JP2009198836A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus capable of maintaining favorably mountability and detachability of a scanning optical device to/from an image forming apparatus body, even in constitution having a toner reservoir part for storing toner deposited on a translucent dust-proof member. <P>SOLUTION: This image forming apparatus has a cleaning member 45 movable along the short direction of the translucent dust-proof member 5, abutting on an upper face of the translucent dust-proof member 5 to scrape out foreign matter deposited on the upper face of the translucent dust-proof member 5 into the toner reservoir part 7, and the toner reservoir part 7 has a cleaning member guide means 6 for preventing the cleaning member 45 from falling into the toner reservoir part 7, when the cleaning member 45 passes through the toner reservoir part 7. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, and a composite machine thereof. . In particular, the present invention can be suitably applied to a tandem image forming apparatus that performs multicolor image formation.

  An example of a conventional electrophotographic color image forming apparatus for printing a color image will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In this example, the color image forming apparatus 100 is a tandem image forming apparatus, and includes four image forming units (image forming units) P (PY, PM, PC, PK) of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black. I have. Each of the image forming units PY, PM, PC, and PK has an image forming unit that forms an image on the recording material S.

  That is, each of the image forming units PY, PM, PC, and PK has a drum-type electrophotographic photosensitive member (hereinafter referred to as “photosensitive drum”) 20 (20Y, 20M, 20C, and 20K) as an image carrier. I have. Each photosensitive drum 20 is obtained by applying a photosensitive layer to a conductor and is uniformly charged by a charger 21 (21Y, 21M, 21C, 21K).

  Around each photosensitive drum 20, the above-described charger 21 (21Y, 21M, 21C, 21K) for uniformly charging the photosensitive drum is provided. In addition, a scanning optical device 1 is disposed below each photosensitive drum 20 and irradiates a laser beam based on image information to form an electrostatic image. Further, around the photosensitive drum 20, a developing device 22 (22Y, 22M, 22C, 22K) that visualizes the electrostatic image on the photosensitive drum 20 and forms a toner image is disposed. An intermediate transfer belt 23 for transferring the toner image on each photosensitive drum 20 in an overlapping manner is disposed above each photosensitive drum 20.

  In this example, a recording material for forming a toner image, that is, a paper feed cassette 30 for storing a transfer paper S is disposed below the image forming apparatus main body 100A, and is placed on the paper S at a position above the image forming apparatus main body 100A. A fixing device 25 is provided that adsorbs the transferred toner image to the paper S by heat. The transfer paper S fixed by the fixing device 25 is conveyed to the paper discharge tray 26.

  FIG. 9 illustrates the image forming unit P (PY, PM, PC, PK), the scanning optical device 1, and the intermediate transfer belt 23 in FIG. 8, and other members are omitted.

  The scanning optical device 1 in the figure includes a polygon motor 31 that deflects and scans laser light emitted based on image information, and fθ lenses 34 and 35 that scan the laser light at a constant speed to form a spot image on a photosensitive drum. Imaging lenses 41 to 44 are provided. The scanning optical device 1 forms an electrostatic image on the photosensitive drum 20 through folding mirrors 51 to 58 that reflect beams from the fθ lenses 34 and 35 and the imaging lenses 41 to 44 in a predetermined direction.

  This scanning optical device 1 is vulnerable to dust and dirt, and when partial dirt occurs on the optical path of the laser, image omission occurs in the part on the image corresponding to the dirt, and the amount of toner on the image is insufficient. Thin concentration occurs. Therefore, conventionally, each optical component of the scanning optical device 1 is stored in the optical box 2, and the inside of the optical box 2 is sealed by the upper lid 3. In addition, measures have been taken to prevent the ingress of dust by sealing between the optical box 2 storing each optical component and the upper lid 3 with maltoprene or the like.

  However, with the downsizing of the apparatus main body 100A, the scanning optical apparatus 1 is also arranged at a position closer to the photosensitive drum 20 than before, and as described above, the scanning optical apparatus is arranged due to the arrangement of each component. 1 is arranged below the photosensitive drum 20.

  However, when the scanning optical device 1 is irradiated onto the photosensitive drum 20 from the lower side and when irradiated near the photosensitive drum 20, the upper portion of the scanning optical device 1 is sucked into the main body of the apparatus. Dust stuck. Further, toner scattering in the apparatus main body and toner dropping from the developing device 22, the photosensitive drum 20, the cleaner 23, and the like occur.

  Therefore, conventionally, the cleaning mechanism 4 is prepared in the image forming apparatus main body 100A, and the cleaning mechanism 4 scrapes out dust and toner on the dust-proof glass 5 that is a light-transmitting dust-proof member installed on the upper lid 3 to another region. Is used.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the cleaning mechanism is such that the cleaning blade 45 disposed in the longitudinal direction of the dust-proof glass 5 is in contact with the dust-proof glass 5, and the cleaning blade 45 is moved to move the cleaning mechanism 45 on the dust-proof glass 5. The toner is scraped off.

