JPS63281184A - Process head for electrophotographic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To surely remove a developer which adheres to a developing part and the inside of a developer passage, by providing a rinse liquid supply means for feeding a rinse liquid to the developing part before the development or after the development. CONSTITUTION:When a specific frame is positioned in a developing part 66, a rinse liquid bucket pump 133 starts to operate, and simultaneously, a conduit line 122 and a conduit line 124 communicate with each other. Subsequently, a rinse liquid 139 pumped up by the rinse liquid bucket pump 133 passes through a conduit line 135 and fed to a developer tank 126, descends by its dead weight and passes through the conduit line 124 and the conduit line 122, and supplied to the developing part 66 of a process head 54. This rinse liquid 139 flows down through a developing chamber 98, passes through a passage 110 and a return conduit line 146 from a developer squeezing air outflow port 102 and returned into a rinse liquid bottle 137. In such a way, a developer 136 which has adhered to the inside of the conduit line 124, the conduit line 122, a developer supply port 106, the developing chamber 98, a developer squeezing air exhaust port 112, and the return conduit line 146 is removed and cleaned.

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.

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 electrophotographic film exposed in the charging/exposure section 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.

The developer sent to the developing section is supplied by driving a pump through a conduit arranged between the developing section and the developer tank. However, the developer may adhere to and harden on the inner wall of the pipe through which the developer is sent. This adhered developer is peeled off from the inner wall of the pipe when the developer is supplied, and is supplied to the developing section together with the developer. This solidified developer may adhere to the image on the electrophotographic film and cause image defects. For this reason, before development or after developing a predetermined number of frames, the operator replaces the developer tank with a rinse liquid tank for cleaning the inside of the pipe, flows the rinse liquid into the pipe instead of developer, and performs development. The inside of the agent supply pipe and the developing section are being cleaned.

However, this cleaning requires a worker to replace the developer tank and the rinsing liquid one by one, which is a complicated task.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to provide a process head for an electrophotographic apparatus that can reliably remove developer adhering to a developing section and a developer path.

[Means for solving problems]

The present invention is a process head for an electrophotographic apparatus that supplies a developer to an electrophotographic film in a developing section to develop the film, and includes a rinsing liquid supply means for supplying a rinsing liquid to the developing section before or after development. It is a feature.

[Effect]

According to the present invention, the rinsing liquid is sent to the developing section by the rinsing liquid supply means before or after development. In this liquid feeding, the rinsing liquid passes through the pipe that supplies the developer to the developing section.
Since the developer adhering to the inner wall of the pipe is removed, the residual developer does not solidify within the pipe, and there is no deterioration in image quality due to this.

In addition, when sending the rinsing liquid to the developing section, there is no need to replace the tank containing the developer with the tank containing the rinsing liquid, so the rinsing liquid can be sent to the developing section every time after development. You can also do it.

(Example) (Electrophotographic Apparatus) FIG. 1 shows an example 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 machine W12 in which a housing 11 also serves as a stand for the electrophotographic apparatus main body 10. Note that if the copy function is not required, it is also possible to use only the electrophotographic apparatus main body 10 alone. The housing 14 of the electrophotographic apparatus main body 10 is composed of a portion 14A located on the left and having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and a portion 14B located on the right and having a stepped top surface. The interior space is communicated at the rear.

On the outside of the housing 14A, a slightly tilted transmissive screen 16 is disposed to cover the front opening of the housing, and a document table 18 is disposed above. On the document table 18, at the bottom of a document holding plate 20 that can be opened and closed,
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 is formed near the center of the upper part, and each of the electrophotographic devices is mounted on the front part of the upper part. A control keyboard 28 is provided on which Il Biography is performed.

The housing 11 of the copying device 12 also has an opening 32 through which 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 side shadow 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 48 and screen 16 are selectively used.

The third mirror 38 and the copy mirror 52 are movably disposed within the housing 14A of the electrophotographic apparatus main body 10, and the conversion lens 4B is movably disposed within the housing 14B so as not to interfere with other optical systems. has been done. Since the screen 16 does not interfere with other optical systems, it is fixedly arranged as described above.

