JPS6394287A - Process head for electrophotographic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To remove excess developer adhering to a developing electrode or the inwall of a passage without drying and solidifying it by supplying excess developer removing weak air to the developing room for a prescribed time after feeding developer and then supplying strong air for period shorter than the prescribed time. CONSTITUTION:When an electromagnetic valve 120 is closed and the supply of the developer is stopped, pressure air is supplied by a press-squeezing air pump 144, and in the initial time of supply, weak air is supplied during a time H1. Thus, the developer 136 is cut off and excess developer left in the developing room 98 and passages 104, 110 are removed. In the latter period of supply, strong air is supplied during a time H2 to remove the excess developer adhering to the inwall of the developing room 98, the inwalls of the passages 104, 110 and a developing electrode 96 which can not be removed by the weak air. The supplying time H2 of the strong air is set up shorter than the weak air supplying time H1 to prevent the excess developer from being quickly dried and increasing its adhering quantity.

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 electrophotographic film exposed in the charging/exposure section to visualize the electrostatic charge layer 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 remains in the developing section and the developer supply passage after development is completed. In order to remove this excess developer, the excess developer is drained using air.

However, when draining excess developer using air, if the air pressure is weak, that is, if there is a weak wind, the excess developer is removed from the inner wall of the passage and the developing section. It is not possible to remove excess developer that has adhered to the inner wall of this passage and the developing electrode, etc. It is possible to increase the air pressure to remove excess developer that has adhered to the inner wall of this passage and the developing electrode, etc. If the pressure is increased, that is, if the wind is strong, the excess developer will dry and solidify more quickly.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned facts, and an object of the present invention is to obtain a process head for an electrophotographic apparatus that can remove excess developer adhering to a developing electrode or an inner wall of a passage without drying or solidifying the developer.

[Means for solving problems]

The present invention relates to a process head for an electrophotographic device in which development is performed using a developer supplied to a developing chamber provided in a main body of an electrophotographic film process head, wherein excess developer is removed to the developing chamber after the developer is supplied. The present invention is characterized in that after a weak wind is supplied for a predetermined period of time, a strong wind is further supplied for a period shorter than the predetermined time.

[Effect]

Therefore, in the present invention, an electrophotographic film is developed by supplying a developer to a developing chamber provided in a process head main body for an electrophotographic apparatus. After this developer is supplied, the developer remains as surplus developer in the developing chamber. In order to remove this, weak wind is supplied for a predetermined period of time, but the excess developer does not dry.

After supplying this weak wind, surplus developer still adheres to the inner wall of the developing section, for example, the developing electrode and the supply passage, and in order to remove this, strong wind is supplied for a shorter time than the weak wind. This results in
Excess developer adhering to the developing section, such as the developing electrode or the inner wall of the passage, can be removed. Since this strong wind supply time is shorter than the weak wind supply time, surplus developer will not be dried or solidified by this strong wind.

〔Example〕

(Electrophotographic 4A Placement) 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 electronic It also has a copy function that enlarges and copies images recorded on photographic film onto copy paper.

The electrophotographic apparatus is constructed by integrating an electrophotographic apparatus body 10 and a copying apparatus 112 whose housing 11 also serves as a stand for the electrophotographic apparatus 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 'A E 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 internal space of 14B is communicated at the rear part.

On the outside of the housing 14A, a slightly tilted transmissive screen 16 is disposed to cover the front opening of the housing, and a document table 18 is disposed above. On the document table 18, there is a temporary document holder 20 that can be opened and closed.
A transparent glass temporary 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 various types of electrophotographic devices are mounted on the front part of the upper part. A control keyboard 28 is provided for operations.

Further, in the housing 11 of 12 in the copy unit, there is 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 into which the reflected light from the original 34 is incident.
, a second mirror 4o 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 the reflected light from the first mirror 42 to an electrophotographic film. 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 directs the light transmitted through the electrophotographic film 24 onto a first mirror 42.
4, a second mirror 4o onto 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 IO, and the conversion lens 48 is movably disposed within the housing 14B so as not to interfere with other optical systems. has been done. Since the screen 16 does not interfere with other optical systems, it is fixedly arranged as described above.

