JP4658637B2 - Transfer device and image forming apparatus having the same - Google Patents

Transfer device and image forming apparatus having the same Download PDF

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JP4658637B2
JP4658637B2 JP2005045588A JP2005045588A JP4658637B2 JP 4658637 B2 JP4658637 B2 JP 4658637B2 JP 2005045588 A JP2005045588 A JP 2005045588A JP 2005045588 A JP2005045588 A JP 2005045588A JP 4658637 B2 JP4658637 B2 JP 4658637B2
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recording medium
transfer
electrode
intermediate transfer
transfer device
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JP2006234906A (en
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伸 茅原
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Ricoh Co Ltd
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Description

本発明は、複写機、プリンタ、ファクシミリなどの電子写真式画像形成装置の中核となる転写装置及びこれを備えた画像形成装置に関するものである。   The present invention relates to a transfer apparatus serving as the core of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile, and an image forming apparatus including the transfer apparatus.

従来、電子写真式画像形成装置においては中間転写体を利用して画像形成を行う構成が知られている。斯かる画像形成にあっては、薄い紙から厚い紙など様々な記録媒体が利用される（例えば、特許文献１参照）。
中間転写体上に形成した画像を記録媒体に転写する転写工程は、例えば、画像形成体として帯電したトナー粉体を利用した電子写真装置においては、中間転写体のトナー画像を有する面に対向し、前記中間転写体との間に記録媒体を挟持して搬送し得る接触転写体を有している。
中間転写体の内側には、この中間転写体と接触転写体との間に挟持・搬送される記録媒体に対し電圧を印加し得る電極を有し、この電極からトナー画像と同極性の電圧を印加するものが知られている。この場合、転写工程を終了した記録媒体は、その後、中間転写体から分離して、定着工程に進み、ここで圧力・温度などが加えられてトナー画像の定着が行われる。
このような画像形成装置において、記録媒体としてコシの弱い薄手の記録媒体を使用したさい、記録媒体を中間転写体から分離するときに記録媒体の搬送が不安定になるという課題がある。
かかる場合に、搬送される記録媒体と周辺部材との距離が近くなって、周辺部材の帯電などの影響により記録媒体上のトナー画像が乱されたり、トナー画像面を画像形成装置内の部材で擦ってしまい画像が乱れたり、場合によっては、分離しきれずにジャムしてしまうことがあった。
このような課題に対する従来技術としては、分離後の搬送路内に静電吸着部材と除電部材を順次配設した技術（特許文献１）などが知られている。これは、分離後の搬送路内に静電吸着部材として接地された電極などを設け、その静電吸着力により記録媒体を引き付けることにより搬送性を安定化するものである。
特開平９−１２７８０６号公報 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus is known in which an image is formed using an intermediate transfer member. In such image formation, various recording media such as thin paper to thick paper are used (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
The transfer process for transferring the image formed on the intermediate transfer member to the recording medium is, for example, in an electrophotographic apparatus using a charged toner powder as the image forming member, facing the surface of the intermediate transfer member having the toner image. And a contact transfer member that can convey the recording medium between the intermediate transfer member and the intermediate transfer member.
Inside the intermediate transfer member, there is an electrode that can apply a voltage to a recording medium that is sandwiched and conveyed between the intermediate transfer member and the contact transfer member, and a voltage having the same polarity as the toner image is applied from this electrode. What is applied is known. In this case, the recording medium that has completed the transfer process is then separated from the intermediate transfer member and proceeds to the fixing process, where the toner image is fixed by applying pressure, temperature, and the like.
In such an image forming apparatus, when a thin recording medium having a weak stiffness is used as the recording medium, there is a problem that the conveyance of the recording medium becomes unstable when the recording medium is separated from the intermediate transfer member.
In such a case, the distance between the recording medium to be conveyed and the peripheral member becomes short, and the toner image on the recording medium is disturbed by the influence of the charging of the peripheral member, or the toner image surface is covered by a member in the image forming apparatus. The image may be distorted and distorted, or in some cases jammed without being completely separated.
As a conventional technique for such a problem, a technique (Patent Document 1) in which an electrostatic adsorption member and a static elimination member are sequentially arranged in a transport path after separation is known. In this method, a grounded electrode or the like is provided as an electrostatic attraction member in the transport path after separation, and the transportability is stabilized by attracting a recording medium by the electrostatic attraction force.
JP-A-9-127806

