JP2014174227A - Cleaning device and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cleaning device that conveys a toner removed by a cleaning blade to a toner conveying member with a simple configuration, and prevent foreign substances from being bitten into a cleaning blade unit to exhibit stable cleaning performance.SOLUTION: A cleaning device 2 cleaning an image carrier includes conveying means for conveying a removed object removed from the surface of the image carrier to the outside of the cleaning device 2, and recovery means for conveying the removed object to the conveying means. The recovery means includes a rotation shaft 14, an elastic member that is attached to the rotation shaft 14 to rotate and thereby conveying the removed object to the conveying means, and a long side member that is attached to the rotation shaft 14 to rotate, and extends longer in a vertical direction than the elastic member with respect to the rotation shaft 14.

Description

  The present invention relates to a cleaning device and an image forming apparatus for cleaning toner and the like.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, electrophotographic image forming apparatuses such as copying machines, printers, and facsimiles have a photoconductor as an image carrier, and charge the surface of the photoconductor to charge and expose the charged photoconductor surface. An electrostatic latent image is formed, toner is attached to the electrostatic latent image, transferred to a transfer material, heated by fixing, and discharged. Since the untransferred toner remains on the surface of the photoconductor after the toner is transferred to the transfer material, the surface is cleaned by a cleaning device or the like.

  Such a cleaning device collects untransferred toner (about 5% to 20% of the toner deposited on the developing unit) that has adhered to the photoreceptor but has not been transferred. As a cleaning means, a blade cleaning method is often used in which an edge portion of a cleaning blade formed of an elastic body such as rubber is brought into contact with a surface to be cleaned to remove untransferred toner.

  The toner removed by the cleaning blade accumulates in the direction of gravity (falling direction) from the position where the blade edge portion contacts the object to be cleaned. The ideal configuration of the device is to provide a waste toner transfer coil at the position where the toner drops and accumulates. However, not only cleaning but also units such as transfer, development, and decharging are placed around the photoreceptor. Therefore, it is difficult to prioritize the cleaning device.

  In particular, in a direct transfer type apparatus that directly transfers toner on a photosensitive member to a transfer material, the position of a waste toner conveying coil is often arranged above the object to be cleaned, so a recovery blade is provided upstream of the cleaning blade. It is already known to have a configuration in which it is provided and sent to a waste toner conveying coil.

  In Patent Document 1, for the purpose of preventing foreign matter from getting into the cleaning blade, a brush-like paper dust removing means is provided on the upstream side of the cleaning blade, and a bias is applied to the paper dust removing means to electrostatically remove the paper. A method for removing powder and toner on a cleaning object is disclosed.

  Further, Patent Document 2 discloses a positional relationship in which the discharge unit from the cleaning device is arranged at a higher position than the recovery unit of the developing device for the purpose of preventing the solidified recycled developer from entering the developing device. Is disclosed.

  However, in the conventional direct transfer type cleaning device and the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, the waste toner portion is often disposed above the image carrier due to layout restrictions, and therefore, upstream of the cleaning blade. A configuration in which a collecting blade is provided on the side and sent to a waste toner conveying coil is often used. The recovery blade is intended to send waste toner to the transport coil, so even if an elastic member is used for the blade, a certain degree of rigidity is required, and in order to prevent scratches on the image carrier to be cleaned, a layout that does not contact Is essential.

  For this reason, it is difficult in terms of layout to provide a member for removing foreign matters such as paper dust, and cleaning failure due to biting into the cleaning blade portion occurs. As described above, there is a problem that paper dust input to the cleaning blade is removed and waste toner cannot be stably fed to the transport coil.

  In addition, for the purpose of sending the waste toner to the transport coil, the conventional collection blade needs a certain degree of rigidity even if an elastic member is used for the blade portion. On the other hand, the blade portion holding the toner is the cleaning portion. Aggregates are formed by rubbing against the inner wall, causing abnormal images. Many direct transfer systems and the technology disclosed in Patent Document 2 employ a toner recycling system in order to reduce toner consumption and running costs. In order to prevent the agglomerates from being mixed into the developing device, a layout in which the blade portions do not contact the surroundings is effective.

  However, since the collection blade portion is arranged in parallel with the image carrier and is required over the entire image forming area, the collection blade member is prevented from shaking, and the gap with the inner wall is increased even when the toner input amount increases. In order to ensure, high rigidity and runout accuracy are required, and there is a problem that costs increase.

