JP2008158172A - Cleaning device and image forming apparatus using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To maintain cleaning performance for a long period of time while maintaining miniaturization when cleaning the residual adhering materials on an object to be cleaned with a plate-shaped scraping member. <P>SOLUTION: The cleaning device includes a device casing 3, the plate-shaped scraping member 4 which is disposed within the device casing 3, and comes into contact with the object 1 to be cleaned via an aperture 3a and scrapes the residual adhering materials on the object 1 to be cleaned, and a scraping-out mechanism 5 which scraps out the residual adhering materials adhering to the plate-shaped scraping member 4. The sweeping mechanism 5 includes a drive shaft 6 which is included with a rotary arm section 6b biasing in a diametral direction with respect to rotary shaft sections 6a at both ends, a scraping-out member 7 which is disposed at the rotary arm section 6b and scraps out the residual adhering materials in the direction detached from the plate-shaped scraping member 4 out of the space part 3b of the device housing 4, and a scraping-out assisting members 8 which are disposed at both ends of the scraping-out member 7, are constituted of flexible sheet members, and scrap out the residual adhering materials of the plate-shaped scraping member 4 from the end of the drive shaft 4 in the region at least corresponding to the rotary shaft section 6a of the plate-shaped scraping member 4. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a cleaning device that cleans residual deposits such as toner and paper dust adhered to an object to be cleaned, and an image forming apparatus using the same.

As a conventional image forming apparatus, as a cleaning device for cleaning residual toner on the transfer material holder, the residual toner on the transfer material holder is scraped with a blade, and a toner scraping mechanism is provided in the vicinity of the blade. Those are known (for example, see Patent Document 1). The toner scraping mechanism includes a drive shaft having a rotary arm portion that is radially deviated with respect to the rotary shaft portions at both ends, and a scraping member that is rotatably supported by the rotary arm portion at one end side. By rotating the scraping member by rotating the toner, the residual toner scraped by the blade is scraped backward.
Further, in an image forming apparatus that reuses toner, a toner return transport path is provided between the cleaning device and the developing device, and a toner scraping mechanism is disposed in the toner return transport path, and the toner return transport path. Also known is one that ensures the transportability of the toner inside (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

JP 2002-268399 A (Embodiment 2, FIG. 12) JP 2000-330440 A (Embodiment of the Invention, FIG. 7)

  The technical problem of the present invention is to use a cleaning device and a cleaning device for maintaining cleaning performance for a long period of time while maintaining downsizing when cleaning a residual deposit on the object to be cleaned with a plate scraping member. Another object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus.

  That is, the invention according to claim 1 is a cleaning device that removes residual deposits on a movable object to be cleaned, and has an opening at least at a part above and a space is formed inside. And a plate-like shape that is fixedly supported in the apparatus casing and scrapes off residual deposits on the object to be cleaned through the opening. A scraping member and a scraping mechanism that scrapes the residual deposits adhered to the plate-like scraping member, and the scraping mechanism includes a rotating arm portion that is biased in a radial direction with respect to the rotating shaft portions at both ends. Drive shaft, a scraping member that is provided on the rotating arm portion and scrapes residual deposits in a direction away from the plate-shaped scraping member in the space portion of the apparatus housing, and both end portions of the scraping member Provided with a flexible sheet member and at least the plate-like scraping It is the scooping to scrape the residual deposits in the direction toward the center from the end of the drive shaft of the rotating shaft portion to the corresponding plate in the area like scraping member cleaning device comprising an auxiliary member of the wood.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the cleaning device according to the first aspect, the scraping member includes a flexible member at least on the plate-like scraping member side, and the flexible member is located above the plate-like scraping member. The cleaning device has a movement trajectory that scrapes the residual deposits on the plate-like scraping member from the bottom to the bottom.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the cleaning device according to the first aspect, the scraping auxiliary member includes at least a folded curved surface portion projecting toward both ends of the plate-like scraping member from the scraping member and directed downward. The folded curved surface portion is a cleaning device that constitutes an inclined surface that advances toward the plate-like scraping member in a direction from the end of the drive shaft toward the center.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the cleaning device according to the first aspect, in the space portion of the device casing, residual deposits that are provided along the longitudinal direction of the plate-like scraping member and stay in the space portion. It is a cleaning device provided with a conveying member to be sent out of the device casing.

