JPH11327293A - Non-magnetic one-component developing device and its control method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a non-magnetic one-component developing device using the conventional developing roller and regulating the toner amount of a toner layer formed on the developing roller, and to provide the control method of the non-magnetic one-component developing device using the conventional developing roller and being capable of preventing an oil component from adhering to a photoreceptor being an electrostatic latent image carrier in a state where the photoreceptor and the developing roller are disposed to always come in contact with each other, and obtaining a high-quality printed image even after the device is left as it is for a long time. SOLUTION: This non-magnetic one-component developing device is equipped with the developing roller 5, a developing bias voltage supply power source 12, a toner supply roller 6, a toner supply bias voltage supply power source 26, and the photoreceptor 1 being the electrostatic latent image carrier 1. The device is provided with a toner regulating roller 27 disposed in contact with the roller 5, and a toner regulating bias voltage supply power source 28 applying toner regulating bias voltage to the roller 27.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a non-magnetic one-component developing apparatus using only a non-magnetic toner as a developer in an electrophotographic apparatus or an electrostatic recording apparatus, and a control method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, electrophotographic apparatuses mainly use dry toner as a developer, and have been used in many copiers, laser printers, plain paper facsimile machines and the like, and have made remarkable developments. This electrophotographic apparatus is an apparatus to which an electrophotographic process technology is applied, and visualizes an electrostatic latent image formed on a photoconductor as an electrostatic latent image carrier with toner particles.

In recent years, as a developing device used in an electrophotographic device, a device using a non-magnetic one-component developing device, which is advantageous in reducing the size and cost of the device, is becoming widespread.

Hereinafter, an electrophotographic apparatus using a conventional non-magnetic one-component developing apparatus and its operation will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a main portion showing an electrophotographic apparatus using a conventional non-magnetic one-component developing apparatus.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a photosensitive member as an electrostatic latent image carrier, 2 denotes a charger, 2a denotes a charged wire, 2b denotes a shield plate, 2c denotes a grid plate, 3 denotes an exposure optical system, and 4 denotes an exposure optical system. The exposure light beam 5 emitted from the system 3 is a metal shaft 5.
a, a developing roller rotatably supported by a, a toner supply roller 6 rotatably supported by a metal shaft 6a,
7 is a toner regulating blade, 7a is a metal spring plate member, 7b
Is a toner regulating member, 8 is a blade holder, 9 is a developing hopper, 10 is toner stored in the developing hopper 9, 11 is a toner stirring member for stirring the toner 10, and 12 is a shaft 5
a, a developing bias voltage supply power supply for applying a developing bias voltage to the developing roller 5; 13, a static eliminator; 14, a paper cassette; 15, a sheet of recording paper housed in a paper cassette 14; , 17 are a pair of upper and lower conveying rollers, 18 is a registration roller, 19 is a driven roller abutting on the registration roller, 20 is a transfer roller rotatably supported by a metal shaft 20a, and 21 is on the paper 15. A fixing device for fixing the transferred toner image; 22, a heat roller having a heat source therein and disposed in the fixing device 21; 23, a pressure roller in contact with the heat roller 22;
24 is a transfer bias voltage supply power supply connected to the shaft 20a, 25 is a cleaning blade, and 26 is a toner supply bias voltage supply power supply connected to the shaft 6a and applying a bias voltage to the toner supply roller 6.

The photoreceptor 1 is formed by applying a photosensitive drum, such as selenium (Se) or an organic photoconductor (OPC), in a thin film on the outer peripheral surface of a metal drum such as aluminum as a base material. I have.

The charger 2 is disposed close to the photoreceptor 1 and includes a charging wire 2a such as a tungsten wire, a metal shield plate 2b, and a grid plate 2c.
The charging line 2a causes a corona discharge to uniformly charge the photoconductor 1 via the grid plate 2c.

The exposure light beam 4 emitted from the exposure optical system 3
Is obtained by subjecting an image signal to light intensity modulation or pulse width modulation by a laser driving circuit (not shown), and forms an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor 1.

