JPH09237024A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make the durability of a cleaning device excellent by using a magnetic brush system cleaning device, as the cleaning device for removing residual toner. SOLUTION: A brush is composed of magnetic material carrier grains 201 by the magnetic line of force of a magnet included in a sleeve 200 and toner is removed/recovered by a rotary magnetic brush. The carrier grains 201 are coated with materials charged to polarities opposite to that of the toner by friction, in the same way as carrier used for developing. A bias voltage is applied to the sleeve 200 by a power source 202, to obtain the polarity opposite to that of the toner, so that the residual toner is captured from a photoreceptor 9 by the carrier grains 201 and further, collected by a recovering roller 203 to which the bias voltage is applied. Further, the residual toner is scraped from the recovering roller 203 by a blade and carried to a waste toner tank, etc., by a screw 206, while being guided by a guide 205. The top end of the nip of the magnetic brush can be regulated by a doctor blade, to come into uniform contact with the surface of the photoreceptor 9.

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 copying machine, a facsimile and a printer, and more specifically, a pattern used in a pattern forming method for forming a pattern on ceramics, enamel, glass or the like. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a mount for forming.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, a method using a transfer body has been widely adopted for forming a pattern on ceramics, enamel, glass and the like. FIG. 6 shows a method for manufacturing the transfer body and a method for forming a pattern on a transfer target body such as a ceramics using the transfer body. First, a paper 901 on which a water-soluble glue layer 902 is formed is prepared (FIG. 6A). This glue layer 902
A pattern layer 903 is formed on the surface by, for example, screen printing (FIG. 6B). This pattern layer 903 and glue layer 902
Layer 904 by applying synthetic resin to the surface of
Are formed (FIG. 6C). As a result, the transfer member 900
Is completed. In forming a pattern on a transfer target using the transfer body 900 manufactured as described above, first, the transfer body 900 is immersed in water to melt the glue layer 902, and then the mount 901 is formed.
The resin layer 904 with the pattern layer 903 is peeled from the surface (see FIG. 6).
(D)). The resin layer 904 with the pattern layer is attached to the surface of the transfer-receiving body 905 such as ceramics (FIG. 6E).
Then, it is fired (FIG. 6 (f)). As a result, a pattern is formed on the transferred object 905 such as a ceramic.

The pattern layer 903 shown in FIG. 6B is usually formed by screen printing. However, screen printing is not suitable for high-mix low-volume production because it takes a lot of time to make a plate. Therefore,
It has been proposed to form the pattern layer using dry printing by a dry copying machine instead of screen printing (for example,
See JP-A-4-135798 and JP-A-7-199540. ).

[0004]

However, according to the research conducted by the present inventors, when an image is formed on a mount for forming a pattern by using an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile, a printer, etc. It turns out that the problem of occurs.
That is, since a firing process is performed to form a pattern on ceramics, enamel, glass, etc.
As described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 99540, it is necessary to use a toner containing a coloring material that does not volatilize during the baking treatment. However, many of such coloring materials contain a component having a significantly higher hardness than the components normally contained in the electrophotographic developing toner. Further, when the pulverization method is used as the toner manufacturing method, the component having high hardness projects as sharp projections around the toner particles. Because of this component, as a cleaning device for removing residual toner from the surface of a member (for example, a photoconductor) that is repeatedly used as a toner image carrier in this type of image forming apparatus, a cleaning device based on the damming principle of a cleaning blade or the like. However, it has been found that the cleaning blade itself scratches to cause defective cleaning, or the surface of the toner image bearing member itself scratches, causing various problems.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to mount a pattern-forming mount used in a pattern-forming method for forming a pattern on ceramics, enamel, glass or the like. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of forming an image on a toner image and having excellent durability of a toner image carrying member and a cleaning device for cleaning the surface of the member.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 is used in a toner image forming means in an image forming apparatus having a toner image forming means for forming a toner image on a sheet. As a cleaning device for removing residual toner from the surface of a member that is repeatedly used as a toner image carrier in the toner image forming means, a toner containing at least a heat-fusible colorant and a binder resin is used as the toner The magnetic brush type cleaning device is used.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, a fur brush type cleaning device is used in place of the magnet brush type cleaning device.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, an adhesive sheet is moved in contact with the surface of the member instead of the magnet brush type cleaning device, and the sheet is left on the sheet. A cleaning device for transferring the toner and removing the toner from the surface is used.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the cleaning device using the adhesive sheet according to the third aspect is more suitable than the cleaning device according to the first or second aspect. Is provided on the downstream side in the moving direction of.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus including a toner image forming means for forming a toner image on a sheet,
As a toner used in the toner image forming means, a toner containing at least a heat-flammable colorant and a binder resin is used, and an amorphous silicon photoconductor is used as a toner image carrier in the toner image forming means. It is characterized by using.

