JP2015187639A - Cleaning member, charging device, unit for image forming apparatus, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cleaning member that can provide high cleanability while suppressing a pressing force against a cleaning target member.SOLUTION: There is provided a cleaning member 100 that has an endless belt shape and has projection parts 104 scattered on the outer peripheral surface, which is brought into contact with the surface of a cleaning target member to perform cleaning.

Description

  The present invention relates to a cleaning member, a charging device, a unit for an image forming apparatus, a process cartridge, and an image forming apparatus.

  In an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic method, first, the surface of an image carrier made of a photosensitive member or the like is charged by a charging device to form a charge, and an electrostatic latent image is formed with a laser beam or the like that modulates an image signal. Form. Thereafter, the electrostatic latent image is developed with the charged toner and a visualized toner image is formed. Then, the toner image is electrostatically transferred to a transfer medium such as a recording sheet via an intermediate transfer body or directly, and fixed on the transfer medium to obtain an image.

In the image forming apparatus, a cleaning member for removing foreign matters attached to the surface of the constituent member is disposed.
For example, Patent Document 1 states that “a belt wound in an annular shape and having at least an outer peripheral surface made of a foam, the outer peripheral surface being in contact with the surface of the object to be cleaned, and the inner peripheral surface of the cleaning band. The cleaning band is held in contact with the object to be cleaned and the cleaning band is moved so as to move along with the movement of the surface of the object to be cleaned. And a holding member that leads to a circulation path along the circulation path ”.

JP 2010-230788 A

  An object of this invention is to provide the cleaning member which can obtain high cleaning property, suppressing the pressing force with respect to a member to be cleaned.

In order to achieve the above object, the following invention is provided.
The invention according to claim 1 is a cleaning member having an endless belt shape and dotted with convex portions on an outer peripheral surface that performs cleaning by contacting the surface of the member to be cleaned.
The invention according to claim 2 is the cleaning member according to claim 1, wherein the convex portions are scattered irregularly on the outer peripheral surface.
The invention according to claim 3 is the cleaning member according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the convex portions are scattered at least at both ends in the width direction on the outer peripheral surface.
Invention of Claim 4 is the cleaning member of any one of Claims 1-3 in which the said convex-shaped part is scattered in the circumferential direction and the said width direction on the said outer peripheral surface.
The invention according to claim 5 is the cleaning member according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a height of the convex portion is 0.2 mm or more and 2 mm or less.
The invention of claim 6 has a foamed elastic layer constituting the outer peripheral surface, and the thickness of the foamed elastic layer is thinner in the region other than the convex portion than in the region where the convex portion is present. It is a cleaning member given in any 1 paragraph of Claims 1-5 compressed in the thickness direction.

The invention of claim 7 is an image comprising the cleaning member according to any one of claims 1 to 6 and a support member that supports the cleaning member so that the cleaning member rotates in a circumferential direction. A cleaning unit for a forming apparatus.
The invention of claim 8 is a charging device comprising: a charging unit including a charging member for charging a member to be charged; and a cleaning unit according to claim 7 for cleaning the surface of the charging member.
A ninth aspect of the present invention is the charging device according to the eighth aspect, wherein the support member that supports the cleaning member is integrated with the charging unit.

A tenth aspect of the present invention is a process cartridge that includes at least the charging device according to the eighth or ninth aspect and is detachable from the image forming apparatus.
According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image carrier, the charging device according to the eighth or ninth aspect, a charging means for charging the surface of the image carrier, and the surface of the charged image carrier. A latent image forming unit that forms a latent image on the image carrier, a developing unit that develops the latent image formed on the image holding member with a developer containing toner to form a toner image, and the toner image on the transfer target. And an image forming apparatus including a transfer unit that transfers the image.

