JPS63106687A - Cleaning cassette - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To clean recessed parts automatically simultaneously with the loading of a cassette by providing projections which project from detecting marks provided to a base film to specific length parts and have adhesive surface stop. CONSTITUTION:This cleaning cassette consists of a cassette case, a couple of reels 180 supported pivotally in the cassette case, the base film 223 provided by locking both ends to those reels 180, the detection parts 227 provided to the base film 223, and the projections which project from the detection marks 227 to the specific length part and have adhesive surface stop. This is loaded similarly to a normal cassette for sound recording, image recording, etc., and the detection marks 227 are detected to match the projecting parts with to the parts to be cleaned properly, so that unnecessary matter such as a caked developer in recesses is stuck and removed with adhesive strength.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a cleaning cassette used for cleaning the developing electrode of an electrophotographic apparatus.

(Prior Art) An electrophotographic apparatus is known that can record an image on a predetermined frame of an electrophotographic film and project or copy the recorded image. A cassette in which a tape-shaped electrophotographic film is housed in a roll state in a case is disclosed.The film in this cassette can be applied to document storage and inspection systems, and can be used to replace conventional silver salt photosensitive materials. It has a number of advantages that cannot be obtained using films.

A process head that charges and exposes the electrophotographic film in this cassette and also performs development processing, etc. was developed in JP-A-59-1.
00479, JP-A-59-162580, etc.

According to this, the electrophotographic film is sequentially moved to a charging/exposure section, a developing section, a drying section, and a fixing section provided in a process head, and an image is recorded thereon.

In the developing section, a clear image is obtained by sufficiently applying developer over the entire exposed area of the electrophotographic film and applying a bias voltage to the developing electrode.

However, in order to apply a bias voltage to the developing electrode in this manner, the developer is attracted to the developing electrode and becomes a cause of solidification after development. When this adhered and solidified developer gradually accumulates, it reduces the bias effect of the development i-pole,
Furthermore, it becomes a cause of obstructing the passage of the developer. In order to solve this problem, repair work is required to periodically remove the solidified developer from the developing electrode.

But development 1! The poles are recessed from the surface of the process head, making cleaning difficult.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

In consideration of the above-mentioned facts, the present invention aims to provide a cleaning cassette that can easily remove unnecessary substances attached to the recessed portions, such as developer attached to the development electrode.

[Means for solving problems]

The present invention includes a cassette case, a pair of reels that are pivotally supported in the cassette case, a base film that is locked at both ends to these reels, a detection mark provided on the base film, and a detection mark provided on the base film. It is characterized by having a protrusion that protrudes over a predetermined length and has an adhesive surface provided at the tip of the protrusion.

For this reason, the cleaning cassette 7 of the present invention can be loaded in the same way as ordinary cassettes for recording, image recording, etc.
If the cleaning tape is aligned with the area to be cleaned, the protrusions will correspond appropriately to the area to be cleaned by detecting the detection mark, and unnecessary materials such as solidified developer in the recesses can be removed by adhesion. can.

〔Example〕

(Place the electrophotographic ¥) FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of an electrophotographic apparatus to which the present invention is applicable. This electrophotographic device has a camera function that photographs a document and records the image on electrophotographic (micro) film, a league function that enlarges and projects the image recorded on the electrophotographic film onto a screen, and an electrophotographic film It also has a copy function that enlarges and copies images recorded on copy paper.

The electrophotographic apparatus is constructed by integrating an electrophotographic apparatus main body 510 and a copying apparatus 512 in which a housing 511 also serves as a stand for the electrophotographic apparatus main body 510. Note that if the 1m copying capability is not required, it is also possible to use only the electrophotographic device π body 51o alone. The housing 514 of the electrophotographic apparatus main body 510 includes a portion 514A located on the left side and having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape;
It is composed of a portion 514B located on the right side and having a stepped upper surface, and the internal spaces of the image portions 514A and 514B are communicated at the rear portion.

On the outside of the housing 514A, an i3-shaped screen 5 is provided on the outside of the housing 514A, which is slightly tilted backward and closes the front opening of the housing.
16 are disposed, and a document table 518 is disposed above. On the document table 518, there is a temporary document holder 52 that can be opened and closed.
A transparent glass plate is placed at the bottom of the housing, covering the upper opening of the housing. An electrophotographic (micro) film 2.22A (first
A cassette loading section 526 is formed near the upper center portion into which an image recording cassette (not shown) containing an image recording cassette (see Fig. D) or a cleaning cassette 525 containing a cleaning tape 222 (see Fig. 1A) is loaded. A control keyboard 528 is disposed at the upper front portion to perform various functions of the electrophotographic apparatus.

Further, the housing 511 of the copying device 512 is formed with an opening 532 through which copy paper for the copying method is discharged.

