JPS62165678A - Process head for electrophotographic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent a developer from being splashed owing to the difference in pressure between the inside and outside of a container even when a valve means for liquid discharge is opened by providing a valve means for ventilation for increasing the pressure in the container before the valve means is opened. CONSTITUTION:While the solenoid of a film pressing mechanism is degaussed, the solenoid 162 of a suction trap 150 is excited to elevate a value 158 and a return conduit 156 communicates with the suction trap 150. In this case, when an actuator 163 is elevated slightly, a valve plate 163A is lifted and a valve 158 leaves an O ring 163B while pressed to a valve seat 150A by a compression coil spring 155 to admit external air into the suction track 150, so that the inside of the suction track 150 is held at the atmospheric pressure. Therefore, air does not enters the suction trap 150 suddenly and a stored developer is discharged speedily. Consequently, the stored developer is never splashed to enter a conduit 152 and never exerts adverse influence on components in an air pump 154 for suctional squeezing.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a process head used in an electrophotographic apparatus to perform various processing on electrophotographic film.

[Conventional technology]

2. Description of the Related Art Electrophotographic apparatuses are known that are capable of recording images on predetermined frames of electrophotographic film and projecting or copying the recorded images.

Further, a process head that is disposed in an electrophotographic apparatus and performs charging, exposure, development, etc. on an electrophotographic film is known from Japanese Patent Laid-open Nos. 59-100479 and 59-162580.

The process head disclosed in the above publication includes a charging/exposure section, a developing section, a drying section, and a fixing section. These parts are arranged adjacent to each other in the above order along the feeding direction of the electrophotographic film, and the arrangement pitch of each part is a constant pitch equal to the frame pitch of the electrophotographic film.

In the charging/exposure section, the electrophotographic film (corresponding to the - frame) placed in this section is charged and then exposed to the image light of the original. As a result, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image pattern of the original is formed on the electrophotographic film. In the developing section, a liquid developer is applied to the electrophotographic film exposed in the charging/exposure section to visualize the electrostatic charge layer image.

In the drying section, dry air is blown onto the electrophotographic film moistened with the liquid developer to remove moisture. In the fixing section, the image is fixed on the electrophotographic film by a fixing lamp or the like.

In this developing section, the liquid developer applied to the electrophotographic film may overflow to both sides of the developing section, and this overflowing developer is suctioned by negative pressure, and the developer is sucked through the gas-liquid separation means using negative pressure. The gas-liquid separating means is preferably equipped with a container in which the sucked developer is temporarily stored, and a drainage valve means is opened in this container. This allows the stored developer to be returned to the developer tank.

However, when the drain valve means is opened, the pressure outside the container is higher than that inside the container, so high-pressure air suddenly enters the container from this valve means, splashing up the stored developer. This will hinder the quick discharge of the developer.

Further, the splashed developer droplets enter the suction pump, causing deterioration of the rubber, diaphragm, etc. in the valve portion of the suction pump.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

The present invention takes the above facts into consideration, and even when the drain valve means is opened to discharge the developer stored in the container of the gas-liquid separation means, the developer stagnates due to the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the container. It is an object of the present invention to obtain a process head for an electrophotographic apparatus that will not be damaged.

[Means for solving problems]

The process head for an electrophotographic apparatus according to the present invention includes a developing section that supplies developer to electrophotographic film and develops the film, and a gas-liquid separator that includes a container in which the developer after development is sucked and squeezed and temporarily stored. Means and - are provided, and the container is provided with a drainage valve means for discharging the developer, as well as a venting valve means for increasing the pressure within the container before the valve means is opened. It is said that

[Effect]

Therefore, in the present invention, the venting valve means is opened before the draining valve means is opened, so that the pressure inside the container is made approximately equal to the pressure outside the container. Therefore, even when the draining valve means is opened, outside air will not suddenly enter the container and the developer will not be drawn up. It is quickly excreted and 1
Raised droplets will not enter the suction pump.

〔Example〕

(Electrophotographic Apparatus) FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an electrophotographic apparatus in which a process head according to this embodiment is disposed.

The electrophotographic apparatus according to this embodiment has a camera function that captures a close-up of a document and records the image on an electrophotographic film, and a reader function that enlarges and projects the image recorded on the electrophotographic film onto a screen. It has a copy function that enlarges and copies images recorded on electrophotographic film onto copy paper.

The electrophotographic apparatus is constructed by integrating an electrophotographic apparatus main body 10 and a copying apparatus 12 in which a housing 11 also serves as a stand for the electrophotographic apparatus main body 10. In addition, if the copy function is not required, the electrophotographic device main body 1
It is also possible to use only 0 alone. The housing 14 of the electrophotographic apparatus main body 1O is composed of a portion 14A located on the left and having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and a portion 14B located on the right and having a stepped top surface. The interior space is communicated at the rear.

On the outside of the housing 14A, a slightly tilted transmissive screen 16 is disposed to cover the front opening of the housing, and a document table 18 is disposed above. On the document table 18, at the bottom of a document holding plate 20 that can be opened and closed,
A transparent glass plate 22 (see FIG. 2, which will be described later) is placed to cover the upper opening of the housing. Housing 14B
A cassette loading section 26 into which a cassette containing an electrophotographic film 24 (see FIG. 2 described later) is loaded is formed near the center of the upper part of the outer side of the cassette, and a cassette loading section 26 in which a cassette containing an electrophotographic film 24 (see FIG. 2 described later) is loaded is formed near the center of the upper part. A control keyboard 28 is provided for operations.

