KR20040022923A - Developing unit of liquid type electro-photographic image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A developing unit of a wet printer is provided to prevent a leakage of ink or liquid carrier even when the developing unit is inclined during handling, while achieving improved user convenience. CONSTITUTION: A developing unit(300) comprises a developing section(100) for supplying a developer to the photoconductor having an electrostatic latent image; and a containing section(200) for containing the developer to be supplied to the developing section. The containing section includes an ink containing portion(220) for containing a gel type ink; a carrier containing portion(230) for containing a liquid carrier; a diaphragm(240) for separating the ink containing portion and the carrier containing portion; and a stirrer(210) arranged in the ink containing portion in such a manner that the stirrer rotates and mixes the gel type ink and the liquid carrier by breaking the diaphragm.

Description

Developing unit of a wet press {Developing unit of liquid type electro-photographic image forming system}

The present invention relates to a developing unit of a wet printing machine, and more particularly, to a developing unit of a wet printing machine for performing a developing operation using a high density ink directly.

In general, a wet printing machine forms a toner image by supplying a developer in which toner particles coloring a liquid carrier are dispersed in an electrostatic latent image formed on a photoreceptor to form a toner image. An apparatus for transferring and fixing an image onto paper to form an image.

Figure 1 shows an example of a conventional wet press using a low concentration developer having a toner concentration of 2.5-3 percent solids (% solid).

Referring to FIG. 1, a photosensitive belt 20 charged by a charger 10 to a predetermined voltage and a photovoltaic image of the charged photosensitive belt 20 are scanned to form a relative voltage difference to form an electrostatic latent image of a desired image. And a developing device 30 which supplies a developer to the photosensitive belt 20 to develop the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image, and a toner image developed on the photosensitive belt 20. A transfer roller 50 for transferring to the paper S and a fixing roller 60 for fixing by applying heat and pressure to the toner image transferred to the paper S are shown.

This wet press draws about 25% solids of ink from the ink bottle 34, mixes and dilutes it with the liquid carrier in the mixer 35, and makes the toner concentration 2.5-3% solids (% solid) low developer. Then it is supplied to the developing container 33 by the pump (36). The liquid carrier is supplied from the carrier barrel 37. Since a low concentration of developer is used, a developer contained in the developing container 33 is sprayed between the photosensitive belt 20 and the developing roller 31 to supply a sufficient amount of toner to form an electrostatic latent image to form a toner image. . Then, the developer attached to the non-image region other than the electrostatic latent image is removed by the set roller 38, and the over-injected developer is removed by using a squeeze roller 32.

The toner image formed on the photosensitive belt 20 through the above process is transferred to the transfer roller 60 after the drying process. The fixing roller 70 meshes with the transfer roller 60 to rotate, and the paper S is conveyed therebetween. Then, the toner image is transferred to the paper S and fixed by the heat and pressure of the transfer roller 60 and the fixing roller 70.

Since the wet printer using the low concentration developer is used by diluting a high concentration of ink, an ink container 34, a mixer 35, a pump 36, etc. for supplying a high concentration of ink must be provided, which makes the structure very complicated. .

Therefore, in recent years, a wet printer which can be used directly without diluting a high concentration developer having a toner concentration of 3% solid or more has been proposed. Since the wet printer does not need to dilute the high concentration ink, it does not need the mixer 35 and the pump 36, and does not need to provide the squeeze roller 32 and the set roller 38 because it does not spray the developer. , The structure is simple and compact. Therefore, a method of integrating and uniting devices necessary for development has been proposed. In this developing unit, it is preferable that a high concentration ink and a liquid carrier are accommodated together. In this case, if the developing unit is not completely sealed, there is a problem that the ink or the carrier or the developer mixed with them leak while tilting when the developing unit is moved. However, it is practically difficult to completely seal the developing unit so that the liquid ink or the carrier or the developer mixed with them do not leak at all.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a developing unit of a wet printer which is improved so that ink or carrier does not leak even when the developing unit is tilted.

1 is a view showing an example of a conventional wet printer using a low concentration developer having a toner concentration of 2.5-3% solids.

2 is a view showing an embodiment of a developing unit of a wet printer according to a first aspect of the present invention.

3 is a view for explaining an operation by the configuration shown in FIG.

4 is a view showing an embodiment of a developing unit of a wet printer according to a second aspect of the present invention.

