JPS58102956A - Image recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily form an electrostatic latent image of high resolution, by feeding a hopper with a powdery developer consisting of toner and carrier, moving the bottom of the hopper to take out the toner, and controlling an amt. of toner with signals applied to plural gate electrodes. CONSTITUTION:A toner carrying roller 1 rotating in the arrow direction is made of a conductive nonmagnetic cylinder having an insulating thin surface layer, and has magnets 2 in the inside. Powdery developer of a mixture of toner 3 and carrier 4 is stored in a hopper 5. A gate 6 consisting of an insulating layer 7 and plural electrodes 8 is fixed to the downstream side of the hopper 5. The electrodes 8 are divided into many parts in the rotary shaft direction, and each is made of a magnetic material connected to a signal generating source. An amt. of toner 3 to be carried is controlled by a magnetic field corresponding to a signal generating between the electrodes 8 and the magnets 2, and the carrier 4 is not allowed to flow out, thus permitting an electrostatic latent image to be formed easily with high resolution on the roller 1 and transferred by the corona discharge method or the like and fixed.

Description

【発明の詳細な説明】 本発明は画像記録装置に関し、特に画像状の電気信号に
対応して、１１ナーの付着を制御し画像を形成する装置
に関する。DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus, and more particularly to an apparatus for forming an image by controlling the adhesion of 11 toner in response to an image-shaped electrical signal.

従来トナーを電気信号により直接記録部材へ付着させる
画像形成法としてはコントログラフイー法として知られ
るものがあり、これは記録材上に液体＃ｌｌ調剤配し、
針′４Ｃ極によりトナーを記録材へ付着させるものでめ
る０しかし、液体現像剤を用いるので記録材への液のし
み込みが避けられず実用的ではなかった。一方、乾式現
像剤を用いるコントログ２フイー法としては記録材へ針
電極ｔ−接触させ記録材の反対側より現像剤を供給する
方法も知られているが、この場合には記録材の厚さや導
電率により解欅力が低下し充分な画質が祷られていない
。A conventional image forming method in which toner is directly attached to a recording material using an electric signal is known as the contrography method.
However, since a liquid developer is used, the liquid inevitably seeps into the recording material, making it impractical. On the other hand, as a control 2-fee method using a dry developer, a method is known in which the needle electrode T-contacts the recording material and the developer is supplied from the opposite side of the recording material. The dissolving power is reduced due to the conductivity, and sufficient image quality cannot be expected.

本発明の目的は従来の問題を解決し、乾式現像剤を使用
し、且つ＾い解像力による画像形成倉ａＪ能とする＃Ｊ
ａ形成装置を提供することにある０ 上記目的ｔ−達成する本発明は、トナーとキャリアを有
する粉体現像剤を堆積する手段と、この堆積手段の中の
現像剤に接触して移動して現像剤を支持搬送する現像剤
搬送手段と、上記現像剤搬送手段によシ持ち出される現
像剤を規制し、且つ、各々が独立して゛電気的に絶縁さ
れたゲート１１ｔ他を有するゲート部材と、このゲート
部材のゲート電極に１ｉｉ１ａ形成のための信号を印加
する信号源とを有し、上記信号源による信号パターンに
対応して搬送部材上にトナーによる画像を形成する画像
記録装置にわる。The purpose of the present invention is to solve the conventional problems and to provide an image forming system using a dry developer and with high resolution.
The present invention provides a forming apparatus comprising: a means for depositing a powder developer having toner and a carrier; a developer transporting means for supporting and transporting the developer; a gate member regulating the developer taken out by the developer transporting means, each independently having an electrically insulated gate 11t and the like; The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus that has a signal source that applies a signal for forming 1ii1a to the gate electrode of the gate member, and forms an image of toner on a conveyance member in accordance with a signal pattern from the signal source.

上記装置ｒζおいてはこの搬送部材上のトナーを定着し
て利用しても良いが、東に他の記録材に転写し、この記
録材上のトナーを定着して利用しても良い。また、現像
剤としてはトナーとキャリアの混合物を用いるが、それ
らの特徴としては、流動性が高く、キャリヤの絶縁性が
高い物が良い。また、ゲート部材のゲート電極に対して
は、不用意にトナーがこのゲート部材から流出しないよ
うにするため、画像形成時と非画像形成時とでは逆極性
の電圧ｔ＃Ｊ加することも有効である。バイアス電圧り
印加ｒこよらないときはゲート部の磁界によってもトナ
ーの流出を良好に阻止することが可能となる。In the above-described apparatus rζ, the toner on this conveying member may be fixed and used, but it may also be transferred to another recording material, and the toner on this recording material may be fixed and used. Further, a mixture of toner and carrier is used as the developer, and the characteristics thereof include high fluidity and high insulating properties of the carrier. It is also effective to apply a voltage t#J of opposite polarity to the gate electrode of the gate member when forming an image and when not forming an image, in order to prevent toner from flowing out from the gate member inadvertently. It is. When the bias voltage is not too high, it is possible to effectively prevent the outflow of toner also by the magnetic field of the gate portion.

以下、本発明を一実施例に従って詳しく説明する。Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail according to one embodiment.

第１図は本％明の他の実施例ｒ示す装置の断面図を示す
。図中１ｒよトナー搬送部材で表面に樹脂フィルムや樹
脂Ｉ１１装した絶縁性薄層を有する導電性非磁性円筒部
材より成９、内部に同定磁石２を有しておシ搬送部材の
みが矢印方向に回転する。３はトナーで磁性キャリア４
と混合されトナー堆積手段でめるホッパーに蓄えられて
いる。６はゲート部材でこのゲート部材６はホッパー５
の下ｔ＆側に絶縁層７に介してゲート′ＩＩＬ他８倉接
着して構成されている。この電極８は搬送部材の回転軸
方向に多数に分割され各々の電極に信号発生＃［９に結
線され良磁性体材料により構成されている。固定磁石２
はゲート部材５に対向して磁極Ｎが設けられておプ、グ
ーが回転してもトナー３のみ持ち出されキャリア４が搬
送されず、一方、キャリア４とトナー３との動きにより
摩擦帯電が鋤らいているために、必要量以上のトナー３
はゲート部材を通過出来ない。ゲート電極８へ電気信号
発生器９にょ９鴫圧が印加されると、電極８よタキャリ
ア４を通じて電流が流れ、トナー搬送部材１！！！！面
の絶縁性薄層をはさんでキャリア４と導電性円筒との閾
に充電され、絶縁性薄層からの電界によシトナー３へ静
電引力が働き、トナー３とキャリア４との関≠実の摩擦
帯電による束縛に打ち勝ってトナー搬送部材へトナーが
付着することにより１Ｉｌｉ１１Ｉ！が形成される。ト
ナー搬送部材上の絶縁層は薄ければ薄い根、印加電圧か
低くても強い静屯引力が働くため数ミクロン乃至数十ミ
クロン以下が好ましい。FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of an apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the toner transport member 1r is made of a conductive non-magnetic cylindrical member having an insulating thin layer coated with a resin film or resin I11 on its surface, and has an identification magnet 2 inside, and only the toner transport member is in the direction of the arrow. Rotate to . 3 is toner and magnetic carrier 4
The toner is mixed with the toner and stored in a hopper which is filled with a toner depositing means. 6 is a gate member and this gate member 6 is the hopper 5
The gate 'IIL and 8 other gates are bonded to the bottom T& side of the gate 11 with an insulating layer 7 interposed therebetween. This electrode 8 is divided into a large number of parts in the direction of the rotational axis of the conveyance member, each electrode is connected to a signal generator #[9, and is made of a good magnetic material. Fixed magnet 2
Since the magnetic pole N is provided opposite to the gate member 5, even when the goo rotates, only the toner 3 is taken out and the carrier 4 is not conveyed. If you are using more toner than necessary due to
cannot pass through the gate member. When the electric signal generator 9 pressure is applied to the gate electrode 8, a current flows through the electrode 8 and the carrier 4, and the toner transport member 1! ! ! ! The threshold between the carrier 4 and the conductive cylinder across the insulating thin layer on the surface is charged, and the electric field from the insulating thin layer causes electrostatic attraction to act on the toner 3, and the relationship between the toner 3 and the carrier 4 ≠ The toner overcomes the restraint caused by the actual frictional charging and adheres to the toner conveying member, resulting in 1Ili11I! is formed. The thinner the insulating layer on the toner transport member is, the thinner it is, and the stronger the static attractive force acts even if the applied voltage is low, so it is preferably several microns to several tens of microns or less.

