JP2011107204A - Light irradiation device and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve easiness of cleaning when moving a cleaning tool to clean a translucent member. <P>SOLUTION: A translucent plate 120 formed of a material transmitting light is arranged on the ceiling surface 129 of a light scanning part 12. The ceiling surface 129 is provided with a right side frame material 121 protecting a right side of the translucent plate 120, a left side frame material 122 for protecting the left side, a this side frame material 123 for protecting this side, and an interior side frame material 124 for protecting the interior side along their sides, respectively. Their four frame materials have projection surfaces projected in a z direction rather than the top surface 1200 which is the upper side surface of the translucent plate 120, and compose a frame part surrounding the outer edge of the top surface 1200 of the translucent plate 120. The cleaning tool 3 rides on any one of the right side frame material 121 and the left side frame material 122 of a protection part 17. A right-side face plate 171 and a left-side face plate 172 form a moving space of the cleaning tool 3 by restricting right and left movement of the cleaning tool 3 so as not to ride on the other. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a light irradiation apparatus and an image forming apparatus.

  In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, an optical scanning unit that irradiates an image carrier with laser light corresponding to image data is generally formed of a material that transmits laser light, and dust is mixed into the optical scanning unit. A translucent member for preventing the above is used. Such a translucent member is exposed to dust and needs to be cleaned. Patent Document 1 describes a cleaning blade having an edge portion that acts to bite into a light transmissive member when pulled out in contact with the light transmissive member (paragraph 0059). Patent Document 2 describes a rod-like member that is bent so that the back side opposite to the cleaning blade is convex (paragraph 0050). Patent Document 3 is configured such that the region of the tip portion provided with double ribs in the cleaning member is curved, and the distance from the tip to the center of the region is longer than the distance between the guide portions. A cleaning mechanism is described (paragraphs 0048-0050). Patent Document 4 describes a cleaning lever configured to reciprocate in a guide member to prevent loss (paragraph 0096).

JP 2006-17883 A JP 2006-178257 A JP 2007-30399 A Japanese Patent No. 4051573

  The objective of this invention is improving the ease of cleaning when moving a cleaning tool and cleaning a translucent member.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a light irradiation apparatus according to claim 1 of the present application includes an irradiation unit that irradiates light to an image holding body that holds a latent image corresponding to light, and an irradiation to the image holding body by the irradiation unit. An outer edge of a translucent surface provided in an optical path of the transmitted light and having a normal line in a direction approaching the image holding body among surfaces of the translucent member that transmits the light and the translucent member that transmits the light. Two parts extending along the moving direction of the cleaning tool having a cleaning surface that cleans the light transmitting surface by moving in a state of being in contact with the light transmitting surface. A frame part having a projecting surface projecting from the translucent surface in the normal direction, and a space forming means for forming a moving space in which the cleaning tool moves, wherein either one of the two parts The cleaning surface of the cleaning tool is in contact with the protruding surface, and the cleaning surface is in contact with the other protruding surface. Characterized by comprising a space forming means for cleaning surfaces of ingredients to form the movement space so as not to contact.

  In the light irradiation apparatus according to claim 2 of the present application, in the aspect according to claim 1, the light-transmitting surface is inclined with respect to a horizontal direction, and the space forming unit is higher of the protruding surfaces of the two portions. The moving space is formed such that the cleaning surface of the cleaning tool comes into contact with the position of the cleaning tool.

  In the aspect of Claim 1 or 2, the light irradiation apparatus which concerns on Claim 3 of this application contacts the said cleaning tool before the said cleaning tool is inserted in the said movement space, and the said cleaning tool is the said movement space. A surface for guiding the moving direction of the cleaning tool is provided so that the position of contact with the cleaning tool approaches the translucent surface as it moves in the direction in which the cleaning tool is inserted.

  The light irradiation apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the light irradiation device according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the space forming unit is configured to move in the moving direction from the frame portion at the head in the moving direction of the cleaning tool. The moving space is formed such that the length to the end of the moving space is shorter than the length along the moving direction of the cleaning surface of the cleaning tool.

  An image forming apparatus according to claim 5 of the present application is an image that holds the latent image according to the light irradiation device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 and the light irradiated by the irradiation unit of the light irradiation device. The image forming apparatus includes: a holding body; and an image forming unit that forms an image corresponding to the latent image held by the image holding body on a medium.

According to the light irradiation apparatus according to claim 1 of the present application, the cleaning tool is moved to be transparent as compared with the case where the cleaning surface does not contact any protruding surface of the two portions extending along the moving direction of the cleaning tool. Ease of cleaning when cleaning the optical member can be improved.
According to the light irradiation device according to claim 2 of the present application, compared to the case where the cleaning surface does not contact the higher one of the protruding surfaces of the two portions extending along the moving direction of the cleaning tool, the light transmitting surface. By tilting with respect to the horizontal direction, it is possible to reduce the influence of the force easily applied to the cleaning tool.
According to the light irradiation apparatus according to claim 3 of the present application, the moving direction of the cleaning tool is adjusted so that the contact position with the cleaning tool approaches the translucent surface as the cleaning tool moves in the direction of insertion into the moving space. Compared with the aspect which does not comprise the surface to guide, the ease of cleaning when moving a cleaning tool and cleaning a translucent member can be improved.
According to the light irradiation device according to claim 4 of the present application, the length from the frame portion at the head in the moving direction of the cleaning tool to the end of the moving space in the moving direction is the moving direction of the cleaning surface of the cleaning tool. Compared with the aspect which does not form the movement space which becomes shorter than the length along, the ease of cleaning when moving a cleaning tool and cleaning a translucent member can be improved.
According to the image forming apparatus according to claim 5 of the present application, it is possible to improve the ease of cleaning when the light transmitting member is cleaned by moving the cleaning tool, as compared with other aspects.