According to the first, second, third, fourth, and sixth aspects of the present invention, compared to the endless belt-shaped cleaning member that is not dotted with the convex portion on the outer peripheral surface that contacts and cleans the member to be cleaned, There is provided a cleaning member capable of obtaining high cleaning properties while suppressing the pressing force.
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cleaning member capable of obtaining high cleaning performance and suppressing unevenness of the pressing force with respect to the member to be cleaned as compared with the case where the height of the convex portion is out of the above range. The

  According to the seventh, eighth, and ninth aspects of the present invention, as compared with a case where an endless belt-shaped cleaning member that is not dotted with convex portions is provided on the outer peripheral surface that comes into contact with the member to be cleaned for cleaning, the pressing against the member to be cleaned is performed. Provided are a cleaning unit and a charging device for an image forming apparatus that can obtain high cleaning performance while suppressing pressure.

  According to the tenth and eleventh aspects of the present invention, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of uneven image density compared to the case where an endless belt-like cleaning member that is not dotted with convex portions is provided on the outer peripheral surface that comes into contact with the charging member for cleaning. In addition, a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus that provide high cleaning performance are provided.

It is the schematic which shows the cleaning member which concerns on this embodiment. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a charging device for an image forming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating another example of a charging device for an image forming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment. It is the schematic which shows a state when the convex part in the cleaning member which concerns on this embodiment, and the member to be cleaned contact. It is the schematic which shows the other example of the cleaning member which concerns on this embodiment. It is the schematic which shows the other example of the cleaning member which concerns on this embodiment. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an example of an image forming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment. It is the schematic which shows an example of the charging device which concerns on this embodiment.

  Embodiments that are examples of the present invention will be described below. In addition, the same code | symbol may be provided to the member which has the same function and effect | action through all the drawings, and the description may be abbreviate | omitted.

The target (member to be cleaned) to be cleaned using the cleaning member according to the present embodiment (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “cleaning member” or “cleaning belt”) is not particularly limited, but for example, for an image forming apparatus. It is suitable as a cleaning member, and more specifically, it is suitably used as a member for cleaning the surface of a charging roll, a transfer roll or the like.
Hereinafter, the case where it uses as a cleaning member which cleans a roll-shaped charging member (charging roll) as a representative example is mainly demonstrated.

(Cleaning member)
The cleaning member according to the present embodiment has an endless belt shape, and is dotted with convex portions on the outer peripheral surface that performs cleaning by contacting the surface of the member to be cleaned.

  FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an example of a cleaning member according to the present embodiment, and FIGS. 2A and 2B schematically illustrate an example of a configuration of a charging device including the cleaning member according to the present embodiment. . The cleaning member 100 according to the present embodiment has an elastic layer as the outermost layer constituting the outer peripheral surface, and convex portions in the circumferential direction X and the width direction Y (direction orthogonal to the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral surface) of the outer peripheral surface. It is scattered.

  The cleaning member according to the present embodiment is supported with tension by two rolls 112 as shown in FIG. 2A, for example, or one roll as shown in FIG. The elastic layer constituting the outer peripheral surface in the contact area with the charging roll 22 rotates in the circumferential direction in a state of being elastically deformed along the surface shape of the charging roll, and adheres to the surface of the charging roll. Foreign matter such as toner is removed. When the cleaning member according to the present embodiment is used as a cleaning member for a charging roll, high cleaning performance can be obtained, and image density unevenness due to pressure fluctuations on the photosensitive member of the charging roll can be suppressed. The reason is presumed as follows.

For example, a cleaning member in which an elastic layer is provided in a cylindrical shape or a spiral shape on the outer peripheral surface of a tubular core body (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a “tubular cleaning member”) is used in a simple constant displacement configuration. In this case, the pressing force with respect to the charging roll also affects the force with which the charging roll presses the photosensitive member, and easily affects the charging property of the photosensitive member.
On the other hand, even when the endless belt-like cleaning member is used in a simple constant displacement configuration, the surface shape of the charging roll is in a region where a part of the outer peripheral surface is in contact with the charging roll in the case of stretching with two rolls. By rotating in the state of being elastically deformed (in the shape of an arc), the contact area with the charging roll becomes larger than that of the tubular cleaning member, and the pressing force per unit area with respect to the charging roll is reduced. When a low-strength single roll is used, the pressure fluctuation to the charging roll is absorbed by the roll, and the pressure fluctuation is reduced while reducing the pressing force to the charging roll. For this reason, if the cleaning belt is used, the influence of the pressing force on the photosensitive member by the charging roll is suppressed, but the cleaning force on the charging roll tends to be deteriorated because the pressing force on the charging roll is reduced.

