JP2002341715A - Fur brush, cleaning device, electrifying device, discharging device and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the change of the pressing force of a fur to an image carrier without increasing the fiber flocking density and to prevent the load fluctuation of a motor so as to eliminate a jitter image and prevent an abnormal sound from being produced in a fur brush used in an image forming apparatus. SOLUTION: In the image forming apparatus, a toner image formed on a photoreceptor is temporarily transferred to an intermediate transfer body, and the toner image on the intermediate transfer body is transferred so as to record the image on a sheet. The apparatus is equipped with the fur brush 40 in contact with the image carrier such as the photoreceptor or the intermediate transfer body. The fur brush is constituted by winding fiber flocked ground fabric 52 round the surface of a paper tube (core material). When the arraying direction (b) of the fur 53 with respect to an axial center (o) is defined as θ, 3 deg.<=θ<=87 deg. is satisfied.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, or a multifunction peripheral thereof. In particular, the toner image formed on the image carrier is transferred by repeating charging, writing, development, transfer, cleaning, and the like using a two-component or one-component developer, and recording is performed on a sheet such as paper or an OHP film. The present invention relates to an electrostatic recording type image forming apparatus. In addition, in such an image forming apparatus, the present invention relates to a cleaning device for cleaning the surface of an image carrier, a charging device for charging, a discharging device for removing static electricity, and a fur brush used therefor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Hitherto, in an electrostatic recording type image forming apparatus, a fur brush has been used to remove transfer residual toner on an image carrier. However, in recent years, fur brushes have come to be used not only for removing transfer residual toner, but also for charging and discharging the surface of the image carrier and applying a lubricant to the surface of the image carrier. Is coming.

For example, compared to a non-contact charging system in which charging is performed using corona discharge, a contact charging system in which charging is performed using a fur brush can suppress generation of ozone. However, there is a difference in the potential of the surface of the image carrier between the portion where the hair of the fur brush is in contact and the portion where the hair is not in contact, resulting in a difference in the density of the image on the image carrier.

Therefore, it is conceivable to increase the flock density of the fur brush in order to uniformly charge the surface of the image carrier.

[0005]

However, when the fur-implanted density of the fur brush is increased, the space where the hair falls down is reduced, and the rotational driving load of the fur brush is increased. And the rotational drive load of this fur brush is
Even if the flocking density is the same, there is a problem that the pressing force of the bristle against the image carrier changes greatly depending on the flocking state, causing a large fluctuation, and a jitter image is generated.

Specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, when the arrangement direction a of the bristles 2 is parallel to the axis o of the fur brush 1, that is, when the flocking angle θ is 0, Since the state of the bristles 2 in contact with the image carrier in the rotation direction of the fur brush 1 is sequentially different, the pressing force of the bristles 2 on the image carrier is changed to load the motor for driving the fur brush 1 and the image carrier. Generate fluctuations.

When a load fluctuation occurs in the motor,
The motor fluctuates in speed to generate a jitter image, or a fine vibration is generated in the brush holder holding the fur brush 1, and the fine vibration is transmitted to the optical system to generate a jitter image or generate abnormal noise. There were problems that occurred.

Accordingly, a first object of the present invention is to provide a fur brush for use in an image forming apparatus, in which a change in the pressing force of the hair against the image bearing member is reduced without increasing the flocking density, and a load fluctuation of the motor is prevented. To prevent the occurrence of jitter images and the occurrence of abnormal noise.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a fur brush formed by winding a planted base cloth around the surface of a core material, thereby preventing fluctuations in motor load without increasing the planted density and eliminating the occurrence of jitter images. Another object of the present invention is to prevent generation of abnormal noise.

A third object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning device using a fur brush which has achieved the above-mentioned objects.

A fourth object of the present invention is to provide a charging device using a fur brush which has achieved the above-mentioned objects.

A fifth object of the present invention is to provide a static eliminator using a fur brush which achieves the above object.

A sixth object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus using a fur brush which achieves the above object.

