JPS62189486A - Processing head for electrophotographic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To stably supply a developer to a developing chamber by covering a side facing a developer inflow port to the developing chamber employing a developing electrode and a side facing a developer outflow port with an insulating material. CONSTITUTION:The thin parts 94A and 94B of a back wall 94 cover both vertical ends of the developing electrode 96, which face the developer/squize air inflow port 100 and the developer/squize air outflow port 102. The developer 136 reaches a process head 54 through a tube 122, and flows in the developing chmaber 98 from the developer/squize air inflow port 100 of the developing part 66. In that case, the sectional area of the inflow port 100 is surely secured by the thin part 94A irrespective of the molding position of the developing electrode 96, and accordingly the flow of the developer is stable. The developer 136 flowing down in the developing chamber 98 can surely return to a developer bottle 134 through a return tube 146 because the thin part 94B surely covers the sectional area of the developer/squize air inflow port 102 irrespective of the molding position of the developing electrode 96.

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 these electrophotographic apparatuses, electrophotographic film after being charged and exposed is sent to a developing section, which is placed facing a developing chamber, and is developed using a developer supplied to the developing chamber. Preferably, a developing electrode is disposed in this developing chamber facing the electrophotographic film and a bias voltage is applied thereto to prevent image fogging.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) Therefore, if this developing electrode is installed incorrectly, the cross-sectional area of the flow path of the developer to the developing chamber becomes uneven, causing the flow of the developer to become unstable. .

The present invention takes the above facts into consideration, and when the process head is integrally molded from synthetic resin, the flow path of the developing electrode is secured even if there is an error in the attachment to the developing electrode, and the developing solution is stably supplied to the developing chamber. An object of the present invention is to obtain a process head for an electrophotographic apparatus that can perform the following steps.

[Means for solving problems]

The process head for an electrophotographic apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that the side surface of the developing electrode facing the developer inlet into the developing chamber and the side surface facing the developer outlet are covered with an insulating material. That is, it faces the developer flow path through the developing electric field insulating material.

[Effect]

Therefore, in the present invention, even if the developing electrode is misaligned with the process head during molding, as long as the insulator around the developing electrode is molded in the correct position, the developer flow path can always be kept as a constant area. The flow of the developer can be ensured.

〔Example〕

(Child Photo Studio W,) Figure 1 shows an electronic photograph in which the process head according to this embodiment is installed! A J-position embodiment is shown.

The electrophotographic apparatus according to the present embodiment has a camera function that captures a document and records the image on an electrophotographic film, and a reader function that enlarges and projects the image recorded on the electrophotographic film onto a screen. It also has a copy function that enlarges and copies images recorded on electrophotographic 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. In addition, if the copy function is not required, the electrophotographic device itself
It is also possible to use only O alone. Electrophotographic device body.

The housing 14 of No. 10 is composed of a portion 14A located on the left side and having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and a portion 14B located on the right side and having a stairway on the upper surface.
The internal space of 4B is communicated at the rear part.

On the outside of the housing 14A, a slightly tilted transmissive screen 16 is disposed to cover the front opening of the housing, and a document table 18 is disposed above. On the document table 18, there is a temporary document holder 20 that can be opened and closed.
Cover the upper opening of the housing with transparent glass + N22 (
(see FIG. 2 below) are arranged. Housing 14
On the outer side of B, a cassette loading section 26 into which a cassette containing an electrophotographic film 24 (see FIG. 2 described later) is loaded is formed near the center of the upper part, and a cassette loading section 26 is formed near the upper center part, and a cassette loading section 26 in which a cassette containing an electrophotographic film 24 (see FIG. 2 described later) is loaded is formed in the upper front part. A control keyboard 2B is provided for performing various operations.

The housing 11 of the copying device 12 also has an opening 3 through which copy paper 30 (see FIG. 4 described later) is discharged.
2 is formed.

(Optical System of Electrophotographic Apparatus) FIGS. 2 to 4 show the optical system of an electrophotographic apparatus.

