JPS58173771A - Developing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To execute printing to any form, by holding a conductive developer by a conductive brush provided in a tank storing the developer, and providing this brush and a photoreeptor in the vicinity of each other without bringing them into contact with each other. CONSTITUTION:A photoreceptor 1 and a sleeve 11 rotate at a relative speed. When a latent image of the photoreceptor 1 approaches the sleeve 11 gradually, a developer 10 filled in needlelike fur is attracted to the surface of the photoreceptor 1 by force of an electrostatic field generated between the photoreceptor 1 and the needlelike fur of the brush. Also, when the latent image of the photoreceptor 1 approaches the needlelike fur of the brush, the electrostatic field becomes stronger, the developer flies and adheres to the latent image face against its own viscosity, surface tension and gravity, and a visible image is formed. Also, it is also possible to control the density of the visible image by making bias voltage V variable in order to control strength of the electrostatic field.

Description

【発明の詳細な説明】 本発明は静電記録の現像に用いる現像器に関するもので
ある。DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a developing device used for developing electrostatic recording.

従来、静電潜像を可視像に現像する静電記録装置やそれ
を応用した電子写真装置などに用いる現像器は、大きく
分けて乾式現像法と湿式現像法とに分類できる。2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, developing devices used in electrostatic recording devices that develop electrostatic latent images into visible images and electrophotographic devices using the same can be broadly classified into dry developing methods and wet developing methods.

乾式現像法の中には二成分現像法があり、二成分現像法
は、キャリアとトナーとの混合によりトナーを帯電させ
、静電潜像との電荷バランスによって現１象する方法で
ある。この方法は画質がよく、低速から高速までの複写
機などに最も良く利用されており、技術的にも確立され
ている。しかし、トナーとキャリアとの混合比を一定に
保つためにトナー濃度制御機構が必要であり、また、混
合中にキャリアが寿命になり、それを定期的に交換する
必要が生じる。−成分現像法はキャリアが必要なく、ト
ナー濃度制御及び現職剤の交換を必要としないが、画質
が悪く、さらに用紙に特別の処理を行って高抵抗化しな
ければならない。一方、湿式現慮法は石油系の溶液であ
るアイソパー液を用いるために取扱いに十分注意しなけ
ればならないが画質が良い。しかし、印字を高濃度にす
ることが困難であり、又用紙を選定しなければ、画質に
問題が生じるなどの欠点がある。Among the dry developing methods, there is a two-component developing method, and the two-component developing method is a method in which the toner is charged by mixing a carrier and a toner, and the toner is developed by the charge balance with the electrostatic latent image. This method has good image quality, is most commonly used in low-speed to high-speed copying machines, and is technically established. However, a toner concentration control mechanism is required to maintain a constant mixing ratio of toner and carrier, and the carrier reaches the end of its life during mixing, making it necessary to periodically replace it. - The component development method does not require carriers, toner concentration control, or replacement of existing agents, but the image quality is poor and the paper must be specially treated to have high resistance. On the other hand, the wet method uses Isopar liquid, which is a petroleum-based solution, so it must be handled with great care, but the image quality is good. However, it is difficult to print at a high density, and if the paper is not selected properly, there are drawbacks such as problems with image quality.

本発明は前記問題点を解消するもので、トナー濃度制御
を不要とし、しかも現像剤の寿命には関係なく現像剤を
補光するのみとし、非危険物、非公害性の水溶性成いは
有機溶剤からなる現像液で静電潜像を現ｆ象し、グラビ
ア印刷、程度の画質を渫ち、いかなる用紙にでも印刷で
きるようにした液体式現像器を提供することにある。The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, eliminates the need for toner concentration control, only supplements the developer with light regardless of the lifespan of the developer, and uses non-hazardous and non-polluting water-soluble materials. To provide a liquid developing device which develops an electrostatic latent image with a developing solution made of an organic solvent, has image quality comparable to that of gravure printing, and can print on any paper.

即ち、本発明は現像剤として導電性現像、液を用い、タ
ンクに充満させた該現像液中に導電性のブラシを、ブラ
シの先端が液面近くに位置するように配置し、該ブラシ
と感光体とを接触させることなく接近して配設させたこ
とを特徴とするものである。That is, in the present invention, a conductive developer liquid is used as a developer, and a conductive brush is placed in the developer solution filled in a tank so that the tip of the brush is located near the liquid surface. It is characterized in that it is disposed close to the photoreceptor without contacting it.

