JP2001066859A - Image forming device - Google Patents
Image forming deviceInfo
- Publication number
- JP2001066859A JP2001066859A JP24458099A JP24458099A JP2001066859A JP 2001066859 A JP2001066859 A JP 2001066859A JP 24458099 A JP24458099 A JP 24458099A JP 24458099 A JP24458099 A JP 24458099A JP 2001066859 A JP2001066859 A JP 2001066859A
- Authority
- JP
- Japan
- Prior art keywords
- cleaning
- charging member
- charging
- image forming
- forming apparatus
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
Landscapes
- Electrostatic Charge, Transfer And Separation In Electrography (AREA)
Abstract
Description
【０００１】[0001]
【発明の属する技術分野】本発明は、帯電ローラ等の回
転可能な帯電部材を回転可能な感光体に接触させてこの
感光体を回転しながら帯電し、帯電した感光体上に静電
潜像を形成することで画像を形成する画像形成装置の技
術分野に属し、特に、帯電部材に対して離接可能に設け
られた清掃部材を、この帯電部材に当接させることで帯
電部材に付着したトナー等の異物を除去するようになっ
ている画像形成装置の技術分野に属する。BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a rotatable charging member such as a charging roller which is in contact with a rotatable photosensitive member, charges the photosensitive member while rotating, and forms an electrostatic latent image on the charged photosensitive member. Belongs to the technical field of an image forming apparatus that forms an image by forming an image, and in particular, a cleaning member provided so as to be able to be separated from and attached to the charging member, adheres to the charging member by contacting the charging member. It belongs to the technical field of an image forming apparatus designed to remove foreign matter such as toner.
【０００２】[0002]
【従来の技術】静電複写機やプリンタ等の画像形成装置
は感光体を帯電する帯電装置を備えており、この帯電装
置として、従来、コロナ帯電が広く利用されている。し
かし、このコロナ帯電はオゾンや窒素酸化物が発生して
感光体などの表面に付着するので、画像欠陥を起こすと
いう問題がある。2. Description of the Related Art An image forming apparatus such as an electrostatic copying machine or a printer is provided with a charging device for charging a photosensitive member, and corona charging has been widely used as a charging device. However, since the corona charging generates ozone and nitrogen oxides and adheres to the surface of the photoreceptor, there is a problem that an image defect is caused.
【０００３】そこで、帯電装置として、電圧を印加した
例えばウレタンゴム等からなる帯電部材を感光体に接触
させて感光体を帯電させるという接触帯電方式が、例え
ば特開昭６３−１４９６６８号公報において提案されて
いる。このような接触帯電方式の帯電によれば、前述の
コロナ帯電で発生する問題が解消される。A contact charging system in which a charging member made of, for example, urethane rubber or the like to which a voltage is applied is brought into contact with the photosensitive member to charge the photosensitive member is proposed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-149668. Have been. According to the contact charging method, the problem caused by the corona charging described above is solved.
【０００４】しかしながら、接触帯電方式は帯電部材が
感光体に接触していることから、クリーニング装置から
すり抜けた感光体上のトナーや現像器から飛散したトナ
ー等の異物が帯電部材の表面に付着してしまう。このた
め、感光体の帯電不良が引き起こされ、画像劣化が発生
してしまう。However, in the contact charging method, since the charging member is in contact with the photoreceptor, foreign substances such as toner on the photoreceptor slipped from the cleaning device and toner scattered from the developing device adhere to the surface of the charging member. Would. For this reason, charging failure of the photoconductor is caused, and image deterioration occurs.
【０００５】このようなことから、帯電部材の表面に付
着したトナー等の異物を取り除くための清掃部材を備え
た画像形成装置が、例えば特許第２８５３２０８号公報
や特開平０７−１２８９５４号公報等において提案され
ている。これらの画像形成装置の清掃部材は常時帯電部
材に接触していると、帯電部材の表面が傷ついて帯電不
良を起こしてしまうので帯電部材に対して離接可能に設
けられている。そして、この清掃部材は帯電部材を清掃
するときのみこの帯電部材に接触して帯電部材を回転す
ることで清掃を行い、帯電部材を清掃しないときには帯
電部材から離間された状態に設定されるようになってい
る。その場合、帯電部材の清掃は一般的に定期的に行わ
れるようになっており、したがって清掃部材の離接動作
も定期的に行われている。この清掃部材を備えた画像形
成装置によれば、帯電部材の表面が清掃され、感光体の
帯電が良好になる。[0005] For this reason, an image forming apparatus provided with a cleaning member for removing foreign substances such as toner adhered to the surface of the charging member is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent No. 2853208 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 07-128954. Proposed. If the cleaning member of these image forming apparatuses is constantly in contact with the charging member, the surface of the charging member will be damaged and charging failure will occur. The cleaning member is cleaned by rotating the charging member in contact with the charging member only when cleaning the charging member, and is set to be separated from the charging member when the charging member is not cleaned. Has become. In this case, the cleaning of the charging member is generally performed regularly, and therefore, the operation of separating and connecting the cleaning member is also performed regularly. According to the image forming apparatus provided with the cleaning member, the surface of the charging member is cleaned, and the charging of the photoconductor is improved.
【０００６】[0006]
【発明が解決しようとする課題】ところで、清掃部材に
よる帯電部材の清掃が繰り返されることにより、清掃部
材に、帯電部材から除去されたトナー等の異物が付着蓄
積されるようになる。By repeating the cleaning of the charging member by the cleaning member, foreign matter such as toner removed from the charging member is deposited on the cleaning member.
【０００７】一方、近年画像形成装置の高速化がますま
す求められており、前述のような清掃部材が帯電部材に
離接可能に設けられた画像形成装置においてもこの高速
化が求められている。この高速化に対応するために、清
掃動作中は帯電部材を回転させて清掃動作を迅速に行う
ことが考えられる。従来、この帯電部材の回転は、画像
形成動作時に感光体を帯電することから、この感光体の
回転に関係して設定されているが、画像形成装置の高速
化にともなって、感光体および帯電部材の回転速度がと
もに増加している。On the other hand, in recent years, the speed of the image forming apparatus has been increasingly demanded, and this speed has also been demanded in the image forming apparatus in which the cleaning member as described above is provided so as to be able to be separated from and attached to the charging member. . In order to cope with this speeding-up, it is conceivable to perform the cleaning operation quickly by rotating the charging member during the cleaning operation. Conventionally, the rotation of the charging member is set in relation to the rotation of the photosensitive member because the photosensitive member is charged during the image forming operation. However, as the speed of the image forming apparatus increases, the photosensitive member and the charging member are charged. Both the rotation speeds of the members are increasing.
【０００８】しかしながら、このように増加した回転速
度で回転する帯電部材に対して、清掃部材を当接あるい
は離間させた場合、その当接の瞬間あるいは離間の瞬間
に、清掃部材が帯電部材の回転で比較的強い力で叩かれ
るようになる。このため、清掃部材に付着蓄積した異物
が飛散し、飛散した異物により、プロセスカートリッジ
あるいは画像形成装置本体内が汚染されてしまい、その
結果画質の劣化を招いてしまうという問題がある。However, when the cleaning member contacts or separates from the charging member rotating at the increased rotation speed, the cleaning member rotates at the moment of the contact or separation. And will be hit with relatively strong force. For this reason, there is a problem that the foreign matter adhering and accumulating on the cleaning member is scattered, and the scattered foreign matter contaminates the process cartridge or the inside of the image forming apparatus main body, thereby deteriorating the image quality.
