JP2011123211A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus capable of contributing to prolongation of the service life of each member by suppressing wearing between a cleaning member and a toner layer thickness regulating member, while maintaining the polishing force of an image carrier and further, suppressing failures caused by the retaining factor of surplus toner generated when the thickness of a toner layer is regulated by easily recovering the surplus toner. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus includes a cleaning roller 31 which comes into press-contact with the surface of a photoreceptor drum 19 with predetermined pressure and polishes the surface of the photoreceptor drum 19, a toner layer thickness regulating roller 32 comprising a rotator, which comes into contact with the surface of the cleaning roller 31, to regulate the thickness of the toner layer of residual toner held on the surface of the cleaning roller 31, and a toner recovery spiral 33 which recovers the residual toner, etc. removed from the surface of the photoreceptor drum 19. The toner recovery spiral 33 is arranged in a position lower than the entrance of a nip between the cleaning roller 31 and the toner layer thickness regulating roller 32. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, or a multifunction machine equipped with these functions, and removes residual toner and the like attached to the surface of an image carrier such as a photosensitive drum. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including the apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, or a multifunction machine equipped with these functions, the surface of an image carrier such as a photosensitive drum (hereinafter referred to as a photosensitive drum) will be described. A device having a cleaning device for removing residual toner (hereinafter simply referred to as “residual toner”) such as attached discharge products and toner components is well known.

  Further, as such a cleaning device, a cleaning roller that contacts the surface of the photosensitive drum separately from a cleaning blade that removes residual toner from the surface of the photosensitive drum by contacting the surface of the photosensitive drum in the counter direction. There is known one that polishes and cleans the surface of a photosensitive drum by a (polishing roller / sliding roller) (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  In this drum polishing method, the surface of the photosensitive drum is polished and cleaned by rotating the cleaning roller in a non-counter direction (trailing direction) while bringing the cleaning roller into contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum.

  At this time, the abrasive component is mixed with the toner in advance, and the residual toner removed by the cleaning blade is applied (held) to the surface of the cleaning roller, thereby increasing the polishing force of the cleaning roller by the abrasive in the toner. Yes.

  Therefore, the surface polishing force of the photosensitive drum varies depending on the amount of residual toner supplied to the cleaning roller.

  Therefore, in Patent Document 1, a toner receiving member that can supply the residual toner removed by the cleaning blade to the cleaning roller is provided, and the residual toner scraped off by the cleaning blade is temporarily collected in the toner receiving member, and the toner receiving member By supplying residual toner to the cleaning roller, a sufficient amount of residual toner can be held by the cleaning roller, and the polishing force on the surface of the photosensitive drum is enhanced.

  At this time, if the amount of residual toner adhering to the photosensitive drum changes, the residual toner amount held by the cleaning roller is also likely to change. It is.

  Therefore, in Patent Document 1, after the residual toner is supplied to the cleaning roller by the toner receiving member, the toner amount of the residual toner adhering to the surface of the cleaning roller is regulated by the layer thickness by a scraper that presses the surface of the cleaning roller. A change in polishing force (abrasion unevenness) due to a change in residual toner amount due to a difference in printing rate is suppressed.

JP 2009-104007 A

  However, the image forming apparatus provided with the above-described cleaning device includes a cleaning roller (sliding roller, polishing roller) that contacts the photosensitive drum and polishes the surface thereof, and is below the gravity direction of the cleaning roller. A toner layer necessary for polishing the surface of the photosensitive drum is formed on the surface of the cleaning roller by pressing a plate-like or sheet-like scraper.

  Accordingly, although the toner layer thickness on the surface of the cleaning roller is made uniform as compared with the case without the scraper, there is a problem that the polishing force of the photosensitive drum is reduced by pressing the scraper against the surface of the cleaning roller. It was.

  In addition, when a fixed object such as a scraper is pressed against the cleaning roller, foreign matter such as paper dust adhering to the surface of the cleaning roller may get stuck between the surface of the cleaning roller and the tip of the scraper, or may be cleaned. There has also been a problem that the wear of the roller surface and the tip of the scraper is severe and the life change is large.

  Further, when the scraper is used, there is a problem that excessive toner when the toner layer thickness is regulated tends to stay in a certain place, and problems such as aggregation of the excessive toner, leakage due to charging, and toner dropping are likely to occur. .

