JP2000132027A - Process cartridge and electrophotographic image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely hold waste toner in a toner storing part by making the tilt direction of the gigging of a 1st seal member a forward direction with respect to the rotating direction of a toner image carrier and that of a 2nd seal member a reverse direction thereto. SOLUTION: An end seal member 71 is a gigged member similarly to a cleaning seal member 74 and is inclined to a more downstream side than perpendicular to the rotating direction of a photoreceptor drum. Namely, the tilt direction of the gigging of the member 74 is the reverse direction to the rotating direction of the photoreceptor drum and that of the member 71 is the forward direction with respect to the rotating direction of the photoreceptor drum. When the photoreceptor drum is rotated, the toner adhering to the photoreceptor drum passes through the member 71 whose gigging tilt direction is the forward direction, and is scraped by the member 74 whose gigging tilt direction is the reverse direction, and scraped down into a slit. Since the gigging tilt directions of the members 74 and 71 are set to be tilted toward the slit, the toner is surely held.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a process cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which the process cartridge can be attached and detached.

Here, the electrophotographic image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording medium using an electrophotographic image forming method. Examples of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus include, for example, an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrophotographic printer (for example, a laser beam printer, an LED printer, and the like), a facsimile machine, a word processor, and the like.

A process cartridge is a cartridge in which a charging unit, a cleaning unit, and a toner image carrier are integrally formed into a cartridge, and this cartridge is detachable from an image forming apparatus main body. Since the user can attach / detach to / from the apparatus main body, maintenance of the apparatus main body can be easily performed.

[0004]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic image forming process, a toner image carrier and process means acting on the toner image carrier are integrally formed as a cartridge, and this cartridge is used as an image forming apparatus. A process cartridge system detachable from the main body is employed. According to this process cartridge system, the maintenance of the apparatus can be performed by the user himself without relying on a serviceman, so that the operability can be remarkably improved. Therefore, this process cartridge system is widely used in image forming apparatuses.

When the life of the toner image carrier is prolonged and the number of printable sheets increases, the developing means which limits supply capacity is made an independent unit, and the developing unit and the toner image carrier for image forming process, charging means, and cleaning means are used. Are integrated into a process cartridge, which facilitates attachment / detachment to / maintenance from the apparatus main body and use of the main components in accordance with their life.

The waste toner generated by cleaning in the process cartridge is stored in a cleaning container having a sufficient capacity in accordance with the life of the toner image carrier, and is removed when the process cartridge is replaced. In such a cleaning means, a cleaning member for removing toner from the toner image carrier is attached to the toner image carrier side opening of the cleaning container, and the cleaning member is used to scrape waste toner. It is a target.

Further, a seal member is provided so that waste toner does not leak out of the container from the toner image carrier side opening end of the cleaning container, and this seal member is brought into contact with the toner image carrier.

[0008]

However, today, since the image forming apparatus has become faster and has a longer life,
The amount of the waste toner increases, and it is necessary to more reliably perform the sealing configuration so that the collected waste toner does not leak from the cleaning container.

Further, in an apparatus for developing with a non-magnetic toner, a magnetic seal cannot be used, and a so-called jumping development in which the toner is reciprocated between a toner supply member and a toner image carrier to develop the toner is used. In the apparatus, the scattered toner tends to adhere to the toner image carrier.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a seal structure for securely holding waste toner in a toner storage unit and for cleaning toner adhered to a toner image carrier. It will be realized.

[0011]

A typical configuration according to the present invention for achieving the above object is a rotatable toner image carrier and a cleaning device for removing toner remaining on the toner image carrier. A cleaning unit including a member and a toner storage unit for storing the toner removed from the toner image carrier by the cleaning member, and preventing the toner in the toner storage unit from leaking from an end of the cleaning member And a first seal member for cleaning the toner image carrier at a position different from the first seal member in the rotational direction of the toner image carrier and at least one position in a direction intersecting the rotational direction of the toner image carrier. A second seal member disposed so that the portions overlap each other, wherein the first seal member and the second seal portion Are brush-like members abutting on the toner image carrier, and the direction of the brush raising of the first seal member is forward with respect to the rotation direction of the toner image carrier, and The napping direction is opposite to the rotation direction of the toner image carrier.

In the above configuration, the first seal member and the second seal member prevent the toner in the toner storage from leaking to the outside, and securely hold the toner removed from the toner image carrier in the toner storage. be able to.

The toner adhered to the toner image carrier is wiped off by the second seal member and can be easily stored in the raised portion of the seal member. Can be removed even if it adheres.