しかしながら、このような画像形成装置においては、画像が形成される記録媒体の搬送経路が多様に亘って一様でないが、一般的には紙がほぼ水平方向に搬送される形態が多い。とくに小型の画像形成装置については、装置容積を小さくする工夫がなされた結果、記録媒体の搬送路が垂直方向になっているものも数多く見かけられる。
水平に搬送される画像形成装置は、記録媒体の重量が常に搬送路下方向に働くため、記録媒体の分離性・搬送性は比較的安定し易いが、垂直に搬送・転写・定着される画像形成装置は、記録媒体の重量による安定効果を利用できず、水平方向に搬送される画像形成装置に比べて不利である。
また、従来技術においては、静電吸着部材は接地されただけの構造であるため、記録媒体の挙動を制御するには静電吸着力が不足気味になることがあった。例えば、低湿環境で抵抗が上昇し電荷を帯び易く変化した紙などを記録媒体として使用した場合に、静電吸着部材の吸着力よりも中間転写体への吸着力が勝る場合がある。
このため、記録媒体が２次転写バイアスローラに沿って中間転写体側に巻き込まれてしまいジャムとなることがあった。またこの傾向は、搬送路が垂直方向を向いている装置においてとくに発生し易いことがわかっている。
また、記録媒体には数多くの種類があり、とくにコシの弱い紙や電気抵抗が高く帯電し易い紙などを使用した場合においても、記録媒体の搬送性は不安定になってしまう。以上のような搬送性の厳しい条件が重なった場合などには、従来技術を適用したとしても、記録媒体の搬送性が不安定となり、先述の不具合を発生してしまうことが解った。
本発明の目的は、上述した実情を考慮して、記録媒体の搬送性が不安定な転写装置レイアウトや分離性が不安定なコシの弱い記録媒体の使用などの条件においても、安定した転写搬送性を有する転写装置及びこの転写装置を利用した画像形成装置を提供することにある。 However, in such an image forming apparatus, although the conveyance path of a recording medium on which an image is formed is not uniform over a variety of ways, generally, there are many forms in which paper is conveyed in a substantially horizontal direction. Particularly in the case of a small-sized image forming apparatus, as a result of efforts to reduce the volume of the apparatus, there are many cases where the conveyance path of the recording medium is in the vertical direction.
In an image forming apparatus that is transported horizontally, the weight of the recording medium always works in the lower direction of the transport path. Therefore, the separation and transportability of the recording medium is relatively stable, but the image that is transported, transferred, and fixed vertically. The forming apparatus cannot use the stability effect due to the weight of the recording medium, and is disadvantageous as compared to the image forming apparatus conveyed in the horizontal direction.
In the prior art, since the electrostatic attraction member is simply grounded, the electrostatic attraction force may be insufficient to control the behavior of the recording medium. For example, when a recording medium such as a paper whose resistance is increased and easily changed in a low-humidity environment is used as a recording medium, the adsorption force to the intermediate transfer member may be superior to the adsorption force of the electrostatic adsorption member.
For this reason, the recording medium may be caught on the intermediate transfer member side along the secondary transfer bias roller, resulting in a jam. It has also been found that this tendency is particularly likely to occur in devices where the transport path is oriented vertically.
In addition, there are many types of recording media, and the transportability of the recording media becomes unstable even when paper with weak stiffness or paper with high electrical resistance and high electrical charge is used. It has been found that when the above severe conditions of transportability overlap, even if the prior art is applied, the transportability of the recording medium becomes unstable and the above-mentioned problems occur.
In view of the above-described circumstances, the object of the present invention is to provide a stable transfer and conveyance even under conditions such as a transfer device layout in which the conveyance of the recording medium is unstable and the use of a recording medium that is unstable and has poor stiffness. It is an object of the present invention to provide a transfer device having characteristics and an image forming apparatus using the transfer device.

上記の課題を解決するために、請求項１に記載の発明は、１次転写部にて中間転写体上に転写されたトナー像を記録媒体に転写する２次転写部を有する画像形成装置における転写装置において、前記２次転写部は、前記中間転写体のトナー像を有する面に対向し、前記中間転写体との間に記録媒体を挟持して搬送する接触転写体、前記中間転写体と前記接触転写体との間に挟持・搬送される前記記録媒体に対し電圧を印加し得る前記中間転写体の内側の第１の電極、前記記録媒体の搬送方向に沿って前記接触転写体の下流側で、前記記録媒体のトナー像を有する面の裏側に電圧を印加し得る第２の電極を有し、前記第１の電極及び第２の電極からトナー像と同極性の電圧を印加し、前記第１の電極及び第２の電極に印加する電圧は、１つの電源より供給されることを特徴とする。
請求項２に記載の発明は、請求項１記載の転写装置において、前記第２の電極が前記記録媒体や他の部材と接触することがないように、前記第２の電極に１０ ９ Ω以上の抵抗部材または絶縁性部材が設けられることを特徴とする。
請求項３に記載の発明は、請求項２記載の転写装置において、前記抵抗部材または絶縁性部材は、前記記録媒体の搬送方向と平行な方向に設けられたリブであることを特徴とする。
請求項４に記載の発明は、請求項２または３記載の転写装置において、前記抵抗部材または前記絶縁性部材は、前記記録媒体が搬送されるさいに、搬送路に導くガイド部材を兼ねることを特徴とする。
請求項５に記載の発明は、請求項１乃至４のいずれか一つに記載の転写装置において、前記第２の電極は、前記記録媒体搬送路に対向する面を有する板金形状であることを特徴とする。
請求項６に記載の発明は、請求項１乃至５のいずれか一つに記載の転写装置において、前記記録媒体の搬送方向に沿って前記接触転写体の下流側に、前記記録媒体の電荷を除去する除電部材を有し、前記第２の電極は前記記録媒体の搬送方向に沿って前記除電部材の下流側に設けられることを特徴とする。
請求項７に記載の発明は、請求項１乃至６のいずれか一つに記載の転写装置において、前記２次転写部における前記記録媒体の搬送方向が垂直方向であることを特徴とする。
請求項８に記載の発明は、請求項１乃至７のいずれか一つに記載の転写装置を備える画像形成装置を特徴とする。 In order to solve the above problems, the invention according to claim 1 is an image forming apparatus having a secondary transfer portion that transfers a toner image transferred onto an intermediate transfer body to a recording medium by a primary transfer portion. In the transfer device, the secondary transfer unit faces a surface of the intermediate transfer member having a toner image, and a contact transfer member that conveys a recording medium between the intermediate transfer member and the intermediate transfer member. A first electrode inside the intermediate transfer body capable of applying a voltage to the recording medium sandwiched and transported between the contact transfer body, downstream of the contact transfer body along the transport direction of the recording medium A second electrode capable of applying a voltage to the back side of the surface having the toner image of the recording medium, and applying a voltage having the same polarity as the toner image from the first electrode and the second electrode ; The voltage applied to the first electrode and the second electrode is a single voltage. Characterized in that it is more supplied.
The invention described in 請 Motomeko 2, in the transfer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, as the second electrode does not contact with the recording medium or other member, 10 9 Omega to the second electrode The above-described resistance member or insulating member is provided .
The invention described in 請 Motomeko 3, in the transfer apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the resistive member or an insulating member is characterized by a transport direction and a rib provided on the parallel direction of the recording medium .
The invention described in 請 Motomeko 4, in the transfer apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the resistive member or the insulating member, the please the recording medium is transported, also serve as a guide member for guiding the conveying path It is characterized by.
The invention described in 請 Motomeko 5, in the transfer apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, said second electrode is a metal plate shape having a surface facing the recording medium conveying path It is characterized by.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the transfer device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the charge of the recording medium is transferred to the downstream side of the contact transfer body along the conveyance direction of the recording medium. It has a charge removal member to be removed, and the second electrode is provided on the downstream side of the charge removal member along the conveyance direction of the recording medium.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the transfer device according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, the transport direction of the recording medium in the secondary transfer unit is a vertical direction.
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus including the transfer device according to any one of the first to seventh aspects.

本発明によれば、記録媒体の安定した搬送が可能となり、トナー画像の乱れやジャムといった問題が発生しないという優れた効果を提供できる。   According to the present invention, it is possible to stably transport a recording medium, and it is possible to provide an excellent effect that problems such as toner image disturbance and jamming do not occur.

以下、図面を参照して、本発明の実施形態を詳細に説明する。図１は本発明を適用するタンデム型中間転写方式の電子写真装置の概略図である。この電子写真装置Ａはタンデム画像形成ユニット１、書き込み光学ユニット２、全体を支える給紙ユニット３、搬送・反転ユニット４、最終的に画像を転写材に定着する定着ユニット５などで構成されている。
図２は図１の作像部分を拡大して示す概略図である。タンデム画像形成ユニット１は、中央に、無端ベルト状の中間転写体１０を設けている。中間転写体１０は単層あるいは多層構造からなるゴムまたは樹脂などで構成される。
中間転写体１０は第１電極としての２次転写バイアスローラ１１及び支持ローラ１２、１３、１４、１５で張架され、図示例では反時計回りに回転可能となっている。これらの中で、支持ローラ１４の左に、画像転写後に中間転写体１０上に残留する残留トナーを除去する中間転写体クリーニング装置１６を設けている。
中間転写体１０と中間転写体クリーニング装置１６は一体のユニットになっており、ユニットの寿命となった場合には、画像形成装置本体からユニット部分のみ交換できる構成になっている。
また、２次転写バイアスローラ１１は、２次転写電界形成手段１７により、トナーと同極性または正負両極性の電界を形成することが可能となっている。中間転写体１０を挟んで向かい側には、２次転写ユニット１８が設置されている。 Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an electrophotographic apparatus of a tandem type intermediate transfer system to which the present invention is applied. The electrophotographic apparatus A includes a tandem image forming unit 1, a writing optical unit 2, a paper feeding unit 3 that supports the whole, a conveyance / reversing unit 4, and a fixing unit 5 that finally fixes an image on a transfer material. .
FIG. 2 is an enlarged schematic view showing the image forming portion of FIG. The tandem image forming unit 1 is provided with an endless belt-shaped intermediate transfer member 10 at the center. The intermediate transfer member 10 is made of rubber or resin having a single layer or multilayer structure.
The intermediate transfer member 10 is stretched by a secondary transfer bias roller 11 as a first electrode and support rollers 12, 13, 14, and 15, and can rotate counterclockwise in the illustrated example. Among these, an intermediate transfer member cleaning device 16 for removing residual toner remaining on the intermediate transfer member 10 after image transfer is provided on the left of the support roller 14.
The intermediate transfer body 10 and the intermediate transfer body cleaning device 16 are an integral unit, and when the unit life is reached, only the unit portion can be replaced from the image forming apparatus main body.
The secondary transfer bias roller 11 can form an electric field having the same polarity as the toner or both positive and negative polarities by the secondary transfer electric field forming means 17. A secondary transfer unit 18 is installed on the opposite side of the intermediate transfer body 10.

また、支持ローラ１２と支持ローラ１３の中間転写体１０の内側には、１次転写時に電界を形成する１次転写バイアスローラ１９、２０、２１、２２が中間転写体１０に接触可能な状態で配置されている。
そして、中間転写体１０を挟んで１次転写バイアスローラ１９、２０、２１、２２の向かい側には、その搬送方向に沿って、イエロー、シアン、マゼンタ、ブラックの４つの感光体（感光体ドラム）２３、２４、２５、２６を横に並べて配置してタンデム画像形成ユニットを構成する。
それぞれの感光体２３〜２６の周りには、それぞれ、感光体帯電手段２７〜３０、感光体クリーニング手段３１〜３４、現像手段３５〜３８が配置されている。感光体２３〜２６への書き込み露光は、感光体帯電手段２７〜３０と現像手段３５〜３８の間の位置で、図示してない露光装置によりレーザ照射されて行われる。
２次転写ユニット１８の下には、記録媒体Ｐを２次転写ユニット１８に送り込むレジストローラ４０を設置している。２次転写ユニット１８の上流には、記録媒体Ｐ上のトナー画像を定着する定着装置３９を設けている。
さて、今、このカラー電子写真装置を用いてコピーをとるときは、まずパソコンや図示してないスキャナなどから画像信号が入力される。信号入力後所定のタイミングで、図示してない駆動モータで感光体２３〜２６及び中間転写体１０を回転させる。
感光体２３〜２６の回転と同時に、感光体クリーニング手段３１〜３４による予備クリーニング動作が行われ、その後、感光体帯電手段２７〜３０による帯電動作、図示してない露光手段による露光動作、現像手段３５〜３８による現像動作が行われる。
このようにして感光体２３〜２６上に形成したトナー画像は、それぞれ所定のタイミングで１次転写バイアスローラ１９〜２２にトナーと逆極性の電界を形成することによって、中間転写体１０上に１次転写され、単色または多色の可視画像が形成される。
一方、画像信号の入力後、所定のタイミングで、図示してない給紙ユニットから記録媒体Ｐが繰り出され、この記録媒体Ｐはレジストローラ４０に突き当てて止める。そして、中間転写体１０上の可視画像にタイミングを合わせてレジストローラ４０を回転し、中間転写体１０と２次転写ユニット１８との間に記録媒体Ｐを送り込む。
そして同時に、２次転写電界形成手段１７により２次転写バイアスローラ１１にトナーと同極性の電界が形成され、中間転写体１０上の可視画像が記録媒体Ｐ上に２次転写される。その後、転写材（記録媒体）Ｐは定着装置３９を通過し、熱と圧力とを加えられることによって転写材上に可視画像が定着される。
一方、画像転写後の中間転写体１０は、中間転写体クリーニング装置１６によって、画像転写後に中間転写体１０上に残留する残留トナーを除去し、再度の画像形成に備える。 In addition, primary transfer bias rollers 19, 20, 21, and 22 that form an electric field at the time of primary transfer are in contact with the intermediate transfer member 10 inside the intermediate transfer member 10 of the support roller 12 and the support roller 13. Has been placed.
Then, on the opposite side of the primary transfer bias rollers 19, 20, 21, 22 across the intermediate transfer body 10, four photosensitive bodies (photosensitive drums) of yellow, cyan, magenta, and black are arranged along the conveying direction. 23, 24, 25, and 26 are arranged side by side to constitute a tandem image forming unit.
Around each of the photoconductors 23 to 26, photoconductor charging units 27 to 30, photoconductor cleaning units 31 to 34, and developing units 35 to 38 are arranged, respectively. Writing exposure to the photoconductors 23 to 26 is performed by laser irradiation with an exposure device (not shown) at a position between the photoconductor charging units 27 to 30 and the developing units 35 to 38.
Under the secondary transfer unit 18, a registration roller 40 that feeds the recording medium P to the secondary transfer unit 18 is installed. A fixing device 39 for fixing the toner image on the recording medium P is provided upstream of the secondary transfer unit 18.
Now, when making a copy using this color electrophotographic apparatus, first, an image signal is inputted from a personal computer or a scanner (not shown). At a predetermined timing after the signal is input, the photosensitive members 23 to 26 and the intermediate transfer member 10 are rotated by a drive motor (not shown).
Simultaneously with the rotation of the photosensitive members 23 to 26, a preliminary cleaning operation is performed by the photosensitive member cleaning units 31 to 34, and thereafter, a charging operation by the photosensitive member charging units 27 to 30, an exposure operation by an exposure unit (not shown), and a developing unit. Development operation by 35-38 is performed.
The toner images formed on the photoconductors 23 to 26 in this way are formed on the intermediate transfer body 10 by forming an electric field having a polarity opposite to that of the toner on the primary transfer bias rollers 19 to 22 at predetermined timings, respectively. Subsequent transfer forms a monochromatic or multicolored visible image.
On the other hand, after the input of the image signal, the recording medium P is fed out from a paper supply unit (not shown) at a predetermined timing, and the recording medium P abuts against the registration roller 40 and stops. Then, the registration roller 40 is rotated in synchronization with the visible image on the intermediate transfer member 10, and the recording medium P is fed between the intermediate transfer member 10 and the secondary transfer unit 18.
At the same time, an electric field having the same polarity as the toner is formed on the secondary transfer bias roller 11 by the secondary transfer electric field forming means 17, and the visible image on the intermediate transfer body 10 is secondarily transferred onto the recording medium P. Thereafter, the transfer material (recording medium) P passes through the fixing device 39, and heat and pressure are applied to fix the visible image on the transfer material.
On the other hand, the intermediate transfer member 10 after the image transfer is prepared for re-image formation by removing residual toner remaining on the intermediate transfer member 10 after the image transfer by the intermediate transfer member cleaning device 16.

図３は本実施の形態における２次転写周辺部の一例を示す概略図である。まず、本実施の形態における２次転写は、張架ローラ１２と２次転写バイアスローラ１１に張架された中間転写ベルト１０の領域で行われる。
中間転写ベルト１０を挟んで２次転写バイアスローラ１１に対向するように２次転写対向ローラ４１が設置される。記録媒体Ｐの搬送路に沿って２次転写対向ローラ４１の下流には、記録媒体Ｐの裏面の余分な電荷を除去するための除電部材４２が設置されている。
除電部材４２には、高圧電源４３により電圧印加することも可能となっている。また除電部材４２のさらに下流には、静電吸着部材４４を設置し、さらにその下流には定着入口ガイド４５があり、定着ユニット３９へと続いている。記録媒体Ｐの搬送は以下のようにして行われる。
まず、記録媒体Ｐは図示してない用紙カセットから送り出され、レジストローラ４０にていったん停止させられる。中間転写体１０上に形成されたトナー画像が２次転写部にてちょうど記録媒体Ｐの画像範囲内に収まるようなタイミングにおいて、記録媒体Ｐはレジストローラから送り出される。
送り出された記録媒体Ｐは中間転写体１０と２次転写対向ローラ４１に挟持され、トナーと同極性の電界を２次転写バイアスローラ１１に印加することにより、中間転写体１０上のトナー画像が記録媒体Ｐに転写される。
その後、記録媒体Ｐは除電部材４２により裏面の余分な電荷を除去されながら中間転写体１０から分離され、搬送ガイドを兼ねた第２電極としての静電吸着部材４４及び定着入口ガイド４５を経て定着ユニット３９に導かれ、そこで圧力や熱などを加えられ定着される。静電吸着部材４４は、記録媒体を吸着する静電力を発揮して中間転写体１０側から下流側搬送経路へ記録媒体を剥離し易くする。 FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing an example of the secondary transfer peripheral portion in the present embodiment. First, the secondary transfer in the present embodiment is performed in the region of the intermediate transfer belt 10 stretched between the stretch roller 12 and the secondary transfer bias roller 11.
A secondary transfer counter roller 41 is installed so as to face the secondary transfer bias roller 11 with the intermediate transfer belt 10 interposed therebetween. A neutralizing member 42 for removing excess charges on the back surface of the recording medium P is installed downstream of the secondary transfer counter roller 41 along the conveyance path of the recording medium P.
A voltage can be applied to the charge removal member 42 by a high voltage power supply 43. Further, an electrostatic attraction member 44 is provided further downstream of the static elimination member 42, and a fixing inlet guide 45 is further provided downstream of the electrostatic adsorption member 44, and continues to the fixing unit 39. The recording medium P is transported as follows.
First, the recording medium P is sent out from a paper cassette (not shown) and is temporarily stopped by the registration roller 40. The recording medium P is sent out from the registration roller at a timing such that the toner image formed on the intermediate transfer member 10 is just within the image range of the recording medium P at the secondary transfer portion.
The fed recording medium P is sandwiched between the intermediate transfer member 10 and the secondary transfer counter roller 41, and an electric field having the same polarity as the toner is applied to the secondary transfer bias roller 11, so that the toner image on the intermediate transfer member 10 is transferred. Transferred to the recording medium P.
Thereafter, the recording medium P is separated from the intermediate transfer body 10 while removing the excessive charge on the back surface by the charge eliminating member 42, and is fixed through the electrostatic attracting member 44 and the fixing inlet guide 45 serving as a second electrode that also serves as a conveyance guide. It is guided to the unit 39, where it is fixed by applying pressure or heat. The electrostatic adsorption member 44 exhibits an electrostatic force that adsorbs the recording medium, and facilitates peeling of the recording medium from the intermediate transfer member 10 side to the downstream conveyance path.