1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment. It is a perspective view of an optical scanning part. It is the figure which looked at the optical scanning part from the arrow III-III in FIG. It is a figure which shows the shape of a cleaning tool. It is a figure for demonstrating a protection part. It is a figure for demonstrating a ramp. It is a figure for demonstrating the structure of the abutting board provided in the protection part. It is a figure explaining the case where a left side plate exists in the position shifted to the left rather than the left side frame material. It is a figure explaining the aspect in which the right side board exists in the position shifted | deviated to the right rather than the right side frame material. It is sectional drawing in arrow view Xa-Xa and arrow view Xb-Xb in FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating a modification. It is a figure for demonstrating the back side frame material in a modification.

Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below.
1. Overall Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a recording medium supply unit 11, an optical scanning unit 12, developing units 13Y, 13M, 13C, and 13K, a transfer unit 14, a fixing unit 15, and a recording medium discharge. A unit 16, a protection unit 17, and a control unit 19 are provided. The recording medium supply unit 11, the optical scanning unit 12, the developing units 13Y, 13M, 13C, and 13K, the transfer unit 14, the fixing unit 15, and the recording medium discharge unit 16 are controlled by the control unit 19. Note that the symbols Y, M, C, and K indicate configurations corresponding to yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toners, respectively. Each of the developing units 13Y, 13M, 13C, and 13K differs only in the toner used, and there is no significant difference in the configuration. Hereinafter, when it is not necessary to particularly distinguish each of the developing units 13Y, 13M, 13C, and 13K, the alphabet at the end of the code indicating the color of the toner is omitted and referred to as “developing unit 13”.

  The recording medium supply unit 11 accommodates a sheet P serving as a recording medium that has been cut to a predetermined size. The sheets P stored in the recording medium supply unit 11 are taken out one by one in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 19 and conveyed to the transfer unit 14 via the sheet conveyance path. The recording medium is not limited to paper, and may be a resin sheet, for example.

  The optical scanning unit 12 includes an irradiation device that generates beam light according to image data of each color. The optical scanning unit 12 includes translucent plates 120Y, 120M, 120C, and 120K that transmit light (hereinafter, referred to as translucent plate 120 when there is no need to distinguish between them), and the above-described generated by the irradiation device The light beam is irradiated to the image carrier (photosensitive drum 131 described later) of each developing unit 13 through the light transmitting plate 120. Thus, the latent image is held on the image holding body of each developing unit 13. That is, the irradiation device provided in the optical scanning unit 12 is an example of an irradiation unit that irradiates light to an image holding body that holds a latent image corresponding to light. The translucent plate 120 is an example of a translucent member that is provided in an optical path of light irradiated to the image holding member by the irradiation unit and transmits the light. The image data may be generated by reading an original image by an image reading apparatus that is an example of the external apparatus 2 that exchanges information via the communication unit (not shown) by the control unit 19. Alternatively, it may be generated based on data transmitted from a computer device which is an example of the external device 2.

  The protection unit 17 is a member that separates the optical scanning unit 12 and the developing unit 13 and protects the optical scanning unit 12 and the developing unit 13 from contacting each other. Moreover, the movable range of the cleaning tool 3 mentioned later is restrict | limited. The light scanning unit 12 and the protection unit 17 are an example of a light irradiation device.

  Each developing unit 13 includes a photosensitive drum 131 as an image holding member. Each photoconductor drum 131 holds a latent image corresponding to the light emitted from the optical scanning unit 12. Each developing unit 13 forms an image corresponding to the image data of each color from the latent image held by the photosensitive drum 131 using the corresponding color toner. The primary transfer roll of each developing unit 13 generates a predetermined potential difference at a position where the intermediate transfer belt 141 of the transfer unit 14 faces the image carrier of the developing unit 13, and an image is generated on the intermediate transfer belt 141 by this potential difference. Transcript. After the image is transferred, the surface of the photosensitive drum 131 is neutralized by a cleaner and the remaining untransferred toner is removed.

  The transfer unit 14 includes an intermediate transfer belt 141, a secondary transfer roll 142, a belt transport roll 143, and a backup roll 144, and is a transfer unit that transfers an image formed by the developing unit 13 onto the paper P. is there. The intermediate transfer belt 141 is an endless belt member, and the belt conveyance roll 143 and the backup roll 144 stretch the intermediate transfer belt 141. At least one of the belt conveyance roll 143 and the backup roll 144 is provided with a drive unit (not shown), and moves the intermediate transfer belt 141 in the direction of arrow D14 in the drawing. Note that the belt transport roll 143 or the backup roll 144 that does not have a drive unit rotates following the movement of the intermediate transfer belt 141. As the intermediate transfer belt 141 moves and rotates in the direction of arrow D14 in the drawing, the image transferred by the transfer unit 14 is moved to a region where the secondary transfer roll 142 and the backup roll 144 are in contact with each other.

