JP2001281770A - Automatic cleaning device for dust-proof glass, and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic cleaning device for dust-proof glass by which the high transmittance of a dust-proof glass is held over a long term and the surface of the glass is not damaged, and to provide an image forming device equipped with such an automatic cleaning device. SOLUTION: This automatic cleaning device 300 is provided on the lower surface of the dust-proof glass 301 between an optical system and an image forming means. The device 300 is equipped with a rotary brush 302 for cleaning the glass. A lead screw 303 is freely axially rotated in the formal and reverse directions by an electric motor, whereby a supporting member 304 and the brush 302 supported by the member 304 can move back and forth in the longitudinal direction of the glass 301. Since moving force is converted into the rotational force of the brush 302 by a pinion 306 and a rack 305 provided on the rotary shaft of the brush 302, the brush 302 is moved while rotating in contact with the surface of the glass 301.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic cleaning device for cleaning the surface of dust-proof glass, and an image forming apparatus provided with such an automatic cleaning device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, such as a copying machine, for copying (forming) an image of a document on another sheet material such as a recording sheet, includes a platen glass on which the document is placed, and a platen glass. An image reading unit that reads an image of an original through the glass from the lower surface of the platen glass, a laser scanner arranged below the image reading unit, and an electrophotographic photosensitive member arranged further below the laser scanner It is generally done.

In forming an image on recording paper, first,
Laser light based on the image information read by the image reading unit is applied to the electrophotographic photosensitive member by a laser scanner.

[0004] By the irradiation of the laser light, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photoreceptor, the electrostatic latent image is developed with toner, and the toner image formed by toner development is further transferred to recording paper. Is performed.

Here, a dustproof glass is provided between the laser scanner and the electrophotographic photosensitive member in order to prevent toner from scattering to the laser scanner. The dustproof glass has two functions of transmitting laser light and blocking the passage of foreign substances (scattered toner and the like).
As the number of times of use of the image forming apparatus increases, foreign substances adhere. As a result, the transmittance of the laser light gradually decreases, and accurate reproduction of image data becomes difficult.

In order to solve such a problem, for example, a serviceman usually removes dust-proof glass from the image forming apparatus and cleans the dust-proof glass to prevent deterioration of the formed image.

However, since it is disadvantageous in terms of cost to maintain the function of the apparatus by the above-described cleaning work, an automatic cleaning apparatus for automatically cleaning the dust-proof glass has been devised.

For example, FIG. 4 schematically shows an example of a conventional automatic dust-cleaning glass cleaning device (mechanism) built in an image forming apparatus.

As shown in FIG. 4, an automatic cleaning device 510 is provided.
Is a laser scanner 520 that irradiates a laser beam L based on image information inside an image forming apparatus main body 500 such as a copying machine or the like, forms an electrostatic latent image on the surface with the laser beam L, It is provided between the electrophotographic photosensitive drum 530 that visualizes the image as a toner image. The automatic cleaning device 510 converts the pad 511 pressed against the dustproof glass 540 into a driving source 512 such as a motor.
And a power transmission mechanism including a gear 513, a belt 514, and the like, thereby automatically moving dirt and dust on the surface of the dust-proof glass 540 by moving the dust-proof glass 540 in a predetermined direction. Incidentally, since such a wiping operation is automatically performed every time the image formation is performed a predetermined number of times, it is possible to prevent quality deterioration of the formed image without bothering the user or the serviceman.

[0010]

However, in the conventional automatic cleaning apparatus as described above, since the same pad surface is always pressed against the dustproof glass, dirt and dust tend to accumulate on the pad surface. there were. Then, since the glass surface is repeatedly wiped with the pad surface where the dirt and dust remain, the accumulated dirt and dust may cause scratches and peeling of the coating on the glass surface. .

