JP2875339B2 - Image forming method and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a printing machine and a copying machine.

[Prior Art] Image forming apparatuses used in conventional copiers and optical printers are generally of the electrophotographic type.

This method basically forms an image by adhering toner in accordance with an electrostatic latent image, and comprises the following processes centering on the photoconductor 8 as shown in FIG. .

First, the photoreceptor 8 is uniformly charged by a corona charger 9 or the like, and is exposed according to an image by an exposure device 10 to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoreceptor 8.

Then, the charged toner 12 is adhered in the developing device 11 in accordance with the electrostatic latent image to perform development. After being transferred to the recording paper 14 by the transfer device 13, heat, pressure, etc. To fix the toner on the recording paper 15 to complete the image formation.

The residual toner on the photoconductor 8 is removed by the cleaner 16 before the next image formation.

For such an electrophotographic image forming apparatus,
For example, "Electrophotography" by Earl M. Schafert
(Kyoritsu Shuppan, 1973), or "Electronic Photographic Society, Fundamentals and Applications" (Corona Publishing Co., 1988).

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] As described above, the above-described conventional technology includes many processes that are complicatedly related to each other, and image formation cannot be realized without a complicated configuration.

Also, a bias voltage for corona charging and development requires a high voltage, and the members involved are required to have a high withstand voltage, so that it has been difficult to reduce the size of the apparatus.

Further, since the basic driving force for forming an image is static electricity, there is a problem that the quality of a recorded image is easily affected by environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity.

In addition, it is required to use a toner having a small particle size for a high-definition image. However, in the related art, in a developing device 11 for performing development, a member on which the toner 12 is attached by magnetic force or electrostatic force rotates. The toner 12 is conveyed to the developing area 17 one after another, and in the developing area 17, the toner is moved to the surface of the photoconductor by an electric field.

At this time, the adhesion force of the toner 12 to the conveyance member in the developing device 11 must be set to be weaker than the suction force by the electric field in the developing area 17 in the direction of the photoconductor 8. Physical properties related to this phenomenon, such as diameter and charge amount, always have a distribution, and as a result, it is not possible to control all toners. The amount of toner that is shaken off and floats in the apparatus increases, and the lighter toner having a smaller particle diameter tends to continue floating.

As a result, there is a problem that these toners adhere to the recording paper 14 conveyed in the apparatus directly or via the adhesion to each member in the apparatus, and appear as dirt.

By the way, in the prior art, in the developing area 17,
The toner 12 is rubbed on the photoreceptor 8 in a state in which ears are formed, generally by a magnetic brush phenomenon method, on the conveying member of the developing device 11.

For this reason, when a plurality of color toners are used to record a color image, a developing device is required for each color toner, but when the ears are rubbed against the photoconductor, another developing device is set in the developing device. There is a problem that the color toner is taken in, and as a result, unnecessary color mixture occurs on the recording paper.

Therefore, two approaches have been taken to solve this.

One is a method in which development on a photoconductor, transfer to recording paper, and fixing are completed for each color toner, and only one color toner image is formed on the photoconductor 8 at all times.

However, in this method, since the image forming process is repeated by the number of toner colors to form one color image, an image forming time several times as large as the toner color to be used is required as compared with a single color image forming time. was there.

In another method, the toner 12 on the toner conveying member is not rubbed against the photoconductor 8 in the developing area 17, but a gap is provided so that the charged toner and the photoconductor are opposed to each other, and the static electricity on the photoconductor is changed. This is called a non-contact development method in which an electric field based on an electrostatic latent image flies.

However, while it is difficult to make this gap small and accurate, it is difficult to obtain a fine electrostatic latent image because the electric field rapidly attenuates as the distance from the photoconductor surface increases. There was a problem.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus suitable for miniaturization and capable of realizing image formation with a simple configuration.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of forming a good color image.

Means for Solving the Problems To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a first image forming method, wherein the movement of an image forming medium is controlled by light.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an image forming medium which is located in a space in an optical path connecting a light source and an image forming object, is moved on the image forming object under the control of light, and is fixed. A second image forming method, wherein an image is formed by forming the image.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a first image forming apparatus comprising: a light source; and control means for controlling movement of the image forming medium to the image forming object by light from the light source. Provide equipment.

The first image forming apparatus may include a floating unit for floating the image forming medium and the control unit for controlling the movement of the floating image forming medium to the image forming object.

