KR100304632B1 - Developer of Wet Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

A developing apparatus of a wet printer is disclosed. The developing apparatus of the disclosed wet printer includes a developing roller for attaching a developing solution to a developing region of a photosensitive belt having an infinite orbit, and a primary film for forming a developing film on the photosensitive belt by removing excess developer from the developing solution attached to the photosensitive belt. Removes a squeegee roller, a developer case for recovering the developer removed by the primary squeeze roller, and a wrap-around developer passing through both ends of the primary squeeze roller beyond the developing region of the photosensitive belt by capillary action. A developing apparatus of a wet printer having a wrap-around removing means, wherein the wrap-around removing means is installed to be in contact with a surface outside the developing region of the photosensitive belt passing through the primary squeegee roller. A developer removing member for absorbing and removing, and vaporizing the absorbed wrap-around developer And in that it comprises as its features. According to the present invention, it is possible to remove and recover the wrap-around developer by installing a developer as a simpler structure.

Description

Developer of Wet Printer

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a developing apparatus for a wet printer, and more particularly, to a developing apparatus for a wet printer having improved means for removing a developer to be wrapped around.

In general, an image forming apparatus applied to a printer or a copying machine forms a latent electrostatic image on a photosensitive medium such as a photosensitive drum or a photosensitive belt, develops the electrostatic latent image with a toner having a predetermined color, and transfers the image to a recording sheet. It is a device for obtaining a desired image. The image forming apparatus is roughly classified into wet and dry according to the toner used. In the wet type, a developer in which a toner is mixed with a volatile liquid carrier is used. The developing apparatus of a wet printer using such a developing solution has better print quality than the case of dry using a powder toner, and can prevent damage caused by harmful toner dust, and its use is gradually increasing.

In the above-described developing apparatus of the wet printer, a developing apparatus for forming an image by attaching a developing solution to the electrostatic latent image area of the photosensitive medium is used, and FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the main structure of a developing apparatus of a conventional wet printer. .

As shown, in general, the developing apparatus 140 is installed adjacent to the lower portion of the photosensitive belt 110. The photosensitive belt 110 is circulated in an infinite orbit by the driving roller 121, and a lower portion of the photosensitive belt 110 is irradiated with a laser beam on the photosensitive belt 110 in accordance with an image signal to form an electrostatic latent image. A laser scanning unit (hereinafter referred to as LSU) 130 is provided.

The developing device 140 attaches a developing solution 147 containing a toner having a predetermined color to the electrostatic latent image region of the photosensitive belt 110 to develop a predetermined image by developing the electrostatic latent image. In order to form a color image, a plurality of developing devices 140 are provided to separately contain a plurality of LSUs 130 and a developer 147 having a plurality of colors for color combinations, respectively.

The developing device 140 contains a developing solution 147 made of a toner having a predetermined color and a liquid carrier, and a developing roller 141, a cleaning roller 142, and a squeeze roller 144 and 145 on an upper portion thereof. Is installed. The developer roller 141 serves to attach the developer 147 to the electrostatic latent image region formed on the photosensitive belt 110 by the LSU 130, wherein the developer 147 is a developer supply device. 143 is supplied between the developing roller 141 and the photosensitive belt 110. The cleaning roller 142 removes the developer 147 remaining on the surface of the developing roller 141. The squeegee roller (Squeegee roller) (144, 145) is composed of the first squeeze roller 144 and the second squeeze roller 145, the phenomenon of the electrostatic latent image of the developer 147 attached to the photosensitive belt 110 Used to remove the excess developer 147 remaining. In this way, the developer 147 removed from the photosensitive belt 110 is attached to the surfaces of the squeeze rollers 144 and 145 and again by the blades 146a and 146b provided below the squeeze rollers 144 and 145. It is removed and collected and stored in the developing apparatus 140.

As described above, the developer 147 attached to the photosensitive belt 110 passes through the squeeze rollers 144 and 145 and is removed while leaving only the amount necessary for developing the electrostatic latent image, thereby forming a thin developer film. Since the developer film contains a liquid carrier unnecessary for development, it is necessary to remove it. The removal of the liquid carrier is carried out in the dry roller 151 which is installed in parallel with the driving roller 121 at a predetermined interval and the heat roller 152 which is installed in contact with the driving roller 121. Is done by. The dry roller 151 absorbs the liquid carrier on the surface of the photosensitive belt 110 to dry the developer film so that only the toner remains in the electrostatic latent image. Herein, the liquid carrier absorbed by the dry roller 151 is heated by the heat roller 152 to be evaporated and removed.