  Further, the scanning optical device 1 is attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body 100A by being pulled out in the direction indicated by the arrow B in FIG.

  In general, a configuration is adopted in which the image forming units such as the photosensitive drum 20 and the developing device 22 are drawn out in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 10, that is, in a direction orthogonal to the alignment direction of the image forming units P. Therefore, when the scanning optical device 1 is also configured to be pulled out in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface, a large opening for pulling them out is required in the apparatus main body frame, thereby significantly reducing the frame strength of the image forming apparatus main body 100A. It is because it will do.

  Next, FIG. 11 is a view showing the cleaning mechanism 4 for cleaning the dust-proof glass 5 as described above. As shown in FIG. 11, in the cleaning mechanism 4, a cleaning blade 45 disposed in the longitudinal direction of the dustproof glass 5 is in contact with the dustproof glass 5. By moving the cleaning blade 45 in the direction of arrow A in the figure using power obtained from the image forming apparatus main body (not shown), the toner on the dust-proof glass 5 is scraped off.

  The cleaning blade 45 is fixed to the blade holder 46 and waits at the end of the dustproof glass 5 so as not to interfere with the scanning light emitted from the scanning optical device 1 when not operating. During cleaning, the cleaning blade 45 moves from the position (a) in FIG. 11 to the position (b), and the toner on the dust-proof glass 5 is placed in the toner reservoir 47 of the upper lid 3 provided adjacent to the dust-proof glass 5. It is configured to scrape dust.

  Since the toner reservoir 47 has a concave shape with respect to the upper surface of the upper lid 3 as shown in the figure, the scraped toner is prevented from scattering to the adjacent dustproof glass side. As for the configuration of the toner reservoir 47 and the cleaning of the dust-proof glass 5, the following methods described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 have been proposed.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which a dust-proof glass is provided outside a region where toner falls from a photosensitive drum, and a toner reservoir is provided below the toner dropping destination.

Patent Document 2 discloses a configuration in which dustproof glass is projected from the outer surface of the casing in the vicinity of the dustproof glass mounting portion on the outer surface thereof.
JP 2003-287938 JP 2006-44229 A

  However, in the conventional method in which the blade for cleaning the dust-proof glass is always in contact with the dust-proof glass, the following problem occurs when the toner reservoir is provided in the upper lid of the scanning optical device.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 12, when the scanning optical device 1 is pulled out in the direction of the arrow B, the scanning optical device 1 is lifted somewhat upward, whereby the cleaning mechanism 4 falls into the toner reservoir 47, The detachability of the scanning optical device 1 may be significantly deteriorated.

  Further, when a configuration in which the dust-proof glass 5 is protruded from the upper lid 3 is used, the cleaning optical device 1 comes into contact with the scanning optical device 1 and the glass surface is damaged when the scanning optical device 1 is inserted or removed. The possibility becomes high. Further, even after the scanning optical device 1 is taken out of the device, the shape in which the glass surface protrudes from the surrounding parts is not a practical configuration because the scanning optical device 1 needs to be handled with care.

  Therefore, another object of the present invention is to improve the detachability of the scanning optical device from the image forming apparatus main body, even in a configuration having a toner reservoir for storing toner deposited on the light-transmitting dustproof member. An image forming apparatus that can be maintained is provided.

  Another object of the present invention is to re-scatter scattered toner deposited on the bottom surface of the toner reservoir again on the upper lid, even in a configuration having a toner reservoir for storing toner deposited on the translucent dustproof member. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that is not scraped off.

The above object is achieved by the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. In summary, the present invention relates to a light source, an optical component that forms an image of a light beam emitted from the light source on an image carrier, a scanning deflector that deflects and scans the light beam, and the optical component and the scanning deflector. A top cover that seals the inside of the casing by being assembled to the top of the casing, and a light transmission provided in an opening of the top lid that transmits a light beam emitted from the inside of the casing A scanning optical device that is detachable from the image forming apparatus body, and a toner reservoir provided adjacent to the translucent dustproof member.
A cleaning member that contacts the upper surface of the translucent dust-proof member and is movable in the short direction of the translucent dust-proof member so as to scrape foreign matter deposited on the upper surface of the translucent dust-proof member to the toner reservoir. When,
In an image forming apparatus having
The toner reservoir is for preventing the cleaning member from dropping into the toner reservoir when the cleaning member passes through the toner reservoir when the scanning optical device is attached to or detached from the image forming apparatus main body. An image forming apparatus having a cleaning member guide.

According to the present invention,
(1) By the operation of pulling out the scanning optical device from the image forming apparatus, even when the cleaning member moves away from the translucent dustproof member and the cleaning member reaches the toner reservoir, the cleaning member is not caught by the toner reservoir. Therefore, even when the toner reservoir portion for storing the toner deposited on the light-transmitting dustproof member is provided, the detachability of the scanning optical device from the image forming apparatus main body can be satisfactorily maintained.
(2) The operation of pulling out the scanning optical device from the image forming apparatus prevents the scattered toner accumulated on the bottom surface of the toner reservoir from being scraped out again onto the upper lid.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described below in more detail with reference to the drawings.