又繰９返し搬送部材を使用するには１回転以内の間にこ
の搬送部材の電荷が放電し、継続する帯電電荷が生じな
いことが望ましい。材質としては常にトナーと摺擦して
いるので摩擦抵抗が小さく、滑シを生じ易い様に表面エ
ネルギーの低い物質針使用するのもよい。トナー搬送部
材１上に形成されたｌｉ像はコロナ放電器や電極ロー２
等の過当な手段により紙などの記録部材へ転写され定着
される。Furthermore, in order to repeatedly use the conveying member nine times, it is desirable that the electric charge of the conveying member is discharged within one rotation and that no continuous charge is generated. As for the material, it is good to use a material needle that has low frictional resistance because it constantly rubs against the toner, and has low surface energy so that it is easy to cause slippage. The Li image formed on the toner conveying member 1 is transferred to a corona discharger or an electrode row 2.
The image is transferred and fixed onto a recording material such as paper by an appropriate means such as.

上記装置においては一蒙形成時以外はゲート部材６よシ
ネ必ｉＩなトナー３が流出しない様にしなければならな
いが、これには信号電極に印加する１６号電圧の極性と
逆極性の電圧を印加すればよい。In the above device, it is necessary to prevent the toner 3 from flowing out of the gate member 6 except when forming one layer, but for this purpose, a voltage with the opposite polarity to the No. 16 voltage applied to the signal electrode is applied. do it.

具体例としてはトナー３にはキ嘴ノン販売株式会社から
発売されているＮＰ−５０００（商品名ン用トナーを使
用し、一方、磁性キャリア４には市販の２００〜４００
メツシュ程度の粒軽を有する鉄粉にテフロンをコーティ
ングした物を使用した。ゲートＳＣ極８は＃Ｉ経８０ミ
クロンのピアノ繍ｔ−１鵡当＃）１０本の割合で均一に
並べ、エポキシ系接着剤で固めて成形した物を使用し九
が、電極の作成例としては磁性体薄層をエツチングによ
シ作成するのも可能である。ゲート電極８とトナー搬送
部材１０間隔はトナーが通過出来る範囲内である例えば
１５〜５００ミクロンとする０ 本実施伺では１００　ｔクロンとし九が、近接すれはす
るはどトナー虻より薄くする仁とが可能なので解像直も
上昇する。固定磁石２の磁束密にはトナー搬送部材１上
で約８５０ガウスを発生する＠倉使用し九〇 以上の条件でトナー搬送部材ｌの線速度を１００ａｌ／
秒で移動させ、信号発生源９から画像に応じて、ゲート
ＩＩＬ極８へ選択的にマイナス２００　Ｖ程度供給する
ことでトナー搬送部材１上にトナーによる１ＩＩｉ像形
成が可能となる。そして好ましくは非画像形成時はゲー
ト電極８へ上記形成時の極性とは逆極性のプラス１００
　Ｖ程度を常時与えておくことによシ上配画像はかぶり
のない鮮明な画像を得ることが可能となる。以上で得ら
れた搬送部材上のトナー画像はコロナ放′成１０によシ
紙等の記録材１１へ転写され、後にこの記録材１１のト
ナー像は従来の定着手段により定着される。As a specific example, for toner 3, NP-5000 (product name: N) toner sold by Kizokunon Sales Co., Ltd. was used, and for magnetic carrier 4, commercially available NP-5000 to 400 was used.
Iron powder coated with Teflon and having a grain size similar to that of mesh was used. The gate SC electrode 8 is made of 10 pieces of piano embroidery t-1 (#I diameter 80 microns) arranged uniformly at a ratio of 10, hardened with epoxy adhesive and molded. It is also possible to create it by etching a thin layer of magnetic material. The distance between the gate electrode 8 and the toner conveying member 10 is within a range that allows the toner to pass, for example, 15 to 500 microns.In this study, it is assumed to be 100 tm, but if they come close to each other, the toner should be thinner than the toner. Since it is possible to do this, the resolution will also increase. The magnetic flux density of the fixed magnet 2 is set at a linear velocity of 100 al/ under conditions of 90 or more, which generates approximately 850 Gauss on the toner conveying member 1.
By moving it in seconds and selectively supplying about -200 V from the signal generation source 9 to the gate IIL pole 8 according to the image, it is possible to form a 1IIi image with toner on the toner conveying member 1. Preferably, when not forming an image, the gate electrode 8 has a polarity of +100 which is opposite to the polarity at the time of formation.
By constantly applying a voltage of about V, it is possible to obtain a clear upper image without fogging. The toner image on the conveying member obtained above is transferred to a recording material 11 such as paper by corona radiation 10, and later the toner image on this recording material 11 is fixed by a conventional fixing means.