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

(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 an insulating i1 layer that protects the photoconductive layer. 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 540 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 the -9 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 -9 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 mask electrode 82 are electrically connected. Normally, the proximal electrode 80 is directly connected to the ground, and the mask electrode 82 is connected to the ground via an electrical resistance, but different bias voltages may be applied to each from an external power source.

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 i; the same level as the mask 76.

The opening width of the mask 90 is slightly shorter than the opening width of the mask 76. In addition, the opening height of the mask 90,
That is, the distance between the inner walls of the upper frame 90A and the lower frame 90D is
The inner wall of the lower frame 90D is located lower than that of the mask 76, and is lengthened accordingly.

As shown in FIG. 9, a developing electrode 96 is disposed within the opening of the mask 90 and supported by a helmet wall 94. The developing section pi96 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 and lower parts of the developing electrode 96 are opened, and are provided with a developer/squeeze air inlet 100 and a developer/squeeze air outlet 10, respectively.
It is said to be 2.

The wall surface of the current chamber mask 90 is smoothed to improve the efficiency of draining.

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 communicated with a passage l10 formed in the internal space of the process head 54. The passage 110 communicates with a developer/squeeze air outlet 112 opened on the back side of the process head 54.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 10, 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. As shown in FIG. 10, the squeeze suction port 114 is
Passage 116 constituted by the internal space of process head 54
It is communicated with. The 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 supply pump 130 is disposed in the developer bottle 134. The developer bottle 134 contains a developer 136 in which toner particles are dispersed in a solvent.

The pipe line 124 connecting the electromagnetic valve 120 and the developer tank 126 is branched in the middle, and a developer bottle 134
A return conduit 138 opens to. Further, a return pipe 140 that opens into the developer bottle 134 is connected to the developer tank 126 .

The squeezing air supply port 108 is connected through a conduit 142 to an air pump 144 for pressure squeezing. A developer bottle 1 is provided in the developer/squeeze air outlet 112.
A return conduit 146 opening to 34 is connected thereto.

This squeeze air pump 144 is capable of supplying two levels of pressurized air: weak air and strong air, as shown in FIG. This switching is for pressurized squeeze air pump 1.
It may be formed so that two levels of pressure can be supplied by switching the voltage supplied to 44.

Pressurized air is supplied by the pressurized squeezing air pump 144 when the solenoid valve 120 is closed and the supply of the developer 136 is stopped. At the beginning of the supply, the time H shown in FIG.
+, specifically lj! with respect to the ICl1 width of the space surrounded by the 9° inner wall of the mask and the developing electrode 96, that is, the developing chamber 98! /l1in flow j for 1 to 3 seconds (preferably 1.
5 seconds) Light wind is supplied. As a result, the developer 136 is drained, and the developing chamber 98, the passage 104, and the passage 110 are drained.
The excess developer remaining inside is removed.

Also, since the wind is weak, excess developer does not dry out quickly.

After this supply late time! (2. Specifically, the developing chamber 98
0.2 at a flow rate of 4ff/+sin for l cm width of
A strong wind is applied for ~2 seconds (preferably 1.0 seconds). As a result, the inner wall of the developing chamber 98, the inner wall of the passage 104 and 110, and the developing electrode 9 could not be removed when weak wind was supplied.
Excess developer adhering to 6 is removed. Further, the strong wind supply time H2 is set shorter than the weak wind supply time H5 so that the excess developer does not dry quickly due to the strong wind and the amount of adhesion does not increase further.

After supplying strong wind, weak wind is supplied for a time H8° shown in FIG. 16, specifically for 0.2 to 1 second (preferably 0.5 seconds). Due to this supply, passage 1 could not be removed during strong wind supply.
04, excess developer adhering to the inner wall of the passage 110 is removed.