しかし、前述したように、使用する記録媒体Ｐによっては、静電吸着部材４４の吸着力よりも中間転写体１０への吸着力が勝る場合があり、記録媒体Ｐが２次転写バイアスローラ１１に沿って中間転写体１０側に巻き込まれてしまいジャムとなることがあった。またこの傾向は、搬送路が垂直方向を向いている装置においてとくに発生し易いことが解った。
そのため、本発明では、静電吸着部材４４に対しトナーと同極性の電圧を印加することで、より大きな静電吸着力を作り出し、この問題を克服することを考えた。本実施の形態の画像形成装置において、２次転写を行った場合、記録媒体Ｐのトナー画像が転写される面は、トナーと同じ極性になり、トナー画像のない面は、トナーと逆の極性に帯電される。
したがって、静電吸着部材４４にトナーと同極性の電界を形成することで、記録媒体のトナー画像のない面の静電吸着力を増して静電吸着部材４４側に吸引され易くすることができ、記録媒体Ｐが垂直搬送路上でふらつくことなく、理想の搬送路を伝わらせることが可能となる。この構成により、先述の記録媒体の搬送性に厳しい条件が重なった場合においても、安定した搬送性を得ることができるようになった。
また、静電吸着部材４４に電界を掛ける目的だけで高圧電源を追加することは、電源を新規に設けるためのスペース、コストなどの点で困難が伴う。しかし、本実施の形態では、２次転写のために備えている高圧電源（２次転写電界形成手段）１７の出力を静電吸着部材４４に分配することでこれを解決した。この構成により、新たに高圧電源を追加する必要がなくなり、省スペース化、低コスト化を実現することが可能となった。
また、上記構成にて静電吸着部材４４に電圧を印加する場合、静電吸着部材４４から記録媒体Ｐや他の部材に電流が漏洩してしまうと、記録媒体Ｐ上のトナー画像が乱されたり、２次転写バイアスローラ１１の電圧が低下し、転写不足を生じたりすることがある。そのため、静電吸着部材４４は、記録媒体Ｐを含む他の部材に接触することがないように、保護部材が設けられていることがより望ましい。
図４は静電吸着部材の実施の形態を示す概略斜視図である。図４において、保護部材４６は静電吸着部材４４が他の部材と接触しないようにすることが第１の目的である。このため、搬送路や他の部材への電流漏洩が起こらないように、部材間距離や材質を決定する必要がある。
図４の実施の形態では、樹脂製の保護部材４６に数ｍｍの厚みを持たせることで搬送路と静電吸着部材４４との距離を確保する形態にした。また、保護部材４６自体を介しての電流漏洩が問題とならないためには、保護部材４６は最低でも１０9Ω以上の高抵抗部材または絶縁性の部材であることが必要である。
さらに、保護部材４６は、搬送ガイド部材としての機能を持たせることが可能であり、記録媒体Ｐの搬送を妨げないような形状とすることも重要である。そのためには、図４に示したように、記録媒体Ｐの搬送方向に対して平行な方向にリブを設ける形態が望ましい。 However, as described above, depending on the recording medium P to be used, the attracting force to the intermediate transfer body 10 may be superior to the attracting force of the electrostatic attracting member 44, and the recording medium P can be used as the secondary transfer bias roller 11. Along the intermediate transfer member 10 side, the jam may occur. It has also been found that this tendency is particularly likely to occur in an apparatus in which the conveyance path is oriented in the vertical direction.
Therefore, in the present invention, it is considered that a voltage having the same polarity as the toner is applied to the electrostatic attracting member 44 to create a larger electrostatic attracting force and overcome this problem. In the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment, when secondary transfer is performed, the surface of the recording medium P to which the toner image is transferred has the same polarity as the toner, and the surface without the toner image has the opposite polarity to the toner. Is charged.
Therefore, by forming an electric field having the same polarity as the toner on the electrostatic attracting member 44, the electrostatic attracting force on the surface of the recording medium where there is no toner image can be increased and the electrostatic attracting member 44 can be easily attracted. The recording medium P can be transmitted along the ideal conveyance path without wobbling on the vertical conveyance path. With this configuration, it is possible to obtain a stable transportability even when strict conditions overlap the transportability of the recording medium described above.
In addition, it is difficult to add a high-voltage power supply only for the purpose of applying an electric field to the electrostatic attracting member 44 in terms of space and cost for newly providing a power supply. However, this embodiment solves this problem by distributing the output of the high-voltage power supply (secondary transfer electric field forming means) 17 provided for the secondary transfer to the electrostatic attraction member 44. With this configuration, it is not necessary to add a new high-voltage power supply, and space saving and cost reduction can be realized.
In addition, when a voltage is applied to the electrostatic attraction member 44 with the above configuration, if a current leaks from the electrostatic attraction member 44 to the recording medium P or other members, the toner image on the recording medium P is disturbed. In some cases, the voltage of the secondary transfer bias roller 11 may drop, resulting in insufficient transfer. Therefore, it is more desirable that the electrostatic attraction member 44 is provided with a protective member so as not to contact other members including the recording medium P.
FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view showing an embodiment of the electrostatic attraction member. In FIG. 4, the protective member 46 has a first purpose to prevent the electrostatic chuck member 44 from coming into contact with other members. For this reason, it is necessary to determine the distance between members and the material so that current leakage to the conveyance path and other members does not occur.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the resin protection member 46 has a thickness of several millimeters to ensure the distance between the transport path and the electrostatic adsorption member 44. Further, in order that current leakage through the protective member 46 itself does not become a problem, the protective member 46 needs to be a high resistance member or an insulating member of at least 10 9 Ω or more.
Furthermore, the protection member 46 can have a function as a conveyance guide member, and it is also important to have a shape that does not hinder the conveyance of the recording medium P. For this purpose, as shown in FIG. 4, it is desirable to provide a rib in a direction parallel to the conveyance direction of the recording medium P.

