JPS60241602A - Lighting apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an illumination device suitable for use in an image forming apparatus using an electrostatic photographic process, such as an electrophotographic copying machine or a printer.

(2) Problems to be solved with the prior art In the image forming apparatus described above, toner, paper dust, and other fine dust are constantly present inside the apparatus. Because a cooling fan coexists and generates airflow inside the device, the aforementioned dust particles move around inside the device, and some of the dust collides with each other and generates static electricity in various parts of the device. I often get scared. Furthermore, since these dust particles, especially toner particles, are positively charged during the image forming process, it is natural that they may float in the apparatus without being sufficiently neutralized.

For this reason, these dust particles may adhere to the surfaces of non-conductive members inside the device, adversely affecting its functions, and this effect is particularly significant on the various lighting devices installed in the image forming device. . Examples of this type of light source include, for example, an exposure light source for illuminating a document, a light emitting element for irradiating and eliminating static electricity on a non-image area on the surface of an image carrier in a variable magnification type image forming apparatus, especially at a reduction magnification, and a transfer light source. There are various kinds of light-emitting devices such as photointerrupters for detecting the presence or absence of paper or other objects to be detected.

Since the surfaces of these light source 2 light emitting elements are made of glass, transparent resin, etc., they are easily affected by the dust inside the device as described above, and in particular, LEDs, which are widely used as light emitting elements, Because it is small and placed in a narrow space, once the brightness decreases due to dust adhesion, the user cannot easily clean it and restore the function, and the failure is very basic. However, it was unavoidable that the cost would be extremely high.

(3) Purpose of the Invention The present invention was completed in order to cope with the current state of known lighting equipment as described above, and relates to a lamp.

When electrically charged dust adheres to the surface of lighting equipment such as light emitting elements by applying a conductive coating,
The aim is to provide something that can prevent the luminance of lighting equipment from decreasing by quickly dissipating the charge, thereby reducing the adhesion force and causing it to fall off.

(4) Explanation of constituent functions and embodiments of the invention To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a lamp.

Glass that surrounds the light source of an LED or other light emitting device.

By applying a conductive coating to the surface of a non-conductive material such as a transparent acrylic resin, the electric charge of the attached charged dust can be quickly released, the adhesion force of the dust can be eliminated, and the dust can fall off from the adhering surface, thereby improving the light-emitting function of the light-emitting element. This device is designed to prevent a decrease in
An example using the following will be described.

The attached drawing shows how, in a variable-magnification type copying machine, especially when copying at reduced magnification, static electricity is removed from the non-image forming area on the surface of the photoreceptor to prevent excessive use of toner and the appearance of black streaks on copies. LED used to eliminate defects
This shows one of the following.

An LED 1, which is a light emitting element, is stacked on a stationary part F inside the copying machine body and is arranged near a photoconductor arranged in the copying machine main body (not shown) so as to illuminate the surface of the photoconductor. It is.

A cathode 2. is disposed within a transparent resin bulb 1a consisting of a cylindrical base and a convex lens-shaped convex portion formed integrally with the base to converge the light beam projected onto the irradiated surface. Anode 3.
A chip 4 mounted on a reflective surface 2afk3 formed on the cathode. A connecting wire 3a is built in to add energy to this, and the light beam projected from the chip 4, which is a light emitting source, is projected from the convex portion onto the surface of the photoreceptor, which is the irradiated surface, to perform a static elimination action. do.

In the present invention, a conductive coating 5 is applied to the surface of the bulb la of such an LED. As the conductive coating material, for example, Korfut N-1
There is O3X (product name; manufactured by Colcoat Co., Ltd.). This is usually a liquid that is applied to a plastic material and allowed to dry.

With this structure, the charged dust that is brought to the vicinity of the LEDI and floats as shown by the arrow d temporarily attaches to the surface of the bulb 1a, but due to the presence of the conductive coating, the charge is immediately removed. It moves to the coach and is further grounded to the main body of the copying machine.

Therefore, the attached dust loses its electrostatic adsorption force and quickly falls off from the LED and dissipates into the air, blocking the projected light flux and reaching the surface of the photoreceptor. It is possible to maintain sufficient functionality.

It goes without saying that the present invention can be applied not only to the light emitting element in the above-mentioned case, but also to a light source for illuminating a document, a light source for a photointerrupter, and the like.

Furthermore, in addition to applying a conductive coating to the light emitting element of the light source 1 itself, one or more light sources are housed in the case, and a window with a transparent member is formed in the case to allow light to be projected from the window. Even in lighting devices that use
A similar effect can be expected by applying a conductive coating to the transparent body of the window.

Furthermore, it has been confirmed that the conductive coating treatment described above can not only prevent dust from adhering to the material, but also prevent deterioration in the transmittance of transparent materials due to ozone generated by corona discharge inside copying machines, etc. ing.

(5) As described in detail of the invention, in the present invention, the electric charge of dust adhering to the light projection part of the lighting equipment used in the image forming apparatus can be removed, and the dust can quickly fall off. Since it is possible to prevent deterioration of the transmittance of the transparent part due to ozone, the amount of light from each lighting device can be maintained stably over a long period of time, which greatly contributes to obtaining high-quality images.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The accompanying drawing is a side view showing an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a light emitting diode. 1. Light emitting element, 2. Cathode, 3. Anode, 4. Light emitting chip, 5. Conductive coating. % Applicant Canon Co., Ltd. - Agent Patent Attorney Akira Irie

Claims (1)

[Claims] An illumination device comprising a light emitting source within a transparent light transmission medium, the illumination device comprising a conductive coating applied to the surface of the medium.