  The secondary transfer roll 142 transfers the image on the intermediate transfer belt 141 onto the paper P conveyed from the recording medium supply unit 11 by a potential difference with the intermediate transfer belt 141. The belt cleaner 149 removes untransferred toner remaining on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 141. Then, the transfer unit 14 conveys the paper P on which the image is transferred to the fixing unit 15. The developing unit 13 and the transfer unit 14 are examples of image forming means.

  The fixing unit 15 includes a heating roll and a support roll, and fixes the image transferred to the paper P to the paper P by heating and pressurization using these. The recording medium discharge unit 16 discharges the paper P that has undergone the fixing process by the fixing unit 15 to a paper storage place provided in the upper part of the image forming apparatus 1.

2. Configuration of Optical Scanning Unit FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the optical scanning unit 12. As shown in the figure, the optical scanning unit 12 is an apparatus in which irradiation means (not shown) is accommodated in a housing having a rectangular ceiling surface 129 above the direction of gravity. The ceiling surface 129 is inclined at 5 to 15 degrees with respect to the horizontal direction. The sides 129R and 129L, which are the sides of the ceiling surface 129, are parallel to the scanning direction (so-called main scanning direction) of the beam light emitted by the irradiation means inside the optical scanning unit 12. This scanning direction is defined as the y-axis, the direction perpendicular to the y-axis and parallel to the ceiling surface 129 is defined as the x-axis, the direction orthogonal to the x-axis and y-axis and the right-handed three-dimensional coordinates are formed together with the x and y axes , The space of the image forming apparatus 1 is represented by an xyz coordinate system, as shown in FIG. Here, the direction in which the x component increases in the xyz coordinate system is referred to as “right”, and the direction in which the x component decreases is referred to as “left”. In the xyz coordinate system, the direction in which the y component increases is called “back”, and the direction in which the y component decreases is called “front”. In the xyz coordinate system, the direction in which the z component increases is referred to as “up”, and the direction in which the z component decreases is referred to as “down”. Distinguish. Hereinafter, “positioning above” a certain position in the image forming apparatus 1 is expressed as “higher” than that position, and is distinguished from “above” in the xyz coordinates. Therefore, the ceiling surface 129 is inclined so that the right side in the xyz coordinate system is higher than the left side. Further, the above-described side 129 </ b> R is the right side of the ceiling surface 129, and the side 129 </ b> L is the left side of the ceiling surface 129. FIG. 3 is a view of the optical scanning unit 12 as viewed from the direction of arrows III-III in FIG. Since the arrow view III-III is directed in the opposite direction of the z-axis, the figure is represented by the xy plane. In FIG. 3, the protection unit 17 is omitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, four translucent plates 120 are arranged on the ceiling surface 129. Each translucent plate 120 is a rectangular member, and its longitudinal direction is the y-axis direction, that is, the scanning direction described above. The translucent plate 120 is formed of a material that transmits light, such as glass or optical resin. The ceiling surface 129 is provided with a frame portion along these side surfaces in order to protect the four side surfaces of the translucent plate 120 on the right, left, near side, and back. 2 and 3, the right side frame member 121K for protecting the right side surface of the translucent plate 120K, the left side frame member 122K for protecting the left side surface, the front side frame member 123K for protecting the front side surface, And the back side frame material 124K for protecting the back side surface is shown. These four frame members are the upper surface of the light transmitting plate 120K, that is, the light transmitting surface having a normal line in the direction approaching the image holding body among the surfaces of the light transmitting plate 120K that is a light transmitting member that transmits light. It has a protruding surface that protrudes by the same length in the z-axis direction from a certain upper surface, and constitutes a frame portion that surrounds the outer edge of the upper surface of the light transmitting plate 120K. A plane 128 is provided in a direction parallel to the ceiling surface 129 in the front direction from the front side frame member 123K and is shifted downward from the ceiling surface 129, and the staircase extends from the ceiling surface 129 to the plane 128. Configured.

  The ramp 125K is a member that reinforces the near side frame member 123K, and is a member that connects the upper surface of the near side frame member 123K from the plane 128 and guides the moving direction of the cleaning tool 3 described later. . The reinforcing members 126K are members that reinforce the right frame member 121K and the left frame member 122K. The reinforcing members 126K are fixed to the ceiling surface 129, and are provided in each of the right frame member 121K and the left frame member 122K. These members are also provided around the translucent plates 120C, 120M, and 120Y. Hereinafter, unless there is a particular need to distinguish, the reference numerals of these members provided around the respective light-transmitting plates 120 are described by omitting the alphabet at the end of the reference numeral indicating the color of the toner. The right side frame member 121, the left side frame member 122, the front side frame member 123, and the back side frame member 124 are light-transmitting surfaces having normal lines in the direction of approaching the image holding body among the surfaces of the light-transmitting member through which light passes. A frame portion that surrounds the outer edge, and is moved to two portions extending along a moving direction of a cleaning tool having a cleaning surface that cleans the light transmitting surface by moving in contact with the light transmitting surface. It is an example of the frame part which each has the protrusion surface which protruded rather than the said translucent surface in the said normal line direction of a surface. Details of the ramp 125 will be described later.

