WO2000026035A1 - Procede et dispositif de formation d'image - Google Patents

Procede et dispositif de formation d'image Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2000026035A1
WO2000026035A1 PCT/JP1999/006127 JP9906127W WO0026035A1 WO 2000026035 A1 WO2000026035 A1 WO 2000026035A1 JP 9906127 W JP9906127 W JP 9906127W WO 0026035 A1 WO0026035 A1 WO 0026035A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
developer
vibration
image forming
forming apparatus
developer passage
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/JP1999/006127
Other languages
English (en)
Japanese (ja)
Inventor
Masahiro Aizawa
Masaichiro Tatekawa
Masahiko Hashimoto
Masayoshi Miura
Yoshitaka Kitaoka
Takahiro Tsujimoto
Akira Ryoji
Taichi Itoh
Hidenori Tomachi
Katsutoshi Ogawa
Akira Kumon
Original Assignee
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
Array Ab
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from JP10313165A external-priority patent/JP2000141732A/ja
Priority claimed from JP19552299A external-priority patent/JP2001018436A/ja
Priority claimed from JP19636699A external-priority patent/JP2001018437A/ja
Priority claimed from JP22271099A external-priority patent/JP2001047657A/ja
Application filed by Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Array Ab filed Critical Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
Priority to AU10764/00A priority Critical patent/AU1076400A/en
Priority to EP99954363A priority patent/EP1129855A1/fr
Publication of WO2000026035A1 publication Critical patent/WO2000026035A1/fr

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/385—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective supply of electric current or selective application of magnetism to a printing or impression-transfer material
    • B41J2/41—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective supply of electric current or selective application of magnetism to a printing or impression-transfer material for electrostatic printing
    • B41J2/415—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective supply of electric current or selective application of magnetism to a printing or impression-transfer material for electrostatic printing by passing charged particles through a hole or a slit
    • B41J2/4155—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective supply of electric current or selective application of magnetism to a printing or impression-transfer material for electrostatic printing by passing charged particles through a hole or a slit for direct electrostatic printing [DEP]
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/22—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern involving the combination of more than one step according to groups G03G13/02 - G03G13/20
    • G03G15/34—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern involving the combination of more than one step according to groups G03G13/02 - G03G13/20 in which the powder image is formed directly on the recording material, e.g. by using a liquid toner
    • G03G15/344—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern involving the combination of more than one step according to groups G03G13/02 - G03G13/20 in which the powder image is formed directly on the recording material, e.g. by using a liquid toner by selectively transferring the powder to the recording medium, e.g. by using a LED array
    • G03G15/346—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern involving the combination of more than one step according to groups G03G13/02 - G03G13/20 in which the powder image is formed directly on the recording material, e.g. by using a liquid toner by selectively transferring the powder to the recording medium, e.g. by using a LED array by modulating the powder through holes or a slit
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G2217/00—Details of electrographic processes using patterns other than charge patterns
    • G03G2217/0008—Process where toner image is produced by controlling which part of the toner should move to the image- carrying member
    • G03G2217/0025—Process where toner image is produced by controlling which part of the toner should move to the image- carrying member where the toner starts moving from behind the electrode array, e.g. a mask of holes

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a copying machine, a facsimile, and a printing machine, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus for performing recording by ejecting a developer such as toner onto a recording medium.
  • One of the image forming apparatuses is a direct marking method of forming an image directly on paper.
  • Japanese Patent Publication No. 44-26333 describes a toner ejection type image forming apparatus which is one of the direct marking methods. This is achieved by generating an accelerating electric field that causes the toner to fly between the developing sleeve and the counter electrode, which charges and supplies the toner, and inputs an image signal to the electrode of the print head having the developer passage hole. The control of the amount of charged toner passing through the control grid is performed so that the charged toner adheres to the recording paper in front of the counter electrode to form an image. For example, in order to form a dot of about 100 zm, the diameter of the developer passage hole needs to be as small as about 100.
  • the dots may become too small or not be able to be printed. This is due to clogging of the developer passage hole due to dust and dust scattered in the apparatus, and clogging caused by toner.
  • Toners useful for image formation are of normal polarity, but a part of toner of opposite polarity flies along with toner of normal polarity due to cohesion and adhesion between toners.
  • the electric field formed between the counter electrode and the print head during recording acts as a force to return the toner of this opposite polarity from the recording paper (counter electrode) to the print head. Returned reverse polarity toner adheres to the print head surface and the inner surface of the developer passage. In addition, since the uncharged toner is easily separated from the developing sleeve, it falls into the developer passage hole and adheres.
  • the first or second invention is an invention of an image forming method, and specifically, the first invention is a step of supporting a charged developer with a developer carrier, and a process for supporting the developer carrier. Applying a predetermined voltage to the counter electrode arranged in a predetermined manner; and an insulating base material arranged between the developer carrier and the counter electrode, and having a plurality of developer passage holes formed in rows. Developing the developer on the developer carrier by a predetermined developing method using an image signal electrode disposed around each of the developer passage holes in the insulating base material and to which a voltage corresponding to an image signal is applied.
  • the method is characterized in that vibration is applied to the insulating base material by combining a traveling wave and a standing wave.
  • the traveling wave is propagated in a direction parallel to the developer passage hole array, and the standing wave is formed in a direction perpendicular to the developer passage hole array. Is preferred.
  • Propagating the traveling wave in the direction parallel to the developer passage hole array prevents occurrence of nodes and antinodes of vibration, and provides uniform vibration.
  • Propagating the traveling wave in the direction parallel to the developer passage hole array prevents occurrence of nodes and antinodes of vibration, and provides uniform vibration.
  • by forming a standing wave in a direction perpendicular to the developer passage hole array it is possible to suppress the attenuation of the vibration and to vibrate the vicinity of the developer passage hole largely.
  • a second invention comprises a step of supporting a charged developer by a developer carrier; a step of applying a predetermined voltage to a counter electrode arranged to face the developer carrier; An insulating base material disposed between the carrier and the counter electrode, and having a plurality of developer passage holes formed in a row; and an insulating base material disposed around each of the developer passage holes in the insulating base material; Using an image signal electrode to which a voltage according to an image signal is applied, causing the developer on the developer carrier to fly so as to pass through a predetermined developer passage hole; And a step of removing the developer or foreign matter adhering around the developer passage.
  • the step of removing the developer or foreign matter comprises: It is located on one of both sides of the agent passage hole row Transmitting the vibration from the vibration source to the insulating substrate; absorbing the vibration propagating in a direction parallel to the row of developer passage holes; and propagating in a direction perpendicular to the row of developer passage holes. Reflecting the generated vibration to the side of the developer passage hole at the other of the two sides sandwiching the developer passage hole.
  • a traveling wave is formed by absorbing the vibration transmitted from the vibration source on the one hand, and the standing wave is formed by interference of the reflected wave and the input wave by reflecting the vibration transmitted to the insulating base material. Is formed.
  • a standing wave having an antinode in the vicinity of the developer passage hole may be formed by adjusting the position of the reflection end of the vibration.
  • a step of amplifying the vibration from the vibration source is provided before the step of transmitting the vibration from the vibration source to the insulating base material, the development can be performed without increasing the amplitude of the vibration source.
  • the vicinity of the agent passage hole is sufficiently vibrated.
  • a step of reducing the amplitude of the vibration may be provided before the step of absorbing the vibration. This facilitates the absorption of vibration.
  • a step of suppressing the attenuation of the vibration until the vibration from the vibration source is absorbed may be provided. This ensures that the vibration from the vibration source propagates to the developer passage hole array over the entire area.
  • a third invention is an invention relating to an image forming apparatus, and specifically, a developer carrier for carrying and transporting a developer, and a counter electrode disposed so as to face the developer carrier.
  • a plurality of developer passage holes arranged between the developer carrier and the image receiving member, the developer carrier having at least one row of developer passage holes, and being transported by the developer carrier.
  • a developer passage control member for controlling the developer to fly so as to pass through a predetermined developer passage hole in accordance with an image signal and adhere to the image receiving body; and It is provided with a vibration applying member for applying vibration to the developer passage control member so as to remove the developer.
  • the vibration applying member is configured to apply vibration to the developer passage control member by combining a traveling wave and a standing wave.
  • the vibration imparting member is configured to propagate the vibration of the traveling wave in a direction parallel to the row of the developer passage holes, and to form the vibration of the standing wave in a direction perpendicular to the row of the developer passage holes. Is preferred.
  • Propagating the traveling wave in the direction parallel to the developer passage hole array prevents occurrence of nodes and antinodes of vibration, and provides uniform vibration.
  • Propagating the traveling wave in the direction parallel to the developer passage hole array prevents occurrence of nodes and antinodes of vibration, and provides uniform vibration.
  • by forming a standing wave in a direction perpendicular to the developer passage hole array it is possible to suppress the attenuation of the vibration and to vibrate the vicinity of the developer passage hole largely.
  • the fourth or fifth invention is an invention suitable for forming a standing wave on the developer passage control member. More specifically, a fourth invention is a developer carrier configured to be rotatable around an axis extending in a predetermined direction, and conveyed by rotating around the rotation axis while carrying the developer on a peripheral side surface. A plurality of developer passage holes, which are provided to face the peripheral side surface of the developer carrying member and through which the developer can pass, are arranged in the rotation axis direction of the developer carrying member; Has at least one row of developer passage holes arranged along the line, and controls the developer to fly from the developer carrier and pass through the developer passage holes according to an external image signal.
  • a developer passing control member an image receiving member provided on the side opposite to the developer carrier with respect to the developer passing control member, and a developer passing through a developer passing hole of the developer passing control member.
  • An image forming apparatus comprising: a counter electrode that is guided toward the image receiving member so as to adhere to the image receiving member.
  • the developer passage control member further includes a vibration imparting member that imparts vibration to one of both side portions of the developer passage hole member sandwiching the row of developer passage holes, and the other of the two side portions of the developer passage control member sandwiching the developer passage hole line. Is generated in the developer passage control member by the application of the vibration by the vibration applying member, and the developer carried so as to reflect in the opposite direction the vibration that proceeds from the bracket applying portion toward the developer passage hole row side. It is characterized by being in contact with the body.
  • the vibration from the vibration applying member is reflected at the contact portion (vibration reflecting end) between the developer passing control member and the developer carrying member, and stands between the developer passing control member and the vibration applying member. Waves are formed. If the portion of the developer passage hole or its vicinity does not become a node of the standing wave, that portion will always vibrate due to the standing wave, and the developer will accumulate in or around the developer passage hole. Can be effectively prevented. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent the developer passage hole from being blocked by the accumulation of the developer.
  • the other of the two sides of the developer passage control member sandwiching the row of developer passage holes is wound around the peripheral side surface of the developer carrier so as to face the developer carrier. You may contact.
  • the length of contact between the developer passage control member and the developer carrier is ⁇
  • the wavelength of the vibration wave, and the developer passage control member and the developer carrier are arranged in the circumferential direction of the developer carrier.
  • the length of contact may be set to L 3 and L 3> ⁇ / 4.
  • the application of the vibration prevents the developer passage control member from undulating or the like, and the developer passage control member and the developer carrier are more stable. Contact. As a result, a reflected wave of vibration is stably formed, and a standing wave is reliably formed in the developer passage control member. Further, if L 3> AZ 4, the vibration propagating from the vibration applying member toward the developer passage hole row side can propagate over the contact portion between the developer passage control member and the developer carrier. It is prevented and reliably reflected. As a result, the amplitude of the standing wave becomes larger.
  • a fifth invention is characterized in that the developer carrier is configured to be rotatable around an axis extending in a predetermined direction, and conveys the developer by rotating around the rotation axis while carrying the developer on a peripheral side surface;
  • a developer passage control member for controlling the developer to fly from the developer carrier and to pass through the developer passage hole in accordance with an external image signal;
  • An image receiving member provided on a side opposite to the developer carrier with respect to the control member; and the image receiving device such that the developer passing through a developer passage hole of the developer passage control member is attached to the image receiving member.
  • Image with a counter electrode for guiding to the body side
  • the developer passage control member further includes a vibration imparting member that imparts vibration to one of both sides of the developer passage hole row, with the vibration passage member interposed therebetween. The other of the portions is generated in the developer passage control member by the application of the vibration by the vibration applying member, and reflects the vibration that travels from the vibration applying portion toward the developer passage hole row side in the reverse direction.
  • the spacer member may extend along the rotation axis direction of the developer carrier. In this case, the distance between the developing agent passage control member and the developer carrier is kept constant.
  • the vibration imparting member includes: a vibration transmitting body extending along a rotation axis direction of the developer carrying member; and a longitudinal end portion of the vibration transmitting body. It may be constituted by a vibration source arranged at least on one side. This Thus, blockage due to the accumulation of the developer is prevented for all the developer passage holes in the developer passage hole array.
  • the vibration applying member constituted by the vibration transmitting body and the vibration generating source is configured such that a standing wave is formed in the developer passage control member, the reflection end being a node and the developer passage hole being an antinode. You may. Thereby, the developer passage hole portion of the developer passage control member is displaced most greatly, and the effect of preventing the developer passage hole from being closed is maximized.
  • the position of the reflection end is preferably set, for example, as follows.
  • L1 when the wavelength of the vibration is obtained and the distance between the row of developer passage holes and the reflection end is L1, it is preferable to set L1 to 22. In this case, the portion of the developer passage hole or its vicinity in the developer passage hole row is always vibrated by the standing wave. In particular, when the distance L 1 is set to L 1 ⁇ ⁇ 4, a standing wave having the antinode of the developer passage hole array position is formed.
  • the position of the reflection end is preferably set to L 2> ⁇ 4, where ⁇ is the wavelength of vibration and L 2 is the distance between the vibration transmitting body and the reflection end. That is, if the distance L 2 is less than ⁇ / 4 for cutting, a standing wave is hardly formed, and furthermore, the reflection end portion vibrates, and heat is generated at that portion, and a switch member, etc. Or wear. For this reason, by making the distance L 2 larger than ⁇ / 4, a standing wave is efficiently generated, and the blockage of the developer passage hole due to the accumulation of the developer is effectively prevented.
  • a vibration reflection means is provided on the side opposite to the developer passage hole row across the reflection end in the developer passage control member to reflect the vibration traveling from the vibration imparting member toward the developer passage hole row in a reverse direction.
  • the wavelength of the vibration wave may be set to ⁇
  • the distance between the developer passage hole array and the vibration reflection means may be set to L 4, where L 4 (2 ⁇ + 1) X ⁇ / 4 (where ⁇ is an integer).
  • a second reflection end may be provided in addition to the reflection end.
  • the vibration reflection means may be a vibration reflection plate fixed to the developer passage control member, or a holding member for holding the developer passage control member.
  • the vibration propagated downstream of the reflection end in the vibration propagation direction is Reflected by the steps.
  • the developer passage hole portion of the developer passage control member is further displaced. It is preferable that the position of the vibration reflection means is set so that a standing wave having an antinode of the developer passage hole is formed.
  • the sixth or seventh invention is an invention suitable for uniformly vibrating in the row direction of the developer passage hole row.
  • a sixth aspect of the present invention provides a developer carrier that carries and transports a developer, a counter electrode disposed to face the developer carrier, and a developer carrier and an image receiving body.
  • the developer carrier has at least one row of developer passage holes in which a plurality of developer passage holes are arranged, and the developer conveyed by the developer carrier is moved in a predetermined manner in accordance with an image signal.
  • a developer passage control member that controls the developer to fly so as to pass through the developer passage hole and adhere to the image receiving body; and a developer that detaches the developer adhered to the developer passage control member.
  • the present invention is directed to an image forming apparatus including a vibration applying member that applies vibration to a passage control member. And a vibration plate extending parallel to the row direction of the developer passage hole row and fixed to the surface of the developer passage control member; and a vibration plate extending parallel to the row direction so as to overlap the vibration plate.