The invention according to claim 5 includes a toner image holding body that holds the toner image, and a cleaning device that removes residual deposits on the toner image holding body, and the cleaning device according to claim 1 is provided as a cleaning device. An image forming apparatus.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a toner image holding body for holding a toner image, a transfer material transport body device for transferring the toner image on the toner image holding body to a transfer material on a transfer material transport body, and the transfer material. And a cleaning device that removes residual deposits on the conveyance body. The image forming device includes the cleaning device according to claim 1 as a cleaning device.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, while maintaining downsizing, it effectively prevents stagnation of residual deposits at both ends of the plate-like scraping member, maintains the cleaning performance for a long period of time, and removes from the apparatus housing. A cleaning device that can suppress the occurrence of leakage of residual deposits can be provided.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, it becomes easy to scrape the residual deposits scraped from the plate-like scraping member backward.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, it becomes possible to effectively scrape the residual deposits scraped from both ends of the plate-like scraping member toward the inside of the space in the apparatus housing.
According to the invention which concerns on Claim 4, it becomes possible to increase the residence amount of the residual deposit | attachment to the space part in a cleaning apparatus relatively, and can lengthen the lifetime of a cleaning apparatus.
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, while maintaining the downsizing, it effectively prevents stagnation of residual deposits at both ends of the plate-like scraping member, maintains the cleaning performance for a long period of time, and removes from the apparatus housing. It is possible to provide an image forming apparatus using a cleaning device capable of suppressing the occurrence of leakage of residual deposits.
According to the invention of claim 6, while maintaining the downsizing, it effectively prevents stagnation of residual deposits at both ends of the plate-like scraping member to maintain the cleaning performance for a long period of time and It is possible to provide an image forming apparatus using a transfer material conveyance body using a cleaning device capable of suppressing the occurrence of leakage of residual deposits.

First, an outline of an embodiment model to which the present invention is applied will be described.
Outline of Embodiment Model FIGS. 1A and 1B show an outline of a cleaning apparatus according to an embodiment model embodying the present invention. In the figure, the cleaning device 2 is disposed below the object 1 to be cleaned, and is configured to clean residual deposits attached to the surface by the movement of the object 1 to be cleaned.
The object 1 to be cleaned may be, for example, a toner image holding body that holds a toner image, or a transfer material conveyance body that holds and conveys a transfer material as a recording material. In addition, the cleaning device 2 may move relative to the object 1 to be cleaned, and the cleaning device 2 contacts the object 1 to be cleaned when cleaning the residual deposits on the object 1 to be cleaned. And may be cleaned.

  Here, one of the typical models of the cleaning device 2 is a cleaning device 2 that removes residual deposits on the movable object 1 as shown in FIGS. An apparatus housing 3 having an opening 3a at least in a part above and having a space 3b formed therein, and is fixedly supported in the apparatus housing 3, and the opening A plate-shaped scraping member 4 that contacts the object to be cleaned 1 via 3a and scrapes the residual deposit on the target to be cleaned 1 and scrapes the residual deposit adhering to the plate-shaped scraping member 4. The scraping mechanism 5 is provided, and the scraping mechanism 5 is provided on the rotating arm portion 6b and the driving shaft 6 including the rotating arm portion 6b that is biased in the radial direction with respect to the rotating shaft portion 6a. A scraping member 7 that scrapes out residual deposits in a direction away from the plate-like scraping member 4 in the space portion 3b of 3; The scraper member 4 is provided at both ends of the scraper member 7 and is made of a flexible sheet member, and remains in the scraper member 4 at least in a region corresponding to the rotary shaft portion 6a of the scraper member 4. A scraping assisting member 8 that scrapes the deposit in the direction from the end of the drive shaft 6 toward the center is provided.

The remaining deposit on the object 1 to be cleaned may be any deposit that remains on the object 1 to be cleaned, and includes, for example, toner and paper dust.
Further, whether or not the rotary arm portion 6b of the drive shaft 6 is continuous is not particularly limited. For example, the drive shaft 6 can be rotated via the scraping member 7 even if the rotary arm portion 6b is divided. It only has to be.
Further, the scraping member 7 is preferably composed of a rigid member from the viewpoint of scraping off the residual deposits. For example, the scraping member 7 is provided with a flexible member on the plate-like scraping member 4 side so as to have a plate shape. It does not matter even if the remaining deposits staying on the scraping member 4 are scraped off. Further, from the viewpoint of effectively transporting the residual deposits scraped from the plate-like scraping member 4 to the space 3b of the apparatus housing 3, it is preferable to provide a protrusion on the lower side. What is necessary is just to convey a residual deposit | attachment back with rotation. From the viewpoint of effectively scraping off the residual deposits on the plate-like scraping member 4, the scraping member 7 is driven by the drive shaft 6 from above the plate-like scraping member 4 to below. It is preferable to have a movement trajectory that scrapes residual deposits on the take-up member 4.

