneven height attached to the surface of 596. Specifically, a rubber sheet that deforms by 5% or more with a force of ² kg / cm ² or a sheet using foamed rubber can be used. In this example, the thickness is 0.6 m
m urethane foam (deformation of about 20% at 1.4 kg / cm ² ) was used. As a matter of course, the adhesive used is a material that does not adversely affect the electrophotographic film 222A.

As shown in FIG. 1B, the six adhesive tape pieces 229 arranged in series on the downstream side (the side opposite to the arrow FR direction) of the cassette take-out mark 225 are the detection marks 227 respectively arranged on the downstream side. From the predetermined interval. These six adhesive tape pieces 229 are counted from each cassette ejection mark 225, and the first adhesive tape piece 229 is measured from the detection mark 227.
LB, the second adhesive tape piece 229 is measured from the detection mark 227
LC The third adhesive tape piece 229 is measured from the detection mark 227
It is LD. The fourth, fifth, and sixth adhesive tape pieces 229 are arranged at the same size as the first, second, and third adhesive tape pieces 229 from the detection mark 227.

Each width dimension W of the adhesive tape piece 229 is, as shown in FIG. 12, one third or more of the horizontal dimension R of the developing electrode 596. That is, the adhesive tape piece 22 shown in FIG.
9 indicates a state in which the first detection mark 227 is detected by the blip sensor 696 and stopped in a state of being pressed by the holding plate 698, and the upstream end (arrow FR direction) end of the adhesive tape piece 229 has the developing electrode 596. Of the cleaning tape piece 222 is reached until the second detection mark 227 of the cleaning tape piece 222 is detected by the blip sensor 696. When the adhesive tape piece 229 separated from the second detection mark 227 by the dimension LC corresponds to the substantially central part of the developing electrode 596 in the left-right direction (position W2), and the third detection mark 227 is detected by the blip sensor 696. The third adhesive tape piece 229 corresponds to the left end of the developing electrode 596 (position W3), and the stop positions of these adhesive tape pieces 229 overlap each other in their horizontal ends.

Therefore, when the three adhesive tape pieces 229 are sequentially brought into contact with the surface of the developing electrode 596 from the upstream side, the surface of the developing electrode 596 can be adhered and removed by the adhesive tape piece 229 on all surfaces. Has become. That is, the length of the overlap portion when the solidified developer is removed by the three times of the adhesive tape piece 229 is the difference between the dimension LB and LC in FIG. 1B and LC.
It is the difference from LD.

The fourth, fifth and sixth adhesive tape pieces 229 from the cassette ejection mark 225 in FIG. 1A are the first, second and third adhesive tape pieces 229.
Stop at the same position as the second adhesive tape piece 229, attach the solidified developer, and take out. That is, the adhesive tape piece 229 is bonded and taken out twice at the same position on the surface of the developing electrode 596, and the solidified developer is surely removed.

It should be noted that the intervals between the adhesive tape pieces 229 and the detection marks 227 are all the same, and by changing the time for stopping each adhesive tape piece 229 after the detection mark 227 is detected by the blip sensor 696 by the control device, each adhesive tape piece 229 is changed. It is also possible to change the contact position of the developing tape with the developing electrode 596 to achieve substantially the same effect as the cleaning tape 222 shown in FIG. 1B.

FIG. 1D shows an electrophotographic film 222A for recording an image. This electrophotographic film 222A is a reel in the cleaning cassette 525 instead of the cleaning tape 222.
Rolled up to 180 and used for image recording.

In the electrophotographic film 222A, a sensitive material tape 224, a magnetic tape 226 which is a memory tape, and a leader tape 228 are spliced together by a splicing tape 230.
Further, a conductive adhesive tape 232 is attached to the end portion of the photosensitive material tape 224 on the side opposite to the splicing side.

The photosensitive tape 224 is a tape-shaped electrophotographic film, in which a conductive layer such as aluminum and a photoconductive insulating layer such as polyvinylcarbazole which is an organic semiconductor are sequentially laminated on a transparent insulating support such as polyester. Is configured. The conductive adhesive tape 232 is configured by providing an adhesive layer in which conductive particles such as carbon are dispersed and mixed on a thin metal tape.

