JP2007187845A - Solid lubricant, cleaning device, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inexpensive and high quality cleaning device for stably applying solid lubricant over time from the beginning at a low cost and easily by devising the solid lubricant, thereby putting to practical use, and to provide a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: In the solid lubricant 25 which comes into more press-contact with the outer circumferential portion of a freely rotatable lubricant applying member 24 coming into contact with the surface of a rotating body 2, in an energizing member 26, a press-contact portion 25a with the lubricant applying member 24 has such a shape that the area of the press-contact portion 25a becomes larger when the press-contact portion 25a is abraded, as use is more advanced and the center axial line in the longitudinal direction of the freely rotatable lubricant applying member 24 has an angle with respect to a line passing through the rotation center of the freely rotatable lubricant applying member 24. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a solid lubricant for reducing the coefficient of friction of the surface of an image carrier used in a copying machine, a facsimile machine, a laser beam printer or the like (monochrome or color), a cleaning apparatus having the solid lubricant, and a cleaning device. The present invention relates to a process cartridge equipped with the apparatus and an image forming apparatus.

In an image forming process in electrophotography, first, an electrophotographic photosensitive member is charged using a charging device, and a laser beam modulated based on image data is irradiated to form an electrostatic latent image. The electrostatic latent image is visualized by electrostatically adhering toner by a developing device arranged to face the photoconductor.
The toner image on the photoconductor is then transferred by a transfer device, and in some cases, transferred multiple times, and finally transferred to a transfer sheet such as paper or OHP. The transfer sheet onto which the toner image has been transferred is then fixed by passing through a fixing device, and then discharged outside the main body. After the transfer, residual toner remaining on the photoreceptor and the transfer device is removed by a cleaning device.
As for the transfer, a method of directly transferring from the photosensitive member to the transfer paper, a method of transferring the image by the intermediate transfer device and then transferring it to the paper, and a transfer from the photosensitive member to the primary transfer device and the secondary transfer device in this order and then transferring to the paper. There are various types depending on applications and specifications.

In recent color machines, a so-called four-tandem tandem intermediate transfer belt system in which four photoconductor units are arranged in parallel and opposed to a stretched belt is becoming mainstream because of good speed and image quality. As for image quality, an increasing number of models adopt polymerized toner from conventional pulverized toner in order to improve image quality.
In general, many of the parts used in the above-mentioned image forming process have a short life compared to the main part, and the life is reached from about a dozen k sheets to a few hundred k sheets using A4 vertical paper. It will be exchanged. In addition, the image forming means using polymerized toner is difficult to clean and it is difficult to maintain its function for a long time.
For this reason, various proposals have conventionally been made for a process cartridge solid lubricant urging method, a lubricant application device, a process cartridge, and an image forming apparatus (for example, see Patent Documents 1 to 4).

Patent Document 1 or 2 discloses a method of reducing the wear of the photosensitive member, the transfer member, or the cleaning member in contact with them by applying a solid lubricant to the photosensitive member or the transfer member. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-260260 proposes to improve the quality of an image forming apparatus by applying this technique to a so-called quadruple tandem intermediate transfer belt system.
FIG. 12 is a schematic view showing an initial state of a lubricant application device in the prior art.
FIG. 13 is a schematic view showing a state with time in the prior art lubricant applying apparatus of FIG.
In this conventional lubricant application device, the urging member 26 that presses the solid lubricant 25 against the photosensitive member 2 is generally an urging method that utilizes the elasticity of a compression spring, a tension spring, a leaf spring, or the like. As is well known, the biasing force of such a biasing member 26 changes when the position of the operating point is displaced.
Since the solid lubricant 25 is a consumable item, the volume of the solid lubricant 25 decreases with time, and the action point of the urging member 26 is displaced accordingly, and the urging force decreases (see FIG. 13). When the urging force decreases, the amount of lubricant applied also decreases, and in some cases, the amount of application may fall short. As a countermeasure, there is a method of strengthening the initial biasing force in anticipation of a decrease in biasing force with time.
JP 2002-244485 A JP 2002-268494 A JP 2004-151643 A JP 2002-244487 A