As shown in FIG. 2, the photographing optical system includes the document table 1
A document illumination lamp 36 illuminates a document 34, which is a subject set on a glass temporary plate 22 of No. 8 with the document surface facing downward.
, a third mirror 3 to which the reflected light from the original 34 is incident, a second mirror 40 to which the reflected light from the third mirror 38 is incident, and a third mirror to which the reflected light from the second mirror 40 is incident. 1 mirror 42 and a main lens 44 that focuses the reflected light from the first mirror 42 onto the surface of the electrophotographic 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.
The copy mirror 52 reflects the reflected light from the copying machine 12 toward the copy paper 30 set on the 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. Lord.

The lens 44 and the first mirror 42 are connected to the electrophotographic apparatus main body 1.
0, 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 38 and the copy mirror 52 are movably disposed within the housing 14A of the electrophotographic apparatus main body 10, and the conversion lens 48 is movably disposed within the housing 14B so as not to interfere with other optical systems. has been 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 shutter 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, generally rectangular parallelepiped-shaped main body part 56 and a pair of legs 58 located at the lower part of the main body part 56, and is integrally molded with synthetic resin except for the attachments. has been done. 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 photoconductive 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. The electrophotographic film 24 is moved in the width direction of the process head 54 (in the left-right direction in FIG. ). Further, the transparent conductive layer of the electrophotographic film 24 can be electrically connected to the electrophotographic apparatus main body IO 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, charging/exposure sections 64 are sequentially arranged in the width direction.
, 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) As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the charging/exposure section 64 has a charging/exposure chamber 72 formed in an internal space on the back side of the front wall 74 of the process head 54. There is. The charging/exposure chamber 72 has an opening in the front wall 74 of the process head 54, and around this opening, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, there is a mask 76 that slightly protrudes from the front wall 74.
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 proximal electrodes 80 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 groove, 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. i
Normally, the proximal electrode 80 is directly connected to ground, and the mask electrode 82 is connected to ground via electrical resistance.
Different bias voltages may be applied from an external power supply.

As shown in FIG. 7, a film cooling air outlet 88 is opened in the charging/exposure chamber 72, and cold air is supplied by an air pump 89 through a conduit B7. The process head 5 is assembled into the lens barrel 62 as described above.
The main lens 44 attached to the back surface of the lens 4 has its front axis aligned 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 90G stand up from the surface of a 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, 90 at both ends.
It further extends in the left-right direction from the connecting portion with C.

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 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.

A developing electrode 96 is disposed within the opening of the mask 90 and supported by a rear wall 94, as shown in FIG. Developing electrode 96 is connected to a bias power source. Development electric 8
The surface of i96 is located slightly inside from the end surface of mask 90, and a space surrounded by developing electrode 96 and the inner wall of mask 90 is defined as developing chamber 98. The upper and lower parts of the developing device 8i96 are opened, and have a developer/squeeze air inlet 100 and a developer/squeeze air outlet 1, respectively.
It is said to be 02.

Here, a developer/squeeze air inlet 100, a developer/squeeze air inlet 100,
As shown in FIG. 9, both upper and lower ends of the developing electrode 96 facing the squeezing air outlet 102 are covered with thin parts 94A and 94B of the back wall 94, so that the developing electrode 96 is exposed to the developer/squeezing air. The inlet 100 is not exposed to the developer/squeeze air outlet 102. Therefore, even if the developing electrode 96 shifts relative to the back wall 94 during molding, the thin portion 94
If A and 94B are molded accurately, there will be an air inlet 100 for developer/squeeze, and an air outlet 102 for developer/squeeze.
The cross-sectional area of is maintained at the desired value, allowing stable flow of the developer.

For this purpose, a core having a cross-sectional area corresponding to the developer/squeeze air inlet 100 may be projected into the mold from the front of the developing electrode 96 (left direction in FIG. 9) during molding.

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 10 opened on the back side of the process head 54.
It is connected to 8.

