JPS61179476A - Liquid developing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To such speedily a developer away without decreasing the contactness between recording paper and a developing device by blowing air form an air groove through the gap between the recording paper and developing device when a developer is sucked away. CONSTITUTION:When a pump 401 operates, the recording paper 501 is sucked to the developing device 111 to form a sealed flow passage for the developer in a developing groove 112 and the developer flows from a tank 301 to a solenoid cross valve 211, the developing device 111, and the pump 401 in order to form a circulation system through which the developer returns to the tank 301. At this time, the valve 211 is connected to a side A and not open, and a solenoid cross valve 212 is connected to a side A and closed hermetically. The developer flows in the groove 112 as shown by an X to develop a latent image formed on the recording paper 501 and when the recording paper 501 moves as shown by an arrow 61, a suction groove 114 sucks air as shown by an arrow 22 to such away an excessive developer stuck on the recording paper 501 in a short time.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a liquid developing device used in image output terminals and printing machines.

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional liquid developing device will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 10.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a developing device of a conventional liquid developing device, FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the developing device of FIG. 7, FIG. 9 is a circulation system diagram of a conventional liquid developing device, and FIG. 10 is a developing solution FIG. 3 is a flow path switching operation diagram when draining liquid.

In Figures 7 to 10, 501 is recording paper, 1o1
102 is a developing device that slides into contact with the recording paper 501, and 10 is a developing device 10.
The electromagnetic two-way valve 201 is provided at the upper part of the recording paper 601 to store the developer, and is formed to be shorter than the width of the recording paper 601.
Also, a developing groove 104 connected to the end portion 102b2 vacuum tube 401 by piping has the same length as the developing groove 102, and is provided in line with this developing groove 102, and a pump 4C) 1 is connected to the central portion 1o4a. Suction groove connected to piping, 103 is developing groove 1
An air groove 301 is formed between 02 and the suction groove 104 to be longer than the width of the recording paper 601, and 301 supplies developer to the developer 101 via the electromagnetic two-way valve 201. is the tank that is returned.

This liquid developing device operates a pump 401 and brings the recording paper 501 on the developing device 101 into close contact with the developing groove 102 of the developing device 101 using the suction force. This forms a sealed flow path for the developer. The pump 401 sucks up the developer from the tank 301 into the developing groove 102 . Then, this developer comes into contact with the latent image formed on the recording paper 501, and development is performed.

After development, air flows into the suction groove 104 from the right end 101a of the suction groove 104 in FIG. 8 and the partition wall 120 between the air groove 103 and the suction groove 104, respectively. Due to this air flow, excess developer adhering to the recording paper 501 is discharged to the tank 301. In this way, the structure was such that the development process was performed satisfactorily.

According to this liquid developing device, when the vacuum pump 401 is stopped, the aforementioned flow path remains filled with the developer. This causes the following problems.

(a) Developer may adhere to the recording paper, and in such cases, it may cause black spots on the recording paper.Also, when replacing the recording paper, etc., the developer that has adhered to the recording paper may The liquid will flow and stain the recording surface and surrounding area. Furthermore, if left for a long time, the surface of the recording paper will be dissolved by the solvent of the developer and will stick to the developer.

0)) Toner components of the developer stick to the developing groove, causing clogging.

