JP2011145463A - Cleaning device, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cleaning device capable of preventing the increase of friction between an image carrier and a cleaning blade, suppressing the occurrence of turning up of the cleaning blade, and removing residual toner in a stable manner. <P>SOLUTION: The cleaning device 40 comprises: a cleaning blade 4 that abuts against an image carrier 1 and removes the toner that remains on the surface of the image carrier 1 after transfer; a toner transport coil 5 that transports the toner scraped off by the cleaning blade 4; an application roller 2 that applies a lubricant 3 for alleviating the friction between the image carrier 1 and the cleaning blade 4 to the surface of the image carrier 1; an application brush 8 for causing the toner (not illustrated) scraped off by the cleaning blade 4 to re-adhere to the application roller 2; and a frame 6 in which the cleaning blade 4, the toner transport coil 5, the application brush 8, the lubricant 3, and the application roller 2 are arranged. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a cleaning device, a process cartridge, and an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to a technique for preventing a cleaning blade from coming into contact with the surface of an image carrier such as a photosensitive drum.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic system, a cleaning apparatus having a configuration shown in FIG. 8 is well known as a cleaning apparatus for removing residual toner on an image carrier. That is, a toner image corresponding to image information read by each image forming process such as charging, exposure, and development is formed on the surface of the image carrier 51. This toner image is transferred from the surface of the image carrier 51 to a transfer material such as transfer paper by a transfer process. In this transfer process, a part of the toner on the surface of the image carrier 51 remains on the surface of the image carrier 51 without being transferred to the transfer material. This is called residual toner.
A portion for removing the residual toner after the transfer is called a cleaning device 50, and includes a cleaning blade 54 that contacts the image carrier 51 at the blade edge portion A. The residual toner is scraped from the image carrier 51 by the cleaning blade 54 and falls into the frame 57. A toner conveying coil 55 is arranged at the lower part of the frame 57, and the residual toner dropped here is carried out of the unit as the toner conveying coil 55 rotates in the direction of the arrow. By scraping off the remaining toner, the toner adheres to the cleaning blade edge portion A and also serves as a lubricant. In addition, when the image carrier 51 rotates in the direction of the arrow, the lubricant 53 is applied to the surface of the image carrier 51 by the application roller 52 to reduce friction with the cleaning blade 54. This serves to prevent the cleaning blade 54 from curling.

As a conventional technique for preventing the cleaning blade from curling, Patent Document 1 discloses a transfer belt that moves the adhered toner in a state where the toner is adhered to the surface, a cleaning blade provided in contact with the surface, A toner accumulation member that accumulates a part of the toner scraped off by the cleaning blade and a toner box that stores the scraped toner are supplied to the contact portion as the lubricant accumulated on the toner accumulation member. An image forming apparatus configured as described above is disclosed.
Patent Document 2 discloses an image forming apparatus having a cleaning blade that removes residual toner after transfer on the surface of a photosensitive drum and a fur brush that applies a bias to assist cleaning. Discloses an image forming apparatus in which a bias having a reverse polarity is applied, and the adhering toner is adhered to a photosensitive drum.

However, in the configuration of the conventional cleaning device, when there is a portion where the residual toner adhesion amount on the surface of the image carrier is small, in this range, the amount of toner scraped off by the blade during cleaning is small, and the edge of the cleaning blade The toner was difficult to adhere. Therefore, in this range, the amount of toner acting as a lubricant is small, and the friction between the image carrier and the cleaning blade is only reduced by scraping the lubricant with the application roller and attaching it to the image carrier. As a result, in this range, there is a disadvantage in terms of reducing friction compared to the portion where the toner is attached to the edge of the cleaning blade, and there is a risk of the cleaning blade curling. Conventionally, the application roller has been applied to apply the toner in the process, but there is a problem that the toner is scattered during the operation.
Further, in the prior art of Patent Document 1, when toner is attached to an image carrier (transfer belt in the present invention), the toner is directly attached by being accumulated in the accumulation portion, so that the residual toner is easily fixed to the accumulation portion. In the worst case, the toner overflows.
Further, the conventional technique of Patent Document 2 has a problem that a power supply for generating a reverse bias is separately required because the toner adhesion method to the image carrier is performed by applying a reverse bias to the cleaning brush. is there.
The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and after transferring a toner image formed on an image carrier such as a photosensitive drum, the toner remaining on the image carrier is collected and reattached. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a cleaning device that prevents a rise in friction between the image carrier and the cleaning blade, suppresses the occurrence of the cleaning blade from curling, and stably removes residual toner.