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

100 ...... Development 110 ...... Photosensitive drum

120 ...... Developer Roller 130 ...... Deposit Controller

140 ...... Regulator Roller 150 ...... Charge

160 ...... Supply Roller 170 ...... Developer Container

180 ...... beam 200 ...... receptor

210 ...... Agitator 211 ...... Axis

212 Wings ... 213 Cutter part

220 ...... Ink compartment 230,250 ...... Carrier compartment

240 ...... Beta 260 ...... Carrier Pack

300,400 ...... Developer Unit

The developing unit of the wet printer according to the first aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object comprises a developing portion for supplying and developing a developer to a photosensitive member in which an electrostatic latent image is formed, and a housing for containing the developer supplied to the developing portion. A developing unit of a wet printing machine comprising a portion, wherein the containing portion includes: an ink containing portion containing ink of a gel state; A carrier accommodating part in which a liquid carrier is accommodated; A diaphragm separating the ink containing portion and the carrier containing portion; And a stirrer installed in the ink containing portion to rotate the diaphragm to mix the gel ink and the liquid carrier.

The developing unit of the wet printer according to the second aspect of the present invention is a developing unit of a wet printing machine including a developing unit for supplying and developing ink to a photosensitive member on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, and a receiving unit for receiving ink supplied to the developing unit. The accommodating part may include an ink accommodating part in which gel ink is accommodated; A carrier accommodating part including a communication part communicating with the ink accommodating part and accommodating a carrier pack in which a liquid carrier is sealed; And a stirrer installed in the ink receiving portion, to break the carrier pack to mix the ink of the gel state and the liquid carrier.

According to this structure, since the ink and the liquid carrier are mixed after the developing unit is mounted on the wet printer, the ink can be separated from the liquid carrier and kept in a gel state before that. Therefore, the problem of leaking ink or a carrier when handling the developing unit before use can be solved.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 2 shows an embodiment of a developing unit of the wet printer according to the first aspect of the present invention.

2, the developing unit 300 includes a developing unit 100 and a receiving unit 200.

The developing unit 100 includes a photosensitive drum 110, a charger 150, a developing roller 120, a deposition controller 130, and a regulating roller 140. The photosensitive drum 110 is charged by the charger 140 to have a uniform surface potential. When light 180 corresponding to the image information is scanned from the optical scanning unit (not shown), a relative surface potential difference is generated between a portion where the light 180 is scanned and a portion that is not. Due to this potential difference, an electrostatic latent image of an image to be printed is formed on the photosensitive drum 110.

The developing roller 120 is rotated while being partially immersed in the developer in the developing container 170, and is installed to be slightly spaced apart from the photosensitive drum 110. The deposit controller 130 supplies a developer to the outer circumferential surface of the developing roller 120 to form a developer layer, and the regulating roller 140 shaves the developer to have a predetermined thickness. The developing roller 120 supplies the developer attached to the outer circumferential surface to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 120.

The supply roller 160 is installed between the developing part 100 and the receiving part 200 to supply the developer from the receiving part 200 to the developing part 100.

Although the photosensitive drum 120 is included in the developing unit 300 in this embodiment, the photosensitive drum 120 may be installed separately from the developing unit 300.

The receiver 200 includes an ink receiver 220, a carrier receiver 230, and an agitator 210. The ink I is accommodated in the ink receiving portion 220. This ink (I) is a high-density ink of about 40% solids or more of toner concentration, and is in a gel state. Therefore, the ink (I) has a very high viscosity and does not flow even when the developing unit 300 is tilted. The toner concentration of the ink I is preferably about 40 to 45% solids.

Carrier accommodating portion 230 is a liquid carrier (C) is accommodated. The ink accommodating part 220 and the carrier accommodating part 230 are separated from each other by the diaphragm 240. The diaphragm 240 may not be passed through the liquid carrier C, and may be formed of a material, such as vinyl, that may be torn by the stirrer 210. The diaphragm 240 is preferably installed to slightly protrude toward the ink receiving portion 220.

In the ink receiving portion 220, a stirrer 210 is installed. The stirrer 210 includes a rotating shaft 211 and a blade 212 attached to the shaft 211, and a cutter portion 213 is provided at the end of the blade 212 to tear the diaphragm 240. do. The cutter portion 213 may be formed by processing an end of the blade 212 like a blade, and may be installed at the end of the blade 121 as a separate blade. The cutter portion 213 may be provided only on the blade 212 positioned below the partition wall 240, or may be provided in every wing 212.

According to this configuration, before the developing unit 300 is mounted on the printing machine (not shown), the ink I and the carrier C are separated and accommodated in the ink receiving portion 220 and the carrier receiving portion 230, respectively. have. In addition, since the ink is in a gel state having a toner concentration of 40% solid or more, the viscosity is high and there is almost no flow, so that the ink does not leak even when the developing unit 300 is tilted. When the developing unit 300 is mounted on a printing machine (not shown), as shown in FIG. 3, the cutter unit 213 provided at the end of the blade 212 rotates the diaphragm 240 while the stirrer 210 rotates. Tear Then, the liquid carrier C flows into the ink containing portion 220 and mixes with the ink I. When the stirrer 210 rotates, the ink I and the liquid carrier C are mixed, and the toner concentration becomes about 25% solids. In addition, as described above, when the diaphragm 240 protrudes toward the ink receiving portion 220, the cutter portion 213 may more easily tear the diaphragm 240.

