JPH11301877A - Static eliminator and static elimination mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] (with correction) [PROBLEMS] To provide a static eliminator that can be easily bent and the installation place thereof is not limited, and a static elimination mechanism using the static eliminator. SOLUTION: In the image forming apparatus, a static eliminator 11 for static elimination of a sheet (paper) for image formation is constituted by a flexible static elimination sheet 12 formed of a conductive material and formed in a thin sheet shape. When this is mounted, it is installed according to the shape of the bent portion in the sheet transport path of the image forming apparatus, or is stored or fixed in the groove of the mounting member in the sheet transport path of the image forming apparatus.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a static eliminator and a static eliminator, and more particularly to a static eliminator and a static eliminator for eliminating static electricity from a sheet in an image forming apparatus such as a printer or a copying machine which forms an image on a sheet. It relates to a static elimination mechanism.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional static eliminator, at least its mounting portion is made of a hard material so that it does not bend as a whole. Such a static eliminator is installed in a sheet conveying path limited to a space that can be attached without changing its shape.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a conventional static eliminator.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a static eliminator; 2, a static elimination brush forming a static elimination function unit of the static eliminator 1; The neutralization brush 2 is made of a thin carbon sheet or a synthetic rubber sheet containing carbon, and has flexibility and conductivity. The one end is formed in a sharp sawtooth shape in order to promote the discharge of electric charges in the image forming sheet. The mounting portion 3 is made of a hard metal plate and fixed with the static elimination brush 2 sandwiched therebetween, and has an elongated hole 4 for screwing.

In a sheet conveying path of a printer or the like, the static eliminator 1 is installed in a limited space where the static eliminator 1 can be mounted in its original shape. The static eliminator 1 is screwed in the elongated hole 4 and is electrically connected to an apparatus main body such as a printer.

[0005]

Since the above-described static eliminator cannot be changed in its entire shape, its installation place is limited. For example, in an ink jet printer, a neutralizer is provided near the print head to prevent the ink particles from being charged by static electricity and to perform normal printing, or to protect a control circuit of the print head from receiving a high voltage. It is required to install along the sheet conveyance path, but it is difficult to install the conventional static eliminator because the corresponding sheet conveyance path is curved or narrow. In addition, if the sheet is conveyed at high speed with the increase in printing speed, the charging of the sheet is promoted, so that an additional installation place is required, but the installation is difficult.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention uses a static eliminator whose thickness can be reduced and which can be easily bent, and whose installation place is not limited. An object is to provide a static elimination mechanism.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus, wherein a static eliminator for static elimination of an image forming sheet in an image forming apparatus is formed of a thin sheet made of a conductive material. It is formed in a shape, and the entire structure has flexibility, and when it is attached, it flexes according to the shape of the attachment portion.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a static elimination mechanism for eliminating static electricity from an image forming sheet in an image forming apparatus uses the static eliminator according to the first aspect of the present invention. The sheet is set according to the shape of the bent portion in the sheet conveying path of the apparatus.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus, a static elimination mechanism for static elimination of an image forming sheet uses the static eliminator according to the first aspect. It is stored or fixed in the groove of the mounting member in the sheet conveying path of the apparatus.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the static eliminator of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes a static eliminator, which is used by being installed in a sheet conveying path in a printer or the like. 12
Denotes a static elimination sheet constituting the static eliminator 11. The static elimination sheet 12 is made of, for example, a carbon sheet having a thickness of about 0.3 mm, a synthetic rubber sheet containing carbon, a synthetic rubber sheet containing metal powder, or the like, and has flexibility and conductivity. A sharp saw-toothed portion 13 is formed to promote the discharge of electric charges in the sheet. On the other end side, an elongated hole 14 for screwing is provided. As the material of the static eliminator 11, in addition to the above, a sheet using carbon fiber, fiber coated with metal fiber metal powder or paper coated with metal powder, or an aluminum sheet is used.

The static eliminator 11 is installed in the sheet conveying path of an image forming apparatus such as a printer by being screwed in a long hole 14 and is electrically connected to the main body of the apparatus by sharing the screw with a terminal. . FIG. 2 shows the static eliminator 1 in the printer.
1 is a mounting configuration diagram illustrating an example of a mounting configuration of FIG.

In FIG. 2, 21 is a driving platen roller driven by a motor, and 22 is a driven platen roller.
23A and 23B are guides for guiding the printing sheet (paper P) toward the platen rollers 21 and 22. Reference numeral 24 denotes a print head, which is mounted on a carriage (not shown), is disposed near the platen rollers 21 and 22, and is configured to be movable in the axial direction of the platen rollers 21 and 22. 25 and 26 are guide rollers, respectively. 2
Reference numeral 7 denotes a sheet guide, which is provided with a small head gap G between itself and the print head 24 and regulates a gap between the print head 24 and the paper P.

Reference numeral 11 denotes a static eliminator shown in FIG. 1, which is installed along a sheet conveying path before a mutual engaging portion of the platen rollers 21 and 22. And is fixed by screws or the like (not shown) so that the saw-toothed portion 13 is opposed to and close to the upper surface of the sheet P to be conveyed.

The paper P separated and fed one by one is
They are charged to a high voltage by rubbing each other during paper feeding. As shown in FIG. 2, the static eliminator 11 includes a print head 24.
And the static electricity of the paper P is eliminated.
Therefore, the print head 24 functions normally without being affected by the static electricity. As described above, the static eliminator 11 can be appropriately installed in a narrow place such as a sheet conveyance path, so that the static eliminator 11 can be installed without impairing functions such as sheet conveyance. It is possible, and the static elimination function can be effectively exhibited.

FIG. 3 is a mounting configuration diagram showing another mounting example of the static eliminator 11. In FIG.
The mounting structure A is provided with a guide a along a roller R similar to that in FIG. 2, and the static eliminator 11 is installed following the bent portion of the guide a, and the sawtooth-shaped portion 13 is moved along the sheet conveying path. To the paper P toward the downstream side. In (b) of the figure, the static eliminator 11 is sandwiched between the bent gaps b by the respective mounting structures B and B ′, and the sawtooth-shaped portion 13 is set to protrude in the sheet conveyance path and the like. Have been. In (c) of the figure, the static eliminator 11 is inserted into the bent groove c of the mounting structure C, and is installed with the sawtooth-shaped portion 13 protruding in a sheet conveying path or the like.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the static eliminator of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 31 denotes a static eliminator, which is installed and used in a sheet conveying path in a printer or the like. Reference numeral 32 denotes a static elimination sheet constituting a static elimination function part of the static eliminator 31, and reference numeral 33 denotes a mounting part of the static eliminator 31. The static elimination sheet 32 is similar to the static elimination sheet 12 in FIG. 1, and has a sawtooth-shaped portion 34 at one end. The mounting portion 33 is formed of a flexible and elastic sheet made of, for example, a polyester film having a thickness of about 1 mm, and is fixed to the static elimination sheet 32 by being adhered to each other. Is provided.

The static eliminator 31 is formed by attaching a mounting portion 33 to a static elimination sheet 32, and has flexibility as a whole. Since the mounting portion 33 has elasticity, screwing or mounting as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B is ensured.

The kind or thickness of the material used in the above description of FIGS. 1 and 3 is not limited to these, and various flexible materials can be used.

[0020]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the static eliminator is formed of a conductive material in the form of a thin sheet, and the entire structure thereof is flexible. Therefore, the installation place is less restricted, and the static elimination function can be effectively exhibited.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a static elimination mechanism for static elimination of an image forming sheet.
Since the static eliminator according to the first aspect is used, when the static eliminator is attached, the static eliminator is installed according to the shape of the bent portion in the sheet conveying path, and the same effect as in the first aspect is obtained.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a static elimination mechanism for static elimination of an image forming sheet.
Since the static eliminator according to the first aspect is used and housed or fixed in the groove of the mounting member in the sheet conveying path of the image forming apparatus, the same effect as in the first aspect is obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a static eliminator according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a mounting configuration diagram showing an example of a mounting mode of a static eliminator of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a mounting configuration diagram illustrating another mounting example of the static eliminator of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the static eliminator of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a conventional static eliminator.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11, 31 Static eliminator 12, 32 Static elimination sheet 13 Saw-toothed part 14, 35 Slotted hole 21, 22 Platen roller 23A, 23B, a guide 24 Print head 33 Mounting part b Gap c Groove P Paper (sheet for image formation) R roller

Claims (3)

[Claims] An image forming apparatus configured to form an image on a sheet is a static eliminator for static elimination of a sheet, and is formed into a thin sheet made of a conductive material, and has an overall structure. Has a flexibility, The static eliminator characterized by the above-mentioned. 2. An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet, wherein the image forming apparatus is configured to perform static elimination on a sheet, wherein the static eliminator according to claim 1 is attached to a sheet conveying path of the image forming apparatus. A static elimination mechanism characterized by being installed following the bent shape of a part. 3. A static elimination mechanism for eliminating static electricity from a sheet in an image forming apparatus which forms an image on a sheet, wherein the static eliminator according to claim 1 is attached to a sheet conveying path of the image forming apparatus. A static elimination mechanism which is housed or fixed in a groove of a member.