JP2000131970A - Cleaner and image forming device using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To effectively prevent a staining phenomenon with respect to a recording material and also to sufficiently prolong the service life of a device in an image forming device in which plural image forming units are arranged in parallel, and an image formed by each image forming unit is transferred to a recording carrier side. SOLUTION: This cleaner 5 is used in the image forming device in which the image formed on the image forming unit 1 is directly transferred or transferred through the recording material 3 to the recording carrier 2, and cleans the recording carrier. In this case, a cleaning brush 6 disposed so as to be always brought into contact with the carrier 2, and a cleaning ability adjusting means 7 adjusting the cleaning ability of the brush 6 to the carrier 2 are provided. Besides, a cleaning ability control means 8 controlling the cleaning ability of the means 7 in accordance with the staining condition of the carrier 2 is provided. The image forming device provided with the cleaner 5 is treated as an object.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cleaner for realizing a cleaning process such as an electrophotographic system,
CLEANER FOR CLEANING RECORD CONVEYOR AND IMAGE USING THE SAME, USED FOR IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS TRANSFERING IMAGES FORMED BY Plurality of Image Forming Units onto Recording Conveyor Directly or Via Recording Material The present invention relates to improvement of a forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional tandem type image forming apparatus has a plurality of image forming units (for example, adopting an electrophotographic system) in which yellow, magenta, cyan and black color component toner images are formed. At a portion facing the image forming unit, for example, a transport belt that circulates and is laid around a pair of tension rolls is arranged,
A transfer device such as a corotron is disposed on the back of the conveyance belt facing the image forming unit, and a recording material (paper, OHP sheet, etc.) is suction-held on the conveyance belt, and the toner image formed by the image forming unit is formed. A device for transferring a recording material to a recording material is already known (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
163777).

In a belt conveyance system using a conveyance belt of this type, a toner image from an image forming unit is conveyed to a portion other than the recording material due to an error in selection of a size of the recording material or a jam of the recording material. It is transferred to the belt by mistake, or in process control (image density control), a toner patch of each color is transferred onto the conveyor belt, and the density is read by a sensor or the like to control the image density. , Registration control (hereinafter referred to as registration control)
In this method, the ladder pattern of each color is transferred onto the conveyor belt, the pitch of the ladder pattern is read by a sensor or the like, and the toner images are positively transferred onto the conveyor belt. There is.

In such a type, if the toner image transferred on the conveying belt is left as it is, the back surface of the next recording material will be stained. In order to clean the transferred toner image, a belt cleaner using a blade or a brush is provided. The belt cleaner is temporarily separated from the conveyance belt when the recording material is conveyed by the conveyance belt, in other words, when the image forming operation is performed by the image forming unit, so that the rotation operation of the conveyance belt is not hindered. A technique of performing a cleaning cycle by contacting the belt with a belt has already been proposed (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-163777).

[0005]

However, in this type of belt cleaner of the contact / separation type, since the cleaner is separated at the time of image formation, a fog toner of a background portion (background) which may occur at the time of image formation is removed. When the recording medium cannot be removed in a timely manner and the conveyance belt conveys the recording material, and the back surface of the recording material is stained, or when the conveyance belt is an intermediate transfer belt, the recording medium is stained. There is. In addition, the belt cleaner retracts (retracts) because the belt cleaner performs the contact / separation operation.
In some cases, residual marks of the toner remain during operation, and this may also cause stains on the back surface or the surface of the recording material.

In order to solve such a technical problem, it is considered that a configuration in which a belt cleaner is always in contact with the transport belt may be adopted. However, a cleaning member such as a blade or a brush always contacts the transport belt. If left unchecked, there is a technical problem that the transport belt and the cleaning member are liable to change with time, and the life of the transport belt and the belt cleaner is significantly shortened.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned technical problems, and comprises a plurality of image forming units arranged in parallel, and an image formed by each image forming unit on a recording / transporting body side. Assuming an image forming apparatus of the type that transfers the image, it is possible to effectively avoid the stain phenomenon on the recording material,
In addition, the present invention provides a cleaner capable of sufficiently extending the life of the apparatus and an image forming apparatus using the cleaner.