3. Configuration of Cleaning Tool FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the shape of the cleaning tool 3. As shown in FIG. 4A, the cleaning tool 3 includes a connecting rod 33, and an attachment seat 31 for attaching an elastic cleaning member 32 is provided at one end of the connecting rod 33. At the other end of the connecting rod 33, a handle 34 for the user to hold the cleaning tool 3 is provided.

  A cross-sectional view taken along the arrow IVb-IVb in FIG. 4A is shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the thickness of the mounting seat 31 is z1, and the thickness of the cleaning member 32 to which no external force is applied is z2. In addition, in the drawing, a surface other than the surface attached to the mounting seat 31 of the cleaning member 32 moves in contact with the upper surface of the light transmitting plate 120 to clean the light transmitting surface 32a. It is. Therefore, in a state where no external force is applied, the combined thickness of the mounting seat 31 and the cleaning member 32, that is, the length along the z-axis direction is z3 = z1 + z2. The cleaning member 32 is made of an elastic material such as sponge or foamed polyurethane. The mounting seat 31, the connecting rod 33, and the handle 34 are made of a material that is less elastic than the cleaning member 32 and hardly deforms, such as polypropylene. Therefore, for example, even when an external force is applied to the cleaning surface 32a from the upper surface of the translucent plate 120 or the like, the thickness of the mounting seat 31 is hardly changed, but the thickness of the cleaning member 32 is reduced according to the applied external force. As shown in FIG. 4, the width of the mounting seat 31 is Cx, and the length of the mounting seat 31, that is, the length in the direction along the longitudinal direction of the connecting rod 33 is Cy.

4). Configuration of Protection Unit FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the protection unit 17. The protection unit 17 includes a flat plate 179 that faces the ceiling surface 129 of the optical scanning unit 12. A right side plate 171 and a right back plate 173 are provided at a position facing the right frame member 121 on the flat plate 179, and a left side plate 172 and a left back plate 174 are provided at a position facing the left frame member 122. ing. The flat plate 179, the right back plate 173, and the left back plate 174 are all flat plates having a normal line parallel to the z axis. Further, the right side plate 171 and the left side plate 172 are both flat plates having normal lines parallel to the x axis.

  As shown in the figure, the left side surface of the right side plate 171 is located at a position shifted by Δx to the right (x-axis direction) from the surface of the right frame member 121 on the light transmitting plate 120 side. Since the right side surface of the left side plate 172 is at the same position or on the right side in the x-axis direction as the surface of the left frame member 122 on the translucent plate 120 side, as shown by the broken line in FIG. When inserted in a space sandwiched between the portion 17 and the translucent plate 120 (hereinafter referred to as a moving space), the cleaning tool 3 rides on the right frame member 121 and does not ride on the left frame member 122. Of the surface of the translucent plate 120, the upper surface 1200, which is a translucent surface having a normal line in a direction approaching the image carrier, is contacted. Here, the cleaning tool 3 riding on the frame means that the cleaning surface 32a of the cleaning member 32 provided at the tip of the cleaning tool 3 comes into contact with the protruding surface of the frame material. The distance between the right side plate 171 and the left side plate 172 is equal to or longer than Cx (for example, 1.01 times Cx). Therefore, the mounting seat 31 of the cleaning tool 3 having a width of Cx is restricted from moving in the right direction by the right side plate 171 and moving in the left direction by the left side plate 172. Thereby, a moving space is formed. That is, the protection part 17 is a space forming means for forming a moving space in which the cleaning tool moves, and the cleaning part 17 is disposed on the protruding surface of one of the two parts extending along the moving direction of the cleaning tool in the frame part. It is an example of the space formation means which forms the said movement space that the cleaning surface of a tool contacts and the cleaning surface of the said cleaning tool does not contact the other protrusion surface.

5. 6 is a diagram for explaining the ramp 125, and is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VI-VI shown in FIG. In addition, arrow VV shown in FIG. 6 is an arrow view of FIG. 5 which is sectional drawing. The distance along the z-axis direction from the plane 128 to the right back plate 173 or the left back plate 174 is z0. Further, the distance along the z-axis direction from the upper surface 1200 of the translucent plate 120 to the right back plate 173 or the left back plate 174 is z4, and z from the right frame member 121 to the right back plate 173 or the left back plate 174. The distance along the axial direction is z5.

  As shown in the figure, these distances have a relationship of z0> z3> z4> z5. Since the thickness in the z-axis direction of the space sandwiched between the plane 128 and the right back plate 173 is z0 that is thicker than z3, the cleaning tool 3 in which the combined thickness of the mounting seat 31 and the cleaning member 32 is z3. The tip of is easily inserted into this space. The ramp 125 is a member fixed to the plane 128 and the near side frame member 123, and has a slope 125s. When the cleaning tool 3 is inserted in the direction of the arrow D6 parallel to the y-axis direction, the cleaning member 32 provided at the tip of the cleaning tool 3 in the region of R6 shown in FIG. It touches the slope 125s. The slope 125s has an angle of at least 90 degrees with the arrow D6 direction. Therefore, the drag that the cleaning member 32 receives from the slope 125s includes a component in the z-axis direction in addition to the component in the direction opposite to the arrow D6. Therefore, since the cleaning member 32 is gradually crushed in the z-axis direction from the time when it comes into contact with the inclined surface 125s to the time when it passes over the front frame member 123, the load on the cleaning tool 3 when the cleaning tool 3 is inserted is reduced. In other words, the slope 125s of the ramp 125 comes into contact with the cleaning tool before the cleaning tool is inserted into the moving space, and moves with the cleaning tool as the cleaning tool moves in the direction in which the cleaning tool is inserted into the moving space. It is an example of the surface which guides the moving direction of the said cleaning tool so that a contact position may approach a translucent surface.

6). FIG. 7 is a view for explaining the configuration of the abutting plate 178 provided in the protection unit 17. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the arrow VI-VI shown in FIG. 5 as in FIG. 6, and shows a portion advanced in the y-axis direction from FIG. The abutting plate 178 is a flat plate having a normal line parallel to the y-axis, and is a member positioned further on the back side by Δy than the back-side surface of the back-side frame member 124. Since the length Cy of the mounting seat 31 provided at the tip of the cleaning tool 3 is longer than Δy, as a result of the cleaning tool 3 moving in the direction of the arrow D7, the tip of the mounting seat 31 hits the abutting plate 178. As shown in the figure, the cleaning member 32 stops in a state where it does not get over the back side frame member 124. That is, the abutting plate 178 restricts the movable range of the cleaning tool 3 in the y-axis direction. Therefore, when the cleaning tool 3 is moved in the direction opposite to the arrow D7 and removed, the load applied to the cleaning tool 3 in the region R7 shown in FIG. Compared to Even if the cleaning tool 3 is moved to the innermost position, the cleaning member 32 stops in a state where it does not get over the back side frame member 124. Therefore, when the cleaning tool 3 is extracted from this state, the cleaning member 32 is moved in the region R7. This is because the load in the direction opposite to the extraction direction that the back side frame member 124 gives to the cleaning member 32 is already reduced in the z-axis direction.

  Further, when the cleaning member 32 moves in the direction of the arrow D7, the dust attached to the upper surface 1200 is removed by the tip portion of the cleaning member 32 and attached to the tip portion. And when the front-end | tip part of this cleaning member 32 gets over the back side frame material 124, a part of said dust falls below from this front-end | tip part, for example, accumulates in area | region R70 shown to the same figure. Further, when the cleaning tool 3 is extracted from the moving space, the cleaning member 32 moves in the forward direction from the above state. At this time, the distal end portion of the cleaning member 32 is pressed by the rear side frame member 124 in the z-axis direction and the y-axis direction, which is a direction against the extraction direction of the cleaning tool 3, and thus falls down while adhering to the distal end portion. Part of the dust that has not been removed is scraped off from the tip portion by the inner surface of the inner frame member 124.

7). Arrangement of Right Side Plate and Left Side Plate Here, the arrangement of the right side plate 171 and the left side plate 172 will be described. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a case where the right side surface of the left side plate 172 is shifted to the left with respect to the surface of the left frame member 122 on the light transmitting plate 120 side. In this arrangement, as shown in FIG. 8A, the cleaning tool 3 rides on the left frame member 122 and contacts the translucent plate 120 without riding on the right frame member 121. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8B, the cleaning member 32 of the cleaning tool 3 receives a drag along the direction of the arrow D <b> 82 from the protruding surface of the left frame member 122, and from the upper surface 1200 of the translucent plate 120. Receives a drag along the direction of arrow D80. Here, since the protruding surface of the left frame member 122 protrudes in the z-axis direction from the upper surface 1200 of the light transmitting plate 120, the left frame material is more than the drag that the cleaning tool 3 receives from the upper surface 1200 of the light transmitting plate 120. The drag force received from the protruding surface 122 is greater.

  On the other hand, since the ceiling surface 129 is tilted so that the right in the xyz coordinate system is higher than the left, the cleaning tool 3 is tilted so that the right is higher than the left, and is inserted into the moving space. When the cleaning tool 3 is inserted in such an inclination, the person tends to apply this force so that the inclination disappears and the handle 34 becomes horizontal. That is, the cleaning tool 3 is likely to receive a force in the direction of the arrow D8 in FIG. 8A, that is, the clockwise direction in FIG. Therefore, the above-mentioned drag along the arrow line D80 and the arrow line D82 is a force that promotes the rotation direction along the arrow line D8, and therefore, the first force is excessively applied to the translucent plate 120. Second, the distance between the back surface of the mounting seat 31 and the right back plate 173 is not stable, and cleaning unevenness of the translucent plate 120 occurs.