  Therefore, in consideration of the above circumstances, the present invention can contribute to extending the life of each member by suppressing the abrasion of the cleaning member and the toner layer thickness regulating member while maintaining the polishing force of the image carrier. Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus that can suppress a problem caused by a retention factor of excess toner by easily collecting excess toner generated at the time of regulating the toner layer thickness.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a cleaning member that is pressed against the surface of the image carrier at a predetermined pressure and holds the residual toner or the like attached to the surface of the image carrier so as to polish the surface of the image carrier. A toner layer thickness regulating member made of a rotating body that abuts against the surface of the cleaning member and regulates the toner layer thickness of the residual toner held on the surface of the cleaning member, residual toner removed from the surface of the image carrier, etc. A toner collecting member for collecting the toner, wherein the toner collecting member is disposed below a nip portion entrance between the cleaning member and the toner layer thickness regulating member.

  According to such a configuration, the wear of the cleaning member and the toner layer thickness regulating member can be suppressed while maintaining the polishing force of the image carrier, and the life of each member can be extended. By easily collecting the excess toner generated at the time of thickness regulation, it is possible to suppress problems caused by the excess toner retention factor.

  The toner image transfer position by the image carrier is disposed substantially on the lower surface of the image carrier, the cleaning member is disposed on a side surface of the image carrier, and the central position of the toner layer thickness regulating member is the cleaning member. Preferably, the central position of the toner collecting member is disposed below the central position of the toner layer thickness regulating member.

  At this time, the central position of the toner layer thickness regulating member is arranged farther from the image carrier than the central position of the cleaning member, and the central position of the toner recovery member is located more than the central position of the toner layer thickness regulating member. It is preferable to dispose the image carrier separately.

  The toner image transfer position by the image carrier is disposed on a substantially upper surface of the image carrier, the cleaning member is disposed on a side surface of the image carrier, and the central position of the toner layer thickness regulating member is the cleaning member. Preferably, the central position of the toner collecting member is disposed below the central position of the toner layer thickness regulating member.

  At this time, the central position of the toner layer thickness regulating member is arranged farther from the image carrier than the central position of the cleaning member, and the central position of the toner recovery member is located more than the central position of the toner layer thickness regulating member. It is preferable that it is arranged close to the image carrier.

  Further, a toner image transfer position by the image carrier is disposed on a substantially side surface of the image carrier, the cleaning member is disposed on an upper surface of the image carrier, and a nip between the cleaning member and the toner layer thickness regulating member. The portion is preferably disposed on the toner collecting member side with respect to a vertical line passing through the center of the cleaning member.

  The image forming apparatus of the present invention can contribute to extending the life of each member by suppressing the abrasion of the cleaning member and the toner layer thickness regulating member while maintaining the polishing force of the image carrier, and By easily collecting the excess toner generated at the time of thickness regulation, it is possible to suppress problems caused by the excess toner retention factor.

It is explanatory drawing of the image forming apparatus carrying the cleaning apparatus of Example 1 which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the principal part of the cleaning apparatus of Example 1 which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the image forming apparatus carrying the cleaning apparatus of Example 2 which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the principal part of the cleaning apparatus of Example 2 which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the image forming apparatus carrying the cleaning apparatus of Example 3 which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the principal part of the cleaning apparatus of Example 3 which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention.

  Next, the present invention is applied to a case where a cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present invention is mounted on an image forming apparatus, and will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, although the Example shown below is a suitable specific example in the cleaning apparatus of this invention, and there may be a technically preferable various limitation, the technical scope of this invention limits this invention especially. Unless otherwise stated, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

Example 1
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an image forming apparatus equipped with a cleaning device of Example 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a main part of the cleaning device of Example 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is.

