JP2009122553A - Lubricant application device and image forming apparatus with device mounted thereon - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lubricant application device which prevents density unevenness of an image by improving electrostatic charging defects and electrostatic charging unevenness on a photoreceptor drum to obtain uniform image quality, and also to provide an image forming apparatus with the device mounted thereon. <P>SOLUTION: The lubricant application device which the image forming apparatus developing an electrostatic latent image with toner to visualize it as a toner image is equipped with, comprises: a lubricant application member 15 which is adjacent to an image carrier 2 carrying the toner image and applies a lubricant to the image carrier 2; a lubricant pressing mechanism 17 which presses the lubricant 16 against the position of the lubricant application member 15 facing the image carrier 2; a pressure adjusting mechanism 21 which adjusts the pressing pressure of the lubricant pressing mechanism 17; a pressure detector 20 which detects the pressing pressure of the lubricant application member 15 to the image carrier 2; and a pressure control unit 22 which controls the pressing pressure of the lubricant application member 15 on the basis of the detection result of the pressure detector 20. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a lubricant application device for a photoreceptor used in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, and a printer, and an image forming apparatus equipped with the lubricant applying apparatus.

It is known that a cleaning blade is in contact with the surface of a photoreceptor used in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, or a printer in order to remove unnecessary toner remaining on the photoreceptor.
In such a configuration, if the resistance of the surface of the photosensitive drum, which is one of the image bearing members, is large, the cleaning blade may bend. Therefore, in order to prevent the cleaning blade from curling, in order to reduce the contact resistance of the surface of the photosensitive drum. In addition, it has been proposed to apply stearic acid as a lubricant on the surface of the photosensitive drum via a brush roller (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).
Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for preventing the charging roller surface from being soiled by preventing the charging roller surface from becoming dirty. Patent Document 2 discloses a technique for preventing the charging roller from being soiled by using a brush roller.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram partially illustrating a conventional electrophotographic image creating apparatus. An apparatus using an electrophotographic system, for example, an image forming apparatus 100 such as a copying machine or a laser printer, performs a charging process in contact with a rotating photosensitive drum 101 on which an electrostatic latent image is formed and the photosensitive drum 101. A charging roller 102 is included.
Further, the image forming apparatus 100 includes an exposure unit 103 that performs exposure using a laser beam, a developing roller 104 that attaches toner to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 101, a power pack 105 that applies a DC voltage to the charging roller 102, A transfer roller 106 for transferring the toner image on the photosensitive drum 101 to the recording paper 107 is provided.
Further, the image forming apparatus 100 includes a cleaning device 108 for cleaning the photosensitive drum 101 after the transfer process, a surface potential meter 109 for measuring the surface potential of the photosensitive drum 101, a heat fixing roller 111, and a heating roller. A heat fixing device 110 including a pressure roller 112 is provided.
In such an image forming apparatus 100, the photosensitive layer of the photosensitive drum 101 is uniformly charged using the charging roller 102, and then an electrostatic latent image is formed by the exposure unit 103. The electrostatic latent image is developed with toner to form a toner image, the toner image is transferred onto a recording paper 107, and the recording paper 107 is further passed through a thermal fixing device 110 to thermally fix the toner image. Has been.

FIG. 12 is a schematic view showing the periphery of a photosensitive drum having a configuration different from that in FIG. FIG. 12 shows the photosensitive drum 101, the transfer roller 106 and the shaft 106a that are arranged to face each other with the recording paper 107 interposed therebetween, the developing roller 104 that contacts the photosensitive drum 101 on the left side of the drawing, and the development roller 104 on the right side of the drawing. A brush roller 113 is shown in contact with the photosensitive drum 101 at a position substantially opposite to the roller 104.
Further, in FIG. 12, the lubricant 114 pressed against the brush roller 113 by the urging means 114, and the cleaning blade 116 is in contact with the brush roller 113 below the drawing. Below the cleaning blade 116, the charging roller 102 and its cleaning roller 117 are shown.
Here, a cleaning blade 116 for removing unnecessary toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 101 is in contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum 101. If the resistance on the surface of the photosensitive drum 101 is large, the cleaning blade 116 may be bent. Therefore, in order to prevent the cleaning blade 116 from being bent, in order to reduce the contact resistance on the surface of the photosensitive drum 101, stearic acid is used as a lubricant. Is applied to the surface of the photosensitive drum 101 via a brush roller 113.
JP 2001-194867 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-45779