  On the other hand, FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the above aspect in which the left surface of the right side plate 171 is shifted to the right from the surface of the right frame member 121 on the light transmitting plate 120 side. With this arrangement, as shown in FIG. 9A, the cleaning tool 3 rides on the right frame member 121 and contacts the translucent plate 120 without riding on the left frame member 122. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9B, the cleaning member 32 of the cleaning tool 3 receives a drag along the direction of the arrow D91 from the protruding surface of the right frame member 121, and from the upper surface 1200 of the translucent plate 120. Receives a drag along the direction of arrow D90. Since the protruding surface of the right frame member 121 presses the cleaning member 32 larger in the z-axis direction than the upper surface 1200 of the translucent plate 120, the drag that the cleaning tool 3 receives from the upper surface 1200 of the translucent plate 120. However, the drag received from the protruding surface of the right frame member 121 is larger.

  On the other hand, the cleaning tool 3 receives a force in the direction of the arrow D9 that is clockwise as in FIG. Therefore, the above-described drag along the arrow line D90 and the arrow line D91 is a force that cancels or disperses the rotation direction along the arrow line D9. That is, with this configuration, compared to the configuration shown in FIG. 8, it is possible to prevent excessive force from being applied to the translucent plate 120 and to stabilize the distance between the back surface of the mounting seat 31 and the right back plate 173. Uneven cleaning of the optical plate 120 is less likely to occur.

  Moreover, the cleaning tool 3 is configured so that the cleaning tool 3 rides on the right frame member 121 and does not ride on the left frame member 122 so as to contact the translucent plate 120. The load applied when extracting is reduced.

  10 is a cross-sectional view taken along arrows Xa-Xa and Xb-Xb in FIG. When viewed from an arrow Xa-Xa in FIG. 5, the cleaning member 32 of the cleaning tool 3 is in contact with the upper surface 1200 of the translucent plate 120 as shown in FIG. Since there is a step between the upper surface 1200 and the upper surface of the near side frame member 123, when the cleaning tool 3 is moved in the direction of the arrow D and extracted, the cleaning member 32 is located on the near side in the region R10a in FIG. A resistance force is received from the frame member 123.

However, when viewed from the arrow Xb-Xb in FIG. 5, the cleaning member 32 of the cleaning tool 3 is crushed upward by the upper surface of the right frame member 121 as shown in FIG. And since there is no level difference between the upper surface of the right side frame member 121 and the upper surface of the front side frame member 123, when the cleaning tool 3 is moved in the direction of the arrow D and extracted, the cleaning member 32 in the region R10b in FIG. The resistance from the near side frame member 123 is not received from the region R10a.
For this reason, the cleaning tool 3 is easy to extract compared with the aspect in which the cleaning tool 3 does not run on the right side frame material 121.

8). Modification The above is the description of the embodiment, but the contents of this embodiment can be modified as follows. Further, the following modifications may be combined.
(1) In the above-described embodiment, the ceiling surface 129 is tilted so that the right in the xyz coordinates is higher than the left, but the ceiling surface 129 may be horizontal. In this case, the right side plate 171 and the left side plate 172 move the cleaning tool 3 left and right so that the cleaning tool 3 rides on one of the right frame member 121 and the left frame member 122 and does not ride on the other. Limit it. With this configuration, the force required to move the cleaning tool is reduced. In addition, when the cleaning tool 3 gets on both the right frame member 121 and the left frame member 122, the force by which the upper surface 1200 of the translucent plate 120 is pressed by the cleaning surface 32 a of the cleaning member 32 provided in the cleaning tool 3. Will weaken the cleaning efficiency. That is, the cleaning tool 3 rides on either the right frame member 121 or the left frame member 122 by preventing the rider from riding on either the right frame member 121 or the left frame member 122 and the other. The cleaning efficiency is improved as compared with the case of cleaning after riding.

  The inclination of the ceiling surface 129 may be the reverse of the above. That is, the ceiling surface 129 may be inclined such that the left is higher than the right. In this case, the right side plate 171 and the left side plate 172 are disposed so that the cleaning tool 3 rides on the left frame member 122 and does not ride on the right frame member 121 so as to contact the upper surface 1200 that is the upper surface of the translucent plate 120. It is desirable to arrange. In short, it is desirable that the right side plate 171 and the left side plate 172 are arranged so that the cleaning tool 3 rides on the higher one of the right frame member 121 and the left frame member 122. When a person inserts the cleaning tool 3 at an angle, as described above, the person tends to apply a force in the direction in which the inclination disappears. However, it is easy to apply a stronger downward force to the portion at a higher position. Therefore, by arranging a frame member that presses the cleaning member 32 stronger than the translucent plate 120 in the z-axis direction at this high position, the above force is dispersed throughout the cleaning tool 3.