As shown in FIG. 11(B), the suction squeeze opening 118 is connected to a suction trap 150 through a conduit 148. The suction trap 150 is connected by a conduit 152 to an air pump 154 for suction squeeze. Further, a return pipe 156 that opens to the developer bottle 134 is connected to the bottom of the suction trap 150 . Suction trap 1
50 is provided with a valve 158 that can close the return pipe line 156 at a connection part with the return pipe line 156.
58 is vertically pivoted by a solenoid 162 via a shaft 160.

Note that the process head 54 is shown in an inclined state at around 1 in FIG. 11 because it is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane so that the optical axis of the optical system is perpendicular to the screen 16 arranged at an inclined angle. It is.

(Drying Section) As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a frame wall 164 is formed in the drying section 6B. The frame wall 164 is composed of an upper frame 164A 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 16
It stands up from the front wall 74 together with 4A. Further, the cloth frame 164C stands up from a front wall recess 168 that is recessed 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 qzo. The bottom surface of the recess 172 is as follows.

It is located at a position protruding from the wall surface of the front wall recess 168. 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 described in 11j. 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 communicates with a hot air supply port 180 opened at the front of the process head 54 . Passage 1
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 dense 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.
The blip mark 24A is located at a height such that the blip mark 24AfJ<il of No. 4 is located at a height such that when the blip mark 24A passes, it indicates that the light from the light source for the sensor, which is placed facing each other with the electrophotographic film 24 in between, is blocked. I have come to know everything.

(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 foot 198 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 198 is arranged so that the through hole 200 corresponds to the mask 76.

As shown in FIG. 15A (a perspective view of the presser plate viewed from the opposite side of FIG. 15), the presser plate 198 has process heads at the upper and lower ends of the end where the through hole 200 is formed. Claws 202 and 204 are formed that protrude toward the 54 side. The claws 202, 204 have inclined surfaces 202A, 204A on their inner surfaces facing each other, and as shown in FIG.
4 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 pawls 202, 204 can fit into holes 208, 210 formed in the front wall 74 of the process head 54, shown in FIGS. 5, 6, and 14.

A cylindrical portion 212 is formed protrudingly on the back surface of the presser foot 198 facing the process head 54.
12 has a notch 21 formed at one end of the arm 214.
4A is engaged. A retaining ring 212A is fixed to the tip of the cylindrical portion 212 to prevent the cutout portion 214A from being pulled out. A boss portion 214B is formed at the other end of the arm 214. The shaft 21 is attached to the boss portion 214B.
6 is fixed.

The shaft 216 is rotatably inserted into and supported by a stand 218 erected on the frame 60 to which the process head 54 is attached, and its lower end protrudes from the back surface of the frame 60 . A third lever 220 is fixed to the lower end of the shaft 216.

A pin 222 is fixed to the tip of the first lever 220.

On the other hand, a shaft 224 is vertically provided on the back surface of the frame 60. An intermediate portion of a second lever 226 is rotatably supported on the shaft 224 . The pin 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 foot 198 is spaced apart from the process head 54 when the solenoid 234 is not energized.

In this state, as shown in FIG.
8, a cylindrical portion 206 is fitted into a hole 210 formed in the process head 54 and supported.

When solenoid 234 is energized, plunger 234A
is actuated in the direction of the arrow, and the tension coil 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 around the shaft 224.
22 in the direction of arrow C, causing the shaft 216 to rotate in the same direction. The rotation of the shaft 216 causes the arm 214 to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow and presses the presser plate 198 in the direction 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 temporary presser foot 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 presser foot 198 presses the electrophotographic film 24 against the process head 54, the claws 202 and 204
are fitted into holes 208, 210 and accurately positioned in process head 54. Also presser temporary 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 retaining plate 198
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. This situation! In the imaginary, the electrophotographic film 24 is positioned as shown in FIG. 14, and is movable 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 28 shown in FIG. It is restricted by this.

FIG. 16 shows a time chart in the case where, after aligning and photographing the predetermined -9 as described above, continuous Vt photography is performed for each frame following this frame. has been done. In the process head 54, when the frame located in the charging/exposure section 64 is being charged and exposed, the frames located in the developing section 66, drying section 68, and fixing section 70 are simultaneously undergoing different processes. However, the following explanation focuses on the position -9 in which the photographing button is pressed at position (1) in FIG. 16 and photographing is started.