  • a piezoelectric element fixed to a surface of the bracket that is opposite to a surface in contact with the developer passage control member; and a regulating body that regulates expansion and contraction of the piezoelectric element in the column direction. It is characterized in that vibrations of the same phase are applied to the respective developer passage holes of the passage control member in the column direction.
  • the piezoelectric element bends and deforms together with the diaphragm.
  • the diaphragm bends exclusively in a direction orthogonal to the row direction.
  • the vibration wave transmitted from the diaphragm to the developer passage control member becomes a vibration wave having the same phase in the column direction, and the vibration having the same phase is present in each developer passage hole portion of the developer passage control member. Applied to prevent uneven cleaning ability along the row direction. Therefore, the developer is uniformly removed, the blocking of the developer passage hole due to the accumulation of the developer is reliably prevented, and stable image formation is realized.
  • a seventh aspect of the present invention provides a developer carrier that carries and transports a developer, a counter electrode disposed so as to face the developer carrier, and the developer carrier and the image receiver.
  • a plurality of developer passage holes arranged between the plurality of developer passage holes, and having a plurality of developer passage holes arranged therein, wherein the developer conveyed by the developer carrier is subjected to predetermined development in accordance with an image signal;
  • a developer passage control member that controls the developer to fly so as to pass through the developer passage hole and adhere to the image receiving member; and a developer passage control member that causes the developer adhered to the developer passage control member to be detached.
  • the present invention is directed to an image forming apparatus including a vibration applying member that applies vibration to a control member.
  • a vibration transmission member extending in parallel with the row of the developer passage holes and fixed to a surface of the developer passage control member; and one end to the other end of the vibration transmission body. And a vibration source that applies vibration to one end of the vibration transmitting body so as to generate a vibration wave that travels in parallel with the row direction. And a vibration control unit for controlling vibration.
  • non-stationary vibration waves propagate to the vibration transmitting body extending in parallel with the developer passage hole array.
  • the vibration wave transmitted from the vibration transmitting body to the developer passage control member becomes a vibration wave having the same phase in the row direction of the developer passage hole row. In-phase vibration is applied. Therefore, the developer is uniformly removed, the blocking of the developer passage hole due to the accumulation of the developer is reliably prevented, and stable image formation is realized.
  • the vibration control unit may include a clamp unit that sandwiches the other end of the vibration transmission body while shifting the clamp position so as to change the reflection position of the vibration at the other end of the vibration transmission body with time. .
  • the vibration wave traveling from one end to the other end of the vibration transmitting body is reflected at the clamp position at the other end.
  • a standing wave is generated on the vibration transmitting body.
  • the clamp means changes the clamp position with time, the vibration wave formed on the vibration transmitter is momentarily a standing wave, It becomes non-stationary in nature, and becomes a substantially non-stationary wave.
  • the vibration control unit may include an auxiliary vibration unit that slightly disturbs the vibration from the vibration source in the vibration transmitting body.
  • the vibration from the vibration generator in the vibration transmitter is minutely disturbed by the auxiliary vibration means.
  • the vibration wave in the vibration transmitter becomes a non-standing wave.
  • an eighth aspect of the present invention provides a developer carrier that carries and transports a charged developer, a counter electrode that is arranged to face the developer carrier, and a developing agent carrier.
  • An insulating base member arranged between the counter electrode and a plurality of developer passage holes formed in a row; and an insulating base member arranged around each of the developer passage holes in the insulating base member according to an image signal.
  • the vibration transmitting body is characterized in that the vibration characteristics are changed along the propagation direction of the vibration from the vibration generating source so as to suppress the attenuation of the vibration in the vibration transmitting body. As a result, the vibration gradually attenuates in the propagation direction, but since the vibration characteristics of the vibration transmitter change along the propagation direction, as a result, the attenuation of the vibration is suppressed, and the cleaning ability is reduced. improves.
  • a ninth aspect of the present invention is a developer carrier that carries and transports a charged developer, a counter electrode that is disposed to face the developer carrier, and the developer carrier that faces the developer carrier.
  • An insulating substrate disposed between the electrodes and having a plurality of developer passage holes formed in a row; and an image signal disposed around the developer passage holes in the insulation substrate and provided with an image signal.
  • An image signal electrode to which a voltage corresponding to the voltage is applied, and the developer on the developer carrier is caused to fly so as to pass through a predetermined developer passage hole; the developer passage control member and the counter electrode
  • a developer passage control member to be attached to the image receiving member supported between the vibration source and the vibration source; and transmitting the vibration of the vibration source to each developer passage hole of the developer passage control member.
  • a vibration imparting member having a vibration transmitting body disposed at one end thereof to be connected to the vibration generation source and arranged on the developer passage control member so as to extend in parallel with the developer passage hole array. And The rigidity of the vibration transmitting body decreases from one end to the other end. Thereby, the vibration transmitting body has a characteristic that it is easy to gradually vibrate from one end to the other end, so that the attenuation of the vibration from the vibration generation source is suppressed.
  • the vibration transmitting body may be formed by a vibration transmitting plate, and a width of the vibration transmitting plate may be changed according to a distance from a vibration generating source.
  • the thickness of the vibration transmission plate may be changed according to the distance from the vibration source.
  • the side surface of the vibration transmitting body on the developer passage hole side may be formed in a wavy shape. Therefore, the node of the amplitude at the time of applying the vibration can be made slow, and uniform cleaning performance can be obtained in the longitudinal direction of the developer passage control member.
  • the wave pitch of the wave shape of the vibration transmitting body may be approximately 1 to 2 of the wavelength of the vibration in the vibration transmitting body. This reduces the amplitude node of the vibration transmitter. Further, the height difference of the wavy irregularities may be approximately 14 which is the wavelength of the vibration wave in the developer control member.
  • the vibration wave traveling from the vibration transmitting body toward the developer control member is formed between the wave traveling from the convex portion (peak) and the wave traveling from the concave portion (valley) of the vibration transmitting body. Since a phase difference of 0 degrees occurs, the vibration wave becomes relatively uniform in phase. Therefore, uniform cleaning performance can be obtained.
  • the vibration transmitting body is a vibration transmitting plate whose plate width or plate thickness is gradually reduced and which has a wavy shape on the developer passage hole side.
  • the tenth invention amplifies the vibration from the vibration source and propagates it to the developer passage control member It is an invention suitable for causing Specifically, a developer carrier that carries and transports a charged developer, a counter electrode that is arranged to face the developer carrier, and the developer carrier and the counter electrode An insulating base material disposed between the insulating base materials and having a plurality of developer passage holes formed in a row, and a voltage corresponding to an image signal is applied around the developer passage holes in the insulating base material and applied thereto. An image signal electrode, and the developer on the developer carrier is caused to fly so as to pass through a predetermined developer passage hole, and is supported between the developer passage control member and the counter electrode.
  • Source and connected to the developer passage control member.
  • a vibrating member having a serial developer passage hole arrays and extending parallel to such arranged vibration transmitting member.
  • the vibration transmitting body is characterized in that the rigidity of a portion to which the vibration generating source is connected is higher than the rigidity of a portion provided on the developer passage control member.
  • the eleventh invention is an invention suitable for propagating a traveling wave to a vibration transmitting body.
  • a developer carrier for carrying a charged developer while carrying the developer, and the developer
  • a counter electrode arranged to face the carrier, an insulating base material arranged between the developer carrier and the counter electrode, and having a plurality of developer passage holes formed in a row;
  • An image signal electrode disposed around each of the developer passage holes in the base material and to which a voltage corresponding to an image signal is applied; and allowing the developer on the developer carrier to pass through a predetermined developer passage hole.
  • a developer passage control member that is caused to fly so as to pass through, and adheres to an image receiving body supported between the developer passage control member and the counter electrode; a vibration source; and a vibration of the vibration source.
  • the vibration transmitting body is characterized in that the rigidity of the portion provided with the vibration absorbing means is higher than the rigidity of the portion provided on the developer passage control member.
  • the vibration energy transmitted from the vibration source is absorbed by the vibration absorbing means provided at one end of the vibration transmitting body. Therefore, since the vibration input from the vibration source propagates in one direction, there is no reflected wave from the vibration absorbing means side. For this reason, a standing wave is not formed on the vibration transmitting body, but becomes a traveling wave.
  • the amplitude of the vibration is large, it becomes difficult to sufficiently absorb the vibration by the vibration absorbing means. Therefore, if the rigidity of the portion provided with the vibration absorbing means is higher than the rigidity of the portion provided on the developing agent passage control member, the amplitude of the vibration of the portion provided with the vibration absorbing means is reduced. Thus, the vibration energy is reliably absorbed by the vibration absorbing means.
  • the plate width is increased as a means for changing the rigidity of the vibration transmitting body, the contact area between the vibration absorbing means and the vibration transmitting body increases, so that the vibration energy per unit area decreases. For this reason, the absorption of vibration energy by the vibration absorbing means is particularly easy. As a result, a uniform amplitude is given to the developer control member, and uniform cleaning can be performed.
  • the plate width of a portion of the vibration transmitting body disposed on the developer passage control member may be changed according to the distance from the vibration source. In this case, the attenuation of the vibration from the vibration source is suppressed.
  • the other end of the vibration transmitting body may be provided with a vibration absorbing means for absorbing vibration from one end of the vibration transmitting body.
  • a vibration absorbing means for absorbing vibration from one end of the vibration transmitting body.
  • vibration absorbing means may be constituted by two or more kinds of viscoelastic bodies having different characteristics.
  • the vibration in the vibration transmitting body is transmitted to components having various natural frequencies via the developer passage control member, and the reflected wave returns to the vibration transmitting body. Therefore, it is necessary for the vibration absorbing means to absorb not only vibration of a single frequency from the vibration source but also vibrations of other frequencies. If the damper using rubber, PZT, etc. has a different structure, the value of the damping coefficient with respect to frequency changes. Therefore, if the vibration absorbing means is constituted by two or more kinds of viscoelastic materials having different characteristics, it becomes possible to attenuate vibrations of various frequencies inputted to the vibration absorbing means.
  • the vibration-absorbing means is formed of a rubber that is hardened by adding a metal filler or the like, an increase in the weight of the vibration-absorbing means increases a damping coefficient. Since the spring constant is high, there is an inconvenience that the input vibration wave is easily reflected. Therefore, if the vibration-absorbing means is made of two kinds of rubbers, a soft rubber and a hard rubber, the reflection of the vibration wave is prevented by the soft rubber, while the vibration is attenuated by the hard rubber. As a result, the vibration energy input to the vibration absorbing means is reliably and sufficiently absorbed, and vibration having a uniform amplitude is applied to the developer passage control member.
  • tension may be applied to the vibration transmitting body in the longitudinal direction.
  • the vibration transmitting body is prevented from warping, and the vibration is reliably applied to the developer passage control member.
  • This is particularly effective when the vibration transmitting body is formed of a vibration transmitting plate.
  • a holding member for holding the developer passage control member is provided on the side opposite to the developer passage hole row sandwiching the vibration transmission body, the wavelength of the vibration wave is ⁇ , and the vibration transmission body and the holding member Assuming that the distance is L5, it is preferable to dispose the vibration transmitting body so that L5> ⁇ 2.
  • the holding member is prevented from vibrating due to the vibration of the vibration transmitting body, and the developer passage control can be performed without attenuating the vibration of the vibration source. It can be propagated to the member.
  • the standing wave is perpendicular to the developer passage hole row.
  • a wave is formed to vibrate the vicinity of the developer passage hole with a larger amplitude.
  • the developing agent passage control member is provided on the opposite side of the vibration transmission body across the developer passage hole array.
  • the developer carrying member may be linearly contacted in parallel with the row direction of the developer passage holes so as to form a reflection end for reflecting vibrations from the body.
  • the vibration transmitted from the vibration transmitting body to the developer passage control member advances toward the developer passage hole array and is reflected at the reflection end.
  • the traveling wave and the reflected wave overlap to form a standing wave in a direction perpendicular to the row direction of the developer passage hole row.
  • the developer passage control member may be wrapped around the peripheral side surface of the developer carrier and brought into surface contact with the developer carrier.
  • a spacer means may be provided extending along the developer passage hole array, and the developer passage control member may be brought into contact with the developer carrying member via the spacer means. In this case, the traveling wave is accurately and reliably reflected by the developer passage control member, so that a favorable standing wave is easily formed.
  • the vibration wave in the direction perpendicular to the row direction of the developer passage hole array in the developer passage control member is such that the reflection end is a node and the developer passage hole array is an antinode. It is preferable to configure the vibration applying member so as to apply a vibration that causes a standing wave. In this case, the largest displacement is given to the developer passage hole, and the developer is removed more efficiently.
  • the twelfth invention is an invention suitable for preventing contamination by the removed developer.
  • a developer supply means for charging the developer and supplying it while being carried on a developer carrier, and a counter electrode which is arranged to face the developer supply means and to which a predetermined voltage is applied, are provided.
  • a plurality of developer passage holes, the developer supply means and the counter electrode, An insulating base material arranged between the insulating base material and a voltage for controlling a passing amount of the developer passing through the developer passing hole according to an image signal, the voltage being provided around the developer passing hole of the insulating base material.
  • An image receiving member is disposed between the counter electrode and the insulating base material, and the developer is attached to the image receiving member or the counter electrode to form an image. It is intended for an image forming apparatus. Further, when the image is not formed, a control means for operating the vibration applying member and stopping the operation of the developer supply means is provided.
  • the vibration is applied to the insulating base material when the image is not formed, for example, when the recording paper is moved after the image is formed, and the vibration causes the developer to jump out of the developer carrier. This does not disturb already formed images.
  • the vibration is applied, the operation of the developer carrier is stopped, and no new developing agent is supplied, so that the amount of the developer ejected from the developer carrier is reduced.
  • the developer deposited around the developer passage hole of the insulating base material includes not only the developer of the normal polarity but also the developer of the opposite polarity. If vibration is applied while the opposite electrode is kept at the same potential as that during image formation, a force is applied to the developer of the opposite polarity to fly from the opposite electrode to the insulating substrate side. Even if it is once jumped from the material to the counter electrode side, it will fly back to the insulating base material side again by the action force of the electric field and contaminate this insulating base material. Also, as for the developer that jumps out of the developer carrier due to the vibration, if the counter electrode is kept at the same potential as that during image formation, the developer of the opposite polarity temporarily moves to the counter electrode side. Also returns to the insulating base material and easily adheres.
  • the control means activates the vibration applying member when the image formation is not performed, stops the operation of the developer supply means, and controls the vibration by the vibration applying member.
  • the counter electrode and the developer carrier may be set to the same potential.
  • the counter electrode and the developing agent carrier may have the same potential during the entire period of application of the vibration, or may have the same potential only at the initial stage and then switch to an appropriate potential.
  • vibration is applied in a state in which the operation of the developer supply unit is stopped, that is, in a state in which new developer is not supplied, so that the vibration from the developer carrier due to the vibration is applied.
  • the ejection of the image agent is almost completed at the beginning of the application of the vibration, and the switching of the electric potential does not cause the developer to newly eject from the developer carrier.
  • the counter electrode is provided so as to be movable so that the surface facing the developer carrier can be changed, and the control means activates the vibration applying member when the image is not formed, while operating the developing member.
  • the operation of the agent supply means may be stopped, and the counter electrode and the developer carrier may be set to the same potential at least at the initial stage of the application of the vibration by the vibration applying member while moving the counter electrode.
  • the developer blown from the insulating base material to the counter electrode by applying vibration to the insulating base material moves to a position that does not face the developer carrier due to the movement of the counter electrode.
  • the developer can be prevented from returning around the developer passage hole, and the developer can be easily collected.
  • control means activates the vibration applying member when not forming an image, stops the operation of the developer supply means, and moves the counter electrode to apply the vibration by the vibration applying member.
