JP2013003543A - Cleaning device and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress deterioration in a toner recovery efficiency by a cleaning roller or a toner recovery roller when continuously forming an image at a high printing rate.SOLUTION: A first cleaning device 5 includes: first and second cleaning rollers 60 and 61 for cleaning a toner remaining on a photosensitive drum 1; scrapers 54 and 55 for scraping recovery toner stuck to the first and second cleaning rollers 60 and 61 respectively; a screw 56 for discharging the recovery toner; and a paddle 57 for transferring the recovery toner to the screw 56. In the first cleaning device 5, the second cleaning roller 61 is provided so as not to overlap with the first cleaning roller 60 in the vertical direction, the screw 56 is provided at a lower part in the vertical direction of either one of the first cleaning roller 60 and the second cleaning roller 61, and the paddle 57 is provided at a lower part in the vertical direction of the other.

Description

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

  Conventionally, an electrostatic latent image formed on a photoreceptor is developed with toner to form a toner image, the formed toner image is transferred to a sheet of paper, and the transferred toner image is heated and fixed on the sheet of paper. There is known an image forming apparatus that forms an image.

In the image forming apparatus as described above, the toner remaining on the image carrier by the first cleaning roller to which a voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the toner is applied and the second cleaning roller to which a voltage having the same polarity as that of the toner is applied. And an image forming apparatus provided with a cleaning device for scraping off the collected toner from the first cleaning roller and the second cleaning roller by a scraper, and discharging the scraped collected toner from the toner discharge screw to the outside of the apparatus. Yes.
Further, the toner remaining on the image carrier is collected by the first brush to which a voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the toner is applied and the second brush to which a voltage having the same polarity as that of the toner is applied. The toner is collected from the first brush and the second brush by the first toner collecting roller to which the voltage of 1 is applied and the second toner collecting roller to which the voltage of the same polarity as the toner is applied, and the first toner is collected by the scraper. There is also provided an image forming apparatus provided with a cleaning device that scrapes off the collected toner from the roller and the second toner collecting roller and discharges the scraped collected toner out of the apparatus from the toner discharge screw (for example, see Patent Document 1). ).

JP 2009-003204 A

However, in the conventional technique as described above, the first cleaning roller is disposed on the lower side in the vertical direction of the second cleaning roller, and further on the lower side in the vertical direction of the first cleaning roller and the second cleaning roller. Since the toner discharging screw is disposed on the first cleaning roller, the collected toner scraped off from the second cleaning roller by the scraper may reattach to the first cleaning roller. Therefore, if the amount of toner collected increases as in the case of continuous image formation at a high printing rate, the amount of collected toner that reattaches to the first cleaning roller also increases. Therefore, the toner collection efficiency by the first cleaning roller is increased. May decrease.
Similar problems also occur in a cleaning device that includes a first toner recovery roller and a second toner recovery roller.

  Accordingly, the present invention provides a cleaning device and an image forming apparatus capable of suppressing a reduction in toner collection efficiency by a cleaning roller or a toner collection roller even when continuous image formation is performed at a high printing rate. The purpose is to do.

The above purpose is
A first cleaning roller that cleans and collects toner remaining on the image carrier after transferring the toner image;
A second cleaning roller for cleaning and collecting toner remaining on the image carrier after being cleaned by the first cleaning roller;
Each scraper scraping off the collected toner adhering to the first cleaning roller and the second cleaning roller;
A screw for discharging the collected toner;
A cleaning device comprising: a paddle for transferring the collected toner to the screw;
The second cleaning roller is provided so as not to overlap the first cleaning roller in the vertical direction,
The screw is provided vertically below one of the first cleaning roller and the second cleaning roller,
The paddle can be achieved by a cleaning device provided below the other vertical direction of either the first cleaning roller or the second cleaning roller where the screw is not provided below.