To solve this problem, after the development is completed, as shown in FIG. 10a, the electromagnetic two-way valve 201 is operated to cut off the flow path to the tank 301 and stop the supply of developer from the tank 301.
The developer in the developing groove 102 is extracted by the pump 4o1. However, in this case, in order to extract the developer, the flow path is blocked by the electromagnetic two-way valve 201, so air must flow in from the gap between the recording paper 601 and the developer 101. , since the air inflow part is not fixed in the longitudinal direction of the developing groove 102,
The developer runs out in some places in the developing groove 102, and the developer does not flow out quickly. In addition, the electromagnetic two-way valve 201 and the developing device 101
The developing solution in between flows irregularly into the developing groove 102, and it takes a very long time to extract the developing solution.As an example of a conventional improvement, there is a means shown in Fig. 10. . That is, the electromagnetic three-way valve 202 is used instead of the electromagnetic two-way valve 201.
After development is completed, the flow path is cut off from the tank 301, switched to the atmosphere 50 side provided in the electromagnetic three-way valve 202, the flow path is connected, and air is introduced from the atmosphere 50 to drain liquid. However, in this case, the air pushes out the developing solution, so although the time for draining the solution is shortened, once the air starts flowing in, the recording paper 501 and the developing device 101 cannot be kept in close contact with each other, and the developing The flow path of the groove 102 is no longer formed. For this reason, the liquid can only be drained roughly, and the developing groove 1
The liquid left around the 02 and on the edges between the grooves could not be absorbed, and there was no fundamental improvement.

In addition, in both of the above two examples, the suction side of the development groove is on one side, so
When the developing device is long, there is a problem in that the liquid draining effect is uneven in the longitudinal direction.

In view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a liquid developing device that can remove the developer in a short time without leaving any developer in the surrounding area after the completion of development, and without causing any unevenness in the longitudinal direction. purpose.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a liquid developing device that develops a recording paper on which an electrostatic latent image is formed by sliding it into contact with a developing device, wherein the developing device includes a plurality of liquid developing devices. grooves are provided, flow paths are piped to the plurality of grooves, and means is provided for switching and controlling the flow path system so that at least some of the grooves are connected to the atmosphere during development, and the flow paths are connected to the atmosphere. The present invention is characterized in that air is sent from the groove to other grooves through the gap between the recording paper and the developing device.

When draining the working liquid, air is sucked into the developing groove from the air groove through the gap between the recording paper and the developing device. Therefore, the developer can be quickly removed without reducing the adhesion between the recording paper and the developer.

Embodiment A first embodiment of the present invention will be explained based on FIGS. 1 to 4.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a liquid developing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, where a shows a state during development and a shows a state when liquid is drained. Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of the developing device installed in the liquid developing device shown in Fig. 1 when viewed from above and draining the liquid, Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the liquid developing device shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the developing device shown in FIG. 1, in which FIG. 1A shows a state during development, and FIG.

1 to 4, 501 is a recording paper, 111 is a developing device, 112 is a developing groove, 113 is an air groove, 114 is a suction groove, 115 is an air groove for liquid removal, and 71 is a flow path system switching control means. , 301 is a developer tank, and 401 is a vacuum pump.

The flow path system switching control means 71 includes an electromagnetic three-way valve 211, an electromagnetic two-way valve 212, and a pump 401.

The developing device 111 is brought into sliding contact with the recording paper 501.

The developing groove 112 is provided at the upper part of the developing device 111, stores a developing solution, is formed shorter than the width of the recording paper 501, and connects the electromagnetic three-way valve 211 at the end 112a and the pump 401 at the end 112b. Piping is connected.

The liquid draining air grooves 115 are arranged alternately with the developing grooves 112, are formed to be slightly shorter than the width of the recording paper 5010, and are connected via piping to the electromagnetic three-way valve 211 at the central portion 115a.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the air groove 113 is arranged on the right side of the developing groove 112 and is longer than the width of the recording paper 501.

The suction groove 114 is connected to the air groove 113 as shown in FIG.
are arranged on the right side of the recording paper 5010, and are formed to be slightly shorter than the width of the recording paper 5010. And the central part 114a
It is connected to the pump 401 via piping.

The developer tank 301 is connected via piping to the A side of the electromagnetic three-way valve 211 and the pump 401 .

The B side of the electromagnetic three-way valve 211 is connected to the pump 401.

The operation of this liquid developing device will be explained.

The time of development will be explained based on FIG. 1a, FIG. 3, and FIG. 4a. The pump 401 is activated and the recording paper 501 is attracted to the developing device 111. As a result, the developing groove 112 forms a closed flow path for the developer. That is, a circulation system is formed in which the developer flows from the tank 3o1 to the electromagnetic three-way valve 211, the developer 111, the pump 401, and returns to the tank 301. At this time, as shown in FIG.
is connected to the A side, is not opened, and the solenoid two-way valve 212
is connected to side A and is in a sealed state. A developer flows in the developing groove 112 in the X direction in the figure, and develops the latent image formed on the recording paper 501. When the recording paper 501 moves in the direction of the arrow 61, as shown in FIGS. 3B and 4A, the suction groove 114
sucks air in the direction of the arrow 22 and absorbs excess developer attached to the recording paper 501.

The time of draining the liquid will be explained based on FIG. 1b, FIG. 2, and FIG. 4.

The electromagnetic three-way valve 211 switches to the B side and blocks the flow path on the tank 301 side, and the electromagnetic two-way valve 212 switches to the B side and opens to the atmosphere 5o. At this time, the pump 401 is operating, so that the developer and air flow in the direction shown by the arrow 21 in the figure, and the developer is drained from the developer 111 to the developer 301.

The operation during draining will be explained in more detail.

The electromagnetic two-way valve 212 is switched to the atmosphere 6o side, and the liquid draining air groove 115 is opened to the atmosphere 6Q. As a result,
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the liquid draining air groove 115 is hollow, and this liquid draining air groove 116 performs the same function as a conventional air groove.

Therefore, the suction force of the developing groove 112 causes the air 23 to flow from the liquid draining air groove 115 to the recording paper 501 and the developing device 111.
It flows into the developing groove 112 through the gap formed between the two. The flowing air 23 removes the developer remaining in the gap and collects it in the developing groove 112. This developing solution is applied to the end 11 of the developing groove 112 by the suction force of the pump 401.
2a and 112b to tank 301. At this time, the developer remaining on the partition walls formed in the adjacent developing grooves 112 is also removed with this air flow. In this case, the suction force of the pump 401 keeps the recording paper 601 and the developing unit 111 in close contact, and the developing groove 112 and the recording paper 50
The flow path with 1 remains formed, and the liquid is drained in a short time.

Note that since the liquid is drained from each of the ends 112a and 112b of the developing groove 112, the unevenness of the liquid draining effect in the longitudinal direction is reduced. Further, as shown in FIG.
The developer remaining between the pump 401 and the pump 401 is removed via the pump 401. In this way, unnecessary developer is removed in a short time.

In addition, in the above-mentioned first embodiment, the vacuum ponia'-401
Although an example is shown in which a vacuum pump 402 is installed in addition to the vacuum pump 401 and a solenoid two-way valve 212 is provided, as shown in FIG. The effect can be improved by using the electromagnetic three-way valve 213 instead.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 6a is a block diagram of a liquid developing device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and is a diagram for explaining the operating state of the pump and valve shown in FIG. 6a. In the figure, 121 is a developing device, 22
1 is an electromagnetic two-way valve, 222 is an electromagnetic three-way valve, and 223 is an electromagnetic 2-way valve.
3-way valve, 224 is an electromagnetic 3-way valve, 3o1 is a developer tank, 4
01 is a vacuum pump 501 for recording paper, and 72 is a flow path system switching control means. The control means 72 includes an electromagnetic two-way valve 221,
Solenoid 3-way valve 222, solenoid 2-way valve 223, solenoid 3-way valve 22
4. Equipped with a vacuum pump 401. The developing device 121 has developing grooves 121a, 121b, and 121a.

It is equipped with an air groove 121d and a suction 11121e.

Each developing groove 121a, 121b, 121C is provided with external piping at both ends. As shown in the figure, the piping provided at the ends of the developing grooves 121a and 121c is connected to the electromagnetic three-way valve 224 on one side and the pump 401 on the other. is electromagnetic 3-way valve 2
22, one side is connected to an electromagnetic two-way valve 223. The suction groove 121e has an external pipe in the center. This external pipe is connected to the pump 401.