In this case, the floating unit may be a unit that irradiates an ultrasonic wave to the image forming medium.

Further, in the image forming apparatus, an opening through which light for moving the image forming medium in the circulation path to the image forming object is incident, and the image forming medium moves from the circulation path to the image forming object. A circulation path for circulating the floating image forming medium having the above-mentioned opening may be provided. In this case, the opening may be shared, and when not shared, the cross-sectional area perpendicular to the moving direction of the image forming medium is set to be smaller than the cross-sectional area in another area in the circulation path. The cross-sectional area perpendicular to the moving direction of the image forming medium may be different between the upstream side and the downstream side of the opening. The size may be different from the size of the opening on the object side.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a light source, a unit for positioning an image forming medium in a space in an optical path connecting the light source and the image forming object, and an image forming medium on the image forming medium by light from the light source. A second image forming apparatus comprising: a control unit configured to control movement to a formed object.

The first and second image forming apparatuses may include, if necessary, a fixing unit that fixes the image forming medium moved onto the image forming object to the image forming object. .

In this case, the fixing unit may melt the moving image forming medium before reaching the image forming object. At this time, an infrared light source may be provided as a means for melting the image forming medium. Further, the fixing means may be a heat roll. Alternatively, a flash lamp may be used.

Further, in the first and second image forming apparatuses, a laser light source may be provided as a light source.

In this case, it is desirable to provide a means for scanning the laser light or to provide the laser light source in an array.

In the image forming apparatus, the control unit includes:
In order to control the movement of the image forming medium, the position of the focal point of the light from the light source may be controlled.

In this case, the control means may include a variable focus lens for controlling the position of the focal point.

In the image forming apparatus, the control unit includes:
In order to control the movement of the image forming medium, the light intensity or the irradiation area may be controlled according to the image to be formed.

In the image forming apparatus, the movement may be controlled by toner provided as an image forming medium in a floating state or ink provided as an image forming medium in a mist state. Alternatively, the image forming medium may be suspended in a liquid and made to be in a mist state, and may be subjected to the movement control.

Further, in the image forming apparatus, the image forming medium is an image forming medium of a plurality of colors, and the control unit controls the movement of the image forming medium for each color to form a color image. Is also good.

In this case, a white laser light source may be provided as a light source, and the control unit may include a unit for separating the light for controlling the movement of the image forming medium for each color from the white laser light.

In order to achieve the object, the present invention provides an image signal processing unit that processes an input image signal, a light source, a floating unit that floats an image forming medium, and a transport unit that transports an image forming object, Exposure means for controlling the movement of the floating image forming medium by the light from the light source to the conveyed image forming object, according to the image signal processed by the image signal processing means,
A third image forming apparatus comprising: a fixing unit that fixes an image forming medium moved onto an image forming object to the image forming object.

Further, the present invention also provides a copying machine comprising: a document reading unit for reading a document; and the image forming apparatus for copying an image of the read document.

A document reading unit for reading the document; a communication control unit for transmitting and receiving image information via a communication path; and the image forming the image specified by the image information received by the communication control unit. And a facsimile machine comprising: a forming device.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus for forming an image by an electrophotographic method, comprising a light source for moving toner unnecessary for forming an image floating in the apparatus. Image forming apparatus.

In this case, the light source for controlling the unnecessary movement of the toner by light may be a laser array. Further, if the wavelength of the light source is a wavelength at which the photosensitive member in the forming apparatus is not exposed to light, unnecessary toner can be collected in parallel with the image formation.

[Operation] According to the first image forming method of the present invention, the movement of the image forming medium can be realized by a simple process because the movement of the image forming medium is controlled by light.

According to the second image forming method of the present invention, the image forming medium is positioned in the space in the optical path connecting the light source and the image forming object, and the positioned image forming medium is placed on the image forming material. Move.

Further, according to the first image forming apparatus of the present invention, since the movement of the image forming medium to the image forming object by the light of the light source is controlled, the size of the apparatus can be reduced.

Also, if the image forming medium is floated by the floating means,
Movement control becomes easier.

Further, in the image forming apparatus, if the movement of the image forming medium onto the image forming object is controlled while circulating the image forming medium in the circulation path, the image forming medium can be effectively used.