The document 34 can be photographed by selecting the camera mode by operating a button on the control keyboard 28. At the same time as this operation, the developing bridge 96 of the developing section 66 is energized to apply a bias voltage, and the drying chamber The heater 179 that heats the air blown to the fuser 174 is energized and generates heat, and the capacitor of the xenon lamp 192 of the fixing unit 70
It is powered 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, mask 7
The surface of the photosensitive layer of the electrophotographic film 24 located within the opening frame 6 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 presser plate 198 has a through hole 200 formed in a portion corresponding to the mask 76, but since the through hole 200 is smaller than the opening of the mask 76, the electrophotographic film 24 located on the end surface 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
However, by being held at approximately the same potential as the charged potential of the electrophotographic film 24, the -9 peripheral edge of the electrophotographic film 24 located at the opening of the mask 76 also has a potential close to the potential of the center of the frame. Charged, -9 of the electrophotographic film 24
The entire area is charged uniformly. 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 by applying a bias voltage from an external mold B (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 128 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, but at this time, the solenoid valve 120 is still closed, so the developer 136 flows from the return pipe 138 to the developer bottle 134. 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, until the solenoid valve 120 is opened, the developer 136 circulates between the developer bottle 134 and the developer tank 126 and is in a standby state at the position before the solenoid valve 120 is rotated. . 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 Wl(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 -9 of the electrophotographic film 24 located in the opening of the mask 76 is electrostatically charged as the charge on the photosensitive layer decreases according to the image pattern of the original 34. A latent image is 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 system Z (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 other frame processing steps have been completed, the solenoid 234 of the film holding mechanism is turned on immediately. 1st
When the solenoid 234 is demagnetized at the (IA) position in FIG. 6, the presser foot 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 to move the electrophotographic film 24 one frame to the right in FIG. As a result, the frame located in the charging/exposure section 64 is moved to the developing section 66. One frame movement of the electrophotographic film 24 is
As in the previous case, control is performed by the prep sensor 196 detecting the blip mark 248.

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 with the presser +7i 198 be touched. At the same time, the solenoid 162 of the suction trap 150 is demagnetized to close the return line 156, the air pump 154 for suction squeeze is activated, and the solenoid valve 12
0 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 charged part of the electrophotographic film 24 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.

11; Since the electrophotographic film 24 is pressed against the end surface of the mask 90 by the presser holder 198, the developer 136 flowing down the developing chamber 98 flows into the gap between the end surface of the mask 90 and the electrophotographic film 24. There is almost no infiltration.

When the developer 136 enters from this part, the negative pressure generated in the recesses 92 located on both sides of the left and right frame portions 908190C of the mask 90 by the air pump 154 for suction squeeze causes the developer 136 to be sucked out by the squeeze suction. Mouth 1
14, is sucked into a suction trap 150 through a conduit 148, and is captured bli.

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.
8 is stopped and the operation is stopped, but 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 the developer 136 is stopped, it is possible to minimize the exposure blur caused by the vibration of the developer pump 130 during successful exposure.

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.

As described above, when supplying pressurized air to the developing chamber 98, that is, blowing air, a weak air is supplied during the time H1 shown in FIG. 16 while a sufficient amount of the developer 136 remains in the developing chamber 98. , the developer 136 is drained. Furthermore, since the wind is weak, image deterioration due to high-speed blowdown is prevented. After the time H1 has elapsed, strong wind is supplied for a time Hz, and the developing chamber 98
Also, excess developer adhering to the passages 104 and 110 is removed. Since this supply time H2 is set shorter than the weak wind supply time H1, the developer does not solidify.

After the strong wind is supplied for a time of Hz, a weak wind is supplied again for a time H3, but in the case of continuous shooting, H1=0, and when the shooting interval is long, it is supplied until the film is moved. As a result, excess developer adhering to the inner walls of the passages 104 and 110 is removed without being solidified.