Therefore, the second seal member is provided with a toner holding member for supplying the toner to the toner image carrier, and a toner holding member. By disposing the toner image carrier at a different position in the rotation direction of the image carrier and in a direction intersecting the rotation direction of the toner image carrier, the toner image carrier with which the spacing member abuts is provided. By wiping off a portion of the toner, the distance between the toner supply member and the toner image carrier can be accurately maintained.

Further, by forming a slit-shaped gap between the first seal member and the second seal member, it becomes possible to store the toner when wiped in the gap.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the short direction of the process cartridge is the direction in which the process cartridge is attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus, and coincides with the transport direction of the recording medium. Further, the longitudinal direction of the process cartridge is a direction (direction substantially perpendicular to) that intersects with the direction in which the process cartridge is attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus.
The direction is parallel to the surface of the recording medium and intersects (substantially perpendicular to) the transport direction of the recording medium. Further, the left and right with respect to the process cartridge are the left and right when the recording medium is viewed from above according to the transport direction of the recording medium.

<< Overall Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus >> FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a schematic configuration of an entire electrophotographic image forming apparatus (hereinafter, referred to as an image forming apparatus) according to the present invention.

First, an outline of the entire image forming apparatus A will be described with reference to FIG. The image forming apparatus A shown in FIG. 1 is a four-color full-color laser beam printer.

The image forming apparatus A shown in FIG. 1 includes a drum-type toner image carrier (hereinafter referred to as a "photosensitive drum") 1 as a first image carrier. The photosensitive drum 1
It is rotated counterclockwise in the figure by a driving unit (not shown). A charging device 2 for uniformly charging the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 in order according to the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 1 irradiates a laser beam based on image information, and an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 1 is formed. , A developing device 4 for attaching toner to an electrostatic latent image and developing it as a toner image, and a transfer device 5 as a second image carrier on which the toner image on the photosensitive drum 1 is primarily transferred Further, a cleaning device 6 for removing residual toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 after the primary transfer is provided.

Here, the photosensitive drum 1, the charging device 2, and the cleaning device 6 for removing toner are integrally formed as a cartridge to form a process cartridge B, which is detachably mountable to the image forming apparatus A.

In addition, a recording medium (third image carrier) S
And a fixing device 8 for fixing the toner image on the recording medium S after the secondary transfer, while supplying the recording medium S to the transfer device 5 and conveying the recording medium S. Less than,
Details will be described in order from the photosensitive drum 1.

The photosensitive drum 1 is formed by applying an organic photoconductor layer (OPC photosensitive member) to the outer peripheral surface of an aluminum cylinder having a diameter of about 47 mm. Photoconductor drum 1
Is rotatably supported at both ends by a support member, and is driven to rotate in a direction indicated by an arrow in FIG. 1 by transmitting a driving force from a driving motor (not shown) to one end.

The charging device 2 is described in, for example,
A so-called contact charging type as shown in JP-A-149669 can be used. The charging member is a conductive roller formed in the shape of a roller. The roller is brought into contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum 1, and a charging bias voltage is applied to the roller by a power supply (not shown). This is for uniformly charging the surface of the drum 1.

The exposure device 3 has a polygon mirror 3a, and the polygon mirror 3a is irradiated with image light corresponding to an image signal by a laser diode (not shown). The polygon mirror 3a is rotated at a high speed by a scanner motor (not shown), and selectively exposes the surface of the charged photosensitive drum 1 to the reflected image light via the imaging lens 3b, the reflection mirror 3c, and the like. It is configured to form an electrostatic latent image.

The developing device 4 contains a rotating member 4e rotatable around a shaft 4d and four developing devices mounted thereon, that is, toners of yellow, magenta, cyan and black, respectively. Developing units 4Y, 4M, 4C,
It has 4Bk. Of these toners, yellow,
The magenta and cyan toners are non-magnetic spherical toners. When the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 1 is developed, a predetermined developing device of a color to be attached to the electrostatic latent image is arranged at a developing position. That is, the predetermined developing device is stopped at the developing position facing the photosensitive drum 1 by the indexing rotation of the rotating body 4e, and the developing sleeve 4b of the developing device has a small gap (about 300 μm) with respect to the photosensitive drum 1. Then, the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 1 is developed. This development is performed as follows.

The toner in the container of the developing device corresponding to the color to be developed is sent to the application roller 4a by the feeding mechanism, and the toner is thinly applied to the outer periphery of the rotating development sleeve 4b by the rotating application roller 4a and the toner regulating blade 4c. Apply and charge (frictional) the toner. By applying a developing bias between the developing sleeve 4b and the photosensitive drum 1 on which the electrostatic latent image is formed, a toner image is attached to the electrostatic latent image and developed as a toner image.

The developing sleeves 4b of the developing units 4Y, 4M, 4C, and 4Bk are connected to a high-voltage power supply for developing each color provided in the image forming apparatus A when each developing unit is located at the developing position. The voltage is selectively applied for each color development. In addition, each developing unit 4Y, 4M, 4
C and 4Bk are individually provided to the rotating body 4e,
e is detachable from the image forming apparatus A.

The transfer device 5 serving as a second image carrier transfers a plurality of toner images sequentially and primarily transferred from the photosensitive drum 1 and superimposed on the recording medium S collectively. The transfer device 5 includes an intermediate transfer belt 5a that runs in the direction of arrow R5 in FIG. The intermediate transfer belt 5a of the present embodiment is a belt having a circumference of about 440 mm, and is stretched around three rollers: a driving roller 5b, a secondary transfer facing roller 5c, and a driven roller 5d. Driven roller 5d
And a pressing roller 5g that retreats so as to take a position where the intermediate transfer belt 5a is pressed against the photosensitive drum 1 in close proximity to the photosensitive drum 1 and a position where the intermediate transfer belt 5a is separated from the photosensitive drum 1. The intermediate transfer belt 5a travels in the direction of arrow R5 due to the rotation of the drive roller 5b.

Further, at a predetermined position outside the intermediate transfer belt 5a, there is provided a cleaning unit 5e which can come into contact with and separate from the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 5a, and remains on the recording medium S after the secondary transfer. The transfer residual toner is removed.
The cleaning unit 5e brings the charging roller 5f into contact with the intermediate transfer belt 5a to give the toner a charge opposite to that at the time of transfer. The toner having the opposite charge is electrostatically attached to the photosensitive drum 1 and then collected by the cleaning device 6 for the photosensitive drum 1.

The method of cleaning the intermediate transfer belt 5a is not limited to the above-described electrostatic cleaning, but may be a mechanical method such as a blade or a fur brush, or a method using both of them.

Next, after the toner developed on the photosensitive drum 1 by the developing device 4 is primary-transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 5a, the cleaning device 6 does not perform primary transfer, and the so-called transfer remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 This is to remove the residual toner. In the cleaning device 6 of the present embodiment, the transfer residual toner removed is sent into the container by the rotatable feed blade member 25 shown in FIG. The cleaning device 6 will be described more specifically later.

The feeding / conveying device 7 sends the recording medium S to the image forming section.
The sheet cassette 7 in which a plurality of recording media S are stored and which is loaded below the image forming apparatus A
a. Pickup member 7 during image formation
e, the conveying roller 7b is driven and rotated in accordance with the image forming operation, and separates and feeds the recording medium S in the sheet feeding cassette 7a one by one, while being guided by the guide plate 7c and passing through the registration roller 7d to the intermediate transfer belt 5a.

The fixing device 8 fixes a plurality of toner images secondary-transferred onto the recording medium S. this is,
As shown in FIG. 1, the driving roller 8a is driven and rotated, and a fixing roller 8b is pressed against the driving roller 8a to apply heat and pressure to the recording medium S. That is, the recording medium S that has passed through the secondary transfer roller 5 h that collectively transfers the toner on the intermediate transfer belt 5 a is
a, and heat and pressure are applied by the fixing roller 8b. As a result, the toner images of a plurality of colors are fixed on the surface of the recording medium S. Further, the recording medium S is discharged to the outside by a paper discharge device.

{Structure of Process Cartridge} The structure of the process cartridge B will be described with reference to FIGS. The process cartridge B is, as shown in FIG.
A charging device (charging roller) 2 and a cleaning device 6 are provided around the photosensitive drum 1, and these are integrated by a frame so as to be detachably attached to a movable body 50 (see FIG. 1) described later. .

The frame of the process cartridge B is shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 6, a cleaning container 11 having a drum supporting portion 11e, a cleaning blade supporting portion 11d, and a charging roller supporting portion 11f extending to both ends of the photosensitive drum 1 and the charging device 2 in the longitudinal direction; A rear container 12 which is joined to the rear end of the container 11 by ultrasonic waves is provided. A gear cover (one side cover) 13 is fixed on the driving side in the longitudinal direction across the cleaning container 11 and the rear container 12, and a side cover 14 is fixed on the non-driving side in the longitudinal direction. Further, a charging device cover 15 that covers the longitudinal direction of the charging device 2 and both ends thereof is attached.

Further, a drum shutter 18 is provided to protect the photosensitive drum 1 from outside light and contact with people when the photosensitive drum 1 is taken out of the image forming apparatus A.

{Mounting and Demounting of Process Cartridge from Image Forming Apparatus} Next, the structure of the mounting means for mounting and removing the process cartridge B from the image forming apparatus A will be described with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 5, a drum coupling 19 concentric with the rotation center of the photosensitive drum 1 is provided on one side surface of the process cartridge B to transmit a driving force to the photosensitive drum 1. Yes, this drum coupling
A cylindrical positioning boss 13a is provided in parallel with 19 in the axial direction. Further, at a predetermined position of the gear cover 13, a rotation determining dowel 11a is formed so as to protrude. On the other hand, on the other side surface of the process cartridge B, as shown in FIG. 6, a cylindrical portion 14b is provided at a position facing the drum coupling 19, and a positioning boss is provided at a position facing the positioning boss 13a.
A rotation determining dowel 11b is provided at a position opposite to the rotation determining dowel 11a.

As shown in FIG. 7, in the image forming apparatus A in which the process cartridge B is mounted, a movable body 50 for guiding the process cartridge B into the image forming apparatus A is movable in the image forming apparatus A. Configuration. As shown in FIG. 8, the movable body 50 has a first guide surface 50a and a second guide surface 50b.
The process cartridge B has a first guide surface 50a.
The drum coupling 19 and the cylindrical portion 14b of the side cover 14 on the opposite side are guided with respect to the second guide surface 50b of the movable body 50.
11a and 11b are led.

As shown in FIG. 7, the positioning bosses 13a and 14a of the process cartridge B enter the temporary receiving portion 50f at the front end of the first guide surface, and the process cartridge B rotates clockwise around the temporary receiving portion 50f. And the rotation determining dowels 11a and 11b are rotated by the rotation determining portions 50e of the movable body 50 shown in FIG.
Hit. At this time, the dowels 11a and 11b are pressurized by the upper cartridge pressurizing member 54, whereby the mounting of the process cartridge B to the movable body 50 is completed.

When the process cartridge B is mounted, the ROM connector 23 (see FIG. 4) of the cartridge B is connected to a connector (not shown) arranged on the movable body 50. The drum shutter 18 is opened halfway by the cam receiving portion 50g of the movable body 50 shown in FIG.

Further, the movable body 50 is moved in the direction of the image forming apparatus A, and the positioning boss 13a of the process cartridge B is fitted into the cartridge receiving member 55 (see FIG. 1) in the apparatus main body, and the back of the movable body is pressed. The catching portion 51b of the portion 51 hangs on the side surface of the apparatus main body and presses the movable body 50 against the back plate 51a, so that the butting portion 50d of the movable body 50 is pressed against the cylindrical positioning dowel 12a of the process cartridge. The position of the process cartridge B is determined with respect to the apparatus main body, and an image can be formed as shown in FIG.

By the mounting, the drum drive coupling 52 and the waste toner transport drive coupling 53 of the apparatus main body shown in FIG. 7 are moved in the thrust direction. The drum drive coupling 52 is connected to the drum coupling 19 of the process cartridge and becomes drivable. The waste toner transport drive coupling 53 passes through the notch 50c (see FIG. 8) of the movable body 50, and
Waste toner transport coupling 20 (see FIG. 5) for transmitting driving force to feed blade member 25 for feeding waste toner into interior 11
And become drivable.

The process cartridge B shown in FIG.
The laser shutter opening / closing rib 11c opens the laser shutter 3d of the exposure device 3. Further, a drum ground contact 21 (see FIG. 4) for grounding the photosensitive drum 1 and a primary bias contact 22 for applying a charging bias voltage to the charging device 2
(See FIG. 3) is electrically connected to a high-voltage contact (not shown) of the apparatus main body. Further, the drum shutter 18 is completely opened by a shutter opening / closing rib (not shown) of the apparatus main body.

{Image Forming Operation} Next, the image forming operation of the image forming apparatus having the above-described configuration will be described with reference to FIG.

The photosensitive drum 1 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 1 (counterclockwise) in synchronization with the rotation of the intermediate transfer belt 5a, and the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 is uniformly charged by the charging device 2 and exposed. The device 3 irradiates a yellow image with light to form a yellow electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 1. Simultaneously with the formation of the electrostatic latent image, the developing device 4 is driven to dispose the yellow developing unit 4Y at the developing position, and the photosensitive drum 1 is moved so that the yellow toner adheres to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 1. A voltage having the same polarity as the charging polarity and substantially the same potential is applied to cause the yellow toner to adhere to the electrostatic latent image for development. And a primary transfer roller (driven roller)
5d, a voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the toner is applied to the photosensitive drum 1
The upper yellow toner image is primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 5a.

When the primary transfer of the yellow toner image is completed as described above, the next developing unit is rotated and positioned at the developing position facing the photosensitive drum 1, and the magenta and cyan colors are set in the same manner as in the case of yellow. Then, formation, development, and primary transfer of an electrostatic latent image are sequentially performed for each color of black, and four color toner images are superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 5a. These toner images are collectively and secondarily transferred to the recording medium S supplied from the feeding / conveying device 7.

Then, the recording medium S after the secondary transfer is conveyed to a fixing device 8, where the toner image is fixed, and then driven by a belt 9a wound around a discharge belt 9a moving in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure. The sheet is discharged onto the sheet discharge tray 10 outside the image forming apparatus A by the discharged discharge roller 9b, thereby completing the image formation.

<Cleaning Device> Next, the cleaning device 6 in the process cartridge B will be described in detail.

As shown in FIG. 2, the cleaning device 6 includes a cleaning blade 28 as a cleaning member.
Is in contact with the photosensitive drum 1, and the cleaning blade 28 on the photosensitive drum 1 after the toner visualized on the photosensitive drum 1 by the developing device 4 is primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 5 a Is removed. Then, the removed waste toner is guided to the cleaning container 11 as a toner storage unit by a squeeze sheet 29 as a flexible sheet member, and is sent into the container by a feed blade member 25.

The cleaning blade 28 and the squeeze sheet 29 are attached to the opening of the cleaning container.
Here, the photosensitive drum 1 comes into contact with the photosensitive drum 1 so as to close the opening. Then, the portion is sealed so that the removed toner does not leak from the longitudinal end of the opening. Hereinafter, the mounting configuration of each member of the cleaning device will be specifically described.

(Cleaning Blade Configuration) As shown in FIG. 9, the cleaning blade 28 has a plate shape arranged in parallel with the longitudinal direction of the photosensitive drum 1 and has a counter with respect to the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 1. Bonding the rubber blade 28a and the rubber blade 28a which are pressed against each other with the tip in the direction,
It has a supporting metal plate 28b fixed by welding or the like.

The longitudinal direction of the cleaning blade 28 is slightly longer than the conductive rubber portion, which is a roller member of the charging device 2, and the opening 11 h of the cleaning container 11. Both ends overlap the photosensitive drum side wall of the cleaning container 11. I have. The supporting metal plate 28b has an L-shaped cross section, and is fixed to the cleaning container 11 with small screws (not shown).

Further, when the cleaning blade is attached to the cleaning container 11, the cleaning blade is automatically adjusted and assembled.
28 positioning operations are performed. The cleaning blade 28
While pressing in the direction of the arrow y in FIG. 9, the notches 28 c provided at the L-shaped bending roots at both ends of the supporting metal plate 28 b are pressed to adjust the position in the direction of the arrow x, and the rubber blade 28 a of the cleaning blade 28 is adjusted. When the tip is in a predetermined position, it is screwed down with a small screw.

{Squeeze Sheet Configuration} As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the squeeze sheet is an elastic (flexible) sheet member, and the photosensitive drum of the cleaning container 11 is rotated with respect to the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 1. It is arranged on the upstream side of the cleaning blade 28 across the side opening 11h. The squeeze sheet 29 allows the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 1 after the transfer to pass therethrough, but waste toner removed from the photosensitive drum 1 is transferred from the cleaning container 11 to the photosensitive drum 1.
And lightly presses against the photosensitive drum 1 so as not to leak out from between the sheet and the squeeze sheet 29.

The sticking seat surface of the squeeze sheet 29 is formed by a sheet metal 70 attached with a double-sided tape to an edge of the cleaning container 11 below the opening 11h on the photosensitive drum 1 side with a double-sided tape. Pasted on gold 70 with double-sided tape.

{Sealing Configuration of Opening End} Opening 11
In the longitudinal direction of h, toner leakage does not occur because the cleaning blade 28 and the squeeze sheet 29 are in contact with the photosensitive drum as described above. However, since the cleaning blade 28 and the like do not contact the photosensitive drum 1 at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the opening 11h, toner leakage occurs as it is. For this reason, the portion is sealed, but in the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, a first sealing member is provided at the longitudinal end of the opening 11h of the cleaning container 11 on the photosensitive drum 1 side. An end seal member 71 is provided. The end seal member 71 is a seal member in which a foam member and a brushed woven fabric (pile) member are bonded together with a double-sided tape.

As shown in FIG. 11, the end seal member 71 is
Notches are provided at the short end 28d and the long end 28e of the cleaning blade 28 to cover the outside of the cleaning blade 28 in the longitudinal direction and the upstream side of the photosensitive drum 1 in the rotation direction in the short direction. In a state where the photosensitive drum 1 is attached to the cleaning container 11, the photosensitive drum 1 is attached to a position where no gap is formed between the photosensitive drum 1 and the cleaning blade 28 using a double-sided tape attached to the surface on the foam member side.

In this embodiment, the end sealing member is used.
In order to assist the sealing of 71, an end portion auxiliary sealing member 72 is provided as shown in FIG. This is a foam member attached with a double-sided tape to the cleaning container side where the cleaning blade 28 and the cleaning container 11 overlap.

Further, as shown in FIG. 13, since the adjusting and assembling is performed at the time of assembling the cleaning blade 28 and the reference position of the sticking position of the end sealing member 71 is the tip of the cleaning blade 28, the end sealing is performed. Member 71,
There may be a gap 80 between the squeeze sheet 29 and the lower edge 11g of the opening on the photosensitive drum side of the cleaning container 11, through which waste toner can pass.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the end inside seal member 73 is provided. This is shown in FIG.
A foam member 73a having a double-sided tape 73b adhered to one surface thereof. The inner side surface of the squeeze sheet 29 and the end seal member 71, that is, the It is arranged so as to contact the side surface of the toner storage section and the side surface of the opening of the end seal member 71, and this is fixed to the edge by a double-sided tape 73b. Thus, even if a gap occurs depending on the position where the end seal member 71 is attached, the end inside seal member 73 reliably prevents the waste toner from leaking from the opening 11h of the cleaning container.

As shown in FIG. 14, in the present embodiment, a brush-like cleaning seal member 74 as a second seal member is provided at both longitudinal ends of the cleaning container 11 supporting both ends of the photosensitive drum 1. Is attached.

As shown in FIG. 14, the cleaning seal member 74 includes a developing sleeve 4 for supplying toner to the photosensitive drum 1.
In order to maintain the distance between the photoconductor drum 1 and the photoconductor drum 1, the photoconductor drum 1 is located at a different position in the rotation direction of the photoconductor drum 1 (the direction of the arrow a) with respect to the space holding member 81 contacting the photoconductor drum 1. It is arranged so as to overlap in a direction (arrow b direction) intersecting with the rotation direction of the body drum 1. That is, the cleaning seal member 74 is in contact with the contact peripheral surface 82 of the photosensitive drum 1 with which the spacing member 81 contacts (FIG. 14A).
(Hatched portion).

In this embodiment, the cleaning seal member 74 is used.
As shown in FIG. 14 (b), the two-layer structure has a raised member 74a on the side that contacts the photosensitive drum 1, and an elastic member 74b such as a sponge on the cleaning container 11 side.
The elastic member 74b is attached and fixed to the cleaning container 11 with a double-sided tape 74e.

By providing the cleaning seal member 74 as described above, the toner adheres to the space holding member 81 during jumping development and the like, and this adheres to the contact peripheral surface 82 of the photosensitive drum 1.
Even when the toner adheres to the photosensitive drum 1, the toner is wiped off by the cleaning seal member 74 when the photosensitive drum 1 rotates. Thus, the distance between the photosensitive drum 1 and the developing sleeve 4b is always properly maintained.

Here, the falling direction of the raising of the cleaning seal member 74 is inclined more upstream than perpendicular to the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 1. That is, the photosensitive drum 1 is configured to be in the opposite direction to the rotation direction. In this way, the raised brushes serve as simulated walls in the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 1, and even if the durability increases and the amount of the wiped toner increases, the toner is retained inside the raised brush and the cleaning seal member 74 is removed. It is configured to be hard to blow out to the opposite side (downstream in the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 1).

(Slit for storing toner) The cleaning seal member 74 and the end seal member 71 are disposed so as to form a slit at the boundary, and are configured to be able to store toner in this portion. Next, the configuration will be described.