(Overall configuration of image forming apparatus)
As shown in FIG. 1, a printer 1 as an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a paper feed cassette 3 that is slidably stored in a printer main body 2 as an image forming apparatus main body, and a paper supply cassette 3. A paper feed unit 5 for taking out transfer paper (not shown) stored in the storage space 4 of the paper cassette 3, a manual feed tray 6 arranged in front of the printer main body 2, and transfer paper (set in the manual feed tray 6) (Not shown), a manual feed unit 7 for taking out, a conveyance path 8 for conveying transfer paper supplied from the respective sheet feeding units 5, 7, and each sheet feeding unit 5 upstream of the conveyance path 8 in the sheet conveyance direction. , 7 and the registration roller pair 9 disposed on the downstream side in the sheet conveyance direction, and the toner supplied from the toner container 10 on the conveyance path 8 downstream of the registration roller pair 9 in the sheet conveyance direction. One side of transfer paper with developer An image forming unit 11 that forms a transfer image, a fixing device 12 that is disposed downstream of the image forming unit 11 in the sheet conveyance direction of the conveyance path 8 and fixes a toner image formed on one surface of the transfer paper, and a fixing device When a transfer image is formed on the other surface of the transfer paper that has passed through 12, the reversing path is pulled back from the downstream side of the conveying path from the fixing device 12 of the conveying path 8 to the upstream side of the conveying path of the conveying path 8 from the pair of registration rollers 9. 13 and a paper discharge unit 14 provided at the end of the conveyance path 8.

(Configuration of toner container 10)
The toner container 10 stores replenishment toner inside the container body 15. Further, the replenishing toner is agitated by a paddle 16 made of a flexible resin material or the like, and is conveyed in the transfer paper width direction (the depth direction in FIG. 1) by the spiral 17, and then forms an image at the predetermined position. Supplied to the developing device 18 of the section 11.

(Configuration of developing device 18)
The developing device 18 supplies the toner for replenishment supplied from the toner container 10 to the photosensitive drum (image carrier) 19 of the image forming unit 11 while stirring. The developing device 18 is partitioned by a partition wall 20. In a state, a pair of spirals 21 and 22 are arranged.

  Both ends of the partition wall 20 (in the depth direction in FIG. 1) are opened so as to communicate between both ends of the spirals 21 and 22, and are directed toward one side of the developing device 18 by the spiral 21 provided below the spiral 17. After the toner is agitated and conveyed (forward path), the toner is turned back at the open end of one side of the partition wall, and the replenishing toner is agitated and conveyed (return path) toward the other side of the developing device 18 by the spiral 22. A circulation conveyance path is formed that is turned back again at the open end of the partition wall. In addition, a developing roller 23 that is in contact with the photosensitive drum 19 and supplies replenishing toner is disposed opposite the spiral 22.

  The developing roller 23 is arranged so that the peripheral surface thereof faces the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 19. Accordingly, the replenishing toner being conveyed to the developing roller 23 is supplied to the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 19 via the developing roller 23, thereby forming a toner image on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 19. Become.

(Configuration of the image forming unit 11)
The image forming unit 11 includes, for example, a charging device 24, an exposure device (LSU) 25, and the like around the photosensitive drum 19 made of amorphous silicon in the order of the image forming process along the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 19 (see the arrow in the drawing). A developing device 18 (developing roller 23), a transfer device 26, a cleaning device 27, and a charge eliminating device 28 are provided.

  As a result, in the image forming unit 11, the photosensitive drum 19 is rotationally driven at a predetermined process speed (circumferential speed) by a driving unit (not shown), and the surface thereof is uniformly charged to a predetermined polarity and potential by the charging device 24. .

  An electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the charged photosensitive drum 19 by the exposure device 25. Here, the exposure device 25 irradiates the surface of the photosensitive drum 19 with the laser beam P based on the image data included in the print data output from a personal computer or the like, and irradiates the laser beam on the surface of the photosensitive drum 19. An electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image information is formed by removing the charge of the portion.

  The electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 19 is developed as an unfixed toner image by electrostatically attaching toner having a charge supplied from the toner container 10 by the developing device 18. Further, the unfixed toner image is transferred onto the transfer paper as a transfer image by the transfer device 26.

  At this time, the photosensitive drum 19 on which the unfixed toner image is transferred to the transfer paper is subjected to a removal process of residual toner and the like by the cleaning device 27, and then is discharged by the charge removal device 28 for charging at the next image formation. Processing is performed.

(Configuration of the cleaning device 27)
As a cleaning device according to the first exemplary embodiment, a cleaning device 27 that removes residual toner and the like attached to the surface of the photosensitive drum 19 after transferring the toner image and polishes and cleans the surface of the photosensitive drum 19 is illustrated in FIG. As shown, the cleaning case 29 extending in the width direction of the transfer paper (the depth direction orthogonal to the paper surface), the cleaning blade 30 whose tip contacts the surface of the photosensitive drum 19 in the counter direction, and the surface of the photosensitive drum 19 A cleaning roller 31 that holds the surface of the photosensitive drum 19 by holding the residual toner or the like that is pressed against the surface of the photosensitive drum 19 by pressing at a predetermined pressure, and a cleaning roller 31 that contacts the surface of the cleaning roller 31. Toner layer thickness regulating roller comprising a rotating body for regulating the toner layer thickness of the residual toner held on the surface of the toner And 2, a toner collection spiral 33 for collecting the residual toner and the like removed from the surface of the photosensitive drum 19, a.

  The cleaning blade 30, the cleaning roller 31, the toner layer thickness regulating roller 32, and the toner collection spiral 33 are provided in the cleaning case 29 so as to extend over substantially the entire width.

  The cleaning blade 30 is made of urethane rubber or the like, and the tip abuts on the surface of the photosensitive drum 19. At this time, the tip of the cleaning blade 30 abuts in the counter direction with respect to the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 19 (see the arrow in FIG. 2) to remove residual toner and the like attached to the surface of the photosensitive drum 19.

  The cleaning roller 31 comes into contact (nip) with the surface of the photosensitive drum 19, and is rotated by the residual toner held on the surface of the cleaning roller 31 by rotating in the rotation direction and forward direction (reference to the nip portion) of the photosensitive drum 19. The surface of the body drum 19 is polished and cleaned. For this reason, the cleaning roller 31 is configured in a cylindrical shape whose axis extends in the transfer paper width direction from foamed rubber (for example, carbon-containing conductive foamed EPDM) in order to maintain high retention of residual toner and the like. It is arranged upstream of the front end in the rotational direction of the photosensitive drum 19.

  The toner layer thickness regulating roller 32 is in contact (nip) with the surface of the cleaning roller 31, and in order to make the amount of adhesion of residual toner etc. (toner layer thickness) held on the surface of the cleaning roller 31 uniform, Rotates in the forward direction (nip part reference).

  The toner collection spiral 33 conveys residual toner to one side in the depth direction of the paper and collects it in a collection box (not shown).

  At this time, the toner collection spiral 33 is disposed below the entrance of the nip portion between the cleaning roller 31 and the toner layer thickness regulating roller 32.

  Further, the toner image transfer position by the photosensitive drum 19 is arranged on the substantially lower surface of the photosensitive drum 19, and the cleaning roller 31 is arranged on the side surface of the photosensitive drum 19 on the downstream side in the transfer sheet conveying direction based on this arrangement. The rotation center position of the toner layer thickness regulating roller 32 is disposed below the rotation center position of the cleaning roller 31, and the rotation center position of the toner collecting spiral 33 is disposed below the rotation center position of the toner layer thickness regulating roller 32. Is arranged. Further, the rotational center position of the toner layer thickness regulating roller 32 is arranged farther from the photosensitive drum 19 than the rotational center position of the cleaning roller 31, and the rotational center position of the toner collection spiral 33 is the rotational center of the toner layer thickness regulating roller 32. It is arranged farther from the photosensitive drum 19 than the position.

  In the above configuration, the cleaning device 27 removes residual toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 19 after the transfer with the cleaning blade 30.

  Further, the removed residual toner or the like does not collect at the entrance of the nip portion between the photosensitive drum 19 and the cleaning roller 31 positioned below the cleaning blade 30, and moves away from the photosensitive drum 19 by the cleaning roller 31. A part of it is held by the toner layer thickness regulating member 32, the other part is arranged below the toner layer thickness regulating member 32, and its rotation center position is the position of the cleaning roller 31 and the toner layer thickness regulating member 32. The toner is collected by a toner collecting spiral 33 arranged at a position farther from the photosensitive drum 19 than the respective rotation center positions.

  For this reason, the residual toner collected by the cleaning roller 31 is collected without excessively collecting at the entrance of the nip portion between the photosensitive drum 19 and the cleaning roller 31, and the layer pressure is regulated by the toner layer thickness regulating roller 32. The surface of the photosensitive drum 19 can be polished and cleaned by residual toner or the like held on the surface of the cleaning roller 31 in a state.

(Example 2)
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an image forming apparatus equipped with the cleaning device of Example 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a main part of the cleaning device of Example 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a tandem type color printer 41 as an image forming apparatus equipped with a cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present invention supplies a transfer paper (not shown) inside a printer main body 42. A paper cassette 43, a paper feed unit 44 that takes out transfer paper from the paper feed cassette 43, an image formation processing unit 45 that performs image formation processing on transfer paper supplied from the paper feed cassette 43 or a manual feed tray (not shown), A secondary transfer section 47 that transfers the toner image that has been image-formed by the image forming processing section 45 while guiding the transfer paper supplied from the paper feed cassette 43 or the manual feed tray through the transfer paper transport path 46; A fixing unit 48 for fixing the toner image and a paper discharge unit 49 for discharging the fixed transfer paper are provided.

  The image forming processing unit 45 employs, for example, a tandem system that performs image forming processing using toner (developer) of four colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). ing. In the following description, only in the case of color designation, the symbol of each arithmetic numeral is attached with a color (Y, M, C, K) in parentheses, and in the common case, only the arithmetic numeral is included. A description will be given with reference numerals.

  The image forming processing unit 45 corresponds to each color (Y, M, C, K), a plurality of toner containers 50 containing replenishing toner, and printing transmitted from a personal computer (not shown) using each color toner. A plurality of amorphous silicon-made photosensitive drums 51 that form toner images based on image data included in the data, a plurality of developing devices 52 that supply toner to the respective photosensitive drums 51, and the photosensitive drums 51 are formed. And an endless intermediate transfer belt 53 to which the toner image is transferred.

  Each photosensitive drum 51 carries a toner image of each color on the surface thereof based on the beam flux emitted from the exposure device 54 and transfers the toner image to the intermediate transfer belt 53, together with the developing device 52. It is disposed below the intermediate transfer belt 53. Around the photosensitive drum 51, a charging device (charging roller) 55, an exposure device 54, a developing device 52, a transfer roller 56, a cleaning device 57, and a charge eliminating device 58 are arranged in the order of the transfer process.

  Each developing device 52 basically has the same configuration and is disposed adjacent to the intermediate transfer belt 53 below the intermediate transfer belt 53 along the rotational movement direction. A detailed description of the configuration of the developing device 52 is omitted.

  The intermediate transfer belt 53 is an endless belt disposed in the printer body 42 so as to extend in the horizontal direction, and is circulated and driven in accordance with the image forming operation. Further, the toner image transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 53 is transferred by the secondary transfer unit 47 to the transfer paper conveyed through the transfer paper conveyance path 46 from the paper feed cassette 43 or the manual feed tray. Further, the intermediate transfer belt 53 is installed so as to be rotatable between a pair of rollers 59, 60, and one of the rollers 59 is a driving roller, and the other roller 60 is a tension roller that also serves as a driven roller. Maintained. Further, on the side of the intermediate transfer belt 53 (on the left side facing the roller 60 via the intermediate transfer belt 53 in the figure), the residual toner after the toner image is transferred to the transfer paper by the secondary transfer unit 47 is intermediate. A belt cleaning device 61 that removes from the surface of the transfer belt 53 is provided.

  The transfer paper onto which the toner image has been transferred by the secondary transfer unit 47 passes through the transfer paper transport path 46 and is fixed by the fixing unit 48, and then to a paper discharge unit 49 disposed at the end of the transfer paper transport path 46. Are discharged and stacked toward a paper discharge tray portion 42a that also serves as the upper surface of the printer main body 42. The tension mechanism of the roller 60 employs a known technique, and maintains the tension state of the intermediate transfer belt 53 by displacing the intermediate transfer belt 53 in the rotational movement direction (directions of arrows a and b in the drawing).

(Configuration of cleaning device 57)
As a cleaning device according to the second exemplary embodiment, a cleaning device 57 that removes residual toner and the like attached to the surface of the photosensitive drum 51 after transferring the toner image and polishes and cleans the surface of the photosensitive drum 51 is illustrated in FIG. As shown, the cleaning case 29 extending in the width direction of the transfer paper (the depth direction perpendicular to the paper surface), the cleaning blade 30 whose tip is in contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum 51 in the counter direction, and the surface of the photosensitive drum 51 A cleaning roller 31 that contacts the surface of the photosensitive drum 51 by holding residual toner or the like that is pressed against the surface of the photosensitive drum 51 by pressing at a predetermined pressure, and a cleaning roller 31 that contacts the surface of the cleaning roller 31. Toner layer thickness regulating roller comprising a rotating body for regulating the toner layer thickness of the residual toner held on the surface of the toner 2, a toner collecting spiral 33 that collects residual toner and the like removed from the surface of the photosensitive drum 51, a cleaning blade 30, and above the toner collecting spiral 33. And a toner collecting plate 34 that extends in the vicinity of the toner collecting spiral 33 (may extend to the lower side of the toner layer thickness regulating roller 32).