Example 1
(Overall configuration of image forming apparatus)
FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of an electrophotographic full color printer which is an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

  In this embodiment, the image forming apparatus 100 has the same configuration as that of the tandem image forming apparatus described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, and a plurality of four image forming sections (images) in this embodiment are used. Forming unit) P (PY, PM, PC, PK). That is, the image forming unit PY that forms a yellow image, the image forming unit PM that forms a magenta image, the image forming unit PC that forms a cyan image, and the image formation that forms a black image Part PK. These four image forming units PY, PM, PC, and PK are arranged in a line on a straight line at regular intervals.

  Each of the image forming units PY, PM, PC, and PK has an image forming unit that forms an image on the recording material S. That is, the image forming means in each of the image forming units PY, PM, PC, PK has a drum-type electrophotographic photosensitive member as an image carrier, that is, a photosensitive drum 20 (20Y, 20M, 20C, 20K). ing. Further, around each photosensitive drum 20Y, 20M, 20C, and 20K, a primary charger 21 (21Y, 21M, 21C, and 21K) and a developing device 22 (22Y, 22M, 22C, and 22K) that form an image forming unit. Is placed. Further, a transfer roller 24 (24Y, 24M, 24C, 24K) and a drum cleaner device 23 (23Y, 23M, 23C, 23K) are arranged around the photosensitive drum 20, respectively. Below the primary chargers 21Y, 21M, 21C, and 21K and the developing devices 22Y, 22M, 22C, and 22K, a scanning optical device 1 as an exposure device is installed.

  The developing devices 22Y, 22M, 22C, and 22K store yellow toner, magenta toner, cyan toner, and black toner, respectively.

  In each image forming unit P, the photosensitive drum 20, the primary charger 21, the developing device 22, the drum cleaner device 23, and the like are integrally formed as a process cartridge that is detachable from the image forming apparatus main body 100A. be able to.

  Each of the photosensitive drums 20Y, 20M, 20C, and 20K is a negatively charged OPC photosensitive member having a photoconductive layer on an aluminum drum base, and is driven in a direction indicated by an arrow (clockwise in FIG. 1) by a driving device (not shown). Direction) at a predetermined process speed.

  Primary chargers 21Y, 21M, 21C, and 21K as primary charging means bring the surface of each photosensitive drum 20Y, 20M, 20C, and 20K to a predetermined negative potential by a charging bias applied from a charging bias power source (not shown). Charge uniformly.

  The uniformly charged photosensitive drum 20 is irradiated with a light image from the scanning optical device 1 as an exposure device. The scanning optical device 1 will be described in detail later.

  The scanning optical device 1 deflects and scans a laser beam (light beam) to expose each of the photosensitive drums 20Y, 20M, 20C, and 20K. As a result, electrostatic images of respective colors corresponding to the image information are formed on the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 20Y, 20M, 20C, and 20K charged by the primary chargers 21Y, 21M, 21C, and 21K.

  The developing devices 22Y, 22M, 22C, and 22K as developing means contain toner, and attach toner of each color to the electrostatic images formed on the photosensitive drums 20Y, 20M, 20C, and 20K, respectively. To develop (visualize).

  Transfer rollers 24Y, 24M, 24C, and 24K as primary transfer units are respectively connected to the respective photosensitive drums 20Y through intermediate transfer belts 23 as intermediate transfer members at respective primary transfer portions T1 (T1Y, T1M, T1C, and T1K). , 20M, 20C, and 20K.

  The drum cleaners 23Y, 23M, 23C, and 23K as the drum cleaning means respectively transfer residual toner remaining during the primary transfer on the photosensitive drums 20Y, 20M, 20C, and 20K to the photosensitive drums 20Y, 20M, 20C, and 20K. Remove from.

  The intermediate transfer belt 23 is disposed above the photosensitive drums 20Y, 20M, 20C, and 20K, and is stretched between the secondary transfer counter roller 27a and the tension rollers 27b and 27c. The secondary transfer counter roller 27a is disposed so as to be in contact with the secondary transfer roller 28 via the intermediate transfer belt 23 in the secondary transfer portion T2. The intermediate transfer belt 23 is made of a dielectric resin such as a polycarbonate, a polyethylene terephthalate resin film, a polyvinylidene fluoride resin film, or the like.

  Further, a fixing device 25 as an image heating unit that heats and fixes an image formed on the recording material S is installed downstream of the secondary transfer portion T2 in the conveyance direction of the recording material S.

  Next, an image forming operation by the image forming apparatus having the above configuration will be described in more detail.

