JPS62189485A - Processing head for electrophotographic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To supply a developer sufficiently to the overall film exposure surface by making a developer path thinner as it comes to the contact part with an electrophotographic film. CONSTITUTION:After a developer 136 enters to the path 104 from a squize air supply port 108, it drops by self weight in the path 104, and comes to a developing chamber 136 through a squize air inflow port 100. During the travel the passing sectional area and height dimension gradually decrease, and therefore the flow of the developer 36 is not interrupted halfway. The developer sufficiently spreads in the transverse direction, and is supplied to the exposure surface of the electrophotographic film, thereby executing the secure development.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a process head used in an electrophotographic apparatus to perform various processing on electrophotographic film.

[Conventional technology]

2. Description of the Related Art Electrophotographic apparatuses are known that are capable of recording images on predetermined frames of electrophotographic film and projecting or copying the recorded images.

Further, a process head that is disposed in an electrophotographic apparatus and performs charging, exposure, development, etc. on an electrophotographic film is known from Japanese Patent Laid-open Nos. 59-100479 and 59-162580.

In the process head of these electrophotographic apparatuses, a developer passage is provided in the developing section, and the developer is supplied to the electrophotographic film after being charged and exposed.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

However, in these process heads, the area through which the developer passes through the developer passage is not constant (and there are some narrow places (necks). Therefore, the flow of developer is temporarily obstructed at this neck. Otherwise, the developer may not be sufficiently distributed over the entire exposed surface of the film.

The present invention takes the above facts into consideration, ensures the flow of developer,
An object of the present invention is to obtain a process head for an electrophotographic apparatus that can sufficiently supply developer to the entire exposed surface of a film.

[Means for solving problems]

In the process head for an electrophotographic apparatus according to the present invention, the developer path is gradually tapered until it reaches the contact portion with the electrophotographic film.

[Effect]

In the present invention, the developer passage is tapered gradually, and there is no part (neck) in the middle where the developer passage area is narrow.
The flow of the developer is not blocked and gradually tapers, resulting in development.

〔Example〕

(Electrophotographic Apparatus) FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an electrophotographic apparatus in which a process head according to this embodiment is disposed.

The electrophotographic apparatus according to this embodiment has a camera function that photographs a document and records the image on an electrophotographic film, a league function that enlarges and projects the image recorded on the electrophotographic film on a screen, and an electronic It also has a copy function that enlarges and copies images recorded on photographic film onto copy paper.

The electrophotographic apparatus is constructed by integrating an electrophotographic apparatus main body 10 and a copying apparatus 12 in which a housing 11 also serves as a stand for the electrophotographic apparatus main body 10. Note that if the copy function is not required, it is also possible to use only the electrophotographic apparatus main body 10 alone. The housing 14 of the electrophotographic apparatus main body 10 is composed of a portion 14A located on the left and having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and a portion 14B located on the right and having a stepped top surface. The interior space is communicated at the rear.

On the outside of the housing 14A, a slightly tilted transmissive screen 16 is disposed to cover the front entrance of the housing, and a document table 18 is disposed above. On the document table 1B, a transparent glass plate 22 is installed at the bottom of the document holder vi20 that can be opened and closed, and covers the upper opening of the housing.
(See FIG. 2 below) are arranged. Housing 1
An electrophotographic film 24 (second
A cassette loading section 26 into which a cassette containing a cassette (see figure) is loaded is formed near the center of the top, and a control keyboard 28 for various operations of the electrophotographic apparatus is disposed at the front of the top.

The housing 11 of the copying device lz also has an opening 32 through which the copied copy paper 30 (see FIG. 4 in the description above) is discharged.
is formed.

(Optical system of electrophotographic VTR 11) FIGS. 2 to 4 show the optical system of the electrophotographic apparatus.

As shown in FIG. 2, the photographing optical system includes a document illumination lamp 3 that illuminates a document 34, which is a subject set on the glass plate 22 of the document table 18 with the document surface facing downward.
6, and a third mirror 3 onto which the reflected light from the original 34 is incident.
8, a second mirror 40 to which the reflected light from the third mirror 3B is incident, a first mirror 42 to which the reflected light from the second mirror 40 is incident, and an electrophotograph of the reflected light from the first mirror 42. The main lens 44 is connected to the surface of the film 24.

As shown in FIG. 3, the projection optical system includes a projection light source section 46 that illuminates the electrophotographic film 24, and a main lens 4 that connects the light transmitted through the electrophotographic film 24 to a first mirror 42.
4, a second mirror 40 into which the reflected light from the first mirror 42 is incident, and the screen 16 onto which the reflected light from the second mirror 40 is projected.

As shown in FIG. 4, the copying optical system includes a projection light source section 46, a main lens 44, a first mirror 42, a second mirror 40, and a space between the main lens 44 and the first mirror 42. a conversion lens 48 that is disposed on the first mirror 42 to slightly reduce the optical image focused on the first mirror 42; and a second mirror 40.
A copy mirror 52 is provided to reflect light reflected from the copying machine 12 toward a copy paper 30 set on an exposure table 50 disposed in the copying apparatus 12.