  The cleaning belt according to the present embodiment rotates in the circumferential direction with a part of the outer peripheral surface of the cleaning belt 100 elastically deformed along the surface shape of the charging roll 22 as shown in FIG. As shown, because of the deformation of the roll 112 that presses the cleaning belt 100 against the charging roll 22, the pressing force per unit area against the charging roll 22 is reduced, and the pressing force against the photoreceptor 10 by the charging roll 22 is also suppressed. On the other hand, when the convex portion 104 comes into contact with the charging roll 22 as the cleaning belt 100 rotates, the amount of deformation of the outer peripheral surface of the convex portion 104 increases as shown in FIG. Can do.

Hereinafter, each member will be described.
The cleaning belt 100 according to the present embodiment may have a one-layer structure including the elastic layer 102 or a two-layer structure including a base material layer that forms an inner peripheral surface and an elastic layer that forms an outer peripheral surface. Also good. For example, as a base material layer constituting the inner peripheral surface, for example, a base material layer made of polyamide can be mentioned. Moreover, it is good also as a laminated structure which has intermediate | middle layers, such as an adhesive layer, between a base material layer and an elastic layer.
Hereinafter, the elastic layer 102 constituting the outer peripheral surface and the convex portions 104 scattered on the outer peripheral surface of the elastic layer 102 will be mainly described.

-Elastic layer-
The cleaning belt 100 according to this embodiment includes an elastic layer 102 on the outer peripheral surface. As shown in FIG. 2A, the elastic layer 102 constituting the outer peripheral surface is pressed against and contacts the surface of the member to be cleaned (charging roll) 22 and elastically deforms along the surface shape (arc shape) in the contact area. By rotating in the circumferential direction in this state, foreign matters such as toner adhering to the surface of the charging roll 22 are removed. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 2B, the pressure variation on the charging roll 22 is absorbed by the roll 112, and the pressure variation on the charging roll 22 is reduced.

The elastic layer 102 is desirably a foamed elastic layer 102 made of a material having bubbles (so-called foam).
Examples of the constituent material of the elastic layer 102 include foamable resins such as polyurethane, polyethylene, polyamide, or polypropylene, or silicone rubber, fluororubber, urethane rubber, EPDM, NBR, CR, chlorinated polyisoprene, isoprene, Examples thereof include materials obtained by blending one kind or two or more kinds of rubber materials such as acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, hydrogenated polybutadiene, and butyl rubber.
In addition, you may add adjuvants, such as a foaming aid, a foam stabilizer, a catalyst, a hardening | curing agent, a plasticizer, or a vulcanization accelerator, to these as needed.

In particular, the foamed elastic layer 102 is desirably a polyurethane foam that is resistant to pulling from the viewpoint of preventing scratches on the surface of the member to be cleaned due to rubbing and preventing tearing and damage over a long period of time.
Examples of the polyurethane include polyol (for example, polyester polyol, polyether polyol, and acrylic polyol) and isocyanate (for example, 2,4-tolylene diisocyanate, 2,6-tolylene diisocyanate, 4,4-diphenylmethane diisocyanate, and tolidine). Reaction products such as diisocyanate and 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate), and chain extenders (1,4-butanediol, trimethylolpropane) may be included.
In general, foaming of polyurethane is performed using a foaming agent such as water or an azo compound (for example, azodicarbonamide, azobisisobutyronitrile).
You may add auxiliary agents, such as a foaming aid, a foam stabilizer, and a catalyst, to foamed polyurethane as needed.

Of these foamed polyurethanes, ether-based foamed polyurethane is preferable. This is because ester-based foamed polyurethane tends to be susceptible to wet heat degradation. Ether-based polyurethanes mainly use silicone oil foam stabilizers, but image quality defects due to transfer of silicone oil to the member to be cleaned (eg, charging roll) during storage (especially long-term storage under high temperature and high humidity) May occur. Therefore, image quality defects of the foamed elastic layer 102 are suppressed by using a foam stabilizer other than silicone oil.
Here, specific examples of the foam stabilizer other than silicone oil include organic surfactants that do not contain Si (for example, anionic surfactants such as dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid and sodium lauryl sulfate). . Moreover, the manufacturing method which does not use the silicone type foam stabilizer described in Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 2005-301000 is also applicable.
Whether or not the ester-based foamed polyurethane uses a foam stabilizer other than silicone oil is determined by component analysis based on whether or not it contains “Si”.