  The present invention is for solving the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to send the toner cleaned by the cleaning blade to the toner conveying member with a simple configuration and to bite the foreign matter into the cleaning blade portion. An object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning device that prevents and has a stable cleaning performance.

  In order to achieve this object, the present invention has the following features.

  The cleaning device according to the present invention is a cleaning device for cleaning an image carrier, and includes a conveying unit that sends a removed material removed from the surface of the image carrier to the outside of the cleaning device; Recovery means for sending to the means, the recovery means being attached to the rotary shaft and rotating to be attached to the rotary shaft to convey the removed material toward the transfer means; and to the rotary shaft A long-side member that is attached and rotates and extends longer in the vertical direction than the elastic member in the vertical direction.

According to the present invention, the toner cleaned by the cleaning blade is sent to the toner conveying member with a simple structure, and foreign matter is prevented from being caught in the cleaning blade portion, so that the cleaning performance is stable.
In addition, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of an abnormal image by preventing the generation of aggregates in the cleaning device with a low-cost configuration and collecting the toner stably.

1 is a main part schematic diagram showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment; It is the schematic which shows the structure of the cleaning apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a front view which shows the collection | recovery blade | wing and cleaning part of a longitudinal direction. It is a figure which shows the correspondence of the longitudinal direction length of a cleaning blade, a collection | recovery blade | wing, an image forming width | variety, and a paper width. It is the schematic which shows the structure of the cleaning apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is the schematic of the longitudinal direction of a collection | recovery blade | wing and a toner collection | recovery coil.

  Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
First, the configuration of an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a color laser printer using an electrophotographic method will be described. FIG. 1 is a main part schematic diagram showing the configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. The image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment is arranged in parallel with an image carrier made up of a photosensitive member 1 rotatably supported. The photosensitive member 1 includes a cleaning device 2, a charger 3 for charging the photosensitive member, An exposure unit 4 for writing an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member, a developing unit 5 for forming a toner layer and bringing the toner into contact with the photosensitive member, and a transfer unit 6 for transferring the toner to a transfer material are provided.

  When forming an image, the surface of the photoconductor is charged by the charger 3, and light corresponding to the image is applied by the exposure unit 4 to drop the potential on the photoconductor. The portion reaches the developing device 5 by the rotation of the photosensitive member 1, and when it comes into contact with the toner layer, the charged toner adheres to the image position. Thereafter, the toner image on the photoreceptor is transferred to the transfer material 7 by the transfer device 6. In the transfer device 6, the cleaning device 2 of the present embodiment removes toner remaining on the photoconductor that cannot be transferred onto the transfer material 7, and cleans the surface of the photoconductor 1.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of the cleaning device 2 according to the first embodiment. The cleaning device 2 of the present embodiment includes a cleaning case 20, a cleaning blade 11, a toner recovery coil 12, a recovery blade 13, a recovery blade shaft portion 14, a blade portion 15, and a cleaning portion 18. The cleaning case 20 is disposed with the opening facing the photoreceptor 1 rotating in the direction of the arrow, and a cleaning blade 11 and a collection blade 13 are provided in the opening.

  The cleaning blade 11 is made of an elastic material such as a rubber member, and is long in the front and back directions in FIG. 2. The cleaning blade 11 is exposed in the counter direction with respect to the rotation of the photosensitive member 1 at the edge portion on one end side in the longitudinal direction. It contacts the surface of the body 1.

  A collection blade 13 is rotatably supported upstream of the cleaning blade 11 in the rotation direction of the photosensitive member 1. The collection blade 13 has a length close to that of the cleaning blade 11, and the collection blade 13 includes a collection blade shaft portion 14 made of metal or the like and a blade portion 15 made of an elastic sheet material or the like.

  Next, the cleaning process of the cleaning device 2 will be described. In the cleaning case 20, the residual toner on the surface of the photoreceptor 1 is cleaned by the cleaning blade 11, stopped and accumulated. When the accumulated residual toner reaches the rotation range of the recovery blade 13, it rotates together with the recovery blade, is sent to the toner recovery coil 12 in a form scooped by the blade portion 15, and is conveyed to the developing device 5 or a recovery tank (not shown). .

  Although it is possible to use a brush roller instead of the collection blade 13 to convey the accumulated toner, the brush roller has the following problems. When the brush density is high, the toner recovery capability is high, while the toner is more likely to be held in the brush, and it is possible to maintain the recovery capability by tapping and removing it with flicker or the like. Spoilage may reduce the collection capacity and require periodic replacement.

  Further, when the brush density is low, the toner slips between the brushes, so that the collecting ability cannot be increased. By using the collection blade 13 in this way, it is possible to carry out the conveyance more efficiently than the brush roller.

  Next, a process for removing foreign matter adhered to the drum surface will be described. FIG. 3 is a front view showing the collection blade 13 and the cleaning unit 18 in the longitudinal direction. The collection blade 13 is provided with a blade portion 15 for removing the accumulated residual toner and a cleaning portion 18 for removing foreign matters such as paper dust on the photoreceptor.

  While the blade 15 rotates in a range away from the photoreceptor 1 (blade moving range 16), the cleaning unit 18 rotates in a range in contact with the photoreceptor 1 (cleaning portion moving range 17). The foreign matter on the photosensitive member is prevented from reaching the cleaning blade 11 by rotating in the counter direction with respect to the rotational direction of the member 1. The cleaning unit 18 is composed of a brush or sponge-like member so as not to be damaged even if it contacts the surface of the photoreceptor.

  The configuration of the collection blade 13 will be described. The collection blade 13 is configured to rotate with respect to a rotation axis parallel to the photoreceptor 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the recovery blade shaft portion 14 is processed into an oval shape when viewed from the cross-sectional direction, and the sheet-like blade portions 15 having elasticity are alternately projected on two surfaces processed from the round shaft shape. So that it is pasted and fixed. Instead of the round shaft shape, a bent sheet metal may be used as the shaft portion, and the blade portion 15 may be provided on a flat surface.

  The collection blades 13 have different configurations at the center and both ends. Although the blade portion 15 is provided in the center portion, the end portion is not in the oval shape like the center portion but remains in a round shaft state, and a brush shape for removing foreign matters is provided in the round shaft range. . The cleaning portion 18 at the end is longer than the blade portion 15 in the radial direction, and the blade portion 15 does not contact when the apparatus is attached, but the cleaning portion 18 is in contact with the surface to be cleaned.

  A configuration in the longitudinal direction of the collection blade 13 will be described. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a correspondence relationship between the cleaning blade 11, the collection blade 13, the image forming width, and the length in the longitudinal direction of the paper width. The cleaning blade 11 is generally longer than the image forming width in the image forming apparatus. In this embodiment, it arrange | positions so that the cleaning part 18 of the collection | recovery blade | wing 13 may respond | correspond to the paper width | variety part with which a foreign material (paper dust) is easy to generate | occur | produce most.

  The correspondence relationship among the image forming width, the sheet width, the cleaning blade width, the collection blade width, and the cleaning portion width of the photosensitive member 1 is shown. First, the collection blade 13 is configured to be longer than the sheet width, and is divided into a central portion having a high toner collection capability and both ends having a high foreign matter removal capability. As shown in FIG. 4, the center portion corresponds to the image forming width, and both end portions correspond to the sheet width. Further, the overall length of the cleaning blade is longer than the image forming width and the paper width.

  In the cleaning device 2 of the present embodiment, the collection blade 13 corresponding to the image forming width has a sufficient collection capability for the image forming width in which a large amount of toner image is formed for each image forming operation. On the other hand, in the portion corresponding to the paper width position where foreign matter such as paper dust is easily input by passing paper, the collection blade 13 is provided with a cleaning unit 18 to prevent the cleaning blade 11 from being bitten by foreign matter input. .

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of the cleaning device 31 according to the second embodiment. The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. The cleaning device 31 according to the second embodiment includes a cleaning case 20, a cleaning blade 11, a toner collection coil 12, and a collection blade 32 (a collection blade support portion 33 and a blade portion 34). The cleaning case 20 is arranged with the opening facing the photoreceptor 1 rotating in the direction of the arrow, and the cleaning blade 11 and the collection blade 32 are provided in the opening.

  A collection blade 32 is rotatably supported upstream of the cleaning blade 11 in the rotation direction of the photoreceptor 1. The recovery blade 32 has a length close to that of the cleaning blade 11, and the recovery blade 32 includes a recovery blade support portion 33 and a blade portion 34 made of a sheet material or the like.

  Next, the configuration of the collection blade 32 will be described. The collection blade 32 is configured to rotate with respect to a rotation axis parallel to the photoreceptor 1. On the recovery blade support portion 33, blade portions 34 such as a sheet having elasticity on two surfaces are stuck and fixed so as to protrude alternately.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the recovery blade support portion 33 is provided with a bent shape so that the contact member 35 with the inner wall of the cleaning device 31 can be easily provided. There is no. The material of the collection blade support portion 33 can be configured using sheet metal, resin, metal material, or the like. The contact member 35 is made of a sponge material, a flocking material, or a resin material.