  If the scraping assisting member 8 of the present embodiment model has at least a part that scrapes the residual deposit in the direction from the end of the drive shaft 6 of the plate-like scraping member 4 toward the center. Well, for example, it is provided with a bent surface portion 8a which protrudes at least from the scraping member 7 toward both ends of the plate-like scraping member 4 and goes downward, and this bent surface portion 8a is a direction from the end portion of the drive shaft 6 toward the center. It is preferable that the inclined surface which advances to the plate-shaped scraping member 4 side is comprised. Further, the flexible sheet member of the scraping assisting member 8 is preferably provided with a certain degree of rigidity, such as a PET (polyester resin) sheet, and has a long-term durability. Resin) sheets and the like can be applied. Further, the number of the folded curved surface portions 8a is not particularly limited, and a plurality of the folded curved surface portions 8a may be provided.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail based on embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.
Embodiment 1
FIG. 2 shows an outline of the image forming apparatus in the present embodiment.
In the figure, reference numeral 21 denotes a photosensitive drum as a toner image holding member that rotates in the direction of an arrow, for example. Around the photosensitive drum 21, a corotron that charges the photosensitive drum 21 in order from the upstream side in the rotation direction. An exposure device 23 such as a laser scanning device for writing an electrostatic latent image on the charged photosensitive drum 21 (in FIG. 2, the laser beam from the exposure device is denoted by a reference numeral), a photosensitive drum A developing device 24 that visualizes the electrostatic latent image on the toner 21 with toner of a predetermined color; a transfer pre-processing device 25 such as a corotron that performs pre-transfer processing on the developed toner image; A transfer belt device 30 as a transfer material conveyance device for transferring a toner image onto a transfer material P, a pre-cleaning processor 26 such as a corotron for discharging the transferred photoconductor drum 21 before the cleaning step, and the photoconductor drum 21 Remaining It is obtained so as to sequentially disposed a drum cleaner 27 for cleaning the toner or the like.
Reference numeral 28 denotes a density sensor for detecting the density of the patch image when a patch image for density control is formed on the photosensitive drum 21, and reference numeral 29 denotes a transfer material P after the transfer. The fixing device fixes the unfixed toner image.

  In the present embodiment, the transfer belt device 30 includes, for example, three tension rolls 41 (41 a to 41 c) arranged on a support frame (not shown), and a transfer material transfer body is transferred to these tension rolls 41. A transfer belt unit 31 that spans the belt 40 and secures a space portion having a substantially triangular cross section below the transfer belt 40 and a space portion that has a substantially triangular cross section of the transfer belt unit 31 are arranged. And a cleaning unit 32 as a cleaning device for cleaning residual deposits on the surface of the transfer belt 40.

In the transfer belt unit 31 in the present embodiment, a transfer roll 43 is disposed on the back surface of the transfer belt 40 facing the photoconductive drum 21, and a predetermined transfer bias is applied to the transfer roll 43, thereby providing a photoconductor. The toner image on the drum 21 is transferred to the transfer material P.
The pair of stretching rolls 41 a and 41 b positioned above the transfer belt unit 31 regulates the conveying surface of the transfer belt 40 facing the photosensitive drum 21, while the pair of stretching rolls 41 a and 41 b One tension roll 41c located on the lower side is disposed, for example, in the vicinity of a position directly below the tension roll 41b, and secures an inclined portion 40a having a gentle inclination angle of the transfer belt 40 between the tension roll 41a. At the same time, the inclined portion 40a of the transfer belt 40 secures a space portion having a substantially triangular cross section, which is a hypotenuse.
Here, as the transfer belt 40, for example, an elastic belt such as rubber is used, the tension roll 41a is used as a drive roll, the tension roll 41b is used as a driven roll, and the tension roll 41c is used as a tension applying roll. In the example, the transfer belt 40 moves on the inclined portion 40a from the upper side to the lower side. In this example, even if the transfer belt 40 tries to meander in the direction perpendicular to the moving direction, the meandering roll is not used because it is automatically corrected to the neutral position by its elastic action.