  • the counter electrode and the developer carrier are set to the same potential, and thereafter, the developer charged between the insulating base material and the counter electrode is assisted to fly from the insulating base material to the counter electrode.
  • the potential of the counter electrode or the image signal electrode may be changed so that an electric field is formed.
  • the potential of the counter electrode or the image signal electrode is changed while moving the counter electrode.
  • the surface of the counter electrode facing the overhole faces the other at the time of the potential change. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the developer that jumps out of the insulating base material or the like and attaches to the counter electrode in the initial stage of the vibration application from flying back around the developer passage hole of the insulating base material due to the change in the potential.
  • an electric field is formed between the insulating substrate and the counter electrode, which assists the charged developer to fly from the insulating substrate to the counter electrode.
  • the developer adhering to the insulating base material is subjected not only to the mechanical removal force caused by the vibration but also to the removal force due to the electric field. It is easy to be done.
  • by increasing the action force of the electric field it is possible to reduce the vibration energy to be applied to the insulating base material, which is advantageous in avoiding problems such as heat generation due to vibration and peeling of the vibration transmitting body. become.
  • An AC voltage is applied to the counter electrode in order to form an electric field that assists the developer charged between the insulating base and the counter electrode to fly from the insulating base to the counter electrode. Is also good. That is, since there are a developer having a forward polarity and a developer having a reverse polarity, the developer on the insulating base is insulated by the vibration applied by the vibration applying member and the alternating electric field by the AC voltage. It is easy to be removed from. Further, the control means, when not forming an image, activates the vibration applying member, stops the operation of the developer supply means, and determines the magnitude relationship between the potential of the developer carrier and the image signal electrode. Alternatively, the magnitude relationship between potentials during image formation may be reversed.
  • a change means for changing the voltage applied to the developer carrier may be provided.
  • the protrusion of the developer from the developer carrier due to the application of the vibration is prevented.
  • the developer existing between the developer carrier and the insulating base material flies toward the developer carrier due to the action of the electric field, and the developer is effectively removed.
  • the developer is charged, and is supplied while being carried on a developer carrier.
  • an insulating base disposed between the insulating base and the developer passing hole of the insulating base for controlling a passing amount of the developer passing through the developer passing hole according to an image signal.
  • An image receiving body is arranged between the counter electrode and the insulating substrate, and the developer is attached to the image receiving body or to the counter electrode to form an image.
  • the vibration is applied when the image is not formed.
  • Target image forming apparatus for actuating the timber a plurality of image forming units are provided in which the developer supply means, the insulating base having the developer passage holes and the image signal electrodes, the vibration applying member, and the counter electrode are combined. It is characterized in that the vibration applying members of each of the plurality of image forming units are driven independently of each other, and the voltages of the respective counter electrodes are controlled independently of each other.
  • the plurality of vibration applying members are connected to one common drive circuit for driving each vibration generation source via drive switching means for sequentially driving each vibration generation source. Is also good. This is advantageous for reducing the cost of the image forming apparatus.
  • the driving circuit of the vibration source may be an automatic frequency tracking type circuit.
  • a self-excited oscillation circuit can be used as the drive circuit of the vibration source,
  • the natural frequency of the vibration system including the material and the insulating base material may fluctuate greatly depending on the tension of the vibration transmitting body and the insulating base material. Therefore, if an automatic frequency tracking type circuit is used, stable vibration can be given to the insulating base material without being greatly affected by the natural frequency.
  • the plurality of counter electrodes may be connected to one common power supply via a voltage switching unit. In this case, there is no need to provide a power supply for each counter electrode, which is advantageous for cost reduction.
  • the vibration imparting member according to the first or second invention may be configured as follows. That is, a plurality of developer passage holes of the insulating base material are arranged in one or several rows, a vibration transmitting body is disposed in parallel with the developer passage hole row, and the vibration imparting member is connected to the developer passage hole row. It is sufficient to apply a vibration that becomes a traveling wave in a direction parallel to the direction and a direction that is a standing wave in a direction orthogonal to the row direction of the developer passage hole row.
  • the fifteenth or fifteenth invention is an invention particularly suitable for an image forming apparatus having a transfer unit.
  • a fourteenth invention is directed to a developer carrier for carrying a charged developer while carrying the developer, a counter electrode arranged to face the developer carrier, and a developer carrier.
  • An intermediate image holding member disposed between the first electrode and the counter electrode; and an insulating substrate disposed between the developer carrier and the intermediate image holding member and having a plurality of developer passage holes formed in rows.
  • an image signal electrode disposed around each of the developer passage holes in the insulating base material and to which a voltage corresponding to an image signal is applied, wherein the developer on the developer carrier is A developer passing control member for forming an intermediate image on the intermediate image holding member by flying so as to pass through a predetermined developer passage hole and attaching the intermediate image holding member, and transporting the intermediate image holding member Transporting means, and an intermediate image on the transported intermediate image holding member And a developer removing means for removing the developer adhered to the developer passage control member.
  • the transfer means is configured to be inactive when the developer detached from the developer passage control member and adhered to the intermediate image holding member is transported. Sign.
  • the developer adhered to the developer passage control member by the operation of the developer detachment means is detached, and the developer passage control member is cleaned.
  • the transfer unit becomes inactive when the developer is transported, so that the developer adhered to the intermediate image holding member is transferred to the transfer unit. No transfer is made and contamination of the transfer means is prevented.
  • the transfer unit is configured to be pressed toward the intermediate image holding member so as to sandwich the image receiving member between the intermediate image holding member and the intermediate image holding member during operation, and to be separated from the intermediate image holding member when not operating. Good. Thereby, the transfer unit and the intermediate image holding member are physically separated at the time of non-operation, so that contamination of the transfer unit is reliably prevented.
  • a fifteenth invention is directed to a developer carrier that carries and transports a charged developer, a counter electrode arranged to face the developer carrier, the developer carrier and the developer carrier.
  • An intermediate image holding member disposed between the counter electrode and an insulating substrate disposed between the developer carrier and the intermediate image holding member and having a plurality of developer passage holes formed in rows; And an image signal electrode disposed around each of the developer passage holes in the insulating base material and to which a voltage corresponding to an image signal is applied.
  • a developer passage control member that flies so as to pass through the developer passage hole and adheres to the intermediate image holding member to form an intermediate image on the intermediate image holding member; and a conveyance unit that conveys the intermediate image holding member And the transferred intermediate image on the intermediate image holding member. It is provided with a transfer unit for transferring to the image receiving body, and a developer releasing unit for releasing the developing agent attached to the developer passage control member.
  • the transfer means is provided with a cleaning means for removing the developer adhered to the transfer means. In this case, since the transfer means is always kept in a clean state by the cleaning means, contamination in the apparatus and contamination of the recording paper are prevented.
  • Each of the above-described inventions may be applied to an apparatus having a plurality of recording units.
  • the developer passage control member of the recording unit has a predetermined first time difference so as to form an intermediate image in which developers from a plurality of recording units overlap on the intermediate image holding member.
  • the developer detaching means of the recording unit is configured to operate sequentially with the intermediate image holding member. It is preferable that the operation is sequentially performed with a second time difference different from the first time difference so as not to overlap.
  • the operation timing of the developer detaching means differs for each recording unit, the adhesion positions of the developer detached from the developer passage control member on the intermediate image holding member are dispersed. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the developer from each recording unit from being stacked on a specific portion of the intermediate image holding member. As a result, contamination due to the direct contact between the stacked developer and the developer passage control member and the reverse flight of the developer toward the developer passage control member are reliably prevented.
  • the developer detaching means includes: a vibration generating source that applies vibration to the developer passage hole portion of the developer passage control member when the developer passage control member is not operating; At least one end is connected to the vibration generation source so as to transmit to each developer passage hole portion of the passage control member, and is disposed on the developer passage control member so as to extend in parallel with the developer passage hole array. What is necessary is just to comprise with the vibration imparting member provided with the vibration transmission body which carried out.
  • the vibration imparting member is configured to impart a vibration that becomes a traveling wave in a direction parallel to the developer passage hole array and a standing wave in a direction orthogonal to the developer passage hole array. Is good.
  • the sixteenth invention is an invention suitable for a multicolor image forming apparatus. Specifically, a developer carrier that carries the developing agent electromagnetically on its peripheral surface and rotates, and a counter electrode that attracts the developer of the developer carrier electromagnetically opposite to the developer carrier And the developer carrier And at least one row of developer passage holes arranged in the direction of the rotation axis of the developer carrying member, and provided in the developer passage hole in accordance with an external image signal.
  • a vibration applying member that is provided on each of the plurality of heads and that extends along the developer passage hole array and applies vibration to the developer passage control member;
  • a reflector that is provided on each of the plurality of heads and that extends along the developer passage hole array and applies vibration to the developer passage control member;
  • a reflector that is provided on each of the plurality of heads and that extends along the developer passage hole array and applies vibration to the developer passage control member;
  • a reflector that
  • a multicolor image forming apparatus can be realized by a plurality of heads.
  • the reflection of the vibration wave by the vibration reflector enhances the transmission efficiency of the vibration, and also allows the standing wave to be formed between the vibration imparting member and the vibration reflector. If the vicinity does not become a node of the standing wave, that part can be vibrated relatively large by the standing wave, effectively preventing the developer from accumulating in and around the developer passage hole. can do.
  • Each of the plurality of heads may separately include a vibration source that is driven independently of each other to vibrate the vibration applying member.
  • the vibrators of each of the plurality of heads operate independently of each other and do not need to apply vibration at the same time. There is no need to provide individual drive circuits, which is advantageous for reducing the cost of the image forming apparatus.
  • each of the plurality of heads may have a vibration imparting member on the front side in the moving direction of the image receiving body with the developer passage hole interposed therebetween, and may have a vibration reflector on the front side.
  • the developer is deposited around the developer passage hole of the developer passage control means.
  • toner toner having a polarity that is attracted electromagnetically by the counter electrode
  • toners of the opposite polarity there are also toners of the opposite polarity, and toners of the opposite polarity due to the cohesion and adhesion between toners. It flies and attaches to the image receptor together with the forward polarity toner.
  • an electromagnetic The developer may fly backward from the image receiving body toward the developer passage control means of the next head due to the force, and may contaminate the periphery of the developer passage hole.
  • the vibration imparting member is arranged on the near side in the moving direction of the image receiving member and the reflecting member is arranged on the front side, the opposite polarity toner supplied to the image receiving member from the head that has passed previously and adhered thereto. Even if the head flies backward at the next head portion, the vibration is applied to the developer passage control means of the head by the vibration imparting member, so that the head hardly adheres to the developer passage hole, and adheres. However, it easily falls off. Therefore, the developer of the next head is prevented from being contaminated by the toner of the previous head.
  • each of the vibration applying members of the plurality of heads may be connected to a single common vibration source that vibrates them.
  • one vibration source is allowed by a plurality of heads, it is advantageous in reducing the cost of the image forming apparatus.
  • a vibration cut-off means is provided between the common vibration source and each of the vibration applying members to cut off transmission of vibration from the vibration source to the vibration applying member.
  • the vibration applying members of the heads can be operated independently of each other by operating the vibration isolating means. Instead of constantly operating the vibration applying member, when each head is not forming an image, that is, when an image is not formed by the control of the developer passage control means, vibration of each head is applied. This is useful when the member is selectively operated to clean the developer passage control means.
  • the seventeenth to nineteenth inventions are directed to applying vibration from both sides of the developer passage hole row. More specifically, a seventeenth invention is directed to a developer carrier for carrying and transporting a charged developer, and a developer passage hole in which a plurality of developer passage holes through which the developer passes are arranged.
  • a developer passage control member for controlling the passage of the developer supplied from the developer carrier in accordance with an image signal from the outside in accordance with an image signal from the outside; and a developer passing through the developer passage hole. And an image receiving body to which the agent adheres.
  • the developer passage control member has an insulating base material in which the developer passage hole is formed, and a rod-shaped vibration transmission body is provided on both sides of the developer passage hole line. And a vibration generating source is disposed on each of both ends of the pair of vibration transmitting bodies.
  • an eighteenth aspect of the present invention provides a developer carrying member for carrying and transporting a charged developer, and a developer passage hole array in which a plurality of developer passage holes through which the developer passes are arranged.
  • a developer passage control member for controlling passage of the developer supplied from the developer carrier in accordance with the signal through the developer passage hole; and an image receiving member to which the developer passed through the developer passage hole is attached.
  • the developer passage control member has an insulating base material in which the developer passage hole is formed, and is disposed along the developer passage hole array on both sides of the developer passage hole array.
  • a U-shaped vibration transmission body is provided in which one ends of the rod-shaped members are connected to each other, and a vibration generation source is disposed in the vibration transmission body.
  • the vibration sources may be disposed at both ends of the vibration transmitting member.
  • the vibrations generated by the vibration sources at both ends of the vibration transmitting body propagate through the vibration transmitting body, and the vibration transmitting body largely vibrates.
  • the insulating base is vibrated more greatly, and the accumulation of the developer is more effectively prevented.
  • both ends of the U-shaped vibration transmitter are connected to each other. They may be connected to form an annular vibration transmitting body. In this case, if the vibration generating sources are arranged at a plurality of positions of the vibration transmitting body, the insulating base material vibrates much more.
  • the respective vibration sources be configured so that the phases of the vibrations thereof are different from each other.
  • the vibration source may be always operated during the operation of the developer passage control member, or may be provided with a detecting means for detecting blockage of the developer passage hole. It may be configured to operate accordingly. here,
  • the blockage of the developer passage hole may be directly detected, or a test print may be performed to detect whether an image is formed normally.
  • the detection unit is configured by a light emitting unit that emits light toward the image receiving body, and a light receiving unit that receives light reflected by the light emitted from the light emitting unit and reflected by the image receiving body, The presence or absence of the reflected light may be used to detect whether or not the image has been formed normally.
  • the nineteenth invention has a developer carrier for carrying and transporting a charged developer, and a developer passage hole array in which a plurality of developer passage holes for passing the developer are arranged.
  • a developer passage control member for controlling passage of the developer supplied from the developer carrier in accordance with the image signal of the developer passage through the developer passage hole; and an image receiving member to which the developer passing through the developer passage hole adheres.
  • the developer passage control member has an insulating base having the developer passage hole formed therein, one end of which is fixed to the insulating base, and the other end of which is configured to be swingable, and Vibration transmitting bodies for vibrating the base material are disposed on both sides of the row of developer passing holes of the insulating base so as to extend along the developer passing hole rows, and a vibration generation source is provided on the vibration transmitting body. It is characterized by being provided.
  • the vibration transmission body is formed in a flat plate shape extending along the developer passage hole array, and an end of the vibration transmission body on the side remote from the developer passage hole array is fixed to an insulating base material. A plurality of sources may be arranged along the developer passage hole row.
  • the vibration transmitting body is formed in a comb shape extending along the developer passage hole row, and an end portion of each comb tooth of the comb-shaped vibration transmission body on a side away from the developer passage hole row. May be fixed to an insulating base material, and a vibration source may be provided on each of the comb teeth.
  • the other end of the vibration transmitting body bends when the vibration source is vibrated, and the other end hits the insulating base material. For this reason, the insulating base material vibrates, and the accumulation of the developer is prevented. As a result, blockage of the developer passage hole is prevented, and stable image formation is realized.
  • the vibration sources arranged on each of the vibration transmitting bodies on both sides are arranged at an equal pitch together, and the vibration generating sources arranged on one vibration transmitting body are connected to the vibration transmitting body on the other side. It may be arranged with a half pitch shift from the arranged vibration source. In other words, if the vibration sources on the vibration transmitting bodies on both sides are arranged at the same pitch and are arranged so as to be opposed to each other, a region that is not sandwiched by the vibrators in the developer passage hole array is formed. In this region, the vibration is relatively small.
