JP2000313540A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device with improved reliability and maintainability by removing paper foreign matters effectively. SOLUTION: This device is provided with a drive roller 3a provided on the upstream side from a photoreceptive drum for feeding paper, and a register main body 31. The register main body 31 is provided with a foreign matter collecting member 32 collecting paper powders and the like attached on an outer peripheral surface of the drive roller 3a, and a space A retaining the collected paper powders and the like for preventing them from moving outside, thereby retaining the collected paper powders and the like in the space A, resulting in preventing falling down of the paper powders and the like. The paper powders and the like retained in the space A can be cleaned sufficiently at a relatively long interval, thereby reducing a labor for the maintenance.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technique for removing foreign matter adhering to a feeding roller in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a toner image is formed by adhering toner on a photosensitive drum on which an electrostatic latent image has been formed by charging, and then a toner image is formed on paper as an image forming body. The image is transferred, and the toner image is fixed on paper using a fixing roller.

[0003] By the way, paper to which the toner is to be transferred usually contains paper dust such as chips attached to the cut end of the paper and foreign substances such as dust floating in the room. If the paper to which such foreign matter adheres is brought into contact with the photosensitive drum during toner transfer, the foreign matter may adhere to the photosensitive drum, damaging the photosensitive drum or impairing subsequent image formation. Therefore, a conventional image forming apparatus is provided with a removing device that removes foreign matter attached to paper before toner transfer.

[0004] As an example of a prior art removing apparatus, for example, one disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 59-79274 discloses a removing member such as a brush or a felt on a feed resist roller for conveying paper to the photosensitive drum side. Is provided so as to function to remove foreign matter adhering to the feeding registration roller.

[0005]

According to such a prior art removing apparatus, although foreign matter adhering to the feed registration roller can be removed, the removed foreign matter adheres to a brush or felt, so that it can be removed in a relatively short cycle. Had to clean brushes and felt. In addition, even if cleaning is performed frequently, foreign matter that has adhered to the brush or felt after cleaning may fall due to vibration or the like. Had occurred.

[0006] On the other hand, the feed registration roller is made of PET.
It is conceivable to prevent foreign matter from dropping to prevent contamination inside the equipment and re-adhesion to paper. However, careless application of the PET plate may cause scratches on the feed registration roller, Premature wear may occur.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus having improved reliability and maintainability in view of the problems of the related art.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention is arranged at a position upstream of a photosensitive drum and feeds an image forming body. Foreign matter removing means arranged on the outer peripheral surface of
The foreign matter removing means includes a removing member for removing foreign matter attached to an outer peripheral surface of the feeding roller, and a space for retaining the removed foreign matter.

[0009]

According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, a feed roller arranged upstream of the photosensitive drum for feeding an image forming body, and a foreign matter removing means arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the feed roller are provided. And the foreign matter removing means includes a removing member for removing foreign matter attached to the outer peripheral surface of the feeding roller and a space for retaining the removed foreign matter, so that the removed foreign matter is retained in the space. This can prevent foreign matter from falling. In addition, it is sufficient to clean the foreign material that has stayed in such a space at every relatively long cycle, so that the maintenance work can be reduced.

Further, if the removing member includes a sponge-like member or a felt that comes into contact with the outer periphery of the feed roller, it is possible to prevent the outer peripheral surface of the feed roller from being scratched and to be abraded early. .

If the removing member is arranged so as to be able to be pulled out in the axial direction of the feed roller, the removing member can be more easily cleaned.

In addition, if the space is a slit-shaped space formed on the front side in the rotation direction of the feed roller with respect to the removing member, the removed foreign matter can be easily retained.

Further, when a pair of the feed rollers are provided, the removing member is attached to the feed roller on the downstream side of the feed roller to which foreign matter falling from the image forming body abutting on the guide member adheres. If provided, the foreign matter can be removed more efficiently.

Further, if the removing member is arranged in a cutout of a cylindrical member enclosing the feed roller and is attached by an attaching member having a curved surface corresponding to the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical member, The mounting member can be mounted on the cylindrical member by using small screws or the like, which saves labor for maintenance.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a copying machine that is an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.