  The cleaning unit 32 has a device casing 51 that covers the transfer belt unit 31 from below. The device casing 51 is a space having a substantially triangular cross section at a portion facing the inclined portion 40 a of the transfer belt 40. And a vertical wall portion 51a facing the inclined portion 40b having a steep inclination angle between the stretching rolls 41b and 41c of the transfer belt 40, and a shielding portion at a portion facing the inclined portion 40a of the transfer belt 40 52, and in this example, an opening 53 is formed corresponding to a part of the shielding portion 52, that is, a lower portion of the inclined portion 40 a of the transfer belt 40. In addition, shielding members 54 and 55 that elastically contact the transfer belt 40 are provided on the inner edge of the opening of the apparatus casing 51, respectively, so that the airtightness of the cleaning unit 32 is ensured with the transfer belt unit 31. Yes.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the cleaning unit 32 attaches a plate-like scraping member 56 to the bottom of the apparatus casing 51 corresponding to the opening 53 of the apparatus casing 51 via the support piece 57, and The tip of the plate-like scraping member 56 is in contact with the lower portion of the inclined portion 40a, for example, in the vicinity of the stretching roll 41c, along the moving direction of the transfer belt 40. When the transfer belt unit 31 is attached to the cleaning unit 32, the transfer belt unit 31 comes into contact with the transfer belt 40, and the residual deposits on the transfer belt 40 are cleaned as the transfer belt 40 moves.

  Here, the mounting structure of the transfer belt device 30 in the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the transfer belt device 30, in which the transfer belt unit 31 is mounted on the cleaning unit 32. Supporting pieces 44 and 45 projecting from the transfer belt unit 31 are provided at both ends in the width direction of the transfer belt 40, and rotation support shafts (rotation fulcrums) are provided at both ends of a tension roll 41a as a drive roll. ) 46 projectingly formed. A driving force is transmitted from the rotation support shaft 46 to the cleaning unit 32 via a gear train 47 provided on the side surface of the transfer belt device 30. In the figure, reference numeral 48 denotes a drive motor that drives the tension roll 41a, and reference numeral 49 denotes a peeling member that peels off the transfer material conveyed on the transfer belt 40. A peeling electric field can be applied to the transfer material. Reference numeral 78 denotes a transfer support piece configured integrally with the support piece 45, and the transfer support piece 78 is provided with an electrode electrically connected to the transfer roll 43. Reference numeral 45 is provided with two electrodes for power supply in the transfer belt device 30.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the transfer belt unit 31 has support pieces 44 and 45 (shown only on one side shown in the figure) protruding from both ends in the axial direction of the support frame 42, and will be described later provided on the cleaning unit 32 side. It fits in the receiving parts 74 and 75. Further, the support frame 42 is provided with a recess 42a, and a transfer roll 43 (see FIG. 2) can be attached to the recess 42a.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, the cleaning unit 32 includes receiving portions 74 and 75 into which the support pieces 44 and 45 on the transfer belt unit 31 side are fitted in the apparatus housing 51, and a rotation support shaft 46 of the transfer belt unit 31. A bearing portion 76 that is rotatably supported is provided, and a transfer receiving portion 77 to which a transfer roll 43 (not shown) is attached is provided. Outside the transfer receiving portion 77, as described above, the transfer belt unit 31 is provided. Similar to the support piece 45, a transfer support piece 78 formed to protrude is provided. A plate-like scraping member 56 made of, for example, a rubber material for scraping off residual deposits on the transfer belt 40 is disposed in the apparatus casing 51 across the width direction of the apparatus casing 51. It is attached so as to be fixedly supported in 51. Further, in the vicinity of the plate-like scraping member 56, a scraping mechanism 60 is provided that scrapes residual deposits scraped from the transfer belt 40 by the plate-like scraping member 56 into the rear space.

  As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the scraping mechanism 60 in the present embodiment includes a drive shaft 63 including a rotating arm portion 63b that is radially deviated with respect to the rotating shaft portion 63a, a synthetic resin, and the like. And a scraping auxiliary member 62 made of a flexible sheet member that is fixedly supported by the scraping member 61 at both ends of the scraping member 61. And it connects with the drive shaft 63 via the receiving part 61a which is provided near the plate-shaped scraping member 56 of the scraping member 61 and is rotatably supported by the drive shaft 63 by the rotating arm portion 63b of the drive shaft 63. It has come to be. FIG. 6B shows a cross-sectional view as viewed from below in FIG.