  The cleaning blade 30, the cleaning roller 31, the toner layer thickness regulating roller 32, the toner collection spiral 33, and the toner reservoir plate 34 are provided in the cleaning case 29 across substantially the entire width.

  The cleaning blade 30 is made of urethane rubber or the like, and the tip abuts on the surface of the photosensitive drum 51. At this time, the tip of the cleaning blade 30 abuts in the counter direction with respect to the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 51 (see the arrow in FIG. 4) to remove residual toner and the like attached to the surface of the photosensitive drum 51.

  The cleaning roller 31 is brought into contact (nip) with the surface of the photosensitive drum 51 and is rotated by the residual toner and the like held on the surface of the cleaning roller 31 by rotating in the rotation direction and forward direction (reference to the nip portion) of the photosensitive drum 51. The surface of the body drum 51 is polished and cleaned. For this reason, the cleaning roller 31 is configured in a cylindrical shape whose axis extends in the transfer paper width direction from foamed rubber (for example, carbon-containing conductive foamed EPDM) in order to maintain high retention of residual toner and the like. It is arranged upstream of the front end in the rotational direction of the photosensitive drum 51.

  The toner layer thickness regulating roller 32 is in contact (nip) with the surface of the cleaning roller 31, and in order to make the amount of adhesion of residual toner etc. (toner layer thickness) held on the surface of the cleaning roller 31 uniform, Rotates in the forward direction (nip part reference).

  The toner collection spiral 33 conveys residual toner to one side in the depth direction of the paper and collects it in a collection box (not shown).

  At this time, the toner collection spiral 33 is disposed below the entrance of the nip portion between the cleaning roller 31 and the toner layer thickness regulating roller 32.

  The toner image transfer position by the photosensitive drum 51 is disposed on the substantially upper surface of the photosensitive drum 51, the cleaning roller 31 is disposed on the side surface of the photosensitive drum 51, and the central position of the toner layer thickness regulating roller 32 is the cleaning roller 31. The center position of the toner collection spiral 33 is disposed below the center position of the toner layer thickness regulating roller 32.

  The toner reservoir plate 34 has a function of collecting residual toner or the like scraped off from the surface of the photosensitive drum 51 by the tip of the cleaning blade 30 around the lower portion of the cleaning roller 31. The toner reservoir plate 34 is formed of a sheet metal or resin plate. Specifically, residual toner is guided toward the toner layer thickness regulating roller 32 and the toner collecting spiral 33 to prevent leakage from the inside of the cleaning case 29.

  In the above configuration, the cleaning device 57 removes residual toner and the like remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 51 after the transfer with the cleaning blade 30.

  Further, the removed residual toner or the like is transported in a direction away from the photosensitive drum 51 by the cleaning roller 31 without collecting at the entrance of the nip portion between the photosensitive drum 51 and the cleaning roller 31, and a part of the toner layer is transferred to the toner layer. It is held by the thickness regulating member 32, and the other part is collected by a toner collecting spiral 33 disposed below the toner layer thickness regulating member 32.

  Therefore, the residual toner collected by the cleaning roller 31 is collected without excessively collecting in the nip portion between the photosensitive drum 51 and the cleaning roller 31, and the layer pressure is regulated by the toner layer thickness regulating roller 32. Thus, the surface of the photosensitive drum 51 can be polished and cleaned by residual toner or the like held on the surface of the cleaning roller 31.

(Example 3)
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an image forming apparatus equipped with a cleaning device of Example 3 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a main part of the cleaning device of Example 3 according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is.

(Overall configuration of MFP)
In FIG. 5, reference numeral 81 denotes a multifunction machine as an image forming apparatus having functions of a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, and a scanner.

  The multi-function device 81 reads a document as a paper feed tray 83 that can be pulled out from the front surface (front side of the paper) of the apparatus main body 82, a manual paper feed tray 84 provided on the side surface of the apparatus main body 82, and a copier, facsimile, or scanner. Laser light (not shown) in accordance with image data based on read data of a document read using the automatic document feeder 85 and output data output from a personal computer (not shown) or the like. The image forming unit 87 for forming a toner image on the surface of transfer paper (not shown) sent from the paper feed tray 83 or the manual paper feed tray 84, and the toner image. A fixing unit 88 that fixes the transfer paper surface; a discharge unit 89 that discharges the image-fixed transfer paper; and a display unit 90 such as a liquid crystal panel switch. There.