(2) In the above-described embodiment, the protection unit 17 is provided with the abutting plate 178 positioned further on the back side than the back side surface of the back side frame member 124, so that the cleaning tool 3 in the y-axis direction is provided. Although the movable range is limited, the mechanism for realizing this limitation is not limited to the abutting plate 178. For example, an equivalent mechanism may be provided in front of the front side frame member 123.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining this modification, and is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VI-VI shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the handle 34 of the cleaning tool 3 has a thickness of z6 longer than z0 in the z-axis direction. An abutting plate 127 is provided continuously with the plane 128, and an abutting plate 177 is provided continuously with the right back plate 173 or the left back plate 174. Each of the abutting plate 127 and the abutting plate 177 is a flat plate having a normal line parallel to the y-axis, and the y-axis component, that is, the position in the y-axis is the same. Therefore, when the cleaning tool 3 is inserted in the direction of the arrow D11, at least one of the abutting plate 127 and the abutting plate 177 is in contact with the handle 34 in the region R11a or the region R11b shown in FIG. The movable range in the y-axis direction is limited. In this case, the length of the connecting rod 33 and the depth length of the optical scanning unit 12 in the y-axis direction may be adjusted so that the cleaning member 32 stops in a state where the cleaning member 32 does not get over the back frame member 124. In short, the light irradiation device has a length from the frame portion at the head in the moving direction of the cleaning tool to the end of the moving space in the moving direction shorter than the length along the moving direction of the cleaning surface of the cleaning tool. What is necessary is just to provide the space formation means which forms the said movement space.

(3) In the above-described embodiment, the back frame member 124 constitutes a frame portion that surrounds the outer edge of the upper surface of the light transmitting plate 120 together with the right frame member 121, the left frame member 122, and the near frame member 123. In addition, the surface of the light transmitting plate 120 has a protruding surface that protrudes by the same length in the z-axis direction from the upper surface, which is a light transmitting surface having a normal line in a direction approaching the image carrier. That is, the length of the back side frame member 124 in the z-axis direction was the same as other frame members. However, the length of the back frame member 124 in the z-axis direction may be at least the length of the right frame member 121 and the left frame member 122 in the z-axis direction. Further, regardless of the length of each frame member in the z-axis direction, at least a part of the projecting surfaces of the back frame member 124 is more z-axis than the projecting surfaces of the right frame member 121 and the left frame member 122. It may protrude in the direction.

  FIG. 12 is a view for explaining the back side frame member 124 in this modification. FIG. 12A shows the relationship between the back side frame member 124 and its surrounding members, and the back side frame member 124 is shown in the area indicated by the broken line in FIG. The figure which expanded and demonstrated the example of the back side frame material 124 is FIG.12 (b) and FIG.12 (c). The rear frame member 124 shown in FIG. 12B has a front side 124A on the front side of the protruding surface protruding in the z-axis direction, and a back side 124B on the back side. In the rear side frame member 124 shown in FIG. 12B, the protruding surface including both the front side edge 124A and the rear side edge 124B is up to the right rear surface plate 173 and the left rear surface plate 174 regardless of the portion. The distance along the z-axis direction is smaller than z5. That is, the projecting surface of the rear frame member 124 has a shorter distance along the z-axis direction with the right rear plate 173 or the left rear plate 174 than both the right frame member 121 and the left frame member 122. In other words, the back side frame member 124 protrudes in the z-axis direction from the protruding surfaces of the right side frame member 121 and the left side frame member 122.

  For this reason, when the cleaning member 32 comes into contact with the back side frame member 124 when the cleaning tool 3 is pulled out in the direction of the arrow D12 from the state in contact with the abutting plate 178, the back side frame member 124 causes the cleaning member 32 to move. The cleaning surface 32a is pressed more strongly in the z-axis direction. At this time, since the dirt adhering to the upper surface 1200 of the translucent plate 120 is adsorbed to the cleaning surface 32a, the dirt is scraped off to the inner side of the inner frame member 124, that is, the region R70 shown in FIG. The first effect is that it becomes easier.

  In particular, as shown in FIG. 12C, the distance along the z-axis direction from the back side 124B of the back side frame member 124 to the right back plate 173 or the left back plate 174 is smaller than z5. When the distance on the front side 124A is equal to or greater than z5, the back side surface 124Sb of the back side frame member 124 is a surface having a normal in the direction in which only the y component increases, whereas the back side side The protruding surface 124St of the back side frame member 124 that connects 124B and the front side 124A is an inclined surface having a normal line in the direction in which the z component increases and the y component decreases. In this case, when the cleaning tool 3 is pulled out in the direction of the arrow D12, the cleaning member 32 suddenly hits the surface 124Sb and is pressed in the z-axis direction. Is easily scraped off to the back side of the back side frame member 124. On the other hand, when the cleaning tool 3 is inserted in the direction of the arrow D7, the cleaning member 32 is gradually pressed in the z-axis direction by the protruding surface 124St. It becomes difficult to be scraped off to the side. It is preferable that the stain is dropped on the back side of the back side frame member 124 rather than the near side of the back side frame member 124 because the possibility that the translucent plate 120 is soiled is low. That is, a part of the projecting surfaces of the rear frame member 124 projects in the z-axis direction from the projecting surfaces of the right frame member 121 and the left frame member 122, and the rear side of the projecting surface is the front side. It is desirable to project in the above direction.