次に、上述した実施の形態のより具体的な条件について説明する。上記感光体ドラム２３〜２６としては、有機感光体（ＯＰＣ）を用い、帯電ローラ２７〜３０によって−２００〜−２０００Ｖに一様に帯電したものに原稿の画像に対応したレーザ光を照射して光書き込みを行い、静電潜像を形成する。
トナーは負帯電性のものを用いてネガ−ポジ現像を行い、感光体ドラム２３〜２６上にトナー像を形成する。中間転写体１０として、厚さ０．１０ｍｍ、幅２４６ｍｍ、内周長７９６ｍｍの熱硬化性樹脂からなる中間転写ベルトを用い、この中間転写ベルト１０の移動速度を１５５ｍｍ／秒に設定した。
このような材質で形成した中間転写ベルト全体の体積抵抗率を測定したところ、１０7〜１０12Ωｃｍであった。上記各体積抵抗率は、ＪＩＳ Ｋ ６９１１に記載されている測定方法を用い、電圧１００Ｖを１０秒間印加して測定したものである。
また、中間転写ベルト１０の表面抵抗率を、三菱油化製の抵抗測定器「ハイレスターＩＰ」で測定したところ、１０9〜１０14Ω／ｃｍであった。この表面抵抗率は、上記抵抗測定器を用いる他、ＪＩＳ Ｋ ６９１１に記載されている表面抵抗測定法で測定することもできる。 Next, more specific conditions of the above-described embodiment will be described. As the photosensitive drums 23 to 26, an organic photosensitive member (OPC) is used, and a laser beam corresponding to an image of an original is irradiated onto a member uniformly charged to −200 to −2000 V by charging rollers 27 to 30. Optical writing is performed to form an electrostatic latent image.
The toner is negatively positively developed using a negatively chargeable toner to form toner images on the photosensitive drums 23 to 26. An intermediate transfer belt made of a thermosetting resin having a thickness of 0.10 mm, a width of 246 mm, and an inner peripheral length of 796 mm was used as the intermediate transfer member 10, and the moving speed of the intermediate transfer belt 10 was set to 155 mm / second.
When the volume resistivity of the entire intermediate transfer belt formed of such a material was measured, it was 10 7 to 10 12 Ωcm. Each volume resistivity is measured by applying a voltage of 100 V for 10 seconds using the measuring method described in JIS K6911.
Further, the surface resistivity of the intermediate transfer belt 10 was measured by a resistance measuring instrument “HI-Lester IP” manufactured by Mitsubishi Oil Chemical Co., Ltd., and was 10 9 to 10 14 Ω / cm. The surface resistivity can be measured by the surface resistance measurement method described in JIS K 6911, in addition to using the resistance measuring instrument.