The main lens 44, the first mirror 42, and the second mirror 40 are commonly used in the three optical systems described above. The main lens 44 and the first mirror 42 are fixedly disposed within the housing 14B of the electrophotographic apparatus main body IO, and the second mirror 40 is fixedly disposed within the housing 14A.

The third mirror 38, copy mirror 52, conversion lens 48 and screen 16 are selectively used.

The third mirror 3 and the copy mirror 52 are movably disposed within the housing 14A of the electrophotographic apparatus main body 10, and the conversion lens 4B is movably disposed within the housing 14B so as not to interfere with other optical systems. It is being done. Since the screen 16 does not interfere with other optical systems, it is fixedly arranged as described above.

Further, the optical system of the electrophotographic apparatus includes a main lens 44 and a first lens.
A shack controlled by an automatic exposure control device is disposed between the mirror 42 and the mirror 42 .

(Process Head) FIGS. 5 to 13 show an embodiment of a process head according to the present invention disposed in the electrophotographic apparatus.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the process head 5
4 is constructed by integrating a relatively flat, substantially rectangular parallelepiped-shaped main body 56 and a pair of legs 5 located at the bottom of the main body 56, and is made of synthetic resin except for the attachments. Molded. The process head 54 is disposed between the main lens 44 and the electrophotographic film 24 shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, and as shown in FIG. It is attached to a frame 60 disposed within the housing 14B of the device main body 10.

The main lens 44, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7,
It is assembled into the lens barrel 62 and attached to the back surface of the process head 54. The electrophotographic film 24 is constructed by sequentially laminating a transparent conductive layer, an intermediate layer, and a photosensitive layer on a support such as polyethylene, and the photosensitive layer consists of a photoconductive layer and a protective layer that protects the 4-layer. It is configured.

The electrophotographic film 24 is in the form of a long tape and is housed in a cassette case.

As shown in FIG. 6, the electrophotographic film 24 includes:
Blip marks 2 are placed on the top edge at regular intervals along the longitudinal direction.
4A is printed. The blip mark 24A is provided corresponding to one frame of an image recorded on the electrophotographic film 24. This electrophotographic film 24 is transferred to the process in the width direction of the rad 54 (left and right in the drawing in FIG. direction). Further, the transparent conductive layer of the electrophotographic film 24 can be electrically connected to the electrophotographic apparatus main body 10 when the cassette is loaded into the electrophotographic apparatus main body 10. It goes without saying that the electrophotographic film is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and any known film can be used.

The main body 56 of the process head 54 includes
As shown in the figure, the charged/n-tip portion 64 is
, a developing section 66, a drying section 68, and a fixing section 70 are formed at a constant pitch corresponding to one frame interval of the electrophotographic film 24.

(Charging/Exposure Section) In the charging/exposure section 64, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a charging/exposure chamber 72 is formed in an internal space on the back side of the front wall 74 of the process head 54. ing. The charging/exposure chamber 72 has an opening in the front wall 74 of the process radar 54, and around this opening, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, there is a mask slightly protruding from the front wall 74. 7
6 is formed. The opening shape of this mask 76 is made into a rectangular shape with a size corresponding to one frame of the electrophotographic film 24. The charging/exposure chamber 72 includes a corona unit 78.
, a proximity electrode 80 and a mask electrode 82 are provided.

As shown in FIG. 5, the corona unit 78 includes a corona wire 84 and a synthetic resin holder 86 that holds the corona wire 84, and is inserted into the process head 54 from above. The proximity electrodes 1i80 are composed of narrow metal plates and are arranged on both sides of the corona wire 84. The mask electrode 82 is formed by bending a metal plate into a rectangular shape, and is disposed near the opening of the front wall 74.

The corona wire 84 is connected to a high voltage power source and the proximal electrode 80
and mask electrode 82 are electrically connected. Normally, the proximal electrode 80 is directly connected to the ground, and the mask electrode 82 is connected to the ground via an electrical resistance, but different bias voltages may be applied to each from an external power source.

In the charging/exposure chamber 72, as shown in FIG. 7, a film cooling air outlet is opened, and cold air is supplied by an air pump 89 through a conduit 87. As described above, the process head 5 is connected to the lens barrel 62.
The optical axis of the main lens 44 attached to the back surface of the mask 76 coincides with the center of the opening of the mask 76.

(Developing Section) The developing section 66 includes, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6,
A mask 90 is formed, and the mask 90 covers the upper frame 9.
0A and left and right frames 90B and 90C stand up from the surface of the recess 92 formed in the front wall 74. The lower side of the lower frame 90D of the mask 90 stands up from the front wall 74. Further, the lower frame 90D has left and right frames 90B, 9 at both ends.
It further extends in the left-right direction from the connecting portion with 0C.

The protruding height of the mask 90 is set to be at the same level as the mask 76.

The opening width of the mask 90 is made very slightly shorter than the opening width of the mask 76. In addition, the opening height of the mask 90,
That is, the distance between the inner walls of the upper frame 90A and the lower frame 90D is
The inner wall of the lower frame 90D is located lower than that of the mask 76, and is lengthened accordingly.

