JPS5924876A - Electrostatic recording method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To destaticize uniformly the remaining electric charge on an image carrier to obtain a stable surface of the initial state, by heating the surface of image carrier to a prescribed temperature and cooling it after cleaning out a remaining toner on the image carrier. CONSTITUTION:A cleaner 7, a destaticizer 8 having a lamp 8a, a cooler 9 having a cooling fan 9a are arranged along the turning direction of a dielectric belt 1 on the downstream side of a transfer charger 5. The belt 1 to which a toner image is already transferred has the remaining toner cleaned out by a magnetic fur-brush and is heated to a prescribed temperature by the radiant heat of the lamp 8a, and the remaining electric charge is activated and is dispersed to remove the surface electric potential, and the belt 1 is cooled forcibly by fan blast. Thus, the belt is returned to a state approximating the initial state and is prepared for next recording.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a one-type electrostatic recording method for plain paper copying, and in particular, by heating, charges remaining on the surface of an image carrier are removed, thereby stably maintaining the initial state. This is a 1r proposal for an electrostatic recording method that can obtain the surface of an image carrier,
Ru.

In general, in the electrostatic recording method, a dielectric belt formed into an endless belt by laminating a dielectric layer on a conductive layer is used as a recording medium, and a stylus head or the like is used to touch the surface of the dielectric belt 1 according to an image signal. A charge is selectively injected to form an electrostatic latent image, and a developer is supplied to form a 1-toner image on the dielectric belt i, and this 1-toner image is transferred to a transfer material. It is well known how to transfer In such a method, not only untransferred I/toner remains on the surface of the dielectric belt after transfer, but also an electrostatic latent image formed by the stylus head, that is, an injected charge. ing. Therefore, if the dielectric belt is to be used repeatedly after transfer, the surface must be cleaned to remove any untransferred parts.
-It is necessary to remove the residual charge as well as remove the charge. For this reason, conventionally, as a static eliminator,
Methods using alternating current corona discharge and methods using volatile organic substances are used.

However, in the case of weight removal using the former AC corona discharge,
A high-voltage power supply, etc. to be connected to the A Cf+/- jar is required, which inevitably increases the cost. (2) There was an inconvenience that it became defective and uneven residual charge occurred. In order to solve this problem, instead of removing the charge, a method has been used in which the charge is applied uniformly to bring it into a saturated state and eliminate unevenness in the surface potential. It was necessary to form a so-called negative latent image by summing the images, and then to m till it by a reversal development method. Therefore, the process from static elimination to precharge and reversal development with red color becomes complicated, and the cost of each device increases. Furthermore, in the case where residual charges scattered on the surface of the dielectric belt are removed by applying the latter volatile organic substance, there is a drawback that the volatile organic substance is contaminated with toner and its management is difficult.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and is an electrostatic recording device that can uniformly eliminate static electricity on the surface of an image bearing member regardless of the presence of untransferred toner, and that enables simplification of the process. The purpose is to provide a method. The main feature of the present invention is to form an electrostatic latent image in response to information transmitted to the surface of an image carrier in which a dielectric layer is laminated on a conductive layer, and to form an electrostatic latent image. In the electrographic recording method, the toner and charge remaining on the surface of the image carrier are removed after the 1-ner image formed by the 1-ner is transferred to a transfer material. After cleaning the toner remaining on the surface of the image bearing member, the surface of the image bearing member is heated to a predetermined temperature to remove the remaining charge. A more stable electrostatic recording effect can be achieved by cooling the surface of the image bearing member after heating it to remove residual charges.

Next, specific embodiments of the present invention will be explained based on the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings are schematic diagrams showing an electrostatic recording apparatus using the electrostatic recording method of the present invention. The dielectric belt 1, which is used as a recording medium, is made by forming a base layer made of polyester or the like with a thickness of about 100 pm on the outer surface of an endless belt, and then depositing lf platinum or the like on this base layer to a thickness of about 10 pm. It is constructed by laminating conductive layers, and then coating a compound (for example, pigment and polyester) to a thickness of about 4 to 8 μm to form a dielectric layer. The endless dielectric bell thus formed]1 is 4f[! il roller 2a.

2b, 2c, and 2d, and these four 2a to 2
Any one of d is rotationally driven by a drive device (not shown), and is circularly driven at a constant speed in the direction of the arrow. In this case,
The operation of the dielectric bells 1 to 1 may be continuous or intermittent, but it is necessary to use a step motor or servo motor as the drive device and control the moving speed.

A stylus head 3 is disposed near the outer surface of the rotating dielectric belt 1 at a position facing the roller 2b. The stylus portion of the stylus head 3 is set to be lightly pressed against the stylus portion of the stylus head 3. The stylus head 3 is connected to a control ηρ section 3a that receives information and applies a high voltage accordingly, and is connected to a dielectric bell j.
・An electrostatic latent image is formed on one surface according to 11 reports. At this time, the stylus pin (not shown) side of the stylus head 3 is approximately -300V, segment II! II lyo approx + 3
A voltage of 00 V is applied to each of the dielectric belts 1 to 1, and an Ω charge is charged on the surface of the dielectric belt 1 to 1. In the direction of rotation of the dielectric belt 1 of the stylus head 3, an IJ is applied to the downstream side.
1 ((!) Since the device 4 is disposed in such a manner that its magnet roller 4b faces the gap roller 4a via the vN electric belt 1, the electrostatic charge formed on the surface of the dielectric bell 1-'1 is A latent image (latent image) is visualized by supplying a one-component magnetic toner to form a toner image. On the downstream side of the developing device 4, near the surface of the dielectric heald 1, a transfer plate 5 is disposed facing the roller 2G, and the toner image is transferred onto the transfer layer (5a). Ru.

Further, a paper feed hopper 5b in which the transfer paper 5a is stored is disposed apart from the dielectric bells 1 to 1, and is connected to the paper feed roller 5.
C and two pairs of conveyor rollers 5d, 5d' and 5e,
5e' are appropriately arranged to convey the transfer paper 5a, thereby forming a paper feeding path. 5f is a paper feeding side m device, which is equipped with a sensor 5g for detecting the transfer paper 5a and is connected to the respective paper feeding and conveyance rollers 5c, 5d, and 5e;
For example, as in this example, it is connected to the stylus control unit 3a, measures the timing in response to the start of information writing by the stylus head 3, and controls the feeding of the transfer paper 5a to the transfer charges 1'-5. from the transfer charger 5 to the transfer paper 5a.
On the downstream side in the direction in which the
A pressure roller 6b is disposed to sandwich the transferred transfer paper 5a therebetween, and constitutes a fixing device 6. moreover,
On the downstream side, there are a pair of transport rollers 5c, (3c') for discharging the fixed transfer paper 5a, and a transfer roller 11t for discharging the fixed transfer paper 5a.
A tray 6d for receiving the tray 5a is provided.

On the other hand, near the surface of the portion between the roller 2d and the roller 2a on the downstream side of the transfer chamber 5 along the rotating direction of the inducer belt 1, a cleaner 7 and a static remover using a Magfa brush cleaning method are installed. A device 8 and a cooling device 9 including a cooling fan 9a are arranged substantially adjacent to each other in this order. Here, the crease 7 rotates in the direction of the arrow the flocked sleeve 7a, which has a built-in magnet and is flocked to its circumferential surface, and the untransferred magnetism 1 remaining on the surface of the dielectric bells 1 to 1 is rotated in the direction of the arrow.
It is best to use the Magfur brush cleaning method to scrape off the henna. On the other hand, in this embodiment, the static eliminator H8 uses a lamp 8a and uses its radiant heat to heat the surface of the dielectric belt to a predetermined temperature to activate and remove residual charges, but various other methods may also be used. The method is applicable. For example, the peeler 1-0-ra may be provided in transfer contact with the surface of the dielectric belt, and the peeler 1-roller may be heated by a method such as energization to heat the surface of the dielectric belt. That is, the surface of the dielectric belt is heated to a predetermined temperature or higher,
Various heating means capable of dispersing the charges existing on the surface and exhibiting the static elimination effect are applicable. Various forced cooling means can also be applied to the cooling device f9 adjacent to the face of the static eliminator 8, but after the above-mentioned heating and snow removal of the dielectric belt 1 is performed, the record of the next cycle is recorded by the stylus head. If it takes a certain amount of time to start with 1!, the dielectric belt 1 will be sufficiently cooled down and 1! ? Therefore, in such a case, it may be possible to remove the cooling device 9.

