JP2005099204A - Charger wire cleaning mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a charger wire cleaning mechanism capable of improving the durability of a cleaning pad. <P>SOLUTION: Regarding the charger wire cleaning mechanism provided with a charger wire 11, a cleaning pad 12 having a slit 12a, a holder 13, a movable handle 14 and a guide 15 for controlling the shift of the holder 13 in a shielding case 10, when the movable handle 14 is shifted along the charger wire 11, the cleaning pad 12 slides while holding the charger wire 11; and the holder 13 is shifted in a direction (y) orthogonal to the charger wire 11 along the guide 15. By shifting the movable handle 14, contaminants on the surface of the charger wire 11 can be removed. Moreover, since the contact position of the cleaning pad 12 with the charger wire 11 changes, the durability of the cleaning pad 12 is enhanced. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a charger wire cleaning mechanism in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to a charger wire cleaning mechanism with improved durability of a cleaning tool.

  As shown in FIG. 7, for example, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus has a charger 91 for applying a voltage to the surface of an image carrier (photosensitive drum) 90, and an electrostatic latent image (on the surface of the image carrier 90). (Not shown), an exposure device 92 for forming a developer, a developing device 93 for supplying a developer to the electrostatic latent image, and a toner image (not shown) for transferring the toner image (not shown) from the image carrier 90 to a transfer material 94 such as paper. The image forming apparatus includes a transfer device 95, a separator 96 for separating the transfer target 94 from the image carrier 90, and a cleaner 97 for removing toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier 90. Among them, the charger 91, the transfer device 95, and the separator 96 are all characterized in that a high voltage is applied to the image carrier 90 and the transfer target 94, and an image is applied as means for applying a high voltage. Generally, a charger wire (discharge line) 98 extending in the axial direction of the carrier (photosensitive drum) 90 is used.

  Inside the image forming apparatus, contaminants such as toner and paper dust float due to repeated image formation, but if contaminants on the charger, charge, and separator charger wires adhere, the efficiency of corona discharge by the wire Will fall. For example, if contaminants accumulate on the charger wire of the charger or transfer device, the charge on the surface of the image carrier and the transfer of the toner image formed on the surface of the image carrier will become uneven, resulting in a reduction in image quality. Become. In addition, if contaminants accumulate on the charger wire of the separator, a separation failure between the image carrier and the transfer object occurs, resulting in a problem such as a paper jam.

  Therefore, for example, depending on the frequency of use of the image forming apparatus, it is necessary to perform a process for removing contaminants attached to the surface of the charger wire. Conventionally, a cleaning member such as felt or sandpaper having a polishing effect is used as the charger wire. A method of polishing the surface of the wire and removing contaminants by bringing it into contact and moving it in the longitudinal direction of the charger wire (the direction in which tension is applied) is widely adopted.

  However, since the cleaning member such as felt is used while pressed against the wire, and the wire is thin and hard, the wire is repeatedly polished at the same portion of the cleaning member in a short period of time. There is a problem that settling occurs and the polishing effect cannot be sustained for a long time. In addition, if the cleaning member is damaged, the felt or the like may be replaced. However, the charger wire discharges high voltage and is accommodated in the shield case. The entire charger must be disassembled, and the work is difficult.

The corona charger described in Patent Document 1 describes a mechanism for changing a contact surface with a wire at a predetermined timing for a cleaning member that moves along the wire while contacting the charger wire. However, in the mechanism described in this document, the passage of the charger wire on the surface of the cleaning member is merely different between the forward path and the return path, and the effect of extending the life of the cleaning member is not sufficient.
JP 2001-142284 A (Claim 1, paragraph [0028], FIG. 1)

  The objective of this invention is providing the cleaning mechanism of the charger wire which can improve the durability of a cleaning pad.

In order to achieve the above object, the first charger wire cleaning mechanism according to the present invention comprises:
In the shield case, a charger wire, a cleaning pad having a slit through which the charger wire can be inserted, a holder for fixing the cleaning pad, a movable handle connected to the holder, and the movement of the holder are restricted. A guide and
When the movable handle is moved along the charger wire, the cleaning pad slides with the charger wire interposed therebetween, and the holder moves along the guide guide in a direction intersecting the charger wire. And

Moreover, the second charger wire cleaning mechanism according to the present invention for achieving the above-described object is as follows:
In the shield case, a charger wire, a cleaning pad having a slit through which the charger wire can be inserted, a holder for holding the cleaning pad, and a movable handle connected to the holder,
The cleaning pad slides with the charger wire sandwiched when the movable handle is moved along the charger wire.
The holder is configured to hold the cleaning pad so that a contact position between the charger wire and the cleaning pad can be changed in a direction intersecting the wire.

  According to the cleaning mechanism of the first charger wire, the cleaning pad is slid on the surface of the charger wire by moving the flexible handle along the charger wire with the charger wire sandwiched between the slits of the cleaning pad. This can polish the surface of the charger wire and remove contaminants. In addition, since the cleaning pad is fixed to the holder, the cleaning pad moves according to the movable handle connected to the holder, and further, the holder moves along the guide guide in a direction intersecting the charge wire. When the pad moves along the charger wire, it also moves in the direction intersecting the wire. Therefore, a situation in which the charger wire always comes into contact with the same part of the cleaning pad does not occur, so that the cleaning pad can be prevented from being set and the durability thereof can be enhanced.

  According to the cleaning mechanism for the second charger wire, similarly to the first cleaning mechanism, by moving the flexible handle along the charger wire in a state where the charger wire is sandwiched between the slits of the cleaning pad, A cleaning pad can be slid onto the surface of the charger wire, thereby polishing the surface of the charger wire and removing contaminants. Moreover, although the cleaning pad is held by the holder, the contact position between the charger wire and the cleaning pad is set so as to be changeable in the direction intersecting the wire (that is, the cleaning pad in the holder). Since the fixing position of the cleaning pad can be changed), it is possible to prevent the charger wire from always contacting the same part of the cleaning pad, and to prevent the cleaning pad from being set up and to improve its durability.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[First Embodiment]
One embodiment of the first charger wire cleaning mechanism according to the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3A to 3C.
The charger wire cleaning mechanism shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 </ b> A to 3 </ b> C is connected to the charger case 11, the cleaning pad 12, the holder 13 for fixing the cleaning pad 12, and the holder 13. Thus, a movable handle 14 and a guide guide 15 for restricting the movement of the holder 13 are provided.

The cleaning pad 12 has a slit 12a. In the state shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the charger wire 11 is inserted through the base of the slit 12a.
In the charger wire cleaning mechanism shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3A to 3C, the movable handle 14 is moved along the charger wire 11 (in the direction indicated by x in FIGS. 1 and 2), The cleaning pad 12 slides with the charger wire 11 in between. In addition, since the surface of the charger wire 11 is polished by the cleaning pad 12, contaminants attached to the surface of the charge wire 11 can be removed.

  In addition, the holder 13 moves along the guide guide 15 by moving the movable handle 14 along the charger wire 11. The guide guide 15 is a groove provided on the inner wall surface side of the shield case 10 and controls the movement of the holder 13 by engaging with a projection 13 a connected to the holder 13. The groove forming the guide guide 15 is formed so that its position varies in the longitudinal direction of the charger wire 11 in a direction intersecting with the charger wire 11 (direction indicated by y in FIGS. 1 and 2). Therefore, when the cleaning pad 12 is slid along the charger wire 11, the holder 13 and the cleaning pad 12 fixed thereto can be moved in the direction y intersecting with the charger wire 11.

  3A to 3C are diagrams showing that the contact position between the cleaning pad 12 and the charger wire 11 varies by controlling the position of the holder 13 in the direction y intersecting with the charger wire 11 by the guide guide 15. . In the state shown in FIG. 1, the protrusion 13a of the holder is engaged with the groove of the guide guide 15 at the portion 15a. In this state, as shown in FIG. 3A, the cleaning pad 12 and the charger wire 11 come into contact with each other at the tip portion of the slit 12a of the cleaning pad.

  When the protrusion 13a of the holder is engaged with the groove of the guide guide 15 at the portion 15b, the cleaning pad 12 and the charger wire 11 come into contact with each other at the central portion of the slit 12a of the cleaning pad as shown in FIG. 3B. Furthermore, when the protrusion 13a of the holder is engaged with the groove of the guide guide 15 at the portion 15c, as shown in FIG. 3C, the cleaning pad 12 and the charger wire 11 near the base of the slit 12a of the cleaning pad. Will come into contact.

[Second Embodiment]
One Embodiment about the cleaning mechanism of the 2nd charger wire which concerns on this invention is shown in FIG.4, FIG.5 and FIG.6A-FIG.6C.
The charger wire cleaning mechanism shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 </ b> A to 6 </ b> C is connected to the charger case 11, the cleaning pad 12, the holder 23 for fixing the cleaning pad 12, and the holder 23. And a movable handle 24 formed as described above.

The cleaning pad 12 is the same as that used in the above-described embodiment, and has a slit 12a. In the state shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the charger wire 11 is inserted through the central portion of the slit 12 a of the cleaning pad 12.
In the charger wire cleaning mechanism shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6A to 6C, the movable handle 24 is moved along the charger wire 11 (in the direction indicated by x in FIGS. 4 and 5), The cleaning pad 12 slides with the charger wire 11 in between. Further, since the surface of the charger wire 11 is polished by the cleaning pad 12, contaminants attached to the surface of the charger wire 11 can be removed.

  Engagement between the holder 23 and the movable handle 24 is determined depending on which part of the engaging parts 24a to 24c of the movable handle is engaged with the claw part 23a of the holder. By changing the engagement position between the holder claw 23a and the engaging portions 24a to 24c of the movable handle, the cleaning pad 12 intersects with the charger wire 11 (the direction indicated by y in FIGS. 4 and 5). Can be moved.

  6A to 6C are views showing that the position of the holder 23 in the direction y intersecting the charger wire 11 is changed by the combination of the holder claw 23a and the engaging portions 24a to 24c of the movable handle 24. is there. In the state shown in FIG. 4, the claw 23a of the holder is engaged with the movable handle 24 at the engaging portion 24b (held by the engaging portion 24b). In this state, as shown in FIG. 6B, the cleaning pad 12 and the charger wire come into contact with each other at the central portion of the slit 12a of the cleaning pad.

  When the claw 23a of the holder is engaged with the engaging part 24a of the movable handle (see FIG. 4) (held by the engaging part 24a), as shown in FIG. 6A, the slit 12a of the cleaning pad The cleaning pad 12 and the charger wire 11 come into contact with each other at the tip portion, and the claw 23a of the holder is engaged with the engaging portion 24c (see FIG. 4) of the movable handle (held by the engaging portion 24c). ), The cleaning pad 12 and the charger wire 11 come into contact with each other in the vicinity of the base of the slit 12a of the cleaning pad as shown in FIG. 6C.

  The operation of changing the engagement position of the claw 23a of the holder 23 is performed as follows, for example. After the charger 30 is removed from the image forming apparatus (not shown), when the movable handle 24 is pushed in as far as possible, the claw portion 23a of the holder is positioned in the opening 21 provided in the shield case 20. Therefore, the position of the claw portion 23a is changed by removing the locking member 25 covering the tip of the support portion 24d made of a plastic resin that supports the claw portion 23a of the holder and expanding the support portion 24d. . Thereafter, the support portion 24d is returned to its original shape, and the leading end thereof is covered with the locking member 25, and then the charger 30 is attached again at a predetermined position in the image forming apparatus.

  The present invention is not limited to the above description, and various design changes can be made within the scope of the matters described in the claims.

It is a partially broken perspective view showing an embodiment of a charger wire cleaning mechanism according to the present invention. It is a sectional side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. It is a cross-sectional view which shows the state which moved the holder 13 to the point shown by 15a of FIG. It is a cross-sectional view which shows the state which moved the holder 13 to the point shown by 15b of FIG. It is a cross-sectional view which shows the state which moved the holder 13 to the point shown by 15c of FIG. (A) is a perspective view which shows other embodiment of the cleaning mechanism of the charger wire which concerns on this invention, (b) is the principal part enlarged view. It is a sectional side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. It is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the claw portion 23a of the holder is held by the engaging portion 24a of the flexible handle. It is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the claw portion 23a of the holder is held by the engaging portion 24b of the flexible handle. It is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the claw portion 23a of the holder is held by the engaging portion 24c of the flexible handle. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

10, 20 Shield case 11 Charger wire 12 Cleaning pad 12a Slit 12a Slit 13, 23 Holder 13a Projection 14, 24 Movable handle 15 Guide guide 23a Claw

Claims (2)

In the shield case, a charger wire, a cleaning pad having a slit through which the charger wire can be inserted, a holder for fixing the cleaning pad, a movable handle connected to the holder, and the movement of the holder are restricted. A guide and
When the movable handle is moved along the charger wire, the cleaning pad slides with the charger wire interposed therebetween, and the holder moves along the guide guide in a direction intersecting the charger wire. The charger wire cleaning mechanism. In the shield case, a charger wire, a cleaning pad having a slit through which the charger wire can be inserted, a holder for holding the cleaning pad, and a movable handle connected to the holder,
The cleaning pad slides with the charger wire sandwiched when the movable handle is moved along the charger wire.
The charger wire cleaning mechanism, wherein the holder holds the cleaning pad so that a contact position between the charger wire and the cleaning pad can be changed in a direction crossing the wire.

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