次に本発明の実施例について図面を参照して説明する。Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

第１図において、感光体１の表面にコロナ放電による帯
電器２によって電荷を帯電させる。次に原稿６を露光シ
ステム４によって感光体表面に露光させると、感光体表
面に原稿３の潜像が形成される。その１習像が本発明に
係る現像器５を通過するときに、現像液が静電界の力の
作用によって他用して感光体１の潜像面に付着し、可視
像を形成する。一方、ホッパ６からの用紙は転写器７で
転写できるように同期がとられて給紙され、感光体表面
に形成された可視像を転写器７によって帯電された用紙
に静電力によって転写させる。しかし、感光体表面の可
視像は全て転写されることがなく、−クリーニング機構
８によってクリーニングされる。In FIG. 1, the surface of a photoreceptor 1 is charged with an electric charge by a charger 2 using corona discharge. Next, when the original 6 is exposed onto the surface of the photoreceptor by the exposure system 4, a latent image of the original 3 is formed on the surface of the photoreceptor. When the one image passes through the developing device 5 according to the present invention, the developing solution is used by the action of the electrostatic field and adheres to the latent image surface of the photoreceptor 1, forming a visible image. On the other hand, the paper from the hopper 6 is fed in a synchronized manner so that it can be transferred by the transfer device 7, and the visible image formed on the surface of the photoreceptor is transferred by electrostatic force to the charged paper by the transfer device 7. . However, the visible image on the surface of the photoreceptor is not entirely transferred and is cleaned by the cleaning mechanism 8.

次に感光体表面に残っている電荷を除電器９の除′４ｉ
、丸によって除電し、現像プロセスが完了する。Next, the charge remaining on the surface of the photoreceptor is removed by the static eliminator 9'4i.
, the charge is removed by the circle, and the development process is completed.

第２図は本発明に係る現像器の断面図である。FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the developing device according to the present invention.

第２図（ａ）において、スリーブ１１の表面に無数の導
電性の針状系を植毛してブラシを構成し、スリーブ１１
を、導電性の現像液１０を満したタンク１２内に回転可
能に配置しブラシを現像液１０内に浸し、ブラシの針状
系により現像液１０を保持させる。さらに、ブラシと感
光体１とを接触させることなく接近して対面させる。ま
た、スリーブ１１にはバイアス電圧■を印加し、現像条
件によってその電圧Ｖを可変する。第２図（ｂ）は本発
明の他の実施例である。本実施例においては固定板１３
の板面に無数の導電性ブラシを植毛してブラシを構成し
これを現像１１０を満したタンク１２内に位−置させて
現像液を針状系によって保持し、ブランの針状系と感光
体１の表面とを接触させることなく対面させたものであ
る。同、針状系としてはステンレス材、カーボン繊維な
どを用いる。In FIG. 2(a), a brush is constructed by implanting numerous conductive needle-like bristles on the surface of the sleeve 11.
is rotatably arranged in a tank 12 filled with a conductive developer 10, the brush is immersed in the developer 10, and the developer 10 is retained by the needle-like system of the brush. Further, the brush and the photoreceptor 1 are brought close to each other and faced to each other without contacting each other. Further, a bias voltage (2) is applied to the sleeve 11, and the voltage (V) is varied depending on the developing conditions. FIG. 2(b) shows another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the fixing plate 13
A brush is constructed by implanting numerous conductive brushes on the surface of the plate, and this brush is placed in a tank 12 filled with a developer 110, and the developer is held by the acicular system, and the acicular system of the blank and the photosensitive It faces the surface of the body 1 without contacting it. Similarly, as the needle-like material, stainless steel material, carbon fiber, etc. are used.