  When an image formation start signal is issued, the photosensitive drums 20Y, 20M, 20C, and 20K of the image forming units PY, PM, PC, and PK that are rotationally driven at a predetermined process speed are respectively connected to primary chargers 21Y, 21M, 21C and 21K are uniformly negatively charged. Then, the scanning optical device 1 as an exposure device irradiates an externally input color-separated image signal from a laser light emitting element (light source), such as a polygon mirror, an fθ lens, an imaging lens, and a folding mirror. An electrostatic image of each color is formed on each of the photosensitive drums 20Y, 20M, 20C, and 20K via optical components.

  First, in the image forming unit PY, a developing device 22Y in which a developing bias having the same polarity as the charging polarity (negative polarity) of the photosensitive drum 20Y is applied to the electrostatic image formed on the photosensitive drum 20Y is developed by the developing device 22Y. A toner image is attached to make a visible toner image. This yellow toner image is driven by a transfer roller 24Y to which a primary transfer bias (a reverse polarity (positive polarity) to the toner) is applied in a primary transfer portion T1Y between the photosensitive drum 20Y and the transfer roller 24Y. Primary transfer is performed on the intermediate transfer belt 23.

  The intermediate transfer belt 23 onto which the yellow toner image has been transferred is moved to the image forming unit PM side. In the image forming unit PM, the magenta toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 20M is superimposed on the yellow toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 23 in the same manner as described above, and then the primary transfer unit T1M. Transcribed.

  In the same manner, cyan and black toner images formed on the photosensitive drums 20C and 20K of the image forming unit PC and PK on the yellow and magenta toner images superimposed and transferred on the intermediate transfer belt 23 are respectively primary transferred. Overlapping is performed sequentially at portions T1C and T1K. As a result, a full-color toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 23.

  The transfer residual toner remaining on the photosensitive drums 20Y, 20M, 20C, and 20K is scraped off and collected by a cleaner blade or the like provided in the drum cleaner devices 23Y, 23M, 23C, and 23K.

  On the other hand, a transfer sheet (paper) S as a recording material selected from the paper feed cassette 30A or the manual feed tray 30B and fed as a recording material is fed.

  The transfer sheet S is secondarily transferred by a registration roller in accordance with the timing at which the front end of the full color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 23 is moved to the secondary transfer portion T2 between the secondary transfer counter roller 27a and the secondary transfer roller 28. It is conveyed to the transfer part T2. The full-color toner image is collectively transferred to the transfer sheet S conveyed to the secondary transfer portion T2 by the secondary transfer roller 28 to which a secondary transfer bias (polarity opposite to the toner (positive polarity)) is applied. Is done.

  The transfer sheet S on which the full-color toner image is formed is conveyed to the fixing device 25, and the full-color toner image is heated and pressurized at the fixing nip portion N between the first fixing member 25a and the second fixing member 25b. Then, it is heat-fixed on the surface of the transfer paper S. Thereafter, the transfer sheet S is discharged onto the discharge tray 26 on the upper surface of the main body by the discharge roller, and a series of image forming operations is completed.

  The secondary transfer residual toner and the like remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 23 are removed and collected by a belt cleaning device (not shown).

(Scanning optical device)
Next, with reference to FIG. 2, a scanning optical apparatus 1 as an exposure apparatus that characterizes the present invention will be described.

  The overall configuration of the scanning optical device 1 in this embodiment is the same as that of the conventional scanning optical device 1 described above with reference to FIG.

  That is, the scanning optical device 1 irradiates the photosensitive drum 20 (20Y, 20M, 20C, 20K) with laser light based on image information sent from an image reading device (not shown) or a personal computer. The laser light irradiation is performed by scanning in the main scanning direction along the axial direction of each photosensitive drum 20 and in the sub scanning direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction, that is, along the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 20. Then, an electrostatic image is formed on the photosensitive drum 20 by the laser light from the scanning optical device 1.

  2 illustrates the image forming unit P (PY, PM, PC, PK), the scanning optical device 1, and the intermediate transfer belt 23 of the image forming apparatus 100 illustrated in FIG. 1, and other members are omitted. . In this embodiment, the scanning optical device 1 is configured such that one polygon motor 31 as a scanning deflector serving as a light deflecting unit is mounted on the same optical box, that is, the housing 2. The polygon motor 31 includes a polygon mirror 32 and a drive motor 33.

  The scanning optical device 1 has a light source (not shown), and a light beam (laser light) emitted from the light source is incident on one polygon motor 31. The incident laser light exposes different photosensitive drums 20, in this embodiment, photosensitive drums 20Y, 20M, 20C, and 20K.

  More specifically, in this embodiment, the scanning optical device 1 scans the laser light from the light source at a constant speed with the polygon motor 31 as a scanning deflector that deflects and scans the laser light emitted based on the image information. And fθ lenses 34 and 35 for forming a spot image on the photosensitive drum, and imaging lenses 41 to 44 are provided. The scanning optical device 1 forms an electrostatic image on the photosensitive drum 20 through folding mirrors 51 to 58 that reflect the beams from the lenses 34, 35, and 41 to 44 in a predetermined direction.