[0008]

That is, according to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of image forming units 1 (for example, 1
a to 1d) are arranged in parallel, and a recording transport body 2 circulated and transported is arranged at a portion facing each image forming unit 1, and the image forming unit is directly or via the recording material 3 on this recording transport body 2 A cleaning brush 6 which is used in an image forming apparatus for transferring an image formed on the recording medium 1 and cleans the recording medium, and which is disposed so as to always contact the recording medium 2; And cleaning ability adjusting means 7 for adjusting the cleaning ability of the recording conveyance body 2.

In this case, when the cleaner 5 is incorporated in the image forming apparatus, as shown in FIG. 1, cleaning for controlling the cleaning ability of the cleaning ability adjusting means 7 in accordance with the dirt condition on the recording sheet 2 is performed. It is preferable to have the capability control means 8. The present invention is also directed to an image forming apparatus including the above-described cleaner 5.

In such technical means, the image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied is of a so-called tandem type (including both a vertical type and a horizontal type) in which a plurality of image forming units 1 are arranged in parallel. In addition, as an image forming method of the image forming unit 1, an electrophotographic method, an electrostatic recording method, or the like is used, and an image transfer method directly to the recording medium 2 or to the recording material 3 on the recording medium 2 is also used. A method of transferring an image formed by the image forming unit 1 to the recording material 3 via a transfer unit 4 (see FIG. 1), such as an electrophotographic method or an electrostatic recording method, is mainly used. Further, the recording transport body 2 is not limited to the one that transports the recording material 3, and may be an intermediate transfer body that temporarily transfers and holds each color component image before transferring it to the recording material 3. The specific form of the recording / transporting body 2 may be belt-like or drum-like. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, in a so-called tandem type in which a plurality of image forming units 1 are arranged in parallel, From the viewpoint of the arrangement of the forming units and the alignment of images, a belt-shaped recording and conveying body 2 is often used.

Although the layout of the cleaner 5 may be appropriately selected, for example, the belt-shaped recording transport 2 requires at least a backup member for supporting the recording transport 2, but the number of parts is reduced. From a viewpoint, it is preferable to use, for example, a stretching roll of the belt-shaped recording transport body 2 as a backup member.

Further, as long as the cleaning brush 6 can clean the recording transport member 2, a brush bias method (mainly by using an electric force generated by applying a bias to the cleaning brush 6). , Or a fur brush method (mainly a method of cleaning the recording transport body 2 using mechanical force of the waist of the cleaning brush 6).

Further, the cleaning ability adjusting means 7 includes:
It must be adjustable in at least two stages in the contact state. At this time, it is preferable that the setting of the cleaning ability level includes a cleaning ability level inherent to the cleaner 5 and a weaker cleaning ability level. The cleaning capability adjusting means 7 includes any device capable of variably adjusting the cleaning capability. As a typical example, the cleaning capability adjusting means 7 varies the biting amount (contact pressure) of the cleaning brush 6 with respect to the recording medium 2. A mode for adjusting, a mode for variably adjusting the bias applied to the cleaning brush 6 in the brush bias system, a mode for variably adjusting the rotation speed of the cleaning brush 6 in the fur brush system,
An embodiment in which these are appropriately combined is exemplified.

Further, the cleaning ability control means 8 controls the cleaning ability of the cleaning ability adjusting means 7 in accordance with the dirt condition on the recording medium 2. May be specifically detected by the detecting means, but from the viewpoint of simplification of the apparatus configuration, the “dirt state on the recording transport body 2” and the “
Each mode used in the image forming apparatus is previously associated with each other, and each mode used in the image forming apparatus during non-image formation, such as a cleaning cycle, an image forming mode, a process control mode, and a registration control mode. The cleaning ability may be controlled according to the condition.