As shown in FIG. 11, the cleaning seal member 74 is located at a position different from the end seal member 71 in the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 1 (the direction of arrow a), and the rotation of the photosensitive drum 1 At least a portion 74c is disposed so as to overlap in a direction intersecting the direction (the direction of the arrow b).

Further, the cleaning seal member 74 is located at a different position from the end seal member 71 in a direction intersecting the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 1 (the direction of the arrow b), and in the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 1. In the direction of arrow a, at least a portion 74d is arranged to overlap.

The cleaning seal member 74 and the end seal member 71 are separate members. By disposing the two seal members so as to overlap each other as described above, as shown in FIG. A slit (gap) 83 of a degree is formed.

The end sealing member 71 is a brush-like member like the cleaning seal member 74, and the falling direction of the brush is inclined downstream from the direction perpendicular to the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 1. are doing. That is, as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the falling direction of the brushing of the cleaning seal member 74 is opposite to the rotating direction of the photosensitive drum 1 (the direction of the arrow a in FIGS. 15 and 16) (the direction of the arrow c1). On the other hand, the falling direction of the raising of the end seal member 71 is configured to be in the forward direction (the direction of arrow c2) with respect to the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 1.

In the above configuration, when the photosensitive drum 1 rotates in the direction of the arrow a, the toner adhering to the photosensitive drum 1 that comes into contact with the spacing member 81 attached to the developing sleeve 4b has a raised brush falling direction. It passes over the forward end seal member and is scraped off from the photoreceptor drum 1 by the cleaning seal member 74 whose brushing direction is the reverse direction, and is scraped into the slit 83 as shown in FIG. . And
Since the cleaning seal member 74 and the end seal member 71 are both raised in the falling direction toward the slit 83, the toner t once stored in the slit 83 is held without leaking from the slit 83.

<< Other Embodiments >> In the above-described embodiment, the process cartridge B having the photosensitive drum 1, the charging device 2, and the cleaning device 6 has been exemplified. As long as the process means performs at least a cleaning device, the form of the process cartridge is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, the photosensitive drum, the cleaning device, and the charging device may be integrated. A cartridge that can be attached to and detached from the main unit. A photoreceptor drum, a cleaning device, and a developing device are integrally formed into a cartridge, which can be attached to and detached from the main body of the device. In some cases, the photosensitive drum, the cleaning means, the charging device, and the developing device are integrally formed into a cartridge, which is detachable from the apparatus main body. The process cartridge can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body by the user, and as a result, the maintenance of the apparatus main body can be performed by the user himself.

In the above-described embodiment, a full-color printer has been described as an example of the image forming apparatus.
As long as the apparatus forms an image by an electrophotographic method, the apparatus is not limited to a monochrome printer, but may be a copying machine or a facsimile machine.

[0075]

According to the present invention, since the present invention is configured as described above,
The first seal member and the second seal member prevent the toner in the toner storage from leaking to the outside, and the toner removed from the toner image carrier can be reliably held in the toner storage.

The toner adhering to the toner image carrier is wiped off by the second seal member and can be easily stored in the raised portion of the seal member. Can be removed even if it adheres.

Accordingly, the second seal member is provided with a toner holding member for supplying toner to the toner image carrier, and a toner holding member. By disposing the toner image carrier at a different position in the rotation direction of the image carrier and in a direction intersecting the rotation direction of the toner image carrier, the toner image carrier with which the spacing member abuts is provided. By wiping off a portion of the toner, the distance between the toner supply member and the toner image carrier can be accurately maintained.

Further, by forming a slit-shaped gap between the first seal member and the second seal member, it becomes possible to store the toner when wiped in the gap.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of a longitudinal section of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory longitudinal sectional view of a process cartridge.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory perspective view of the process cartridge viewed from the upper right rear of the process cartridge.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory perspective view of the process cartridge viewed from the left rear with the upside down.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory right side view of the process cartridge.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory left side view of the process cartridge.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a state in which a process cartridge is attached to and detached from the electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a mounting guide for a process cartridge.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram for attaching a cleaning blade to a cleaning container.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a seal configuration at an opening end of a cleaning container.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory front view showing a seal configuration of an opening end of the cleaning container.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory longitudinal sectional view showing a sealing configuration of an opening end of the cleaning container.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of a gap between an opening end seal member of the cleaning container and an opening edge portion.

