JPS63249882A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the accuracy of writing, to execute printing at a high speed, to save the energy, and to miniaturize the constitution, by providing a state control mechanism, a write mechanism, a transfer device and a fixing device so as to be freely movable in the longitudinal direction of a latent image carrier. CONSTITUTION:To a carriage 24 which is provided so that the reciprocating motion can be executed freely by the width of at least a form 2 in the width direction of the form 2, between a driving roller 22 and a driven roller 23, an electrostatic charger 25, an optical write head 26, a transfer roller 27 and a fixing roller 28 are attached so that the reciprocating motion can be executed together. Subsequently, in a state that a latent image carrier 21 has been stopped, the state control mechanism, the write mechanism, the transfer machine and the fixing device are moved simultaneously in the longitudinal direction of the latent image carrier 21, and first of all, by the state control mechanism, the latent image carrying body 21 is set to a state that a latent image can be written, write of the latent image is executed immediately by the write mechanism, and simultaneously, a toner image formed in the written latent image part is transferred to a recording carrier by the transfer device, the fixation of the toner image is executed simultaneously by the fixing device, and printing, etc. are performed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a printer for forming characters, codes, figures, etc. on a recording medium such as paper, and particularly to a printer that is small and capable of high-speed operation.

(Prior Art) As conventional printers of this type, page printers, typified by laser printers, have come into widespread use.

As shown in FIG. 8, this page printer uses a hopping roller 3 to take out sheets 2 of a certain size, such as 85-size or A4-size sheets, stored in a paper supply cassette 1 one by one, and While being conveyed along the paper 2, characters and the like are formed on the paper 2 according to the printing pattern by the side part of the machine including the photosensitive drum 5 and the like. That is, first, the photosensitive drum 5 having an axial length larger than the maximum width of the paper 2 is rotated in the direction of the arrow in the figure, and the photosensitive drum 5 is uniformly charged by the charger 6 disposed around the photosensitive drum 5. U
Ru. Next, an electrostatic latent image according to the printing pattern is written onto the photosensitive drum 5 by the optical writing unit t'' 7, and then the electrostatic latent image written on the photosensitive drum 5 is transferred to the developing unit 8 by the developing device 8. 1-Dog- is selectively attached to form a toner image. When this toner image reaches the transfer device 9 as the photosensitive drum 5 rotates, the electrostatic attraction force of the transfer device 9 The i-toner image on the photosensitive drum 5F is transferred onto the paper 2. Thereafter, the paper 2 is peeled off from the photosensitive drum 5 and conveyed to the fixing device 10, where the toner image is transferred to the paper using heat or pressure. After that, the IJ12 is ejected to the paper ejection tray 11-1.

On the other hand, after the photosensitive drum 5 has passed through the transfer unit 9, residual charges on the photosensitive drum 5 are eliminated by an N remover 12, and then residual toner adhering to the photosensitive drum 5 is cleaned by a cleaner 13.

[Problems that the invention attempts to solve]

However, in conventional page printers, since the axial width of the photosensitive drum 5 is formed to be larger than the width of the paper 2, various devices arranged around the photosensitive drum 5, ie, a charger 6, Optical writing unit 7, developing device 8. The length in the axial direction of the transfer device 9, the static eliminator 12, the cleaner 13, etc. needs to be approximately the same length as the photosensitive drum 5, resulting in a large page printer as a whole and high manufacturing costs.

Therefore, in place of the photosensitive drum 5 having an axial length equal to the width J of the paper 2, the applicant of the present application has proposed using an endless belt-shaped latent image holding body running in the width direction of the paper 2. , has already proposed a printer that is miniaturized as a whole, has low manufacturing costs, and is capable of high-quality printing.

The present invention has been made in view of these points, and in the blinking using the endless belt-like latent image carrier, it is further desirable to position the latent image on the latent liI carrier so that the print finish is good. It is possible to improve reproducibility and print 1 to 3 times, improve writing accuracy, and make extremely beautiful prints.Moreover, it is possible to speed up printing, and to save energy required for transfer and fixing. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printer that is energy efficient and can be miniaturized.

[Means for solving problems]

The printer of the present invention includes an endless belt-like latent image carrier, a state control mechanism for bringing the latent image into a state in which a latent image can be written on the latent image carrier, and a state control mechanism that allows the latent image to be written on the latent image carrier in a writable state. a writing mechanism for forming a toner image, a transfer device for transferring a toner image formed on the latent image portion of a latent image carrier onto a recording carrier, and a fixing device for fixing the toner image transferred onto the recording body. The printer is characterized in that the state fill m mechanism, the writing mechanism, the transfer device, and the fixing device are provided so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction of the latent image carrier.