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to maintain the high permeability of dustproof glass for a long period of time and to damage the glass surface. No dustproof glass automatic cleaning device,
And an image forming apparatus provided with such an automatic cleaning device.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an optical system for emitting light based on image information and an image forming means for forming an image based on the emitted light. An automatic cleaning device for a dust-proof glass for cleaning a surface of the dust-proof glass provided between the image-forming device side, wherein the rotating device rotates at least a part of its outer peripheral surface while contacting the surface of the dust-proof glass with the image forming device side. The gist of the invention is to provide a cleaning unit having a body and a moving unit for moving the cleaning unit along the surface of the dustproof glass on the image forming unit side.

The moving means is engaged with the cleaning means, and the screw shaft is arranged substantially in parallel with a surface of the dustproof glass on the image forming means side. It is preferable that the cleaning device includes a driving unit that freely rotates and drives the cleaning unit to move in the axial direction of the screw shaft in conjunction with the rotation of the screw shaft.

[0014] Further, there is provided a rack arranged along the moving direction of the cleaning means, and a pinion gear provided in the cleaning means, which rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the rotating body and meshes with the rack. Preferably, the rotating body is rotated with the movement of the cleaning means main body.

Further, it is preferable that the peripheral speed of the rotating body at the contact portion between the rotating body and the surface of the dust-proof glass on the image forming means side is different from the moving speed of the cleaning means.

Further, the distance from the contact portion of the rotating body with the image forming means side surface of the dust-proof glass to the rotation center of the rotating body and the pitch circle radius of the pinion gear are set to different lengths. It is preferable that the peripheral speed of the rotating body at the contact portion between the rotating body and the surface of the dustproof glass on the image forming unit side and the moving speed of the cleaning unit be different.

Further, it is preferable that the moving direction of the cleaning means substantially coincides with the longitudinal direction of the dustproof glass.

Further, it is preferable that the apparatus further comprises a scraping member for scraping off foreign matter in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the rotating body.

Further, it is preferable that a brush is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating body which comes into contact with the surface of the dustproof glass on the image forming means side.

It is preferable that the automatic dust-cleaning glass cleaning apparatus having the above-described configuration is provided in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a facsimile machine.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of an automatic dust-cleaning glass cleaning apparatus and an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view schematically showing a main internal structure of a copying machine (image forming apparatus) A according to the present embodiment. This image forming apparatus performs a series of image reading and image forming operations, such as reading image information of a document and forming a copy image based on the read image information on a sheet material (recording paper), by using a plurality of sheet materials (recording paper). ) Is performed continuously.

The image forming apparatus functions as a copying machine by inputting a processing signal of an image processing unit to a laser scanner, and also functions as a printer by inputting an output signal of a personal computer. If a transmission signal from a facsimile device of another device is input, or a processing signal of the image processing unit is transmitted to a facsimile device of another device, the device functions as a facsimile device.

As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus A includes:
An image reading unit B is provided on the upper part. The image reading unit B includes:
Scanning light source 201, platen glass 202, mirror 20
4, a lens 205, a light receiving element (photoelectric conversion element) 206, an image processing unit, and the like.

When reading image information on a document,
The original is placed on the platen glass 202 with its reading surface (copying surface) facing down, and the reading start key is pressed. Then, the scanning system light source 201 scans the lower part of the platen glass 202 in the direction of arrow a to read the image information on the document surface. The image information of the document read by the scanning system light source is processed by an image processing unit, converted into an electric signal, and transmitted to a laser scanner (optical deflection scanning device) 111.

An image forming unit B as an image forming means is provided below the image reading unit B, and a sheet cassette 208 is mounted below the image forming unit C. Each of the sheet cassettes 208a, 208b, 20
The recording paper accommodated in the recording rollers 8c, 208d, and 208e is supplied to a pickup roller 1 serving as a feeding rotating body as described later.
03, separated one by one by the cooperation of the feed roller 104 and the retard roller 105,
After being fed, the sheet is conveyed by conveying rollers 107 and 108. Then, the sheet is further guided to the registration roller 106 and fed to the image forming section C by the registration roller 106 in synchronization with the image forming operation.

The image forming section C includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum (rotary drum) 112, a developing device 114, and a primary charger 11.
0 and so on. And the primary charger 110
The laser beam corresponding to the image information emitted from the laser scanner 111 is scanned by an image writing optical system on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum 112, which is uniformly charged by the laser, to form a latent image, and the latent image is developed. A toner image is formed by the device 114, and the toner image is transferred to the first surface of the recording paper by the transfer charger 115 on the recording paper conveyed in synchronization with the rotation of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum 112 by the registration roller 106. .

Reference numeral 117 denotes a conveying belt for conveying the recording paper on which the toner image is formed, 118 denotes a fixing device, and 119 denotes a paper discharge unit. The recording paper on which the toner image has been formed is conveyed to a fixing device 118 by a conveyance belt 117, and is heated and pressed to fix the toner image on the surface of the recording paper. The paper is discharged and stacked on the paper discharge tray 120.

When image recording (image formation) is to be performed on both sides of the recording paper, the recording paper on which the image formation on the first side has been completed is discharged from the fixing device 118 and the recording paper is discharged from the paper discharge unit 119.
Is once conveyed in the direction of arrow b. When the trailing end (the trailing end in the traveling direction) of the recording paper has passed the branch point 207, the reversing roller 208 rotates in the reverse direction, and
7 and 108, and the registration rollers 106
, And the components of the image forming apparatus A are operated such that an image is formed on the second side of the recording sheet in the same manner as described above, and then discharged and stacked on the discharge tray 120. .

By the way, between the image forming section C and the laser scanner 111, an opening 3 through which the emitted laser light passes.
01a, from which the developing device 114 of the image forming section C
The dustproof glass 301 is arranged so that foreign matter such as scattered toner generated by the toner does not enter. Its role is to have both the function of passing laser light and the function of preventing foreign matter from entering, so that if foreign matter adheres with the use of a machine, the transmittance of laser light will be reduced, and accurate image data cannot be reproduced.

Therefore, an automatic cleaning device 300 for dustproof glass is provided inside the image forming apparatus A of the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view showing the dust-proof glass automatic cleaning device 300 shown in FIG. 1, and FIG.
FIG. 3 is a front view of the device 300 as viewed in an arrow direction III in FIG. 2. It is.

As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the automatic cleaning device 300 is provided between the laser scanning system (optical system) and the image developing system (image forming means).
01 is provided on the lower surface. Further, the automatic cleaning device 300 includes a rotating brush 302 for cleaning glass. The rotating brush 302 is rotatably supported by a support member 304. The support member 304 includes:
Two guide plates 3 facing in the opposite direction to the dustproof glass side
04a is extended. Each of the guide plates 304a has a through hole. Further, a lead screw (screw shaft) 303 having a male thread cut along its outer peripheral surface is engaged with the support member 304 and the rotating brush 302 supported by the support member 304 through the through holes of both guide plates 304a. Are to be combined. The support member 304 and the rotating brush 302 supported by the support member 304 can reciprocate in the longitudinal direction of the dustproof glass 301 by rotating the lead screw 303 freely around the axis by an electric motor (not shown). It has become. This moving force is applied to the pinion 3 provided on the rotating shaft of the rotating brush 302.
06 and the fixed rack 305, the rotating brush 3
02 is converted to a rotational force of
02 moves while being in contact with the surface of the dust-proof glass 301, and cleans the surface. In addition, the pinion 306 is
The rotating shaft need not necessarily be shared as long as it is configured to rotate at least in conjunction with the rotating shaft of the rotating brush 302. For example, using a connection mode such as a gear connection,
A configuration in which the rotating brush 302 and the pinion 306 rotate in conjunction with each other may be applied.

In any case, since the rotating brush 302 is constantly rotated with the movement of the dustproof glass 301 along the longitudinal direction, the rotating brush 302 is not clogged with foreign substances such as toner and is always kept in a clean state. The state of contact with the glass is maintained.

An ironing plate 308 as a scraping member is provided at a position facing the glass in the circumferential direction of the brush, and the ironing plate 308 actively drops dust adhering to the brush downward. And remove
The cleaning ability of the brush is more suitably maintained.