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

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

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the process head 5
4 is constructed by integrating a relatively flat, generally rectangular parallelepiped-shaped main body part 56 and a pair of legs 58 located at the lower part of the main body part 56, and is integrally molded with synthetic resin except for the attachments. has been done. The process head 54 is disposed between the main lens 44 and the electrophotographic film 24 shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, and as shown in FIG. It is attached to a frame 60 disposed within the housing 14B of the photographic apparatus main body 10.

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

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

The main body 56 of the process head 54 includes
As shown in the figure, charging/exposure sections 64 are sequentially arranged in the width direction.
, a developing section 66, a drying section 68, and a fixing section 70 are formed at a constant pitch corresponding to one frame interval of the electrophotographic film 24.

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

As shown in FIG. 5, the corona unit 78 includes a corona wire 84 and a synthetic resin holder 86 that holds the corona wire 84, and is inserted into the process head 54 from above. The proximal electrodes 80 are composed of narrow metal plates and are arranged on both sides of the corona wire 84. The mask electrode 82 is formed by bending a metal plate into a rectangular 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 lens 4 has its front axis aligned with the center of the opening of the mask 76.

(Developing Section) The developing section 66 includes, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6,
A mask 90 is formed, and the mask 90 covers the upper frame 9.
0A and left and right frames 90B and 90C stand up from the surface of the recess 92 formed in the front wall 74. The lower side of the lower frame 90D of the mask 90 stands up from the front wall 74. Further, the lower frame 90D has left and right frames 90B, 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 90D is located lower than that of the mask 76, and is lengthened accordingly.

A developing electrode 96 is disposed within the opening of the mask 90 and supported by a front 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. The upper part and the lower part of the developing electrode 96 are opened to form 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 10, the recesses 92 located on both sides of the left and right frames 90B and 90G of the mask 90 are opened at the bottom and serve as squeeze suction ports 114. As shown in FIG. 10, the squeeze suction port 114 is
Passage 116 constituted by the internal space of process head 54
The zero passage 116 communicates with a suction squeeze opening 118 opened on the back side of the process head 54.

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

Further, the developer tank 126 is connected to a rinsing liquid pump 133 driven by a motor 131 through a conduit 135. The rinsing liquid pump 133 is disposed within the rinsing liquid bottle 137. The rinsing liquid bottle 137 contains a rinsing liquid 139 such as Isopar G (trade name: manufactured by Etsuso ■) or butyl acetate.

The squeezing air supply port 108 is connected through a conduit 142 to an air pump 144 for pressure squeezing.

A return pipe 146 that opens into a rinse liquid bottle 137 is connected to the developer/squeeze air outlet 112 . A pipe line 143 branched from the middle of the pipe line 124 connecting the electromagnetic valve 120 and the developer tank 126 is communicated with the return pipe line 146 . Further, a solenoid valve 145 is provided closer to the rinse liquid bottle 137 than the connection portion of the return pipe 146 with the pipe 143 and is branched off, and communicates with the developer bottle 134 via the pipe 147 . Further, the pipe line 143 is branched in the middle and communicates with the developer tank 126 via a return pipe line 140.

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

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

(Drying section) In the drying section 6B, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6,
A frame wall 164 is formed. The frame wall 164 is the upper frame 1
Consisting of 64A and left and right frames 164B, 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 16
It stands up from the front wall 74 together with 4A. Further, the underframe 164C rises from a front wall recess 168 that is depressed from the front wall 74 in a step-like manner.

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 protruding from the wall surface of the front wall recess 16B. A space surrounded by the frame wall 164, wall 170, and recess 172 is a drying chamber 174. The inner width of the frame wall 164 is wider than the opening width of the mask 90. Also, 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 of the hot air outlet 176 is opened to form a hot air outlet 176. As shown in FIG. The passage 178 communicates with a hot air supply port 180 opened on the back side of the process head 54. A temperature sensor 182 is disposed in the zero passage 17B. The hot air supply port 180 is connected to a heater 179 and an air pump 181 through a conduit 177.

(Fixing Section) As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the fixing section 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 188.

