JP2007086664A - Process cartridge and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make extraneous matter such as dust and toner hardly adhere to a discharge electrode, in a laser printer 1 having a cleaning member for cleaning the discharge electrode. <P>SOLUTION: A scorotron type electrifier is provided with: a frame body in which a groove portion 53g is formed along the longitudinal direction of a discharge wire and an inlet and an outlet (hole portions 53c) for introducing air into the circumference of the discharge wire and exhausting the air are formed in positions different from the groove portion 53g of this member; a cleaning member 124b which is arranged to be movable along the groove portion 53g inside the frame body and slides on the discharge wire 131, when the cleaning member 124b moves along the groove portion 53g, to clean the discharge wire 131; an operating member 124a which is connected to the cleaning member 124b through the groove portion 53g, to be movable integrally with the cleaning member 124b along the groove portion 53g outside a shield member 132; and a regulating member 140a which regulates the coming and going of air through the groove portion 53g. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a process cartridge that can be attached to an image forming apparatus that transfers a visible image formed on an image carrier onto a recording medium using a developer, and an image forming apparatus.

  Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus that transfers a visible image formed on an image carrier to a recording medium using a developer, cleaning is performed to remove dust, toner, and the like attached to a discharge electrode (charging wire). What is provided with the member is known. In this image forming apparatus, a frame that covers the discharge electrode along the longitudinal direction of the discharge electrode is disposed, and a long hole is formed in the frame.

Here, the cleaning member is configured to be movable along the long hole while sandwiching a part of the discharge electrode. When the operation member connected to the cleaning member through the long hole is operated by the user (more precisely, when the operation member is slid along the long hole), the cleaning member moves integrally with the operation member. . At this time, the cleaning member slides with the discharge electrode to clean the discharge electrode.
JP-A-10-301368

  By the way, in an image forming apparatus that transfers a visible image formed on an image carrier to a recording medium, in order to make it difficult for dust and toner to adhere to the discharge electrode, the discharge electrode must be clean air. It is desirable to be covered. Thus, in order to cover the discharge electrode with clean air, it is necessary to always generate a clean and constant air flow around the discharge electrode.

  Here, when an image forming apparatus having a function of generating a constant air flow around the discharge electrode is provided with the cleaning member and the operation member as described above, the operation member is removed from the outside of the frame body. It needs to be operable by the user. That is, it is necessary to form a long hole in the frame so that the cleaning member and the operation member can be moved together (slidable).

  However, when the long holes are formed in this way, air flows in and out of the long holes, so the flow of clean air near the discharge electrode is disturbed, and deposits such as dust and toner adhere to the discharge electrode. There is a risk of becoming easy.

  Accordingly, in view of such problems, it is an object of the present invention to make it difficult for deposits such as dust and toner to adhere to the discharge electrode in an image forming apparatus having a cleaning member for cleaning the discharge electrode. And

  The invention described in claim 1 made to achieve the above object can be mounted on an image forming apparatus for transferring a visible image formed on an image carrier onto a recording medium using a developer. A process cartridge comprising at least the image carrier and a charger for charging the surface of the image carrier, the charger covering a discharge electrode extending in a longitudinal direction and the periphery of the discharge electrode And has an elongated hole formed along the longitudinal direction of the discharge electrode, and an inlet and a discharge port for introducing and discharging air around the discharge electrode at a position different from the elongated hole. A frame body in which an outlet is formed, and an inner side of the frame body are arranged so as to be movable along the long hole, and the discharge electrode is slid by sliding with the discharge electrode when moving along the long hole. Cleaning member to be cleaned and the cleaning unit With the connection through the long hole, an operation member that can move integrally with the cleaning member along the long hole on the outside of the frame body, and restricting the entry and exit of air through the long hole And a regulating member.

  That is, in a process cartridge having a cleaning member, in order for a user to be able to operate an operation member that moves integrally with the cleaning member, the operation member must be disposed outside the frame. At this time, in order to connect the operation member located outside the frame body and the cleaning member located inside the frame body, it is necessary to form a long hole in the frame body. However, if air enters and exits the frame body through the long hole, there is a risk that the flow of clean air around the discharge electrode may be disturbed. Therefore, the present invention includes a regulating member that regulates the flow of air through the long hole. -ing

  Therefore, according to such a process cartridge, it is possible to prevent the flow of clean air from the introduction port to the discharge port in the frame from being disturbed by arranging the regulating member. It is possible to make it difficult to adhere to the discharge electrode.

In the present invention, the cleaning member and the operation member may be integrally configured as one member or may be configured as separate members.
By the way, in the process cartridge according to claim 1, the intake port and the exhaust port may be formed at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the discharge electrode in the frame body as described in claim 2.

  According to such a process cartridge, since air can flow along the longitudinal direction of the discharge electrode, the flow of air in the frame can be further stabilized. Accordingly, it is possible to make it difficult to attach dust or toner to the discharge electrode.

