JPH10235927A - Ion flow recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize a downward development of an electrostatic latent image through liquid phenomenon of fine particle toner by arranging means for discriminating a dedicated sheet having a dielectric layer from a plain paper in a recorder provided with a recording medium having a dielectric layer, means for developing an image depending on the quantity of charge. SOLUTION: Several dedicated sheet 1 having a dielectric layer are set in a hopper 2 and several plain papers 1' are set in a hopper 2' and when a record start command is received from a controller 23, a paper feed roller 4 or 4' turns to start paper feed. A controller 22 makes a decision whether an unspecified recording sheet is set in the hopper 2 or 2" using means for discriminating between the dedicated sheet 1 and the plain papers 1', i.e., optical reflection sensors 3, 3'. Since the difference of capacitance is prominent between the recording face of the dedicated sheet 1 and the surface of the plain papers 1', discrimination can be effected easily using a capacitive sensor.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ion flow recording apparatus for performing recording by giving a density gradation to each pixel, and capable of directly recording on a dedicated paper having a dielectric layer and retaining a charged charge. The present invention relates to an ion flow recording apparatus capable of performing control so that an image is formed once on a recording medium having a dielectric layer and the image is transferred to plain paper.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional apparatus is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 56-88146.
As described in the publication, an air flow containing ions reaches a recording paper from a control electrode plate having small holes for controlling the flow of ions generated by a corona generator, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the recording paper. After that, the image is developed, and only direct recording on special paper having a dielectric layer is possible.

Another conventional apparatus is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 56-1651.
As described in JP-A No. 64, an electrostatic latent image is formed by irradiating a drum having a dielectric layer with an ion stream controlled by a control electrode, and then the electrostatic latent image is developed and transferred to plain paper. It was configured to be recordable.

[0004]

The above prior art has a configuration in which either a special paper or a plain paper can be used. Therefore, when outputting a high-quality image, only the output on the special paper is required. , Could not output to plain paper.

On the other hand, a recording apparatus capable of outputting to plain paper forms an image on a recording medium having a dielectric layer capable of holding a charge once, and then transfers the image to plain paper. There is a problem that image quality is inferior to direct recording on special paper having a body layer.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide an ion flow recording apparatus which solves such a problem.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, an ion flow head for controlling the charge amount of an electrostatic latent image corresponding to an image signal by an ion amount, and a dielectric head capable of holding the charge amount In a recording apparatus provided with a recording medium having a body layer and a developing means for developing in accordance with the charge amount, a detecting means for discriminating between dedicated paper having a dielectric layer and plain paper is provided in the recording apparatus.

An ion flow printer capable of faithfully reproducing a halftone image by controlling the amount of charge of an electrostatic latent image corresponding to an image signal by the amount of ions requires an electrostatic latent image in order to maximize its characteristics. It is preferable to form an image directly on recording paper and develop it. However, for this purpose, it is necessary to use special paper having a dielectric layer, and the printer cannot use plain paper.

Therefore, in order to be able to use special paper and plain paper, a recording medium having a dielectric layer capable of holding a charge amount is required. It functions as a means for conveying exclusive paper, and as a means for forming an electrostatic latent image when recording on plain paper.

[0010] The determination of the recording process on the special paper or the recording process on the plain paper is finally determined by the recording paper discrimination detecting means, so that it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a recording error due to the difference in the recording paper.

[0011] By the above operation, high-quality image output and easy image output on plain paper can be performed.

[0012]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an ion flow recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

As for the recording paper, a special paper 1 is put in the hopper 2 and a plurality of plain papers 1 'are put in the hopper 2', and a recording start command is awaited. According to a recording start command output from the control device 23,
The paper feed roller 4 or the paper feed roller 4 'rotates to start feeding the paper. Next, as a detecting means for discriminating between the special paper 1 and the plain paper 1 ', for example, the optical reflection sensors 3 and 3' control whether or not a recording paper different from the designated one is set in the hopper 2 or the hopper 2 '. The determination is made by the device 22.
The optical reflective sensors 3 and 3 ′ read marks marked on the determined non-image area of the special paper 1, and the control device 22 determines whether or not the special paper is used. In addition, it is easy to perform the determination using the capacitance type sensor because the difference in capacitance between the recording surface of the dedicated paper and the surface of the plain paper is remarkable.
Note that the special paper is a recording medium having a dielectric layer, and details thereof will be described later.

When the special paper 1 is loaded in the hopper 2 'and a recording execution command is sent from the control unit 23 to the printer control circuit 22, the special reflection paper 1 is separated and conveyed. It is detected by a sensor or a capacitance type sensor 3 '. This detection signal is sent to the printer control circuit 2
2 to the control device 23, and the control device 23
And outputs information indicating that paper is loaded incorrectly as a display or sound. The signal may be displayed, and the recording may be stopped on the printer device side as long as the printer is not damaged.

On the other hand, plain paper 1 'is loaded into the hopper 2,
The recording execution command is sent from the controller 23 to the printer control circuit 2.
2, when the plain paper 1 ′ is to be transported separately by one sheet, it is detected by the optical reflection type sensor or the capacitance type sensor 3. This detection signal is sent from the printer control circuit 22 to the control device 23, and the control device 23 outputs to the operator information indicating that the paper is loaded incorrectly. In this case, the signal is displayed, and there is a possibility that the recording portion of the printer may be damaged. Therefore, the printer is controlled to ignore the recording execution command until the special paper 1 is loaded into the hopper 2. The device 23 functions.

It is clear that such a recording paper detection system operates similarly in a printer that supports only the special paper 1 or the plain paper 1 '. The recording of the special paper 1 and the plain paper 1 'normally loaded in each hopper is executed by the following processes.

When the special paper 1 is sandwiched between the dielectric belt 6 and the first pressing roller 5, the special paper 1 is released from the paper feeding roller 4. The special paper 1 is sandwiched between the dielectric belt 6 and the first pressing roller 5 and is conveyed at a recording process speed. When the recording position of the special paper 1 reaches the position of the counter electrode 24 and the ion flow head 13 provided with the dielectric belt 6 interposed therebetween,
The printer control circuit 22 generates a control signal to the ion flow head 13 according to the printing color in accordance with the image information from the control device 23, and the ion flow head 13 statically places on the special paper 1 in accordance with the transmitted signal. An electrostatic latent image is formed.

A developing device of a color corresponding to the special paper 1 on which the electrostatic latent image is formed (a yellow developing device 16, a cyan developing device 17,
Before reaching the position of the magenta developing device 14 and the black developing device 15), the corresponding developing device is lowered toward the dielectric belt 6, and the developing gap stay A11 or the developing gap stay B10 is raised so that the predetermined gap is reached. The development is started when the special paper 1 arrives. 1
When the development of the color is completed, in order to form an electrostatic latent image of the second color, it is transported again to the ion flow head side to form an electrostatic latent image of the second color, and is similarly developed by a developing device of a corresponding color. Further, the third and fourth colors are developed.

The special paper 1 after the development of the first color has been completed.
Does not hinder the formation and development of the next color electrostatic latent image because the solvent of the developer evaporates during transport until the next electrostatic latent image starts. When the development of one page is completed, the special paper 1 is conveyed to the heating means 18 and the toner is fused and fixed. The heating means 18 is, for example, a non-contact heating means using a halogen lamp shown in FIG. 1, or a roller-type fixing means.

The special paper on which fixing has been completed may be sent to the plain paper hopper 2 'using the timing roller 25 as a paper discharge roller, or may be conveyed on the paper discharge guide 26 and discharged from the discharge port. You may do it.

During the formation and development of the electrostatic latent image,
The cleaner 20 is retracted. The cleaner 20 cleans the dielectric belt 6 by bringing the cleaner 20 into contact with the dielectric belt 6 after the color recording of one page is completed. At the time of cleaning, the charge of the dielectric belt 6 is removed by the charge remover 28 first.

The dielectric belt 6 is configured so that the special paper 1 can be guided and conveyed with high precision. The dielectric belt 6 is rotated by rotating the driving pulley 8 with high precision by a driving source (not shown in FIG. 1) over the driving pulley 8, the driven pulley 7, and the tension pulley 9.

Next, an embodiment of the structure of the electrostatic latent image forming mechanism will be described with reference to FIG.

By supplying a voltage from an ion source, for example, a minus high-voltage power supply 65 shown in FIG. 2 to a corona wire 61 provided in a can 60, a corona ion flow generated from the corona wire 61 is converted into a large number of corona ions. The ion flow head 13 that forms an electrostatic latent image on the dielectric by controlling with the control electrodes 63 and 64 provided on the dielectric film 62 having the ion flow control holes 71 causes the special paper 1 to reach the recording start position. Then, the voltages of the control electrodes 63 and 64 are applied from the bias power supply 67 in accordance with the image signal 66 of the first color, and the recording of the electrostatic latent image on the special paper 1 is started. When the electrostatic latent image reaches, for example, the yellow developing device 16, the yellow developing device 16 descends to define a gap with the special paper 1, and starts developing yellow. When the formation and development of the electrostatic latent image for one page of the special paper 1 are completed, the special paper 1 is conveyed to the heating means 18 while the solvent of the developing solution is volatilized, and the toner image remaining on the special paper 1 is removed. It is firmly established.

Thereafter, the yellow developing unit 16 is raised and the dielectric belt 6 is fed in the reverse direction to start the formation of the electrostatic latent image of the second color, that is, the leading end of the special paper 1 is moved to the ion flow head. Exclusive paper 1 until it reaches 13
Is transported.

Next, the recording of the electrostatic latent image on the special paper 1 is started in response to the image signal 66 of the second color. When the electrostatic latent image reaches, for example, the magenta developing device 14, the magenta developing device 14 descends to define a gap with the special paper 1, and starts magenta development. When the formation and development of the electrostatic latent image for one page of the special paper 1 are completed, the special paper 1 is conveyed to the heating means 18 while the solvent of the developing solution is volatilized, and the toner image remaining on the special paper 1 is removed. It is firmly established.

Thereafter, cyan and black electrostatic latent images are formed and developed in the same manner to form four-color images.

The structure of the substrate 51 of the dielectric belt 6 uses a seamless polyimide material as shown in FIG. 3 and a conductive layer 50 of 10 ⁵ Ωcm or less is formed thereon, as shown in FIG. The dielectric belt 6 is so exposed that the conductive layer 50 is exposed.
Is formed. Further, 10 ⁶ to
A semiconductive layer 52 of 10 ¹⁰ Ωcm is formed. Semiconductive layer 52
Is to obtain a desired electric resistance by mixing carbon or powdered conductive metal oxide into silicon resin or fluorine resin. The upper layer of the semiconductive layer 52 is coated with abrasion resistant, for example, a silicon resin coating having a thickness of 2 to 3 μm.

The special paper 1 is also made of the base material 5 like the dielectric belt 6.
1 is composed of a conductive layer 50 and a semiconductive layer 52.
Also in the case of the special paper 1, a negative voltage can be applied to the conductive layer 50 by configuring the conductive layer 50 to be exposed at the end.

Next, recording on plain paper 1 'will be described with reference to FIG.

On the other hand, when an instruction to execute recording on the plain paper 1 'is sent from the control unit 23 to the printer control circuit 22, the plain paper 1' is conveyed by one sheet and reaches the timing roller 25, where it is temporarily stopped. I do.

Next, in response to the image signal 66 of the first color, the dielectric belt 6 rotates and the charge is removed by the charge removing corotron 28. Then, the recording of the electrostatic latent image on the dielectric belt 6 is started by the ion flow head 13. When the electrostatic latent image reaches, for example, the yellow developing device 16, the yellow developing device 16 descends to define a gap with the dielectric belt 6, and starts developing yellow. When the formation and development of the electrostatic latent image for one page are completed, the solvent of the developer is volatilized while the dielectric belt 6 is conveyed to the heating unit 18.

Next, the yellow developing unit 16 is raised,
By rotating the dielectric belt 6, the position at which the formation of the electrostatic latent image of the second color is started, that is, while the leading end of the toner image of the first color on the dielectric belt 6 is sent to the ion flow head 13, At 28, static elimination is performed. At this time, since the heating transfer roller 27 is separated from the dielectric belt 6, no image disturbance or the like occurs.

Next, recording of an electrostatic latent image on the dielectric belt 6 is started in response to the image signal 66 of the second color. When the electrostatic latent image reaches, for example, the magenta developing device 14, the magenta developing device 14 descends to define the gap with the dielectric belt 6, and starts magenta development. 1
When the formation and development of the electrostatic latent image for the page are completed, the solvent of the developer is volatilized while the dielectric belt 6 is conveyed to the heating means 18.

Thereafter, cyan and black electrostatic latent images are formed and developed in the same manner to form four-color images.

By this process, a color toner image is formed on the dielectric belt 6, and this is transferred to the plain paper 1 'by pressing the heat transfer roller 27 against the dielectric belt 6 via the plain paper 1'. . Of course, a color toner image may be electrostatically transferred to the plain paper 1 '.

After the transfer of the toner image onto the plain paper 1 ′ is completed, the charge is removed by the charge removing corotron 28, thereby removing the electrostatic attraction between the toner and the dielectric belt 6.
The residual toner is completely removed by the cleaner 20.

When the printer shown in FIG. 1 has a printer structure dedicated to plain paper, the dedicated paper hopper 2, the paper feed roller 4,
In addition, components such as the optical reflection type sensor 3 become unnecessary. When the printer is designed for exclusive use of dedicated paper, the plain paper hopper 2 ', the paper feed roller 4', the timing roller 25, the heating transfer roller 27, the paper ejection guide 26, and the like are not required.

Next, the structure of each color developing device used in the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

Cyan developing unit 17 and yellow developing unit 1
6, a magenta developing device 14 and a black developing device 15
Are connected so that the developing surfaces are connected in opposite directions by 180 °.
A cross-sectional view of the structure is shown in FIG. The two-color liquid developing device is arranged, for example, such that the back surfaces of a magenta developing solution tank 101 and a black developing solution tank 110 face each other, and a magenta developing roller 107, a magenta piping 104, a magenta blade 105 and a black The developing roller 116, the black pipe 113, and the black blade 114 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the rotating shaft 100 of the two-color liquid developing device.
The liquid developing device is structured so as to be rotatable around a circle 00 as a circumscribed circle 119 of the magenta and black developing devices.

A magenta pipe 104 provided on a magenta developing device base 106 for applying the magenta developing solution provided between the magenta developing solution tank 101 and the magenta developing roller 107 to the magenta developing roller 107; Alternatively, a magenta control valve 102 is provided at the junction between the magenta pipe 104 and the magenta developer tank 101. The magenta control valve 102 is a magenta actuator 103 of the control valve.
To open and close.

The same configuration is applied to the black developing device. The black pipe 113, the black developing device base 11
5, a black control valve 111, and a black actuator 112 of the control valve. Further, in FIG. 5, since development is being performed, the magenta developing device side plate 108 has been moved from the magenta cap developing roller side. Since the black developing device 15 side is waiting, the black developing roller 116 is used instead of the black developing device side plate 117.
The black cap 118 is moving so as to cover.
Similarly, the yellow developing device 16 has a yellow cap 12
In the cyan developing device 17, a cyan cap 122 is provided to cover each developing roller. As described above, the developer is covered with the cap so that the developing solution
To prevent it from falling and becoming dirty. Further, the yellow developing device 16 and the cyan developing device 17 can rotate about a rotation axis 120 as a circumscribed circle 123 of the yellow / cyan developing device.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the developing device. Two magenta pipes 104 from a magenta developer tank 101,
104 'is connected, and the magenta developing solution is applied to the magenta developing roller 107. At this time, two magenta pipes 10
4, 104 'and the amount of the magenta developing solution which can be held in the space formed between the magenta blade 105 and the magenta developing roller 107 is set to be substantially equal to the amount required for developing the entire one page. I do. It is clear that the same function is obtained even if the number of pipes is two or more. Similarly, the black developing device is also provided with two black pipes 113 and 113 'from the black developing solution tank 110.
Is provided.

The structure is such that the driving force is transmitted from the rotation shaft 100 of the liquid developing device via a clutch 151 attached to the side plate 21 ′ of the apparatus. By controlling the clutch 151, the rotation force from the driving gear 156 is reduced. Gear 152 and Gear 1
And transmitted to the magenta developing roller 107.
Then, the black developing roller 116 rotates. Clutch 15
When 1 is ON, the magenta developing roller 107, the black developing roller 116, and the developing device can be rotated. On the other hand, when the clutch 151 is off, only the rotation of the gear 152 becomes possible, and only the magenta developing roller 107 and the black developing roller 116 rotate. Also, bearings 150, 15 are provided on the respective rotating shafts as shown in FIG.
5, 157 and 158 are provided.

After completion of the magenta development, the developing device is rotated by 180 ° to open the control valve 102, and the developing roller 107 is rotated to remove the developing solution remaining on the developing roller 107 into the blade 10.
Collect by 5 with piping. Then, since the control valve is opened, the developer remaining in the pipe is collected in the developer tank. At this time, for example, by forming a coating film of fluoroalkylsilane in the pipe, the contact angle between the developer and the pipe increases, and the developer can be easily and completely collected in the developing tank. it can.

At this time, since the two-color developing device is turned upside down, even if precipitation or aggregation of the developing solution in the developing solution tank occurs in a state stored for a long period of time, the developing device is rotated to rotate. The toner in the developer is re-dispersed, and development becomes possible.

After the recording is completed, the developing solution is sealed in the developing tank by the control valves of the respective colors, so that the developing solution does not leak and the concentration of the developing solution does not change due to evaporation of the solvent.

With such a developing device, the electrostatic latent image can be developed by the downward developing device, and the special paper can be easily reciprocated by the endless belt with high accuracy. Image quality recording can be realized.

