JPH0539954U - Electrostatic recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] A developer can be always conveyed smoothly to the recording section without agglomeration or immobilization layer generation, and high-quality recorded images with no image defects such as image defects and streaks can be obtained for a long time. Provided is an electrostatic recording device that can be stably formed. [Structure] The vibration plate 17 is provided on the doctor blade 12a.
A developer accumulation preventing member 17 in which a is held by a casing 17c via a piezoelectric element 17b is arranged. The tip of the vibrating plate 17a is located near the upstream side of the recording electrode W of the recording electrode sheet 18 provided on the peripheral surface of the developing sleeve 15 with respect to the toner transport direction of the recording portion W near the cylindrical electrode 5 peripheral surface. It has advanced to the toner reservoir Rt. As a result, it is possible to apply a voltage to the piezoelectric element 17b to vibrate the vibrating plate 17a in the vertical direction, and disturb the magnetic toner staying in the toner reservoir Rt.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Technical field of invention]

 The present invention relates to an electrostatic recording apparatus that transfers a developer, which is conveyed along a predetermined path, to a recording medium according to recording information to form a recorded image.

[0002]

[Prior art and its problems]

 Conventionally, drum-shaped intermediate recording has been used as an electrostatic recording method that can use plain paper and can accurately obtain a minute gap between the image medium and the recording electrode tip to obtain a high-resolution image. A method is used in which an electrostatic latent image is formed on a medium and then developed to form a toner recording image, and the toner recording image is transferred onto a sheet. In the case of this method, the size of the apparatus tends to increase because an intermediate recording medium is used. Further, since it is necessary to use an intermediate recording medium of a photoconductor or a dielectric capable of forming an electrostatic latent image, there are problems in terms of price and life. Therefore, as a method that can increase the cost and increase the size of the recording apparatus and prolong the life of the recording apparatus, a method of simultaneously performing recording and development without forming an electrostatic latent image is adopted. In this method, the developer is circulated and conveyed along a predetermined path, and the toner is transferred onto the intermediate recording medium according to the recording information to form a toner recording image.

However, on the upstream side of the recording section where the intermediate recording medium and the developer conveying path are close to each other in the developer circulating conveying path described above, the developer tends to stay because the developer conveying path is narrowed. There is. If the staying developer increases excessively or the staying time becomes long, the staying developer aggregates or accumulates on the conveying path, so that a so-called immobile layer is easily formed. When the developer agglomerates or its immovable layer is generated, not only the developer cannot be smoothly conveyed to the recording portion in an appropriate amount, but also it becomes difficult to uniformly and sufficiently triboelectrify the developer. As a result, image defects such as defects, unevenness, and streaks occur in the recorded image, and the image quality deteriorates.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and it is possible to always smoothly convey the developer to the recording unit without agglomerating the developer or generating the immovable layer, and to obtain a high resolution. An object of the present invention is to provide an electrostatic recording apparatus capable of stably forming a high-quality recorded image free of image defects such as defects and streaks over a long period of time.

[0005]

[Key points of the device]

 In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides an image developer carrying member laid along a predetermined path, a developer carrying means for carrying a developer along a surface of the developer carrying member, and It has a plurality of recording electrodes arranged in parallel on the surface of the developer carrying member at intervals, and a counter electrode opposed to the recording electrodes with a minute gap therebetween. And a recording voltage is applied to the recording electrode, and the developer conveyed along a predetermined direction is selectively transferred to the counter electrode side in the recording portion where the recording electrode and the counter electrode are close to each other, so that the recording corresponding to the recording information is performed. In the electrostatic recording apparatus for forming an image, a developer accumulation preventing means for disturbing the developer staying on the upstream side in the developer conveying direction of the recording portion to prevent the developer from accumulating is provided. To do.

[0006]

[Example of device]

 The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the embodiments shown in FIGS. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the overall structure of the electrostatic recording device as one embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 is a paper feed cassette in which plain papers P are stacked and housed, and is mounted on the side of the machine so that it can be inserted and removed freely. A paper feed roller 1a is disposed above the leading end of the inserted paper feed cassette 1 so as to be rotatable in the direction of the arrow. In front of the paper feed roller 1a, upper and lower transport guide plates 2a and 2b made of an insulating member are laid to form a paper carry-in path. A standby roll pair 3 is arranged in the paper carry-in path, and after temporarily stopping the progress of the paper P fed by the paper feed roller 1a to adjust the carrying posture, the image transfer unit on the downstream side is provided. Refeed to T in synchronization with the arrival timing of the recorded image described later.