In the opening of the mask 90, as shown in FIG. 9, a developing member 96 is disposed, supported by a rear wall 94. Developing electrode 96 is connected to a bias power source. The surface of the developing electrode 96 is located slightly inward from the edges of the mask 90, and a space surrounded by the developing electrode 96 and the inner wall of the mask 90 is defined as a developing chamber 98. The upper and lower parts of the developing electrode 96 are opened, and are provided with a developer/squeeze air inlet 100 and a developer/squeeze air outlet 102, respectively.
It is said that

The developer/squeeze air inlet 100 communicates with a passage 104 formed in the internal space of the process head 54 . The passage 104 has a developer supply port 106 and a squeeze air supply port 108 opened on the back side of the process head 54.
It is communicated with.

This passage 104 is an air inlet 100 for developer and squeeze.
The height gradually increases as you move away from the
and the width dimension (the length in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper in FIG. 9) is increased and has a tapered shape.

Therefore, the maximum diameter portion of this passage 104 passes through the process head body portion 56 and communicates with the outside.

A lid plate 105 is fixed to this communicating portion to block the maximum diameter portion of the passage 104 from the atmosphere, and near this blocking portion, the passage “04” is communicated with the squeeze air supply port 108.

On the other hand, the other end of the passage 104, which connects to the developer and squeezing air inlet 100, is the narrowest part of the passage 104 in terms of height and width.

The horizontal developer and squeezing air inlet 100 communicating with the passage 104 has approximately the same area as the minimum area of the passage 104, but is not formed larger than the area of the minimum area of the passage 104.

This developer and squeeze air inlet 100 is connected to the developing section 66.
From the front part of the process head 5, that is, from the left direction in FIG.
4, and the tip thereof is continuous with the smallest area portion of the passageway 104.

For this reason, these passages 104, developer, and squeeze air inlet 100 enable the process rad 54 to be integrally molded from a synthetic resin material.

That is, the passage 104, the developer, and the squeeze air inlet 100.
Straight cores corresponding to the above are respectively inserted from the left to the right in FIG. By filling the mold with resin and pulling out these cores after molding, it is possible to obtain the developer, the squeezing air inlet 100, and the passage 104 that do not contain the molding resin. Therefore, the developer, squeeze air inlet 100, and passage 104 are integrally formed in the process head 54, and no post-processing is required.

Naturally, the cover plate 105 is attached to the passage 104 after manufacturing. Similarly, cores are inserted into the developer supply port 106 and squeeze air supply port 108 in the manufactured state, and the tips of these cores come into contact with the tips of the cores inserted into the passage 104. .

Further, as the electrophotographic film 24 comes into contact with the mask 90, the developer passage cross-sectional area or height of the developer passage portion of the developing chamber 98 formed between the electrophotographic film z4 and the developing electrode 96 increases as shown in FIG. horizontal dimension) is the developer,
The cross-sectional area or height of the squeeze air inlet 100 is smaller than the vertical dimension in FIG. Therefore, the cross-sectional area or height of the developer passing through the passage 104, the developer, and the squeeze air inlet 100. The development chamber 98 gradually tapers in order, and the developer passing therethrough gradually spreads in the width direction (direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper in FIG. 9). Furthermore, since there is no narrow part (neck) in the middle of the developer passage area, the flow of the developer is not obstructed and the developer can be reliably supplied to the entire exposed surface. . Also,
The developer/squeeze air outlet 102 communicates with a passage 110 formed in the internal space of the process head 54 . The passage 110 communicates with a developer/squeeze air outlet 112 opened on the back side of the process head 54.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 10, the recesses 92 located on both sides of the left and right frames 90B and 90C of the mask 90 are opened at the bottom and serve as squeeze suction ports 114. As shown in FIG. 10, the squeeze suction port 114 is
Passage 116 constituted by the internal space of process head 54
The zero passage 116 communicates with a suction squeeze opening 118 opened on the back side of the process head 54.

As shown in FIG. 11(A), the developer supply port 1
06 is connected to pipes 122 and 124 via a solenoid valve 120 on the way.
The developer tank 126 is connected to the developer tank 126 . The developer tank 126 is located above the solenoid valve 120. The developer tank 126 is connected to a developer pump 130 driven by a motor 128 through a conduit 132. A developer pump 130 is disposed in a developer bottle 134. The developer bottle 134 contains a developer 136 in which toner particles are dispersed in a solvent.

The pipe line 124 connecting the electromagnetic valve 120 and the developer tank 126 is branched in the middle, and a developer bottle 134
The return conduit 13B is opened to . Further, a return pipe 140 that opens into the developer bottle 134 is connected to the developer tank 126 .

The squeezing air supply port 108 is connected through a conduit 142 to an air pump 144 for pressure squeezing. A developer bottle 1 is provided in the developer/squeeze air outlet 112.
A return conduit 146 opening into 34 is connected thereto.

