JP2009109830A - Cleaning device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cleaning device in which the operation of a waste toner conveyance screw for conveying waste toner is used efficiently, thereby suppressing increase in the load on the drive motor of the waste toner conveyance screw, reducing the increase in the consumption current, and saving power. <P>SOLUTION: An intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit 65 cleans the intermediate transfer belt 61 of an image forming apparatus and has a cleaning blade 651 and the waste toner conveying screw 652. The unit 65 has a vibrating body 654 that elastically deforms by abutting against the waste toner conveyance screw 652, with the waste toner conveyance screw 652 rotating and vibrating, when it returns to the original state from the state of abutting on the waste toner conveying screw 652; and by using the vibrating body 654, waste toner on the cleaning blade 651 is made to vibrate. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a cleaning device for cleaning a toner image carrier that carries a toner image formed by an electrophotographic method.

  Conventionally, an image forming apparatus that performs electrophotographic image formation charges a rotationally driven photosensitive drum with a charger, and forms an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum by light irradiation according to image information. A developing device attaches toner to the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image, and the toner image is transferred via an intermediate transfer member or directly onto a recording medium such as a sheet material or paper to output an image. Has been.

  In the photosensitive drum (toner image carrier) on which the toner image is formed in the image forming apparatus configured as described above, all of the image information (toner image) visualized on the photosensitive drum is transferred in the transfer process. It is said that the transfer efficiency is generally 85 to 95%, although it is not transferred onto a sheet or an intermediate transfer body, and the transfer efficiency generally varies depending on the apparatus and the transfer mechanism.

  The toner remaining on the photosensitive drum in this manner is in a state of adhering to the photosensitive drum after the transfer process, which adversely affects the next image formation and causes a reduction in print quality.

  Therefore, conventionally, a cleaning unit is disposed on the outer peripheral portion of the photosensitive drum on the downstream side of the transfer process in which the toner image is transferred to a transfer medium such as an intermediate transfer member or paper, and the toner image is transferred to the transfer medium. It is known that the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum is collected later to clean the surface of the photosensitive drum, and the collected residual toner is accommodated in a waste toner box.

For example, as a conventional technique, a cleaning blade that removes residual toner on the surface of a photosensitive drum, a film that receives residual toner (waste toner) removed below the cleaning blade, and a waste toner transport screw that transports the waste toner are provided. In addition, there is disclosed a cleaning device that makes it easy to collect waste toner by bringing the film into contact with a waste toner conveying screw and applying vibration (see Patent Document 1).
JP 58-144873 A

  However, in the mechanism described above, if the waste toner conveying screw is brought into contact with the film to vibrate, the load for driving the waste toner conveying screw is increased, and the driving torque of the motor that is the driving source of the waste toner conveying screw is increased. There is a problem that another problem such as an increase in current consumption and an increase in current consumption occurs.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and in the cleaning process for removing the toner remaining on the toner image carrier, the operation of the waste toner transport screw is efficiently used to transport the waste toner. An object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning device that reduces the increase in the load on the drive motor of the screw and reduces the increase in current consumption to save labor.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the cleaning device according to the present invention is configured as follows.
A cleaning device according to the present invention is a cleaning device for cleaning a toner image carrier that carries a toner image in an image forming apparatus that forms an image by electrophotography, and removes residual toner on the surface of the toner image carrier. In a cleaning device comprising a cleaning blade and a waste toner transport screw for transporting waste toner removed from the toner image carrier by the cleaning blade, the cleaning device is close to the cleaning blade and abuts on the waste toner transport screw And a vibrating body that vibrates the waste toner on the cleaning blade is deformed by contacting and displacing the vibrating body in contact with the waste toner conveying screw as the waste toner conveying screw rotates, With the waste toner conveying screw It is characterized in that configured to vibrate when restoring is released from contact state to the original state.

  It is preferable that the vibrating body is formed of a film body and has a plurality of blade portions that are in contact with a spiral portion of the waste toner conveying screw.

  It is preferable that the plurality of blade portions are configured by surfaces whose width direction is arranged substantially perpendicular to the axis of the waste toner conveying screw. That is, in the state where the waste toner conveying screw has the cleaning blade disposed in parallel, the blade portion can be disposed substantially perpendicular to the cleaning blade.

The plurality of blade portions are preferably arranged at intervals different from the pitch interval of the spiral portions along the axial direction of the waste toner conveying screw.
In the present invention, the intervals different from the pitch interval of the spiral portion include those in which the pitch interval of the spiral portion and the pitch interval of the blade portions are not the same pitch.

  In addition, when the interval between the blade portions is a pitch interval that is an integral multiple of the pitch interval of the spiral portion, it is not preferable because a plurality of blade portions abut against the spiral portion at the same time, and is an integral multiple of the pitch interval of the spiral portion. It is preferable that they are arranged at intervals different from the pitch interval.