【０００９】本発明は、このような事情に鑑みてなされ
たものであって、その目的は、帯電部材の清掃動作を迅
速に行うようにしながら、しかも、帯電部材に対する清
掃部材の当接時および離間時に、清掃部材に付着蓄積し
た異物の飛散を少なくすることのできる画像形成装置を
提供することである。SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to perform a cleaning operation of a charging member quickly and at the time of contact of the cleaning member with the charging member. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of reducing scattering of foreign matters adhering and accumulating on a cleaning member at the time of separation.
【００１０】[0010]
【課題を解決するための手段】この課題を解決するため
に、本発明は、回転可能に設けられかつ静電潜像が形成
される感光体と、この感光体に接触して回転しながら感
光体を帯電する帯電部材と、この帯電部材に対して離接
可能に設けられて前記帯電部材を清掃する清掃部材とを
少なくとも備えている画像形成装置において、前記帯電
部材の清掃動作中は前記帯電部材を回転させるととも
に、少なくとも前記清掃部材の前記帯電部材に当接時点
および／または前記清掃部材の前記帯電部材からの離間
時点での前記帯電部材の周速度が画像形成装置の画像形
成動作時での前記帯電部材の周速度より小さくなるよう
に、前記帯電部材の回転を制御する制御手段が設けられ
ていることを特徴としている。SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve this problem, the present invention provides a photosensitive member which is rotatably provided and on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, and a photosensitive member which rotates while being in contact with the photosensitive member. An image forming apparatus including at least a charging member for charging a body and a cleaning member provided to be detachable from the charging member and cleaning the charging member; While rotating the member, the peripheral speed of the charging member at least at the time of contact of the cleaning member with the charging member and / or at the time of separation of the cleaning member from the charging member is reduced during the image forming operation of the image forming apparatus. A control means for controlling the rotation of the charging member is provided so as to be lower than the peripheral speed of the charging member.
【００１１】[0011]
【作用】このように構成された本発明の画像形成装置に
おいては、制御手段により、清掃動作中は帯電部材が回
転され、その場合、少なくとも清掃部材の帯電部材への
当接時点および／または清掃部材の帯電部材からの離間
時点での帯電部材の周速度が画像形成動作時での帯電部
材の周速度より小さくなるように、清掃動作中の帯電部
材の回転が制御される。In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the charging member is rotated by the control means during the cleaning operation. In this case, at least the cleaning member comes into contact with the charging member and / or the cleaning member is cleaned. The rotation of the charging member during the cleaning operation is controlled such that the peripheral speed of the charging member when the member is separated from the charging member is smaller than the peripheral speed of the charging member during the image forming operation.
【００１２】したがって、清掃動作中は帯電部材が回転
されるので、帯電部材の清掃動作が迅速に行われるよう
になる。また、このように清掃動作中に帯電部材が回転
されても、帯電部材は低速で回転するので、帯電部材に
対する清掃部材の当接時点や離間時点に、清掃部材は帯
電部材から強く叩かれることがなくなる。これにより、
清掃部材の当接時点や離間時点に、清掃部材に付着蓄積
した異物の飛散が少なくなり、プロセスカ−トリッジあ
るいは画像形成装置内の汚染が抑制されるようになる。
こうして、本発明の画像形成装置によれば、今後ますま
す求められる画像形成装置の高速化に確実にかつ柔軟に
対応することが可能となる。Therefore, since the charging member is rotated during the cleaning operation, the cleaning operation of the charging member is performed quickly. Further, even if the charging member is rotated during the cleaning operation, the charging member rotates at a low speed, so that the cleaning member is strongly hit by the charging member when the cleaning member comes into contact with or separates from the charging member. Disappears. This allows
At the time of contact or separation of the cleaning member, scattering of foreign matters adhering to and accumulating on the cleaning member is reduced, and contamination in the process cartridge or the image forming apparatus is suppressed.
Thus, according to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to reliably and flexibly cope with an increase in the speed of the image forming apparatus that is increasingly required in the future.
【００１３】[0013]
【発明の実施の形態】以下、図面を用いて、本発明の実
施の形態について説明する。図１は、本発明の画像形成
装置の実施の形態の一例が適用されたフルカラ−の中間
転写型の画像形成装置を模式的に示す図である。Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a view schematically showing a full-color intermediate transfer type image forming apparatus to which an example of an embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention is applied.
【００１４】図１に示すように、この例の画像形成装置
１は、感光体（以下、ＯＰＣともいう）２、帯電装置
３、露光装置４、現像装置５、中間転写装置６、および
クリーニング装置７を備えているとともに、図示しない
が中間転写装置６の転写ベルト６ａに転写された中間転
写画像を転写紙等の転写材に転写する転写装置および転
写材に転写された転写画像を定着する定着装置を備えて
いる。帯電装置３、露光装置４、現像装置５、中間転写
装置６、およびクリーニング装置７は、従来の画像形成
装置と同様にＯＰＣ２の周囲にこれらの順に図において
時計回りに配設されている。As shown in FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus 1 of this embodiment includes a photosensitive member (hereinafter also referred to as OPC) 2, a charging device 3, an exposure device 4, a developing device 5, an intermediate transfer device 6, and a cleaning device. 7, a transfer device (not shown) for transferring the intermediate transfer image transferred to the transfer belt 6a of the intermediate transfer device 6 to a transfer material such as transfer paper, and a fixing device for fixing the transfer image transferred to the transfer material. Equipment. The charging device 3, the exposure device 4, the developing device 5, the intermediate transfer device 6, and the cleaning device 7 are arranged around the OPC 2 in the same order as in the conventional image forming apparatus, clockwise in the figure.
【００１５】図１および図２（ａ）,（ｂ）に示すよう
に、帯電装置３は、ＯＰＣ２に接触してこのＯＰＣ２を
帯電するためにハウジング８に回転可能に支持された帯
電ローラ等の帯電部材９、帯電部材９に対して離接可能
に設けられ、この帯電部材９の表面を清掃するための清
掃部材１０、清掃部材１０を保持し、この清掃部材１０
を帯電部材３に対して離接させるように作動する保持部
材１１、保持部材１１の、清掃部材１０を保持する側と
反対側の面に設けられたＶ字状ばねからなる弾性部材１
２を備えている。この弾性部材１２は、そのＶ字状ばね
の１辺が保持部材１１に固定されているとともに、Ｖ字
状ばねの他の１辺が自由状態にされている。As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2A and 2B, the charging device 3 includes a charging roller rotatably supported by a housing 8 for contacting the OPC 2 and charging the OPC 2. The charging member 9 is provided so as to be detachable from the charging member 9, holds a cleaning member 10 for cleaning the surface of the charging member 9, and holds the cleaning member 10.
And a resilient member 1 comprising a V-shaped spring provided on the surface of the holding member 11 opposite to the side on which the cleaning member 10 is held.
2 is provided. The elastic member 12 has one side of the V-shaped spring fixed to the holding member 11 and the other side of the V-shaped spring in a free state.
【００１６】なお、図１には清掃部材１０を帯電部材へ
押圧する弾性部材１２をコイルばねのように記載されて
いるが、これは単に模式的に記載するために図１にはこ
のように記載しただけであり、この例の画像形成装置１
では、図２（ａ）,（ｂ）に示すように弾性部材１２は
Ｖ字状ばねが用いられている。もちろん、本発明では、
弾性部材１２にコイルばねを用いることができることは
言うまでもない。In FIG. 1, the elastic member 12 for pressing the cleaning member 10 against the charging member is described as a coil spring. However, this is simply illustrated schematically in FIG. The image forming apparatus 1 of this example is only described.
In this embodiment, a V-shaped spring is used as the elastic member 12 as shown in FIGS. Of course, in the present invention,
It goes without saying that a coil spring can be used for the elastic member 12.
【００１７】ハウジング８には、清掃部材１０が帯電部
材９から離間した状態において、Ｖ字状ばねの弾性部材
１２を自由状態つまり無負荷状態にするための凹部から
なる無負荷状態設定手段１３が設けられている。この無
負荷状態設定手段１３の凹部の右側面１３ａは右下がり
の傾斜面となっており、この傾斜面の傾斜角は、自由状
態のＶ字状ばねの他の１辺の傾斜角とほぼ同じに設定さ
れている。When the cleaning member 10 is separated from the charging member 9, the housing 8 is provided with a no-load state setting means 13 comprising a concave portion for bringing the elastic member 12 of the V-shaped spring into a free state, that is, a no-load state. Is provided. The right side surface 13a of the concave portion of the no-load state setting means 13 is a slope inclined downward to the right, and the slope angle of the slope is substantially the same as the slope angle of another side of the V-shaped spring in the free state. Is set to
【００１８】また、ハウジング８には、無負荷状態設定
手段１３の凹部に隣接して大きな凹部１４が形成されて
いるとともに、この凹部１４の左側壁１４ａを形成する
ハウジング８の部分の下端には、長手方向に突出する突
出部８ａが形成されている。一方、保持部材１１にはハ
ウジング８の凹部１４内に突出する突出部１１ａが突設
されている。ハウジング８の突出部８ａに対向するこの
突出部１１ａの左側面１１ｂは右下がりの傾斜面とされ
ており、この傾斜面の傾斜角は無負荷状態設定手段１３
の凹部の右側面１３ａの傾斜角とほぼ同じに設定されて
いる。更に、保持部材１１の図２（ａ）,（ｂ）におい
て左端側には、連結用突出ピン１１ｃが突設されてい
る。この連結用突出ピン１１ｃには、後述するように駆
動手段１５の移動部材２１が連結されるようになってい
る。A large recess 14 is formed in the housing 8 adjacent to the recess of the no-load state setting means 13, and a lower end of a portion of the housing 8 forming the left side wall 14a of the recess 14 is formed. , A protruding portion 8a protruding in the longitudinal direction is formed. On the other hand, the holding member 11 is provided with a protruding portion 11 a protruding into the recess 14 of the housing 8. The left side surface 11b of the protruding portion 11a facing the protruding portion 8a of the housing 8 is formed as a slant surface inclined downward and to the right.
Is set to be substantially the same as the inclination angle of the right side surface 13a of the concave portion. Further, a connecting protruding pin 11c protrudes from the left end side of the holding member 11 in FIGS. 2A and 2B. The moving member 21 of the driving means 15 is connected to the connecting protruding pin 11c as described later.
【００１９】そして、保持部材１１は図２（ａ）に示す
ように清掃部材１０を帯電部材９から離間させた離間位
置と図２（ｂ）に示すように清掃部材１０を帯電部材９
に所定の押圧力で当接させた当接位置との間で移動可能
となっている。更に図３に示すように、帯電装置３は、
清掃部材１０を帯電部材９に対して当接または離間する
ために、保持部材１１を図２（ａ）,（ｂ）において左
右方向に移動させる駆動手段１５を備えている。2A, the holding member 11 separates the cleaning member 10 from the charging member 9 as shown in FIG. 2A and moves the cleaning member 10 to the charging member 9 as shown in FIG.
Can be moved between the contact position and the contact position contacted with a predetermined pressing force. Further, as shown in FIG.
In order to make the cleaning member 10 contact or separate from the charging member 9, a driving unit 15 for moving the holding member 11 in the left-right direction in FIGS. 2A and 2B is provided.
【００２０】この駆動手段１５は、ハウジング１６内に
収容されたモータ１７と、このモータ１７の回転軸１７
ａに取り付けられた第１ギア１８と、ハウジング１６内
に回転可能に設けられた駆動力伝達軸１９と、この駆動
力伝達軸１９の図において左端に第１ギア１８と噛合す
るように取り付けられ、第１ギア１８より大径の第２ギ
ア２０と、駆動力伝達軸１９の第２ギア２０と反対側に
設けられた雄ねじ部２１と、およびハウジング１６に回
転不能にかつ軸方向に移動可能に、このハウジング１６
を貫通して設けられ、雄ねじ部２１に螺合された雌ねじ
部２２ａを有するとともに保持部材１１の連結用突出ピ
ン１１ｃが連結される連結部２２ｂを有し、更に軸方向
にばね力を受けるばね力受け部２２ｃとを有する移動部
材２２と、ハウジング１６に固定され、移動部材２２の
ばね力受け部２２ｃにばね力を軸方向に作用させる、一
対のばね力作用部２３ａ,２３ｂを有するほぼＵ字形状
の板ばね２３とを備えている。The driving means 15 includes a motor 17 housed in a housing 16 and a rotating shaft 17 of the motor 17.
a first gear 18 attached to the first gear 18, a driving force transmission shaft 19 rotatably provided in the housing 16, and a driving force transmission shaft 19 attached to the left end in the drawing so as to mesh with the first gear 18. A second gear 20 having a diameter larger than that of the first gear 18, a male screw portion 21 provided on a side opposite to the second gear 20 of the driving force transmission shaft 19, and a non-rotatable and axially movable portion of the housing 16; The housing 16
And a connecting portion 22b to which the connecting protruding pin 11c of the holding member 11 is connected, and further receives a spring force in the axial direction. A moving member 22 having a force receiving portion 22c and a pair of spring force acting portions 23a and 23b fixed to the housing 16 and applying a spring force to the spring force receiving portion 22c of the moving member 22 in the axial direction. And a U-shaped leaf spring 23.
【００２１】移動部材２２の連結部２２ｂは二股状に形
成されており、この二股の間に保持部材１１の連結用突
出ピン１１ｃが上下方向に相対移動可能に挿入され、こ
れにより、連結部２２ｂと連結用突出ピン１１ｃとが軸
方向には一体的に移動可能にかつ上下方向に相対移動可
能に連結されている。The connecting portion 22b of the moving member 22 is formed in a forked shape, and the connecting protruding pin 11c of the holding member 11 is inserted between the forked portions so as to be relatively movable in the vertical direction. And the connecting protruding pin 11c are connected so as to be integrally movable in the axial direction and relatively movable in the vertical direction.
【００２２】また、移動部材２２は、図３に点線で示す
ようにその左動により雄ねじ部２１と雌ねじ部２２ａと
の螺合が解除されてそれ以上左動しない左限位置と、同
じく図３に点線で示すようにその右動により雄ねじ部２
１と雌ねじ部２２ａとの螺合が解除されてそれ以上右動
しない右限位置とが設定されていて、これらの左右限位
置の間で移動するようにされている。そして、移動部材
２１が左限位置にあるときは、清掃部材１０は図２
（ａ）に示す帯電部材９から離間した離間位置となり、
また、移動部材２１が右限位置にあるときは、清掃部材
１０は図２（ｂ）に示す帯電部材９から当接した当接位
置となるように設定されている。As shown by the dotted line in FIG. 3, the moving member 22 is disengaged from the male screw portion 21 and the female screw portion 22a by the leftward movement thereof, and the leftmost position where the moving member 22 does not move leftward any more. As shown by the dotted line, the male screw 2
A right limit position where the screwing of the female screw portion 1 with the female screw portion 22a is released and no further right movement is set is set, and the position is moved between these left and right limit positions. When the moving member 21 is at the leftmost position, the cleaning member 10
(A) is a separation position separated from the charging member 9;
Further, when the moving member 21 is at the rightmost position, the cleaning member 10 is set to be in a contact position where the cleaning member 10 contacts the charging member 9 shown in FIG.
【００２３】更に、移動部材２２の左限位置のときのば
ね力受け部２２ｃの左端２２ｃ1と、移動部材２２の右
限位置のときのばね力受け部２２ｃの右端２２ｃ2との
間の距離をＸとすると、板ばね２３の自由状態における
一対のばね力作用部２３ａ,２３ｂ間の間隙Ｙは、この
距離Ｘより小さく設定されている（Ｘ＞Ｙ）。移動部材
２２が左動していくと、ばね力受け部２２ｃの左端２２
ｃ1が板ばね２３の一方のばね力作用部２３ａに当接し
てこのばね力作用部２３ａを弾性的に撓ませるようにな
っている。また、同様に移動部材２２が右動していく
と、ばね力受け部２２ｃの右端２２ｃ2が板ばね２３の
他方のばね力作用部２３ｂに当接してこのばね力作用部
２３ｂを弾性的に撓ませるようになっている。Furthermore, the distance between the left edge 22c 1 of the spring force receiving portion 22c when the left limit position of the movable member 22, the right end 22c 2 of the spring force receiving portion 22c when the right limit position of the movable member 22 Let X be the gap Y between the pair of spring force acting portions 23a and 23b in the free state of the leaf spring 23 is set smaller than this distance X (X> Y). When the moving member 22 moves leftward, the left end 22 of the spring force receiving portion 22c is moved.
c 1 comes into contact with one of the spring force acting portions 23a of the leaf spring 23 to elastically bend the spring force acting portions 23a. Further, when the same moving member 22 is gradually moved rightward, the spring force acting portion 23b elastically rightmost 22c 2 of the spring force receiving portion 22c is in contact with the other spring force acting portion 23b of the leaf spring 23 It is designed to bend.
【００２４】そして、移動部材２２の左限位置では、板
ばね２３の一方のばね力作用部２３ａが弾性的に最大に
撓み、移動部材２２がばね力作用部２３ａのばね力によ
って矢印で示すように軸方向に右向きに最大に付勢され
るようになっている。また、移動部材２２の右限位置で
は、板ばね２３の他方のばね力作用部２３ｂが弾性的に
最大に撓み、移動部材２２がばね力作用部２３ｂのばね
力によって矢印で示すように軸方向に左向きに最大に付
勢されるようになっている。At the leftmost position of the moving member 22, one spring force acting portion 23a of the leaf spring 23 is elastically flexed to the maximum, and the moving member 22 is caused by the spring force of the spring force acting portion 23a as shown by an arrow. In the axial direction, it is urged rightward to the maximum. In the rightmost position of the moving member 22, the other spring force acting portion 23b of the leaf spring 23 is elastically flexed to the maximum, and the moving member 22 is moved in the axial direction by the spring force of the spring force acting portion 23b as shown by an arrow. To the left.
【００２５】更に、この例の画像形成装置１において
は、清掃動作時での帯電部材９の回転の周速度が、画像
形成動作時での帯電部材９の回転の周速度より小さく設
定されている。例えば、画像形成動作時での帯電部材９
の周速度が１８０mm／secに設定されているとき、清掃
動作時での帯電部材９の周速度は４５mm／secに設定さ
れる。なお、本発明は、帯電部材９のこれらの周速度値
に限定されるものでないことは言うまでもない。Further, in the image forming apparatus 1 of this embodiment, the peripheral speed of rotation of the charging member 9 during the cleaning operation is set to be smaller than the peripheral speed of rotation of the charging member 9 during the image forming operation. . For example, the charging member 9 during the image forming operation
Is set to 180 mm / sec, the peripheral speed of the charging member 9 during the cleaning operation is set to 45 mm / sec. Needless to say, the present invention is not limited to these peripheral speed values of the charging member 9.
【００２６】この帯電部材９の周速度制御のために、図
４に示すように、清掃部材１０のモータ１７および帯電
部材９のモータ２４が、ともに画像形成装置１の中央処
理装置（ＣＰＵ）２５に接続されている。そして、ＣＰ
Ｕ２５は、帯電部材９の清掃動作のためのシーケンス制
御を開始する際、つまり、清掃部材１０を離間位置から
当接位置に移動するためにモータ１７を駆動開始すると
きに、同時に帯電部材９のモータ２４も駆動するように
なっている。その場合、ＣＰＵ２５は、この帯電部材９
の清掃動作時での帯電部材９の回転の周速度が、画像形
成動作時での帯電部材９の回転の周速度より小さくなる
ようにモータ２４の回転速度を制御するようになってい
る。As shown in FIG. 4, the motor 17 of the cleaning member 10 and the motor 24 of the charging member 9 are both controlled by the central processing unit (CPU) 25 of the image forming apparatus 1 to control the peripheral speed of the charging member 9. It is connected to the. And CP
U25 starts the sequence control for the cleaning operation of the charging member 9, that is, simultaneously starts the driving of the motor 17 to move the cleaning member 10 from the separated position to the contact position, at the same time when the charging member 9 is started. The motor 24 is also driven. In that case, the CPU 25 sets the charging member 9
The rotation speed of the motor 24 is controlled so that the peripheral speed of rotation of the charging member 9 during the cleaning operation is smaller than the peripheral speed of rotation of the charging member 9 during the image forming operation.
【００２７】なお、雄ねじ部２０を移動部材２１側に設
け、雌ねじ部２１ａを駆動力伝達軸１８側に設けること
もできる。The male screw 20 may be provided on the moving member 21 and the female screw 21a may be provided on the driving force transmission shaft 18 side.
【００２８】また、この帯電装置３は、前述の特許第２
８５３２０８号公報に開示されているような、感光体２
が収容された１つのプロセスカートリッジを用いた画像
形成装置１においてはこのプロセスカートリッジに設
け、また、特開平０７−１２８９５４号公報に開示され
ているような、清掃部材１０が画像形成装置本体に設け
られている画像形成装置１においてはこの画像形成装置
本体に一緒に設けるようにする。更に、駆動手段１５の
ハウジング１６は、帯電装置３のハウジング８を兼用す
ることもできる。Further, the charging device 3 is the same as the above-mentioned Japanese Patent No.
Photoconductor 2 as disclosed in US Pat.
In the image forming apparatus 1 using one process cartridge accommodating therein, a cleaning member 10 is provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus as disclosed in JP-A-07-128954. The image forming apparatus 1 is provided together with the image forming apparatus main body. Further, the housing 16 of the driving means 15 can also serve as the housing 8 of the charging device 3.
【００２９】現像装置５は、従来のフルカラーの画像形
成装置の現像器と同様に、イエロー、マゼンタ、シア
ン、および黒の各現像器２６,２７,２８,２９を備えて
おり、これらの各現像器２６,２７,２８,２９はＯＰＣ
２の外周に沿って配設されている。その場合、各色の現
像器２６,２７,２８,２９の配設順序は、前述の順序に
限定されることなく任意に設定される。なお、以下の説
明では、説明の便宜上、前述の色の順序、つまり、イエ
ロー、マゼンタ、シアン、および黒の順で各現像器２
６,２７,２８,２９が配設されているものとする。The developing device 5 includes yellow, magenta, cyan, and black developing devices 26, 27, 28, and 29, similarly to the developing device of the conventional full-color image forming apparatus. Containers 26, 27, 28 and 29 are OPC
2 are arranged along the outer periphery. In this case, the arrangement order of the developing units 26, 27, 28, and 29 for each color is not limited to the above-mentioned order, but is arbitrarily set. In the following description, for convenience of explanation, each developing unit 2 is arranged in the order of the aforementioned colors, that is, in the order of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black.
6, 27, 28, and 29 are provided.
【００３０】クリーニング装置７も、従来のフルカラー
の画像形成装置と同様にクリーナハウジング３０および
クリーニングブレード３１を備えている。その場合、ク
リーナハウジング３０は、図示のように帯電装置３のハ
ウジング８と一体に形成されている。なお、クリーナハ
ウジング３０はハウジング８と別体に形成することもで
きる。The cleaning device 7 also includes a cleaner housing 30 and a cleaning blade 31 as in the conventional full-color image forming apparatus. In that case, the cleaner housing 30 is formed integrally with the housing 8 of the charging device 3 as illustrated. Note that the cleaner housing 30 can be formed separately from the housing 8.
【００３１】このように構成された例の画像形成装置１
の作動について説明する。まず、通常時は移動部材２２
が左限位置に設定され、図２（ａ）に示すように保持部
材１１の上面１１ｄがハウジング８の下面８ｂに当接さ
れており、清掃部材１０は離間位置に設定されて帯電部
材９から離間している。このとき、ばね力作用部２３ａ
が撓んでいて、そのばね力により移動部材２２は軸方向
右向きに付勢されている。The image forming apparatus 1 of the example configured as described above
The operation of will be described. First, the moving member 22 is normally used.
Is set at the leftmost position, the upper surface 11d of the holding member 11 is in contact with the lower surface 8b of the housing 8 as shown in FIG. 2A, and the cleaning member 10 is set at the separated position and is separated from the charging member 9. Separated. At this time, the spring force acting portion 23a
The movable member 22 is urged rightward in the axial direction by the spring force.
【００３２】この状態で画像形成にあたり画像形成装置
１を作動させると、従来の一般的な画像形成装置と同様
にＣＰＵ２５によって帯電部材９およびＯＰＣ２が回転
され、帯電部材９でＯＰＣ２の表面が帯電された後、露
光装置４で画像がＯＰＣ２上の帯電された部分に静電潜
像として露光される。そして、このＯＰＣ２上の静電潜
像がイエロー、マゼンタ、シアン、および黒の各現像器
２６,２７,２８,２９で順に現像されて可視像化され、
更に、ＯＰＣ２上の現像画像が中間転写装置６を介して
転写装置に送られ、この転写装置で色合わせを行い転写
材に転写された後、定着装置で定着することにより、転
写材上に所望の画像が得られるようになる。When the image forming apparatus 1 is operated to form an image in this state, the charging member 9 and the OPC 2 are rotated by the CPU 25 in the same manner as in a conventional image forming apparatus, and the surface of the OPC 2 is charged by the charging member 9. After that, the image is exposed as an electrostatic latent image to the charged portion on the OPC 2 by the exposure device 4. Then, the electrostatic latent image on the OPC 2 is sequentially developed by yellow, magenta, cyan, and black developing units 26, 27, 28, and 29 to be visualized,
Further, the developed image on the OPC 2 is sent to the transfer device via the intermediate transfer device 6, color-matched by the transfer device, transferred to the transfer material, and then fixed by the fixing device, so that a desired image is formed on the transfer material. Image can be obtained.
【００３３】そして、現像画像が転写材に転写された
後、ＯＰＣ２上に残留する残余トナーはクリーニング装
置７のクリーニングブレード３１によって除去され、ク
リーナハウジング３０に収容される。こうして、画像形
成装置１により、画像形成が終了し、ＯＰＣ２が除電さ
れた後、次の画像形成のため、ＯＰＣ２が帯電部材９に
よって再び帯電され、以下同様の画像形成動作が行われ
る。After the developed image is transferred to the transfer material, the residual toner remaining on the OPC 2 is removed by the cleaning blade 31 of the cleaning device 7 and stored in the cleaner housing 30. Thus, the image forming apparatus 1 completes the image formation, and after the OPC 2 is neutralized, the OPC 2 is charged again by the charging member 9 for the next image formation, and the same image forming operation is performed thereafter.
【００３４】ところで、転写後、ＯＰＣ２上に残留する
残余トナーはクリーニングブレード３１によってＯＰＣ
２から除去されてクリーナハウジング３０に収容される
ようになっているが、その一部は除去されずに、クリー
ニングブレード３１をすり抜けて帯電部材９の方へ移動
し、この帯電部材９に付着するようになる。また、所定
期間画像形成が行われている間に現像器から飛散したト
ナーも帯電部材９に付着する場合や、感光体２周辺の飛
び散っているちりやほこりが帯電部材９に付着する場合
がある。このため、この例の画像形成装置１では、帯電
部材９に付着した異物を清掃部材１０で定期的に除去す
るようにしている。By the way, after the transfer, the residual toner remaining on the OPC 2 is
2 and is accommodated in the cleaner housing 30, but a part thereof is not removed, but passes through the cleaning blade 31 and moves toward the charging member 9, and adheres to the charging member 9. Become like Further, the toner scattered from the developing device during the image formation for a predetermined period may adhere to the charging member 9, or the scattered dust and dust around the photoconductor 2 may adhere to the charging member 9. . For this reason, in the image forming apparatus 1 of this example, the foreign matter attached to the charging member 9 is periodically removed by the cleaning member 10.
【００３５】この清掃動作はシーケンス制御で行われる
が、ＣＰＵ２５は、まず、移動部材２２が左限位置から
右限位置の方へ移動するように駆動手段１５のモータ１
７を駆動すると同時に、帯電部材９のモータ２４を駆動
する。このときの帯電部材９の周速度は、前述の画像形
成動作時での帯電部材９の周速度より小さく設定される
ので、帯電部材９は画像形成時に比べてゆっくりと回転
する。This cleaning operation is carried out by sequence control. First, the CPU 25 operates the motor 1 of the driving means 15 so that the moving member 22 moves from the leftmost position to the rightmost position.
7 and the motor 24 of the charging member 9 is driven at the same time. At this time, the peripheral speed of the charging member 9 is set smaller than the peripheral speed of the charging member 9 during the above-described image forming operation, so that the charging member 9 rotates more slowly than during image formation.
【００３６】モータ１７の駆動により、第１および第２
ギア１８,２０を介して駆動力伝達軸１９および雄ねじ
部２１がともに回転する。雄ねじ部２１が回転すると、
移動部材２２が板ばね２３のばね力作用部２３ａのばね
力により軸方向右向きに付勢されているので、移動部材
２２の雌ねじ部２２ａが雄ねじ部２１に螺合開始する。
雌ねじ部２２ａと雄ねじ部２１との螺合により、雌ねじ
部２２ａが雄ねじ部２１に対して相対的に右動するの
で、移動部材２２は右限位置に向けて軸方向に右動し、
移動部材２２に連結されている保持部材１１も軸方向に
右動するようになる。この保持部材１１の右動により、
図２（ａ）において、すぐに弾性部材１２のＶ字状ばね
の他の１辺が無負荷状態設定手段１３の凹部の右側面１
３ａに当接する。更に、保持部材１１が右動すると、弾
性部材１２のＶ字状ばねの他の１辺が右側面１３ａに沿
って下動するので、保持部材１１および清掃部材１０が
下動し、清掃部材１０は帯電部材９に斜め方向から接近
するようになる。When the motor 17 is driven, the first and second
The driving force transmission shaft 19 and the external thread 21 rotate together via the gears 18 and 20. When the male screw part 21 rotates,
Since the moving member 22 is urged rightward in the axial direction by the spring force of the spring force acting portion 23a of the leaf spring 23, the female screw portion 22a of the moving member 22 starts screwing into the male screw portion 21.
Since the female screw portion 22a moves rightward relative to the male screw portion 21 by screwing the female screw portion 22a and the male screw portion 21, the moving member 22 moves rightward in the axial direction toward the rightmost position,
The holding member 11 connected to the moving member 22 also moves rightward in the axial direction. By the right movement of the holding member 11,
In FIG. 2A, the other side of the V-shaped spring of the elastic member 12 immediately becomes the right side surface 1 of the concave portion of the no-load state setting means 13.
Contact 3a. Further, when the holding member 11 moves rightward, another side of the V-shaped spring of the elastic member 12 moves down along the right side surface 13a, so that the holding member 11 and the cleaning member 10 move down, and the cleaning member 10 Comes closer to the charging member 9 from an oblique direction.
【００３７】移動部材２２の右動により、ばね力受け部
２２ｃの左端２２ｃ1が一方のばね力作用部２３ａから
離れ、その後、ばね力受け部２２ｃの右端２２ｃ2が他
方のばね力作用部２３ｂに当接する。これにより、一方
のばね力作用部２３ａが自由状態に復帰するとともに、
他方のばね力作用部２３ｂが弾性的に撓み、移動部材２
２がばね力作用部２３ｂのばね力により軸方向左向きに
付勢されようになる。[0037] The rightward movement of the movable member 22, the left end 22c 1 of the spring force receiving portion 22c is separated from one of the spring force acting portion 23a, then the right end 22c 2 of the spring force receiving portion 22c and the other the spring force acting portion 23b Abut. Thereby, while one spring force action part 23a returns to a free state,
The other spring force acting portion 23b is elastically bent, and the moving member 2
2 is urged leftward in the axial direction by the spring force of the spring force acting portion 23b.
【００３８】ばね力受け部２２ｃの右端２２ｃ2のばね
力作用部２３ｂへの当接に相前後して、清掃部材１０が
帯電部材９に当接する。このとき、帯電部材９が周速度
が比較的小さくゆっくり低速回転しているので、帯電部
材９が清掃部材１０を叩く力が小さく、清掃部材１０に
付着蓄積したトナー等の異物の飛散は少ない。[0038] one after the abutment to the spring force acting portion 23b of the right end 22c 2 of the spring force receiving portion 22c, the cleaning member 10 comes into contact with the charging member 9. At this time, since the charging member 9 has a relatively small peripheral speed and slowly rotates at a low speed, the force of the charging member 9 hitting the cleaning member 10 is small, and scattering of foreign matters such as toner adhered and accumulated on the cleaning member 10 is small.
【００３９】清掃部材１０が帯電部材９の当接した直後
の状態では、弾性部材１２がまだ無負荷状態となってい
るので、清掃部材１０の帯電部材９への押圧力は生じて
いない。また、図２（ａ）に示す離間位置からの保持部
材１１の移動時は、保持部材１１の突出部１１ａの左側
面１１ｂがハウジング８の突出部８ａの先端に常時当接
した状態で保持部材１１が移動するようになる。Immediately after the cleaning member 10 comes into contact with the charging member 9, the elastic member 12 is still in a no-load state, so that no pressing force is exerted on the charging member 9 by the cleaning member 10. When the holding member 11 is moved from the separated position shown in FIG. 2A, the left side surface 11b of the protruding portion 11a of the holding member 11 is always in contact with the tip of the protruding portion 8a of the housing 8. 11 moves.
【００４０】保持部材１１が更に右動すると、突出部１
１ａの左側面１１ｂが突出部８ａの先端から離間すると
ともに、弾性部材１２のＶ字状ばねが次第にハウジング
８の下面８ｂに位置するようになる。すると、Ｖ字状ば
ねがハウジング８から負荷を加えられて圧縮されるの
で、Ｖ字状ばねはばね力を発生する。このＶ字状ばねの
ばね力つまり弾性部材１２の弾性力により、清掃部材１
０は帯電部材９に押圧される。そして、保持部材１１が
右動するにつれて、弾性部材１２の負荷が大きくなるの
で弾性部材１２の発生する弾性力も大きくなり、清掃部
材１０の帯電部材９への押圧力も大きくなる。When the holding member 11 further moves rightward, the protrusion 1
The left side surface 11b of 1a is separated from the tip of the protrusion 8a, and the V-shaped spring of the elastic member 12 is gradually positioned on the lower surface 8b of the housing 8. Then, since the V-shaped spring is compressed by applying a load from the housing 8, the V-shaped spring generates a spring force. Due to the spring force of the V-shaped spring, that is, the elastic force of the elastic member 12, the cleaning member 1
0 is pressed by the charging member 9. Then, as the holding member 11 moves rightward, the load on the elastic member 12 increases, so that the elastic force generated by the elastic member 12 also increases, and the pressing force of the cleaning member 10 against the charging member 9 also increases.
【００４１】清掃部材１０が帯電部材９に当接した後、
移動部材２２が更に所定量右動すると、その雌ねじ部２
２ａが雄ねじ部２１から外れ、移動部材２２は右限位置
になる。移動部材２２の右限位置では、清掃部材１０は
図２（ｂ）に示す当接位置に設定される。この状態で
は、清掃部材１０の帯電部材９への押圧力が最大とな
り、所定の清掃能力を得るために十分な押圧力となる。After the cleaning member 10 contacts the charging member 9,
When the moving member 22 further moves rightward by a predetermined amount, the internal thread portion 2
2a comes off the male screw portion 21, and the moving member 22 is at the rightmost position. At the rightmost position of the moving member 22, the cleaning member 10 is set to the contact position shown in FIG. In this state, the pressing force of the cleaning member 10 against the charging member 9 is maximized, and the pressing force is sufficient to obtain a predetermined cleaning ability.
【００４２】このようにして、清掃部材１０が当接位置
に設定されると、モータ１７の駆動が停止されるが、帯
電部材９の回転により、前述のような、クリーニングブ
レード３１をすり抜けて帯電部材９に付着蓄積した異
物、所定期間画像形成が行われている間に現像器から飛
散して帯電部材９に付着蓄積した異物、および感光体２
周辺に飛び散って帯電部材９に付着蓄積したちりやほこ
り等の異物は、清掃部材１０によって除去される。清掃
部材１０によって除去された異物はクリーナハウジング
３０内に収容されるか、クリーナハウジング３０とは別
に収容部を設けた場合はその収容部に収容される。When the cleaning member 10 is set at the contact position in this way, the driving of the motor 17 is stopped. However, the rotation of the charging member 9 causes the cleaning blade 31 to slip through the cleaning blade 31 as described above and to be charged. Foreign matter adhered and accumulated on the member 9, foreign matter scattered from the developing device during image formation for a predetermined period and adhered and accumulated on the charging member 9, and the photosensitive member 2
Foreign matter such as dust and dust scattered around and accumulated on the charging member 9 is removed by the cleaning member 10. The foreign matter removed by the cleaning member 10 is accommodated in the cleaner housing 30 or, if a housing portion is provided separately from the cleaner housing 30, in the housing portion.
【００４３】そして、清掃部材１０が当接位置に所定時
間設定されると、ＣＰＵ２５は、駆動手段１５のモータ
１７を前述とは逆方向に駆動し、雄ねじ部２１が逆回転
する。このとき、移動部材２２がばね力作用部２３ｂの
ばね力により軸方向左向きに付勢されているので、移動
部材２２の雌ねじ部２２ａが雄ねじ部２１に螺合開始す
る。雌ねじ部２２ａと雄ねじ部２１との螺合により、雌
ねじ部２２ａが雄ねじ部２１に対して相対的に左動する
ので、移動部材２２は左限位置に向けて軸方向に左動
し、移動部材２２に連結されている保持部材１１も軸方
向に左動するようになる。When the cleaning member 10 is set at the contact position for a predetermined time, the CPU 25 drives the motor 17 of the driving means 15 in the opposite direction to that described above, and the male screw portion 21 rotates in the reverse direction. At this time, since the moving member 22 is urged leftward in the axial direction by the spring force of the spring force acting portion 23b, the female screw portion 22a of the moving member 22 starts screwing with the male screw portion 21. Since the female screw portion 22a is relatively moved leftward with respect to the male screw portion 21 by the screwing of the female screw portion 22a and the male screw portion 21, the moving member 22 moves leftward in the axial direction toward the leftmost position, The holding member 11 connected to 22 also moves leftward in the axial direction.
【００４４】すると、ハウジング８によって加えられた
弾性部材１２の負荷が次第に小さくなり、弾性部材１２
のほとんどが無負荷状態設定手段１３の凹部内に位置す
るようになると、弾性部材１２はハウジング８から負荷
を加えられなくなり、無負荷状態となる。この状態で
は、清掃部材１０の帯電部材９への押圧力も消滅する。
また、保持部材１１の突出部１１ａの左側面１１ｂがハ
ウジング８の突出部８ａの先端に当接するようになる。
保持部材１１が更に左方へ移動すると、突出部１１ａの
左側面１１ｂが突出部８ａの先端に当接しているため、
この左側面１１ｂの傾斜面に沿って保持部材１１が左斜
め上方へ移動するようになる。このため、清掃部材１２
は帯電部材９から離間する。このとき、帯電部材９が周
速度が比較的小さくゆっくり低速回転しているので、当
接時と同様に帯電部材９が清掃部材１０を叩く力が小さ
く、清掃部材１０に付着蓄積したトナー等の異物の飛散
は少ない。また、この清掃部材１０の離間時には、帯電
部材９が低速で回転していることにより、帯電部材９に
離間筋がほとんど発生しない。Then, the load on the elastic member 12 applied by the housing 8 gradually decreases, and the elastic member 12
When most of the elastic member 12 is located in the concave portion of the no-load state setting means 13, the elastic member 12 can no longer receive a load from the housing 8 and enters a no-load state. In this state, the pressing force of the cleaning member 10 on the charging member 9 also disappears.
Further, the left side surface 11b of the protrusion 11a of the holding member 11 comes into contact with the tip of the protrusion 8a of the housing 8.
When the holding member 11 further moves to the left, the left side surface 11b of the protruding portion 11a is in contact with the tip of the protruding portion 8a.
The holding member 11 moves obliquely upward to the left along the inclined surface of the left side surface 11b. Therefore, the cleaning member 12
Is separated from the charging member 9. At this time, since the charging member 9 has a relatively small peripheral speed and is rotating slowly at a low speed, the force with which the charging member 9 hits the cleaning member 10 is small as in the case of the contact, so that the toner and the like adhering and accumulating on the cleaning member 10 are removed. There is little scattering of foreign matter. In addition, when the cleaning member 10 is separated, the charging member 9 is rotating at a low speed, so that a separation line hardly occurs on the charging member 9.
【００４５】清掃部材１０の帯電部材９からの離間に相
前後して、ばね力受け部２２ｃの右端２２ｃ2がばね力
作用部２３ｂから離れ、その後、ばね力受け部２２ｃの
左端２２ｃ1が一方のばね力作用部２３ａに当接する。
これにより、他方のばね力作用部２３ｂが自由状態に復
帰するとともに、一方のばね力作用部２３ａが弾性的に
撓み、移動部材２２がばね力作用部２３ａのばね力によ
り軸方向右向きに付勢されようになる。[0045] at a distance from each other in tandem from the charging member 9 of the cleaning member 10, away from the right edge 22c 2 spring force acting portion 23b of the spring force receiving portion 22c, then the left edge 22c 1 of the spring force receiving portion 22c is one Abuts on the spring force acting portion 23a.
As a result, the other spring force acting portion 23b returns to the free state, the one spring force acting portion 23a is elastically bent, and the moving member 22 is biased rightward in the axial direction by the spring force of the spring force acting portion 23a. Will be.
【００４６】そして、移動部材２２が更に左動すると、
その雌ねじ部２２ａが雄ねじ部２１から外れ、移動部材
２２は再び左限位置になり、モータ１７が停止する。移
動部材２２の左限位置では、清掃部材１０は図２（ａ）
に示す離間位置に設定される。こうして帯電部材９の清
掃動作のための一連のシーケンス制御が実施されること
により清掃工程が終了する。When the moving member 22 further moves leftward,
The female screw portion 22a comes off the male screw portion 21, the moving member 22 is again at the leftmost position, and the motor 17 stops. At the leftmost position of the moving member 22, the cleaning member 10 is in the position shown in FIG.
Are set to the separated positions shown in FIG. Thus, a series of sequence control for the cleaning operation of the charging member 9 is performed, thereby completing the cleaning process.
【００４７】このように、この例の画像形成装置１によ
れば、帯電部材９をその清掃動作の開始時から回転させ
ているので、迅速に清掃を行うことができるようにな
る。また、このように清掃動作中に帯電部材９を常時回
転させても、帯電部材９は低速で回転しているので、帯
電部材９に対する清掃部材１０の当接および離間時に、
清掃部材１０に付着蓄積した異物の飛散を少なくするこ
とができる。これにより、プロセスカ−トリッジあるい
は画像形成装置内の汚染を抑制でき、画質の劣化を防止
することができる。こうして、この例の画像形成装置１
によれば、今後ますます求められる画像形成装置１の高
速化に確実にかつ柔軟に対応することが可能となる。As described above, according to the image forming apparatus 1 of this example, since the charging member 9 is rotated from the start of the cleaning operation, the cleaning can be performed quickly. Even if the charging member 9 is constantly rotated during the cleaning operation, the charging member 9 is rotating at a low speed.
It is possible to reduce the scattering of foreign matters adhering and accumulating on the cleaning member 10. Thus, contamination in the process cartridge or the image forming apparatus can be suppressed, and deterioration in image quality can be prevented. Thus, the image forming apparatus 1 of this example
According to this, it is possible to reliably and flexibly cope with a demand for a higher speed of the image forming apparatus 1 which is increasingly required in the future.
【００４８】なお、前述の例では、清掃動作中は、帯電
部材９を常時低速で回転するようにしているが、本発明
は、清掃部材１０が帯電部材９に当接する当接時点を含
む当接直前から当接直後の間および／または清掃部材１
０が帯電部材９から離間する離間時点を含む離間直前か
ら離間直後の間のみは、帯電部材９を前述のように低速
で回転させ、それ以外ではこのときの速度よりも高い速
度で回転させるようにすることもできる。このようにす
れば、清掃動作の更なる迅速化が可能となる。In the above-described example, during the cleaning operation, the charging member 9 is always rotated at a low speed. However, in the present invention, the cleaning member 10 includes a contact point at which the cleaning member 10 contacts the charging member 9. Between immediately before contact and immediately after contact and / or cleaning member 1
The charging member 9 is rotated at a low speed as described above only between immediately before and immediately after the separation including the separation point at which 0 is separated from the charging member 9, and at other times, the charging member 9 is rotated at a speed higher than the speed at this time. You can also This makes it possible to further speed up the cleaning operation.
