JPS61120768A - Image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain clear images free of fog, by providing a moving recording medium, a developing means comprising a developer carrier for carrying a conductive developer, and a recording electrode means for adhering ions onto the recording medium. CONSTITUTION:When a signal voltage indicative of the presence of an image signal is impressed on the second electrode in accordance with image information, ions are adhered to the recording medium 1 in a pattern corresponding to the image. Simultaneously, electric charges of the polarity opposite to the polarity of the ions are injected into a toner T through a sleeve 5, and by the electrostatic attraction between the ions and the toner, the toner is attracted toward and adhered to the recording medium 1, whereby a visualized toner image is formed on the medium 1. When there is not image signal, the second electrode 9 is maintained at 0V, so that adhesion of the toner T to the medium 1 does not occur. By maintaining the fourth electrode 17 and the sleeve 5 at substantially the same potential, fogging of images is prevented from occurring, and clear images are obtained.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Technical Field) The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus, and particularly to an image recording apparatus that records an artist by directly depositing a conductive developer corresponding to image information on a recording medium.

(Background Art) As this type of image recording device, there is one based on a method Cζ which is generally known as the contrast method. This uses an insulating film with high electrical resistance as a recording medium, moves it, places a recording electrode close to its back surface, and contacts the surface with conductive toner carried by a developing member. A recording signal voltage corresponding to the artist's pattern is applied to the recording electrode to cause toner to adhere to the recording medium and visualize it.

An overview of an example of such an image recording device will be explained with reference to FIG. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a recording medium made of an insulating film, and on the back side there are recording electrodes 2, each of which has a number of needle electrodes arranged in the width direction of the recording medium and insulated from each other. A signal voltage corresponding to the painter's pattern is independently applied to the needle electrode by the character signal generator 3. A recording device 4 is disposed on the opposite side of the recording medium 1, that is, on the surface side facing the recording electrode 2, and the recording device 4 has a sleeve 5 made of a hollow cylinder made of a non-magnetic conducting body. It has a fixed and stationary magnet 6 inside it. Sleeve 5 is toner hopper 7
It is in contact with the four-free toner T contained within.

The recording medium 1 moves in the direction of arrow A, and a character signal generator 3 applies a recording signal voltage corresponding to the image pattern to the recording electrode 2. As the sleeve 5 rotates in the direction of arrow B, the toner is conveyed over the sleeve 5 by the action of the magnet 6 and onto the recording medium 1.
When the toner T comes into contact with the recording medium 1, this toner T becomes the opposite electrode of l1i2, and a discharge occurs between the tip of the recording electrode 2 to which the recording signal voltage 5 is applied and the recording medium 1, and the recording medium l
At the same time that an electric charge is generated on the recording medium 1, an electric charge having a polarity opposite to that of the electric charge is injected from the sleeve 5 through the toner T into the toner T, and due to the electrostatic attraction of these electric charges, the toner T adheres to the recording medium 1, and a visible image is formed. can get.

However, such a device has the disadvantage that it is necessary to create a minute gap between the recording electrode 2 and the recording medium 1 of several meters to several + micrometers, and it is difficult to create a uniform gap over a wide width. was there.

Japanese Patent Application No. 59-55661 filed by the applicant of the present invention solves the above-mentioned drawbacks, but in this case, unnecessary Ml illustrative agent adheres to the recording medium due to the action of the electric finger. Sometimes he appears as a Capri painter,
Further improvements are desired.0 (Objective of the Invention) The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image recording device that can obtain clear images without fog. .

(Summary of the Invention) The present invention provides a moving recording medium, a developing means having a developer carrier disposed on one side of the recording medium and carrying and conveying an N1 conductive developer, and and recording electrode means disposed on the other side of the developing means for depositing ions onto the recording medium, the recording electrode means being arranged in order from the side farthest from the recording medium. First electrode.

The second electrode, the third [pole and the fourth
．． A laminate is formed by stacking the layers with a third insulating layer interposed therebetween, and the laminate is penetrated by a number of holes opening toward the recording medium except for the first pole and the first insulating layer, and further The recording electrode means includes means for applying an alternating voltage between the first and second electrodes, means for applying an artist signal voltage according to artist information to the second electrode, and the third and first electrodes. The first feature includes means for applying a DC voltage between the developer carrier and the fourth electrode, and a means for bringing the developer carrier and the fourth electrode to substantially the same potential.

(Example) Examples of the present invention will be described below, but before that, Japanese Patent Application No. 59-55661 filed by the present applicant will be briefly explained.