Also, photocopy r! The housing 11 of 112 is formed with an opening 32 through which a copied copy sheet 30 (see FIG. 4 described later) is discharged.

(Optical System of Electrophotographic Apparatus) FIGS. 2 to 4 show the optical system of an electrophotographic apparatus.

As shown in FIG. 2, the photographing optical system includes the document table 1
A document illumination lamp 36 illuminates a document 34, which is a subject set on the glass plate 22 of No. 8 with the document surface facing downward.
and a third mirror 38 on which the reflected light from the original 34 is incident.
, a second mirror 40 into which the reflected light from the third mirror 3 is incident, a first mirror 42 into which the reflected light from the second mirror 40 is incident, and an electrophotograph of the reflected light from the first mirror 42. The main lens 44 is connected to the surface of the film 24.

As shown in FIG. 3, the projection optical system includes a projection light source section 46 that illuminates the electrophotographic film 24, and a main lens 4 that connects the light transmitted through the electrophotographic film 24 to a first mirror 42.
4, a second mirror 40 into which the reflected light from the first mirror 42 is incident, and the screen 16 onto which the reflected light from the second mirror 40 is projected.

As shown in FIG. 4, the copying optical system includes a projection light source section 46, a main lens 44, a first mirror 42, a second mirror 40, and a space between the main lens 44 and the first mirror 42. a conversion lens 48 that is disposed on the first mirror 42 to slightly reduce the optical image focused on the first mirror 42; and a second mirror 40.
The copy mirror 52 reflects the reflected light from the copying machine 12 toward the copy paper 30 set on the exposure table 50 disposed in the copying apparatus 12.

The main lens 44, the first mirror 42, and the second mirror 40 are commonly used in the three optical systems described above. The main lens 44 and the first mirror 42 are fixedly disposed within the housing 14B of the electrophotographic apparatus main body 10, and the second mirror 40 is fixedly disposed within the housing 14A.

The third mirror 38, the copy mirror 52, the conversion lens 4, and the screen 16 are selectively used.

The third mirror 3B and the copy mirror 52 are movably disposed within the housing 14A of the electrophotographic apparatus main body 10, and the conversion lens 48 is movably disposed within the housing 14B so as not to interfere with other optical systems. has been done. Since the screen 16 does not interfere with other optical systems, it is fixedly arranged as described above.

Further, the optical system of the electrophotographic apparatus includes a main lens 44 and a first lens.
A shutter controlled by an automatic exposure control device is disposed between the mirror 42 and the mirror 42 .

(Process Head) FIGS. 5 to 13 show an embodiment of a process head according to the present invention disposed in the electrophotographic apparatus.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the process head 5
4 is constructed by integrating a relatively flat, generally rectangular parallelepiped-shaped main body part 56 and a pair of legs 58 located at the lower part of the main body part 56, and is integrally molded with synthetic resin except for the attachments. has been done. The process head 54 is disposed between the main lens 44 and the electrophotographic film 24 shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, and as shown in FIG. It is attached to a frame 6o disposed within the housing 14B of the photographic apparatus main body 10.

The main lens 44, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7,
It is assembled into the lens barrel 62 and attached to the back surface of the process head 54. The electrophotographic film 24 is constructed by sequentially laminating a transparent conductive layer, an intermediate layer, and a photosensitive layer on a support such as polyethylene, and the photosensitive layer consists of a photoconductive layer and a protective layer that protects the photoconductive layer. It is configured. The electrophotographic film 24 is in the form of a long tape and is housed in a cassette case.

As shown in FIG. 6, the electrophotographic film 24 includes:
Blip marks 2 are placed on the top edge at regular intervals along the longitudinal direction.
4A is printed. The blip mark 24A is provided corresponding to one frame of an image recorded on the electrophotographic film 24. This electrophotographic film 24 is moved in the width direction of the process head 540 (in the left-right direction in FIG. 6) by having the surface of the photosensitive layer facing the front surface of the process head 54 and driving a film moving motor (not shown). It is possible to move to. Further, the transparent conductive layer of the electrophotographic film 24 can be electrically connected to the electrophotographic apparatus main body 10 when the cassette is loaded into the electrophotographic apparatus main body 10. It goes without saying that the electrophotographic film is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and any known film can be used.

The main body 56 of the process head 54 includes
As shown in the figure, charging/exposure sections 64 are sequentially arranged in the width direction.
, a developing section 66, a drying section 68, and a fixing section 70 are formed at a constant pitch corresponding to one frame interval of the electrophotographic film 24.

(Charging/Exposure Section) As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the charging/exposure section 64 has a charging/exposure chamber 72 formed in an internal space on the back side of the front wall 74 of the process head 54. There is. The charging/exposure chamber 72 has an opening in the front wall 74 of the process head 54, and around this opening, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, there is a mask 76 that slightly protrudes from the front wall 74.
is formed. The opening shape of this mask 76 is made into a rectangular shape with a size corresponding to one frame of the electrophotographic film 24. The charging/exposure chamber 72 includes a corona unit 78,
A proximity electrode 80 and a mask electrode 82 are provided.

As shown in FIG. 5, the corona unit 78 includes a corona wire 84 and a synthetic resin holder 86 that holds the corona wire 84, and is inserted into the process head 54 from above. The proximal electrodes 80 are composed of narrow metal plates and are arranged on both sides of the corona wire 84. The mask electrode 82 is formed by bending a metal plate into a rectangular shape, and is disposed near the opening of the front wall 74.

