JPS63206786A - Process head for electrophotographic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent stripping of a part of an excess developer and the consequent hindrance of the flow of the developer by providing a welding means for welding the excess developer on the surface of a developing electrode to the electrode upon ending of development. CONSTITUTION:A heater 93 as the welding means is provided internally to the developing electrode 96 by insulating the same from the electrode 96 in order to raise the surface temp. of the electrode 96 on a developing chamber 98 side. A coating material 95 is adhered over the entire surface of the electrode 96 on the chamber 98 side. Polyfluoroethylene or the like is coated as the coating material 95 on the electrode to <=10mum thickness to prevent impairment of the electrode effect of the electrode 96. The temp. of the material 95 is, therefore, raised by raising the surface temp. of the electrode 96 by the heater 93, by which the solidified matter of the developer adhered by drying and solidifying to the surface of the material 95 is softened and is welded onto the surface of the material 95.

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.

The process head disclosed in the above publication includes a charging/exposure section, a developing section, a drying section, and a fixing section. These parts are arranged adjacent to each other in the above order along the feeding direction of the electrophotographic film, and the arrangement pitch of each part is a constant pitch equal to the frame pitch of the electrophotographic film.

In the charging/exposure section, the electrophotographic film (corresponding to the - frame) located in this section is charged and then exposed to the image light of the original. As a result, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image pattern of the original is formed on the electrophotographic film. In the developing section, a liquid developer is applied to the exposed electrophotographic film to visualize the electrostatic latent image.

In the drying section, dry air is blown onto the electrophotographic film moistened with the liquid developer to remove moisture. In the fixing section, the image is fixed on the electrophotographic film by a fixing lamp or the like.

In this process head, the liquid developer applied to the charged and exposed electrophotographic film adheres as surplus developer to the developing section, particularly the developing electrode, after the development is completed. In order to remove this, excess developer is drained using air.

A part of the adhered surplus developer is not removed but quickly dries and solidifies, and as the number of times of development increases, the amount of adhered and deposited material increases. When the amount of excess developer attached increases, a portion of the excess developer peels off from the developing electrode, is turned over, and protrudes into the gap between the electrophotographic film and the electrode, that is, into the developing chamber. This protruding solidified developer obstructs the flow of developer flowing down inside the developing chamber, resulting in uneven flow of the developer.
This may cause image defects.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] The present invention takes the above-mentioned facts into consideration, and prevents the excess developer solidified matter that has adhered to and accumulated on the development electrode from peeling off and obstructing the flow of the developer. The purpose is to obtain a process head for an electrophotographic apparatus that allows a uniform flow of the electrophotographic process.

[Means for solving problems]

A process head for an electrophotographic device that, after being exposed to electricity and light, develops the image in a developing section equipped with a developing electrode to which a developer is supplied, and then dries and fixes the developed image. It has a welding means for welding the developer to the electrode.

[Effect]

According to the present invention, after the development is completed, the temperature of the developing section is increased by the welding means, and the excess developer is welded to the development electrode. As a result, a portion of the excess developer deposited on the developing electrode dries, solidifies, and peels off, protrudes into the gap between the electrophotographic film and the developing electrode, and does not interfere with the flow of the developer. The flow becomes uniform.

〔Example〕

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

The electrophotographic device according to this embodiment has a camera function that photographs a document and records the image on an electrophotographic film, a league function that enlarges and projects the image recorded on the electrophotographic film on a screen, and an electrophotographic It also has a copy function that enlarges and copies images recorded on 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 main body 1
It is also possible to use only 0 alone. The housing 14 of the electrophotographic apparatus main body 1O is composed of a portion 14A located on the left and having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and a portion 14B located on the right and having a stepped top surface. The interior space is communicated at the rear.