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an image recording device previously proposed by the applicant. In the figure, 8 is the first electrode, 9
is a second electrode, 10 is a third electrode, and the electrodes are insulated by the interposed first dielectric 11 and second dielectric 12; 3
The electrode 10 is penetrated by an aperture 13. These combinations are collectively referred to as the recording electrode assembly 2. Recording electrode assembly 2
is closely opposed to the recording medium 1 and extends over its entire width. A large number of openings 13 are arranged and distributed in the width direction of the recording medium 10.

An AC voltage is applied between the first electrode 8 and the second electrode 9 by an AC power source 14.
A discharge occurs between the end faces of the hole 13, and positive and negative ions are generated within the opening 13.

On the other hand, a signal voltage corresponding to image information is applied to the second electrode 9 from the image recording signal generator 3.
A constant voltage from a DC power supply 16 is constantly applied to the third electrode 10 . Therefore, if a potential gradient is created between the second electrode 9, the third electrode 10, and the sleeve 5 (grounded in the illustrated example) by applying the signal voltage, either positive or negative ions will be generated. Ions of polarity move toward the recording medium 1 and adhere to the recording medium 1. At the same time, recording medium 1
Charges of opposite polarity to the ions attached to the toner T are injected into the toner T through the sleeve 5, and the toner adheres to the recording medium 1 due to the electrostatic attraction between the attached ions and the toner.
A visualized toner feces is formed according to the image information.

However, in this apparatus, the voltage applied to the third electrode 10 may cause the toner T to adhere to the recording medium even to a portion where no ions are attached. When a foreign object or the like adheres to the third electrode 10 and comes into contact with the recording medium 1, since a voltage is applied to the third electrode 10, no charge is injected into the surface of the recording medium 1 through the foreign object. Unnecessary toner T adheres to the recording medium 6 and 1 due to the action of the charge on the dent, resulting in fogging of the image.

The present invention has been made in order to prevent image copying as described above.

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing an embodiment of the image recording apparatus of the present invention, and parts having the same configuration and function as those in FIG. 2 are given the same reference numerals. The recording electrode assembly 2 is the first electrode 8
．． Second electrode9. It has a third electrode 10,111g4 electrodes 17, and a first dielectric solder 1 interposed between each electrode.
1. The second dielectric 12° is insulated by the third dielectric 18. And the 211th pole 9. The second dielectric 12 and the third
The electrode 10 is penetrated by an aperture 13, and the jlE4 electrode 17 is penetrated by an aperture having a diameter slightly wider than the aperture 13 at a time, which does not attract the ions generated in the aperture.

Figure 1 shows a partial cross section corresponding to one aperture 13, and a plurality of apertures 13 may be provided in a row in the direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the recording medium 1, that is, in the width direction of the recording medium. Alternatively, in order to increase the recording density, the apertures 13 may be arranged in a staggered manner, or the electrodes may be arranged so that the apertures 13 are arranged in a matrix by the combination of the first electrode 8 and the second electrode 9. 0 By the way, regarding the recording electrode assembly 2, the 11th v&
Extreme 8. The second electrode 9 and the third electrode 10fC are each n2
01'm thick stainless steel foil was used. 1st # electric body 11
The thickness of the dielectric material 11 is related to the output voltage of the AC power source 14, and a thin material allows discharge to occur with a low applied voltage. In this embodiment, mica with a thickness of 40 μm was used as the dielectric material 11. Further, the second dielectric 12 has a thickness l Q O
I used a 4m 72 Mick. Furthermore, the 4th iE pole 1
7 and the third dielectric 18 are made of 100 μm thick aluminum-deposited mylar, and the 3rd KmIO and the 31st! The electric body 18 is adhered with double-sided tape having a thickness of 100 μm. Similarly, in addition to mica and ceramics, inorganic materials such as glass, or organic materials such as polymeric resins such as polyamide can be used as the above-mentioned dielectric materials.

The recording electrode assembly 2 having such a configuration was arranged with respect to the recording medium 1 such that the distance between the recording medium 1 and the fourth electrode was approximately Q, l mm. In this example, a dielectric film with a resistance value of 1010 Ω and an opening was used as the recording medium 1.

On the other hand, on the side opposite to the recording electrode assembly 2 with the recording medium 1 interposed therebetween, a rendering means is arranged.

This developing means comprises a rotatable sleeve 5 in the toner hopper 7 and having a magnet 6 inside.
is in hard contact with the conductive magnetic toner T in the toner hopper 7. This sleeve 5 is moved by an arrow B by a driving source (not shown).
Along with this, a layer of toner T whose thickness is regulated by a non-magnetic doctor bread 15 is formed on the sleeve 5. In addition, the resistance value l of the toner T
It is desirable that the toner has a resistance of Q10Ω or less.

The above-mentioned configuration L trowel moves the recording medium 1 at a rate of 100 per second by arrow A.
41JIi with respect to the recording electrode assembly 2.
lla 800 KHz, pressure 2. OK%'
An AC voltage of V (peak-to-peak voltage) is applied between the first electrode 8 and the second electrode 9 from the AC IE source 14, and an AC voltage of V (peak-to-peak voltage) is applied from the image recording signal generator 3 to the second electrode 9. 12 if there is a painter signal
When a voltage of 00V is applied and there is no picture frame signal, it is held at Ov. Also, the third '[pole 10 is grounded and the sleeve 5
A voltage of 5 oov is applied from the power supply 16 to .

On the other hand, the fourth command pole 17 is provided to prevent toner from adhering to the recording medium 1 regardless of whether the signal voltage is on or off due to the potential difference between the third command pole 10 and the sleeve 5. The fourth electrode 17
A voltage is applied to the fourth electrode 17 from the electrode #16 to bring the sleeve 5 and the sleeve 5 to substantially the same potential.

In this way, when a signal voltage with an image signal is applied to the second pole 9 according to the tiiis information, ions (negative ions in the example) according to the image pattern are attached to the recording medium l. do. At the same time, charges of opposite polarity to the ions attached to the recording medium 1 (positive polarity in the embodiment) are injected into the toner T through the sleeve 5, and due to the electrostatic attraction between these ions and the toner, the toner is transferred to the recording medium. The toner particles are attracted in one direction and adhere, forming a visible toner image on the recording medium 1. When there is no image signal, the second electrode 9 is 0'
Since VIC is maintained and no potential difference is generated between the second electrode and the lX3 electrode, ions do not adhere to the recording medium 1, and therefore, toner T does not adhere to the recording medium l.

By providing the fourth electrode and setting the fourth electrode and the sleeve to substantially the same potential, it was possible to prevent image capriulation and obtain a clear image.

Furthermore, in the above case, the third electrode 10 is grounded, but the fourth electrode 17 and the sleeve 5 are grounded, a DC voltage of -800v is applied to the third electrode 10, and the second electrode 9, a voltage of -1000 V is applied from the artist recording signal generator 3 when there is an image signal, and a voltage of -800 V is applied when there is no image signal. Award, 4th electrode 1
The potential difference between the sleeve 7 and the sleeve 5 may be such that at least toner does not adhere to the recording medium 1.

Further, in this example, a dielectric film having a resistance value of IQIOΩ or more was used as the recording medium l.
By appropriately adjusting the distance between the toner and the recording medium and the thickness of the recording medium, it is possible to use a recording medium with a lower resistance value.

Further, the visible image obtained on the recording medium 1 may be transferred to another recording paper using pressure transfer, heat transfer, corona transfer, etc. (not shown), or this recording If the medium 1 is transparent, it can be used as a projection display that functions as an original film for an overhead projector, or it can be used as a display that can be viewed directly without projection. Of course, it is also possible.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, according to the present invention, it is not necessary to arrange the needle electrode and the recording medium with a minute gap as in the conventional case, and it is possible to obtain a clear image without fogging. .

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing an embodiment of the artist recording device of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view illustrating a conventional image recording device.
FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an image recording device already proposed by the applicant of Honjo. 1... Recording medium 2... Recording electrode (assembly) 3... Image recording signal generator 5... Sleeve 6...
・Magnet 8...First electrode 9...Second electrode 10...Third electrode 11...First dielectric 12...Second dielectric 13.19...Opening
14...AC power supply 16...DC power supply 17
...Fourth electrode 18...Third dielectric T...Toner. Condolence 3 Instigation

Claims (1)

[Claims] A moving recording medium, a developing means disposed on one side of the recording medium and having a developer carrier for carrying and conveying a conductive developer, and a developing means disposed on the other side of the recording medium facing the developing means. An image recording apparatus comprising: a recording electrode means arranged to cause ions to adhere onto a recording medium, the recording electrode means including, in order from the side farthest from the recording medium, a first electrode;
The second electrode, the third electrode and the fourth electrode are connected to each other.
A laminate is formed by stacking the layers with a third insulating layer interposed therebetween, and the laminate is penetrated with a large number of holes opening toward the recording medium except for the first electrode and the first insulating layer, and further the above-mentioned The recording electrode means includes means for applying an alternating voltage between the first and second electrodes, means for applying an image signal voltage according to image information to the second electrode, and the third electrode and the developer carrying member. An image recording apparatus comprising: means for applying a DC voltage between the developer carrier and the fourth electrode; and means for bringing the developer carrier and the fourth electrode to substantially the same potential.