Further, in the process cartridge according to claim 1 or 2, it is desirable that the restricting member is made of a flexible insulator as described in claim 3.
According to such a process cartridge, since the regulating member is made of an insulator, it is possible to prevent the regulating member from adversely affecting the discharge of the discharge electrode. Further, since the restricting member has flexibility, the restricting member can be disposed within the movement range of these (the operation member and the cleaning member) so as not to hinder the movement of the operation member and the cleaning member.

Furthermore, in the process cartridge according to claim 3, it is desirable that the restricting member is configured as a brush that covers at least a part of the long hole as described in claim 4.
According to such a process cartridge, a large number of fibers constituting the brush can prevent the air from entering and exiting the inside and outside of the frame, and can prevent the movement of the operation member and the cleaning member.

  Further, in the process cartridge according to claim 1 or 2, the restriction member may include a cover member that covers the elongated hole and the operation member from the outside so as to be opened and closed as described in claim 5.

  According to such a process cartridge, since the entrance and exit of air from the long hole can be regulated by the cover member, the clean air flow from the inlet to the outlet in the frame body is prevented from being disturbed. be able to. Therefore, it is possible to make it difficult for deposits such as dust and toner to adhere to the discharge electrode.

Furthermore, in the process cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 5, the discharge electrode may be formed of a wire as described in claim 6.
That is, in the discharge electrode that discharges from the wire as in the present invention, since it is necessary to discharge uniformly from the entire wire, unevenness in the discharge is likely to occur when deposits such as dust and toner adhere to the wire. Become.

Therefore, when any of the above-described inventions is applied to a process cartridge in which the discharge electrode is formed of a wire as in the present invention, the effect can be obtained more remarkably.
The invention according to claim 7 is configured such that at least an image carrier and a process cartridge including a charger for charging the surface of the image carrier are detachable, and the image carrier is mounted when the process cartridge is mounted. An image forming apparatus for transferring a visible image formed on a body onto a recording medium, wherein the process cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 6 is provided as a process cartridge.

  According to such an image forming apparatus, since the process cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 6 is provided, the same effect as the effect according to any one of claims 1 to 6 is obtained. can get.

  Next, an invention according to claim 8 is provided with an image carrier and a charger for charging the surface of the image carrier, and a visible image formed on the image carrier is recorded. An image forming apparatus for transferring to a medium, wherein the charger has a discharge electrode extending in a longitudinal direction and a shape covering the periphery of the discharge electrode, and a long hole is formed along the longitudinal direction of the discharge electrode. And a frame having an inlet and an outlet for introducing and discharging air around the discharge electrode at a position different from the elongated hole, and an inner side of the frame body as the elongated hole. And a cleaning member that cleans the discharge electrode by sliding with the discharge electrode when moving along the elongated hole, and is connected to the cleaning member through the elongated hole. The cleaning portion is arranged along the elongated hole on the outside of the frame. It is characterized an operating member integral moveable, a regulating member for regulating the entry and exit of air through the long hole, further comprising a a.

  According to such an image forming apparatus, since the restriction member similar to the restriction member described in claim 1 is provided, the same effect as the effect described in claim 1 can be obtained. In other words, according to this image forming apparatus, it is possible to prevent the flow of clean air from the inlet to the outlet in the frame from being disturbed, so that deposits such as dust and toner adhere to the discharge electrode. Can be difficult.

Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
<Embodiment 1>
[General Description of Laser Printer 1]
FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of an essential part showing an embodiment of a laser printer to which the present invention is applied. In FIG. 1, a wire cleaner 124 and a regulating member 140a described later are omitted for convenience of explanation.

  In FIG. 1, a laser printer 1 (an image forming apparatus referred to in the present invention) includes a feeder unit 4 for feeding paper 3 in a main casing 2 and an image for forming an image on the fed paper 3. An image forming unit 5 is provided.

  The feeder unit 4 includes a paper feed tray 6 detachably attached to the bottom of the main casing 2, a paper pressing plate 7 provided in the paper feed tray 6, and one end side of the paper feed tray 6 (hereinafter, referred to as “feed tray” 6). One end side is defined as the front side, and the opposite side is defined as the rear side.) The sheet feed roller 8 and the sheet feed pad 9 provided above the end portion, and the sheet feed roller 8 is provided downstream of the sheet 3 in the transport direction. Paper dust removing rollers 10 and 11 and registration rollers 12 provided downstream of the paper dust removing rollers 10 and 11 in the conveyance direction of the paper 3 are provided.

  The sheet pressing plate 7 can stack the sheets 3 in a laminated form, and is supported so as to be swingable at the end far from the sheet feeding roller 8, so that the near end moves up and down. It is possible. Moreover, it is urged | biased by the spring which is not shown in figure from the back side. Therefore, the sheet pressing plate 7 is swung downward against the urging force of the spring, with the end far from the sheet feeding roller 8 as a fulcrum as the amount of stacked sheets 3 increases. The paper feed roller 8 and the paper feed pad 9 are disposed to face each other, and the paper feed pad 9 is pressed toward the paper feed roller 8 by a spring 13 provided on the back side of the paper feed pad 9.