The developing roller 5 is a toner carrier disposed in contact with or close to the photoconductor 1.

The toner supply roller 6 supplies the toner 10 agitated and conveyed to the surface of the development roller 5 by a toner agitating member 11 whose both ends are rotatably supported by a development hopper 9. A toner supply bias voltage in which DC or DC and AC are superimposed is applied by the supply power supply 26. Developing roller 5 and toner supply roller 6
And elastic members such as urethane and silicon are formed in layers on the outer peripheral surface of a metal such as stainless steel as a base material.
It is rotatably supported at a and 6a.

The toner 10 supplied from the toner supply roller 6 is triboelectrically charged by the toner regulating blade 7 to form a thin layer on the outer peripheral surface of the developing roller 5. The developing roller 5 transfers and adheres the toner 10 to a portion of the photoconductor 1 where the electrostatic latent image is formed by a DC developing bias voltage applied from a developing bias voltage supply power supply 12 to transfer the electrostatic latent image. Visualize.

The toner regulating blade 7 is composed of a metal spring plate member 7a and a toner regulating member 7b integrally formed with an elastic member such as silicon or urethane at one end of the metal spring plate member 7a and in contact with the developing roller 5.

The blade holder 8 is provided with a toner regulating blade 7.
Are fixed with screws. The toner stirring member 11 draws a circular locus with the rotation of the toner supply roller 6, prevents aggregation of the toner 10 stored in the developing hopper 9, and conveys the toner 10 toward the toner supply roller 6.

The paper 15 is transported one by one from a paper cassette 14 by a half-moon shaped paper feed roller 16.
It is sent to 7. The fed sheet 15 is transported by the transport roller 17 in the direction indicated by the arrow A.

The registration roller 18 in contact with the driven roller 19 temporarily stops the sheet 15 in order to make the sheet 15 coincide with the toner image formed on the photosensitive member 1.

The transfer roller 20 is made of a metal such as stainless steel as a base material, and an elastic member is formed in a layer on the outer peripheral surface thereof.
The photosensitive member 1 is in contact with and rotatably supported by a shaft 20a. When the toner image reaches the contact portion between the transfer roller 20 and the photosensitive member 1 with the rotation of the photosensitive member 1, the paper 15 also reaches the contact portion in synchronization with the toner image. By applying a high voltage from the transfer bias voltage supply power supply 24 to the shaft 20a, a charge having a polarity opposite to that of the toner 10 is applied to the back surface of the sheet 15, and the toner image on the photoconductor 1 is transferred onto the sheet 15. .

Next, the paper 15 is conveyed to the fixing device 21 side, and the toner image transferred onto the paper 15 is
The fixing is performed by pressurization and heat with the pinching rotation between the roller 2 and the pressure roller 23.

On the other hand, the photoreceptor 1 after the transfer of the toner image onto the sheet 15 has the transfer residual toner scraped off by the cleaning blade 25 and is irradiated with light by the charge remover 13 to be discharged.

[0020]

However, in the above-described conventional non-magnetic one-component developing device, the photoconductor and the developing roller are always in contact with each other, so that the rotation of the photoconductor and the developing roller is stopped. When a developing operation is performed after a long time of non-developing operation, the oil component contained in the elastic member forming the surface of the developing roller adheres to a contact portion of the photoconductor with the developing roller during a non-developing operation. However, there is a problem that the quality of a printed image is deteriorated.

In order to prevent the oil component from seeping out from the surface of the developing roller, if a developing roller having a coating layer on the surface is used, the cost of the developing roller increases,
There have been problems such as a reduction in the life of the developing roller due to abrasion of the coat layer and a deterioration in image quality of a printed image due to a change in toner charging characteristics.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and provides a non-magnetic one-component developing apparatus which can control the amount of toner in a toner layer formed on the developing roller using a conventional developing roller. Further, it is possible to prevent the oil component from adhering to the photoconductor in a state in which the conventional development roller is used, and the photoconductor, which is the electrostatic latent image carrier, and the development roller are arranged in constant contact with each other. It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for controlling a non-magnetic one-component developing apparatus capable of obtaining a high-quality printed image even after being left for a long time.