Further, according to the second image forming apparatus of the present invention, the light source and the image forming medium are located in the space in the optical path connecting the light source and the image forming object, and the image of the image forming medium is In addition, in the first and second image forming apparatuses, a plurality of color image forming media are used as the image forming media, and the control unit controls the movement of the image forming media for each color. By controlling, a good color image can be formed.

Further, if a fixing unit for fixing the image forming medium moved onto the image forming object to the image forming object is provided, a wider range of image forming medium can be used.

According to the third image forming apparatus of the present invention, the image signal processing means processes the input image signal, and the exposure means responds to the image signal processed by the image signal processing means by light from the light source. The movement of the image forming medium suspended by the floating means to the image forming object transported by the transport means is controlled. Then, the fixing unit performs fixing on the image forming object.

According to the fourth image forming apparatus of the present invention, in an image forming apparatus for forming an image by an electrophotographic method, light unnecessary for image formation floating in the apparatus is moved by light from a light source. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the trouble caused by the floating toner.

Embodiment An embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described below.

The first feature of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is that the motion of an image forming medium such as toner is controlled by optical pressure.

For details of the optical pressure used in the present invention, see, for example, “Physical Review Letters”, Vol. 24, No. 4, (1970), pp. 156 to 159 (“PHYSICAL REVI
EW LETTERS ", Vol.24, No.4 (1970) P156-159) and" Optics "(Japan Society of Applied Physics, Japan Optical Society)
18, pp. 196-202, No. 4, (1988).

That is, in general, when light is irradiated to an atom from one direction, the atom absorbs photons that collide from one direction,
The spontaneous emission of emitting absorbed photons is repeated, and the momentum of the atoms changes accordingly. At this time, the momentum change due to absorption of photons is always in one direction, whereas the momentum change due to spontaneous emission of photons is isotropic on average, so the atoms change momentum only in the light irradiation direction. Is generated.

 This is called light pressure.

By the way, since the absorption of the photons depends on the resonance frequency inherent to the atoms, the magnitude of the light pressure depends on the frequency of the light to be irradiated, and the state differs depending on the type of the atoms.

In addition, when light is applied to micron-order particles, the light is refracted at the particle boundary surface, and thus has a light pressure component in a direction perpendicular to the irradiation direction.

At this time, if the irradiation light is, for example, a laser beam having a spatially Gaussian intensity distribution on a plane perpendicular to the optical path, particles having a higher refractive index than the surrounding atmosphere will be a laser beam having a higher light intensity. Particles that are attracted to the center of the light and have a lower refractive index than the surrounding atmosphere receive a force in the direction away from the center of the laser light. When the irradiation light has an intensity distribution as described above, a light pressure is also generated in a direction perpendicular to the light irradiation direction.

Therefore, if this phenomenon is used to converge a laser beam having a Gaussian intensity distribution to a certain region, particles having a higher refractive index than the surrounding atmosphere can be captured in the vicinity of the laser beam converging region. .

The above phenomenon is based on the light pressure and the refractive index, and the influence of the temperature and the humidity can be almost ignored near normal temperature.

As described above, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is characterized by controlling the movement of the image forming medium by the light pressure as described above. In the present embodiment, as an example, a light source is provided. An image forming medium such as toner or ink is arranged in an optical path connecting an image forming object such as a recording paper and the like, and the image forming medium is moved onto the image forming object by light pressure to form an image. The device will be described.

First, an outline of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described.

FIG. 1 shows an outline of the configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.

In the figure, 1 is a light source, 2 is an image forming object, 3 is an image forming medium, 4, 5, and 6 are mechanisms for supplying and circulating the image forming medium 3, and 6 corresponds to a circulation path.

 Reference numeral 7 denotes an opening provided in the circulation path.

In such a configuration, the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment is configured such that the image forming medium 3 such as toner or granular ink floating in a certain circulation path 6 Through the opening 7 provided, light is selectively irradiated according to image information to be recorded, and the image forming medium 3 is moved toward the image forming object 2 such as recording paper by light pressure. As a result, an image is formed on the image forming object 2.

The reason why the image forming medium such as toner is supplied through the circulation path is to enable the toner to be used effectively, and the image forming medium may be supplied by any other method.

In addition, the positional relationship between the light source 1, the image forming object 3, and the image forming medium 2 and the angle formed by each of them are determined according to the circumstances and purpose of the actual device design. One of them is illustrated.