However, in the above-described lubricant application, if uneven wear occurs in the lubricant containing stearic acid, stearic acid is not uniformly applied to the photosensitive drum 101, and the charging of the photosensitive drum 101 by the charging roller 102 is uneven. Arise.
In addition, it causes dirt on the surface of the charging roller 102 and causes uneven charging of the photosensitive drum 101. If uneven charging occurs on the photosensitive drum 101, unevenness in density of the image is likely to occur. In particular, in a color copying machine, the above-described shading unevenness of the image appears as color unevenness, which causes a significant deterioration in image quality.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to improve charging defects and uneven charging on an image carrier such as a photosensitive drum in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile, and a printer in consideration of the above situation. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a lubricant coating device and an image forming apparatus equipped with the lubricant coating device that can prevent unevenness in image density and obtain uniform image quality.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 1 is a lubricant application device provided in an image forming apparatus that develops an electrostatic latent image with toner and visualizes it as a toner image. A lubricant application member that applies a lubricant to the image carrier that is adjacent to the image carrier, and a lubricant that presses the lubricant against a position of the lubricant application member that faces the image carrier A pressing mechanism, a pressure adjusting mechanism for adjusting the pressing pressure of the lubricant pressing mechanism, a pressure detecting unit for detecting the pressing pressure of the lubricant applying member to the image carrier, and a detection result of the pressure detecting unit And a pressure control unit for controlling the pressing pressure of the lubricant application member.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the lubricant application device according to the first aspect, wherein the lubricant application member is a brush roller.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the lubricant applying member is an endless cylindrical brush belt, and the brush belt is stretched by two shafts and is in contact with the image carrier. The lubricant application device according to claim 1.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect, the brush belt is disposed at a position facing the first shaft and the image carrier, which are disposed at a position facing the lubricant, via the brush belt. 4. The lubricant application device according to claim 3, wherein the lubricant application device is stretched on a shaft.
The invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that the lubricant application member has a brush roller in contact with the image carrier, and the brush roller has a tube-shaped shaft that is expandable about its axis. The lubricant application device according to claim 1.
The lubricant application member may include a brush belt that contacts the image carrier and two shafts that stretch and hold the brush belt, and the two shafts. 2. The lubricant application device according to claim 1, wherein the shaft is a tube-shaped shaft that is expandable about the shaft center.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the tube-shaped shaft that is expandable about the two shaft centers is a first shaft in a direction opposite to the lubricant, and the other through the brush belt. The lubricant application device according to claim 6, wherein the lubricant application device is a second shaft disposed at a position facing the image carrier.
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image bearing member capable of carrying the toner image in a lubricant coating device provided in an image forming apparatus that develops an electrostatic latent image with toner and visualizes the latent image as a toner image. And a lubricant applying member that applies a lubricant to the image carrier is an endless belt-shaped brush sheet, which is stretched by a plurality of shafts, and one shaft is lubricated by the brush sheet. It is located on the side of the lubricant supply means for supplying the agent, and the other shaft is disposed on the side of the brush sheet in contact with the image carrier.
The invention according to claim 9 is the lubricant application device according to claim 8, wherein at least one of the plurality of shafts on which the brush sheet is stretched is expandable about the shaft center.
A tenth aspect of the present invention is an image forming apparatus equipped with the lubricant application device according to any one of the first to seventh aspects.