  • the entire area of the developer passage hole array is similarly It is possible to vibrate, and the accumulation of the developer is prevented over the entire area of the developer passage hole array.
  • Each of the above-mentioned vibration generating sources may be configured to vibrate by applying a voltage, and the phases of the voltages applied to the vibration generating sources on the vibration transmitting members on each side may be the same. In this case, the vibrations from each side are combined, and it becomes possible to vibrate the vicinity of the developer passage hole array more greatly. On the other hand, the phases of the voltages applied to the vibration generating sources on the vibration transmitting bodies on each side may be shifted from each other. In this case, it is possible to uniformly vibrate the entire area near the developer passage hole array, and in any case, it is possible to effectively prevent the developer from being deposited.
  • the vibration system constituted by the vibration transmission bodies, the vibration generation source, and the insulating base material on both sides is configured so as not to be a node at the position of the developer passage hole.
  • the vibration system may be configured to be in the first or third vibration mode.
  • the position of the developer passage hole should not be a node, especially if the vibration system is set to the primary or tertiary vibration mode, the position of the developer passage hole becomes an antinode of vibration and this developer The vicinity of the passage hole can be greatly vibrated.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus.
  • FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 2B
  • FIG. 2B is a plan view of the print head.
  • FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a print head according to a preferred embodiment (part 1) of vibrating the print head.
  • FIG. 4 is a view corresponding to FIG. 3 of a print head according to a modification.
  • FIG. 5 is a view corresponding to FIG. 3 of a print head according to a modification.
  • FIG. 6 is a view corresponding to FIG. 3 of a print head according to a modification.
  • FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of a vibration generator according to a modification.
  • FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a print head according to a preferred mode (part 2) of vibrating the print head.
  • FIG. 9 is a plan view of the print head.
  • FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG.
  • FIG. 11 is a view corresponding to FIG. 8 of a print head according to a modification.
  • FIG. 12 is a sectional view of a print head according to a modification.
  • FIG. 13 shows a print head according to the preferred mode of vibrating near the opening with large amplitude.
  • FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the print head.
  • FIG. 15 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 14 of the print head according to the modification.
  • FIG. 16 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 14 of the print head according to the modification.
  • FIG. 17 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 14 of the print head according to the modification.
  • FIG. 18 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 14 of the print head according to the modification.
  • FIG. 19 is a view corresponding to FIG. 14 of the print head according to the modification.
  • FIG. 20 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 14 of the print head according to the modification.
  • FIG. 21 is a diagram showing the relationship between the attenuation of vibration in the control plate and the distance between the vibration transmission plate and the holding member.
  • FIG. 22 is a perspective view of a print head according to a preferred mode (part 1) of uniformly vibrating in the direction of the opening rows.
  • FIG. 23 is a side view of the vibration generator.
  • FIG. 24 is a perspective view of a print head according to a preferred mode (part 2) of uniformly vibrating in the direction of the opening rows.
  • Fig. 25 (a) is a plan view of the vibration absorber
  • Fig. 25 (b) is a front view of the vibration absorber
  • Fig. 25 (c) is a side view of the vibration absorber.
  • FIG. 26 is a perspective view of a print head according to a preferred embodiment (part 3) of uniformly vibrating in the direction of the opening rows.
  • FIG. 27 is a perspective view of a print head according to a preferred mode (part 4) of uniformly vibrating in the direction of the opening rows.
  • FIG. 28 is a sectional view showing a detailed configuration of the auxiliary vibration device.
  • FIG. 29 is a plan view of a vibration transmission plate according to a preferred embodiment (part 1) of suppressing vibration attenuation.
  • FIG. 30 is a perspective view of a control plate according to a preferred embodiment (part 2) of suppressing vibration attenuation.
  • FIG. 31 (a) is a plan view of a control plate according to a preferred embodiment (part 3) of suppressing vibration attenuation, and
  • FIG. 31 (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC of FIG. 31 (a).
  • FIG. 32 is a plan view of a vibration transmission plate according to a preferred mode (part 4) of suppressing vibration attenuation.
  • FIG. 33 is a schematic diagram of an image forming apparatus according to a preferred embodiment (part 2) for preventing contamination by the removed toner.
  • FIG. 34 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to a preferred embodiment (part 3) for preventing contamination by the removed toner.
  • FIG. 35 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to a preferred embodiment (part 4) for preventing contamination by the removed toner.
  • FIG. 36 is a schematic view of the configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a preferred embodiment (part 1) for preventing contamination of the transfer mechanism by the removed toner.
  • FIG. 37 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to a preferred mode (part 2) for preventing contamination of the transfer mechanism by the removed toner.
  • FIG. 38 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to a preferred embodiment (part 3) for preventing contamination of the transfer mechanism by the removed toner.
  • FIG. 39 is a timing chart of the operation of the print head.
  • FIG. 40 is a timing chart of the operation of the print head according to the modification.
  • FIG. 41 is a perspective view of the head unit.
  • FIG. 42 is a schematic diagram of an image forming apparatus according to a preferred embodiment (part 1) of cleaning of a multicolor image forming apparatus.
  • FIG. 43 is a circuit diagram for driving a vibrator according to a preferred embodiment (part 2) of cleaning of the multicolor image forming apparatus.
  • FIG. 44 is an explanatory diagram of a vibration applying member according to a preferred embodiment (part 3) of cleaning of the multicolor image forming apparatus.
  • FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.
  • the toner conveying roller 1 carries and conveys a toner 4 as a developer, and also serves as a charging electrode for charging the toner 4.
  • the toner transport roller 1 can be made of a metal such as aluminum or iron, or an alloy.
  • the outer roller 1 may have an outer diameter of about 16 to 20 mm. In the present embodiment, an aluminum cylinder having an outer diameter of 20 mm and a thickness of l mm is used.
  • the toner transport roller 1 is grounded, the present invention is not limited to this, and a DC or AC voltage may be applied to the toner transport roller 1.
  • the regulating blade 2 forms one to three toner layers on the toner conveying roller 1.
  • the regulating blade 2 is made of an elastic member such as urethane, and has a hardness of 40 to 80 degrees (JISK631A scale), a free end length (length of a portion protruding from a mounting portion). ) Is preferably 5 to 15 mm, and the linear pressure on the toner conveying roller 1 is preferably 5 to 40 g / cm.
  • the regulating blade 2 may be in an electrically floating state, may be grounded, or may be applied with a DC or AC voltage. In this embodiment, it is used in a floating state.
  • the toner 4 is sandwiched between the toner transport roller 1 and the regulating blade 2, and receives a small charge from the toner transport roller 1 to receive and charge the toner.
  • a nonmagnetic material having a negative charge of —10 CZg and an average particle diameter of 8 m was used as the toner 4.
  • the supply roller 3 is provided with a synthetic rubber such as foamed urethane about 2 to 6 mm around a metal shaft such as iron (in this embodiment, a shaft having a diameter of 8 mm). It was measured by JISK 6301 scale method.
  • the amount of the feed roller 3 biting into the toner transport roller 1 should be about 0.1 to 2 mm. preferable.
  • the supply roller 3 may also be grounded, and may be configured to apply a DC or AC voltage. The supply roller 3 assists the charging of the toner 4 and controls the supply amount of the toner 4.
  • the counter electrode 5 forms an electric field between the counter electrode 5 and the toner conveying roller 1, and a metal plate, a metal roller, a film in which a conductive filler is dispersed in a resin, or the like can be suitably used.
  • the resistance of the film in the case of using the film 1 0 2 - about 1 0 UQ / cm is preferable.
  • a DC voltage of about 500 to 2000 V is applied to the counter electrode 5 from a DC power supply 9. In the present embodiment, a voltage of 100 V is applied.
  • an image may be formed on the belt by attaching the toner 4 to a transport belt (not shown), and the image may be transferred to recording paper and fixed.
  • an image was formed directly on the recording paper 6 by placing the recording paper 6 on the counter electrode 5 and adhering the toner 4 thereon.
  • the counter electrode 5 may be processed into an endless film shape, an image may be directly formed on the film, and then the image may be transferred to a recording paper.
  • the recording paper 6 is fed at a predetermined speed by a paper feed roller 7. In the present embodiment, the paper feed speed is 65 mmZs.
  • FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a print head 10 provided between the toner transport roller 1 and the counter electrode 5, and FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view of the print head 10, and FIG. (b) is a plan view of the print head 10 viewed from the toner conveying roller 1 side.
  • the horizontal direction of the drawing is the recording paper moving direction (Y direction)
  • the vertical direction is the recording paper width direction (X direction).
  • a plurality of openings 12 are formed in the insulating base material 14 of the control plate 30 as developer passage holes. These openings 12 form an opening array 12A arranged in the width direction of the recording paper.
  • the number of aperture rows 12A is not limited to two, but may be one or three or more.
  • Each opening 1 is provided on the surface of the insulating
  • a plurality of image signal electrodes 11 formed in a ring shape surrounding 2 are provided.
  • the image signal electrode 11 is not limited to this, and may be provided on the inner wall of the opening 12.
  • a ring-shaped electrode having an inner diameter of 150 m and an outer diameter of 250 / m is used as the image signal electrode 11.
  • a thin insulating resin layer (not shown) of 5 to 20 m was provided on the surface of each electrode.
  • the insulating substrate 14 of the control plate 30 is preferably formed of an insulating film having a thickness of 10 to 100 m, and a material such as polyimide or polyethylene terephthalate can be suitably used. In this embodiment, a polyimide having a thickness of 25 / m is used.
  • the openings 12 are arranged in a zigzag manner so as to complement each other so that an all-black image can be formed when toner is blown out from all the openings 12 and recorded.
  • the diameter of the opening 12 is preferably 50 to 200 / m, and in the present embodiment, the diameter of the opening 12 is 145 m.
  • the image signal electrode 11 is made of a metal such as copper, and preferably has a thickness of 5 to 30 m.
  • the image signal electrodes 11 are each independently connected to an image signal power source 13 as image signal voltage switching means through a lead wire 31A. Although a voltage of about 400 V is normally applied to the image signal electrode 11, in the present embodiment, a voltage of 300 V is applied for dot formation, and a voltage of about 400 V is applied for dot non-formation. A voltage of 100 V is applied to the power supply.
  • the distance between the counter electrode 5 and the control plate 30 is preferably 50 to 100 zm. In the present embodiment, it is set to 250 ⁇ m. Further, the distance between the toner conveying roller 1 and the control plate 30 is preferably 0 to 200 / m. In the present embodiment, it is 30 m.
  • the control plate 30 may have one end fixed to the head unit, and the other end pulled by, for example, a spring member to apply tension to the control plate 30.
  • a voltage less than or equal to a predetermined value including zero
  • the strength of the electric field formed between the toner conveying roller 1 and the image signal electrode 11 is not sufficient, so that the toner is conveyed.
  • the toner 4 on the roller 1 does not fly and remains carried on the toner transport roller 1.
  • a voltage having a reverse polarity may be applied to the image signal electrode 11 to reverse the direction of the electric field between the toner conveying roller 1 and the image signal electrode 11. .
  • the toner 4 adhered to the recording paper 6 is fixed using the fixing roller 8, so that a desired image is recorded on the recording paper 6.
  • the power supply to the apparatus is turned on.
  • the next recording paper 6 is fed after the recording paper 6 passes between the control plate 30 and the counter electrode 5.
  • the control plate 30 is vibrated until the toner 4 is removed, and the toner 4 around the opening 12 is removed.
  • FIG. 3 is a view in which the control plate 30 is developed in a planar shape, and a vibration transmission plate 151 is provided in parallel with the opening row 12A of the vibration plate 30. That is, the vibration transmission plate 151 extends along the rotation axis direction of the toner conveying roller 1.
  • the vibration transmission plate 15 1 is formed in a rod shape and is adhered to the control plate 30. You. Such bonding may be performed by thermocompression bonding or using an epoxy-based or isocyanate-based adhesive.
  • Vibration generators 60, 60 are provided at both ends of the vibration transmission plate 151, respectively.
  • the vibration generator 60 includes a vibrator 16 and a vibration amplifier (horn) 17.
  • a vibrator 16 for example, a bolted Langevin type vibrator or the like can be used.
  • the vibrator 16 is attached to the horn 17.
  • the horn 17 is formed such that its cross-sectional area is continuously and smoothly reduced as it goes downward.
  • the horn 17 concentrates the vibration energy of the vibrator 16 to the vibration transmission plate 15 1 It is configured to communicate.
  • the vibration transmission plate 151 may have any rigidity capable of transmitting the vibration without absorbing the vibration, and may be formed of, for example, a metal. Specifically, for example, stainless steel may be used. In addition, the plate width and the plate thickness may be set to 5 mm and 0.2 mm, respectively.
  • the horn 17 also has a rigidity capable of transmitting the vibration without absorbing the vibration, and preferably has the same natural frequency as the vibrator 16, for example, may be formed of metal. Specifically, for example, it is preferable to use stainless steel or aluminum because the molding is easy.
  • the vibration frequency of the vibrator 16 may be a sine wave of 1 MHz or less, for example, 20 kHz. This is because, when the vibration frequency increases, the heat generated at the bonding surface between the control plate 30 and the vibration transmission plate 151 cannot be ignored, and the degree of vibration attenuation increases.
  • the insulating base material 14 of the control plate 30 is made of polyimide or the like, it has viscoelasticity. For this reason, if the vibrator 16 is directly disposed on the control plate 30, the vibration of the vibrator 16 will be absorbed before being transmitted to the aperture row 12A. I will. However, the vibration transmitting plate 15 1 is disposed on the control plate 30, and the vibration of the vibrator 16 is propagated to the vibration transmitting plate 15 1, so that the vibration is transmitted to the position of the opening row 12 A. Be able to communicate. Further, since each of the vibrators 16 is attached to the horn 17, the vibration of the vibrator 16 can be amplified and transmitted to the vibration transmission plate 151.
  • vibration suitable for cleaning around the opening 12 depends on the vibration system, but it was found that good cleaning performance can be obtained by setting the amplitude to 20 / zm and the frequency to 20 kHz.
  • the acceleration due to the electric field acting on the toner during printing is the electric field force F, the electric charge q, the electric field E, the electric charge per toner weight Q / M, and the mass of one toner particle.
  • the vibration transmission plate 15 1 and the vibration generator 60 may be provided on both sides of the aperture row 12 A. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, rod-shaped vibration transmission plates are respectively disposed at both sides of the opening row 12A, and one end of the pair of rod-shaped vibration transmission plates is connected to each other. Alternatively, a U-shaped vibration transmission plate 15 2 may be used. In this case, the vibration generators 60, 60 may be disposed at both ends of the vibration transmission plate 152 as shown in FIG. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, rod-shaped vibration transmission plates are provided on both sides of the opening row 12A, respectively, and formed by connecting both ends of the pair of rod-shaped vibration transmission plates to each other. An annular vibration transmission plate 153 may be used. In this case, the vibration generators 60, 60 may be arranged at the curved portions at both ends of the vibration transmission plate 153 as shown in FIG.
  • the vibration generator 60 may be provided only at one end of the rod-shaped vibration transmission plate 154. In this case, the other end may be fixed.
  • the vibration generator is not limited to a combination of the vibrator 16 and the horn 17 but may be a bimorph combining piezoelectric elements 18 and 19 as shown in FIG. By employing such a configuration, the vibration generator can be reduced in size.
  • FIG. 8 shows a control plate 30 according to (No. 2), and a pair of vibration generators 160, 160 on both sides of the opening row 12 A along this opening row 12 A. Are arranged. In FIG. 8, the illustration of one vibration generating member 160 sandwiching the opening row 12A is omitted.
  • Each of the vibration generators 160 is formed in a comb shape extending along the opening row 12A.
  • the end of each comb tooth 16 1 on the side remote from the opening row 12 A is connected to the control plate 30.
  • Each of the comb teeth 16 1 has a cantilever structure (see FIG. 8 or FIG. 10).
  • the comb teeth 161 of the vibration generating members 160 and 160 on each side of the opening row 12A are arranged at the same pitch, and Are arranged at a half pitch from the comb teeth 16 1.
  • a vibrator 16 2 is disposed on each comb tooth 16 1, and a voltage applied to each vibrator 16 2 on the vibration generators 16 0 and 16 0 on each side described above is provided. Are shifted from each other.
  • each of the comb teeth 16 1 having a cantilever structure bends, and the free end of the comb 16 1 You will hit. For this reason, the control plate 30 vibrates, and the accumulation of toner can be prevented. As a result, it is possible to prevent the opening 12 from being closed, and to realize stable image formation.
  • the comb teeth 16 1, 16 1,... are arranged along the opening row 12A, they can be vibrated over the entire area of the opening row 12A. Therefore, the vicinity of the opening 12 can be effectively vibrated.
  • the pair of vibration generators 160 and 160 are disposed on both sides of the aperture row 12A, vibration is applied to the aperture row 12A from both sides. As a result, the vibration near the opening 12 can be made relatively large. As a result, it is possible to effectively prevent the toner from being deposited near the opening 12.
  • the vibrators 16 2, 16 2,... On the vibration generators 16 0, 16 0 on each side are arranged at the same pitch and are arranged so as to face each other However, a region that is not sandwiched between the pair of vibrators 16 2 and 16 2 is generated in the opening row 12 A, and the vibration is relatively small in this region.
  • the vibrators 16 2, 16 2,... on the vibration generators 16 0, 16 0 on each side of the aperture row 12 A Both are arranged at the same pitch, and the oscillator 162 on the vibration generator 16 on one side is shifted by a half pitch with respect to the oscillator 162 on the vibration generator 16 on the other side.
  • the entire area of the opening row 12A can be similarly vibrated, and the accumulation of toner can be prevented over the entire area of the opening row 12A.
  • the phases of the voltages applied to the vibrators 16 2, 16 2,... On the vibration generators 16 0, 16 0 on each side are shifted from each other, the vicinity of the aperture row 12 A The entire region can be vibrated uniformly, and toner accumulation can be effectively prevented.
  • the phases of voltages applied to the vibrators 16 2, 16 2,... On the pair of vibration generators 16 0, 16 0 may be the same. In this case, the vibrations from each side are combined, and the vicinity of the aperture row 12A can be vibrated greatly.
  • the vibration near the opening 12 may be small.
  • toner accumulation cannot be sufficiently prevented. Therefore, if the above vibration system is configured to be in the first or third order vibration mode as shown by the one-dot chain line in FIG. 10, the aperture row 12 A becomes the antinode of the vibration, and this aperture row The amplitude around 12 A can be increased. For this reason, it is possible to effectively prevent toner from adhering to the vicinity.
  • vibration mode of the vibration system to primary or tertiary in this way, for example, change the vibration frequency of the vibrator 162, length, width, wall thickness or material of the vibration generator 160 May be changed, the thickness, width or material of the control plate 30 may be changed, or the arrangement position of the vibration generator 160 may be changed.
  • the vibration generator 16 3 As shown in FIG. 11, as the vibration generator 16 3, a flat plate extending along the aperture row 12 A is used, and a plurality of vibrators 16 2, 16 2,. This May be arranged on the vibration generator 16 3.
  • the vibration generators 163 may be provided only on one side of the opening row 12A, or may be provided on both sides thereof.
  • the vibration generator 16 4 has a fixing member 16 5, which is separate from the comb teeth 16 6, placed on the comb teeth 16 6. It may be formed by fixing the base end of 66. Preferred mode for vibrating near one opening with large amplitude
  • a vibration transmission plate 151 is provided on the control plate 30 along the opening row 12A.
  • a vibration reflection plate 71 that reflects a vibration wave traveling from the plate 15 1 toward the opening row 12 A side is bonded by thermocompression bonding or the like.
  • the vibration reflection plate 71 also extends along the rotation axis direction of the toner conveying roller 1, similarly to the vibration transmission plate 151. That is, the opening row 12A, the vibration transmission plate 151, and the vibration reflection plate 71 are arranged in parallel with each other.
  • the vibration reflecting plate 71 has a rigidity capable of transmitting vibration without absorbing vibration, and its vibration characteristics are significantly different from the impedance of vibration transmission of the control plate 30. Especially desirable above.
  • a resin such as polyimide
  • stainless steel or spring steel is suitable.
  • the plate width and the plate thickness may be set to 5 mm and 0.2 mm, respectively.
  • thermocompression bonding or an epoxy-based or isocyanate-based adhesive can be used for bonding to the control plate 30, for example, thermocompression bonding or an epoxy-based or isocyanate-based adhesive can be used. Next, the operation of applying vibration to the control plate 30 will be described.
  • the vibration of the vibrator 16 is transmitted to the control plate 30 via the horn 17 and the vibration transmission plate 151 as described above.
  • the control plate 30 is provided on both the opening row 12A side (the vibration reflection plate 71 side) and the side opposite to the opening row 12A from the portion where the vibration transmission plate 151 is adhered (the vibration applying portion).
  • a vibration wave is generated that proceeds. After these two vibration waves, the vibration wave propagating from the vibration transmission plate 15 1 to the aperture row 12 A side crosses the aperture row 12 A, and the end of the vibration reflection plate 71 1 on the vibration transmission plate 15 1 side (reflection The light reaches the end 32) and is reflected at the reflecting end 32. Then, as shown in FIG. 14, the traveling wave and the reflected wave overlap with each other, so that a standing wave s having a reflection end as a node is formed between the reflection end and the vibration transmission plate 151 (two in FIG. 14). Is formed).
  • the portion of the opening 12 of the control plate 30 or its vicinity does not become a node of the standing wave s, the portion always vibrates, so that the toner 4 that cannot pass through the opening 12 Can be effectively prevented from adhering to the inside of each opening 12 and the periphery thereof, and even if it adheres, the adhered toner 4 can be effectively removed. That is, the distance L1 along the traveling path of the vibration wave between the reflection end 32 and the aperture row 12A may be set so as to satisfy Ll ⁇ A / 2, where ⁇ is the wavelength of the standing wave s. .
  • the aperture row 12A becomes an antinode of the standing wave s, and the respective apertures 12 of the control plate 30 can be displaced most.
  • the wavelength ⁇ when vibration is applied to the control plate 30 is about 4 mm when the vibration frequency is 40 kHz. Therefore, if the distance between the reflective end 32, which is the contact portion between the toner transport roller 1 and the control plate 30, and the opening 12 is 2 mm or less, the peripheral portion of the opening 12 can be vibrated reliably. In the present embodiment, the distance is set to lmm.
  • the distance L 2 along the vibration wave traveling path between the reflection end 32 and the vibration transmission plate 151 be set so as to satisfy L 2> ⁇ 4. This is If the distance L 2 is ⁇ ⁇ 4 or less, the standing wave s is difficult to be formed, and the reflecting end 32 vibrates, generating heat or abrading the vibrating reflecting plate 71 at that portion. Because It is more desirable to set the distance L2 so as to satisfy L2> 3 ⁇ 4.
  • the vibration generator 60 and the vibration transmission plate 151 which apply vibration to one of the control plates 30 across the opening row 12 1, are provided, while the other is the vibration reflection that reflects the vibration wave.
  • the plate 71 By providing the plate 71, a standing wave s can be formed between the reflecting end 32 and the vibration transmission plate 151, and the standing wave s causes the toner 1 to accumulate in each opening 1 2 Clogging can be reliably and efficiently prevented. Therefore, a stable image can be formed over a long period with a simple configuration.
  • the positions of the vibration transmitting plate 15 1 and the vibration reflecting plate 71 with respect to the opening row 12 A may be interchanged.
  • the vibration reflecting plate 72 may be adhered to the surface of the control plate 30 on the side of the counter electrode 5.
  • control plate 30 and the toner conveying roller 1 may be set to be in contact with each other. In this manner, a vibration node is formed at the contact portion (reflection end) 32 between the toner transport roller 1 and the control plate 30. As a result, a standing wave s is formed on the control plate 30, and the periphery of the opening 12 can be vibrated reliably.
  • the control plate 30 may be slid on the control plate 30 in order to prevent abrasion of the control plate 30 or reduce frictional force.
  • a spacer 73 may be provided. The spacer 73 has an effect of maintaining the gap between the control plate 30 and the toner conveying roller 1 uniformly in the row direction of the opening row 12A in addition to achieving the above-described object. Since the spacer 73 rubs against the toner 4, depending on the material, the spacer 73 may affect the printing electric field and the charge amount of the toner 4. You.
  • the spacer 73 it is preferable to connect the spacer 73 to a mechanism for removing charges, and to use a material that is conductive and has excellent wear resistance.
  • a resin filled with a conductive filler such as polyamide, polyimide, or poly-force, or a metal such as stainless steel or aluminum is particularly desirable.
  • the spacer 73 may be made of metal or the like.
  • any material having a rigidity capable of reflecting the vibration wave without absorbing the vibration may be used.
  • it is formed of a metal plate such as stainless steel (the surface is preferably coated with diamond-like force (DLC)).
  • the plate width may be set to about 5 mm and the plate thickness may be set to about 0.2 mm.
  • control plate 30 may be wound around the toner conveying roller 1 in order to prevent the control plate 30 from undulating.
  • the reflection of the vibration wave becomes unstable and the aperture row 1 2
  • the amplitude of the vibration around A decreases.
  • the undulation of the control plate 30 also causes the landing of the toner 4 on the recording paper 6 to vary. In order to prevent such a situation, it is preferable to wind the control plate 30 around the toner conveying roller 1 as shown in FIG.
  • the portion where the control plate 30 and the toner conveying roller 1 are in contact with each other becomes long, and the swell of the control plate 30 is prevented, so that the vibration wave can be stably reflected. It is preferable that the contact length L3 between the control plate 30 and the toner conveying roller 1 is about 4 or more of the vibration wavelength ⁇ of the control plate 30.
  • the vibration reflection member 81 is arranged in parallel with the row of apertures 12 ⁇ downstream of the reflection end 32 in the direction of propagation of the vibration. It is good to provide. That is, the vibration reflecting member 81 is disposed on the side opposite to the opening row 12A with the reflecting end 32 therebetween. The vibration reflection member 81 is opposed to the control plate 30. It may be provided on the surface on the electrode 5 side.
  • the vibration reflection member 81 has a rigidity capable of transmitting vibration without absorbing vibration, similarly to the vibration reflection plate 71, and its vibration characteristic is large as the impedance of vibration transmission of the control plate 30. Different ones are particularly desirable for increasing reflection efficiency.
  • the vibration reflection member 81 is not warped or bent, an effect of preventing the control plate 30 from undulating and an effect of reducing the landing error of the toner 14 can be obtained. Adhesion of the vibration reflection member 81 to the control plate 30 may be performed by using, for example, thermocompression bonding or an epoxy-based or isocyanate-based adhesive.
  • the reflection end is formed. It may be formed.
  • the holding members 8 2 C and 8 2 D of the control plate 30 on the side opposite to the opening row 12 A across the vibration transmission plate 15 1 are ⁇ / 2 or more with respect to the vibration transmission plate 15 1. It is preferable to arrange them at a position apart from each other. This is for the following reason.
  • the vertical axis of FIG. 21 indicates the amplitude ratio of vibration on the control plate 30.
  • the amplitude at the position of 200 mm from the vibration transmission plate 15 1 It is divided by the amplitude at the position. That is, the vibration is attenuated.
  • the horizontal axis indicates the distance between the vibration transmission plate 15 1 and the holding members 82 C, 82 D (see L 5 in Fig. 20). Divided by the wavelength ⁇ of the vibration wave at 0. In this case, since the frequency of the vibration source was 40 kHz, the wavelength ⁇ was 4 mm.
  • the amplitude was measured using a laser Doppler device.
  • the vibration transmission plate 15 1 and the holding members 82 C and 82 D when the distance between the vibration transmission plate 15 1 and the holding members 82 C and 82 D is short, the vibration is significantly attenuated. If the distance between the vibration transmission plate 15 1 and the holding members 82 C, 82 D is set to about 2 or more, the attenuation is reduced. This is because when the distance between the vibration transmission plate 15 1 and the holding members 8 2 C and 8 2 D is smaller than the distance between the node and the antinode of the vibration wave, the vibration of the vibration transmission plate 15 1 This causes the holding members 82C and 82D to vibrate, and as a result, the vibration energy of the vibration transmission plate 151 is consumed by the vibration of the holding members 82C and 82D.
  • the distance between the vibration transmitting plate 151 and the holding members 82C and 82D is such that the nodes and antinodes of the vibration wave are formed. It is preferable to dispose the holding members 82 C and 82 D at a distance of ⁇ / 2 or more. Preferable form to vibrate uniformly in one opening row direction
  • the control plate 30 has a vibration generator 16 7 extending parallel to the row direction of the opening row 12 A (the X direction in FIG. 22, hereinafter also referred to as the row direction).
  • the vibration generator 167 is formed in a rod shape or a plate shape, and is adhered and fixed to the control plate 30. Such bonding may be performed by, for example, thermocompression bonding.
  • the vibration generator 167 generates a wave that causes the control plate 30 to bend and deform, for example, a transverse wave.
  • the vibration generator 167 is composed of a unimorph or bimorph in which a vibration plate 167b and a vibrator 167a are bonded.
  • the diaphragm 1667b extends in parallel with the row direction of the opening rows 12A and is adhered to the surface of the control plate 30.
  • the vibrator 167a extends in parallel with the row direction of the opening row 12A so as to overlap the diaphragm 167b, and is adhered to the surface of the diaphragm 167b.
  • the lengths of the vibrator 1667a and the diaphragm 1667b in the direction orthogonal to the opening row 12A, that is, in the Y direction, are equal to each other.
  • the vibrating plate 167b for example, stainless steel having a plate width of about 5 mm and a plate thickness of about 0.3 mm can be preferably used.
  • As the vibrator 167a for example, a piezoelectric element (PZT) is preferable. Can be used.
  • a rigid rod 167c extending in the row direction is affixed to the surface of the vibrator 167a as a restricting body for restricting expansion and contraction of the vibrator 167a in the row direction.
  • a material having a high Young's modulus such as stainless steel can be suitably used. This suppresses the deflection of the control plate 30 in the column direction, and as a result, applies a plane wave having the same phase in the column direction to each opening 12 of the control plate 30. It has become.
  • the vibration generator 167 bends in the direction of arrow B (the Z direction, which is a direction orthogonal to the X and Y directions).
  • the bending in the column direction is regulated by the rigid rod 167c, the bending amount in the B direction is equal at an arbitrary cross section in the column direction. Therefore, by periodically expanding and contracting the vibrator 16a, the control plate 30 periodically repeats flexural deformation, and as a result, the control plate 30 has the same phase at any point in the column direction. Vibration can be generated.
  • the vibration of the vibration generator 167 is preferably a sine wave having a frequency of 1 MHz or less, for example, a sine wave of 20 kHz.
  • a plane wave from the vibration generator 1667 with a uniform phase in the column direction (X direction) Are propagated in the direction (Y direction) orthogonal to the row direction with respect to the control plate 30, so that the openings 12, 12,... Of the opening row 12A can be vibrated uniformly.
  • the clogging of the openings 12, 12,... Can be uniformly prevented or eliminated.
  • FIG. 24 shows a control plate 30 according to (Part 2), in which a rod-shaped or plate-shaped vibration transmission plate 155 is adhered and fixed to the control plate 30 in parallel with the opening row 12A. ing.
  • a vibration generator 60 having a vibrator 16 and a horn 17 is provided.
