JP2002341709A - Cleaning device for image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cleaning device for image forming device capable of efficiently preventing the leakage of waste toner. SOLUTION: This cleaning device is provided with a side seal member 17 positioned to form a gap SA with the end of a toner removing part 61 for removing toner from a photoreceptor 5 and having a brush type moquette M swollen and deformed when it comes into contact with the surface of the photoreceptor and sealing the gap with its swollen and deformed part. The moquette M has a swollen surface (a) swollen and deformed and a non-swollen surface (b) positioned on an opposite side to the swollen surface with respect to a swelling direction, and constituted so that the number of naps constituting the swollen surface is made smaller than the number of naps constituting the non-swollen surface, the volume Va of the naps constituting the swollen surface is made smaller than the volume Vb of the naps constituting the non-swollen surface, the area Sa of the swollen surface is made smaller than the area Sb of the non-swollen surface, the length of the swollen surface in the swelling direction is made shorter than that of the non-swollen surface or the width of the swollen surface in the swelling direction is made smaller than that of the non-swollen surface.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus such as a copying machine and the like, and more particularly to a cleaning apparatus for removing and transporting residual toner adhering to the surface of a photoreceptor. The present invention relates to a cleaning device improved so that leakage from a seal gap can be efficiently prevented.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in an image forming apparatus, an image station for copying an image onto a recording medium such as a recording paper or an OHP sheet includes a photosensitive member and an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive member by charging the photosensitive member. A charger for forming, a developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor, a transfer discharger for transferring the developed toner image on the photoconductor to a recording medium, and a transfer device for remaining on the photoconductor And a cleaning device that removes and transports waste toner.

The cleaning device includes a cleaning blade made of an elastic material such as rubber and extending in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the recording medium is conveyed. The remaining waste toner is removed from the photoreceptor.

However, in the above-described cleaning device, the recording medium transport direction is substantially sealed by the sheet-shaped seal member and the cleaning blade, but the direction perpendicular to the recording medium transport direction, that is, the extending direction of the cleaning blade. It was very difficult to seal both ends of the photoconductor corresponding to both ends due to its structure.

Therefore, in the cleaning device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 07-160168, a large number of hairs are brushed in place of side seal members made of urethane foam or non-woven fabric, which come into contact with both ends of the photoreceptor, respectively. Leakage of waste toner from the cleaning device main body is prevented by abutting the implanted sealing material on the photoreceptor surface.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION However, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open
The brush-shaped side seal material described in Japanese Patent No. 60168 discloses a configuration in which the brush-like bristles lie in the rotation direction of the photoconductor in a state in contact with the photoconductor in order to enhance only the airtightness in both ends of the photoconductor. I have. On the other hand, in recent years, miniaturization of toner has been promoted in order to improve image quality. Therefore, in addition to both end portions of the photoconductor, a sheet-shaped sealing member provided in the rotation direction of the photoconductor, a cleaning blade, and the like are used. There has been a problem with the sealability with the sealing material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a seal between a sheet-shaped seal member or a cleaning blade provided in the rotation direction of a photoreceptor and a side seal material. It is an object of the present invention to provide a cleaning device for an image forming apparatus, which is capable of efficiently preventing waste toner from leaking around a toner carrier such as a photoconductor.

[0008]

The present invention has the following configuration to achieve the above object. A first gist of the present invention resides in that a cleaning member having a toner removing section for removing toner remaining on a toner carrier from the toner carrier and at least one end of the toner removing section. And a brush-like group of brushes that swells and deforms due to contact with the surface of the toner carrier, and seals the swelling portion so as to prevent the toner from passing through the gap. A side seal member, wherein the raised group of the side seal member has an upper surface in contact with the surface of the toner carrier, a swelling surface for swelling deformation, and an upper surface with respect to the swelling surface in the swelling direction. And the non-swelling surface located on the opposite side, the number of raised brushes constituting the swelling surface,
The cleaning device of the image forming apparatus is characterized in that the number of the raised portions constituting the non-bulging surface is smaller than the number of raised portions.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cleaning member having a toner removing portion for removing toner remaining on a toner carrier from the toner carrier, and at least one end of the toner removing portion. A brush-like nap that seals so as to prevent the toner from passing through the gap by swelling and deforming due to contact with the surface of the toner carrier. A side seal member having a group, wherein the raised group of the side seal member has an upper surface in contact with the surface of the toner carrier, a swelling surface for swelling deformation, and a swelling surface with respect to the swelling direction. And a non-bulging surface located on the opposite side of the upper surface, wherein the volume of the raised hair constituting the bulged surface is smaller than the volume of the raised hair forming the non-bulging surface. Cleaning It is in the location.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cleaning member having a toner removing portion for removing toner remaining on a toner carrier from the toner carrier, and at least one end of the toner removing portion. A brush-like nap that seals so as to prevent the toner from passing through the gap by swelling and deforming due to contact with the surface of the toner carrier. A side seal member having a group, wherein the raised group of the side seal member has an upper surface in contact with the surface of the toner carrier, a swelling surface for swelling deformation, and a swelling surface with respect to the swelling direction. A non-swelling surface located on the opposite side of the upper surface, wherein the area of the swelling surface is smaller than the area of the non-swelling surface.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cleaning member having a toner removing section for removing toner remaining on a toner carrier from the toner carrier, and at least one end of the toner removing section. A brush-like nap that seals so as to prevent the toner from passing through the gap by swelling and deforming due to contact with the surface of the toner carrier. A side seal member having a group, wherein the raised group of the side seal member has an upper surface in contact with the surface of the toner carrier, a swelling surface for swelling deformation, and a swelling surface with respect to the swelling direction. A non-swelling surface located on the opposite side of the upper surface, wherein a length in the swelling direction is shorter than the non-swelling surface. .

