JPH11223998A - Double-sided recording ion flow recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) Abstract: In a recording apparatus using a high-density liquid developing means, an object is to perform recording on both sides of recording paper. In order to achieve the above object, a conductive layer and a dielectric layer are formed on both surfaces of a recording paper, and portions where the conductive layer is exposed at both ends of the recording paper are taken out of electrodes from both conductive layers. Provide. In the case where the electrodes are brought into contact with the conductive layer to perform the formation of the electrostatic latent image and development of the former one side at a time, and recording is performed one side at a time, a reversing mechanism of the recording paper is provided on the recording paper transport path, and Make a record.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording apparatus for performing recording by performing density gradation on a pixel-by-pixel basis, and performs faithful development with fine particle toner by using liquid development for developing an electrostatic latent image including a halftone. More specifically, the present invention relates to an apparatus capable of recording on both sides of a recording medium in order to obtain a high-quality image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-305665, a conventional apparatus forms an electrostatic latent image on only one side of a recording sheet and develops the same. The electrostatic latent images of each color are formed and developed by reciprocating.

[0003]

The above prior art has a problem that recording cannot be performed on both sides of the recording paper.

[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide a recording apparatus which solves such a problem.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, a conductive layer and a dielectric layer are formed on both sides of a recording paper, and a conductive layer is formed on both ends of the recording paper for taking out electrodes from both conductive layers. The exposed portion is provided. An electrode is brought into contact with the conductive layer,
The formation and development of the electrostatic latent image is performed on one side, or the electrodes are brought into contact with the electrically exposed conductive layers on both sides to form and develop the electrostatic latent image from both sides.

In the former case where recording is performed on one side at a time, a recording paper reversing mechanism is provided on the recording paper conveyance path to perform recording on both sides.

That is, the exposed portions of the conductive layer provided on both ends of each surface are brought into contact with the electrodes to form an electrostatic latent image and development is performed, thereby enabling recording on both surfaces.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention. Recording paper 1
In the recording paper cartridge 2 and waits for a recording start command. According to the recording start command output from the computer,
The paper feed roller 3 rotates to start separation and feeding of the recording paper 1.
Then, the recording paper 1 is guided by a paper feed guide 6 and is conveyed with high precision by a paper feed roller 4 which holds only both ends of the recording paper 1. When the recording paper 1 is nipped by the paper feed roller 4 and reaches a recording start position (not shown), the head 5 installed near the paper feed roller 4 starts recording an electrostatic latent image of the first color. I do.

For example, the recording start position is set immediately after the leading end of the recording paper 1 is nipped by the paper feed roller 4 and the leading end of the recording paper 1 passes through the ion flow head 5. The positioning can be performed based on a paper feed amount from an optical reflective sensor (not shown) or by providing an optical reflective sensor near the head 5. When the recording paper 1 is nipped by the paper feed roller 4, the recording paper 1 may be released from the paper feed roller 3 to reduce the transport load.

Next, a configuration for forming an electrostatic latent image on the recording paper 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The head 5 is used as an ion source between an electrode A50 formed on a ceramic base material 61 and an electrode B52 formed via a solid discharge dielectric layer 51 formed on the electrode A50. A voltage of about 0.5 kV _pp is applied to generate positive and negative ions.

Next, with the control electrode to which the upper electrode 54 and the lower electrode 55 are adhered via the dielectric film 53, only the negative ions are selectively attracted, passed through the ion passage holes 62, flowed on the recording paper, and An electrostatic latent image is formed. The electric field formed between the upper electrode 54 and the lower electrode 55 of the control electrode is
The control is performed by the control electrode power supply 59 in accordance with the image signal, and the amount of passing negative ions is determined. The ions that have passed through the ion passage holes 62 reach the recording paper 1 by the electric field formed between the recording paper 1 and the lower electrode 55 formed by the control electrode bias power supply 60.