As a prior art for adjusting the cleaning ability of a cleaner, there is one disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-95527, for example. However, this prior art presupposes a type in which a cleaning member is brought into contact with and separated from a transfer material carrier (corresponding to a recording and conveying body of the present application), and the cleaning ability is adjusted according to each mode used in the image forming apparatus. In this prior art, there is no assumption that the cleaning ability during non-image formation is adjusted, and the point that the cleaning brush always contacts the recording conveyance body 2 and the cleaning ability adjusting means 7
Does not mention or suggest that the cleaning ability is adjusted even during non-image formation. Therefore, the present invention is completely different from the prior art in terms of technical problems and means for solving the problems.

Next, the operation of the above technical means will be described. In FIG. 1, a cleaner 5 is provided with a cleaning brush 6 that is constantly in contact with the recording transport body 2. The cleaning ability adjusting means 7 adjusts the cleaning ability of the cleaning brush 6 with respect to the recording sheet 2.
For example, the cleaning capability is variably adjusted between a case where a sufficient cleaning capability is required as in a cleaning cycle and a case where a sufficient cleaning capability is not required as in an image forming mode.
Further, the cleaning ability control means 8 controls the cleaning ability of the cleaning ability adjusting means 7 in accordance with the dirt condition on the recording medium 2.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail based on an embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings. First Embodiment FIG. 2 shows a first embodiment of a color image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied. In the figure, the color image forming apparatus vertically arranges image forming units 22 (specifically, 22a to 22d) of four colors (black, yellow, magenta, and cyan in the present embodiment) in a main body housing 21. A recording material supply cassette 23 that accommodates recording materials (not shown) such as supply paper is arranged below the recording material supply cassette 23, and a recording material supply cassette 23 is provided at a position corresponding to each image forming unit 22. A recording material transporting path 24 which is a transporting path of the recording material from 23 is arranged in the vertical direction.

In the present embodiment, the image forming units 22 (22a to 22d) are arranged in order from the upstream side of the recording material conveying path 24 for black, yellow, magenta, and cyan (the arrangement is not necessarily this order). (Not limited), and includes a photoreceptor cartridge 30 and an exposure unit 40. Here, the photoconductor cartridge 30 includes, for example, a photoconductor drum 31, a charging roll 32 for pre-charging the photoconductor drum 31, and a photoconductor formed by exposure on the charged photoconductor drum 31 by the exposure unit 40. The developing device 33 for developing the latent image with the corresponding color toner (for example, negative polarity in the present embodiment) and the cleaner 34 for removing the residual toner on the photosensitive drum 31 are integrally formed into a cartridge. . On the other hand, the exposure unit 40 stores a semiconductor laser (not shown), a polygon mirror 42, an imaging lens 43, and a mirror 44 in a case 41, deflects and scans light from the semiconductor laser (not shown) with the polygon mirror 42, The optical image is guided to an exposure point on the photosensitive drum 31 via the image lens 43 and the mirror 44.

Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a portion of each image forming unit 22 corresponding to each photosensitive drum 31 is transported in a circulating manner along the recording material transport path 24. A belt 80 is provided. The transport belt 80 is a belt material (P
ET, PVdF or other plastic film or urethane,
An elastic material such as urea), and a high resistance coating layer (not shown) of about 10 ⁶ to 10 ¹² Ω · cm is formed on the surface in some cases. And
The transport belt 80 is stretched around a pair of stretching rolls 81 and 82 (for example, a metal roll and an elastic roll). In this embodiment, the upper stretching roll 82 is a driving roll and the lower stretching roll is a lower roll. The tension roll 81 is a driven roll.

Further, a transfer roll 50 (for example, 10 ³ to 10 ¹⁰ Ω · c in this embodiment) is provided on the back side of the transport belt 80 corresponding to the photosensitive drum 31 of each image forming unit 22.
m), and the transfer roller 50 causes the photosensitive drum 31 and the recording material 25 on the transport belt 80 to come into close contact with each other. A transfer bias power supply (not shown) is connected to the transfer roll 50, and a predetermined transfer bias is applied at an appropriate timing.