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

(Prip sensor) As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the process head 5
4, a prep 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 senses that the light from the light source for the sensor arranged oppositely with the electrophotographic film 24 in between is blocked. It is supposed to be done.

(Film Holder Mechanism) As shown in FIGS. 7 and 14, a presser holder 198 is provided in front of the front wall 74 of the process head 54. As shown in FIGS. The presser plate 198 has, as shown in FIG.
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 198 is arranged so that the through hole 200 corresponds to the mask 76.

The presser plate 198 has a 15th AIffl (the presser plate is attached to the 15th
As shown in the perspective view (viewed from the opposite side of the figure), the through hole 2
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 00 is formed. The claws 202 and 204 have inclined surfaces 202A and 204A on their inner surfaces facing each other.
As shown in Figure 4, the upper and lower claws 202 at the base
．． 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, 204 are attached to the front wall 74 of the process head 54 shown in FIGS. 5, 6, and 14.
It is possible to fit into holes 208 and 210 formed in.

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 and supported by a stand 21B 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 presser plate 198 is spaced apart from the process head 54 when the solenoid 234 is not energized. In this state, as shown in FIG. 14, the cylindrical portion 206 of the holding plate 198 is fitted into a hole 210 formed in the process rad 54 and is 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 in the direction of arrow B around the shaft 224, so the second lever 226 is rotated in the direction of arrow C via the bin 222, and the shaft 216 is rotated in the same direction. . By rotating the shaft 216, the arm 214
is rotated in the direction of the arrow mark and presses the presser plate 198 in the direction of the arrow E.

The presser plate 198 is moved in the direction of arrow E with the cylindrical portion 206 guided by the hole 210 to press the electrophotographic film 24 into contact with the end faces of the mask 76.90 and the frame wall 1.64.

When the holding plate 198 is moved, if the position of the electrophotographic film 24 is misaligned in the height direction, the claw 202
．． The inclined surfaces 202A and 204A of the electrophotographic film 204 act to push down the upper edge of the electrophotographic film 24 or push up the lower edge thereof.

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

When the solenoid 234 is demagnetized, the tension coil spring 22
8, the second lever 226 is rotated in the direction opposite to the arrow B, the arm 214 is rotated in the direction opposite to the arrow B, the notch 214A presses the retaining ring 212A, and the presser foot 198 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 using the control keyboard 2B shown in FIG. 1, and the stopping position of the electrophotographic film 24 is determined by the blip sensor 196 counting the number of blip marks 24A passed from the base point. It is controlled by

FIG. 16 shows a time chart in the case where, after a predetermined frame has been aligned and photographed as described above, consecutive photographs are taken for each frame following this frame. ing. In the process head 54, the charging/exposure section 6
When the frame located at 4 is charged and exposed, the developing section 6
6. The pieces located in the drying section 68 and the fixing section 70 are subjected to different processes simultaneously.
The following explanation focuses on one frame in which the photographing button is pressed at position (1) in FIG. 16 and photographing is started.

For the t-vehicle shadow on document 34, the camera mode is selected by button operation on control keyboard 28, and the possible names are as follows.
At the same time as this operation, the developing electrode 96 of the developing section 66 is energized and a bias voltage is applied, and the heater 179 that heats the air blown into the drying chamber 174 is energized and generates heat.
The capacitor of the xenon lamp 192 of the fixing unit 70 is energized and charged. These continue while the camera mode is selected.

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

Note that at the time the shooting button is pressed, the solenoid 234 of the film holding mechanism is energized continuously from the previous process, and the electrophotographic film 24 is pressed against the holding plate 19B 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, the electrophotographic film 24 is reliably brought into close contact with the end face of the mask 76, so that the charging range is accurately controlled by the mask 76.
The opening range is limited to 6.

In addition, a mask electrode 82 provided in the charging/exposure chamber 72
is held at approximately the same potential as the charged potential of the electrophotographic film 24, so that the peripheral edge of the frame of the electrophotographic film 24 located in the opening of the mask 76 is also charged to a value close to the potential of the center of the frame. , the entire frame of the electrophotographic film 24 is uniformly charged. By appropriately selecting the value of a resistor (not shown) 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 .