  The uppermost sheet 3 on the sheet pressing plate 7 is pressed toward the sheet feeding roller 8 by a spring (not shown) from the back side of the sheet pressing plate 7, and the sheet feeding roller 8 and the sheet feeding are rotated by the rotation of the sheet feeding roller 8. After being sandwiched between the pads 9, the sheets are fed one by one.

  The fed paper 3 is sent to the registration roller 12 after the paper dust is removed by the paper dust removing rollers 10 and 11. The registration roller 12 is composed of a pair of rollers, and sends the paper 3 to the image forming position after registration. Note that the image forming position is a transfer position at which the toner image on the photosensitive drum 27 (image carrier in the present invention) is transferred to the paper 3, and in this embodiment, the contact between the photosensitive drum 27 and the transfer roller 30. It is considered as a position.

  The feeder unit 4 further includes a multi-purpose tray 14, a multi-purpose side feed roller 15 and a multi-purpose side feed pad 25 for feeding the sheets 3 stacked on the multi-purpose tray 14. I have. The multi-purpose-side paper feed roller 15 and the multi-purpose-side paper feed pad 25 are arranged so as to face each other, and the multi-purpose-side paper feed pad 25 is multi-purposed by a spring 25 a provided on the back side of the multi-purpose-side paper feed pad 25. It is pressed toward the purpose-side paper feed roller 15.

  The sheets 3 stacked on the multi-purpose tray 14 are fed one by one after being sandwiched between the multi-purpose side feed roller 15 and the multi-purpose side feed pad 25 by the rotation of the multi-purpose side feed roller 15. Paper.

The image forming unit 5 includes a scanner unit 16, a process cartridge 17, and a fixing unit 18.
The scanner unit 16 is provided at an upper portion in the main casing 2 and includes a laser light emitting unit (not shown), a polygon mirror 19 that is driven to rotate, lenses 20 and 21, and reflecting mirrors 22, 23, and 24. The laser beam based on the image data emitted from the laser emitting unit passes or reflects in the order of the polygon mirror 19, the lens 20, the reflecting mirrors 22 and 23, the lens 21, and the reflecting mirror 24, as indicated by the chain line, and processes. The surface of the photosensitive drum 27 of the cartridge 17 is irradiated with high-speed scanning.

On the other hand, the fixing unit 18 is provided on the rear side of the process cartridge 17 and includes a heating roller 41 and a pressing roller 42.
The heating roller 41 includes a metal tube such as aluminum, and a halogen lamp for heating in the metal tube, and moves in the same direction as the paper 3 in the nip portion that is in contact with the pressing roller 42 (that is, the heating roller 41). , In the clockwise direction in FIG. 1).

  The pressing roller 42 is a metal shaft member covered with a roller member made of a heat-resistant elastic material (for example, rubber), and is disposed below the heating roller 41 so as to press the heating roller 41. Has been. Further, the pressing roller 42 is driven according to the rotational driving of the heating roller 41.

  In addition, the laser printer 1 is provided with a reverse conveyance unit 47 in order to form images on both sides of the paper 3. The reverse conveyance unit 47 includes a paper discharge roller 45, a reverse conveyance path 48, a flapper 49, and a plurality of reverse conveyance rollers 50.

  The paper discharge roller 45 includes a pair of rollers and is configured to be able to switch between forward rotation and reverse rotation. As described above, the paper discharge roller 45 rotates in the forward direction when the paper 3 is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 46, but rotates in the reverse direction when the paper 3 is reversed.

  The reverse conveyance path 48 is provided along the vertical direction so that the sheet 3 can be conveyed from the paper discharge roller 45 to a plurality of reverse conveyance rollers 50 provided below the transfer position. Is disposed near the paper discharge roller 45, and its downstream end is disposed near the reverse conveying roller 50.

  The flapper 49 is provided so as to be able to swing so as to face a branch portion between the paper discharge path 44 and the reverse conveyance path 48, and the paper reversed by the paper discharge roller 45 by excitation or non-excitation of a solenoid (not shown). 3 is configured to be able to be switched from the direction toward the paper discharge path 44 to the direction toward the reverse conveyance path 48.

  A plurality of reverse conveyance rollers 50 are provided in a substantially horizontal direction above the paper feed tray 6, and the most upstream reverse conveyance roller 50 is disposed near the rear end of the reverse conveyance path 48, and The most downstream reverse conveying roller 50 is provided so as to be disposed below the registration roller 12.

[Description of Process Cartridge 17]
Next, the process cartridge 17 will be described with reference to FIG.
The process cartridge 17 is a cartridge on which an image forming process (charging, development, transfer, cleaning (cleaning of the photosensitive drum 27)) is mounted, and is detachable from the main body casing 2 below the scanner unit 16. It is installed. The process cartridge 17 is composed of a drum cartridge 26 and a developing cartridge 28 that is detachably attached to the drum cartridge 26 (see FIG. 5: a portion indicated by a broken line in FIG. The developing cartridge 28 is configured to be separable).

