JPH035191A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (Industrial Field of Application) The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a computer, a facsimile machine, a word processor, etc. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that forms an image and transfers and fixes the image onto a transfer material.

(Prior Art) The applicant for the patent has proposed a new type of image forming apparatus that is low in cost and small in size (Japanese Patent Application No. 6,332,9862). This involves developing the entire surface of the sheet with l-toner, which is a developer, and then melting the toner on the sheet based on the image signal to form a toner image on the sheet. After removal, the toner image on the sheet-H is transferred and fixed onto the transfer material-L.

The outline of the image forming apparatus based on FIG. 4 will be explained in more detail.
A sheet 200 is coated with 1.1 h of 1.1 h of henna evenly through a toner applicator 210.
1 hener on the sheet 200 is heated and melted via the thermal head 206 based on the image signal from the back side of the sheet 1 to form a toner image on the sheet 200. Next, after removing excess toner (1 toner in the area where no image is formed) from the sheet 200-1-2 by the toner collecting device 220, the toner image on the sheet 200-1- is transferred to the sheet 200-1- through the linear heating element 205. The image is transferred and fixed onto the transfer paper P, and the transfer paper P is separated from the sheet 1 and the sheet 200 via the separation roller 203. In this way, an image is formed on the transfer paper P based on the image signal.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) However, in the image forming apparatus, the toner application device 210 and the toner recovery device 220 are provided separately and independently, and the toner coating device 210 and the toner recovery device 210 and the toner recovery device 220 are separately provided. One henna hopper 211, 22 in each device 220
1, it is necessary to stop image formation if the toner in the toner hopper 211 of the toner coating device 210 runs out. -・In this case, toner collection device 2
The toner hopper 211 of No. 20 is filled with collected toner, and the toner is reused by the hener coating device 210, which allows image formation to continue and reduces running costs. There's Merritt.

The present invention has been made in view of the problems mentioned above.
The object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can continuously use the hener recovered by the recovery means as a toner application means.

(Means for Solving the Problems) ``Unachieved in 1. <The present invention provides a heat-resistant sheet, a toner paint means for uniformly applying toner on this sheet, and a toner coating means for applying toner on this sheet 1. a means for heating and melting the toner in an imagewise manner, a toner collecting means for removing excess toner on the sheet after image-forming heating, and a means for heating the transfer material by overlaying the image on one edge of the sheet. , a transfer material conveying means for separating the transfer material from the sheet after the toner image is solidified on the sheet.
- The toner storage section of the toner paint f stage for uniformly applying I- toner and the toner collecting means for removing excess toner on the sheet 1 after the imagewise heating is combined into one. It is characterized by:

(Function) Since the toner storage portions of the toner application means and the toner collection means are combined into one, the toner collected by the toner collection means can be used by the toner application means.

(Example) Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on the accompanying drawings.

First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

In Figure 1, 10 is an endless sheet member in which PTFE''3, an insulator with mold releasability, is coated on a conductive heat-resistant sheet made of polyimide or the like with carphone or metal powder dispersed therein. The sheet member 10 has a first and a 20th sheet member.
-La 11, 12. It is wound around the linear heating element 13, the separation roller 14, and the tension roller 15.
The rotation of the rollers 11 and 12 causes the rotation in the direction of the arrow in the figure, that is, in the counterclockwise direction. The tension roller 15 is driven to rotate via the sheet member 10 and applies a constant tension to the sheet member 10 via a spring member (not shown) or the like.

A sheet member 10 is provided on one side of the first and twentieth-ra 11 and 12.
A developing roller 31 of a toner application device that applies toner as a developer to the sheet member 10 through the sheet member 1 and a collecting roller 32 of a toner collecting device that collects toner from the member 10 to the sheet member 1 are kept at a constant distance. Close to each other. (In my opinion, the developing roller 31 and collection roller 32 are the first and 20th rollers 11.
, 12 via an abutting member (not shown) between the first and
It has a certain gap (specifically, several hundred gm) with respect to the 20th lathes 11 and 12, and the sheet member 10 is supposed to pass through the gap.