However, in the above method, since the initial amount of solid lubricant applied increases, it is necessary to increase the capacity of the solid lubricant. In recent years, with the progress of miniaturization and weight reduction of the apparatus, the enlargement of the solid lubricant reverses the times.
As a countermeasure, Patent Document 4 proposes a method of controlling the amount of lubricant applied using a solenoid. However, since the apparatus is expensive, this also goes against the recent trend of cost reduction. Will be.
Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to devise a solid lubricant in consideration of the above-described circumstances, and to apply the lubricant stably and stably over time from the initial stage at low cost. The present invention provides a cleaning device, a process cartridge, and an image forming apparatus.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 1 is used in a solid lubricant that is pressed against an outer peripheral portion of a rotatable lubricant application member that is in contact with the surface of a rotating body by a biasing member. The area of the pressure contact portion with the lubricant application member increases in accordance with the longitudinal axis of the lubricant application member, and the central axis of the longitudinal direction has an angle with respect to a line passing through the rotation center of the lubricant application member. It is characterized by.
The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the surface having the pressure contact portion is a flat surface or a curved surface having a larger curvature than the outer peripheral portion of the lubricant application member.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, the surface having the pressure contact portion is a flat surface or a curved surface having a larger curvature than the outer periphery of the lubricant application member, and the surface opposite to the surface having the pressure contact portion is the surface. The solid lubricant according to claim 1, wherein the solid lubricant is wider than the surface having the press contact portion.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the surface having the pressure contact portion is a flat surface or a curved surface having a larger curvature than the outer peripheral portion of the lubricant application member, and larger than the diameter of the lubricant application member. Characterized by solid lubricants.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the surface having the pressure contact portion is a curved surface having substantially the same curvature as the outer peripheral portion of the lubricant application member, and the surface opposite to the surface having the pressure contact portion is the pressure contact. The solid lubricant according to claim 1, wherein the solid lubricant is wider than the surface having the portion.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the surface having the pressure contact portion has a curved surface having substantially the same curvature that contacts the outer peripheral portion of the lubricant application member, and the end opposite to the curved surface in the lateral direction is the surface. The fixed lubricant according to claim 1, wherein the fixed lubricant is located on an outer side of an outer peripheral portion of the lubricant application member, and the end portion on the curved surface side is on the opposite end side with respect to a perpendicular extending downward from the center of the lubricant application member. Features.

The invention according to claim 7 is characterized by the solid lubricant according to claim 1, wherein the surface having the pressure contact portion is an uneven surface.
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, the surface having the pressure contact portion is an uneven surface, and the surface opposite to the surface having the pressure contact portion is wider than the surface having the pressure contact portion. Characterized by solid lubricants.
A ninth aspect of the invention is characterized by a cleaning device including the solid lubricant according to any one of the first to eighth aspects.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a process cartridge including the cleaning device according to the ninth aspect.
The invention described in claim 11 is characterized by an image forming apparatus comprising the cleaning device described in claim 9 or the process cartridge described in claim 10.
According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image forming apparatus according to the eleventh aspect, wherein a polymerized toner is used as a developer for developing an electrostatic latent image.

  According to the present invention, the area of the pressure contact portion with the lubricant application member increases with use, and an angle is provided to the longitudinal center axis with respect to a line passing through the rotation center of the lubricant application member. Since it is displaced from the center of the lubricant application member and pressed by the urging member, the consumption amount of the solid lubricant can be made almost constant from the beginning to the time, so that a stable lubricant can be supplied to the image carrier. Can do.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the overall configuration of an image forming apparatus used in the present invention. An image forming unit A is disposed substantially at the center of the image forming apparatus 1 shown as the in-body discharge type, and a sheet feeding unit B is disposed immediately below the image forming unit A. If necessary, another sheet feeding device can be added below. Above the image forming unit A, a reading unit C that reads a document through a paper discharge storage unit D is disposed. A space between the image forming unit A and the reading unit C is used as a paper discharge storage unit D, and an image-formed recording medium (hereinafter referred to as paper) is discharged and stored. The arrows in FIG. 1 indicate the sheet passing path.

