JPS59136751A - Corona discharger - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate the need for a periodic cleaning operation and to maintain a stable discharge characteristic for a long period of time by fixing a corona discharge wire or grid wire to an ultrasonic oscillator. CONSTITUTION:An ultrasonic oscillator 12 is attached to the U-shaped side wall of an insulating support base 11 of a corona discharger. One end of a corona discharge wire 14 is fixed to the oscillator 12 and the other end is connected via a connector 13 to the other insulating support base 11. When a copy signal is inputted, a photosensitive body starts rotation and an oscillating circuit 18 is operated by the signal from a timing circuit 20 and the oscillator 12 is oscillated by the output thereof to oscillate a corona discharger wire 10 in an arrow direction, thereby dislodging the foreign matter sticking on the wire 14. A high voltage transformer 10 is then operated by the signal from the circuit 20 to impress a high voltage on the wire 14 and to generate corona discharge, by which the surface of the photosensitive body is uniformly charged. The need for a periodic cleaning operation is thus eliminated and the stable discharge characteristic is maintained.

Description

【発明の詳細な説明】 本発明はコロナ放電装置、しｌえば電子写真複写機等に
適用して感光体表面を一様に帯電しあるいは除電するた
めに利用するコロナ放電装置に関する。DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a corona discharge device, and more particularly, to a corona discharge device used in electrophotographic copying machines and the like to uniformly charge or eliminate static electricity on the surface of a photoreceptor.

従来、この種のコロナ放電装置としては、高圧電源に接
続された放電線と該放電線を囲むシールド板で構成され
たコロトロン装置モジくはコロトロン装置に放電電流制
御部＠（以下、グリッドと称す）を設けたスコロトロン
が知られている。Conventionally, this type of corona discharge device has a corotron device module consisting of a discharge wire connected to a high-voltage power source and a shield plate surrounding the discharge wire, or a corotron device with a discharge current control unit @ (hereinafter referred to as a grid). ) is known.

これらの装置は高圧印加によるコロナ放電であるためだ
、その集塵作用は避けがたく放電線、グリッド、シール
ド板等に異物の付着すなわち現像剤、放電による酸化物
、空気中の塵埃等による汚れが発生しやすく、従って、
帯電・除電特性にムラを生ずる欠点があった。このため
、帯電特性を安定ＩＣ維持させるためには一定期間での
清掃作業が必要とされ、電子写真複写機等において不都
合を生じていた。This is because these devices use corona discharge due to the application of high voltage, and the dust collection effect is unavoidable, resulting in the adhesion of foreign matter to the discharge wire, grid, shield plate, etc., i.e., dirt due to developer, oxides from discharge, dust in the air, etc. is likely to occur, therefore,
It had the disadvantage of causing unevenness in charging and neutralizing characteristics. Therefore, in order to maintain stable charging characteristics of the IC, cleaning work is required at regular intervals, which causes inconvenience in electrophotographic copying machines and the like.

本発明は上記に鑑み提案されたもので、定期的な清掃作
業を必要とすることなく、安定な放電特性が長期間維持
される耐久性に優れたコロナ放電装置を得ることを目的
とする。The present invention was proposed in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to obtain a corona discharge device with excellent durability that maintains stable discharge characteristics for a long period of time without requiring periodic cleaning work.

第１図は本発明コロナ放電装置を適用する電子写真複写
機の極く概略を示す図である。感光体１は矢印の方向に
回転自在に支持されており、この感光体の周囲には該感
光体表面を均一に帯電する帯電器２．ランプ３で照明さ
れた原稿４からの反射光像を上記感光体表面に結像して
潜像を形成する短焦点レンズアレー５．−上記潜像を顕
画化する現像器６．上記感光体１０回転に同期して給送
される転写材７．感光体上の顕画像を転写材に転写する
転写帯電器８．感光体トの残留トナーを除去するクリー
ニングプＶ−ド９等の電子写真プロセス機器が順次に配
設されている。上記転写材７は不図示の定着器を通って
給送されその表面に転写像が定着される。FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing an electrophotographic copying machine to which the corona discharge device of the present invention is applied. A photoreceptor 1 is rotatably supported in the direction of the arrow, and around the photoreceptor there is a charger 2 for uniformly charging the surface of the photoreceptor. A short focus lens array 5 for forming a latent image by focusing a reflected light image from the original 4 illuminated by the lamp 3 on the surface of the photoreceptor. - a developing device 6 for developing the latent image; 7. Transfer material fed in synchronization with the 10 rotations of the photoreceptor. Transfer charger that transfers the visible image on the photoreceptor to a transfer material8. Electrophotographic process equipment such as a cleaning pad 9 for removing residual toner from the photoreceptor is sequentially provided. The transfer material 7 is fed through a fixing device (not shown), and the transferred image is fixed on its surface.