In this embodiment, the recording material supply cassette 23 is provided with a take-away roll 61 for picking up the recording material 25, and is provided between the take-away roll 61 and the transfer portion of the most upstream image forming unit 22a. Is provided with a feed roll 62 for feeding the recording material 25 at a predetermined timing. Then, the suction roll 90 is placed at the entrance of the transport belt 80.
Are arranged. Further, the most downstream image forming unit 22
d, the fixing device 6
A discharge roll 66 for discharging the recording material is provided downstream of the fixing device 64 so that the discharged recording material is stored in a storage tray 67 formed on an upper portion of the main body housing 21. Has become. Incidentally, in FIG.
Reference numeral denotes a recording material guide for guiding the recording material 25 sent from the transport belt 80 to the fixing device 64.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG.
A belt cleaner (cleaner) 110 is disposed downstream of d and at a position facing the tension roll 82. This belt cleaner 110 is, as shown in FIGS.
A cleaning brush 113 is mounted in the cleaner case 112, and the cleaning brush 113 is
The brush drive motor 116 is arranged so as to be always in contact with the motor 0 and driven to rotate. In this embodiment, as the cleaning brush 113, a brush in which a brush material such as nylon or polypropylene is implanted around the rotating shaft is used.

Particularly, in the present embodiment, the transport belt 80
Is provided with a position changing mechanism 120 for adjusting the amount of biting of the cleaning brush 113 with respect to. The position changing mechanism 120 supports the cleaner case 112 so as to be swingable about the swing fulcrum 111,
An eccentric cam 121 abutting on a positioning wall 114 of the cleaner case 112 is rotatably provided, and an urging spring 115 for urging the positioning wall 114 toward the eccentric cam 121 is attached to the cleaner case 112. Things.

In the present embodiment, the eccentric cam 121 is formed by cutting off a part of a circular cross section. When the eccentric cam 121 is rotated by the position variable motor 122, the cleaner case 112 swings. As a result, the position of the cleaning brush 113 is variably set in two stages. Here, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the two positions of the cleaning brush 113 are set to the cleaner position: (1) (corresponding to the weak nip position), and the cleaner position: (2) to the strong nip position. M) (where N is the bite amount of the cleaning brush 113 at the cleaner position: (1) and M is the bite amount of the cleaning brush 113 at the cleaner position: (2)). For example, N
Is set to 0.5 mm and M is set to 1.5 mm).

Next, in this embodiment, the reason why the bite amount of the cleaning brush 113 is variably set to M and N in two stages will be described. Now, as shown in FIG.
The cleaning brush 113 (for example, d = 24 mm) is disposed on the opposing roll 118 (for example, e = φ16 mm) at a predetermined bite amount k.
An experimental model for continuously rotating 13 is prepared.
Using this experimental model, the change over time of the brush diameter with respect to the brush operation time when the bite amount k of the cleaning brush 113 was fixed was examined. The result shown in FIG. 10 was obtained. According to FIG. 10, the brush penetration amount k
When a predetermined time elapses when is set to 0.5 mm, the brush diameter changes (converges) from the initial value φ24 mm to φ23.5 mm, and the bite amount k of the brush becomes 1.5 mm.
It was confirmed that the brush diameter changed (converged) from the initial value φ24 mm to φ22.5 mm after a predetermined period of time when it was kept constant.

Using the experimental model of FIG. 9, the change in the brush nip width n with respect to the change in the brush diameter when the brush penetration amount k is constant (for example, 1.5 mm) was examined. Obtained. According to FIG. 11, the nip width n when the brush diameter is initial is about 7.5 m.
It is understood that the brush nip width n also changes from 7.5 mm to 5 mm when the brush diameter changes from φ24 mm to φ22.5 mm, for example, as shown in FIG. 10 described above. Therefore, when the brush biting amount is large (for example, 1.5 mm), the change amount of the brush diameter is also large. is there.