After the photographing button is pressed at the (1) position, the document illumination lamp 36 is turned on after a predetermined period of time has elapsed, and the document 34 placed on the temporary glass 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
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 124, and heads toward the process head 54. However, at this time, the solenoid valve 120 is still closed, and the solenoid valve 145 is also closed. , the developer is returned to the developer bottle 134 through line 143, return line 146, and line 147.

Further, when the liquid level of the developer 136 rises in the developer tank 126, the developer 136 is returned to the developer bottle 134 through the return line 140, line 143, return line 146, and line 147. .

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. Due to this vII ring, the developer bottle 13
The developer 36 in 4 is stirred.

Own vJn light control device? +! When the integrated value of the light amount in (B) reaches the set value, the integration 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 one frame of the electrophotographic film 24 located in the opening of the mask 76 is covered with the original 34.
An electrostatic latent image is formed by reducing the charge on the photosensitive layer according to the image pattern. 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 system! (B
), so proper exposure is always performed. At this time, when a predetermined time has elapsed since the button was pressed and all processing steps for other frames have been completed, the solenoid 234 of the film holding mechanism is immediately demagnetized. When the solenoid 234 is demagnetized at the (IA) position in FIG. 16, the holding plate 198 is separated from the electrophotographic film 24.

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

After the solenoid 234 of the film holding mechanism is demagnetized,
After a predetermined period of time has elapsed, a film moving motor (not shown) (indicated by C in FIG. 16) is driven, and the electrophotographic film 24 is moved one frame to the right in FIG. As a result, the frame located in the charging/exposure section 64 is moved to the developing section 66. One frame movement of the electrophotographic film 24 is
As in the 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 moving motor (C) is stopped, the solenoid 234 of the film holding mechanism is energized at position (IB) in FIG. 16, and the electrophotographic film 24 is pressed against the process head 54 by the holding plate 198. be touched.

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

When the solenoid valve 120 is opened, the developer 136 flows into the conduit 122.
The air passes through the process head 54 and flows into the developing chamber 98 from the developer/squeezing air inlet 100 of the developing section 66 . The toner particles dispersed in the developer 136 are charged to e, and in the process of flowing down the developing chamber 98, they adhere to the portion of the electrophotographic film 24 that is charged to e, and develop an electrostatic latent image. become Developer 136 flowing down the developing chamber 98
from the developer/squeeze air outlet 102 to the developer bottle 134 through the return pipe 146 and pipe 147.
be returned to.

Note that some of the developer 136 supplied from the developer tank 126 to the pipe line 124 is supplied to the pipe line 143 and the return pipe line 14.
6, returned to the developer bottle 134 through the pipe 147;
The pipe diameter, etc. of each pipe line is set so that the other leads to the electromagnetic valve 120.

The developer 136 flowing down the developing chamber 98 is
Since the electrophotographic film 24 is pressed against the end face of the mask 90 at step 8, it is unlikely that the developer 136 will enter the gap between the end face of the mask 90 and the electrophotographic film 24. , the left and right frame portions 9 of the mask 90 are squeezed by the air pump 154 for suction squeeze.
0B.

Due to the negative pressure generated in the recesses 92 located on both sides of 90C, the developer 136 is sucked into the suction trap 150 from the squeeze suction port 114 through the conduit 148 and captured.

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

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

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

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

A case in which the inside of each conduit for feeding the developer 136 is cleaned after the development/squeeze process is completed will be described with reference to the timing chart shown in FIG. 17.

At the same time as the pressurization squeeze of the final piece is completed at the position shown in FIG. 17(A), the solenoid valve 145 is activated and the return pipe line 146 and the pipe line 147 are cut off. In this case, solenoid valve 1
20 blocks the conduit 122 and the conduit 124. Frame feeding is performed between the state in the position shown in FIG. 17(A) and the time when the rinse liquid pump 133 is activated in the position shown in FIG. located at

When a specific frame is positioned in the developing section 66, the rinsing liquid pump 133 starts operating at the position shown in FIG. . As a result, the rinsing liquid 13 pumped up by the rinsing liquid pump 133 shown in FIG. 11(A)
9 is sent to the developer tank 126 through the pipe 135,
It descends under its own weight and is supplied to the developing section 66 of the process head 54 through the pipe line 124 and the pipe line 122.

