JP2009300601A - Cleaning device and image forming apparatus using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To continue a stable cleaning effect on an object to be cleaned, in a front end part of a plate-like cleaning member by suppressing vibrations of a cleaning vessel due to vibration occurring between the plate-like cleaning member and the object to be cleaned. <P>SOLUTION: A cleaning device includes: a cleaning vessel 2 which has an opening 2a extending in a longitudinal direction and storing a remaining developer therein; a plate-like cleaning member 3 which has a plate-like member extending in the longitudinal direction of the opening 2a and is provided in one opening side edge part 2b located on one side in a non-longitudinal direction of the opening 2a so that the front end of the plate-like member faces a moving direction of an object 1 to be cleaned, and cleans the remaining developer on the object 1 to be cleaned; and a dynamic vibration reducer 4 which is provided in the other opening side edge part 2c located on the side opposite to the one opening side edge part 2b of the cleaning vessel 2 and vibrates in the same direction as vibrations of a center portion in the longitudinal direction of the other opening side edge part 2c so as to suppress vibrations which are propagated through the cleaning vessel 2 and vibrate the center portion, the vibrations being generated when cleaning the object 1 by the plate-like cleaning member 3, and generates an anti-phase force to attenuate vibrations of the other opening side edge part 2c. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a cleaning device and an image forming apparatus using the same.

  For example, in an image forming apparatus adopting an electrophotographic system, a cleaning device using a rubber blade is known for cleaning toner remaining on a photosensitive member which is a kind of an image holding member for holding a toner image.

  Conventionally, various devices have been made to improve the cleaning performance of a body to be cleaned (such as an image holding body) using a blade. In Patent Document 1, in order to improve the cleaning performance on the recording material conveying belt for conveying the recording material, a toner image dedicated for cleaning is once formed on the photosensitive member, and then transferred onto the recording material conveying belt. The toner image is cleaned with a blade so as to exert a lubricating action by the toner between the recording material conveying belt and the blade. Further, in Patent Document 2, a combination of a photoreceptor and a blade forms a protective layer in which a filler is dispersed on the surface of the photoreceptor in order to suppress the occurrence of abnormal noise due to blade vibration. A configuration is disclosed in which spherical silicone resin particles are applied to the surface. Further, Patent Document 3 discloses a device including a vibration absorbing portion made of a damping steel plate or the like for the blade so that the vibration of the charging member generated during contact charging to the photosensitive member is not transmitted to the blade. Further, Patent Document 4 discloses a urethane material in which the peak temperature of the loss coefficient tan δ of the complex elastic modulus is in a predetermined range in order to enhance the vibration absorption of the blade itself.

  On the other hand, a method using a dynamic vibration absorber is known as a method for suppressing container vibration. Patent Document 5 discloses a configuration in which a vibration absorbing portion is formed by cutting a bracket on which a rotary motor is supported in order to suppress vibration caused by the rotary motor, thereby suppressing vibration of the bracket. Patent Document 6 discloses a configuration in which a dynamic vibration absorber is attached to an optical scanning device used in a laser printer or the like to suppress vibration.

JP 2001-282010 A (Example 1, FIG. 1) JP 2004-233881 A (Embodiment of the Invention, FIG. 1) Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-341701 (Example, FIG. 1) JP 2001-290404 A (Embodiment of the Invention, FIG. 2) JP 2006-258286 A (first embodiment, FIG. 1) Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-184959 (first embodiment, FIG. 2)

  The technical problem of the present invention is to suppress the vibration of the cleaning container caused by the vibration generated between the plate-shaped cleaning member and the member to be cleaned when cleaning the residual developer on the member to be cleaned. This is to maintain the cleaning effect for the stable object to be cleaned.