  The thickness of the foamed elastic layer 102 is, for example, 0.5 mm to 5 mm, desirably 0.8 mm to 4 mm, and more desirably 1 mm to 3 mm.

-Convex part-
The convex portions 104 are scattered on the outer peripheral surface constituted by the elastic layer 102.
Here, the “convex portion” means a portion having a height and a shape in which the deformation amount of the outer peripheral surface of the protruding convex portion that comes into contact with the charging roll 22 increases. “Dispersed on the surface” means that a plurality of convex portions are arranged irregularly or regularly without being gathered at one place on the outer peripheral surface of the cleaning belt.

  Each shape of the convex portion 104 includes a square shape, a trapezoidal shape, a semicircular shape, a semi-elliptical shape, etc. as a cross-sectional shape in the thickness direction. , A polygon such as a square, a circle, and an ellipse. The angle of the convex cleaning belt with respect to the rotational direction is not limited, but the convex stepped surface is preferably 10 to 90 ° with respect to the rotational direction, preferably 45 to 90 °, and more preferably 90 °. Is more desirable.

Further, the size of the convex portion 104 increases the amount of deformation of the elastic layer 102 when it comes into contact with the charging roll 22 and improves the cleaning property. On the other hand, the unevenness of charging of the photoconductor due to the local increase in the pressing force occurs. From the viewpoint of suppression, the height of the convex portion 104 is, for example, not less than 0.2 mm and not more than 2 mm, and desirably not less than 0.2 mm and not more than 1 mm.
Further, the width (diameter) of the convex portion 104 is, for example, 1 mm or more and 20 mm or less, and desirably 2 mm or more and 15 mm or less.

  In addition, the width (diameter) and height of the convex portion 104 are obtained by collecting a part of the elastic layer 102 including the outer peripheral surface of the cleaning member 100 and attaching the sample to a base material with a laser measuring machine (manufactured by Mitutoyo Corporation). Using a laser scanning micrometer, model: LSM6200), the profile is measured at a traverse speed of 1 mm / s, and the width and height of ten convex portions 104 selected at random are measured. Average value.

  The average interval between the convex portions 104 depends on the width (diameter) of the convex portions 104, but from the viewpoint of maintaining high cleaning performance, the ratio of the regions where the convex portions 104 exist on the outer peripheral surface (plan view). 5% to 70% or less is desirable, and more preferably 10% to 50% or less.

  As an area where the convex portions 104 are scattered on the outer peripheral surface, contamination of the charging roll 22 with toner or the like is likely to occur at an end portion in the axial direction. For example, as shown in FIG. It is desirable to be scattered at both ends.

  The convex portions 104 may be regularly or irregularly scattered on the outer peripheral surface. For example, when the convex portions 104 are arranged in a line in the circumferential direction X or the width direction Y, the convex portions Since the pressing force against the charging roll 22 is likely to be significantly high only in the region where the 104 is arranged, it is desirable that the convex portions 104 be scattered irregularly on the outer peripheral surface. Here, “irregularly scattered convex portions” means that the intervals between the convex portions 104 in the circumferential direction X and the width direction Y of the outer peripheral surface are not uniform.

  The convex portion 104 has at least one convex portion 104 in the circumferential direction X over the entire width direction Y when the cleaning belt 100 rotates in the circumferential direction X from the viewpoint of suppressing unevenness of the pressing force on the charging roll 22. It is desirable to be arranged so as to.

  For example, the convex portions 104 may be provided irregularly on the outer circumferential surface over the entire circumferential direction X and the width direction Y as shown in FIG. 1, or shifted from the circumferential direction X and the width direction Y as shown in FIG. Alternatively, the convex portions 104 may be arranged in a lattice pattern so as to be scattered throughout the circumferential direction X and the width direction Y.