That is, for example, the light beam may irradiate the image forming medium not perpendicularly.

As described above, in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, the driving force for image formation is light pressure, is not easily affected by temperature and humidity, and completely controls the behavior of the image forming medium. Therefore, the contamination on the image forming object, which is a problem in the related art, does not occur.

Further, the image forming medium 3 that has not contributed to the image formation is circulated through the circulation path 6 and reused, so that it is efficient.

In addition, in this embodiment, the optical system is adjusted so that the spot diameter of the irradiation light has a size corresponding to the required resolution, and the image forming medium that satisfies (the spot diameter of the irradiation light) ≧ (the particle diameter of the image forming medium) Is used, a high-definition image can be recorded.

Further, since the circulation path 6 of the image forming medium 3 is not in contact with the image forming object 2, color mixing does not occur as in the related art.

Hereinafter, details of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment,
The case where a recording sheet is used as an image forming object will be described as an example.

First Embodiment FIG. 3 shows the configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment.

In the figure, 6 is a circulation path, 18 is a toner, 19 is an ultrasonic vibrator.
20 is a blower, 21 is an opening, 22 is recording paper, 23 is an optical system, 24
Denotes a fixing heat roll, 25 denotes a laser light source, 26 denotes an acousto-optic modulator 26, 27 denotes a polygon mirror, and 29 denotes a condenser lens.

 Hereinafter, the operation will be described.

In this embodiment, a toner 18 having an average particle diameter of 10 μm is used as an image forming medium.

The toner 18 floats in the air by the ultrasonic vibrator 19 and moves while slowly floating in the circulation path 6 by the blower 20. In the opening 21, it is desirable that the moving speed of the toner is substantially equal to the moving speed of the toner in the same direction as the recording paper 22 being conveyed.

The toner 18 is irradiated with laser light by the optical system 23 through the opening 22 and flies toward the conveyed recording paper.

At this time, since the amount of toner reaching the recording paper 22 depends on the intensity of the laser light, an image having a gradation can be formed by adjusting the intensity of the laser light.

The flying toner adheres to the recording paper 22. At this time, if the recording paper surface is covered with an adhesive substance, the adhesion of the toner is further stabilized.

After that, the toner on the recording paper is
Rooted by 24. As this fixing means, a flash lamp can be used.

The laser light source 25 of the optical system 23 used here is an argon laser with an output of 1 W. The laser light is switched by an acousto-optic modulator 26 that operates according to the image information to be recorded, and the polygon mirror 27 conveys the recording paper. Scanning is performed in a direction perpendicular to the direction 28, and a condensing lens 29 forms a spot having a diameter of 10 μm on the surface of the recording paper 22.

This laser light has a Gaussian intensity distribution in the optical path cross section, and as shown in FIG. 4, the toner existing in the light beam of the laser light in the region of the opening 21
18 moves toward the 100 μm diameter spot area.

At this time, once the momentum toward the recording paper 22 is given, it is not always necessary to continue irradiating the laser beam until the toner reaches the recording paper.

Note that the cross-sectional shape of the opening 21 is not limited to that shown in FIG. 3, but also has a size in the moving direction of the toner in order to prevent leakage of the toner from the opening as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5 (b), the light source side of the opening is transparent with respect to the emission wavelength of the light source.
5 (c), the cross-sectional area of the circulation path is narrowed so that the floating toner forms a thin layer, as shown in FIG. 5 (d). The size of the light source side of the opening and the size of the recording paper 22 may be different depending on the light shape.

Further, in order to obtain the gradation of an image in the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment, in addition to changing the intensity of the irradiating laser light as described above, it is also possible to change the irradiating area. The same effect can be obtained.

To change the irradiation area, for example,
An area modulation type liquid crystal cell or the like described in JP-A-63-193131 may be provided in an optical path and controlled.

Here, FIG. 6 shows an application example of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment.

In the figure, 6 is a circulation path, 22 is a recording sheet, 23 is an optical system, 46 is an exposure control section, 47 is an image signal processing section, 48 is a sheet feeding section, 49 is a recording sheet conveying section, and 50 is a recording sheet conveying control. And 51, a fixing unit, and 52, a paper discharge unit.