[0023]

In order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, a non-magnetic one-component developing apparatus of the present invention comprises a developing roller for forming a toner layer of a non-magnetic one-component developer on a surface, and a developing roller. A developing bias voltage supply power source for applying a developing bias voltage (hereinafter referred to as V _B ), a toner supply roller for contacting the developing roller and pre-charging the toner to supply the toner to the developing roller, and applying a bias voltage to the toner supplying roller A non-magnetic one-component developing device, comprising: a toner supply bias voltage supply power supply; and an electrostatic latent image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed in contact with or in close proximity to the developing roller. had a toner is disposed in contact with the developing roller regulating roller, and the toner regulating bias voltage supply source for applying a toner regulating bias voltage to the toner regulating roller (hereinafter referred to as V _R), the The toner regulating roller is pressed against the developing roller to regulate the amount of toner on the developing roller so that a toner layer can be formed on the developing roller. The amount of toner on the developing roller can be adjusted by the applied toner regulating bias voltage.

Further, according to the control method of the non-magnetic one-component developing apparatus of the present invention, the amount of toner on the developing roller during the non-developing operation in which the electrostatic latent image carrier and the developing roller are at a standstill is determined. It controls the toner amount on the developing roller during the developing operation in which the carrier and the developing roller are in a rotating state,
During the non-developing operation in which the electrostatic latent image carrier and the developing roller are stationary, it is possible to prevent the oil component contained in the elastic member forming the surface of the developing roller from adhering to the electrostatic latent image carrier, It has the effect that a high quality printed image can be obtained even after being left for a long time in the non-developing operation state.

[0025]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A non-magnetic one-component developing device according to claim 1 of the present invention comprises: a developing roller for forming a toner layer of a non-magnetic one-component developer on a surface; a developing bias voltage supply source for applying a) hereinafter referred to V _B, wherein the contact with the developing roller is pre-charging the toner the developing roller to the toner supply roller for supplying the toner, a bias voltage to the toner supply roller A non-magnetic one-component developing device comprising: a toner supply bias voltage supply power source to be applied; and an electrostatic latent image carrier, which is disposed in contact with or in close proximity to the developing roller and on which an electrostatic latent image is formed. Te, wherein the toner regulating roller disposed in contact with the developing roller, a toner regulating bias voltage supply electricity for applying the toner regulating roller to the toner regulating bias voltage (hereinafter referred to as V _R) And a source.

This has the effect of pressing the toner regulating roller against the developing roller to regulate the amount of toner on the developing roller and forming a toner layer on the developing roller.

Further, since a toner regulating bias voltage supply power source for applying the toner regulating bias voltage to the toner regulating roller is provided, the toner regulating bias voltage is changed to adjust the toner amount of the toner layer formed on the developing roller. It has the effect of being able to.

Further, since the toner regulating roller is used to form the toner layer on the developing roller, the torque of the non-magnetic one-component developing device can be reduced and the toner can be prevented from sticking to the toner regulating roller. Have.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a control method of the non-magnetic one-component developing device, wherein the toner on the developing roller is in a non-developing operation when the electrostatic latent image carrier and the developing roller are in a stationary state. The amount is controlled to be larger than the amount of toner on the developing roller during the developing operation when the electrostatic latent image carrier and the developing roller are in a rotating state.

Thus, during the non-developing operation in which the electrostatic latent image carrier and the developing roller are stationary, the oil component contained in the elastic member forming the surface of the developing roller adheres to the electrostatic latent image carrier. It has the effect that it can prevent that.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the non-magnetic one-component developing device according to the second aspect, wherein the non-developing operation is performed when the electrostatic latent image carrier and the developing roller are in a rotating state. In the developing operation in which the electrostatic latent image carrier and the developing roller are in a rotating state, control is performed by changing the toner regulating bias voltage applied to the toner regulating roller.