[0014]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, the invention according to claim 1 is mainly directed to an image forming apparatus such as an electrostatic recording type copying machine, a printer, a facsimile or the like in order to achieve the first object. In various fur brushes used in contact with an image carrier such as a photoreceptor or an intermediate transfer member, when the arrangement direction of hairs with respect to the axis is θ, 3 ° ≦ θ ≦ 87 °
It is characterized by becoming.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in order to achieve the second object, in the fur brush according to the first aspect, the fur brush is formed by winding a planted base cloth around a core material. It is characterized by.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cleaning apparatus for achieving the third object.
Or a fur brush described in 2 above.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a charging device for charging a surface of an image carrier, wherein the fur brush according to the first or second aspect is used to achieve the fourth object. Features.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a static eliminator for neutralizing a surface of an image carrier, wherein the fur brush according to the first or second aspect is used to achieve the fifth object. Features.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus for recording an image on a sheet using the fur brush according to the first or second aspect, in order to achieve the sixth object. Features.

[0020]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an overall schematic configuration of a color copying machine as an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

In the drawing, reference numeral A denotes a copying machine main body, and B denotes a sheet feeding table on which the copying machine main body A is mounted. A belt-shaped photoreceptor 10 may be provided at substantially the center of the copier main body A, but in the illustrated example, a drum-shaped photoconductor 10 is provided.

At the time of copying, the surface of the photoconductor 10 is uniformly charged by the charging device 11 as the photoconductor 10 rotates counterclockwise. Next, the image read by the scanner 12 is separated into colors, for example, black BK, cyan C, magenta M,
Writing is performed in the order of yellow Y, and an electrostatic latent image is sequentially formed on the photoconductor 10 for each color.

Thereafter, in this example, a revolver-type multicolor developing device 13 is used, and the developing device 13 is sequentially rotated by 90 degrees counterclockwise to sequentially apply color toner for each color. Thereby, the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor 10 is developed,
The BK, C, M, and Y single-color toner images are sequentially formed on the photoconductor 10.

Each monochromatic toner image formed on the photoreceptor 10 is sequentially transferred onto the intermediate transfer member 14 at a primary transfer position p.
A composite color image is formed on the intermediate transfer member. In the illustrated example, the intermediate transfer body 14 is a belt-shaped image carrier that is wound around five rollers 15 and conveyed in a clockwise direction in the figure.

On the other hand, the photosensitive member 1 after the transfer of each monochromatic toner image
The surface 0 is cleaned by removing the untransferred toner by the photoreceptor cleaning device 16, then discharged by the discharging device 17, and is ready for the next image formation starting from the charging device 11 again.

Now, in addition to the image formation as described above, in the illustrated example, the four-stage paper feed cassette 2 provided on the paper feed table B is used.
0, the sheet is selectively fed out, conveyed through a sheet conveying path 21 and abutted between a pair of registration rollers 22 and stopped.

Then, the secondary transfer device 2 is attached to the intermediate transfer member 14.
3, the registration roller 22 is rotated in synchronization with the composite color image on the intermediate transfer body 14, and the sheet is sent out and the intermediate transfer body 14
The upper composite color image is collectively transferred by the secondary transfer device 23 at the secondary transfer position q.

The sheet after the transfer of the composite color image is conveyed by a sheet conveying device 24 and put into a fixing device 25, where the transferred image is fixed by the fixing device 25, and then discharged out of the copying machine main body A, for example. The sheet stacks on the sheet discharge tray 26 as in the illustrated example.

On the other hand, the intermediate transfer member cleaning device 30 is pressed against the intermediate transfer member 14 after the transfer of the composite color image. Then, the transfer residual toner is removed by the intermediate transfer member cleaning device 30, and the surface of the intermediate transfer member 14 is cleaned.
In preparation for the next image transfer from the photoconductor 10 at the next transfer position p.

FIG. 2 shows an intermediate transfer member cleaning device 3.
0 shows a schematic configuration. Intermediate transfer member cleaning device 30
Is provided with a cleaning blade 31 for removing transfer residual toner on the intermediate transfer member 14. The cleaning blade 31 is made of rubber and provided by being adhered to a blade holder 32.

The blade holder 32 includes the first bracket 3
Screw to 3. One end of the first bracket 33 is fixed to the rotation shaft 34 so as to be rotatable together with the rotation shaft 34. One end of a lever 35 is fixed to the rotating shaft 34. The other end of the lever 35 is pressed against the seal plate holder 36. An inlet seal plate 37 made of a mylar or the like is attached to the seal plate holder 36.

The other end of the first bracket 33 is pressed against the first eccentric cam 38. The first eccentric cam 38 is
Eccentrically mounted on the first camshaft 39, the first camshaft 3
9 can be rotated.

On the other hand, the intermediate transfer body cleaning device 30 is provided with a cleaning brush 31 and a fur brush 40 for removing transfer residual toner on the intermediate transfer body 14.
Are provided rotatably about the rotation shaft 41. The fur brush 40 is provided movably by the second bracket 42.

The second bracket 42 is provided so as to be rotatable about a rotation shaft 43, and the other end is pressed against a second eccentric cam 44. The second eccentric cam 44 is mounted eccentrically on the second camshaft 45, and is rotatable around the second camshaft 45.

A solid lubricant 46 made of zinc stearate or the like is supported and pressed against the fur brush 40 by a lubricant holder 47.

Then, after transferring the composite color image on the intermediate transfer member 14 to a sheet, the rotation of a motor (not shown) is transmitted to a gear (not shown), and the first cam shaft 39 and the second cam shaft 4 are transmitted.
5, the first eccentric cam 38 and the second eccentric cam 44
Is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG.

The rotation of the first eccentric cam 38 causes the first eccentric cam 38 to rotate.
The bracket 33 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow to rotate the blade holder 3.
2 to rotate the cleaning blade 3 as shown in FIG.
1 is rotated to push its tip against the intermediate transfer member 14.
At the same time, the lever 35 is rotated together with the rotation shaft 34 to rotate the seal plate holder 36 in the direction of the arrow based on the urging force, and as shown in FIG. It is pressed against the transfer body 14.

Further, by the rotation of the second eccentric cam 44, the fur brush 40 is moved by rotating the second bracket 42 about the rotation shaft 43 in the direction indicated by the arrow, and the outer periphery thereof as shown in FIG. Is pressed against the intermediate transfer member 14. Then, a driving force from a driving source (not shown) is transmitted to rotate the fur brush 40 about the rotation shaft 41.

Thus, the transfer residual toner on the intermediate transfer member 14 is removed by the cleaning blade 31 and the fur brush 40. Further, the electric charge on the surface of the intermediate transfer member 14 is removed by the fur brush 40 and the solid lubricant 46 is removed.
Is applied to the surface of the intermediate transfer member 14. Note that the entrance seal plate 37 is used to
During the cleaning of the toner, the toner dropped from the intermediate transfer body 14
This prevents scattering to the outside of the intermediate transfer body cleaning device 30.

After the cleaning of the intermediate transfer member 14, the rotation of a motor (not shown) is transmitted to a gear (not shown) to rotate the first cam shaft 39 and the second cam shaft 45, and the first eccentric cam 38 and the second The eccentric cam 44 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 3 and returned to the position shown in FIG.

Then, by the rotation of the first eccentric cam 38,
The first bracket 33 is rotated in the direction of the arrow to rotate the blade holder 32, and the cleaning blade 31 is rotated to move the tip of the blade away from the intermediate transfer member 14 as shown in FIG.
At the same time, the lever 35 is rotated together with the rotating shaft 34 in the direction indicated by the arrow to rotate the seal plate holder 36 against the urging force, and rotate the inlet seal plate 37 so that the tip thereof is in FIG.
As shown in FIG.

Further, by the rotation of the second eccentric cam 44, the fur brush 40 is moved by rotating the second bracket 42 about the rotation shaft 43 in the direction indicated by the arrow, and the outer periphery thereof is shown in FIG. From the intermediate transfer member 14. As a result, the cleaning on the intermediate transfer member 14 is completed, and preparations are made for the next image formation.

FIG. 4 shows a configuration of the fur brush 40 viewed from one end in the axial direction. The fur brush 40 is provided with a flange 50 on the rotating shaft 41, and the flange 50 is inserted into the
A paper tube (core material) 51 having an inner diameter D is attached around 0.
The paper tube 51 is configured by winding a base cloth 52 around the surface. The base cloth 52 is provided with hair 53 made of polyester, polypropylene or polyamide by flocking.

As a result of the investigations by the inventors, it was found that by changing the flocked state of the fur brush 40, the change in the pressing force of the bristles against the image carrier was reduced without increasing the flocked density, and the load fluctuation of the motor was prevented. As a result, it was found that generation of jitter images could be eliminated and generation of abnormal noise could be prevented.

FIG. 5 shows the arrangement direction b of the bristles 53 with respect to the axis o of the fur brush 40. As shown in FIG. 5, when the arrangement direction b of the bristles 53 with respect to the axis o of the fur brush 40 is a flocked angle and the flocked angle is θ, the load fluctuation of the motor is reduced by changing the flocked angle θ. As a result, it is possible to prevent occurrence of a jitter image and occurrence of abnormal noise.

Table 1 shows the experimental results of the inventors. As can be seen from Table 1, when the flocking angle θ is 3 ° ≦ θ ≦ 87 °, it is possible to reduce load fluctuation (vibration) of the motor, prevent generation of jitter images, and generation of abnormal noise. it can.

[0047]

[Table 1]

In the illustrated example, around the paper tube (core material) 51,
The fur brush 40 is formed by winding the planted base cloth 52, and the flocking angle θ of the fur brush 40 is set to 3 ° ≦ θ ≦ 8.
7 °. However, it is a matter of course that the hair implantation angle θ may be set to 3 ° ≦ θ ≦ 87 ° by implanting the hair directly on the fur brush 40.

Further, in the fur brush 40 used for the intermediate transfer member cleaning device 30 in contact with the intermediate transfer member 14 which is an image carrier, the flocking angle θ is set to 3 ° ≦ θ ≦ 87 °.
Is shown. However, the photoconductor 10 as an image carrier
The same effect can be obtained by applying the method to a fur brush provided in the photoconductor cleaning device and setting the flocking angle θ to 3 ° ≦ θ ≦ 87 °.

Further, the present invention is applied not only to the cleaning device but also to a fur brush used in a charging device, a static elimination device, a lubricant application device, or the like in contact with an image carrier such as the photoconductor 10 or the intermediate transfer member 14. The flocking angle θ is 3 ° ≦ θ ≦ 8
Even when the angle is set to 7 °, the same effect can be obtained.

The present invention can be applied not only to a copying machine but also to other image forming apparatuses such as a printer and a facsimile.

[0052]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus, in the fur brush used in contact with the image carrier, the arrangement direction of the bristles with respect to the axis is θ. At this time, since 3 ° ≦ θ ≦ 87 °, the change in the pressing force of the hair against the image carrier is reduced without increasing the flocking density, the fluctuation of the motor load is prevented, and the occurrence of jitter images is eliminated. Generation of sound can be prevented.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, even in a fur brush formed by winding a planted base cloth around a core material, fluctuation of a motor load is prevented without increasing a planted density, thereby generating a jitter image. Can be eliminated, and generation of abnormal noise can be prevented.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a cleaning device using the fur brush having the effect described in the first or second aspect.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a charging device using the fur brush having the effect described in the first or second aspect.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a static eliminator using a fur brush having the effect described in the first or second aspect.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus using the fur brush having the effect described in the first or second aspect.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall schematic configuration diagram of a color copying machine as an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the internal configuration of an intermediate transfer body cleaning device provided in the color copying machine.

FIG. 3 is an operation configuration diagram at the time of cleaning in the intermediate transfer body cleaning device.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a fur brush used in the intermediate transfer body cleaning device as viewed from one end in an axial direction.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a flocking angle in the fur brush.

FIG. 6 is a view showing a flocking angle of a conventional fur brush.

[Explanation of symbols]

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 photoconductor (image carrier) 11 charging device 14 intermediate transfer member (image carrier) 17 static eliminator 30 intermediate transfer member cleaning device 40 fur brush 51 paper tube (core material) 52 base cloth 53 hairs o shaft center of fur brush b Fur brush bristle arrangement direction θ Fur brush flocking angle (furrow arrangement direction with respect to axis)

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Tsuyoshi Fukao 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo F-term in Ricoh Co., Ltd. (Reference) 2H035 AA14 AB02 AB06 2H134 GA01 GA06 GB02 HB01 HB19 KD03 KG01 KG05 KG07 KG08 KH05 KJ02 2H200 FA10 FA16 GA23 GA44 GA47 GA50 GA51 GB01 GB13 HA01 HA28 HB12 HB45 JC03 LB02 LB12 LB35 MA04

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A fur brush used in contact with an image carrier in an image forming apparatus, wherein 3 ° ≦ θ ≦ 87 ° when an arrangement direction of hairs with respect to an axis is θ.
Fur brush. 2. The fur brush according to claim 1, wherein the fur brush is constituted by winding a planted base cloth around a core material. 3. A cleaning device using the fur brush according to claim 1 or 2. 4. A charging device using the fur brush according to claim 1 or 2. 5. A static eliminator using the fur brush according to claim 1 or 2. 6. An image forming apparatus using the fur brush according to claim 1.