JPH0976552A - Ion emitting apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To remove the excess charge and to more efficiently emit ion by providing a leak electrode made of a conductive member for removing the reverse polarity excess charge remaining in an ion chamber in response to the ion emitted from an opening in the chamber. SOLUTION: When individual control electrodes 20 are connected to a control electrode power source 24 and positive ion is emitted from the opening 24, the balance of the charge amount equilibrated in an ion chamber 23 is collapsed, the negative ion of the quantity equal to that of the emitted positive ion become excess charge in the chamber 23, and the ratio of the negative charge amount is increased. At this time, a potential difference is generated between the chamber 23 and a leak electrode 15, the negative ion is grounded by the electrode 15 and removed. The numbers of the positive and negative ions become equal in the chamber 23 to be electrically stabilized. The numbers of the positive and negative ions (charge amounts) in the chamber 23 are always made equal by the electrode 15 irrespective of the emitted ion amount.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ion irradiation device for generating ions by a discharge phenomenon and selectively irradiating an object with the ions. More specifically, the discharge electrode is covered with a dielectric layer. The present invention relates to an ion irradiation device using an electric appliance.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An ion flow type electrostatic recording head used in an electrostatic recording type recording apparatus for irradiating a recording medium such as a dielectric with ions, or a static eliminator used in an ionizer as an ion generator. Various types of ion irradiation devices have been proposed.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a cross section of a recording head as an ion irradiation apparatus of this type. In the figure, 1 is a discharger section, 2 is a control electrode section, 3 is a counter electrode section, and 4 is a drive control section. Reference numeral 5 is a recording medium. The discharger section 1 as an ion generating section includes a flat ceramic substrate 10 which is an insulator,
First and second discharge electrodes 12 and 13 are formed on the same plane of the ceramic substrate 10 so as to extend in the longitudinal direction thereof so as to face each other.
On the discharge electrodes 12, 13 of the glass member 1 which is a dielectric layer
1 is coated. Also, the first
An AC power supply unit 14 for ion generation is connected to the second discharge electrodes 12 and 13. The control electrode unit 2 includes columnar first and second insulators 21 and 2 made of an insulating member such as glass.
2 and a control electrode 20 formed on this insulator, and the first and second insulators 21 and 22 each formed in an L-shape in cross section are the discharge electrodes of the discharger section 1. The glass members 11 are attached so as to be parallel to each other and face each other with a predetermined distance therebetween. As a result, the ion chamber 2 surrounded by the glass member 11 and the first and second insulators 21 and 22 is provided immediately below the discharge electrode of the discharger portion 1.
3 and an opening 24 are formed. Further, a pair of individual control electrodes 20 each formed in a strip shape are provided on the surfaces of the first and second insulators 21 and 22 so as to face each other with the opening 24 interposed therebetween. , Insulator 21,
A plurality of individual control electrode groups are formed by arranging a plurality of them at a predetermined interval in the longitudinal direction of 22. The counter electrode portion 3 includes a counter electrode 31 and a counter electrode power source 32 connected to the counter electrode 31, and the counter electrode 31 made of a conductive member is arranged to face the opening 24 of the control electrode portion 2. There is. The drive control unit 4 includes a switch 41 connected to each individual control electrode.
And the control electrode power source 42, and the switch 41 is configured to selectively connect each individual control electrode 20 to the control electrode power source 42 or the ground.

In this recording head, when an AC high voltage is applied to the discharge electrodes 12 and 13 of the discharger section 1 from the AC power supply section 14, an electric field is generated between the discharge electrodes 12 and 13 and the vicinity of the discharge electrodes 12 and 13 is generated. Air in the vicinity of the glass member 11 which is the dielectric layer is ionized and discharged. As a result, ions of both positive and negative ions are generated in the ion chamber 23.
When the individual control electrode 20 is connected to the ground by the switch 41, the first and second insulators 21 and 22
Since the electric potential inside, that is, the electric potential inside the ion chamber 23 and the individual control electrode 20 become the same electric potential and no electric field is generated in the opening 24
The ions in the ion chamber 23 are stably filled in the ion chamber 23 without exiting from the opening 24.