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cleaning member having a toner removing unit for removing toner remaining on a toner carrier from the toner carrier, and at least one end of the toner removing unit. A brush-like nap that seals so as to prevent the toner from passing through the gap by swelling and deforming due to contact with the surface of the toner carrier. A side seal member having a group, wherein the raised group of the side seal member has an upper surface in contact with the surface of the toner carrier, a swelling surface for swelling deformation, and a swelling surface with respect to the swelling direction. A non-swelling surface located on the opposite side of the upper surface, wherein the width of the swelling surface in the swelling direction is smaller than the width of the non-swelling surface in the swelling direction. Characteristic image formation In the cleaning apparatus of the location.

A sixth aspect of the present invention is the cleaning device for an image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the bulging surface is formed by a long side surface of the brush.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the non-bulging surface includes:
The cleaning device for an image forming apparatus according to the sixth aspect, wherein the cleaning device is formed by a tip portion of the brush.

According to the first to fifth aspects of the present invention, the number of naps constituting the swelling surface is made smaller than the number of naps constituting the non-swelling surface, and the volume of the naps constituting the swelling surface is reduced. The area of the swelling surface is made smaller than the area of the non-swelling surface, the length in the swelling direction is made shorter than the non-swelling surface, By making the width forming the bulging surface in the bulging direction smaller than the width forming the non-bulging surface in the bulging direction, when the raised group of the side seal members is pressed from the toner carrier surface, the bulging surface becomes non-bulged. It is easier to swell than the projecting surface, and the swelling deformed portion can be sealed so as to prevent the toner from passing through the gap with the cleaning member.

Further, even if the internal pressure of the waste toner is increased in the waste toner conveying path, it is possible to sufficiently prevent the internal pressure of the waste toner, thereby preventing leakage of the waste toner from the waste toner conveying path as much as possible. Becomes possible. In addition, since the swelling surface need only be disposed adjacent to the cleaning member without changing the thickness of the side seal member, a simple configuration can be achieved.

Further, since the sealing is enabled by the swelling action of the swelling surface, the load on the toner carrier is reduced, the adverse effect on the toner carrier is suppressed as much as possible, and the sealing performance of the side seal member is efficiently improved. It can be improved.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, when forming a raised group provided on the side seal member by cutting a large raised group, the bulging surface having the structure of the above-described paragraphs 1 to 5 is merely cut. Can be easily formed.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, when forming a raised group provided on the side seal member by cutting a large raised group, the raised group near the cutting position is cut in a state where the raised group is inclined obliquely. Thus, the swelling surface and the non-swelling surface having the configurations of the gist 1 to 5 can be easily formed.

[0020]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, a case where the cleaning device according to the present invention is applied to an electrophotographic digital color copying machine as an image forming apparatus will be described.

[Explanation of the Overall Structure of the Digital Color Copier] FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the internal structure of a digital color copier equipped with the cleaning device according to the present invention from the front side. As shown, this digital color copier 1
Includes an automatic double-sided document feeder 2, an image reading unit 3, and an image forming unit 4.

Hereinafter, each part will be described. The double-sided automatic document feeder 2 is supported on a document table 21 made of transparent glass or the like so as to be openable and closable with respect to the document table 21, and is mounted with a predetermined positional relationship with the document table 21.