As shown in FIG. 11(B), the suction squeeze opening 118 is connected to a suction trap 150 through a conduit 148. The suction trap 150 is connected by a conduit 152 to an air pump 154 for suction squeeze. Further, a return pipe 156 that opens to the developer bottle 134 is connected to the bottom of the suction trap 150 . Suction trap 1
50 is provided with a valve 158 that can close the return pipe line 156 at a connection part with the return pipe line 156.
58 is moved up and down by a solenoid 162 via a shaft 160.

The process head 54 is shown tilted in FIG. 11 because the optical axis of the optical system is tilted with respect to the horizontal plane so that it is perpendicular to the screen 16, which is arranged obliquely. It is.

(Drying section) The drying section 68 includes, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6,
A frame wall 164 is formed. The frame wall 164 is the upper frame 1
64A and left and right frames 164B and 164C, and there is no lower frame. The left frame 164B is continuous from the right end of the lower frame 90D of the mask 90, and is connected to the upper frame 164.
It stands up from the front wall 74 together with A. Further, the cloth frame 164C rises from a front wall recess 168 that is depressed from the front wall 74 in a step-like manner.

Between the left frame 164B and 164C, there are
As shown in FIG. 2, a wall 170 whose surface is located slightly inward from the end face of the frame wall 164 is formed, and furthermore, recesses 172 are formed on both sides of this wall 170.

The bottom surface of the recess 172 is located at a position that projects from the wall surface of the front wall recess 168. A space surrounded by the frame wall 164, wall 170, and recess 172 is a drying chamber 174.

The inner width of the frame wall 164 is wider than the opening width of the mask 90. Further, the lower surface (inner surface of the frame) of the upper frame 164A is located above that of the mask 90 of the developing section 66.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 12, the upper frame 164A
The lower part is opened and serves as a hot air outlet 176. As shown in FIG. 12, the hot air outlet 176 communicates with a passage 17B formed in the internal space of the process head 54.The six passages 17B are connected to a hot air supply opening 180 opened on the back side of the process head 54. It is communicated with. Passage 1
A temperature sensor 182 is disposed at 78 . The hot air supply port 180 is connected to the heater 179 and the air pump 1 through a conduit 177.
It is connected to 81.

(Fixing Unit) As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the fixing unit 70 is formed between the cloth frame 164C of the frame wall 164 and the front wall 74 located at the right end.

The fixing section 70 has a frame section 184 formed of a lower frame and left and right frames at a position further depressed from the front wall recess 16B. The frame portion 184 has a transparent glass Fi,1
86 is fitted, and the space in front of the glass plate 186 is used as a fixing chamber 188.

As shown in FIG. 13, in the space 190 of the process head 54 formed on the back side of the glass plate 186,
A xenon lamp 192 and a reflection plate 194 are provided. A cooling air outlet 196 is opened in the space 190,
Cold air is supplied from an air pump 195 via a conduit 193. The space 190 and the fixing chamber 188 communicate with each other above the glass plate 186.

(Blip sensor) As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the process head 5
4, a blip sensor 196 is installed at the left end of the front wall 74.
is installed. The blip sensor 196 detects the electrophotographic film 2 being moved along the front surface of the process head 54.
It is located at a height where the blip mark 24A of No. 4 passes, and when the blip mark 24A passes, it senses that the light from the light source for the sensor, which is placed facing each other with the electrophotographic film 24 in between, is blocked. It is supposed to be done.

(Film Holder Mechanism) As shown in FIGS. 7 and 14, a presser holder 198 is provided in front of the front wall 74 of the process head 54. As shown in FIGS. As shown in FIG. 15, the presser foot 198 has
A rectangular through hole 200 having a size slightly smaller than the opening shape of the mask 76 formed in the charging/exposure section 64 is formed.

The presser temporary 1'98 is arranged so that the through hole 200 corresponds to the mask 76.

As shown in FIG. 15A (a perspective view of the presser plate viewed from the opposite side of FIG. 15), the presser plate 198 has process heads at the upper and lower ends of the end where the through hole 200 is formed. Claws 202 and 204 are formed that protrude toward the 54 side. The claws 202, 204 have inclined surfaces 202A, 204A on their inner surfaces facing each other, and as shown in FIG.
4 is equal to the width of the electrophotographic film 24 (strictly speaking, it is slightly wider than the width of the electrophotographic film 24), and a cylindrical portion 206 is formed protruding from the tip of the claw 204. 202, 204 can fit into holes 208, 210 formed in the front wall 74 of the process head 54 shown in FIGS. 5, 6, and 14.

A cylindrical portion 212 is formed protrudingly on the back surface of the holding plate 198 facing the process head 54 .
12 has a notch 21 formed at one end of the arm 214.
4A is engaged. A retaining ring 212A is fixed to the tip of the cylindrical portion 212 to prevent the cutout portion 214A from being pulled out. A boss portion 214B is formed at the other end of the arm 214. The shaft 21 is attached to the boss portion 214B.
6 is fixed.

The shaft 216 is rotatably inserted into and supported by a stand 21B erected on a frame 60 which is removed by the process head 54, and its lower end protrudes from the back surface of the frame 60. A louver 220 is attached to the lower end of the shaft 216.
is fixed.

A pin 222 is fixed to the tip of the first lever 220.