In the image transfer portion T on the downstream side of the standby roll pair 3, the transfer charger 4 is arranged to face the upper peripheral surface of the cylindrical electrode 5 which also serves as an image carrier. The cylindrical electrode 5 serves as a counter electrode of a recording electrode which will be described later, and in this example, the cylindrical electrode 5 is driven and rotated in a counterclockwise direction indicated by an arrow a. A recording image forming unit U, which will be described later, is installed opposite to the peripheral surface on the opposite side of the cylindrical electrode 5. A toner recording image is formed on the surface of the cylindrical electrode 5 by the recording image forming unit U, and the toner recording image is conveyed to the image transfer section T as the cylindrical electrode 5 rotates, and is transferred onto the sheet fed again. The configuration of the recording image forming unit U will be described later in detail.

On the downstream side of the image transfer portion T, a separation claw 6 is arranged with its tip pressed against the peripheral surface of the cylindrical electrode. On the downstream side of the separation claw 6, an air suction type conveyor belt 7 is horizontally stretched, and the back surface of the paper separated from the peripheral surface of the cylindrical electrode 5 by the separation claw 6 after the transfer of the recorded image is completed. While being sucked, it is conveyed toward the fixing device 8 provided in front of it. The fixing device 8 is composed of a heating roll 8a and a pressure contact roll 8b, and heat-fixes the toner image when the paper is sandwiched between the rolls and conveyed. The fixed sheet is discharged and stacked on the discharge tray 10 from the discharge port 9 in a face-down state with the image side facing down.

As described above, in the recording apparatus of this example, the entire paper transport path from paper feed to paper discharge is formed in a substantially straight shape, so that the paper passing operation is generally smooth. , It is difficult for defective images such as images and jams to occur. Further, there is also an advantage that a face-down sheet discharge state which does not require page alignment, which is preferable for the recording apparatus, can be obtained by the straight sheet passing path.

Here, a detailed configuration of the recording image forming unit U will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the recording image forming unit U is generally composed of a developer storage tank 11 for storing a replenishment developer do and a development recording tank 12 having a recording means and a developing means. A stirring blade 11a is rotatably arranged in the developer storage tank 11. In this example, as the developer, a one-component developer containing at least an insulating resin, magnetic fine powder and colorant particles, and an insulating magnetic toner having a negative (-) triboelectrification polarity is used. As the developer, a two-component developer in which a magnetic carrier and an insulating toner are mixed in a predetermined ratio can also be used.

At the bottom of the developing / recording tank 12, a horizontal developer circulation path 13 shown in FIG. 3 is formed. In FIG. 3, a pair of auger rolls 14a and 14b are rotatably installed in a pair of parallel longitudinal paths 13a and 13b in the horizontal circulation path 13. Each of the auger rolls 14a, 14b is provided with a plurality of spiral blades 14a2, 14b2 standing on the circumferential surface of the shafts 14a1, 14b1, and a pair of reverse feeding blades 14a3, 14b3 having opposite spiral directions at one end thereof. (See the perspective view of FIG. 5). Then, the respective auger rolls 14a, 14b are respectively arranged in the longitudinal paths 13a, 13b so that the respective reverse feed vanes 14a3, 14b3 are located on the opposite sides. The pair of auger rolls 14a and 14b are driven and rotated in directions opposite to each other as indicated by arrows B and C and in a direction in which the developer is conveyed toward the reverse feed blades 14a3 and 14b3. As a result, at the corners where the reverse feed vanes 14a3 and 14b3 are provided, the conveying forces in the opposite directions, which face each other, collide with each other, and the magnetic toner is ejected at a right angle and flows toward the other longitudinal path side. In this way, the magnetic toner can be circulated and flowed while being stirred in the direction indicated by the broken line arrow D in this example, and at this time, the magnetic toner can be sufficiently frictionally charged. By changing the material and shape of the auger rolls 14a and 14b, it is possible to sufficiently frictionally charge the developer with a necessary charge amount.

A space S surrounded by a wall Sw is formed in the center of the horizontal circulation path 13 configured as described above so that the circulating developer does not enter. Then, as shown in FIG. 1, above the auger roll 14a nearer to the developer storage tank 11, a replenishment port 11b of a replenishment magnetic toner d0 is bored along the axial direction of the auger roll 14a. is there.