Although the toner image developed on the photosensitive belt 110 by the developing device 140 is not shown, it is transferred to the recording paper by the transfer roller which rotates in contact with the photosensitive belt 110 to finally form a desired image. do.

The developing system of the developing apparatus of the wet printer as described above will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. 2 is a side view showing an outline of a developing system by a conventional developing apparatus, and FIG. 3 is a plan view of the developing system shown in FIG.

2 and 3 together, the developing roller 141 maintains a predetermined distance from the photosensitive belt 110 and rotates in the same direction as the traveling direction of the photosensitive belt 110, and the developer (supplied therebetween) 147 is attached to the electrostatic latent image region of the photosensitive belt 110. The developing solution 147 attached to the photosensitive belt 110 as described above forms the developing region 115 equal to the width of the developing roller 141, and the primary squeeze roller 144 is in progress along the photosensitive belt 110. ), Only the amount necessary for development is left, and the extra developer 147 is removed. The primary squeeze roller 144 rotates in the same direction as the traveling direction of the photosensitive belt 110 during development, and removes the excess developer 147 from the developer 147 to form a thin developer film 148. At this time, some of the excess developer 147 is not removed, and the primary squeeze roller 144 is moved out of the developing area 115 along the gap between the primary squeeze roller 144 and the photosensitive belt 110 by capillary action. A lap-around phenomenon is generated, which moves in both directions of the squeeze roller 144 and crosses both ends of the primary squeeze roller 144 to the secondary squeeze roller 146. As described above, the wrap-around developer 149 due to the wrap-around phenomenon passes over both ends of the primary squeeze roller 144 and is buried outside the developing region 115 of the photosensitive belt 110, which is the photosensitive belt 110. Is removed by the secondary squeeze roller 145 rotating in the reverse direction to the traveling direction. The removed wrap-around developer 149 is attached to the surface of the secondary squeeze roller 145, and is separated and recovered by the blade 146b disposed below and in contact with the surface of the secondary squeeze roller 145.

However, the developing apparatus of the conventional wet printer constructed and operated as described above has the following problems. First, a secondary squeeze roller 145 is used to remove the wrap-around developer 149, and a driving device (not shown) is provided to rotate the wrap-around developer 149, and a lower blade 146b is installed at a lower portion thereof. It has a structure to complicate the configuration of the entire developing device 140.

In addition, when the surface of the secondary squeeze roller 145 is worn or damaged, the entire expensive secondary squeeze roller 145 should be replaced. Therefore, it is difficult to disassemble, assemble and maintain, and there is a problem that a lot of material costs and repair costs are input.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a developing apparatus of a wet printer in which a means for removing a wrap-around developer is more simply improved.

1 is a schematic view showing a developing apparatus of a conventional wet printer.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing an outline of a developing system by the developing apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG.

3 is a plan view of the developing system shown in FIG.

Figure 4 is a schematic diagram schematically showing a developing apparatus of a wet printer according to the present invention.

5 is a schematic perspective view of a wrap-around developer removing member employed in the developing apparatus of FIG.

<Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

110 ... photosensitive belt 115 ... development area

121 ... Drive Roller 130 ... LSU

149. Wrap-around developer 440 ... developer

441 Developing roller 442 Cleaning roller

443 ... Developer supply 444 ... First squeeze roller

445. Developer Case 446 ... Blade

447 developer 461 developer removal member

461a ... Closing member 461b ... Heat coil

461c ... Power section 471 ... Heat sink

The developing apparatus of the wet printer of the present invention for achieving the above object, by removing the developer from the developer roller for attaching the developer to the developing region of the photosensitive belt consisting of an endless track, A primary squeegee roller for forming a developer film on the photosensitive belt, a developer case for recovering the developer removed by the primary squeeze roller, and both ends of the primary squeeze roller outside the developing region of the photosensitive belt by capillary action. In the developing apparatus of a wet printer having a wrap-around removal means for removing the wrap-around developer that is passed over, the wrap-around removal means and the surface outside the developing area of the photosensitive belt passing the primary squeegee roller Installed in contact to absorb and remove the wrap-around developer and absorb the absorbed wrap-around In that it comprises a developer removing member and the gasifying sangaek its features.