One end of the electromagnetic two-way valve 221 is connected to the tank 301, and the other end is branch-connected to the A side of the electromagnetic three-way valve 222 and the A side of the electromagnetic three-way valve 224. The remaining 92 ends of the electromagnetic three-way valve 222 are connected to the atmosphere 60 and the developing groove 121b, and the remaining two ends are connected to the pump 401, the developing groove 121a, and the developing groove 121, respectively.
Connected to branch pipe to C. The electromagnetic two-way valve 223 is connected to the pump 401 and the developing groove 121b.

FIG. 6a shows the operating state of the developer, in which the developer flows in the direction of the arrow. A and B shown in FIG. 6 correspond to the flow path switching directions A and B of the solenoid valve shown in FIG. 6A. 1, 11.12 in the bottom of FIG. 6 is the liquid draining operation time.

The liquid developing device configured as described above operates as follows.

The operation during development is the same as that in the first embodiment described above, so the explanation will be omitted.

When draining liquid, it operates as follows.

After development, the solenoid valves 221, 222, and 224 are switched to the B side. And three developing grooves 121 a in the same figure.

Among the developing grooves 121b and 121c, air flows into the developing groove 121b connected to the electromagnetic valves 222 and 223 via the electromagnetic three-way valve 222, and the liquid is gradually removed by atmospheric pressure. Other developing grooves 121a.

In case 121C, the electromagnetic three-way valve 224 is switched to the B side to form a closed flow path on the upstream side of the pump 401, so liquid is hardly drained. After time t1, the solenoid valve 223 is switched to the B side. The developing groove 121b serves as an air groove for draining saliva as described in the first embodiment.

Therefore, air flows toward the developing grooves 121a and 121c, and liquid is removed by the suction force of the pump 401. After time t2, when the liquid removal is completed, the pump 401 stops, and each solenoid valve 221, 222, 223
．． 224 returns to the A side.

In the case of the second embodiment, the flow path switching control means is more complicated than that of the first embodiment, but there is no need to newly provide an air groove for draining liquid as in the first embodiment. The developing device can be made smaller.

Effects of the Invention According to the present invention, air flows from the groove connected to the atmosphere, through the gap between the recording paper and the developing device, into the groove where the developer has flowed, and improves the adhesion between the recording paper and the developing device. Since it remains in place, the liquid will be drained in a short time. Further, since the flow paths are formed at both ends of the groove through which the developer flows, there is an effect that the liquid is drained evenly and reliably in the longitudinal direction of the groove.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a liquid developing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a developing device used in the liquid developing device of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 2. 4 is a state diagram showing small amounts of developer and air in FIG. 2, FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram showing another example of the flow path system switching control means in the first embodiment, and FIG. The figure is a schematic diagram of a liquid developing device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a developing device used in a conventional liquid developing device, and FIG. 8 is a sectional view of FIG. FIG. 9 is a circulation system diagram of FIG. 7, and FIG. 10 is a flow path switching operation diagram at the time of liquid draining of FIG. 7. 111.121...Developer, 112,121a
. 121b, 121C...Development groove, 113, 12
1d...Air groove, 114, 121e...
・Suction groove, 115...Air groove for liquid drainage, 71.
72...Flow path system switching control means. Name of agent: Patent attorney Toshio Nakao and 1 other person Ha 2 Figure 2I2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) In a liquid developing device that develops a recording paper on which an electrostatic latent image is formed by sliding it into contact with a developing device, the developing device is provided with a plurality of grooves, and a flow path is arranged in the plurality of grooves, means for switching and controlling the flow path system so that at least some of the grooves are connected to the developer flow path during development, and at least some of the grooves are connected to the atmosphere during liquid removal; A liquid developing device characterized in that air is sent from the groove connected to the atmosphere to another groove through a gap between the recording paper and the developing device. (2) A liquid developing device according to claim 1, wherein a channel is provided at both ends of a groove provided in the developing device. (3) The liquid developing device according to claim 1, wherein the groove of the developing device is a combination of a groove having a flow path in the center and a groove having flow paths at both ends.