  Note that the process cartridge 17 including the drum cartridge 26 and the developing cartridge 28 and the drum cartridge 26 alone as in the present embodiment correspond to the process cartridge in the present invention.

The drum cartridge 26 includes a photosensitive drum 27, a scorotron charger 29 (charger referred to in the present invention), a transfer roller 30, and a cleaning brush 64 on the rear side.
The photosensitive drum 27 is configured such that the surface of a drum body made of a metal base tube made of aluminum or the like is covered with a photosensitive layer made of an organic photosensitive body mainly composed of polycarbonate, and is a nip facing the transfer roller 30. The portion is rotationally driven so as to move in the same direction as the sheet 3 (that is, clockwise in FIG. 1).

  The scorotron charger 29 is spaced away from the surface of the photosensitive drum 27 so as not to contact the surface of the photosensitive drum 27 on the upstream side (upstream side in the rotational direction of the photosensitive drum) of the surface of the photosensitive drum 27 with respect to the contact position with the developing roller 31 described later. Is provided. The specific configuration of the scorotron charger 29 will be described later.

  The transfer roller 30 has a configuration in which a metal shaft member is covered with a roller member made of a conductive elastic material (for example, rubber). The transfer roller 30 is in contact with the photosensitive drum 27 so as to face the photosensitive drum 27 in the vertical direction. And a nip between them. A transfer bias is applied to the transfer roller 30.

The cleaning brush 64 is disposed behind the photosensitive drum 27 so that the tip of the brush is in contact with the surface of the drum body of the photosensitive drum 27.
On the other hand, the developing cartridge 28 is configured to be detachable from the drum cartridge 26, and includes a toner containing chamber 34, a developing roller 31, a supply roller 33, a layer thickness regulating member 32, and the like in a housing 51.

  In the toner storage chamber 34, positively charged nonmagnetic one-component toner is stored as a developer. Examples of the toner include polymerizable monomers such as styrene monomers such as styrene, and acrylic monomers such as acrylic acid, alkyl (C1 to C4) acrylate, and alkyl (C1 to C4) methacrylate. Polymerized toners obtained by copolymerization by a known polymerization method such as suspension polymerization are used. The toner is mixed with a colorant such as carbon black, wax, or the like, and an external additive such as silica is added to improve fluidity.

  The developing roller 31 has a configuration in which a metal shaft member is covered with a roller member made of a conductive elastic material (for example, rubber), and faces the photosensitive drum 27 from an opening formed in the housing 51. It is provided at a position where it comes into contact. Then, the developing roller 31 is rotationally driven so as to move in the same direction as the photosensitive drum 27 in the nip portion facing and contacting the photosensitive drum (that is, to rotate in the opposite direction to the photosensitive drum 27). A predetermined developing bias is applied to the developing roller 31.

  The supply roller 33 has a configuration in which a metal shaft member is covered with a roller member made of a conductive foam material (for example, sponge), and is provided at a position facing the developing roller 31. The supply roller 33 is rotationally driven so as to move in the opposite direction to the developing roller 31 at the nip portion that is in contact with the developing roller 31 (that is, to rotate in the same direction as the developing roller 31).

  The layer thickness regulating member 32 includes a pressing portion having a semicircular cross section made of insulating silicone rubber at the tip of a blade body made of a metal leaf spring member, and one end of the blade body is attached to the housing 51. The pressing portion at the other end is pressed against the surface of the developing roller 31 by the elastic force of the blade body.

[Description of Scorotron Charger 29]
Next, the configuration of the scorotron charger 29, which is a component of the process cartridge 17 (specifically, the drum cartridge 26) will be described with reference to FIG.

  2A is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a cross section perpendicular to the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 27 in the scorotron charger 29, and FIG. 2B is a scorotron charger as viewed from the photosensitive drum 27 side. FIG. 29 is a plan view of 29 (a plan view of a surface facing the photosensitive drum 27).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the scorotron charger 29 includes a discharge wire 131 (discharge electrode in the present invention) and a shield member 132 (in the present invention) disposed with a space between the discharge wire 131. Frame).

The discharge wire 131 is a tungsten wire (wire), and is stretched at a certain distance from the photosensitive drum 27 along the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 27.
On the other hand, the shield member 132 is disposed between the discharge wire 131 and the photosensitive drum 27, and has a rectangular opening forming plate 133 whose longitudinal direction is the direction in which the discharge wire 131 is stretched (the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 27). Two sheets that extend perpendicularly from the long side of the opening forming plate 133 and are opposed to each other so as to sandwich the discharge wire 131 from both sides in a direction perpendicular to the extending direction (parallel to the extending direction). The main body is a U-shaped metal plate composed of the opposite plates 134 and 134.