  According to the present invention, since the lubricant uniformly adheres to the lubricant application member, the lubricant is uniformly applied to the surface of the image carrier such as the photosensitive drum, and charging unevenness due to the charging roller of the photosensitive drum is prevented. By doing so, it is possible to prevent unevenness of the image and to obtain good image quality.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of an image forming apparatus that can be equipped with a lubricant pressing mechanism according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged schematic view showing one of the image forming units of the image forming apparatus of FIG.
1 and 2, an image forming apparatus A includes four image forming units 1Y for forming images of each color of yellow (Y), cyan (C), magenta (M), and black (K). 1C, 1M, 1K. Note that the color order of Y, C, M, and K is not limited to that shown in FIG.
The image forming units 1Y, 1C, 1M, and 1K are photosensitive drums 2Y, 2C, 2M, and 2K as image carriers, charging rollers 14Y, 14C, 14M, and 14K, and developing rollers 4Y, 4C, and 4M of the developing unit, respectively. 4K, and a cleaning device.
Further, the arrangement of the image forming units 1Y, 1C, 1M, and 1K is such that the rotation axes of the photosensitive drums 2Y, 2C, 2M, and 2K, which are examples of image carriers that can carry toner images, are parallel and recording is performed. It is set to be arranged at a predetermined pitch in the medium moving direction.

In FIG. 1, an optical writing unit 3 including a light source, a polygon mirror, an f-θ lens, a reflection mirror, and the like is disposed below the image forming units 1Y, 1C, 1M, and 1K. The optical writing unit 3 irradiates the surface of each of the photosensitive drums 2Y, 2C, 2M, and 2K while scanning the laser beam based on the image data.
Above the image forming units 1Y, 1C, 1M, and 1K, a primary transfer unit 6 is disposed as a belt driving device having a transfer conveyance belt 5 that conveys the toner images of the image formation units so as to be superimposed and transferred. Has been.
A cleaning device 7 composed of a brush roller and a cleaning blade is disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the transfer / conveying belt 5 so as to come into contact therewith. The cleaning device 7 removes foreign matters such as toner adhering to the transfer / conveying belt 5.
A secondary transfer unit 8 for transferring a toner image to the recording medium 10 is disposed on the right side of the primary transfer unit 6, and a belt fixing type fixing unit 9 is disposed above the secondary transfer unit 8. Under the image forming apparatus A, paper feed cassettes 10a and 10b on which a recording medium (transfer paper) 10 is placed are provided.
In addition, FIG. 1 shows toner supply containers 11Y, 11C, 11M, and 11K, and primary transfer rollers 12Y, 12C, 12M, and 12K, and a waste toner bottle, a power supply unit, and the like (not shown) are also provided. Yes.

Referring to FIG. 2, the developing unit includes a developing roller 4 facing the photosensitive drum 2, a screw for conveying and stirring the developer, a toner concentration sensor, and the like. Although not shown, the developing roller 4 includes an outer rotatable sleeve and an inner magnet. Toner is replenished from toner replenishing devices 11Y, 11C, 11M, and 11K (FIG. 1) according to the output of a toner density sensor (not shown).
First, a predetermined voltage is applied from a power source (not shown) to the charging roller 14 serving as a charging unit, and the surface of the opposing photosensitive drum 2 is charged. The surface of the photosensitive drum 2 charged to a predetermined potential is subsequently scanned with laser light based on the image data by the optical writing unit 3 (FIG. 1) to write an electrostatic latent image.
When the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 carrying the electrostatic latent image reaches the developing unit, toner is supplied to the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 by the developing roller 4 disposed to face the photosensitive drum 2, A toner image is formed.