On the outside of the housing 14A, a slightly tilted transmissive screen 16 is disposed to cover the front opening of the housing, and a document table 18 is disposed above. On the first day of the document table, there is a
A transparent glass plate 22 (see FIG. 2, which will be described later) is placed to cover the upper opening of the housing. Housing 14B
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 of the outer side of the cassette, and a cassette loading section 26 in which a cassette containing an electrophotographic film 24 (see FIG. 2 described later) is loaded is formed near the center of the upper part. A control keyboard 28 is provided for operations.

The housing 11 of the copying device 12 also has an opening 32 through which copied copy paper 30 (see FIG. 4 described later) is discharged.
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 the glass plate 22 of No. 8 with the document surface facing downward.
and a third mirror 38 on 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, a first mirror 42 to which the reflected light from the second mirror 40 is incident, and an electrophotographic film to transfer the reflected light from the first mirror 42 The main lens 44 is connected on the surface of 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. The main lens 44 and the first mirror 42 are fixedly disposed within the housing 14B of the electrophotographic apparatus main body 10, and the second mirror 40 is fixedly disposed within the housing 14A.

The third mirror 38, copy mirror 52, conversion lens 4B, and screen 16 are selectively used.

The third mirror 3 and the copy mirror 52 are movably disposed within the housing 14A of the electrophotographic apparatus main body 10, and the conversion lens 48 is movably disposed within the housing 14B so as not to interfere with other optical systems. is being used. 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 is designed to be electrically connected to the electrophotographic apparatus main body IO when the cassette is loaded into the electrophotographic apparatus main body IO. 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 7 is composed of 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 shape, and is disposed near the opening of the front wall 74.

The corona wire 84 is connected to a high voltage power source and the proximal electrode 80
and the mask electrode 82 are electrically connected. Normally, the adjacent electrode 80 is directly connected to ground, and the mask electrode 82 is connected to ground via an electrical resistance, but each is connected to a different bias voltage. It 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 87. 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 mask 76 has its front axis aligned with the center of the aperture of the mask 76.

(Developing Section) The developing section 66 includes, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6,
A mask 90 is formed, and the mask 90 covers the upper frame 9.
0A and left and right frames 90B and 90C stand up from the surface of the recess 92 formed in the front wall 74. The lower side of the lower frame 90D of the mask 90 stands up from the front wall 74. Further, the lower frame 900 has left and right frames 90B and 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 made very slightly shorter than the opening width of the mask 76. In addition, the opening height of the mask 90,
That is, the distance between the inner walls of the upper frame 90A and the lower frame 90D is
The inner wall of the lower frame 900 is located lower than that of the mask 76, and is lengthened by that amount.

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. The surface of the developing electrode 96 is located slightly inside from the end surface of the mask 90, and a space surrounded by the developing electrode 96 and the inner wall of the mask 90 is defined as a developing chamber 98.

This developing electrode 96 is provided with a heater 93 as a welding means.
In order to increase the surface temperature of the developing chamber 98 of the developing electrode 96, it is provided internally and insulated from the developing chamber pi96. Further, a coating material 95 is adhered to the entire surface of the developing electrode 96 on the developing chamber 98 side. This coating material 95 is made of polyfluoroethylene, for example.
The coating material 95, which has a thickness of 10 microns or less (preferably 1 to 2 microns), is thinly coated so that the electrode effect of the developing electrode 96 is not impaired. The coating material 95 is made by kneading polyfluorinated ethylene with carbon fibers and metal powder to give it conductivity so as not to lose the conductivity of the developing electrode 96.