A developing sleeve 15 as a developer bearing member that forms a vertical conveying path for the developer is installed obliquely above the auger roll 14b so as to extend in the horizontal direction. The developing sleeve 15 rotatably houses a magnet roll 16 as a developer carrying means therein and is arranged to face the above-mentioned cylindrical electrode 5. Different magnetic poles are alternately magnetized on the peripheral surface of the magnet roll 16, and the magnetic toner d is rotated on the peripheral surface of the developing sleeve 15 by driving and rotating the magnet roll 16 in the counterclockwise direction indicated by the arrow E. Along the line, it is conveyed in a clockwise direction indicated by a dashed arrow.

A doctor blade 12a that regulates the layer thickness of the magnetic toner d to an appropriate thickness is provided in the vertical transport path above the auger roll 14b. The doctor blade 12a of this example is formed by bending the upper portion of the tank wall of the developing and recording tank 12, and has its tip in close proximity to the surface of the vertical transport path with a gap G therebetween. The gap G controls the layer thickness of the magnetic toner d.

Until the peripheral surface of the developing sleeve 15 and the peripheral surface of the cylindrical electrode 5 are closest to each other on the downstream side of the doctor blade 12a, the circumferential surfaces of both surfaces are close to each other, and the developer conveying path is sharply narrowed. ing. The position where the peripheral surfaces of the developing sleeve 15 and the cylindrical electrode 5 closely oppose each other becomes a recording portion W, which will be described later, and the magnetic toner d accumulates near the upstream side of the recording portion W and forms a toner reservoir Rt as described above. There is. When the amount of staying increases or the staying time becomes long, the magnetic toner d forming the toner pool Rt is deposited on the surface of the transport path to form a stationary layer. In order to prevent the formation of the immovable layer, this invention is provided with a developer accumulation preventing member 17 which disturbs the magnetic toner d in the toner reservoir Rt to prevent accumulation.

The developer accumulation preventing member 17 of this example includes a vibration plate 17a, a piezoelectric element 17b, and a casing 17c that holds them. In this case, the casing 17c is installed on the upper portion of the tank wall where the doctor blade 12a is extended, and the diaphragm 17a is extended from the casing 17c so that the tip of the diaphragm 17a advances into the toner reservoir Rt. The holding side end (root portion) of the diaphragm 17a is fixed to the inner portion of the casing 17c via the piezoelectric element 17b. Therefore, when a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric element 17b, the tip of the vibrating plate 17a vibrates in the vertical direction at a high frequency in this example as shown in FIG. As a result, the magnetic toner d staying in the toner reservoir Rt is efficiently disturbed, and it is possible to reliably prevent the disadvantage that the magnetic toner d aggregates or forms a stationary layer.

In FIG. 1, a recording electrode sheet 18 having a large number of recording electrodes is attached and laid from a position close to the cylindrical electrode 5 side of the peripheral surface of the developing sleeve 15 to a peripheral surface approximately half of the upstream side. is there. As shown in the perspective view of FIG. 5, the recording electrode sheet 18 has a large number of recording electrode wires 18a extending parallel to each other in the sheet longitudinal direction along the circumferential direction of the peripheral surface of the developing sleeve 15. The sheets are arranged side by side in the sheet width direction (toner conveying path width direction: main scanning direction) at a predetermined fine pitch. The number of the recording electrode lines 18a corresponds to the maximum number of data for one main scanning line. The recording electrode sheet 18 of this example is composed of a flexible printed circuit board (FPC), and a large number of recording electrode wires 18a made of a non-magnetic conductive material are arranged on a base film 18b made of a flexible insulating material in an amount of 40 μm. The pattern is formed at a density of 84.6 μm pitch (300 DPI) while maintaining the gap. An insulating coat 18c is applied to the surface of the recording electrode sheet 18 except for the front end region involved in forming a recorded image. As a result, the insulation between the recording electrode wires 18a can be ensured, and the abrasion of the recording electrode wires 18a due to the friction with the magnetic toner can be prevented. The tip of the recording electrode wire 18a, which is not covered with the insulating coat 18c of the recording electrode sheet 18, serves as the recording electrode EL for forming a recorded image.

In FIG. 1, the leading end of the recording electrode sheet 18 having the above-described structure with the recording electrodes EL formed in parallel is aligned with the closest position to the cylindrical electrode 5 on the peripheral surface of the developing sleeve 15, and from this position. It is provided over the upstream peripheral surface of the developing sleeve 15. A space in which the recording electrode EL closely opposes the circumferential surface of the cylindrical electrode 5 is a recording portion W.