以上の説明で解る様に乾式現像剤を使用することが可能
であるへめ従来技術に比較して鮮明な画像形成が可能と
なった。更に、現像剤が、粉体状であるのでそのｊＩｊ
扱いがとても容易化できる。As can be seen from the above description, it is possible to use a dry developer, which makes it possible to form a clearer image compared to the conventional technology. Furthermore, since the developer is in powder form, its
It can be handled very easily.

ところで磁性体キャリアはゲート部材付近にのみ存在す
る８ＫＣＤ量とし、ホッパー５内へは中ヤリアを含まな
いトナーのみを補充することも可能であり、この場合は
キャリアが少ないため消費されたトナーのゲート付近へ
の補給がすみやかに行われ、＾速での記録に対応するこ
とができる。By the way, it is also possible to make the amount of magnetic carrier 8KCD present only near the gate member and replenish the hopper 5 with only toner that does not contain the inner layer.In this case, since there is little carrier, the gate of the consumed toner Resupply to nearby areas can be carried out quickly, and it is possible to record at ^ speed.

又、ゲート部材におけるキャリア、トナー流出防止の丸
めの磁界発生手段としては、図の如くトナー搬送部材ｌ
の内側へ設ける場合だけではなく、信号電極８儒にもこ
の内側の極とは逆極性の磁極を設けても良い。In addition, as a rounded magnetic field generating means for preventing the carrier and toner from flowing out in the gate member, a toner conveying member l is used as shown in the figure.
In addition to the case where the signal electrode 8 is provided inside the signal electrode 8, a magnetic pole having a polarity opposite to the inside pole may be provided on the signal electrode 8 as well.

とζろでホッパー中のトナー、キャリアがゲート部材か
ら流出しないようにするには、上記ゲート電極に対する
逆極性の電圧印加の外にも第２図に示す様にトナー搬送
部材ｉｋ介して固定磁石２の磁１ｊＮに対し、磁性体よ
シ成る電極８を正対する位置よシトナーが堆積している
側に若干ずらして配設しても良い。破線で示す磁力−１
３が図の様な方向になると、トナーの通過の阻止が良く
行われる。この様に固定磁石２に対してゲート部材の電
極がトナー搬送部材の移動方向に対してカウンタ一方向
に磁界が斜めになる程、トナーとともにキャリアの通過
のｉ止が完全になる。しかし、磁界に沿ってキャリアの
チェーンが発生するため、を偽に電圧が印加されると電
流はこのチェーンに沿って流れる傾向があるので、キャ
リアのチェーンが斜めになり過ぎると解像力が低下し、
ゲート電極８に対する印加電圧を上昇させる必要が出る
。そして更に、磁界が斜めになシ過ぎ九場合、キャリア
の移動が起こり難くなり、これらの制約を考慮すると、
この磁界の傾き、即ち、トナーの搬送部材面とは垂直な
線に対する上記磁界の方向が成す角［＃は、およそθ〜
６０°で特に３０°〜４５＠の範囲に選択することが好
ましい。In order to prevent the toner and carrier in the hopper from flowing out from the gate member, in addition to applying a voltage of opposite polarity to the gate electrode, as shown in FIG. With respect to the magnet 1jN of No. 2, the electrode 8 made of a magnetic material may be disposed slightly shifted from the position facing directly to the side where the toner is deposited. Magnetic force -1 shown by broken line
When 3 is in the direction shown in the figure, the passage of toner is effectively blocked. In this way, the more the magnetic field of the electrode of the gate member with respect to the fixed magnet 2 is oblique in one direction counter to the direction of movement of the toner conveying member, the more completely the passage of the carrier together with the toner is stopped. However, because a chain of carriers is generated along the magnetic field, current tends to flow along this chain when a false voltage is applied, so if the chain of carriers is too oblique, the resolution will be reduced,
It becomes necessary to increase the voltage applied to the gate electrode 8. Furthermore, if the magnetic field is too oblique, carrier movement becomes difficult to occur, and considering these constraints,
The inclination of this magnetic field, that is, the angle [#] is approximately θ to
It is preferable to select the angle from 60° to 30° to 45°.