Also, the above purpose is
A first cleaning roller that cleans and collects toner remaining on the transfer portion after the toner image formed on the image carrier is transferred to paper;
A second cleaning roller that cleans and collects toner remaining on the transfer portion after being cleaned by the first cleaning roller;
Each scraper scraping off the collected toner adhering to the first cleaning roller and the second cleaning roller;
A screw for discharging the collected toner;
A cleaning device comprising: a paddle for transferring the collected toner to the screw;
The second cleaning roller is provided so as not to overlap the first cleaning roller in the vertical direction,
The screw is provided vertically below one of the first cleaning roller and the second cleaning roller,
The paddle can be achieved by a cleaning device provided below the other vertical direction of either the first cleaning roller or the second cleaning roller where the screw is not provided below.

Also, the above purpose is
A first brush that cleans and collects toner remaining on the image carrier after the toner image is transferred;
A first toner collecting roller for collecting toner from the first brush;
A second brush for cleaning and collecting the toner remaining on the image carrier after the toner is collected by the first brush;
A second toner collecting roller for collecting toner from the second brush;
Each scraper scraping off the collected toner adhering to the first toner collecting roller and the second toner collecting roller;
A screw for discharging the collected toner;
A cleaning device comprising: a paddle for transferring the collected toner to the screw;
The second toner collecting roller is provided so as not to overlap the first toner collecting roller in the vertical direction;
The screw is provided vertically below one of the first toner recovery roller and the second toner recovery roller,
The paddle can be achieved by a cleaning device provided below the other of the first toner collecting roller and the second toner collecting roller which is not provided with the screw.

Also, the above purpose is
A first brush that cleans and collects toner remaining on the transfer portion after the toner image formed on the image carrier is transferred to paper;
A first toner collecting roller for collecting toner from the first brush;
A second brush that cleans and collects toner remaining on the transfer section after being cleaned by the first brush;
A second toner collecting roller for collecting toner from the second brush;
Each scraper scraping off the collected toner adhering to the first toner collecting roller and the second toner collecting roller;
A screw for discharging the collected toner;
A cleaning device comprising: a paddle for transferring the collected toner to the screw;
The second toner collecting roller is provided so as not to overlap the first toner collecting roller in the vertical direction;
The screw is provided vertically below one of the first toner recovery roller and the second toner recovery roller,
The paddle can be achieved by a cleaning device provided below the other of the first toner collecting roller and the second toner collecting roller which is not provided with the screw.

Also, the above purpose is
This can be achieved by an image forming apparatus including the cleaning device.

  According to the present invention, since the first cleaning roller and the second cleaning roller are provided so as not to overlap in the vertical direction, the collected toner scraped off from either the first cleaning roller or the second cleaning roller. However, it can suppress adhering to any one of a 1st cleaning roller and a 2nd cleaning roller. Further, since the first toner collecting roller and the second toner collecting roller are provided so as not to overlap in the vertical direction, the collected toner scraped off from either the first toner collecting roller or the second toner collecting roller. However, it can suppress adhering to any one of a 1st toner collection roller and a 2nd toner collection roller. Accordingly, even when image formation is continuously performed at a high printing rate, it is possible to suppress a decrease in toner collection efficiency by the toner collection roller.

1 is a diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a control system of the image forming apparatus. FIG. It is a schematic block diagram which shows a 1st cleaning apparatus. It is a schematic perspective view of a paddle. It is a schematic block diagram which shows a 2nd cleaning apparatus. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the 1st cleaning apparatus which concerns on a modification. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the 2nd cleaning apparatus which concerns on a modification.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. In addition, the description of this column does not limit the technical scope and terms used in the claims.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus A according to the present invention.

  The image forming apparatus A is called a tandem color image forming apparatus, and performs color image formation by four sets of image forming units.

  The document placed on the document table is scanned and exposed by the optical system of the scanning exposure device of the image reading device SC, read into the line image sensor, and the photoelectrically converted image information signal is converted into an image processing unit (not shown). ), Analog processing, A / D conversion, shading correction, image compression processing, and the like are performed, and then input to the optical writing unit of the image forming unit.

  The four image forming units include an image forming unit 10Y that forms a yellow (Y) image, an image forming unit 10M that forms a magenta (M) image, and an image forming unit that forms a cyan (C) image. 10C is an image forming unit 10K that forms a black (K) color image, and is denoted by symbols Y, M, C, and K representing colors formed after the common symbol 10, respectively.