The drive shaft 63 in the present embodiment goes straight from a bearing 64 provided on one end side of the apparatus housing 51, bends substantially at a right angle in the vicinity of the end, passes through the receiving portion 61a of the scraping member 61, and then the apparatus The casing 51 is bent at a substantially right angle at the other end side, and has a so-called crank shape that extends again so as to exit the apparatus casing 51 in the same direction as the bearing 64. Therefore, the drive shaft 63 includes a rotation shaft portion 63a that extends in the direction along the rotation center at both ends thereof, and a rotation arm portion 63b that is radially deviated from the rotation shaft portion 63a.
For this reason, when the drive shaft 63 is rotated by a drive means (not shown), the rotary arm portion 63b takes a rotation locus that rotates around the rotation center, and the scraping member 61 is in the state shown in FIG. The plate-shaped scraping member 56 moves in a clockwise direction from above to below. By this rotation of the drive shaft 63, the scraping member 61 takes a rotation locus on the receiving portion 61a side along with the rotation of the rotating arm portion 63b, and takes an elliptic locus on the free end side opposite to the receiving portion 61a. become.

  Here, the scraping member 61 will be described in detail. The scraping member 61 is formed with an appropriate number of holes 61b penetrating the member in order to reduce the weight and resistance during rotation, and to improve the scraping operation of the residual deposits. A plurality of protrusions 61c are provided for effectively transporting the scraped residual deposits to the back side when the delivery member 61 performs an elliptical locus. Further, a tip scraping member 61d made of a polyester resin sheet or the like is provided on the scraping member 61 on the plate scraping member 56 side, and one end side of the scraping member 61 along the rotational trajectory of the scraping member 61 is a plate scraping member. 56 is traced from the upper side to the lower side, and the residual deposits adhered and staying on the plate-like scraping member 56 are scraped off. In the present embodiment, the tip scraping member 61d is provided across the width direction of the plate-shaped scraping member 56 in a range where it does not contact the device casing 51, and an appropriate number of holes not shown are provided. It has been.

Then, at both ends of the scraping member 61, at positions corresponding to the rotation shaft portion 63a, a scraping assisting member 62 made of a flexible sheet member made of polyester resin or the like (shown by a hatched portion in the figure). Is attached.
The scraping assisting member 62 in the present embodiment is substantially parallel to the upper surface of the scraping member 61 and rotates from the scraping member 61, as shown in FIG. A substantially parallelogram-shaped flat surface portion 62a that protrudes toward the shaft portion 63a, and a bent surface portion that is provided at both ends of the flat surface portion 62a in a direction intersecting the plate-like scraping member 56 and that extends downward from the flat surface portion 62a 62b. Further, the two folded curved surface portions 62b are both inclined surfaces that advance toward the plate-like scraping member 56 in the direction from the end of the drive shaft 63 toward the center. Is set at an angle of For this reason, the scraping auxiliary member 62 takes the same rotation locus as the rotation locus of the scraping member 61.

  Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described. For example, in the non-image area between the image area of the photoconductor drum 21 and the next image area, a patch image for density control is formed or fog toner adheres. After passing through the portion, there is a possibility that the patch image, the fog toner, or the like is directly transferred to the transfer belt 40 even if the transfer bias is not applied to the transfer roll 43. Under such circumstances, residual deposits such as toner on the transfer belt 40 are cleaned by the cleaning unit 32.

Here, the cleaning operation of the cleaning unit 32 in the present embodiment will be described. Residual deposits on the transfer belt 40 move from the upper side to the lower side of the inclined portion 40 a, and the inclined portion 40 a of the transfer belt 40. Is scraped off by the plate-like scraping member 56 in a lower region of the plate. The residual deposits scraped by the plate-like scraping member 56 move downward along the plate-like scraping member 56 and reach the scraping member 61 side.
At this time, the drive shaft 63 of the scraping mechanism 60 is rotated by an external driving force, so that the tip scraping member 61d of the scraping member 61 can stroke the plate-shaped scraping member 56 from above to below. It comes to move, and the residual deposits staying on the plate-like scraping member 56 are scraped backward. Further, the scraped residual deposit is scraped backward along the elliptical locus by the protrusion 61 c of the scraping member 61.

  However, in such a scraping operation, out of the residual deposits scraped by the scraping member 61, the residual deposits scraped from the plate-like scraping member 56 by the tip scraping member 61 d are removed from the drive shaft 63. It stays at the part corresponding to the rotating shaft part 63a. This is because the protrusion 61c of the scraping member 61 cannot be provided in a portion corresponding to the rotating shaft portion 63a, so that the residual deposits scraped by the tip scraping member 61d are not effectively conveyed backward. by. Therefore, the staying of the remaining deposits at this part advances, and the remaining deposits enter between the bearing 64 attached to the apparatus housing 51 and the drive shaft 63 to obstruct the rotation operation of the drive shaft 63, Residual deposits also overflow from the device casing 51.