FIG. 12A shows Toner Coverage 10.
FIG. 12B is a graph showing the cleaning efficiency of a 0% solid image patch (Cin 100%), and FIG.
verage 10% halftone image patch (Cin10
%) Shows a graph of cleaning efficiency. FIG. 12 (a)
According to this, it is understood that the cleaning property is OK when the brush nip width is about 7 mm. On the other hand, FIG.
According to (b), it is understood that the cleaning property is OK when the brush nip width is about 2 mm. That is,
The patch shown in FIG. 12A corresponds to, for example, a pro-control patch for process control. To clean it, a nip width of 7 mm is required, and the patch shown in FIG. It is understood that a nip width of 2 mm suffices for cleaning.

As described above, the degree of change over time of the cleaning brush 113 depends on the amount of bite.
Moreover, since the amount of biting of the cleaning brush 113 can be made variable depending on the use conditions, in the present embodiment, the amount of biting of the cleaning brush 113 is set to M and N.

FIG. 4 shows a drive control system of the belt cleaner 110 used in the present embodiment. In the figure, the drive control device 130 is, for example, a CPU, a RAM, a RO,
The CPU is configured by a microcomputer system including M and I / O ports. The CPU fetches a position signal from a belt drive motor (not shown) of the conveyor belt 80, and performs a cleaning cycle and a registration control (short for registration control). A drive control program (FIG. 6 to FIG. 8 in this example) in the ROM is executed according to the mode, the process control (abbreviation of process control) mode, and the print mode, and the position variable motor 122 of the position changing mechanism 120 and the cleaning brush 113 are controlled. The brush drive motor 116 is driven and controlled.

In this embodiment, a resist control mark (eg, a ladder pattern) for resist control is used.
And a process control mark for process control are created on the conveyor belt 80.
0, a mark sensor 140 for detecting a process control mark or a registration control mark is disposed at a position downstream of the most downstream image forming unit 22d and in front of the stretching roll 82.

Next, the operation of the color image forming apparatus according to this embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, four basic operations of a cleaning cycle, a registration mode, a process mode, and a print mode are performed.
Note that, in the present embodiment, the belt cleaner 110 moves at the time when the transport belt 80 is not driven (during non-image formation).
And the cleaner position is set to (1). Cleaning Cycle This is a cycle in which the belt cleaner 110 is operated immediately after turning on the power of the image forming apparatus, after a jam occurs, or every several jobs to remove toner, foreign matter, and the like on the conveyance belt 80. The processing when a jam occurs will be described in the print mode. In this case, the drive control device 130, as shown in FIG.
At 20 the belt cleaner 110 is in the cleaner position:
After setting to (2), the belt cleaner 110 is turned on (the cleaning brush 113 is rotationally driven), and when the cleaning cycle ends, the belt cleaner 110 is turned off.
Off. Therefore, in the cleaning cycle, the bite amount of the cleaning brush 113 is set to be large, so that toner and foreign matter on the conveyor belt 80 are surely removed by the cleaning brush 113 of the belt cleaner 110 (cleaner position: (2)). And is collected in the cleaner case 112.

In the registration mode, a ladder pattern (registration mark) of, for example, each color is formed on the conveyor belt 80 in order to correct the color misregistration, and the pitch and the like of the ladder pattern are read by the mark sensor 140. This is a mode for performing registration of the registration. In this case, the transport belt 8
In order to write a toner image on 0, as shown in FIG.
Processing substantially similar to the above-described cleaning cycle is performed.

Process control mode This is a mode in which the conveyor belt 80 is used to correct the image density.
For example, create a patch (Procon Mark) of each color on the top,
In this mode, the density of a patch is read by the mark sensor 140 and density adjustment is performed. Also in this case, the transport belt 8
In order to write a toner image on 0, as shown in FIG.
The same processing as the above-described cleaning cycle is performed.

Print mode This is a mode for performing normal image forming processing. The recording material is electrostatically attracted to the conveyance belt 80 after being nipped between the nip portion between the suction roller 90 and the conveyance belt 80. After this,
When the recording material is conveyed by the conveyance belt 80 and sequentially passes through the transfer sites of the image forming units 22 (22a to 22d), each color component toner image on the photosensitive drum 31 is transferred onto the recording material by the transfer electric field generated by the transfer roll 50. Are sequentially transferred. When the leading end of the recording material enters and passes through the fixing device 64, the recording material on which the unfixed toner image has been fixed is discharged to the storage tray 67 through the discharge roll 66.