  Further, it is preferable that the plurality of blade portions are arranged so that the intervals between the blade portions are different from each other.

  Furthermore, it is preferable that the plurality of blade portions are arranged at intervals shorter than the pitch interval of the spiral portions.

  Further, it is preferable that the vibrator is provided at both ends along the axis of the toner image carrier of the cleaning blade.

  In addition, the vibrating body includes a support portion that supports the blade portion, and the support portion has a total dimension of the width of the support portion and the width of the blade portion that is equal to or less than an interval between the blade portions. Preferably, it is configured.

  The toner image carrier is preferably a photosensitive drum on which a toner image is formed by an electrophotographic method in the image forming apparatus.

  The toner image carrier is preferably a belt-like intermediate transfer member onto which a toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum is temporarily transferred by electrophotography in the image forming apparatus.

  According to the present invention, a cleaning device for cleaning a toner image carrier that carries a toner image in an image forming apparatus that forms an image by electrophotography, the cleaning blade removing residual toner on the surface of the toner image carrier. And a waste toner transport screw for transporting the waste toner removed from the toner image carrier by the cleaning blade so as to be in contact with the waste toner transport screw and close to the cleaning blade. A vibrating body arranged to vibrate waste toner on the cleaning blade, wherein the vibrating body is deformed by abutting and displacing the waste toner carrying screw with the rotation of the waste toner carrying screw; Release from contact with toner transfer screw By virtue of being configured to vibrate when it is restored to its original state, an increase in load on the drive motor that drives the waste toner conveying screw can be reduced without providing a separate drive means, thereby increasing current consumption. It is possible to provide a cleaning device that reduces labor.

  Further, according to the present invention, the waste toner on the cleaning blade can be vibrated by the vibrating body to promote toner recovery, so that the toner image is supported by a good cleaning action without the waste toner remaining in the vicinity of the cleaning blade. The body surface can always be kept in good condition.

  In addition, according to the present invention, the vibrating body is formed of a film body and has a plurality of blade portions that come into contact with the spiral portion of the waste toner conveying screw, so that the blade portion can be vibrated with a slight force. The waste toner can be efficiently collected by the plurality of vibrating blade portions.

  According to the present invention, the plurality of blade portions are configured by a surface whose width direction is disposed substantially perpendicular to the axis of the waste toner conveying screw, so that the collected waste toner is vibrated over a wide range. Therefore, waste toner can be collected efficiently.

  According to the present invention, the plurality of blade portions are arranged at intervals different from the pitch interval of the spiral portion along the axial direction of the waste toner conveying screw, so that the plurality of blade portions are simultaneously disposed of the waste toner conveying screw. Therefore, the blade portion can be vibrated efficiently without greatly increasing the load of the rotational operation of the waste toner conveying screw.

  Further, according to the present invention, the plurality of blade portions are arranged so that the intervals between the blade portions are different from each other, so that the plurality of blade portions do not contact the waste toner conveying screw at the same time. The blade portion can be vibrated efficiently without greatly increasing the load of the rotational operation of the waste toner conveying screw.

  Further, according to the present invention, by arranging the plurality of blade portions at an interval shorter than the pitch interval of the spiral portions, the plurality of blade portions can be vibrated while the spiral portion makes one rotation, Since the plurality of blade portions do not contact the waste toner conveying screw at the same time, the blade portions can be vibrated efficiently without greatly increasing the load of the rotating operation of the waste toner conveying screw.

  Further, according to the present invention, the waste toners at both ends of the cleaning blade, which are difficult to collect waste toner, are vibrated by providing the vibrators at both ends along the axis of the toner image carrier of the cleaning blade. Therefore, waste toner can be efficiently collected without overflowing waste toner from both ends of the cleaning blade.

  Further, according to the present invention, as the configuration of the vibrating body, a support portion that supports the blade portion is provided, and a total dimension of the width of the support portion and the width of the blade portion is equal to or less than the interval between the blade portions. By being comprised so that, when the vibrating body is molded, it can be molded without waste from one film body.

  According to the invention, the toner image carrier is a photosensitive drum on which a toner image is formed by an electrophotographic method in the image forming apparatus. It can always be kept in good condition.

  Further, according to the present invention, the toner image carrier is a belt-like intermediate transfer member to which a toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum is temporarily transferred by electrophotography in the image forming apparatus. The surface of the intermediate transfer member can always be maintained in a good state by the cleaning device.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus employing a cleaning device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment forms multicolor and single color images on a predetermined sheet (paper) by electrophotography in accordance with image data transmitted from the outside. In an image forming apparatus equipped with an intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit (cleaning device) 65 for cleaning an intermediate transfer belt 61 on which a toner image is temporarily carried, the intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit 65 is used in the present invention. Such a cleaning device is employed.

First, the overall configuration of the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment will be described.
As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 100 includes an apparatus main body 110 and an automatic document processing apparatus 120.

