JPS58200256A - Method and device for picture recording - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a high-resolution picture with a low recording voltage, by attaching a magnetic material, which is continuous in the breadthwise direction of a toner carrying member, to a gate member to form partially regions where the stopping force of the toner outflow is weakened. CONSTITUTION:A magnetic material 14 continuously in the breadthwise direction of a toner carrying member 17 is provided, and electrodes 16 divided by an etching means adhered to an insulating layer 15 are stuck to one another so as to cover the tip part of the magnetic material 14. By this constitution, the volume of the magnetic material 14 for a magnetic pole N is larger to improve the capability of stopping of toner outflow. Since electrodes 16 are provided to cover the tip part of the magnetic material 14, the toner on the inside of a gate exit is charged when a picture signal voltage is applied to electrodes 16, and this toner is stuck to the toner carrying member and is moved toward the exit of the gate, and thus, a high-density recorded picture is obtained. When the voltage to electrodes 16 is broken, charged electric charge of the toner on the inside of the gate is discharged through electrodes 16, and therefore, the toner in the position separated from the gate exit does not go out from this gate as a picture.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an image recording method and an apparatus using this method, and particularly to a method for controlling the adhesion of a powder microscope image to a conveying member in response to an image-like electric signal, and for recording an image on the conveying member. The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for forming.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a method known as contrastography, which is an image forming method in which a developing agent is directly attached to a recording member using an electric signal. In this method, a liquid developer is placed on a recording member and the liquid developer is applied to the recording member using a needle electrode. However, this method using a liquid developer was not practical because of the problem of the carrier liquid seeping into the recording member. On the other hand, as contrastography using a dry type developer, a method is known in which a needle electrode is brought into contact with a recording member and a developer is supplied from the opposite side of the recording section I. However, in this case, the resolution is noticeably lowered due to the thickness and conductivity of the recording member, and a sufficiently satisfactory image quality cannot be obtained.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new image recording method and apparatus that overcomes the drawbacks of the conventional methods described above, and furthermore, it is possible to use a dry powder developing agent and can produce high-resolution images. An object of the present invention is to provide an image recording method and apparatus that can obtain an image at a low recording voltage without being influenced by the atmosphere such as humidity.

The present invention achieves the above object by using a magnetic powder developer (hereinafter referred to as
A member for transporting the toner is moved below the deposited toner relative to the deposited toner, and a gate member is disposed downstream of the toner transport member in the depositing section for allowing the toner to pass in an imagewise manner. However, in order to prevent the toner from flowing out at all times, this gate member is provided with a magnetic body that is continuous in the width direction of the toner conveying member, and a magnetic field is applied by this magnetic body to exert a blocking force. Element
A region is partially formed in the direction of the toner conveying member to weaken the above-mentioned blocking force, and as a result, an image is formed by the toner pattern flowing onto the toner conveying member.

The present invention will now be illustrated by way of examples.

FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of an image recording apparatus before applying the present invention.

It is made of material 1b and rotates in the direction of the arrow. This conveying member 1 has a fixed magnet 2 inside it. Conductive magnetic toner 4
is stored in a toner container 3 in which this toner is deposited. The gate member 5 that controls the outflow of toner from the toner container is made by adhering a large number of electrodes 8 independently extending over the entire width of the toner transport member to a magnetic or non-magnetic support 6 via an insulating layer 7. The electrodes 8 are each connected to a signal generation source 9 and made of a magnetic material. on the other hand,
A fixed magnet 2 inside the toner conveying member is provided with a magnetic pole facing the gate member 5, and a strong magnetic field is formed between the fixed magnet 2 and the electrode 8, which is particularly made of a magnetic material, and the toner 4 is Even if the toner conveying member 1 rotates, the force is balanced so that the toner does not flow out through the gate member due to the constraint of the magnetic field.