  The invention according to claim 1 is a cleaning device for cleaning the residual developer on the moving object to be cleaned, and has an opening extending in the longitudinal direction intersecting with the moving direction of the object to be cleaned, and the residual developer inside. And a plate-like member extending along the longitudinal direction of the opening, and the opening of the plate-like member is arranged on one side of the opening in the non-longitudinal direction so as to face the moving direction of the body to be cleaned. A plate-shaped cleaning member that is provided at one side edge of the opening to clean the residual developer on the object to be cleaned, and provided at the other edge of the opening located on the opposite side of the opening one side edge of the cleaning container The vibration of the part is transmitted so as to suppress the vibration of the central part in the longitudinal direction of the other side edge of the opening among the vibrations generated in association with the cleaning operation of the object to be cleaned by the plate-shaped cleaning member. Oscillates in the same direction as the A cleaning device and a dynamic vibration reducer and a dynamic vibration reducer for attenuating the vibration of the other side edge.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the cleaning device according to the first aspect, the plate-like cleaning member has a rubber member that contacts the member to be cleaned along the longitudinal direction of the opening, and has a higher rigidity than the rubber member. And a supporting member that is fixedly supported by the cleaning container at both ends in the longitudinal direction to support the rubber-based member, and the supporting member is provided so as to extend at least along the longitudinal direction of the opening and is a rubber-based member It is a cleaning apparatus which has a metal plate which supports.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the cleaning device according to the first or second aspect, the dynamic vibration absorber is provided such that one end side thereof is fixed to the cleaning container and a free end side different from the one end side is spaced from the cleaning container. And an elastic body that is displaceable along the vibration direction of the cleaning container at the site where the dynamic vibration absorber is disposed, and a mass that is provided on the free end side of the elastic body and that weights the elastic body in the vertical direction A cleaning device having a body.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the cleaning device according to the third aspect, the elastic body is constituted by a part of a cleaning container.

The invention according to claim 5 is the cleaning apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the elastic body is disposed in a direction along a longitudinal direction of the opening other side edge portion of the cleaning container.
The invention according to claim 6 is the cleaning apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the dynamic vibration absorber is disposed substantially symmetrically with respect to a longitudinal center position of the opening other side edge portion of the cleaning container. .
A seventh aspect of the present invention is the cleaning apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the dynamic vibration absorber is a cleaning container whose natural frequency is generated along with a cleaning operation of a body to be cleaned by a plate-shaped cleaning member. It is the cleaning apparatus adjusted so that it may become the primary vibration frequency.
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the cleaning device according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, the plate-like cleaning member collects a developer between the tip surface on the side in contact with the member to be cleaned and the member to be cleaned. It is a cleaning device that is provided so that the tip end face faces upward so that a developer reservoir can be formed.
The invention according to claim 9 is the cleaning device according to claim 8, wherein the other edge of the opening of the cleaning container is provided so as to extend in the longitudinal direction along the opening, and is cleaned by the plate-like cleaning member. And a film-like sealing member that prevents the remaining developer from being scattered and collects the developer on the front end surface of the plate-like cleaning member that contacts the object to be cleaned.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image holding body that holds a toner image by a developer, and a residual toner that is disposed opposite to the image holding body and that is disposed on the image holding body. An image forming apparatus including a cleaning device.

According to the first aspect of the invention, when cleaning the residual developer on the object to be cleaned, the vibration of the cleaning container due to the vibration generated between the plate-shaped cleaning member and the object to be cleaned is effectively suppressed. Thus, it is possible to maintain a stable cleaning effect on the object to be cleaned at the tip of the plate-like cleaning member.
According to the invention which concerns on Claim 2, the rigidity of plate-shaped cleaning member itself can be improved, and the stable cleaning effect can be maintained now compared with the structure without a metal plate.
According to the invention which concerns on Claim 3, compared with what does not have this structure, a dynamic vibration damper can be formed with a simple structure.
According to the invention which concerns on Claim 4, compared with what does not have this structure, manufacture of a dynamic vibration absorber becomes easy by comprising the elastic body of a dynamic vibration absorber by a part of cleaning container.
According to the invention which concerns on Claim 5, compared with what does not have this structure, the damping effect of the vibration which generate | occur | produces in a cleaning container improves by arrange | positioning an elastic body in a vibration direction.
According to the invention which concerns on Claim 6, generation | occurrence | production of an unnecessary rotational moment can be suppressed now by arrange | positioning symmetrically.

According to the invention which concerns on Claim 7, the effect which suppresses a vibration can be made to act much more effectively by optimizing the natural frequency of a dynamic vibration damper.
According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, an effective developer reservoir can be formed at the tip of the plate-shaped cleaning member by making the plate-shaped cleaning member face upward as compared with the case without this configuration, Cleaning performance can be improved.
According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to form an effective developer pool at the tip of the plate-like cleaning member as compared with those not having this configuration, and it is possible to stably clean the developer. Unnecessary scattering can be prevented.
According to the invention which concerns on Claim 10, when cleaning the residual developer on a to-be-cleaned body, the vibration of the cleaning container resulting from the vibration which arises between a plate-shaped cleaning member and a to-be-cleaned body is suppressed effectively. Thus, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that can maintain a cleaning effect on a stable object to be cleaned at the tip of the plate-like cleaning member.

Outline of Embodiment Model First, an outline of an embodiment model to which the present invention is applied will be described.
FIG. 1 shows an outline of a cleaning apparatus according to an embodiment model embodying the present invention. In the figure, a cleaning device according to the present embodiment model is a cleaning device that cleans residual developer on a moving object to be cleaned 1, and is an opening extending in a longitudinal direction intersecting the moving direction of the object to be cleaned 1. A cleaning container 2 that can store residual developer in the interior thereof, and a plate-like member that extends along the longitudinal direction of the opening 2a, and the tip of the plate-like member extends in the direction of movement of the body 1 to be cleaned. A plate-like cleaning member 3 provided on one side edge 2b of the opening 2a that is positioned on one side of the opening 2a so as to face each other and cleaning the residual developer on the cleaning target 1, and one side of the opening of the cleaning container 2 Propagated through the cleaning container 2 out of vibrations generated by the cleaning operation of the body 1 to be cleaned by the plate-like cleaning member 3 and provided on the other side edge 2c of the opening located on the opposite side of the edge 2b and the other side of the opening The part concerned so as to suppress the vibration of the longitudinal center part of the edge part 2c And a dynamic vibration reducer 4 to damp the vibration of the opening the other side edge portion 2c to generate a force of vibration and opposite phase in the same direction as the vibration of.

  Here, the shape or the like of the member to be cleaned 1 is not particularly limited as long as it moves. For example, it may be a roll-like member or a belt-like member. Further, the developer is not limited to a one-component developer composed only of toner, and may be a two-component developer including a carrier, for example. Furthermore, the cleaning container 2 only needs to have an opening 2a extending in the longitudinal direction intersecting the moving direction of the object 1 to be cleaned, and a plate-like cleaning member 3 is arranged corresponding to this opening 2a, and the object to be cleaned The residual developer on No. 1 is cleaned. And although it does not specifically limit as a shape of the cleaning container 2, For example, when providing members, such as a stirring conveyance member which conveys the accommodated residual developer outside, in the cleaning container 2, it matched with such a member. Even if it takes a shape, it does not interfere.

  Further, from the viewpoint of maintaining the stable cleaning performance of the plate-like cleaning member 3 itself, the plate-like cleaning member 3 includes a rubber-based member that contacts the member to be cleaned 1 along the longitudinal direction of the opening 2a, and the rubber. And a support member that is fixedly supported by the cleaning container 2 at both ends in the longitudinal direction and supports the rubber member, and the support member is provided so as to extend at least along the longitudinal direction of the opening 2a. And a metal plate that supports the rubber-based member. Thereby, compared with what comprised the plate-shaped cleaning member 3 only with the rubber-type member, for example, promotion of material deterioration, such as a sag, can be suppressed, and the stable cleaning performance over a long term can be maintained. Become. The rubber-based member is intended to include rubber and elastomer.

  Further, from the viewpoint of forming an effective developer pool at the tip portion of the plate-like cleaning member 3, the plate-like cleaning member 3 is between the tip surface on the side in contact with the body to be cleaned 1 and the body to be cleaned 1. It is preferable that the front end face is provided upward so that a developer reservoir can be formed. From the viewpoint of forming an effective developer reservoir by the tip portion of the plate-like cleaning member 3, the opening other side edge 2c of the cleaning container 2 is provided so as to extend in the longitudinal direction along the opening 2a. Further, a film-like seal member 5 for preventing the remaining developer cleaned by the plate-like cleaning member 3 from scattering and collecting the developer on the front end surface of the plate-like cleaning member 3 on the side in contact with the member 1 to be cleaned may be provided. preferable. Thus, by stably forming the developer reservoir at the tip of the plate-like cleaning member 3, an effective flow of the developer in the developer reservoir is ensured, and the plate-like cleaning member 3 and the object to be cleaned by the developer are secured. Lubricating performance and cleaning performance with the body 1 can be maintained, and the cleaning effect of the body 1 to be cleaned by the plate-like cleaning member 3 can be stably maintained.

  On the other hand, from the viewpoint of realizing an easy configuration for suppressing vibration as the dynamic vibration absorber 4, the dynamic vibration absorber 4 is provided with one end side fixed to the cleaning container 2, and the free end side different from the one end side is the cleaning container 2. And an elastic body 4a that is displaceable along the vibration direction of the cleaning container 2 at a position where the dynamic vibration absorber 4 is disposed, and is provided on the free end side of the elastic body 4a and is elastic. It is preferable to have a mass body 4b that weights the body 4a in the vertical direction. Here, the number of the dynamic vibration absorbers 4 is not particularly limited, and any number may be provided. The elastic body 4a of the dynamic vibration absorber 4 may be configured integrally with the cleaning container 2, or the elastic body 4a is separately manufactured, and the manufactured elastic body 4a is bonded to the cleaning container 2 or the like. It does not matter even if it is attached by the method of. Thus, by providing the mass body 4b in the elastic body 4a, the inertial force can be increased. From the viewpoint of easily producing the dynamic vibration absorber 4, it is preferable that the elastic body 4 a is constituted by a part of the cleaning container 2. Further, from the viewpoint of further improving the vibration damping effect of the cleaning container 2, the elastic body 4 a is preferably arranged in a direction along the longitudinal direction of the opening other side edge 2 c of the cleaning container 2. Further, from the viewpoint of suppressing the generation of unnecessary rotational moment due to the arrangement of the dynamic vibration absorber 4, the dynamic vibration absorber 4 is substantially symmetric with respect to the longitudinal center position of the opening other side edge 2 c of the cleaning container 2. It is preferable to arrange | position.

  From the viewpoint of enhancing the vibration damping effect of the dynamic vibration absorber 4, the dynamic vibration absorber 4 is the primary of the cleaning container 2 whose natural frequency is generated in accordance with the cleaning operation of the body 1 to be cleaned by the plate-like cleaning member 3. It is preferable to adjust the frequency so as to be a vibration frequency. Specifically, the shape of the elastic body 4a and the mass of the mass body 4b may be adjusted, thereby suppressing a desired low-frequency vibration. Generally, the vibration generated in the plate-like cleaning member 3 includes high-frequency vibration and low-frequency vibration. High-frequency vibrations are usually difficult to be transmitted to the cleaning container 2 because there is a support member having high rigidity on the propagation path to the cleaning container 2, and even if the period is short and vibration is small, Only a minute vibration is generated in the cleaning container 2. In this respect, the low frequency vibration has a long period and a large vibration, and easily propagates through the cleaning container 2, so that the cleaning container 2 itself is flexibly deformed. Furthermore, the low-frequency vibration is likely to resonate with the cleaning container 2, and in this case, the deflection deformation becomes even greater. When such a deformation of the cleaning container 2 occurs, the plate-like cleaning member 3 is further vibrated, and there is a possibility that the cleaning action on the body 1 to be cleaned by the plate-like cleaning member 3 may be hindered. Therefore, in order to keep the cleaning performance of the plate-shaped cleaning member 3 good, it is very important to suppress low-frequency vibrations in the cleaning container 2.

  Further, the image forming apparatus can be configured with the model of the present embodiment as follows. That is, the above-described cleaning device is used as an image holding body (corresponding to the cleaning target 1) that holds a toner image by the developer and a cleaning device that is disposed opposite to the image holding body and cleans residual toner on the image holding body. May be used. Here, the image holding member is not particularly limited as long as it can hold a toner image, and examples thereof include a photoconductor mode and an intermediate transfer unit mode.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail based on embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.
Embodiment FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of an image forming apparatus to which the cleaning device shown in the above-described model is applied. In the figure, the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment forms a monochrome image, and uniformly charges the surface of the photoconductor 11 around the photoconductor 11 as an image carrier that holds a toner image. For example, the charging device 12 using a charging roll, the charged photoconductor 11 is exposed according to an image to form an electrostatic latent image, and the exposure device 13 made of, for example, an LED, the static on the photoconductor 11 A developing device 14 that develops the electrostatic latent image with toner to make it visible, a transfer device 15 such as a transfer roll that transfers the toner image on the photoconductor 11 to the recording material S, and a photoconductor 11 after transfer. A cleaning device 20 for cleaning residual toner is provided. Reference numeral 16 in the drawing denotes a fixing device that fixes the toner image by applying, for example, heat and pressure to the recording material S to which the toner image has been transferred.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the cleaning device 20 of the present embodiment has an opening 21 a extending in the longitudinal direction along the rotation axis direction of the photoconductor 11, and is capable of accommodating residual toner inside, for example, glass fiber reinforced. A housing 21 as a cleaning container formed of ABS resin, and extending along the longitudinal direction of the opening 21a, is provided to oppose the rotation axis direction of the photoconductor 11, and cleans residual toner on the photoconductor 11, for example. A blade 24 made of urethane rubber, a metal plate 23 that reinforces the blade 24 on the side of the blade 24 different from the photoconductor 11 and extends downward, and screws at both ends of the photoconductor 11 in the rotation axis direction with respect to the housing 21. A holder 22 as a support member that is fastened and fixed and supports one end side of the metal plate 23, and an opening edge portion of the housing 21 opposite to the blade 24 (corresponding to the opening other side edge portion) 2 A film-like seal member 25 provided from the c side toward the photoconductor 11, and an agitating and conveying member 26 that conveys the toner that is provided in the housing 21 along the longitudinal direction and is accommodated inside the housing 21 to the outside of the housing 21. It consists of and. That is, in the present embodiment, the plate-like cleaning member is configured by the blade 24, the metal plate 23, and the holder 22. In particular, in the present embodiment, the blade 24 is attached so that the tip surface thereof faces upward so that a toner reservoir is easily formed at the tip of the blade 24.

  In the present embodiment, a dynamic vibration absorber 30 described later is provided near the center in the longitudinal direction of the opening edge 21c. 3 is a charging cleaner that cleans the surface of the charging device 12, and reference numeral 27 is a bracket that supports both side walls in the longitudinal direction of the housing 21, and in the present embodiment, this bracket. 27 also serves as a member for supporting the photoconductor 11. Reference numeral 28 denotes a screw that fastens and fixes the holder 22 to the housing 21.

  4 (a) and 4 (b) are views of the housing 21 as viewed obliquely from above, the housing 21 of the present embodiment is provided with an agitation provided in a direction along the longitudinal direction of the opening 21a. It has a conveying member 26, and the toner accommodated in the housing 21 is conveyed outside the housing 21 by the agitating and conveying member 26. Therefore, the housing 21 has a curved shape curved along the stirring and conveying member 26. The opening edge 21c of the housing 21 is formed with a rib 210 having a shape in which the end of the housing 21 branches in two so that the strength of the housing 21 can be improved and the housing 21 can be easily attached. It has become. Further, in the present embodiment, a pair of dynamic vibration absorbers 30 (specifically, 30a and 30b) that are symmetrically arranged with respect to the center position in the longitudinal direction of the housing 21 are provided in the rib 210 portion. ing. 4B is a partially enlarged view of the rib 210. FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the dynamic vibration absorber 30 of the present embodiment is formed by cutting the rib 210 portion of the housing 21, and one end side is formed in the housing 21. A pair of elastic bodies 31 fixedly provided and having a free end spaced from the housing 21 are both formed along the longitudinal direction of the housing 21 (the rotational axis direction of the photoconductor 11). The elastic bodies 31 are arranged so as to face each other, and a weight 32 having a predetermined mass as a mass body is fixed to the free ends of these elastic bodies 31 using, for example, an instantaneous adhesive.

Here, the shape of the elastic body 31 and the mass of the weight 32 are adjusted as follows.
When a two-degree-of-freedom system is adopted as the vibration system model of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the lower system is represented by a vibration suppression target, and the upper system is replaced by a dynamic vibration absorber. The model can be modeled as the case where the spring element K is used, the dynamic vibration absorber is the auxiliary mass m, the spring element k, and the excitation force of Pcosωt is applied to the mass M. The steady displacement amplitude of the mass M to be controlled in such a vibration system is substantially equalized by making the natural frequency ν = (k / m) ^1/2 of the dynamic vibration absorber equal to the frequency ω of the excitation force. It is known to become zero.
On the other hand, in the cleaning device 20 using the blade 24, self-excited vibration is generated due to friction between the blade 24 and the photoconductor 11 during cleaning, and an external additive or the like of toner passes between the blade 24 and the photoconductor 11. There is a possibility that the toner may slip through or residual toner may slip through, and the cleaning performance itself may deteriorate. In particular, the low frequency vibration has a large amplitude and easily propagates to the housing 21, and prevents stabilization of the toner reservoir on the blade 24. Therefore, it is an important issue to suppress the vibration of the housing 21 and consequently the vibration of the entire cleaning device 20.
Therefore, if the shape of the elastic body 31 that is a component of the dynamic vibration absorber 30 and the mass of the weight 32 are adjusted so as to suppress low frequency vibration of the housing 21, vibration of the housing 21 can be suppressed. It becomes possible to prevent deterioration of the cleaning performance.

Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
First, after the photosensitive member 11 is charged by the charging device 12, the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member 11 formed by the exposure device 13 is developed by the developing device 14, and a toner image is formed on the photosensitive member 11. It is formed. Then, the toner image on the photoconductor 11 is transferred onto the recording material S supplied from a recording material supply device (not shown) by using the transfer device 15, and the recording material S after the transfer is fixed by the fixing device 16. Thereafter, the fixed recording material S is discharged and accommodated in a recording material accommodating portion (not shown). On the other hand, the residual toner on the photoconductor 11 that has been transferred is cleaned by the cleaning device 20.

The operation of the cleaning device 20 in such an image forming apparatus will be described.
As shown in FIG. 3, the cleaning device 20 of the present embodiment scrapes off the residual toner on the photoreceptor 11 with a blade 24. The toner scraped off by the blade 24 forms a toner pool at the tip portion of the blade, and a flow like a circulating flow of toner is generated in the toner pool as the photoconductor 11 rotates. At this time, in this embodiment, since the blade 24 is backed and supported by the metal plate 23, the metal plate 23 having a stable elastic action is used, so that the pressing force against the photoconductor 11 is stably maintained. And stable cleaning performance can be ensured over a long period of time.
Further, in the present embodiment, since the seal member 25 is provided on the opening edge 21c side of the housing 21, a toner reservoir is formed more stably at the tip portion of the blade 24 by the seal member 25. become.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are diagrams for explaining the toner reservoir, and FIG. 6B is a partially enlarged view of FIG. That is, by providing the seal member 25 as in the present embodiment, the residual toner scraped off from the photoreceptor 11 by the blade 24 can be further retained at the blade tip portion, and the blade 24 This also prevents the toner scraped off from the outside from being scattered.
In this way, by forming a desired toner reservoir at the tip of the blade 24, stable fluidity of the toner in the toner reservoir can be secured, and for example, silica or titania, which is an external additive of the toner, is added to this blade. The toner can be effectively stored in the toner reservoir. Therefore, the lubricity between the photoconductor 11 and the blade 24 can be maintained, and even if, for example, a discharge product adheres to the photoconductor 11, a slide by an external additive is provided between the blade 24 and the photoconductor 11. The rubbing action is sufficiently exerted, and the discharge products on the photoreceptor 11 can be removed.

If the discharge product is not sufficiently removed, the discharge product remains partly adhered on the photoconductor 11, so that the image flow (dilation caused mainly by moisture absorption by the discharge product) is reduced. ) And other image quality defects occur.
The necessity of removing such discharge products is particularly remarkable when a photoconductor 11 having improved wear resistance is used, which has good wear on the surface of the photoconductor 11. This is because the removal of foreign matters attached to the surface of the photoreceptor 11 is reduced.

Next, the vibration state in the cleaning device 20 will be described.
FIG. 7 is a view of the cleaning device 20 viewed from the side of the photoconductor 11. When the photoconductor 11 and the blade 24 come into contact with each other, the longitudinal central portion of the blade 24 is rotated in the rotational direction of the photoconductor 11 due to friction between them. It will be deformed along. Such deformation of the blade 24 is caused to vibrate by the rotation of the photosensitive member 11, and self-excited vibration is generated. In this embodiment, the self-excited vibration generated in this way is a support mechanism for the blade 24, and the holder 22 that fixes and supports the fixed end side of the metal plate 23 is screwed by screws 28 at both ends of the housing 21. Since it is fastened and fixed, it becomes particularly prominent and this vibration propagates to the housing 21. In the present embodiment, by using the metal plate 23, the sag of the blade 24 itself is reduced, and it is possible to maintain a stable cleaning performance for a long time. However, since the attenuation of the metal plate 23 is small, the housing 21 On the other hand, the vibration propagated to becomes larger.

  Temporarily, if the holder 22 is screwed to the housing 21 over the entire length thereof, vibrations are suppressed, but the holder 22 side and the housing 21 side are caused by interference between the screw tightening portions. In addition, excessive initial stress may occur. Therefore, in this embodiment, a method of fixing at both ends is adopted.

Then, the vibration propagated to the housing 21 is propagated to the entire housing 21, and the opening edge 21c of the housing 21 is vibrated greatly as shown in FIG. For this reason, the seal member 25 (see FIG. 3) provided in the vicinity of the opening edge 21c also vibrates greatly, so that the toner accumulated in the toner reservoir at the tip of the blade 24 is repelled and effective at the tip of the blade 24. A toner reservoir is not formed.
This results in a reduction in the cleaning effect on the surface of the photoconductor 11 due to an external additive or the like accumulated in the toner reservoir, or the lubricity between the photoconductor 11 and the blade 24 is impaired, and the gap between the two is lost. As a result, the frictional force is further increased. As a result, the vibration of the blade 24 itself becomes larger. Therefore, the cleaning performance with respect to the photoconductor 11 is deteriorated, and for example, a discharge product remains attached on the photoconductor 11, and it is difficult to prevent image quality deterioration due to the discharge product.

  In the present embodiment, the problematic low frequency vibration (frequency is about 100 to 300 Hz) is a combined vibration of torsion and deflection in which the blade 24 (including the metal plate 23), the holder 22, and the housing 21 are integrated. (The cross-sectional shape does not change substantially), and the primary mode is particularly easily excited. In addition, since the housing 21 of the present embodiment has the agitating and conveying member 26 inside, the housing 21 itself has a curved portion, and therefore, from the holder 22 to the opening edge portion 21b of the housing 21 is apparently one. Thus, the vibration is easily propagated, and the vibration at the opening edge 21c is likely to be further increased. Furthermore, since both ends in the longitudinal direction of the housing 21 (both ends in the axial direction of the agitating and conveying member 26) are supported by the brackets 27 and the like, the vibration at the opening edge 21c is the largest at the central portion and the vibration at the both ends. And the vibration direction comes to vibrate in the direction along the thickness direction of the housing 21.

  In order to suppress such vibration of the housing 21, in the present embodiment, the dynamic vibration absorber 30 is provided corresponding to the portion where the vibration of the housing 21 is the largest. The dynamic vibration absorber 30 according to the present embodiment includes an elastic body 31 and a weight 32 formed by cutting the ribs 210 of the housing 21, and further, the shape of the elastic body 31 and the mass of the weight 32 are set in the housing 21. It is adjusted to the low frequency vibration. Therefore, even if the housing 21 is vibrated due to the self-excited vibration generated by the friction between the photoconductor 11 and the blade 24, the natural frequency of the dynamic vibration absorber 30 is set to the blade 24 (metal plate 23). And the holder 22 and the housing 21 are adjusted to the mode frequency of the primary vibration. Therefore, a force approximately in phase with the vibration of the housing 21 is generated from the dynamic vibration absorber 30 and the blade 24 (including the metal plate 23) is generated. ), The low frequency vibration of the holder 22 and the entire housing 21 can be suppressed. Further, the vibration absorber 30 can be most effectively absorbed by disposing the dynamic vibration absorber 30 in the portion of the housing 21 where the vibration is greatest.

  Here, as the dynamic vibration absorber 30, for example, the elastic body 31 has a length of 18.5 mm, a thickness of 1.6 mm, a width of 4.0 mm, and a weight 32 of 6 g. Can be maximized, and the vibration of the housing 21 can be greatly suppressed. Further, in the present embodiment, since the paired dynamic vibration absorber 30 is provided at the opening edge 21c of the housing 21, the generation of the rotational moment with respect to the housing 21 can be suppressed.

  In addition, this leads to an effect of preventing vibration of the seal member 25, and a stable toner reservoir can be formed at the tip end portion of the blade 24. As a result, the cleaning effect of the photosensitive member 11 is improved, and as a result, a deration, etc. Image quality deterioration can be prevented.

  In the present embodiment, the mode in which the ribs 210 of the housing 21 are cut to form the elastic body 31 is shown. However, as shown in FIG. 9, the elastic body 31 is formed so as to protrude from the housing 21. May be. In such a method, for example, the elastic body 31 may be formed simultaneously with a molding die of the housing 21, or the elastic body 31 may be made of another member and fixed to the housing 21. A method of fitting into the housing 21 may be adopted. Obviously, the use of such a dynamic vibration absorber 30 also provides the same effects as those of the above-described embodiment.

  4 and 9 show a mode in which the dynamic vibration absorber 30 is arranged symmetrically in the central portion of the housing 21 in the longitudinal direction. However, for example, a configuration as shown in FIG. 10 is also possible. Here, one dynamic vibration absorber 30 is provided, and provided at the approximate center of the opening edge 21 c of the housing 21, and the elastic body 31 is provided in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the housing 21. Usually, since the dimension of the linear portion is small in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the housing 21, the elastic body 31 cannot be long enough to install such a dynamic vibration absorber 30. In order to adjust the natural frequency to match the low frequency vibration, the weight 32 needs to be enlarged. For this reason, the dynamic vibration absorber 30 tends to gain momentum. Further, if the length of the elastic body 31 is designed to be short, the variation with respect to the difference between the design dimension and the actual finished dimension becomes large, so that it is difficult to increase the accuracy of the natural frequency of the dynamic vibration absorber 30 itself. However, there is an effect of suppressing the vibration of the housing 21.

  Thus, it goes without saying that vibration of the housing 21 can also be suppressed by using the dynamic vibration absorber 30 as shown in FIG. 10, but the elastic body 31 along the longitudinal direction of the housing 21. Obviously, it is advantageous to provide the dynamic vibration absorber 30 with a smaller size.

  In the present embodiment, an image forming apparatus that forms a monochrome image is shown. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a single photoreceptor 11 is used to transfer a toner image for each color onto an intermediate transfer member. The photosensitive member 11 may be applied to a cleaning device for use in an image forming apparatus that forms a multiplexed toner image on the intermediate transfer member by rotating the intermediate transfer member. For example, in a so-called tandem type image forming apparatus in which a plurality of photoconductors 11 are arranged on an intermediate transfer member and multicolor toner images are multiplexed on the intermediate transfer member when the intermediate transfer member makes a round, the photoconductors 11 may be applied to a cleaning device that cleans the upper surface 11 or may be applied to a cleaning device that cleans residual toner on the intermediate transfer member.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the outline | summary of the cleaning apparatus which concerns on embodiment model which embodies this invention. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an overview of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. 1 is a partially enlarged view of an image forming apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows the dynamic vibration damper provided in the housing of the cleaning apparatus of embodiment, (a) is a general view, (b) shows the site | part of a dynamic vibration absorber. It is explanatory drawing which shows the vibration model of a two degree-of-freedom system. (A) is a schematic cross-sectional view of the cleaning device, and (b) is an explanatory view showing a toner reservoir at the blade end. It is the figure which looked at the cleaning apparatus from the photoconductor side. It is explanatory drawing which shows the mode of the vibration of a housing. It is explanatory drawing which shows the other example of a dynamic vibration absorber. It is explanatory drawing which shows the other example of a dynamic vibration damper.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... To-be-cleaned body, 2 ... Cleaning container, 2a ... Opening, 2b ... Opening one side edge, 2c ... Opening other side edge, 3 ... Plate-shaped cleaning member, 4 ... Dynamic vibration absorber, 4a ... Elastic body, 4b ... Mass body, 5 ... Seal member

Claims (10)

A cleaning device for cleaning residual developer on a moving object to be cleaned,
A cleaning container having an opening extending in the longitudinal direction intersecting the moving direction of the object to be cleaned and capable of accommodating the residual developer inside;
It has a plate-like member extending along the longitudinal direction of the opening, and the opening is located at one edge of the opening located on one side of the opening in the non-longitudinal direction so that the tip of the plate-like member faces the moving direction of the object to be cleaned. A plate-like cleaning member that is provided and cleans the residual developer on the member to be cleaned;
Propagated through the cleaning container among the vibrations generated in the cleaning operation of the body to be cleaned by the plate-shaped cleaning member, provided at the other edge of the opening located on the opposite side of the one edge of the opening of the cleaning container In order to suppress the vibration of the central part in the longitudinal direction of the other side edge of the opening, dynamic vibration is generated that vibrates in the same direction as the vibration of the part and generates a force in the opposite phase to attenuate the vibration of the other side edge of the opening. And a cleaning device. The cleaning device according to claim 1,
The plate-like cleaning member is a rubber member that contacts the object to be cleaned along the longitudinal direction of the opening, and is more rigid than the rubber member and is fixedly supported by the cleaning container at both ends in the longitudinal direction. A support member for supporting the member,
The said support member is provided so that it may extend at least along the longitudinal direction of the said opening, and has a metal plate which supports a rubber-type member, The cleaning apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. In the cleaning device according to claim 1 or 2,
The dynamic vibration absorber is
One end side is fixed to the cleaning container, and a free end side different from the one end side is disposed away from the cleaning container, and the elasticity is displaceable along the vibration direction of the cleaning container at the site where the dynamic vibration absorber is disposed. Body,
A cleaning device comprising: a mass body provided on the free end side of the elastic body and weighting the elastic body in a vertical direction. The cleaning device according to claim 3.
The said elastic body is comprised by a part of cleaning container, The cleaning apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. In the cleaning device according to claim 3 or 4,
The said elastic body is arrange | positioned in the direction in alignment with the longitudinal direction of the said opening other side edge part of a cleaning container, The cleaning apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. The cleaning device according to claim 5, wherein
The said dynamic vibration absorber is arrange | positioned substantially symmetrically on both sides of the longitudinal direction center position of the said opening other side edge part of the cleaning container. In the cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The said dynamic vibration absorber is adjusted so that the natural frequency may become the primary vibration frequency of the cleaning container generated with the cleaning operation | movement of the to-be-cleaned body by a plate-shaped cleaning member. In the cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
The plate-like cleaning member is provided so that the tip surface faces upward so that a developer reservoir can be formed between the tip surface on the side in contact with the member to be cleaned and the member to be cleaned. A cleaning device. The cleaning device according to claim 8.
The other edge of the opening of the cleaning container is provided so as to extend in the longitudinal direction along the opening to prevent scattering of the residual developer cleaned by the plate-like cleaning member and to cover the plate-like cleaning member. A cleaning apparatus comprising a film-like seal member for storing a developer on a front end surface in contact with a cleaning body. An image carrier for holding a toner image by a developer;
An image forming apparatus comprising: the cleaning device according to claim 1, which is disposed to face the image carrier and cleans residual toner on the image carrier.

Images