On the other hand, a shaft 224 is vertically provided on the back surface of the frame 60. An intermediate portion of a second lever 226 is rotatably supported on the shaft 224 . The pin 222 is engaged with a notch 226A formed at one end of the second lever 226. A long hole 22 formed at the other end of the second lever 226
6B is a tension coil spring 2 that urges the second levers 226 in opposite directions and elastically supports the second levers 226.
28, 230 are locked at one end.

The other end of the tension coil spring 228 is locked to a pin 232 vertically installed on the back surface of the frame 60, and the other end of the tension coil spring 230 is connected to a pull-type solenoid 234 attached to the back surface of the frame 60. It is locked to plunger 234A.

The presser plate 198 is spaced apart from the process head 54 when the solenoid 234 is not energized. In this state, as shown in FIG.
A cylindrical portion 2σ6 is fitted into a hole 210 formed in the process head 54 and supported.

When solenoid 234 is energized, plunger 234A
is actuated in the direction of arrow A, and the tension coil bone 228.23
0 is stretched against the force.

As a result, the second lever 226 is rotated about the shaft 224 in the direction of arrow B, so that the second lever 220 is rotated around the shaft 224.
22 in the direction of arrow C, causing the shaft 216 to rotate in the same direction. Due to the rotation of the shaft 216, the arm 214 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow and presses the temporary presser foot 19B in the direction of the arrow E.

The presser plate 198 is moved in the direction of arrow E with the cylindrical portion 206 guided by the hole 210 to press the electrophotographic film 24 into contact with the end faces of the mask 76, 90 and the frame wall 164. When the holding plate 198 is moved, if the position of the electrophotographic film 24 is misaligned in the height direction, the claws 202.
The inclined surfaces 202A and 204A of the electrophotographic film 204 act to push down the upper edge of the electrophotographic film 24 or push up the lower edge thereof.

When the holding plate 198 presses the electrophotographic film 24 against the process head 54, the holding plate 198 has claws 202 and 204.
are fitted into holes 208, 210 and accurately positioned in process head 54. Also presser temporary 198
In this state, the electrophotographic film 24 is elastically pressed by the action of the tension coil springs 228 and 230.

When the solenoid 234 is demagnetized, the tension coil spring 22
8, the second lever 226 is rotated in the direction opposite to the arrow B, the arm 214 is rotated in the direction opposite to the arrow B, the notch 214A presses the retaining ring 212A, and the retaining plate 198
is moved in the opposite direction of arrow E.

(Effect of Example) Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained.

When the power switch of the electrophotographic device is turned on, the first
The cassette loading section 26 shown in the figure is raised, and a cassette containing the electrophotographic film 24 can be loaded. After the cassette is loaded into the cassette loading section 26, when the cassette loading section 26 is manually pushed down to its original position, the cassette loading section 26 is restrained at that position. In this state, the electrophotographic film 24 is positioned as shown in FIG. 14, and can be moved along the front surface of the process head 54 by driving a film moving motor (not shown).

When recording the image of the document 34 shown in FIG. 2 on the electrophotographic film 24, a film moving motor (not shown) is driven to move a predetermined frame freely selected from among the frames that have not yet been recorded. is located in front of the mask 76 of the charging/exposure section 64. This operation is performed by specifying a predetermined frame using the control keyboard 28 shown in FIG. It is controlled by that.

FIG. 16 shows a time chart in the case where, after a predetermined frame has been aligned and photographed as described above, consecutive photographs are taken for each frame following this frame. ing. In the process head 54, the charging/exposure section 6
When the frame located at 4 is charged and exposed, the developing section 6
6. The pieces located in the drying section 68 and the fixing section 70 are subjected to different processes simultaneously.
The following explanation focuses on one frame in which the photographing button is pressed at position ([) in FIG. 16 and photographing is started.

The document 34 can be photographed by selecting the camera mode by operating a button on the control keyboard 28. Simultaneously with this operation, the developing electrode 96 of the developing section 66 is energized to apply a bias voltage, and the drying chamber 174 The heater 179 that heats the air blown is energized and generates heat, and the content of the xenon lamp 192 of the fixing section 70 is energized and charged. These continue while the camera mode is selected.

When the photographing button on the control keyboard 28 is pressed, the corona wire 84 of the charging/exposure section 64 is energized and a high voltage is applied, generating corona discharge between the proximal electrode 80 and the mask electrode 82. As a result, the mask 76
The surface of the photosensitive layer of the electrophotographic film 24 located within the aperture frame is charged to e.

Note that at the time the shooting button is pressed, the solenoid 234 of the film holding mechanism is energized continuously from the previous process, and the electrophotographic film 24 is pressed by the presser holder 198 and the mask 76, 90 of the process head 54 and Frame wall 16
4 and is pressed into contact with each end face of 4. The presser holder 19B has a through hole 200 formed in a portion corresponding to the mask 76, but since the through hole 200 is smaller than the opening of the mask 76, the electrophotographic film 24 located on the end surface of the mask 76 is pressed by the presser plate surface around the through hole 200. Therefore, the electrophotographic film 24 is reliably brought into close contact with the end face of the mask 76, so that the charging range is accurately controlled by the mask 76.
It is printed within the aperture range of 6.