Referring to FIG. 1, the above operation is performed at a predetermined timing on all the photosensitive units of image forming units 1Y, 1C, 1M, and 1K, and is applied to the surface of photosensitive drums 2Y, 2C, 2M, and 2K. Each forms a toner image of a predetermined color.
The recording medium 10 is conveyed from one of the paper feed cassettes 10 a and 10 b and stops once when it reaches the registration roller 13. The toner images on the photosensitive drums 2Y, 2C, 2M, and 2K are sequentially transferred onto the transfer and conveyance belt 5 at the image forming operation timing of the photosensitive units 1Y, 1C, 1M, and 1K.
The toner image is transferred from the primary transfer rollers 12Y, 12C, 12M, and 12K that are arranged to face the photosensitive drums 2Y, 2C, 2M, and 2K across the transfer conveyance belt 5 from a power source (not shown). This is performed by applying a voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the toner on the drums 2Y, 2C, 2M, and 2K.
In the arrangement of FIG. 1, the final toner image that has passed through the position facing the photosensitive drum 2 </ b> K and overlaid with the four color toner images is transferred onto the recording medium 10 sent out by the registration roller 13. 8 is transferred. The recording medium 10 is subsequently conveyed to the fixing unit 9 where heat and pressure are received by the fixing roller, fixing belt heating roller, and pressure roller, and the toner image is fixed thereon.
In FIG. 2, since one of the four image forming units 1Y, 1C, 1M, and 1K in FIG. 1 is shown in an enlarged manner, the display of Y, C, M, and K colors is identified as a common configuration. Not.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the first embodiment of the lubricant pressing mechanism of the lubricant application device according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view showing the configuration of the lubricant pressing mechanism of FIG. 3 and 4, the configuration of the lubricant pressing mechanism of FIG. 3 is the same as that of the conventional lubricant pressing mechanism of FIG. 12, but the lubricant application apparatus of FIG. 4 using this configuration will be described. For illustration.
In the present invention, the charging roller 14 adjacent to the photosensitive drum 2 as an image carrier and the cleaning blade 18 are located upstream of the rotational direction of the photosensitive drum 2 at a position facing the developing roller 4 with the photosensitive drum 2 interposed therebetween. A brush roller 15 that is a lubricant application member that contacts the photosensitive drum 2 is disposed, and a lubricant 16 is disposed so as to be in contact with the brush roller 15. The lubricant 16 is formed into a rod-like shape that contacts over the width direction of the roller surface of the brush roller 15. Reference numeral 19 denotes a cleaning roller for the charging roller 14.
When the brush roller 15 is driven and rotated in synchronization with the photosensitive drum 2, the lubricant 16 is applied to the surface of the brush roller 15, and the lubricant 16 attached to the surface of the brush roller 15 is applied to the surface of the photosensitive drum 2. To do.

There are a plurality of pressing mechanisms that press the lubricant 16 against the axial direction of the brush roller 15 in contact with the photosensitive drum 2, and each position is not particularly limited in the roller surface width direction of the brush roller 15. The left and right pressing mechanisms 17, the pressure adjusting mechanism 21 that adjusts the left and right pressures of the left and right pressing mechanisms 17, the pressure detection unit 20 that detects the pressing pressure, and the brush roller 15 based on the detection result of the pressure detection unit 20 And a pressure control unit 22 that controls the pressing pressure of the oil, and makes the pressure for pressing the lubricant 16 against the brush roller 15 uniform.
For example, if the lubricant pressing pressure on the left side in FIG. 4 is lower than the lubricant pressing pressure on the right side in FIG. 4 due to uneven wear of the lubricant 16, the lubricant pressing pressure on the left side is adjusted to reduce the applied pressure. The lubricant is uniformly applied to the brush roller 15. In the present embodiment, stearic acid is used as the lubricant 16 and a pneumatic cylinder is used as the lubricant pressing mechanism 17.
By uniformly adhering the lubricant 16 to the brush roller 15, the lubricant 16 is uniformly applied to the photosensitive drum 2, and uneven charging of the photosensitive drum 2 is prevented, thereby preventing unevenness of the image density, Good image quality can be obtained.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing the configuration of the second embodiment of the lubricant pressing mechanism of the lubricant applying apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view showing the configuration of the lubricant pressing mechanism of FIG.
Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the developing roller 4 with the photosensitive drum 2 sandwiched between the charging roller 14 adjacent to the photosensitive drum 2 as an image carrier and the cleaning blade 18 in the rotation direction upstream of the photosensitive drum 2. A brush belt 23 that contacts the photosensitive drum 2 is disposed at a position opposite to. Reference numeral 19 denotes a cleaning roller for the charging roller 14.
The lubricant 16 is disposed so as to contact the surface of the brush belt 23 in the belt width direction. A cylindrical brush belt (brush sheet) 23 in contact with the photosensitive drum 2 is stretched by a first shaft 24 and a second shaft 25, and one of the brush belt stretching shafts (first shaft) that stretches the brush belt 23 is stretched. The lubricant 16 is disposed at a position facing the single shaft 24).

  The other brush belt stretching shaft (second shaft 25) is disposed at a position facing the photosensitive drum 2. By arranging the first shaft 24 according to the lubricant 16, the lubricant 16 is uniformly attached to the brush belt 23. When the brush belt 23 is driven and rotated in synchronization with the photosensitive drum 2, the lubricant 16 attached to the surface of the brush belt 23 is uniformly applied to the surface of the photosensitive drum 2. The brush belt has higher followability with respect to the lubricant surface than the roller shape, and uniform application is possible.

It is possible to provide left and right lubricant pressing mechanisms 17 that press the lubricant 16 against the brush belt 23 in contact with the photosensitive drum 2, and a pressure adjusting mechanism that adjusts the left and right pressures of the left and right lubricant pressing mechanisms 17. 21 and a pressure detection unit 20 and a pressure control unit 22 for detecting the pressing pressure thereof, and the pressure for pressing the lubricant 16 against the brush belt 23 is made uniform.
For example, if the lubricant pressing pressure on the left side in FIG. 6 is lower than the lubricant pressing pressure on the right side in FIG. 6 due to uneven wear of the lubricant 16, the lubricant pressing pressure on the left side is adjusted to reduce the applied pressure. The lubricant is uniformly applied to the brush belt 23. In the present embodiment, stearic acid is used as the lubricant 16 and a pneumatic cylinder is used as the lubricant pressing mechanism 17.
According to the second embodiment, the cylindrical brush belt (brush sheet) 23 is stretched by the first shaft 24 and the second shaft 25 and applied to the lubricant 16, so that the lubricant 16 becomes uniform. The lubricant 16 adheres and is uniformly applied to the photosensitive drum 2 to prevent uneven charging of the photosensitive drum 2, thereby preventing unevenness in the density of the image and obtaining good image quality.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing the configuration of the third embodiment of the lubricant pressing mechanism of the lubricant applying apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view showing the configuration of the lubricant pressing mechanism of FIG. The configuration of FIGS. 7 and 8 is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. Accordingly, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and redundant description is omitted.
In this third embodiment, a cylindrical brush roller 15 in contact with the photosensitive drum 2 is covered and held by a tube-shaped shaft 26 that can be expanded and contracted, and the lubricant 16 is in contact with the brush roller 15. Place. By uniformly holding the pressure of the tube shaft 26 that covers and holds the brush roller 15, the lubricant 16 is uniformly attached to the brush roller 15.
By rotating the brush roller 15 in synchronization with the photosensitive drum 2, the lubricant 16 is uniformly attached to the surface of the brush roller 15, and the lubricant 16 attached to the surface of the brush roller 15 is further applied to the surface of the photosensitive drum 2. Apply evenly.
In this way, by holding the brush roller 15 with the tube shaft 26 that can be expanded and deformed, the followability of the brush roller surface to the lubricant surface becomes high, and the lubricant 16 uniformly adheres to the brush roller 15, so The lubricant 16 is uniformly applied to the body drum 2, and uneven charging of the photoreceptor drum 2 is prevented. As a result, it is possible to prevent unevenness of the image and to obtain good image quality.