The rinsing liquid 139 supplied to the developing section 66 flows down the developing chamber 98 and passes through the developer/squeeze air outlet 102, the passage 110, and the return pipe 146 to the rinsing liquid bottle 1.
Returned to 37. By supplying this rinsing liquid 139, the developer 136 adhering to the pipe line 124, pipe line 122, developer supply port 106, developing chamber 98, developer/squeeze air outlet 112, and return pipe line 146 is removed. and then washed. The removed developer 136 is stored in a rinse liquid bottle 137 together with a rinse liquid 139. The supply time T of the rinse liquid 139 is set to 1 to 30 seconds (preferably 3 seconds).

The reason why the rinse liquid 139 is supplied even after the rinse liquid pump 133 is stopped in FIG. 17 is because the rinse liquid remaining in the developer tank 126 and the supply pipe is supplied.

In addition, the rinse liquid 139 also passes through the pipe line 143 that branches off from the pipe line 124 and communicates with the return pipe line, and the return pipe line 140 that communicates the developer tank 126 with the pipe line 143, so that the rinse liquid 139 adheres to the inside of these pipe lines. The developer 136 that is present is also removed and washed.

After the rinsing liquid pump 133 stops at the position shown in FIG. 17(C) and all the rinsing liquid 139 falls from the developer tank 126 under its own weight, the air pump 1 stops at the position shown in FIG. 17(D).
44 is activated, and the rinse M139 is pressurized and squeezed. This pressure squeeze time T is 0.5 to 5 seconds.
(preferably 2 seconds).

When the rinsing liquid 139 has been squeezed, the screen shown in FIG. 17(E)
At this position, the solenoid valve 120 shuts off the conduit 124 and the conduit 122, and the solenoid valve 145 communicates the return conduit 146 and the conduit 147, thereby entering a standby state for the start of the development/squeeze process.

Note that in this embodiment, after the final frame is developed, the rinsing liquid 139 is
Although the rinsing liquid is supplied into each conduit, the rinsing liquid may be supplied every time a frame is developed, or every predetermined number of frames.

Furthermore, the rinsing liquid 139 may be supplied into each pipe line before the developer is supplied, and in this case as well, it is possible to prevent the developer from solidifying within the pipe line.

In addition, in this embodiment, when supplying the rinsing liquid, the header tape etc. of the developing section 66 were positioned, but the rinsing liquid was supplied when the cassette was taken out and there was no film, that is, with the pressure plate for pressing the film pressed against the developing chamber. You may do so.

Incidentally, in FIG. 17, time T indicates the initial development time and is set to 1 to 5 seconds (preferably 3 seconds), which is 0 time T! 0 time T3, which is set to 1 sec, indicates the frame feeding time, and 0 time T3, which is set to 1 sec, indicates the developing time when continuous development is performed. 0 time T4, which is set to 1 to 5 sec (preferably 3 sec), is the developer squeeze time. 0 time T, which is set to 1 to 2 seconds (preferably 5 seconds), indicates the time until the developer 136 is completely discharged from the supply pipe and the developing section, and is 1 to 10 seconds.
(preferably set to 2 seconds).

When the drive of the film movement motor (C) is stopped, the electrophotographic film 24 has been moved one frame to the right in FIG. There is. After a predetermined period of time has elapsed after the film moving motor (C) is stopped, the solenoid 234 of the film holding mechanism is energized at position (nB) in FIG.
Air pump 181 shown in the figure is activated. When the air pump 181 operates, hot air heated by the heater 179 is blown out from the hot air outlet 176 of the drying section 68 to the drying chamber 174, and the developer 136 is dried. air pump 18
1 is controlled by the frame charging and exposure process that is started when the photographing button is pressed at position (III) in FIG. 16, and the solenoid 234 of the film holding mechanism is is demagnetized and stopped at the same time,
The drying process is completed.