The recording paper 22, which is the image forming material 22,
The toner transported by the recording paper transport control unit 50 and the recording paper transport unit 49 and floating in the circulation path 6 is
After the toner image is formed under the control of the optical system 23, the toner image is fixed by the fixing unit 51, and the paper discharge unit 52
Is accumulated in

Second Embodiment In the first embodiment, the toner image is formed on the recording paper by pushing off the floating toner by the light pressure. In the second embodiment, however, the phenomenon that the particles can be captured in the vicinity of the converging point. Is used to form an image.

The basic configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment. However, in the second embodiment, a variable focal length lens 31 having a variable focal length is used as a condenser lens. .

As such a lens, for example, a lens using liquid crystal whose focal length can be controlled by an applied voltage is known.

FIG. 7 shows a configuration near the focus variable lens in the second embodiment.

In the figure, 31 indicates a variable focus lens, and 32 indicates a variable focus lens driving device.

In this configuration, the focus of the focus variable lens 31 is set inside the opening area by the focus variable lens driving device 32 operating in synchronization with laser scanning to capture floating toner, and then the focus variable By moving the focal point of the lens in the recording paper direction 22, the captured toner is moved and adhered to the recording paper surface.

In addition, the light beam may not necessarily be applied to the image forming medium but perpendicular to the medium.

The other processes are the same as those in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

In the application example (see FIG. 6) of the image forming apparatus described at the end of the first embodiment, the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment is replaced with the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment. The device may be applied.

Third Embodiment In a third embodiment, an image forming apparatus for forming a color image will be described.

FIG. 8 shows the configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the third embodiment.

Cyan 33, yellow 3, which are three different color toners
4. For each of the magenta 35, the same circulation paths 36, 37, 38 and laser optical meters 39, 40,
If the combination of 41 is used, a color image forming apparatus can be easily configured.

In this case, even if the number of colors of the image forming medium to be used increases, the recording speed is the same as in the case of the single color. Further, since the circulation path of the image forming medium and the recording paper are not in contact with each other,
No color mixing occurs as in the prior art.

Further, the circulation paths 36, 37, and 38 of the image forming medium for each color are configured as shown in FIG. 9 when viewed from the light irradiating section, and the openings 42, 43, and 44 for each color are taken as an example. One laser beam may be scanned in a direction 46 substantially perpendicular to the paper transport direction 45, and it is not necessary to provide a laser optical system for each image forming medium of each color.

In the application example (see FIG. 6) of the image forming apparatus described at the end of the first embodiment, the image forming apparatus according to the third embodiment is replaced with the image forming apparatus according to the third embodiment. The device may be applied.

Fourth Embodiment In the third embodiment, a circulation path for each color is provided for forming a color image. However, in the fourth embodiment,
An image forming apparatus that forms a color image through one circulation path will be described.

As described above, since an atom has a unique resonance frequency, there is a light frequency at which the magnitude of the light pressure has a maximum for each atom. Accordingly, by irradiating light of a wavelength such that the light pressure of each substance is maximized with respect to toners of different colors, a color image forming apparatus that selectively controls only a toner of a desired color to form an image is formed. be able to.

In this case, lasers may be used for the number of toner colors.

Further, the light source may be one white laser, and the light may be separated by a prism. In this case, adjustment of the intensity for each spectrum can be realized by using the area modulation type liquid crystal cell or the like.

As described above, in the fourth embodiment, only one circulation path of the toner is required, and a small full-color image forming apparatus is obtained.

In the application example (see FIG. 6) of the image forming apparatus described at the end of the first embodiment, the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment is replaced with the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment. The device may be applied.

In the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, when a laser array is used as a light source, scanning of laser light is not required, and further downsizing of the apparatus and higher-speed recording can be performed. At this time, as a lens system for condensing the laser beam, for example, a micro Fresnel lens array, an array of liquid crystal focus variable lenses described in the second embodiment, or the like can be used.

(Fifth Embodiment) In the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus according to each of the above embodiments is used. Light such as infrared light is used as a fixing means when an image forming medium such as toner that requires fixing is used.

That is, in the image forming apparatus according to each of the embodiments, the infrared rays may be melted while the image forming medium jumps out of the opening of the circulation path and reaches the image forming object such as a recording sheet. By irradiating light for fixing such as light, the fixing is completed at the same time when the image forming medium reaches the image forming object.

Desirably, the light source for controlling the movement of the image forming medium and the light source for fixing are used to simplify the configuration of the apparatus.