第２図は前記帯電器２．転写帯電器Ｒとして用いる本発
明コロナ放電装置の実施し０を示す縦断面図、第３図は
第２図７−■線に沿う横断面図である。第２・３図にお
いて、１０は横断面コ字形のシールド板、１１はシール
ド板の両端部に一体１（設けた絶縁支持台で、その一方
の絶縁支持台には超音波振動子１２が他方の絶縁支持台
には外部電路接続用のコネクタ１３が夫々一体ｌて設け
られている。１Ａは一端を絶縁部月１６を介して上記超
音波振動子１２に固定ピン１５で取付け、他端を上記コ
ネクタ１３に取付けて左右の絶縁支持台間に張設したコ
ロナ放電線である。振動子は図の矢印方向に振動し、従
って放電線の長手方向（縦方向）ＶＣ振動がかかる。１
７はシールド板１０の開口に面した絶縁支持台面に取付
けた絶縁性樹脂製の蓋である。１日は超音波振動子１２
に接続された発振回路、１９はコネクタ１３に接続され
た高圧トランス、２０は発振口８ｓ１Ｂおよび高圧トラ
ンス１９を制御するタイミング信号り路である。FIG. 2 shows the charger 2. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the embodiment 0 of the corona discharge device of the present invention used as a transfer charger R, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 7--■ in FIG. In Figures 2 and 3, 10 is a shield plate with a U-shaped cross section, 11 is an insulating support stand provided integrally at both ends of the shield plate, and an ultrasonic transducer 12 is mounted on one of the insulating support stands on the other side. A connector 13 for connecting an external electric circuit is integrally provided on each insulating support stand.1A has one end attached to the ultrasonic transducer 12 via an insulating part 16 with a fixing pin 15, and the other end This is a corona discharge wire attached to the connector 13 and stretched between the left and right insulating support stands.The vibrator vibrates in the direction of the arrow in the figure, and therefore VC vibration is applied to the discharge wire in the longitudinal direction (vertical direction).1
Reference numeral 7 denotes a lid made of insulating resin that is attached to the insulating support surface facing the opening of the shield plate 10. Ultrasonic transducer 12 on the 1st
19 is a high voltage transformer connected to the connector 13, and 20 is a timing signal path for controlling the oscillation port 8s1B and the high voltage transformer 19.

上記超音波振動子１２としては例えばチタン酸バリウム
系、ジルコン酸チタン酸鉛（ＰＺＴ）および鉛−ランタ
ン、ジルコン−チタン酸化物混合体（ＰＬＺＴ）および
有機材料等の圧電特性を示す材料などが用いられる。ま
た振動子として一枚板でも良く、又２枚以上の貼合せ板
を用いることも可能である。As the ultrasonic transducer 12, materials exhibiting piezoelectric properties such as barium titanate, lead zirconate titanate (PZT), lead-lanthanum, zircon-titanium oxide mixture (PLZT), and organic materials are used. It will be done. Further, a single plate may be used as the vibrator, or it is also possible to use two or more laminated plates.

発振回路１Ｂは超音波振動子１２１Ｃ対して交番電界も
しくはそれに近い電界が印加できればよい。The oscillation circuit 1B only needs to be able to apply an alternating electric field or an electric field close to it to the ultrasonic transducer 121C.

超音波振動子の振動の方向は矢印の縦モード（放電線と
平行方向）でもよいが、コロナ放、電線１４（Ｃ振動を
伝えられればよいので、特にその振動方向は限定される
ものではなく、コロナ放電線１４と直角方向、平行方向
および斜方向のいずれでもよい。コロナ放電線の振巾は
約数μｍであり、その周波数は数１Ｑ　ＫＨｚが効果的
ではあるがこれに限定されるものではなく、数ＫＨｚか
ら数Ｍ　Ｈｚまでの範囲で使用可能である。The direction of vibration of the ultrasonic vibrator may be the longitudinal mode of the arrow (parallel to the discharge line), but the direction of vibration is not particularly limited as long as it can transmit corona discharge or electric wire 14 (C vibration). , the direction perpendicular to, parallel to, or oblique to the corona discharge line 14 may be used.The width of the corona discharge line is approximately several μm, and the frequency is effectively several 1 Q KHz, but is limited thereto. Instead, it can be used in the range from several KHz to several MHz.