  In the scanning optical device 1 having the above-described configuration, the optical box 2 in which optical components such as the polygon motor 31 and the fθ lenses 34 and 35, the imaging lenses 41 to 44 and the folding mirrors 51 to 58 are assembled is sealed. It is shielded from the outside by an upper lid 3 that is a partition member. That is, the upper lid 3 is assembled to the upper part of the optical box 2 and seals the inside of the optical box 2. Further, the upper lid 3 has an opening 3A (see FIG. 4) for exposing the photosensitive drum 20, and a transparent portion for protecting the scanning optical device 1 from dust while transmitting a laser beam through the opening 3A. A dustproof glass 5 as a light dustproof member is attached. Although a translucent resin can also be used for a translucent dustproof member besides glass, in the following description, it demonstrates as dustproof glass produced with glass.

  Next, features of the present invention will be described.

  3 to 5 show a schematic configuration in the vicinity of the dust-proof glass cleaning mechanism 4 in order to explain the characteristic part of the scanning optical device 1 in the first embodiment of the present invention.

  Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a cleaning mechanism 4 for cleaning the dust-proof glass 5 is disposed adjacent to the upper lid 3 of the scanning optical device 1.

  The dustproof glass cleaning mechanism 4 has the same configuration as the conventional dustproof glass cleaning mechanism 4 described with reference to FIG. That is, a cleaning blade 45 as a cleaning member that is in contact with the dust-proof glass 5 and a blade holder 46 that holds the cleaning blade 45 are provided. The blade holder 46 is held so as to be movable along guide means (not shown) installed in the apparatus main body 100A, and the cleaning blade 45 is arranged in a short shape perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the rectangular dustproof glass 5. It can move in the hand direction. In the present embodiment, the longitudinal direction of the dust-proof glass 5 is the main scanning direction of the scanning optical device 1, and the short direction is the sub-scanning direction of the scanning optical device 1.

  The cleaning blade 45 is a sheet-like blade, and a sheet-like synthetic resin material such as a polyurethane rubber plate is preferably used. For example, the blade 45 has a thickness of 0.05 to 1.0 mm and a free end length (h) in the short direction (see FIG. 4) of 2 to 10 mm. As shown in FIG. 4, the cleaning blade 45 moves in the direction A during dust-proof glass cleaning, and an edge portion thereof is in contact with the upper surface of the dust-proof glass 5. At that time, the cleaning blade 45 is in contact with the dust-proof glass 5 at a counter in order to scrape out foreign matter on the upper surface of the dust-proof glass 5. The inclination angle (α) of the cleaning blade 45 at that time with respect to the upper surface of the dust-proof glass is 30 to 80 degrees.

  FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the dust-proof glass portion provided on the upper cover 3 of the scanning optical device 1 in the vicinity of the dust-proof glass cleaning mechanism 4 for explaining the relationship between the cleaning blade 45, the dust-proof glass 5, and the upper cover 3. .

  In FIG. 4, the opening 3 </ b> A is formed in a horizontal bottom wall 3 a that forms a recess 3 </ b> B that is formed in the upper lid 3 and that opens upward. The upper surface 3b1 of the horizontal bottom wall 3b forms a mounting wall surface of the dustproof glass 5, and the dustproof glass 5 is installed. The upper surface of the dust-proof glass 5 attached to the glass attachment surface 3b1 is installed so as to be positioned slightly below the upper surface 3a of the upper lid 3.

  Further, a horizontal bottom wall 3c is formed in the recess 3B adjacent to the longitudinal edge of the horizontal bottom wall 3b and positioned further below the horizontal bottom wall 3b. The horizontal bottom wall 3c forms a toner reservoir 7 for collecting foreign matters such as toner scraped from the dust-proof glass 5 by the cleaning blade 45 in the recess 3B.

  Conventionally, as described above, the toner reservoir portion 7 is a groove-like recess continuously extending in the longitudinal direction formed continuously with one longitudinal end edge portion of the dust-proof glass 5, that is, The toner reservoir 47 (see FIG. 11) was obtained. On the other hand, according to the present embodiment, the toner reservoir 7 of the upper lid 3 is different from the conventional reservoir 47 (see FIG. 11) continuous in the longitudinal direction, and the longitudinal direction of the dust-proof glass 5 by the plurality of ribs 6. Are divided into a plurality of blocks 7a, 7a,... 7a (see FIGS. 3 and 5).

  That is, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, there are a plurality of ribs 6 as the guide means (cleaning member guide means) of the cleaning blade 45 when the cleaning blade 45 passes through the toner reservoir 7 in the longitudinal direction of the dust-proof glass 5. There are places. In the present embodiment, the dustproof glass 5 is arranged at equal intervals in the longitudinal direction at a distance (w). The distance (w) can be arbitrarily selected in consideration of the following points.