When attaching the conductive adhesive tape 232 to the sensitive material tape 224, a part of the photoconductive insulating layer of the sensitive material tape 224 is peeled off, and the conductive adhesive tape 232 is attached to the exposed conductive layer.

(Assembly of cleaning cassette 525) The lower cassette case 10 and the upper cassette case 104 are joined to each other, and the ring-shaped protrusions 48 and 50 of the lower cassette case 10 correspond to the ring-shaped protrusion 196 of the reel 180 respectively.
Incorporate 180. Both ends of the cleaning tape 222 are attached to the pair of reels 180 by the clamps 204, respectively, and the cleaning tape 222 is wound up to the reel 180 having the other end 223B attached thereto at the maximum amount. In this state, the cleaning tape 222 is guided by the guide roller 236 as shown in FIG.
And is linearly arranged between the guide rollers 236 and exposed from the cleaning cassette 525. In this state, the brake levers 262 and 274 are reels.
Since it is engaged with the teeth 186 of 180, the reel 180 is not rotated and the cleaning tape 222 is not inadvertently bent. Further, since the exposed portion of the cleaning tape 222 is covered by the guard panel 322, the adhesive tape piece 229 does not carelessly adhere to an unnecessary portion.

(Brake Lever) The brake lever 262 is rotatably supported in the brake lever accommodating chamber 64, and the reel engaging piece 266 and the release piece engaging piece 268 are integrally molded of synthetic resin.
The tip of 268 is disposed in the brake mechanism housing chamber 38.

The brake lever 274 has a symmetrical shape and arrangement with the brake lever 262.

Brake levers 262 and 274 have torsion coil springs 276 and 2
76 is attached, the reel engagement pieces 266, 266 enter the left and right reel accommodating chambers 30, 32, and the flanges 18 of the reels 180, 180
It engages with teeth 186 formed on the outer circumference of the two.

The release piece 278, which is a brake releasing member, is housed in the release piece housing chamber 62, and receives the operating force from the outside to separate the brake levers 262 and 274 from the reel 180.

(Lock Plate) As shown in FIG. 1, a lock plate 292, which is a locking means of the guard panel, is pivotally supported in the lock plate accommodating chamber 40, a guard panel locking piece 296 is extended from one side, and a leaf spring is extended from the other side. The piece 298 is extended, and these are integrally molded with synthetic resin.

As shown in FIG. 3, in the lock plate 292, the tip of the leaf spring piece 298 elastically presses and abuts against the inner wall of the left side wall 16 so that the guard panel locking piece 296 is given a rotational force in the clockwise direction. The tip protrudes and corresponds to the guard panel 322.

(Reel presser spring) As shown in FIG. 1A, the reel presser springs 304 and 310 are made of a single flat plate made of metal that has been bent and sheared, and are attached to the upper cassette case 104, 180
Is pressed against the lower cassette case 10. These reel pressing springs 304 and 310 are used as a grounding conductive material when the image recording film 232A is housed in the cleaning cassette 525.

(Guard Panel) As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, a guard panel 322, which is a lid of the cassette case main body 320, has a front wall 324,
It is composed of left and right side walls 326, 328 and an upper surface wall 330, is pivotally supported by the cassette case body 320, and is biased and rotated in a direction to cover the cleaning tape 222 exposed on the front surface of the cassette case body 320. This state is the lock plate 29
Locked by 2.

(Device for Loading Cassette) FIG. 6 shows an outline of a cassette holder 348 of the device for loading cassette according to this embodiment. The cassette holder 348 is supported by a link type elevating mechanism 350 and can be elevated above the apparatus. The cassette holder 348 is provided with a cassette insertion side (the arrow A indicates the insertion direction of the cassette).
Contact springs 352, 3 that extend downward from the inside to the court
54 is arranged parallel to the insertion direction of the cassette. These contact springs 352 and 354 energize the electrophotographic film through the reel pressing spring 310 and the contact piece 212 when the electrophotographic film 222 is accommodated in the cassette instead of the cleaning tape.