With the above configuration, when a controlled voltage is applied to the electrode 8 by the electric signal generation source 9, a current flows from the electrode 8 through the conductive magnetic toner and connects the toner with the conductive cylinder 1b across the insulating layer of the toner transport member. During this time, the toner is charged and an electrostatic attraction is applied to the toner, which overcomes the restraint of the toner outflow due to the magnetic field at the gate member position, and selectively flows out and adheres to the surface of the toner transporting member 1, thereby causing the toner to flow to the toner transporting member. It is preferable that the surface is several microns or less because strong electrostatic attraction acts on the surface. Also, in order to use this toner conveying member repeatedly, the charge on the toner will be discharged within one rotation and the charged charge will be removed. Also, since the material used for the toner conveying member is constantly rubbing against the toner, it is preferable to use a material with low surface energy so that the frictional resistance with the toner is small and it is easy to cause slippage. Then, the toner image formed on the toner conveying member 1 is transferred to another recording member 11 on the transfer paper by an appropriate electric field applying means such as a corona discharger 10 and fixed. be used and used.

The toner image remaining on the toner conveying member without being transferred will be erased the next time it passes through the gate member, so there is no need to provide any special leaning means. If it is not suitable for use, a leaning means such as a blade made of rubber, plastic, metal, etc. may be provided.

Furthermore, by making the part of the toner container 6 close to the toner conveying member magnetic, and arranging the magnetic pole at a position facing that part of the fixed magnet 2, it is possible to prevent the magnetic toner from flowing out of the toner container and at the same time prevent it from remaining. It can also serve as cleaning of toner images.

In the apparatus shown in FIG. It occurs between the magnetic pole of the magnet 2 and the magnetic electrode 8 like the teeth of a comb.Therefore, the magnetic field is concentrated where the magnetic electrode 8 is located, and the magnetic field is weak between each electrode 8.

An embodiment of the present invention that improves this point will be described with reference to FIG. 2 and subsequent figures.

17a, and a conductive non-magnetic support on the magnet side. By the way, the above-mentioned conditions for the gate member include, in addition to preventing the toner from flowing out from the gate member, there is also the need to promptly replenish the toner that has been consumed and decreased for recording on the upstream side of the gate member. . If only prevention of outflow is required, if the magnetic field 16 indicated by the broken line in FIG. The toner conveying member 17 is completely refilled, making it impossible to perform continuous recording.In order to solve this problem, in this embodiment, a continuous magnetic body 14 is provided in the width direction of the toner conveying member 17. Then, on the magnetic material 14,
An electrode 16, which is adhered to the insulating layer 15 and divided into many parts by etching means, is attached to the electrode 5 so as to cover the tip of the magnetic body 14. According to this embodiment, firstly, the magnetic material is not discontinuous as in the case where the electrode part is made of a magnetic material, and firstly, the magnetic material is not discontinuous as in the case where the electrode part is made of a magnetic material, and secondly, the magnetic material is not discontinuous as in the case where the electrode part is made of a magnetic material, and the first step is to rely on the electric field for preventing toner outflow by only the electrode to which the Or monthly voltage is applied. Compared with the case of the device shown in the figure, 1
The volume of the magnetic material relative to the magnetic pole can be increased. Therefore, since the magnetic field at the tip of the gate can be made stronger, the ability to prevent toner from flowing out is further improved.

By the way, the electrode 160 may be made of an electromagnetic material or a non-magnetic material. If the pole 16 is provided to cover the tip of the magnetic material 14 as shown in FIG. 2, when the image signal voltage is applied to the pole 16, the gate The toner inside the outlet is also charged and adheres to the toner transport member. As a result, the toner inside one gate also moves toward the exit of the gate together with the toner conveying member, resulting in a high-density recorded image. Furthermore, a space is created near the inside of the gate, so the toner consumed by this recording is replenished. is carried out well.

When the voltage to the electrode 16 is cut off, the charged charge of the toner inside the gate is discharged through this electrode, so when the application of the recording voltage is stopped, the toner at a distance from the vicinity of the gate exit is discharged. will not leave this gate as an image.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the shape of the gate member that allows for easier replenishment of consumed toner. By providing the member 17 having a wedge-shaped cross section as shown in the figure in the gate portion, as the toner conveying member 17 moves, a force that directs the toner toward the exit of the gate member is easily generated inside the gate member. Note that this wedge-shaped member 17 may also be made of a magnetic material like the magnetic material 14, or may be made of the same material as the magnetic material 14 and integrated.

Various methods are possible for using the toner image formed on an endlessly rotating toner conveying member such as a drum or web. Furthermore, known techniques such as thermal transfer can be used. In addition, as the toner conveying section, as shown in Fig. 2, a sheet-like member is used, and this sheet-like member is used as the final recording material without performing transfer, and the toner on this sheet-like member is fixed and used. It's okay.