FIGS. 14A and 14B are views showing an attached state of the cleaning seal member, in which FIG. 14A is a front view, and FIG. 14B is a longitudinal sectional view.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of the falling direction of the raised hair and the slit of the end seal member and the cleaning seal member.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram of the falling direction of the raising of the end seal member and the cleaning seal member.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A: Image forming apparatus B: Process cartridge S: Recording medium t: Toner 1: Photoconductor drum 2: Charging device 3: Exposure device 3a: Polygon mirror 3b: Imaging lens 3c: Reflection mirror 3d: Laser shutter 4: Development device 4a ... Coating roller 4b ... Developing sleeve 4c ... Toner regulating blade 4d ... Shaft 4e ... Rotating member 5 ... Transfer device 5a ... Intermediate transfer belt 5b ... Drive roller 5c ... Secondary transfer facing roller 5d ... Driving roller 5e ... Cleaning unit 5f ... Charging roller 5g ... Pressing roller 5h ... Secondary transfer roller 6 ... Cleaning device 7 ... Supply / transport device 7a ... Paper feeding cassette 7b ... Transport roller 7c ... Guide plate 7d ... Regist roller 7e ... Pickup member 8 ... Fixing device 8a ... Drive roller 8b: fixing roller 9a: discharge belt 9 ... discharge roller 10 ... discharge tray 11 ... cleaning container 11a, 11b ... rotation determining dowel 11c ... laser shutter opening and closing rib 11d ... cleaning blade support 11e ... drum support 11f ... charging roller support 11g ... lower edge 11h ... opening Unit 12 Rear container 13 Gear cover 13a Positioning boss 14 Side cover 14a Positioning boss 14b Cylindrical unit 15 Charging device cover 18 Drum shutter 19 Drum coupling 20 Waste toner transport coupling 21 Drum ground Contact 22 Primary bias contact 23 ROM connector 25 Feed blade member 28 Cleaning blade 28a Rubber blade 28b Support plate 28c Notch 28d Short end 28e Longitudinal end 29 Squeeze sheet 50 … Movable body 50a… first guide surface 50b… second guide surface 50c… notch 50d ... Abutting part 50e ... Rotation determining part 50f ... Temporary receiving part 50g ... Cam receiving part 51 ... Pressing part 51a ... Back plate 51b ... Hook part 52 ... Drum drive coupling 53 ... Waste toner transport drive coupling 54 ... Pressure member 55 ... cartridge receiving member 70 ... sheet metal 71 ... end seal member 72 ... end auxiliary seal member 73 ... end inside seal member 73a ... foam member 73b ... double-sided tape 74 ... cleaning seal member 74a ... brushed member 74b ... elasticity Members 74c, 74d: Overlap portion 74e: Double-sided tape 80: Gap 81: Spacing member 82: Contact surface 83: Slit

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Tatsuya Suzuki 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo F-term in Canon Inc. (reference) 2H034 AA00 AA04 BA00 BF00 2H071 BA04 BA13 BA27 BA35 DA13 DA16 EA10 2H077 AC04 AC16 AD06 AD07 AD13 AD35 AE01 BA10 CA12 EA14 EA16 EA21 EA24 GA12

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A rotatable toner image carrier, a cleaning member for removing toner remaining on the toner image carrier, and a toner for storing toner removed from the toner image carrier by the cleaning member A cleaning unit having a storage unit; and a first seal member for preventing toner in the toner storage unit from leaking from an end of the cleaning member. A second seal member disposed at a different position in the rotation direction of the toner image carrier, and disposed so as to at least partially overlap in a direction intersecting with the rotation direction of the toner image carrier. The first seal member and the second seal member are both raised members that come into contact with the toner image carrier, and The falling direction of the raising of the first seal member is a forward direction with respect to the rotation direction of the toner image carrier, and the falling direction of the raising of the second seal member is opposite to the rotation direction of the toner image carrier. A process cartridge characterized by being in a direction. 2. The first seal member and the second seal member are located at different positions in a direction intersecting a rotation direction of the toner image carrier, and are at least partially located in a rotation direction of the toner image carrier. 2. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the process cartridges are arranged to overlap. 3. An interval holding member that contacts the toner image carrier to maintain an interval between a toner supply member that supplies toner to the toner image carrier and the toner image carrier. Wherein the toner image carrier and the toner image carrier are arranged at different positions in the rotation direction and overlap in a direction intersecting with the rotation direction of the toner image carrier. Item 3. The process cartridge according to Item 2. 4. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for detachably mounting a process cartridge and recording an image on a recording medium, wherein the process cartridge according to claim 1 is detachably mounted. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising: mounting means for carrying out recording; and conveying means for conveying a recording medium.