In the present embodiment, in response to such an unexpected situation, by providing a scraping auxiliary member 62 corresponding to this part, residual deposits staying in such part are scraped backward. Yes. FIGS. 8A to 8C show this state, and show representative positions when the scraping member 61 is rotated by the drive shaft 63.
FIG. 8A shows a state in which the scraping member 61 is positioned substantially at the top dead center of the rotating arm portion 63b and is about to rotate counterclockwise in the drawing. At this time, since the scraping auxiliary member 62 is away from the residual deposit, the scraping effect of the residual deposit by the scraping auxiliary member 62 is hardly exhibited.
Moreover, in FIG.8 (b), the scraping member 61 is the position most advanced to the plate-shaped scraping member 56 side. At this time, the tip scraping member 61 d of the scraping member 61 scrapes residual deposits from the plate-shaped scraping member 56 as the scraping member 61 rotates. At this time, the scraping assisting member 62 is also disposed at a position where the residual deposits can be scraped.
Further, when the scraping member 61 rotates, as shown in FIG. 8C, when the rotary arm portion 63b comes to a substantially bottom dead center position, the tip scraping member 61d of the scraping member 61 is a plate-shaped scraping member. 56, the scraping auxiliary member 62 also effectively scrapes the residual deposits backward by the movement of the folding surface portion 62b. In the figure, the alternate long and two short dashes line indicates the surface position of the plate-like scraping member 56 and the support piece 57.

  In the present embodiment, the scraping auxiliary member 62 takes such a rotation trajectory, so that the residual deposits staying at the position corresponding to the rotation shaft portion 63a can be effectively scraped backward, Since the scraping assisting member 62 includes the folding surface portion 62b, the residual deposits scraped by the scraping assisting member 62 are scraped toward the center from the end of the drive shaft 63, and the space It is scraped to the scraping member 61 side located inward of the part. Then, the scraped residual deposit is transported backward by the elliptical locus of the scraping member 61.

FIGS. 9A to 9C schematically show how the remaining deposits are scraped by the rotation trajectory of the scraping auxiliary member 62. FIG. 9A shows the appearance of the scraping auxiliary member 62. b) and (c) show a method in which the residual deposits are scraped by the rotation trajectory of the scraping auxiliary member 62.
Now, as shown in (a), in the scraping assisting member 62 provided with folding surface portions 62b on both ends, the folding surface portion 62b is located upstream of the residual deposit as shown in (b). When the folded curved surface portion 62b moves as indicated by the thin line arrow in (c), the residual deposit on the downstream side in the moving direction of the folded curved surface portion 62b is moved to the folded curved surface portion 62b by the movement of the folded curved surface portion 62b. Residual deposits are scraped inward from the moving direction. At this time, the moving direction of the residual deposit due to the movement of the folding surface portion 62b varies depending on the setting angle with respect to the moving direction of the folding surface portion 62b, the hardness of the member, the moving speed, etc. It becomes like this.
And by performing such an operation | movement of the folding surface part 62b one after another, a residual deposit | attachment comes to be scraped away to the back | inner side effectively.

In the present embodiment, the scraping assisting member 62 is fixedly arranged with respect to the scraping member 61. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the scraping assisting member 62 is connected to the scraping member 61 via an elastic member. May be fixed.
Further, the two folded curved surface portions 62b of the scraping assisting member 62 are inclined surfaces having substantially the same angle, but they may be formed in curved surfaces or may be set at different angles. There is no problem. However, it goes without saying that the scraping auxiliary member 62 is provided at an angle so that the residual deposits scraped from the region corresponding to the rotating shaft 63a can be scraped inward.
Furthermore, in the present embodiment, an aspect in which two folding surface portions 62b are provided as the scraping auxiliary member 62 has been shown. However, only one of the portions in the region corresponding to the rotating shaft portion 63a is scraped. The folding surface portion 62b may be provided. In this case, it is preferable to provide the folded curved surface portion 62b on the plate-like scraping member 56 side, and it is effective to scrape the residual deposits staying on the rotating shaft portion 63a.
Furthermore, in the present embodiment, both end portions of the scraping member 61 do not reach the portion corresponding to the rotating shaft portion 63a, but are separated from the plate-like scraping member 56 of the scraping member 61, for example. It is possible to provide a part (free end side) wider than the scraping auxiliary member 62 and close to the inner wall of the apparatus housing 51.
In the present embodiment, the protrusion 61c of the scraping member 61 is a straight protrusion. However, for example, the protrusion 61c may be provided in an arc shape, and residual deposits scraped by the scraping member 61 are removed from the apparatus housing. It is also possible to collect at a predetermined part of the space portion in 51.
When the residual deposit scraped off by the plate-like scraping member 56 does not stay on the plate-like scraping member 56 and effectively falls to the lower side of the plate-like scraping member 56, the tip of the scraping member 61 The scraping member 61d may not be provided.