  • a vibration absorber 64 is provided at the other end of the vibration transmission plate 155 so as to absorb the wave starting from the vibrator 16 and not to reflect the vibration wave.
  • the vibration absorber 64 for example, silicon rubber can be suitably used.
  • the vibration absorber 64 may use a fluid or may be configured using a piezoelectric element.
  • the vibration transmission plate 155 is elongated in the row direction, it is easy to bend in the row direction. Therefore, the vibration of the vibration generator 60 propagates in the vibration transmission plate 155 as a transverse wave. However, since the transverse wave is absorbed by the vibration absorber 64 at the other end of the vibration transmission plate 155, a reflected wave from the other end is not generated. As a result, only a traveling wave in one direction is formed on the vibration transmission plate 155, and no standing wave is generated along the row direction on the opening row 12A. Therefore, each of the openings 12, 12,... Of the opening row 12A can be vibrated uniformly, and the clogging of the openings 12, 12,... Can be uniformly prevented or eliminated.
  • the vibration absorber 64 may be a combination of vibration absorbing plates 64a and 64b and rigid plates 64c and 64d. In this way, sufficient vibration damping can be obtained by sandwiching the vibration absorbing plates 64a and 64b between the rigid plates 64c and 64d, and bringing the vibration absorbing plates 64a and 64 into uniform contact with the vibration transmission plate 155. .
  • rigid plate If the material of 64 c and 64 d is a material having sufficient thermal conductivity, for example, aluminum, the heat generated from the vibration absorbing plates 64 a and 64 b in the vibration absorbing process can be easily released to the outside. . Further, as shown in FIG. 25 (c), a radiation fin 64e may be provided on the rigid plate 64c to enhance the heat radiation.
  • the vibration absorbing plates 64a and 64b In order to promote the transmission of vibration from 55 to the vibration absorbing plates 64a and 64b, the vibration absorbing plates 64a and 64b
  • silicon grease may be applied between the 64 b and the vibration transmission plate 155.
  • the rigid plates 64c and 64d may be tightened with screws to apply an appropriate pressure to the vibration absorbing plates 64a and 64b.
  • a silicon grease is provided between the vibration absorbing plates 64a, 64b and the rigid plates 64c, 64d. May be applied.
  • the length of the attenuation section of the vibration transmitting plate 1 55 by the vibration absorber 64 is preferably at least half the wavelength of the bending wave on the vibration transmitting plate 155, and more than four wavelengths of the bending wave. It is particularly preferred.
  • the vibration absorbing plates 64a and 64b any material having viscoelasticity sufficient to sufficiently attenuate vibration may be used, and for example, butyl rubber, silicon rubber, or the like can be suitably used.
  • the pair of vibration absorbing plates 64a and 64b may be formed of the same material, or may be formed of two or more materials having different characteristics.
  • a vibration absorbing plate is made of a ferrite rubber with a rubber hardness of 80 degrees (JIS K6301 A scale) (ferrite powder added to butyl rubber) and a silicon rubber with a rubber hardness of 10 degrees (JIS K630 1 A scale). It may be used for 64a and 64b.
  • the vibration absorbing plates 64a and 64b are formed of materials having different characteristics, the following effects are obtained.
  • the vibration absorber 64 needs to absorb not only a single frequency vibration from the vibration generator 60 but also vibrations of other frequencies.
  • rubber has its molecular structure and composition
  • the attenuation coefficient for the frequency changes. Therefore, if the vibration absorbing plates 64a and 64b are composed of a plurality of types of viscoelastic materials, vibrations of various frequencies input to the vibration absorbing member 64 can be attenuated.
  • both the pair of vibration absorbing plates 64a and 64 are made of hardened rubber with the addition of a metal filler or the like, an increase in the weight increases the damping coefficient, thereby effectively damping the vibration.
  • hard rubber has a high panel constant, which makes the input vibration wave more likely to be reflected. Therefore, by forming the pair of vibration absorbing plates 64a and 64b with soft rubber and hard rubber, the reflection of the vibration wave can be prevented by the soft rubber, while the vibration can be attenuated by the hard rubber. .
  • vibration absorber 64 with a plurality of dampers is not limited to using rubber, and can be applied to, for example, a vibration absorber using a fluid or a vibration absorber using a piezoelectric element.
  • FIG. 26 shows a control plate 30 according to (Part 3), in which a vibration transmission plate 1555 is arranged in parallel with the opening row 12A, and one end of the vibration transmission plate A vibration generator 60 having a child 16 and a horn 17 is provided.
  • a clamp mechanism 65 is provided at the other end of the vibration transmission plate 15 as a vibration condition changing means for changing the mechanical or geometric condition of the vibration.
  • the clamp mechanism 65 sandwiches the vibration transmission plate 150 during excitation by the vibrator 16, and moves the clamping position (clamp position) along the longitudinal direction of the vibration transmission plate 150.
  • the reflection point of the bending wave is moved by appropriately changing the reflection point.
  • the clamp mechanism 65 is configured to be movable in the longitudinal direction of the vibration transmission plate 1555, that is, in the row direction of the opening row 12A.
  • As the material of the clamp portions 65 a and 65 b of the clamp mechanism 65 a material having rigidity enough to reliably reflect flexural waves and viscoelasticity sufficient to suppress the generation of abnormal noise during clamping is used.
  • the clamp portions 65 a and 65 b shown in FIG. 26 have sharp tips, but the shape of the clamp mechanism 65 must be a shape that can securely support the vibration transmission plate 15 55. Any shape may be used as long as it has a flat surface or a curved surface. Next, the operation of applying vibration to the control plate 30 will be described.
  • the vibration of the vibrator 16 is transmitted to the control plate 30 via the horn 17 and the vibration transmitting plate 15 55.
  • the bending wave on the vibration transmission plate 150 starts from one end where the vibration generator 60 is provided, and is reflected at the other end where the clamp mechanism 65 is provided. At this time, a standing wave is generated by superposition of the incident wave and the reflected wave.
  • the position of the node of the standing wave differs depending on the reflection condition (boundary condition) of the end point and the length and thickness of the vibration transmission plate 155 or the vibration frequency. Therefore, by changing the clamp position of the vibration transmitting plate 15 5 by the clamp mechanism 65 during the vibration, at least one of the reflection condition of the end point or the vibration length of the vibration transmitting plate 15 5 is changed.
  • the positions of antinodes and nodes of the standing wave are appropriately changed, and the vibration wave of the vibration transmission plate 155 can be made a non-standing wave.
  • the openings 12, 12,... of the opening row 12 A can be vibrated uniformly, and the clogging of the passage holes 12, 12,... can be uniformly prevented or eliminated. it can.
  • a matching circuit (not shown) is inserted into the drive circuit (not shown) of the vibrator 16. Then, the natural frequency may be tracked, and control according to the natural frequency may be performed.
  • FIG. 27 shows a control plate 30 according to (Part 4), and an auxiliary vibration device 66 is provided at the other end of the vibration transmission plate 15.
  • the auxiliary vibration device 66 may be any device that can disturb the vibration from the vibrator 16.
  • a PZT plate 66 shown in FIG. a, 66 b. ? ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ PZT plates 66a and 66b may be sandwiched between rigid plates 66c and 66d to prevent the plates 663 and 66b from being damaged by self-strain during vibration.
  • 66 e is? This is a power supply for supplying an applied voltage to the two plates 66 & and 66 b.
  • any material can be used as long as a sufficient load is applied to the two plates 66 & and 66b.
  • aluminum can be suitably used.
  • an appropriate load may be applied to the PZT plates 66a and 66b by further tightening the rigid plates 66c and 66d with fastening means such as screws.
  • the frequency of the vibrator 16 and the frequency of the auxiliary vibration device 66 are not approximate to each other in order to efficiently perform the vibration disturbance effect of the auxiliary vibration device 66.
  • the frequency of the vibrator 16 to about 40 kHz and the frequency of the auxiliary vibration device 66 to about 55 kHz, it is possible to efficiently prevent the generation of standing waves.
  • the non-stationary wave is propagated in parallel with the aperture row 12A, it is set in the direction orthogonal to the aperture row 12A as described in ⁇ Preferred mode of vibrating near the aperture with large amplitude ''. If a standing wave is formed, it becomes possible to vibrate the vicinity of the opening uniformly and with a large amplitude in the direction of the opening row 12A.
  • FIG. 29 shows a vibration transmission plate 156 according to (Part 1).
  • a U-shaped part for fixing the horn 17 of the vibration generator 60 with a screw is formed at one end 41 shown on the left side of the figure, and the other end 42 shown at the right side of the figure is formed at the other end 42.
  • the vibration absorber 64 is fixed.
  • a U-shaped portion similar to the above-described one end 41 may be formed, and this U-shaped portion may be fixed to a non-vibrating frame (not shown). Good.
  • a substantially central portion of the vibration transmission plate 156 is adhered to the control plate 30. The width of the adhered portion is tapered so as to gradually decrease toward the right side.
  • the width of the vibration transmission plate 15 56 decreases from one end 41 to the other end 42.
  • the taper By attaching the taper in this manner, attenuation of vibration in the vibration propagation direction in the vibration transmission plate 156 is suppressed.
  • the vibration propagates on the vibration transmission plate 156 while absorbing the vibration energy, so that the amplitude of the vibration at the other end 422 is small. It will be connected.
  • the rigidity of the vibration transmitting body 156 increases, the amplitude increases even with a small vibration energy. For this reason, the attenuation of the vibration in the vibration propagation direction in the vibration transmission plate 156 is suppressed, and the vicinity of the farthest opening 12 of the vibration generator 60 can be sufficiently vibrated.
  • the plate thickness may be reduced from one end 41 of the vibration transmission plate 156 to the other end 42.However, reducing the plate width is more effective for etching and the like. This method is particularly preferable because a considerable reduction in cost can be realized by controlling the etching time when the method is used. That is, the vibration transmission plate 156 can be implemented simply by reducing its width, and therefore is easy to manufacture and low in cost.
  • the thickness of the diaphragm is preferably about 0.2 to 1 mm. By adopting such a thickness, mounting on a narrow space becomes easy. (Part 2)
  • FIG. 30 shows a vibration transmission plate 30 according to (No. 2).
  • the vibration transmission plate 157 has a wavy shape 61 on the side of the opening 12 side at the bonding portion with the control plate 30. It has been done.
  • the wave pitch of the wave shape 61 is set to be about half the wavelength of the vibration when the vibration propagates on the vibration transmission plate 157.
  • the height difference of the wave shape 61 that is, the distance between the convex portion (top) and the concave portion (bottom) of the wave shape is about 4 times the wavelength of the vibration propagating on the control plate 30. It is set to one-half the length.
  • the distance between the concave portion and the opening 12 is about one quarter of the wavelength of the vibration propagating on the control plate 30 compared to the distance between the convex portion and the opening 12. become longer. Therefore, by making the concave portions antinodes of vibration on the vibration transmission plate 157 and the convex portions as nodes of vibration, the phase of vibration propagation at the opening 12 is shifted by 90 degrees between the concave and convex portions. Become. Therefore, the antinode of the vibration becomes slow around the opening 12, and the cleaning can be performed uniformly in the row direction of the opening row 12A.
  • the vibration transmission plate 157 may be made of stainless steel and have a thickness of 0.2 mm.
  • the width of the vibration transmission plate 157 is gradually reduced from one end to the other end, because the attenuation of the amplitude can be suppressed.
  • the width of the electrode pattern 11B made of the same material (such as copper) as the image signal electrode 11 gradually decreases along the aperture row 12A.
  • the vibration characteristics may be changed. That is, a pattern 11B whose width gradually decreases from one end (the left end in Fig. 31) to the other end (the right end in Fig. 31) is formed so as to extend substantially parallel to the opening row 12A.
  • a vibration transmission plate 158 made of stainless steel or the like may be fixed to one end side. By doing this, Damping of the vibration propagating from one end to the other end is suppressed based on the characteristics of the control plate 30 itself, and it is not necessary to extend the vibration transmission plate from one end to the other end.
  • FIG. 32 shows a vibration transmission plate 159 according to (Part 4).
  • One end 43 shown on the left side of the figure is a vibration generator to which the horn 17 of the vibration generator 60 is fixed, and the other end 44 shown on the right side of the figure is a fixed vibration absorber 64. This is the vibration damper.
  • the central portion of the vibration transmission plate 159 is a portion bonded to the control plate 30.
  • the plate width of the central portion is smaller than the plate width of the one end 43 which is the vibration generating portion.
  • the width of the central portion of the vibration transmission plate 15 decreases from one end 43 to the other end 44.
  • the plate thickness may be reduced from one end 43 of the vibration transmission plate 159 toward the other end 44.
  • the width of the other end 44 as the vibration absorbing portion of the vibration transmission plate 159 is larger than the width of the central portion thereof.
  • the amplitude of the vibration at the other end 44 becomes smaller than the amplitude of the vibration at the center portion, and the vibration absorber 64 can easily absorb the vibration energy.
  • the same effect can be obtained by making the plate thickness of the other end 4 4 thicker than the plate thickness of the central portion.
  • the vibration absorber 64 and the vibration transmission plate 1 are increased. Since the contact area with 59 is increased and the vibration energy per unit area is reduced, there is an advantage that the energy absorption in the vibration absorber 64 is further facilitated.
  • vibration transmission plate 159 having such a shape, vibration having a uniform amplitude can be applied along the opening row 12A, and uniform cleaning can be performed.
  • tension may be applied to the vibration transmission plates 151 to 159 in the longitudinal direction. When the tension is applied in this manner, the warp of the vibration transmission plate 159 is prevented, and the vibration can be reliably transmitted to the control plate 30.
  • one end of the vibration transmission plate is sandwiched by a clamp member or the like, and the clamp member is moved outward in the longitudinal direction of the vibration transmission plate. Just pull it.
  • the basic configuration of the image forming apparatus according to (Part 1) is the same as that of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and a description thereof will be omitted.
  • the image forming apparatus includes a control unit (not shown) for cleaning the print head 10.
  • the control unit performs a control when the voltage applied to the image signal electrode 11 is ⁇ 100 V. That is, when the cleaning signal is received when image formation is not performed, a rotation stop signal of the toner transport port 1 is given to the roller drive means (not shown), and a drive signal is given to the vibration drive circuit (not shown).
  • a switching signal is provided to voltage switching means (not shown) so that the counter electrode 5 is grounded.
  • a period when the image forming operation is stopped (a period during which no image forming is performed), for example, immediately after the power is turned on to the apparatus, or after a recording sheet is fed when a plurality of recording sheets 6 are transported during continuous image formation.
  • the vibrator 16 is operated to perform the following cleaning operation.
  • toner accumulated around the opening 12 not only the toner of the normal polarity but also the toner of the opposite polarity exists. If vibration is applied while maintaining the polarity of the counter electrode 5 at the polarity at the time of image formation, toner of opposite polarity adhering to the periphery of the opening 12 has a force to attract the counter electrode 5 to the print head 10 side. Works. Therefore, even if the toner of the opposite polarity is once jumped to the counter electrode 5 side by vibration, it is again jumped to the print head 10 side by the action of the electric field and diffuses into a wider area than the periphery of the opening 12. In other words, the print head 10 may be stained.
  • toner When the print head 10 and the toner transport roller 1 are used in contact with or in close proximity to each other, toner may be blown out of the toner transport roller 1 due to an air current generated by applying vibration. is there. Also in this case, since the toner to be blown out has a forward polarity and a reverse polarity, when a voltage of either polarity is applied to the counter electrode 5, the toner of either polarity is applied to the print head 10. The print head 10 may be contaminated by flying backward.
  • the toner transport roller 1 and the counter electrode 5 have the same potential, so that the electric field does not act on the toner 4 and the foreign matter. Therefore, the toner 4 can be surely blown to the counter electrode 5 side. Further, since the rotation of the toner transport roller 1 is stopped at the time of applying the vibration, the toner 4 does not fly out of the toner transport roller 1 after a certain time has elapsed since the application of the vibration.