The corona wire 84 is connected to a high voltage power source and the proximal electrode 80
and the mask electrode 82 are electrically connected. Normally, the adjacent electrode 80 is directly connected to ground, and the mask electrode 82 is connected to ground via an electrical resistance, but each is connected to a different bias voltage. It may be applied from an external power supply.

As shown in FIG. 7, a film cooling air outlet 88 is opened in the charging/exposure chamber 72, and cold air is supplied by an air pump 89 through a conduit 87. The process head 5 is assembled into the lens barrel 62 as described above.
The optical axis of the main lens 44 attached to the back surface of the mask 76 coincides with the center of the opening of the mask 76.

(Developing Section) The developing section 66 includes, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6,
A mask 90 is formed, and the mask 90 covers the upper frame 9.
0A and left and right frames 90B and 90C stand up from the surface of the recess 92 formed in the front wall 74. The lower side of the lower frame 90D of the mask 90 stands up from the front wall 74. Further, the lower frame 90D has left and right frames 90B, 90 at both ends.
It further extends in the left-right direction from the connecting portion with C.

The protruding height of the mask 90 is set to be at the same level as the mask 76.

The opening width of the mask 90 is made very slightly shorter than the opening width of the mask 76. Furthermore, the opening height of the mask 90, that is, the distance between the inner walls of the upper frame 90A and the lower frame 9°D is The inner wall of the frame 90D is located lower than that of the mask 76, and is lengthened accordingly.

A developing electrode 96 is disposed within the opening of the mask 90 and supported by a rear wall 94, as shown in FIG. The developing electrode 96 is connected to a bias source. The surface of the developing electrode 96 is located slightly inside from the end surface of the mask 90, and a space surrounded by the developing electrode 96 and the inner wall of the mask 90 is defined as a developing chamber 98. The upper and lower parts of the developing electrode 96 are opened, and are provided with a developer/squeeze air inlet 10o and a developer/squeeze air outlet 102, respectively.
It is said that

The developer/squeeze air inlet 100 communicates with a passage 104 formed by the internal space of the process head 54. The zero passage 104 communicates with a developer supply port 106 opened on the back side of the process head 54 and a squeeze air supply. Mouth 108
It is communicated with.

Further, the developer/squeeze air outlet 102 is communicated with a passage 110 formed in the internal space of the process head 54 . The passage 110 communicates with a developer/squeeze air outlet 112 opened on the back side of the process head 54.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 10, the recesses 92 located on both sides of the left and right frames 90B and 90C of the mask 90 are opened at the bottom and serve as squeeze suction ports 114, respectively. As shown in FIG. 10, these squeeze suction ports 114 are in communication with passages 116 formed in the internal space of the process head 54, respectively. These passages 116 communicate with a pair of suction squeeze openings 118 opened at the back surface of the process head 54 .

As shown in FIG. 11(A), the developer supply port 1
06 is connected to pipes 122 and 124 via a solenoid valve 120 on the way.
The developer tank 126 is connected to the developer tank 126 . The developer tank 126 is located above the solenoid valve 120. The developer tank 126 is connected to a developer pump 130 driven by a motor 128 through a conduit 132. The developer supply pump 130 is disposed in the developer bottle 134. The developer bottle 134 contains a developer 136 in which toner particles are dispersed in a solvent.

The pipe line 124 connecting the electromagnetic valve 120 and the developer tank 126 is branched in the middle, and a developer bottle 134
A return conduit 138 opens to. Further, a return pipe 140 that opens into the developer bottle 134 is connected to the developer tank 126 .

The squeezing air supply port 108 is connected through a conduit 142 to an air pump 144 for pressure squeezing. A developer bottle 1 is provided in the developer/squeeze air outlet 112.
A return conduit 146 opening to 34 is connected thereto.

As shown in FIG. 11(B), the pair of suction squeeze openings 118 are each connected to a suction trap 150 serving as a gas-liquid separation means through a conduit 148. The suction trap 150 is a box-shaped container with a hollow interior;
A pair of sleeves 151 are provided on the sides for connection to the pipe line 148. Each of these sleeves 151 is used for connection with a pipe line 148.

As shown in FIGS. 11(C) and (D), the suction trap 1
A sleeve 151A protrudes from the side surface near the upper end of the sleeve 50, and one end of the conduit 152 is connected to the sleeve 151A. This pipe line 152 is connected to a suction squeeze air pump 154, which creates a negative pressure in the suction trap 150, and this negative pressure is applied to the suction squeeze opening 118 via the pipe line 148. By being transmitted, the developer can be guided into the suction trap 150.

A valve 158 is formed in the suction trap 150 at the lower end of a shaft 160 whose axis is vertical. The shaft 160 and the valve 158 are guided by four guides 153 that protrude from the inner wall of the suction trap 150 toward the axis of the valve 158 to move up and down, as shown in FIG. 11(D). . A compression coil spring 155 is interposed between the shaft 160 and the suction trap 150 so that the valve 158 is pressed against a valve seat 150A formed at the lower end of the suction trap 150.

A return conduit 156 for returning the developer to the developer bottle 134 is connected to the valve seat 150A. Therefore, when the valve 158 is in contact with the valve seat 150A, the developer sucked from the pipe line 148 into the suction trap 150 is stored in the suction trap 150, and when the valve 158 is raised, the developer is stored inside the suction trap 150. The developer is transported by gravity to the developer bottle 134 via the return pipe 156.