To record an image on the electrophotographic film 222A, an image recording cassette is loaded into the cassette filling section 526, and a desired frame of the electrophotographic film 222A is transferred to the process head 554 (see FIGS. 8 to 1θ) disposed in the housing 511. Charging, exposure, development, drying, and fixing are performed in sequence. The image to be recorded on the electrophotographic film 222A is transferred to the original platen 518.ii! ! The image of this document is exposed by a light source (not shown) through internal optical means onto the electrophotographic film 222A corresponding to the process head 554.

Furthermore, the image on the electrophotographic film 222A is projected onto a screen 516 by switching optical means, so that a hard copy can be obtained as required.

(Process head) As shown in FIGS. 8 to 1O, the process head 55
4, a predetermined frame of the electrophotographic film 222A is charged and exposed at a charging/exposure section 564, a developing section 566, a drying section 568, and a fixing section 570.
Image recording work is carried out in sequence.

In the developing section 566, a mask 590 is formed in a frame shape by an upper frame 590A, a left frame 590B, a right frame 590G, and a lower frame 590D, which stand up from the surface of a recess 592 formed in a front wall 574.

Inside the opening of the mask 590, as shown in FIG.
A developing electrode 59G is disposed supported by the rear wall 594 and connected to a bias power source.

The surface of the developing electrode 596 is located slightly inside (0.3 to 1.0 mm) from the end surface of the mask 590, and the developing electrode 596
96 and the inner wall of the mask 59G is the developing chamber 5.
It is said to be 98. The upper and lower portions of TJl and the image electrode 596 are opened to form a developer/squeeze air inlet 600 and a developer/squeeze air outlet 602, respectively.

The developer/squeeze air inlet 600 communicates with a passage 6°4 formed in the internal space of the process head 554. Air supply port 6
It is connected to 08. The developer supply port 606 is connected to a developer tank via a valve (not shown), and the squeeze air supply port 608 is connected to an air pump. Further, the developer/squeeze air outlet 602 is in communication with a passage 610 formed in the internal space of the process head 554 . 612 so that surplus developer can be transferred to the developer bottle.

(Film Holder n Structure) As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, a presser foot 698 is associated with the front wall 574 of the process head 554 and is used for holding the film.

A cylindrical portion 712 is formed protrudingly on the back surface of the presser plate 698 facing the process head 554, and the cylindrical portion 712 has a notch 7 formed at one end of the arm 714.
14A is engaged.

A boss portion 714B is formed at the other end of the arm 714. A shaft 716 is fixed to the boss portion 714B.

The shaft 716 is rotatably pushed through and supported by a stand 718 erected on the frame 560 to which the process head 554 is attached, and its lower end protrudes from the back surface of the frame 560. This protrusion is connected to the plunger 734A of the solenoid 734 via the second lever 726 of the second lever 72o1, and is adapted to press the presser plate 698 against the mask 590 of the process head 554 when the solenoid 734 is energized (11th lever 72o1). direction of arrow E).

Note that a blip sensor 696 is attached to the front wall 574 of the process head 554, and the electrophotographic film 2
Blip marks (not shown) provided for each piece of 22A are photoelectrically detected based on the difference in light reflectance, and each piece can be stopped at a predetermined position.

(Cleaning Cassette) FIGS. 1 to 6 show a cleaning cassette 525 for an electrophotographic apparatus used in an embodiment of the present invention, which accommodates a cleaning tape 222 for a process head developing section. This cassette 525 has the same shape as the image recording cassette for accommodating the image recording electrophotographic film 222A (see FIG. 1D) except for a part. Each component will be explained in detail below.

(Lower cassette case) As shown in Fig. 1, the lower cassette case 1° has a peripheral wall erected around a substantially U-shaped bottom plate 12 whose left and right ends protrude forward. A back wall 14 erected at the rear of the bottom plate 12, left and right side walls 16 and 18 erected at the left and right sides of the bottom plate 12, and walls 16 and 18 erected from the front of the bottom plate 12 to the left and right sides. The rear wall 14 of the apparatus, which is composed of the front wall 20, and the left and right side walls 16 and 18 are integrally formed in a U-shape and are located at the outermost periphery of the bottom plate 12.

Front wall 20A of the portion located inside the left side wall 16
extends to the rear in parallel with the left side wall 16, curves inward from the middle and continues to the rear wall 14. Right side wall 18
The portion of the front wall 20B located inside extends rearward in parallel with the right side wall 18 with a slight gap therebetween, and then curves outward and continues to the right side wall 18.

The lower cassette case 10 has partition walls, cylindrical or cylindrical projections, irregularities, etc. formed on the inner surface of the bottom plate 10 inside the peripheral wall. The lower cassette case 10 is constructed by integrally molding all of these components from synthetic resin.