On the downstream side of the recording section W, the wall Sw1 on the developer storage tank 11 side extends by the wall surrounding the central space S of the horizontal circulation path 13 described above, and the tip thereof abuts the peripheral surface of the developing sleeve 15. I am allowed to do it. As a result, the magnetic toner d ′ that has not been transferred in the recording portion W and remains on the peripheral surface of the developing sleeve 15 and has been conveyed along with the rotation of the magnet roll 16 is scraped off onto the replenishment tank side longitudinal path 13 a of the horizontal circulation path 13. The magnetic toner d ′ is prevented from entering the central space S or directly returned to the upstream side along the peripheral surface of the developing sleeve 15 without passing through the horizontal circulation path 13 (see FIG. 3). A dedicated flat plate member for scraping off the residual magnetic toner d ′ adhering to the developing sleeve 15 may be provided separately from the peripheral wall of the central space S. In this case, the scraping member may be supported in the vertical direction, the tip end thereof may be brought into contact with the peripheral surface of the developing sleeve 15, and the other end portion may be extended to the bottom of the central space S. If the scraping member is made of a magnetic material, the magnetic force of the magnet roll 16 can be blocked, and a smoother scraping and conveying effect can be obtained.

The recording electrode sheet 18 is attached and laid on the peripheral surface of the developing sleeve 15 on the upstream side of about half thereof, pulled out in the horizontal direction and then vertically lowered, and extended into the central space S of the horizontal circulation path described above. I am doing it. A plurality of electrode drive circuit elements 19 for applying a recording voltage to each recording electrode EL according to recording data are mounted on a vertically extending portion of the recording electrode sheet 18. Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the recording electrode wires 18a of the recording electrode sheet 18 described above are divided into N pieces and connected to the respective electrode drive circuit elements 19.

Next, a recording image forming operation in the electrostatic recording apparatus of this example will be described. In FIG. 1, the magnet roll 16 is driven and rotated in the arrow E direction at a normal speed, and a rotating magnetic field for rotating the particles of the magnetic toner d is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the developing sleeve 15. Due to this rotating magnetic field, the magnetic toner d 1 in the horizontal circulation path 13b is attracted to the vertical conveying path of the developer along the peripheral surface of the developing sleeve 15 above the horizontal circulation path 13b, and while forming the spikes, the direction of rotation of the magnet roll 16 It is conveyed upward in the direction of the opposite broken arrow.

The magnetic toner d ascended and conveyed reaches the recording portion W after being regulated by the doctor blade 12a to a predetermined thickness. At this time, the magnetic toner d is negatively charged in this example due to friction between the magnetic toners and the peripheral surface of the developing sleeve 15.

In the recording portion W, the peripheral surface of the cylindrical electrode 5 is rotationally moved with respect to the recording electrode EL while maintaining a predetermined minute gap. When the magnetic toner d is carried into the recording portion W, the magnetic toner d is sandwiched between the electrodes to further regulate the carrying amount, and the layer thickness of the magnetic toner d becomes thin and uniform. In the recording portion W under such a state, the electrode drive circuit element 19 selectively applies the recording voltage to each recording electrode EL according to the recording information as described above. In this case, when the 1-bit recording data is, for example, "H", a voltage of -200V is applied to the corresponding recording electrode EL. At this time, the bias voltage having the same polarity as the charging polarity of the toner is applied to the cylindrical electrode 5 facing the recording electrode EL by the bias power source 5a. In this example, since the triboelectrification characteristic of the toner is negative (-), a negative bias voltage is applied and the voltage is set to -50V. As a result, an electric field based on the potential difference of 150 V is formed from the cylindrical electrode 5 toward the recording electrode EL. Since the negatively charged magnetic toner d moves to the higher potential side, only the magnetic toner d on the recording electrode EL, to which a voltage of −200 V is applied, is selectively transferred to the surface of the cylindrical electrode 5. Form black dots.

On the other hand, when the 1-bit recording data is “L”, the corresponding recording electrode EL becomes the ground potential. As a result, the potential difference seen from the cylindrical electrode 5 to the recording electrode EL becomes −50 V, and the negative polarity magnetic toner d is retained on the recording electrode EL side and does not transfer.