支持ローラ１２〜１４としては、直径１２ｍｍ〜２６ｍｍの金属ローラもしくはゴムローラを用い、そのローラ幅は、中間転写ベルト１０の蛇行を防止するために、２３６ｍｍとした。また、支持ローラ１５に関しては、直径１２ｍｍ、幅２３０ｍｍとし、他の支持ローラに比べて幅を小さくした。
また、支持ローラ１５に対しては、クリーニング部材として図示してないゴムブレードを設けた。２次転写対向ローラ４１としては、直径２６ｍｍ、幅２３０ｍｍのウレタン発泡樹脂からなるローラを用いた。
また、静電吸着部材４４としては、厚さ０．６ｍｍの金属板を加工したものを用い、２次転写電源１７の出力を分配し、その他の部材には電流が流れ出さないように、その周辺部分及び長手方向部分の数箇所に、樹脂製の保護部材４６（図４参照）を設けた。
保護部材４６は、ＡＢＳ樹脂を用いて作成し、その電気抵抗は絶縁とした。また、搬送路から静電吸着部材４４までの距離は２ｍｍになるように保護部材４６の厚みを持たせた。
また、２次転写のための高圧電源１７に印加する電界は、トナーとして負帯電性のトナーを用いた場合は、電流０〜−１００μＡ・電圧０〜−４ｋＶ程度の領域を使用した。また、トナーとして正帯電性のトナーを用いた場合は、電流０〜＋１００μＡ・電圧０〜＋４ｋＶ程度の領域を使用した。
２次転写電界の強度は、使用する記録媒体や周囲の環境条件などにより可変制御した。また、２次転写電界の制御は、定電圧制御・定電流制御のどちらにおいても、同等の効果を得ることができた。
なお、上記例では、静電吸着部材４４として板金状の例を示したが、本発明は、ブラシ状、マイラ状など他の形態、他の材質にも適用できる。保護ガイドについても同様に、他の材料を用いることも可能である。 As the support rollers 12 to 14, metal rollers or rubber rollers having a diameter of 12 mm to 26 mm were used, and the roller width was set to 236 mm in order to prevent the intermediate transfer belt 10 from meandering. The support roller 15 has a diameter of 12 mm and a width of 230 mm, and the width is smaller than other support rollers.
The support roller 15 is provided with a rubber blade (not shown) as a cleaning member. As the secondary transfer counter roller 41, a roller made of urethane foam resin having a diameter of 26 mm and a width of 230 mm was used.
In addition, as the electrostatic attraction member 44, a metal plate having a thickness of 0.6 mm is used, and the output of the secondary transfer power supply 17 is distributed so that no current flows out to other members. Resin-made protective members 46 (see FIG. 4) were provided at several locations in the peripheral portion and the longitudinal direction portion.
The protective member 46 was made of ABS resin, and its electrical resistance was insulated. In addition, the thickness of the protection member 46 is set so that the distance from the conveyance path to the electrostatic adsorption member 44 is 2 mm.
The electric field applied to the high-voltage power supply 17 for secondary transfer used a region of current of about 0 to 100 μA and voltage of about 0 to −4 kV when a negatively chargeable toner is used as the toner. When a positively chargeable toner is used as the toner, a region of current 0 to +100 μA and voltage 0 to +4 kV is used.
The intensity of the secondary transfer electric field was variably controlled according to the recording medium to be used and the surrounding environmental conditions. In addition, the control of the secondary transfer electric field was able to obtain the same effect in both constant voltage control and constant current control.
In the above example, an example of a sheet metal shape is shown as the electrostatic attraction member 44, but the present invention can also be applied to other forms such as a brush shape, a mylar shape, and other materials. Similarly, other materials can be used for the protective guide.

本発明を要約すれば、単数または複数から構成される感光体２３〜２６上に形成される正もしくは負の極性を有するトナー像を、中間転写体１０に転写する１次転写部と、上記中間転写体上のトナー像をさらに記録媒体Ｐに転写する２次転写部を有する画像形成装置の転写装置において、前記２次転写部は、前記中間転写体１０のトナー像を有する面に対向し、前記中間転写体１０との間に前記記録媒体Ｐを挟持して搬送し得る接触転写体（２次転写対向ローラ）４１を有している。
前記２次転写部は、また、中間転写体１０と接触転写体４１との間に挟持・搬送される記録媒体Ｐに対し電圧を印加し得る中間転写体１０の内側の第１の電極（２次転写バイアスローラ）１１及び、前記録媒体Ｐの搬送方向に沿って前記接触転写体４１の下流側で、前記記録媒体Ｐのトナー像を有する面の裏側に対抗して電圧を印加し得る第２の電極（静電吸着部材）４４を有している。前記第１の電極１１及び第２の電極４４からトナー像と同極性の電圧を印加する。
以上のように、本発明によれば、記録媒体の安定した搬送が可能となり、トナー画像の乱れやジャムといった問題が発生しないという優れた効果を奏する。また、電源として新規なものを用意しなくても上記と同等な効果を得られるという優れた効果がある。 To summarize the present invention, a primary transfer portion for transferring a toner image having a positive or negative polarity formed on a single or a plurality of photoconductors 23 to 26 to an intermediate transfer member 10, and the intermediate transfer portion described above. In the transfer device of the image forming apparatus having a secondary transfer portion that further transfers the toner image on the transfer body to the recording medium P, the secondary transfer portion faces the surface of the intermediate transfer body 10 having the toner image, A contact transfer body (secondary transfer counter roller) 41 capable of sandwiching and transporting the recording medium P between the intermediate transfer body 10 is provided.
The secondary transfer section also includes a first electrode (2 inside the intermediate transfer body 10 that can apply a voltage to the recording medium P sandwiched and conveyed between the intermediate transfer body 10 and the contact transfer body 41. (Next transfer bias roller) 11 and a second voltage that can be applied to the downstream side of the contact transfer body 41 along the conveying direction of the previous recording medium P, against the back side of the surface having the toner image of the recording medium P. Two electrodes (electrostatic attracting members) 44 are provided. A voltage having the same polarity as the toner image is applied from the first electrode 11 and the second electrode 44.
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to stably convey the recording medium, and there is an excellent effect that problems such as toner image disturbance and jamming do not occur. Further, there is an excellent effect that the same effect as described above can be obtained without preparing a new power source.

本発明を適用するタンデム型中間転写方式の電子写真装置の概略図。1 is a schematic view of an electrophotographic apparatus of a tandem type intermediate transfer system to which the present invention is applied. 図１の作像部分を拡大して示す概略図。Schematic which expands and shows the image formation part of FIG. 本実施の形態における２次転写周辺部の一例を示す概略図。Schematic which shows an example of the secondary transfer periphery part in this Embodiment. 静電吸着部材の実施の形態を示す概略斜視図。The schematic perspective view which shows embodiment of an electrostatic attraction member.