The recording paper 1 has a configuration as shown in FIG. An upper conductive layer 102 and a lower conductive layer 104 were formed on both sides of a recording medium substrate 101, and an upper dielectric layer 103 and a lower dielectric layer 105 were formed on the respective surfaces. The conductor layer is electrically exposed at both ends of the recording paper 1,
It easily functions as an electrode.

The ions that have reached the recording paper 1 are charged on the dielectric layer 103 to form an electrostatic latent image. At this time, the basic potential of the recording paper 1 is secured by contacting the electrically exposed upper surface conductive layer 102 provided at both ends on the recording surface side of the recording paper 1. In the recording paper 1, an upper conductive layer 102 and a lower conductive layer 104 are formed on both sides of a recording medium substrate 101, and an upper dielectric layer 103 and a lower dielectric layer 105 are formed on the surface. The conductive layers 102 and 104 are exposed on both sides of the dielectric layers 103 and 105 in the direction of arrow conveyance.

The recording paper 1 has a configuration as shown in FIG. Top conductor layers 1 on both sides of recording medium substrate 101
02 and a lower conductive layer 104 were formed, and an upper dielectric layer 103 and a lower dielectric layer 105 were formed on the respective surfaces. The conductive layer is easily made to function as an electrode by changing the coating thickness or the resistance value of both ends of the upper dielectric layer 103 and the lower dielectric layer 105 so as to be electrically exposed at both ends of the recording paper 1. .

When the recording of the electrostatic latent image on the recording paper 1 is started,
For example, when printing from yellow, the yellow Y developing roller 40 rotates the developing unit housing 21 to define the gap with the recording paper 1 and stops at the developing position.
Start yellow development. Alternatively, the guide roller 7 disposed at the developing position is slightly moved to define the gap between the Y developing roller 40 and the recording paper 1 and the yellow developing is started. The gap between the Y developing roller 40 and the recording paper 1 during development is
The contact may be made with a light force, but the surface of the guide roller 7 needs to be made of a soft elastic layer and supported to rotate freely so that the contact pressure becomes very small.

Immediately before the trailing end of the recording paper 1 separates from the paper feed roller 4, the formation and development of the electrostatic latent image are terminated. The recording paper 1 is heated and dried by a heating means, for example, a sheet heater 8, so that the toner image on the recording paper 1 is fixed.

Thereafter, the developing unit housing 21 is rotated to separate the yellow Y developing roller 40 from the developing unit, and the recording paper 1 is fed in the reverse direction to record the image to the position where the formation of the second color electrostatic latent image is started. The paper 1 is transported. Further, at this time, the developing unit is provided with a second color, for example, a magenta M developing roller 4.
Position 7

The recording paper 1 corresponding to the image signal of the second color
The recording of, for example, a magenta electrostatic latent image on the yellow image is started in the same manner as the first color. Further, magenta development is performed in the same manner as development of the first color yellow.

Next, the structure and operation of the developing device will be described with reference to FIG.

A developer and a developing roller of each color are mounted on a developing unit housing 21, and the developing unit housing 21 is rotated about a rotation shaft 20. The yellow Y developer 41 is filled in the Y developer cartridge and fixed to the developing unit housing 21. The Y developer cartridge is fixed through the inlet of the Y developer 41. At this time, the Y developer 41 is blocked by the ball.

The Y developer 41 flows to the lower part of the Y developing roller 40 through the inflow hole of the Y developer 41 by moving the position of the ball. Although the amount of the Y developer 41 is not shown in the figure, the amount of the developer is detected by a developer sensor, and the position of the ball is moved to move the Y developer 41.
And control it to the specified amount.

During development, the cover 42 is of course retracted. Next, while rotating the Y developing roller 40,
A uniform thin film of the Y developer 41 is formed on the Y developing roller 40 by a blade or the like.

Thereafter, the M developing solution 48, the C developing solution 46, and the K developing solution 44 are similarly developed by the M developing roller 47, the C developing roller 45, and the K developing roller 43, respectively.
FIG. 1 shows a state when Y development is performed.