Inside the lower cassette case IO are left and right reel housing chambers 30.32 in which a pair of reels are housed, and left and right guide roller housing chambers 34.3 in which a pair of guide rollers are housed.
6, a brake mechanism storage chamber 38 in which the brake mechanism of the reel is stored, a lock plate storage chamber 40 in which the lock plate for fixing the guard panel is stored, and an independent chamber 42 in which the claw member is arranged are separated by a partition wall. It is partitioned and formed.

The left and right reel storage chambers 30 and 32 are the lower cassette case 10.
They are located on the left and right sides of a central partition wall 44 that stands up from the bottom plate 12 at a position slightly to the right of the center in the left-right direction. The left and right reel storage chambers 30 and 32 have a bottom plate 12 at the center of each storage chamber.
Circular through holes 46,'46 are formed in the holes. Around the openings of these through holes 46, an annular convex portion having a rectangular cross section is formed on the inner surface of the bottom plate. A protrusion 50 having a rectangular cross section is formed in an annular shape concentrically with the annular protrusion 48 around the outer periphery of the annular protrusion 48 . The annular convex portion 48 and the annular convex portion 50 are slightly recessed from the surface of the bottom plate 12 to form an annular concave portion 51 . ' The left and right guide roller storage chambers 34 and 36 are adjacent to the left and right reel storage chambers 30 and 32, respectively, and the lower cassette case l.
It is located on the left and right protrusions on the front side of O. In the left and right guide roller storage chambers 34.3G, cylindrical projections 52.52 are formed to protrude from the bottom plate 12 at the center of each storage chamber to the height of the peripheral wall, and serve to support the tape guide reel 236.

Part of the partition wall 54.54 that partitions the left and right guide roller storage chambers 34.36 and the left and right reel storage chambers 30.32 is open, and the front wall 2G facing the left and right guide roller storage chambers 34.36 is partially open. Notches 58 and 58 are formed in a portion of the grooves 58 and 58, respectively, for passage of the cleaning tape 222.

Brake mechanism storage room 3rd day is left and right reel storage room 30.3
2, and is located at the center of the rear side of the lower cassette case IO. The brake mechanism housing chamber 38 is connected to the central partition wall 4.
It is further divided into three chambers by partition walls 60, 60 on two sides parallel to 4, respectively.The central chamber is a release piece storage chamber 62, and the left and right chambers are brake lever storage chambers 64.6.
It is 4.

The independent chamber 42 is located adjacent to the rear of the lock plate storage chamber 40, and its lower part is supported by the bottom plate 12. However, in the image recording cassette, a tab for preventing accidental erasure is formed on the bottom plate of the storage chamber 40, which can be cut by bending.

Cylindrical projections 98.98.
98 is formed to protrude to the height of the peripheral wall and is used for connection with the upper cassette case 104.

As shown in the upper left part of FIG. 3 and the left part of FIG. 4, a cylinder 103 whose upper end is closed is formed in a part of the bottom plate 12.
Its lower end is a cleaning cassette detection hole 103A open to the outside of the lower cassette case 10. This cleaning cassette detection hole 103A is not provided in an image recording cassette (this makes it possible to identify whether the cassette is a cleaning cassette or an image recording cassette when loading the cassette).

(Upper cassette case) As shown in FIG. 1, the upper cassette case 104 includes left and right end portions 106B of a rectangular main body portion 106A.

A peripheral wall is vertically installed around the top plate 106 in which 106C slightly protrudes forward. JIi1 has a shape that corresponds to and abuts on the main parts of the rear wall 14, left and right side walls 16, 18, front wall 20, etc., which are erected on the lower cassette case 10.

Further, on the inside of the upper cassette case 104, portions are formed that correspond to the respective chambers formed in the lower cassette case and close the respective chambers.

Further, a cylindrical projection (not shown) is formed to protrude from the top plate 10G to near the height of the peripheral wall, and the upper cassette case 10
4 is joined to the lower cassette case 10, the rollers are positioned directly above and in contact with the cylindrical protrusions 52 and 52 formed in the left and right guide roller housing chambers 34 and 36 of the lower cassette case 10, respectively. There is.

Like the lower cassette case 10, the upper cassette case 104 is entirely integrally molded from synthetic resin.

(Reel) As shown in FIGS. 1A and 2, the reel 180 has a flange 182 and a hub 184 integrally molded from synthetic resin. A large number of rectangular teeth 186 are formed at equal intervals on the outer peripheral surface of the flange 182.

An annular convex portion 194 having a rectangular cross section and concentric with the flange 182 is formed on the lower surface side of the flange 182 . The annular outer diameter of this annular convex portion 194 is set to a diameter that allows it to freely fit into a through hole 46, 46 formed in the lower cassette case 10. Further, a protrusion 196 having a rectangular cross section is formed in an annular shape concentric with the annular protrusion 194 on the outer peripheral surface of the annular protrusion 194 .