This makes it possible to increase the amount of toner on the developing roller during the non-developing operation when the electrostatic latent image carrier and the developing roller are at a standstill, and the oil component contained in the elastic member on the surface of the developing roller can be increased. However, there is an effect that the electrostatic latent image carrier and the developing roller can be prevented from adhering to the electrostatic latent image carrier during a non-developing operation in a stationary state.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the non-magnetic one-component developing device according to the second or third aspect, the developing bias voltage (V _B ) and the toner regulating bias voltage (V _R ) are different from each other. _{, | V R | - | V} B | ( hereinafter potential difference hereinafter)> has 0 relationships, and the developing roller and the electric potential difference at the time of developing operation of the electrostatic latent image bearing member is in a rotating state (hereinafter V ₁ ) and the potential difference (hereinafter referred to as V ₂ ) during the non-developing operation when the developing roller and the electrostatic latent image carrier are in a rotating state is controlled so as to have a relationship of V ₁ <V _2. is there.

Thus, the amount of toner on the developing roller can be changed between the developing operation and the non-developing operation by changing the output of the toner regulating bias voltage supply power applied to the toner regulating roller. Having.

Further, the bias voltage of the toner regulating roller and the developing _{roller, | V R | - | V} B | have> 0 relationships, and each potential difference at the time of developing operation and a non-developing operation V ₁ <because it has a relationship of V _2, the amount of toner on the developing roller in the non-developing operation can be more than the amount of toner on the developing roller during the developing operation, was left at non-development operation long This has the effect of preventing the quality of the printed image from deteriorating in the later developing operation.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a non-magnetic one-component developing apparatus according to any one of the second to fourth aspects, wherein the developing roller and the electrostatic latent image carrier are rotated. peripheral speed of the peripheral speed of the toner regulating roller during the developing operation (hereinafter referred to as a ₁₎ in a state, the developing roller and the toner regulating roller of the electrostatic latent image bearing member during a non-developing operation in rotating state (Hereinafter referred to as A ₂ ), A ₁ > A
It is controlled so as to have the relationship of ₂ .

Thus, by changing the peripheral speed of the toner regulating roller, the amount of toner on the developing roller can be changed between the developing operation and the non-developing operation.

Further, since the peripheral speed of the toner regulating roller during the developing operation and the non-developing operation has a relationship of A ₁ > A ₂ , the toner amount on the developing roller during the non-developing operation is determined by the developing operation. The amount of toner on the developing roller at the time of operation can be increased, and the image quality of the printed image can be prevented from deteriorating in the developing operation after the non-developing operation is left for a long time.

(Embodiment) An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a main part of an electrophotographic apparatus using a non-magnetic one-component developing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Note that the same components as those in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

In the drawing, reference numeral 27 denotes a metal toner regulating roller which forms a toner layer on the developing roller 5 by regulating the amount of toner on the developing roller 5 by being pressed against the developing roller 5; A toner regulating bias voltage supply power supply connected to the regulating roller 27 and applying the toner regulating bias voltage to the toner regulating roller 27;
, The arrow C indicates the rotation direction of the developing roller 5, and the arrow D indicates
Is the direction of rotation of the photoconductor 1, and arrow E is the toner regulating roller 27.
Is the direction of rotation.

Hereinafter, an electrophotographic apparatus using the non-magnetic one-component developing device according to the embodiment will be described.

The developing roller 5 has a single-layer structure in which a metal shaft 5a is used as a base material and silicon rubber as a conductive elastic member is formed on an outer peripheral surface thereof, and has a resistance value of 10 ⁶ Ω. A developing bias voltage supply power supply 12 which is a constant voltage power supply is connected to the shaft 5 a of the developing roller 5.
Here, the rubber hardness of the developing roller 5 is preferably in the range of 30 to 60 degrees from the viewpoint of preventing creep and punching, and the higher the surface roughness, the higher the smoothness of the surface in forming a thin toner layer. 2 μmRz to 7 μmR for uniformization
z is preferred. The developing roller 5 in the embodiment has a rubber hardness of 40 degrees and a surface roughness of 3 μmRz.

