JP2011059704A - Cleaning device, transfer device, photoreceptor device, image forming apparatus, and image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress erroneous detection of a sensor due to toner leaked out from a collection part when separating a sealing member from a toner moving body. <P>SOLUTION: The detection part of the sensor is arranged on the outside of a virtual area held between a virtual plane obtained by extending a sealing member separated from a toner moving body for carrying and moving the toner in order to transfer the toner to a medium, which is provided to stop a gap between the toner moving body and a storing part while abutting on the toner moving body, and a plane perpendicular to a line passing through an upstream-side end of the sealing member and one point on a surface of the toner moving body nearest to the upstream-side end. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and an image forming system.

  Image forming apparatuses such as laser beam printers are already known. Such an image forming apparatus is, for example, a toner moving body that rotates while carrying a toner (toner image) to transfer the toner (toner image) to a medium, and is transferred to the medium. And a collection unit for collecting the toner remaining on the toner moving body.

  The collecting unit is provided with a scraping blade, and the scraping blade comes into contact with the toner moving body and collects the toner remaining on the toner moving body. Toner (toner that moves as the toner moving member rotates) is scraped off. Further, the recovery unit is provided with a seal member, and the seal member comes into contact with the toner moving body and prevents the developer scraped off by the scraping blade from leaking out of the recovery unit. Further, the scraping blade and the seal member are configured to be able to contact and separate from the developer moving body. That is, the scraping blade reciprocates between the contact position and the non-contact position, and the seal member can reciprocate between the contact position and the non-contact position.

  Incidentally, a sensor for detecting the state of the apparatus is provided in the image forming apparatus. Some of these sensors are provided in the vicinity of the collection unit for increasing detection accuracy.

JP 2004-61858 A

  Incidentally, the seal member and the scraping blade are brought into contact with the toner moving body when the toner remaining on the toner moving body is collected by the collecting unit after the toner image formed on the toner moving body is transferred to the medium. . In other words, the scraping blade is brought into contact with the toner moving body in order to scrape the toner remaining on the toner moving body, and in order to prevent the scraped toner from being scattered when dropped on the collecting portion, The member is brought into contact with the toner moving body. The seal member and the scraping blade are separated from the toner moving body when a toner image is newly formed on the toner moving body. For this reason, after the toner is scraped off by the scraping blade, when the seal member is separated from the toner moving body, the toner that is floating and filled in the collection unit leaks from between the seal member and the toner moving body, It may be scattered outside the collection unit. At this time, if the various sensors are arranged in a region where the toner is likely to leak from between the seal member and the toner moving body in the vicinity of the recovery unit, the toner leaked from the recovery unit adheres to the detection unit of the sensor. There was a problem that there was a fear of false detection.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to suppress erroneous detection of a sensor due to toner leaked from a collection unit when the seal member is separated from the toner moving body. An image forming apparatus and an image forming system are realized.

  The main present invention is provided with a toner moving body for moving the toner by rotating in a state of carrying the toner to transfer the toner to a medium, a contactable and separable to the toner moving body, A blade for abutting and scraping off toner remaining on the toner moving body without being transferred to the medium, and a toner scraped off by the blade; By contacting the toner moving body, a housing portion that closes a gap with the toner moving body on the downstream side in the rotation direction of the toner moving body, and the upstream side in the rotation direction of the toner moving body. A seal member which is provided so as to be freely contactable to and away from the toner moving body, abuts against the toner moving body, and closes a gap between the toner moving body and the accommodating portion on the upstream side; Passing through a virtual surface extending the upstream side of the seal member spaced from the toner moving body, an upstream end of the seal member, and a point on the surface of the toner moving body closest to the upstream end. An image forming apparatus comprising: a sensor having a detection unit arranged outside a virtual region sandwiched between planes perpendicular to a straight line.

  Other features of the present invention will become apparent from the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating main components constituting a printer. FIG. 2A is a front view for explaining an example of the patch sensor unit. FIG. 2B is a view on arrow A in FIG. 2A. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a control unit of the printer of FIG. 1. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a state where an upper seal and an intermediate transfer body cleaning blade are in contact with the intermediate transfer body. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a state where an upper seal is separated from an intermediate transfer member. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a state where the upper seal and the intermediate transfer body cleaning blade are separated from the intermediate transfer body. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state of a contact / separation mechanism when an upper seal and an intermediate transfer pair cleaning blade are in contact with an intermediate transfer body. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state of a contact / separation mechanism when an upper seal starts to separate from an intermediate transfer member. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state of a contact / separation mechanism when an upper seal and an intermediate transfer pair cleaning blade are separated from an intermediate transfer member. It is a figure which shows the state using a surface electrometer. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an external configuration of an image forming system. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the image forming system shown in FIG.

  At least the following will be made clear by the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

  A toner moving body for moving the toner by rotating in a state where the toner is carried to transfer the toner to the medium, and a contactable / separable to the toner moving body, and not transferred to the medium A blade for abutting and scraping the toner remaining on the toner moving body in contact with the toner moving body and a toner scraped off by the blade are accommodated, and the blade contacts the toner moving body. The contact portion closes the gap with the toner moving body on the downstream side in the rotation direction of the toner moving body, and the upstream side in the rotation direction of the toner moving body with respect to the toner moving body. A seal member provided so as to be able to contact and separate, and abuts against the toner moving body to close a gap between the toner moving body and the accommodating portion on the upstream side; and the toner moving body Perpendicular to a straight line passing through a virtual surface extending the upstream side of the seal member spaced apart from the upstream side, an upstream end of the seal member, and a point on the surface of the toner moving body closest to the upstream end. An image forming apparatus comprising: a sensor having a detection unit arranged outside a virtual region sandwiched between planes.

  When the blade comes into contact with the toner moving body and scrapes off the toner on the toner moving body, the scraped toner is scattered in the accommodating portion. Then, when the toner on the toner moving body is scraped off and the seal member is separated from the toner moving body in order to form the next toner image on the toner moving body, the toner scattered in the housing portion is separated from the seal member. There is a case where the toner moves to the outside of the accommodating portion from the gap with the toner moving body. At this time, if the toner that has flowed out of the storage unit adheres to the detection unit of the sensor, the sensor may be erroneously detected. However, according to the image forming apparatus, the detection unit of the sensor has the virtual surface obtained by extending the upstream side of the seal member that is separated from the toner moving body, the upstream end of the seal member, and the upstream end of the seal member. Since it is arranged outside the virtual area sandwiched by a plane perpendicular to a straight line passing through a point on the surface of the nearby toner moving body, the possibility that the toner that has flown out of the container directly reaches the detection part of the sensor Since there are few, it is possible to suppress the erroneous detection of a sensor.

In such an image forming apparatus, the detection unit of the sensor is disposed on the toner moving body side with respect to a tangent line of the toner moving body passing through an upstream end portion of the seal member that is separated from the toner moving body. desirable.
According to such an image forming apparatus, the toner moving body exists in a straight line connecting the gap formed between the upper end of the seal member and the toner moving body and the detection unit of the sensor. For this reason, since the detection part of the sensor does not face the gap formed between the upper end of the seal member and the toner moving body, it is possible to effectively suppress the toner that has flowed from the storage part through the gap to the detection part side. It is possible.