  The apparatus main body 110 mainly includes an exposure unit 1, a developing device 2, a photosensitive drum 3, a cleaner unit 4, a charger 5, an intermediate transfer belt unit 6, a fixing unit 7, a paper feed cassette 81, a paper discharge tray 91, and the like. It is configured.

A document placing table 92 made of transparent glass on which a document is placed is provided on the upper portion of the apparatus main body 110, and an automatic document processing device 120 is attached to the upper side of the document placing table 92.
The automatic document processing apparatus 120 is configured to automatically convey a document on a document placement table 92. The automatic document processing device 120 is configured to be rotatable in the direction of arrow M, and the document can be placed manually by opening the document table 92.

Image data handled in the image forming apparatus 100 corresponds to a color image using each color of black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y).
Accordingly, four developing units 2, photosensitive drums 3, charging units 5, and cleaner units 4 are provided so as to form four types of latent images corresponding to the respective colors. Black, cyan, magenta, and yellow are respectively provided. Set for each color. These components constitute four image stations (image forming units).

  The charger 5 is a charging unit for uniformly charging the surface of the photosensitive drum 3 to a predetermined potential. Instead of the charger type charger 5, a contact type roller type or brush type charger may be used.

The exposure unit 1 corresponds to an image writing apparatus according to the present invention, and is configured as a laser scanning unit (LSU) including a laser emitting unit, a reflection mirror, and the like.
The exposure unit 1 is provided with a polygon mirror that scans a laser beam and optical elements such as a lens and a mirror for guiding the laser beam reflected by the polygon mirror to the photosensitive drum 3. As the exposure unit 1, for example, a technique using an EL or LED writing head in which other light emitting elements are arranged in an array can be employed.

  The exposure unit 1 has a function of forming an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image data on the surface thereof by exposing the charged photosensitive drum 3 according to the input image data. The developing unit 2 visualizes the electrostatic latent images formed on the respective photosensitive drums 3 with toner of four colors (YMCK).

  The cleaner unit 4 removes and collects toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 3 after development and image transfer. The cleaner unit 4 is provided with a cleaning blade 41 and a waste toner conveying screw 42.

  The intermediate transfer belt unit 6 is disposed above the photosensitive drum 3, and includes an intermediate transfer belt 61, an intermediate transfer belt driving roller 62, an intermediate transfer belt driven roller 63, an intermediate transfer roller 64, and an intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit (cleaning device). 65.

  The intermediate transfer belt drive roller 62, the intermediate transfer belt driven roller 63, and the intermediate transfer roller 64 are configured to stretch and drive the intermediate transfer belt 61 in a stretched manner.

  The intermediate transfer roller 64 provides a transfer bias for transferring the toner image on the photosensitive drum 3 onto the intermediate transfer belt 61, and is provided at four locations corresponding to each color for YMCK.

  The intermediate transfer belt 61 is formed in an endless shape using a film having a thickness of about 100 μm to 150 μm, and is provided so as to contact each photosensitive drum 3. The intermediate transfer belt 61 has a function of forming a color toner image (multicolor toner image) by sequentially superimposing and transferring the toner images of the respective colors formed on the photosensitive drum 3 on the intermediate transfer belt 61. have.

  Transfer of the toner image from the photosensitive drum 3 to the intermediate transfer belt 61 is performed by an intermediate transfer roller 64 that is in contact with the back side of the intermediate transfer belt 61. A high-voltage transfer bias (a high voltage having a polarity (+) opposite to the toner charging polarity (−)) is applied to the intermediate transfer roller 64 in order to transfer the toner image.

The intermediate transfer roller 64 is based on a shaft made of a metal (for example, stainless steel) having a diameter of 8 to 10 mm, and the surface of the shaft is covered with a conductive elastic material (for example, EPDM, urethane foam, etc.). Has been. By this conductive elastic material, a high voltage is uniformly applied to the intermediate transfer belt 61.
In this embodiment, the roller-shaped intermediate transfer roller 64 is used as the transfer electrode, but a brush-shaped electrode or the like can also be used.

  As described above, the toner images visualized according to the hues on the photosensitive drums 3 are stacked on the intermediate transfer belt 61. The image information in which the toner images are laminated in this way is transferred onto the sheet by the transfer roller 10 disposed at the contact position between the sheet and the intermediate transfer belt 61 by the rotation of the intermediate transfer belt 61.

  At this time, the intermediate transfer belt 61 and the transfer roller 10 are pressed against each other at a predetermined nip, and the transfer roller 10 has a voltage for transferring the toner onto the sheet, that is, a polarity opposite to the toner charge polarity (-) ( +) Is applied.

  Further, in order to obtain a predetermined nip constantly, the transfer roller 10 uses either the transfer roller 10 or the intermediate transfer belt drive roller 62 as a hard material (metal or the like), and the other as a soft material such as an elastic roller (an elastic rubber roller). Or a foaming resin roller or the like).