The upper end of the shaft 160 is connected to an actuator 163 of a solenoid 162 via a connecting plate 159. This connecting plate 159 is provided with a play so that it can move relative to the shaft 160 by a slight amount in the axial direction, and the biasing force by the compression coil spring 155 is reliably applied to the shaft +60.
It is designed to convey information to

A valve fffl 163 A is fixed to the actuator 163 so that it can come into contact with an O-ring 163 B attached to the upper end of the suction trap 150 . That is, this valve plate 163A is always kept in contact with the O-ring 16 by the force of the return spring provided in the actuator 163.
3B, and when the actuator 163 is excited, it is raised and separated from the O-ring 163B.

Therefore, the valve plate 163A and the O-ring 163B constitute a ventilation valve means, and when the valve plate 163A is in close contact with the O-ring 163B, the suction trap 150 is isolated from the outside,
When the valve plate 163A is lifted from the O-ring 163B, the suction trap 150 and the shaft 160 are communicated with the outside, and the inside of the suction trap 150 is brought to atmospheric pressure.

In this case, even if the solenoid 162 lifts the actuator 163 and separates the valve plate 163A from the O-ring 163B, the valve 158 is moved by the compression coil spring 155 due to the play provided between the connecting plate 159 and the shaft 160.
This allows the valve 158 to remain pressed against the valve seat 150A, and when the actuator 163 is further lifted thereafter, the valve 158 is separated from the valve seat 150A.

In the middle part of the suction trap 150, there is a temporary inner circumferential hemlock 15.
0B is attached and extends near the outer periphery of the shaft 160, so that the developer stored in the lower part of the suction trap 150 does not enter the sleeve 151A.

Note that the process head 54 is shown tilted in FIG. 11 because it is tilted with respect to the horizontal plane so that the optical axis of the optical system is perpendicular to the screen 16 arranged tilted. .

(Drying section) The drying section 68 includes, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6,
A frame wall 164 is formed. The frame wall 164 is the upper frame 1
64A and left and right frames 164B and 164C, there is no lower frame.The left frame 164B is continuous from the right end of the lower frame 90D of the mask 90, and the upper frame 164
It stands up from the front wall 74 together with A. Further, the cloth frame 164C rises from a front wall recess 168 that is depressed from the front wall 74 in a step-like manner.

7 and 12 between the left and right frames 164B and 164C.
As shown in the figure, a wall 170 whose surface is located slightly inward from the end face of the frame wall 164 is formed, and furthermore, recesses 172 are formed on both sides of this wall 170. The bottom surface of the recess 172 is located at a position that projects from the wall surface of the front wall recess 168. A space surrounded by the frame wall 164, wall 170, and recess 172 is a drying chamber 174. The inner width of the frame wall 164 is wider than the opening width of the mask 90. Also, the lower surface (inner surface of the frame) of the upper frame 164A
is located above that of the mask 90 of the developing section 66.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 12, the upper frame 164A
The lower part is opened and serves as a hot air outlet 176. As shown in FIG. 12, the hot air outlet 176 communicates with a passage 178 formed in the internal space of the process head 54. The passage 178 communicates with a hot air supply port 180 opened on the back side of the process head 54 . Passage 1
A temperature sensor 182 is disposed at 78 . The hot air supply port 180 is connected to the heater 179 and the air pump 1 through a conduit 177.
It is connected to 81.

(Fixing Unit) As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the fixing unit 70 is formed between the cloth frame 164C of the frame wall 164 and the front wall 74 located at the right end.

The fixing section 70 has a frame section 184 formed of a lower frame and left and right frames at a position further depressed from the front wall recess 168. The frame part 184 is made of transparent glass vi18
6 is fitted, and the space in front of the glass plate 186 is used as a fixing chamber 188.

As shown in FIG. 13, in the space 190 of the process head 54 formed on the back side of the glass plate 186,
A xenon lamp 192 and a reflection plate 194 are provided. A cooling air outlet 196 is opened in the space 190,
Cold air is supplied from an air pump 195 via a conduit 193. The space 190 and the fixing chamber 188 communicate with each other above the glass plate 186.

(Prip sensor) As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the process head 5
4, a prep sensor 196 is installed at the left end of the front wall 74.
is installed. The blip sensor 196 detects the electrophotographic film 2 being moved along the front surface of the process head 54.
It is located at a height where the blip mark 24A of No. 4 passes, and when the blip mark 24A passes, it senses that the light from the light source for the sensor, which is placed facing each other with the electrophotographic film 24 in between, is blocked. It is supposed to be done.

(Film Holding Mechanism) As shown in FIGS. 7 and 14, a holding plate 198 is provided in front of the front wall 74 of the process head 54. As shown in FIGS. The presser plate 198 has, as shown in FIG.
A rectangular through-hole 200 is formed in the charging/exposure section 64, the size of which is slightly smaller than the opening shape of the mass hole 60 formed in the charging/exposure section 64.

The holding plate 198 is arranged so that the through hole 200 corresponds to the mask 76.

As shown in FIG. 15A (a perspective view of the presser plate viewed from the opposite side of FIG. 15), the presser plate 198 has process heads at the upper and lower ends of the side where the through holes 200 are formed. Claws 202 and 204 are formed that protrude toward the 54 side. The claws 202, 204 have inclined surfaces 202A, 204A on their inner surfaces facing each other, and as shown in FIG.
4 is equal to the width of the electrophotographic film 24 (strictly speaking, it is slightly wider than the width of the electrophotographic film 24). A cylindrical portion 206 is formed protruding from the tip of the claw 204 . The pawls 202, 204 can fit into holes 208, 210 formed in the front wall 74 of the process head 54, shown in FIGS. 5, 6, and 14.

