JP2006091100A - Cleaning member of image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cleaning member of an image forming apparatus capable of surely recovering foreign matters such as residual toner or the like on an intermediate transfer body surface and prolonging the service life of an intermediate transfer body and the exchange service life of a cleaning device regardless of the constitution of an intermediate transfer drum, an intermediate transfer belt, an elastic body intermediate transfer belt and an intermediate transfer body. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus by an electrophotographic system is provided with a cleaning mechanism for cleaning the residual toner on the surface of an image carrier by bringing a cleaning member into contact with the surface. The cleaning member is in the shape of a web in a multilayer structure, is provided with a press contact member for pressing one surface of the web to the surface of the image carrier to supply a cleaning assistant onto the image carrier, and is provided with a member for bringing the other surface of the web into press contact with the surface of the image carrier to wipe off the residual toner and the applied cleaning assistant on the surface of the image carrier on the other surface. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a cleaning member such as a cleaning web for supplying a cleaning aid and cleaning residual toner on the surface of an image carrier in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or an LBP.

  FIG. 1 shows an example of an image forming apparatus using a conventional intermediate transfer system. The image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is an electrophotographic four-color full-color laser beam printer, and uses an intermediate transfer belt as an intermediate transfer member. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the schematic configuration. First, an outline of the entire image forming apparatus A will be described with reference to FIG.

  An image forming apparatus A shown in FIG. 1 includes a drum-type electrophotographic photosensitive member (hereinafter referred to as “photosensitive drum”) 1 as an image carrier. The photosensitive drum 1 is rotationally driven in the direction of arrow R1 by a driving unit (not shown). Around the photosensitive drum 1, a charging device 2 that uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 almost in order along the rotation direction, and a laser beam is irradiated based on image information to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 1. Intermediate transfer having an exposure means 3 to be formed, a developing device 4 for developing toner images by attaching toner to an electrostatic latent image, and an intermediate transfer belt 5a as an intermediate transfer member to which the toner image on the photosensitive drum 1 is primarily transferred A body unit 5 and a cleaning device 5e for removing toner (residual toner) remaining on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 5a after the secondary transfer are disposed. Here, the photosensitive drum 1 and the charging device 2 described above are integrally formed into a cartridge to form a process cartridge B, and the process cartridge B is detachable from the apparatus main body 14 of the image forming apparatus A. ing.

  In addition, the transfer material (recording medium) S such as paper is fed toward the intermediate transfer body unit 5, and the toner image is fixed on the transfer material S after the secondary transfer, and the feeding / conveying means 7 for conveying the transfer material S. A fixing device 8 is provided.

  Hereinafter, the photosensitive drum 1 will be described in detail.

  The photosensitive drum 1 is configured by coating an organic optical conductor layer (OPC photosensitive layer) on an outer peripheral surface of an aluminum cylinder having a diameter of 47 mm, for example. Both ends of the photosensitive drum 1 are rotatably supported by a support member (not shown), and a driving force from a driving motor (not shown) is transmitted to one end in the direction of the arrow R1. Driven by rotation.

  As the charging device 2, for example, a so-called contact charging type as shown in Patent Document 1 can be used. The charging member is a conductive roller formed in the shape of a roller. The roller is brought into contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum 1, and a charging bias voltage is applied to the roller by a power source (not shown), whereby the photosensitive drum 1 is charged. The surface is uniformly charged to a predetermined polarity and a predetermined potential.

  The exposure means 3 has a polygon mirror 3a. The polygon mirror 3a is irradiated with image light corresponding to an image signal by a laser diode (not shown). The polygon mirror 3a is rotated at high speed by a scanner motor (not shown), and the reflected image light is electrostatically exposed by selectively exposing the surface of the charged photosensitive drum 1 through the imaging lens 3b, the reflection mirror 3c, and the like. A latent image is formed.

  The developing device 4 includes a rotating body 4A that can be indexed and rotated about a shaft 4d, and four developing devices mounted thereon, that is, a developing device 4Y that stores toner of each color of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black. , 4M, 4C, 4Bk.

  When developing the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 1, a predetermined developing device of a color to be attached to the electrostatic latent image is disposed at the development position. That is, the predetermined developing device stops at the developing position facing the photosensitive drum 1 by the indexing rotation of the rotating body 4A, and the developing sleeve 4b of the developing device faces the photosensitive drum 1 with a minute gap (about 300 μm). Then, the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 1 is developed.

  This development is performed as follows.

  That is, the toner in the container of the developing device corresponding to the color to be developed is fed to the coating roller 4a by the feeding mechanism, and the toner is applied to the outer periphery of the rotating developing sleeve 4b by the rotating coating roller 4a and the toner regulating blade 4c. In addition, the toner is charged (frictionally charged).

  By applying a developing bias between the developing sleeve 4b and the photosensitive drum 1 on which the electrostatic latent image is formed, toner is attached to the electrostatic latent image and developed as a toner image. Further, the developing sleeves 4b of the developing units 4Y, 4M, 4C, and 4Bk are connected to high-voltage power supplies for developing the colors provided in the apparatus main body 14 when the developing units are arranged at the developing positions. A voltage is selectively applied for each color development. Each of the developing devices 4Y, 4M, 4C, 4Bk is configured to be detachable from the rotating body 4A.

  The intermediate transfer body unit 5 performs secondary transfer of a plurality of toner images that are sequentially primary-transferred sequentially from the photosensitive drum 1 onto the transfer material S in a lump. The intermediate transfer body unit 5 includes an intermediate transfer belt 5a that rotates (runs) in the direction of arrow R5. The intermediate transfer belt 5a of the present embodiment is an endless belt having a circumferential length of about 440 mm, and is stretched around three rollers: a driving roller 5b, a secondary transfer counter roller 5c, and a driven roller 5d. Further, a primary transfer roller (pressing roller) 5g is provided in the vicinity of the driven roller 5d so that the intermediate transfer belt 5a is pressed against the photosensitive drum 1 and the intermediate transfer belt 5a is moved away from the photosensitive drum 1. Yes.

  The intermediate transfer belt 5a travels in the arrow R5 direction by the rotation of the driving roller 5b. Further, a cleaning unit 5e that can be brought into contact with and separated from the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 5a is provided at a predetermined position outside the intermediate transfer belt 5a, and is not transferred to the transfer material S during the secondary transfer. The remaining toner (secondary transfer residual toner) is removed.

  The cleaning unit 5e abuts the cleaning blade on the intermediate transfer belt 5a to scrape off residual toner from the intermediate belt 5a. Further, the primary transfer residual toner on the photosensitive drum 1 is all transferred to the intermediate belt 5a during the residual toner cleaning rotation by the charging device 2, and collected by the cleaning unit 5e.

  The feeding / conveying means 7 feeds the transfer material S to the image forming unit, and includes a paper feed cassette 7a in which a plurality of transfer materials S are stored. At the time of image formation, the pickup roller 7e (half-moon roller), the feed roller 7f and the retard roller 7g are driven and rotated in accordance with the image forming operation to separate and feed the transfer material S in the paper feed cassette 7a one by one, and the transport roller It is conveyed along the guide plate 7c by the pair 7b. The leading edge of the transfer material S abuts against the registration roller pair 7d, temporarily stops, forms a loop, synchronizes the rotation of the intermediate transfer belt 5a and the image writing position, and feeds the intermediate transfer belt 5a by the registration roller pair 7d. It will be done.

  The fixing device 8 fixes a plurality of toner images secondarily transferred onto the transfer material S. As shown in FIG. 1, a fixing roller (heating roller) 8b that is driven and rotated is transferred in pressure contact therewith. The pressure roller 8a applies heat and pressure to the material S.

  That is, the transfer material S that has passed through the secondary transfer roller 11 that collectively transfers the toner on the intermediate transfer belt 5a is transported on the transport belt unit 12, and when passing through the fixing device 8, the fixing roller 8b, the pressure roller While being conveyed by 8a, it is heated and pressurized. As a result, the toner images of a plurality of colors are fixed on the surface of the transfer material S.

  Next, an image forming operation of the image forming apparatus configured as described above will be described.

  The photosensitive drum 1 is rotated in the direction of arrow R1 in FIG. 1 in synchronization with the rotation of the intermediate transfer belt 5a. The surface of the photosensitive drum 1 is uniformly charged by the charging device 2, and the yellow image is irradiated by the exposure means 3. In this way, a yellow electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 1. Simultaneously with the formation of the electrostatic latent image, the developing device 4 is driven to place the yellow developing device 4Y at the developing position, and the charging polarity of the photosensitive drum 1 is set so that the yellow toner adheres to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 1. A developing bias having the same polarity and substantially the same potential is applied to cause yellow toner to adhere to the electrostatic latent image for development. Thereafter, a primary transfer bias having a polarity opposite to that of the toner is applied to the primary transfer roller 5g of the intermediate transfer member 5 to primarily transfer the yellow toner image on the photosensitive drum 1 onto the intermediate transfer belt 5a.

  When the primary transfer of the yellow toner image is completed as described above, the next developing device rotates and is positioned at the development position facing the photosensitive drum 1, and in the same manner as in the case of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black For each of these colors, electrostatic latent image formation, development, and primary transfer are sequentially performed, and four color toner images are superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 5a. During this time, the secondary transfer roller 11 is not in contact with the intermediate transfer belt 5a. At this time, the cleaner blade of the cleaning unit 5e is not in contact with the intermediate transfer belt 5a.

  After the formation of the four color toner images on the intermediate transfer belt 5a, the secondary transfer roller 11 is pressed against the intermediate transfer belt 5a (the state shown in FIG. 1), and further in synchronization with the rotation of the intermediate transfer belt 5a. The transfer material S that has been waiting by the roller pair 7d is fed to the secondary transfer nip portion between the intermediate transfer belt 5a and the secondary transfer roller 11 by the registration roller pair 7d.

  Here, a secondary transfer bias having a polarity opposite to that of the toner is applied to the secondary transfer roller 11, and the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 5 a is collectively transferred onto the surface of the transferred transfer material S. Is done.

  In this manner, the transfer material S that has been secondarily transferred reaches the fixing device 8 via the conveying belt unit 12, where the toner image is fixed and then discharged by the discharge roller pairs 13 and 16. The paper is conveyed along the paper guide 15 and discharged to the paper discharge tray 10 above the apparatus main body 14 by the discharge roller pair 9 to complete the image formation.

JP-A 63-149669

  In the image forming apparatus using the intermediate transfer system, the residual toner on the photosensitive member and the residual toner on the intermediate belt are collectively cleaned by a cleaning blade.

  However, by pressing the blade against the intermediate belt, there is a problem that it is not possible to avoid the occurrence of sliding scratches due to friction with the blade, and it is impossible to ensure the long-term life of the intermediate belt.

  In particular, the intermediate transfer belt using an elastic body that has been proposed in recent years has a lower belt hardness due to the properties of the elastic body and more wear due to rubbing due to the nature of the elastic body, so that all residual toner is removed. However, the blade linear pressure required for the above causes problems such as extremely short life and residual toner slipping through the blade.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and the intended process is to maintain the residual on the surface of the intermediate transfer member regardless of the configuration of the intermediate transfer drum, the intermediate transfer belt, the elastic intermediate transfer belt, or the intermediate transfer member. An object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning member for an image forming apparatus capable of reliably collecting foreign matters such as toner and extending the life of an intermediate transfer member and the replacement life of a cleaning device.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprising a cleaning mechanism for cleaning residual toner on an existing surface by bringing a cleaning member into contact with the surface of the image carrier. The member has a multi-layered web-like shape, and has a pressure contact member for pressing one surface of the web against the surface of the image carrier, supplies a cleaning aid onto the image carrier, and the other surface of the existing web. And a member that presses against the surface of the image carrier, and the remaining toner on the surface of the image carrier and the applied cleaning aid are wiped off on the other surface.

  Here, the cleaning aid is a material that reduces surface friction of the image carrier and improves releasability. The multi-layered web is characterized by a structure of three or more layers having a layer that does not impregnate the other side with a cleaning aid on one side. The image carrier is an intermediate transfer (including a drum, a belt, and an elastic belt). The web-shaped cleaning member has a layer impregnated with the cleaning aid on a surface that is first pressed against the image carrier, or a member that applies the cleaning aid to a surface that is first pressed against the image carrier. It is a cleaning member characterized by having.

  According to the present invention, by using a cleaning device that supplies a cleaning aid on one side and collects it on the other side, the structure of the intermediate transfer drum, the intermediate transfer belt, the elastic intermediate transfer belt, and the intermediate transfer member is used. Accordingly, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that can reliably collect foreign matters such as residual toner on the surface of the intermediate transfer member, and extend the life of the intermediate transfer member and the replacement life of the cleaning device. .

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  By using rubbing on both sides of the cleaning web and a cleaning aid, it is possible to reliably remove residual toner in a space-saving manner compared to conventional methods, and reduce wear of the intermediate transfer member, which is an image carrier. A stable cleaning performance is achieved.

  By adding the function of applying a cleaning aid to the intermediate transfer member on the surface of the cleaning web that contacts the intermediate transfer member, the releasability of residual toner and the like from the intermediate transfer member is improved. The intermediate surface on which the cleaning aid is applied is the other surface of the cleaning web (the back surface when the application function surface is used as the front surface), and residual toner and the like are cleaned and removed together with the release agent. In addition, the cleaning web has a multilayer structure of three or more layers, so that an impregnation prevention layer is arranged between the cleaning aid application function surface and the cleaning / removal function surface, and the cleaning aid is cleaned from the cleaning aid application function surface.・ Prevents impregnation of the removal function surface. By making this cleaning web into a multilayer structure, it is possible to maximize the performance of the cleaning aid application function surface and the cleaning / removal function surface.

<Embodiment 1>
Embodiments of an intermediate transfer member cleaning device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram showing the configuration of the cleaning web according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram in which the cleaning device according to the present invention is provided in a configuration using a belt as an intermediate transfer member.

  In FIG. 2, 201 is a cleaning aid application surface, 202 is a cleaning / removal surface, 203 is a web material layer, and 204 is an impregnation prevention layer. The cleaning aid application surface 201 side is impregnated with oil serving as a cleaning aid. The cleaning aid oil does not impregnate the cleaning removal surface 202 by the impregnation prevention layer 204. Further, in the cleaning web application roller 302 on which the cleaning web is wound up, the cleaning / removal surface 202 is also impregnated because the oil is wound up at a pressure that does not ooze out from the cleaning aid application surface 201. Absent. Such a multi-layered web is brought into contact with the intermediate transfer belt 501 as shown in FIG.

  The cleaning web 306 and the cleaning aid used here are typically crosslinked silicone rubber containing a cleaning aid such as a release oil in the void structure of the porous PTFE membrane of the web, or a known surface activity. And a lubricant for improving the contact angle of the surface of the intermediate transfer belt. As the silicone rubber, silicone rubber such as RTV (room temperature curable), ultraviolet curable silicone rubber, and the like are suitable. The release oil / surfactant / lubricant is not particularly limited as long as it has a function of weakening the adhesion between the residual toner and the intermediate transfer member and a function of enclosing the residual toner and preventing the residual toner from directly contacting the intermediate transfer member.

  In the present embodiment, the impregnated cleaning aid is leached out of the web due to the pressed / compressed contact state. Therefore, if the web itself is not pressurized, the cleaning aid is used. It has the characteristic of absorbing strongly. As a method for filling the crosslinked silicone containing a cleaning aid, a method in which a porous PTFE membrane is impregnated with a mixture of silicone rubber and release oil and then crosslinked is preferable. As the impregnation method, the above mixture is impregnated by an optimum method depending on the kind of cleaning aid, such as a method of spraying the porous PTFE membrane or a method of applying the mixture.

  A cleaning aid application surface 203 and a cleaning removal surface 202 of the cleaning web having the above-described materials are configured, and the two layers form a layer structure with the impregnation prevention layer 204 interposed therebetween. The impregnation prevention layer 204 may be any material that has a function of not impregnating a cleaning aid such as PET in the form of a thin film, and any material can be used depending on the cleaning aid / web material used. It is. Needless to say, the core material / impregnation prevention material used in the cleaning web using both sides can be applied as long as it has the above function.

  In FIG. 3, reference numeral 302 denotes a web supply roller, from which a cleaning web 306 is supplied, is sequentially sent out through each roller, and is collected by the web collection roller 305.

  303 is a cleaning aid application roller, and the oil that is the cleaning aid impregnated in the cleaning aid application surface 201 is removed from the web by the compression contact of the web under pressure by the cleaning aid application roller 303. The leaching is applied to the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 301.

  The oil as a cleaning aid applied on the intermediate transfer belt 301 wraps the residual toner on the intermediate transfer belt 301, improves the releasability between the residual toner and the intermediate transfer belt, and makes it easy to clean.

  The cleaning web 306 after applying the oil is again brought into pressure contact with the intermediate transfer belt 301 by the cleaning / removal roller 304. At this time, the cleaning / removal surface (rear surface) 202 of the cleaning web 306 is pressed against and rubs the cleaning aid oil that encloses the residual toner on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 301 and absorbs the residual toner together with the cleaning aid. Remove with.

  The cleaning web 306 that has absorbed the cleaning aid, residual toner, and the like from the intermediate transfer belt 301 is finally wound and stored by the web collection roller 305. Regarding the take-up tension here, even if the cleaning web 306 is compressed and taken up to minimize the storage space, the recovered cleaning aid, residual toner, etc. are not leached out and contaminated the inside of the machine. Can be configured.

  As described above, the surface of the intermediate transfer transfer belt is pressed and applied with oil as a cleaning aid using one side of the cleaning web, and the remaining toner and the like are cleaned and removed together with the oil on the other side depending on the applied oil. The releasability of the residual toner on the transfer belt is improved, and the residual toner and the cleaning aid can be efficiently removed from the intermediate transfer member by the cleaning web. As a result, it is possible to provide a long-life intermediate transfer body cleaning device that suppresses wear due to rubbing of the intermediate transfer body to a minimum and performs reliable cleaning.

By applying and cleaning the cleaning agent to the intermediate transfer body using the multilayer structure cleaning web described above, the intermediate transfer body can be efficiently cleaned and the life can be extended. <Embodiment 2>
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  In the present embodiment, the cleaning effect of the cleaning web is improved by using, as a cleaning aid, wax that is lower in melting point than toner and is solid at room temperature. Disperse the cleaning aid that becomes solid at room temperature on the cleaning aid application surface of the cleaning web, apply heat to the cleaning web with the cleaning aid application roller, and apply and apply to the intermediate transfer body. The transfer material is solidified again while wrapping foreign matters such as residual toner on the transfer body, and is peeled off from the surface of the intermediate transfer body at the cleaning removal surface of the cleaning web pressed by the cleaning removal roller.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the layer configuration of the cleaning web according to the present embodiment.

  In FIG. 4, 401 is a cleaning aid application surface, 402 is a cleaning removal surface, 403 is a web material layer, 404 is an impregnation prevention layer, and 405 is a solid wax dispersed in the web material of the cleaning aid application surface. is there.

  The configuration of the intermediate transfer type image forming apparatus having the cleaning device using the cleaning web according to the present embodiment is the same as that of FIG. However, in order to apply the solid cleaning aid at room temperature according to the present embodiment, a heater is added to the cleaning aid application roller 303 of the cleaning device. In addition, as an intermediate transfer belt material, an elastic body that is more rigorously cleaned by rubbing is used.

  Since the configuration is the same, the cleaning web winding cleaning operation in the present embodiment is the same as in the first embodiment. However, as described above, the cleaning aid application roller 303 is applied to the intermediate transfer belt, which is an elastic body, in order to melt the cleaning aid that is solid at room temperature and is dispersed on the cleaning aid application surface of the cleaning web. At that time, the heater is energized and heated.

  As a cleaning aid to be applied by heating, in addition to capsule wax dispersed in oilless fixing toner etc., it is possible to use materials similar to zinc stearate etc. which are generally used as lubricants as solid soap become.

  As described above, the heater is temperature controlled to a temperature at which the cleaning aid such as wax having a melting point lower than that of the toner is melted. In the second embodiment, the temperature is controlled to 45 ° C. The cleaning aid in the cleaning web heated from the heat roller can be melted and liquefied inside the web, and can be applied at a lighter pressure than the cleaning aid application roller 303 of the first embodiment. Further, since the web of the cleaning aid application surface 401 is made of a thin layer or a material having a low holding power of the cleaning aid, the cleaning aid 405 is removed from the cleaning aid application surface 401 because it is solid in the web. Without leaching, this allows the cleaning web to be compressed and wound on the supply roller 302. From this, it becomes possible to have a cleaning web that is longer than that of the first embodiment, and it is possible to extend the replacement life of the cleaning device.

  The cleaning web 306 that has been heated from the heater built-in cleaning aid application roller 303 applies a cleaning aid onto the intermediate transfer belt 301. At this time, the melted and liquefied cleaning assistant takes in foreign matters such as residual toner on the intermediate transfer belt 301 and is cooled and solidified again until it reaches the cleaning removal roller 304 on the intermediate transfer belt 301. .

  The solidified cleaning aid is rubbed and collected by the cleaning removal surface 402 of the cleaning web pressed by the cleaning removal roller 304. At this time, since the cleaning aid contains residual toner and the like on the transfer belt 301 and is solidified as relatively large irregularly shaped particles, the cleaning removal surface of the cleaning web is made of more material in order to increase the peeling / collecting power. Even a rough and low fiber density material can be more reliably cleaned with light pressure than in the first embodiment.

  Further, since it is cooled and solidified on the intermediate transfer belt, it is easy to reduce wiping residue due to rubbing.

  As described above, a cleaning aid that is solid at room temperature and a material having a melting point lower than that of toner is dispersed on the cleaning web, and a heating heater is added to the cleaning aid application roller to ensure reliable cleaning with lighter pressure. As a result, a cleaning device that greatly extends the life of the intermediate transfer member and the replacement life of the cleaning device has been provided.

<Embodiment 3>
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  According to the second embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to provide a cleaning device that extends the life of the intermediate transfer member and the replacement life of the cleaning device and has a high cleaning performance. Rather than encapsulating the cleaning aid in the cleaning web, the cleaning aid is supplied to the web from the outside, thereby simplifying the configuration of the cleaning web and enabling a thinner web and extending the replacement life of the cleaning device. As the cleaning aid at this time, liquids such as the release oil, surfactant, and lubricant according to the first embodiment can be used.

  FIG. 5 shows an image forming apparatus including a cleaning web 506 and external cleaning aid supply devices 507 and 508 according to the present embodiment. Here, it is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of a configuration using an intermediate transfer drum as an intermediate transfer member.

  The layer configuration of the cleaning web 506 at this time is the same as that shown in FIG. 2, but it is not necessary to impregnate and disperse the cleaning aid in advance on the web material of the cleaning aid application surface 201, and a thinner layer configuration is adopted. It is possible. In addition, the cleaning web supply roller 502 and the recovery roller 505 can be significantly compressed (particularly on the supply roller side) and a longer cleaning web 506 can be installed.

  The web 506 delivered from the cleaning web supply roller 502 is supplied with a cleaning aid from a cleaning aid supply unit 508 via a cleaning aid supply roller 507, and is applied to the surface of the intermediate transfer drum 501 by the cleaning aid application roller 503. Apply cleaning aid.

  The applied cleaning aid is rubbed and collected by the cleaning removal roller 504 in the same manner as in the cleaning apparatus in the previous embodiments.

  As described above, the provision of the external cleaning auxiliary agent supplying device has provided a cleaning member that can dramatically extend the replacement life of the cleaning device while maintaining the cleaning and cleaning.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of an image forming apparatus using a conventional intermediate transfer method. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is the structure schematic which shows the cross section of the multilayer structure web in Embodiment 1 of this invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a cleaning device and an intermediate transfer belt according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. It is sectional structure schematic of the wax inclusion web in Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is the structure schematic of the cleaning adjuvant supply part and intermediate transfer drum in Embodiment 3 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Photosensitive drum 2 Charging device (charging roller)
3 Exposure means 4 Developing device 5a Intermediate transfer unit (intermediate belt)
5e Intermediate transfer cleaner (Blade cleaner)
8 Fixing device 301 Intermediate transfer member (belt)
302 Cleaning web application roller 303 Cleaning aid application roller 304 Cleaning / removal roller 305 Cleaning web collection roller 306 Cleaning web 401 Cleaning aid application surface 402 Cleaning / removal surface 403 Web material layer 404 Impregnation prevention layer 405 Wax 506 Cleaning web 507 Cleaning Auxiliary supply roller 508 Cleaning auxiliary agent supply unit 509 Photosensitive drum 510 Secondary transfer unit

Claims (7)

In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus,
A cleaning mechanism is provided for cleaning residual toner on the existing surface by bringing a cleaning member into contact with the surface of the image carrier. A pressure contact member for pressing against the surface of the body, supplying a cleaning aid onto the image carrier, and a member for pressing the other surface of the existing web against the surface of the image carrier; A cleaning member for an image forming apparatus, wherein residual toner on a body surface and the applied cleaning aid are wiped off.   2. The cleaning member of an image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning aid is a material that reduces surface friction of the image carrier and improves releasability.   3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the multi-layered web has a structure of three or more layers having a layer that does not impregnate the other side with a cleaning aid on one side. Element.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image carrier is intermediate transfer (including a drum, a belt, and an elastic belt).   The web-shaped cleaning member has a layer impregnated with the cleaning aid on the surface that is previously pressed against the image carrier, and the cleaning aid is leached from the web by pressure contact over a certain pressure. The cleaning member of the image forming apparatus according to claim 1.   In the web-shaped cleaning member, a cleaning aid having a melting point lower than that of the toner is dispersed in the web material on the surface to be pressed against the image carrier first, and the web cleaning member is leached from the web surface by pressing and heating. The cleaning member for an image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning member is an auxiliary agent.   5. The cleaning of an image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the web-shaped cleaning member has a member that applies the cleaning aid to a surface that is first pressed against the image carrier. Element.

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