  The image forming unit 10Y includes a photosensitive drum 1Y and a charging unit 2Y, an optical writing unit 3Y, a developing device 4Y, and a first cleaning device 5Y arranged around the photosensitive drum 1Y.

  Similarly, the image forming unit 10M includes a charging unit 2M, an optical writing unit 3M, a developing device 4M, and a first cleaning device 5M disposed around the photosensitive drum 1M, and the image forming unit 10C includes a photosensitive drum 1C. The image forming unit 10K includes the charging unit 2C, the optical writing unit 3C, the developing device 4C, and the first cleaning device 5C disposed around the photosensitive drum 1K, and the optical writing unit. The unit 3K, the developing device 4K, and the first cleaning device 5K are configured.

  Photosensitive drums 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K in the image forming units 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K, charging units 2Y, 2M, 2C, and 2K, optical writing units 3Y, 3M, 3C, and 3K, a developing device 4Y, The 4M, 4C, and 4K and the first cleaning devices 5Y, 5M, 5C, and 5K are configured in common. In the following description, symbols Y, M, C, and K are not used unless particularly distinguished.

  The image forming unit 10 writes an image information signal on the photosensitive drum 1 in the optical writing unit 3, and forms a latent image based on the image information signal on the photosensitive drum 1. The latent image is developed by the developing device 4 to form a visible toner image on the photosensitive drum 1.

  Yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) colors are respectively applied to the photosensitive drums 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K of the image forming units 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K. , Images are formed.

  The intermediate transfer belt 6 is wound around a plurality of rollers and supported so as to be able to run. The secondary transfer unit 7A includes a secondary transfer belt 71 that is a secondary transfer member, a pressing roller 72 that presses the secondary transfer belt 71 against the intermediate transfer belt 6, and a plurality of transport rollers. The secondary transfer belt 71 is wound around a pressing roller 72 and a plurality of transport rollers, and is supported so as to be able to run.

  The toner images of the respective colors formed by the image forming units 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K are sequentially primary-transferred onto the traveling intermediate transfer belt 6 by the primary transfer rollers 7Y, 7M, 7C, and 7K. A color image in which the color layers of yellow, M (magenta), C (cyan), and K (black) are superimposed is formed.

  The paper transport unit 20 transports paper. The paper is stored in the paper feed trays 291, 292, 293, fed by the paper feed unit 21, conveyed to the secondary transfer unit 7 A through the registration roller 22, and the color on the intermediate transfer belt 6 on the paper. The image is secondarily transferred by the secondary transfer portion 7A. The sheet on which the color image is secondarily transferred is fixed with the toner image on the sheet by applying heat and pressure in the fixing unit 30 and is discharged out of the apparatus through the fixing conveyance roller 23 and the discharge roller 25. .

  Further, the image forming apparatus A includes a paper reversing unit 24, and the fixed paper is guided from the fixing conveyance roller 23 to the paper reversing unit 24 so as to be reversed and discharged, or image formation is performed on both sides of the paper. Is possible.

  An operation display unit 80 is provided in the upper part of the main body of the image forming apparatus A, and the size, number of sheets, and the like of the paper when performing image formation can be set by the operation display unit 80.

  The control unit 90 controls each unit of the image forming apparatus A as shown in FIG. The control unit 90 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and a ROM (Read Only Memory) (not shown), and performs various operations according to various processing programs for the image forming apparatus A.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the first cleaning device 5 in the image forming apparatus A according to the present invention.
The first cleaning device 5 cleans and collects toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1, a first brush 50 and a second brush 52, a first toner collecting roller 51 that collects toner from the first brush 50, A second toner collecting roller 53 that collects toner from the two brushes 52; a first scraper 54 that scrapes off the collected toner from the first toner collecting roller 51; a second scraper 55 that scrapes off the collected toner from the second toner collecting roller 53; A screw 56 for discharging the toner to the outside, a paddle 57 for transferring the collected toner to the screw 56, a partition 58 provided between the first toner collecting roller 51 and the second toner collecting roller 53, and these members are accommodated. The housing 59 is provided.