10 (a) and 10 (b) show a modification of the scraping assisting member 62 in the above-described embodiment, and the folding surface portion 62b of the scraping assisting member 62 has different angles at both ends. ing.
In (a), the angle of the folding surface portion 62b1 on the upstream side closer to the plate-like scraping member 56 of the scraping auxiliary member 62 is an angle that advances toward the center of the drive shaft 63 as in the above-described embodiment. However, the angle of the bent surface portion 62 b 2 on the downstream side is substantially parallel to the drive shaft 63. In the case of such an angle, the residual deposit scraped by the upstream folded surface portion 62b1 is effectively shielded by the downstream folded surface portion 62b2, and is scraped further inward. .
Further, in (b), two scraping auxiliary members 62 (62, 62 ′) are provided, and the scraping auxiliary members 62 in (a) are arranged symmetrically facing each other. In this case, the residual deposits scraped inward by the outer scraping assisting member 62 move to the inner scraping assisting member 62 ', and the folding surface of the inner scraping assisting member 62' The portions 62b1 ′ and 62b2 ′ are effectively scraped inward and rearward.

Embodiment 2
The image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, but the configuration of the cleaning unit 32 in the transfer belt device 30 is different. Therefore, only the cleaning unit 32 will be described here.
FIG. 11 shows an outline of the cleaning unit 32. A plate-like scraping member 56 is attached in the apparatus housing 51, and a scraping member 61 is provided in the vicinity of the plate-like scraping member 56. Yes. In the scraping mechanism 60 of the present embodiment, a scraping member 61 is rotatably supported on a drive shaft 63 bent in a crank shape. In FIG. 11, the hole portion, the tip scraping member, and the scraping auxiliary member of the scraping member 61 are omitted, but it goes without saying that these are provided.

  In the present embodiment, the agitating and conveying member 66 is provided substantially parallel to the drive shaft 63 on the back side of the scraping member 61. This agitating and conveying member 66 is provided with spiral blades around a rotatable shaft, and is provided so as to penetrate through a through-hole 67 opened on one side of the device casing 51. Residual deposits scraped by the scraping member 61 are transported from the through-hole 67 to the outside of the apparatus housing 51 by the rotation of the stirring and transporting member 66. A storage container (not shown) that can store residual deposits is provided outside the device casing 51 of the through-hole 67, and the residual deposits transported by the agitation transport member 66 are stored in the storage container. ing. Therefore, the apparent accommodation amount of the residual deposits in the apparatus housing 51 is increased, and the housing is performed for a long time.

Embodiment 3
The image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that a cleaning device that is substantially the same as the cleaning unit 32 is not a transfer belt that transports a transfer material, but a toner image holder that transports while holding a toner image. As an intermediate transfer belt.
FIG. 12 shows an outline of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. The photosensitive drum 81 forms and holds a toner image, and is arranged to face the photosensitive drum 81 and has three tension rolls 83. To an intermediate transfer belt 82 as a toner image holding member that circulates and conveys the belt, and a cleaning device 87 (32) is provided in contact with the intermediate transfer belt 82. The cleaning device 87 only needs to be in contact with at least the intermediate transfer belt 82 during cleaning.

In the intermediate transfer belt 82 in the present embodiment, among the three stretching rolls 83 to 85, for example, a secondary transfer roll 86 having the stretching roll 85 as an opposing roll is disposed at a position facing the stretching roll 85. Is provided.
In the image forming apparatus having such a configuration, the toner image formed on the photoconductive drum 81 is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 82 by the primary transfer roll 89 disposed opposite to the photoconductive drum 81 with the intermediate transfer belt 82 interposed therebetween. Primary transfer. The toner image transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 82 is secondarily transferred onto the transfer material P by the secondary transfer roll 86. In the figure, elements that are arranged around the photosensitive drum 81 and form a toner image, such as a developing device, are omitted, and a fixing device that fixes the toner image transferred onto the transfer material P is omitted. Etc. are also omitted.