Therefore, by increasing the surface temperature of the developing electrode 96 using the heater 93, the temperature of the coating material 95 is increased.
The solidified developer that has dried and solidified and adhered to the surface of the coating material 95 is softened and welded to the surface of the coating material 95. The temperature conditions and temperature rise time under which the solidified developer is fused by this heating depend on the type of polymer used in the toner contained in the developer, the heating temperature, and the heating method. When an isoparaffin polymer is used as a dispersion medium, the surface temperature of the coating material 95 is 70°C to 90'C.
Also, the temperature rise time at this time is set to 10 seconds to 10 seconds (preferably 30 seconds). The upper and lower parts of the development amount pi 96 are opened, and are provided with a developer/squeeze air inlet 100 and a developer/squeeze air outlet 102, respectively.
It is said that

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

Further, the developer/squeeze air outlet 102 is in communication with a passage 110 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 90C of the mask 90 are opened at the bottom and serve as squeeze suction ports 114. The squeeze suction port 114 is, as shown in FIG. 1O,
Passage 116 constituted by the internal space of process head 54
The zero passage 116 communicates with the suction squeeze opening 11B 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 pipe 122.1 via 'tIi valve 120 on the way.
It is connected to a developer tank 126 at 24 . The developer tank 126 is located above the tm valve 120. The developer tank 126 is connected to a developer pump 130 driven by a motor 128 through a conduit 132 . A developer pump 130 is disposed in a developer bottle 134. Developer bottle! 34 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 11B is connected to a suction trap 150 through a conduit 14B. 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 15B 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.

In addition, the 11th r:! At J, the process head 54
The reason why the optical system is shown in the oblique state is that the optical axis of the optical system is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane so as to be perpendicular to the screen 16 which is disposed obliquely.

(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 right frame 164C rises from a front wall recess 168 that is depressed in a step-like manner from the front wall 74.

7 and 12 between the left and right frames 164B and 164C.
As shown in the figure, a wall 170 whose surface is located slightly inward from the end face of the frame wall 164 is formed, and furthermore, recesses 172 are formed on both sides of this wall 170. The bottom surface of the recess 172 is located at a position that projects from the wall surface of the front wall recess 168. These framed walls! 64, the space surrounded by the wall 170 and the recess 172 is a drying chamber 174. frame! ! The inner width of the frame 164 is wider than the opening width of the mask 90. Further, the lower surface (inner surface of the frame) of the upper frame 164A is located above that of the mask 90 of the developing section 66.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 12, the upper frame 164A
The lower part is opened and serves as a hot air outlet 176. As shown in FIG. 12, the hot air outlet 176 communicates with a passage 178 formed in the internal space of the process head 54. The passage 178 is a passage 1 communicating with a hot air supply port 180 opened on the back side of the process head 54.
A temperature sensor 182 is disposed at 78 . The hot air supply port 180 is connected to the heater 179 and the air pump 1 through a conduit 177.
It is connected to 81.

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

The fixing section 70 has a frame section 184 formed of a lower frame and left and right frames at a position further depressed from the front wall recess 168. A transparent glass plate 186 is provided in the frame portion 184.
is fitted, and the space in front of the glass plate 186 is used as a fixing chamber 18B.

As shown in FIG. 13, in the space 190 of the process head 54 formed on the back side of the glass plate 18G,
A xenon lamp 192 and a reflection plate 194 are provided. A cooling air outlet 196 is opened in the space 190,
Cold air is supplied from an air pump 195 via a conduit 193. The space 190 and the fixing chamber 188 communicate with each other above the glass plate 186.

(Blip sensor) As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the process head 5
4, a lip sensor 196 is installed at the left end of the front wall 74.
is installed. The prep 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 can be seen that the light from the light source for the sensor, which is placed facing each other with the photo film 24 in between, is blocked. It is designed to be sensed.

(Film Holding Mechanism) As shown in FIGS. 7 and 14, a holding plate 198 is provided in front of the front wall 74 of the process head 54. As shown in FIGS. As shown in FIG. 15, the presser plate 19B has
A rectangular through hole 200 having a size slightly smaller than the opening shape of the mask 76 formed in the charging/exposure section 64 is formed.

The holding plate 19B is arranged so that the through hole 200 corresponds to the mask 76.

The presser plate 19B has through holes 20 as shown in FIG. 15A (a perspective view FgJ of the presser plate viewed from the opposite side of FIG. 15).
Claws 202 and 204 that protrude toward the process head 54 are formed at the upper and lower parts of the end on the side where the number 0 is formed. The claws 202 and 204 have inclined surfaces 202A and 204A on their inner surfaces facing each other.
As shown in the figure, upper and lower claws 202.
204 is equal to the width of the electrophotographic film 24 (
Strictly speaking, it is slightly wider than the width of the electrophotographic film 24). A cylindrical portion 206 is formed protruding from the tip of the claw 204 . The claws 202 and 204 can fit into holes 20B and 210 formed in the front wall 74 of the process rod 54 as shown in FIGS. 5, 6, and 14.

A cylindrical portion 212 is formed protrudingly on the back surface of the holding plate 198 facing the process head 54 .
12 has a notch 21 formed at one end of the arm 214.
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 bottle 222 is fixed to the tip of the second 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 226A formed at one end of the second lever 226. A long hole 22 formed at the other end of the second lever 226
6B is a tension coil spring 2 that urges the second levers 226 in opposite directions and elastically supports the second levers 226.
28, 230 are locked at one end.

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

The holding plate 19B is spaced apart from the process head 54 when the solenoid 234 is not energized. In this state, as shown in FIG. 14, the cylindrical portion 206 of the holding plate 198 is fitted into the hole 210 formed in the process head 54 and supported.

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

As a result, the second lever 226 is rotated about the shaft 224 in the direction of arrow B, so that the second lever 220 is rotated in the direction of arrow B.
22 in the direction of arrow C, and the shaft 216 is rotated in the same direction. Due to the rotation of the shaft 216, the arm 214 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow and presses the presser plate 19B in the direction of 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 a claw 202.20λ.
are fitted into holes 208, 210 and accurately positioned in process head 54. Also, the presser plate 198
In this state, the electrophotograph is due to the action of the tension coil springs 228 and 230.

The film 24 is pressed elastically.

When the solenoid 234 is demagnetized, the tension coil spring 22
8, the second lever 226 is rotated in the direction opposite to the arrow B, the arm 214 is rotated in the direction opposite to the arrow B, the notch 214A presses the retaining ring 212A, and the retaining plate 19B is rotated.
is moved in the opposite direction of arrow E.

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

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

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

FIG. 16 shows a time chart in the case where, after positioning and photographing a predetermined Gobo as described above, consecutive photographs are taken for each piece following this piece. There is. In the process head 54, the charging/exposure section 6
When the frame located at 4 is charged and exposed, the developing section 6
6. The pieces located in the drying section 6th and the fixing section 70 are subjected to different treatments simultaneously,
In the following, explanation will be given focusing on the Gobo among which the photographing button was pressed at position (1) in FIG. 16 and photographing was 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 xenon lamp 192 of the fixing section 70 is energized and charged. These continue while the camera mode is selected.

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

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 holding plate 19B has a through hole 200 formed in a portion corresponding to the mask 76, but since this 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, since the electrophotographic film 24 is reliably brought into close contact with the end face of the mask 76, the IF@ range is accurately regulated within the opening range of the mask 76.

In addition, a mask electrode 82 provided in the charging/exposure chamber 72
is held at approximately the same potential as the charged potential of the electrophotographic film 24, so that the peripheral edge of the gobo of the electrophotographic film 24 located at the cuff of the mask 76 is also charged to a value close to the potential of the center of the frame. , the entire surface of the electrophotographic film 24 is uniformly charged. By appropriately selecting the value of a resistor (not shown) interposed and electrically connected between the ground and the mask electrode 82, or by
2 from an external power source (not shown), the mask electrode 82 is connected to the electrophotographic film 24.
can be maintained at a potential approximately equal to the charging potential of .

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

At the same time as the power supply to the corona wire 84 is stopped, a shutter (not shown) (indicated by the symbol A 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. 1A is driven to start operating the developer pump 130, and the developer bottle 13 is activated.
The developer 136 in the developer tank 126 is pumped up into the developer tank 126. The developer 136 descends from the developer tank 126 under its own weight, passes through the pipe line 124, and heads for the process head 54. However, at this time, the solenoid valve 120 is still closed, so the developer bottle 136 flows from the return pipe line 13B. be returned to. Further, when the liquid level of the developer 136 rises in the developer tank 126, the developer 136 is transferred to the return pipe 1.
40 and is returned to the developer bottle 134.

In this way, the developer 136 circulates between the developer bottle 134 and the developer tank 126 and waits at a position immediately in front 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 rIl(B) reaches the set value, the cumulative value is stopped, the shutter (A) is closed at the same time, and the document illumination lamp 36 is turned off. At this point, the exposure process is completed, and the portion of the electrophotographic film 24 located in the opening of the mask 76 has an electrostatic potential due to the charge on the photosensitive layer decreasing in accordance with the image pattern of the original 34. An image is being formed. Variations in the 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. are caused by the automatic exposure control device (B).
Since the exposure is corrected, 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. 16th
When the solenoid 234 is demagnetized in the (IA) position shown in the figure,
The temporary presser foot 19B is separated from the electrophotographic film 24.

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

After the solenoid 234 of the film holding mechanism is demagnetized,
After a predetermined period of time has elapsed, a film moving motor (not shown) (indicated by C in FIG. 16) is driven, and the electrophotographic film 24 is moved one frame to the right in FIG. As a result, the frame located in the charging/exposure section 64 is moved to the developing section 66. The movement of the electrophotographic film 24 is as follows:
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 . The toner particles dispersed in the developer 136 are charged to e, and in the process of flowing down the developing chamber 98, they adhere to the portion of the electrophotographic film 24 that is charged to e, and develop an electrostatic latent image. become Developer 136 flowing down the developing chamber 98
is returned to the developer bottle 134 from the developer/squeeze air outlet 102 through a return line 146.

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 into contact with the end face of the mask 90 in B, it is almost impossible for the developer 136 to enter the gap between the end face of the mask 90 and the electrophotographic film 24.If the developer 136 enters from this part, , 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 0B and 90C, the developer 136 is sucked into the suction trap 150 from the squeeze suction port 114 through the conduit 148 and 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 head 5 by gravity.
Since the developer 136 is supplied to the developing chamber 98, even if the operation of the developer pump 130 is stopped, the supply of the developer 136 to the developing chamber 98 is continued. In this way, the developer pump 13
Since the supply of the developer 136 is continued even after the supply of developer 136 is stopped, exposure blurring due to vibration of the developer pump 130 during exposure of the next frame can be minimized.

When the solenoid valve 120 is opened and a predetermined period of time has elapsed, tit
The T-valve 120 is closed and the supply of developer 136 to the developing chamber 98 is stopped. At the same time, the pressurized squeeze air pump 144 shown in FIG. The developer 136 adhering to the surface is blown off and drained. The blown-off developer 136 is transferred to the developer/squeeze air outlet 10.
2 through the return line 146 to the developer bottle 134.
be returned to.

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

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

However, the excess developer adhering to the coating material 95 on the developing electrode 96 increases in amount as the number of times of development increases, and is dried and solidified by air blowing. per or specified number of times of development (
For example, the temperature of the coating material 95 is raised by the heater 93 every 100 frames, thereby softening the solidified surplus developer and welding it to the surface of the coating material 95.

As a result, the surplus developer does not protrude into the developing chamber 98 and obstruct the flow of the developer, and the flow of the developer becomes uniform.

The excess developer welded to the surface of the coating material 95 can be removed using a cleaning tape or the like every predetermined number of times of development (for example, every 100 frames). At this time, the surface of the development electrode 96 is coated with polyfluoroethylene. The welded excess developer can be easily removed.

Although the heater 93 is used as the welding means in this embodiment, hot air may be sent into the developing chamber 98 in order to soften and weld the excess developer that has adhered or accumulated on the surface of the coating material 95. In this case, the temperature of the hot air is set to 65°C to 200°C when an isoparaffin polymer is used as a dispersion medium in the developer. In this case, the excess developer can be softened and welded in 3 seconds.

In addition, in this embodiment, the surface of the developing electrode 96 is coated with polyfluoroethylene to make it easier to remove excess developer with a cleaning tape or the like, but the developing electrode 96 may also be made of conductive polyfluoroethylene. good.

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

When the drive of the film moving motor (C) is stopped, the electrophotographic film 24 has been moved frame by frame in the right direction in FIG. 6, and the frame located in the developing section 66 is now located in the drying section 6B. . 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.
The air pump 181 shown in FIG. 2 is activated. When the air pump 181 is operated, 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 photographing button is pressed at position (III) in FIG. The solenoid 234 is demagnetized and stopped at the same time, completing the drying process.

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 will be displayed on the control keyboard 2B, and if it is out of the high temperature range, the heater 1
The power supply to 79 is immediately stopped.

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

After the solenoid 234 of the film holding mechanism is demagnetized at position (II[A) in FIG.
) is driven, and the frame located in the drying section 68 is moved to the fixing section 70. After the drive of the film moving motor (C) is stopped, the solenoid 234 of the film holding mechanism is energized at the position (B) in FIG.
The air pump 195 shown in the figure is operated, and the fixing unit 7
Cold air is supplied to the space 190 of 0. This cold air passes through the upper part of the glass plate 186 from the space 190 to the fixing chamber 18.
Leading to B.

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 it is blown off by the cold air supplied by the filter 5, it does not adhere to the surface of the glass Fi 186.

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

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

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

The electrophotographic film 24 on which the original image has been recorded as described above can be projected by selecting the reader mode. In the electrophotographic apparatus of this embodiment, a cassette is loaded by the same operation as described above. In this state, the leader mode is automatically selected (the third mirror 38 has been moved from the position shown in Fig. 2 to another position), and by the same operation as described above, the specified piece is selected. At the same time as it stops at the charging/exposure section 64, the light source of the projection light source section 46 shown in FIG. The electrophotographic film 24 is placed on 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 1 is turned on, the air pump 89 shown in FIG. 7 is activated to supply cold air to the charging/exposure chamber 72, so that the electrophotographic film 24 is not heated to a high temperature due to the heat from the projection light source section 46. This prevents defocusing due to thermal deformation.

In addition, in reader mode, the control keyboard 28
By operating the button, the electrophotographic film 24 can be continuously framed 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 2 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, in the present invention, after the development is completed, the surplus developer is welded to the development electrode by the welding means, so that part of the surplus developer does not peel off and interfere with the flow of the developer. An excellent effect of uniform developer flow can be obtained.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

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. Figure 1F (A) and (B) are explanatory diagrams showing the relationship between the process head developing section and other equipment, and Figure 12 is a view taken from the X-X line in Figure 6. 13 is a view from the Xllll-XlID91 arrow in FIG. 6, and FIG. 14 is a schematic side view showing the positional relationship between the process head and the presser slope.
FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing the film holding mechanism installed in the process head, FIG. 15A is a perspective view of some parts of FIG. 15 seen from the opposite side, and FIG. It is a chart showing a time chart. 24... Electrophotographic film, 54... Process head, 64... Charging/exposure section, 66... Developing section, 68... Drying section, 70... Fixing section, 93... Heater , 96...Development electrode.

Claims (1)

[Claims] Press the electrophotographic film against the process head main body,
A process head for an electrophotographic device which, after being charged and exposed, develops the image in a developing section equipped with a developing electrode to which a developer is supplied, and then dries and fixes the developed image, wherein the process head is configured to dry and fix the developed image, and the process head is configured to remove excess material on the surface of the developing electrode after the development is completed. A process head for an electrophotographic apparatus, comprising a welding means for welding a developer to the electrode.