  The first brush 50 is disposed opposite to the position below the photosensitive drum 1 and in contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum 1, and is driven to rotate in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 3 by a predetermined driving mechanism. The first brush 50 is configured by planting a plurality of conductive fibers having elasticity on the surface of the rotating member. The first brush 50 is connected to a voltage application power source (not shown), and a voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the toner is applied. Accordingly, the first brush 50 can electrically capture the toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 after the toner image is transferred, on the conductive fibers of the first brush 50.

  The second brush 52 is configured in substantially the same manner as the first brush 50 and is provided apart from the first brush 50. A voltage having the same polarity as the toner is applied to the second brush 52 by a voltage application power source (not shown). Accordingly, the second brush 52 can electrically capture the toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 after the toner is collected by the first brush 50 on the conductive fibers of the second brush 52. The toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 can be almost completely removed.

  The first toner collection roller 51 is disposed opposite to the position where it contacts the first brush 50, and is driven to rotate in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 3 by a predetermined drive mechanism. The first toner collection roller 51 is connected to a voltage application power source (not shown), and a voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the toner is applied. The voltage applied to the first toner collecting roller 51 is a voltage having an absolute value larger than that of the first brush 50 so that a voltage difference is generated between the first brush 50 and the first brush 50. As a result, the toner collected by the first brush 50 is electrically captured by the first toner collection roller 51.

The second toner collection roller 53 is disposed opposite to the position in contact with the second brush 52, and is rotationally driven in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 3 by a predetermined drive mechanism. The second toner collection roller 53 is connected to a voltage application power source (not shown) and is applied with a voltage having the same polarity as the toner. The voltage applied to the second toner collecting roller 53 is a voltage having an absolute value larger than that of the second brush 52 so that a voltage difference occurs between the second brush 52 and the second brush 52. As a result, the toner collected by the second brush 52 is electrically captured by the second toner collection roller 53.
Further, the second toner collection roller 53 is disposed so as not to overlap the first toner collection roller 51 in the vertical direction. By arranging in this way, the collected toner scraped off from either the first toner collecting roller 51 or the second toner collecting roller 53 is transferred to any of the first toner collecting roller 51 and the second toner collecting roller 53. Can be prevented from adhering to the other.

  The first scraper 54 and the first scraper 55 are provided in the vicinity of the first toner collecting roller 51 and the second toner collecting roller 53, respectively, and the tip portions thereof are the first toner collecting roller 51 and the second toner collecting roller 53, respectively. It is supported while pressed against the lower surface. The first scraper 54 and the second scraper 55 are formed to have substantially the same length as the axial length of the first toner recovery roller 51 and the second toner recovery roller 53, and the first toner recovery roller 51 and the second toner recovery roller 51 are recovered. The collected toner can be scraped off over the entire surface of the roller 53. The collected toner scraped off from the first toner collecting roller 51 by the first scraper 54 falls in a region L1 in the casing 59 that is vertically below the first toner collecting roller 51. Further, the collected toner scraped off from the second toner collecting roller 53 by the second scraper 55 falls in a region L <b> 2 below the second toner collecting roller 53 in the vertical direction in the housing 59.

The screw 56 is provided at a position below the first toner collection roller 51 in the vertical direction and overlaps the region L1 in the housing 59, and is configured to be rotationally driven by a predetermined drive mechanism. As a result, the collected toner scraped off from the first toner collecting roller 51 by the first scraper 54 is discharged to the outside of the housing 59 from the screw 56 that is rotationally driven.
A collection container (not shown) for collecting the collected toner discharged by the screw 56 is provided outside the housing 59.

  The paddle 57 is provided at a position below the second toner collection roller 53 in the vertical direction and overlapping the region L2 in the housing 59, and is provided at substantially the same height as the screw 56. The paddle 57 is configured to be rotatable by a predetermined drive mechanism. Further, the paddle 57 is formed in a substantially T-shaped cross section as shown in FIG. 4 and has a length substantially the same as the axial length of the second toner collection roller 53. Thus, the collected toner scraped off from the second toner collecting roller 53 by the second scraper is transferred to the screw 56 side by the rotationally driven paddle 57 and discharged from the screw 56 to the outside of the housing 59.