In addition, a mask electrode 82 provided in the charging/exposure chamber 72
is held at approximately the same potential as the charged potential of the electrophotographic film 24, so that the peripheral edge of the frame of the electrophotographic film 24 located in the opening of the mask 76 is also charged to a value close to the potential of the center of the frame. , the entire frame of the electrophotographic film 24 is uniformly charged. By appropriately selecting the value of a resistor (not shown) which is interposed between the ground and the mask electrode 82 and which is electrically ti'ifted, or by connecting the mask electrode 82 to an external type a<not shown). By applying a bias voltage from 1 to 2, the mask electrode 82 can be maintained at a potential approximately equal to the charged potential of the electrophotographic film 24.

The document illumination lamp 36 is turned on after a predetermined period of time has elapsed after the photographing button is pressed at the (1) position, and the document 34 placed on the glass plate 22 of the document table 18 is illuminated. Furthermore, after a predetermined period of time has elapsed after the button is pressed, the current supply to the corona wire 84 is stopped, and the corona discharge ends.

At the same time as the power supply to the corona wire 84 is stopped, a shutter (not shown) (indicated by symbol A in FIG. 16) is opened, and the document is placed on the document table 1B by the optical system shown in FIG. Image light from the original 34 is irradiated onto the electrophotographic film 24 . Furthermore, at the same time, an automatic exposure control device (not shown) (indicated by reference numeral B in FIG. 16) starts integrating the amount of light.

On the other hand, after a predetermined period of time has elapsed after the button is pressed, the first
The motor 128 shown in FIG.
The developer 136 in 34 is pumped up to the developer tank 126. The developer 136 descends from the developer tank 126 under its own weight and passes through the pipe 124 toward the process head 54, but at this time, the solenoid valve 120 is still closed, so the developer is removed from the return pipe 138. bottle 134
be returned to. In addition, the developer 13 in the developer tank 126 is
6 rises, the developer 136 is returned to the developer bottle 134 from the return line 140.

In this way, until the solenoid valve 120 is opened, the developer 136 circulates between the developer bottle 134 and the developer tank 126 and lies in a waiting position just before the solenoid valve 120. There is. Due to this circulation, the developer bottle 134
The developer 36 inside is stirred.

When the cumulative value of the light amount of the automatic exposure control device (B) reaches the set value, the cumulative value is stopped, the shutter (A) is simultaneously closed, and the document illumination lamp 36 is turned off. At this point, the exposure process is completed, and the electric charge on the photosensitive layer decreases in accordance with the image pattern of the original 34 at the -9 portion of the electrophotographic film 24 located in the opening of the mask 76. An electrostatic latent image is formed. The automatic exposure control device (B) corrects factors for fluctuations in image density due to variations in the background density of the original 34, fluctuations in the voltage applied to the original illumination lamp 36, etc., so that proper exposure is always performed. At this time, when a predetermined time has elapsed since the button was pressed and all processing steps for other frames have been completed, the solenoid 234 of the film holding mechanism is immediately demagnetized. When the solenoid 234 is demagnetized at the (IA) position in FIG. 16, the holding plate 198 is separated from the electrophotographic film 24.

At the same time that the solenoid 234 of the film holding mechanism is demagnetized, the solenoid 162 of the suction trap 150 shown in FIG.
The valve 158 is raised via the valve 158 and the return line 156 is communicated with the suction trap 150. As a result, the developer 136 that was captured in the suction trap 150 during the previous development/squeeze process (described later) is returned to the developer bottle 134.

After the solenoid 234 of the film holding mechanism is demagnetized,
After a predetermined period of time has elapsed, a film moving motor (not shown) (indicated by C in FIG. 16) is driven, and the electrophotographic film 24 is moved one frame to the right in FIG. As a result, the frame located in the charging/exposure section 64 is moved to the developing section 66. One frame movement of the electrophotographic film 24 is
As in the previous case, control is performed by the prep sensor 196 detecting the blip mark 24A.

After a predetermined period of time has elapsed after the film moving motor (C) is stopped, the solenoid 234 of the film holding mechanism is energized at position (IB) in FIG. 16, and the electrophotographic film 24 is pressed against the process head 54 by the holding plate 198. be touched.

At the same time, the solenoid 162 of the suction trap 150 is demagnetized to close the return line 156, the suction squeeze air pump 154 is activated, and the solenoid valve 120 is opened.

When the solenoid valve 120 is opened, the developer 136 flows into the conduit 122.
The air passes through the process head 54 and flows into the developing chamber 98 from the developer/squeezing air inlet 100 of the developing section 66 . The toner particles dispersed in the developer 136 are charged to e, and in the process of flowing down the developing chamber 98, they adhere to the portion of the electrophotographic film 24 that is charged to e, and develop an electrostatic latent image. become Developer 136 flowing down the developing chamber 98
is returned to the developer bottle 134 from the developer/squeeze air outlet 102 through a return line 146.