以下、第４図のタイミング図ｊ／［ついて本発明コロナ
放電装置の動作を説明する。使用者によりコピー信号が
入力されると（第４図ｔ１点）、感光体１は回転を開始
し同時にタイミング信号回路２０からのタイミング信号
Ｓ１で数秒間（第４図ＴＯ）発振回路１Ｂを作動させ、
この発振回路の発振出力を超音波振動子１２に供給する
。超音波振動子１２は発振出力を受けると圧電特性によ
って振動し、コロナ放電線１０を第２図矢印方向に振動
させて、放置中にコロナ放電線に付着した異物を撮り落
して取除く。その後、タイミング信号回路２０からの次
のタイミング信号Ｓ２で高圧トランス１９を作動させ、
この高圧トランスの高電圧出力をコネクタ１３を介して
コロナ放電線１４に印加し。Hereinafter, the operation of the corona discharge device of the present invention will be explained with reference to the timing diagram j/[ of FIG. 4. When a copy signal is input by the user (point t1 in FIG. 4), the photoreceptor 1 starts rotating, and at the same time, the oscillation circuit 1B is activated for several seconds (TO in FIG. 4) by the timing signal S1 from the timing signal circuit 20. let me,
The oscillation output of this oscillation circuit is supplied to the ultrasonic transducer 12. When the ultrasonic vibrator 12 receives an oscillation output, it vibrates due to its piezoelectric properties, vibrates the corona discharge wire 10 in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 2, and removes foreign matter that has adhered to the corona discharge wire while it is left standing. Thereafter, the high voltage transformer 19 is activated by the next timing signal S2 from the timing signal circuit 20,
The high voltage output of this high voltage transformer is applied to the corona discharge wire 14 via the connector 13.

このコロナ放電線からコロナ放電を発生させて回転中の
感光体表面を均一に帯電する。そして、感光体１は前回
転といわれる前ならし回転を全うしてコピー回転になり
複写動作が行なわれる。この後に後ならし回転すなわち
後回転に入り、それの終了と同時に高圧がｏｆｆされる
。A corona discharge is generated from this corona discharge wire to uniformly charge the surface of the rotating photoreceptor. Then, the photoreceptor 1 completes a preparatory rotation called a pre-rotation, and then enters a copy rotation to perform a copying operation. After this, a post-run-in rotation or post-rotation begins, and at the same time as the post-run-in rotation ends, the high pressure is turned off.

この数秒後にまた振動子を動作させる信号が発振回路１
Ｂから出力され、振動子シマ数秒間（ＴＯ）コロナ放電
線を励起振動させて、コピー回転中１（付着した異物を
とりのぞ℃１て放置状１ｇと女る。コロナ放電線１Ａを
振動させるのは上記感光体の前回転中および後回転中の
他コピー回転中でもよ（１゜つまり、高電圧印加時にコ
ロナ放電線１４を振起りさせても、その振巾が帯電特性
等に与える影響は少なく、はぼ任意の時間尾これを動作
させることが可能である。発振回路１８の制御はタイミ
ング信号に依らずしｌえばコピ一枚数もしくはコピ一時
間の累積値を検出し、との検出値が所定値に達したとき
の信号を利用してもよい。また、使用者カニ画像に汚れ
を発見［またりあるいは定期的な保守のための任意の時
間に、複写機の操作部に設けられたスイッチ等を操作し
たときに発せられる信号を利用してもよい。After a few seconds, a signal that operates the vibrator again is sent to the oscillation circuit 1.
The corona discharge wire is excited and vibrated for a few seconds (TO), and the corona discharge wire 1A is vibrated during the copy rotation (remove the attached foreign matter at 1°C). This is caused not only during the front rotation and rear rotation of the photoreceptor, but also during the copy rotation (1° In other words, even if the corona discharge line 14 is oscillated when a high voltage is applied, the effect of the oscillation on the charging characteristics etc. The oscillation circuit 18 is controlled by detecting the number of copies or the cumulative value of one hour of copying without depending on the timing signal. A signal when the value reaches a predetermined value may also be used.Also, if the user finds dirt on the image [or at any time for periodic maintenance] It is also possible to use a signal emitted when a switch or the like is operated.

第５図乃至第８図は他の実施列を示すもので。5 to 8 show other implementation sequences.