In the present invention, it further comprises a heat exchange means provided on one side of the developer case.

Here, the heat exchange means includes a heat sink in which a plurality of heat radiation fins are formed, and the developer removing member is in a gauze cloth to directly contact the photosensitive belt to remove and absorb the wrap-around developer. A) member; And heat generating means installed on the cloth member to vaporize the wrap-around developer attached to the cloth member.

The heat generating means preferably includes a heat coil.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail a preferred embodiment of the developing apparatus of the wet printer according to the present invention.

Figure 4 is a schematic diagram schematically showing a preferred embodiment of the developing apparatus of the wet printer according to the present invention. On the other hand, the same reference numerals as in the above-described drawings indicate the same member.

Referring to the drawings, the developing apparatus 440 of the wet printer according to the present invention is installed adjacent to the lower portion of the photosensitive belt 110, the developing roller 441 for attaching the developer 447 to the photosensitive belt 110. And a developer squeeze roller 444 for removing the excess developer 147 and a developer removal member as a removal means for absorbing and removing the wrap-around developer 149 of FIGS. 2 and 3, which is a feature of the present invention. 461, and a heat exchange means provided on one side of the developing device 440.

In the developing device 440, a developer 447 made of a toner having a predetermined color and a liquid carrier is contained in the developer case 445, and the developer 447 is supplied to the developer roller 441. A cleaning roller 442 for removing the developer 447 remaining on the surface of the developer supply device 443 and the developing roller 441 is provided. In addition, a blade 446 is installed below the primary squeeze roller 444 to remove the developer 447 attached to the surface of the squeeze roller 444.

The photosensitive belt 110 is formed in an endless track and circulated by the driving roller 121, and the lower part of the LSU 130 irradiating a laser beam to the photosensitive belt 110 according to an image signal to form an electrostatic latent image. Is installed before the developing apparatus 440. The developing roller 441 receives the developer 447 from the developer supply device 443 and attaches the developer 447 to the electrostatic latent image region formed on the photosensitive belt 110 by the LSU 130. The excess developer 447 attached to the photosensitive belt 110 is removed and recovered by the cleaning roller 442.

The primary squeeze roller 444 rotates in contact with the surface of the photosensitive belt 110 and removes the excess developer 447 from the photosensitive belt 110. Thus, the excess squeeze roller 444 is removed from the photosensitive belt 110. The developer 447 is attached to the surface of the primary squeeze roller 444, and is again separated from the surface of the primary squeeze roller 444 by the blade 446 to be recovered to the developer case 445 of the developing device 440. Is saved.

The developer removing member 461 is installed on the outer circumferential surfaces of both ends of the primary squeeze roller 444 to absorb and remove the wrap-around developer 149 passing over both ends of the primary squeeze roller 444. . As shown in FIG. 5, the developer removing member 461 is directly in contact with the photosensitive belt 110 to remove and absorb the wrap-around developer 149. A member 461a and heat generating means provided in the cloth member 461a to evaporate the wrap-around developer attached to the cloth member 461a. The heat generating means preferably includes a heat coil 461b installed inside the cloth member 461a. In addition, a power supply part 461c is provided to enable operation by applying power to the heat coil 461b.

In addition, the heat exchange means includes a heat sink 471 in which a plurality of heat dissipation fins are formed, and is installed on one side wall of the developer case 445.

As described above, the developer 447 attached to the photosensitive belt 110 is removed by the primary squeeze roller 444 and the developer removing member 461, leaving only the amount necessary for developing the electrostatic latent image to form a thin developer film. do. Since the developer film contains a liquid carrier which is not necessary for development, it is absorbed by the dry roller 151 installed in parallel with the driving roller 121 at a predetermined interval as in the prior art, and is separately provided to the heat roller 152. By heating to evaporate and remove. Thus, an image remaining only toner is formed on the latent electrostatic image of the photosensitive belt 110.

Then, the developer film 448 is formed by the primary squeeze roller 444 of the developing solution 447 attached to the developing region of the photosensitive belt 110 by the developing roller 441. Developer 447 is attached to the surface of the primary squeeze roller 444, and is removed from the surface of the primary squeeze roller 444 by the blade 446 installed under the primary squeeze roller 444. It is recovered inside the device. At this time, some of the extra developer 447 removed by the primary squeeze roller 444 is out of the developing region along the gap between the primary squeeze roller 444 and the photosensitive belt 110 by capillary action. It moves in the axial direction of the primary squeeze roller 444 to generate a wrap-around phenomenon that passes over both ends of the primary squeeze roller 444.