In this mode, the drive controller 13
0, as shown in FIG. 8, when the image forming signal is turned on, after the belt cleaner 110 is set to the cleaner position: (1) by the position changing mechanism 120,
Turn on the belt cleaner 110 (cleaning brush 11
3 is rotated), and the belt cleaner 110 is turned off when the image formation is completed. At this time, since only the fogging toner is present on the transport belt 80, the belt cleaner 110 is set at the cleaner position (1), and the biting amount of the cleaning brush 113 is small.

When a jam occurs in the middle of the print mode, the drive controller 130 immediately sets the belt cleaner 110 to the cleaner position (2) as shown in FIG. At the end of the cleaning cycle,
After setting the belt cleaner 110 to the cleaner position (1), the belt cleaner 110 is turned off. As described above, in the present embodiment, the print mode (image forming mode) and the other modes (cleaning cycle,
The prolongation of the life of the cleaning brush 113 can be achieved by properly using the bite amount of the cleaning brush 113 between the process control mode and the registration control mode).

Second Embodiment FIG. 13A shows a belt cleaner according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, a belt cleaner 110 according to the present embodiment is of a bias brush type, and removes toner on a conveyance belt 80 mainly using an electric force. In this method, a cleaning brush (volume resistance of about 10 ⁵ to 10 ⁸ ) 113 is always arranged in contact with the stretching roll 82, and a bias having a polarity opposite to that of the toner (for example, +2 kv; The toner is transferred from the conveyor belt 80 to the cleaning brush 113 by applying the roller 82 to the cleaning brush 113. Then, the toner attached to the cleaning brush 113 is applied to the toner removing roll (metal roll) 151 which is in contact with the cleaning brush 113 with a higher bias (for example, +2.2 kv) than the cleaning brush 113.
Is transferred from the cleaning brush 113 to the toner removing roll 151. The toner transferred onto the toner removing roll 151 is scraped from the roll 151 into the cleaner case (recovery box) 112 by mechanical force by bringing the blade 152 into contact with the roll 151. Reference numeral 153 denotes an eccentric cam of a position changing mechanism for changing the position of the belt cleaner 110.

In the present embodiment, the belt cleaner 1
Reference numeral 10 is the same as that of the first embodiment in that the cleaner position is changed by the position changing mechanism, but instead or together with this, the cleaning brush 11 is used.
3 and the cleaning brush 1
13 can be variably set.

Third Embodiment FIG. 13B shows a third embodiment of a belt cleaner to which the present invention is applied. In the figure, the belt cleaner 110 according to the present embodiment is of a fur brush type, and removes toner on the transport belt 80 mainly by using a mechanical force (brush of the brush). In this method, the cleaning brush 11 is opposed to the tension roll 82.
3 is always in contact with the cleaning brush 1
The cleaning brush 113 is rotated at a high speed (for example, 1600 rpm), and the toner is removed from the transport belt 80 by the waist of the cleaning brush 113. The toner attached to the cleaning brush 113 is removed from the cleaning case 1
When the flickering member (flicker bar) 155 provided inside the cleaning brush 12 is brought into contact with the cleaning brush 113, it flies downward. The scattered toner is supplied to a blower (air inhaler) 1 provided in a cleaner case 112.
The filter 15 is sucked by the filter 56 before the blower 156.
7 and the like are collected by the filter 157.
Reference numeral 153 denotes an eccentric cam of a position changing mechanism for changing the position of the belt cleaner 110.

In the present embodiment, the belt cleaner 1
Reference numeral 10 is the same as that of the first embodiment in that the cleaner position is changed by the position changing mechanism, but instead or together with this, the cleaning brush 11 is used.
It is also possible to change the rotation speed of the cleaning brush 3 and variably set the cleaning ability of the cleaning brush 113.

