JP2005140911A - Charging device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a charging device in which a cleaning member is brought into contact with the side face of a projection electrode only when the member moves in one direction along the longitudinal direction of a sawtooth discharging member by a simple device configuration. <P>SOLUTION: The device is equipped with a sawtooth discharging member 2 having a plurality of metallic projection electrodes 1 linearly arranged, a cleaning member 3 which can remove a foreign matter depositing on the projection electrodes by moving while being brought into contact with the side face of the projection electrodes 1, and moving body 6 reciprocally movable along the longitudinal direction of the sawtooth discharging member 2. The device is also equipped with a linking means 200 which mechanically links a cleaning member holding body 4 and the moving body 6 in such a manner that the cleaning member holding body 4 moves following the moving body 6, the cleaning member 3 is brought into contact with the side face of the projection electrodes 1 when the moving body 6 moves in one direction h1 of the longitudinal direction of the sawtooth discharging member 2, and the cleaning member 3 is separated from the side face of the projection electrodes 1 when the moving body 6 moves in the other direction h2 of the longitudinal direction of the sawtooth discharging member 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention includes a sawtooth discharge member in which a plurality of metal protruding electrodes are arranged in a straight line, a cleaning member capable of removing foreign matters attached to the protruding electrodes by moving in contact with the side surfaces of the protruding electrodes, The present invention relates to a charging device including a moving unit that reciprocally moves the cleaning member along a longitudinal direction of the sawtooth discharge member.

  The above charging device is used to charge photoconductors in image forming devices such as electrophotographic copying machines, but as the product is used, foreign substances such as discharge products, dust, and toner adhere to and accumulate on the electrodes, so parts must be replaced. A cleaning mechanism is provided so that the sawtooth discharge member can be cleaned at an appropriate time, not limited to the time. Specifically, along the longitudinal direction of the sawtooth discharge member, the cleaning member constituted by a bristle brush or the like is brought into contact with the side surface of the protruding electrode while being automatically operated using the power of a motor or the like or manually operated by an operator or the like. The electrode deposits are removed by reciprocating (see Patent Document 1).

  In another charging device, a sawtooth discharge is performed using a swinging mechanism driven by power such as an electromagnet while reciprocating a cleaning member constituted by a brush or the like along the longitudinal direction of the sawtooth discharge member. The cleaning member is brought into contact with the side surface of the protruding electrode only when moving in one direction of the longitudinal direction of the member, and the cleaning member is separated from the side surface of the protruding electrode when moving in the other direction (patent) Reference 2).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-190051 JP-A-8-190255

In the charging device described in Patent Document 1, when a cleaning member such as a bristle brush reciprocates, it always contacts the side surface of the protruding electrode, and the cleaning member receives pressure in the opposite direction on the way back and forth. There is an inconvenience that the hair ends are random and easily entangled with the protruding electrodes.
In the charging device described in Patent Document 2, although the disadvantage of the charging device described in Patent Document 1 is avoided, the charging device operates with a driving force such as an electromagnet to bring the cleaning member into and out of contact with the side surface of the protruding electrode. Since the swing mechanism is used, there is a disadvantage that the device configuration is complicated.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a simple apparatus configuration on the side surface of the protruding electrode only when the cleaning member moves in one direction in the longitudinal direction of the sawtooth discharge member. It is to provide a charging device that comes into contact.

  In order to achieve the above object, a first characteristic configuration of the charging device according to the present invention is such that the moving means includes a moving body that can reciprocate along the longitudinal direction of the sawtooth discharge member, and holds the cleaning member. The cleaning member holder to be moved is moved following the moving body, and when the moving body is moving in one longitudinal direction of the sawtooth discharge member, the cleaning member comes into contact with the side surface of the protruding electrode. And when the said moving body is moving to the other direction of the longitudinal direction of the said serrated discharge member, the said cleaning member holding body and the said moving body are arranged so that the said cleaning member may space apart from the side surface of the said protruding electrode. It is in the point provided with the linkage means which makes it link mechanically.

That is, the cleaning member holding body that holds the cleaning member by the linkage means and the moving body are mechanically linked, and the moving body that can reciprocate along the longitudinal direction of the sawtooth discharge member is moved in the longitudinal direction of the sawtooth discharge member. When moving in one direction, the cleaning member holding body follows the moving body and moves in one direction in the longitudinal direction of the sawtooth discharge member, and the cleaning member contacts the side surface of the protruding electrode, while the moving body When the cleaning member holder moves in the other direction in the longitudinal direction of the sawtooth discharge member, the cleaning member holder follows the moving body and moves in the other direction in the longitudinal direction of the sawtooth discharge member. Separate from. Here, since the linkage means is a mechanical linkage means that does not use power such as electromagnetic force, it can be configured simply.
Therefore, a simple device configuration provides a charging device that contacts the side surface of the protruding electrode only when the cleaning member is moving in one longitudinal direction of the sawtooth discharge member.

  The second feature configuration is the same as the first feature configuration described above, wherein the cleaning member holding body has a sawtooth shape by an intermediate member that receives a braking force from a device main body side in a longitudinal direction of the sawtooth discharge member. The cleaning member is supported in a swingable manner around an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the discharge member, and at a portion facing the sawtooth discharge member on the end side in the other direction of the longitudinal direction of the sawtooth discharge member. And the linking means is formed in a protruding piece-like shape formed on the end side in one longitudinal direction of the sawtooth discharge member of the cleaning member holder in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of the sawtooth discharge member. In the point comprised by the to-be-latched part and the two latching parts formed in the said moving body in the state which pinches | interposes the said protruding piece-like to-be-latched part in the longitudinal direction of the said serrated discharge member. is there.

  That is, referring to FIG. 4, when the moving body 6 moves in one direction h1 in the longitudinal direction of the serrated discharge member 2, as shown in FIG. Of the two engaging portions 6a and 6b formed before and after the longitudinal direction, the engaging portion 6b located on the opposite side to the moving direction of the moving body 6 intersects the longitudinal direction of the sawtooth discharge member 2. The cleaning member holding body 4 in the longitudinal direction is brought into contact with a protruding piece-like locked portion 4a formed on the end side in the longitudinal direction h1 of the sawtooth discharge member 2 of the cleaning member holding body 4. Since it is pushed in one direction h1, the cleaning member holding body 4 moves in the moving direction h1 of the moving body 6, and at the center side (indicated by a stop pin 9) by the intermediate member 5 receiving the braking force from the apparatus main body side. It is supported so as to be swingable around an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the sawtooth discharge member. The cleaning member 3 held by the cleaning member 3 is held at a portion facing the sawtooth discharge member 2 on the end side in the other direction h2 in the longitudinal direction of the sawtooth discharge member 2 of the cleaning member holder 4. It contacts the side surface of the protruding electrode 1.

  On the other hand, when the movable body 6 moves in the other direction h2 in the longitudinal direction of the sawtooth discharge member 2, the two locking portions 6a and 6b formed on the movable body 6 are provided as shown in FIG. The locking portion 6a located on the opposite side of the moving direction of the moving body 6 comes into contact with the protruding piece-like locked portion 4a formed on the cleaning member holding body 4, and the cleaning member holding body 4 Is pushed in the other direction h2 in the longitudinal direction, so that the cleaning member holding body 4 moves in the moving direction h2 of the moving body 6 and is supported by the intermediate member 5 so as to be swingable at the center side position. 4 is swung, and the cleaning member 3 held at a portion facing the sawtooth discharge member 2 on the end side in the other direction h2 in the longitudinal direction of the sawtooth discharge member 2 of the cleaning member holder 4 is the side surface of the protruding electrode 1. Separate from.

  Therefore, the linking means can be simply constituted by the locked portion on the cleaning member holding body side and the two locking portions on the moving body side while supporting the cleaning member holding body in a swingable manner. Embodiments are provided.