The copying machine shown in FIG. 1 is of a type in which paper P is vertically conveyed to a photosensitive drum 1 in order to facilitate double-sided copying or the like. A charging device (not shown) is arranged on the opposite side (left side) of the position of the photosensitive drum 1 with which the paper P contacts.

A developing device 2 for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 1 by the charging device into a toner image
Are disposed below the photosensitive drum 1. Developing device 2
Is well known and will not be described in detail below.

A feed system 3 for supplying paper P to the photosensitive drum 1 is disposed on the right side of the developing device 2. Feeding system 3
Are a POM drive roller (feed roller) 3a which is driven to rotate by a motor (not shown), and a rubber driven roller 3a.
b, and a registration device 30 disposed adjacent to the drive roller 3a.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the resist device 30. In FIG. 2, the resist device 30 includes a resist main body 31, a prism-shaped foreign substance collecting member 32, and a mounting plate 33 for attaching the foreign substance collecting member 31 to the resist main body 31.

The resist body 31 includes a driving roller 3a indicated by a dashed line in FIG. 2 and has a cylindrical portion 31a having a partial cylindrical surface corresponding to the outer periphery thereof, and extends downward from the cylindrical portion 31a. A lower guide 31b for guiding the paper P (FIG. 1), and a paper P extending upward from the cylindrical portion 31a and moving from the drive roller 3a to the photosensitive drum 1 (FIG. 1).
And an upper guide portion 31c for guiding the vehicle.

From one end (the left end in FIG. 2) of the cylindrical portion 31a, an elongated notch (slit-like space) 31d is formed in parallel with the axis of the drive roller 3a. The length of the notch 31d is longer than the entire length of the drive roller 3a.

In the notch 31d, a foreign substance collecting member 32 formed of a sponge-like material such as a malt plane or a felt is disposed so as to be in contact with a lower edge thereof. The foreign substance collecting member 32 as a removing member is
One surface thereof is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the drive roller 3a over the entire axial direction. In the foreign matter collecting member 32,
Since the length (width) in the direction along the outer periphery of the driving roller 3a is about half of the width of the notch 31d, an elongated space (foreign matter collecting space) A is generated above the foreign matter collecting member 32. I have.

The foreign substance collecting member 32 is attached to the mounting plate 32 with an adhesive or the like. Mounting plate 33
Is curved in accordance with the outer shape of the cylindrical portion 31a, and is attached to the cylindrical portion 31a only by fixing only the lower side of the notch 31d using the small screw 34, and the notch 31d is removed. It can be covered from the side.

During operation of the copying machine according to the present embodiment, the photosensitive drum 1 rotates in the direction shown in FIG.
The paper P guided by O is in contact with the right outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 1 and moves upward. At this time, since the electrostatic latent image formed on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 1 by the charging device (not shown) has been developed as a toner image by the developing device 2, the toner image is transferred to the paper P by Will be copied.

By the way, generally, various foreign matters such as paper dust and indoor dust are attached to the paper P. If the paper to which such foreign matter adheres is brought into contact with the photosensitive drum, the foreign matter may adhere to the photosensitive drum and damage the photosensitive drum 1 or impair the subsequent image formation. Further, the toner remaining on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 1 after the transfer is collected and reused. However, if foreign matter such as paper dust is mixed with the toner and collected, the function of the developing device 2 and the like at the time of reuse is improved. May be damaged.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, for example, when the paper P on which paper dust or the like is placed at the leading end enters between the driving roller 3a and the driven roller 3b, the driving roller 3a or the driven roller The paper dust and the like are made to adhere to the outer peripheral surface of 3b. Paper dust and the like adhering to the outer peripheral surface of the driving roller 3a are collected by the foreign matter collecting member 32 when the driving roller 3a further rotates about half a turn. Also, paper dust and the like adhering to the outer peripheral surface of the driven roller 3b can be similarly collected by the foreign matter collecting member 32 if the paper P adheres to the drive roller 3a side after the paper P comes out from between the rollers. In the present embodiment, the surface of the paper P contacting the drive roller 3a is the surface contacting the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 1, that is, the image forming surface. Although the foreign substance collecting member 32 is provided only on the roller 3a side, a foreign substance collecting member may be provided on the driven roller 3b side in addition thereto.