In the image forming unit A, a charging device 3 that charges the surface of the photoconductor 2 around the drum-shaped photoconductor 2, an exposure device 5 that irradiates image data with laser light on the surface of the photoconductor 2, and a photosensitive device. A developing device 4 for visualizing an electrostatic latent image formed by exposing the surface of the body 2 is provided.
In the image forming unit A, an intermediate transfer device 6 that superimposes toner images respectively developed on a plurality of photosensitive members 2, a transfer device 7 that transfers the toner images onto paper, and a toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive member after the transfer is removed and collected. A cleaning device 8 that performs the above operation, a lubricant application device 9 that lowers the coefficient of friction of the surface of the image carrier such as the photosensitive member 2, and a fixing device 10 that fixes the toner on the paper on which the toner image has been obtained. Is arranged.

In order to facilitate the maintenance, the photosensitive member 2, the charging device 3, the developing device 4, the cleaning device 8, and the like are incorporated as a process cartridge (PC) in one unit and can be attached to and detached from the main body device. For the same reason, the cleaning device 8 and the lubricant application device 9 are accommodated in one unit and can be attached to and detached from the intermediate transfer device 6.
Further, the cleaning device 8, the lubricant application device 9, and the transfer member are integrally accommodated and detachable from the main body device. The sheet that has passed through the fixing device 10 is discharged and stored in the discharge storage unit D through the discharge roller 11.

  In the paper feeding unit B, unused paper is stored, and the uppermost paper is fed out from the paper feeding cassette by the rotation of the paper feeding roller 12 and conveyed to the registration roller 13. The registration roller 13 is controlled to start rotation at a timing so that the conveyance of the paper is temporarily stopped and the positional relationship between the toner image on the surface of the photosensitive member and the leading edge of the paper is a predetermined position.

In the reading unit C, in order to read and scan a document (not shown) placed on the contact glass 14, a reading traveling body 15 including a document illumination light source and a mirror reciprocates. Image information scanned by the reading traveling body 15 is read as an image signal into the CCD 17 installed behind the lens 16.
The read image signal is digitized and processed. An electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photoreceptor 2 by light emission of a laser diode (not shown) of the exposure device 5 based on the image-processed signal. The optical signal from the laser diode reaches the photosensitive member 2 via a known polygon mirror or lens.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a process cartridge (PC).
In FIG. 2, the charging device includes a charging member 3 and an urging member 19 that pressurizes the charging member 3 to the photosensitive member 2 with a predetermined pressure. The charging member 3 has a conductive elastic layer around a conductive shaft.
A predetermined voltage is applied to the gap between the conductive elastic layer and the photoconductor 2 through a conductive shaft by a voltage application device (not shown), and a charge is applied to the surface of the photoconductor 2. In the developing device 4, the developer is sufficiently stirred by the stirring screw 22 and is magnetically attached to the developing roller 20.
The attached developer is thinned on the developing roller 20 by the developing doctor 21. The electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor 2 is visualized by the thinned developer. The visualized toner image is electrically attached to the intermediate transfer belt 6 as an intermediate transfer device by the transfer bias roller 23.

Residual toner that has not been transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 6 is removed from the photoreceptor 2 by the cleaning device 8. The lubricant application member 24 of the lubricant application device is formed in a roller shape by winding a brush around a metal shaft.
The solid lubricant 25 has an angle with respect to the line passing through the rotation center of the rotatable lubricant application member 24, that is, the solid lubricant 25 is angularly displaced. It arrange | positions so that the lubricant application member 24 may be press-contacted.
The solid lubricant 25 is urged to the lubricant application member 24 at a predetermined pressure by the urging member 26, and the solid lubricant 25 is scraped off into a fine powder by rotating the lubricant application member 24. This fine powder is applied to the surface of the photoreceptor 2 as a lubricant.
In the present invention, by devising the shape of the solid lubricant 25, the applied amount of the lubricant does not decrease even when the urging force of the urging member 26 is reduced due to wear of the solid lubricant 25. Specifically, this was dealt with by changing the area of the pressure contact portion of the solid lubricant 25.