In such an image forming apparatus, residual transfer toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 82 after the secondary transfer, or residual toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 82 due to a jam of the transfer material P or the like occurs. In order to clean such residual deposits on the intermediate transfer belt 82, a cleaning device 87 is provided.
Since the cleaning device 87 of the present embodiment is configured in substantially the same manner as the cleaning unit 32 of the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted here. In the figure, reference numeral 88 denotes a plate-like scraping member.
Also in this embodiment, the cleaning device 87 cleans the residual deposits on the intermediate transfer belt 82 in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

In the present embodiment, a monochrome image forming apparatus is shown, but it goes without saying that it may be a color image forming apparatus.
Further, although the cleaning device 87 is used for the intermediate transfer belt 82, for example, such a cleaning device may be provided on the photosensitive drum 81, or may be used for a belt-shaped photosensitive member. Needless to say, it is good.

(A) is explanatory drawing which shows the outline | summary of the cleaning apparatus which concerns on embodiment model to which this invention is applied, (b) is the figure which looked at (a) from upper direction. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating details of the image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a transfer belt device according to the first embodiment. It is a perspective view showing a transfer belt unit of a transfer belt device. It is a perspective view which shows the cleaning unit of a transfer belt apparatus. (A) is explanatory drawing which shows the scraping member in a cleaning unit, (b) is sectional drawing of (a). It is a partial expansion perspective view of a cleaning unit. (A)-(c) is explanatory drawing which shows the transition state by rotation of a scraping member. (A) is a perspective view of a scraping auxiliary member, (b), (c) is an explanatory view showing the scraping direction of the residual deposits. (A) (b) is explanatory drawing which shows the modification of Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of a cleaning unit used in an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an overview of an image forming apparatus according to a third embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Object to be cleaned, 2 ... Cleaning device, 3 ... Apparatus housing, 3a ... Opening, 3b ... Space part, 4 ... Plate scraping member, 5 ... Scraping mechanism, 6 ... Drive shaft, 6a ... Rotation Shaft portion, 6b ... rotating arm portion, 7 ... scraping member, 8 ... scraping assisting member, 8a ... folding surface portion

Claims (6)

A cleaning device for removing residual deposits on a movable object to be cleaned,
An apparatus housing configured to have an opening in at least a part of the upper part and to have a space formed therein;
A plate-like scraping member that is fixedly supported in the apparatus housing and scrapes residual deposits on the object to be cleaned in contact with the object to be cleaned through the opening,
A scraping mechanism for scraping the residual deposits adhered to the plate-like scraping member,
The scraping mechanism
A drive shaft including a rotating arm portion that is radially biased with respect to the rotating shaft portions at both ends;
A scraping member that is provided on the rotating arm portion and scrapes residual deposits in a direction away from the plate-shaped scraping member in the space portion of the apparatus housing;
Provided at both ends of this scraping member, it is composed of a flexible sheet member and drives residual deposits on the plate scraping member at least in a region corresponding to the rotating shaft portion of the plate scraping member A cleaning auxiliary member that scrapes in a direction from the end of the shaft toward the center. The cleaning device according to claim 1,
The scraping member comprises a flexible member at least on the plate-like scraping member side,
A cleaning device characterized in that the flexible member has a movement trajectory that scrapes the residual deposits on the plate-like scraping member from above to below the plate-like scraping member. The cleaning device according to claim 1,
The scraping auxiliary member includes at least a folded curved surface portion that protrudes downward from the scraping member toward both ends of the plate-like scraping member,
This folding surface part comprises the inclined surface which advances to the plate-shaped scraping member side in the direction which goes to the center from the edge part of a drive shaft, The cleaning apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. The cleaning device according to claim 1,
The space part of the apparatus housing is provided with a conveying member that is provided along the longitudinal direction of the plate-like scraping member and sends out the residual deposits staying in the space part to the outside of the apparatus housing. Cleaning device. A toner image holding body for holding a toner image;
An image forming apparatus comprising: the cleaning device according to claim 1, which removes residual deposits on the toner image holding member. A toner image holding body for holding a toner image;
A transfer material transport device for transferring the toner image on the toner image holding member to a transfer material on the transfer material transport;
An image forming apparatus comprising: the cleaning device according to claim 1, which removes residual deposits on the transfer material transport body.

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