  Further, a PET film 57b having a larger area than that of the side surface 57a is attached to one side surface 57a of the protrusion 57c of the paddle 57, thereby covering the entire side surface 57a. As a result, the end of the film 57b protrudes from the tip of the protrusion 57c, and the end of the film 57b reaches the bottom surface inside the housing 59, so that it is scraped off from the second toner recovery roller 53 and the bottom surface inside the housing 59. The collected toner that has fallen on the toner can be efficiently transferred to the screw 56 side. The film 57b is not limited to PET, and may be any material as long as it has a strength that can assist the transfer of the collected toner by the paddle 57.

  The partition 58 is provided in the housing 59 between the first toner collection roller 51 and the second toner collection roller 53, and the region where the first toner collection roller 51 is provided and the second toner collection roller 53 It partitions off the provided area. As a result, the collected toner scraped off from either the first toner collecting roller 51 or the second toner collecting roller 53 adheres to either the first toner collecting roller 51 or the second toner collecting roller 53. Is more effectively prevented.

  An electrostatic adsorption member that adsorbs toner by electrostatic adsorption may be provided as a partition between the first toner collection roller 51 and the second toner collection roller 53. Since the electrostatic attraction member is provided, a part of the collected toner scraped off from either the first toner collecting roller 51 or the second toner collecting roller 53 is collected and collected. It is possible to effectively prevent the toner collecting roller 51 and the second toner collecting roller 53 from adhering to the other.

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating the second cleaning device 8 that cleans the secondary transfer belt 71 that is the secondary transfer member of the secondary transfer portion 7A in the image forming apparatus A.
The second cleaning device 8 is configured in the same manner as the first cleaning device 5 except that the object to be cleaned is the secondary transfer belt 71 of the secondary transfer portion 7A. The same members as those of the first cleaning device 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

The operation of the image forming apparatus A configured as described above will be described.
After the toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 6, the toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 is removed by the first cleaning device 5. Specifically, most of the toner adhering to the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 is brought into contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 by the contact of the first brush 50 to which a voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the toner is applied. Is cleaned by the first brush 50 and collected. Further, the second brush 52 to which a voltage having the same polarity as that of the toner is brought into contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 from which the toner has been collected by the first brush 50, so that the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 is contacted. The amount of toner that has not been collected by the first brush 50 among the adhering toner is cleaned by the second brush 52 and collected. Next, the toner collected by the first brush 50 when the first toner collecting roller 51 to which a voltage having a larger absolute value than the voltage applied to the first brush 50 is applied contacts the first brush 50. Is captured on the surface of the first toner collecting roller 51. Similarly, the toner collected by the second brush 52 when the second toner collecting roller 53 to which a voltage having a larger absolute value than the voltage applied to the second brush 52 is applied contacts the second brush 52. Is captured on the surface of the second toner collecting roller 53. The collected toner collected by the first toner collecting roller 51 is scraped off by the first scraper 54 and falls into the region L1 in the housing 59. The collected toner falling in the region L1 is discharged to the outside by a screw 56 provided at the lower part of the region L1. Further, the collected toner collected by the second toner collecting roller 53 is scraped off by the first scraper 55 and falls to the region L <b> 2 in the housing 59 without reattaching to the first toner collecting roller 51. The collected toner falling in the region L2 is transferred to the screw 56 by the paddle 57 provided in the lower part of the region L2, and is discharged outside the housing 59 by the screw 56.
Similarly, after the toner image transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 6 is transferred onto the sheet by the secondary transfer portion 7A, it adheres to the surface of the secondary transfer belt 71 that is the secondary transfer member of the secondary transfer portion 7A. The toner is removed by the second cleaning device 8. The toner removal by the second cleaning device 8 is the same as the toner removal by the first cleaning device 5 described above.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the first toner collection roller 51 and the second toner collection roller 53 are provided so as not to overlap in the vertical direction, and the first toner collection roller 51 and the second toner collection roller 53 are in the vertical direction. Since the screw 56 and the paddle 57 are respectively provided below, the recovered toner scraped off from either the first toner recovery roller 51 or the second toner recovery roller 53 becomes the first toner recovery roller 51 and the second toner recovery roller 51. It is possible to prevent the toner collecting roller 53 from reattaching to the other. Thereby, even when images are continuously formed at a high printing rate, it is possible to suppress a decrease in toner collection efficiency by the first toner collection roller 51 and the second toner collection roller 53.
Further, with this configuration, the collected toner collected by the first toner collecting roller 51 and the second toner collecting roller 53 can be discharged to the outside with one screw, and there is no need to provide a plurality of screws. Therefore, the apparatus configuration of the image forming apparatus can be simplified.