The double-sided automatic document feeder 2 conveys a document so that one side (for example, the front side) faces the image reading section 3 at a predetermined position on the document table 21 and reads an image on one side. Is completed, the document is temporarily evacuated and turned over, and the document is placed on the platen 2
It is configured to be conveyed toward the document table 21 so as to face the image reading unit 3 at a predetermined position.

When the reading of the double-sided image for one document is completed, the double-sided automatic document feeder 2 discharges this document and then executes the double-sided conveyance operation for the next document. The above document transport and reversal operations are controlled in relation to the operation of the entire digital color copying machine 1.

The image reading section 3 is a section for reading an image of a document placed on a document table 21 and an image of a document fed one by one by the double-sided automatic document feeder 2 to create image data. It is provided above the digital color copier 1, that is, below the document table 21. This image reading unit 3
Are the exposure light source 31, the first to third reflecting mirrors 32, 33, 3
4, an imaging lens 35 and a photoelectric conversion element 36 are provided.
In this case, a first scanning unit 37 is constituted by the exposure light source 31 and the first reflecting mirror 32. On the other hand, the second scanning unit 3 is provided by the second and third reflecting mirrors 33 and 34.
8 are configured.

The exposure light source 31 is used for an original placed on the original table 21 of the automatic duplex document feeder 2 or the automatic duplex document feeder 2.
Is illuminated on the image surface of the original document conveyed.

Each of the reflecting mirrors 32, 33, and 34 deflects (reflects) the reflected light image from the document in a predetermined direction (left direction in FIG. 1) once, as indicated by a broken line in FIG. The light is deflected downward, and then deflected rightward in the figure toward the imaging lens 35.

The first scanning unit 37 (the exposure light source 31 and the first reflecting mirror 32) reciprocates in parallel to the lower surface of the document table 21 at a predetermined scanning speed while maintaining a constant speed (FIG. 1).
Then, it moves left and right).

The second scanning unit 38 (the second and third reflecting mirrors 33 and 34) reciprocates in parallel to the lower surface of the document table 21 while maintaining a constant speed relationship with the first scanning unit 37 (see FIG. 3). 1 moves left and right).

The imaging lens 35 is connected to the second scanning unit 3
The reflected light image from the document deflected by the third reflecting mirror 34 is reduced, and the reduced light image is formed at a predetermined position on the photoelectric conversion element 36.

The photoelectric conversion element 36 is for photoelectrically converting the formed optical image sequentially and outputting it as an electric signal. The photoelectric conversion element 36 is a three-line color CCD that can read a black-and-white image or a color image, and output line data separated into R (red), G (green), and B (blue) color components. . The document image information converted into an electric signal by the photoelectric conversion element 36 (CCD) is transferred to an image processing unit (not shown) and subjected to predetermined image data processing.

The image forming section 4 includes an image forming system 41 and a transfer paper transport system 42. The image forming system 41 is provided at an upper portion of the main body 10 of the digital color copying machine 1 and has a paper feeding mechanism 43 below the main body 10. The paper feeding mechanism 43 is configured to separate the sheets P (recording media) stacked and stored in the paper feeding cassette 12 mounted on the lower end of the main body 10 one by one and supply the separated paper P to the image forming system 41. .

The paper P supplied to the image forming system 41
Is a cut sheet of paper, and the supply timing to the image forming system 41 is controlled by a pair of upper and lower registration rollers 40 provided before (right side in FIG. 1) the image forming system 41. Has become.

Further, the paper P having an image formed on one side is also
The registration rollers 40, 40 are used again to adjust the timing of image formation in the image forming system 41.
Is supplied (conveyed).

Below the image forming system 41, a transfer / conveying belt mechanism 44 is provided. The transfer / conveyance belt mechanism 44 is provided substantially at the center of the main body 10 of the digital color copying machine 1. The transfer conveyance belt mechanism 44 includes a drive roller 44a provided on one side (the left side in FIG. 1),
A driven roller 44b provided on the other side (the right side in FIG. 1)
The endless transfer / conveying belt 44 stretched between the rollers 44a and 44b and driven in the direction of arrow Z shown in FIG.
c, the sheet P is electrostatically attracted onto the surface of the transfer conveyance belt 44c, so that the registration roller 4
The paper P supplied from 0, 40 is conveyed from the other side (upstream side) to one side (downstream side).

A fixing device 45 is provided on the downstream side (the left side in FIG. 1) of the transfer and transport belt mechanism 44 in the sheet P transport direction.
The fixing device 45 fixes the toner image transferred and formed on the sheet P onto the sheet P.

The fixing device 45 includes a vertically integrated fixing roller 4.
5a, 45a, and fixes the paper P transported on the transfer transport belt mechanism 44 (transfer transport belt 44c) to the fixing roller 4
It passes through a nip between 5a and 45a. A switching gate 46 is provided on one side of the fixing device 45. The switching gate 46 is connected to the fixing roller 45.
and a transfer belt that discharges the fixed paper P that has passed through the nip between the discharge rollers 11a and 11a attached to one outer wall of the main body 10 by vertically integrated discharge rollers 11a and 11a. It is configured to selectively switch to a re-supply path that re-supplies the image forming system 41 below the mechanism 44. This resupply path includes a switchback transport mechanism 47, and the front and back sides of the sheet P transported to the resupply path side by the switching gate 46 are turned upside down by the switchback transport mechanism 47 and then toward the image forming system 41. It is made to supply again.

Above the transfer belt mechanism 44, a first
Image forming station S1, the second image forming station S2, the third image forming station S3, and the fourth
Image forming station S4 is adjacent to the transfer conveyance belt 44c, and is on the upstream side of the paper conveyance path (right side in FIG. 1).
Are arranged side by side at predetermined intervals. In this case, the paper P on the transfer / transport belt 44c is transferred to the first image forming station S1, the second image forming station S2, and the third image forming station S2.
Are sequentially transported to the image forming station S3 and the fourth image forming station S4.

The structure of each of the image forming stations S1 to S4 is substantially the same, and includes a photosensitive member 5 as a toner carrier rotating in the direction of arrow F shown in FIG. Around the photosensitive drums 5, a charger 51 that charges each photosensitive drum 5 and forms an electrostatic latent image on the outer peripheral surface of each photosensitive drum 5, and a charger 51 on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 5 A developing device 52 for developing the electrostatic thin image formed on the photosensitive drum 5 into a visible image using toner as a powder, and transferring the toner image (visible image) developed on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 5 to the paper P A transfer discharger 53 for cleaning and a cleaning device 54 for removing waste toner remaining on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 5 are sequentially provided along the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 5 (the direction of arrow F).

A laser beam scanner unit 55 (hereinafter, referred to as LSU) is provided above each photosensitive drum 5.

Each LSU 55 includes a semiconductor laser device (not shown) for emitting dot light modulated in accordance with image data, and a polygon mirror 55a for deflecting a laser beam from the semiconductor laser device in the main scanning direction. (Deflecting device), an fθ lens 55b, and mirrors 55c, 55d for forming an image of the laser beam deflected by the polygon mirror 55a on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 5.

The LSU of the first image forming station S1
An image signal corresponding to the black component image of the color original image is input to 55, and the LS of the second image forming station S2 is
A pixel signal corresponding to the cyan color component image of the color original image is input to U55, and a third image forming station S3
The pixel signal corresponding to the magenta color component image of the color original image is input to the LSU 55, and the pixel signal corresponding to the yellow color component image of the color original image is input to the LSU 55 of the fourth image forming station S4. It has been made. As a result, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the color-converted document image information is formed on the outer peripheral surface of each photosensitive drum 5.

The developing device 52 of the first image forming station S1 contains black K toner, the developing device 52 of the second image forming station S2 contains cyan C toner, and the third image is formed. The developing device 52 of the forming station S3 contains magenta M toner, and the developing device 52 of the fourth image forming station S4 contains yellow Y toner. The electrostatic latent image on the outer peripheral surface of each photoconductor drum 5 is developed into a visible image by the toner of each color, whereby the original image information color-converted in the image forming system 41 is converted into a toner image by the toner of each color. It is to be reproduced as.

A paper suction charger 56 is provided between the first image forming station S1 and the paper feed mechanism 43. The paper suction charger 56 is provided with the transfer / transport belt 4.
The first image forming station S charges the sheet P supplied from the sheet feeding mechanism 43 onto the transfer / conveying belt 44c without fail.
The sheet P is conveyed without shifting from the first to the fourth image forming station S4.

On the other hand, between the fourth image forming station S4 and the fixing device 45, a discharging discharger 57 is provided almost directly above the driving roller 41a. An alternating current is applied to the discharging device 57 for separating the sheet P electrostatically attracted to the transfer / transport belt 44c from the transfer / transport belt 44c.

When the paper P used in the digital color copying machine 1 is sent out from the paper supply cassette 12 and supplied into the paper conveyance guide of the paper supply mechanism 43,
The leading end portion of the sheet P is detected by a sensor (not shown), and is temporarily stopped by the pair of registration rollers 40 based on a detection signal output from the sensor.

Then, the paper P is sent onto the transfer / conveying belt 44c rotating in the direction of arrow Z in FIG. 1 at the timing of each of the image forming stations S1 to S4. At this time, the transfer and conveyance belt 44c is provided with
6, the paper P is stably conveyed and supplied while passing through the image forming stations S1 to S4.

In each of the image forming stations S1 to S4, a toner image of each color is formed, and each of the image forming stations S1 to S4 is electrostatically attracted by the transfer / conveyance belt 44c and conveyed on the support surface of the sheet P. The toner image is superimposed and the image is transferred. Then, when the transfer of the image by the fourth image forming station S4 is completed, the paper P is discharged from the leading end portion of the discharger 57 in order.
As a result, the toner is peeled off from the transfer / conveying belt 44 c and guided to the fixing device 45. The paper P on which the toner image has been fixed in the fixing device 45 is discharged onto the discharge tray 11 through a paper discharge port (not shown) by the discharge roller 11a.

Then, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the cleaning device 54 of each of the image forming stations S1 to S4.
Adopts the same configuration, and a plate-shaped cleaning blade 61 that scrapes waste toner from the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 5 after the completion of image transfer, and opposes the waste toner from the cleaning blade 61 to the photosensitive drum 5. Box-shaped cleaning box 60 accommodated in the toner removing opening 60a that is opened by the opening, transport devices 6a and 6b for transporting waste toner accommodated in the cleaning box 60 out of the cleaning box 60, and each cleaning box A dedicated transport path 62a is detachably attached to the downstream end of the cartridge 60, and a waste toner box 63 for storing waste toner transported through the dedicated transport path 62a.

The cleaning blade 61 has a cleaning box 6 which is opened to face the photosensitive drum 5.
0 is attached to the upper edge of the toner removal opening 60a. The cleaning blade 61 has an elongated plate shape continuously provided between both ends in the longitudinal direction of the toner removing opening 60a extending in the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 5 (the left and right direction in FIG. 2). One side 6 in the longitudinal direction
1 a (toner removing portion) is formed so as to slide on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 5.

The dedicated transport path 62a is provided extending in the front-rear direction of the copying machine 1 so as to extend from the front side to the rear side of the copying machine 1 in the cleaning box 60 of each of the image forming stations S1 to S4.

The rear side (downstream end) of the copier 1 of the cleaning box 60 is connected in parallel to the downstream end (upper end in FIG. 3) of each dedicated conveyance path 62a in the waste toner conveyance direction (in the left-right direction). A single shared transport pipe 62b is provided as a shared transport path extending in the left-right direction in FIG.

In this case, the downstream end of each dedicated conveying path 62a is located at the first image forming station S1, the second image forming station S2, and the third image forming station from the upstream side in the conveying direction of the waste toner with respect to the common conveying pipe 62b. The image forming station S3 and the fourth image forming station S4 are connected in parallel in this order.

Discharge ports (not shown) are formed in the lower part of each dedicated conveyance path 62a on the downstream end side in the waste toner conveyance direction, and the common conveyance pipe 62 corresponding to each discharge port is formed.
A communication hole (not shown) is provided at a position corresponding to the upper end of b, and communicates with the shared conveyance pipe 62b at the downstream end in the waste toner conveyance direction of each dedicated conveyance path 62a.

It should be noted that ST in FIG. 2 indicates each dedicated transport path 62a.
Is a substantially cylindrical shutter member slidably supported on the outer wall surface of the shutter, and is biased by a biasing force of a spring SP in a direction to close a discharge port provided at a lower portion of each dedicated transport path 62a. When the shared transport pipe 62b is attached to each dedicated transport path 62a when the transport pipe 62b is assembled, the shutter member ST moves against the urging force of the spring SP, and the lower discharge port of each dedicated transport path 62a. It is made to open.

The conveying device 69 is provided on the upstream toner conveying device 6a,... Provided on the dedicated conveying path 62a in the cleaning box 60 of each of the image forming stations S1 to S4, and the common conveying pipe 62b. (See FIG. 3).

Each of the upstream toner conveying devices 6a has a spiral blade 64b spirally extending in the axial direction around a rotary shaft 64a whose both ends are rotatably supported at the front and rear ends of each dedicated conveying path 62a. The spiral blade 64b is provided continuously along the inner wall surface of the dedicated transport path 62a.

Then, each upstream toner conveying device 6a
The waste toner scraped off by the toner removing section 61a of the cleaning blade 61 and dropped to the bottom of the dedicated transport path 62a of the cleaning box 60 is transferred to the spiral blade 64.
By the rotation of b (rotation in the direction of the arrow W shown in FIG. 2), the sheet is conveyed to the downstream end side of the dedicated conveyance path 62a (toward the common conveyance tube 62b: the direction of the arrow Y shown in FIG. 3).