  The exposure device 86 irradiates laser light based on image data processed by a control circuit for various drive control related to image forming processing or the like, a memory or the like (not shown).

  The image forming unit 87 includes a photosensitive drum 91 as an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed by laser light emitted from the exposure device 86, and a toner image obtained by forming the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 91. And a toner storage container 93 for supplying replenishment toner to the developing device 92.

  The toner storage container 93 is detachable (replaceable) with respect to the apparatus main body 82, and the toner storage container 93 can be attached and detached by opening the front cover of the apparatus main body 82.

  Further, around the photosensitive drum 91, the charging device 94, the exposure device 86, the developing device 92, the transfer device (transfer roller) 95, and the like in the order of the image forming process along the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 91 (see the arrow in the drawing). A cleaning device 96 and a static elimination device 97 are provided.

  As a result, the photosensitive drum 91 is driven to rotate at a predetermined process speed (circumferential speed) by a driving unit (not shown), and the surface thereof is charged to a predetermined polarity / potential by the charging device 94.

  An electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the charged photosensitive drum 91 by the exposure device 86. Here, the exposure device 86 irradiates the surface of the photosensitive drum 91 with laser light based on image data included in the print data output from a personal computer or the like, and a laser light irradiation portion on the surface of the photosensitive drum 91. The electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image data is formed by removing the charges.

  The electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 91 is developed as an unfixed toner image by electrostatically attaching a charged toner by the developing device 92. Further, the unfixed toner image is transferred onto the transfer paper as a transfer image by the transfer device 95.

  At this time, the photosensitive drum 91 on which the unfixed toner image is transferred onto the transfer paper is subjected to a removal process of residual toner and the like by the cleaning device 96, and then is discharged by the charge removal device 97 for charging at the next image formation. Processing is performed.

(Configuration of cleaning device 96)
As a cleaning device according to the third exemplary embodiment, a cleaning device 96 that removes residual toner and the like attached to the surface of the photosensitive drum 91 after transferring the toner image and polishes and cleans the surface of the photosensitive drum 91 is illustrated in FIG. As shown, the cleaning case 29 extending in the width direction of the transfer paper (the depth direction orthogonal to the paper surface), the cleaning blade 30 whose tip contacts the surface of the photosensitive drum 91 in the counter direction, and the surface of the photosensitive drum 91 A cleaning roller 31 that holds the surface of the photosensitive drum 91 by holding residual toner or the like that is pressed against the surface of the photosensitive drum 91 by pressing at a predetermined pressure, and a cleaning roller 31 that contacts the surface of the cleaning roller 31. Toner layer thickness regulating roller comprising a rotating body for regulating the toner layer thickness of the residual toner held on the surface of the toner And 2, a toner collection spiral 33 for collecting the residual toner and the like removed from the surface of the photosensitive drum 91, a toner storage film 35 contacts the photosensitive drum 91 at the lower side of the cleaning roller 31, a.

  The cleaning blade 30, the cleaning roller 31, the toner layer thickness regulating roller 32, the toner collection spiral 33, and the toner reservoir film 35 are provided in the cleaning case 29 across substantially the entire width.

  The cleaning blade 30 is made of urethane rubber or the like, and the tip abuts on the surface of the photosensitive drum 91. At this time, the tip of the cleaning blade 30 abuts in the counter direction with respect to the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 91 (see the arrow in FIG. 6) to remove residual toner and the like attached to the surface of the photosensitive drum 91.

  The cleaning roller 31 is brought into contact (nip) with the surface of the photosensitive drum 91, and is rotated by the residual toner and the like held on the surface of the cleaning roller 31 by rotating in the rotational direction and forward direction (nip portion reference) of the photosensitive drum 91. The surface of the body drum 91 is polished and cleaned. For this reason, the cleaning roller 31 is configured in a cylindrical shape whose axis extends in the transfer paper width direction from foamed rubber (for example, carbon-containing conductive foamed EPDM) in order to maintain high retention of residual toner and the like. It is arranged upstream of the front end in the rotational direction of the photosensitive drum 91.