A pressing block 356 is arranged in an opening formed on one side surface of the cassette holder 348. Press block 356
Is fixed to one end of the leaf spring 358, the tip of which is projected from the opening, and the lock plate which is projected from the cassette.
The guard panel 322 is opened by pressing 292.

Also, the cassette holder 348 has a detection pin 382 dedicated to the cleaning cassette that is raised from the bottom by urging force.
When the pin 382 is inserted into the cassette detection hole 103A formed in the bottom plate 12 of the cleaning cassette 525 loaded in the cassette holder 348, the limit switch 384 for detecting the movement of the pin 382 determines whether the loaded cassette is a cleaning cassette. It is possible to identify whether it is an image recording cassette.

The image recording cassette and the loading device include a cassette loading detecting means (not shown) for detecting whether or not the cassette is loaded, and a specific nail of the cassette when it is not desired to erase the contents stored in the memory of the cassette. Since an erroneous erasure prevention mechanism (not shown) that makes it impossible to rewrite the memory by removing the part is provided, the detection pin 382 dedicated to the cleaning cassette can be provided by using this detection means and mechanism. The presence or absence of the cleaning cassette can be detected without using it.

That is, the cleaning cassette may be configured so that only the erroneous erasure prevention mechanism of the image recording cassette operates. With this arrangement, when neither the cassette loading detection means nor the erroneous erasure prevention mechanism is activated, it indicates that neither the image recording cassette nor the cleaning cassette is loaded, and the cassette loading detection means is activated to activate the erroneous erasure prevention mechanism. When not operating, it shows a state in which a memory rewritable image recording cassette is loaded, and when both are operating, it shows a state in which a memory rewritable image recording cassette is loaded. It can be judged that the cleaning cassette is not loaded but the cleaning cassette is loaded when the erasure prevention mechanism is activated.

Since the cleaning cassette can be discriminated as the image recording cassette in this manner, the control such as the operation timing of the pressing plate 698 and the motor 394 may be switched based on this.

When the cassette holder 348 is loaded, drive shafts 390 and 392 are fitted into the reel 180 of the cleaning cassette 525 and rotated by the drive force of the motor 394, as shown in FIG. The driving force of the motor 394 is transmitted to the one or both reels 180 via the clutch 395 and the gears 396 and 397 as forward rotation or reverse rotation. The driving force of the motor 394 has a function of applying tension to the cleaning tape 222 and separating the adhesive tape piece 229 from the developing electrode 596. However, when the electrophotographic film 222A is used instead of the cleaning tape 222, it goes without saying. It has a role as a drive unit that drives this in the longitudinal direction.

(Operation of Embodiment) When the cleaning cassette 525 is used, it is loaded in the cassette holder 348 shown in FIG. An eject button (not shown) is operated on the cassette holder 348, and the cassette holder 348 is sent upward by the elevating mechanism 350.

When the cleaning cassette 525 is inserted in the maximum amount in the direction of the arrow A, the pin 382 is inserted into the cassette detection hole 103A formed on the lower surface of the cleaning cassette 525, so that the limit switch 384 is the cleaning cassette 525. Is detected, the cleaning operation of the developing unit is started. On the other hand, since the cassette in which the image recording tape is inserted in the cassette holder 348 does not have the cassette detection hole 103A, the cassette holder 348 can detect that the inserted cassette is the image recording cassette and perform image recording and reproduction. Allow work.

Further, since the bottom surface of the independent chamber 42 formed in the lower cassette case 10 of the cleaning cassette 525 is closed, this also ensures the cleaning cassette 525.
Is detected. That is, in the cassette containing the image recording tape, the erroneous erasure prevention claw may be bent and removed. In this case, it can be immediately detected that the cassette is the image recording cassette.

Further, when the cleaning cassette 525 is fully inserted, the pressure block 356 drives the lock plate 292 to rotate the guard panel locking piece 296 against the biasing force of the leaf spring piece 298. This releases the lock of the guard panel 322.