(Manufacturing method of cleaning member)
Next, a method for manufacturing the cleaning member 100 according to this embodiment will be described.
The manufacturing method of the cleaning member 100 according to the present embodiment is not particularly limited. For example, an endless belt in which convex portions are scattered on the outer peripheral surface may be formed using an elastic material, or the outer periphery of a flat elastic layer The surface may be provided with a material for forming a convex portion to form the convex portion, or the elastic sheet having the convex portion may be formed and then joined to form an endless belt, or foam elasticity As a layer, the foamed elastic sheet may be dotted with convex portions by compressing in the thickness direction so that the thickness is reduced in a region other than the convex portions.
For example, prepare a mold having holes according to the shape, size, and arrangement of the target convex part, and mold from the side that becomes the outer peripheral surface with respect to the urethane foam sheet for producing the foamed elastic layer To perform heat compression. Thereby, the foamed elastic sheet in which the convex shape is formed only at the portion where the hole of the mold is opened is obtained.
Then, both ends of the foamed elastic sheet are bonded with an adhesive tape or the like so that the convex shape is positioned on the outer peripheral surface, thereby forming an endless belt, thereby obtaining a foamed elastic layer having convex shapes scattered on the outer peripheral surface.

(Image forming devices, etc.)
Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the image forming apparatus 101 according to the present embodiment includes, for example, an electrophotographic photosensitive member 10 that rotates in a direction indicated by an arrow a, and an electrophotographic photosensitive member 10 above the electrophotographic photosensitive member 10. A charging device 20 (an example of a charging unit) that is provided oppositely and charges the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 10 (an example of an image holding member) with a charging roll in contact with the surface. An exposure device 30 (an example of an electrostatic latent image forming unit) that exposes the surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor 10 to form an electrostatic latent image, and the electrostatic latent image formed by the exposure device 30 is included in the developer. A developing device 40 (an example of a developing unit) that forms a toner image on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 10 by adhering the toner to be moved, while traveling in the direction indicated by the arrow b while being in contact with the electrophotographic photosensitive member 10, Formed on the surface of the photoconductor 10 Comprises an intermediate transfer member 50 belt-shaped for transferring a toner image, and a cleaning device 70 for cleaning the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 10 (an example of a cleaning unit).

  Note that, in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, for example, the portion including the charging device may have a cartridge structure (process cartridge) that is detachable from the image forming apparatus. In addition to the charging device, the process cartridge may include, for example, at least one selected from the group consisting of an electrophotographic photosensitive member, an electrostatic latent image forming unit, a developing unit, and a transfer unit.

  The charging device 20, the exposure device 30, the developing device 40, the intermediate transfer member 50, the lubricant supply device 60, and the cleaning device 70 are sequentially arranged so as to surround the electrophotographic photosensitive member 10. In this embodiment, a mode in which the lubricant supply device 60 is disposed inside the cleaning device 70 will be described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the lubricant supply device 60 is disposed separately from the cleaning device 70. It may be in the form.

  The intermediate transfer body 50 is held from the inside while being tensioned by the support rolls 50A and 50B, the back roll 50C, and the drive roll 50D, and is driven in the direction of the arrow b as the drive roll 50D rotates. At a position facing the electrophotographic photosensitive member 10 inside the intermediate transfer member 50, the intermediate transfer member 50 is charged to a polarity different from the charging polarity of the toner, and the electrophotographic photosensitive member 10 is placed on the outer surface of the intermediate transfer member 50. A primary transfer device 51 for adsorbing the upper toner is provided. On the outer side below the intermediate transfer member 50, the recording paper P (an example of a recording medium) is charged to a polarity different from the charged polarity of the toner, and the toner image formed on the intermediate transfer member 50 is placed on the recording paper P. A secondary transfer device 52 for transferring is provided to face the back roll 50C. These members for transferring the toner image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member 10 to the recording paper P correspond to an example of a transfer unit.

  Below the intermediate transfer member 50, a recording paper supply device 53 that supplies the recording paper P to the secondary transfer device 52 and a recording paper P on which the toner image is formed in the secondary transfer device 52 are conveyed. A fixing device 80 for fixing the toner image is provided.