[For production]

In the printer of the present invention, the latent image 10 bearing member is kept in a stopped state, and the state fIIIIIIF! s structure, writing mechanism, transfer device, and fixing device are simultaneously moved in the longitudinal direction of the WJ image carrier, first, the latent image carrier is brought into a state in which a latent image can be written by state control t148A, and then the other two A latent image is written by the programming mechanism, and at the same time, the toner image formed in the written latent image area is transferred to the record carrier by the transfer device, and then the record carrier F, which is also in the stopped F state, is transferred by the fixing device. At the same time, the L/color image is fixed, and printing, etc. is performed.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7.

1 to 3 show one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows the entirety of this embodiment. The printer of this embodiment uses an optical writing method.

In the printer of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. The force allows the paper 2 to travel in the width direction of the paper 2 (direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the paper 2) along arrow A in the figure.

In this embodiment, the OPC belt 21 has two lengths necessary for one printing on the paper 2.
It is formed to the length of the process.

To explain further, in this embodiment, the OPC belt 2
This is an example in which toner T is attached to the outer surface of paper 1 and a toner image is transferred to paper 2. And the drive roller 22
A carriage 24 is disposed between the paper 2 and the driven roller 23.
The carriage 24 is provided so as to be able to reciprocate in the width direction by at least the width of the paper 2, and the carriage 24 includes a charger 25,
An optical writing head 26, a transfer roller 27, and a fuser roller 28 are mounted so that they can reciprocate together. The charger 25 is an example of a state control mechanism that enables the OPC belt 21 to be optically written.
The outer peripheral surface of the upper half is charged to, for example, a negative potential by corona discharge or the like. An optical writing head 26 is provided downstream from the charger 25 in the traveling direction of the OPC belt 21, and the optical writing head 26 exposes the outer peripheral surface of the upper half of the OPC belt 21 to, for example, an unexposed portion. It is adapted to form an electrostatic latent image at a positive potential. The optical writing head 26 is composed of an LED head or the like having a plurality of light emitting parts arranged in a direction perpendicular to the traveling direction of the OPC belt 21, and forms an electrostatic latent record corresponding to a printing pattern. O
An electrostatic latent image formed on the outer circumferential surface of the PC belt 21 is formed so that toner T of negative potential is attached to the area of the drive roller 22 by a developing device 29 . Further, several transfer rows 527 are provided at the bottom of the carriage 24 so as to face the inner peripheral surface of the lower half of the OPC belt 21.
It plays the role of a transfer device that transfers the toner particles adhering to the outer peripheral surface of the OPC belt 21 onto the paper 2.
For example, a bias voltage of a negative potential is applied, and the toner T, which also has a negative potential, is caused to adhere to the paper 2 side by electrostatic repulsion to form a toner image on the paper 2.

Also, is the fixing roller 28 set to key 1? It is attached to the lower part of the ridge 24 at a position spaced apart from the transfer roller 27 by one line, for example, on the downstream side in the traveling direction of the paper 2, and the OPC belt 2
It functions as a fixing device that fixes the toner image transferred onto paper 1 onto paper 2 using pressure or heat.

Further, at the position of the driven member 0-523, a static eliminator 30 such as [1-] for removing residual charges on the OPC belt 21 and a cleaner 31 for removing residual toner remaining on the outer peripheral surface of the OPC belt 21 are installed in the OPC belt 21. They are provided in order in the traveling direction of the belt 21.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained.

In the printer of this embodiment, one line corresponding to the width of the OPC belt 21 is printed on the paper 2, and then the paper 2 is fed by one line, and a new line is printed on the paper 2. Print the image so that it is printed on the image.

However, the printing start command is issued while the OPC belt 21 is stopped at the initial position shown in FIG.

In response to this print start command, the carriage 24 is moved in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 1 by a drive mechanism (not shown). The charger 25, the optical writing head 26, the transfer roller 27, and the fixing roller 28 move together with the carriage 24 in the direction of arrow B, but initially only the band iR device 25 and the optical writing head 26 operate. That is, one of the chargers 25 charges the outer circumferential surface of the upper half of the stopped OPC belt 21 to a negative potential to make it optically writable.
The other optical writing head 26 is a first optical writing head according to the printing pattern.
The electrostatic latent image of the row is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the F half of the OPC belt 21. The electrostatic latent image is continuously formed by the optical writing head 26 for one line having a length corresponding to the width of the paper 2.