A cylindrical portion 212 is formed protrudingly on the back surface of the holding plate 198 facing the process head 54 .
12 has a notch 21 formed at one end of the arm 214.
4A is engaged. A stopper 212A is fixed to the tip of the cylindrical portion 212 to prevent the notch 214A from being pulled out. A boss portion 214B is formed at the other end of the arm 214. The shaft 21 is attached to the boss portion 214B.
6 is fixed.

The shaft 216 is rotatably inserted into and supported by a stand 218 erected on the frame 60 to which the process head 54 is attached, and its lower end protrudes from the back surface of the frame 60 . A third lever 220 is fixed to the lower end of the shaft 216.

A pin 222 is fixed to the tip of the first lever 220.

On the other hand, a shaft 224 is vertically provided on the back surface of the frame 60. An intermediate portion of a second lever 226 is rotatably supported on the shaft 224 . The pin 222 is engaged with a notch 226A formed at one end of the second lever 226. A long hole 22 formed at the other end of the second lever 226
6B is a tension coil spring 2 that urges the second levers 226 in opposite directions and elastically supports the second levers 226.
28, 230 are locked at one end.

The other end of the tension coil spring 228 is locked to a pin 232 vertically installed on the back surface of the frame 60, and the other end of the tension coil spring 230 is connected to a pull-type solenoid 234 attached to the back surface of the frame 60. It is locked to plunger 234A.

The presser plate 198 is spaced apart from the process head 54 when the solenoid 234 is not energized. In this Jffi LM, as shown in FIG. 14, the cylindrical portion 206 of the presser foot 198 is fitted into a hole 210 formed in the process head 54 and supported.

When solenoid 234 is energized, plunger 234A
is actuated in the direction of arrow A, and the tension coil spring 228.23
0 is stretched against the force.

As a result, the second lever 226 is rotated about the shaft 224 in the direction of arrow B, so that the second lever 220 is rotated around the shaft 224.
22 in the direction of arrow C, causing the shaft 216 to rotate in the same direction. Rotation of the shaft 216 causes the arm 21.4 to
is rotated in the direction of the arrow mark and presses the presser plate 198 in the direction of the arrow E.

The presser plate 198 is moved in the direction of arrow E with the cylindrical portion 206 guided by the hole 210 to press the electrophotographic film 24 into contact with the end surfaces of the mask 76, 90 and the frame wall 164. When the holding plate 198 is moved, if the position of the electrophotographic film 24 is misaligned in the height direction, the claws 202.
The inclined surfaces 202A and 204A of the electrophotographic film 204 act to push down the upper edge of the electrophotographic film 24 or push up the lower edge thereof.

When the holding plate 198 presses the electrophotographic film 24 against the process head 54, the holding plate 198 has claws 202 and 204.
are fitted into holes 208, 210 and accurately positioned in process head 54. Also, the presser plate 198
In this state, the electrophotographic film 24 is elastically pressed by the action of the tension coil springs 228 and 230.

When the solenoid 234 is demagnetized, the tension coil spring 22
8, the second lever 226 is rotated in the direction opposite to the arrow B, the arm 214 is rotated in the direction opposite to the arrow B, the notch 214A presses the retaining ring 212A, and the retaining plate 198
is moved in the opposite direction of arrow E.

(Effect of Example) Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained.

When the power switch of the electrophotographic device is turned on, the first
The cassette loading section 26 shown in the figure is raised, and a cassette containing the electrophotographic film 24 can be loaded. After the cassette is loaded into the cassette loading section 26, when the cassette loading section 26 is manually pushed down to its original position, the cassette loading section 26 is restrained at that position r. In this state, the electrophotographic film 24 is positioned as shown in FIG. 14, and can be moved to the process along the front surface of the rad 54 by driving a film moving motor (not shown).

When recording the image of the document 34 shown in FIG. 2 on the electrophotographic film 24, a film moving motor (not shown) is driven to move a predetermined frame freely selected from among the frames that have not yet been recorded. is located in front of the mask 76 of the charging/exposure section 64. This operation is performed by specifying a predetermined frame using the control keyboard 28 shown in FIG. It is controlled by

FIG. 16 shows a time chart in the case where, after a predetermined frame has been aligned and photographed as described above, consecutive photographs are taken for each frame following this frame. ing. In the process head 54, the charging/exposure section 6
When the frame in the 4th place is being charged and exposed, the developing section 6
6. The pieces located in the drying section 68 and the fixing section 70 are subjected to different processes simultaneously.
The following explanation focuses on one frame in which the 1i shadow button is pressed at the (+) position in FIG. 16 and photography is started.

The first shadow of the original 34 is made possible by selecting the camera mode by changing the second button on the control keyboard, but at the same time as this operation, the developing electrode 96 of the developing section 66 is energized and a bias voltage is applied. The heater 179 that heats the air blown into the drying chamber 174 is energized and generates heat, and the capacitor of the xenon lamp 192 of the fixing section 70 is energized and charged. These are l1gI'Ilt while the camera mode is selected.

When the photographing button on the control keyboard 28 is pressed, the corona wire 84 of the charging/exposure section 64 is energized and a high voltage is applied, generating corona discharge between the proximal electrode 80 and the mask electrode 82. As a result, the mask 76
The surface of the photosensitive layer of the electrophotographic film 24 located within the opening frame is charged to ■.