In order to solve such a problem, the present invention provides a cleaning blade that contacts the image carrier and removes the toner after transfer remaining on the surface of the image carrier, and the cleaning blade scrapes the toner. A toner conveying coil that conveys toner, an application roller that applies a lubricant to reduce the friction between the image carrier and the cleaning blade to the surface of the image carrier, the cleaning blade, the toner conveyance coil, and the application And a frame having a roller disposed therein, wherein a coating brush for reattaching the toner scraped off by the cleaning blade to the coating roller is disposed in the frame.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, the application brush is disposed at a position that is located between the application roller and the toner conveyance coil and is off the line connecting the central axis of the application roller and the toner conveyance coil. A toner storage section for temporarily storing toner transported by the transport coil is provided below the coating brush.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, a transport paddle for transporting the toner transported by the toner transport coil to the toner reservoir is provided in the toner transport coil.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the application brush is disposed on at least one end side of the application roller.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cleaning blade that contacts the image carrier and removes the transferred toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier, a toner conveyance coil that conveys the toner scraped off by the cleaning blade, and the image An application roller for adhering a lubricant for reducing friction between the carrier and the cleaning blade to the surface of the image carrier; and a frame in which the cleaning blade, the toner conveying coil, and the application roller are disposed. In the cleaning device provided, an application brush for reattaching the toner scraped off by the cleaning blade to the application roller is disposed on the toner conveying coil.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the coating brush is disposed on at least one end side of the toner conveying coil.
7. A process cartridge comprising the cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.
8. An image forming apparatus comprising the process cartridge according to claim 7.

  According to the present invention, the remaining toner that has been scraped off and dropped onto the application brush is attached to the application roller, whereby the toner is supplied to the edge portion of the cleaning blade that is in contact with the image carrier, and the image carrier and the cleaning blade are It is possible to prevent an increase in friction and prevent the cleaning blade from curling.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is the schematic which shows the cross section of the cleaning apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic which shows the cross section of the cleaning apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the cleaning apparatus internal axial direction which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which extracted the frame part of FIG. It is the schematic which shows the cross section of the cleaning apparatus which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the cleaning apparatus internal axial direction which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is the cross-sectional schematic which shows the conventional cleaning apparatus.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings. However, the components, types, combinations, shapes, relative arrangements, and the like described in this embodiment are merely illustrative examples and not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only unless otherwise specified. .

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus 40 includes an image forming unit 20 having a photoconductor 21 as an image carrier for forming an electrostatic latent image, and a belt-shaped intermediate transfer belt 22 wound around three rollers located at the center of the image forming apparatus. Prepare. The roller is provided with a secondary transfer roller 23 facing the intermediate transfer belt so as to form a secondary transfer position. Further, below the image forming apparatus, a recording material cassette 24 that stores recording materials such as paper and OHP film is provided. A recording material conveyance path 25 for conveying the recording material from the recording material cassette 24 is provided. The recording material moved through the recording material conveyance path 25 is transferred with a toner image via the intermediate transfer belt 22 at the secondary transfer position, and the toner is fixed to the recording material by heat and pressure by a fixing unit 26 provided downstream. . Thereafter, the recording material is discharged to an externally attached stack tray 27. As the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment, a color copying machine is illustrated, but this color copying machine is merely an example, and the image forming apparatus of the present invention may be an image forming apparatus that forms a monochrome image.