3 to 9 below, the lubricant application member 24 and the solid lubricant 25 of the solid lubricant application device 9 are the rotation center of the lubricant application member 24 and the longitudinal direction of the solid lubricant 25 except for FIG. Although the central axes are shown to coincide with each other, this is for simplifying the illustration. Actually, as described in FIG. 2, the solid lubricant 25 is lubricated in a state of being angularly displaced. It arrange | positions so that the agent application member 24 may be press-contacted.
FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a first embodiment of a solid lubricant application device according to the present invention. In FIG. 3, a solid lubricant application device 9 is pressed against a surface of an image carrier (not shown) by a rotatable lubricant application member 24 and an outer peripheral portion of the lubricant application member 24 by a biasing member 26. The solid lubricant 25 is included.

FIG. 3A shows an initial state of the solid lubricant 25 in the solid lubricant application device 9. When the pressure contact portion 25a of the solid lubricant 25 with the lubricant application member 24 wears out from this state over time, as shown in FIG. 3C, the area of the pressure contact portion 25a is increased. Yes.
Further, in FIG. 3A, the surface having the pressure contact portion 25a is a flat surface, and in FIG. 3B, the curvature of the pressure contact portion 25a of the solid lubricant 25 is larger than the outer peripheral portion of the lubricant applying member 24 with which the contact is made. The case is shown.

When the initial urging amount is strong, the area of the press contact portion 25a is reduced to suppress the amount of the solid lubricant 25 applied. When the urging force over time is weakened, the area of the press contact portion 25a is increased to increase the solid lubricant. The application amount of 25 increases from the initial period to a certain period.
Therefore, the solid lubricant can be applied stably and stably over time from the initial stage at low cost, and the consumption amount of the solid lubricant 25 can be made almost constant, so that it is possible to supply a stable lubricant to the image carrier. Become.
Further, by using the solid lubricant 25 of the present invention, it is possible to provide an inexpensive and high-quality cleaning device, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus as applications.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a second embodiment of the solid lubricant application device according to the present invention. In FIG. 4, a solid lubricant application device 9 is pressed against a surface of an image carrier (not shown) by a rotatable lubricant application member 24 and an outer peripheral portion of the lubricant application member 24 by a biasing member 26. The solid lubricant 25 is included.
FIG. 4A shows the initial state of the solid lubricant 25 in the solid lubricant application device 9. When the pressure contact portion 25a of the solid lubricant 25 with the lubricant application member 24 wears out from this state over time, as shown in FIG. 4C, the area of the pressure contact portion 25a is increased. Yes.

Further, in FIG. 4A, the surface having the pressure contact portion 25a is a flat surface, and in FIG. 4B, the curvature of the pressure contact portion 25a of the solid lubricant 25 is larger than the outer peripheral portion of the lubricant application member 24 with which the contact is made. The case is shown.
When the initial urging amount is strong, the area of the press contact portion 25a is reduced to suppress the amount of the solid lubricant 25 applied. When the urging force with time decreases, the area of the press contact portion 25a is increased to increase the solid lubricant 25. The amount of coating is increased.
In the second embodiment of FIG. 4, the surface of the solid lubricant 25 opposite to the surface having the press contact portion 25 a is made wider than the surface having the press contact portion 25 a, so Since the consumption amount can be made substantially constant, a stable lubricant can be supplied to the image carrier.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a third embodiment of the solid lubricant application device according to the present invention. In FIG. 5, a solid lubricant application device 9 is pressed against a surface of an image carrier (not shown) by a rotatable lubricant application member 24 and an outer peripheral portion of the lubricant application member 24 by a biasing member 26. The solid lubricant 25 is included.
FIG. 5A shows an initial state of the solid lubricant 25 in the solid lubricant application device 9. When the pressure contact portion 25a of the solid lubricant 25 with the lubricant application member 24 is worn out from this state over time, as shown in FIG. 5 (c), the area of the pressure contact portion 25a is increased. Yes.

Furthermore, in FIG. 5A, the surface having the pressure contact portion 25a is a flat surface, and in FIG. 5B, the curved surface larger than the outer peripheral portion of the lubricant application member 24 with which the curvature of the pressure contact portion 25a of the solid lubricant 25 abuts. The case is shown.
When the initial biasing amount is strong, the area of the press contact portion 25a is reduced to suppress the amount of the solid lubricant 25 applied. When the urging force with time decreases, the area of the press contact portion 25a is increased to increase the solid lubricant 25. The amount of coating is increased from the beginning to a certain period.
Therefore, the solid lubricant 25 can be applied stably and stably over time from the initial stage at low cost, and the consumption amount of the solid lubricant 25 can be made almost constant, so that a stable lubricant can be supplied to the image carrier. It becomes.
The surface having the pressure contact portion 25a is a flat surface or a curved surface having a larger curvature than that of the outer peripheral portion of the lubricant application member 24, and the curved surface is made larger than the diameter of the lubricant application member 24. The amount can be made almost constant, and the press contact portion 25a of the solid lubricant 25 worn by the lubricant application member 24 does not have an edge shape.

  FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing a fourth embodiment of the solid lubricant application device according to the present invention. In FIG. 6, a solid lubricant application device 9 is pressed by a rotatable lubricant application member 24 that contacts the surface of an image carrier (not shown), and an outer peripheral portion of the lubricant application member 24 by a biasing member 26. The solid lubricant 25 is included.

FIG. 6A shows the initial state of the solid lubricant 25 in the solid lubricant application device 9. When the pressure contact portion 25a of the solid lubricant 25 with the lubricant application member 24 wears out from this state over time, as shown in FIG. 6C, the area of the pressure contact portion 25a is increased. Yes.
When the initial urging amount is strong, the area of the press contact portion 25a is reduced to suppress the amount of the solid lubricant 25 applied. When the urging force with time decreases, the area of the press contact portion 25a is increased to increase the solid lubricant 25. The amount of coating is increased.
In the fourth embodiment of FIG. 6, the surface of the solid lubricant 25 having the pressure contact portion 25a is a curved surface having substantially the same curvature as the outer peripheral portion of the lubricant application member 24, and is opposite to the surface having the pressure contact portion 25a. The surface is wider than the surface having the press contact portion 25a. Accordingly, since the consumption amount of the solid lubricant 25 can be made substantially constant from the beginning to the passage of time, a stable lubricant can be supplied to the image carrier.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing a fifth embodiment of the solid lubricant application device according to the present invention. In FIG. 7, a solid lubricant application device 9 is pressed against a surface of an image carrier (not shown) by a rotatable lubricant application member 24 and an outer peripheral portion of the lubricant application member 24 by a biasing member 26. The solid lubricant 25 is included.
FIG. 7A shows an initial state of the solid lubricant 25 in the solid lubricant application device 9. When the pressure contact portion 25a of the solid lubricant 25 with the lubricant application member 24 is worn out from this state over time, as shown in FIG. 7C, the area of the pressure contact portion 25a is increased. Yes.

Further, in FIG. 7, the surface of the solid lubricant 25 having the pressure contact portion 25 a is a curved surface having substantially the same curvature as the outer peripheral portion of the lubricant application member 24, and one end A is from the outer peripheral portion of the lubricant application member 24. The other end B is located on the end A side from the center of the lubricant application member 24, that is, the solid lubricant 25 is on the left side from the vertical center line (perpendicular) of the lubricant application member 24. The position is shifted.
Accordingly, since the consumption amount of the solid lubricant 25 can be made substantially constant from the beginning to the passage of time, a stable lubricant can be supplied to the image carrier. Further, since the press contact portion 25a of the solid lubricant 25 worn by the lubricant application member 24 does not become an edge, there is an advantage that it is difficult to break.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing a sixth embodiment of the solid lubricant application device according to the present invention. In FIG. 8, a solid lubricant application device 9 is pressed against a surface of an image carrier (not shown) by a rotatable lubricant application member 24 and an outer peripheral portion of the lubricant application member 24 by a biasing member 26. The solid lubricant 25 is included. The surface having the press contact portion 25a of the solid lubricant 25 is an uneven surface.
FIG. 8A shows an initial state of the solid lubricant 25 in the solid lubricant application device 9. When the pressure contact portion 25a of the solid lubricant 25 with the lubricant application member 24 is worn over time from this state, as shown in FIG. 8C, the area of the pressure contact portion 25a is increased. Yes.
When the initial urging amount is strong, the area of the press contact portion 25a is reduced to suppress the amount of the solid lubricant 25 applied. When the urging force with time decreases, the area of the press contact portion 25a is increased to increase the solid lubricant 25. The amount of coating is increased from the beginning to a certain period. By making the surface having the pressure contact portion 25a an uneven surface, the consumption amount of the solid lubricant 25 can be made substantially constant from the beginning to the passage of time, so that a stable lubricant can be supplied to the image carrier.

FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing a seventh embodiment of the solid lubricant applying apparatus according to the present invention. In FIG. 9, a solid lubricant application device 9 is pressed against a surface of an image carrier (not shown) by a rotatable lubricant application member 24, and an outer peripheral portion of the lubricant application member 24 by a biasing member 26. The solid lubricant 25 is included. The surface having the press contact portion 25a of the solid lubricant 25 is an uneven surface.
FIG. 9A shows an initial state of the solid lubricant 25 in the solid lubricant application device 9. When the pressure contact portion 25a of the solid lubricant 25 with the lubricant application member 24 is worn over time from this state, as shown in FIG. 9C, the area of the pressure contact portion 25a is increased. Yes.
When the initial biasing amount is strong, the area of the press contact portion 25a is reduced to suppress the amount of the solid lubricant 25 applied. When the urging force with time decreases, the area of the press contact portion 25a is increased to increase the solid lubricant 25. The amount of coating is increased.

In the seventh embodiment of FIG. 9, the surface of the solid lubricant 25 having the press contact portion 25a is a curved surface having substantially the same curvature as the outer peripheral portion of the lubricant application member 24, and is opposite to the surface having the press contact portion 25a. The surface is wider than the surface having the press contact portion 25a.
Accordingly, since the consumption amount of the solid lubricant 25 can be made substantially constant from the beginning to the passage of time, a stable lubricant can be supplied to the image carrier. Since the press contact portion 25a of the solid lubricant 25 worn by the lubricant application member 24 does not have an edge shape, there is an advantage that it is difficult to break.

FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing a transfer cartridge using the solid lubricant of the present invention.
In the above description, the application surface to which the solid lubricant 25 is applied is the image carrier, but it may be used for the intermediate transfer device 6 as in this embodiment, and the same effect can be obtained.
The lubricant application device 9 and the cleaning device 8 of the present invention are integrally disposed in a housing to form a transfer cartridge 27. The solid lubricant 25 is urged by the urging member 26 to the lubricant application member 24 composed of a brush roller at a predetermined pressure.

In this embodiment, the cleaning device 8 and the lubricant application device 9 are integrally formed separately from the transfer member 6, and the lubricant application device 9 is disposed upstream of the cleaning device 8. 25 is applied to the transfer member 6 via the lubricant applying member 24.
The solid lubricant 25 is scraped off by the rotation of the lubricant application member 24 and applied to the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 6 which is an intermediate transfer device. A cleaning device 8 is installed downstream thereof to remove residual toner on the intermediate transfer belt 6.
The cleaning device 8 also serves to press and extend the powdery lubricant applied on the intermediate transfer belt 6 onto the surface thereof. The transfer cartridge, in which the lubricant application device 9 and the cleaning device 8 are integrally accommodated, is detachable from the intermediate transfer device 6, and has a lifetime due to deterioration of the cleaning device 8 and consumption of the solid lubricant 25. It can be easily exchanged according to the situation.

FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing another embodiment of a transfer cartridge using the solid lubricant of the present invention. As described with reference to FIG. 10, in the above description, the coated surface on which the solid lubricant 25 is applied is an image carrier, but as in this embodiment, the transfer member 7 that is a secondary transfer device is used. You may use it, and the same effect is acquired.
The lubricant application device 9, the cleaning device 8, and the secondary transfer roller 7 serving as a transfer member are integrally disposed in the housing to form a transfer cartridge 28. The solid lubricant 25 of the lubricant application device 9 is in direct contact with the transfer member 7 by the urging member 26 and plays a role of reducing the friction coefficient on the surface of the transfer member 7.

A cleaning device 8 is installed upstream of the cleaning device 8 so as to remove residual toner, paper dust, and the like on the transfer member 7 so that the lubricant can be applied evenly. The transfer cartridge 28 can be attached to and detached from the main body device, and can be easily replaced according to the life of the transfer member 7 and the cleaning device 8 due to deterioration and consumption of the solid lubricant 25. Yes.
In this embodiment, the transfer member 7, the cleaning device 8, and the lubricant application device 9 are integrally configured. A lubricant application device 9 is disposed downstream of the cleaning device 8, and the solid lubricant 25 is directly applied to the transfer member 7.