以上の説明はギヤリアとして磁性中ヤリアを用いたが絶
縁性樹脂やガラス等の粒子によるキャリアを使用するこ
とも可能であるが、この場合のトナー帯電やキャリアの
ゲート部からの流出防止について述べると、ゲート部材
とトナー搬送部材間は通常６０μ〜４００　ｓ　８１度
の間隙を持ち、一方、キャリアとして使用される樹脂、
ガラス粒子は６０μ〜６０（）μの粒経が使用される。In the above explanation, a magnetic medium was used as the gear carrier, but it is also possible to use a carrier made of particles of insulating resin or glass, but in this case, we will discuss toner charging and prevention of carrier outflow from the gate part. , there is usually a gap of 60μ to 400s and 81 degrees between the gate member and the toner transport member, while the resin used as a carrier,
The glass particles used have a particle diameter of 60μ to 60()μ.

その丸めにゲート近傍では＃！３図の様なキャリアがゲ
ート開口に近付かない循環が行なわれ、ナイフェツジに
沿って移動するのでゲート部材とトナー搬送部材間では
常にトナーを含んだキャリアが現われ、常に均−ｌｉｉ
曽が形成される。In the vicinity of the gate, #! As shown in Figure 3, the carrier is circulated so that it does not approach the gate opening, and moves along the knife edge, so that the carrier containing toner always appears between the gate member and the toner conveying member, and the carrier is always evenly distributed.
Zeng is formed.

尚、例えば鉄粉等を使用した磁性キャリアの場合におい
ては、ゲート部材固定磁石の磁界によりトナー搬送部材
へ移動することはなく、又上記記載の様な同定磁石とゲ
ート部材の位置関係を保てばホッパー内で循環が起シ、
ゲート部材の近傍においては常にトナーの含まれ九キャ
リアが存在する。For example, in the case of a magnetic carrier using iron powder or the like, the toner will not move to the toner conveying member due to the magnetic field of the gate member fixed magnet, and the positional relationship between the identification magnet and the gate member as described above can be maintained. If circulation occurs in the hopper,
A carrier containing toner is always present in the vicinity of the gate member.

以上説明したような本発明によれば従来の記録方法と比
徹し、潜像を形成し、この潜像を現像するという複数の
工程をｍまず、直接に高解像な高速記銀が可能となる。According to the present invention as explained above, in comparison with conventional recording methods, it is possible to directly perform high-speed, high-resolution recording without the multiple steps of forming a latent image and developing this latent image. Become.

【図面の簡単な説明】[Brief explanation of the drawing]

第１図は本発明の一実施例の断面図、第２図はゲート部
材の一例を示す部分拡大断面図を示す。図において、 ｌはトナー搬送部材、３はトナー、４は磁性キャリア、
５はゲート部材、８は信号電極を示す。FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged sectional view showing an example of a gate member. In the figure, l is a toner conveying member, 3 is a toner, 4 is a magnetic carrier,
5 is a gate member, and 8 is a signal electrode.

Claims (3)

【特許請求の範囲】[Claims] （１）トナーとキャリアを有する粉体現像剤を堆積する
手段と、この堆積手段の中の現像剤に接触して移動して
現像剤を支持搬送する現像剤搬送手段と、上記現像剤搬
送手段により持ち出される現像剤を規制し、且つ、各々
が独立して鴫気的に絶縁され九ゲート電極を有するゲー
ト部材と、このダート部材のゲート電１ｉＫ−像形成の
ための信号を印加する信号源とを有し、上記信号源によ
る１＃！を号パターンに対応して搬送部材上にトナーに
よる画像を形成する画像記録装置。(1) means for depositing a powder developer having toner and carrier; a developer conveying means for supporting and conveying the developer by moving in contact with the developer in the depositing means; and the developer conveying means. a gate member having nine gate electrodes, each independently and air-insulated, and a signal source applying a signal for image formation to the gate electrode of the dart member; and 1#! by the above signal source! An image recording device that forms an image using toner on a conveying member in accordance with a pattern. （２）上記トナー搬送部材上に形成したトナーによる画
像を他の記録材に転写する特許請求の範＃Ｍ第ｃ厘）項
に記載の画像記録装置。(2) The image recording apparatus according to claim #M(c), which transfers the toner image formed on the toner conveying member to another recording material. （３）　　上記ゲート電極の全部に対して画像形成時以
外のときは、画像形成時とは逆極性の電圧を印加する特
許請求の範囲第（！）項に記載の画像記録装置。(3) The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a voltage having a polarity opposite to that during image formation is applied to all of the gate electrodes at times other than when forming an image.