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

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

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

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

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

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

In the apparatus of this embodiment, after the frame located in the charging/exposure section 64, where the photographing button is pressed and photographing is started, is moved one frame 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 projection light source section 46 shown in FIG. , an electrophotographic film 24 is applied to the screen 16 by the optical system shown in FIG.
The image is enlarged and projected.

Note that at the same time that the light source is turned on, the air pump 89 shown in FIG.
4 is cooled so that it does not reach a high temperature, and defocusing due to thermal deformation is prevented.

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

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

When the copy button on the control keyboard 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.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The second embodiment is an embodiment in which the developer 136 is supplied from below the developing chamber 98.

As shown in FIG. 18(A), the upper and lower parts of the developing electrode 96 provided in the process head 54 used in the second embodiment are also opened in the same way as in the previous embodiment, and the squeeze air inlet 300 is opened, respectively. , a developer inlet/outlet 302.

The squeezing air inlet 300 communicates with a passage 104 formed of the internal space of the process head 54. The squeezing air inlet 300 communicates with a developer outlet 304 opened at the back of the process head 54 and a squeeze air supply opening 10B. It is communicated. The lower end surface of the developer discharge port 304 is located below the upper end surface of the developing chamber 98, that is, the end surface of the mask 90 on the developing chamber 98 side. Further, the developer inflow/outflow port 302 communicates with a passage 110 formed of the internal space of the process head 54. The zero passage 100 communicates with a developer supply/discharge port 306 opened on the back side of the process head 54. .

The developer supply/discharge port 306 is connected to a rinsing liquid pump 133 via a conduit 310 via a solenoid valve 308 in the middle. The rinsing liquid pump 133 is disposed within the rinsing liquid bottle 137 as in the previous embodiment.

The pipe line 310 is branched at a solenoid valve 308, and connected to the developer pump 130 through a pipe line 312.

The developer pump 130 is disposed in the developer bottle 134 as in the previous embodiment. A developer 136 is contained within the developer bottle 134 .

The developer outlet 304 is connected to a conduit 316 via a solenoid valve 314.
It communicates with the rinse liquid bottle 137. Also, pipe line 3
16 is branched at a solenoid valve 308, and communicated with the developer bottle 134 through a conduit 31B.

Therefore, with the solenoid valve 30B communicating the pipe line 310 and the pipe line 312, and the electromagnetic valve 314 communicating the pipe line 316 and the pipe line 318, the developer 136 is transferred to the process by the operation of the developer pump 130. Developer supply/discharge port 30 of head 54
Sent to 6. The developer 136 sent to the developer supply/outlet port 306 passes through the passage 110 to the developer inlet/outlet port 302.
from there to the developing chamber 98. The overflowing developer 136 supplied to the developing chamber 9 passes from the developer outlet 304 through a pipe 316 and a pipe 318 to the developer bottle 134.
is discharged to. By supplying the developer to the developing chamber 98, the electrophotographic film 24 is developed.

After development, the developer pump 130 stops and the developing chamber 98
The developer 136 supplied to the developer inflow/outflow port 302
From the developer supply/discharge port 306 , the developer supply/discharge port 306 passes through a conduit 310 and a conduit 312 to a developer pump 130 .
Then, the air pump 144 is operated to supply pressurized air from the squeeze air inlet 300 into the developer chamber 98 to remove the remaining developer into the developer chamber 98 and the passageway 104. Agent 136 is removed.

A case will be described in which the inside of each conduit for feeding the developer 136 is cleaned after the development/squeeze process is completed.

After the pressurization squeeze of the final frame is completed, the solenoid valve 308 is activated to cut off the pipe line 310 and the pipe line 312, and to connect the developer supply/discharge port 306 with the rinse liquid pump 133, and the solenoid valve 314 is activated. Then, the pipe line 316 and the pipe line 318 are cut off, and the developer discharge port 304 and the rinse liquid bottle 137 are communicated with each other.

Frame feeding is performed from this state until the rinse liquid pump 133 is activated, and a specific frame, such as a leader tape, is positioned in the developing section 66.

Next, the rinsing liquid/water pump 133 is activated, and the rinsing liquid 139 is sent through the pipe line 310 from the developer supply/discharge port 306 into the process head 54 .