Further, the developer/squeeze air outlet 102 communicates with a passage 11O formed in the internal space of the process head 54. The zero passage 110 is a developer/squeeze air outlet opened on the back side of the process head 54. It is in communication with 112.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 1O, the recesses 92 located on both sides of the left and right frames 90B and 90G 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 by a conduit 132 to a developer rear pan pump 130 driven by the motor 12B. The developer post-field pump 130 is disposed in the developer 7F11 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
A return conduit 138 opens 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 to 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.

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

(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, 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 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 and right frames 164B, 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 protruding from the wall surface of the front wall recess 16 . A space surrounded by the frame wall 164, the wall 170, and the recess 17'2 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 upper frame 164A) is located above that of the mask 90 of the developing section 66.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 12, the lower portion of the upper frame 164 is opened to form a hot air outlet 176. As shown in FIGS. As shown in FIG. 12, the hot air outlet 176 communicates with a passage 178 formed in the internal space of the process head 54. 0 passage 1 connected to
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 Section) As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the fixing section 70 is formed between the cloth frame 164G 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 168. The frame part 184 is made of transparent glass L.8
6 is fitted, and the space in front of the temporary glass 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 temporary glass 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. Are the space section 190 and the fixing chamber 188 made of glass? It is connected at the top of N186.

(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 temporary presser foot 19B has:
...1 A rectangular through hole 200 is formed which is one size smaller than the opening shape of the mask 76 formed in the charging/exposure section 64.

The temporary presser foot 198 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 inner surfaces facing each other as slants 202A, 204A, and as shown in FIG. 14, the upper and lower claws 202.2 at the base.
04 is equal to the width of the electrophotographic film 24 (
Strictly speaking, a cylindrical portion 206 is formed protruding from the tip of the claw 204, which is slightly wider than the width of the electrophotographic film 24. The pawls 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 presser foot 198 facing the process head 54.
12 has a notch 21 formed at one end of the arm 214.
A retaining ring 212A is fixed to the tip of the 0-cylindrical portion 212 with which the notch 4A is engaged, and prevents the notch 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 218 erected on the frame 60 to which the process head 54 is attached, and its lower end protrudes from the back surface of the frame 60 . A third lever 220 is fixed to the lower end of the shaft 216.

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 bin 222 is engaged with a notch 2268 formed at one end of the second lever 226. ° Long hole 2 formed at the other end of the second lever 226
One end of each of the tension coil springs 22 and 230 that elastically supports the second lever 226 by biasing the second lever 226 in opposite directions is locked to 26B.

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 locked to a pull-type solenoid 234 attached to the back surface of the frame 60. The plunger 234A is locked to the 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. 1.4, the presser plate 198
A cylindrical portion 206 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 the arrow, and the tension coil springs 22B, 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. The rotation of the shaft 216 causes the arm 214 to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow, and presses the presser plate 198 in the direction indicated by the arrow E.

The presser holder 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) anti-19
8 elastically presses the electrophotographic film 24 under the action of tension coil springs 228 and 230 in this state.

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 presser foot 214A is pressed against the retaining ring 212A. ffi
198 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 setting one predetermined frame as one using the control keyboard 28 shown in FIG. It is controlled by counting.

In FIG. 16, after a predetermined frame has been aligned and photographed as described above, the i! ! A time chart is shown when continuous shooting is performed. In the process head 54, when the frame located in the charging/exposure section 64 is being charged and exposed, the frames located in the developing section 66, drying section 68, and fixing section 70 are simultaneously undergoing different processes. However, the following explanation focuses on one frame in which the photographing button is pressed at the (+) 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 capacitor of the gisenon 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 to the proximal double sun 80 and the mask electrode '82.
A corona discharge is generated between the As a result, mask 7
The surface of the photosensitive layer of the electrophotographic film 24 located within the opening frame 6 is charged to ■.

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 against the holding plate 198 and the masks 76 and 90 of the process head 54 and Frame wall 16
4 and is pressed into contact with each end face of 4. The presser foot +N 198 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 face of the mask 76 is pressed by the presser plate surface around the through hole 200. Therefore, the electrophotographic film 24 is exposed to the mask 76.
Since the charging area is reliably brought into close contact with the end face of the mask 76, the charging range is precisely regulated within the opening range of the mask 76.

