JP2010049857A - Ion generator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ion generator, capable of reducing dispersion of discharge quantity from each discharge electrode without enlarging a resistor provided between the discharge electrode and a common electrode in an integrated manner. <P>SOLUTION: The ion generator includes an insulated substrate 10 having a rectangular shape in a plan view; a plurality of discharge electrodes 11 juxtaposed in the long side direction on one side edge portion on the insulated substrate 10; the strip-like common electrode 15 provided on the other side edge portion on the insulated substrate 10 with a fixed space from the discharge electrode 11; and a resistor 20 provided between the discharge electrode 11 and the common electrode 15 on the insulated substrate 10 in an integrated manner so as to electrically connecting the both. The resistor 20 includes a plurality of slits 21 formed at predetermined intervals in the long side direction. The slit 21 extends to substantially the center in the short side direction while corresponding to each pair of adjacent discharge electrodes 11 and opening toward the discharge electrode 11. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an ion generator, and more particularly to an ion generator that generates ions in a strip shape from a plurality of discharge electrodes juxtaposed on an insulating substrate.

  Conventionally, an ion generator described in Patent Document 1 is known as an ion generator for charging a photoconductor such as a copying machine to a predetermined potential. In this ion generator, a discharge electrode having a plurality of tooth tips and a common electrode are arranged at a predetermined interval on an insulating substrate, and a resistor for electrically connecting the discharge electrode and the common electrode is directly connected to both. This is a resist resin layer.

In this ion generator, by increasing the resistance value of the resistor, the discharge amount of the plurality of discharge electrodes is not affected by the variation in the impedance of the air near the tip of the discharge electrode. Variation can be suppressed. However, in order to increase the resistance value of the resistor, it is necessary to increase the size of the resistor itself, which is not necessarily a preferable measure for suppressing variations in the discharge amount.
JP-A-8-179590

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an ion generator that can suppress variations in the discharge amount from each discharge electrode without increasing the size of the resistor.

In order to achieve the above object, an ion generator according to one aspect of the present invention comprises:
An insulating substrate; a plurality of discharge electrodes juxtaposed on the insulating substrate; a common electrode provided on the insulating substrate at a predetermined interval; and the discharge electrode on the insulating substrate; A resistor integrally provided so as to electrically connect both between the common electrode,
A plurality of slits are formed in the resistor;
It is characterized by.

  In the ion generator, since a resistor that electrically connects both of the discharge electrode and the common electrode is integrally provided on the insulating substrate, a resistance between each discharge electrode and the common electrode is provided. The variation in value is reduced. Moreover, since a plurality of slits are formed in the resistor, the current density between each discharge electrode and the common electrode is increased, and the resistance value is increased. As a result, the discharge amounts of the plurality of discharge electrodes are not affected by variations in the impedance of air near the tips of the discharge electrodes, and variations in the discharge amounts from the discharge electrodes can be suppressed.

  According to the present invention, variation in the resistance value between each discharge electrode and the common electrode is reduced, and the resistance value is increased without increasing the size of the resistor, thereby suppressing variation in the discharge amount from each discharge electrode. be able to.

  Embodiments of an ion generator according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(Refer 1st Example and FIGS. 1-3)
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the ion generator according to the first embodiment of the present invention has a rectangular shape in plan view, and a long side direction at one side edge on the insulating substrate 10. A plurality of discharge electrodes 11 juxtaposed to each other, a strip-shaped common electrode 15 provided on the other side edge of the insulating substrate 10 at a certain distance from the discharge electrode 11, and the discharge electrode 11 on the insulating substrate 10. A resistor 20 provided integrally with the common electrode 15 is provided.

  A plurality of slits 21 are formed in the resistor 20 at predetermined intervals in the long side direction. The slit 21 corresponds to each of the two adjacent discharge electrodes 11, opens to the discharge electrode 11 side, and extends to a substantially central portion in the short side direction.

  The discharge electrode 11 includes an attachment electrode 12 formed on the insulating substrate 10 and a needle electrode 13 fixed on the attachment electrode 12. A small protrusion 12 a of the mounting electrode 12 is electrically connected to the resistor 20. Further, the common electrode 15 is electrically connected in a state where the common electrode 15 overlaps the side edge of the resistor 20.

  The ion generator which consists of the above structure is manufactured as follows. The mounting electrode 12 and the common electrode 15 are formed on the surface of the insulating substrate 10 mainly composed of alumina with a conductive paste mainly composed of silver. The electrodes 12 and 15 can be obtained by forming into a predetermined shape and baking it by a technique such as screen printing or photolithography.

  Next, a cermet resistor is applied to form the resistor 20. This resistor 20 can also be obtained by forming it into a predetermined shape and baking it by a technique such as screen printing or photolithography.

  Further, a needle electrode 13 is attached on each electrode 12. As the attachment method of the needle-like electrode 13, (1) a method of directly fixing by welding or the like, (2) the needle-like electrode 13 is attached to a substrate (not shown), the substrate is bonded to the insulating substrate 10, and the needle-like electrode 13 is attached. There is a method of electrically connecting to the electrode 12. Other attachment methods may be used. As the acicular electrode 13, a single wire such as a piano wire, a tungsten wire, a stainless steel wire, or a titanium wire can be used, and a comb-like electrode may be used.

  As the resistor 20, a carbon resistor or the like can be used in addition to the cermet resistor. If a cermet resistor is used, the resistance value can be increased. A glass coat may be applied to the surface of the resistor 20 with silicone or glass glaze. Thus, the surface of the resistor 20 can be prevented from becoming dirty, and variations in the discharge amount can be suppressed.