  Further, as described above, the toner attached to the intermediate transfer belt 61 by contacting the photosensitive drum 3 or the toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 61 without being transferred onto the sheet by the transfer roller 10 is processed in the next step. Therefore, it is configured to be removed and collected by the intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit 65.

The intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit 65 comes into contact with the intermediate transfer belt 61, for example, a cleaning blade 651 for removing toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 61 as a cleaning member, and residual toner (waste) collected by the cleaning blade 651. A waste toner conveying screw 652 for conveying the toner) to a recovery container (not shown) is provided.
The intermediate transfer belt 61 with which the cleaning blade 651 contacts is supported by the intermediate transfer belt driven roller 63 from the back side.

The paper feed cassette 81 is a tray for storing sheets used for image formation, and is provided below the exposure unit 1 of the apparatus main body 110. In addition, paper used for image formation can be placed in the manual paper feed cassette 82 provided outside the side surface of the apparatus main body 110.
The paper discharge tray 91 is provided above the apparatus main body 110 and is a tray for collecting printed sheets face down.

  Further, the apparatus main body 110 has a substantially vertical sheet conveyance path S for sending the sheets of the sheet feeding cassette 81 and the manual sheet feeding cassette 82 to the sheet discharge tray 91 via the transfer roller 10 and the fixing unit 7. Is provided.

  In the vicinity of the sheet conveyance path S from the sheet feeding cassette 81 to the manual sheet feeding cassette 82 to the sheet discharge tray 91, pickup rollers 11a and 11b, a plurality of conveyance rollers 12a to 12d, a registration roller 13, a transfer roller 10, and a fixing unit. 7 etc. are provided.

The transport rollers 12 a to 12 d are small rollers for promoting and assisting the transport of paper, and a plurality of transport rollers 12 a to 12 d are provided along the paper transport path S.
The pickup roller 11 a is provided near the end of the paper feed cassette 81, picks up paper one by one from the paper feed cassette 81, and supplies it to the paper transport path S.
The pickup roller 11 b is provided near the end of the manual paper feed cassette 82, picks up paper one by one from the manual paper feed cassette 82, and supplies it to the paper transport path S.

  The registration roller 13 has a function of temporarily holding the paper transported through the paper transport path S and transporting the paper to the transfer roller 10 at a timing when the leading edge of the toner image on the photosensitive drum 3 is aligned with the leading edge of the paper. is doing.

The fixing unit 7 includes a heat roller 71 and a pressure roller 72.
The heat roller 71 and the pressure roller 72 are configured to rotate with a sheet interposed therebetween.
The heat roller 71 is set so as to reach a predetermined fixing temperature by a control unit based on a signal from a temperature detector (not shown), and is transferred onto the paper by thermally pressing the toner together with the pressure roller 72 to the paper. It has a function of fusing, mixing, and pressing the multi-colored toner image so as to thermally fix it on the paper. The fixing unit 7 is provided with an external heating belt 73 for heating the heat roller 71 from the outside.

Next, a sheet conveyance path in the image forming apparatus 100 will be described in detail.
As described above, the image forming apparatus 100 is provided with the paper feed cassette 81 that stores paper in advance and the manual paper feed cassette 82. In order to feed paper from the paper feed cassettes 81 and 82, the paper is guided to the paper transport path S one by one by the pickup rollers 11a and 11b.

When the print request for the sheet is single-sided printing, the sheet conveyed from each of the paper feed cassettes 81 and 82 is conveyed to the registration roller 13 by the conveyance roller 12a in the sheet conveyance path S, and the registration roller 13 intermediates the leading edge of the sheet. The image information (toner image) is transferred onto the paper by being conveyed to the transfer roller 10 at a timing when the leading edge of the image information on the transfer belt 61 is aligned.
Thereafter, the sheet on which the toner image has been transferred passes through the fixing unit 7 so that the unfixed toner on the sheet is melted and fixed by heat, and is discharged onto the sheet discharge tray 91 through the transport roller 12b.

  On the other hand, when the printing request for the paper is double-sided printing, the conveyance roller 12b rotates in the reverse direction when the single-sided printing is finished and the trailing edge of the paper that has passed through the fixing unit 7 is gripped by the final conveyance roller 12b. Thus, the sheet is guided to the transport rollers 12c and 12d. Then, the image information (toner image) is transferred to the back surface of the sheet by being conveyed to the transfer roller 10 through the registration roller 13. The sheet on which the toner image has been transferred to the back side of the sheet is passed through the fixing unit 7 again, and the unfixed toner is melted and fixed by heat, and is discharged to the discharge tray 91 via the transport roller 12b.