On the other hand, the downstream side toner conveying device 6b spirals around a rotary shaft 65a rotatably supported at both left and right ends (right and left ends in FIG. 3) of the shared conveying pipe 62b in the axial direction. Is provided with a spiral blade 65b extending to the front. The spiral blade 65b is connected to the common transfer pipe 62.
b is provided continuously along the inner wall surface.

The downstream toner conveying device 6b removes the waste toner dropped from the discharge port of each dedicated conveying path 62a to the common conveying pipe 62b through the communication hole by rotating the spiral blade 65 to the downstream side of the common conveying pipe 62b. (Waste toner box 63 side: arrow X direction shown in FIG. 3), and the waste toner is collected in the waste toner box 63 from the downstream end of the common transfer pipe 62b. In this case, when the toner is full, the waste toner box 63
Of the digital color copier 1 to be taken out of the main body 10 of the digital color copying machine 1.

As a characteristic part of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 2, in each of the image forming stations S1 to S4, both ends of the toner removing section 61a of the cleaning blade 61 (upstream of the dedicated conveying path 62a in the waste toner conveying direction). Side and the downstream side), the end portions in the longitudinal direction of the photosensitive drum 5 or the vicinity thereof are respectively in contact with each other, and
Arc side seal members 71 and 72 for preventing waste toner from leaking from the upstream side and the downstream side of a are provided.

In each of the side seal members 71 and 72, a brushed material (flocked material) such as a moquette is brushed on a predetermined area of a base for maintaining a predetermined shape, and is implanted on a flock and an intermediate agent. Can be attached to the base, or formed by brush-like molding.

Each side seal member 71, 72
It is manufactured by the manufacturing steps shown in (a) to (c). FIG.
(A) shows a prototype moquette before cutting out the side seal members 71 and 72. As shown in the figure, the prototype moquette (raised group) is formed in a belt shape (roll shape), and the fibers (hairs) are all raised slightly inclined in the same direction. Each of the side seal members 71 and 7 is cut into a predetermined length using a mold blade (not shown).
2 is manufactured. At that time, as shown in FIG. 4 (b), a method of cutting the fiber while falling it is adopted. A line A in the figure indicates a cutting line by a mold blade.

By cutting the prototype moquette as shown in FIG. 4 (b), as shown in FIG. 4 (c), one end is cut at a right angle (substantially right angle), that is, along the fiber, and the other end is slanted. The cut side seal members 71 and 72 are obtained. According to the above-described manufacturing method, the symmetrical side seal members 71 and 72 can be easily manufactured, and have the same shape so that they can be arranged on either side.

Reference numerals 71a and 72a in FIG. 5 indicate end portions of the side seal members 71 and 72 cut at a right angle. As shown in FIG. 5, the manufactured side seal members 71, 72 have ends 71a, 7 on the side cut at a right angle.
2a with the cleaning blade 61 (toner removing unit 61)
They are arranged at both ends of each dedicated transport path 62a so as to be adjacent to each other with a gap SA in FIG.

As a result, the side seal members 71, 72
Exerts a sealing effect on both end sides of each dedicated conveyance path 62a by the action of contact pressing against the photoconductor drum 5, and the side seal members 71, 72 are further cut at a right angle to the end a side (photoconductor). (A direction orthogonal to the rotation direction of the drum 5).
Also, a sealing effect of the gap SA between the end surface of the end surface of each dedicated transfer path 62a is exhibited.

That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the upstream and downstream side seal members 71, 72 are formed such that the end “a” thereof is formed between the upstream and downstream side seal members 71, 72 and the cleaning blade 61 by contact pressing against the photosensitive drum 5. The toner swells toward the cleaning blade 61 (waste toner transport direction: a direction orthogonal to the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 5) so as to fill the SA. Accordingly, leakage of waste toner from the gap SA between the side seal members 71 and 72 and the side surface of the cleaning blade 61 (toner removing portion 61a) or the gap between the side surface of each dedicated conveyance path 62a can be prevented.

As shown in FIG. 7, in this embodiment, in order to make the moquette (raised group) M of the side seal members 71 and 72 bulge in any direction, the bulging surface a to be bulged is formed. Is formed substantially perpendicularly to the surface of the photosensitive drum 61, and the non-swelling surface b on the opposite surface side of the swelling surface a with respect to the swelling direction (the opposite surface side with respect to the longitudinal direction of the photosensitive drum) is defined as the photosensitive drum. The angle Rb with respect to the surface 61 is formed substantially less than perpendicular.