  That is, since the cleaning blade 45 is a low-rigidity sheet, for example, the sheet is bent at the end portion at one central portion of the rib and is caught by the toner reservoir 7. Therefore, the rib 6 as the guide means needs to support the cleaning blade 45 at a plurality of locations. Further, the rib 6 is formed at a plurality of locations along the longitudinal direction of the dust-proof glass 5, and the toner reservoir portion 7 is a collection of small reservoir portions 7a surrounded by walls (ribs) 6. There is an advantage that the range in which the toner moves in response to the circulating air flow and the shock from the outside is limited, and as a result, the toner accumulated in the toner reservoir portion 7 is less likely to be scattered again due to the above factors. In this example, the distance (w) was 5 to 30 mm. Each reservoir 7a has a capacity of about 0.05 to 5 cc.

  FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the dust-proof glass portion provided on the upper lid 3 of the scanning optical device 1 in the vicinity of the dust-proof glass cleaning mechanism 4 as described above.

  As described above, the upper surface 6a of the rib 6 serving as a cleaning member guide means for preventing the cleaning blade 45 from falling into the toner reservoir 7 is formed on the upper lid 3. It is formed so as to connect from the wall surface 3 b 1 to be attached to the upper surface 3 a of the upper lid 3. In this embodiment, the upper surface 3a of the upper lid 3 is connected to the inclined upper surface 6a of the rib 6 via the inclined surface 3d.

  By forming the rib 6 in this manner, when the scanning optical device 1 is pulled out from the image forming apparatus main body 100A, the cleaning blade 45 and the blade holder 46 follow the locus indicated by the broken-line arrow, and enter the toner reservoir 7. It can come out above the upper lid 3 without being caught.

  Further, the angle (β) formed between the upper surface 6a of the rib 6 and the mounting surface 3b1 of the cleaning blade 45 is an obtuse angle so that the cleaning blade 45 does not scoop due to friction with the upper surface 6a of the rib 6 or a minute catch. It is formed with. Usually, β = 95 to 140 degrees. In this embodiment, the angle is about 100 degrees.

  By forming the plurality of ribs 6 in the toner reservoir 7 in this way, the toner and dust scraped from the dust-proof glass 5 and accommodated in the toner reservoir 7 (7a, 7a,... 7a) The moving locus of the cleaning blade 45 on the upper lid 3 can be separated. Therefore, when the scanning optical device 1 is pulled out from the image forming apparatus main body 100A, the cleaning blade 45 does not scoop up the toner or dust accumulated in the toner reservoir 7 again and scrapes it out to the upper surface 3a of the upper lid 3.

  The toner and dust scraped from the dust-proof glass 5 are deposited on the thickness portion 6a of the rib 6 to a minute extent, but the influence is small because the surface area occupied by the rib 6 is small in the longitudinal direction of the mirror. In order to further reduce the degree of influence, the tip portion 6a of the rib 6 may be tapered (pointed edge shape) to further reduce the area where the toner may adhere.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the wall surface forming the toner reservoir 7 is formed so that the cleaning blade 45 does not get caught by the upper lid 3 in the section between the rib 6 and the rib 6. The That is, the wall surfaces 3d and 3e facing the dust-proof glass mounting surface 3b1 in the wall surface forming the toner reservoir 7 (7a) have different inclination angles. That is, as described above, the wall surface 3d on the side close to the top surface 3a of the upper lid 3 is the same inclined surface as the top surface 6a of the rib 6, and is a bottom surface near the bottom wall 3c that forms the bottom surface of the toner reservoir 7 (7a). The side wall surface 3e is substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall 3c.

  As described above, the wall surface is inclined so as to be flush with the upper surface 6 a of the rib 6 provided in the toner reservoir 7 in the portion near the upper surface 3 a of the upper lid 3. The blade 45 between the ribs can be prevented from being caught by the upper lid 3.

  In the above description, the rib 6 has been described as a configuration provided on the upper lid 3. However, the same effect can be obtained by using a configuration in which the rib 6 is formed of another member and fixed to the upper lid 3. It is clear that you can.

  In addition, the spacing (w) between the ribs 6 has been described in the present embodiment in the case where the ribs 6 are formed at equal intervals.

  Further, the shape of the rib 6 is not necessarily the shape illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 5, and the rib shape that allows the cleaning blade 45 to work without being caught when the scanning optical device 1 is pulled out from the image forming apparatus main body 100 </ b> A. If it is okay.

  According to the first embodiment of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus having a system in which the blade 45 for cleaning the dust-proof glass 5 is always in contact with the dust-proof glass, the toner reservoir for storing the toner deposited on the dust-proof glass. It is set as the structure which has a part. Also in the image forming apparatus having such a configuration, the detachability of the scanning optical apparatus from the image forming apparatus main body can be favorably maintained.