As a further significant feature, by applying the above configuration, the distance from the contact portion between the brush and the dust-proof glass surface to the rotation center of the brush and the pitch circle radius of the pinion gear (different lengths) By setting the optimum relationship, the peripheral speed of the rotating brush and the moving speed of the rotating brush in the longitudinal direction have a relative difference, so that the glass surface can be wiped reliably. It is easy to do. For this reason, the cleaning ability can be further improved as compared with a conventional cleaning device using a pad.

As described above, a part of the moving force of the brush is converted into a rotational force, and the peripheral speed of the brush is made to have a relative difference with the moving speed. Can be obtained.

[0038]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By using a rotating body (rotary brush) as the cleaning member of the dust-proof glass, it is possible to provide a device that does not cause clogging and can maintain a high cleaning ability for a long period of time.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view schematically showing a main internal structure of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view showing the automatic dust-cleaning glass cleaning apparatus according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the automatic cleaning device as viewed in a direction III.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing an example of a conventional automatic cleaning device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 301 Dustproof glass 302 Rotary brush (rotator; part of cleaning means) 303 Lead screw (screw shaft) 304 Support member (part of cleaning means) 305 Rack 306 Pinion

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G03G 15/04 G03G 15/00 554 3B116

Claims (9)

[Claims] An optical system for emitting light based on image information;
An automatic dust-cleaning glass cleaning apparatus for cleaning a surface of a dust-proof glass provided on an image forming means side provided between the image forming means and an image forming means for forming an image based on the emitted light, wherein at least one of an outer peripheral surface of the dust-proof glass is provided. Cleaning means having a rotating body that rotates while bringing the unit into contact with the image forming means side surface of the dustproof glass; and moving means for moving the cleaning means along the image forming means side surface of the dustproof glass. An automatic cleaning device for dustproof glass. 2. The dust-cleaning glass automatic cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the moving means is engaged with the cleaning means and arranged substantially in parallel with a surface of the dust-proof glass on the image forming means side. The screw shaft, and a driving unit for rotating the screw shaft so as to be rotatable forward and backward around the axis, wherein the cleaning unit is moved in the axial direction of the screw shaft in conjunction with the rotation of the screw shaft. An automatic cleaning device for dust-proof glass. 3. The automatic dust-cleaning glass cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rack is arranged along a moving direction of the cleaning unit.
A pinion gear provided in the cleaning means and interlockingly rotating with the rotating operation of the rotating body and meshing with the rack, wherein the rotating body is rotated with the movement of the cleaning means body. Automatic cleaning device for dustproof glass. 4. The apparatus for automatically cleaning dust-proof glass according to claim 1, wherein a periphery of said rotary body at a contact portion between said rotary body and an image forming means side surface of said dust-proof glass. An automatic cleaning device for dust-proof glass, wherein a speed is different from a moving speed of the cleaning means. 5. A method according to claim 1, wherein a distance from a contact portion of the rotating body to the image forming means side surface of the dust-proof glass to a rotation center of the rotating body and a pitch circle radius of the pinion gear are different lengths. 4. The automatic dust-proof glass cleaning apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a peripheral speed of the rotary body at a contact portion between the rotary body and the image forming unit side surface of the dust-proof glass and a moving speed of the cleaning unit are different. 6. The dust-proof glass automatic cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a moving direction of said cleaning means substantially coincides with a longitudinal direction of said dust-proof glass. Automatic glass cleaning device. 7. The dust-cleaning glass automatic cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a scraping member for scraping off foreign matter by contacting an outer peripheral surface of said rotating body. Automatic cleaning device for dustproof glass. 8. The automatic dust-cleaning glass cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a brush is provided on an outer peripheral surface of the rotating body that comes into contact with the image forming unit side surface of the dust-proof glass. An automatic cleaning device for dust-proof glass, which is characterized in that: 9. An image forming apparatus provided with an automatic dust-cleaning glass cleaning apparatus according to claim 1.