That is, the shield member 132 is in an open state at both ends in the direction in which the discharge wire 131 is stretched.
Further, the opening forming plate 133 is formed with a rectangular opening 133a, and a grid electrode is formed by stretching a plurality of wires 135 along the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 27 in the opening 133a. Has been.

  With such a configuration, when a voltage is applied to the discharge wire 131, the scorotron charger 29 generates a corona discharge by discharging the corona ion, and the discharged corona ion passes through the opening 133a. The surface of the photosensitive drum 27 is charged. At this time, the voltage applied to the grid electrode controls the passage amount of corona ions (in other words, the charged potential of the photosensitive drum 27).

[Description of image forming operation]
With such a configuration, in the image forming unit 5, the toner in the toner storage chamber 34 is supplied to the developing roller 31 by the rotation of the supply roller 33, and at this time, friction between the supply roller 33 and the developing roller 31 occurs. Charges to positive polarity. Further, as the developing roller 31 rotates, the toner on the developing roller 31 enters between the pressing portion of the layer thickness regulating member 32 and the developing roller 31, where it is further frictionally charged and has a certain thickness. It is carried on the developing roller 31 as a thin layer.

  On the other hand, the surface of the photosensitive drum 27 is uniformly positively charged by a scorotron charger 29 and then exposed by high-speed scanning of a laser beam from the scanner unit 16 to form an electrostatic latent image based on image data. Is done.

  Then, the electrostatic latent toner formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 27 when the positively charged toner carried on the developing roller 31 comes into contact with the photosensitive drum 27 by the rotation of the developing roller 31. An image, that is, a surface of the photosensitive drum 27 that is uniformly positively charged, is supplied to an exposed portion exposed to a laser beam and lowered in potential, and is selectively carried to be visualized. . Thus, a toner image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 27.

  Thereafter, the photosensitive drum 27 and the transfer roller 30 are rotationally driven so as to sandwich and convey the sheet 3 therebetween, and the sheet 3 is conveyed between the photosensitive drum 27 and the transfer roller 30. A toner image carried on the surface of the photosensitive drum 27 is transferred onto the paper 3.

  Further, the paper dust adhering to the surface of the photosensitive drum 27 by contact with the paper 3 after the transfer is removed by the brush when the surface of the photosensitive drum 27 faces the cleaning brush 64 along with the rotation.

  On the other hand, in the fixing unit 18, the toner transferred onto the paper 3 is thermally fixed while the paper 3 passes between the heating roller 41 and the pressing roller 42. The sheet 3 on which the toner is fixed in this way is conveyed to a discharge path 70 extending in the vertical direction toward the upper surface of the main casing 2 and formed on the upper surface of the main casing 2 by a discharge roller 71 provided at the upper end thereof. The paper is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 72.

[Description of the outer shape of the drum cartridge 26]
Next, the outer shape of the drum cartridge 26 will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 are perspective views of the process cartridge 17, and FIG. 5 is a central sectional view of the process cartridge 17.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the drum cartridge 26 has a box-shaped resin-made lower frame 52 that is open at the top, a box-shaped resin that is open at the bottom, and an upper position at the rear end of the lower frame 52 ( A casing is constituted by a resin upper frame 53 (frame body in the present invention) which is configured to be detachable at an upper position of the position where the photosensitive drum 27 is disposed. That is, in the present embodiment, the shield member 132 and the upper frame 53 constitute a frame body referred to in the present invention.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the upper frame 53 is attached in a state where the scorotron charger 29 is accommodated, and the photosensitive drum 27, the transfer roller 30 and the cleaning brush 64 are accommodated in the lower frame 52. It is attached in a state.

  Also, clean air is supplied to the side wall 53a of the upper frame 53 in a space 136 (see FIG. 2A) formed between the shield member 132 and the discharge wire 131, which are components of the scorotron charger 29. A hole 53c (introduction port and discharge port in the present invention) for introduction and discharge is formed. Also, a hole similar to the hole 53c is formed on the side wall 53a opposite to the side wall 53a where the hole 53c is formed. That is, these holes 53c are formed to communicate the inside and outside of the shield member 132 (process cartridge 17 in a broad sense). For this reason, when the drum cartridge 26 is viewed from the outside, holes are formed in the side walls 53 a on both sides of the upper frame 53.

  Further, since the hole 53c is formed in the upper frame 53 in this way, when the process cartridge 17 is mounted on the main body casing 2, an unillustrated blower fan (a blower that blows air) is used. Clean air can flow along the extending direction of the discharge wire 131 from the hole 53c to the hole formed in the opposite side wall (see the arrow in FIG. 3).

  Further, a portion of the upper wall 53f of the upper frame 53 that covers the upper portion of the discharge wire 131 has a groove 53g (a long hole in the present invention) extending from one side wall 53a to the other side wall in the extending direction of the discharge wire 131. ) Is formed.

  The groove 53g is formed with a constant width that does not allow the user's finger to enter, and is configured so that the user cannot touch the discharge wire 131 from the outside of the upper frame 53 via the groove 53g. Yes.