  • a power supply for applying a voltage to the toner transport roller 1 and a switch for switching the toner transport roller 1 between a voltage applied state and a grounded state may be provided.
  • a voltage is applied to the toner transport roller 1, and the magnitude relationship between the potential of the toner transport roller 1 and the image signal electrode 11 is determined by the magnitude of the potential during image formation. The relationship may be reversed.
  • the toner transport roller 1 and the control plate when applying vibration, the toner transport roller 1 and the control plate
  • the toner 4 existing between the print head 10 and the print head 10 can be positively flown toward the toner conveying roller 1, and the print head 10 can be effectively cleaned.
  • FIG. 33 shows an image forming apparatus according to (Part 2). Since the basic configuration and the like are the same as those of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1, only the differences will be described. That is, the counter electrode 5 is of a roller type and can be driven to rotate by driving means (motor, not shown). A cleaning blade 23A is in contact with the counter electrode 5 on the side opposite to the print head 10, and a toner collecting container 23B is provided below the counter electrode 5.
  • the control means for cleaning receives the cleaning signal and supplies a rotation stop signal of the toner transport roller 1 to the roller driving means (not shown), while driving the vibration driving circuit (not shown). A signal is supplied to the voltage switching means 29 so that the counter electrode 5 is grounded, and a rotation drive signal is further supplied to the counter electrode driving means (not shown).
  • the counter electrode 5 is stationary without rotating.
  • the counter electrode 5 rotates. In this embodiment, it rotates counterclockwise.
  • the toner 4 attached around the opening 12 by the operation of the vibrator 16 is blown to the counter electrode 5 side.
  • the voltage of the counter electrode 5 is switched from +100 V at the time of image formation by the voltage switching means 29, and is grounded similarly to the toner supply roller 1.
  • the toner 4 and foreign matter that have jumped out to the counter electrode 5 side are collected in the toner collecting container 23 B by the cleaning blade 23 A by the rotation of the counter electrode 5.
  • FIG. 34 shows an image forming apparatus according to (Part 3). Since the basic configuration and the like are the same as those of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 33, only different portions will be described.
  • the rotatable counter electrode 5 is connected to voltage switching means 291, which switches between a state connected to a DC power supply 9, a state grounded, and a state connected to an AC power supply 31B.
  • the AC power supply 31B has a frequency of 4 kHz and a voltage of 1.5 kV (Vpp).
  • the control means for cleaning receives the cleaning signal and gives a rotation stop signal of the toner conveying roller 1 to the roller driving means (not shown), while supplying a vibration driving circuit (not shown) to the vibration driving circuit (not shown).
  • a driving signal is supplied, and a switching signal is supplied to the voltage switching means 291, so that the opposing electrode 5 is grounded in the first half (initial stage) of the application of the vibration and an AC voltage is applied to the counter electrode 5 in the second half.
  • a rotation drive signal is given to an electrode drive means (not shown).
  • the counter electrode 5 is switched from +100 V at the time of image formation to the ground state (0 V), but after a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of cleaning, the AC power supply 3 1 Switch to B.
  • both the alternating electric field and the vibration combine to cause not only the forward-polarity toner but also the reverse-polarity toner to fly from the print head 10 to the counter electrode 5 and clean it. Since the cleaning is performed with the assistance of the electric field force, toner and foreign matter can be removed even with a small vibration acceleration. Since the opposing electrode 5 is moving, the toner blown onto the opposing electrode 5 is collected by the cleaning blade 23A in the collecting container 23B. Therefore, the counter electrode 5 This prevents the toner from flying back to the print head 10.
  • FIG. 35 shows an image forming apparatus according to (Part 4). This is an example in which the present invention is applied to a multicolor image forming apparatus.
  • This image forming apparatus includes a head unit 25 having a toner conveying roller 1 and a supply port 3, a print head 10 having a vibration transmitting plate 15 1 and a vibration generator 60, and a counter electrode 5.
  • Four units are provided, each of which forms an image forming unit for yellow, magenta, cyan, and black.
  • These image forming units are arranged in a line, and a transport belt 20 is provided so that the carrier side of the endless belt runs between the print head 10 and the counter electrode 5 of the units in the above-described row direction.
  • the conveyor belt 20 travels in the direction of the arrow in the figure by the rotation of the drive port 21A.
  • the transport belt 20 may be a conductive seamless belt obtained by filling a resin such as polyimide, polycarbonate, or polyethylene with a conductive filler. In this embodiment, polyimide is used.
  • the recording paper 6 is supplied to the transport belt 20 by the feed roller 7, and the transport belt 20 is applied with static electricity by the grounded paper suction brush 2 OA, and the recording paper 6 is transported by the transport belt 20. Is electrostatically attracted to the surface facing the print head 10.
  • the recording paper 6 is transported by the traveling of the transport belt 20, and images of four colors are sequentially formed.
  • the toner image on the recording paper 6 on which the image is formed is heated and pressed by the fixing roller 8 and is fixed on the recording paper 6.
  • the vibration generator 60 is driven by the color unit at the timing when the image forming operation is stopped. Drive only the unit. Therefore, only one drive circuit 31 for the vibration generator 60 is prepared, and the vibration generator 60 is switched and driven by the switch 33 in the order of each color.
  • the voltage of the counter electrode 5 is also switched in synchronization with the operation timing of the vibration generator 60, and the switching switch 291 is also used for this switching. Therefore, one DC power supply 9 and one AC power supply 3 1B are connected. Shared by each unit.
  • the vibration drive circuit 31, the high-voltage power supply 9 and the AC power supply 31B are shared by each unit, the cost of the multicolor image forming apparatus does not increase so much.
  • the natural frequencies of the vibration generators 60 of each unit are not uniform, the amplitude of the vibration generators 60 varies. Therefore, it is desirable to manage the natural frequency of the vibration generator 60 and to design the natural frequency band Q of the vibrator 16 to be narrow. In other words, the natural frequency band Q of the vibrator 16 is set narrow, and the vibrator 1
  • the natural frequency band Q is set to about 1000 and the vibration frequency is set to 40 kHz.
  • the time required for cleaning is 50 ms, which was experimentally found.
  • the time during which the vibration can be driven is calculated by dividing the distance between each unit by the moving speed of the recording paper 6. Becomes For example, if the distance between the units is 5 O mm and the moving speed of the recording paper 6 is 10 O m / s, the driving time is 50 O ms, and the time required for cleaning (50 ms), which is much longer. Therefore, if the natural frequency band Q of the vibrator 16 is set to be narrow, the shared drive circuit 31 can be used.
  • the drive circuit 31 of the vibration generator 60 be an automatic frequency tracking type circuit so that the variation in the natural frequency can be absorbed by the circuit side.
  • Use voltage switching means 291 such as switches and relays, to control the voltage of the counter electrode 5. And two power supplies 9, 31 B for image formation and cleaning.
  • a relay When a relay is used, high voltage is switched, so noise is generated at the time of switching, which may cause malfunction of surrounding circuits. In such a case, it is preferable to insert a filter such as ferrite on the high voltage output side to cut noise.
  • FIG. 36 shows the configuration of the image forming apparatus according to (Part 1).
  • This image forming apparatus forms an intermediate image by adhering toner 4 on a conveyor belt 20, and then transfers the intermediate image to recording paper 6. Since the basic configuration and the like are the same as those of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1, only the different parts will be described.
  • the transport belt 20 is formed of an endless type belt, and is wound around a roller-shaped counter electrode 5 and a backup roller 21. Note that at least one of the counter electrode 5 and the backup roller 21 is formed as a driving roller in order to continuously transport the transport belt 20.
  • the counter electrode 5 and the backup roller 21 constitute a transport unit that transports the transport belt 20.
  • the transfer mechanism 40 includes the above-described backup roller 21 and a transfer roller 22 that is provided to be able to freely contact and separate from the backup roller 21. In other words, the transfer mechanism 40 applies a predetermined voltage to the transfer roller 22 during operation (at the time of transfer), and at the same time, transfers the transfer belt 20 and the transfer belt 20 between the transfer roller 22 and the backup roller 21.
  • the transfer roller 22 is moved closer to the backup roller 21 so as to sandwich the recording paper 6, and the intermediate image on the conveyor belt 20 is transferred to the recording paper 6.
  • the voltage applied to the transfer roller 22 depends on various characteristics such as the amount of charge of the toner used, the humidity of the environment, and the like, but a voltage in the range of about 600 V to about 150 V is preferable. In this embodiment, it is set to 100 V.
  • the transfer port roller 22 is grounded and is separated from the backup roller 21.
  • a roller in which a metal roller is coated with a urethane foam in which a conductive filler is dispersed by about 2 to 6 mm can be preferably used.
  • the urethane foam on the surface of the transfer roller 22 preferably has a rubber hardness of 30 to 60 degrees.
  • the pressing force of the transfer roller 22 to the backup roller 21 is preferably about 50 to 200 NZm, and the recording paper 6 is inserted and transported between the transfer roller 22 and the backup opening roller 21. Pressing is started before being performed.
  • the recording paper 6 to which the intermediate image has been transferred is conveyed to a fixing roller 8 as fixing means by the rotation of the backup roller 21. Then, the image on the recording paper 6 is fixed by the fixing roller 8.
  • the transfer roller 22 is separated from the backup roller 21 by the transfer roller separation mechanism 22A.
  • the paper feed speed is 65 mmZs.
  • the toner remaining on the transport belt 20 after being transferred by the transfer roller 22 is removed by the cleaning blade 23 A of the transport belt cleaning device 23 and collected in the toner collecting container 23 B.
  • urethane rubber having a thickness of 3 mm was used for the cleaning blade 23A.
  • the blade 23A may be made of silicone rubber, butyl rubber, resin such as polyester or acrylic, or metal such as stainless steel, in addition to urethane rubber.
  • the collection container 23B becomes full of toner, the toner collection container 23B can be replaced and used as appropriate.
  • vibration is applied by the vibration generator 60 and the vibration transmission plate 151, thereby controlling The toner 4 blown out when cleaning the opening 12 of the plate 30 once adheres to the conveyor belt 20.
  • the transfer roller 2 is pressed while the transfer roller 22 is pressed against the backup roller 21.
  • the toner is transferred to the transfer roller 2 itself, and as a result, the transfer roller 22 is contaminated.
  • the transfer power supply to the transfer roller 22 is turned off at the timing when the toner adhered on the conveyor belt 20 comes into contact with the transfer roller 22.
  • the toner adhered on the transport belt 20 is transported to the transfer mechanism 40 with a time difference corresponding to the moving speed of the transport belt 20. Therefore, in consideration of this time difference, the voltage applied to the transfer roller 22 is set to ⁇ FF after a predetermined time has passed since the cleaning operation of the control plate 30 was performed.
  • the toner blown out at the time of cleaning the opening 12 includes a toner of the normal polarity and a toner of the opposite polarity. Therefore, it is preferable not only to invert the voltage polarity of the transfer roller 22 from the polarity when the toner image is transferred to the paper, but also to separate the transfer roller 22 from the backup roller 21. Therefore, in the present embodiment, in order to reliably prevent the transfer roller 22 from being contaminated, in addition to switching control of the transfer power supply, the transfer roller 22 is caused to perform a separation / contact operation, and the transfer roller 22 is connected to the toner image. Avoid physical contact.
  • the transfer mechanism 40 is deactivated after a predetermined time has elapsed since the vibration generator 60 was activated, and thereafter, the transfer mechanism 40 was deactivated for a time substantially equal to the operation continuation time of the vibration generator 60. The state is to be maintained.
  • the toner on the conveyor belt 20 that has passed through the transfer mechanism 40 is removed by the cleaning blade 23A and collected in the collection container 23B.
  • FIG. 37 shows an image forming apparatus according to (Part 2).
  • the transfer roller 22 is always in contact with the transport belt 20 (strictly speaking, the recording paper 6 at the time of transfer), and the transfer roller 22 has a transfer roller cleaning device 24.
  • the transfer roller 22 has a transfer roller cleaning device 24.
  • the transfer roller cleaning device 24 includes a urethane rubber blade 24 A having a thickness of 3 mm and a toner collecting container 24 B.
  • the edge of the cleaning blade 24 A comes into contact with the transfer roller 22, and toner and foreign matters are wiped off from the surface of the transfer roller 22 as the transfer roller 22 rotates.
  • resin such as polyester or acryl, or metal such as stainless steel can be used. It is preferable that the surface of the transfer roller 22 has small irregularities.
  • a fluorine tube having a thickness of 0.1 mm is used by covering it with urethane foam rubber.
  • the toner collecting container 24 B is formed integrally with the toner collecting container 23 B of the transport belt cleaning device 23 so that the collected toner is discarded and replaced at the same time because the number of maintenance operations is small. In that case, it is desirable that the capacity of the toner collecting container 23 B of the transport belt cleaning device 23 be larger than the capacity of the toner collecting container 24 B of the transfer roller cleaning device 24. In addition, the toner collected from the transfer roller cleaning device 24 is transported to the toner recovery container 23 B of the transport belt cleaning device 23, and only the toner recovery container 23 B of the transport belt cleaning device 23 is discarded and replaced. It may be designed as follows.
  • the toner collected by the conveyor belt cleaning device 23 is conveyed to the toner collection container 24 B of the transfer roller cleaning device 24, and the toner collection container 24 B of the transfer roller cleaning device 24. Only one may be discarded and replaced.
  • the toner blown out when cleaning the opening 12 of the control plate 30 adheres to the conveyor belt 20 and temporarily adheres to the transfer roller 22. Is removed by the transfer roller cleaning device 24. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the recording paper 6 from being stained and to prevent the transfer roller 22 from deteriorating in performance.
  • the present embodiment does not need to mechanically move the transfer roller 22 into and out of contact with the transfer roller 22. Therefore, the present embodiment is suitable for a printer that requires higher-speed printing.
  • the transfer roller cleaning device 2 4 can be equipped.
  • FIG. 38 shows an image forming apparatus according to (Part 3).
  • Part 3 is a form in which the present invention is applied to a multi-color pudding, and four sets of head units 25 shown in FIG. 36 are provided. That is, four sets of toner, one transport roller 1, a control plate 30, a vibration generator 60, a counter electrode 5, etc. are provided in a set corresponding to each color of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black.
  • Image forming units 51, 52, 53, and 54 are arranged in this order.
  • the conveyor belt 20 is wound around the roller 21 A and the backup roller 21, The first to fourth image forming units 51 to 54 are sequentially moved between the control plate 30 and the counter electrode 5. Specifically, the conveyor belt 20 moves in the direction of the arrow in the figure (clockwise direction in FIG. 38) by the rotation of the backup port 21.
  • the transport belt 20 is a conductive seamless belt, and a material in which a conductive filler is filled in a resin such as polyimide, polyforce, or polyethylene can be preferably used. In this embodiment, polyimide is used.
  • the first to fourth image forming units 51 to 54 operate so that images of four colors are sequentially printed on the transport belt 20 in synchronization with the movement of the transport belt 20.
  • the intermediate image formed on the conveyor belt 20 is sandwiched between the transfer roller 22 and the backup roller 21 together with the recording paper 6 and is transferred to the recording paper 6.
  • the transferred toner image on the recording paper 6 is heated and pressed by the fixing device 8 and is fixed on the recording paper 6.
  • the first to fourth image forming units 51 to 54 are referred to as first to fourth color image forming units, respectively.
  • the applied voltage is switched between the image signal electrode 11 and the counter electrode 5 in synchronization.
  • a voltage is applied to the vibrator 16 while the voltage applied to the image signal electrode 11 and the counter electrode 5 is OFF.