The swelling surface a is a surface between the swelling-side pressing end P1 of the pressing surface PA in contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum 61 and the bulging-side root end E1 of the moquette base. In the case of FIG. 7, since the angle Ra is 90 degrees, the same raised portion constitutes the pressing surface end P1 and the root end position E1, and the raised portion itself constitutes the bulging surface a.

The non-bulging surface b is formed between the pressing surface end P2 of the pressing surface PA which is in contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum 61 and the non-bulging side root end position E2 of the moquette base. The end of each bristle between the pressing surface end P2 and the root end position E2 constitutes a non-bulging surface b.

As shown in FIG. 7, the moquette portion M of the side seal member has a pressing surface P facing the surface of the photosensitive drum 61.
A contacts first, but when it comes closer, the moquette M swells and deforms in any direction, but the bristles (fibers) constituting the swelling surface a are pressed against the photosensitive drum 61 from the beginning. The pressing surface of the hair (fiber) constituting the non-bulging surface b gradually increases as approaching the photosensitive drum 61. Accordingly, the swelling surface a from which all the hairs are pressed from the beginning has nothing to prevent the swelling of the photosensitive drum in the longitudinal direction, and the unpressed swelling of the photosensitive drum in the longitudinal direction swells in that direction. It is considered that the swelling deformation occurs preferentially over the non-swelling surface b that hinders.

Therefore, the shapes of the swelling surface a and the non-swelling surface b to be swelled and deformed are not limited to the shapes described above.
By reducing the number of bristles that do not receive the pressing force from the surface of the photoreceptor drum to the non-bulging surface b as compared with the bulging surface a, the bulging surface a can be preferentially bulged and deformed as compared with the non-bulging surface b. it can.

For example, as shown in FIG. 8, even when the angle Ra of the swelling surface a to the photosensitive member surface is smaller than 90 degrees, (a) the volume (amount) of the hair forming the swelling surface a Va is smaller than the volume (amount) Vb of the hair forming the non-bulging surface b, (b) the surface area Sa of the bulging surface a is narrower than the surface area Sb of the non-bulging surface b, and (c) The length La of the bulging surface a between the pressing surface end P1 and the root end position E1 is determined by the non-bulging surface b.
Or (d) the width Wa between the pressing surface end P1 and the root end position E1 of the swelling surface a in the bulging direction. Of the pressing surface end P2 and the root end position E of the non-bulging surface b in the bulging direction.
By making it shorter than the width Wb between the two, the swelling surface a
Can be preferentially swelled and deformed as compared to the non-swelled surface b.

Therefore, the swelling surface a and the non-swelling surface b are not limited to flat surfaces, and may be formed as a curved surface as shown in FIG. 9 or a continuous or discontinuous uneven surface. If the configuration is such that the number of bristles that do not receive the pressing force from the bulging surface is reduced as compared with the bulging surface, the bulging surface a can bulge and deform preferentially as compared with the non-bulging surface b.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, both side surfaces S between the swelling surface a and the non-swelling surface b of the moquette M of the side seal member have a symmetrical shape. Although the uniform deformation of the projecting surface a and the non-bulging surface b is obtained, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be deformed at least as far as the bulging surface a does not hinder the bulging deformation.

In the above embodiment, the case where the cleaning device according to the present invention is applied to a cleaning device of a digital color copying machine has been described. However, the cleaning device of the present invention is applied to a cleaning device of an image forming apparatus which handles powder and granules. For example, the present invention can be applied to a cleaning device of a monochrome copying machine.

[0077]

According to the first to fifth aspects of the present invention, the number of naps forming the swelling surface is made smaller than the number of naps forming the non-swelling surface, or the volume of the naps forming the swelling surface is reduced. Or smaller than the volume of the raised hair that constitutes the non-bulging surface,
Make the area of the bulging surface smaller than the area of the non-bulging surface,
By making the length in the bulging direction shorter than the bulging surface in the bulging direction, or by making the width of the bulging surface in the bulging direction smaller than the width of the non-bulging surface in the bulging direction,
When the raised group of the side seal member is pressed from the toner carrier surface, the swelling surface is more likely to swell than the non-swelling surface,
Sealing can be performed so that the swelling deformed portion prevents the toner from passing through the gap with the cleaning member.

Further, even if the internal pressure of the waste toner is increased in the waste toner conveying path, it is possible to sufficiently prevent the internal pressure of the waste toner, thereby preventing leakage of the waste toner from the waste toner conveying path as much as possible. Becomes possible. In addition, since the swelling surface need only be disposed adjacent to the cleaning member without changing the thickness of the side seal member, a simple configuration can be achieved.

Further, since the sealing is enabled by the swelling action of the swelling surface, the load on the toner carrier is reduced, the adverse effect on the toner carrier is suppressed as much as possible, and the sealing performance by the side seal member is efficiently improved. It can be improved.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, when forming a raised group provided on the side seal member by cutting a large raised group, the swelling surface having the structure of the above-described paragraphs 1 to 5 is merely cut. Can be easily formed.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, when forming a raised group provided on the side seal member by cutting a large raised group, the raised group in the vicinity of the cutting position is cut in an obliquely inclined state. Thus, the swelling surface and the non-swelling surface having the configurations of the gist 1 to 5 can be easily formed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an internal longitudinal sectional view of a digital color copying machine including a cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cleaning device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing an overall configuration of a transport device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a manufacturing process of the side seal member according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state before a side seal member is brought into contact with a photosensitive drum.

FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state where a side seal member is brought into contact with the photosensitive drum.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the side seal member according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a side seal member according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another side seal member according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 digital color copier 5 photoreceptor drum 54 cleaning device 61 cleaning blade 61a toner removing section SA gap 71, 72 side seal member M moquette a bulging surface b non-bulging surface Va bulging surface volume Vb non-bulging surface volume Sa bulging surface Surface area Sb Non-protruding surface surface area La Protruding surface length Lb Non-protruding surface length Wa Protruding surface width Wb Non-protruding surface width

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A gap is formed between a cleaning member having a toner removing section for removing toner remaining on a toner carrier from the toner carrier, and at least one end of the toner removing section. And a side seal member having a brush-like raised group that seals so as to swell and deform by contact with the surface of the toner carrier and prevent the swelling deformed portion from passing through the gap. The raised group of the side seal member has an upper surface in contact with the surface of the toner carrier, a swelling surface to be swelled and deformed, and a swelling direction opposite to the swelling surface with respect to the swelling surface. And a non-swelling surface positioned thereon, wherein the number of the naps constituting the swelling surface is smaller than the number of the naps constituting the non-swelling surface. 2. A gap is formed between a cleaning member having a toner removing section for removing toner remaining on the toner carrier from the toner carrier, and at least one end of the toner removing section. And a side seal member having a brush-like raised group that seals so as to swell and deform by contact with the surface of the toner carrier and prevent the swelling deformed portion from passing through the gap. The raised group of the side seal member has an upper surface in contact with the surface of the toner carrier, a swelling surface to be swelled and deformed, and a direction opposite to the swelling surface with respect to the swelling direction. And a non-bulging surface located thereon, wherein the volume of the raised hair forming the bulged surface is smaller than the volume of the raised hair forming the non-bulging surface. 3. A gap is formed between a cleaning member having a toner removing section for removing toner remaining on the toner carrier from the toner carrier, and at least one end of the toner removing section. A side seal member having a brush-like raised group that seals so as to swell and deform by contact with the surface of the toner carrier and to prevent the swelling deformed portion from passing through the gap. The raised group of the side seal member has an upper surface in contact with the surface of the toner carrier, a swelling surface to be swelled and deformed, and a swelling direction opposite to the swelling surface with respect to the swelling surface. A cleaning device for an image forming apparatus, wherein the cleaning device has a non-bulging surface located thereon, and the area of the bulging surface is smaller than the area of the non-bulging surface. 4. A gap is formed between a cleaning member having a toner removing section for removing toner remaining on the toner carrier from the toner carrier, and at least one end of the toner removing section. And a side seal member having a brush-like raised group that seals so as to swell and deform by contact with the surface of the toner carrier and prevent the swelling deformed portion from passing through the gap. The raised group of the side seal member has an upper surface in contact with the surface of the toner carrier, a swelling surface to be swelled and deformed, and a swelling direction opposite to the swelling surface with respect to the swelling surface. And a non-swelling surface located therein, wherein the length in the swelling direction is shorter than the non-swelling surface. 5. A gap is formed between a cleaning member having a toner removing section for removing toner remaining on the toner carrier from the toner carrier, and at least one end of the toner removing section. And a side seal member having a brush-like raised group that seals so as to swell and deform by contact with the surface of the toner carrier and prevent the swelling deformed portion from passing through the gap. The raised group of the side seal member has an upper surface in contact with the surface of the toner carrier, a swelling surface to be swelled and deformed, and a swelling direction opposite to the swelling surface with respect to the swelling surface. A non-swelling surface located in the swelling direction, wherein a width of the swelling surface in the swelling direction is smaller than a width of the non-swelling surface in the swelling direction. Cleaning equipment Place. 6. The cleaning device for an image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the swelling surface is formed by a long side surface of the brush. 7. The cleaning device for an image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the non-bulging surface is formed by a tip portion of the raising.