[Description of Wire Cleaner 124]
Here, a wire cleaner 124 configured to be slidable along the groove 53g is provided in the groove 53g. The wire cleaner 124 includes a cleaning member 124b made of a foam material (for example, sponge) bent with the discharge wire 131 interposed therebetween, and the cleaning member 124b is moved along the groove 53g by the user's operation (along the discharge wire 131). And an operation member 124a for sliding movement.

  In such a wire cleaner 124, the user can clean the surface of the discharge wire 131 by sliding the operation member 124a along the groove 53g.

This cleaning operation is generally performed with the process cartridge 17 removed from the main casing 2 in order to facilitate the operation by the user.
[Description of Restricting Member 140a]
Here, the upper frame 53 is provided with a regulating member 140a that closes the groove 53g.

  That is, as described above, the groove 53g needs to be formed in the upper frame 53 in order for the user to operate the wire cleaner 124 (operation member 124a) from the outside. However, such a groove 53g is formed. If this is done, when clean air is caused to flow along the direction in which the discharge wire 131 is stretched using a blower fan, this air flow is disturbed, and dust, toner, or other deposits are deposited on the discharge wire 131. There is a risk that it will easily adhere. That is, when air enters and exits from the groove 53g, the air flow around the discharge wire 131 becomes uneven.

  For this reason, in the present embodiment, the regulating member 140a is provided in order to make the flow of air around the discharge wire 131 as constant as possible. As a result, clean air can be sent to the discharge wire 131 to remove dust, toner, and the like.

  For example, the regulating member 140a includes two insulating resin films (more specifically, for example, an insulating film such as a polyethylene film) that extend along the extending direction of the discharge wire 131. It is comprised by. These films prevent the air from entering and exiting from the groove 53g by being arranged without any gaps.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 5, in the regulating member 140a, the wire cleaner 124 can move between the films, and the arrangement of the films is set so as to contact the wire cleaner 124 (operation member 124a). For this reason, as shown in FIG. 4, when the operation member 124a is operated by the user, the wire cleaner 124 is integrated with the cleaning member 124b and slides so as to spread the regulating member 140a (each film). Move while.

  That is, the regulating member 140a (each film) has flexibility, and even when the wire cleaner 124 is operated, only a part of the groove 53g is opened, and the groove 53g is almost closed. It is said. For this reason, the restricting member 140a (each film) also prevents impurities such as dust from entering the discharge wire 131 side from the groove 53g when the wire cleaner 124 is used.

[Description of Action and Effect of Embodiment 1]
The laser printer 1 described in detail above can be attached to the laser printer 1 that transfers a visible image formed on the photosensitive drum 27 using toner to a recording medium (paper 3), and is at least photosensitive. A process cartridge 17 having a drum 27 and a scorotron charger 29 for charging the surface of the photosensitive drum 27 is provided.

  In the process cartridge 17, the scorotron charger 29 has a discharge wire 131 extending in the longitudinal direction (stretching direction) and a shape covering the periphery of the discharge wire 131, and extends along the longitudinal direction of the discharge wire 131. A groove 53g is formed, and an inlet and an outlet for introducing and discharging air around the discharge wire 131 at positions different from the groove 53g of the member (open portions and holes on both sides of the shield member 132). A shield member 132 having a portion 53c). The scorotron charger 29 is disposed so as to be movable along the groove 53g inside the shield member 132, and cleans the discharge wire 131 by sliding with the discharge wire 131 when moving along the groove 53g. The cleaning member 124b is connected to the cleaning member 124b through the groove 53g, thereby allowing the outer side of the shield member 132 to move integrally with the cleaning member 124b along the groove 53g, and the groove 53g. And a regulating member 140a that regulates the entry and exit of air.

  Therefore, according to such a process cartridge 17, by arranging the regulating member 140a, it is possible to prevent the clean air flow from the inlet to the outlet in the shield member 132 from being disturbed. Further, deposits such as dust and toner can be made difficult to adhere to the discharge wire 131.

  Further, in the process cartridge 17 of the present embodiment, the intake port and the exhaust port (hole 53c) are formed at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the discharge wire 131 (the side wall 53a and the side wall opposite to the side wall 53a) in the shield member 132. Has been.

  Therefore, according to such a process cartridge 17, since air can flow along the longitudinal direction of the discharge wire 131, the flow of air in the shield member 132 can be further stabilized. Therefore, it is possible to make it difficult to attach dust or toner to the discharge wire 131.

In the process cartridge 17 of the present embodiment, the restricting member 140a is made of a flexible insulator.
Therefore, according to such a process cartridge 17, it is possible to prevent the regulating member 140a from adversely affecting the discharge. In addition, since the regulating member 140a has flexibility, the regulating member 140a is disposed within the movement range of these (the operating member 124a and the cleaning member 124b) so as not to hinder the movement of the operating member 124a and the cleaning member 124b. Can do.