  That is, in the first embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of ribs 6 are provided in the toner reservoir 7 provided in the longitudinal direction of the dustproof glass 5. The rib 6 is formed across the toner reservoir 7 and extends from the surface 3b1 where the dust-proof glass 5 of the upper lid 3 is attached to the upper lid 3 to the upper surface 3a of the upper lid 3 beyond the toner reservoir 7. It extends in an inclined manner. As a result, the cleaning blade 45 does not fall into the toner reservoir 7 that is recessed below the attachment surface of the dust-proof glass 5.

  Accordingly, when the scanning optical device 1 is attached or detached, the cleaning optical device 1 is removed from the dust-proof glass 5 by the operation of pulling the scanning optical device 1 out of the image forming apparatus main body 100A, and cleaning is performed even when the cleaning blade 45 reaches the toner reservoir 7. The blade 45 is not caught. In addition, since the cleaning blade 45 does not enter the toner reservoir 7, the scattered toner deposited on the bottom surface of the toner reservoir 7 is not scraped out again onto the lid.

Example 2
6 and 7 show the toner reservoir 7 in the recess 3B of the scanning optical device 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  In this embodiment, a configuration in which the upper surface of the toner reservoir 7 is shielded by a mesh-like shielding member 8 is employed. The mesh-shaped shielding member 8 is composed of parts different from the upper lid 3 and is detachably attached to the upper lid 3. The shielding member 8 is attached to the upper lid 3 from the attachment surface 3 b 1 of the dustproof glass 5. Is formed so as to connect up to the upper surface 3a. In the present embodiment, the upper surface 3a of the upper lid 3 is connected to the shielding member 8 via the inclined surface 3d.

  The aperture ratio of the mesh-like shielding member 8 is usually 30 to 60%, and in this embodiment, it is 50%.

  The shielding member 8 is provided with holes 8a at substantially the same pitch over the entire length of the dust-proof glass 5, and the toner reservoir 7 is formed in this lower part. The hole diameter was 0.5 to 4.0 mm, and in this example, it was 2.0 mm. Therefore, when the toner or dust on the dust-proof glass 5 is scraped from the glass by the cleaning operation by the cleaning blade 45, the toner or dust passes through the mesh (hole) 8a of the shielding member 8. The toner drops to the toner reservoir 7 below. The attachment angle of the mesh-like shielding member 8 is an obtuse angle (β) so that the cleaning blade 45 does not bend due to friction with the shielding member 8 or minute catching, similarly to the upper surface 6a of the rib 6 of the first embodiment. Forming. Usually, β = 95 to 140 degrees. In this embodiment, the angle is about 100 degrees. Further, the inclined surface is the same as the inclined surface 3 d of the upper lid 3 connected to the shielding member 8.

  By shielding the toner reservoir 7 with the mesh-like shielding member 8 in this way, the toner and dust scraped out from the dust-proof glass 5 and accommodated in the toner reservoir 7, and the upper lid 3 are covered. The movement trajectory of the cleaning blade 45 can be separated. Therefore, when the scanning optical device 1 is pulled out from the image forming apparatus main body 100A, the cleaning blade 45 does not scoop up the toner or dust accumulated in the toner reservoir 7 again and scrape it out onto the upper lid 3.

  Toner and dust scraped from the dust-proof glass 5 are deposited on the mesh-like shielding member 8, but the surface area occupied by the mesh-like shielding member 8 with respect to the longitudinal direction of the mirror is small, so there is no influence. small. Further, as the opening ratio of the mesh-shaped shielding member 8 is increased, the probability of dropping to the toner reservoir 7 is increased, so that the amount of toner and dust deposited on the shielding member 8 is reduced.

  Here, the mesh-shaped shielding member 8 does not need to be a plastic molded part, and may be made of metal. However, when the shielding member is formed of a metal member, it is desirable to attach the removal burr toward the toner reservoir 7 side so that the cleaning blade is not caught or damaged by the burr or the like. Moreover, about the hole shape etc. of the shielding member 8, since only a part was illustrated for description in the present embodiment, any shape may be used as long as the same effect can be obtained even with other shapes. Absent.

  Also in the second embodiment of the present invention, in an image forming apparatus having a system in which a blade for cleaning the dust-proof glass is always in contact with the dust-proof glass, there is a toner reservoir for storing toner deposited on the dust-proof glass. The configuration is Even with such a configuration, the detachability of the scanning optical device 1 from the image forming apparatus main body 100A can be maintained well.

  That is, in the second embodiment of the present invention, the mesh-like shielding member 8 is attached to the toner reservoir. The mesh-like shielding member 8 is attached so as to cover the toner reservoir 7 and covers from the side of the dust-proof glass to the upper surface 3 a of the upper lid 3 beyond the toner reservoir 7. By providing the mesh member 8 on the upper surface of the toner reservoir 7, the toner on the dust-proof glass 5 falls to the toner reservoir 7 by the cleaning blade 45. As the cleaning blade 45 passes over the mesh-like shielding member 8, the cleaning blade 45 is not caught on the toner reservoir 7 as in the case of the rib 6 described in the first embodiment. Further, the scattered toner accumulated on the bottom surface of the toner reservoir 7 is not scraped out onto the upper lid 3 again.