In this case, the developer 136 is squeeze air IJL supply port 1
After entering the passage 104 from 0B, the developer falls under its own weight in the passage 104, and while reaching the developing chamber 98 via the developer and squeezing air inlet 100, the passing cross-sectional area or height dimension is gradually reduced. Therefore, the flow of the developer is not obstructed in the intermediate portion, and the developer is sufficiently spread in the width direction and supplied to the exposed surface of the electrophotographic film 24, thereby ensuring reliable development.

The developer 136 supplied from the developer tank 126 to the conduit 124 is distributed through each conduit so that part of it is returned to the developer bowl 134 from the return conduit 138 and the rest goes to the electromagnetic valve 120. The pipe diameter etc. of the pipe are set.

The developer 136 flowing down the developing chamber 98 is
Since the electrophotographic film 24 is pressed against the end surface of the mask 90 at step 8, it hardly enters the gap between the end surface of the mask 90 and the electrophotographic film 24. When the developer 136 enters from this part, the negative pressure generated in the recesses 92 located on both sides of the left and right frames 90B and 90C of the mask 90 by the suction squeeze air pump 154 causes the developer 136 to Squeeze suction port 11
4 through a conduit 148 to a suction trap 150 where it is captured.

The developer pump 130 is operated by the motor 12 after a predetermined period of time has elapsed after the solenoid 234 of the film holding mechanism is energized.
8 is stopped and the operation is stopped, but the solenoid valve 12
0 remains open thereafter. The developer 136 is transferred from the developer tank 126 to the process head 5 by gravity.
Since the developer 136 is supplied to the developing chamber 98, even if the operation of the developer pump 130 is stopped, the supply of the developer 136 to the developing chamber 98 is continued. In this way, the developer pump 13
Since the supply of the developer 136 is continued even after the supply of developer 136 is stopped, it is possible to minimize exposure blurring due to vibration of the developer rear pump 130 during exposure of the next frame.

When the solenoid valve 120 is opened and a predetermined time has elapsed, the solenoid valve 120 is closed and the supply of the developer 136 to the developing chamber 98 is stopped. At the same time, the pressurized squeeze air pump 144 shown in FIG. The attached developer 136 is blown off and drained. The blown-off developer 136 is returned to the developer bottle 134 from the developer/squeeze air outlet 102 through a return pipe 146.

Note that the supply of pressurized air to the developing chamber 98, that is, the air blowing, is set to a weak flow while a sufficient amount of the developer 136 remains in the developing chamber 98, so that the image is not affected by the high-speed blowing off of the developer 136. Deterioration is prevented. After a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the start of air blowing, the air is turned into strong air to increase squeezing efficiency.

The air blowing is controlled by the charging/exposure process of the next frame, which is started when the photographing button is pressed at position (II) in Fig. 16.
After the solenoid 234 of the film holding mechanism is demagnetized at position (IIA) in FIG. 16, after a predetermined period of time has elapsed, the drive of the film moving motor (C) is started and simultaneously stopped, and the developing/squeezing process is completed. .

Note that during development, the presence of the development electrode 96 makes it possible to obtain an image free of edge effects. Further, since a bias voltage is applied to the developing electrode 96, image fogging is prevented.

When the drive of the film moving motor (C) is stopped, the electrophotographic film 24 has been moved -9 to the right in FIG. There is. After a predetermined period of time has elapsed after the film moving motor (C) is stopped, the solenoid 234 of the film holding mechanism is energized at the position (■B) in FIG.
Air pump 181 shown in the figure is activated. By operating the air pump 181, hot air heated by the heater 179 is blown out from the hot air outlet 176 of the drying section 6 to the drying chamber 174, and the developer 136 is dried. air pump 18
1 is controlled by the frame charging and exposure process that is started when the photographing button is pressed at position (■) in Figure 16, and the solenoid 234 of the film holding mechanism is demagnetized at position (IIiA) in Figure 16. The drying process is stopped at the same time as the drying process is completed.

Note that the warm air supplied to the drying chamber 174 is detected by the temperature sensor 18.
2, and if the temperature is out of the predetermined range, a message to that effect is displayed on the control keyboard 28, and if the temperature is out of the high temperature range, the heater 1
The power supply to 79 is immediately stopped.

In addition, in the above example, solenoid 2 of the film holding mechanism
34, and the drying air pump 18 is activated only when pressing the electrophotographic film 24 against the process head 54.
Although the air pump 181 is operated, the air pump 181 may be continuously operated from the start.

After the solenoid 234 of the film holding mechanism is demagnetized at the (I[IA) position in FIG.
) is driven, and the frame located in the drying section 68 is moved to the fixing section 70. After the drive of the film moving motor (C) is stopped, the solenoid 234 of the film holding mechanism is energized at the (I[lB) position in FIG. 16, and at the same time, the air pump 195 shown in FIG. 13 is activated. , cold air is supplied to the space 190 of the fixing section 70. This cold air passes through the upper part of the glass plate 186 from the space 190 and reaches the fixing chamber 188 .

After a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the solenoid 234 of the film holding mechanism was energized, the xenon lamp 192 emits light.
The toner particles are fused and fixed to the surface of the electrophotographic film 24, completing the fixing process.