In the recording operation, that is, in the case of irradiating the recording medium 5 with ions, the switch 41 of the drive control unit 4 is drive-controlled to set a desired individual control electrode 20 to the control electrode power source 4.
Connect to 2. At this time, a potential difference is generated between the inside of the ion chamber 23 and the individual control electrode 20, and an electric field is generated in the opening 24. The ions in the ion chamber 23 receive a force from this electric field,
It is released from the ion chamber 23. In the case of the device shown in the figure, the time average potential of the discharge electrodes 12 and 13 is 0 V (the amplitude center of the potential of the grounded AC power supply unit 14).
Since the potential inside is 0 V and the individual control electrode 20 is connected to the negative side terminal of the power supply 42, positive ions are emitted from the opening 24. The ions released from the ion chamber 23 are
It receives a force from the electric field generated by the potential difference between the counter electrode 31 and the individual control electrode 20, is accelerated in the direction of the recording medium 5, moves, and adheres to the surface of the recording medium 5.

Ions adhering to the surface of the recording medium 5 form an electrostatic latent image, and thereafter, toner is attached to the electrostatic latent image on the recording medium 5 in a recording section of an image forming apparatus (not shown). An image is formed on the recording medium by transferring it onto a recording sheet or by developing the electrostatic latent image on the recording medium 5.

[0007]

In the above-described conventional ion irradiation apparatus using the discharger in which the discharge electrode is covered with the dielectric layer, one of the ions of both polarities generated in the ion chamber 23 is discharged. Since the ions are selectively emitted, an amount of the opposite polarity ions, which is equal to the amount of the emitted ions, remains in the ion chamber 23 as an excess charge. Therefore, when the ions are continuously irradiated, the ions to be discharged are subjected to the force of the ions of the opposite positive polarity remaining in the ion chamber 23 and are less likely to be discharged from the opening 24.

An object of the present invention is to provide an ion irradiation apparatus which has a polarity opposite to that of ions to be irradiated and which can remove excess charges remaining in the ion chamber and can more efficiently emit ions. To do.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, in the ion irradiation apparatus of the present invention, excess charges of opposite polarity remaining in the ion chamber corresponding to the ions emitted from the opening of the ion chamber. A leak electrode made of a conductive member for removing is provided inside the ion chamber.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The ion irradiation apparatus of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a view showing a cross section of a recording head as an ion irradiation apparatus of the present invention, and the same or corresponding portions as those of the conventional ion flow type electrostatic recording head described above are denoted by the same reference numerals. In the figure, reference numeral 15 is a leak electrode made of a conductive member that removes electric charges of the opposite polarity in the ion chamber corresponding to the ions emitted from the opening of the ion chamber.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the structures of the discharger section 1 and the control electrode section 2 in the recording head as the ion irradiation apparatus of the present invention, and the conventional ion flow type electrostatic recording head described above. Similarly, the first discharge electrode 12 and the second discharge electrode 13 are formed on the flat ceramic substrate 10 so as to extend in the longitudinal direction thereof so as to face each other. 2 discharge electrodes 1
A glass member 11 which is a dielectric layer is coated on the surfaces 2 and 13. Further, connection lands (terminals) are provided at the ends of the first and second discharge electrodes 12 and 13, respectively, and are connected to the AC power supply unit 14 for ion generation through the connection lands. .

The leak electrode 15 is the discharge electrode 12, 1 described above.
3 is formed on the glass member 11 which is a dielectric layer formed on the ceramic substrate 10 so as to be parallel to the substrate 3.
The potential of the leak electrode 15 is set to be equal to the center of amplitude of the AC power supply unit 14 of the discharger unit 1. In the illustrated embodiment, the center of amplitude of the AC power supply 14 is 0.
Since it is V, the leak electrode 15 is connected to the ground.

The columnar first and second insulators 21 and 22 formed in an L-shape in a sectional view are attached to predetermined positions on the glass member 11 on the ceramic substrate 10 and are attached to the ion chamber 23.
And an opening 24 is formed, and the leak electrode 15 is included in the ion chamber 23 formed. Further, side plates made of an insulating member are attached to both ends of the insulators 21 and 22 attached to the ceramic substrate 10, whereby the ion chamber 23 becomes an electrically insulated space.

Next, the ion irradiation operation of the ion irradiation apparatus of the present invention will be described. In the recording head of the present embodiment, when an AC high voltage is applied to the discharge electrodes 12 and 13 of the discharger section 1 from the AC power supply section 14, the discharge electrodes 12 and 13 are discharged in the same manner as the conventional recording head described above. An electric field is generated therebetween, and the air near the glass member 11, which is a dielectric layer near the discharge electrode, is ionized and discharged, and positive and negative ions having the same charge amount are generated in the ion chamber 23. When each individual control electrode 20 is connected to the ground by the switch 41, no electric field is generated in the opening 24, and
Number of positive and negative pole ions generated by discharge (charge amount)
Are equal to each other, these generated ions are stored in the ion chamber 2
Stable filling within 3.