The toner supply roller 6 is formed by forming a conductive foam on the outer peripheral surface of a metal shaft 6a as a base material, and has a resistance value of 10 ⁶ Ω. A toner supply bias voltage supply power supply 26 is connected to the shaft 6 a of the toner supply roller 6. In the embodiment,
The toner supply bias voltage is -350 V, and the nip width between the toner supply roller 6 and the developing roller 5 is 2 mm.

The toner regulating roller 27 is a metal roller, and is connected to a toner regulating bias voltage supply power supply 28. Here, the surface of the toner regulating roller 27 has a surface roughness of 0.1 μm Rz to 5 μm Rz to 5 μm because the higher the surface smoothness, the more uniform the formation of a thin toner layer can be achieved.
The range of μmRz is preferred. The toner regulating roller 27 in the embodiment has a surface roughness of 3 μmRz. The nip width between the toner regulating roller 27 and the developing roller 5 is 2 mm.

In the non-magnetic one-component developing system, the amount of toner on the developing roller 5 during development is 0.4 mg / cm ^2.
The range is preferably 0.6 mg / cm ^{2 to} 0.6 mg / cm ² . If the amount of toner on the developing roller 5 is increased during the developing operation, the toner 10 and the developing roller 5 cannot be sufficiently contacted with each other, so that the charge amount of the toner 10 is reduced, which causes deterioration in image quality such as fogging and scattering. In order to obtain a high-quality printed image, the amount of toner on the developing roller 5 during the developing operation in the embodiment is set to 0.
It is set to 5 mg / cm ² .

The photosensitive member 1, the developing roller 5, the toner supply roller 6, and the toner regulating roller 27 are disposed so as to be always in contact with each other at their contact portions.

The toner 10 is a non-magnetic one-component toner having a negative charge.
It is one in which a charge control agent and the like are uniformly dispersed.

The transfer roller 20 is a metal shaft 20.
A conductive foam is formed around a, and the resistance value is 10 ⁷ Ω. A transfer bias voltage supply power supply 24, which is a constant current power supply, is connected to the shaft 20a.

[0050]

Next, specific examples of the present invention will be described.

(Experimental Example 1) In the electrophotographic apparatus using the non-magnetic one-component developing apparatus shown in FIG. 1, the non-developing operation in a stationary state in which the rotation of the photosensitive member and the developing roller is stopped is left for a long time. Then, an evaluation measurement of the image quality of the printed image when the developing operation was performed was performed.

Here, the developing bias voltage is -200 V,
The toner regulating bias voltage is -250 V, the process speed, which is the peripheral speed of the photoconductor 1, is 200 mm / sec, the peripheral speed of the developing roller 5 is 320 mm / sec, the peripheral speed of the toner supply roller 6 is 160 mm / sec, and the toner regulating roller 2
The peripheral speed of No. 7 was set to 112 mm / sec.

The evaluation of the image quality of the printed image is as follows.
And non-developing operation in a stationary state in which the rotation of the developing roller 5 is stopped
The amount of toner on the developing roller 5 during the operation is 0.5 mg /
cm ^Two ~ 2.0mg / cm^Two Each ton
Stop the rotation of the photoconductor 1 and the developing roller 5
After standing for up to 30 days in a stationary state,
The oil component seeping out of the developing roller 5 is
Prints by measuring the degree of image deterioration due to adhesion to
The image quality was evaluated. In addition, print after developing operation
The amount of toner on the developing roller 5 when the image was collected was 0.5
mg / cm^Two It is. The quality of the printed image is poor.
No change is indicated by ○, slight image deterioration is indicated by Δ, image deterioration is indicated by
X, a three-stage evaluation.

Table 1 below shows the results of evaluation of the image deterioration of the printed image due to changes in the amount of toner on the developing roller 5 and the idle period during the non-developing operation.

[0055]

[Table 1]

As is apparent from Table 1, as the amount of toner on the developing roller 5 in the non-developing operation in a stationary state in which the rotation of the photosensitive member 1 and the developing roller 5 is stopped increases, the developing roller It has been found that it is possible to prevent a phenomenon in which the oil component oozing out of the photosensitive drum 1 adheres to the photoreceptor 1 and degrades the image quality of a printed image. By doing so, it has been found that the toner 10 can be prevented from entering between the photoconductor 1 and the developing roller 5 to directly contact the photoconductor 1 and the developing roller 5.

The developing roller 5 during the non-development operation is
The upper toner amount is 1.00 mg / cm ^Two Above
Printed image is hardly affected by the idle period during the developing operation
It has been found that the deterioration of the image quality can be prevented.

Further, when a positively charged toner is used,
Similarly, the toner amount on the developing roller 5 is 1.00 mg / cm.
^{When it is 2} or more, it has been found that the image quality of the printed image can be prevented from deteriorating almost without being affected by the idle period during the non-developing operation.

(Experimental Example 2) In the electrophotographic apparatus using the non-magnetic one-component developing device according to the embodiment of the present invention, the output of the developing bias voltage supply power supply 12 applied to the developing roller 5 and the toner regulating roller 27 are applied. The output of the toner regulating bias voltage supply power supply 28 was changed to measure the amount of toner on the developing roller 5.

Here, two kinds of negatively chargeable toners A and B were used as the toner 10, and the measurement was performed for each of the toners A and B.

The other process conditions are the same as in Experimental Example 1. Hereinafter, the measurement results of Experimental Example 2 are shown in (Table 2).

[0062]

[Table 2]

As is apparent from Table 2, it is found that the amount of toner on the developing roller 5 can be changed and adjusted by changing the output of the toner regulating bias voltage supply power supply 28 applied to the toner regulating roller 27. . Further, the potential difference when the negatively charged toner 10 is moved to the developing roller 5 side _{(| V R | - | V} B |) of the developing roller 5 on by generating between the developing roller 5 and the toner regulating roller 27 It has been found that the toner amount on the developing roller 5 can be increased as the potential difference increases.

Further, it was found that the same result was obtained when the positively charged toner 10 was used.

On the other hand, in Table 1, the amount of toner on the developing roller 5 during the non-developing operation in a stationary state in which the rotation of the photosensitive member 1 and the developing roller 5 is stopped is 1.00 mg / cm.
^It has been found that when the value is ² or more, deterioration of the image quality of a printed image can be prevented almost without being affected by the idle period during the non-developing operation. During the developing operation, the toner amount is 0.4
mg / cm ² ~0.6mg / cm high-quality printed images in the ^second range is known to be obtained.

As described above, in the electrophotographic apparatus using the non-magnetic one-component developing device of the embodiment, by changing the output of the toner regulating bias voltage supply power supply applied to the toner regulating roller, This has the effect that the toner amount can be adjusted between the developing operation and the non-developing operation.

[0067] Further, the bias voltage of the toner regulating roller and the developing _{roller, | V R | - | V} B |> has 0 relationships, and, respective bias voltage of the developing roller and the toner regulating roller during the developing operation Is smaller than the potential difference between the bias voltages of the toner regulating roller and the developing roller during the non-developing operation, so that the image quality of the printed image in the developing operation after leaving the non-developing operation for a long time is reduced. It has the effect that it can be prevented.

(Experimental Example 3) In the electrophotographic apparatus using the non-magnetic one-component developing device according to the embodiment of the present invention, the amount of toner on the developing roller 5 is measured by changing the peripheral speed of the toner regulating roller 27. did.