  Further, since the screw 56 is provided vertically below the first toner collecting roller 51 and the paddle 57 is provided vertically below the second toner collecting roller 53, more toner than the second toner collecting roller 53 is provided. The collected toner scraped off from the first toner collecting roller 51 that collects the toner is discharged by the screw 56, and the collected toner scraped off from the second toner collecting roller 53 that collects less toner than the first toner collecting roller 51 Since it is transferred to the screw 56 by the paddle 57, the recovered toner can be discharged to the outside more efficiently.

  Further, since the partition 58 is provided between the first toner collection roller 51 and the second toner collection roller 53, the partition portion 58 is scraped off from either the first toner collection roller 51 or the second toner collection roller 53. The collected toner can be more reliably prevented from adhering to either the first toner collecting roller 51 or the second toner collecting roller 53.

<Modification>
Here, a modification of the image forming apparatus A will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating the first cleaning device 5 of the image forming apparatus according to the modification, and FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating the second cleaning device 8 of the image forming apparatus according to the modification.
Since the configuration other than that described below is substantially the same as that of the image forming apparatus A of the above-described embodiment, the same configuration is denoted by the same reference numeral, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the first cleaning device 5 and the second cleaning device 8 of the image forming apparatus according to the modification include a first brush 50, a second brush 52, a first toner collection roller 51, and a second toner collection roller 51. The toner collection roller 53 is not provided. Instead, the first cleaning device 5 and the second cleaning device 8 include a first cleaning roller 60 and a second cleaning roller 61, respectively.

The first cleaning roller 60 is disposed opposite to the position in contact with the photosensitive drum 1 and is rotationally driven in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 6 by a predetermined driving mechanism. A voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the toner is applied to the first cleaning roller 60 by a voltage application power source (not shown), and the toner is directly cleaned and recovered from the photosensitive drum 1.
Further, an elastic material layer (not shown) is provided on the surface of the first cleaning roller 60 so that the contact area with the photosensitive drum 1 is increased. As the elastic material layer, for example, urethane foam blended with a conductive material such as carbon black and imparted with conductivity is suitably used. The elastic material layer is not limited to urethane foam, and may be any material as long as it is an elastic material having conductivity.

  The second cleaning roller 61 is disposed opposite to the position in contact with the photosensitive drum 1 and is rotationally driven in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 6 by a predetermined driving mechanism. A voltage having the same polarity as the toner is applied to the second cleaning roller 61 by a voltage application power source (not shown), and the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 1 after the toner is collected by the first cleaning roller 60 is directly applied. Clean and collect. The second cleaning roller 61 is disposed so as not to overlap the first cleaning roller 60 in the vertical direction, and has the same elastic material layer as the first cleaning roller 60.

  The first scraper 54 and the first scraper 55 are provided in the vicinity of the first cleaning roller 60 and the second cleaning roller 61, respectively, and their tip portions are pressed against the lower surfaces of the first cleaning roller 60 and the second cleaning roller 61, respectively. Supported in the applied state. Thus, the first scraper 54 and the second scraper 55 scrape the collected toner from the surfaces of the first cleaning roller 60 and the second cleaning roller 61, respectively.

  The screw 56 is provided at a position that is vertically below the first cleaning roller 60 and overlaps the region L1 in the housing 59, and the paddle 57 is a region below the second cleaning roller 61 in the vertical direction and within the housing 59. It is provided at a position overlapping L2.

  The partition portion 58 is provided between the first cleaning roller 60 and the second cleaning roller 61 in the housing 59, and the region where the first cleaning roller 60 is provided and the second cleaning roller 61 are provided. Partitions the area.

The operation of the image forming apparatus according to the modified example configured as described above will be described.
The toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 6, and the toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 is removed by the first cleaning device 5. Specifically, when the first cleaning roller 60 to which a voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the toner is applied to the surface of the photosensitive drum 1, a large amount of toner that adheres to the surface of the photosensitive drum 1. The portion is cleaned by the first cleaning roller 60 and collected. Further, the second cleaning roller 61 to which a voltage having the same polarity as that of the toner is brought into contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 after the toner is collected by the first cleaning roller 60. Of the toner adhering to the surface, the amount not collected by the first cleaning roller 60 is cleaned by the second cleaning roller 61 and collected. The collected toner collected by the first cleaning roller 60 is scraped off by the first scraper 54 and falls to the region L1 in the housing 59. The collected toner falling in the region L1 is discharged to the outside by a screw 56 provided at the lower part of the region L1. The collected toner collected by the second cleaning roller 61 is scraped off by the first scraper 55 and falls to the region L2 in the housing 59 without reattaching to the first cleaning roller 60. The collected toner falling in the region L2 is transferred to the screw 56 by the paddle 57 provided in the lower part of the region L2, and is discharged outside the housing 59 by the screw 56.
Similarly, the toner image transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 6 is transferred to a sheet by the secondary transfer unit 7A, and the toner remaining on the surface of the secondary transfer belt 71 which is a secondary transfer member of the secondary transfer unit 7A is It is removed by the second cleaning device 8. The toner removal by the second cleaning device 8 is the same as the toner removal by the first cleaning device 5 described above.

As described above, according to the image forming apparatus according to the modification, the first cleaning roller 60 and the second cleaning roller 61 are provided so as not to overlap in the vertical direction, and the first cleaning roller 60 and the second cleaning roller 61 are in the vertical direction. Since the screw 56 and the paddle 57 are respectively provided below, the collected toner scraped off from either the first cleaning roller 60 or the second cleaning roller 61 becomes the first cleaning roller 60 and the second cleaning roller 61. It is possible to prevent reattachment to any of the other. Thereby, even when images are continuously formed at a high printing rate, it is possible to suppress a decrease in toner collection efficiency by the first cleaning roller 60 and the second cleaning roller 61.
Further, since the first cleaning roller 60 and the second cleaning roller 61 collect the toner directly from the photosensitive drum 1, the first brush and the second brush can be omitted, and the configuration of the cleaning device and the image forming device is simplified. Can be.

  Further, since the screw 56 is provided below the first cleaning roller 60 in the vertical direction and the paddle 57 is provided below the second cleaning roller 61 in the vertical direction, more toner than the second cleaning roller 61 is collected. The collected toner scraped off from the first cleaning roller 60 is discharged by the screw 56, and the collected toner scraped off from the second cleaning roller 61 that collects less toner than the first cleaning roller 60 is transferred to the screw 56 by the paddle 57. Since the toner is transferred, the recovered toner can be discharged to the outside more efficiently.

  In addition, since the partition 58 is provided between the first cleaning roller 60 and the second cleaning roller 61, the collected toner scraped off from either the first cleaning roller 60 or the second cleaning roller 61 is removed. It is possible to more reliably prevent the first cleaning roller 60 and the second cleaning roller 61 from adhering to the other.

In the above-described embodiment, the screw is provided vertically below the first toner collecting roller and the paddle is provided vertically below the second toner collecting roller. However, the screw is provided on the second toner collecting roller. A paddle may be provided vertically below the first toner recovery roller.
Similarly, in the above-described modification, the screw is provided below the first cleaning roller in the vertical direction and the paddle is provided below the second cleaning roller in the vertical direction, but the screw is provided in the vertical direction of the second cleaning roller. It is good also as what is provided below and a paddle is provided in the perpendicular direction lower side of the 1st cleaning roller.

  Further, in the above-described modification, both the first cleaning device and the second cleaning device are replaced with the first cleaning roller and the first toner collecting roller, instead of the first brush, the second brush, the first toner collecting roller, and the second toner collecting roller. Although the second cleaning roller is provided, any one of the first cleaning device and the second cleaning device is used instead of the first brush, the second brush, the first toner collecting roller, and the second toner collecting roller. The first cleaning roller and the second cleaning roller may be provided.