Note that at the time when the 1st shadow button is pressed, the solenoid 234 of the film holding mechanism is energized continuously from the previous process, and the electrophotographic film 24 is pressed against the holding plate 198 and the mask 76, 90 of the process head 54 is pressed. and frame wall 16
4 and is pressed into contact with each end face of 4. The presser plate 198 has a through hole 200 formed in a portion corresponding to the mask 76, but since the through hole 200 is smaller than the opening of the mask 76, the electrophotographic film 24 located on the end surface of the mask 76 is pressed by the presser plate surface around the through hole 200. Therefore, the electrophotographic film 24 is reliably brought into close contact with the end face of the mask 76, so that the charging range is accurately controlled by the mask 76.
The opening range is limited to 6.

In addition, a mask electrode 82 provided in the charging/exposure chamber 72
is held at approximately the same potential as the charged potential of the electrophotographic film 24, so that the peripheral edge of the frame of the electrophotographic film 24 located in the opening of the mask 76 is also charged to a value close to the potential of the center of the frame. , the entire frame of the electrophotographic film 24 is uniformly charged. By appropriately selecting the value of a resistor (not shown) interposed and electrically connected between the ground and the mask electrode 82, or by
2 from an external power source (not shown), the mask electrode 82 is connected to the electrophotographic film 24.
can be maintained at a potential approximately equal to the charging potential of .

After a predetermined period of time has elapsed after the close button is pressed at position (1), the document illumination lamp 36 is turned on, and the document 34 placed on the glass plate 22 of the document table 18 is illuminated. Furthermore, after a predetermined period of time has elapsed after the button is pressed, the current supply to the corona wire 84 is stopped, and the corona discharge ends.

At the same time as the power supply to the corona wire 84 is stopped, a shutter (not shown) (indicated by the symbol A in FIG. 16) is opened, and the document is placed on the document table 18 by the optical system shown in FIG. Image light from the original 34 is irradiated onto the electrophotographic film 24 . Furthermore, at the same time, an automatic exposure control device (not shown) (indicated by reference numeral B in FIG. 16) starts integrating the amount of light.

On the other hand, after a predetermined period of time has elapsed after the button is pressed, the first
The motor 128 shown in FIG. 1A is driven to start operating the developer pump 130, and the developer bottle 13
The developer 136 in the developer tank 126 is pumped up into the developer tank 126. The developer 136 descends from the developer tank 126 under its own weight, passes through the pipe line 124, and heads for the process head 54. However, at this time, the solenoid valve 120 is still closed, so the developer bottle 136 flows from the return pipe line 13B. be returned to. Further, when the liquid level of the developer 136 rises in the developer tank 126, the developer 136 is transferred to the return pipe 1.
40 and is returned to the developer bottle 134.

In this way, the developer 136 circulates between the developer bottle 134 and the developer tank 126 and waits at a position in front of the valve surface of the solenoid valve 120 until the solenoid valve 120 is opened. This circulation stirs the developer 36 in the developer bottle 134.

When the cumulative value of the light amount of the automatic exposure control device (B) reaches the set value, the cumulative value is stopped, the shutter (A) is simultaneously closed, and the document illumination lamp 36 is turned off. At this point, the exposure process is completed, and one frame of the electrophotographic film 24 located in the opening of the mask 76 is electrostatically charged due to the decrease in the charge on the photosensitive layer according to the image pattern of the original 34. A layered image is formed. The automatic exposure control device (B) corrects factors for fluctuations in image density due to variations in the background density of the original 34, fluctuations in the voltage applied to the original illumination lamp 36, etc., so that proper exposure is always performed. At this time, when a predetermined time has elapsed since the button was pressed and all processing steps for other frames have been completed, the solenoid 234 of the film holding mechanism is immediately demagnetized. When the solenoid 234 is demagnetized at the (IA) position in FIG. 16, the holding plate 198 is separated from the electrophotographic film 24.

At the same time that the solenoid 234 of the film holding mechanism is demagnetized, the solenoid 162 of the suction trap 150 shown in FIG.
The valve 158 is raised via the valve 158 and the return line 156 is communicated with the suction trap 150. As a result, the ht
The trapped developer 136 is returned to the developer bottle 134.

In this case, when the actuator 163 rises by a certain amount immediately after the solenoid 162 is energized, the valve plate 163A is lifted at the same time. +ffl 163A separates from O-ring 163B. As a result, outside air enters into the suction trap 150 from between the valve plate 163A and the O-ring 163B, and the inside of the suction trap 150 becomes atmospheric pressure even though it is sucked under negative pressure by the suction squeeze air pump 154. Here, when the solenoid 162 is further raised, the valve 1
58 separates from the valve seat 150A and discharges the stored developer by its own weight via the return pipe 156 into the developer bottle 134.

In this way, since the inside of the suction trap 150 is already at atmospheric pressure, even if the valve 158 is separated from the valve seat 150A,
Air is suddenly sucked from inside the return pipe 156 into the trap 1.
50, the stored developer is quickly discharged, and the stored developer jumps and enters the conduit 152, which adversely affects the parts in the suction squeeze air pump 154. Never.

After the solenoid 234 of the film holding mechanism is demagnetized,
After a predetermined period of time has elapsed, a film moving motor (not shown) (indicated by C in FIG. 16) is driven, and the electrophotographic film 24 is moved one frame to the right in FIG. As a result, the frame located in the charging/exposure section 64 is moved to the developing section 66. One frame movement of the electrophotographic film 24 is
As in the previous case, the control is performed by the prep sensor 196 detecting the rib mark 24A.