Clamp 204 as shown in FIGS. 1A and 2
is fitted into the hub 184 and the cleaning tape 222
The end of the reel 180 is locked to the reel 180.

(Tape) As shown in FIG. 1B, the cleaning team 1222 housed in the cassette case is
A cassette ejection mark 2 is placed at a predetermined distance from one end 223A.
25 are provided. Furthermore, a plurality of similar cassette ejection marks 225 are formed at regular intervals from this cassette ejection mark 225. On the other end 223B side of the base film of these cassette ejection marks 225, detection marks 227 are provided at regular intervals (dimension LA).

Six detection marks 227 are formed at regular intervals near the other end 223B of the cassette ejection mark 225.

Furthermore, each of these detection marks 227 has one end 22
An adhesive tape piece 229 is attached at a distance toward 3A, and adhesive is applied to the surface.

In this cassette, the adhesive tape piece 229 between the cassette ejection mark 225 and the next ejection mark 225 is used in one cleaning. A case will be described in which the aforementioned developing electrode 596 is vertically divided into three parts and six pieces of adhesive tape are set between the extraction marks 225 so that each divided part can be cleaned twice. The method is not limited to this method.

This loose leaning tape 222 is wound onto the glue 180 in the cleaning cassette 525 from the other end 223B side, and when in use, it is wound up toward the one end 223A side (in the direction of arrow FR in FIG. 1B).

In this embodiment, the base film 223 is made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and has a wall thickness of 50 μm.
m, and a silicone coating is applied to the back surface opposite to the surface to which the adhesive tape piece 229 is applied to prevent the adhesive tape piece 229 from adhering. The base film 223 has a color and a material that allows the detection light of the bump sensor 696 of the process head 554 to pass through.

On the other hand, the force set extraction mark 225 and the detection mark 227- are provided in a color that does not allow the detection light of the prep sensor 696 to pass through, and are provided at positions corresponding to the prep sensor 696.
As an example, it is formed by pasting a thin metal-deposited tape to the base film 223 over the entire width direction, but it is also possible to provide it by printing or the like.

In this embodiment, a tape having an opaque portion is used as the cassette ejection mark 225, but any tape that can be detected by a sensor may be used. The mark may also be used.

Further, the adhesive tape piece 229 has a protrusion shape that protrudes from the base film 223, and the protrusion height is the 12th
As shown in the figure, the step difference II between the mask 590 and the developing electrode 596 is 1.1 times or more. However, when cleaning this adhesive tape piece 229, the cleaning team 1222
If it is not held down by the cleaning tool 8, it will be in the state shown in FIG. 3 and will be under tension, so that it will not come into contact with the process head 554 even when the cleaning tool 1222 moves in the longitudinal direction.

Therefore, even though the developing electrode 596 is recessed from the surface of the mask 590, the adhesive tape piece 229
The surface of the developer 1 does not come into contact with the electrode 596 during running, and the pressing force of the holding plate 698 ensures that the developer 1 can come into contact with the developer electrode 596. Note that the holding plate 698 uses the electrophotographic film 22 instead of the cleaning tape 222.
2A is used, it is connected to the process head 55.
It has the role of pressing down to 4.

The length of this adhesive tape piece 229 in the longitudinal direction, that is, the length in the width direction of the cleaning tape 222 is larger than the vertical height of the developing electrode 596 shown in No. It is designed to come in contact with the wand. However, the longitudinal end of this adhesive tape piece 229 is apart from the widthwise end of the base film 223, and the blip sensor 696 detects the adhesive tape piece 229.
9 is not detected.

The adhesive tape piece 229 in this embodiment is a double-sided adhesive tape cut into thin strips, and the adhesive strength of this double-sided adhesive tape to the base film 223 is greater than the adhesive strength to the opposite surface, that is, the adhesive surface to the developing electrode 596. Even when pressed against the developing electrode 59G,
The adhesive tape piece 229 is prevented from falling off the base film 223 due to adhesion to the developing electrode 596.

Further, it is preferable that the adhesive tape piece 229 has elasticity in the thickness direction, so that even if the developer solidifies onto the developing electrode 596 with an uneven thickness, it can absorb the difference in height and the developing electrode It is preferable to use a rubber sheet or foamed rubber that can be deformed by 5% or more under a force of 2 kg/ci so as to be able to adhere to the entire surface of the developer of uneven height attached to the surface of the 59G. In this example, 0.6mm thick foamed urethane sheet (1.4k
deformation of about 20% at t/d) was used. Further, as a matter of course, the adhesive used is a material that does not adversely affect the electrophotographic film 222A.