1 Photosensitive drum (image carrier)
5 First cleaning device 6 Intermediate transfer belt (image carrier)
7A Secondary transfer unit 8 Second cleaning device 10 Image forming unit 20 Paper transport unit 21 Paper feed unit 24 Paper reversing unit 25 Paper discharge roller 30 Fixing unit 50 First brush 51 First toner recovery roller 52 Second brush 53 Second Toner recovery roller 54 First scraper 55 Second scraper 56 Screw 57 Paddle 58 Partition 60 First cleaning roller 61 Second cleaning roller 80 Operation display 90 Control unit A Image forming apparatus SC Image reading apparatus

Claims (9)

A first cleaning roller that cleans and collects toner remaining on the image carrier after transferring the toner image;
A second cleaning roller for cleaning and collecting toner remaining on the image carrier after being cleaned by the first cleaning roller;
Each scraper scraping off the collected toner adhering to the first cleaning roller and the second cleaning roller;
A screw for discharging the collected toner;
A cleaning device comprising: a paddle for transferring the collected toner to the screw;
The second cleaning roller is provided so as not to overlap the first cleaning roller in the vertical direction,
The screw is provided vertically below one of the first cleaning roller and the second cleaning roller,
The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the paddle is provided in the lower vertical direction of the other of the first cleaning roller and the second cleaning roller in which the screw is not provided below. A first cleaning roller that cleans and collects toner remaining on the transfer portion after the toner image formed on the image carrier is transferred to paper;
A second cleaning roller that cleans and collects toner remaining on the transfer portion after being cleaned by the first cleaning roller;
Each scraper scraping off the collected toner adhering to the first cleaning roller and the second cleaning roller;
A screw for discharging the collected toner;
A cleaning device comprising: a paddle for transferring the collected toner to the screw;
The second cleaning roller is provided so as not to overlap the first cleaning roller in the vertical direction,
The screw is provided vertically below one of the first cleaning roller and the second cleaning roller,
The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the paddle is provided in the lower vertical direction of the other of the first cleaning roller and the second cleaning roller in which the screw is not provided below. A first brush that cleans and collects toner remaining on the image carrier after the toner image is transferred;
A first toner collecting roller for collecting toner from the first brush;
A second brush for cleaning and collecting the toner remaining on the image carrier after the toner is collected by the first brush;
A second toner collecting roller for collecting toner from the second brush;
Each scraper scraping off the collected toner adhering to the first toner collecting roller and the second toner collecting roller;
A screw for discharging the collected toner;
A cleaning device comprising: a paddle for transferring the collected toner to the screw;
The second toner collecting roller is provided so as not to overlap the first toner collecting roller in the vertical direction;
The screw is provided vertically below one of the first toner recovery roller and the second toner recovery roller,
The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the paddle is provided below the other of the first toner collecting roller and the second toner collecting roller in which the screw is not provided below. A first brush that cleans and collects toner remaining on the transfer portion after the toner image formed on the image carrier is transferred to paper;
A first toner collecting roller for collecting toner from the first brush;
A second brush that cleans and collects toner remaining on the transfer section after being cleaned by the first brush;
A second toner collecting roller for collecting toner from the second brush;
Each scraper scraping off the collected toner adhering to the first toner collecting roller and the second toner collecting roller;
A screw for discharging the collected toner;
A cleaning device comprising: a paddle for transferring the collected toner to the screw;
The second toner collecting roller is provided so as not to overlap the first toner collecting roller in the vertical direction;
The screw is provided vertically below one of the first toner recovery roller and the second toner recovery roller,
The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the paddle is provided below the other of the first toner collecting roller and the second toner collecting roller in which the screw is not provided below. The screw is provided vertically below the first cleaning roller;
The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the paddle is provided vertically below the second cleaning roller. The screw is provided vertically below the first toner collection roller,
The cleaning device according to claim 3, wherein the paddle is provided vertically below the second toner collection roller.   The cleaning device according to any one of claims 1, 2, and 5, further comprising a partition portion provided between the first cleaning roller and the second cleaning roller.   The cleaning according to claim 3, further comprising a partition provided between the first toner collecting roller and the second toner collecting roller. apparatus.   An image forming apparatus comprising the cleaning device according to claim 1.

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