  Further, since the cleaning tool 3 rides on the right frame member 121 and contacts the translucent plate 120 without riding on the left frame member 122, the cleaning surface 32a of the cleaning member 32 receives the pressing force received from the right frame member 121. The pressure is different from the pressing force received from the left frame member 122, and the cleaning member 32 is distorted on the left and right, that is, the cleaning surface 32a is pulled to the right. In this distorted state, when the cleaning surface 32a of the cleaning member 32 contacts the back frame member 124, the back frame member 124 protrudes in the z-axis direction from the protruding surfaces of the right frame member 121 or the left frame member 122. If not, the performance of scraping off dirt adhered to the surface under the influence of distortion will be different on the left and right. Since the back side frame member 124 in this modified example protrudes in the z-axis direction from the protruding surfaces of the right side frame member 121 and the left side frame member 122, the back side frame member 124 includes the right side frame member 121 and the left side frame. Since the cleaning member 32 is pressed more strongly in the z-axis direction than either of the materials 122, the second effect that the above-described left and right distortion is alleviated is produced.

  Further, when the cleaning tool 3 is inserted to the far side of the translucent plate 120, the cleaning surface 32 a of the cleaning member 32 is stronger than the right side frame member 121 and the left side frame member 122 by the back side frame member 124. As a result of being pressed in the z-axis direction, the mounting seat 31 is more closely attached to the right back plate 173 or the left back plate 174, and rotation about the insertion direction of the cleaning tool 3 is suppressed, so that the user can clean The third effect is that the tool 3 is easy to handle.

  In the above-described embodiment and this modification, the back frame member 124 is scraped off to scrape off the above-described dirt that protrudes in the z-axis direction from the protruding surfaces of the right frame member 121 and the left frame member 122. Although serving also as a member, the scraping member may be provided on the back side of the back side frame member 124 separately from the back side frame member 124. In this case, the length of the back side frame member 124 in the z-axis direction may be the same as that of the right side frame member 121 and the left side frame member 122, and the scraping member is on the back side of the back side frame member 124, In addition, at least a part of the protruding surface of the scraping member only has to protrude in the z-axis direction from the protruding surfaces of the right frame member 121 and the left frame member 122. Further, the abutment plate 178 may be further on the back side by Δy than the back surface of the scraping member, and the length Cy of the mounting seat 31 provided at the tip of the cleaning tool 3 may be longer than Δy.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming apparatus, 11 ... Recording medium supply part, 12 ... Optical scanning part, 120 ... Light transmission board, 1200 ... Upper surface, 121 ... Right side frame material, 122 ... Left side frame material, 123 ... Front side frame material, 124 ... Back side frame member, 124A ... front side, 124B ... back side, 124Sb ... surface, 124St ... projection surface, 125 ... slope, 125s ... slope, 126 ... reinforcing member, 127 ... abutting plate, 128 ... plane, 129 ... ceiling surface, 129L, 129R ... side, 13 ... developing unit, 131 ... photoconductor drum, 14 ... transfer unit, 141 ... intermediate transfer belt, 142 ... secondary transfer roll, 143 ... belt transport roll, 144 ... backup roll, 149: Belt cleaner, 15: Fixing unit, 16: Recording medium discharge unit, 17: Protection unit, 171 ... Right side plate, 172 ... Left side plate, 173 ... Right back plate, 174 ... Left back plate, 1 7 ... Abutting plate, 178 ... Abutting plate, 179 ... Flat plate, 19 ... Control unit, 2 ... External device, 3 ... Cleaning tool, 31 ... Mounting seat, 32 ... Cleaning member, 32a ... Cleaning surface, 33 ... Connecting rod , 34 ... handle.

Claims (5)

Irradiating means for irradiating light to an image holding body that holds a latent image according to light;
A translucent member that is provided in an optical path of light irradiated to the image holding body by the irradiation unit and transmits the light;
A frame portion that surrounds an outer edge of a light transmitting surface having a normal line in a direction approaching the image holding body among surfaces of the light transmitting member through which the light is transmitted, and moves while being in contact with the light transmitting surface. Each of the two portions extending along the moving direction of the cleaning tool having a cleaning surface for cleaning the light transmitting surface has a protruding surface protruding from the light transmitting surface in the normal direction of the light transmitting surface. A frame,
A space forming means for forming a moving space in which the cleaning tool moves, wherein the cleaning surface of the cleaning tool is in contact with the protruding surface of one of the two parts, and the cleaning surface of the cleaning tool is contacted with the other protruding surface. And a space forming means for forming the moving space so that the surfaces do not come into contact with each other. The translucent surface is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction, and the space forming means forms the moving space such that the cleaning surface of the cleaning tool contacts the higher one of the projecting surfaces of the two portions. The light irradiation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: As the cleaning tool comes into contact with the cleaning tool just before being inserted into the moving space, and the cleaning tool moves in the direction to be inserted into the moving space, the contact position with the cleaning tool becomes the translucent surface. The light irradiation apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a surface that guides the moving direction of the cleaning tool so as to approach. The space forming means has a length from the frame portion at the head in the moving direction of the cleaning tool to a terminal end of the moving space in the moving direction from a length along the moving direction of the cleaning surface of the cleaning tool. The light irradiation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the moving space is formed so as to be shorter. The light irradiation device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
An image holding body for holding a latent image corresponding to the light irradiated by the irradiation means of the light irradiation device;
An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit that forms an image corresponding to a latent image held by the image holding member on a medium.

Images