Furthermore, in the process cartridge 17 of the present embodiment, the discharge wire 131 is composed of a wire.
That is, in the discharge wire 131 that discharges from the wire as in the present embodiment, the discharge needs to be performed uniformly from the entire wire. Therefore, if deposits such as dust and toner adhere to the wire, the discharge becomes uneven. It tends to occur.

  Therefore, since the above configuration is applied to the process cartridge 17 in which the discharge wire 131 is formed of a wire as in the present embodiment, the effect can be made more remarkable.

<Embodiment 2>
Next, another type of laser printer 1 will be described. The laser printer 1 described in the present embodiment (Embodiment 2) is different only in the configuration of the regulating member 140b, and the other configurations are the same as those of the laser printer 1 of the first embodiment. Therefore, in this embodiment (Embodiment 2), only the portions different from the laser printer 1 of Embodiment 1 are described in detail, and the same portions as those of the laser printer 1 of Embodiment 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals and described. Is omitted.

[Description of Restricting Member 140b]
The restricting member 140b of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the process cartridge 17, and FIG. 7 is a central sectional view of the process cartridge 17.

The regulating member 140b of the present embodiment is composed of a brush having a large number of bristles arranged side by side in the extending direction of the discharge wire 131 in the groove 53g.
This brush is made of an insulating resin material having flexibility (for example, nylon, rayon, etc.), and as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the wire cleaner 124 (strictly located in the groove 53g). (A part of the operating member 124a to be moved) is arranged so as to cover the groove 53g from both sides (long side) of the groove 53g toward the moving area.

  Therefore, when the operation member 124a is operated by the user, the wire cleaner 124 moves integrally with the cleaning member 124b while sequentially scraping a part of the regulating member 140b (brush).

[Description of Action and Effect of Embodiment 2]
Thus, in the process cartridge 17 of the present embodiment, the regulating member 140b is configured as a brush that covers at least a part of the groove 53g.

  Therefore, according to such a process cartridge 17, the numerous fibers constituting the brush prevent air from entering and exiting the inside and outside of the shield member 132, and do not hinder the movement of the operation member 124a and the cleaning member 124b. Can be.

<Embodiment 3>
Next, another type of laser printer 1 will be described. Also in the laser printer 1 described in the present embodiment (third embodiment), only the configuration of the regulating member 140c is different, and therefore only the portions different from the laser printer 1 of the first and second embodiments will be described in detail.

[Description of Restricting Member 140c]
The restricting member 140c of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the process cartridge 17 in the closed state of the restricting member, and FIG. 9 is a central sectional view of the process cartridge 17 in the closed state of the restricting member. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the process cartridge 17 in the restricting member open state, and FIG. 11 is a central sectional view of the process cartridge 17 in the restricting member open state.

  As shown in FIGS. 8 to 11, the regulating member 140c of the present embodiment functions as a cover member 143a that covers the wire cleaner 124 and the groove 53g from the outside, and a rotating shaft that supports the cover member 143a so that it can be opened and closed. And a support member 143b.

  In the cover member 143a, the cover member 143a seals the groove 53g when the regulating member is closed as shown in FIGS. For this reason, the movement of air through the groove 53g is restricted.

  When the wire cleaner 124 is used by the user, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the cover member 143a is rotated around the support member 143b (counterclockwise in FIG. 11). Thus, the groove 53g and the wire cleaner 124 are opened. In this state, the user can operate the wire cleaner 124 (operation member 124a).

  In the laser printer 1 of the present embodiment (third embodiment), when the wire cleaner 124 is operated by the user, air enters and exits without being restricted from the groove 53g, but the wire cleaner When 124 is operated, the process cartridge 17 is removed from the main casing 2 and is not in a state where fresh air is introduced from the hole 53c, so that dust, toner or the like adheres to the discharge wire 131. It will not be easy to do.

[Description of Action and Effect of Embodiment 3]
In the process cartridge 17 of this embodiment, the regulating member 140c includes a cover member 143a that covers the groove 53g and the operation member 124a from the outside so as to be freely opened and closed.

  Therefore, according to such a process cartridge 17, the cover member 143a can restrict the flow of air from the groove 53g, so that the air flow from the inlet to the outlet in the shield member 132 is disturbed. Can be prevented. Therefore, it is possible to make it difficult to attach dust or toner to the discharge wire 131.

Further, the regulating member 140c of the present embodiment can be used in combination with the regulating members 140a and 140b described in the first or second embodiment.
<Description of modification>
The embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can take various forms as long as it belongs to the technical scope of the present invention.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the process cartridge 17 is configured such that the developing cartridge 28 is separable from the drum cartridge 26, but may be configured such that the drum cartridge 26 and the developing cartridge 28 cannot be separated.

  In the above embodiment, the upper frame 53 is formed with two holes 53c that function as an inlet and an outlet. For example, only one hole (an inlet or an outlet) is formed. In addition, the function as the other hole may be assigned to the gap between the wires 135 provided in the shield member 132.

