JPS63144368A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a printer which is small in size, light in weight and low in cost capable of printing in color, etc. by using plural colors by forming a developing device so that toners different in color can be supplied independently, respectively. CONSTITUTION:Each developing device 28C, 28M, 28Y and 28B supplies independently toners of the respective colors of cyan C, magenta M, yellow Y and black B to an electrostatic latent image on an OPC belt 21. An optical write head 27 forms an electrostatic latent image for cyan C on the OPC belt 21, first, and a toner image for cyan C is formed by the developing device 28c. When a tip part of one line portion passes through a driven roller 23 part and reaches a one line portion transfer position 38 of a transfer part, the belt 21 stops, and the toner image is transferred onto a form 2 by a transfer device 32. Thereafter, with regard to colors after magenta M, as well, the printing operation is executed in the same way.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a printer for forming characters, codes, figures, etc. on paper, and particularly to a printer that is small and capable of printing in color.

(Prior Art) As conventional printers of this type, page printers, typified by laser printers, have come into widespread use.

As shown in FIG. 7, this page printer uses a hopping roller 3 to take out paper 2 of a fixed size, such as 85-size or A4-size paper, stored in a paper supply cassette 1 one by one, and transfers it to a paper transport path. While the paper 2 is being fed along the paper 2, characters and the like are formed on the paper 2 according to the printing pattern by a mechanical part including the photosensitive drum 5 and the like. That is, first, the photosensitive drum 5 having an axial length larger than the maximum width of the paper 2 is rotated in the direction of the arrow in the figure, and the photosensitive drum 5 is uniformly charged by the charger 6 disposed around the photosensitive drum 5. . Next, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the print pattern is written on the photosensitive drum 5 by the optical writing unit 7, and then toner is selectively applied to the electrostatic latent image portion written on the photosensitive drum 5 by the developer 8. iM? to form a toner image. When this toner image reaches the transfer device 9 as the photosensitive drum 5 rotates, the toner image on the photosensitive drum 5 is transferred onto the paper 2 by the electrostatic suction force of the transfer device 9.

After that, the paper 2 is peeled off from the photosensitive drum 5 and the fixing device 1
0, the toner image is fixed on the paper 2 using heat or pressure in the fixing device 10, and then the paper 2 is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 11.

On the other hand, after the photosensitive drum 5 has passed through the transfer device 9 portion, residual charges on the photosensitive drum 5 are eliminated by a static eliminator 12, and then residual toner adhering to the photosensitive drum 5 is cleaned by a cleaner 13.

Further, FIG. 8 shows a page printer that prints on paper 2 in color. The same parts as in FIG. 7 are given the same reference numerals.

In this color page printer, the developing devices provided around the photosensitive drum 5 include a developing device 8C that supplies cyan toner and a developing device 8C that supplies magenta toner.
A container 8M and a phenomenon device 8Y for supplying yellow toner are provided independently. Further, a transfer drum 14 capable of wrapping and separating the paper 2 in order to transfer toner images of each color onto the paper 2 is provided, and a transfer device 9 is provided within the transfer drum 14.

Color printing by this color page printer is performed as follows. First, a latent image for yellow is formed on the photosensitive drum 5 by the optical writing unit 7 according to the printing pattern, and a developing device 8Y is applied to this latent image for yellow.
Yellow toner is supplied and a yellow toner image is formed. The yellow toner image on the photosensitive drum 5 is taken out from the paper supply cassette 1 and transferred onto the paper 2 wound around the transfer drum 14 by a transfer device 9.
It is transferred by The paper 2 to which the yellow toner image has been transferred is rotated together with the transfer drum 14 while being wound around the transfer drum 14. On the other hand, transfer device 9
After passing through the photosensitive drum 5, a snow remover 12 removes the residual charge, and a cleaner 13 removes the remaining yellow toner. And charger 6
Then, a magenta latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 5 in the optical writing unit 7, and a magenta toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 5 by the developing device 8M. Then, this magenta toner image is transferred to an appropriate position on the paper 2 wrapped around the transfer drum 14 by the transfer device 9. This series of operations is also performed on the cyan toner image, and printing in a predetermined color is performed by mixing yellow, magenta, and cyan. Then, the paper 2 on which the cyan toner image has been transferred is separated from the transfer drum 14, undergoes color image fixation in the fixing device 10, and is ejected to the paper ejection tray 11.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

However, in conventional page printers, the length of the photosensitive drum 5 in the axial direction is larger than the width of the paper 2. m including me L 2y door, current iW8.8G, BM, 8Y, transfer device 9, static eliminator 1
2. The axial length of the cleaner 13, transfer drum 14, etc. needs to be approximately the same length as the photosensitive drum 5, resulting in a large page printer as a whole and high manufacturing costs.

Therefore, in place of the photosensitive drum 5 having an axial length longer than the width of the paper 2, the applicant of the present application has developed an endless belt-shaped latent image (f7 supporter) that runs in the width direction of the paper 2. We have already proposed a printer that is compact in size, has low manufacturing costs, and is capable of high-quality printing.