符号の説明Explanation of symbols

１ タンデム画像形成装置
１０ 中間転写体
１１ 第１の電極（２次転写バイアスローラ）
１７ １つの電源（２次転写電界形成手段）
１８ ２次転写ユニット（２次転写部）
４１ 接触転写体（２次転写対向ローラ）
４２ 除電部材
４３ 除電電界形成手段
４４ 第２の電極（静電吸着部材）
４６ 保護部材
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Tandem image forming apparatus 10 Intermediate transfer body 11 1st electrode (secondary transfer bias roller)
17 One power source (secondary transfer electric field forming means)
18 Secondary transfer unit (secondary transfer unit)
41 Contact transfer body (secondary transfer counter roller)
42 Static elimination member 43 Static elimination electric field formation means 44 2nd electrode (electrostatic adsorption member)
46 Protection member

Claims (8)

１次転写部にて中間転写体上に転写されたトナー像を記録媒体に転写する２次転写部を有する画像形成装置における転写装置において、前記２次転写部は、前記中間転写体のトナー像を有する面に対向し、前記中間転写体との間に記録媒体を挟持して搬送する接触転写体、前記中間転写体と前記接触転写体との間に挟持・搬送される前記記録媒体に対し電圧を印加し得る前記中間転写体の内側の第１の電極、前記記録媒体の搬送方向に沿って前記接触転写体の下流側で、前記記録媒体のトナー像を有する面の裏側に電圧を印加し得る第２の電極を有し、前記第１の電極及び第２の電極からトナー像と同極性の電圧を印加し、前記第１の電極及び第２の電極に印加する電圧は、１つの電源より供給されることを特徴とする転写装置。 In the transfer device in the image forming apparatus having a secondary transfer portion that transfers the toner image transferred onto the intermediate transfer member to the recording medium in the primary transfer portion, the secondary transfer portion is a toner image of the intermediate transfer member. A contact transfer member that faces and has a recording medium sandwiched between the intermediate transfer member and the recording medium that is sandwiched and conveyed between the intermediate transfer member and the contact transfer member. A first electrode inside the intermediate transfer body to which a voltage can be applied, and a voltage applied to the back side of the surface having the toner image of the recording medium on the downstream side of the contact transfer body along the conveyance direction of the recording medium A voltage having the same polarity as the toner image is applied from the first electrode and the second electrode, and the voltage applied to the first electrode and the second electrode is one. A transfer device that is supplied from a power source . 前記第２の電極が前記記録媒体や他の部材と接触することがないように、前記第２の電極に１０ ９ Ω以上の抵抗部材または絶縁性部材が設けられることを特徴とする請求項１に記載の転写装置。 The resistance member or insulating member of 10 9 Ω or more is provided on the second electrode so that the second electrode does not come into contact with the recording medium or other members. The transfer apparatus according to 1. 前記抵抗部材または絶縁性部材は、前記記録媒体の搬送方向と平行な方向に設けられたリブであることを特徴とする請求項２に記載の転写装置。 The transfer device according to claim 2 , wherein the resistance member or the insulating member is a rib provided in a direction parallel to a conveyance direction of the recording medium . 前記抵抗部材または前記絶縁性部材は、前記記録媒体が搬送されるさいに、搬送路に導くガイド部材を兼ねることを特徴とする請求項２または３に記載の転写装置。 4. The transfer apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the resistance member or the insulating member also serves as a guide member that guides the recording medium to a conveyance path when the recording medium is conveyed. 前記第２の電極は、前記記録媒体搬送路に対向する面を有する板金形状であることを特徴とする請求項１乃至４のいずれか一つに記載の転写装置。5. The transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the second electrode has a sheet metal shape having a surface facing the recording medium conveyance path. 6. 前記記録媒体の搬送方向に沿って前記接触転写体の下流側に、前記記録媒体の電荷を除去する除電部材を有し、前記第２の電極は前記記録媒体の搬送方向に沿って前記除電部材の下流側に設けられることを特徴とする請求項１乃至５のいずれか一つに記載の転写装置。There is a charge removal member for removing the charge of the recording medium on the downstream side of the contact transfer body along the conveyance direction of the recording medium, and the second electrode is the charge removal member along the conveyance direction of the recording medium. The transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the transfer device is provided on a downstream side of the transfer device. 前記２次転写部における前記記録媒体の搬送方向が垂直方向であることを特徴とする請求項１乃至６のいずれか一つに記載の転写装置。The transfer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a conveyance direction of the recording medium in the secondary transfer unit is a vertical direction. 請求項１乃至７のいずれか一つに記載の転写装置を備えることを特徴とする画像形成装置。An image forming apparatus comprising the transfer device according to claim 1.
JP2005045588A 2005-02-22 2005-02-22 Transfer device and image forming apparatus having the same Expired - Fee Related JP4658637B2 (en)

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Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH0234882A (en) * 1988-07-25 1990-02-05 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd Electrophotographic device
JPH09127806A (en) * 1995-11-06 1997-05-16 Canon Inc Image forming device
JP2003270972A (en) * 2002-03-18 2003-09-25 Ricoh Co Ltd Image forming apparatus
JP2004145021A (en) * 2002-10-24 2004-05-20 Ricoh Co Ltd Image forming apparatus
JP2005037678A (en) * 2003-07-14 2005-02-10 Fuji Xerox Co Ltd Thermal fixing device

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH0234882A (en) * 1988-07-25 1990-02-05 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd Electrophotographic device
JPH09127806A (en) * 1995-11-06 1997-05-16 Canon Inc Image forming device
JP2003270972A (en) * 2002-03-18 2003-09-25 Ricoh Co Ltd Image forming apparatus
JP2004145021A (en) * 2002-10-24 2004-05-20 Ricoh Co Ltd Image forming apparatus
JP2005037678A (en) * 2003-07-14 2005-02-10 Fuji Xerox Co Ltd Thermal fixing device

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