In the image forming apparatus according to the first to fourth aspects, the toner image is formed on the sheet with the toner containing at least the heat-fireable colorant and the binder resin. 5. The fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the surface of the toner image bearing member and the cleaning member itself of the cleaning device are less likely to be damaged as compared with a cleaning device that removes residual toner by the principle of blocking toner by a cleaning blade or the like. Thus, the residual toner on the toner image bearing member is removed. The fixing device according to the first to fourth aspects does not use a cleaning member such as a cleaning blade whose edge is chipped by the toner and deteriorates the cleaning performance. Therefore, the deterioration of the cleaning performance can be suppressed.

Further, in the image forming apparatus of the fifth aspect, the amorphous silicon photoconductor used as the photoconductor has a relatively high surface hardness among the photoconductors, and the surface is not easily scratched.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First, an example of a color copying machine which is an image forming apparatus to which the present invention can be applied will be described.
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a main part of a color copying apparatus, and FIG. 2 is an overall schematic configuration diagram. Color image reading device (hereinafter,
A color scanner 1 forms an image of a document 3 on a color sensor 7 via an illumination lamp 4, a mirror group 5, and a lens 6, and the color image information of the document is, for example, blue (hereinafter referred to as B). ), Green (hereinafter, referred to as G), and red (red, hereinafter referred to as R) color-separated lights are read and converted into electrical image signals. Then, on the basis of the B, G, and R color-separated image signal intensity levels obtained by the color scanner 1, color conversion processing is performed by an image processing unit (not shown), and black (hereinafter referred to as Bk) and cyan (Cyan, hereinafter referred to as C), magenta (Ma
genta, hereinafter referred to as M), and yellow (Yellow, hereinafter referred to as Y) color image data are obtained. This is sent to a color image recording device (hereinafter referred to as a color printer) 2.
The color printer 2 visualizes Bk, C, M, and Y based on this color image data, and the toner image thus obtained forms a four-color full-color image as follows.

The writing optical unit 8 of the color printer 2 converts the color image data from the color scanner 1 into an optical signal, performs optical writing corresponding to the original image, and forms an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor 9. (For example, image part (LD data “255” part) −80 to −130 (V),
Non-image part (LD data "0" part) -500 to -700
(V)). The photoconductor 9 rotates counterclockwise as indicated by the arrow, and around it, a photoconductor cleaning unit (including a pre-cleaning static eliminator) 10, a static eliminator 11, a charger 12, a potential sensor 13, and a Bk developing unit 14. , C
Developing unit 15, M developing unit 16, Y developing unit 17, optical sensor 18 for detecting a developing density pattern,
The intermediate transfer belt 19 and the like are arranged.

In each developing unit, in order to develop the electrostatic latent image, the developing sleeve (14a, 15a, 14a, 15a, 14a, 15a,) which rotates by bringing the ears of the dry two-component developer containing the carrier and the toner into contact with the surface of the photoreceptor 9. 16a, 17a) and a developing paddle (14b, 1) that rotates to pump up and agitate the developer.
5b, 16b, 17b) and a toner concentration sensor (14c, 15c, 16c, 17c) of the developer.

The outline of the copying operation will be described below with reference to an example in which the order of the developing operation (color image forming order) is Bk, C, M, and Y (however, the image forming order is not limited to this). . When the copying operation is started, reading of the Bk image data is started at a predetermined timing by the color scanner 1, and light writing by a laser beam and formation of a latent image are started based on the image data (hereinafter, electrostatic image formation by the Bk image data). The latent images are referred to as Bk latent images, and C, M, and Y are referred to as C latent images, M latent images, and Y latent images, respectively). Before the latent image front end reaches the developing position of the Bk developing unit 14 so that the front end of the Bk latent image can be developed, the developing sleeve 14a is started to rotate and the Bk latent image is developed with Bk toner. After that, the developing operation of the Bk latent image area is continued, and when the trailing edge of the latent image passes the Bk developing position, the developing operation is disabled. This is completed at least before the leading end of the C latent image based on the next C image data arrives.

The Bk toner image formed on the photosensitive member 9 is transferred onto the surface of an intermediate transfer belt 19 driven at a constant speed with the photosensitive member (hereinafter, transfer of the toner image from the photosensitive member to the intermediate transfer belt is referred to as belt transfer). ). The belt transfer is performed by applying a predetermined bias voltage to the transfer bias roller 20a while the photoconductor 9 and the intermediate transfer belt 19 are in contact with each other. It should be noted that, on the intermediate transfer belt 19, the Bk, C, M, and Y toner images sequentially formed on the photoconductor 9 are sequentially aligned on the same surface to form a belt transfer image of four-color superimposition. , Perform bulk transfer on paper. This intermediate transfer belt unit will be described later.