第３図（ａ）、　（ｂ）は第２図（ａ）の実施例におけ
る現１象の原理を示す略図である。感光体１とスリーブ
１１とは相対速度を有して回転しているう感光体１の潜
像とスリーブ１１とが徐々に近づいてくると、第５図（
ａ）のように針状系の中に満されている現像液１０が、
感光体１とブラシの針状系との間に発生した静電界の力
によって感光体表面に引き付けられようとする。さらに
、感光体の潜像がブラシの針状系に近づくと、第３図（
ｂ）のように静電界はさらに強くなり、現像液は自から
の粘性、表面張ツバ重力にさからって潜像面に飛翔して
付着し、可視像が形成される。また第２図（ｂ）のよう
に固定板１４上にブラシを構成した場合も、同様に第３
図（ａ）（ｂ）で説明した原理に基づいて現１象が行な
われる。当然ながらブラシを固定した場合は高速現像に
は不向きである。又、静電界の強度を制御するためにバ
イアス電圧■を可変させて、可視像の濃度を制御するこ
とも可能である。FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) are schematic diagrams showing the principle of the phenomenon in the embodiment of FIG. 2(a). The photoreceptor 1 and the sleeve 11 are rotating at a relative speed, and as the latent image on the photoreceptor 1 and the sleeve 11 gradually approach each other, as shown in FIG.
The developer 10 filled in the acicular system as shown in a) is
It tends to be attracted to the surface of the photoreceptor by the force of the electrostatic field generated between the photoreceptor 1 and the needle-like system of the brush. Furthermore, as the latent image on the photoreceptor approaches the needle-like system of the brush, as shown in Figure 3 (
As shown in b), the electrostatic field becomes even stronger, and the developer flies and adheres to the latent image surface, defying its own viscosity, surface tension, and gravity, and a visible image is formed. Also, when the brush is configured on the fixed plate 14 as shown in FIG. 2(b), the third
A phenomenon is performed based on the principle explained in FIGS. (a) and (b). Of course, if the brush is fixed, it is not suitable for high-speed development. It is also possible to control the density of the visible image by varying the bias voltage (2) in order to control the strength of the electrostatic field.

次に、感光体の周速３〜８５ｃｒｎ／ｓｅｅ、　　スリ
ーブ１１との相対速度０〜３程度、感光体とブラシの針
状系とのギャップが０．５〜１．５ｍ、ブラシの針状系
の長さ１〜８ｍ＋１１として現像の実験をした結果、よ
い画像が得られた。又現像液は水性、油性どちらでもよ
く、抵抗値を１０８Ω−儂以下程度に選んだ。粘度は高
いと高速現像に不向きであり、また表面張力が強いと高
速現像に不向きであった。Next, the circumferential speed of the photoreceptor is 3 to 85 crn/see, the relative speed to the sleeve 11 is about 0 to 3, the gap between the photoreceptor and the acicular system of the brush is 0.5 to 1.5 m, and the acicular system of the brush is As a result of developing experiments with a length of 1 to 8 m+11, good images were obtained. The developing solution may be either water-based or oil-based, and the resistance value was selected to be about 10 8 Ω-I or less. High viscosity makes it unsuitable for high-speed development, and high surface tension makes it unsuitable for high-speed development.

以上説明したように本発明によれば、現像剤として導電
性現像液を用い、導電性ブラシで現像液を保持し、静電
界の力の作用で現像液を付着させて可視像を形成するた
め、トナー濃度制御が不要となるとともに現像液を補充
するのみですみ、しかも用紙を処理することなく使用で
きる。さらにブラシを感光体と相対回転させることによ
り、高速印刷の機種に適用できる効果を有するものであ
る。As explained above, according to the present invention, a conductive developer is used as a developer, the developer is held by a conductive brush, and a visible image is formed by adhering the developer by the action of the force of an electrostatic field. Therefore, there is no need to control the toner density, and only the developer needs to be replenished, and the paper can be used without being processed. Furthermore, by rotating the brush relative to the photoreceptor, it has an effect that can be applied to high-speed printing models.

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

第１図は本発明の現像器を適用した複写機の概念図、第
２図（ａ）、　（ｂ）は本発明に係る現像器の断面図、
第３図（ａ）、　（ｂ）は本発明の現像の原理を示す略
図である。 １・・・感光体　　　　　　１０・・・導電性の現像液
１１・・・スリーブ　　　　　１２・・・タンク１３・
・・固定板 特許出願人　日本電気株式会社FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a copying machine to which the developing device of the present invention is applied, and FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b) are sectional views of the developing device according to the present invention.
FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) are schematic diagrams showing the principle of development according to the present invention. 1... Photoreceptor 10... Conductive developer 11... Sleeve 12... Tank 13.
・Fixing plate patent applicant NEC Corporation

Claims (1)

【特許請求の範囲】[Claims] （１）静電記録に用いられる現像器において、現像剤と
して導電性現像液を用い、タンクに収納した現像液中に
導電性のブラシを位置させて該ブラシに現像液を保持さ
せ、該ブラシと感光体とを接触させることなく接近して
配設させたことを特徴とする現像器。(1) In a developing device used for electrostatic recording, a conductive developer is used as a developer, a conductive brush is placed in the developer stored in a tank, and the developer is held in the brush. A developing device characterized in that a photoconductor and a photoreceptor are disposed close to each other without making contact with each other.