The developing roller 31 rotates at a constant speed in the direction of the arrow in the figure and is composed of a non-magnetic sleeve whose surface is roughened and a magnet etc. disposed immovably within the non-magnetic sleeve. Spread toner around the developing roller 31 or its sleeve.
When the toner is moved toward the upper sheet member 10, a voltage is applied between the conductive layer of the sheet member 10 and an electrode (not shown) that is in contact with the developing roller 31, and the toner is negatively charged. 1 hener (Nekatoner) is continuously and uniformly deposited on the sheet member 10.

The collecting roller 32 is also composed of a non-magnetic screen, a magnet, etc., and has the same structure as the developing roller 31. A voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the developing roller 31 is applied between the electrodes of the developing roller 31, and the collecting roller 32 collects unnecessary toner on the sheet member 10 around its sleeve. Therefore, the recovery roller 32 has the function of cleaning the sheet member 10 without contacting the sheet member 10.

Here, rubber plates 34 and 35 are attached to each of the toner application device and the toner recovery device, and the rubber plates 1 and 34 are disposed near the developing roller 31 to spread the toner uniformly around the sleeve of the developing roller 31. It has the function of coating the rubber flake 1 with a collecting roller 35.
It is disposed so as to be in sliding contact with the screen of the screen, and has the function of removing the toner of the screen from the screen.

Further, a thermal spatula 1-25 used in facsimile machines, etc. is arranged between the 10th roller 11 and the 20th roller 12, and the sheet member to which toner is evenly deposited by the thermal spatula 1-25 is disposed. In response to an image signal from a control unit (not shown) from the back side of the sheet 10, the toner of the sheet member 10-1= is heated and melted onto the image, and a toner image is formed and fixed on the sheet member 10''-. There is.

The linear heating element 13 is used to transfer the toner image on the sheet member 10-'' to a transfer paper PL, which is a transfer material, and to fix this toner image on the transfer paper P, so that one hender image is formed. A pressure roller 1 on the front side is placed on the back side of the formed sheet member lO.
6 is disposed together with the pressure roller 16 so as to face the pressure roller 16 . Note that the linear heating element 13 and the pressure roller 16 are disposed in pressure contact with each other via the sheet member IO. An example of a specific configuration of the linear heating element 13 is as shown in FIG. A pulsed voltage is applied to the provided electrodes 132°132. The linear heating element 131 is provided with a sliding protective layer on its side, and its temperature is detected by a small heat capacity thermistor (not shown), and when the temperature falls below a predetermined temperature, it is energized in a pulsed manner. 26 instantly
The temperature is raised to about 00C.

Therefore, the toner image on the sheet member 10 is melted under pressure by the linear heating element 13 from the back surface of the sheet member at the pressure contact portion between the linear heating element 13 and the pressure roller 16.
The image is transferred and fixed onto a transfer paper PJ-, which is a transfer material, which is placed on the side of the pressure roller 16 at the pressure contact portion between the image and the pressure roller 16. Here, since the linear heating element 13 has a short heating time,
Produces a sharp temperature gradient. Therefore, it is difficult for the pressure roller 16 and the transfer paper P to rise in temperature, and the toner image on the old transfer paper P-4- is rapidly cooled as soon as the heat generation of the linear heating element 13 stops, and the toner image on the old transfer paper P-4- is cooled down rapidly. Fixed. Furthermore, after the toner image is completely melted in the above-mentioned transfer and fixing section, it is cooled again, so that the toner in this toner image behaves as a group. Further, when the toner image is heated, softened and melted, it is pressed onto the transfer paper P by the pressure roller 16, so that the toner image penetrates into the surface layer of the transfer paper and is completely transferred and fixed as it is. In other words, no residual toner is generated on the sheet member 10 after the transfer, and therefore a cleaning device is not required.