Next, the structure of the characteristic intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit 65 employed in the image forming apparatus 100 will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit according to the first embodiment, FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing the internal structure of the intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit, and FIG. 4 shows the intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the positional relationship between the vibrator and the conveying screw constituting the intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit 65 according to this embodiment is provided long along the width direction (W direction) of the intermediate transfer belt 61, and residual toner on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 61. A cleaning blade 651 for removing the toner, a waste toner conveying screw 652 for conveying the waste toner removed and collected from the intermediate transfer belt 61 by the cleaning blade 651, and a waste toner conveying screw driving source 653 for driving the waste toner conveying screw 652 to rotate. And a vibrating body 654 that vibrates the waste toner on the cleaning blade 651 and a waste toner transport pipe 655, and transports the recovered waste toner (residual toner) to a recovery container (not shown).

  The cleaning blade 651 extends long along the width direction (W direction) of the intermediate transfer belt 61 as shown in FIG. 2, and is arranged so as to contact the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 61 as shown in FIG. Has been.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the waste toner conveying screw 652 is configured such that fins (spirals) 652 a having a width in the radial direction are spirally formed at a predetermined pitch interval, and the intermediate transfer belt. The cleaning unit 65 extends substantially in parallel with the cleaning blade 651 over both ends in the longitudinal direction.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a waste toner conveying screw drive source 653 is disposed on one end side of the intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit 65. The waste toner conveyance screw drive source 653 is connected to one end of the waste toner conveyance screw 652.

  A waste toner conveyance pipe 655 communicating with the inside of the intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit 65 is connected to the other end side of the intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit 65.

  As shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, the vibrating body 654 is disposed between the cleaning blade 651 and the waste toner conveying screw 652 at two locations near both ends in the longitudinal direction of the cleaning blade 651. Further, the vibrating body 654 is disposed in the vicinity of the cleaning blade 651 and is disposed so as to contact the waste toner conveying screw 652.

Here, the characteristic vibrating body 654 according to the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 6 is a detailed view showing the configuration of the vibrating body constituting the intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit according to the first embodiment, FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the vibrating body, and FIG. Front view).

  The vibrating body 654 is formed of a film body, and mainly includes three blade portions 654a (654a1, 654a2, 654a3) that contact the spiral portion 652a of the waste toner conveying screw 652, as shown in FIGS. Each of the blade portions 654a includes a support portion 654b and a base portion 654c that integrally includes a plurality of blade portions 654a and a support portion 654b. The blade portion 654a, the support portion 654b, and the base portion 654c are integrally formed.

  The blade portion 654 a is configured by a surface whose width direction is disposed substantially perpendicular to the axis of the waste toner conveyance screw 652, and is disposed in an inclined state with respect to the axis direction of the waste toner conveyance screw 652. And the blade | wing part 654a is arrange | positioned in the state which entered between the fins 652a.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the plurality of blade portions 654a are arranged in parallel along the axial direction of the waste toner conveying screw 652 at a pitch P2 different from the pitch pitch P1 of the fins 652a. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 6, the interval P2 between the blade portions 654a is configured such that the interval P2a1 between the adjacent blade portions 654a1 and 654a2 and the interval P2a2 between the blade portions 654a2 and 654a3 are different from each other. Yes.

  Note that the interval P2 between the blade portions 654a may be arranged at a shorter interval than the pitch interval P1 of the fins 652a as a modification. With this configuration, for example, since a plurality of blade portions 654a can be arranged per pitch of the fins 652a, the plurality of blade portions 654a can be vibrated when the waste toner conveying screw 652 makes one rotation. The blade portion 654a can be vibrated well.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the support portion 654b is configured such that the total dimension of the width 654bw of the support portion 654b and the width 654aw of the blade portion 654a is equal to or less than the interval P2 between the blade portions 654a.

Next, the cleaning operation of the intermediate transfer belt 61 by the intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit 65 according to this embodiment will be described in detail.
The surface of the intermediate transfer belt 61 is cleaned by the intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit 65 because the cleaning blade 651 is in contact with the intermediate transfer belt 61. Cleaning is performed from the downstream side in the transfer belt conveyance direction toward the upstream side.

  Residual toner (waste toner) attached to the intermediate transfer belt 61 collected by the cleaning blade 651 is accumulated in the intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit 65. The accumulated waste toner is conveyed toward a collection container (not shown) as the waste toner conveyance screw 652 rotates.

  When the waste toner conveying screw 652 rotates, the fin 652a facing the blade portion 654a of the vibrating body 654 moves to contact the blade portion 654a, and further, the waste toner conveying screw 652 rotates, so that the blade portion 654a has the fin 652a. To be elastically deformed.

  Further, when the blade portion 654a is displaced by being pushed by the fin 652a, the blade portion 654a is detached from the fin 652a, and the blade portion 654a acts to return from the deformed state to the original state by its own elastic force (restoring force). This causes vibration in the blade portion 654a.

  As the blade portion 654a vibrates, waste toner on the cleaning blade 651 near the blade portion 654a is shaken and easily moved to the waste toner conveying screw 652 side, so that the waste toner collecting action is promoted.