The other process conditions are the same as in Experimental Example 1. Hereinafter, the measurement results of Experimental Example 3 are shown in (Table 3).

[0070]

[Table 3]

As is clear from Table 3, it was found that the amount of toner on the developing roller 5 can be changed by changing the peripheral speed of the toner regulating roller 27. Further, it has been found that as the peripheral speed of the toner regulating roller 27 decreases, the amount of toner on the developing roller 5 can be increased.

Further, it was found that similar results were obtained when the positively charged toner 10 was used.

On the other hand, in Table 1, the photosensitive member 1 and the developing
Non-developing operation in a stationary state in which the rotation of the roller 5 is stopped
The amount of toner on the developing roller 5 at the time is 1.00 mg /
cm ^Two Above, almost left during the non-developing operation
The quality of the printed image can be prevented without
It is known. Also, during the developing operation, the toner amount is
0.4mg / cm^Two ~ 0.6mg / cm^Two High range in the range
It is known that a high quality printed image can be obtained.

As described above, in the electrophotographic apparatus using the non-magnetic one-component developing apparatus of the embodiment, the non-developing operation in which the photosensitive member serving as the electrostatic latent image carrier and the developing roller are in the rotating state is performed. By changing the peripheral speed of the toner regulating roller between the operation and the operation, the toner amount on the developing roller can be adjusted between the developing operation and the non-developing operation.

The peripheral speed of the toner regulating roller during the developing operation in which the photosensitive member and the developing roller are rotating is determined by the peripheral speed of the toner regulating roller during the non-developing operation in which the photosensitive member and the developing roller are rotating. When the value is larger than that, there is an effect that the quality of a printed image can be prevented from deteriorating in the developing operation after the non-developing operation in which the photoconductor and the developing roller are in a stationary state is left for a long time.

[0076]

As described above, according to the non-magnetic one-component developing apparatus of the present invention, the following excellent effects can be realized.

According to the first aspect of the invention, (1) a toner layer can be formed on the developing roller by pressing the toner regulating roller against the developing roller to regulate the amount of toner on the developing roller.

(2) Since the toner regulating roller is provided with a toner regulating bias voltage supply power source for applying the toner regulating bias voltage to the toner regulating roller, the toner regulating bias voltage is changed to reduce the toner amount of the toner layer formed on the developing roller. Can be adjusted.

(3) To form a toner layer on the developing roller,
Since the toner regulating roller is used instead of the conventional toner regulating blade, the torque of the non-magnetic one-component developing device can be reduced, and the toner can be prevented from sticking to the toner regulating roller.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, (4) the electrostatic latent image carrier and the developing roller are included in the elastic member forming the surface of the developing roller during the non-developing operation when the developing roller is stationary. The oil component can be prevented from adhering to the electrostatic latent image carrier, and a high quality printed image can be obtained.

According to the invention set forth in claim 3, according to claim 2
(5) The amount of toner on the developing roller during the non-developing operation when the electrostatic latent image carrier and the developing roller are stationary can be increased, and the elastic member on the surface of the developing roller can be increased. Can be prevented from adhering to the electrostatic latent image carrier during the non-developing operation in which the electrostatic latent image carrier and the developing roller are stationary, and the amount of toner on the developing roller during the developing operation can be prevented. When a conventional developing roller is used and the photoconductor and the developing roller are always in contact with each other, high quality printed images can be obtained even after a long period of non-developing operation. Can be.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, in addition to the effects of the second and third aspects, (6) by changing the output of the toner regulating bias voltage supply power supply applied to the toner regulating roller, with the amount of toner on the developing roller can be changed at the time of developing operation and the time of non-developing operation, the bias voltage of the toner regulating roller and the developing roller, | V _R | - | a> 0 relationship | V _B Since the potential difference between the developing operation and the non-developing operation has a relationship of V ₁ <V ₂ , the amount of toner on the developing roller during the non-developing operation is Can be more than the amount of toner,
It is possible to prevent deterioration of the quality of a printed image in a developing operation after leaving the non-developing operation for a long time, and to obtain a high-quality printed image.