Furthermore, the gate members shown in FIGS. 2 and 6 can be applied to the stationary magnet 2 and the cylindrical toner conveying member surrounding the fixed magnet 2 as described in FIG. 1.

By the way, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the toner conveying member 1
By arranging the magnetic body 14 on the gate member side with respect to the magnetic pole of the fixed magnet 12 through the magnetic pole 7, the magnetic body 14 on the gate member side is slightly shifted downstream in the moving direction of the toner conveying member from the position where it directly faces the magnetic body 14, so that the magnetic force m13 shown by the broken line is In such a direction, passage of the toner 18 is effectively blocked. As described above, the more oblique the magnetic field of the gate member is in one direction counter to the moving direction of the toner conveying member with respect to the fixed magnet 12, the more complete is the passage and blocking of toner at this gate portion.

However, since a toner chain is generated along the magnetic field, when a recording voltage is applied to the electrode, the current tends to flow along this toner chain, so if the toner chain becomes too slanted, The resolution decreases, and it becomes necessary to increase the voltage applied to the electrode 8. Furthermore, if the magnetic field is too oblique, it becomes difficult for the toner to move, and after the toner is removed from between the gate member and the conveying member for recording by voltage application, the toner quickly fills the gap. The gap between the gate member and the toner conveying member cannot be filled in the gap between the gate member and the toner conveying member. Considering these constraints, the inclination of this magnetic field, that is, the direction of the magnetic field with respect to the direction perpendicular to the surface of the toner conveying member is The angle θ formed is
The angle is preferably selected in the range of approximately 0 to 60°, particularly 60° to 45°.

In the above embodiments, a case was described in which conductive magnetic toner was used, but it is also possible to form an image on the toner conveying member in the same way even if insulating magnetic toner is used. Furthermore, the magnetic pole of the magnetic field formed in the gate portion is on the gate member side f? It is also effective to provide the magnetic pole on the magnetic body side, and the magnetic pole may be provided on the back side of the toner conveying member at the same time as the magnetic body side.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent toner from flowing out from the gate member, and it is possible to record a high-quality image with high contrast.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure wJ1 is a cross-sectional view of a recording device to which the present invention is applicable;
The figure and FIG. 3 show a partially enlarged cross-section of a gate member to which the present invention is applied and its vicinity. In the figure, 2 and 12 are magnets, 13 is a magnetic field, 14 is a magnetic material, 15 insulation/d, 16 is an electrode, and 18 is a magnetic toner. Applicant Canon Co., Ltd.

Claims (6)

[Claims] (1) A member that deposits a magnetic powder image and conveys a developer to the lower part thereof is moved relative to the developer, and the image is visualized on the downstream side of the developer-side conveying member of the depositing section. A gate member is disposed to allow the paint to pass through, and an image is formed on the development side transport member by applying a continuous force to the gate member in the width direction of the i'is paint transport member in a direction that weakens this blocking force. Image recording method. (2) The above-mentioned developer is made of a magnetic material, a magnetic field is used for the blocking force, and the gate member includes a number of independent electrodes extending in the width direction of the developer-side conveying member to weaken the above-mentioned blocking force. The image recording method according to claim 1, which utilizes an electric field caused by applying a voltage to the electrode, and uses this electric field and the electric charge of the developer on the developer-side transport member. (3) The image recording method as set forth in claim (1), wherein the magnetic material of the gate member is arranged on the side of the developing material conveying member. (4) A means for depositing a magnetic powder developing agent, a means for moving a member for conveying the developing agent below the developing agent, and a means on the downstream side of the conveying member on the developing side of the means for depositing the developing agent. A gate member is provided with a magnetic material that is continuous in the width direction of the developer side conveyance member, and the developer is passed through in an imagewise manner, and the developer flows out to the opposite side of this gate member from the developer side conveyance member. An image recording device equipped with a magnetic field generating means that prevents (5) The image recording apparatus according to claim (4), wherein the magnetic material of the gate member is attached to the developing material conveying member side. (6) The image recording apparatus according to claim (6), wherein the center position of the magnetic pole for generating a magnetic field is provided on the deposition means side with respect to the gate member. (6) The image recording apparatus according to claim (6), wherein a low surface energy material coating a1M1 is provided on the surface of the developer conveyance section.