Next, the reversing mechanism of the recording paper 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.
This is performed according to FIG.

The structure of the reversing mechanism comprises the gate 11 and each guide. The gate 11 rotates about the gate rotation shaft 31, and the stop position is determined according to the transport direction of the recording paper 1. Gates indicated by alternate long and short dash lines in the figure indicate respective stop positions. Paper feed roller A9 and paper feed roller B34
The reversal is performed by nipping the recording paper 1 and reciprocating it. The inversion operation will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 5A shows a state where the recording of the first, second and third colors is completed and the recording paper 1 is returned. The gate 11 </ b> A guides the recording paper 1, which is guided by the transport guide 32, in the direction of the feed roller 10. By repeating this operation for four colors, a color image is formed.

FIG. 5B shows that the gate 11B is guided by the paper feed guide 6 and is conveyed in the direction of the head 5.

FIG. 5C shows a state in which the recording paper 1 is fed from the feed roller 10 in the direction of the reversing guide 33.

FIG. 5D shows a state in which the recording paper 1 is fed again in the direction of the transport guide 32 in order to perform recording on the back surface of the recording paper 1 from the reversing guide 33.

With the simple configuration described above, the reversal of the recording paper 1 is realized, and recording on both sides is realized.

By the way, although not shown in the figure, the electrostatic latent image forming and developing means are disposed on both sides of the recording paper without the reversing mechanism, and the electrodes are brought into contact with the conductor layers on both sides. Realizing recording from both sides is an easily conceivable configuration.

[0033]

According to the present invention, an electrostatic latent image can be formed and developed on both sides by the conductive layer and the dielectric layer formed on both sides of the recording sheet. By transporting, recording can be performed on both sides of the recording paper.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a double-sided recording ion flow recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the structure of the recording paper used in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the structure of the recording paper used in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of a recording paper reversing mechanism used in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a recording paper reversing operation used in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram showing an ion flow head used in FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Recording paper, 2 ... Recording paper cartridge, 3 ... Paper feed roller, 4 ... Paper feed roller, 5 ... Head, 6 ... Paper feed guide,
7 Guide roller, 8 Sheet heater, 9 Paper feed roller A, 10 Feeding roller, 11 Gate, 12 Positioning roller, 13 Reverse guide, 14 Cleaner, 20
... rotating shaft, 21 ... developing unit housing, 22 ... device housing,
31: gate rotating shaft, 32: transport guide, 33: reversing guide, 34: paper feed roller B, 40: Y developing roller, 4
1: Y developer, 42: cover, 43: K developing roller, 4
4 ... K developing solution, 45 ... C developing roller, 46 ... C developing solution,
47: M developing roller, 48: M developing solution, 49: control valve,
50: electrode A, 51: solid discharge dielectric layer, 52: electrode B, 53: dielectric film, 54: upper electrode, 55: lower electrode, 56: gap sheet, 57: AC power supply, 58: bias power supply, 59 ... Control electrode power supply, 60 ... Control electrode bias power supply, 61 ... Ceramic base material, 62 ... Ion passage hole, 101 ... Recording medium base material, 102 ... Top conductor layer, 1
03: Upper dielectric layer, 104: Lower conductor layer, 105:
Lower dielectric layer.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A means for forming an electrostatic latent image corresponding to an image signal on a recording medium; a means for guiding and transporting the recording medium;
A liquid developing means for developing an electrostatic latent image on the recording medium with a developing solution of up to 35%, wherein a dielectric layer and the dielectric layer are provided on both front and back surfaces of the base material of the recording medium. A conductor layer is formed between the base materials, and the conductor is electrically exposed at both ends of the recording medium, and the conductor member contacts the conductor portion to perform recording on the front and back of the recording medium. A double-sided recording ion flow recording apparatus, characterized in that: