JP2009237269A - Cleaning device and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cleaning device which is able to contribute to miniaturization of the entire cleaning device. <P>SOLUTION: The cleaning device is equipped with a removing roller body 35 removing developer after transfer that remains on a surface of an intermediate transfer belt 22, while coming in contact with the surface of the intermediate transfer belt; a collecting roller body 36 collecting the developer while coming in contact with a surface of the removing roller body 35; a cleaning blade 37 separating the developer, while coming in contact with a surface of the collecting roller body 36; and a pair of side seal bodies 39, coming in contact with both ends of the collecting roller body 36. If the full width of the removing roller body 35 is C, the full width of the collecting roller body 36 is D, the full width of the cleaning blade 37 functioning as a blade body is E, and the inner-end width of the side sealing body 39 is F, they prescribe to the relation C≥D≥E>F. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a cleaning apparatus and an image forming apparatus that are mounted on an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, or a multifunction machine that is functionally equipped with these, and collects developer remaining on an image carrier.

  Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, or a multifunction machine equipped with these functionally, it remains on an image carrier such as a photosensitive drum or an intermediate transfer belt after image transfer onto a transfer sheet. A cleaning device for collecting a developer (toner or the like) is installed.

  In such a cleaning device, when the developer remaining on the surface of the image carrier is collected, the blade is brought into contact with the surface of the image carrier to scrape off the developer. (For example, refer to Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  However, when such a blade body is brought into direct contact with the image carrier, there is a problem that the surface of the image carrier tends to be worn away and the durability of the image carrier and the reliability of the image are poor. It was.

  Therefore, in recent years, the developer remaining on the surface of the image carrier is removed by a removal roller body such as a fur brush that is in contact with the surface of the image carrier, and then the developer removed by the removal roller body is removed. The recovery roller body made of a conductive metal or the like in contact with the surface of the substrate is electrically collected by applying a cleaning bias, and then a cleaning blade or other blade body is brought into contact with the surface of the recovery roller body and scraped off (separation) A cleaning device has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Documents 3 and 4).

The developer scraped off by the blade body and the like is transported outside the cleaning device (outside the cleaning case) by the recovery screw in the cleaning case that holds the fur brush, the recovery roller body, and the blade body in a unit shape. And finally collected.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 07-325527 JP 09-297513 A JP 2007-271880 A JP 2003-114597 A

  However, in the cleaning devices disclosed in Patent Documents 3 and 4 described above, the widths of the removal roller body, the collection roller body, and the blade body are very important in determining the size of the cleaning case and the developer collection efficiency. It will be important to you.

  However, since the opening width of the toner recovery port formed in the cleaning case needs to be equal to or larger than the maximum image forming region width of the image carrier, the widths of the removal roller body, the recovery roller body, and the blade body described above are: There was no particular regulation except that the opening width of the toner collection port is not less than the opening width.

  In Patent Documents 1 and 2 described above, although the width relationships of the charging roller, the developing sleeve, the blade body, and the side seal body with respect to the image carrier (or the maximum image forming area width) are defined, cleaning is performed. The width between the constituent members of the entire apparatus is not specified, and the size of the cleaning case cannot be determined as in Patent Documents 3 and 4 described above. There was a problem of becoming.

  On the other hand, the above-described side seal body prevents leakage of collected toner outside the machine (cleaning case) at both ends of the blade body. The improvement in functionality of the side seal body is to set the inner end width of the side seal body, that is, It was found that this was one of the factors that determine the size of the cleaning case.

  In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning device that can contribute to downsizing of the entire cleaning device.

  The cleaning device of the present invention comprises a removal roller body that contacts the surface of the image carrier and removes the transferred developer remaining on the surface of the image carrier, and a surface of the removal roller body that removes the developer. A collection roller body that collects the developer removed by the roller body, a blade body that contacts the surface of the collection roller body and separates the developer collected by the collection roller body, and contacts both ends of the collection roller body In a cleaning device comprising a pair of side seal bodies, the total width of the removal roller body is C, the total width of the recovery roller body is D, the total width of the blade body is E, and the inner end width of the side seal body is F , C ≧ D ≧ E> F.

  At this time, when the total width of the image carrier is A and the maximum image formation width of the image carrier is B, the widths are preferably defined as A> C ≧ D ≧ E> F> B. C = D = E is more preferable.

  In addition, the present invention can be an image forming apparatus that employs a cleaning device having any one of the above-described configurations.

  The cleaning device of the present invention can contribute to downsizing of the entire cleaning device.

  Next, a cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  1 is an explanatory view of an image forming apparatus equipped with a cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is an enlarged front view of the main part of the cleaning device according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a modification of the cleaning device according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is an enlarged front view of the principal part.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a tandem color printer 11 as an image forming apparatus equipped with a cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present invention stores transfer paper (not shown) inside a printer main body 12. A paper feed cassette 13, a paper feed unit 14 that takes out transfer paper from the paper feed cassette 13, and an image formation processing unit 15 that performs image formation processing on transfer paper supplied from the paper feed cassette 13 or a manual feed tray (not shown). A transfer unit 17 that transfers the toner image that has been image-formed by the image forming processing unit 15 while guiding the transfer paper supplied from the paper feed cassette 13 or the manual feed tray along the transfer paper transport path 16, and the toner after transfer. And a fixing unit 18 for fixing the image.

  For example, the image forming processing unit 15 employs a tandem system that performs image forming processing using toner (developer) of four colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). ing. In the following description, only in the case of color designation, the symbol of each arithmetic numeral is attached with a color (Y, M, C, K) in parentheses, and in the common case, only the arithmetic numeral is included. A description will be given with reference numerals.

  The image forming processing unit 15 corresponds to each color (Y, M, C, K), a plurality of toner containers 19 storing replenishing toner, and a print transmitted from each color toner from a personal computer (not shown). A plurality of amorphous silicon-made photosensitive drums 20 that form toner images based on image data included in the data, a plurality of developing devices 21 that supply toner to the respective photosensitive drums 20, and the photosensitive drums 20 are formed. And an endless intermediate transfer belt 22 onto which the toner image is transferred.

  Each photosensitive drum 20 carries a toner image of each color on the surface thereof based on the beam flux emitted from the exposure unit 23 and transfers the toner image to the intermediate transfer belt 22. In addition, it is disposed below the intermediate transfer belt 22. Further, around the photosensitive drum 20, a charger (charging roller) 24, an exposure unit 23, a developing unit 21, a transfer roller 25, a photosensitive member cleaning device 26, and a static eliminator 27 are arranged in the order of the transfer process.

  Each developing device 21 basically has the same configuration and is arranged adjacent to the lower side of the intermediate transfer belt 22 along the rotational movement direction. A detailed description of the configuration of the developing device 21 is omitted.

  The intermediate transfer belt 22 is an endless belt disposed in the printer main body 12 so as to extend in the horizontal direction, and is circulated and driven in accordance with an image forming operation. Further, the toner image transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 22 is transferred by the transfer unit 17 to the transfer paper conveyed through the transfer paper conveyance path 16 from the paper feed cassette 13 or the manual feed tray. Further, the intermediate transfer belt 22 is installed so as to be rotatable between a pair of rollers 28 and 29, and the tension state is maintained by using one roller 28 as a driving roller and the other roller 29 as a tension roller. . Further, on the side of the intermediate transfer belt 22, there is provided a cleaning device 30 that removes residual toner after the toner image is transferred to the transfer paper by the transfer unit 17 from the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 22.

  The transfer sheet on which the toner image has been transferred by the transfer unit 17 is fixed by the fixing unit 18 through the transfer sheet conveyance path 16 and then guided to the end of the transfer sheet conveyance path 16 as the upper surface of the printer main body 12. The paper is discharged toward the shared paper discharge tray 12a. The tension mechanism of the roller 29 employs a known technique, and maintains the tensioned state of the intermediate transfer belt 22 by displacing the intermediate transfer belt 22 in the rotational movement direction (see arrows a and b in the drawing).

  The exposure unit 23 divides each light beam emitted from a plurality of light sources 31 (Y, M, C, K) corresponding to each photosensitive drum 20 (Y, M, C, K) into two. The polarization scanning is performed by polarizers 32 (YM) and 32 (CK) such as polygon mirrors that share the light sources 31 (Y) and (M) and the light sources 31 (C) and (K) as a pair. The light beam is imaged on the photosensitive drum 20 (Y, M, C, K).

  The cleaning device 30 extends in the width direction of the intermediate transfer belt 22 (depth direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 1 and transfer paper width direction). Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the cleaning device 30 includes a cleaning case 34 in which a waste toner feeding port 33 is formed, and a cleaning member (for example, a fur brush or the like) disposed to face the roller 29 with the intermediate transfer belt 22 interposed therebetween. A removal roller body 35, a collection roller body (sweep roller) 36 that contacts the surface of the removal roller body 35 near the upper side of the removal roller body 35, and an elastic piece member that contacts the surface of the collection roller body 36 in the counter direction. A cleaning blade 37, a spiral 38 that finally collects residual toner and conveys it to the outside of the cleaning case 34, and a side seal body 39 that is attached to the cleaning case 34 near both ends of the cleaning blade 37. I have.

  A roller-like fur brush is used for the removing roller body 35 and rotates in a direction opposite to the rotational movement direction of the intermediate transfer belt 22 by driving of a drive source (not shown). Thereby, the removal roller body 35 can remove the residual toner after transfer remaining on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 22.

  The collection roller body 36 rotates in a direction opposite to the rotation direction of the removal roller body 35 by driving of a drive source (not shown) (same or different from the drive source of the removal roller body 35). The collection roller body 36 is in contact with the surface of the removal roller body 35, and a cleaning bias is applied so as to electrically collect the residual toner removed by the removal roller body 35.

  The cleaning blade 37 scrapes the residual toner collected by the collection roller body 36 by coming into contact with the surface of the collection roller body 36 in the counter direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the side seal body 39 has a cleaning blade 37 located on the surface side, and is formed of an elastic material (for example, urethane foam) having an open-cell cell structure. Further, the back surface side of the side seal body 39 is fixed to the inner wall surface of the cleaning case 34 via a double-sided tape or the like (not shown). Further, the side seal body 39 is provided with a notch 40 in the vicinity of the center of the edge located on both ends (only one side is shown) of the cleaning blade 37, and the side seal body 39 as a whole is on the cleaning blade 37 side. It has a U-shape when viewed from the front.

  Accordingly, the side seal body 39 includes a contact surface 41 that contacts the peripheral surface of the collection roller body 36 on the outer side of the cleaning case 34 with respect to the notch 40 and a corner of the cleaning blade 37 below the notch 40 in the drawing. An abutting portion 42 that abuts on the near back surface is formed. The side seal body 39 may be subjected to a film forming process such as application / drying of an oil repellent containing a fluororesin in a fluorinated solvent, if necessary. At this time, PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), PFA (perfluoroalkoxyalkane), or the like is used as the fluororesin. When urethane foam is not used for the side seal body 39, it may be formed of synthetic resin, rubber, or elastomer (soft plastic).

  The contact surface 41 is curved so as to have the same curvature as that of the circumferential surface of the collection roller body 36, and is in surface contact with the circumferential surface of the collection roller body 36. Therefore, since the curvature of the contact surface 41 is the same as the curvature of the circumferential surface of the collection roller body 36, the contact surface 41 can be in close contact with the circumferential surface of the collection roller body 36.

  In addition, although it was set as the curved board so that the curvature of the contact surface 41 might become the same as the curvature of the surrounding surface of the collection | recovery roller body 36, ie, it matched, it is not limited to this, The contact surface 41 whole It is not necessary to match all the curvatures of the curved surface with the curvature of the peripheral surface of the collection roller body 36, and it is preferable that the curved surface is matched with the shape of the lower end portion of the cleaning blade 37 shown in the figure, for example.

  The abutting portion 42 supports the end portion of the cleaning blade 37 from the back surface side, and prevents the cleaning blade 37 from falling and the corner portion from being bent. At this time, the upper edge portion in the vicinity of the corner portion of the cleaning blade 37 may be positioned inside the notch portion 40 or may be in contact with the contact surface 41 above the notch portion 40 in the drawing. That is, the boundary portion between the notch 40 and the contact surface 41 may be in contact with or separated from the rear surface of the edge of the cleaning blade 37. In particular, the carrier liquid is applied to the toner as the developer. In the included image forming processing method, a capillary phenomenon is generated at a narrow interval between the intermediate transfer belt 22 and the cleaning blade 37 and moves to both ends of the cleaning blade 37. It is preferable that the upper edge portion is located inside the notch portion 40.

  The side seal body 39 extends, for example, a notch 44 to the lower side in the figure, like the side seal body 43 shown in FIG. 5, and a part of the contact surface 45 is in contact with the edge back surface side of the cleaning blade 37. It is good also as the contact part 46 which touches.

  On the other hand, by arranging the side seal body 39 having such a configuration, in the cleaning device 30 of the present invention, as shown in FIG. The maximum image forming width of the transfer belt 22 is B, the entire width of the removal roller body 35 is C, the entire width of the collection roller body 36 is D, the entire width of the cleaning blade 37 as a blade body is E, and the inner end width of the side seal body 39 is When F is assumed, it can be defined as A> C ≧ D ≧ E> F> B. Further, it is more preferable to define C = D = E except for errors.

  That is, when the toner is cleaned outside the maximum image forming width B, if the end of the cleaning blade 37 is fixed by the side seal body 39, the toner collected on the collection roller body 36 is discharged to the waste toner feed port. 33 does not enter 33 and leaks out of the cleaning device 30, contaminating the interior of the machine and causing image defects.

  For example, when cleaning toner that has fallen outside the assumed range (for example, toner at a location such as the inner edge width F), the toner collected by the side seal body 39 in the conventional cleaning device shape is removed. The insertion into the waste toner feed port 33 is blocked, and the toner in that portion leaks out of the apparatus.

  On the other hand, in the present invention, the end of the side seal body 39 is cut into a U-shape when viewed from the front, so that the end of the cleaning blade 37 is not blocked from the waste toner feed port 33 and collected at the end. The toner can be smoothly fed to the waste toner feed port 33, and the backflow of the waste toner due to side leakage from the side seal body 39 can be prevented, and as a result, the maximum cleaning area can be widened. .

  As a result, the cleaning case 34 has a minimum width within the necessary minimum width by making the entire width of the removing roller body 35, the entire width of the collection roller body 36, and the outer end width of the side seal body 39 as internal components. All can be accommodated, and the cleaning device 30 can be reduced in size.

  In the above embodiment, the cleaning blade 37 has been described as a blade body, but it can be functionally applied to other configurations, for example, the cleaning device 50 shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 7, the cleaning device 50 includes a case 52 in which a replenishing port 51 is formed, a removal roller body 53 disposed opposite to the roller 29 via the intermediate transfer belt 22, and a removal roller body near the upper side of the removal roller body 53. The collection roller body 54 that contacts the surface of the removal roller body 53, the collection housing 55 disposed below the removal roller body 53 so as to follow the outer peripheral shape of the removal roller body 53, and the contact between the removal roller body 53 and the collection roller body 54 A toner receiving portion 57 that forms a stay accumulation space 56 between the collection roller body 54 and the outer peripheral surface of the collection roller body 54 on the downstream side in the rotational direction of the collection roller body 54, and the collection roller body 54 on the downstream side of the stay accumulation space 56. A cleaning blade 58 as a blade body that contacts the surface of the blade in the counter direction, and a spira that finally collects residual toner and conveys it to the outside of the case 52 59, an elastic seal member 60 as an elastic piece member that contacts the tip of the toner receiving portion 57 so as to close the downstream open end of the collecting roller body 54 in the rotation direction of the collecting roller body 54, and the collecting roller body 54 A side seal body 61 that is in contact with the peripheral surface and a part of which contacts the back surface of the elastic seal member 60 is provided.

  Also in such a side seal body 61, the cleaning blade 37 is used instead of the cleaning blade 37 as in the above-described embodiment, and abuts on the elastic seal member 60.

It is explanatory drawing of the image forming apparatus carrying the cleaning apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is an expanded sectional view of the cleaning device concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is an expansion perspective view of the important section in the cleaning device concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is an enlarged front view of the principal part of the cleaning apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is an enlarged front view of the principal part of the modification of the cleaning apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the principal part which shows the width relationship of the cleaning apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is an expanded sectional view of other examples of the cleaning device concerning one embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

11. Color printer (image forming apparatus)
22 ... Intermediate transfer belt (image carrier)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 30 ... Cleaning apparatus 34 ... Cleaning case 35 ... Removal roller body 36 ... Recovery roller body 37 ... Cleaning blade (blade body)
39. Side seal body

Claims (4)

A removal roller body that removes the transferred developer remaining on the surface of the image carrier in contact with the surface of the image carrier, and a developer that contacts the surface of the removal roller body and is removed by the removal roller body A collecting roller body that collects the developer, a blade body that contacts the surface of the collecting roller body and separates the developer collected by the collecting roller body, and a pair of side seal bodies that contact both ends of the collecting roller body, In a cleaning device comprising:
When the total width of the removal roller body is C, the total width of the recovery roller body is D, the total width of the blade body is E, and the inner end width of the side seal body is F,
C ≧ D ≧ E> F
A cleaning device characterized by the above. When the total width of the image carrier is A and the maximum image formation width of the image carrier is B, the widths are as follows:
A> C ≧ D ≧ E>F> B
The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning device is defined as follows.   The cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the widths are defined as C = D = E.   An image forming apparatus comprising the cleaning device according to claim 1.

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