  • the image signal electrodes 11 of each image forming unit have a predetermined first time difference T1 so that toners from a plurality of image forming units overlap on the conveyor belt 20 to form an intermediate image. Work sequentially. That is, when the first time T1 has elapsed since the image forming operation of the first image forming unit 51 was started, the image forming operation of the second head unit 52 was started, and the image of the second image forming unit 52 was started.
  • the image forming operation of the third image forming unit 53 is started, and the first image forming operation of the third image forming unit 53 is started.
  • the image forming operation of the fourth image forming unit 54 is started.
  • the vibrator 16 of each image forming unit is detached from each image forming unit.
  • the operation is sequentially performed with a second time difference T2 longer than the first time difference T1 so that the toner particles do not overlap each other at the same position on the transport belt 20. That is, a predetermined time difference is provided between the time interval T2 of the operation start of each vibrator 16 and the time interval T1 of the image formation of each image forming unit.
  • the vibrator 16 of the first color is driven when the image formation of the first color is completed (when the voltage applied to the image signal electrodes 11 and the counter electrode 5 switches from ⁇ N to OFF).
  • the vibrators 16 of the second to fourth colors are driven after a predetermined delay time ⁇ has elapsed from the end of image formation for each color.
  • a delay time ⁇ is provided from the end of image formation for each color to the start of the operation of the oscillator 16 (the delay time of the first color is zero), and the delay time ⁇ is four colors. Each is different.
  • the location where the toner is blown out by the operation of the vibrator 16 on the conveyor belt 20 is the same for all four colors.
  • each of the blown toners is sequentially stacked, so that the toner formed on the transport belt 20 is particularly high in the image forming unit 54 of the fourth color. 4 is in mechanical contact with the print head 10 or the electric field generated by the stacked toner 4 causes the toner 4 to fly back to the print head 10 side, causing the print head 1 to There is a risk of polluting 0.
  • the locations where the toner is blown out by the vibration are dispersed.
  • the contamination of the print head 10 was prevented beforehand, and the reliability of the apparatus was improved.
  • the toner collection container 23 B of the transport belt cleaning device 23 be configured to also serve as the toner collection container 24 B of the transfer roller cleaning device 24.
  • each of the vibrators 16 and the like may be performed before the image forming operation is started, such as immediately after turning on the power of the image forming apparatus or immediately after receiving a series of image signals.
  • a voltage may be sequentially applied to the vibrators 16 of the first to fourth colors to perform a cleaning operation in advance.
  • T 2 in the example of FIG. 40, the vibrators of each color are sequentially operated sequentially. Therefore, cleaning of all the image forming units 51 to 54 can be completed in a short time.
  • the first to fourth head units 25, 25,... Respectively have yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C) and black (B) toners. 4 are stored so as to be able to form a blank image.
  • FIG. 41 shows each head unit 25.
  • the reason why the vibration transmission plate 15 1 and the vibration reflection plate 71 are provided on the control plate 30 so as to sandwich the opening row 12 A is shown in FIG. As described above.
  • the vibration transmission plate 15 1 is disposed on the front side in the moving direction of the conveyor belt 20 across the opening row 12 A, and the vibration reflection plate 71 is disposed on the front side in the moving direction.
  • Fig. 42 shows the vibration transmission plates 15 1 at the yellow, magenta, cyan, and black head units 25 (Y), 25 (M), 25 (C), and 25 (B).
  • the positional relationship between the reflector 71 and the vibration generator 60 is shown.
  • Fig. 4 2 Omits some members.
  • the vibration of the vibrator 16 is transmitted through the horn 17 and the vibration transmission plate 15 1 to the control plate 30. Is transmitted and given.
  • the clogging and dirt of the control plate 30 due to the toner 4 may be caused by a case where the toner 14 accumulates in the opening 12 to cause clogging, and the surface of the control plate 30 on the side of the transport belt 20.
  • the toner 4 is deposited on the toner.
  • the attached toner 4 has electric charge, and the electric field generated between the control plate 30 and the transport belt 20 is disturbed, so that the flying control of the toner 4 may not be performed properly. Therefore, the toner 4 adhering to the surface of the control plate 30 on the side of the transport belt 20 also needs to be cleanly cleaned.
  • the reason for the toner 4 adhering to the belt side surface of the control plate 30 is that the toner 4 includes not only a negatively charged toner but also a positively charged toner. It is conceivable that the toner 4 charged to the positive polarity out of the toner 4 that has once flown is pulled by the control plate 30 and returned. That is, during image formation, the electric field formed between the control plate 30 and the counter electrode 5 causes the negative toner 4 to fly from the control plate 30 to the transport belt 20 side, while the positive toner This is because it functions to fly the control belt 4 from the conveyor belt 20 toward the control plate 30.
  • the conveyance belt 20 is moved from the yellow head unit 25 (Y) to the yellow head unit 25 (Y).
  • the head unit 25 (M) of the magenta evening has a magenta evening image on top of the yellow image already formed on the conveyor belt 20. Will be formed.
  • the yellow toner 4 attached to the transport belt 20 contains the toner 4 charged to the positive polarity, it is pulled to the control plate 30 of the head unit 25 (M) for magenta. It will be polluted.
  • This dirt is a magenta evening head unit 2 5 It is likely to occur at a position near the yellow head unit 25 (Y) in the control plate 30 of (M).
  • the vibration transmission plate 15 1 of each head unit 25 is disposed in front of the opening 12 in the moving direction of the transport belt 20, and the vibration transmission plate 15 1 As a result, vibration is broadly applied to the front side of the opening 12 in the control plate 30. Therefore, even if the positive toner 4 supplied from the head unit 25 immediately before and adhered to the transport belt 20 flies toward the control plate 30 of the next head unit 25, this control plate It hardly adheres to 30 and even if it adheres, it easily falls off.
  • (Part 2) only the main parts are shown in Figure 43. That is, the vibrators 16 (Y), 16 (M), and 16 (C) of the headunits 25 (Y), 25 (M), 25 (C), and 25 (B), respectively. , 16 (B) are connected to one common drive circuit 80 via a switching circuit (for example, a relay) 81, and the oscillator 1 of each head unit 25 is connected by a switching circuit 81. 6 (Y), 16 (M), 16 (C), and 16 (B) are selectively driven.
  • a switching circuit for example, a relay
  • the conveyor belt 20 is sent from the left side to the right side in FIG. 42, and the image is formed with the timing slightly shifted in the order of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black.
  • a method of preventing or cleaning clogging vibration is applied after image formation is completed or before image formation is started, a method for removing clogging during image formation, or vibration is also applied during image formation. For example, there is a method of creating a state in which clogging does not occur beforehand.
  • the image formation in the head units 25 (Y), 25 (M), 25 (C), and 25 (B) is shifted in the evening. . That is, there is a time lag between the image forming positions of the intermediate image holding belt 2 being sent to the front of the head units 25 (Y), 25 (M), 25 (C), and 25 (B). Recording is performed by a signal delayed by time. Therefore, the timing for cleaning between the sheets is also different for the head units 25 (Y), 25 (M), 25 (C), and 25 (B), and the vibrators 16 (Y), 16 (M) at different timings. , 16 (C) and 16 (B) can be driven to perform cleaning.
  • the switching circuit 81 since the switching circuit 81 is provided as described above, the oscillators 16 (Y), 16 (M), 16 (C), and 16 (B) of each head unit 25 are connected to each other. It can be driven independently and at appropriate timing. In addition, the drive circuit 80 is shared by the head units 25, which is advantageous in terms of cost.
  • FIG. 44 shows only the main parts of this embodiment. That is, the horn 17 of one vibration source 60 is connected to the vibration transmission plates 151 (Y), 151 (M) of the head units 25 (Y), 25 (M), 25 (C), and 25 (B). , 151 (C), and 151 (B) are connected via a branch member 82, and this one vibration source 60 (vibrator 16 and horn 17) is shared by each head unit 25, and the branch member Vibration isolation means 83 (Y), 83 (M), 83 (C), and 83 (B) are provided at each branch of 82.
  • the vibration isolating means 83 may be made of a material that absorbs vibration, such as silicon rubber, for example, and may be configured to sandwich each branch of the branching member 82 so as to prevent the vibration from being transmitted first. Therefore, for the control plate 30 of the head unit 25 that is not cleaned, the vibration isolating means 83 can prevent the vibration of the horn 17 from being transmitted to the vibration transmitting plate 151, The inter-sheet cleaning can be performed. In addition, since the vibration source 60 can be shared by the head units 25, the cost of the apparatus is also advantageous.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Printers Or Recording Devices Using Electromagnetic And Radiation Means (AREA)

Abstract

Selon l'invention, une plaque de transmission de vibrations (155) est disposée sur un côté d'un pupitre de commande, à travers une rangée (12A) d'ouvertures, l'autre côté étant mis en contact avec un rouleau de toner (1). Un générateur de vibrations (60) est raccordé à une extrémité de la plaque de transmission de vibrations (155) et un absorbeur de vibrations (64) est disposé à l'autre côté. Une onde progressive est propagée parallèlement à la rangée (12A) d'ouvertures et une onde stationnaire est formée dans une direction perpendiculaire à la rangée (12A).
PCT/JP1999/006127 1998-11-04 1999-11-04 Procede et dispositif de formation d'image WO2000026035A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU10764/00A AU1076400A (en) 1998-11-04 1999-11-04 Image forming method and device
EP99954363A EP1129855A1 (fr) 1998-11-04 1999-11-04 Procede et dispositif de formation d'image

Applications Claiming Priority (14)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP10/313165 1998-11-04
JP10313165A JP2000141732A (ja) 1998-11-04 1998-11-04 画像形成装置
JP11/149354 1999-05-28
JP14935499 1999-05-28
JP11/196337 1999-07-09
JP19552299A JP2001018436A (ja) 1999-07-09 1999-07-09 画像形成装置
JP11/196366 1999-07-09
JP11/195522 1999-07-09
JP19636699A JP2001018437A (ja) 1999-07-09 1999-07-09 画像形成装置
JP19633799 1999-07-09
JP11/219597 1999-08-03
JP21959799 1999-08-03
JP22271099A JP2001047657A (ja) 1999-08-05 1999-08-05 画像形成装置
JP11/222710 1999-08-05

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2000026035A1 true WO2000026035A1 (fr) 2000-05-11

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ID=27566136

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/JP1999/006127 WO2000026035A1 (fr) 1998-11-04 1999-11-04 Procede et dispositif de formation d'image

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1129855A1 (fr)
AU (1) AU1076400A (fr)
WO (1) WO2000026035A1 (fr)

Citations (23)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS4426333B1 (fr) 1966-09-27 1969-11-05
JPS5896570A (ja) * 1981-12-02 1983-06-08 Canon Inc 画像記録装置
JPS58104771A (ja) 1981-12-17 1983-06-22 Canon Inc 画像記録装置
JPS58122569A (ja) 1982-01-14 1983-07-21 Canon Inc 画像形成装置
JPS59188450A (ja) 1983-04-12 1984-10-25 Matsushita Graphic Commun Syst Inc 記録装置
JPS61174560A (ja) * 1985-01-30 1986-08-06 Nec Corp 画像形成方法および装置
EP0266960A2 (fr) * 1986-11-03 1988-05-11 Xerox Corporation Appareil d'impression électrostatique direct et ensemble de nettoyage de la tête d'impression pour cet appareil
JPH0259789A (ja) 1988-08-25 1990-02-28 Isao Shirayanagi 頭上投影器の投影板装置
JPH0357658A (ja) 1989-07-25 1991-03-13 Mita Ind Co Ltd 画像記録方法及び装置
JPH0480053A (ja) * 1990-07-23 1992-03-13 Brother Ind Ltd 画像記録装置
JPH04161353A (ja) 1990-10-25 1992-06-04 Brother Ind Ltd トナージェット記録装置
JPH04216963A (ja) * 1990-12-18 1992-08-07 Brother Ind Ltd カラートナージェット記録装置
JPH04257461A (ja) 1991-02-08 1992-09-11 Brother Ind Ltd トナージェット記録装置
JPH0584961A (ja) * 1991-09-25 1993-04-06 Brother Ind Ltd 画像形成装置
JPH05127515A (ja) * 1991-10-31 1993-05-25 Kyocera Corp 画像形成装置
JPH05309864A (ja) * 1992-05-12 1993-11-22 Brother Ind Ltd カラー画像記録装置
JPH0671932A (ja) * 1992-08-28 1994-03-15 Brother Ind Ltd 記録装置
JPH06127014A (ja) * 1992-10-14 1994-05-10 Brother Ind Ltd 記録装置
JPH06262798A (ja) * 1993-03-12 1994-09-20 Brother Ind Ltd 画像形成装置
JPH07227994A (ja) * 1994-02-18 1995-08-29 Mita Ind Co Ltd パウダージェット画像形成装置の印字ヘッド
JPH07266606A (ja) * 1994-03-28 1995-10-17 Mita Ind Co Ltd 印字ヘッドへの超音波振動付与装置
JPH08142394A (ja) * 1994-11-18 1996-06-04 Brother Ind Ltd 画像形成装置
JPH09314888A (ja) * 1996-05-27 1997-12-09 Brother Ind Ltd 画像形成装置

Patent Citations (23)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS4426333B1 (fr) 1966-09-27 1969-11-05
JPS5896570A (ja) * 1981-12-02 1983-06-08 Canon Inc 画像記録装置
JPS58104771A (ja) 1981-12-17 1983-06-22 Canon Inc 画像記録装置
JPS58122569A (ja) 1982-01-14 1983-07-21 Canon Inc 画像形成装置
JPS59188450A (ja) 1983-04-12 1984-10-25 Matsushita Graphic Commun Syst Inc 記録装置
JPS61174560A (ja) * 1985-01-30 1986-08-06 Nec Corp 画像形成方法および装置
EP0266960A2 (fr) * 1986-11-03 1988-05-11 Xerox Corporation Appareil d'impression électrostatique direct et ensemble de nettoyage de la tête d'impression pour cet appareil
JPH0259789A (ja) 1988-08-25 1990-02-28 Isao Shirayanagi 頭上投影器の投影板装置
JPH0357658A (ja) 1989-07-25 1991-03-13 Mita Ind Co Ltd 画像記録方法及び装置
JPH0480053A (ja) * 1990-07-23 1992-03-13 Brother Ind Ltd 画像記録装置
JPH04161353A (ja) 1990-10-25 1992-06-04 Brother Ind Ltd トナージェット記録装置
JPH04216963A (ja) * 1990-12-18 1992-08-07 Brother Ind Ltd カラートナージェット記録装置
JPH04257461A (ja) 1991-02-08 1992-09-11 Brother Ind Ltd トナージェット記録装置
JPH0584961A (ja) * 1991-09-25 1993-04-06 Brother Ind Ltd 画像形成装置
JPH05127515A (ja) * 1991-10-31 1993-05-25 Kyocera Corp 画像形成装置
JPH05309864A (ja) * 1992-05-12 1993-11-22 Brother Ind Ltd カラー画像記録装置
JPH0671932A (ja) * 1992-08-28 1994-03-15 Brother Ind Ltd 記録装置
JPH06127014A (ja) * 1992-10-14 1994-05-10 Brother Ind Ltd 記録装置
JPH06262798A (ja) * 1993-03-12 1994-09-20 Brother Ind Ltd 画像形成装置
JPH07227994A (ja) * 1994-02-18 1995-08-29 Mita Ind Co Ltd パウダージェット画像形成装置の印字ヘッド
JPH07266606A (ja) * 1994-03-28 1995-10-17 Mita Ind Co Ltd 印字ヘッドへの超音波振動付与装置
JPH08142394A (ja) * 1994-11-18 1996-06-04 Brother Ind Ltd 画像形成装置
JPH09314888A (ja) * 1996-05-27 1997-12-09 Brother Ind Ltd 画像形成装置

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AU1076400A (en) 2000-05-22
EP1129855A1 (fr) 2001-09-05

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