By having the solid lubricant 25 described above, it is possible to provide a cleaning device 8 with a stable quality over a long period of time, and by attaching the cleaning device 8, a process cartridge with a stable quality over a long period of time can be provided. be able to.
Furthermore, by arranging the cleaning device or the process cartridge, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus having a stable quality over a long period of time. In addition, an image forming apparatus having high image quality can be provided by using a so-called polymerized toner as a developer for developing an electrostatic latent image of the image forming apparatus.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus as an embodiment of the present invention. Schematic explaining a process cartridge (PC). Schematic which shows 1st Embodiment of a solid lubricant application apparatus. Schematic which shows 2nd Embodiment of a solid lubricant application apparatus. Schematic which shows 3rd Embodiment of a solid lubricant application apparatus. Schematic which shows 4th Embodiment of a solid lubricant application apparatus. Schematic which shows 5th Embodiment of a solid lubricant application apparatus. Schematic which shows 6th Embodiment of a solid lubricant application apparatus. Schematic which shows 7th Embodiment of a solid lubricant application apparatus. Schematic showing a transfer cartridge using a solid lubricant. Schematic which shows another embodiment of the transfer cartridge using a solid lubricant. Schematic which shows the initial state of the lubricant coating device in a prior art. Schematic which shows the state of time in the lubricant coating device of the prior art of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  A image forming unit, PC process cartridge, 1 image forming apparatus, 2 rotating body (photosensitive body), 4 developing device, 6 rotating body (intermediate transfer apparatus, intermediate transfer belt), 7 rotating body (transfer apparatus, transfer member), DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 8 Cleaning apparatus, 9 Lubricant application apparatus, 24 Lubricant application member, 25 Solid lubricant, 25a Pressure contact part, 26 Energizing member, 27 Transfer cartridge, 28 Transfer cartridge

Claims (12)

  In the solid lubricant pressed by the urging member to the outer periphery of the rotatable lubricant application member that contacts the surface of the rotating body, the shape of the pressure contact portion with the lubricant application member increases as the solid lubricant is used. A solid lubricant characterized in that the central axis of the longitudinal direction has an angle with respect to a line passing through the rotation center of the lubricant application member.   The solid lubricant according to claim 1, wherein the surface having the press contact portion is a flat surface or a curved surface having a larger curvature than that of the outer peripheral portion of the lubricant application member.   The surface having the pressure contact portion is a flat surface or a curved surface having a larger curvature than the outer peripheral portion of the lubricant application member, and the surface opposite to the surface having the pressure contact portion is wider than the surface having the pressure contact portion. The solid lubricant according to claim 1.   2. The solid lubricant according to claim 1, wherein the surface having the pressure contact portion is a flat surface or a curved surface having a larger curvature than the outer peripheral portion of the lubricant application member and is larger than the diameter of the lubricant application member.   The surface having the pressure contact portion is a curved surface having substantially the same curvature as the outer peripheral portion of the lubricant application member, and the surface opposite to the surface having the pressure contact portion is wider than the surface having the pressure contact portion. The solid lubricant according to claim 1, wherein   The surface having the pressure contact portion has a curved surface having substantially the same curvature that contacts the outer peripheral portion of the lubricant application member, and an end opposite to the curved surface in the lateral direction is outside the outer peripheral portion of the lubricant application member. 2. The fixed lubricant according to claim 1, wherein the curved-surface-side end portion is on the opposite end side with respect to a perpendicular extending downward from the center of the lubricant application member.   The solid lubricant according to claim 1, wherein the surface having the press contact portion is an uneven surface.   2. The solid lubricant according to claim 1, wherein the surface having the pressure contact portion is an uneven surface, and a surface opposite to the surface having the pressure contact portion is wider than the surface having the pressure contact portion.   A cleaning device comprising the solid lubricant according to claim 1.   A process cartridge comprising the cleaning device according to claim 9.   An image forming apparatus comprising the cleaning device according to claim 9 or the process cartridge according to claim 10.   12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein a polymerized toner is used as a developer for developing the electrostatic latent image.

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