  With the above-described configuration, according to the present embodiment, the blade portion 654a of the vibrating body 654 is vibrated using the rotational operation of the waste toner conveying screw 652 without using a separate driving source, and cleaning is performed by the vibration. Since the waste toner on the blade 651 can be oscillated and solved, the recovery operation of the waste toner can be promoted. Further, since the blade portion 654a of the vibrating body 654 does not directly contact the cleaning blade 651, the cleaning blade 651 does not affect the intermediate transfer belt 61.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, since the cleaning blade 651 is provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction, waste toner accumulates at both ends of the cleaning blade 651 and overflows to the outside, and toner contamination occurs due to falling inside the apparatus. This can be prevented.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the interval P2 between the blade portions 654a is configured such that the interval P2a1 between the adjacent blade portions 654a1 and 654a2 and the interval P2a2 between the blade portions 654a1 and 654a2 are different from each other. Thus, since the plurality of blade portions 654a1 and 654a2 can be prevented from contacting the fins 652a at the same time, an increase in load torque for driving the waste toner conveying screw 652 can be reduced.

  Note that the interval P2 between the blade portions 654a may be configured to be longer than the pitch interval P1 between the fins 652a, or the interval between the blade portions 654a may be configured to be an irregular length. . By configuring in this way, the same effects as in the present embodiment can be obtained.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, the blade portion 654a is configured to be integrally supported by the support portion 654b, and the total size of the width 654bw of the support portion and the width 654aw of the blade portion is an interval between the blade portions 654a. By being configured to be P2 or less, when the vibrating body 654 is manufactured, it is possible to perform integral molding by die cutting with a single sheet member. Thereby, waste of the material of the vibrating body 654 can be reduced, and the number of manufacturing steps can be reduced.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the blade portion 654a is configured by a surface whose width direction is disposed substantially perpendicular to the axis of the waste toner conveying screw 652, and is inclined with respect to the axis direction of the waste toner conveying screw 652. With this arrangement, when the waste toner accumulated in the vicinity of the cleaning blade 651 is vibrated by the blade portion 654a, the waste toner is vibrated along the axial direction of the waste toner conveying screw 652 and is also vibrated in the vertical direction. Therefore, the waste toner collecting action can be effectively promoted.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the cleaning device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the photosensitive drum cleaning unit according to the second embodiment, and FIG. 10 is an explanatory view showing the internal structure of the photosensitive drum cleaning unit.

  In the second embodiment, in the image forming apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1, a cleaning device according to the present invention is used instead of the cleaner unit 4 for cleaning the surface of the photosensitive drum 3 that is a toner image carrier. A body drum cleaning unit 104 is provided.

  As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the photosensitive drum cleaning unit 104 is provided long along the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 3, a cleaning blade 41 that removes residual toner on the surface of the photosensitive drum 3, and a cleaning A waste toner conveying screw 42 for conveying the waste toner removed from the photosensitive drum 3 by the blade 41 and collected, a waste toner conveying screw drive source (not shown) for rotating the waste toner conveying screw 42, and a waste toner conveying pipe In addition to (not shown), a vibrating body 43 that vibrates the waste toner on the cleaning blade 41 is provided, and the residual toner collected by removing the toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 3 after development and image transfer is removed. (Waste toner) is conveyed to a collection container (not shown).

  As shown in FIG. 10, the cleaning blade 41 extends long along the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 3 and is disposed so as to contact the surface of the photosensitive drum 3 (see FIG. 1).

  As shown in FIG. 10, the waste toner conveying screw 42 is configured such that fins (spirals) 42 a having a width in the radial direction are formed in a spiral shape with a predetermined pitch interval, and the photosensitive drum cleaning unit 104. Are extended in a substantially parallel manner along the cleaning blade 41 over both longitudinal ends.

  A waste toner conveyance screw drive source and a waste toner conveyance pipe (not shown) are configured in the same manner as the waste toner conveyance screw drive source 653 and the waste toner conveyance pipe 655 in the first embodiment, and function in the same manner. .

As shown in FIG. 10, the vibrating body 43 extends between the cleaning blade 41 and the waste toner conveying screw 42 along the longitudinal direction of the cleaning blade 41.
Further, the vibrating body 654 is disposed in the vicinity of the cleaning blade 41 and is disposed so as to contact the waste toner conveying screw 42.

Next, the characteristic vibrating body 43 according to the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing a mounting state of a vibrating body constituting the photosensitive drum cleaning unit according to the second embodiment, FIG. 12 is an explanatory view showing the structure of the vibrating body, and FIG. 13 is a view taken in the direction of arrow B in FIG. (Front view), FIG. 14 is a view (perspective view) in the direction of arrow C in FIG. 12, and FIG. 15 is a view (perspective view) in the direction of arrow D in FIG.

  In the present embodiment, the two vibrating bodies 43 are connected and disposed across both ends of the cleaning blade 41 in the longitudinal direction.