After a predetermined period of time has elapsed after the film moving motor (C) is stopped, the solenoid 234 of the film holding mechanism is energized at the (IB) position in FIG.
is pressed against the process head 54 by a presser plate 198 . At the same time, the solenoid 162 of the suction trap 150 is demagnetized to close the return line 156, the suction squeeze air pump 154 is activated, and the solenoid valve 120 is opened.

When the solenoid valve 120 is opened, the developer 136 flows into the conduit 122.
The air passes through the process head 54 and flows into the developing chamber 98 from the developer/squeezing air inlet 100 of the developing section 66 . The toner particles dispersed in the developer 136 are charged to θ, and in the process of flowing down the developing chamber 98, they adhere to the charged part of the electrophotographic film 24 and develop an electrostatic latent image. become Developer 136 flowing down the developing chamber 98
is returned to the developer bottle 134 from the developer/squeeze air outlet 102 through a return line 146.

The developer 136 supplied from the developer tank 126 to the conduit 124 is routed through each conduit in such a way that part of it is returned to the developer bottle 134 from the return conduit 13B, and the rest goes to the electromagnetic valve 120. The diameter etc. are set.

The developer 136 flowing down the developing chamber 98 is
Since the electrophotographic film 24 is pressed into contact with the end surface of the mask 90 at step 8, it hardly enters the gap between the end surface of the mask 90 and the electrophotographic film 24. When the developer 136 enters from this part, the air pump 154 for suction squeeze is applied to the left and right frame parts 9 of the mask 90.
Due to the negative pressure generated in the recesses 92 located on both sides of the 0B 190C, the developer 136 is sucked into the suction trap 150 from the squeeze suction port 114 through the conduit 148 and captured.

The developer pump 130 is operated by the motor 12 after a predetermined period of time has elapsed after the solenoid 234 of the film holding mechanism is energized.
8 is stopped and the operation is stopped, but the magnetic valve 12
0 remains open thereafter. The developer 136 is transferred from the developer tank 126 to the process head 5 by gravity.
Since the developer 136 is supplied to the developing chamber 98, even if the operation of the developer pump 130 is stopped, the supply of the developer 136 to the developing chamber 98 is continued. In this way, the developer pump 13
Since the supply of the developer 136 is continued even after the supply of developer 136 is stopped, exposure blurring due to vibration of the developer pump 130 during exposure of the next frame can be minimized.

When the solenoid valve 120 is opened and a predetermined time has elapsed, the solenoid valve 120 is closed and the supply of the developer 136 to the developing chamber 98 is stopped. At the same time, the pressurized squeeze air pump 144 shown in FIG. The attached developer 136 is blown off and drained. The blown-off developer 136 is returned to the developer bottle 134 from the developer/squeeze air outlet 102 through a return pipe 146.

Before the operation of the air pump 144 is stopped, the suction squeeze air pump 154 is activated, and the suction trap 150 suctions and stores the developer after development. In this case, solenoid 1
62 is not operating, the valve 158 is in close contact with the valve seat 150A, and the stored developer is stored in the suction trap 150 without being discharged to the return pipe 156. This stored developer is discharged during the next development in the same manner as described above.

Note that the supply of pressurized air to the developing chamber 98, that is, the air blowing, is set to a weak flow while a sufficient amount of the developer 136 remains in the developing chamber 98, so that the image is not affected by the high-speed blowing off of the developer 136. Deterioration is prevented. After a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the start of air blowing, the air is turned into strong air to increase squeezing efficiency.

The air blowing is controlled by the charging/exposure process for the next frame, which is started when the photographing button is pressed at position (n) in Figure 16, and the solenoid 234 of the film holding mechanism is demagnetized at position (IIA) in Figure 16. After a predetermined period of time has elapsed, the drive of the film moving motor (C) is started and simultaneously stopped, thereby completing the developing/squeezing process.

Note that during development, the presence of the development electrode 96 makes it possible to obtain an image free of edge effects. Further, since a bias voltage is applied to the developing electrode 96, image fogging is prevented.

When the drive of the film movement motor (C) is stopped, the electrophotographic film 24 has been moved one frame to the right in FIG. There is. After the film movement motor (C) is stopped, the solenoid 234 of the film holding mechanism is energized at the (JIB) position in FIG. 16 after a predetermined time has elapsed, and the first
The air pump 181 shown in FIG. 2 is activated. When the air pump 181 operates, hot air heated by the heater 179 is blown out from the hot air outlet 176 of the drying section 68 to the drying chamber 174, and the developer 136 is dried. air pump 1
The operation of 81 is controlled by the frame charging/exposure process that is started when the photographing button is pressed at the (■) position in FIG. but? 'f4 It is stopped at the same time as N, and the drying process is completed.

Note that the warm air supplied to the drying chamber 174 is detected by the temperature sensor 18.
2, and if the temperature is out of the predetermined range, a message to that effect will be displayed on the control keyboard 2, and if it is outside the high temperature range, the heater 1
The power supply to 79 is immediately stopped.

In addition, in the above example, solenoid 2 of the film holding mechanism
34, and the drying air pump 18 is activated only when pressing the electrophotographic film 24 against the process head 54.
Although the air pump 181 is operated, the air pump 181 may be continuously operated from the start.

After the solenoid 234 of the film holding mechanism is demagnetized at the (I[[A] position in FIG. 16), the film moving motor (C
) is driven, and the frame located in the drying section 68 is moved to the fixing section 70. After the drive of the film moving motor (C) is stopped, the solenoid 234 of the film holding mechanism is energized at the (I[[B) position of FIG. 16], and at the same time, the air pump 195 shown in FIG. 13 is activated. Then, cold air is supplied to the space 190 of the fixing section 70. This cold air passes through the upper part of the glass plate 186 from the space 190 and reaches the fixing chamber 188 .

After a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the solenoid 234 of the film holding mechanism was energized, the xenon lamp 192 emits light.
The toner particles are fused and fixed to the surface of the electrophotographic film 24, completing the fixing process.

Air pump 19 removes vaporized substances and scattered substances generated during fixing.
Since the particles are blown off by the cold air supplied by the filter 5, they do not adhere to the surface of the glass plate 186.

By completing the above steps, recording of the image on the electrophotographic film is completed.

In the apparatus of this embodiment, after the frame located in the charging/exposure section 64, where the photographing button is pressed and photographing is started, is moved one frame to the developing section 66, the solenoid 2 of the film holding mechanism
Photographing of the next frame becomes possible after a predetermined period of time has elapsed since 4 is excited. From this time until after a predetermined period of time has elapsed after the air pump 144 for pressurizing and squeezing the developing section 66 finishes blowing weak air, the shooting button is pressed to shoot the next consecutive frame. This is processed as continuous shooting, and by continuing this, the processing progresses as shown in FIG. 16.

Note that if the shooting button is not pressed within the above-mentioned period, or if the end of the series of shooting is input from the control keyboard 28, the timer stops the strong air blowing by the pressurized squeeze air pump 144. ,
Subsequent drying and fixing are also processed by a timer.

The electrophotographic film 24 on which the original image is recorded as described above becomes capable of projection when the reader mode is selected. In the electrophotographic apparatus of this embodiment, the reader mode is automatically selected when a cassette is loaded by the same operation as described above (the third mirror 38 is moved from the position shown in FIG. 2 to another position). ), by the same operation as described above, when a predetermined frame is positioned in the charging/exposure section 64 and stopped, the light source of the projection light source section 46 shown in FIG. 3 is turned on, and this light is emitted. The electrophotographic film 24 is transmitted through the through hole 200 of the holding plate 198, and the electrophotographic film 24 is applied to the screen 16 by the optical system shown in FIG.
The image is enlarged and projected.

Note that at the same time that the light source is turned on, the air pump 89 shown in FIG.
4 is cooled so that it does not reach a high temperature, and defocusing due to thermal deformation is prevented.

In addition, in reader mode, the control keyboard 28
By operating the button, the electrophotographic film 24 can be continuously framed and the projected images can be viewed continuously in a short period of time.

In this case, the shutter (A) is closed when the electrophotographic film +24 is moved to prevent flickering due to an afterimage phenomenon.

When the copy button on the control keyboard 28 is pressed while the image is being projected onto the screen 16 as described above, the copy mode is selected and the copy mirror 52 is moved, and the optical system shown in FIG.
The image projected on 6 is recorded on copy paper 30.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, the process head for an electrophotographic apparatus according to the present invention includes a developing section that supplies developer to an electrophotographic film for development, and a container in which the developer after development is sucked and squeezed and temporarily stored. The container is provided with a drainage valve means for discharging the developer, and a venting valve means for increasing the pressure inside the container before the valve means is opened. Therefore, when the developer stored in the container is discharged by the drain valve means, the developer is quickly discharged and the developer does not fly and reach the suction pump. It has no superior effect.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is an external perspective view showing an embodiment of an electrophotographic device;
The figure is a perspective conceptual diagram showing the photographing optical system of an electrophotographic device.
FIG. 4 is a perspective conceptual diagram showing a projection optical system, FIG. 4 is a perspective conceptual diagram showing a copying optical system, and FIG. 5 is a process head according to an embodiment of the present invention installed in the electrophotographic apparatus shown in FIG. 1. Figure 6 is a front view, and Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view of the same.
Figure 8 is a view from the ■-■ line in Figure 6, Figure 9 is a view from IX-IX in Figure 6, and Figure 10 is a view from Figure 6. 11 (A) and (B) are explanatory diagrams showing the relationship between the process head developing section and other equipment; FIG. 11 (C) is a sectional view of the suction trap; Diagram (D)
is a sectional view taken along the line XI-XI in FIG. 11(C), FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along the line xn-x■ in FIG. 6, and FIG.
14 is a schematic side view showing the positional relationship between the process head and the holding plate; FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing the film holding mechanism disposed in the process head; 15A
The figure is a perspective view of some parts of Figure 15 viewed from the opposite side.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a time chart in the camera mode of the electrophotographic device. 66... Developing section, 92... Concavity, 114... Squeeze suction port, 138... Return pipe line, 150... Triggering trap (gas-liquid separation means), 150A
... Valve seat, 155 ... Compression coil spring, 158 ... Valve, 163 ... Actuator, 163A ... Valve plate, 163B ... O-ring. Figure 4 Figure 7 Figure 10 CB) Figure 11 (A) Figure 11 (C) Figure 1I (D) Figure 12 Figure 13

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A developing section that supplies developer to the electrophotographic film for development, and a gas-liquid separation means that includes a container in which the developer after development is sucked and squeezed and temporarily stored, and the container A process head for an electrophotographic apparatus, characterized in that, in addition to a drainage valve means for discharging developer, a venting valve means is provided for increasing the pressure inside the container before the valve means is opened.