On the photoreceptor 9 side, the process proceeds to the step C after the step Bk. At a predetermined timing, the reading of the C image data by the color scanner 1 starts, and the formation of the C latent image is performed by writing the laser light with the image data. The C developing unit 15 starts rotating the developing sleeve 15a after the trailing end of the previous Bk latent image has passed and before the leading end of the C latent image has reached the developing position, thereby developing the C latent image. Develop with C toner. After that, the development of the C latent image area is continued, and when the trailing edge of the latent image passes, the development is inoperable as in the case of the previous Bk developing unit. This is also completed before the leading end of the next M latent image arrives. In each of the steps M and Y, the operations of reading image data, forming a latent image, and developing are performed in the same manner as the steps Bk and C described above.

Next, the intermediate transfer belt unit will be described. The intermediate transfer belt 19 is stretched around a drive roller 21, a transfer bias roller 20a, a ground roller 20b, and a group of driven rollers, and is driven and controlled by a drive motor (not shown). Here, the intermediate transfer belt 1
9 is, for example, carbon-dispersed fluororesin ET
FE (ethylene / tetrafluoro / ethylene) volume resistivity of 10 ¹⁰ Ωcm and surface resistivity of 10 ⁹ Ω / □ can be used. As the transfer bias roller 20a, for example, a hydrin rubber roller is covered with a PFE tube,
A material having a volume resistivity of 10 ⁹ Ωcm can be used. The belt cleaning unit 22 includes a brush roller 22a, a rubber blade 22b, a mechanism 22c for contacting and separating from the belt, and the like, and transfers the second, third, and fourth colors after the first color Bk image is transferred to the belt. During this operation, the belt is separated from the belt surface by the contact / separation mechanism 22c. Then, the four color images are accurately aligned on the intermediate transfer belt 19 and the images of the respective colors are transferred one after another to form a four color superimposed image on the intermediate transfer belt 19. The improvement of the belt cleaning unit 22 will be described later in detail.

The paper transfer unit 23 includes a paper transfer bias roller 23a, a roller cleaning blade 23b,
And a mechanism 23c for contacting and separating from the belt. The bias roller 23a is normally separated from the surface of the belt 19, but the biasing roller 23a is moved by the contacting / separating mechanism 23c at a timing when the superimposed images of four colors formed on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 19 are collectively transferred to a sheet. Pressed, the roller 23
A predetermined bias voltage is applied to a and transfer to paper is performed.
The paper 24 is fed by the paper feed roller 25 and the registration roller 26 at the timing when the leading edge of the four-color superimposed image on the intermediate transfer belt surface reaches the paper transfer position.

The paper 24 on which the four-color superposed toner images are collectively transferred from the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 19 is conveyed to a fixing device 28 by a paper conveying unit 27, and toner is applied at a pressure contact portion between the fixing roller 28a and the pressure roller 28b. The image is fused and fixed, and is carried out to the copy tray 29 to obtain a full color copy.

The photoreceptor 9 after the belt transfer is replaced with a photoreceptor cleaning unit 10 (a pre-cleaning static eliminator 10).
a, the brush roller 10b, and the rubber blade 10c) are used to clean the surface, and the charge is uniformly removed by the charge removing lamp 11. The improvement of the photoconductor cleaning unit 10 will be described in detail later. The surface of the intermediate transfer belt 19 after the toner image is transferred onto the paper 24 is cleaned by pressing the cleaning unit 22 again by the contact / separation mechanism 22c.

At the time of repeat copy, the color scanner 1
The operation and the image formation on the photosensitive member 9 proceed to the second Bk (first color) image process at a predetermined timing after the first Y (fourth color) image process. In the intermediate transfer belt 19, the second Bk toner image is transferred to the area where the surface is cleaned by the cleaning unit 22, following the batch transfer process of the first four-color superimposed image onto the paper. To be transcribed. After that, the operation is the same as that of the first sheet. The paper cassettes 30, 31, 32, 33
Various sizes of paper are stored, and the paper is fed and conveyed toward the registration roller 26 at a timing from a storage cassette of paper of a size designated by an operation panel (not shown). Reference numeral 34 denotes a manual paper feed tray for OHP paper and thick paper. The process speed is set to 180 mm / sec, for example.

The above is the description of the copy mode for obtaining four full colors, but in the case of the three-color copy mode and the two-color copy mode, the same operation as described above is performed for the designated color and the number of times. Will be. In the single-color copy mode, until the predetermined number of sheets are finished, only the developing unit of that color is in the developing operation (agent standing) state, and the intermediate transfer belt 19 remains in contact with the surface of the photoreceptor 9. The copying operation is performed in a state where the belt cleaner 22 is driven at a constant speed in the forward direction and the belt cleaner 22 is also in contact with the belt 19.

Then, in this embodiment, the above color copying apparatus is used to form a toner image on the mount 901 with a glue layer of the transfer paper 900 used for forming a pattern on a ceramic or the like. That is, this mount 901 is used as the paper cassette 3
It is housed in 0, 31, 32, and 33 before use. Then, in order to prevent the coloring material from volatilizing during the firing process for forming the pattern,
As the toner of each of the developing units 14 to 17, a toner containing at least a heat-fireable colorant and a binder resin is used.
Further, the durability of the photosensitive member or the cleaning member itself is higher than that of the cleaning unit 10 or 22 of the photosensitive member 9 as the toner image bearing member or the cleaning unit 10 or 22 of the intermediate transfer belt 19 which uses the illustrated cleaning blades 10c and 22b. Use something that can increase Further, an amorphous silicon photoconductor having a high surface hardness is used as the photoconductor 9. (Hereinafter, margin)

First, C used in this embodiment,
Each of the M and Y toners will be described. As each toner,
In this embodiment, a toner containing a heat-sinterable colorant and a binder resin (hereinafter referred to as “ceramic toner”) is used. By using this toner, the image formed on the transfer medium by the copying machine according to the present embodiment is finally sintered on a transfer target such as a ceramic,
An image can be formed on the surface of a transfer target such as ceramics.

The developing device shown in the drawing is of a two-component developing method in which a two-component developing agent containing a toner and a carrier is used to visualize an electrostatic latent image. It may be a so-called one-component developing method that visualizes a latent image. Iron as a carrier used in the two-component development method,
Examples are the same as conventional ones such as ferrite and glass peas. These carriers may be resin-coated. The resin used in this case is carbon fluoride, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, phenol resin, polyvinyl acetal, silicone resin or the like. In any case, the mixing ratio of the ceramic toner and the carrier is generally 1 to 1 of the ceramic toner with respect to 100 parts by weight of the carrier.
About 5 parts by weight is suitable.

The ceramic toner used in this embodiment is mainly composed of at least a heat-sinterable colorant and a binder resin. Desirably, a mineralizer, a sintering material, a solvent, etc. are added to this ceramic toner.

Examples of the heat-sinterable colorant include red iron oxide, chrome green as a metal oxide, and manganese pink, chrome alumina green, chrome titanium yellow, vanadium tin yellow, antimony tin gray blue as a solid solution of metal oxide. , lilac, vanadium zirconium yellow, as double oxides (Zn, Co) O · Al 2
O ₃ , ZnO. (Al, Cr) ₂ O ₃ , (Zn, Co) O
・ (Al, Cr) ₂ O ₃ , ZnO ・ (Al, Cr, Fe)
₂ O ₃ , MnO.Cr ₂ O ₃ , (Mn, Co) O. (Cr,
Fe) ₂ O ₃ , CuO.Cr ₂ O _{3 and the} like include antimony yellow as a solid solution of a complex oxide. In addition, silicates such as cobalt olipine, nickel olipin, and uvalovite, silicate solid solutions such as chrome tin pink, vanadium blue, turkish bull, praseodymium yellow, and coral red, sulfides such as cadmium orange, and selenium selenium compounds such as cadmium sulfide. Red,
Examples include selenium red and mandarin.

Mineralizers can be used to improve the fusability of the heat sinterable colorant. Examples of mineralizers include hydroxides of alkali metals and alkaline earth metals such as lithium hydroxide, carbonates of alkali metals and alkaline earth metals such as lithium carbonate, chlorides of alkali metals and alkaline earth metals, and chlorides. Aluminum, boric acid, alkali metal or alkaline earth metal borate, alkali metal or alkaline earth metal metaborate, alkali metal or alkaline earth metal phosphate, alkali metal or alkaline earth metal pyrroline Acid salts, silicates of alkali metals and alkaline earth metals,
Alkali metal or alkaline earth metal metasilicate, zirconium silicate, bone ash, borax, ammonium metavanadate, tungsten oxide or vanadium pentoxide, soot oxide,
Examples of the basic material include metal oxides such as zirconium oxide, cerium oxide, and molybdenum oxide, metal fluorides such as calcium fluoride and aluminum fluoride, and glasslets, which may be used alone or in combination.

As the sinter, basic materials such as feldspar such as lime feldspar, potassium feldspar, soda feldspar, betalite (lithium feldspar), kaolin, silica stone, wax stone, alumina, silica, quartz, titanium oxide, chamotte, etc. These may be used alone or as a mixture of two or more.

Further, a solvent medium is applied as an agent for adjusting the saturation, hue and lightness of the fired image. Examples of the solvent include natural minerals such as earth ash, limestone, magnesite, talc and dolomite, and compounds such as barium carbonate, zinc oxide and strontium carbonate as basic materials, and these may be used alone or in combination. .

These mineralizers, sinters, and solvents are not always necessary depending on the properties of the transfer medium used in the method of the present invention, the constituents, and the composition of the fired product, but in order to enhance versatility. In addition, it is preferable to simultaneously use the mineralizing agent and the sinter and the solvent together with the heat sinterable colorant. Also,
A so-called frit may be prepared by mixing these in advance or melting them after mixing.