  The vibrating body 43 is formed of a film body, and mainly supports a plurality of blade portions 43a that abut the fins 42a of the waste toner conveying screw 42 and the respective blade portions 43a, as shown in FIGS. The support portion 43b, a base portion 43c that integrally constitutes the plurality of blade portions 43a and the support portion 43b, and an attachment portion 43d for attachment to the cleaning unit side. The blade portion 43a, the support portion 43b, the base portion 43c, and the attachment portion 43d are integrally formed.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the blade portion 43 a is configured by a surface whose width direction is opposed to a part of the fin 42 a of the waste toner conveying screw 42, and as shown in FIGS. Are disposed in an inclined state with respect to the axial direction of the waste toner conveying screw 42. And the blade | wing part 43a is arrange | positioned in the state which entered between the fins 42a.

Further, as shown in FIG. 10, the plurality of blade portions 43a are arranged in parallel along the axial direction of the waste toner conveying screw 42 at intervals P4 different from the pitch interval P3 of the fins 42a.
Further, the interval P4 between the blade portions 43a is configured such that the interval P4 between the adjacent blade portions 43a and 43a and the interval P4 between the blade portions 43a and 43a are different from each other.

  In addition, you may make it arrange | position with the space | interval P4 of the blade | wing parts 43a shorter than the pitch space | interval P3 of the fin 42a as a modification. With this configuration, for example, since a plurality of blade portions 43a can be disposed per pitch of the fins 42a, the plurality of blade portions 43a can be vibrated when the waste toner conveying screw 42 makes one rotation, so that the efficiency is improved. The blade part 43a can be vibrated well.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the support portion 43b is configured such that the total dimension of the width 43bw of the support portion 43b and the width 43aw of the blade portion 43a is equal to or less than the interval P4 between the blade portions 43a.

  The attachment portion 43d has attachment holes 43d3 formed at both longitudinal ends 43d1 and 43d2 thereof, and a connecting cutout portion 43d4 formed at one end portion 43d1. The mounting hole 43d3 is a so-called long hole so that the vibrating body 43 can be adjusted in the vertical direction in the figure.

  The notch 43d4 is formed in a concave shape from the side with a size that allows attachment screws (not shown) of the attachment holes 43d3 to be attached. With this configuration, as shown in FIG. 11, when connecting the two vibrating bodies 43, the mounting screw attached to the mounting hole 43d3 side is loosened with one vibrating body 43 attached. In this state, the two vibrating bodies 43 can be easily connected and attached by inserting the notch 43d4 of the other vibrating body 43 and fastening them together.

Next, the cleaning action of the photosensitive drum 3 by the photosensitive drum cleaning unit 104 according to the present embodiment will be described in detail.
When the surface of the photosensitive drum 3 is cleaned by the photosensitive drum cleaning unit 104, the cleaning blade 41 is in contact with the photosensitive drum 3, so that the cleaning blade 41 rotates the photosensitive drum 3 to perform photosensitive operation. Cleaning is performed from the downstream side in the body drum rotation direction toward the upstream side.

  Residual toner (waste toner) attached to the photosensitive drum 3 collected by the cleaning blade 41 is accumulated in the photosensitive drum cleaning unit 104. The accumulated waste toner is conveyed toward a collection container (not shown) as the waste toner conveyance screw 42 rotates.

  When the waste toner conveying screw 42 is rotated, the fin 42a facing the blade portion 43a of the vibrating body 43 is moved to contact the blade portion 43a, and further, the waste toner conveying screw 42 is rotated, so that the blade portion 43a has the fin 42a. To be elastically deformed.

  Further, when the blade portion 43a is displaced by being pushed by the fin 42a, the blade portion 43a is disengaged from the fin 652a, and the blade portion 43a acts to return from the deformed state to the original state by elastic force (restoring force). Vibration occurs.

  In the present embodiment, since the plurality of blade portions 43a are continuously provided along the longitudinal direction of the cleaning blade 41, the plurality of blade portions 43a continuously vibrate over the entire longitudinal direction of the cleaning blade 41. Waste toner on the cleaning blade 41 in the vicinity of the plurality of blade portions 43a is shaken and easily moved to the waste toner conveying screw 42 side, so that the waste toner collecting action is promoted.