The air blowing is controlled by the successful charging/exposure process that is started when the photographing button is pressed at position (n) in Figure 16, and the solenoid 234 of the film holding mechanism is demagnetized at position (IIA) 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.

When the drive of the film moving motor (C) is stopped, the electrophotographic film 24 has been moved -9 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.
The air pump 181 shown in FIG. 2 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 1
The operation of 81 is controlled by the frame charging and exposure process that is started when the photographing button is pressed at the (■) position in Fig. 16, and the solenoid of the film holding mechanism is activated at the (I[[A] position in Fig. 16). 23°4 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 position (IIIA) 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 (I[IB) position in FIG. 16, and at the same time, the air pump 195 shown in FIG. 13 is activated. , cold air is supplied to the space 190 of the fixing section 70. This cold air passes through the upper part of the glass plate 186 from the space 190 and reaches the fixing chamber 18B.

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
Successful imaging becomes possible after a predetermined period of time has elapsed since 4 was excited. From this time until a predetermined period of time has elapsed after the air pump 144 for pressurizing and squeezing the developing section 66 finishes blowing weak air, if the shooting button is pressed for consecutive successful shootings. , are 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 is recorded as described above becomes capable of projection when the reader mode is selected. In the electrophotographic apparatus of this embodiment, the reader mode is automatically selected when a cassette is loaded by the same operation as in section 11 (the third mirror 38
has been moved from its position in FIG. 2 to another position. ), by the same operation as described above, a predetermined frame is positioned and stopped in the charging/exposure section 64, and at the same time, the projection light source section 46 shown in FIG.
The light source is turned on, and this light illuminates the through hole 200 of the holding plate 198.
The light passes through the electrophotographic film 24, and the image of the electrophotographic film 24 is enlarged and projected onto the screen 16 by the optical system shown in FIG.

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 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 the afterimage phenomenon.

When the copy button on the control keyboard 28 is pressed while the image is being projected onto the screen 16 as described above, the copy mode is selected and the copy mirror 52 is moved, and the optical system shown in FIG.
The image projected on 6 is recorded on copy paper 30.

Note that in the above embodiment, the developer 1 in the developer bottle 134
36 is stored in the -H developer tank 126 and then the electromagnetic valve 120 is opened to supply the developer to the developing section. 136 may be directly supplied; in this case, a detector (not shown) similarly detects the developer branched from the middle of the conduit 132 and returned through the return conduit 140; All you have to do is control the supply voltage.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, the present invention provides a process head for an electrophotographic apparatus in which an electrophotographic film is developed with a developer supplied to a developing chamber provided in a process head main body,
After the developer is supplied, weak wind for removing surplus developer is supplied to the developing chamber for a predetermined time, and then strong wind is further supplied for a shorter time than the predetermined time, so that the surplus developer adhering to the development electrode is dried and solidified. It has an excellent effect and can be removed without any damage.

[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 according to an embodiment of the present invention installed in the electrophotographic apparatus shown in FIG. 1. The exploded perspective view of the head, Figure 6 is the same (the front view, Figure 7 is the same
Figure 8 is a view taken along the line ■-■ of Figure 6, Figure 9 is a view taken along the line IX-IX of Figure 6, and Figure 10 is a view taken along the line IX-IX of Figure 6. 7) X-X VA arrow view, Figure 11 (A),
(B) is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the process head developing section and other equipment, FIG. 12 is a view taken along the line X-XN in FIG. 6, and 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 installed in the process head, and FIG. 15A is a schematic side view showing the positional relationship between the process head and the holding plate. FIG. 16, which is a perspective view of the parts viewed from the opposite side, is a chart showing a time chart in the camera mode of the electrophotographic apparatus. 24... Electrophotographic film, 54... Process head, 56... Main body, 98... Developing chamber, 136... Developer.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A process head for an electrophotographic device in which an electrophotographic film is developed with a developer supplied to a developing chamber provided in a process head main body, wherein the excess developer is removed from the developing chamber after the developer is supplied. A process head for an electrophotographic apparatus, characterized in that after supplying weak wind for a predetermined time, strong wind is further supplied for a time shorter than the predetermined time.