IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS

• US 20180107130A1
• Filed: 05/27/2016
• Published: 04/19/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Nagata, Teppei, Kabashima, Toru
• Granted Patent: US 10,451,991 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/104 Preparing, mixing, transporting or dispensing developer
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/105 Detection or control means for the toner concentration
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/10 Collecting or recycling waste developer
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 9/125 characterised by the liquid

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion configured to form an image with a liquid developer containing a toner and a carrier liquid, a separating device, a first carrier supplying device, a second carrier supplying device, and an accommodating portion configured to accommodate a carrier liquid supplied from the first carrier supplying device and a carrier liquid, in which a ratio of a first substance is smaller than that in the carrier liquid collected from the separating device or no first substance is contained, supplied from the second carrier supplying device. The carrier liquid accommodated in the accommodating portion is capable of being supplied to the image forming portion.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:

an image forming portion configured to form an image with a liquid developer containing a toner and a carrier liquid,

wherein the carrier liquid contains a first substance for imparting an electrical polarity and a second substance, higher in volume resistivity than the first substance, as a dispersion medium for dispersing the toner;

a separating device configured to separate the toner and the carrier liquid from the liquid developer collected at said image forming portion;

a first carrier supplying device, including a first container capable of accommodating the carrier liquid separated from said separating device, capable of supplying the carrier liquid out of said first container;

a second carrier supplying device including a second container configured to accommodate the carrier liquid in which a ratio of the first substance is smaller than that in the carrier liquid collected from said separating device or no first substance is contained, wherein said second carrier supplying device is capable of supplying the carrier liquid out of said second container; and

an accommodating portion configured to accommodate the carrier liquid supplied from said first carrier supplying device and the carrier liquid supplied from said second carrier supplying device, wherein the carrier liquid accommodated in said accommodating portion is capable of being supplied to said image forming portion.

2. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a resistance detecting device configured to detect a volume resistivity of a liquid in said first container,

wherein said second carrier supplying device is capable of supplying the carrier liquid from said second container to said first developer and is capable of supplying the carrier liquid to said container on the basis of a detection result of said resistance detecting device.

3. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a liquid amount detecting device configured to detect an amount of the carrier liquid in said first container,

wherein said second carrier supplying device is capable of supplying the carrier liquid from said second container to said first container and is capable of supplying the carrier liquid to said first container on the basis of a detection result of said liquid amount detecting device.

4. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a third carrier supplying device including a third container configured to accommodate the carrier liquid which is higher in volume resistivity than the carrier liquid separated by said separating device and which is lower in volume resistivity than the carrier liquid accommodated in said second container, wherein said third carrier supplying device is capable of supplying the carrier liquid from said third container;

a liquid amount detecting device configured to detect an amount of the carrier liquid in said first container; and

a resistance detecting device configured to detect a volume resistivity of a liquid in said first container,

wherein each of said second carrier supplying device and said third carrier supplying device is capable of supplying the carrier liquid to said first container,

wherein said second carrier supplying device is capable of supplying the carrier liquid from said second container to said first container on the basis of a detection result of said resistance detecting device, and

wherein said third carrier supplying device is capable of supplying the carrier liquid from said third container to said first container on the basis of a detection result of said liquid amount detecting device.

5. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a toner container configured to accommodate the toner;

a toner supplying device capable of supplying the toner to said accommodating portion; and

a mixing device configured to mix and disperse the toner and the carrier liquid in said accommodating portion.

6. An image forming apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising:

a plurality of toner containers provided correspondingly to a plurality of colors; and

a plurality of accommodating portions, provided correspondingly to said plurality of toner containers, to which toners are to be supplied from said plurality of toner containers,

wherein said first carrier supplying device is capable of supplying the carrier liquid from said first container to said plurality of accommodating portions.

7. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a resistance detecting device configured to detect a volume resistivity of a liquid in said accommodating portion,

wherein said second carrier supplying device is capable of supplying the carrier liquid from said second container to said accommodating portion and supplies the carrier liquid to said accommodating portion on the basis of a detection result of said resistance detecting device.

8. An image forming apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a content detecting device configured to detect information on a toner content in said accommodating portion,

wherein said first carrier supplying device supplies the carrier liquid to said accommodating portion on the basis of a detection result of said content detecting device.

9. An image forming apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising:

a plurality of toner containers provided correspondingly to a plurality of colors; and

a plurality of accommodating portions, provided correspondingly to said plurality of toner containers, to which toners are to be supplied from said plurality of toner containers,

wherein said second carrier supplying device is capable of supplying the carrier liquid from said second container to said plurality of accommodating portions.

10. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second substance is a curable liquid which is curable by light irradiation.

11. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image forming portion includes a photosensitive member on which a latent image is to be formed, a developing device configured to develop the latent image formed on said photosensitive member into a toner image with the liquid developer, and a transfer device configured to transfer the toner image from said photosensitive member onto a recording material.

12. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a fixing device configured to fix the toner image on the recording material by irradiating the toner image, transferred on the recording material, with light to cure the carrier liquid transferred on the recording material.