Next, the drive row 522 is operated to advance the OPC belt 21 in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1 to a position where the written electrostatic latent image of the first line faces the paper 2. As the OPC belt 21 moves, toner T charged to a negative potential is attached to the first row of electrostatic latent images formed on the outer peripheral surface of the OPC belt 21 by the developing device 29. It is considered to be a statue. At the same time as the OPC belt 21 advances, the carriage 24 is moved in the direction opposite to the arrow B in the figure, and the first Il.
Returned to 1st place.

When the OPC belt 21 is advanced to a position where the toner image of the first row faces the paper 2, it is temporarily stopped, and when the carriage 24 returns to the initial position, the carriage 24 is moved again as shown by the arrow in FIG. It is moved in direction B. When the carriage 24 moves again in the direction of arrow B, the OP
In the lower half of the C-belt 21, the first row of toner images previously formed on the outer peripheral surface of the C-belt 21 are sequentially transferred onto the paper 2 as the transfer row 527 advances. On the other hand, in the upper half of the oPC belt 21, a charger 25 and an optical writing head 26
Thus, the formation of the next second row of electrostatic latent images is simultaneously performed.

When the transfer of the toner image in the first row and the incorporation of the electrostatic latent image in the second row are completed, the drive row 522 is activated to open the OP.
The C belt 21 is advanced by 1/2 of its total length, and at the same time the carriage 24 is returned to its initial position, and at the same time, the paper 2 is fed by one line in the direction of arrow C in FIG. 2 by a paper feeding mechanism (not shown). Further, while the OPC belt 21 is advanced by one line, a toner image of the second line is formed on the OPC belt 21 by the developer 29 in the same manner as described above, and the OPC belt is 2
The residual charge on the toner 1 is removed, and then the remaining toner is cleaned by a cleaner 31, and the toner is used for forming the next electrostatic latent image.

Thereafter, the carriage 24 is moved again in the direction of arrow B in FIG. At the same time, the transfer roller 27
The toner image in the row is transferred onto the paper 2. And the second
When the transfer of the line and the writing of the third line are completed, the drive roller 22 moves in the same manner as described above, and the OPC belt 21 is advanced by one line, and at the same time, the paper 2 is also fed by one line. Ru. Next, simultaneously with the writing of the fourth line and the transfer of the third line, the toner image of the first line transferred onto the paper 2 by the fixing roller 28 is fixed.

By repeating such a printing operation, printing etc. are performed on the paper 2 according to the printing command.

In the above embodiment, when the transfer roller 27 returns to the initial position, the bias of the negative potential is cut off and the pressing force is released, or the OPC is set so that the negative potential does not affect the transfer roller 27.
Move it away from the belt 21 upwards.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the OP of the optical writing head 26 is
Chargers 2 are installed on both sides of the C bell 1-21 in the longitudinal direction.
5.25 is set, and when the carriage 24 moves both in the direction of arrow B in the figure and in the opposite direction, charging by the charger 25, writing by the optical writing head 26, transfer by the transfer roller 27, and fixing roller respectively. 28 may be used for fixing. In this case, the carriage 24 is stopped while the g-movement roller 22 advances the oPC belt 21 by one line.

Further, in the above embodiment, printing is performed one line at a time, but each component may be formed to have a large length in the line direction so that multiple lines can be printed at the same time.

As described above, in this embodiment, the charging 'J% 25 is integrally provided adjacent to the optical writing head 26, and when the OPC belt 21 is stopped, both are moved by 25 degrees 26.
After the OPC belt 21 is charged by one of the chargers 25, the OPC belt 21 is immediately charged by the other optical writing head 26.
The belt 21 is exposed to light to write an electrostatic latent image. Therefore, an electrostatic latent image with an appropriate potential can always be formed without being affected by the decrease in the charging potential of the OPC belt 21 due to the passage of time, and the temperature of the toner image It is also possible to maintain proper print quality and improve the print H finish. In addition, since the charging of the OPC belt 21 and the loading operation are performed simultaneously, the startup time from the print start command to the start of the printing operation is shortened.
High-speed printing is achieved. Further, the electrostatic latent image forming position on the OPC belt 21 is always set at a predetermined position,
The accuracy is also high, and the prints finally formed on the paper 2 are of high quality and beautiful.