During the recording operation, the switch 4 of the drive controller 4
When 1 is drive-controlled and the individual control electrode 20 is connected to the control electrode power source 42, the connected individual control electrode 2
A potential difference is generated between 0 and the ion chamber 23, and an electric field is generated in the opening 24. Ions in the ion chamber 23 receive a force from this electric field, and are emitted from the ion chamber 23. Also in the recording head of this embodiment, since the individual control electrode 20 is connected to the negative terminal of the power supply 42, positive ions are emitted from the opening 24. When the individual control electrode 20 is connected to the control electrode power source 42 and positive ions are emitted from the opening 24, the balance of the amount of charge that had been equilibrated in the ion chamber 23 up to that point is lost and is equal to the emitted positive ions. The amount of negative ions becomes excess charge in the ion chamber 23,
The ratio of the negative charge amount in the inside increases. At this time, the ion chamber 2
A potential difference is generated between the inside of the electrode 3 and the leak electrode 15, and as shown in the figure, negative ions that become excess charges in the ion chamber 23 are grounded and removed by the leak electrode 15.
As a result, an amount of negative ions equal to the amount of charges of positive ions emitted from the opening 24 is removed from the ion chamber 23 by the leak electrode 15, and the number of positive and negative bipolar ions in the ion chamber 23 is increased. Are equal and are electrically stable. By the leak electrode 15, the number of positive and bipolar positive ions (charge amount) in the ion chamber 23 can be always equalized regardless of the amount of ions to be irradiated, and the ions can be efficiently irradiated. .

As the leak electrode 15 in the ion irradiation apparatus of the present invention, it is preferable to use a material such as gold which is difficult to oxidize, or a material such as aluminum which is oxidized to form a conductive protective film on its surface portion. .

In the embodiment described above, the leak electrode 15
Is formed on the insulating member of the discharger section.
It may be provided anywhere in the ion chamber such as on the insulating member. Further, in the above-described embodiment, as the discharger, a pair of linear discharge electrodes arranged so as to be parallel to each other is used, and as the control electrodes, a pair of individual control electrodes each formed in a strip shape are used. Although a plurality of electrodes arranged at predetermined intervals is used, the present invention is not limited to this, and the discharge electrode of the discharger section is covered with a dielectric layer and ions generated by this discharge electrode are used in the ion chamber. As long as it is an ion irradiation device that is filled with the gas and selectively emits ions from the control electrode provided in the opening of the ion chamber, various types of configurations can be applied to the discharger section and the control electrode section. .

[0018]

As described in detail above, in the ion irradiation apparatus of the present invention, the conductive member for removing the excessive electric charge of the opposite polarity remaining in the ion chamber in response to the ions emitted from the opening of the ion chamber. Since the leak electrode composed of the above is provided in the ion chamber, the number of positive and bipolar positive ions (charge amount) in the ion chamber can always be made equal, regardless of the amount of ions to be irradiated. The effect that irradiation can be performed efficiently is exhibited.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a recording head as an ion irradiation apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration of a discharger section and a control electrode section 2 in a recording head as an ion irradiation apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a recording head as a conventional ion irradiation device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Discharger part 2 Control electrode part 3 Counter electrode part 4 Drive control part 5 Recording medium

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An ion chamber configured as a closed space by an electrically insulated member, an opening serving as an ion emission port provided in the ion chamber, the ion chamber being disposed in the ion chamber or in the vicinity of the ion chamber. An ion generating part provided with a discharge electrode whose surface is covered with a dielectric layer for generating ions in the ion chamber by being discharged by application of an AC voltage, and the opening part or in proximity to the opening part. Ions having a control electrode that is provided and that applies an electric field to the opening to selectively emit ions from the opening, and a counter electrode that accelerates the emitted ions to apply an electric field to irradiate an object. In the irradiation device, a leak electrode made of a conductive member that removes excess charges of opposite polarity remaining in the ion chamber corresponding to the ions emitted from the opening is provided in the ion chamber. An ion irradiation device characterized by being provided.