In addition, a mask electrode 1fI provided in the charging/exposure chamber 72
82 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. Earth and mask electrode 82
A resistor (not shown) interposed between and electrically connected to
By appropriately selecting the value of , or mask 1
By applying a bias voltage to the X pole 82 from an external power source (not shown), the mask electrode 82 can be maintained at a potential approximately equal to the charged potential of the electrophotographic film 24.

After a predetermined period of time has elapsed after the close button is pressed at position (1), the document illumination lamp 36 is turned on, 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 a symbol in FIG. 16) is opened, and the document is placed on the document table 18 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 12B shown in FIG.
The developer 136 in the developer tank 126 is pumped up into the developer tank 126. The developer 136 descends from the developer tank 12.6 under its own weight, passes through the pipe 124, and heads 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. Returned to bottle 134. Further, the developer 136 is stored in the developer tank 126.
When the liquid level rises, the developer 136 is returned to the developer bottle 134 through the return line 140.

In this way, the developer 136 circulates between the developer bottle 134 and the developer tank 126 and waits at a position in front of the valve surface of the solenoid valve 120 until the solenoid valve 120 is opened. This circulation stirs the developer 36 in the developer bottle 134.

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 one frame of the electrophotographic film 24 located in the opening of the mask 76 is electrostatically charged due to the decrease in the charge on the photosensitive layer according to the image pattern of the original 34. A 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 (TA) position in FIG. 16, the presser foot 198 is separated from the electrophotographic film 24.

At the same time that the solenoid 234 of the film holding mechanism a 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 to move the electrophotographic film 24 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 above case, control is performed by the blip sensor 196 detecting the blip mark 24A.

After a predetermined period of time has elapsed after the film movement 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 19B. 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 . In this case, regardless of the molding position of the developing electrode 96, the thin portion 94A allows the developer/squeeze air inlet lO
Since a sufficient cross-sectional area of O is ensured, the flow of the developer is stable. The toner particles dispersed in the developer 136 are gfitted to e, and in the process of flowing down the developing chamber 98, they adhere to the Φ-charged portion of the electrophotographic film 24 and develop an electrostatic latent image. become The developer 136 flowing down the developing chamber 98 is passed through the developer/squeeze air outlet 102.
from the developer bottle 134 through the return line 146.
be returned to.

In this case as well, regardless of the molding position of the developing electrode 96, the thin portion 94B allows the developer/squeeze air outlet 102 to
Since the cross-sectional area of the developer is sufficiently secured, the developer and
The air passes through the squeeze air outlet 102 and reliably returns to the developer bottle 134.

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

The developer 136 flowing down the developing chamber 98 is
Since the electrophotographic film 24 is pressed against the end face of the mask 90 at step 8, it is unlikely that the developer 136 will enter the gap between the end face of the mask 90 and the electrophotographic film 24. , the left and right frame portions 9 of the mask 90 are squeezed by the air pump 154 for suction squeeze.
Due to the negative pressure generated in the recesses 92 located on both sides of the 0B190G, the developer 136 is sucked into the suction trap 150 from the squeeze suction port 114 through the conduit 148 and 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.
Although the drive of B is stopped and the operation is stopped, the solenoid valve 12
0 remains open thereafter. The developer 136 is transferred from the developer tank 126 to the process by gravity.
4, the developer 136 continues to be supplied to the developing chamber 98 even if the operation of the developer post pump 130 is stopped. In this way, the developer rear pump 13
Since the supply of the developer 136 is continued even after the supply of developer 136 is stopped, exposure blurring due to vibration of the developer rear pump 130 during exposure of the next frame can be minimized.

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 be a weak flow while a sufficient amount of the developer 136 remains in the developing chamber on the 9th day. 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 for the next frame, which is started when the shooting button is pressed at position (■) in Figure 16, and the solenoid 234 next to the film presser 411 is activated at position (■8) in Figure 16. After being demagnetized, after a predetermined period of time has elapsed, the drive of the film moving motor (C) is started and simultaneously stopped, thereby completing the developing/squeezing process.