  This ion generator is accommodated in a shield case (not shown), and by applying a high voltage to the common electrode 15, corona discharge is generated at the tip of each needle electrode 13 to generate ions. In this case, the resistor 20 that electrically connects the discharge electrode 11 and the common electrode 15 is integrally provided on the insulating substrate 10, so The variation in resistance value is reduced.

  In addition, since the plurality of slits 21 are formed in the resistor 20, the current density between each discharge electrode 11 and the common electrode 15 increases, and the resistance value increases. As a result, the discharge amounts of the plurality of discharge electrodes 11 are not affected by variations in the impedance of air near the tips of the discharge electrodes 11, and variations in the discharge amounts from the discharge electrodes 11 are suppressed.

  Here, FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of the current distribution in the resistor 20 according to the first embodiment, which is obtained by the simulation of the present inventor. In FIG. 3, the discharge electrode 11 is represented as one piece. As a comparative example, FIG. 9 shows an ion generator in which a slit 21 is not formed in the resistor 20, and FIG. 10 shows a simulation result of current distribution in the resistor 20 of this ion generator. As is clear from a comparison between FIG. 3 and FIG. 10, the current density of the first embodiment is higher than that of the comparative example.

  In particular, in the first embodiment, the slit 21 is open on the discharge electrode 11 side. In other words, the opening of the slit 21 is provided at the connection point between the resistor 20 and each discharge electrode 11. The current reaching the discharge electrodes 11 from the resistor 20 at the opening is limited, and the current density becomes higher. Moreover, since the slit 21 is formed corresponding to every two adjacent discharge electrodes 11, variation in resistance value can be more effectively suppressed.

(Refer to the second embodiment, FIGS. 4 and 5)
In the ion generator according to the second embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 4, slits 21 opened on the common electrode 15 side of the resistor 20 are formed corresponding to the two adjacent discharge electrodes 11. Is. The length of the slit 21 is up to a substantially central portion in the short side direction of the resistor 20. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment. The operational effects of the second embodiment are basically the same as those of the first embodiment. FIG. 5 shows a schematic diagram of the current distribution in the resistor 20 according to the inventor's simulation.

(Refer to the third embodiment, FIGS. 6 and 7)
In the ion generator according to the third embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 6, a slit 21 is formed in the central portion in the short side direction of the resistor 20 corresponding to each two adjacent discharge electrodes 11. Is. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment. The operational effects of the third embodiment are basically the same as those of the first embodiment. FIG. 7 shows a schematic diagram of the current distribution in the resistor 20 according to the inventor's simulation.

(Refer to the fourth embodiment, FIG. 8)
In the ion generator according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 8, a small protrusion 15a facing each discharge electrode 11 is formed on the common electrode 15, and the small protrusion 15a and the common electrode 15 have a resistance. The body 20 is connected at a plurality of points. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment. The operational effects of the fourth embodiment are basically the same as those of the first embodiment. In particular, since the common electrode 15 and the resistor 20 are connected at a plurality of points, the current density at the connection portion between the common electrode 15 and the resistor 20 is increased, and the resistance value can be further increased.

(Summary of Examples)
Comparing FIGS. 3, 5 and 7 showing the current distribution in the first, second and third embodiments, the first embodiment has the highest current density and is most effective in increasing the resistance value. Is. In each embodiment, the slit 21 is formed corresponding to each of the two discharge electrodes 11. From the viewpoint of increasing the resistance value, it is possible to form the slits 21 between the respective discharge electrodes 11 or to form the slits 21 corresponding to each of the three or more discharge electrodes 11. However, considering the variation state of the resistance value, the slit 21 is preferably formed corresponding to each of the two discharge electrodes 11. Further, regarding the length of the slit 21, the current density can be sufficiently increased if it is about ½ of the short side direction of the resistor 20.

(Other examples)
In addition, the ion generator which concerns on this invention is not limited to the said Example, Of course, it can change variously within the range of the summary.

It is sectional drawing which shows the ion generator which is 1st Example of this invention. It is a top view which shows the ion generator which is 1st Example. It is a schematic diagram which shows the electric current distribution in the ion generator which is 1st Example. It is a top view which shows the ion generator which is 2nd Example of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the electric current distribution in the ion generator which is 2nd Example. It is a top view which shows the ion generator which is 3rd Example of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the electric current distribution in the ion generator which is 3rd Example. It is a top view which shows the ion generator which is 4th Example of this invention. It is a top view which shows the ion generator which is a prior art example. It is a schematic diagram which shows the electric current distribution in the ion generator which is a prior art example.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Insulating substrate 11 ... Discharge electrode 12 ... Electrode for attachment 13 ... Needle-shaped electrode 15 ... Common electrode 15a ... Small protrusion 20 ... Resistor

Claims (4)

An insulating substrate; a plurality of discharge electrodes juxtaposed on the insulating substrate; a common electrode provided on the insulating substrate at a predetermined interval; and the discharge electrode on the insulating substrate; A resistor integrally provided so as to electrically connect both between the common electrode,
A plurality of slits are formed in the resistor;
An ion generator characterized by.   The ion generator according to claim 1, wherein the slit opens to the discharge electrode side.   The ion generator according to claim 1, wherein the slit is formed corresponding to every two adjacent discharge electrodes.   The ion generator according to claim 1, wherein the common electrode and the resistor are connected at a plurality of points.

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