In the present invention, as a means for removing the wrap-around developer 449 from the surface of the photosensitive belt 110, as described above, the developer removing member 461 and the heat sink 471 serving as heat exchange means are provided. The developer removing member 461 is installed in the developing device 440 on the lower surface of the photosensitive belt 110 past the primary squeeze roller 444, the surface of which is the developing region 115 of the photosensitive belt 110. It is installed to be in contact with the outer surface, that is, the surface of the photosensitive belt 110 on the movement path of the wrap-around developer 149 to remove and absorb the wrap-around developer 149 outside the developing area 115.

This will be described in more detail as follows.

As described above, when the developer removal member 461 installed in the developing region 115 wipes and absorbs the wrap-around developer 149, the wrap-around developer 149 on the photosensitive belt 110 is removed to develop a developer case. It falls to 445, and it collect | recovers in this developing case 445, or is buried in the gauze cloth member 461a, and is absorbed. Then, the developer deposited on the cloth member 461a is evaporated by the heat of the heat coil 461b which is a heat generating means. The heat exchange between the vaporized gas carrier and the heat sink 471 which is a heat exchange means installed in the developer case is performed. By this heat exchange, the gas carrier is condensed on each wall of the developer case 445 to become a liquid carrier. The above heat exchange is possible because the outside of the developer case 445 in which the heat sink 471 is installed maintains a lower temperature than the inside. Similarly, the condensed liquid carrier flows down along the wall surface of the developer case 445 and is recovered.

As described above, according to the present invention, since the wrap-around developer 149 is removed by the primary squeeze roller 444 and the developer removing member 461, the photosensitive belt 110 in front of the primary squeeze roller 444 is removed. ), And the conventional secondary squeeze roller (145 in FIG. 1) and the blade (146b in FIG. 1) are unnecessary.

As described above, the developing apparatus 440 of the wet printer according to the present invention includes a developer removing member 461 having a simple structure for removing the wrap-around developer, and a heat sink 471 which is a heat exchange means for liquefying the vaporized developer faster. In contrast to the conventional method, the secondary squeeze roller 145 having a complicated structure is not required, and thus the overall structure is simpler.

The developing apparatus of the wet printer according to the present invention as described above has the following effects.

When the wrap-around developer is provided at both ends of the primary squeeze roller and the developer absorbed by the developer removing member is evaporated by the developer removing member, the developer is easily condensed by heat exchange means installed in the developer case. The wrap-around developer is removed and recovered.

Therefore, since the developer removing member is installed on one side of the developing apparatus, the secondary squeeze roller is not necessary, thereby simplifying the structure and miniaturizing the developing apparatus. In addition, material costs and repair costs are reduced.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to one embodiment shown in the drawings, this is merely exemplary, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications and equivalent embodiments are possible.

Therefore, the true scope of protection of the present invention should be defined only by the appended claims.

Claims (5)

A developing roller for attaching a developer to a developing region of the photosensitive belt having an endless track, a primary squeegee roller for forming a developer film on the photosensitive belt by removing excess developer from the developer attached to the photosensitive belt, and the first squeeze A developer case for recovering the developer removed by the roller, and a wrap-around removal means for removing the wrap-around developer from the developing region of the photosensitive belt and passing over both ends of the primary squeeze roller by capillary action. In the developing apparatus of a wet printer, The wrap-around removal means, And a developer removing member installed to contact the surface outside the developing region of the photosensitive belt passing through the primary squeegee roller to absorb and remove the wrap-around developer, and to vaporize the absorbed wrap-around developer. Developing device for a wet printer. The method of claim 1, And a heat exchange means installed on one side of the developer case. The method of claim 2, The heat exchange means is a developing apparatus of a wet printer, characterized in that it comprises a heat sink formed with a plurality of heat radiation. The method of claim 1, The developer removing member, A cloth member having a gauze shape in direct contact with the photosensitive belt to remove and absorb the wrap-around developer; And heat generating means installed on the cloth member and vaporizing the wrap-around developer attached to the cloth member. The method of claim 4, wherein The heat generating means is a developing apparatus of a wet printer, characterized in that it comprises a heat coil.