  Next, the cleaning process of the cleaning device 31 will be described. In the cleaning case 20, the residual toner on the surface of the photoreceptor 1 is cleaned by the cleaning blade 11, stopped and accumulated. When the accumulated residual toner reaches the rotation range of the recovery blade 32, it is sent to the toner recovery coil 12 in a form scooped by the blade portion 34 and is conveyed to the developing device 5 or the recovery tank. The collection blade support portion 33 is provided with a contact member 35, but the contact member 35 is provided at a position closer to the inner wall of the cleaning device 31 with respect to the rotation range 36 of the blade portion 34.

  When the amount of vibration of the collection blade 32 is small, the abutting member 35 has a gap with the inner wall and does not come into contact. However, when the amount of vibration is large, the contact member 35 does not contact the inner wall before the blade portion 34 contacts the inner wall. When the contact member 35 comes into contact, the generation of aggregates due to the rubbing at the blade portion 34 can be prevented.

  A configuration in the longitudinal direction of the collection blade 32 will be described. FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the recovery blade 32 and the toner recovery coil 12 in the longitudinal direction. The collection blade 32 is rotatably supported with a support shaft 37 as a fulcrum, and the accumulated toner removed by the cleaning blade 11 is scooped by the collection blade 32 and sent to the toner collection coil 12. The toner sent to the toner collecting coil 12 is sent to the right in the figure and falls, and is collected into the developing device 5 or the collecting tank.

  The abutting member 35 has a positional relationship protruding in the radial direction with respect to the blade portion 34, and contacts the inner wall of the cleaning device 31 before the blade portion 34 even when the recovery blade 32 is largely shaken. Does not touch the inner wall.

  As shown in FIG. 6, two contact members 35 are provided near the center of the collection blade 32, but a plurality of contact members 35 may be provided in the longitudinal direction. If a large number or width of the abutting members 35 are provided, the rotational torque of the collection blade 32 increases, so it is better to provide the central portion in the longitudinal direction.

  According to the present embodiment, since the foreign matter removing portion that contacts the photosensitive member is provided in a part of the toner collecting member, it is possible to prevent cleaning failure due to biting, and thus the toner cleaned by the cleaning blade can be easily removed. With the configuration, the toner is sent to the toner conveying member, and the foreign matter is prevented from being caught in the cleaning blade portion, so that the cleaning performance is stable.

  Further, by providing a member that abuts the inner wall of the toner collection path on a part of the collection blade support member, it is possible to prevent the blade portion from rubbing against the inner wall. In addition to preventing the generation of the aggregates, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of abnormal images by stably collecting the toner.

  According to another embodiment, it is possible to provide a process cartridge including a cleaning device and an image forming apparatus including a cleaning device.

  The above-described embodiment shows an example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. is there.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Photoconductor 2 Cleaning apparatus 11 Cleaning blade 12 Toner collection coil 13 Collection blade 14 Collection blade shaft part 15 Blade part 18 Cleaning part 20 Cleaning case 33 Collection blade support part 35 Contact member 37 Support shaft

Japanese Patent No. 3863246 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-63156

Claims (10)

A cleaning device for cleaning an image carrier,
Conveying means for sending the removed material removed from the surface of the image carrier to the outside of the cleaning device;
A recovery means for sending the removed material to the transport means;
The recovery means includes a rotating shaft,
An elastic member that is attached to the rotating shaft and rotates to convey the removed object toward the conveying means;
A long side member that is attached to the rotation shaft and rotates, and extends longer in the vertical direction than the elastic member;
A cleaning device comprising:   The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the recovery unit includes a contact member that contacts the inner wall of the cleaning device at a support portion of the elastic member.   The cleaning device according to claim 2, wherein the contact member is made of a material different from that of the elastic member, and is made of any one of a sponge material, a flocking material, and a resin material.   The cleaning device according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of the contact members are provided in the longitudinal direction.   The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the rotating shaft is made of a bent sheet metal, and the elastic member is attached to a flat surface of the sheet metal.   The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein a length in a longitudinal direction of the elastic member of the collecting unit is larger than an image forming width.   The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the long side member is made of a material different from that of the elastic member, and is made of a brush or a sponge material.   The cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the collection unit rotates in a counter direction with respect to a rotation direction of the image carrier.   A process cartridge comprising the cleaning device according to claim 1.   An image forming apparatus comprising the cleaning device according to claim 1.

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