On the other hand, from the bottom to the right of the sheet member 10 in FIG. 3, a transport kite 22, a paper ejection roller 23, a tray 24, etc. are arranged, and the transfer paper P is transported upward from below through between the heating element 13 and the pressure roller 16. There is.

That is, at the position of the 10th line 11, the toner in a predetermined toner dropper of the toner coating device is uniformly applied to the sheet member 10 via the developing roller 31, and as the sheet member 10 moves, the thermal head 25, a toner image corresponding to the image signal is melted and formed. The unnecessary tree on which the l-ner image was not formed is then collected into a predetermined toner hopper via the collecting roller 32 of the collecting device, and the l-ner of the remaining sheet member 1O-I- is collected. The image reaches between the linear heating element 13 and the pressure roller 16, and is thereby transferred and fixed onto the transfer paper P''-.

On the other hand, the transfer paper P in the force set 17 is transferred one by one to the registration rollers 20 via the paper feed roller 18 and the first transport kite 19.
The toner image on the member 10 is aligned with the toner image on the member 10 by the registration roller 20, and the toner is conveyed between the linear heating element 13 and the pressure roller 16 via the second conveyance kite 21. be done. And linear heating element and pressure roller 1
6, the transfer paper P on which the toner image on the sheet member lO+ has been transferred and fixed is conveyed to the separation roller 14 while remaining attached to the sheet member 10, or the sheet member 10 has a small curvature at the separation roller 14. Due to the approximately 90-degree bend 1, the transfer paper P is separated from the member 10 to the sheet 1 due to its rigidity, and is loaded on the trays 1 to 24 via the third conveyance chisels 1 to 22 and the paper ejection rollers 23. Ru.

Is the 1-henner used in the explanation hereafter made of a resin etc. that softens and melts when heated? is omitted.

Furthermore, electrostatic coating or the like may be used to form one L stage in which four L-ners are applied to the sheet member 101; or any other means may be used.

In the explanation below, the toner paint device and the toner recovery device were explained as being independent, but as shown in FIG. It is completely removable. The detailed structure and operation of this one-henner cartridge 30 will now be explained with reference to FIG.

Car 1 transfer container 30a of ridge 30 to toner car 1
A developing roller 31 and a collecting roller 32 are disposed inside the drawing from the bottom to the top on the left side of the figure.
Rubber plates 34 and 35 are arranged below each of the rubber plates 32 and 32, respectively. Further, a toner popper 33 which is a toner storage section is located at the center right side of the developing roller 31 and the collecting roller 32.
A stirrer 36 for agitating the toner is disposed inside the toner hopper 33. and developing roller 31
and a first roller formed on each side of the collection roller 32.
, the second toner holding section 37, 38 and the toner hopper 3
3, first and second openings 39 and 40 are formed between the first and second openings 3940 or the toner passage between the first and second toner holding parts 37 and 38 and the toner popper 33. is formed. Note that the first opening 39 is disposed at the lower side of the toner hopper 33, and the second opening 40 is disposed at the bottom of the toner hopper 33.
It is arranged on the upper side of 3.

Therefore, the first toner storage section 37 on one side of the developing roller 31
Toner is supplied by weight from the toner hopper 33 through the first opening 139. Then, as the developing roller 31 rotates, the toner in this No. 1 toner holding portion 37 either moves towards the sheet member 10 while arriving at the sleep state, or is evenly distributed around the sleep state by comfres 1 to 34 on the way. l ~ Luna - attached. And sheet part wing 1
The 1 henna of the sleep state that has reached 0 is uniformly distributed on the sheet member 10 by applying a predetermined voltage.

Furthermore, when the sheet member 10 on which a toner image has been formed by the thermal head 25 reaches the position of the collecting roller 32, the excess 1 toner on the sheet member 10 on which the toner image has not been formed is removed by applying a predetermined voltage to the collecting roller 32. It is collected and deposited on the sleeve.