  The recording paper supply device 53 includes a pair of transport rollers 53A and a guide guide plate 53B that guides the recording paper P transported by the transport rollers 53A toward the secondary transfer device 52. On the other hand, the fixing device 80 includes a fixing roll 81 that is a pair of heat rolls for fixing the toner image by heating and pressing the recording paper P onto which the toner image has been transferred by the secondary transfer device 52, and a fixing roll. And a conveyance rotating body 82 that conveys the recording paper P toward 81.

  The recording paper P is conveyed in the direction indicated by the arrow c by the recording paper supply device 53, the secondary transfer device 52, and the fixing device 80.

  The intermediate transfer member 50 is further provided with an intermediate transfer member cleaning device 54 having a cleaning blade for removing the toner remaining on the intermediate transfer member 50 after the toner image is transferred to the recording paper P in the secondary transfer device 52. Yes.

  Details of main components in the image forming apparatus 101 according to the present embodiment will be described below.

(Electrophotographic photoreceptor)
The electrophotographic photoreceptor 10 has a structure in which, for example, an undercoat layer is disposed on a conductive support, and a charge generation layer and a charge transport layer are sequentially disposed thereon. In addition, you may have a single layer type photosensitive layer which contains a charge generation material and a charge transport material in the same layer (single layer type photosensitive layer). Moreover, it is good also as a structure provided with the protective layer as an outermost surface layer.

(Charging device)
The charging device 20 includes a charging unit that includes a charging member (charging roll) 22 that contacts and charges the electrophotographic photosensitive member 10 that is an object to be charged, and a cleaning unit 114 that cleans the surface of the charging member 22.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 2A, for example, the charging member 22 is a roll in which a foamed elastic layer 22B is formed around a conductive core 22A, and the core 22A is rotatably supported. The cleaning member 100 of the charging member 22 is in contact with the charging member 22 on the side opposite to the photoreceptor 10 to constitute a charging device (unit). As the cleaning member 100, the cleaning member (cleaning belt) 100 according to the present embodiment is used.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, the charging device 20 is in contact with the photoreceptor 10 rotating in the direction of arrow a and is driven by the charging roller 22 rotating in the direction of arrow d, and a cleaning unit 114 for cleaning the charging roll 22. And. The cleaning unit 114 includes a cleaning belt 100 that removes deposits attached to the charging roll 22, and a suspension roller 112 around which the cleaning belt 100 is wound.

  The cleaning belt 100 is an endless belt that contacts the charging roll 22 that rotates in the direction of arrow d and is driven and circulated in the direction of arrow e. The outer circumferential surface is formed of a foamed elastic layer, and the outer circumferential surface has a convex portion. Exist.

  The suspension roller 112 is a member that supports the cleaning belt 100 so as to rotate in the circumferential direction (in the direction of arrow e), contacts the inner circumferential surface of the cleaning belt 100, and charges a part of the outer circumferential surface of the cleaning belt 100. These are a pair of rotating rolls that press against the outer peripheral surface of the roll 22 and rotate in the direction of arrow f as the cleaning belt 100 circulates. A part of the outer peripheral surface of the cleaning belt 100 held by the pair of suspension rollers 112 is in contact with a part of the peripheral surface of the charging roll 22 in an arc shape. As the photosensitive member 10 rotates in the direction of arrow a, the charging roll 22 is driven to rotate in the direction of arrow d, and as the charging roll 22 rotates in the direction of arrow d, the cleaning belt 100 rotates in the direction of arrow e. As a result, the surface of the charging roll 22 is cleaned in the contact area with the cleaning belt 100.

  The contact area and pressure between the charging roll 22 and the cleaning belt 100 are adjusted by the circumferential length of the cleaning belt 100 and the positional relationship of the suspension roller 112 with respect to the charging roll 22.

The configuration of the charging member (charging roll) 22 is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a configuration having a resin layer instead of the core body 22A, the foamed elastic layer 22B, or the foamed elastic layer.
The foamed elastic layer 22B may have a single layer structure, or may have a laminated structure including a plurality of different layers having several functions. Furthermore, a surface treatment may be performed on the foamed elastic layer.