【００４９】なお、前述の例では、清掃部材１０を帯電
部材９に対して軸方向と径方向との斜めに移動させて離
設させているが、清掃部材１０を帯電部材９に対して単
に径方向のみに移動させて離設させるようにすることも
できる。また、清掃部材１０の離接動作を行う機構は図
２に示す機構に限定されなく、清掃部材１０が帯電部材
９に対して離接動作を行うものであればどのようなもの
でもよく、また、駆動手段１５も図３に示す手段に限定
されなく、清掃部材１０を離間位置と当接位置との間で
移動できるものであればどのようなものでもよい。In the above-described example, the cleaning member 10 is moved obliquely in the axial direction and the radial direction with respect to the charging member 9 to be separated therefrom. It can also be moved only in the radial direction and separated. The mechanism for performing the separation / contact operation of the cleaning member 10 is not limited to the mechanism illustrated in FIG. 2, and may be any mechanism as long as the cleaning member 10 performs the separation / contact operation with respect to the charging member 9. The driving means 15 is not limited to the means shown in FIG. 3, but may be any means as long as it can move the cleaning member 10 between the separated position and the contact position.
【００５０】また、前述の例では、本発明をフルカラ−
の中間転写型の画像形成装置に適用して説明している
が、本発明はこれに限定されるものではなく、感光体を
帯電する帯電部材とこの帯電部材を清掃する清掃部材と
を備える画像形成装置であれば、どのような画像形成装
置にも適用することができる。Further, in the above-described example, the present invention
However, the present invention is not limited to this, and an image including a charging member for charging the photoconductor and a cleaning member for cleaning the charging member is described. The present invention can be applied to any image forming apparatus as long as it is a forming apparatus.
【００５１】[0051]
【発明の効果】以上の説明から明らかなように、本発明
の画像形成装置によれば、清掃動作中は帯電部材を回転
するようにしているので、帯電部材の清掃動作を迅速に
行うことができるようになる。As is apparent from the above description, according to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, since the charging member is rotated during the cleaning operation, the cleaning operation of the charging member can be performed quickly. become able to.
【００５２】しかも、その場合少なくとも清掃部材の帯
電部材への当接時点および／または清掃部材の帯電部材
からの離間時点での帯電部材の周速度を画像形成動作時
での帯電部材の周速度より小さく設定しているので、清
掃部材の当接時点や離間時点に、清掃部材に付着蓄積し
た異物の飛散を少なくでき、プロセスカ−トリッジある
いは画像形成装置内の汚染を抑制できる。これにより、
画質の劣化が防止できる。こうして、本発明の画像形成
装置によれば、今後ますます求められる画像形成装置の
高速化に確実にかつ柔軟に対応することが可能となる。Further, in this case, the peripheral speed of the charging member at least at the time of contact of the cleaning member with the charging member and / or at the time of separation of the cleaning member from the charging member is determined from the peripheral speed of the charging member during the image forming operation. Since the cleaning member is set to be small, scattering of foreign matters adhering and accumulating on the cleaning member at the time of contact or separation of the cleaning member can be reduced, and contamination in the process cartridge or the image forming apparatus can be suppressed. This allows
Deterioration of image quality can be prevented. Thus, according to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to reliably and flexibly cope with an increase in the speed of the image forming apparatus that is increasingly required in the future.
【図１】 本発明の画像形成装置の実施の形態の各例が
適用されたフルカラ−の中間転写型の画像形成装置を模
式的に示す図である。FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a full-color intermediate transfer type image forming apparatus to which each example of an embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention is applied.
【図２】 図１に示す画像形成装置に用いられている帯
電部材の清掃部材を示すとともにその作動を説明し、
（ａ）は清掃部材の帯電部材からの離間状態を模式的に
示す図、（ｂ）は清掃部材が帯電部材に当接している当
接状態を模式的に示す図である。FIG. 2 shows a cleaning member for a charging member used in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 and explains its operation;
5A is a diagram schematically illustrating a state in which the cleaning member is separated from the charging member, and FIG. 5B is a diagram schematically illustrating a contact state in which the cleaning member is in contact with the charging member.
【図３】 図１に示す画像形成装置に用いられている清
掃部材の駆動手段を模式的に示す図である。FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating a driving unit of a cleaning member used in the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1;
【図４】 本発明の実施の形態の一例に用いられる、帯
電部材の周速度制御のためのブロック図である。FIG. 4 is a block diagram for controlling a peripheral speed of a charging member used in an example of an embodiment of the present invention.
１…画像形成装置、２…感光体（ＯＰＣ）、３…帯電装
置、５…現像装置、７…クリーニング装置、８,１６…
ハウジング、９…帯電部材、１０…清掃部材、１１…保
持部材、１５…駆動手段、１７…駆動手段１５のモー
タ、１９…駆動力伝達軸、２１…雄ねじ、２２…移動部
材、２２ａ…雌ねじ部、２４…帯電部材９のモータ、２
５…中央処理装置（ＣＰＵ）DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming apparatus, 2 ... Photoconductor (OPC), 3 ... Charging device, 5 ... Developing device, 7 ... Cleaning device, 8, 16 ...
Housing 9, 9 charging member, 10 cleaning member, 11 holding member, 15 driving means 17, motor of driving means 15, 19 driving force transmission shaft, 21 male screw, 22 moving member, 22a female screw part , 24... Motor of the charging member 9, 2
5. Central processing unit (CPU)
───────────────────────────────────────────────────── フロントページの続き (72)発明者 野村雄二郎 長野県諏訪市大和３丁目３番５号 セイコ −エプソン株 式会社内 Ｆターム(参考） 2H003 AA12 BB11 CC05 EE11 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Yujiro Nomura 3-3-5 Yamato, Suwa-shi, Nagano F-term in Seiko-Epson Co., Ltd. (Reference) 2H003 AA12 BB11 CC05 EE11
Claims (1)
される感光体と、この感光体に接触して回転しながら感
光体を帯電する帯電部材と、この帯電部材に対して離接
可能に設けられて前記帯電部材を清掃する清掃部材とを
少なくとも備えている画像形成装置において、 前記帯電部材の清掃動作中は前記帯電部材を回転させる
とともに、少なくとも前記清掃部材の前記帯電部材に当
接時点および／または前記清掃部材の前記帯電部材から
の離間時点での前記帯電部材の周速度が画像形成装置の
画像形成動作時での前記帯電部材の周速度より小さくな
るように、前記帯電部材の回転を制御する制御手段が設
けられていることを特徴とする画像形成装置。A photosensitive member provided rotatably and on which an electrostatic latent image is formed; a charging member for charging the photosensitive member while rotating while being in contact with the photosensitive member; An image forming apparatus including at least a cleaning member that is provided so as to clean the charging member, wherein the charging member is rotated during a cleaning operation of the charging member, and at least the cleaning member contacts the charging member. The charging member so that the peripheral speed of the charging member at the time of contact and / or at the time of separation of the cleaning member from the charging member is lower than the peripheral speed of the charging member during an image forming operation of the image forming apparatus. An image forming apparatus, further comprising control means for controlling rotation of the image forming apparatus.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP24458099A JP3722197B2 (en) | 1999-08-31 | 1999-08-31 | Image forming apparatus |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP24458099A JP3722197B2 (en) | 1999-08-31 | 1999-08-31 | Image forming apparatus |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| JP2001066859A true JP2001066859A (en) | 2001-03-16 |
| JP3722197B2 JP3722197B2 (en) | 2005-11-30 |
Family
ID=17120847
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP24458099A Expired - Fee Related JP3722197B2 (en) | 1999-08-31 | 1999-08-31 | Image forming apparatus |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JP3722197B2 (en) |
-
1999
- 1999-08-31 JP JP24458099A patent/JP3722197B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| JP3722197B2 (en) | 2005-11-30 |
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