According to the invention set forth in claim 5, according to claim 2,
(7) By changing the peripheral speed of the toner regulating roller, the amount of toner on the developing roller can be changed between the developing operation and the non-developing operation. And the peripheral speed of the toner regulating roller during the non-developing operation has a relationship of A ₁ > A ₂ , so that the amount of toner on the developing roller during the non-developing operation is It is possible to prevent the image quality of the printed image from deteriorating in the developing operation after the non-developing operation is left for a long time, and to obtain a high-quality printed image.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a main part of an electrophotographic apparatus using a non-magnetic one-component developing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing an electrophotographic apparatus using a conventional non-magnetic one-component developing device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Photoreceptor 2 Charger 2a Charged wire 2b Shield plate 2c Grid plate 3 Exposure optical system 4 Exposure light beam 5 Developing roller 5a, 6a, 20a Shaft 6 Toner supply roller 7 Toner regulating blade 7a Metal spring plate member 7b Toner regulating member 8 Blade Holder 9 Development hopper 10 Toner 11 Toner stirring member 12 Developing bias voltage supply power supply 13 Static eliminator 14 Paper cassette 15 Paper 16 Paper feed roller 17 Transport roller 18 Registration roller 19 Follower roller 20 Transfer roller 21 Fixer 22 Heat roller 23 Pressure roller 24 transfer bias voltage supply power supply 25 cleaning blade 26 toner supply bias voltage supply power supply 27 toner regulation roller 28 toner regulation bias voltage supply power supply

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A developing roller to form a toner layer of a non-magnetic one-component developer surface, a developing bias voltage power supply for the application of a developing bias voltage to the developing roller (hereinafter referred to as V _B), to the developing roller A toner supply roller that contacts and pre-charges the toner and supplies the toner to the developing roller; a toner supply bias voltage supply power source that applies a bias voltage to the toner supply roller; A non-magnetic one-component developing device comprising: an electrostatic latent image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed; wherein a toner regulating roller disposed in contact with the developing roller; a non-magnetic one-component developing apparatus characterized by having a toner regulating bias voltage supply source for applying a toner regulating bias voltage (hereinafter referred to as V _R) to the toner regulating roller. An amount of toner on the developing roller during a non-developing operation in which the electrostatic latent image carrier and the developing roller are in a stationary state; A control method for a non-magnetic one-component developing device, wherein the control is performed so as to be larger than the amount of toner on the developing roller during a certain developing operation. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the toner is used in a non-developing operation in which the electrostatic latent image carrier and the developing roller are in a rotating state, and in a developing operation in which the electrostatic latent image carrier and the developing roller are in a rotating state. 3. The control method according to claim 2, wherein the control is performed by changing the toner regulating bias voltage applied to the regulating roller. Wherein said developing bias voltage (V _B) and the toner regulating bias voltage (V _{R) is, | V R | - | V} B |
(Hereinafter potential difference hereinafter)> has 0 relationships, and the developing roller and the latent electrostatic image electric potential difference at the time of developing operation in which carrying member is in the rotating state (hereinafter referred to as V ₁₎ and said developing roller and said electrostatic the potential difference at the time of non-developing operation latent image bearing member is in a rotating state (hereinafter referred to as V ₂₎ is, according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the controller controls so as to have a relationship of V ₁ <V ₂ A method for controlling a non-magnetic one-component developing device. Wherein said the peripheral speed of the developing roller and the toner regulating roller during the developing operation of the electrostatic latent image bearing member is in a rotating state (hereinafter referred to as A _1), wherein the developing roller and the latent electrostatic image bearing body peripheral speed of the toner regulating roller during the non-developing operation in the rotational state (hereinafter referred to as a ₂₎ is, a _1> a
5. The control method for a non-magnetic one-component developing device according to claim 2, wherein the control is performed so as to have a relationship of ₂ .