As shown in FIG. 1B, 6 is arranged in series on the downstream side of the cassette ejection mark 225 (on the opposite side in the force direction of arrow FR).
The adhesive tape pieces 229 are spaced apart from the detection mark 227 at a predetermined distance from the detection mark 227 disposed on the downstream side.

These six pieces of adhesive tape 229 are counted from each cassette ejection mark 225, and the first piece of adhesive tape 229 has a dimension LB from the detection mark 227, and the second piece of adhesive tape 22
9 is a dimension LC from the detection mark 227, and the third adhesive tape piece 229 is a dimension LD from the detection mark 227. Also, the 4th, 5th and 6th pieces of adhesive tape 2
29 are arranged apart from the detection mark 227 by the same dimension as the first, second and third adhesive tape pieces 229, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 12, each width W of the adhesive tape piece 229 is one-third or more of the horizontal width R of the developing electrode 596. That is, the adhesive tape piece 229 shown in FIG. side (the end in the direction of the arrow FR force has reached the outside of the end of the developing electrode 596 (rightward in FIG. 12), and in this state, the presser plate 6
When the pressure of 98 is released and the cleaning tape piece 222 moves until the second detection mark 227 is detected by the blip sensor 696, the adhesive tape piece 229 that is separated by the dimension LC from the second detection mark 227 is connected to the developing electrode. 5
When the third detection mark 227 is detected by the blip sensor 696, the third adhesive tape piece 229 is located at the position W3 corresponding to the left end of the developing electrode 596. position), and the stopping positions of these adhesive tape pieces 229 are such that their horizontal ends overlap each other.

Therefore, when three pieces of adhesive tape 229 are sequentially brought into contact with the surface of the developing electrode 596 from the upstream side, the adhesive tape pieces 229 remove the developer from all sides of the surface of the developing electrode 596. It has become. In other words, the length of the overlapped portion of the three-day adhesive tape piece 229 when removing the solidified developer is the dimension LB and L in FIG. 1B.
C and the difference between LC and LD.

Cassette ejection marks 2, 4th and 5 from 25 in Figure 1A
The 6th and 6th adhesive tape pieces 229 stop at the same locations as the 1st, 2nd and 3rd adhesive tape pieces 229 to attach and take out the solidified developer, that is, the developing electrode 59
The adhesive tape piece 229 is adhered twice to the same location on the surface of 6 and taken out, thereby ensuring reliable removal of the solidified developer.

Note that the intervals between the adhesive tape pieces 229 and the detection marks 227 are all set to be the same, and the control unit is used to control the prep sensor 6.
After detecting the detection mark 227 at 96, each adhesive tape piece 2
By changing the time during which the adhesive tape 229 is stopped, the contact position of each adhesive tape piece 229 to the developing electrode 596 is changed, and the cleaning tape 22 is substantially as shown in FIG. 1B.
The same effect as 2 can also be achieved.

FIG. 1D shows an electrophotographic film 222A for recording images. This electrophotographic film 222A is used in the cleaning cassette 5 instead of the cleaning tape 222.
The film is wound onto a reel 180 in 25 and used for image recording.

This electrophotographic film 222A includes a sensitive material tape 224, a magnetic tape 226 which is a memory tape, and a leader tape 2.
28 are spliced together with splicing tape 230. Furthermore, a conductive adhesive tape 232 is attached to the end of the material tape 224 on the side opposite to the joint.

The sensitive material tape 224 is a tape-shaped electrophotographic film, which has an electrosensitive layer made of aluminum or the like on an insulating support such as transparent polyester, and a photosensitive #J! , and the marginal layer sequentially! It is composed of one layer. The conductive adhesive tape 232 is a metallic 'R
An adhesive layer containing conductive particles such as carbon dispersed therein is provided on the E-tape.

When attaching the conductive adhesive tape 232 to the sensitive material tape 224, the light i? ! Part of the electrically insulating layer is peeled off, and a electrically conductive adhesive tape 232 is attached to the exposed electrically sensitive layer.

(Assembling the cleaning cassette 525) The lower cassette case 10 and the upper cassette case 104 are joined together, and the reel 1 is connected between the annular protrusions 48 and 50 of the lower cassette case 10.
A clamp 20 is attached to a pair of reels 180, each of which has a reel 180 installed therein so as to correspond to the annular convex portion 196 of 80.
4, both ends of the cleaning team 1222 are attached to the reel 1 with the other end 223B attached.
80, wind up the maximum amount of cleaning tape 222. At this point t[, the cleaning tape 222 is wound around the guide rollers 236 as shown in FIG. 3, and is linearly arranged between the guide rollers 236 and exposed from the cleaning cassette 525. In this state, the brake levers 262 and 274 are engaged with the teeth 186 of the reel 180, so the reel 180 is not rotated and the cleaning tape 222 is not inadvertently bent. Since the exposed part is covered by the guard panel 322, the adhesive tape piece 2
29 will not be inadvertently bonded to unnecessary parts.