When the cleaning cassette 525 is completely inserted, the cassette holder 348 is pressed by an operator or automatically pushed into a predetermined position in the apparatus. In this case, the guard panel 322 is opened by the lid opening mechanism provided in a part of the cassette holder 348, and the linear portion of the cleaning tape 222 is exposed. In this state, the cleaning tape 222 and the adhesive tape piece 229 exposed between the guide rollers 236 do not hit the process head 554.

In the middle of the pushing operation of the cassette holder 348 and near the pushing end, a brake release pin (not shown) penetrates into the bottom plate 12, and the brake lever 26 passes through the release piece 278.
2, 274 are rotated away from teeth 186 on reel 180. Therefore, the reel 180 is released from the brake and becomes rotatable.

The reel 180 is mounted on and engaged with the drive shafts 390 and 392 at the pushing end of the cassette holder 348 as shown in FIG.

When the driving force of the motor 394 is transmitted to the reel 180 on one side through the clutch 395, the cleaning tape 222 indicates the arrow FR.
Move in the direction. First cassette eject mark 225 here
The first detection mark 227 next to is the blip sensor 696.
The drive of the motor 394 is stopped when detected by. In this state, as shown in FIG.
Although it corresponds to one end of 96 in the horizontal direction, it is below the state shown in FIG. 12 and is not connected to the developing electrode 296.

At the same time, the solenoid 734 of FIG. 11 is driven and the pressing plate 698 presses the cleaning tape 222 to the process head 554. Therefore, the tip end adhesive surface of the adhesive tape piece 229 is pressed against the surface of the developing electrode 596.

Next, the cleaning tape 222 is again moved in the direction of the arrow FR by the driving force of the motor 394. In this case, the pressing force of the cleaning tape 222 by the holding plate 698 is released, and at the same time, the driving force of the motor 394 is changed to the other reel. 180 is also transmitted, and the tension is given by temporarily winding the cleaning tape 222 on both reels. This forces the adhesive tape strip 229 away from the surface of the developing electrode 596,
The adhesive surface of the adhesive tape piece 229 adheres and removes the developer that has adhered and solidified to the surface of the developing electrode 596 by repeating the image recording operation.

Since the cleaning efficiency of the developing electrode 296 increases when it is dried, it is more effective to apply dry air to the developing electrode 296 before or during the driving of the cleaning tape 222.

As a method of applying tension to the cleaning tape 222, a method of applying a brake to one reel 180 and driving the other reel 180 in a winding direction may be used. In this case, by temporarily braking one reel 180, the cleaning tape does not move more than necessary.

When the cleaning tape 222 is further moved and the second detection mark 227 is detected by the blip sensor 696, the driving of the motor 394 is stopped, and the second adhesive tape piece 229 is moved to the position W2 in FIG. The developing plate 596 is bonded to the central portion in the horizontal direction by the pressing force of the pressing plate 698.

In the same manner as described above, if the pressing force by the pressing plate 698 is released and the tension is applied to the cleaning tape 222,
Similarly, the adhesive tape piece 229 is forcibly separated from the developing electrode 596 to adhere and remove the solidified developer on the surface of the developing electrode 596.

Further, when the cleaning tape 222 is moved in the direction of the arrow FR and the third detection mark 227 corresponds to the blip sensor 696, the third adhesive tape piece 229 corresponds to the position W3 in FIG. 11, that is, the horizontal direction of the developing electrode 596. To the other end of the direction. Here, similarly, the adhesive tape piece 229 is the developing electrode 596.
When it is released after being pressed by, the adhesive is removed from the developer over the entire surface of the developing electrode 596 by the above-described three pressing operations.

Further, the fourth to sixth adhesive tape pieces 229 are pressed against the developing electrode 596 at positions which are similarly sequentially displaced, whereby the solidified developer is surely removed.

After the sixth adhesive tape piece 229 is forcibly removed, the second cassette ejection mark 225 is displayed on the clip sensor 6
Corresponding to 96, the motor 394 is stopped. At this point, the controller automatically opens the cassette holder 348 to inform that the cleaning operation is completed.