[0041]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is premised on an image forming apparatus of a type in which a plurality of image forming units are arranged in parallel and an image formed by each image forming unit is transferred to the recording and conveying body side, and a cleaning brush is always arranged in contact with the recording and conveying body. As a result, the background fogging that occurs during image formation can be always cleaned, and the occurrence of residual marks such as toner can be avoided.
Accordingly, it is possible to always maintain the surface state of the recording conveyance body in a good state free of toner and other stains, and it is possible to effectively avoid a stain phenomenon such as a back surface stain on the recording material. Moreover, according to the present invention, the cleaning ability of the cleaning brush with respect to the recording conveyance body is variably adjusted, so that the cleaning brush can be effectively prevented from changing with time, and the device life of the cleaner can be sufficiently extended. it can.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing a cleaner according to the present invention and an image forming apparatus using the same.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an outline of a layout and a cleaner configuration of a belt cleaner (cleaner) according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a drive control system of the belt cleaner according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5A is an explanatory view showing a state of a cleaner position: (1) of the belt cleaner according to the first embodiment;
(B) is an explanatory view showing a state of a cleaner position: (2) of the cleaner.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing specific processing contents of a drive control system of the belt cleaner according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing specific processing contents of a drive control system of the belt cleaner according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing specific processing contents of a drive control system of the belt cleaner according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an experimental model related to a biting amount of a cleaning brush.

FIG. 10 is a graph showing a change over time of a brush diameter with respect to a brush operation time when a biting amount of a cleaning brush is constant in the experimental model of FIG. 9;

11 is a graph showing a relationship between a change in brush nip width due to a change in brush diameter when the amount of bite of the cleaning brush is constant in the experimental model of FIG. 9;

12A is an explanatory diagram illustrating the cleaning efficiency with respect to the brush nip width when the toner coverage is 100%, and FIG. 12B is an explanatory diagram illustrating the cleaning efficiency with respect to the brush nip width when the toner coverage is 10%.

13A is an explanatory diagram illustrating an outline of a belt cleaner according to a second embodiment, and FIG. 13B is an explanatory diagram illustrating an outline of a belt cleaner according to the third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 (1a-1d) ... Image formation unit, 2 ... Recording conveyance body, 3 ... Recording material, 4 ... Transfer means, 5 ... Cleaner, 6 ... Cleaning brush, 7 ... Cleaning ability adjustment means, 8 ... Cleaning ability control means

Claims (8)

[Claims] An image forming unit includes a plurality of image forming units arranged in parallel, and a recording conveyer that is circulated and conveyed at a portion facing each image forming unit. A cleaning brush that is used in an image forming apparatus that transfers an image formed on a forming unit and cleans the recording conveyance body, the cleaning brush being arranged to be constantly in contact with the recording conveyance body; and a recording conveyance of the cleaning brush. A cleaner comprising cleaning ability adjusting means for adjusting the cleaning ability of the body. 2. The cleaner according to claim 1, further comprising cleaning ability control means for controlling the cleaning ability of the cleaning ability adjusting means in accordance with the dirt condition on the recording medium. 3. The cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning ability adjusting means can adjust at least two stages in a contact state. 4. The cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning ability adjusting means variably adjusts the amount of the cleaning brush biting into the recording sheet. 5. The cleaner according to claim 1 or 2,
In a system for cleaning a recording medium mainly by using an electric force generated by applying a bias to a cleaning brush, the cleaning capability adjusting means variably adjusts a bias applied to the cleaning brush. Cleaner. 6. The cleaner according to claim 1 or 2,
A cleaning device for cleaning a recording transport body mainly by using mechanical force of a waist of a cleaning brush, wherein the cleaning ability adjusting means variably adjusts the rotation speed of the cleaning brush. 7. The cleaner according to claim 2, wherein the cleaning ability control means controls the cleaning ability at the time of non-image formation and according to each mode used in the image forming apparatus. 8. An image forming apparatus comprising the cleaner according to claim 1.