(Brake lever) Is the brake lever 262 housed in a brake lever? i64
A reel engaging piece 266 and a release piece engaging piece 268 are integrally molded from synthetic resin, and the tip of the release piece engaging piece 268 is disposed in the brake mechanism housing chamber 38 .

The brake lever 274 has a symmetrical shape and arrangement to the brake lever 262.

Brake lever 262.274 has torsion coil spring 2
76.276 is attached, and the reel engaging piece 266.2
66 enters the left and right reel housing chambers 30.32 and engages with teeth 186 formed around the outer periphery of the flanges 182 of the reels 18G, 180.

The release piece 278, which is a brake release member, is housed in the release piece storage chamber 62, and receives an external operating force to move the brake lever 262, 274 to the reel 18.
It is set away from 0.

(Lock Plate) As shown in FIG. 1, a lock plate 292, which is a locking means for the guard panel, is pivotally supported in the six-plate storage chamber 40, and a guard panel locking piece 296 is extended from one side, and the lock plate 292 is a locking means for the guard panel. The spring pieces 298 are extended and are integrally molded from synthetic resin.

As shown in FIG. 3, the tip of the temporary spring piece 29 of the lock plate 292 comes into elastic pressure contact with the inner wall of the left side wall 16, and the guard panel locking piece 296 is given a clockwise rotational force. The tip thereof protrudes and corresponds to the guard panel 322.

(Reel pressing spring) As shown in Figure 1A, the reel pressing spring 304.31
G consists of a single flat metal plate that has been bent and sheared, and is attached to the upper cassette case lO4.
The reel 180 is pressed against the lower cassette case 10.

These reel pressing springs 304 and 310 are used as conductive materials for grounding when the image recording film 232A is stored in the cleaning cassette 525.

(Guard Panel) As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the guard panel 322, which is the lid of the cassette case main body 320,
4, left and right side walls 326, 328, and a top wall 330, and is pivotally supported on the cassette case body 320,
It is biased and rotated in a direction to cover the cleaning tape 222 exposed on the front surface of the cassette case body 320. This state is locked by a lock plate 292.

(Apparatus in which a cassette is loaded) FIG. 6 schematically shows a cassette holder 34B of an apparatus in which a cassette of this embodiment is loaded.

The cassette holder 348 is supported by a link-type elevating mechanism 350 and can be raised upwards of the apparatus.

The cassette holder 348 is located on the cassette insertion side (arrow A in the figure).
Two contact springs 352 and 354 are arranged parallel to the cassette insertion direction and extend downward toward the rear from ), which indicates the cassette insertion direction. These contact springs 35
2.354 applies electricity to the electrophotographic film via the reel presser spring 31G1 contact piece metal fitting 212 when the electrophotographic film 222 is stored in the cassette instead of the cleaning tape.

A pressing block 356 is arranged in an opening formed on one side of the cassette holder 348.

The suppression block 356 is fixed to one end of the leaf spring 358, and its tip protrudes from the opening, and presses the lock plate 292 protruding from the cassette, thereby closing the guard panel 3
22 will be opened.

In addition, a detection pin 382 dedicated to cleaning cassettes is lifted up from the bottom of the cassette holder 348 by force, and the cassette detection hole 382 is formed in the bottom plate 12 of the cleaning cassette 525 loaded into the cassette holder 348. When inserted into the cassette 103A, a limit switch 384 that detects the movement of this pin 382 makes it possible to identify whether the loaded cassette is a cleaning cassette or an image recording cassette.

The image recording cassette and the loading device include a cassette loading detection means (not shown) that detects whether the cassette is loaded or not, and a cassette loading detection means (not shown) that erases the contents stored in the cassette memory. An accidental erasure prevention mechanism (not shown) is provided that makes it impossible to rewrite the memory by removing the section.If this detection means and mechanism is used, the detection pin 382 dedicated to the cleaning cassette can be used. Even if the cleaning cassette is not used, the presence or absence of the cleaning cassette can be detected.

In other words, it is only necessary to configure the cleaning cassette so that only the image recording cassette's accidental erasure prevention mechanism is activated.If this is done, when neither the cassette loading detection means nor the accidental erasure prevention mechanism is activated, the image recording cassette's accidental erasure prevention mechanism is activated. Indicates that neither the cassette nor the cleaning cassette is loaded, and when the cassette loading detection means is activated and the accidental erasure prevention mechanism is not activated, it indicates that a memory-rewritable image recording cassette is loaded, and both are activated. When the cassette is loaded, it indicates that an image recording cassette whose memory cannot be rewritten is loaded, and the cassette loading detection means does not operate.
It can be determined that the cleaning cassette is loaded when the accidental erasure prevention mechanism is activated.