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 movement motor (C) is stopped, the electrophotographic film 24 has been moved one frame 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 position (IIB) in FIG. 16, and at the same time, the air pump 181 shown in FIG. 12 is activated. Ru. When the air pump 181 operates, hot air heated by the heater 179 flows from the hot air outlet 176 of the drying section 68 to the drying chamber 174.
The developer 136 is blown out and dried. The operation of the air pump 181 is controlled by the frame charging/exposure process that is started when the shooting button is pressed at the (■) position in FIG. 234 is demagnetized and stopped at the same time,
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 18I is operated, the air pump 18I may be continuously operated from the start.

After the solenoid 234 of the film holding mechanism is demagnetized at the (OIA) position in Fig. 16, the film moving motor (C)
is driven, and the pieces located in the drying section 6B are moved to the fixing section 7.
Moved to 0. After the drive of the film moving motor (C) is stopped, the solenoid 234 of the film holding mechanism is energized at the ([[B) position shown in FIG.
The air pump 195 shown in FIG. 3 is operated to supply cold air to the space 190 of the fixing section 7o. This cold air passes through the upper part of the glass plate 186 from the space 190 to the fixing chamber 1.
Reach 811.

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, the frame located in the charging/exposure section 64 where the ti layer shadow button is pressed and photographing is started is placed in the developing section 66.
After moving one frame to , solenoid 2 of the film holding mechanism
After a predetermined period of time has elapsed since 34 was excited, the layer shape of the next frame becomes possible. 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 continuous shooting, and by continuing this, the processing progresses as shown in FIG. 16.

In addition, if the shooting button is not pressed within the above-mentioned 311 period, or if the end of the series of shooting is input from the control keyboard on the 2nd day, strong air will be blown by the air pump 144 for pressurizing squeeze. is stopped, and subsequent drying and fixing are also processed by the 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 38 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 holding plate 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.
4 is cooled so that it does not reach a high temperature, and defocusing due to thermal deformation is prevented.

In addition, in reader mode, the control keyboard 28
By operating the button, the electrophotographic film 24 can be continuously advanced 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.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, the process head for an electrophotographic device according to the present invention covers the side surface of the developing electrode facing the developer inlet into the developing chamber and the side surface facing the developer outlet with an insulator. This has an excellent effect of ensuring a flow path for the developing electrode even if a mounting error occurs in the developing electrode, and stably supplying the developer to the developing chamber.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is an external perspective view showing an embodiment of an electrophotographic device;
The figure is a perspective conceptual diagram showing the photographing optical system of an electrophotographic device.
FIG. 4 is a perspective conceptual diagram showing a projection optical system, FIG. 4 is a perspective conceptual diagram showing a copying optical system, and FIG. 5 is a process head according to an embodiment of the present invention installed in the electrophotographic apparatus shown in FIG. 1. Figure 6 is a front view, and Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view of the same.
Fig. 8 is a view taken along the line ■-■ of Fig. 6, Fig. 9 is a view taken along the IX-IX line of Fig. 6, and Fig. 10 is a view taken along the line IX-IX of Fig. 6. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the process head developing section and other equipment, FIG. 12 is a view taken along the xn-xi line in FIG. 6, and FIG. xm-xt in the diagram
14 is a schematic side view showing the positional relationship between the process head and the holding plate; FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing the film holding mechanism disposed in the process head;
The Δ diagram is an rl view of some parts in Figure 15 from the opposite side,
FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a time chart in the camera mode of the electrophotographic apparatus. A... (electrophotographic device), C... (optical system of electrophotographic device), E... (developing section), 66... developing section, 90... mask, 94A... thin wall Part, 94B...Thin part, 98...Development chamber.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A process head for an electrophotographic apparatus in which a developing chamber for supplying developer to electrophotographic film is provided, and a developing electrode for applying a bias voltage is arranged facing the developing chamber, the developing electrode 1. A process head for an electrophotographic apparatus, characterized in that a side surface facing a developer inlet into a developing chamber and a side surface facing a developer outlet are covered with an insulating material.