  The third characteristic configuration is the shield according to the second characteristic configuration, in which the braking member on the apparatus main body side that applies a braking force to the intermediate member is installed around the sawtooth discharge member in a state parallel to the longitudinal direction. It consists of a plate, and the intermediate member includes an elastic friction material that slides on the plate surface of the shield plate and receives a braking force.

That is, the elastic friction material provided in the intermediate member slides and moves with respect to the plate surface of the shield plate installed in the periphery in a state parallel to the longitudinal direction of the sawtooth discharge member, so that the intermediate member is moved from the apparatus main body side. Receives braking force.
Therefore, a preferred embodiment of the charging device is provided in which the braking member that applies the braking force to the intermediate member can be simply configured by effectively using the shield plate normally provided in the charging device.

  The fourth characteristic configuration is that, in any one of the first to third characteristic configurations, a pair of the cleaning member holding bodies are provided with the sawtooth discharge member sandwiched from both sides.

That is, the pair of cleaning members sandwiching the sawtooth discharge member from both sides come into contact with both side surfaces of the protruding electrode, so that foreign matters on the electrode are more reliably removed.
Therefore, a preferred embodiment of a charging device that can further enhance the electrode cleaning effect on the sawtooth discharge member is provided.

An embodiment of a charging device according to the present invention will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the charging device according to the present invention moves in contact with the sawtooth discharge member 2 in which a plurality of metal protruding electrodes 1 are arranged in a straight line and the side surface of the protruding electrode 1. The cleaning member 3 capable of removing foreign matter adhering to the protruding electrode 1 and the moving means 100 for reciprocating the cleaning member 3 along the longitudinal direction of the sawtooth discharge member 2 are provided. Specifically, each protruding electrode 1 is formed in an isosceles triangle, and the sawtooth discharge member 2 is pulled by springs (not shown) at both ends in the longitudinal direction and held by the apparatus main body.

  A pair of cleaning member holders 4 for holding the cleaning member 3 is provided with the sawtooth discharge member 2 sandwiched from both sides. Further, the moving means 100 includes a moving body 6 that can reciprocate along the longitudinal direction of the sawtooth discharge member 2. The moving body 6 is connected to a tip side portion of a longitudinal cleaning jig 8 that moves along the longitudinal direction of the sawtooth discharge member 2 by manual operation.

  The cleaning member holding body 4 is moved following the moving body 6, and when the moving body 6 is moving in one direction h 1 in the longitudinal direction of the sawtooth discharge member 2, the cleaning member 3 is The cleaning member holding body 4 is in contact with the side surface so that the cleaning member 3 is separated from the side surface of the protruding electrode 1 when the moving body 6 is moving in the other direction h2 in the longitudinal direction of the sawtooth discharge member 2. Linking means 200 for mechanically linking the movable body 6 with the moving body 6.

  Specifically, the cleaning member holding body 4 is an axis orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the sawtooth discharge member 2 by an intermediate member 5 that receives a braking force from the apparatus main body side at a central position in the longitudinal direction of the sawtooth discharge member 2. The cleaning member 3 is held at a portion facing the sawtooth discharge member 2 on the end side in the other direction h2 in the longitudinal direction of the sawtooth discharge member 2 while being supported by a stop pin 9 swingably around the core, The linking means 200 is a protrusion-like engagement formed on the end side in the longitudinal direction h1 of the sawtooth discharge member 2 of the cleaning member holder 4 in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of the sawtooth discharge member 2. It is comprised by the stop part 4a and the two latching | locking parts 6a and 6b formed in the mobile body 6 in the state which pinches | interposes the protrusion-like to-be-latched part 4a in the longitudinal direction of the sawtooth-shaped discharge member 2. . In addition, each latching | locking part 6a, 6b is provided with the contact piece with respect to the to-be-latched part 4a in the front-end | tip part while being formed in an arm shape.

  And the braking member on the apparatus main body side that gives the braking force to the intermediate member 5 is constituted by a shield plate 7 installed around in a state parallel to the longitudinal direction of the sawtooth discharge member 2, and the intermediate member 5 is An elastic friction material 5a that slides on the plate surface 7a (vertical plate surface) of the shield plate 7 and receives a braking force is provided. The elastic friction material 5a is made of an elastic resin material (resin rubber or the like). Both end portions of the intermediate member 5 are placed on the upward plate surface 7 b of the shield plate 7, whereby the cleaning member holding body 4, the moving body 6 and the like are supported by the shield plate 7.

[Another embodiment]
Next, another embodiment of the charging device according to the present invention will be described.
In the above embodiment, the moving means 100 for reciprocating the cleaning member 3 is configured by the cleaning jig 8 that is connected to the moving body 6 and is manually operated. However, the moving means 100 is not manually operated, but is moved using power such as a motor. The structure which moves the body 6 may be sufficient.

  In the above embodiment, the cleaning member 3 is configured to come into contact with and separate from the side surface of the protruding electrode 1 by swinging the cleaning member holding body 4 around an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the sawtooth discharge member 2. However, in addition to swinging, for example, the cleaning member holder is moved in the longitudinal direction of the sawtooth discharge member 2 and simultaneously slid in the direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of the sawtooth discharge member 2, thereby cleaning the cleaning member 3. It is possible to make a configuration in which the electrode is brought into contact with and separated from the side surface of the protruding electrode 1.

The side view which shows the whole structure of the charging device which concerns on this invention The top view which shows the whole structure of the charging device which concerns on this invention 1 is an exploded perspective view of a charging device according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a plan view for explaining the operation of the charging device according to the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Projection electrode 2 Sawtooth-shaped discharge member 3 Cleaning member 4 Cleaning member holding body 4a Locked part 5 Intermediate member 5a Elastic friction material 6 Moving body 6a, 6b Locking part 7 Shield plate 7a Plate surface 100 Moving means 200 Linking means

Claims (4)

A sawtooth discharge member in which a plurality of metal protruding electrodes are arranged in a straight line;
A cleaning member capable of removing foreign matter attached to the protruding electrode by moving in contact with the side surface of the protruding electrode;
A charging device comprising a moving means for reciprocating the cleaning member along the longitudinal direction of the sawtooth discharge member,
The moving means comprises a moving body that can reciprocate along the longitudinal direction of the sawtooth discharge member,
The cleaning member holding body that holds the cleaning member follows the moving body and moves, and the cleaning member moves in one direction in the longitudinal direction of the sawtooth discharge member when the cleaning member moves to the protruding electrode. The cleaning member holding body and the cleaning member so that the cleaning member is separated from the side surface of the protruding electrode when the moving body is moving in the other direction of the longitudinal direction of the sawtooth discharge member. A charging device comprising linkage means for mechanically linking the movable body. The cleaning member holding body can swing around an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the sawtooth discharge member by an intermediate member that receives a braking force from the apparatus main body side at a central position in the longitudinal direction of the sawtooth discharge member. While being supported, holding the cleaning member at a portion facing the serrated discharge member on the end side in the other direction of the longitudinal direction of the serrated discharge member,
A projecting piece-like locked portion formed in the direction in which the linkage means intersects the longitudinal direction of the sawtooth discharge member on one end side in the longitudinal direction of the sawtooth discharge member of the cleaning member holding body. 2. The electrification according to claim 1, further comprising: two protruding portions formed on the movable body in a state where the protruding piece-like locked portion is sandwiched in the longitudinal direction of the sawtooth discharge member. apparatus.   A braking member on the apparatus main body side that applies a braking force to the intermediate member is composed of a shield plate that is installed around in a state parallel to the longitudinal direction of the sawtooth discharge member, and the intermediate member is a plate surface of the shield plate The charging device according to claim 2, further comprising an elastic friction material that slides and receives a braking force. The charging device according to claim 1, wherein a pair of the cleaning member holding bodies are provided in a state where the sawtooth discharge member is sandwiched from both sides.

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