Further, based on the pressure adjustment mechanism 21 that adjusts the left and right pressures against which the lubricant 16 is pressed against the axial direction of the brush roller 15, the pressure detection unit 20 that detects the pressure, and the detection result of the pressure detection unit 20. And a pressure control unit 22 that controls the pressing pressure of the brush roller 15 to make the pressure for pressing the lubricant 16 against the brush belt 23 uniform.
As described above, for example, when the lubricant pressing pressure on the left side of the drawing is lower than the lubricant pressing pressure on the right side of the drawing, the left lubricant pressing pressure is adjusted to make the applied pressure uniform and to the brush roller 15. Make the lubricant applied evenly.

FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing the configuration of the fourth embodiment of the lubricant pressing mechanism of the lubricant applying apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 10 is a schematic plan view showing the configuration of the lubricant pressing mechanism of FIG. The configuration of FIGS. 9 and 10 is substantially the same as that of the second embodiment shown in FIGS. Accordingly, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and redundant description is omitted.
In the fourth embodiment, a cylindrical brush belt (brush sheet) 23 in contact with the photosensitive belt 2 is formed by tube-shaped shafts 27 and 28 that can be expanded and contracted around the first and second shaft centers. The lubricant 16 is disposed at a position facing one side of the shaft (first tube shaft 27) on which the brush belt 23 is stretched. The other extending shaft (second tube shaft 28) is arranged at a position facing the photosensitive drum 2.

By holding the brush belt 23 and uniformly holding the pressure of the first tube shaft 27 facing the lubricant 16, the lubricant 16 is uniformly attached to the brush belt 23. Similarly, the lubricant 16 is uniformly applied to the photosensitive drum 2 by uniformly holding the pressure of the second tube shaft 28 facing the photosensitive drum 2.
In this manner, the brush belt 23 is stretched and held by the tube shafts 27 and 28 that can be inflated and deformed around the shaft center, so that the lubricant pressing to the brush belt 23 is made uniform and the brush belt 23 is applied to the photosensitive drum 2. Make the pressing even.
As a result, the lubricant 16 uniformly adheres to the brush belt 23, and the lubricant 16 is evenly applied to the photosensitive drum 2 to prevent uneven charging of the photosensitive drum 2, thereby preventing unevenness of image density. Good image quality can be obtained.

Furthermore, a pressure adjustment mechanism 21 that adjusts the left and right pressures against which the lubricant 16 is pressed with respect to the axial direction of the brush belt 23, and a pressure detection unit 20 and a pressure control unit 22 that detect the pressure are provided. The pressure pressed against the brush belt 23 is made uniform.
As described above, for example, when the lubricant pressing pressure on the left side of the drawing is lower than the pressing pressure on the right side of the drawing, the left side pressing pressure is adjusted to make the applied pressure uniform, and the lubricant is applied to the brush belt 23. Make uniform.
In this manner, the brush belt 23 is stretched and held by the tube shafts 27 and 28 that can be expanded and deformed around the shaft center, and the pressure of the lubricant applied to the brush belt 23 is adjusted, and the photosensitive drum 2 of the brush belt 23 is also applied. Make the pressing pressure uniform.
As a result, the lubricant 16 uniformly adheres to the brush belt 23, and the lubricant 16 is evenly applied to the photoreceptor drum 2, thereby preventing uneven charging of the photoreceptor. Therefore, it is possible to prevent unevenness of the image and to obtain a good image quality.

  When the above-described lubricant application device according to the present invention is mounted, the image forming apparatus uniformly applies the lubricant to the photosensitive drum by the lubricant uniformly adhering to the brush roller or the brush belt. Uneven charging is prevented. Therefore, it is possible to prevent unevenness of the image and to obtain a good image quality.