  The toner layer thickness regulating roller 32 is in contact (nip) with the surface of the cleaning roller 31, and in order to make the amount of adhesion of residual toner etc. (toner layer thickness) held on the surface of the cleaning roller 31 uniform, Rotates in the forward direction (nip part reference).

  The toner collection spiral 33 conveys residual toner to one side in the depth direction of the paper and collects it in a collection box (not shown).

  At this time, the toner collection spiral 33 is disposed below the entrance of the nip portion between the cleaning roller 31 and the toner layer thickness regulating roller 32.

  The toner image transfer position by the photosensitive drum 91 is disposed on the substantially side surface of the photosensitive drum 91, the cleaning roller 31 is disposed on the upper surface of the photosensitive drum 91, and the nip between the cleaning roller 31 and the toner layer thickness regulating roller 32. The part is disposed closer to the toner collection spiral 33 than the vertical line passing through the center of the cleaning roller 31.

  The toner reservoir film 35 prevents residual toner or the like scraped off from the surface of the photosensitive drum 91 by the tip of the cleaning blade 30 from flowing backward and leaking from the inside of the cleaning case 29.

  In the above configuration, the cleaning device 96 removes residual toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 91 after the transfer with the cleaning blade 30.

  Further, the removed residual toner or the like is transported in a direction away from the photosensitive drum 91 by the cleaning roller 31 without collecting at the entrance of the nip portion between the photosensitive drum 91 and the cleaning roller 31, and a part of the toner layer is transferred to the toner layer. It is held by the thickness regulating roller 32 and the other part is collected by a toner collecting spiral 33 arranged below the toner layer thickness regulating roller 32 so as to be adjacent to the cleaning roller 31.

  Therefore, the residual toner collected by the cleaning roller 31 is collected without excessively collecting in the nip portion between the photosensitive drum 91 and the cleaning roller 31, and the layer pressure is regulated by the toner layer thickness regulating roller 32. Thus, the surface of the photosensitive drum 91 can be polished and cleaned by residual toner or the like held on the surface of the cleaning roller 31.

19 ... Photosensitive drum (image carrier)
27. Cleaning device (cleaning device)
31 ... Cleaning roller (cleaning member)
32. Toner layer thickness regulating roller (toner layer thickness regulating member)
33. Toner collection spiral (toner collection member)
51 ... Photosensitive drum (image carrier)
57 ... Cleaning device (cleaning device)
91: Photosensitive drum (image carrier)
96 ... Cleaning device (cleaning device)

Claims (6)

  A cleaning member that is pressed against the surface of the image carrier at a predetermined pressure and holds the residual toner attached to the surface of the image carrier to the surface to polish the surface of the image carrier, and a surface of the cleaning member A toner layer thickness regulating member comprising a rotating body for regulating the toner layer thickness of the residual toner held in contact with the surface of the cleaning member, and a toner collecting member for collecting residual toner removed from the surface of the image carrier. And the toner collecting member is disposed below a nip portion entrance between the cleaning member and the toner layer thickness regulating member.   A toner image transfer position by the image carrier is disposed on a substantially lower surface of the image carrier, the cleaning member is disposed on a side surface of the image carrier, and a central position of the toner layer thickness regulating member is a center of the cleaning member. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is disposed below a position, and a center position of the toner collecting member is disposed below a center position of the toner layer thickness regulating member.   The central position of the toner layer thickness regulating member is arranged farther from the image carrier than the central position of the cleaning member, and the central position of the toner recovery member is located above the central position of the toner layer thickness regulating member. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image forming apparatus is disposed apart from the body.   A toner image transfer position by the image carrier is disposed on a substantially upper surface of the image carrier, the cleaning member is disposed on a side surface of the image carrier, and a central position of the toner layer thickness regulating member is a center of the cleaning member. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is disposed below a position, and a center position of the toner collecting member is disposed below a center position of the toner layer thickness regulating member.   The central position of the toner layer thickness regulating member is arranged farther from the image carrier than the central position of the cleaning member, and the central position of the toner recovery member is located above the central position of the toner layer thickness regulating member. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the image forming apparatus is disposed close to the body.   A toner image transfer position by the image carrier is disposed on a substantially side surface of the image carrier, the cleaning member is disposed on an upper surface of the image carrier, and a nip portion between the cleaning member and the toner layer thickness regulating member is The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is disposed closer to the toner collecting member than a vertical line passing through a center of the cleaning member.

Images