The operation of the electrostatic recording apparatus according to the electrostatic recording method of the present invention configured as described above will be explained below. First, information is written by the stylus head 3 onto the surface of the dielectric belt 1, which is rotated at a predetermined speed in the direction of the arrow. That is, information is input to the control section 3a, and a voltage is selectively applied to the stylus of the stylus head 3 from the M1tl1 section 3a in accordance with the information. In this example, a negative voltage of about -300 V is applied to the stylus pin, and negative charges are injected onto the dielectric belt 1 as an image portion, forming an electrostatic latent image corresponding to information. The electrostatic latent image thus formed is conveyed to the area where the image bearing device 4 is disposed as the dielectric bells 1 to 1 rotate, where it is charged with a positive charge. I
) is supplied at a uniform rate by a magnet roller 111 ), and this adheres to the negatively charged portion of the image area by Crohn's force to form a toner image. At this time, the gap roller 4a appropriately supports the back surface of the dielectric belt 1 and maintains a constant small gap between the surface of the dielectric belt 1 and the surface of the magnet roller 4b, which allows the toner to be uniformly supplied. and a good flat image effect is obtained. The formed toner particles are conveyed together with the dielectric belt 1 to a transfer step where a transfer charger 5 is disposed next. On the other hand, the transfer paper 5a is taken out from the paper feed hopper 5b by the paper feed roller 5C and conveyed by a pair of transport rollers 5d, 5d.
', 5e, and '5e' are transported to the paper feed sensor 4.
It reaches the placement site of j 5 e, is detected here, and its conveyance is stopped to prepare for transfer. Then, the paper feed side till 8 position 5 receives a command from other parts, such as the stylus control unit 38 in this example, and the 1-ner image reaches the placement position of the transfer chamber 5. The transfer paper 5a is fed at a timing such that the transfer paper 5a is also supplied in synchronization with the time when the dielectric bell 1-(1) contacts the transfer paper 5a and is transferred. The charger 5 electrostatically draws the toner image toward the transfer paper 5a and transfers it onto the surface of the transfer paper 5a.The transfer paper 5a with the toner image transferred thereto is conveyed to the fixing device 6, where the toner image is thermally fixed onto the transfer paper 5a. Recording of the information on the transfer paper 5a is completed, and then the paper is transported to the next tray 6d and stocked.

On the other hand, the dielectric belt 1 after the 1-ner mark has been transferred onto the transfer paper 5a moves along a predetermined rotational path to the downstream cleaner 7 installation part, where the dielectric belt 1 remains on the surface. Untransferred magnetic toner is removed from the surface with a Magfa brush. However, even if the residual toner is removed, the electric charge that held the toner by Coulomb force remains, and this residual electric charge is sequentially removed by the adjacent static eliminator 8. That is, the surface of the dielectric belt 1 after cleaning is heated by the radiant heat of the lamp 8a of the static eliminator 8, and the stylus head 3
This heat activates and disperses the residual charges imparted by the surface, thereby removing the surface potential. As described above, since the static electricity removal method according to the present invention uses heating, the surface of the dielectric belt 1 is uniformly and evenly neutralized, and the inconvenience that electric charges are difficult to remove as in the conventional corona discharge is eliminated.

Furthermore, since the untransferred toner on the dielectric belt 1 is cleaned and removed in the cleaning process by the cleaner 7 before the static elimination process, the heating temperature of the surface of the dielectric belt 1 can be adjusted to the softening level of the toner. It is no longer necessary to set the temperature below 30°C (approximately 70°C) 1, the static eliminating operation becomes easier, and the mechanism of the static eliminating device 8 is simplified. The dielectric belt 1, which has been neutralized by heating as described above, is then forcedly cooled by the fan blowing air from the cooling fJ1 device 9 adjacent to the dielectric belt 1, and is immediately transferred to the stylus head 3.
The state is returned to a state close to the initial state before the information was written by , and the state is prepared for recording new information in the next cycle.

In the above embodiment, a negative charge is applied to the image area by the stylus head 3, and development is performed using a toner having a positive charge. A method may also be used in which development is carried out using toner having a negative charge.

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, by heating to eliminate static electricity, the surface of the image carrier can be uniformly neutralized regardless of the presence of charged particles such as untransferred toner. Therefore,
Complex methods such as reversal development are no longer required, and the static recording process becomes B-based, promoting cost reduction of the electrostatic recording method. In addition, since defrosting is performed after cleaning the untransferred toner, temperature setting for the static eliminating operation becomes easy and the static eliminating device itself is simplified.

Furthermore, by cooling the image bearing member after heating and eliminating static electricity, the image bearing member can be used repeatedly and smoothly.

It should be noted that the present invention should not be limited to the specific embodiments described above, and it goes without saying that various modifications may be made within the technical scope of the present invention. for example,
The dielectric belt surface may be uniformly charged by a flash 17 before information is written by the stylus head. Furthermore, various well-known devices such as a doctor-type developing device and a blade-type cleaning device can be used as devices for each step in the electrostatic recording process.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawing is a schematic diagram showing one embodiment of an ftf' electrorecording apparatus using the electrostatic recording method of the present invention. (Explanation of symbols) 1: Dielectric belt 3: Stylus head 7: Cleaner 8: Static eliminator

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. Forming an electrostatic latent image in accordance with information input on the surface of an image carrier in which a dielectric layer is laminated on a conductive layer, and developing the electrostatic latent image with toner; In an electrostatic recording method in which toner and charge remaining on the surface of the image carrier are removed after the toner image formed by the toner is transferred to a transfer material, the toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier is cleaned. An electrostatic recording method characterized in that the surface of the image carrier is subsequently heated to a predetermined temperature to remove any remaining charges. 2. The electrostatic recording method according to item 1 above, characterized in that the surface of the image carrier is cooled after heating the surface of the image carrier to remove residual charges.