The present invention has been made in view of these points, and is capable of performing color printing using a plurality of colors in a printer using the endless belt-like latent image carrier described above, and is small and compact. The aim is to provide a printer that is top-notch and inexpensive.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The printer of the present invention includes a latent image carrier and a developing device that applies toner to the latent image formed on the latent image carrier to form a toner image. The developing device is characterized in that the developing device is formed so that toner of different colors can be supplied independently.

(Function) In the printer of the present invention, first, a latent image corresponding to the first color is formed on the latent image carrier in the traveling direction of the latent image carrier according to the print pattern. Then, toner is applied to the latent image thus formed by a developing device corresponding to the first color, forming a clear toner image. After this toner image is transported together with the latent image carrier to a position facing the paper, the toner image is transferred to the paper all at once. Thereafter, only the latent image bearing member is moved while the paper remains stopped at that position, and the residual toner is removed. after that,
The printing operation for the second and subsequent colors is performed in the same manner as for the first color, and the final color toner image is transferred to the paper, thereby mixing each color and performing color printing, etc. . After this final transfer is completed, the paper is fed by one line corresponding to the width of the latent image carrier, and the printing operation for a new line is repeated in the same manner as described above. By repeating this operation, the entire paper is printed.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6.

1 to 3 show one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows the entirety of this embodiment. The printer of this embodiment uses an optical writing method.

As shown in FIG. 1, the printer of this embodiment is formed by disposing each component in an electrophotographic process unit cartridge 20 made of synthetic resin or the like. That is, in the electrophotographic process unit cartridge 20, a latent image 10 made of an endless OPC belt 21 is formed.
The roller is wound between the drive roller 22 and the driven roller 23, and is moved in the width direction of the paper 2 (orthogonal to the transport direction of the paper 2) by the driving force of the drive roller 522 in the direction of the arrow △ in the figure. It is possible to drive along it. And drive roller 2
A transfer section is provided between the transfer roller 2 and the driven roller 23, and the paper 2 can be moved through the transfer section through an elongated slit 24 and through the electronic process unit cartridge 20. Furthermore, each component of the printing process will be explained. In this embodiment, toner is attached to the outer surface of the OPC belt 21 and a toner image is transferred to the paper 2. At the left end in FIG. A charger 26 is provided to charge the battery 21 uniformly.

On the downstream side of the charger 26 in the direction in which the OPC belt 21 travels, an optical writing head 27 is provided, which is an LED head having a plurality of light emitting sections arranged in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the OPC belt 21 travels.

The optical writing head 27 forms an island latent image on the OPC belt 21 corresponding to each color of the print pattern. Moreover, the OP between the optical writing head 27 and the driven roller 23 is
At positions on the Leahy side of the C belt 21, there are developing units 28C, 128M, 28Y, and 28B that independently supply toners of cyan C, magenta, M1, yellow, Y, and black B to the electrostatic latent image on the oPC belt 21. ○PC belt 2
1 are arranged in parallel in the direction of travel. Each of these developing devices 28
There are grooves on the top of C, 28M, 28Y, and 28B.
Stir 7! Toner cabins 29C, 29M, and 29Y have J30 in the center.

29B is 3! I! Furthermore, a toner cartridge 31C for supplying each toner is provided at the upper end opening of each toner cabin 29C, 29-1, 29Y, and 29B.
, 31M, 31Y, and 31B are detachable. In this embodiment, when the toner image formed on the OPC belt 21 passes through the driven roller 23 and reaches the upper position of the paper 2, the toner image is transferred onto the paper 2. A transfer device 32 is stretched over the entire width of the paper 2 at the position. Then, from this transfer device 35,
On the downstream side in the traveling direction of the PC belt 21, there is an OPC belt 2.
A snow remover 33 such as an EL device is provided to remove static electricity from the residual XPX load. And, there is a zero on the downstream side of this static eliminator 33.
)) A cleaner 34 is provided to remove toner remaining on the C belt 21F. This cleaner 3
4, a sponge roll 34a that removes toner from the OPC belt 21; a magnet roll 34b that removes toner from this sponge roll 34a by magnetic attraction;
It is formed by a blade 34C that scrapes the toner from the magnet roll 34b into the toner discharge section 35. . Further, the electrophotographic process unit cartridge 20 has male connecting members 36, 36 formed at both left and right ends, and female connecting members 37, 37 formed at the upper end of the printer body.
It can be detachably connected to.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained.

In the printer of this embodiment, one line corresponding to the width of the OPC belt 21 is printed in color on the paper 2,
Thereafter, the paper 2 is fed by one line, and one new line is printed on the paper 2.

That is, the drive roller 22 is rotated by the print start command, and the OPC belt 21 is rotated in the direction of the arrow in FIG. Then, the OPC belt 21 is charged by the charger 26, and the optical writing head 27 first forms an electrostatic latent image for cyan C on the OPC belt 21 according to the print pattern. The formation of the electrostatic latent image for cyan C by the last month head 27 is continuously performed for each print unit of one line of the PC belt 21. Thereafter, cyan C toner is attached to the electrostatic latent image on the OPC belt 21 by a cyan C developing device 28C to form a toner image. In this case, the other developing devices 28M, 28Y, and 28B are stopped, and only the cyan C toner is deposited on the OPC belt 21. The cyan C toner image formed on the OPC belt 21 in this manner is further advanced, and the leading edge of one line passes through the driven roller 23 portion and reaches the one line transfer position 38 of the transfer section; Then OP
C-belt 21 is stopped.

Then, the cyan C toner image is electrostatically transferred onto the paper 2 by the transfer device 32 . Thereafter, only the OPC belt 21 is transported while the paper 2 is kept stopped at that position, residual charges are removed from the OPC belt 21 by a static eliminator 33, and residual toner for cyan C is further removed by a cleaner 34.

Thereafter, printing operations are performed for colors after magenta M in the same manner as in the case of cyan C. Then, by transferring the toner acid for the final color, black B, onto the paper, each color is mixed and color printing is performed.

To further explain this, OPC from which residual toner has been removed
The belt 21 is charged again by the charger 26, and then an electrostatic latent image for magenta M is formed by the optical writing head 27. Then, as the OPC belt 21 advances, the electrostatic latent image for magenta M is added to the electrostatic latent image for magenta
r:i28 Magenta M toner is supplied from M, and a magenta M toner image is formed. Next, OP
The C belt 21 advances by one line to a transfer position 38 and stops, and a magenta M toner image is transferred onto the paper 2 by a transfer device 32. Thereafter, only the OPC belt 21 is advanced while the paper 2 is stopped, and toner acids for the next yellow Y and black B are continuously formed. Then, when the transfer of the final black B toner image is completed, printing consisting of a mixture of four colors is performed in this embodiment.

The transfer of this final black B toner image has been completed +
At step a, the paper 2 is fed to the OPC bell 1 by one line corresponding to the width of 21, and the printing operation for a new line is repeated in the same manner as described above. By repeating this IJJ process, the entire paper 2 is printed.

Then, the OPC belt 21 at the portion where the transfer is completed at the same time as the paper feed of the paper 2 has the residual charge removed while passing through the static eliminator 33 portion, and the residual adhering toner while passing through the cleaner 34 portion. It is removed and used for printing in the next cycle.

Further, the toner image transferred onto the paper 2 is fixed on the paper 2 while passing through a fixing device 2S (not shown) as the paper 2 advances.

The above embodiment uses an optical writing method, and a block diagram of this is shown in FIG. 4.

Further, in the present invention, printing can also be performed using the electrostatic method shown in FIG. 5 and the magnetic method shown in FIG. 6.

To explain further, in the electrostatic method shown in FIG. 5, an endless electrostatic belt is used as a latent image carrier, a latent image is electrostatically written by a multi-needle electrode head, and a latent image is written by a plurality of developing devices. The image is formed into a toner image, and a transfer device transfers the toner image onto paper. Thereafter, the toner adhering to the electrostatic belt that has been transferred is removed by a cleaner, and the electrostatic belt is set to have no potential by a static eliminator to be used for the next printing cycle.

In addition, in the magnetic method shown in FIG. 6, an endless magnetic belt is used as a latent image carrier, a latent image is written magnetically by a magnetic head, and then the latent image is formed into a toner image by a plurality of developing devices. Then, a transfer device transfers the toner image onto paper. Thereafter, the toner adhering to the magnetic belt after the transfer is removed by a cleaner, and the magnetic belt is demagnetized by a demagnetizer to be used for the next printing cycle.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and can be variously modified as necessary.

〔Effect of the invention〕

Since the printer of the present invention is configured and operates in this manner, it is possible to perform color printing using a plurality of colors in a printer using a latent image carrier, and it is small and lightweight and cost-effective. 〜 also has the effect of becoming a low part.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 3 show an embodiment of the printer of the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is a front sectional view, FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line TI-TI in FIG. 1, and FIG. 1, FIGS. 4 to 6 are block diagrams schematically showing embodiments of the present invention, and FIGS. 7 and 8 are cross-sectional views of a conventional page printer. It is a cross-sectional side view of a fir tree showing an outline. 21... oPC belt, 22... drive roller, 27
...Optical writing head, 28G, 28M, 28Y. 28B...Developer, 290.29M, 29Y, 29B
... Toner cabin, 31C, 31M, 31Y. 31B...Toner cartridge. Applicant's agent Shun Nakao Shaft cylinder Figures 7 and 8

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1) A printer including a latent image carrier and a developing device that forms a toner image by attaching toner to the latent image formed on the latent image carrier, wherein the developing device is configured to have different colors. A printer characterized in that the printer is configured to be able to supply each of the toners independently. 2) The printer according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of developing devices each supplying toner of a different color are arranged in parallel in the direction of movement of the latent image carrier.