EP0684532B1 - Cleaning device for an image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Cleaning device for an image forming apparatus Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0684532B1
EP0684532B1 EP95107917A EP95107917A EP0684532B1 EP 0684532 B1 EP0684532 B1 EP 0684532B1 EP 95107917 A EP95107917 A EP 95107917A EP 95107917 A EP95107917 A EP 95107917A EP 0684532 B1 EP0684532 B1 EP 0684532B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
roller
cleaning device
cleaning
image forming
power supply
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP95107917A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0684532A1 (en
Inventor
Taisuke Kamimura
Atsushi Inoue
Tetsunori Mitsuoka
Masanori Yamada
Masaaki Ozaki
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Sharp Corp
Original Assignee
Sharp Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Sharp Corp filed Critical Sharp Corp
Publication of EP0684532A1 publication Critical patent/EP0684532A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0684532B1 publication Critical patent/EP0684532B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G21/00—Arrangements not provided for by groups G03G13/00 - G03G19/00, e.g. cleaning, elimination of residual charge
    • G03G21/0005—Arrangements not provided for by groups G03G13/00 - G03G19/00, e.g. cleaning, elimination of residual charge for removing solid developer or debris from the electrographic recording medium
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G21/00—Arrangements not provided for by groups G03G13/00 - G03G19/00, e.g. cleaning, elimination of residual charge
    • G03G21/0005—Arrangements not provided for by groups G03G13/00 - G03G19/00, e.g. cleaning, elimination of residual charge for removing solid developer or debris from the electrographic recording medium
    • G03G21/007—Arrangement or disposition of parts of the cleaning unit
    • G03G21/0076—Plural or sequential cleaning devices
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G2221/00—Processes not provided for by group G03G2215/00, e.g. cleaning or residual charge elimination
    • G03G2221/0005—Cleaning of residual toner
    • G03G2221/001—Plural sequential cleaning devices

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a cleaning device for removing residual substances remaining on a surface of an image data forming body after a series of image forming processes is completed in an image forming apparatus using electrophotography such as a copier, a laser printer, or a facsimile apparatus.
  • a general image forming apparatus includes a photoconductive body 90 on which image data is to be formed.
  • the image forming apparatus further includes a main charger 91 , a developing device 93 , a transfer charger 94 , and a charge removing lamp 95 which are located opposed to the photoconductive body 90 .
  • a photoconductive body 90 rotates in the direction of arrow A, a surface of the photoconductive body 90 is supplied with a uniform charge by corona discharge which is performed by the main charger 91.
  • an exposing device 92 When the surface is exposed to light by an exposing device 92, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface.
  • the electrostatic latent image is developed into a toner image by toner 81 which is supplied from the developing device 93 .
  • a recording medium such as a paper sheet 97 is transported between the photoconductive body 90 and the transfer charger 94 , and the toner image on the surface of the photoconductive body 90 is transferred onto the paper sheet 97 by corona discharge which is performed by the transfer charger 94 .
  • the image formed on the paper sheet 97 is fixed by heat and pressure supplied by a fixing device (not shown).
  • the toner image on the surface of the photoconductive body 90 is not entirely transferred onto the paper sheet 97 . Accordingly, after the transference, the toner used for the formation of the toner image partially remains as residual toner 82 . Further, substances generated by the corona discharge, paper powders included in the paper sheet 97 , and talc adhere to the surface of the photoconductive body 90 . Such substances are represented by an adhering substance 83 in Figure 12 .
  • the residual toner 82 and the adhering substance 83 have unfavorable influence on the following image formation and thus lower image quality.
  • a cleaning device such as a cleaning blade 96 is provided between the transfer charger 94 and the charge removing lamp 95 .
  • a tip of the cleaning blade 96 contacts the surface of the photoconductive body 90 and thus scrapes off the residual toner 82 and the adhering substance 83 from the surface.
  • Another known cleaning device includes a fur brush or a cleaning roller, which are put into contact with the surface of the photoconductive body 90 to remove the residual toner 82 and the adhering substance 83 .
  • Japanese Patent Publication Nos. 5-17552 and 5-23436 each disclose provision of an air absorbing opening or an air blowing opening in the vicinity of the surface of the photoconductive body, through which the residual substances are absorbed or blown off without physical contact.
  • Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 62-67577 discloses provision of a metal roller having a rotation axis parallel to the photoconductive body. The metal roller is supported with a gap from the surface of the photoconductive body and is supplied with a bias voltage obtained by superimposing a DC bias voltage and an AC bias voltage, thus to absorb the toner to the surface of the metal roller.
  • an area of the surface to be contacted with such a member needs to have a sufficient hardness. Further, since such a member needs to contact the area at a relatively large load, it is possible that a coat of toner or talc is formed on the surface or that the surface is damaged by paper powders formed of rugged grains. For these reasons, the image quality is lowered, and the life of the photoconductive body is shortened.
  • the image forming apparatus needs to be provided with a relatively large absorption apparatus. After a continuous use over a long period of time, residual substances are clogged in the air absorbing opening, thereby lowering the absorbing capability. Further, maintenance including replacement of filters for separating the toner from the absorbed air is required.
  • the image forming apparatus needs to be provided with an air supply apparatus, and thus the size thereof is inevitably enlarged.
  • a blade which comes in contact with the surface of the photoconductive body is provided in order to introduce the air to the surface of the photoconductive body efficiently. Such a blade causes formation of a coat of toner or talc or damage of the surface by paper powders. Further, maintenance including replacement of filters for separating the toner from the exhausted air is required.
  • Prior art document EP-A-0 366 426 discloses an electrophotographic device which has a first cleaning means disposed at a gap from a photoreceptor, and a second cleaning means in pressure contact with the photoreceptor.
  • the present invention provides a cleaning device as specified in claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are described in the subclaims.
  • a cleaning device which is used in an image forming apparatus for removing residual substances on a surface of the image forming apparatus after an image forming operation including a process for developing an electrostatic latent image formed by electrophotography on a surface of an image data forming body of the image forming apparatus and a process for transferring the developed image onto a recording medium includes a first cleaning device for removing residual toner from the surface of the image data forming body, and a second cleaning device for removing an adhering substance different from the toner from the surface of the image data forming body.
  • the second cleaning device is located downstream with respect to the first cleaning means in a direction in which the image forming operation proceeds,
  • the first cleaning device includes a first recovering member located opposed to the surface of the image data forming body with a gap from the image data forming body and a power supply device for applying a bias voltage to the first recovering member, and the second cleaning device includes a second recovering member having a sufficient flexibility to slide on the surface of the image data forming body in pressure contact with the surface of the image data forming body.
  • Residual toner and the other residual substances adhering to the surface of the photoconductive body are removed separately by the first cleaning device and the second cleaning device which are formed of a first and a second roller, respectively. Due to such an operation, the first cleaning device and the second cleaning device may be formed of a material which has suitable properties for the toner or the other substance to be removed and performs the removal with certainty without damaging the surface of the image data forming body or causing formation of a coat of the toner or the other residual substances.
  • a bias voltage between the first recovering member and the image data forming body is applied from the power supply device to the first recovering member which is located opposed to the surface of the image data forming body with a gap therefrom.
  • the second recovering member is located downstream with respect to the first recovering member in a direction in which the image forming operation proceeds.
  • the second recovering member flexibly slides on the surface of the image data forming body in a pressure contact state. The adhering substances different from the toner are removed from the image data forming body by the second recovering member.
  • the toner and the other substances which remain on the surface of the image data forming body after a series of image forming processes is completed can be removed separately by the first and second recovering members. Due to such separate recovery, the toner can be reused. Moreover, since it is not necessary to remove the toner or other adhering substances by a member contacting the surface of the image data forming body, the pressure of contact of the second recovering member to the image forming device can be sufficiently low. Accordingly, formation of a coat by talc and damaging of the surface by paper powders can be avoided.
  • the present cleaning device used for an image forming apparatus removes residual substances on a surface of a photoconductive body in accordance with the type of the substances without damaging the surface or causing a coat of toner or talc to be formed on the surface, thus to extend the life of the photoconductive body and raise the speed of the image forming operation.
  • Figure 1 is a schematic view of a cleaning device used in an image forming apparatus in a first example according to the present invention.
  • Figure 2 is a schematic view of a cleaning device used in an image forming apparatus in a second example according to the present invention.
  • Figure 3 is a graph illustrating the cleaning efficiency by a function of the volume resistivity of a roller supplied with a bias voltage in the cleaning device in the second example.
  • Figure 4 is a graph illustrating the cleaning efficiency by a function of the ratio of the circumferential speed of another roller with respect to the circumferential speed of a photoconductive drum in the second example.
  • Figure 5 is a graph illustrating the cleaning efficiency by a function of the ratio of the circumferential speed of the roller supplied with a bias voltage with respect to the circumferential speed of the photoconductive drum in the second example.
  • Figure 6 is a schematic view of a cleaning device used in an image forming apparatus in a third example according to the present invention.
  • Figure 7 is a schematic view of a cleaning device used in an image forming apparatus in a modification of the third example according to the present invention.
  • Figure 8 is a graph illustrating the cleaning efficiency by a function of the frequency of the bias voltage applied to a roller in the third example.
  • Figure 9 is a graph illustrating the cleaning efficiency by a function of the peak-to-peak voltage.
  • Figure 10 is a schematic view of a cleaning device used in an image forming apparatus in a fourth example according to the present invention.
  • Figure 11 is a schematic view of a cleaning device used in an image forming apparatus in a fifth example according to the present invention.
  • Figure 12 is a schematic view of a part of an image forming apparatus including a conventional cleaning device.
  • Figure 1 schematically shows a structure for a cleaning device 1 in the first example.
  • the image forming apparatus including the cleaning device 1 also includes a photoconductive drum 10 as a photoconductive member on which image data is formed.
  • the photoconductive drum 10 having a cylindrical shape with an outer diameter of 80 mm and a length of 310 mm includes a drum base formed of aluminum and an organic photoconductive layer (hereinafter, referred to as an "OPC layer") formed on an outer circumferential surface thereof.
  • OPC layer organic photoconductive layer
  • the photoconductive drum 10 rotates in the direction of arrow A at a circumferential speed of 175 mm/sec.
  • the photoconductive member may include a sheet base instead of a drum base, and the drum base or the sheet base may be formed of other materials instead of aluminum.
  • a surface of the photoconductive drum 10 is charged by a main charger (not shown) to have an opposite polarity to the polarity of toner.
  • An electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photoconductive drum 10 by exposure performed in accordance with image data.
  • Toner is supplied to the surface of the photoconductive drum 10 by a developing device (not shown), thereby developing the electrostatic latent image into a toner image.
  • the toner image is transferred on a paper sheet by a transfer device (not shown).
  • residual toner 7 and the other substances illustrated as an adhering substance 8 in Figure 1
  • adhere to the surface of the photoconductive drum 10 .
  • the main charger and the transfer device may be of any known type.
  • the cleaning device 1 includes a roller 2 as a first recovering member, a power supply circuit 3 as power supply means for providing a bias voltage to the roller 2 , and a blade 4 for scratching off the residual toner 7 recovered from a surface of the roller 2 .
  • the roller 2 is supported opposed to the photoconductive drum 10 with a small gap d from the surface of the photoconductive drum 10 .
  • a rotation axis of the roller 2 is parallel to a rotation axis of the photoconductive drum 10 , and the roller 2 is rotatable in the direction of arrow B .
  • the roller 2 has a shape of a hollow or solid cylinder, and is formed of a non-insulative material containing (1) a conductive metal material such as aluminum, copper, iron and an alloy thereof or (2) a conductive or a semi-conductive organic polymer material such as rubber or plastics including a conductive material such as carbon.
  • the roller 2 may have a multiplelayer structure covered with a conductive or a semi-conductive organic polymer material including a conductive material such as carbon.
  • the non-insulative metal material has a satisfactory strength, a satisfactory resistance against wearing, and the like.
  • a desirable bias voltage can be applied to the roller 2 formed of such a material.
  • the conductive or semi-conductive organic polymer material containing a conductive material such as carbon may be a plastic material such as FRP which contains a conductive fiber such as carbon fiber diffused in engineering plastics, conductive engineering plastics or rubber, conductive ceramics, or a functionally gradient material.
  • the roller 2 is a hollow aluminum cylindrical roller having a diameter of 20 mm and a length of 310 mm.
  • the surface of the roller 2 is smooth.
  • the roller 2 is located opposed to the photoconductive drum 10 with a gap d of 200 ⁇ m from the surface of the photoconductive drum 10 .
  • the gap d may be desirably set in accordance with mechanical or electrical restrictions.
  • the roller 2 is supplied with, for example, a DC bias voltage by the power supply circuit 3 .
  • a DC bias voltage By application of the DC bias voltage to the roller 2 , particles of the residual toner 7 which are residual on the surface of the photoconductive drum 10 are attracted to the surface of the roller 2 .
  • the particles of the residual toner 7 adhering to the surface of the roller 2 are scratched off and then are recovered to a recovering bottle (not shown).
  • the cleaning device 1 further includes a roller 5 as a second recovering member and a blade 6 for scratching off the adhering substance 8 from the surface of the roller 5 .
  • the roller 5 has a shape of a hollow or solid cylinder, and is formed of an insulative elastic material containing an organic polymer material such as solid rubber or porous foamed rubber.
  • the roller 5 may be a brush-like roller formed of an organic polymer material such as an insulative fiber material.
  • the roller 5 is rotatable in the same direction as the photoconductive drum 10 .
  • the insulative elastic material may be an organic polymer material such as urethane which is sufficiently easy to mold and to produce, solid rubber formed of silicon or the like, or porous foamed rubber.
  • the roller 5 is a solid insulative and elastic cylindrical roller which is formed of closed-cell foam urethane and has a diameter of 20 mm, a length of 310 mm, and a hardness of 50°.
  • the roller 5 is located in contact with the photoconductive drum 10 with a pressure of 200 gf/cm.
  • the pressure of contact can be desirably set based on the material and the smoothness of the surface of the photoconductive drum 10 and the speed of the image forming operation.
  • the roller 5 having the above-described structure and properties flexibly slides on the surface of the photoconductive drum 10 in pressure contact with the surface.
  • the adhering substance 8 is recovered from the surface of the photoconductive drum 10 to the surface of the roller 5 by a mechanical shearing force generated by such relative movement of the photoconductive drum 10 and the roller 5 .
  • the adhering substance 8 is then scratched off from the surface of the roller 5 by the blade 6 through contact of the blade 6 with the surface of the roller 5 and then is recovered into a recovering bottle (not shown).
  • FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a cleaning device 20 in the second example.
  • the roller 2 , the power supply circuit 3 , the blade 4 , the roller 5 , the blade 6 , and the photoconductive drum 10 are the same as those in the first example, and thus detailed description thereof will be omitted.
  • the roller 5 is supplied with a DC bias voltage by a power supply device 11 .
  • the DC bias voltage has an opposite polarity to the polarity of the adhering substance 8 .
  • the roller 5 slides on the surface of the photoconductive drum 10 in pressure contact therewith flexibly.
  • the adhering substance 8 is recovered from the surface of the photoconductive drum 10 to the surface of the roller 5 by an electrostatic force generated by the application of the DC bias voltage as well as a mechanical shearing force.
  • Figure 3 is a graph illustrating the cleaning efficiency by a function of the volume resistivity of the roller 5 in the cleaning device 1 .
  • the roller 5 is a solid cylindrical roller formed of a non-insulative elastic material.
  • the roller 5 is formed of an organic polymer material such as a semi-conductive solid rubber or a porous foamed rubber containing a conductive material such as carbon.
  • a coat of the adhering substance 8 is formed on the surface of the photoconductive drum 10 by an excessive current flowing through the roller 5 .
  • the volume resistivity of the roller 5 is more than 1 ⁇ 10 9 ⁇ cm, the volume resistivity is non-uniform in different parts of the surface of the same roller 5 , thereby reducing the cleaning efficiency. Accordingly, the volume resistivity of the roller 5 is preferably between 1 ⁇ 10 7 ⁇ cm and 1 ⁇ 10 9 ⁇ cm to obtain satisfactory cleaning performance.
  • Figure 4 is a graph illustrating the cleaning efficiency by a function of the ratio of the circumferential speed of the roller 2 with respect to the circumferential speed of the photoconductive drum 10 in the second example.
  • the above-mentioned ratio is preferably between 100% and 300% in order to separate the residual toner 7 from the surface of the photoconductive drum 10 more easily. In this manner, more satisfactory cleaning performance can be achieved.
  • Figure 5 is a graph illustrating the cleaning efficiency by a function of the ratio of the circumferential speed of the roller 5 with respect to the circumferential speed of the photoconductive drum 10 .
  • the adhering substance 8 can be recovered satisfactorily.
  • the above-mentioned ratio is 100% or more, the cleaning efficiency rises sharply.
  • the above-mentioned ratio exceeds 200%, the mechanical shearing force between the roller 5 and the surface of the photoconductive drum 10 is excessively large, causing fluctuation in the rotation load between the roller 5 and the photoconductive drum 10 and other inconveniences. Accordingly, the above-mentioned ratio is preferably between 100% and 200%.
  • Figure 6 shows a schematic structure for a cleaning device 30 in the third example.
  • the cleaning device 30 includes a DC power supply circuit 13 and an AC power supply circuit 14 instead of the power supply circuit 3 shown in Figures 1 and 2 .
  • the other elements of the cleaning device 30 are the same as those in the previous examples, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.
  • the roller 2 as a first recovering member for recovering the residual toner 7 from the surface of the photoconductive drum 10 is supplied with a DC bias voltage from the DC power supply circuit 13 and also with an AC bias voltage from the AC power supply circuit 14 .
  • the levels of the bias voltages supplied by the DC power supply circuit 13 and the AC power supply circuit 14 are determined in accordance with various conditions such as the size of the gap d .
  • the absolute value of the amplitude of only the DC bias voltage in one of the two polarities is larger than the absolute value of the potential at which the photoconductive drum 10 is charged, but is 2.7 kV or less.
  • the frequency of the AC bias voltage is set to 3 kHz, and a peak-to-peak voltage of 2 kVp-p is applied. At this point, a DC bias voltage of -200 V is applied.
  • the AC bias voltage is applied to allow the residual toner 7 to vibrate electrostatically and may have a square waveform, a rectangular waveform, a triangular waveform, a waveform obtained by differentiating the rectangular waveform, or a waveform obtained by integrating rectangular waveforms.
  • the AC bias voltage may have any other waveform which vibrates to both of the polarities with respect to the level of the DC bias voltage.
  • an electrostatic vibrating force acts on the residual toner 7 on the surface of the photoconductive drum 10 by the AC bias voltage.
  • the particles of the residual toner 7 adhere to the surface of the photoconductive drum 10 in multiple layers.
  • the vibrating force supplied by the AC bias voltage the particles of the residual toner 7 jump reciprocally one after another starting from the particles in the outermost layer. The particles hit one another appropriately in repetition, and thus go into the state of floating in the gap d between the surface of the photoconductive drum 10 and the surface of the roller 2 .
  • the adhesion of the residual toner 7 to the surface of the photoconductive drum 10 is alleviated by the AC bias voltage, and the residual toner 7 is attracted to the surface of the roller 2 more easily by the DC bias voltage.
  • Figure 8 is a graph illustrating the cleaning efficiency by a function of the frequency of the bias voltage applied to the roller 2 in the cleaning device 30 .
  • Figure 9 is a graph illustrating the cleaning efficiency by a function of the peak-to-peak voltage applied to the roller 2 .
  • the AC bias voltage in the case when a voltage obtained by superimposing a DC bias voltage and an AC bias voltage is applied to the roller 2 while the charge-to-mass ratio of the residual toner 7 is 13 ⁇ C/g, the AC bias voltage preferably has a frequency of 500 Hz to 6 kHz and a peak-to-peak voltage of 500 Vp-p to 5 kVp-p.
  • such an AC bias voltage has a frequency of 1.5 to 6 kHz and a peak-to-peak voltage of 1 to 4 kVp-p.
  • the cleaning efficiency indicated in Figures 3 , 4 , 5 , 8 , and 9 were obtained from the optical density of the toner adhering to the photoconductive drum 10 before and after the cleaning.
  • the measurement of the optical density was performed as follows in accordance with JIS K7611 "Method for Measuring Photographic Characteristics of General Photographic Paper".
  • the toner adhering on the photoconductive drum 10 was peeled off by a tape, and the density of the toner adhering to the tape was optically measured by a reflection densitometer.
  • Figure 10 schematically illustrates a structure for a cleaning device 40 used in an image forming apparatus in a fourth example according to the present invention.
  • the cleaning device 40 includes a corona discharger 19 and a charge removing lamp 20 upstream with respect to the roller 2 acting as a first recovering member in a direction in which the image forming operation proceeds.
  • the corona discharger 19 may be of a corotron type or a scorotron type.
  • Figure 11 schematically illustrates a structure for a cleaning device 50 used in an image forming apparatus in a fifth example according to the present invention.
  • the cleaning device 50 includes a transporting screw 22 extending between the roller 2 acting as a first recovering member and a developing device 21 of the image forming apparatus.
  • a transporting screw 22 extending between the roller 2 acting as a first recovering member and a developing device 21 of the image forming apparatus.
  • the cleaning device By the cleaning device according to the present invention, residual toner and the other substances remaining on a surface of a photoconductive drum can be recovered separately by two different rollers. By such an operation, satisfactory cleaning can be performed over a long period of time without damaging the photoconductive drum. As a result, the life of the photoconductive drum is extended and also the speed of the image forming operation is raised.
  • One of the rollers is supplied with a bias voltage between the roller and the image data forming body and slides flexibly on the surface of the photoconductive drum in a pressure contact state.
  • the residual toner on the surface of the photoconductive drum can be recovered with certainty by an electrostatic force of such a roller, and the other substances such as paper powders and talc adhering to the present surface of the present photoconductive drum can also be recovered reliably by a mechanical shearing force generated by the present relative movement of the present roller and the photoconductive drum in a pressure contact state.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Cleaning In Electrography (AREA)
EP95107917A 1994-05-23 1995-05-23 Cleaning device for an image forming apparatus Expired - Lifetime EP0684532B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP6108239A JPH07319356A (ja) 1994-05-23 1994-05-23 画像形成装置のクリーニング装置
JP108239/94 1994-05-23

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0684532A1 EP0684532A1 (en) 1995-11-29
EP0684532B1 true EP0684532B1 (en) 1999-02-17

Family

ID=14479607

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP95107917A Expired - Lifetime EP0684532B1 (en) 1994-05-23 1995-05-23 Cleaning device for an image forming apparatus

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0684532B1 (ja)
JP (1) JPH07319356A (ja)
DE (1) DE69507853T2 (ja)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6477344B1 (en) 1999-05-28 2002-11-05 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Image forming apparatus, transfer belt unit, cleaning device and cleaner unit used for image forming apparatus
CN2716870Y (zh) 2002-09-17 2005-08-10 兄弟工业株式会社 影像处理装置和影像形成设备

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0512362A2 (en) * 1991-05-02 1992-11-11 Mita Industrial Co. Ltd. Cleaning unit for removing residual toner on photoreceptor drum for use in image forming apparatus
EP0583880A1 (en) * 1992-07-17 1994-02-23 Xerox Corporation High reliability blade cleaner system

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS6267577A (ja) 1985-09-19 1987-03-27 Fujitsu Ltd 記録媒体の清掃方法
US4875081A (en) * 1988-10-24 1989-10-17 Xerox Corporation Electrophotographic device having a.c. biased cleaning member
US4989047A (en) * 1989-12-11 1991-01-29 Xerox Corporation Cleaning apparatus for the reduction of agglomeration-caused spotting
JP3193073B2 (ja) 1991-07-10 2001-07-30 三井化学株式会社 硬質ポリウレタンフォーム
JP2989037B2 (ja) 1991-07-18 1999-12-13 グローリー工業株式会社 硬貨リサイクルシステム
US5257079A (en) * 1992-09-17 1993-10-26 Xerox Corporation Electrostatic brush cleaner with a secondary cleaner

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0512362A2 (en) * 1991-05-02 1992-11-11 Mita Industrial Co. Ltd. Cleaning unit for removing residual toner on photoreceptor drum for use in image forming apparatus
EP0583880A1 (en) * 1992-07-17 1994-02-23 Xerox Corporation High reliability blade cleaner system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPH07319356A (ja) 1995-12-08
DE69507853D1 (de) 1999-03-25
EP0684532A1 (en) 1995-11-29
DE69507853T2 (de) 1999-08-26

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
JP3943797B2 (ja) 画像形成装置
CN1307488C (zh) 采用无载像构件清洁器的系统的成像设备
JP4621434B2 (ja) 画像形成装置
EP0387096A2 (en) Image forming method
JP4336353B2 (ja) 現像装置及び画像形成装置
JP2002333762A (ja) 帯電装置および画像形成装置
JP2001337548A (ja) 画像形成装置
KR100624498B1 (ko) 대전 장치 및 이를 사용한 화상 형성 장치
EP0684532B1 (en) Cleaning device for an image forming apparatus
JPH10319808A (ja) 画像形成装置
JPH01100574A (ja) 画像形成装置
JPH112946A (ja) 画像形成装置
JP3542488B2 (ja) 画像形成装置
JP2005092146A (ja) 画像形成装置、帯電部材、帯電装置、クリーニング手段及びプロセスカートリッジ
JP2005134776A (ja) 画像形成装置
JPH04214579A (ja) 静電記録装置
JPH10214013A (ja) 画像形成装置
JPH0535048A (ja) 帯電装置及び帯電装置を有するプロセスカートリツジ又は画像形成装置
JPH10333523A (ja) 画像形成装置
JP2002023584A (ja) クリーニング装置、画像形成装置および画像形成方法
JP2006308672A (ja) 画像形成装置
JPH09258626A (ja) 画像形成装置
JP2006227159A (ja) 画像形成装置
JPH07325459A (ja) 画像形成装置
JP4475935B2 (ja) 画像形成装置

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): DE FR GB

RIN1 Information on inventor provided before grant (corrected)

Inventor name: OZAKI, MASAAKI

Inventor name: YAMADA, MASANORI

Inventor name: MITSUOKA, TETSUNORI

Inventor name: INOUE, ATSUSHI

Inventor name: KAMIMURA, TAISUKE

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19960202

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19970904

GRAG Despatch of communication of intention to grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS AGRA

GRAG Despatch of communication of intention to grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS AGRA

GRAH Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA

GRAH Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): DE FR GB

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 69507853

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 19990325

ET Fr: translation filed
PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed
REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: IF02

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20110523

Year of fee payment: 17

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20110518

Year of fee payment: 17

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20110518

Year of fee payment: 17

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20120523

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST

Effective date: 20130131

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R119

Ref document number: 69507853

Country of ref document: DE

Effective date: 20121201

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20120523

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20120531

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20121201