Further, the control of the movement and the melting of the toner may be simultaneously performed by the light for controlling the movement of the image forming medium.

Sixth Embodiment In this embodiment, instead of the fifth embodiment, the fixing of the image forming apparatus is performed by blowing a gas for melting the toner on the recording paper to which the toner has adhered, or by adhering the toner. The recording paper is passed through the area filled with the gas.

In this case, for example, when a styrene acryl-based toner is used as the toner, toluene or the like compatible with the styrene-acryl-based toner can be used as the gas.

In this case, it is effective to promote the vaporization by mixing the toluene with Freon or the like. Fixing is also possible by passing the recording paper with the toner adhered through a solvent.

Seventh Embodiment An image forming apparatus according to this embodiment uses a liquid material such as ink as an image forming medium of the image forming apparatus, eliminates the need for the fixing unit in each of the above embodiments, and further reduces the configuration of the apparatus. Simplify.

In this case, the ink or the like is floated, and the movement is controlled by light. As a means for the floating, for example, a technique of irradiating an ultrasonic wave to atomize the ink can be used.

Further, in this case, by appropriately selecting the size of the opening in the circulation path, the surface of the liquid at the opening on the light incident side is made spherical by using the surface tension of the liquid, and a lens effect is provided. In addition, it is possible to eliminate the need for the lens system as in the above embodiments.

Further, instead of the liquid, as the image forming medium of the image forming apparatus, a medium in which solid particles such as toner are dispersed in the liquid can be used. In this case, a fixing unit is required, but it is possible to provide a lens effect as described above, and to eliminate the need for the lens system as in each of the above embodiments.

In any case, if the opening in the circulation path is made to have an appropriate size with respect to the surface tension of the liquid, the liquid does not flow out of the opening.

(Eighth Embodiment) In this embodiment, for example, a single-row laser array is used as a light source of the image forming apparatus according to each of the above embodiments.

This makes it unnecessary to scan the laser beam in the direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the image forming medium, thereby enabling further downsizing of the apparatus and higher-speed recording.

In this case, as a lens system for condensing the laser light, for example, a micro Fresnel lens array, the above-described array of liquid crystal focus variable lenses, or the like may be used.

Ninth Embodiment In this embodiment, application of the image forming apparatus according to each of the above embodiments to a copying machine, a facsimile machine, and the like will be described.

That is, as a conventional means for forming an image on a recording sheet, an image recording unit in a copying machine or a facsimile apparatus using an electrophotographic process, a thermal method, or a thermal transfer method is used in the image forming apparatus according to each of the embodiments. In other words, a small-size, high-image-quality copying machine or facsimile apparatus using plain paper can be provided.

 FIG. 10 shows a configuration of a copying machine according to the present embodiment.

In the figure, 1 is an optical system, 46 is an exposure control section, 53 is a document reading section, 54 is an image forming section which is the image forming apparatus according to each embodiment, and 56 is a CCD contact reading sensor.

In the original reading section 53, the CCD contact reading sensor 5
The image of the original 55 to be copied is read by 6 and the image information is obtained as an electric signal.

This image information is sent to an image forming unit 54 similar to the image forming apparatus according to each of the above-described embodiments. The image forming unit drives the optical system 1 according to the image information by the exposure control unit 46, and Perform formation.

FIG. 11 shows a configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to the present embodiment.

In the figure, reference numeral 53 denotes a document reading unit, 54 denotes an image forming apparatus according to each embodiment, and an image forming unit 57 denotes an external communication unit.

The external communication unit 57 transmits image information read by the document reading unit 53 to the outside, and receives image information to be printed by the image forming unit from the outside.

(Tenth Embodiment) In this embodiment, the recovery of the floating toner causing contamination in a conventional, for example, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus is performed using light pressure.

That is, the mechanism for controlling the movement of the image forming medium by light pressure can be applied not only to image formation, but also to collection of floating toner that causes contamination in a conventional electrophotographic image forming apparatus, for example.

In this embodiment, the light for controlling the movement of the image forming medium is at a wavelength at which the photoreceptor used in the electrophotographic image forming apparatus is not exposed.

As described above, according to the embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus using light pressure and a novel method and configuration that has not been used in the past, and bring a new perspective to image forming technology. Can be.

Further, according to the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, since the apparatus can be configured with a simple configuration, the apparatus can be downsized. This effect is particularly remarkable in a device for forming a color image.

In addition, since it does not rely on static electricity, the influence of temperature and humidity on the environment is small.

Also, even when a plurality of image forming media of different colors are used, unnecessary color mixing does not occur, and a color image can be formed without impairing the image forming speed as compared with the case of a single color. .

Further, in particular, the recording paper is not limited as in the case of the thermal image forming apparatus, and since it is a non-contact type unlike the thermal transfer type, it is possible to reduce the size of the object to be image-formed, and to facilitate colorization. It is.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where recording paper is used as an image forming object has been described as an example. However, the same can be realized when another image forming material is used.

Further, the image forming medium is not limited to the above-described toner and ink, but may be any medium that can be controlled by light pressure.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus suitable for miniaturization and capable of realizing image formation with a simple configuration.

Further, an image forming apparatus capable of forming a good color image can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a conventional electrophotographic technique, and FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment;
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an image forming state, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of an opening of a circulation path of an image forming medium, FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an application example of the image forming apparatus, Fig. 7 shows the second
FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration around a variable focus lens in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment, FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the third embodiment, and FIG. FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a copier using an image forming apparatus, and FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a facsimile apparatus using the image forming apparatus. REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 light source 2 image forming object 3 image forming medium 4 image forming medium floating device 5 image forming medium moving device 6 circulation path 7 opening 18 ... toner, 19 ... ultrasonic vibrator, 20 ... blower, 21 ... opening, 22 ... recording paper, 23 ... optical system, 24 ... fixing heat roll, 25 ... laser light source, 26 ... acousto-optic modulator, 27
… Polygon mirror, 29… Condenser lens, 31… Focus variable lens, 32… Variable focus lens driving device.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of front page (56) References JP-A-1-34439 (JP, A) JP-A-61-260285 (JP, A) JP-A-61-262749 (JP, A) JP-A-61-62749 35280 (JP, A) JP-A-59-179360 (JP, A) JP-A-55-30968 (JP, A) JP-A-55-275 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. ⁶ , DB name) B41J 2/44

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A method for forming an image on an image-forming object by attaching an image-forming medium to the image-forming object, comprising: directing light whose intensity is controlled from a light source to the image-forming object. The image forming medium is positioned in an optical path between the light source and the image forming object so that an amount of the image forming medium according to the intensity of the light is used to form the image forming medium by the light. An image forming method characterized by moving to an object and attaching the object. 2. An image forming apparatus for forming an image on an image forming object by adhering an image forming medium to the image forming object, comprising: a support section for supporting the image forming object; A light source that emits light toward the image forming object, and an optical path between the image forming object and the light source for moving and attaching the image forming medium to the image forming object by the light. And a control unit that controls the intensity of light emitted from the light source to adjust the amount of the image forming medium that moves to the image forming object. Characteristic image forming apparatus. 3. The image forming method according to claim 2, further comprising a fixing section for fixing the image forming medium adhered to the image forming object. 4. An image forming apparatus for forming an image on an image forming object by adhering an image forming medium to the image forming object, wherein: a supporting portion for supporting the image forming object; A light source that emits light toward the image forming object, and an optical path between the image forming object and the light source for moving and attaching the image forming medium to the image forming object by the light. An arrangement unit that arranges the image forming medium, and a control unit that adjusts the intensity of light emitted by the light source to adjust the amount of the image forming medium that moves to the image forming object, The arranging unit includes: a circulation path for circulating the image forming medium including a path crossing the optical path; and a circulation drive source for circulating the image forming medium along the circulation path. Crosses the optical path Image forming apparatus characterized by having an opening for passing the light in the portion. 5. An image forming apparatus for forming an image on an image forming object by adhering an image forming medium to the image forming object, wherein: a supporting portion for supporting the image forming object; A light source that emits light toward the image forming object, and the image forming medium in an optical path between the image forming object and the light source for moving the light to the image forming object and attaching the light source to the image forming object. And a circulating path for circulating the image forming medium including a path traversing the optical path, and circulating the image forming medium along the circulating path. A circulation driving source, wherein the circulation path has an opening for passing the light in a portion crossing the optical path, and between the light source and the opening, for condensing the light. The lens is arranged and the lens An image forming apparatus characterized by having a focus position driving unit for moving the focal position of the lens.