Since the foreign matter collecting member 32 is formed of a malt plane or the like, paper dust and the like can be efficiently collected without damaging the feed roller 3a and without causing early wear. ing.

Further, in the present embodiment, the paper P is pushed to the downstream side by the driving roller 3a and the driven roller 3b. At this time, the leading end of the paper P is moved to the upper guide portion 31c.
To make contact with. That is, even if paper dust or the like remains on the paper P at the stage where the paper P has passed through the roller, the paper dust or the like is caused to fall by the impact at the time of abutment. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, since the drive roller 3a is disposed at the point where the paper dust or the like falls, the dropped paper dust or the like adheres to the drive roller 3a and the foreign matter collecting member 32
Thus, paper powder and the like can be collected more efficiently.

Above the foreign substance collecting member 32 (drive roller 3a)
Since the foreign matter collecting space A is formed on the near side in the rotation direction of the paper), the paper dust collected by the foreign matter collecting member 32 can stay in the space A. Space A
Is closed by the mounting plate 33, the paper dust and the like staying there fall from the space to the outside,
There is no risk of contamination inside the copier. Also, while the amount of paper dust and the like adhering to one sheet of paper P is small, the foreign matter collection space A is formed relatively large, so that according to general use, the space A It is thought that it will take a long time to become full. Therefore, it is not necessary to frequently clean the foreign substance collecting member 32, and the maintenance work can be omitted.

On the other hand, when taking out the collected foreign matter such as paper dust to the outside, by removing a small number of small screws 34, the foreign matter collecting member 32 together with the mounting plate 33 can be easily removed. Thereby, the foreign substance collecting member 32
, And the foreign matter staying in the foreign matter collecting space A can be taken out and discarded.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments, it should be understood that the present invention should not be construed as being limited to the above-described embodiments, and that modifications and improvements can be made as appropriate. is there. For example, the foreign material collecting member can be formed from a material other than malt plain or felt.

[0032]

According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, a feed roller is provided upstream of the photosensitive drum and feeds an image forming body, and foreign matter is disposed on an outer peripheral surface of the feed roller. Means, and the foreign matter removing means includes a removing member for removing foreign matter attached to the outer peripheral surface of the feeding roller, and a space for retaining the removed foreign matter. And foreign matter can be prevented from falling. In addition, it is sufficient to clean the foreign material that has stayed in such a space at every relatively long cycle, so that the maintenance work can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a copying machine that is an image forming apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a registration device 30.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Photosensitive drum 2 Developing device 3 Feeding system 3a Driving roller 3b Follower roller 30 Registration device 31 Resist main body 32 Foreign material collecting member 33 Mounting plate A Foreign material collecting space

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Hiroyasu Sato 2970 Ishikawa-cho, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo Konica Corporation F-term (reference) 3F049 AA10 DA12 LA01 LB03 3F101 AB01 AB09 LA01 LB03

Claims (6)

[Claims] A feed roller disposed upstream of the photosensitive drum for feeding an image forming body; and a foreign matter removing means disposed on an outer peripheral surface of the feed roller. An image forming apparatus comprising: a removing member that removes foreign matter adhered to an outer peripheral surface of the feeding roller; and a space in which the removed foreign matter stays. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the removing member includes a sponge-like member or a felt that contacts an outer periphery of the feeding roller. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the removing member is disposed so as to be able to be removed in an axial direction of the feeding roller. 4. The space according to claim 1, wherein the space is a slit-shaped space formed on a front side in a rotation direction of the feeding roller with respect to the removing member. Image forming device. 5. The feeding roller is provided in a pair, and the removing member is provided at a downstream side of the feeding roller with respect to a feeding roller to which a foreign substance falling from an image forming body abutting on a guide member adheres. 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein
The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4. 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the removing member is disposed in a notch of a cylindrical member including the feeding roller, and is attached by a mounting member having a curved surface corresponding to an outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical member. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.