In this way, since the cleaning cassette can be determined as the image recording cassette, the control of the operation timing of the presser foot 698, the motor 394, etc. can be changed based on this.

When the cassette holder 348 is in the loaded state, as shown in FIG.
Drive shafts 390 and 392 are respectively fitted into the 0 and rotated by the driving force of a motor 394. The driving force of the motor 394 is the clutch 395 and the gear 396.3.
97 to one or both reels 180 as forward rotation or reverse rotation. The driving force of this motor 394 has the role of applying tension to the cleaning team 1222 and separating the adhesive tape piece 229 from the developing electrode 596, but of course, when the electrophotographic film 222A is used instead of the cleaning tape 222, It has the role of a driving part that drives this in the longitudinal direction.

(Operation of the Embodiment) When using this cleaning cassette 525, it is loaded into the cassette holder 348 shown in FIG. 6. This cassette holder 34B is sent upward by the elevating mechanism 350 when an eject button (not shown) is operated.

When the cleaning cassette 525 is inserted by the maximum amount in the direction of arrow A, the pier 382 enters the cassette detection hole 103A formed on the bottom surface of the cleaning cassette 525, so the limit switch 384 detects that the inserted cassette is the cleaning cassette 525. It detects this and starts cleaning the developing section. One side force set holder 3
48. Since the cassette into which the image recording tape is inserted does not have the cassette detection hole 103A, the cassette holder 348 can detect the inserted cassette as an image recording cassette and perform image recording and playback operations. possible.

Furthermore, since the bottom surface of the independent chamber 42 formed in the lower cassette case 10 of the cleaning cassette 525 is closed, this also ensures that the cleaning cassette 525 is detected. That is, a cassette containing an image recording tape may have a claw for preventing accidental erasure that has been bent and removed, and in this case, it can be immediately detected that the cassette is an image recording cassette.

Also, the maximum amount of cleaning cassettes 525 has been inserted.
In JLl, the suppression block 356 is the lock plate 292
Drive the guard panel locking piece 296 to the temporary spring piece 298
It is rotated against the biasing force. This unlocks the guard panel 322.

When the insertion of the cleaning cassette 525 into the cassette holder 348 is completed, the cassette holder 348 is pressed by an operator or automatically pushed into a predetermined position within the apparatus. In this case, the guard panel 322 is opened by a lid opening mechanism provided on a part of the cassette holder 348, and the straight portion of the cleaning chip 1222 is exposed.

In this state, the cleaning chip 1222 and the adhesive tape piece 229 exposed between the guide rollers 236 do not hit the process head 554.

Further, during the pushing operation of the cassette holder 348, near the pushing end, a brake release pin (not shown) enters into the bottom plate 12, and the brake levers 262 and 274 are rotated via the release piece 278, causing the teeth 180 of the reel 180 to rotate.
move away from Therefore, the brake of the reel 180 is released and the reel 180 becomes freely rotatable.

At the push-in end of cassette holder 348, reel 180 is mounted and engaged with drive shaft 390, 392, as shown in FIG.

When the driving force of the motor 394 is transmitted to one reel 180 via the clutch 395, the cleaning tape 22
2 is arrow Fl? move in the direction. Here, the first detection mark 227 next to the first cassette ejection mark 225
When detected by the blip sensor 696, the driving of the motor 394 is stopped.

In this state, as shown in FIG.
9 corresponds to one end of the developing electrode 596 in the horizontal direction;
It is lower than the state shown in Figure 12, and is it being developed? ! pole 2
It is not connected to 96.

At the same time, the solenoid 734 shown in FIG. 11 is driven, and the presser foot 698 presses the cleaning tape 222 against the process head 554. Therefore, the adhesive surface at the tip of the adhesive tape piece 229 is pressed onto the surface of the developing electrode 596.

Next, the cleaning tape 222 is again moved in the direction of the arrow FR by the driving force of the motor 394, but at this time, the suppression of the cleaning tape 222 by the holding plate 698 is released, and at the same time, the driving force of the motor 394 is transferred to the other direction. The cleaning tape 222 is also temporarily wound around both ends to apply tension. As a result, the adhesive tape piece 229 is separated from the surface of the developing electrode 596 in a strong manner ν1, and the adhesive surface of the adhesive tape piece 229 is attached to the developing electrode 596 by repeating the image recording operation.
This means that the developer that has adhered and hardened to the surface is removed by adhesion.