The toner on this sleeve is conveyed toward the 21st hener holding section 38 as the sleeve rotates, and is scraped off from the sleeve into this 21st hener holding section 38 by the rubber plate 35 that is in sliding contact with the sleeve of the collecting roller 32. be done. The scraped off toner is transferred to the second toner holding section 3.
8 to 1 hener hopper by its own weight through the second opening 40
33. This supply of toner by its own weight is facilitated by removing the toner around the second opening 40 in the toner hopper 33 by the agitator 36 in the toner hopper 33.

As described above, the toner application device and the toner recovery device are integrated as the toner cartridge 30, and each toner hopper is shared and the toner hopper 33 is installed, so that the toner is collected by the recovery roller 32. The developed 1 hener can be used as the developing roller 31.
In addition to being able to form images for a long time, running costs can also be kept low. Further, the toner application device and the toner recovery device can be integrated to make the entire image forming apparatus smaller, and therefore the entire image forming apparatus main body 1 can be made smaller.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described based on FIG. Components having the same functions as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and their explanations will be omitted.

In the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, a cassette 17 is provided protruding from the apparatus main body 1 to the right in the figure, and a paper ejection opening 1a is provided to the left of the apparatus main body 1 in the figure. , the transfer paper P is fed from the paper feed roller 1 from the right side in the figure.
8. First conveyance kite 1~] 9. Lettuce 1~Roller 20, third MIj conveyance kite 21, and is conveyed substantially horizontally to the left between the linear heating element 13 and the pressure roller 16, and is then discharged. It is carried out of the apparatus main body 1 through the opening 1a. and the first
, third conveyance chisel 1 to 19.21 and registration roller 20
The lower blade has 1 henna cartridge 30 according to the first embodiment.
A tree cartridge 30 having the same structure and configuration as that of the first embodiment is disposed in the same manner as that of the first embodiment. That is, a developing roller 31 and a collection roller 32 are arranged from bottom to top on the left side of the cartridge container 30a in the figure.
A common toner hopper 33 is disposed at the right center of the two.

Further, the sheet member 10 and the like are connected to the toner cartridge 30.
It is placed to the left of the That is, the sheet member 1O includes first and twentieth rollers 11.12 disposed on the left side of the developing roller 31 and collection roller 32, respectively, and a tension roller 14 disposed on the right side of the sheet discharge opening 1a. 6, and its upper side passes between the linear heating element 13 and the pressure roller 16.

Even in the image forming apparatus in which various devices are arranged as described above, the toner collected by the collecting roller 32 can be automatically used by the developing roller 31, so that image formation can be performed for a long time, and the running time can be reduced. Costs can also be kept low.

Further, as in the first embodiment, the device can be made smaller.

(Effects of the Invention) As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, since the toner storage portions of the toner application means and the toner collection means are combined into one, the toner collected by the toner collection means is used for toner application. This method allows continuous image formation and reduces running costs. In addition, since the entire coating means 1 to 1 and the toner recovery stage L can be made into a compact compact 1 to 1, the main body of the image forming apparatus can also be made smaller.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 is a cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a linear heating element, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 4 are diagrams for explaining the prior art. 10... Sheet member (sheet), 13... Linear heating element (means for overlapping and heating the transfer material on the toner image on the sheet)
, 14... Separation roller (transfer material conveying means for separating the transfer material from the sheet), 25... Thermal head (means for heating and melting the toner in an image form), 31... Toner application roller (toner paint) 32... Toner collection roller (toner collection means), 33... Toner hopper (toner storage section), P... Transfer material (transfer paper).

Claims (1)

[Claims] A heat-resistant sheet, a toner applying means for uniformly applying toner on the sheet, a means for heating and melting the toner on the sheet in an imagewise manner, and removing excess toner on the sheet after the imagewise heating. Image formation comprising: a toner collecting means for removing; a means for overlaying and heating a transfer material on the toner image on the sheet; and a transfer material conveying means for separating the transfer material from the sheet after the toner image is solidified on the transfer material. In the apparatus, the toner storage parts of a toner applying means for uniformly applying toner on the sheet and a toner collecting means for removing excess toner on the sheet after the imagewise heating are combined into one. An image forming apparatus characterized by: