JPS5872980A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain forming device where the same photoreceptor can be used for a long time as it is, by providing a buffing mechanism for polishing of the surface of the photoreceptor which is driven as required. CONSTITUTION:A buffing mechanism 10 is provided together with a charger 2, a exposure mechanism 3, a developing equipment 4, a teansfer mechanism 5, a discharging mechanism 6, a cleaner 7, etc. around a photoreceptor 1. When this mechanism 10 is driven as required, charge supporting layer consisting of an amorphous silicone on the photoreceptor 1 as an electrostatic image supporting material is buffed to recover the degradation of characteristics of the photoreceptor which is attached to the image forming device as it is. By this constitution, the image forming device is obtained where the same photoreceptor is used for a long time as it is without replacement.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to electrophotographic apparatuses and other image forming apparatuses. At present, electrophotographic copying machines, electrostatic recording apparatuses, electrostatic printing apparatuses, etc. In order to form a visible im*, a method using an electrostatic charge image is widely adopted. Electrostatic brown image formation using an electrostatic** support, imparting uniform electrostatic properties to the support layer in the direction of Ill to charge it, and then applying original light to the original light flkK to form an electrostatic charge f1k A developing process of developing this %In mackerel with toner, and a toner image with a shape of Fff is transferred 11f.
The transcription process of llK transcription and the static II after the transcription process! −
According to a process including a static elimination step for eliminating electric charge and a cleaning step 1 for eliminating residual toner, the aged support C and the electrically disconnected support layer w! The formation of BfI& takes place. flit (a final image is obtained by fixing the toner image transferred to a photographic frame, etc.), and the -1 electrostatic charge image support is in the form of a rod that can be subjected to the next image forming process by the above-mentioned static elimination process and cleaning process. It is said that

The static N'#IfII support used in such a process has conventionally been an NWk support layer consisting of a deposited film of selenium or a metal alloy, or a photoconductive layer such as zinc oxide or cadmium sulfide. There are known charge support layers comprising a photoconductive material dispersed in a resin binder or a charge support layer comprising an organic photoconductive material (3); By repeating the above-mentioned process, the characteristics of the charge support layer deteriorate, resulting in a shortened service life, and for this reason, the electrostatic image support must be replaced fairly frequently. There are disadvantages that cannot be avoided.

Such drawbacks also apply to other image forming apparatuses 1.

In view of the above-mentioned circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a 6-piece image forming unit W that can be used with the same electrostatic charge image support for a long period of time. shall be.

The present invention is characterized by an image forming bag equipped with an electrostatic charge image support having a charge support layer formed from a deposited film that supports an electrostatic charge image that is converted into a congratulatory image by being subjected to zFi, 'FJiWI. In @, a buffing mechanism is provided which is driven according to the required PK and polishes the surface of the charge support layer of the electrostatic image support.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An example of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings in the case of an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic process.

(4) Figure 1 shows a structure 61 in a typical example of an electrophotographic camera, where 1 is an electrostatic 1dJIII! The supporting body is a rotary drum, and the other 8 is made of selenium, selenium alloys, amorphous silicon, or other materials such as evaporation, sputtering, chemical vapor deposition, etc. It has a photoconductive charge support formed by a deposition method. 2 a charger that uniformly applies a charge to the supporting layer; 3 an exposure mechanism that projects a light image of the original; 4
5 is a developing device, 5 is a transfer mechanism, 6 is a static elimination mechanism, and 7 is a cleaner, which are arranged in the external area of the rotating drum 1 in its rotational direction r (in the above order). As the material, an appropriate material selected from conventionally known materials can be used.

Accordingly, in the present invention, in the above-described configuration, for example, the cleaner 7 is driven by an appropriate (signal) and is placed on the surface of the front fld charge support layer in the outer circumferential direction of the rotary drum 1. A polishing buffing machine $110 is installed.This puff polishing mechanism 10, for example, as shown in FIG. A rotary roller type buffing body 11 is maintained at a separate rest position and brought into contact with the outer circumferential surface of the rotary drum 1 from the rest position with a required six pressures in response to a polishing command signal, and is driven to rotate in this state. A casing 12 forming a polishing chamber is provided so as to surround the space in which the buffing body 11 is placed together with the outer peripheral surface of the rotary drum 1, and a W&t-j is provided so as to suck the air inside the casing 12.
The buffing body 11 is composed of a vacuum pump 13 and a suction pump, and the buffing body 11 contains a suitable abrasive material.

As shown in FIG. 3, the filter is inserted into a 14-piece duct 13, and has an endless buffing belt 23 suspended between a pressure roller 21 and a driving p-roller 22, and when not in operation, As shown in , the pressing reeler 21 is in the rest position and the buffing belt 23 is separated from the outer circumferential surface of the rotating drum 1, and the polishing command signal causes the pressing roller 21>buffing belt 23 to be attached to the outer circumferential surface of the rotating drum l as required. A puff polishing body (6) 24 configured to press with pressure and drive a buffing belt (23) by a drive roller 22, and an upper part of the contact area when the puff belt (23) is in contact with (b) the rolling drum l. The buffing machine @10 may be configured by providing an abrasive supply device 25 that supplies an abrasive from the buffing machine, a duct 13 that suctions and removes abrasive debris generated during operation, a filter 14, and a suction pump.

In the above, as the buffing material of the puff polishing body 11 or the buffing belt 23, felt, rubber, resinoid, polyvinyl alcohol resin, etc. can be used, and as the abrasive material, alumina, silicon boride, polyamide, mary, oxide, etc. can be used. Powders of chromium, iron oxide, etc. are used, and the particle size is 10
An appropriate value is selected within the range of 0 to +300.