This rinsing liquid 139 passes through the passage 110 and is supplied to the developer chamber 98 through the developer inflow and outflow ports 302 .

The rinse liquid 139 supplied into the developing chamber 98 overflows from the squeeze air inlet 300 and passes from the developer outlet 304 to the pipe line 316 to the rinse liquid bottle 137.
taken back inside. By supplying the rinse 1ffl 139, the developer 136 adhering to the pipe line 310, the passage 110, the developing chamber 98, and the pipe line 316 is removed and cleaned.

Next, when the rinsing liquid pump 130 stops, the rinsing liquid 139 in the developing chamber 98, the passage 110, and the conduit 310 returns to the rinsing liquid bottle 137 through the rinsing liquid pump 130 by its own weight. Thereafter, the air pump 144 is operated and pressurized air is supplied from the squeeze air inlet 300 to the developing chamber 9.
The rinsing liquid 139 that is supplied during the day and remains in the developing chamber 98 and the passage 110 is removed.

Also in this example, after developing the final frame, rinse liquid 13 is applied.
9 is supplied into each conduit, but it may be carried out every time one frame is developed, as in the previous embodiment, or every predetermined number of frames.

Further, as in the embodiment described above, a rinse liquid 139 may be supplied into the pipe before supplying the developer. In this case as well, solidification of the developer can be prevented as in the embodiment described above.

Further, in this embodiment, when supplying the rinsing liquid, the header tape and the like were placed in the developing section 66, but the cassette may be taken out and the rinsing liquid may be supplied without the film, that is, with only the pressure plate for pressing the film.

Further, in the second embodiment, the piping structure for supplying the rinse liquid 139 is simpler than in the previous embodiment.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, the present invention provides a process head for an electrophotographic device that develops an electrophotographic film by supplying a developer in a developing section, and includes a process head for an electrophotographic device in which a rinsing liquid is supplied to the developing section before or after development. Since the rinsing liquid supply means is provided, an excellent effect can be obtained in that the developer adhering to the developing section and the developer passage can be reliably removed.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is an external perspective view showing an embodiment of an electrophotographic device;
The figure is a perspective conceptual diagram showing the photographing optical system of an electrophotographic device.
FIG. 4 is a perspective conceptual diagram showing a projection optical system, FIG. 4 is a perspective conceptual diagram showing a copying optical system, and FIG. 5 is a process head according to an embodiment of the present invention installed in the electrophotographic apparatus shown in FIG. 1. Fig. 6 is a front view, and Fig. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the same.
Fig. 8 is a view taken along the line ■-■ of Fig. 6, Fig. 9 is a view taken along the IX-IX line of Fig. 6, and Fig. 10 is a view taken along the line IX-IX of Fig. 6. 11 (A) and (B) are explanatory diagrams showing the relationship between the process head developing section and other equipment, and FIG. 12 is a view taken along the xn-xn line in FIG. 6. , Figure 13 is the 6th
Fig. 14 is a schematic side view showing the positional relationship between the process head and the holding plate, Fig. 15 is a perspective view showing the film holding mechanism disposed in the process head, Fig. 15A The figure is a perspective view of some parts of Fig. 15 seen from the opposite side, Fig. 16 is a diagram showing a time chart in the camera mode of an electrophotographic device, and Fig. 17 is a solenoid valve for supplying rinse liquid, and a developing device. Chart showing time charts of agent pump, rinse liquid pump, and air pump, 1st
FIGS. 8(A) and 8(B) are explanatory diagrams showing a second embodiment of the present invention and showing the relationship between the process head developing section and other equipment. 24... Electrophotographic film, 66... Developing section, 120.145.308.314... Solenoid valve, 122
．． 124.135.147. 310.316...Pipe line, 133...Rinse liquid pump, 136...Developer, 137...Rinse liquid bottle, 139...Rinse liquid.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A process head for an electrophotographic device that supplies a developer to an electrophotographic film in a developing section for development, and is characterized by having a rinsing liquid supply means for supplying a rinsing liquid to the developing section before or after development. Process head for electrophotographic equipment.