As described above, the electrode driving circuit element 19 selectively controls the potential of each recording electrode EL to −200 V and the ground potential according to the input recording information, and the recording data is recorded on the circumferential surface of the cylindrical electrode 5 according to the recording data. A toner recording image is formed. In this case, since the magnetic toner d is extremely uniformly thinned as described above, it is possible to stably form a recorded image having a sufficient image density. To adjust the density of the toner-recorded image, the bias voltage of the bias power source 5a may be changed. In that case, an appropriate adjustment range is about 0 to -50V, and the image density increases as it approaches 0V.

The magnetic toner d ′ that remains without being transferred to the cylindrical electrode 5 side in the recording portion W is conveyed to the downstream side along the peripheral surface of the developing sleeve 15, and is scraped from the surface of the developing sleeve 15 by the scraping wall Sw1. The magnetic toner d0 is taken, dropped onto the auger roll 14a, and is agitated and mixed with the magnetic toner d0 supplied from the supply port 11b.

As the auger roll 14a rotates, the residual magnetic toner d'and the replenishing magnetic toner d0 that have been dropped and returned are conveyed along the horizontal circulation path 13 shown in FIG. 3 while being mixed and stirred with the existing magnetic toner d. When the magnetic toner is circulated and conveyed in the direction of the arrow D of the broken line, when it is conveyed along the longitudinal path 13b on the side opposite to the replenishment side, the magnetic toner is reverted to the vertical direction by the rotating magnetic field of the magnet roll 16 (see FIG. 1) extending above it. Raised and transported.

In FIG. 2, the toner recording image formed on the surface of the cylindrical electrode 5 is conveyed to the image transfer portion T along with the rotation of the cylindrical electrode 5 in the counterclockwise direction (a), and the timing is measured by the standby roll pair 3 here. And is transferred onto the paper that is re-fed. The untransferred toner that has not been transferred and remains on the peripheral surface of the cylindrical electrode 5 is conveyed to the recording portion W again as the cylindrical electrode 5 rotates.

In FIG. 4, the untransferred toner dr returned to the recording unit W is in the upstream side region of the recording unit W when the input recording data is “L” and the recording electrode line becomes the ground potential. It is pulled toward the recording electrode side and once detached from the surface of the cylindrical electrode 5. Further, in this area, the developer transport path on the recording electrode sheet 18 starts to face the circumferential surface of the cylindrical electrode 5 and becomes sharply narrow, so that the recording portion W of the transported magnetic toner d cannot pass through. The toner d flows in the direction of arrow C. The untransferred toner dr remaining on the peripheral surface of the cylindrical electrode 5 is scraped off by the magnetic toner flowing in this direction. In this way, the recording operation is performed again in the recording portion W on the peripheral surface of the cylindrical electrode 5 from which the untransferred toner dr has been removed by cleaning. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate image defects such as afterimages without providing a dedicated cleaning means. No recorded image is stably formed.

In the above-mentioned upstream area of the recording portion W, the magnetic toner that cannot enter the recording portion W and the residual magnetic toner that has been separated from the peripheral surface of the cylindrical electrode 5 are accumulated to form a toner reservoir Rt. In this toner pool Rt, when the amount of staying of the magnetic toner increases or the staying time becomes long, the magnetic toner tends to be deposited on the developer transport path (on the recording electrode sheet 18) to form a stationary layer. When the immovable layer is formed, it interferes with the transportation of the magnetic toner and the frictional electrification, and the image quality is deteriorated due to image defects in the recorded image. In order to prevent the generation of this immobile layer, in this invention, the developer accumulation preventing member 17 disturbs the magnetic toner in the toner reservoir Rt. That is, a predetermined voltage is applied to the piezoelectric element 17b (see FIG. 1) of the developer accumulation preventing member 17 to vibrate the vibrating plate 17a at a high frequency in the vertical direction as shown in this example. As a result, the magnetic toner deposited on the surface of the recording electrode sheet in the developer transport path is disturbed and separated from the surface, and the generation of the immobile layer is reliably prevented. Further, the flow of the magnetic toner d in the toner reservoir Rt in the direction of the arrow mark becomes smooth, and the residual magnetic toner dr is reliably cleaned. As a result, it is possible to reliably prevent the aggregation of the magnetic toner and the generation of the immobile layer, and it is possible to stably form a good recorded image without image defects such as an afterimage and an image loss.