In order to obtain proper charging characteristics and fixing characteristics on the transfer medium as the toner for electrophotography, the total amount of the heat-sinterable coloring material, the mineralizing agent, the sintering material and the solvent medium is the binder resin 100. It is preferably 120 parts by weight or less with respect to parts by weight. Individually, with respect to 100 parts by weight of the binder resin, the heat-sinterable colorants 1 to 12 are used.
0 parts by weight, preferably 10 to 100 parts by weight can be used.
Further, the mineralizing agent is 0 to 100 parts by weight, and the sintering material is 0 to 40 parts by weight.
It is appropriate that the amount of the solvent is 0 to 40 parts by weight. As the materials other than the heat-sinterable coloring material, the mineralizer, the sintering material, and the solvent, all known materials can be used.

As the binder resin, polystyrene,
Polymers of styrene and its substitution products such as poly-p-chlorostyrene and polyvinyltoluene; styrene-p-chlorostyrene copolymers, styrene-propylene copolymers, styrene-vinyltoluene copolymers, styrene-vinylnaphthalene copolymers Coal, styrene-methyl acrylate copolymer, styrene-ethyl acrylate copolymer, styrene-
Butyl acrylate copolymer, styrene-octyl acrylate copolymer, stellene-methyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene-ethyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene-butyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene-α-chloromethacrylic acid Methyl copolymer, styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer, styrene-vinyl methyl ketone copolymer, styrene-bradiene copolymer, styrene-isoprene copolymer, styrene-acrylonitrile-indene copolymer, styrene-maleic acid copolymer Polymer, styrene-
Styrene-based copolymers such as maleic acid ester copolymers; polymethyl methacrylate, polybutyl methacrylate, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, epoxy resin, epoxy polyol resin, polyurethane, polyamide, Polyvinyl, butyral, polyacrylic resin, rosin,
Examples thereof include modified rosin, terpene resin, aliphatic or alicyclic hydrocarbon resin, aromatic petroleum resin, chlorinated paraffin, and paraffin wax, which can be used alone or in combination.

The toner used in this embodiment may contain a charge control agent, if necessary. All known charge control agents can be used, for example, nigrosine dye, triphenylmethane dye, chromium-containing metal complex dye, molybdic acid chelate pigment, rhodamine thread dye, alkoxy amine, quaternary ammonium salt (fluorine modified). Four
Primary ammonium salts), alkylamides, phosphorus alone or compounds, tungsten alone or compounds, fluorine-based activators, salicylic acid metal salts, and salicylic acid derivative metal salts, and the like, and a plurality of these may be used in combination. .

The amount of the charge control agent used is determined by the type of binder resin, the presence or absence of additives used as necessary, and the toner production method including the dispersion method, and is uniquely limited. Not a thing, but a binder resin 10
0.1 to 10 parts by weight, preferably 2 to 0 parts by weight
The range is 5 parts by weight. If it is less than 0.1 part by weight, the amount of charge of the toner will be insufficient, which is not practical. If it exceeds 10 parts by weight, the chargeability of the toner is too great, and the electrostatic attraction with the carrier increases, resulting in a decrease in the fluidity of the developer and a decrease in the image density.

Other additives to the toner include colloidal silica, hydrophobic silica, fatty acid metal salts (zinc stearate, aluminum stearate, etc.), metal oxides (titanium oxide, aluminum oxide, tin oxide). , Antimony oxide, etc.) and fluoropolymers.

Below, Bk used in the present embodiment,
An example of a developer including a ceramic toner of each color of C, M, and Y and a carrier is shown. All parts below are parts by weight.

[Production Example of Mineralizing Agent, Sintering Material, Medium Solution Mixture (Fine Powder Mixture)] Na ₂ O 1 part K ₂ O 2 parts CaO 15 parts PbO 2 parts B ₂ O ₃ 13 parts Al ₂ O ₃ 2 parts SiO ₂ 35 parts The materials of the above formulation were ground with a stamp mill and further mixed with a Henschel mixer to obtain a prepared fine powder mixture.

Polyester resin 600 parts (oxidation = 3, hydroxyl value = 25, Mn = 45000, Mw / Mn = 4.0, Tg = 60 ° C.) (Mn, Co) O. (Cr, Fe) ₂ O ₃ 100 Part Fine powder mixture 300 parts Zinc salicylate derivative (Bontron E84, manufactured by Orient Chemical Co., Ltd.) 2 parts The ingredients of the above formulation were well mixed with a Henschel mixer, and the mixture was kneaded with 3 rolls for 3 passes, cooled and pulverized with a palperizer. , Further pulverized with a jet mill. After that, classification was performed to obtain a toner having a volume average particle diameter of 7.5 μm. Further, 0.5 wt% of hydrophobic silica (R972, manufactured by Nippon Aerosil Co., Ltd.) was added and mixed with a mixer to obtain a Bk toner.

[Production Example of C Toner] Polyester Resin 600 Parts (Oxidation = 3, Hydroxyl Value = 25, Mn = 45000, Mw / Mn = 4.0, Tg = 60 ° C.) Vanadium Blue 100 Parts Fine Powder Mixture 300 Parts Zinc salicylate derivative (Bontron E84, manufactured by Orient Chemical Co., Ltd.) 2 parts The above-prepared materials were well mixed with a Henschel mixer, kneaded with 3 rolls for 3 passes, cooled, pulverized with a palberizer, and further finely divided with a jet mill. Crushed. After that, classification was performed to obtain a toner having a volume average particle diameter of 7.5 μm. Further, 0.5 wt% of hydrophobic silica (R972, manufactured by Nippon Aerosil Co., Ltd.) was added and mixed with a mixer to obtain a C toner.

[Production Example of M Toner] 600 parts of polyester resin (oxidation = 3, hydroxyl value = 25, Mn = 45000, Mw / Mn = 4.0, Tg = 60 ° C.) ZnO. (Al.Cr) ₂ O ₃ 100 parts Fine powder mixture 300 parts Zinc salicylate derivative (Bontron E84, manufactured by Orient Chemical Co., Ltd.) 2 parts The ingredients of the above formulation are well mixed with a Henschel mixer, and the mixture is kneaded with 3 rolls for 3 passes and then cooled with a palperizer. It was crushed and then finely crushed with a jet mill. After that, classification was performed to obtain a toner having a volume average particle diameter of 7.5 μm. Further, 0.5 wt% of hydrophobic silica (R972, manufactured by Nippon Aerosil Co., Ltd.) was added and mixed with a mixer to obtain M toner.

[Production Example of Y Toner] Polyester Resin 600 Parts (Oxidation = 3, Hydroxyl Value = 25, Mn = 45000, Mw / Mn = 4.0, Tg = 60 ° C.) Chromium Titanium Yellow 100 Parts Fine Powder Mixture 300 parts Zinc salicylate derivative (Bontron E84, manufactured by Orient Chemical Co., Ltd.) 2 parts The above-prepared materials are well mixed with a Henschel mixer, and the mixture is kneaded with 3 rolls for 3 passes, cooled and ground with a valpelizer, and then jetted. Milled finely. After that, classification was performed to obtain a toner having a volume average particle diameter of 7.5 μm. Further, 0.5 wt% of hydrophobic silica (R972, manufactured by Nippon Aerosil Co., Ltd.) was added and mixed with a mixer to obtain a Y toner.

[Production Example of Carrier] Silicone resin solution (KR50, manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) 100 parts Carbon blank (manufactured by Cabot, BP2000) 3 parts Toluene 100 parts Dispersed and coated with a homomixer for 30 minutes using the above-mentioned material. A layer forming liquid was prepared. This coating layer forming liquid has an average particle size of 50
A coating layer was formed on the surface of 1000 parts of spherical ferrite having a diameter of μm using a fluidized bed type coating device to obtain a carrier.

400 g of the carrier and the Bk toner 2
The Bk developer obtained by placing 0 g in a ball mill and stirring for 30 minutes was put in the Bk developing unit 14 of the color copying apparatus and used. Similarly, the carrier 400 g and the C
C developer obtained by placing 20 g of toner in a ball mill and stirring for 30 minutes was used in C developing unit 15. Further, 400 g of the carrier and 20 g of the M toner were put in a ball mill and stirred for 30 minutes, and the M developer obtained was put in the M developing unit 16 for use. In addition, the carrier 4
A Y developer obtained by placing 00 g and 20 g of the above Y toner in a ball mill and stirring for 30 minutes was put in a Y developing unit 17 and used.

In this embodiment, the mineralizing agent, the sintering material, and the solvent mixture (fine powder mixture) are added to each color toner, but this fine powder mixture is added to the resin layer for protecting the toner image. In addition, in the case where it is applied to the surface of a transfer target such as a ceramic as a pattern forming object before the sintering process, it is not always necessary to add it to the toner of each color. (Hereinafter, margin)

Next, the photoconductor cleaning unit 10 and the belt cleaning unit 22 in this embodiment.
Will be described. Many of the heat-fusible coloring materials, mineralized materials, and burning materials, which are the components of the above-mentioned ceramic toner, have high hardness (the materials in the metal oxide and the fine powder mixture in the above examples). Cleaning blades 10c, 22 shown
When b is used, the photoconductor 9, the intermediate transfer belt 19 and the like are easily damaged. Therefore, in this embodiment, the photosensitive member cleaning 10 is shown in FIG.
For No. 2, a magnet brush type cleaning device is used as shown in FIG.

In FIG. 3, the cleaning device of this system forms a brush with the magnetic carrier particles 201 by the magnetic force lines of the magnet contained in the sleeve 200, and removes and collects the toner with the rotating magnetic brush. The carrier particles are coated with a material that, like the carrier used in development, is triboelectrically charged to the opposite polarity of the toner. A bias voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the toner is applied to the sleeve 200 by the power source 202, the residual toner is captured by the carrier particles from the photoconductor 9, and further collected by the collecting roller 203 to which the bias voltage is applied. A blade 204 scrapes the collecting roller 203 and guides it with a guide 205 to convey it to a waste toner tank (not shown) by a screw 206. The tip of this magnetic brush may be regulated by a doctor blade so as to uniformly contact the surface of the photoconductor 9. Since this method uses a large amount of electrostatic force, the driving force of the sleeve 200 as a cleaning member and the photoconductor 9 is small, and the photoconductor 9 is not abraded.

The magnetic brush type cleaning device constituting the belt cleaning unit 22 shown in FIG.
The structure is the same as that of the device forming the photoconductor cleaning unit 10. That is, the magnetic carrier lines 30 are generated by the magnetic lines of force of the magnet contained in the sleeve 300.
1 to form a brush, and a rotating magnetic brush removes and collects toner. The carrier particles are coated with a material that, like the carrier used in development, is triboelectrically charged to the opposite polarity of the toner. A bias voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the toner is applied to the sleeve 300 by the power source 302, the residual toner is captured by the carrier particles from the photoconductor 9, and further collected by the collecting roller 303 to which the bias voltage is applied. A blade 304 scrapes the collecting roller 303 and guides it with a guide 305 to convey it to a waste toner tank or the like (not shown) with a screw 306.

Instead of the magnet brush type cleaning device, a fur brush type cleaning device may be used to configure the photoconductor cleaning unit 10 and the belt cleaning unit 22. FIG. 5 shows an example of the photoconductor cleaning unit 10 configured by using a fur brush type cleaning device. FIG.
Roller 401 in which thin fibers 400 are planted
Rotates at a high speed to adhere toner to the tips of the brush 400 that are frictionally charged, and mechanically removes the toner. Since the particle diameter of the toner is as small as about 10 μm, it is easily scattered by the air flow generated by the rotation of the brush 400. For this reason, it is desirable to keep the inside of the device at a negative pressure and collect the toner so that the airflow constantly enters from the opening with the photoconductor. The toner adhered to the brush 400 is collected by the collecting roller 402 to which a bias voltage is applied.
Collect with. A blade 403 scrapes off the collecting roller 402, and a screw 4 is guided while being guided by a guide 404.
At 05, it is conveyed to a waste toner tank or the like not shown. Instead of the collecting roller 402, the toner adhering to the bristle tips of the brush may be separated by causing the brush to collide with the flicker bar, put on the airflow, and sent to the filter section for collection. A lamp and a charge removal charger may be provided as auxiliary means in the previous step to improve the cleaning performance.

A cleaning device using an adhesive sheet may be used instead of, or in addition to, the above magnet brush type or fur brush type cleaning device. FIG. 6 shows the photoconductor cleaning unit 10.
In this example, a cleaning device using the above-mentioned adhesive sheet is arranged in parallel on the downstream side in the moving direction of the surface of the photoconductor with respect to the cleaning device of the Magbnet brush system constituting the above. The same can be applied to the cleaning of the intermediate transfer belt 19, and the cleaning device of the fur brush type can be used together. In FIG. 6, the cleaning device of this system wipes the residual toner by pressing the sheet 500 having an adhesive surface onto the photoconductor 9 via the pressure roller 501. As the adhesive sheet 500, it is possible to use, for example, a tissue paper used in a conventional web type cleaning device, which is made to have an adhesive property by spreading an adhesive material on the surface of the web. It is desirable to use a material having a certain degree of elasticity in the thickness direction so that soft contact with the surface of the photoconductor is possible. The adhesive sheet 500 is sent out from the supply roll 502, and the sheet portion to which the toner is attached is wound around the take-up roller 503. Replace this web when you detect that you are done with it. Alternatively, the cassette can be replaced for easy replacement, or both sides of the sheet can be used for extended life. As a concrete structure for this,
Web-based cleaning device technology can be used.

Next, the photosensitive member 9 will be described. Amorphous silicon photoconductors have already been put to practical use and various improved techniques have been proposed. In this embodiment,
For example, the amorphous silicon photoreceptor described in JP-A-61-264350 is used. This photoreceptor is an electrophotographic photoreceptor having a metal support and an amorphous silicon layer provided on the support and containing at least one atom selected from a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom and a deuterium atom. An intermediate layer made of a conductive oxide is provided between the support and the amorphous silicon layer. The support is formed of a metal as a material that easily obtains electrical conductivity and mechanical strength, and specifically, Al, Cr, F
e, Ni, SUS (stainless steel), etc. are mentioned, and aluminum is particularly preferable. As the conductive oxide to be laminated on this metal support, In ₂ O ₃ , SnO ₂ , I
TO (In ₂ O ₃ + Sn) and the like can be mentioned, and especially ITO can be preferably used, and the intermediate layer made of these conductive oxides has a film thickness formed by a vapor deposition method, a sputtering method, a spray method or the like.
The thickness is 0.05 to 5 μm, preferably 0.1 to 3 μm. An amorphous silicon layer is formed on the intermediate layer by a glow discharge method (plasma CVD method), a sputtering method, a thermal CVD method, or the like to have a film thickness of 5 to 50 μm, preferably 10 to 30 μm.
m. This amorphous silicon layer contains at least one selected from hydrogen atoms, halogen atoms, and deuterium atoms in an amount of about 5 to 30 atom%. By including these above atoms, the characteristics of the amorphous silicon layer can be improved.
A content of ~ 30 atom% is optimal.

[0054]

According to the present invention, since the toner image is formed on the paper with the toner containing at least the heat-fugitive coloring material and the binder resin, the paper on which the toner image is formed is formed. Even if the toner image is fired in a state where it is superposed on a transfer body such as a ceramics, the color material does not volatilize in this firing process, and a good pattern can be formed with the color material.

In particular, according to the first to fourth aspects of the invention, the surface of the toner image bearing member or the cleaning member of the cleaning device is compared with a cleaning device that removes the residual toner by the principle of blocking the toner by a cleaning blade or the like. Since the residual toner on the toner image bearing member is removed by the fixing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which is less likely to damage itself, defects such as deterioration in durability due to these scratches can be suppressed.

In particular, according to the third aspect of the invention, the surface of the member carrying the toner image composed of the toner containing the heat-fusible coloring material can be cleaned more favorably than cleaning devices of other types. it can. That is, the toner containing at least the heat-fusible colorant and the binder resin is finely pulverized because the amount ratio of the colorant contained in the binder resin is high and fragile as compared with the usual electrophotographic developing toner. Cheap. If it also contains a binder or the like, it becomes more and more easily pulverized. Such finely divided toner is difficult to clean by using electric force or mechanical force at the end, but if the above-mentioned adhesive sheet is used, these finely divided toner can be cleaned well. it can.

Particularly, according to the invention of claim 4, the toner or the like which is not completely removed by the cleaning device of claim 1 or 2 on the upstream side in the moving direction of the toner image bearing member is used with the adhesive sheet of claim 3. Since it is removed by the conventional cleaning device, the cleaning property can be improved. Also,
Since the toner is removed in advance by the cleaning device according to claim 1 or 2, and the cleaning is performed by the cleaning device according to claim 3, it is possible to reduce the amount of the adhesive sheet used.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of an entire electrophotographic copying machine to which the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front view showing a schematic configuration of a main part of the copying machine of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a photoconductor cleaning unit according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of a belt cleaning unit according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of a photoconductor cleaning unit according to a modification.

FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of a photoconductor cleaning unit according to another modification.

7A to 7F are explanatory views of a method for manufacturing a transfer body and a method for forming a pattern on a ceramics or the like using the transfer body.

[Explanation of symbols]

 9 photoconductor 10 photoconductor cleaning unit 14a, 15a, 16a, 17a developing sleeve 19 intermediate transfer belt 22 belt cleaning unit 26 registration roller 28 fixing device 201 magnetic carrier particles 202 power source 203 recovery roller 204 blade 205 guide 206 screw 900 transfer member 901 Mount 902 Adhesive layer 903 Picture layer 904 Resin layer 905 Ceramics 200 Sleeve

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] June 13, 1996

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Name of invention

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Title of the Invention] Image forming apparatus

Front page continued (72) Inventor Jun Okamoto 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo In Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Satoshi Hatori 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo In Ricoh Co., Ltd.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus having a toner image forming means for forming a toner image on a sheet, wherein the toner used in the toner image forming means contains at least a heat-fusible colorant and a binder resin. And a magnet brush type cleaning device is used as a cleaning device for removing residual toner from the surface of a member that is repeatedly used as a toner image carrier in the toner image forming means. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the magnet brush type cleaning device is replaced by
An image forming apparatus characterized by using a fur brush type cleaning device. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the magnet brush type cleaning device is replaced by
An image forming apparatus comprising: a cleaning device that causes an adhesive sheet to come into contact with the surface of the member to run, and to transfer the residual toner onto the sheet to remove the residual toner from the surface. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cleaning device using the adhesive sheet according to claim 3 is provided downstream of the cleaning device according to claim 1 or 2 in the moving direction of the member surface. An image forming apparatus provided in the. 5. An image forming apparatus provided with a toner image forming means for forming a toner image on a sheet, wherein the toner used in the toner image forming means contains at least a heat-fusible colorant and a binder resin. And an amorphous silicon photoconductor is used as a photoconductor which is a toner image carrier in the toner image forming means.