In order to achieve this effect, it is conceivable to mix the liquid carrier by directly injecting the liquid carrier into the ink container containing the ink of the gel state having a toner concentration of 40% solid or more before installing the developing unit in the printing press. Is very inconvenient because you have to do this yourself. At this time, the liquid carrier may be inadvertently leaked. However, according to the developing unit 300 according to the present invention, when the developing unit 300 is mounted on a printing machine (not shown), the ink I and the liquid carrier C are automatically mixed, which is very convenient.

Generally, when the toner concentration of the developer is 3% solid or more, it is called a high developer. This does not mean an absolute concentration value. In the conventional wet press, a low concentration developer having a toner concentration of 2.5 to 3% solid is used. Therefore, a developer having a higher toner concentration is used as a high concentration developer. Collectively. The toner concentration of the developer after the ink (I) and the liquid developer (C) are mixed can be varied by adjusting the amount of the liquid carrier (C) to be mixed according to the developing characteristics of the developing unit (300). In this embodiment, by adjusting the amount of the liquid carrier (C) accommodated in the carrier accommodating portion (230). The developer used in this embodiment is assumed to have a toner concentration of about 25% solids.

Figure 4 shows an embodiment of a developing unit of a wet printer according to a second aspect of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 4, the developing unit 400 of the present embodiment has almost the same configuration as the developing unit 300 shown in FIG. 2, but the liquid carrier C is sealed in the carrier pack 260. The point is different. The carrier accommodating part 250 is provided with a communication part 251 in communication with the ink accommodating part 220. The liquid carrier C is accommodated in the carrier accommodating part 250 while being sealed in the carrier pack 260. The communicating part 251 is preferably formed to slightly protrude toward the ink receiving part 220. This is because the cutter portion 213 of the rotating agitator 210 is easy to tear the carrier pack 260 through the communication portion 251. In addition, the carrier pack 260 is preferably formed of a material that can be torn by the cutter unit 213, for example, a material such as vinyl. Since the same reference numerals as those of FIG. 2 are the same as those of FIG. 2, the same reference numerals are omitted.

As described above, according to the developing unit of the wet printer according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

First, before mounting the developing unit to the printing machine, the gel ink and the liquid carrier are separated and accommodated separately, so that the ink or the liquid carrier does not leak even if the developing unit is tilted during handling.

Secondly, when the developing unit is mounted on the printer, the ink and the liquid carrier are automatically mixed by the stirrer to be a developer having a suitable toner concentration for development, thereby improving user convenience.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to that described above and illustrated in the drawings, and that more modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the following claims.

Claims (10)

A developing unit of a wet printing machine comprising: a developing unit supplying a developer to a photosensitive member on which an electrostatic latent image has been formed; and a receiving unit containing a developer supplied to the developing unit; An ink containing portion containing gel ink; A carrier accommodating part in which a liquid carrier is accommodated; A diaphragm separating the ink containing portion and the carrier containing portion; And a stirrer installed in the ink containing portion to rotate the diaphragm to mix the ink in the gel state with the liquid carrier. The method of claim 1, And the gel ink has a toner concentration of about 40 percent solids (% solids) or more. The method of claim 2, Wherein the gel ink has a toner concentration of about 40 to 45% solids. The method of claim 1, And the diaphragm protrudes toward the ink containing portion. According to claim 1, The stirrer, A shaft rotatably installed in the ink containing portion; Includes; a plurality of wings radially installed on the shaft, A developing unit of a wet printing machine, characterized in that a cutter portion for tearing the diaphragm is formed at an end portion of the wing positioned below the diaphragm. A developing unit of a wet printer, comprising: a developing unit for supplying and developing ink to a photosensitive member having an electrostatic latent image; and a receiving unit for receiving ink supplied to the developing unit. An ink containing portion containing gel ink; A carrier accommodating part including a communication part communicating with the ink accommodating part and accommodating a carrier pack in which a liquid carrier is sealed; And a stirrer installed in the ink receiving portion and mixing the gel ink and the liquid carrier by damaging the carrier pack. The method of claim 6, And the gel ink has a toner concentration of about 40 percent solids (% solids) or more. The method of claim 7, wherein Wherein the gel ink has a toner concentration of about 40 to 45% solids. The method of claim 6, And the communicating unit is formed to protrude toward the ink receiving unit. The method of claim 6, wherein the stirrer, A shaft rotatably installed in the ink containing portion; Includes; a plurality of wings radially installed on the shaft, The developing unit of the wet printer, characterized in that the cutter portion for tearing the carrier pack through the communication portion is formed at the end of the wing located below the diaphragm.