It is principal part side sectional drawing which shows a laser printer. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view (a) illustrating a configuration of a cross section perpendicular to the axial direction of the photosensitive drum in the scorotron charger, and a plan view (b) of the scorotron charger viewed from the photosensitive drum side. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a process cartridge according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a process cartridge according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a central sectional view showing the process cartridge according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a process cartridge according to a second embodiment. FIG. 6 is a central sectional view showing a process cartridge according to a second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a process cartridge in a closed state of a regulating member according to a third embodiment. FIG. 6 is a central cross-sectional view showing a process cartridge in a closed state of a regulating member according to a third embodiment. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a process cartridge in a restricting member open state according to a third embodiment. FIG. 10 is a central cross-sectional view showing a process cartridge in a restricting member open state according to a third embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Laser printer, 2 ... Main body casing, 3 ... Paper, 4 ... Feeder part, 5 ... Image formation part, 6 ... Paper feed tray, 7 ... Paper press plate, 8 ... Paper feed roller, 9 ... Paper feed pad, 10 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS ... Paper dust removal roller, 12 ... Registration roller, 14 ... Multipurpose tray, 15 ... Multipurpose side feed roller, 16 ... Scanner part, 17 ... Process cartridge, 18 ... Fixing part, 19 ... Polygon mirror, 20 ... Lens, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 21 ... Lens, 22 ... Reflecting mirror, 24 ... Reflecting mirror, 25 ... Multipurpose side paper feeding pad, 26 ... Drum cartridge, 27 ... Photosensitive drum, 28 ... Developing cartridge, 29 ... Scorotron type charger, 30 ... Transfer roller, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 31 ... Development roller, 32 ... Layer thickness control member, 33 ... Supply roller, 34 ... Toner storage chamber, 41 ... Heating roller, 42 ... Pressing roller, 45 ... Discharge roller 47: Reverse conveyance section, 48: Reverse conveyance path, 49 ... Flapper, 50 ... Reverse conveyance roller, 51 ... Housing, 52 ... Lower frame, 53 ... Upper frame, 53a ... Side wall, 53c ... Hole, 53f ... Upper wall , 53 g ... groove portion, 64 ... cleaning brush, 70 ... paper discharge path, 71 ... paper discharge roller, 124 ... wire cleaner, 124a ... operation member, 124b ... cleaning member, 131 ... discharge wire, 132 ... shield member, 133 ... opening Forming plate, 133a ... opening, 134 ... opposing plate, 135 ... wire, 136 ... space, 140a ... regulating member, 140b ... regulating member, 140c ... regulating member, 143a ... lid member, 143b ... support member.

Claims (8)

An image forming apparatus that transfers a visible image formed on an image carrier using a developer to a recording medium can be attached, and at least the surface of the image carrier and the image carrier are charged. A process cartridge having a charger,
The charger is
A discharge electrode extending in the longitudinal direction;
The discharge electrode has a shape covering the periphery of the discharge electrode, a long hole is formed along the longitudinal direction of the discharge electrode, and air is introduced and discharged around the discharge electrode at a position different from the long hole. A frame formed with an inlet and an outlet for
A cleaning member disposed inside the frame so as to be movable along the long hole, and cleaning the discharge electrode by sliding with the discharge electrode when moving along the long hole;
An operation member that can be moved integrally with the cleaning member along the elongated hole by being connected to the cleaning member through the elongated hole;
A regulating member that regulates the entry and exit of air through the elongated hole;
A process cartridge comprising:   The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the intake port and the exhaust port are formed at both ends of the discharge electrode in the longitudinal direction in the frame.   The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the regulating member is made of a flexible insulator.   The process cartridge according to claim 3, wherein the restriction member is configured as a brush that covers at least a part of the elongated hole.   The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the restriction member includes a cover member that covers the elongated hole and the operation member so as to be openable and closable from the outside.   The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the discharge electrode is made of a wire. A process cartridge including at least an image carrier and a charger for charging the surface of the image carrier is configured to be detachable, and a visible image formed on the image carrier when the process cartridge is mounted. An image forming apparatus for transferring to a recording medium,
An image forming apparatus comprising the process cartridge according to claim 1 as the process cartridge. An image carrier;
A charger for charging the surface of the image carrier;
An image forming apparatus for transferring a visible image formed on the image carrier to a recording medium,
The charger is
A discharge electrode extending in the longitudinal direction;
The discharge electrode has a shape covering the periphery of the discharge electrode, a long hole is formed along the longitudinal direction of the discharge electrode, and air is introduced and discharged around the discharge electrode at a position different from the long hole. A frame formed with an inlet and an outlet for
A cleaning member disposed inside the frame so as to be movable along the long hole, and cleaning the discharge electrode by sliding with the discharge electrode when moving along the long hole;
An operation member that can be moved integrally with the cleaning member along the elongated hole by being connected to the cleaning member through the elongated hole;
A regulating member that regulates the entry and exit of air through the elongated hole;
An image forming apparatus comprising:

Images