第５図は超音波振動子１２の縦振動モードを利用する列
、第６図は超音波振動子１２を絶縁支持台１１のコ字形
両側壁間に取付けて該超音波振動子の横搗動モードを利
用する列、第７図は絶縁支持体１・１の蓋１７を超音波
振動子で構成し、この超音波振動子に絶縁部材１６を介
して放電線１４を固定した列、第８図はコロナ放電線１
４の被放電面側（て張設するグリッド線２１を固定ビン
２２で超音波振動子１２に固定した例である。これ等の
各実施例においても、超音波振動子の振動によってコロ
ナ放電線１４もしくはグリッド線２１が図示矢印方向に
振動して付着した異物を取除くものである。上記振動子
１２に童１７と一体でおる。FIG. 5 shows a row that utilizes the longitudinal vibration mode of the ultrasonic transducer 12, and FIG. The row utilizing the mode, FIG. 7, is a row in which the cover 17 of the insulating support 1.1 is constructed of an ultrasonic vibrator, and the discharge wire 14 is fixed to this ultrasonic vibrator via an insulating member 16. The figure shows corona discharge wire 1
This is an example in which the grid lines 21 to be stretched on the discharge surface side of No. 4 are fixed to the ultrasonic vibrator 12 with a fixing bottle 22. In each of these embodiments, the corona discharge line is 14 or the grid line 21 vibrates in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure to remove attached foreign matter.

なお１本発明コロナ放電装置は複写機に用いられる各種
の帯電器向えば一次帯電器、二次帯電器。Note that the corona discharge device of the present invention can be used in various chargers used in copying machines, such as primary chargers and secondary chargers.

ポスト帯電器、転写帯電器の他、前除電帯電器として適
用できる。It can be used as a post charger, transfer charger, and pre-neutralization charger.

本発明はコロナ放電線もしくはグリッド線を超音波振動
子に固定したから、コロナ放電線もしくはグリッド線は
超音波振動子とともｊテ振動して付着した異物を振り落
すので該異物の付着が極めて少なくなり、安定な放電状
態即ち均一な放電特性を長期間維持できると共に異物が
放電時の熱によりコロナ放電線に焼付くことが少なくな
って該コロナ放電線自体の寿命つまりコロナ放電装置自
体の耐久性が向上する効果がある。In the present invention, since the corona discharge wire or the grid line is fixed to the ultrasonic vibrator, the corona discharge wire or the grid line vibrates with the ultrasonic vibrator to shake off the attached foreign matter, so that the attachment of the foreign matter is extremely reduced. As a result, a stable discharge state, that is, uniform discharge characteristics can be maintained for a long period of time, and foreign matter is less likely to be burned into the corona discharge wire due to the heat during discharge, thereby extending the life of the corona discharge wire itself, that is, the durability of the corona discharge device itself. It has the effect of improving sex.

また、超音波振動子を放電線と平行方向に振動させるこ
とができるから、コロナ放電中に超音波振動子を振動さ
せてもコロナ放電線と被コロナ放電面との間隔は一定で
変化しないため、コロナ放電線の損傷を防ぎ該コロナ放
電線の偏心による放電ムラを緩和することができる効果
がある。In addition, since the ultrasonic vibrator can be vibrated in a direction parallel to the discharge line, the distance between the corona discharge line and the corona discharge surface remains constant and does not change even if the ultrasonic vibrator is vibrated during corona discharge. This has the effect of preventing damage to the corona discharge wire and alleviating uneven discharge due to eccentricity of the corona discharge wire.

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

第１図は電子写真複写機の極く概略を示す図。 第２図は本発明コロナ放電装置の実施例を示す縦断面図
、第３図は第２図■−肩線に沿う横断面図。 第４図はタイミング図、第５図乃至第８図は本発明コロ
ナ放電装置の他の実施例を示す一部の縦断面図である。 １２は超音波振動子、１４はコロナ放電線、２１はグリ
ッド線。FIG. 1 is a very schematic diagram of an electrophotographic copying machine. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an embodiment of the corona discharge device of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along the shoulder line of FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a timing diagram, and FIGS. 5 to 8 are partial vertical sectional views showing other embodiments of the corona discharge device of the present invention. 12 is an ultrasonic transducer, 14 is a corona discharge line, and 21 is a grid line.

Claims (1)

【特許請求の範囲】[Claims] （１）　　コロナ放電線もしくはグリッド線を超音波振
動子に固定したことを特徴とするコロナ放電装置。(1) A corona discharge device characterized in that a corona discharge line or a grid line is fixed to an ultrasonic vibrator.