  As described above, according to the present invention, in the image forming apparatus having a method in which the cleaning member for cleaning the dust-proof glass is always in contact with the dust-proof glass, the toner reservoir portion formed on the upper cover of the scanning optical device is used. A plurality of ribs or mesh-shaped shielding members are provided. With this configuration, when the scanning optical device is pulled out from the image forming apparatus, the cleaning blade prevents the toner and dust accumulated in the toner reservoir from scooping up again and scraping out onto the upper lid, and the detachability of the scanning optical device is improved. It can be maintained well.

  In each of the above embodiments, the image forming apparatus 100 of the present invention has been described as an intermediate transfer type color image forming apparatus.

  However, the principle of the present invention can be similarly applied to a so-called direct transfer type image forming apparatus provided with a conveyance belt for conveying a recording material instead of the intermediate transfer belt. The direct transfer type image forming apparatus uses toner formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 20 with respect to the recording material S conveyed by the conveying belt to each image forming portion P (PY, PM, PC, PK). The image is sequentially transferred directly and a color image is recorded. Since such an image forming apparatus is well known to those skilled in the art, further description is omitted. Of course, the present invention can also be applied to a monochromatic image forming apparatus.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an embodiment of an image forming apparatus of the present invention. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating an image forming unit and a scanning optical device in an image forming apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a shape in the vicinity of a toner reservoir in the first embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a locus when the scanning optical device is attached / detached in the vicinity of the toner reservoir of the first embodiment in the image forming apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a shape in the vicinity of a toner reservoir in the first embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a shape in the vicinity of a toner reservoir in a second embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a locus when the scanning optical device is attached / detached in the vicinity of the toner reservoir of the second embodiment in the image forming apparatus of the present invention. It is a schematic block diagram explaining an example of the conventional image forming apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the image formation part and scanning optical apparatus in the conventional image forming apparatus. It is a figure explaining the drawing-out direction of a scanning optical apparatus from the conventional image forming apparatus. It is sectional drawing explaining the action | operation of the cleaning member in the conventional image forming apparatus. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a catch when a scanning optical device is attached / detached near a toner reservoir in a conventional image forming apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

1 Exposure device (scanning optical device)
2 Optical box (housing)
3 Upper lid 4 Cleaning mechanism 5 Dust-proof glass (translucent dust-proof member)
6, 8 Rib (cleaning member guide means)
7, 47 Toner reservoir 45 Cleaning blade (cleaning member)
46 Blade holder 20 Photosensitive drum (image carrier)
21 Primary charger (charging means)
22 Developing device (developing means)
23 Intermediate transfer belt (intermediate transfer member)
31 Polygon motor 34, 35 fθ lens 41-44 Imaging lens 51-58 Folding mirror

Claims (5)

A light source, an optical component that images a light beam emitted from the light source on an image carrier, a scanning deflector that deflects and scans the light beam, a housing that stores the optical component and the scanning deflector, and An upper lid that is assembled to an upper portion of the housing and seals the inside of the housing; a translucent dust-proof member provided in an opening of the upper lid that transmits a light beam emitted from the inside of the housing; A scanning optical device that is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus main body, and a toner reservoir provided adjacent to the dustproof member.
A cleaning member that contacts the upper surface of the translucent dust-proof member and is movable in the short direction of the translucent dust-proof member so as to scrape foreign matter deposited on the upper surface of the translucent dust-proof member to the toner reservoir. When,
In an image forming apparatus having
The toner reservoir is for preventing the cleaning member from dropping into the toner reservoir when the cleaning member passes through the toner reservoir when the scanning optical device is attached to or detached from the image forming apparatus main body. An image forming apparatus comprising a cleaning member guide.   The cleaning member guide means is a plurality of ribs provided in the toner reservoir, or a mesh-shaped shielding member disposed on an upper surface of the toner reservoir. The image forming apparatus described. The cleaning member is a sheet-like blade, and the edge portion of the blade moves in contact with the translucent dustproof member at the counter in order to scrape foreign matter on the upper surface of the translucent dustproof member,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein an angle formed by the blade and an upper surface of the plurality of ribs or an upper surface of the mesh-shaped shielding member is an obtuse angle.   Among the wall surfaces forming the toner reservoir portion, the wall surface facing the wall surface to which the translucent dustproof member is attached has a different angle between the side close to the upper surface of the upper lid and the bottom surface side of the toner reservoir portion, The wall surface on the side close to the upper surface of the upper lid is formed in the same plane as the upper surfaces of the plurality of ribs provided in the toner reservoir or the upper surface of the mesh-like shielding member. The image forming apparatus according to the item.   A plurality of image forming units each including the image carrier are arranged in a straight line, and the scanning optical device forms an image of a light beam on the image carrier of each image forming unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the scanning optical device is detachable along an alignment direction of the plurality of image forming units.

Images