Since the cleaning efficiency of the developing electrode 296 increases when the developing electrode 296 is dry, dry air is supplied to the developing electrode 296 before or during the driving of the cleaning tape 222.
It is more effective when applied to

Further, as a method for applying tension to the cleaning tape 222, a method may be used in which one reel 180 is braked and the other reel 180 is driven in the winding direction. In this case, the brake is temporarily applied to one reel 180. This prevents the cleaning tape from moving more than necessary.

When the cleaning tape 222 is further moved and the second detection mark 227 is detected by the blip sensor 696, the drive of the motor 394 is stopped and the second adhesive tape piece 229 is moved to the position W2 in FIG. , pressed temporary 6
It is adhered to the horizontal center of the developing electrode 596 by the pressing force of 98.

Similarly to the above, by releasing the pressing force from the presser plate 698 and applying tension to the cleaning tape 222, the adhesive tape piece 229 will be forcibly attached to the developing electrode 596.
The solidified developer on the surface of the developing electrode 596 is removed by adhesion.

Further, the cleaning tape 222 is moved in the direction of arrow FR, and the third detection mark 227 is located on the blip sensor 69.
Corresponding to G, the third adhesive tape piece 229 is the 11th adhesive tape piece 229.
It corresponds to the position W3 in the figure, that is, reaches the other end of the developing electrode 596 in the horizontal direction. Here, when the adhesive tape piece 229 is similarly pressed and released after being pressed by the FA image electrode 59G, the above-mentioned Miro pressing action causes development? ! tll
The adhesive removal of the developer over the entire surface of i+596 is performed.

Further, the fourth to sixth adhesive tape pieces 229 are similarly pressed against the development ffi pole 596 at sequentially shifted positions, thereby removing the solidified developer eleven times.

After the sixth adhesive tape piece 229 is forcibly removed, the second cassette ejection mark 225 corresponds to the blip sensor 696, and the motor 394 is stopped. At this point, the control device automatically opens the cassette holder 34B to notify that the cleaning work has been completed.

Therefore, this cleaning cassette 525 is taken out,
This time, the image recording cassette is inserted into the cassette holder 348, and the image recording operation is performed again. In this case, since the developing electrode 596 is already in a clean state, there is no problem in the developing operation.

After the image recording operation has been performed for a predetermined time and a predetermined number of times, or periodically, the cleaning cassette 525 is loaded into the cassette holder 348 and the cleaning operation of the developing electrode 596 is performed again.

In this way, each piece of adhesive tape 229 is pressed individually, resulting in cleaning over a wide area.
When a piece of adhesive tape is detached from a developing electrode, the motor load for applying tension is small.Although the motor that drives the image recording cassette of an electrophotographic device does not have a large driving force, it can be applied sufficiently. .

Although the above embodiment shows a structure in which the present invention is used to restore a developing process head for electrophotographic film, the present invention can be widely applied to cleaning areas with recesses such as the developing area. It is possible.

In the above embodiments, the adhesive tape was separated entirely in the direction of the FR force, but it is more effective to remove the edges of the developing electrode, that is, the corners of the bottom surface and the rising portions from the bottom surface.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, the present invention includes a cassette case, a pair of reels pivotally supported within the cassette case, a base film whose both ends are locked to these reels, a detection mark provided on the base film, It has a protrusion that protrudes a predetermined length from the detection mark and has an adhesive surface at the tip of the protrusion, so it is an excellent device that can automatically clean the recessed area by loading the cassette. have an effect.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1A is an exploded perspective view of a cleaning cassette to which the present invention is applied, a front view with the middle part of the leaning tape omitted from FIG. 1B j, and FIG.
! i! Fig. 1D is a front view showing an electrophotographic film used in place of the cleaning tape, Fig. 2A is an exploded perspective view showing the reel, Fig. 2B is a perspective view of the reel seen from below, and Fig. 3 The figure is a plan view showing the state in which each part is assembled into the lower cassette case, and Figure 4 is the TV shown in Figure 3.
5 is an exploded perspective view showing the relationship between the cassette and the guard panel; FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the cassette holder in an open state; FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the main body of the electrophotographic apparatus; FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the process head, FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view showing the developing section of the process head, FIG. 10 is a horizontal sectional view showing the developing section of the process head, and FIG. 11 is a holding plate and related parts. FIG. 12 is an enlarged horizontal cross-sectional view (the holding plate is not shown) showing a state in which the adhesive tape is in contact with the developing electrode. 10... Lower cassette case 104... Upper cassette case 1 80... Reel 222
A...Electrophotographic film 223...Base film 225...Cassette ejection mark 227...Detection mark 229...Adhesive tape piece

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A cassette case, a pair of reels that are pivotally supported in the cassette case, a base film that is locked at both ends to these reels, a detection mark provided on the base film, and a predetermined detection mark from the detection mark. A cleaning cassette comprising: a protrusion that protrudes from the portion of the cleaning cassette, and an adhesive surface is provided at the tip of the protrusion.