In addition, since it is easy to maintain a constant moving speed of the band ['125 and the optical writing head 26 integrated with the carriage 24,
The formation accuracy of the electrostatic latent image is further improved, and even if the OPC belt 21 has rotational unevenness, the electrostatic latent image containing N can be removed by OPC.
Since the belt 21 is stopped, there will be no influence. Further, writing of the electrostatic latent image by the optical writing head 26 is completed, the OPC belt 21 is advanced, and now 1gl! 29 is the time from when the OPC belt 21 is exposed to when the charged potential is sufficiently reduced (for example, about 0.6 seconds).
It can be done.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, by integrally providing the optical writing head 26 and the transfer roller 27 via the carriage 24, it is possible to write an electrostatic latent image on the OPC belt 21 and to write an electrostatic latent image on the OPC belt I/21. The toner image can be transferred to the paper 20 at the same time, which increases time efficiency and enables high-speed printing. Furthermore, the transfer roller 27 is moved in the longitudinal direction of the OPC belt 21 to transfer one line, and compared to a transfer device that transfers one line at the same time, the transfer roller 527 is smaller. The electrical energy needed to make the toner T adhering to the OPC belt 21 adhere to the paper 2 during transfer is much less than that required to transfer the entire one line at the same time, resulting in energy savings. can be achieved.

Further, in this embodiment, the fixing roller 28 is further provided integrally with the charger 25, the light-containing head 26, and the transfer roller 27, and the fixing roller 28 is moved to perform fixing. Compared to the case where toner images for rows are fixed simultaneously and all at once, the size of the fixing device as the fixing roller 28 can be reduced, and the overall configuration can also be made smaller.

Furthermore, the electrical energy required for fixing is greatly reduced compared to when fixing one line as a whole at the same time, resulting in energy savings. Then, a series of printing processes is performed reliably, resulting in extremely beautiful printing.

The above embodiment uses an optical writing method, and a block diagram of this is shown in FIG. 5.

Further, in the present invention, printing can also be performed using the electrostatic method shown in FIG. 6 and the magnetic method shown in FIG. 7.

To explain further, in the electrostatic method shown in FIG. 6, an endless electrostatic belt is used as the latent image carrier, and the electrostatic belt is made to have no potential in advance by a static eliminator, which is a type of state control 114M. , multi-needle? A latent image is electrostatically written by an If polar head, a developing device forms the latent image into a toner image, and a transfer device transfers the toner image onto paper.

Thereafter, the toner adhering to the electrostatic belt after the transfer is removed by a cleaner, and the electrostatic belt is set to have no potential by a static eliminator to be used for the next printing cycle.

In addition, in the magnetic system shown in FIG. 7, an endless magnetic belt is used as a latent image carrier, and a latent image is placed on the magnetic belt by a magnetic head, which has been demagnetized in advance by a demagnetizer, which is a type of state control mechanism. is written magnetically, and then a developing device forms a latent image into a toner image, and a transfer device transfers the toner image onto paper. Thereafter, the toner adhering to the magnetic belt after the transfer is removed by a cleaner, and the magnetic belt is demagnetized by a demagnetizer to be used for the next printing cycle.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and can be variously modified as necessary.

(Effects of the Invention) Since the printer of the present invention is configured and operates in this manner, in a printer using an endless belt-like latent image carrier, the printing finish is further improved for the latent image carrier. !One image can be written with high position reproducibility, writing accuracy is improved, extremely beautiful printing can be performed, and printing speed can be increased, and transfer and fixing This provides effects such as the ability to save energy and downsize the configuration.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 3 show an embodiment of the printer of the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is a front sectional view, FIG. 2 is a plan view, and FIG. 3 is an enlarged view taken along the line ■-■ of FIG. 1. 4 is a sectional view, and FIG. 4 is a front view of a carriage portion showing other embodiments of the present invention, and FIGS. 5 to 7 are
The figures are block diagrams schematically showing embodiments of the present invention, respectively;
FIG. 8 is a vertical side view schematically showing a conventional page printer. 21... OPC belt, 24... Carriage, 25
... Charger, 26... Optical writing head, 27...
Transfer roller, 28... Fixing roller, 29... Developing device, 30... Static eliminator, 31... Cleaner. Applicant's agent Shunsuke Nakao Figure 1 Figure 2

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1) An endless belt-shaped latent image carrier, a state control mechanism for making the latent image carrier in a state in which a latent image can be written, and a state control mechanism for making the latent image carrier in a state in which a latent image can be written. a writing mechanism that forms a toner image, a transfer device that transfers the toner image formed on the latent image portion of the latent image carrier to a recording carrier, and a fixing device that fixes the toner image transferred onto the recording carrier. A printer characterized in that the state control mechanism, the writing mechanism, the transfer device, and the fixing device are provided so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction of the latent image carrier. 2) The state control mechanism, the writing mechanism, and the transfer device each move when the latent image carrier is stopped, and the state control mechanism brings the latent image carrier into a state in which the latent image can be written, and The mechanism writes a latent image onto the latent image carrier;
Claim 1, wherein the transfer device transfers the toner image onto a recording carrier, and the fixing device fixes the toner image onto the recording carrier when the latent image carrier and the recording carrier are stopped. Printer listed in section.