In such an image forming apparatus, it is preferable that the sensor constitutes a sensor unit together with an attachment member for attaching the sensor, and the sensor unit is disposed outside the virtual region.
When any of the members constituting the sensor unit is arranged in the virtual area, the toner adheres to the part arranged in the virtual area, and the adhering toner is caused by the airflow caused by the rotation of the toner moving body. There is a wrinkle attached to the detection unit. However, when the sensor unit including the attachment member is arranged outside the virtual area as in the image forming apparatus, not only the detection unit but also the entire sensor unit such as the attachment member is swollen from the storage unit. That is, the toner is disposed at a position where the toner hardly adheres. For this reason, it is possible to more effectively prevent the toner from adhering to the detection unit and obtain an appropriate sensor output.

In such an image forming apparatus, the toner moving body is an annular belt wound around a plurality of spaced rollers, and the blade and the seal member are portions of the toner moving body wound around the roller. The detection portion of the sensor is opposed to a portion of the toner moving body wound around the roller.
When the sensor faces the toner moving body, the state of the toner moving body is often detected, but when the toner moving body is an annular belt wound around a plurality of spaced rollers, There is a possibility that the position of the belt between the rollers is displaced and the state of the toner moving body cannot be accurately detected. For this reason, it is desirable that the detection unit is opposed to the wound portion where the position of the belt is difficult to be displaced. However, since the seal member is brought into contact with the position where the belt is wound, when the seal member is separated from the toner moving body, the toner may be spilled to the detection unit side. For this reason, when the detection unit is arranged outside the virtual area as in the image forming apparatus, it is difficult for toner to adhere to the sensor, and an appropriate sensor output can be obtained.

In the image forming apparatus, the blade is separated after the seal member is separated.
Since the blade is provided on the downstream side in the rotational direction from the seal member, when the blade is separated before the seal member, the toner accumulated around the seal member is spilled by the separation member, and the blade and the toner are separated. There is a risk of leakage to the outside through a gap with the moving body. For this reason, it is desirable that the blade is separated after the seal member is separated. However, when the seal member is separated first, the toner in the housing portion is swept from the gap between the seal member and the toner moving body. The possibility of adhering to the detection part of the sensor increases. For this reason, according to the above-described image forming apparatus in which the detection unit is arranged outside the virtual region, the toner is not easily attached to the detection unit because the detection unit is arranged outside the virtual region. The toner can be separated from the moving body, and the toner can be prevented from leaking downstream from the blade.

In such an image forming apparatus, the sensor is a sensor for detecting a density of toner carried on the toner moving body.
According to such an image forming apparatus, since it is difficult for toner to adhere to the detection unit, an appropriate sensor output can be obtained, and the density of the toner carried on the toner moving body can be accurately detected.

In this image forming apparatus, the sensor includes a light emitting element and a light receiving element, and the detection unit includes the light emitting element and the light receiving element.
When toner adheres to the surface of the light emitting element, the amount of light decreases, and the amount of light received by the light receiving element decreases. On the other hand, when toner adheres to the surface of the light receiving element, the amount of received light is detected as a smaller value than the amount of light actually irradiated. For this reason, an optical sensor having a light emitting element and a light receiving element is likely to be erroneously detected due to the adhesion of toner. However, since the light emitting element and the light receiving element are arranged outside the virtual region, the light emitting element and the light receiving element are detected. Even a sensor serving as a part can be accurately detected.

In the image forming apparatus, the sensor is a sensor for detecting a surface potential of the toner moving body.
According to such an image forming apparatus, since it is difficult for the toner to adhere to the detection unit, an appropriate sensor output can be obtained, and the surface potential of the toner moving body can be accurately detected.

In the image forming apparatus, the sensor is a sensor for detecting a rotation period of the toner moving body.
According to such an image forming apparatus, since it is difficult for toner to adhere to the detection unit, it is possible to obtain an appropriate sensor output and accurately detect the rotation period of the toner moving body.

In addition, a toner moving body for moving the toner by rotating in a state where the toner is carried to transfer the toner to the medium, and a toner moving body that is detachable from the toner moving body, are transferred to the medium. A blade for scraping the toner remaining on the toner moving body without being brought into contact with the toner moving body; and a toner scraped off by the blade, and the blade moving the toner moving body. The toner moving body on the downstream side in the rotation direction of the toner moving body, and the toner moving body on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the toner moving body. A seal member provided so as to be freely contactable to and away from the toner moving member and abutting the toner moving member to close a gap between the toner moving member and the accommodating portion on the upstream side, and the toner Perpendicular to a straight line passing through a virtual surface extending the upstream side of the seal member spaced from the moving body, and an upstream end of the seal member and a point on the surface of the toner moving body closest to the upstream end. A tangent line of the toner moving body that passes through an upstream end of the seal member that is spaced apart from the toner moving body. Accordingly, the detection unit of the sensor is arranged on the toner moving body side, and the sensor constitutes a sensor unit together with an attachment member for attaching the sensor, and the sensor unit is arranged outside the virtual region. The toner moving body is an annular belt wound around a plurality of rollers spaced apart from each other, and the blade and the seal member are wound around the roller of the toner moving body. The detection portion of the sensor is in contact with the portion that is wound around the roller of the toner moving body, and after the seal member is separated, the blade is separated, The sensor is a sensor for detecting the concentration of toner carried on the toner moving body, the sensor includes a light emitting element and a light receiving element, and the detection unit includes the light emitting element, the light receiving element, and the light receiving element. The image forming apparatus is configured by the following.
According to such an image forming apparatus, the effects of the present invention can be achieved more effectively because the above-described effects are achieved.

  Further, a computer, a toner moving body connected to the computer, for moving the toner by rotating the toner carrying state to transfer the toner to a medium, and a contact with the toner moving body A blade that is provided so as to be separable and is used to scrape the toner remaining on the toner moving body without being transferred to the medium in contact with the toner moving body, and the toner scraped off by the blade. And a container that closes a gap with the toner moving body on the downstream side in the rotation direction of the toner moving body, and the rotation of the toner moving body. The toner moving body is provided on the upstream side in the direction so as to be detachable from the toner moving body. A seal member for closing a gap between the seal member, a virtual surface obtained by extending the seal member spaced from the toner moving body to the upstream side, an upstream end of the seal member, and an upstream end of the seal member. An image forming system having an image forming apparatus including a sensor having a detection unit disposed outside a virtual region sandwiched by a plane perpendicular to a straight line passing through a point on the surface of the toner moving body close to the toner moving body is also realized. Is possible.

=== Example of Overall Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus ===
An outline of a laser beam printer (hereinafter also referred to as a printer) 10 as an example of the image forming apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating main components constituting the printer 10. In FIG. 1, the up and down direction (vertical direction) is indicated by an arrow. For example, the paper feed tray 92 is disposed at the lower part of the printer 10, and the fixing unit 90 is disposed at the upper part of the printer 10. Has been.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 10 according to the present embodiment includes a charging unit 30, an exposure unit 40, a YMCK developing unit 50, and a primary transfer unit 60 along the rotation direction of the photoconductor 20 on which a latent image is formed. And an intermediate transfer member 70 as an example of a toner moving member, a photosensitive member cleaning unit 75, and further, a secondary transfer unit 80, an intermediate transfer member cleaning unit 85, a fixing unit 90, and a means for notifying a user, a liquid crystal panel And a control unit 100 that controls these units and controls the operation as a printer.

  The photoreceptor 20 has a cylindrical conductive substrate and a photosensitive layer formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof, and is rotatable around a central axis. In the present embodiment, the photoreceptor 20 is indicated by an arrow in FIG. Rotate clockwise.

  The charging unit 30 is a device for charging the photoconductor 20, and the exposure unit 40 is a device for forming a latent image on the photoconductor 20 charged by irradiating a laser. The exposure unit 40 includes a semiconductor laser, a polygon mirror, an F-θ lens, and the like, and charges the modulated laser based on an image signal input from a host computer (not shown) such as a personal computer or a word processor. The irradiated photoconductor 20 is irradiated.

  The YMCK developing unit 50 stores the latent image formed on the photoreceptor 20 with toner stored in the developing device, that is, black (K) toner stored in the black developing device 51, and magenta developing device 52. This is an apparatus for developing using magenta (M) toner, cyan (C) toner accommodated in the cyan developing device 53, and yellow (Y) toner accommodated in the yellow developing device 54.

  The YMCK developing unit 50 can move the positions of the four developing devices 51, 52, 53, 54 by rotating with the four developing devices 51, 52, 53, 54 mounted. Yes. That is, the YMCK developing unit 50 holds the four developing devices 51, 52, 53, 54 by four holding portions 55a, 55b, 55c, 55d, and the four developing devices 51, 52, 53, 54 is rotatable around the central axis 50a while maintaining the relative position thereof. Each time image formation for one page is completed, it is selectively opposed to the photoconductor 20, and is formed on the photoconductor 20 with the toner accommodated in each developing device 51, 52, 53, 54. The latent images are developed sequentially. Each of the four developing devices 51, 52, 53, and 54 described above can be attached to and detached from the printer 10, more specifically, the holding portions 55a, 55b, 55c, and 55d of the YMCK developing unit 50. It has become.

  The primary transfer unit 60 is a device for transferring a single color toner image formed on the photoconductor 20 to the intermediate transfer body 70. When four color toners are sequentially transferred in a superimposed manner, the full color toner is transferred to the intermediate transfer body 70. An image is formed.

  The intermediate transfer body 70 is an intermediate medium when transferring the toner image on the photoconductor 20 to a recording paper as an example of a medium. To transfer the toner (toner image) to the recording paper, toner (toner image) is used. The toner (toner image) is moved by rotating in a state where the toner is carried. The intermediate transfer body 70 is an annular endless belt in which a tin vapor deposition layer is provided on the surface of a PET film and a semiconductive paint is formed on the surface layer and laminated. The intermediate transfer member 70 is stretched around a plurality of rollers arranged at intervals including a driving roller 71 and a driven roller 72, and is driven to rotate at substantially the same peripheral speed as the photosensitive member 20. .

  A patch sensor unit 73 having a patch sensor 77 as a sensor for detecting the density of a toner image carried on the intermediate transfer body 70 is provided in the vicinity of the intermediate transfer body 70 and an intermediate transfer body cleaning unit 85 described later. ing. FIG. 2A is a front view for explaining an example of the patch sensor unit. FIG. 2B is a view on arrow A in FIG. 2A. The patch sensor unit 73 includes a patch sensor 77 and a sensor fixing stay 78 as an attachment member for fixing the patch sensor 77. The patch sensor 77 is a reflection type optical sensor, and includes a light emitting element 77a and a light receiving element 77b as a detection unit. The light emitting element 77 a and the light receiving element 77 b are arranged at intervals along the axial direction of the photoconductor 20. Further, a cover 77c is provided around the light emitting element 77a and the light receiving element 77b to prevent unnecessary light from entering from the surroundings. That is, in the patch sensor 77, an opening 77d formed by a cover 77c that covers the periphery of the light emitting element 77a and the light receiving element 77b as a detection unit is opposed to a portion of the intermediate transfer body 70 that is wound around the driven roller 72. In this manner, the sensor fixing stay 78 is fixed.

  The printer 10 executes a control operation for controlling the density of the image at a predetermined timing. At this time, information detected by the patch sensor 77 is used. That is, when the control operation is executed, a patch image (test pattern) as a toner image is developed, and the patch image is transferred to the intermediate transfer member 70. Then, the density of the patch image transferred to the intermediate transfer body 70 is detected by the patch sensor 77, and the density of the image is adjusted based on the detected density of the patch image.

  The photoconductor cleaning unit 75 is provided between the primary transfer unit 60 and the charging unit 30 and has a rubber photoconductor cleaning blade 76 in contact with the surface of the photoconductor 20. This is a device for scraping and collecting the toner remaining on the photoconductor 20 by the photoconductor cleaning blade 76 after the toner image is transferred onto the transfer body 70.

The secondary transfer unit 80 is a device for transferring a single color toner image or a full color toner image formed on the intermediate transfer body 70 onto a recording sheet.
The intermediate transfer body cleaning unit 85 is an apparatus that is provided on the top of the YMCK developing unit 50 and scrapes and collects toner remaining on the intermediate transfer body 70 without being transferred onto the recording paper. The intermediate transfer member cleaning unit 85 will be described in detail later.
The fixing unit 90 is a device for fusing a single-color toner image or a full-color toner image transferred on a recording paper to the recording paper to obtain a permanent image.
As shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 100 includes a main controller 101 and a unit controller 102. An image signal and a control signal are input to the main controller 101, and a command based on the image signal and the control signal is received. A unit controller 102 controls each of the units and forms an image.

Next, the operation of the printer 10 configured as described above will be described.
First, when an image signal and a control signal from a host computer (not shown) are input to the main controller 101 of the printer 10 via the interface (I / F) 112, the unit controller 102 based on a command from the main controller 101. The photosensitive member 20 and the intermediate transfer member 70 are rotated by the control. The photoconductor 20 is sequentially charged by the charging unit 30 at the charging position while rotating.

  The charged area of the photoconductor 20 reaches an exposure position as the photoconductor 20 rotates, and a latent image corresponding to image information of the first color, for example, yellow Y, is formed in the area by the exposure unit 40. . In the YMCK developing unit 50, a yellow developing device 54 that contains yellow (Y) toner is located at a developing position facing the photoconductor 20.

  The latent image formed on the photoconductor 20 reaches the development position as the photoconductor 20 rotates, and is developed with yellow toner by the yellow developing device 54. That is, the yellow developing device 54 visualizes the latent image carried on the photoreceptor 20 as a toner image with toner. As a result, a yellow toner image is formed on the photoreceptor 20.

  The yellow toner image formed on the photoconductor 20 reaches the primary transfer position as the photoconductor 20 rotates, and is transferred to the intermediate transfer body 70 by the primary transfer unit 60. At this time, a primary transfer voltage having a polarity opposite to the charging polarity of the toner is applied to the primary transfer unit 60. During this time, the photosensitive member 20 and the intermediate transfer member 70 are in contact with each other, and the secondary transfer unit 80 is separated from the intermediate transfer member 70.

  The above processing is sequentially executed for each developing device for the second color, the third color, and the fourth color, so that four color toner images corresponding to the respective image signals are transferred to the intermediate transfer member 70. It is transcribed and superimposed. As a result, a full color toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer member 70.

The full-color toner image formed on the intermediate transfer body 70 reaches the secondary transfer position as the intermediate transfer body 70 rotates, and is transferred onto the recording paper by the secondary transfer unit 80. The recording paper is conveyed from the paper feed tray 92 to the secondary transfer unit 80 via the paper feed roller 94 and the registration roller 96. Further, when performing the transfer operation, the secondary transfer unit 80 is pressed against the intermediate transfer body 70 and a secondary transfer voltage is applied to the secondary transfer unit 80. Further, the toner remaining on the intermediate transfer member 70 without being transferred onto the recording paper is collected by the intermediate transfer member cleaning unit 85.
The full color toner image transferred to the recording paper is heated and pressed by the fixing unit 90 and fused to the recording material.

  On the other hand, after the primary transfer position has passed, the photosensitive member 20 collects the toner adhering to the surface thereof by the photosensitive member cleaning unit 75, and prepares for charging for forming the next latent image.

=== Overview of Control Unit ===
Next, the configuration of the control unit 100 will be described with reference to FIG. The main controller 101 of the control unit 100 is connected to a host computer via an interface 112 and includes an image memory 113 for storing image signals input from the host computer. The unit controller 102 includes units of the apparatus main body (charging unit 30, exposure unit 40, YMCK developing unit 50, primary transfer unit 60, intermediate transfer member 70, photosensitive member cleaning unit 75, secondary transfer unit 80, intermediate transfer member cleaning. Unit 85, fixing unit 90, and display unit 95), and based on signals input from the main controller 101 while detecting the state of each unit by receiving signals from sensors included therein. Control each unit.

=== Configuration Example of Intermediate Transfer Member Cleaning Unit 85 ===
Next, a configuration example of the intermediate transfer member cleaning unit 85 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a state where the upper seal and the intermediate transfer member cleaning blade are in contact with the intermediate transfer member. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a state in which the upper seal is separated from the intermediate transfer member. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a state in which the upper seal and the intermediate transfer member cleaning blade are separated from the intermediate transfer member.
4 to 6, as in FIG. 1, the up and down direction (vertical direction) is indicated by arrows.

  The intermediate transfer body cleaning unit 85 is for collecting the toner that is not transferred onto the recording paper but remains on the intermediate transfer body 70. The intermediate transfer body cleaning unit 85 includes a case 202, a toner storage portion 205 as an example of a storage portion, An intermediate transfer member cleaning blade 210 as an example, an upper seal 220 as an example of a seal member, a toner receiving portion 235, and the like are provided.

  The case 202 cooperates with the upper seal 220 to prevent the collected toner from leaking out of the intermediate transfer member cleaning unit 85. The case 202 is formed with a toner storage portion 205 and a toner receiving portion 235, and the intermediate transfer member cleaning blade 210, the intermediate transfer member cleaning blade 210 and the upper seal 220 are brought into contact with the intermediate transfer member 70 by a cam mechanism. A contact / separation mechanism 300 is provided for separation.

  The intermediate transfer body cleaning blade 210 is in contact with a portion of the intermediate transfer body 70 that is wound around the driven roller 72 and is toner on the intermediate transfer body 70 (that is, toner that moves as the intermediate transfer body 70 rotates). It has a function to scrape off. The intermediate transfer member cleaning blade 210 is a rubber blade having a thickness of about 2 mm. The intermediate transfer member cleaning blade 210 is disposed so that the tip thereof faces the upstream side in the rotation direction of the intermediate transfer member 70. Further, the intermediate transfer member cleaning blade 210 closes the gap β between the intermediate transfer member 70 and the toner storage unit 205 on the downstream side in the rotation direction of the intermediate transfer member 70 while being in contact with the intermediate transfer member 70. It also has a function of preventing leakage of toner stored in the toner storage unit 205. The contact portion 210a with which the intermediate transfer member cleaning blade 210 contacts the intermediate transfer member 70 is positioned below the center axis of the driven roller 72 described above in the vertical direction.

  Further, the intermediate transfer body cleaning blade 210 is configured to be able to contact and separate from the intermediate transfer body 70. That is, the intermediate transfer member cleaning blade 210 is fixed to a blade support metal plate 212 that supports the intermediate transfer member cleaning blade 210, and is configured to rotate around a rotation shaft protrusion 212b of the blade support metal plate 212. When the swing shaft 302 swings by a predetermined angle, the blade support sheet metal 212 is rotated, and the intermediate transfer member cleaning blade 210 reciprocates between the contact position and the non-contact position. Even when the intermediate transfer member cleaning blade 210 in the present embodiment is in the non-contact position, the upstream end of the intermediate transfer member cleaning blade 210 is not in contact with the intermediate transfer member 70 when the upper seal 220 is separated. It arrange | positions so that it may not protrude below the gap | interval (beta) formed. For this reason, when the upper seal 220 is separated from the intermediate transfer body 70, even if the toner adhering to the upper seal 220 falls downward, the dropped toner does not move toward the intermediate transfer body cleaning blade 210. Absent. For this reason, the toner that has fallen from the upper seal 220 does not leak out of the toner container when the intermediate transfer member cleaning blade 210 is separated from the intermediate transfer member 70. 4 and 5 show the contact position of the intermediate transfer member cleaning blade 210, and FIG. 6 shows the non-contact position of the intermediate transfer member cleaning blade 210. The contact / separation mechanism 300 of the intermediate transfer member cleaning blade 210 will be described in detail later.

  The toner storage unit 205 is for storing the toner scraped off by the intermediate transfer member cleaning blade 210. The toner storage unit 205 is formed at a lower portion of the case 202 and includes a screw unit 207 that can rotate around a central axis 207a. The screw unit 207 is rotated so that the toner stored in the toner storage unit 205 is provided in front of the screw unit 207 in a waste toner box (not shown) (in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 4). ).

  The toner receiving portion 235 has a function of receiving the toner that is not accommodated in the toner accommodating portion 205 and has moved downstream from the intermediate transfer member cleaning blade 210 in the rotation direction of the intermediate transfer member 70. The toner receiver 235 is provided below the case 202 and downstream of the intermediate transfer member cleaning blade 210 in the rotation direction of the intermediate transfer member 70.

  The upper seal 220 is brought into contact with a portion of the intermediate transfer body 70 that is wound around the driven roller 72 at the contact portion 220a, thereby preventing the collected toner from leaking out of the intermediate transfer body cleaning unit 85. The upper seal 220 is a sheet-like member having a thickness of about 120 μm. The upper seal 220 is arranged so that the tip thereof faces the downstream side in the rotation direction of the intermediate transfer body 70. The material of the upper seal 220 is the same as the material of the intermediate transfer body 70. That is, the upper seal 220 is obtained by providing a tin vapor deposition layer on the surface of a PET film and further forming and laminating a semiconductive paint on the surface layer.

  The upper seal 220 is configured so as to be able to contact and separate from the intermediate transfer body 70 as in the case of the intermediate transfer body cleaning blade 210. That is, the upper seal 220 is fixed to the rotation shaft 320 via a seal support member 222 that supports the upper seal 220. When the seal support member 222 rotates by a predetermined angle, the upper seal 220 is not in contact with the contact position. Moves back and forth between contact positions. In the present embodiment, the upper seal 220 moves in conjunction with the movement of the intermediate transfer member cleaning blade 210 (described in detail later), and the upper seal 220 is intermediate at the contact position. After separating from the state in contact with the transfer body 70, the intermediate transfer body cleaning blade 210 is separated from the intermediate transfer body 70. FIG. 4 shows the contact position of the upper seal 220, and FIGS. 5 and 6 show the non-contact position of the upper seal 220. The contact / separation mechanism 300 of the upper seal 220 will be described in detail later.

  In the printer 10 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the separated upper seal 220 is extended upstream in the rotational direction of the intermediate transfer body 70 in a state where the upper seal 220 is separated from the intermediate transfer body 70. A patch sensor on the outside of a virtual region R sandwiched between a virtual surface S and a plane T perpendicular to a straight line passing through a point on the surface of the intermediate transfer member 70 closest to the upstream end 220b of the upper seal 220. A unit 73 is arranged. The virtual region R is a region where the toner is easily wound up from the toner storage portion 205 when the upper seal 220 is separated from the intermediate transfer body 70. In the configuration in which the upper seal 220 is separated before the intermediate transfer member cleaning blade 210, the air flow in the toner storage unit 205 tends to be turbulent until the intermediate transfer member cleaning blade 210 is separated. The toner in the storage unit 205 is likely to be ejected in the direction of the virtual region R. For this reason, the patch sensor unit 73 is arranged outside the virtual region R as shown in FIG. More specifically, the light emitting element 77 a and the light receiving element 77 b of the patch sensor 77 are moved from the intermediate transfer member 70 by the tangent line X of the intermediate transfer member 70 passing through the upstream end 220 b of the upper seal 220 spaced from the intermediate transfer member 70. It is arranged on the 70 side. By arranging in this manner, the gap α formed between the upstream end 220b of the upper seal 220 spaced apart from the intermediate transfer member 70 and the intermediate transfer member 70, the light emitting element 77a and the light receiving element 77b of the patch sensor 77, and the like. The intermediate transfer body 70 exists between the two. For this reason, not only the gap α does not face the light emitting element 77a and the light receiving element 77b, but also when the intermediate transfer member 70 floats in the direction toward the light emitting element 77a and the light receiving element 77b side. It also functions as a barrier.

<<< Intermediate transfer member cleaning blade and upper seal contact timing >>>
Here, the contact timing of the intermediate transfer member cleaning blade 210 and the upper seal 220 will be described.
As described above, the primary transfer unit 60 sequentially transfers the toner images of the respective colors formed on the photosensitive member 20 to the intermediate transfer member 70, whereby the four color toner images are transferred to the intermediate transfer member 70 in an overlapping manner, A full-color toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer member 70. The full-color toner image formed on the intermediate transfer body 70 reaches the secondary transfer position as the intermediate transfer body 70 rotates, and is transferred onto the recording paper by the secondary transfer unit 80.
The intermediate transfer body cleaning blade 210 immediately before the toner remaining on the intermediate transfer body 70 without being transferred to the recording paper reaches the intermediate transfer body cleaning unit 85 as the intermediate transfer body 70 rotates. The upper seal 220 comes into contact with the intermediate transfer body 70 and comes into contact with the intermediate transfer body 70. When the intermediate transfer member cleaning blade 210 finishes scraping off the toner remaining on the intermediate transfer member 70, the upper seal 220 is separated from the intermediate transfer member 70. Subsequently, the intermediate transfer member cleaning blade 210 is moved to the intermediate transfer member 70. In preparation for the next transfer of the toner images of the respective colors on the photoconductor 20 by the primary transfer unit 60, apart from each other.

<<< About the contact / separation mechanism 300 >>>
As described above, the intermediate transfer member cleaning blade 210 and the upper seal 220 are configured to be able to contact and separate from the intermediate transfer member 70. Here, an example of the contact / separation mechanism 300 between the intermediate transfer member cleaning blade 210 and the upper seal 220 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the state of the contact / separation mechanism when the upper seal and the intermediate transfer pair cleaning blade are in contact with the intermediate transfer member. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state of the contact / separation mechanism when the upper seal starts to separate from the intermediate transfer member. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state of the contact / separation mechanism when the upper seal and the intermediate transfer pair cleaning blade are separated from the intermediate transfer member.

  The contact / separation mechanism 300 includes the swing shaft 302, the lever 306, the cam 310, the tension spring 314, the rotation shaft 320, the tension spring 324, and the like described above. The contact / separation mechanism 300 is provided on the side wall portion of the case 202 on one end side in the longitudinal direction of the intermediate transfer member cleaning blade 210 in the intermediate transfer member cleaning unit 85.

The swing shaft 302 is a shaft for swinging the lever 306, and protrudes from the side wall portion outside the case 202 along the longitudinal direction of the intermediate transfer member cleaning blade 210.
The lever 306 has a hole portion 306a on one side in the longitudinal direction, and the swing shaft 302 is inserted into the hole portion 306a so as to be swingably attached to the case 202. Further, one end of a tension spring 314 that urges the lever 306 in the clockwise direction in FIG. 7 while swinging the lever 306 about the swing shaft 302 is attached to the other side of the lever 306, and the other end of the tension spring 314 is attached. Is fixed to the case 202.

  The case 202 is provided with a cam 310 for swinging the lever 306 around the swing shaft 302, and the cam 310 is disposed in the vicinity of the tension spring 314. The lever 306 is pressed against the cam 310 by the urging force of the tension spring 314. Therefore, when the cam 310 is rotated by a drive source (not shown), the lever 306 is swung by a predetermined angle about the rocking shaft 302 by the cam 310 while being pressed by the cam 310.

  Further, the lever 306 is provided with an opening 306b near the center. The opening 306b extends from the blade support metal plate 212 on which the intermediate transfer member cleaning blade 210 is supported in the longitudinal direction of the intermediate transfer member cleaning blade 210. A protruding portion 212b protruding along is inserted.

  The intermediate transfer member cleaning blade 210 and the blade support sheet metal 212 are rotatable about a rotation shaft 212a, and a tension spring is provided on the opposite side of the blade support sheet metal 212 to the intermediate transfer member cleaning blade 210 in the short direction. One end of 315 is hung. The other end of the tension spring 315 is hung on the case 202. The blade support metal plate 212 is rotatably supported by the rotation shaft 212a at a substantially middle position between the intermediate transfer member cleaning blade 210 and the other end of the tension spring 315.

The seal support member 222 inserted through the rotation shaft 320 is rotatable about the rotation shaft 320, and the upper seal 220 fixed to the seal support member 222 is integrally formed about the rotation shaft 320. It is configured to rotate.
The tension spring 324 is a biasing member that biases the rotation shaft 320 in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. The tension spring 324 is attached to the seal support member 222, one end of which is connected to the seal support member 222, and the other end is attached to the case 202.

  The contact / separation mechanism 300 configured as described above makes the intermediate transfer body cleaning blade 210 and the upper seal 220 contact and separate from the intermediate transfer body 70 as follows.

  As shown in FIG. 7, when the intermediate transfer member cleaning blade 210 and the upper seal 220 are in contact with the intermediate transfer member 70, the distance between the cam eccentric shaft 310a and the cam surface 310b is at a minimum position. The lever 306 is pressed by the cam 310. At this time, neither the pressing portion 222a of the seal support member 222 and the lever 306, nor the protrusion 212b of the blade support metal plate 212 and the opening 306b of the lever 306 are in contact with each other. That is, the upper seal 220 is urged by the tension spring 324 and abuts against the intermediate transfer body 70, and the intermediate transfer body cleaning blade 210 is urged by the tension spring 315 and abuts against the intermediate transfer body 70. .

  When the cam 310 is rotated, for example, by 90 ° from the state shown in FIG. 7, the lever 306 pivoted counterclockwise and the pressing portion 222a of the seal support member 222 come into contact with each other as shown in FIG. The protrusion 212b and the opening 306b of the lever 306 are not in contact with each other. Also at this time, the upper seal 220 is urged by the tension spring 324 and abuts against the intermediate transfer body 70, and the intermediate transfer body cleaning blade 210 is urged by the tension spring 315 and abuts against the intermediate transfer body 70. ing.

  When the cam 310 continues to rotate, the lever 306 pivoted counterclockwise presses the pressing portion 222a of the seal support member 222 to rotate the seal support member 222 about the rotation shaft 320. The upper seal 220 begins to move away from the intermediate transfer body 70, and then the edge of the opening 306b of the lever 306 contacts the protrusion 212b of the blade support sheet metal 212. At this time, the intermediate transfer member cleaning blade 210 is in contact with the intermediate transfer member 70. Therefore, even if the upper seal 220 is separated from the intermediate transfer member 70 and the gap α communicating with the inside and outside of the toner storage portion 205 is generated, the intermediate transfer member cleaning blade 210 is in contact with the intermediate transfer member 70. That is, the upper seal 220 is separated from the intermediate transfer body 70 at a timing earlier than the intermediate transfer body cleaning blade 210.

  Further, when the cam 310 continues to rotate, the opening 306b of the lever 306 that oscillates counterclockwise presses the projection 212b of the blade support sheet metal 212, thereby oscillating the blade support sheet metal 212 and the intermediate transfer member cleaning blade 210. By rotating about the shaft 302, the intermediate transfer member cleaning blade 210 also starts to be separated from the intermediate transfer member 70. Then, as shown in FIG. 9, when reaching the position where the distance between the eccentric shaft 310a of the cam and the cam surface 310b reaches the maximum, the upper seal 220 and the intermediate transfer member cleaning blade 210 are the most from the intermediate transfer member 70. It moves to a distant position, that is, a non-contact position. At this time, gaps α and β are formed between the toner container 205 and the intermediate transfer member 70 so that the inside and outside of the toner container 205 communicate with each other.

  Thereafter, when the cam 310 is rotated, the lever 306 starts to swing clockwise by the urging force of the tension spring 314. As the lever 306 swings, the seal support member 222 rotates counterclockwise, and the intermediate transfer member cleaning blade 210 rotates clockwise. Eventually, the intermediate transfer member cleaning blade 210 is moved to the intermediate transfer member. 70 abuts. Further clockwise rotation of the intermediate transfer member cleaning blade 210 is regulated by the intermediate transfer member cleaning blade 210 coming into contact with the intermediate transfer member 70.

  The lever 306 continues to swing clockwise thereafter, and the seal support member 222 rotates counterclockwise by the biasing force of the tension spring 324. As the seal support member 222 rotates, the upper seal 220 also rotates counterclockwise, and the upper seal 220 eventually contacts the intermediate transfer body 70. The case 202 is provided with a stopper 328 for restricting the rotation of the rotation shaft 320 when the upper seal 220 comes into contact with the intermediate transfer body 70, and the upper seal 220 and the seal support member 222 are further provided. Counterclockwise rotation is regulated by the stopper 328. At this time, the gaps α and β generated between the toner container 205 and the intermediate transfer body 70 are the upper seal 220 on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the intermediate transfer body 70 and the intermediate transfer body cleaning blade on the downstream side. Blocked by 210.

=== Effectiveness of Printer etc. According to the Present Embodiment ===
When the intermediate transfer body cleaning blade 210 contacts the intermediate transfer body 70 and scrapes off the toner on the intermediate transfer body 70, the scraped toner is scattered in the toner storage unit 205. Then, the toner on the intermediate transfer member 70 is scraped off, and when the upper seal 220 is separated from the intermediate transfer member 70 in order to form the next toner image on the intermediate transfer member 70, the toner is scattered in the toner accommodating portion 205. In some cases, the toner that has fallen out of the toner container 205 may flow out of the gap α between the upper seal 220 and the intermediate transfer member 70. At this time, if the toner that has flowed out of the toner storage unit 205 adheres to the light emitting element 77a and the light receiving element 77b of the patch sensor 77, the patch sensor 77 may erroneously detect.

  However, in the printer 10 according to the present embodiment as described above, the imaginary surface S in which the upper seal 220 that is separated from the intermediate transfer body 70 is extended upstream in the rotation direction of the intermediate transfer body 70, and the upper seal 220. The patch sensor unit 73 is located outside a virtual region R sandwiched between a plane T perpendicular to a straight line passing through the upstream end 220b of the first intermediate portion 220b and a point Q on the surface of the intermediate transfer member 70 closest to the upstream end 220b. Therefore, there is little possibility that the toner that has flowed out of the toner container 205 directly reaches the light emitting element 77a and the light receiving element 77b of the patch sensor 77. For this reason, it is possible to suppress erroneous detection of the patch sensor 77 due to the toner flowing out of the toner storage unit 205.

  At this time, the light emitting element 77a and the light receiving element 77b of the patch sensor 77 are arranged on the intermediate transfer body 70 side from the tangent line of the intermediate transfer body 70 passing through the upstream end portion 220b of the upper seal 220 separated from the intermediate transfer body 70. ing. That is, the intermediate transfer member 70 exists on a straight line connecting the gap α formed between the upstream end 220b of the upper seal 220 and the intermediate transfer member 70 and the light emitting element 77a and the light receiving element 77b of the patch sensor 77. Will do. Therefore, the light emitting element 77a and the light receiving element 77b of the patch sensor 77 do not face the gap α formed between the upstream end 220b of the upper seal 220 and the intermediate transfer body 70, and the intermediate transfer body 70 Since the toner that has flown out of the gap α also functions as a barrier when floating in the direction toward the light emitting element 77a and the light receiving element 77b, the toner that has flowed out of the toner containing portion 205 through the gap α emits light. It is possible to effectively suppress reaching the element 77a and the light receiving element 77b side.

  By the way, when any of the members constituting the patch sensor unit 73 is disposed in the virtual region R, the toner adheres to the portion disposed in the virtual region R, and the adhered toner is transferred to the intermediate transfer member. There is a possibility that the light is adhered to the light emitting element 77a and the light receiving element 77b due to the airflow caused by the rotation of 70 or the like. However, when the patch sensor unit 73 is disposed outside the virtual region R as in the printer 10 of the present embodiment, the patch sensor unit such as the sensor fixing stay 78 as well as the light emitting element 77a and the light receiving element 77b. 73 is disposed in a state in which the toner floating out of the toner storage unit 205 is difficult to adhere. For this reason, it is possible to prevent toner from adhering to the light emitting element 77a and the light receiving element 77b more effectively, and to obtain an appropriate output of the patch sensor 77.

  In the printer 10 of the present embodiment, the intermediate transfer member cleaning blade 210 is provided on the downstream side in the rotational direction from the upper seal 220. Therefore, when the intermediate transfer member cleaning blade 210 is separated before the upper seal 220, The toner accumulated around the upper seal 220 may fall due to the operation of separating the upper seal 220 and leak to the outside through the gap β between the intermediate transfer member cleaning blade 210 and the intermediate transfer member 70. For this reason, it is desirable that the intermediate transfer member cleaning blade 210 be separated after the upper seal 220 is separated. However, when the upper seal 220 is separated first, there is a high possibility that the toner in the toner storage unit 205 will fly and adhere to the light emitting element 77a and the light receiving element 77b of the patch sensor 77.

  For this reason, according to the printer 10 of the present embodiment in which the patch sensor unit 73 is disposed outside the virtual area R, the toner is less likely to adhere due to the patch sensor unit 73 being disposed outside the virtual area R. The toner can be separated from the intermediate transfer member 70 prior to the cleaning blade 210, and the toner can be prevented from leaking downstream from the intermediate transfer member cleaning blade 210.

  In the present embodiment, since the sensor is the patch sensor 77 for detecting the density of the toner carried on the intermediate transfer body 70, the toner that has fluttered from the toner storage unit 205 is transferred to the light emitting element 77a and the light receiving element 77b. When an appropriate sensor output is obtained due to the fact that it is difficult to adhere, it is possible to accurately detect the density of the toner carried on the intermediate transfer body 70. Further, it is possible to form a better image based on the accurately detected sensor output. In particular, the patch sensor 77 of the present embodiment is configured by the light emitting element 77a and the light receiving element 77b, so that it is easy to erroneously detect that toner adheres, but both the light emitting element 77a and the light receiving element 77b are disposed outside the virtual region R. Therefore, even a sensor having the light emitting element 77a and the light receiving element 77b as a detection unit can be accurately detected. In this embodiment, the sensor is a patch sensor. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a surface electrometer 79 as a sensor for detecting the surface potential of the intermediate transfer member 70 may be used. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state using a surface electrometer. As shown in the figure, even when it is desired to use the surface electrometer 79, by arranging the surface electrometer unit including the sensor fixing stay 98 outside the virtual region R, the toner that has flowed out of the toner container 205 is detected. Since it is difficult to adhere to 79a, the surface potential of the intermediate transfer member 70 can be accurately detected. Further, the sensor may be a sensor for detecting the rotation period of the intermediate transfer body 70. In order to detect the rotation cycle of the intermediate transfer body 70, for example, it can be detected by reading a mark attached to a predetermined position in the circumferential direction of the intermediate transfer body 70 with an optical sensor. Can be realized. Therefore, by arranging a sensor unit for detecting the rotation cycle including the sensor fixing stay outside the virtual region R, the rotation cycle of the intermediate transfer body 70 can be accurately detected.

  The sensors for detecting the state of the intermediate transfer body 70 are preferably opposed to the intermediate transfer body 70, but a plurality of rollers 71 with the intermediate transfer body 70 spaced apart like the printer 10 of the embodiment, In the case of the annular belt wound around 72, the position of the intermediate transfer body 70 may be displaced at the intermediate position between the rollers 71 and 72 and cannot be accurately detected. For this reason, it is desirable that the light emitting element 77a and the light receiving element 77b face each other at the wound portion where the position of the intermediate transfer body 70 is difficult to be displaced. However, since the upper seal 220 is brought into contact with the position where the intermediate transfer body 70 is wound, when the upper seal 220 is separated from the intermediate transfer body 70, toner is applied to the light emitting element 77a and the light receiving element 77b side. There is a drowning dance. For this reason, when the sensor unit is arranged outside the virtual region R as in the printer 10 of the present embodiment, it is difficult for toner to adhere to the light emitting element 77a and the light receiving element 77b, and thus an appropriate sensor output is obtained. It is possible.

=== Other Embodiments ===
The image forming apparatus and the like according to the present invention have been described above based on the above embodiment. However, the above embodiment of the present invention is for facilitating understanding of the present invention and limits the present invention. is not. The present invention can be changed and improved without departing from the gist thereof, and the present invention includes the equivalents thereof.

  In the above embodiment, a full color laser beam printer has been described as an example of the image forming apparatus. However, the present invention can be applied to various image forming apparatuses such as a monochrome laser beam printer, a copying machine, and a facsimile.

  In the above-described embodiment, the intermediate transfer body 70 that rotates and moves the toner in a state where the toner is carried to transfer the toner to a recording material as a medium is used as the developer moving body. The intermediate transfer body cleaning unit 85 for collecting the toner that has not been transferred to the recording material and remains on the intermediate transfer body 70 has been described as an example, but is not limited thereto. For example, the developer moving body is a photoconductor 20 that rotates and moves the toner in a state where the toner is carried in order to transfer the toner to an intermediate transfer body 70 as an intermediate medium. The photosensitive member cleaning unit 75 may be a unit that collects toner remaining on the photosensitive member 20 without being transferred to the photosensitive member 70. In such a case, the present invention can also be applied to laser printers other than the intermediate transfer type.

  Also, the photosensitive member is not limited to a so-called photosensitive roller, which is configured by providing a photosensitive layer on the outer peripheral surface of a cylindrical conductive substrate, and is configured by providing a photosensitive layer on the surface of a belt-shaped conductive substrate. A so-called photosensitive belt may be used.

=== Configuration of Image Forming System etc. ===
Next, an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an external configuration of the image forming system. The image forming system 700 includes a computer 702, a display device 704, a printer 10, an input device 708, and a reading device 710. In this embodiment, the computer 702 is housed in a mini-tower type housing, but is not limited thereto. The display device 704 is generally a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), a plasma display, a liquid crystal display device, or the like, but is not limited thereto. As the printer 10, the printer described above is used. In this embodiment, the input device 708 uses a keyboard 708A and a mouse 708B, but is not limited thereto. In this embodiment, the reading device 710 uses a flexible disk drive device 710A and a CD-ROM drive device 710B. However, the reading device 710 is not limited to this. For example, an MO (Magneto Optical) disk drive device or a DVD (Digital Versatile) is used. Disk) etc. may be used.

  FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image forming system shown in FIG. An internal memory 802 such as a RAM and an external memory such as a hard disk drive unit 804 are further provided in a housing in which the computer 702 is housed.

  In the above description, an example in which the printer 10 is connected to the computer 702, the display device 704, the input device 708, and the reading device 710 to configure the image forming system has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Absent. For example, the image forming system may include the computer 702 and the printer 10, and the image forming system may not include any of the display device 704, the input device 708, and the reading device 710.

  For example, the printer 10 may have a part of each function or mechanism of the computer 702, the display device 704, the input device 708, and the reading device 710. As an example, the printer 10 includes an image processing unit that performs image processing, a display unit that performs various displays, a recording medium attachment / detachment unit for attaching / detaching a recording medium that records image data captured by a digital camera or the like. It is good also as a structure to have.

  The image forming system realized in this way is a system superior to the conventional system as a whole system.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Laser beam printer (printer), 20 Photoconductor, 30 Charging unit, 40 Exposure unit, 50 YMCK developing unit, 50a Center axis, 51 Black developing device, 52 Magenta developing device, 53 Cyan developing device, 54 Yellow developing device, 55a 55b, 55c, 55d Holding section, 60 Primary transfer unit, 70 Intermediate transfer body, 71 Drive roller, 72 Drive roller, 73 Patch sensor unit, 75 Photoconductor cleaning unit, 76 Photoconductor cleaning blade, 77 Patch sensor, 77a Light emission Element, 77b Light receiving element, 77c Cover, 77d Opening, 78 Sensor fixing stay, 79 Surface potentiometer, 79a Detector, 80 Secondary transfer unit, 85 Intermediate transfer member cleaning unit, 90 Fixing unit, 92 Paper feed tray , 94 Paper feed roller, 95 Display unit, 96 Registration roller, 100 Control unit, 101 Main controller, 102 Unit controller, 112 Interface, 113 Image memory, 202 Case, 205 Toner storage part, 207 Screw part, 207a Central shaft, 210 Intermediate Transfer body cleaning blade, 210a contact portion 212 blade support sheet metal, 212a rotating shaft, 212b protrusion, 220 upper seal, 220a contact portion, 222 seal support member, 222a pressing portion, 235 toner receiving portion, 300 contact / separation mechanism , 302 oscillating shaft, 306 lever, 306a hole, 306b opening, 310 cam, 310a eccentric shaft, 310b cam surface, 314 tension spring, 320 rotating shaft, 324 tension spring, 328 stopper 700 image forming system 702 computer 704 display device 708 input device 708A keyboard 708B mouse 710 reading device 710A flexible disk drive device 710B CD-ROM drive device 802 internal memory 804 hard disk drive unit Q intermediate One point on the transfer body, R virtual region, S virtual surface, T plane, X tangent, α, β gap.

Claims (11)

A toner moving body for moving the toner by rotating while carrying the toner to transfer the toner to a medium;
A blade provided so as to be able to come into contact with and separate from the toner moving body, and scraping off the toner remaining on the toner moving body without being transferred to the medium;
The toner scraped by the blade is accommodated, and the blade contacts the toner moving body, thereby closing the gap with the toner moving body on the downstream side in the rotation direction of the toner moving body. A container, and is provided to be contactable / separable with respect to the toner moving body on an upstream side in a rotation direction of the toner moving body, abuts on the toner moving body, and the toner moving body and the housing portion on the upstream side A sealing member for closing the gap between the toner moving body, a virtual surface extending the sealing member spaced from the toner moving body to the upstream side, an upstream end of the sealing member, and the closest to the upstream end An image forming apparatus comprising: a sensor having a detection unit arranged outside a virtual region sandwiched by a plane perpendicular to a straight line passing through one point on the surface of the toner moving body. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.
The image forming apparatus, wherein the detection unit of the sensor is disposed on a side of the toner moving body from a tangent line of the toner moving body passing through an upstream side end portion of the seal member separated from the toner moving body. . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
The sensor constitutes a sensor unit together with an attachment member for attaching the sensor,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the sensor unit is disposed outside the virtual area. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The toner moving body is an annular belt wound around a plurality of rollers spaced apart from each other,
The blade and the seal member are in contact with a portion of the toner moving body that is wound around the roller, and the detection unit of the sensor is opposed to the portion of the toner moving body that is wound around the roller. An image forming apparatus. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
The image forming apparatus, wherein the blade is separated after the seal member is separated. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is a sensor for detecting a density of toner carried on the toner moving body. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6.
The sensor has a light emitting element and a light receiving element,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the detection unit includes the light emitting element and the light receiving element. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the sensor is a sensor for detecting a surface potential of the toner moving body. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the sensor is a sensor for detecting a rotation period of the toner moving body. A toner moving body for moving the toner by rotating while carrying the toner to transfer the toner to a medium;
A blade provided so as to be able to come into contact with and separate from the toner moving body, and scraping off the toner remaining on the toner moving body without being transferred to the medium;
The toner scraped by the blade is accommodated, and the blade contacts the toner moving body, thereby closing the gap with the toner moving body on the downstream side in the rotation direction of the toner moving body. A container, and is provided to be contactable / separable with respect to the toner moving body on an upstream side in a rotation direction of the toner moving body, abuts on the toner moving body, and the toner moving body and the housing portion on the upstream side A sealing member for closing the gap between the toner moving body, a virtual surface extending the sealing member spaced from the toner moving body to the upstream side, an upstream end of the sealing member, and the closest to the upstream end A sensor having a detection unit disposed outside a virtual region sandwiched by a plane perpendicular to a straight line passing through one point on the surface of the toner moving body,
The detection portion of the sensor is disposed on the toner moving body side from a tangent line of the toner moving body that passes through an upstream end of the seal member that is separated from the toner moving body,
The sensor constitutes a sensor unit together with an attachment member for attaching the sensor, the sensor unit is disposed outside the virtual region,
The toner moving body is an annular belt wound around a plurality of rollers spaced apart from each other,
The blade and the seal member are in contact with a portion of the toner moving body that is wound around the roller, and the detection unit of the sensor is opposed to the portion of the toner moving body that is wound around the roller;
After the seal member is separated, the blade is separated,
The sensor is a sensor for detecting the concentration of toner carried on the toner moving body,
The sensor has a light emitting element and a light receiving element,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the detection unit includes the light emitting element and the light receiving element. Computer and
Connected to the computer,
A toner moving body for moving the toner by rotating while carrying the toner to transfer the toner to a medium;
A blade provided so as to be able to come into contact with and separate from the toner moving body, and scraping off the toner remaining on the toner moving body without being transferred to the medium;
The toner scraped by the blade is accommodated, and the blade contacts the toner moving body, thereby closing the gap with the toner moving body on the downstream side in the rotation direction of the toner moving body. A container, and is provided to be contactable / separable with respect to the toner moving body on an upstream side in a rotation direction of the toner moving body, abuts on the toner moving body, and the toner moving body and the housing portion on the upstream side A sealing member for closing the gap between the toner moving body, a virtual surface extending the sealing member spaced from the toner moving body to the upstream side, an upstream end of the sealing member, and the closest to the upstream end An image forming apparatus comprising: a sensor having a detection unit disposed outside a virtual region sandwiched by a plane perpendicular to a straight line passing through one point on the surface of the toner moving body. Forming systems.

Images