Next, the image forming unit 20 will be described. The image forming unit 20 includes a developing unit 28 and a photoconductor unit 29. The development unit 28 includes a two-component developer and a conveyance screw that conveys the two-component developer, a developer carrier that carries the conveyed two-component developer, and a developer that makes the developer on the developer carrier a uniform layer. It is composed of a regulating member.
The photoconductor unit 29 removes the photoconductor 21 as an image carrier that forms an electrostatic latent image, the charging unit 30 that charges the surface of the photoconductor 21 and the transfer residual toner on the surface of the photoconductor, The cleaning unit 31 is configured to apply a lubricant. Further, the cleaning unit 31 described here is the same as the cleaning device in the present invention. The cleaning device of the present invention may be provided in the process cartridge.
Implementation conditions in the following embodiment were set as follows. The diameter of the photosensitive drum, which is an image carrier, is φ30. The lubricant is made of zinc stearate (ZnST). The material of the application brush is a conductive PET fiber in consideration of the toner application property. The rotation speed is set so that it does not exceed the product application roller, and the diameter of the application brush is φ12, which is equivalent to the application roller. The transport paddle is made of an elastomer resin in consideration of friction and the like.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a cross section of the cleaning device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The cleaning device 40 is in contact with the image carrier 1 and removes the transferred toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier 1 and a toner carrying coil that carries the toner scraped off by the cleaning blade 4. 5, an application roller 2 for applying a lubricant 3 for reducing friction between the image carrier 1 and the cleaning blade 4 to the surface of the image carrier 1, and a toner (not shown) scraped by the cleaning blade 4. An application brush 8 to be reattached to the roller 2, a cleaning blade 4, a toner conveying coil 5, an application brush 8, a lubricant 3, and a frame 6 in which the application roller 2 is disposed are configured. Note that the lubricant 3 may be configured to be exchangeable from the outside without being disposed inside the frame 6.
That is, the toner adhering to the image carrier 1 is transferred to a transfer belt or the like. At this time, the toner remaining on the image carrier 1 without being transferred completely rotates and reaches the cleaning blade 4. The toner on the image carrier 1 is scraped off by the cleaning blade 4 and falls into the frame 6a. In this configuration, the toner dropped here falls on the coating brush 8 and rotates in the direction of the arrow, thereby adhering to the coating roller 2. Since the application roller 2 scrapes off the lubricant 3 and adheres it to the image carrier 1, it is possible to simultaneously attach toner. As a result, the residual toner that has been scraped off and dropped onto the application brush 8 is attached to the application roller 2, whereby the toner is supplied to the edge portion A of the cleaning blade 4 in contact with the image carrier 1. The friction of the cleaning blade 4 can be prevented from increasing, and the cleaning blade 4 can be prevented from curling.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a cross section of the cleaning device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The same components will be described with the same reference numerals as in FIG. The cleaning device 41 in FIG. 3 differs from the cleaning device 40 in FIG. 2 on the line B that is located between the coating roller 2 and the toner transport coil 5 and connects the central axis of the coating roller 2 and the toner transport coil 5. The application brush 8 is disposed at a position away from the position, and a toner reservoir (toner storage unit) 9 for temporarily storing the toner conveyed by the toner conveying coil 5 is provided below the application brush. Further, a transport paddle 7 for transporting the toner transported by the toner transport coil 5 to the reservoir 9 is disposed in the toner transport coil 5.
That is, the toner adhering to the image carrier 1 is transferred to a transfer belt or the like. At this time, the toner remaining on the image carrier 1 without being completely transferred is rotated and reaches the cleaning blade 4. The toner on the image carrier 1 is scraped off by the cleaning blade 4 and falls onto the toner conveying coil 5 portion inside the frame 6a. The toner dropped here is discharged out of the unit by the toner transport coil 5, but a part of the toner is transported to the toner reservoir 9 by the transport paddle 7. The toner that has flowed into the toner reservoir 9 adheres to the application brush 8 and adheres to the application roller 2 by rotating in the direction of the arrow. Since the application roller 2 scrapes off the lubricant 3 and attaches it to the image carrier 1, it is possible to efficiently attach toner at the same time.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing the internal axial direction of the cleaning device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the application brush 8 is installed only at both ends of the cleaning blade 4 where turning is likely to occur. (It is also possible to have not only the end portion but also the entire structure.) FIG. 5 is an excerpt of the frame portion of FIG.
The width Db of the cleaning blade 4 in contact with the image carrier 1 is normally wider than the image area Di as shown in FIG. The toner does not adhere to the image carrier 1 outside the image area Di. As a result, the lubricity is small and the friction is increased, and the cleaning blade 4 is likely to bend. A structure having a toner reservoir 9 and an application brush 8 at both end portions is shown in order to apply toner to the end of the cleaning blade where wrinkles are likely to occur. The conveyance paddle 7 attached to the toner conveyance coil 5 is inclined at an angle of about 10 ° to 15 ° with respect to the rotation direction so that it can easily flow toward the end portion of the cleaning blade 4. An arrow C in FIG. 4 indicates the flow of toner. The conveyance paddle 7 overcomes the level difference and flows into the toner reservoir 9. The toner that has flowed into the toner reservoir 9 adheres to the application brush and adheres to the image carrier 1 through the application roller 2.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing a cross section of a cleaning device according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The same components will be described with the same reference numerals as in FIG. The cleaning device 42 is in contact with the image carrier 1 and removes the transferred toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier 1 and a toner carrying coil that carries the toner scraped off by the cleaning blade 4. 5, a coating roller 2 that adheres a lubricant 3 that reduces friction between the image carrier 1 and the cleaning blade 4 to the surface of the image carrier 1, a cleaning blade 4, a toner conveying coil 5, a lubricant 3, and a coating roller And a frame 6 in which 2 is disposed. The application brush 8 was disposed on both end sides of the toner conveying coil 5. Further, the lubricant 3 may be configured not to be disposed inside the frame 6 but to be exchanged from the outside.
That is, the toner adhering to the image carrier 1 is transferred to a transfer belt or the like, but the toner remaining on the image carrier 1 without being transferred at this time rotates and reaches the cleaning blade 4. The toner on the image carrier 1 is scraped off by the cleaning blade 4 and falls onto the toner conveying coil 5 portion inside the frame 6a.

  FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram showing the internal axial direction of the cleaning device according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In the example shown in FIG. 7, in this configuration, the application brush portion 8 of the toner conveying coil 5 scrapes the toner that has fallen into the frame with the application brush 8 by rotating and adheres it to the application roller 2. Since the application roller 2 scrapes off the lubricant 3 and adheres it to the image carrier 1, it is possible to simultaneously attach toner.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image carrier 2, Application | coating roller, 3 Lubricant, 4 Cleaning blade, 5 Toner conveyance coil, 6 Frame, 7 Conveyance paddle, 8 Application brush, 9 Toner storage part, 40, 41, 42 Cleaning apparatus

JP 2009-8904 A JP 2004-109513 A

Claims (8)

A cleaning blade that contacts the image carrier and removes the transferred toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier, a toner conveyance coil that conveys the toner scraped off by the cleaning blade, the image carrier and the cleaning In a cleaning apparatus comprising: an application roller that applies a lubricant that reduces friction with a blade to the surface of the image carrier; and a frame in which the cleaning blade, the toner conveying coil, and the application roller are disposed. ,
A cleaning device, wherein an application brush for reattaching the toner scraped off by the cleaning blade to the application roller is disposed in the frame.   The application brush is disposed at a position that is located between the application roller and the toner conveying coil and is off the line connecting the central axis of the application roller and the toner conveying coil, and is conveyed by the toner conveying coil. The cleaning device according to claim 1, further comprising a toner storage portion that temporarily stores toner at a lower portion of the application brush.   The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein a transport paddle for transporting the toner transported by the toner transport coil to the toner storage unit is disposed in the toner transport coil.   The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the application brush is disposed on at least one end side of the application roller. A cleaning blade that contacts the image carrier and removes the transferred toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier, a toner conveyance coil that conveys the toner scraped off by the cleaning blade, the image carrier and the cleaning A cleaning apparatus comprising: an application roller that adheres a lubricant that reduces friction with a blade to the surface of the image carrier; and a frame that includes the cleaning blade, the toner conveying coil, and the application roller inside. ,
A cleaning device, wherein a coating brush for reattaching the toner scraped off by the cleaning blade to the coating roller is disposed on the toner conveying coil.   The cleaning apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the application brush is disposed on at least one end side of the toner conveying coil.   A process cartridge comprising the cleaning device according to claim 1.   An image forming apparatus comprising the process cartridge according to claim 7.

Images