So this cleaning cassette 525 is taken out,
This time, the image recording cassette is inserted into the cassette holder 348 and the image recording operation is performed again. In this case, since the developing electrode 596 is already in a clean state, there is no problem in the developing work.

After the image recording operation is performed for a predetermined time and a predetermined number of times, or periodically, the cleaning cassette 525 is loaded into the cassette holder 348, and the developing electrode 596 is cleaned again.

In this way, since each adhesive tape piece 229 is pressed, as a result, cleaning is performed over a wide area,
When the adhesive tape piece is detached from the developing electrode, the motor load for applying tension is small. The motor for driving the image recording cassette of the electrophotographic apparatus does not have a large driving force, but can be sufficiently applied.

Although the above-mentioned embodiment shows the structure in which the present invention is used for cleaning the developing process head of the electrophotographic film, the present invention is widely applicable to cleaning a portion having a recess such as a developing portion. Is.

In the above example, the separation of the adhesive tape was performed only in the FR direction, but in order to remove the solid portion of the edge portion of the developing electrode, that is, the bottom corner portion and the rising portion from the bottom surface, the separation method in the edge direction is used. Is effective, it is more effective to remove either or both of the first and fourth frames by moving the tape in the opposite direction.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, the cleaning cassette according to the present invention is provided on the base film and at a position facing the developing electrode arranged on the bottom surface of the predetermined recess when the detection mark is detected and the base film is stopped. Since it is arranged and has a protrusion having an adhesive surface at the tip end on the protruding direction side, it is possible to easily remove an unnecessary substance attached to the recessed portion like the developer attached to the developing electrode. Have.

In addition, in the cleaning cassette according to the present invention, by setting the protrusion amount of the protrusion to be larger than the depth of the recess by a predetermined amount, a predetermined pressing force is applied to the base film and the adhesive surface of the protrusion is pressed against the developing electrode. Even in the case where the base film and the periphery of the recess are kept in a non-contact state, the base film also has an excellent effect of preventing damage due to contact with the periphery of the recess. .

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1A is an exploded perspective view of a cleaning cassette to which the present invention is applied, FIG. 1B is a front view in which the middle portion of the cleaning tape is omitted, and FIG. 1C is an IC-IC line arrow view of FIG. 1B, 1D. Figure is a front view showing an electrophotographic film used in place of a cleaning tape, Figure 2A is an exploded perspective view showing a reel, Figure 2B is a perspective view from the bottom of the reel, and Figure 3 is a lower cassette case. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a state in which the respective parts are assembled, FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 3, FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the relationship between the cassette and the guard panel, and FIG. 6 is a cassette holder. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an opened state, FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the main body of the electrophotographic apparatus, FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a process head, FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view showing a developing portion of the process head, and FIG. FIG. 11 is a horizontal sectional view showing the developing section of the head. Perspective view of a component, 12th
The figure is an enlarged horizontal cross-sectional view (a holding plate is not shown) showing a state where the adhesive tape is in contact with the developing electrode. 10 …… Lower cassette case (cassette case) 104 …… Upper cassette case (cassette case) 180 …… Reel 223 …… Base film 227 …… Detection mark 229 …… Adhesive tape piece (projection) 525 …… For electrophotographic device Cleaning cassette (cleaning cassette) 592 …… Concave portion 596 …… Developing electrode 698 …… Pressing plate

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A cassette case, a pair of reels axially supported in the cassette case, a base film having both ends locked to the reels, and a base film provided on the base film for detecting the position of the base film. And the detection mark provided on the base film and located at a position facing the developing electrode disposed on the bottom surface of the predetermined recess when the detection mark is detected and the base film is stopped. A protrusion having an adhesive surface at its tip, and a protrusion amount of the protrusion is set to be larger than the depth of the recess by a predetermined amount, whereby a predetermined pressing force is applied to the base film, and the protrusion is formed. The non-contact state between the base film and the periphery of the recess is maintained even when the adhesive surface of the base film is pressed against the developing electrode. Nguka set.