  With the above configuration, according to the present embodiment, the blades 43a of the vibrating body 43 are vibrated one after another by using the rotational operation of the waste toner conveying screw 42 without using a separate drive source. Due to the vibration, the waste toner on the cleaning blade 41 can be solved by vibrating over the entire longitudinal direction of the cleaning blade 41, so that the waste toner collecting action can be promoted. Further, since the blade portion 43 a of the vibrating body 43 does not directly contact the cleaning blade 41, the cleaning blade 41 does not affect the photosensitive drum 3.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the interval P4 between the blade portions 43a is configured such that the intervals between the adjacent blade portions 43a are different from each other, so that the plurality of blade portions 43a simultaneously contact the fins 42a. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the increase in the load torque for driving the waste toner conveying screw 42.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the blade portion 43a is configured to be integrally supported by the support portion 43b, and the total dimension of the support portion width 43bw and the blade portion width 43aw is the distance between the blade portions 43a. By being configured to be equal to or less than P4, similarly to the first embodiment, when forming the vibrating body 43, it is possible to perform integral molding by die cutting with a single sheet member. Thereby, the waste of the material of the vibrating body 43 can be reduced and the number of manufacturing steps can be reduced.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, the blade 43a is disposed in a state where the width direction is inclined with respect to the axial direction of the waste toner conveying screw 42, so that the waste toner accumulated in the vicinity of the cleaning blade 41 can be removed. Since the waste toner can be vibrated along the axial direction of the waste toner conveying screw 42 and also in the vertical direction when being vibrated by 43a, the waste toner collecting action can be effectively promoted.

  In the first and second embodiments described above, the intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit 65 and the photosensitive drum cleaning unit 104 used in the electrophotographic image forming apparatus capable of forming a color image have been described. Is not limited to the image forming apparatus having the above-described configuration, and can be developed to an image forming apparatus having another configuration. For example, the present invention can be applied to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus capable of forming only a monochrome image.

  As described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims. That is, embodiments obtained by combining technical means appropriately changed within the scope not departing from the gist of the present invention are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus in which a cleaning device according to a first embodiment of the present invention is employed. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of an intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing an internal structure of the intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an attached state of a vibrating body constituting the intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a positional relationship between a vibrating body and a conveying screw that constitute the intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit. FIG. 4 is a detailed view showing a configuration of a vibrating body that constitutes the intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the said vibrating body. It is A arrow directional view (front view) of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the photosensitive drum cleaning unit which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the internal structure of the said photoreceptor drum cleaning unit. It is explanatory drawing which shows the attachment state of the vibrating body which comprises the said photoreceptor drum cleaning unit. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the said vibrating body. It is a B arrow line view (front view) of FIG. It is C arrow directional view (perspective view) of FIG. It is a D arrow line view (perspective view) of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

3 Photosensitive drum (toner image carrier)
4 Cleaner unit 6 Intermediate transfer belt unit 41, 651 Cleaning blade 42, 652 Waste toner conveying screw 42a, 652a Fin (spiral part)
43,654 Vibration body 43a, 654a, 654a1,654a2,654a3 Blade part 43aw, 654aw Blade part width 43b, 654b Support part 43bw, 654bw Support part width 61 Intermediate transfer belt (toner image carrier)
65 Intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit (cleaning device)
100 Image forming apparatus 104 Photosensitive drum cleaning unit (cleaning apparatus)
653 Waste toner conveying screw drive source P1 Pitch interval P2 interval (interval between blades)
P3 pitch interval P4 interval (interval between blades)

Claims (10)

A cleaning device for cleaning a toner image carrier that carries a toner image in an image forming apparatus that forms an image by electrophotography, wherein the cleaning blade removes residual toner on the surface of the toner image carrier, and the cleaning blade In a cleaning device including a waste toner conveying screw for conveying waste toner removed from the toner image carrier,
A vibrator that is disposed adjacent to the cleaning blade and in contact with the waste toner conveying screw to vibrate the waste toner on the cleaning blade;
The vibrating body is deformed by abutting and displacing the waste toner conveying screw as the waste toner conveying screw rotates, and is released from the contact state with the waste toner conveying screw to be restored to the original state. A cleaning device configured to vibrate occasionally.   The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the vibrating body is formed of a film body and includes a plurality of blade portions that come into contact with a spiral portion of the waste toner conveying screw.   The cleaning device according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of blade portions are configured by surfaces whose width direction is disposed substantially perpendicular to the axis of the waste toner conveying screw.   4. The cleaning device according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of blade portions are arranged at intervals different from a pitch interval of the spiral portions along an axial direction of the waste toner conveying screw.   The cleaning device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the plurality of blade portions are arranged such that intervals between adjacent blade portions are different from each other.   5. The cleaning device according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of blade portions are arranged with an interval between adjacent blade portions shorter than a pitch interval of the spiral portion. .   The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the vibrating body is provided at both ends along the axis of the toner image carrier of the cleaning blade. The vibrator includes a support portion that supports the blade portion,
The said support part is comprised so that the total dimension of the width | variety of this support part and the width | variety of the said blade | wing part may become below the space | interval of the said blade | wing part, The one of the Claims 1 thru | or 7 characterized by the above-mentioned. The cleaning device according to one item.   The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the toner image carrier is a photosensitive drum on which a toner image is formed by an electrophotographic method in the image forming apparatus.   2. The toner image carrier is a belt-like intermediate transfer member to which a toner image formed on the surface of a photosensitive drum by an electrophotographic method in the image forming apparatus is temporarily transferred. The cleaning device according to any one of 1 to 8.

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