Since the present invention 1jltII forming device W has the above-described configuration, for example, if a control circuit is used that counts the number of times the image is formed by the device and issues a polishing command signal when the number reaches a predetermined value of 1, the polishing can be performed. The puff polishing mechanism 10 is driven by the command signal, and thereby the surface of the electric support layer of the rotating drum 1 is polished. 9J/'＋ which is made up of a similar structure and whose organization is minute.
, deterioration occurring in the charge support layer, such as toner fusion, charging N2 and transfer mechanism 5 or static elimination mechanism 6.
When a discharger is used as a discharger, the action of ions generated by the discharger, heating of the gate when the transfer mechanism 6 and transfer method are adopted, irradiation of light by the exposure mechanism 3, and due to abrasion caused by cleaners and other causes.
Most of the physical or chemical deterioration that appears as a deterioration in characteristics during Ill imaging occurs from the surface of the charge support layer. Therefore, by performing the above-mentioned puff polishing, the deteriorated surface layer portion on the surface of this charge support layer is polished away, and as a result, a new surface is formed on the charge support layer, so that the charge support layer maintains its excellent properties. It recovers and exhibits good image forming characteristics again. However, since Amano's polishing is a puff polishing, a new surface #i is formed, and therefore, the polishing itself does not have an adverse effect on the charge support layer.

In this way, when the characteristics of the charge support layer of the same electrostatic image support (8) deteriorate, the charge support will remain in its original state until the polishing command signal is applied. ) Since puff polishing is carried out, almost the same loading condition as when replacing with a new ψ electrostatic charge image support is obtained, and in the end, the same electrostatic charge image support is used for a long time of 81t. For example, the polishing command signal can be used for image formation over JK and can dramatically increase the number of printing cycles. If a control circuit such as 1 is used that automatically generates a signal when necessary, the above-mentioned electrostatic image support can be regenerated or its characteristics can be restored automatically, and the maintenance of the device can be maintained by 1 mK. The above-mentioned recovery and recovery of characteristics by gentle puff polishing is particularly effective when the charge support layer is made of amorphous silicon. Charge support w/Fi made of amorphous silicon has great advantages over Tosa's balance material in terms of manufacturing and characteristics. However, amorphous silicon has a weak point that its surface is easily oxidized, and when oxidized, As a result of the increased hygroscopicity, the resistance decreases and the charge retention ability decreases, (9) Capri occurs in the formed image.However, from the table, it is clear that this marked film is formed on the surface of the charge support layer. Since it is formed as a single film with an extremely small thickness, it can be sufficiently removed by the operation of the above-mentioned puff polishing mechanism IO, and its good and rare characteristics can be almost completely restored. The practical value of the electrostatic image support can be greatly improved.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, in the present invention, the mode or conditions of polishing by the buffing mechanism 10 may be appropriately selected depending on various other conditions. Puff polishing may be carried out in such a way that the powder contributes to the polishing of the puff polishing body, or puff polishing may be carried out with the electrostatic charge image support stationary. However, when the electrostatic image support is a rotating drum, it is necessary to maintain its shape as a drum, and therefore it is desirable to perform puff polishing while rotating the drum at a constant speed.

Note that in the polishing performed by the buff polishing mechanism 10 (10), the m unit used for forming the image is in a dormant state, but if the cleaner 7 is in operation, the buff polishing When using such a cleaner as the cleaner 7, which can be expected to have the effect of removing polishing debris, it is preferable to arrange the puff polisher #110 immediately upstream of the cleaner 7.

As described above, according to the present invention, the regeneration or recovery of the characteristics of the electrostatic charge image support is achieved until it is loaded, and therefore the same electrostatic charge image support can be suitably used for a long period of time. It is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that can perform the following functions.

Experimental Example 11E12α, rotating drum 1 consisting of a charge support layer made of amorphous silicon (22 μm thick) formed on the outer peripheral surface of an aluminum drum having a length of 36C11, applied voltage 6
Electrons having the III configuration shown in FIG. (11) In photocopying II, when copying m* was made 8000 times, the occurrence of capri was observed in the final 120 copies vI copying me.

Therefore, a puff polishing body with a thickness of 2 mm on the outer circumferential surface of a steel roller with a diameter of 3 m was placed in contact with a rotating drum IKIE with a 500 go'#M weight, and the current puff polishing body was
KL is rotated at a rotational speed of Or-p*, and the rotating drum 1 is rotated once in 3 minutes.
While supplying emery powder uniformly at a rate of 20" to 7", puff polishing was performed with K so as to remove the discharged abrasive material and polishing debris. Then, WI photographic image formation was performed again. As a result, it was possible to form a copy Wi image without capri over 5,000 times.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of a Seikohoshin IIv machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are explanatory diagrams each showing the configuration of a puff polishing mechanism according to the present invention. 1...° rotating drum 2... Band W device 3...
・Exposure S configuration 4...Developer 5...Transfer frame w
I 6... Static elimination mechanism 7... Cleaner
10... Puff polishing mechanism 11... Buffing body
12... Segment body 14... Filter g-21...
Pressure ν-ra 22...V*50-ra 23...Puffing belt 24...Buffing body 25...Abrasive material supply device Fig. 1 Suck 1 Hole 2 Fig. 413

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] l) An image forming apparatus comprising an electrostatic image support having a charge support layer consisting of an adhered deposited film supporting an electrostatic oil painting that is developed and converted into a visible image. This image forming apparatus is characterized by having a buffing mechanism that is driven accordingly to polish the surface of the ms support layer of the electrostatic image support. 2) The WJ image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the charge support layer of the electrostatic image support is made of amorphous silicon.