Next, several other embodiments of the present invention will be described. The same components as those in the above embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the vibration plate 20a of the developer accumulation preventing member 20 is vibrated in the horizontal direction. In this case, the holding end of the vibration plate 20a is bent at a right angle, and the bent end is fixed to the side wall 20c1 of the casing 20c via the piezoelectric element 20b. As a result, when a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric element 20b, the vibrating plate 20a vibrates in the horizontal direction at a high frequency, and the magnetic toner staying in the toner reservoir Rt can be efficiently disturbed as in the above embodiment.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the deposition prevention plate 21a is held by a holder 21b so as to be movable back and forth in a horizontal direction, and a driving roller 21c is engaged with the deposition prevention plate 21a to prevent developer accumulation. The member 21 is configured. When the driving roller 21c is reciprocally rotated by a predetermined amount by a driving means (not shown) and the accumulation preventing plate 21a is linearly reciprocally moved in the horizontal direction indicated by an arrow mark, the magnetic toner in the toner reservoir Rt is efficiently disturbed.

In any of the above-described two embodiments, the magnetic toner in the toner reservoir Rt can be efficiently disturbed, and the aggregation of the magnetic toner and the generation of the immovable layer can be reliably prevented. As a result, it is possible to stably form a good recorded image without image defects such as image loss, streaks, and unevenness.

It should be noted that the present invention should not be limited to the above-mentioned specific embodiments and the like, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made within the technical scope of the present invention. For example, in the above embodiment, the toner having the negative (−) chargeability was used as the toner, but it is also possible to use the toner having the positive (+) chargeability. In that case, the bias voltage applied to the recording electrode and the counter electrode may be positive (+) polarity.

[0035]

[Effect of the device]

 As described above in detail, according to the present invention, a plurality of recording electrodes are laid in parallel on the developer transport path with a small gap between them and the developing electrode is provided with the developing electrodes according to the recording information. In an electrostatic recording apparatus that transfers a developer to the recording side to form a recorded image, by providing a developer accumulation prevention member that disturbs the developer staying on the upstream side of the recording unit to prevent accumulation, It is possible to reliably prevent the agglomeration of the developer and the generation of the immobile layer on the upstream side of the recording portion where the toner easily stays. When the counter electrode also serves as the intermediate recording medium, the flow of the staying developer on the upstream side of the recording portion can be smoothed, and the cleaning effect of the intermediate recording medium can be enhanced. As a result, it is possible to stably form a high-quality recorded image without image defects such as an afterimage and image loss. In addition, since a proper small gap can be stably secured between the recording electrode and the counter electrode which also serves as an intermediate recording medium, there is no image defect such as image loss due to the accumulation of the developer and a recorded image with high resolution is formed. It is possible to obtain a good quality print for a long time.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a recording image forming unit and its peripheral configuration in an electrostatic recording apparatus as an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the overall configuration of the electrostatic recording device.

FIG. 3 is a plan sectional view showing a horizontal circulation path of the recording image forming unit.

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the periphery of a recording section W in the recording image forming unit.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the entire recording image forming unit.

FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic sectional view showing still another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 4 Transfer Charger 5 Cylindrical Electrode 5a Bias Power Supply (Cylindrical Electrode Side) 11 Developer Storage Tank 12 Development Recording Tank 13 Horizontal Circulation Path 14a, 14b Auger Roll 15 Development Sleeve 16 Magnet Roll 17, 20, 21 Developer Accumulation Prevention Member 17a , 20a Vibration plate 17b, 20b Piezoelectric element 17c, 20c Casing 18 Recording electrode sheet 18a Recording electrode wire 19 Electrode driving circuit element 21a Deposition prevention plate 21b Holding device 21c Driving roller EL Recording electrode S Central space U Recording image forming unit W Recording unit

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A developer carrying member laid along a predetermined path, a developer carrying means for carrying a developer along the surface of the developer carrying member, and a gap on the surface of the developer carrying member. A plurality of recording electrodes arranged in parallel with each other and a counter electrode facing each other with a minute gap therebetween, and a recording voltage is applied to each of the recording electrodes according to recording information. And an electrostatic recording apparatus for forming a recording image corresponding to recording information by selectively transferring a developer conveyed along a predetermined direction in a recording unit where the counter electrode is close to the counter electrode, An electrostatic recording apparatus comprising a developer accumulation preventing unit for disturbing the developer staying on the upstream side in the developer conveying direction of the recording unit to prevent the developer from accumulating.