1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of an image forming apparatus that can be equipped with a lubricant pressing mechanism according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged schematic diagram illustrating one of image forming units of the image forming apparatus in FIG. 1. It is the schematic which shows the structure of 1st Embodiment of the lubricant pressing mechanism of the lubricant coating device by this invention. It is a schematic plan view which shows the structure of the lubricant pressing mechanism of FIG. It is the schematic which shows the structure of 2nd Embodiment of the lubricant pressing mechanism of the lubricant coating device by this invention. It is a schematic plan view which shows the structure of the lubricant pressing mechanism of FIG. It is the schematic which shows the structure of 3rd Embodiment of the lubricant pressing mechanism of the lubricant coating device by this invention. It is a schematic plan view which shows the structure of the lubricant pressing mechanism of FIG. It is the schematic which shows the structure of 4th Embodiment of the lubricant pressing mechanism of the lubricant coating device by this invention. FIG. 10 is a schematic plan view showing the configuration of the lubricant pressing mechanism of FIG. 9. It is a schematic diagram partially explaining a conventional electrophotographic image creating apparatus. FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a periphery of a photosensitive drum having a configuration different from that of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

A image forming apparatus, 9 fixing device, 1 image forming unit, 2 image carrier (photosensitive body, photosensitive drum), 3 writing unit, 4 developing roller, 5 transfer conveying belt, 6 primary transfer unit, 8 secondary transfer Roller, 9 Fixing device, 10 Recording medium, 10a Paper feed cassette, 12 Primary transfer roller, 14 Charging roller, 15 Lubricant application member (brush roller), 16 Lubricant, 17 Lubricant pressing mechanism, 18 Cleaning blade, 20 Pressure detection unit, 21 Pressure adjustment mechanism, 22 Pressure control unit, 23 Lubricant application member (brush belt), 24 First shaft (brush belt stretch shaft), 25 Second shaft (brush belt stretch shaft), 26 Tube Shaft (brush roller covering holding shaft), 27 first tube shaft (brush belt stretch shaft), 28 second tube shaft (brush belt stretch shaft)

Claims (10)

In a lubricant application device provided in an image forming apparatus that develops an electrostatic latent image with toner and visualizes it as a toner image,
Adjacent to the image carrier capable of carrying the toner image and a lubricant application member for applying a lubricant to the image carrier, and the lubricant applied to the lubricant application member at a position facing the image carrier. A lubricant pressing mechanism that presses the agent, a pressure adjusting mechanism that adjusts a pressing pressure of the lubricant pressing mechanism, a pressure detection unit that detects a pressing pressure of the lubricant application member against the image carrier, and the pressure detection And a pressure control unit that controls a pressing pressure of the lubricant application member based on a detection result of the part.   2. The lubricant application device according to claim 1, wherein the lubricant application member is a brush roller.   2. The lubricant according to claim 1, wherein the lubricant application member is an endless cylindrical brush belt, and the brush belt is stretched by two shafts and is in contact with the image carrier. Coating device.   The brush belt is stretched on a first shaft disposed at a position facing the lubricant and a second shaft disposed at a position facing the image carrier via the brush belt. The lubricant application device according to claim 3.   2. The lubricant application device according to claim 1, wherein the lubricant application member includes a brush roller that contacts the image carrier, and a tube-shaped shaft that is expandable about the shaft center. .   The lubricant application member includes a brush belt that contacts the image carrier and two shafts that stretch and hold the brush belt, and the two shafts are tube-shaped shafts that are expandable about the shaft center. The lubricant application device according to claim 1, wherein:   One of the tube-shaped shafts that can expand around the two shaft centers is a first shaft that faces the lubricant, and the other shaft is disposed at a position facing the image carrier via the brush belt. The lubricant application device according to claim 6, wherein the lubricant application device is a shaft.   In a lubricant coating device provided in an image forming apparatus that develops an electrostatic latent image with toner and visualizes it as a toner image, the lubricant is adjacent to the image carrier capable of carrying the toner image and the lubricant on the image carrier. The lubricant application member for applying the toner is an endless belt-shaped brush sheet, the sheet is stretched by a plurality of shafts, and one shaft is positioned on the lubricant supply means side for supplying the brush sheet with the lubricant And the other shaft is disposed on a side of the brush sheet in contact with the image carrier.   9. The lubricant application device according to claim 8, wherein at least one of the plurality of shafts that stretch the brush sheet is expandable about the shaft center.   An image forming apparatus comprising the lubricant application device according to claim 1.

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