FIG. 7 shows an example of an apparatus configuration capable of performing recording on both sides of plain paper and special paper.

The difference from FIG. 1 is that the plain paper that has passed through the heat transfer roller 27 is switched by the gate 29 in the transport direction, transported to the return guide 30, and switched back by the switchback roller 31. Is a point. After that, it waits for the timing to transfer the toner image to the back side of the plain paper and the special paper. By the transport means, double-sided recording on plain paper or special paper can be realized. However, when performing double-sided printing on special paper, the configuration of the special paper shown in FIG.
, A low resistance layer 50 and a semiconductive layer 52 are formed on both surfaces. As described above, double-sided printing can be easily realized only by adding a switchback component to the configuration of FIG.

[0051]

According to the present invention, an electrostatic latent image formed by an ion flow head can be developed downward by using liquid development of a fine particle toner, and highly reliable development without leakage of a developing solution can be realized. Plain paper,
This has the effect of realizing a recording system capable of recording on both dedicated paper.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an embodiment of a recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of an ion flow head.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a dielectric belt and special paper.

FIG. 4 is an overall configuration diagram of a dielectric belt.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of a developing device.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the developing device.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of another embodiment of the recording apparatus of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: Special paper, 1 ': Plain paper, 2, 2': Hopper, 100 ...
Rotary axis, 3, 3 '... Optical reflective sensor, 4, 4' ...
Paper feed roller, 5: first pressing roller, 6: dielectric belt,
7: driven pulley, 8: drive pulley, 9: tension pulley
Reference numeral 10: developing gap stay B, 11: developing gap stay A, 12: second pressing roller, 13: ion flow head,
14: magenta developing device, 15: black developing device, 16: yellow developing device, 17: cyan developing device, 18: heating means, 20: cleaner, 21: side plate of the device, 22: control device, 23: computer
24, counter electrode, 25, timing roller, 26, discharge guide, 27, heat transfer roller, 28, static eliminator, 29, gate,
30 ... Return guide, 31 ... Switchback roller, 50 ...
Low resistance layer, 51: base material, 52: semiconductive layer, 60: can, 61
... corona wire, 62 ... dielectric film, 63, 64 ... control electrode, 65 ... negative high voltage power supply, 66 ... image signal, 67 ... bias power supply, 68 ... dielectric layer, 69 ... conductive layer, 70 ... recording paper base material , 71… Ion flow passage hole, 109… Magenta cap, 118
... black cap, 120 ... rotating shaft, 121 ... yellow cap, 122 ... cyan cap.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Keiji Kamio 1-1-1 Higashitaga-cho, Hitachi City, Ibaraki Prefecture Inside the Electrification Equipment Division of Hitachi, Ltd. No. 1-1 Hitachi Electric Co., Ltd.Electrical Equipment Division (72) Inventor Mitsuzu Suzuki 1-1-1, Higashitaga-cho, Hitachi City, Ibaraki Pref.Hitachi Ltd.Electrical Equipment Division (72) Inventor Shigetaka Furukawa Ibaraki 1-1-1, Higashitaga-cho, Hitachi City, Hitachi, Ltd.Electrical Equipment Division

Claims (6)

[Claims] An ion flow head for controlling an amount of charge of an electrostatic latent image corresponding to an image signal by an amount of applied ions; a recording medium having a dielectric layer capable of holding the amount of charge; An ion flow recording apparatus comprising: a developing means for developing the recording medium in accordance with the condition; and a detecting means for discriminating between a dedicated recording medium having a dielectric layer and a recording medium which is plain paper. 2. An ion flow recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a paper feeding means for conveying said dedicated recording medium immediately below an ion flow head. 3. The ion flow recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for transferring the toner image formed on the dedicated recording medium to plain paper is a roller transfer having a heating / pressing action. Ion flow recording device. 4. The ion flow recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detecting means for determining whether the recording medium is a dedicated recording medium or plain paper is an optical detecting means, and the detection is performed by a mark provided in a non-image area. Ion flow recorder. 5. The ion flow recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a detecting means for measuring a surface electric resistance of a dedicated recording medium or plain paper, wherein the detecting means detects the electric resistance of the recording medium on the basis of the detected electric resistance. An ion flow recording apparatus, comprising: means for determining whether the sheet is plain paper. 6. The ion flow recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein after the toner image is transferred to one side of the plain paper, the front and back of the plain paper are reversed by a switchback method on a timing roller disposed before the transfer section again. An ion flow recording apparatus, comprising: a transport unit.