Air pump 19 removes vaporized substances and scattered substances generated during fixing.
Since the particles are blown off by the cold air supplied by the filter 5, they do not adhere to the surface of the glass plate 186.

By completing the above steps, recording of the image on the electrophotographic film is completed.

In the apparatus of this embodiment, after the frame located in the charging/exposure section 64 where the photographing button has been pressed and photographing has started is moved eight frames from the developing section 66, the solenoid 2 of the film holding mechanism
Photographing of the next frame becomes possible after a predetermined period of time has elapsed since 4 is excited. From this time until after a predetermined period of time has elapsed after the air pump 144 for pressurizing and squeezing the developing section 66 finishes blowing weak air, the shooting button is pressed to shoot the next consecutive frame. This is processed as a continuous Vt image, and by continuing this, the process progresses as shown in FIG. 16.

Note that if the shooting button ° is not pressed within the above-mentioned period, or if the end of a series of shooting is input from the control keyboard 28, the timer stops the strong air blowing by the pressurized squeeze air pump 144. The subsequent drying and fixing are also processed by a timer.

The electrophotographic film 24 on which the original image is recorded as described above becomes capable of projection when the reader mode is selected. In the electrophotographic apparatus of this embodiment, the reader mode is automatically selected when a cassette is loaded by the same operation as described above (the third mirror 3B is moved from the position shown in FIG. 2 to another position). ), by the same operation as described above, when a predetermined frame is positioned in the charging/exposure section 64 and stopped, the light source of the projection light source section 46 shown in FIG. 3 is turned on, and this light is emitted. The electrophotographic film 24 is transmitted through the through hole 200 of the presser holder 198, and the electrophotographic film 24 is applied to the screen 16 by the optical system shown in FIG.
The image is enlarged and projected.

Note that at the same time that the light source is turned on, the air pump 89 shown in FIG. 7 is activated to supply cold air to the charging/exposure chamber 72, so that the electrophotographic film 24 does not become hot due to the heat from the projection light source section 46. This prevents defocusing due to thermal deformation.

In addition, in reader mode, the control keyboard 28
By operating the button, the electrophotographic film 24 can be continuously advanced frame by frame and the projected images can be viewed continuously in a short period of time.

In this case, the shutter (A) is closed when the electrophotographic film 24 is moved to prevent flickering due to an afterimage phenomenon.

When the copy button on the control keyboard 28 is pressed while the image is being projected onto the screen 16 as described above, the copy mode is selected and the copy mirror 52 is moved, and the optical system shown in FIG.
The image projected on 6 is recorded on copy paper 30.

(Effects of Embodiment) As explained above, in this embodiment, the passage 104 is linear and tapered, and the developer and squeeze air inlet 100 is also linear, so that the process head 54 By inserting a core during synthetic resin molding, these passages 104, developer, and air inlet 10 for squeezing are formed.
0 can be formed simultaneously. Therefore, it is not necessary to fabricate these developer passage inlets by drilling holes in post-processing after molding the process head 54, as in the conventional case.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, in the process head for an electrophotographic device according to the present invention, since the developer passage is tapered gradually until it reaches the contact portion with the electrophotographic film, the flow of the developer is obstructed. This method has an excellent effect in that the developer can be sufficiently spread and supplied over the entire exposed surface.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is an external perspective view showing an embodiment of an electrophotographic device;
Is the diagram obliquely showing the photographing optical system of an electrophotographic device? 31 conceptual diagram,
FIG. 3 is a perspective conceptual diagram showing the projection optical system, FIG. 4 is a perspective conceptual diagram showing the copying optical system, and FIG.
FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a process head according to an embodiment of the present invention installed in an electrophotographic apparatus of No. 1, FIG. 6 is a front view, and FIG.
The figure is the ■-■ fastening arrow view of Figure 6, and the figure 8 is the ■-■ diagram of Figure 6.
The line arrow view, Figure 9 is the [X-IX line arrow view, Figure 1 of Figure 6]
Figure O is an x-X arrow view in Figure 6, Figure 11 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the process head developing section and other equipment, and Figure 12 is an xtr-xn arrow view in Figure 6. , FIG. 13 is a view taken along the line xm-xm in FIG. 6, FIG. 14 is a schematic side view showing the positional relationship between the process head and the presser foot, and FIG. 15 is a film presser mechanism installed in the process head. FIG. i5A is a perspective view of some parts of FIG. 15 seen from the opposite side, and FIG. 16 is a time chart showing a time chart in camera mode of the electrophotographic apparatus. A... For electrophotographic apparatus, C... Process head, E... Developing section, 54... Process head, 66... Developing section, 98... Developing chamber, 104... Passage, 110...Aisle. Figure 4 Figure 7 Figure 8 Figure 9 #, Figure 10 Figure 12 Figure 13

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A process head for an electrophotographic device, which is provided with a developing section that supplies developer to an electrophotographic film to develop the film, and in the developing section, a developer passage gradually extends until it reaches a contact area with the electrophotographic film. A process head for an electrophotographic device characterized by a tapered shape.