  As the material of the core 22A, it is desirable to use free-cutting steel, stainless steel, or the like, and to select the material and the surface treatment method in a timely manner according to applications such as slidability. Further, it is desirable to perform a plating process. In the case of a material that does not have conductivity, it may be processed by a general process such as a plating process to perform a conductive process, or may be used as it is.

  The foamed elastic layer is a conductive foamed elastic layer. For example, the conductive foamed elastic layer is an elastic material such as rubber having elasticity, or a conductive material such as carbon black or an ionic conductive material that adjusts the resistance of the conductive foamed elastic layer. Materials that can be usually added to rubber, such as materials, softeners, plasticizers, curing agents, vulcanizing agents, vulcanization accelerators, anti-aging agents, fillers such as silica or calcium carbonate, may be added as necessary. . It is formed by coating a peripheral surface of a conductive core with a mixture in which materials usually added to rubber are added. As the conductive agent for the purpose of adjusting the resistance value, a material in which a material that conducts electricity using at least one of electrons and ions such as carbon black and an ionic conductive agent mixed in the matrix material as a charge carrier is used. The elastic material may be a foam.

  Note that the member that supports the cleaning belt 100 according to the present embodiment is not limited to the suspension roller 112, and for example, a charging device that brings the cleaning belt 100 into contact with the charging roll 22 by a support member integrated with a charging unit including the charging roll 22. It is good. For example, as shown in FIGS. 2B and 7, the core 22 </ b> A of the charging roll 22 is supported so as to rotate following the rotation of the photosensitive member 10, and the outer peripheral surface of the cleaning belt 100 is supported around the charging roll 22. The charging device may include a support body 130 having a support portion 122 that is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the cleaning belt 100 so as to be rotated by the rotation of the charging roll 22 while being pressed against the surface. In addition, the support part 122 of the cleaning belt 100 is configured by, for example, a resin support member (shaft) so that the outer peripheral surface of the cleaning belt 100 is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the charging roll 22 while the shaft is bent. It is good.

(Exposure equipment)
Examples of the exposure apparatus 30 include optical system devices that expose the surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor 10 with light such as semiconductor laser light, LED light, and liquid crystal shutter light imagewise. The wavelength of the light source is preferably within the spectral sensitivity region of the electrophotographic photoreceptor 10. The wavelength of the semiconductor laser is preferably near infrared having an oscillation wavelength of around 780 nm, for example. However, the present invention is not limited to this wavelength, and an oscillation wavelength laser in the 600 nm range or a laser having an oscillation wavelength of 400 nm to 450 nm as a blue laser may be used. As the exposure apparatus 30, for example, a surface-emitting laser light source of a multi-beam output type is also effective for color image formation.

(Developer)
The developing device 40 is disposed, for example, opposite to the electrophotographic photoreceptor 10 in the developing region, and includes, for example, a developing container 41 (developing device main body) that contains a two-component developer composed of toner and a carrier, and a replenishment device. A developer storage container (toner cartridge) 47. The developing container 41 includes a developing container main body 41A and a developing container cover 41B that closes the upper end thereof.

  The developing container 41 has, for example, a developing roll chamber 42A that accommodates the developing roll 42 therein, and is adjacent to the developing roll chamber 42A and adjacent to the first stirring chamber 43A and the first stirring chamber 43A. And a second stirring chamber 44A. Further, in the developing roll chamber 42A, for example, a layer thickness regulating member 45 for regulating the layer thickness of the developer on the surface of the developing roll 42 is provided when the developing container cover 41B is attached to the developing container main body 41A. Yes.

  The first stirring chamber 43A and the second stirring chamber 44A are partitioned by, for example, a partition wall 41C. Although not shown, the first stirring chamber 43A and the second stirring chamber 44A are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the partition wall 41C (developing device). (Longitudinal direction) Openings are provided at both ends, and the circulation stirring chamber (43A + 44A) is constituted by the first stirring chamber 43A and the second stirring chamber 44A.

  The developing roll 42 is disposed in the developing roll chamber 42 </ b> A so as to face the electrophotographic photoreceptor 10. Although not shown, the developing roll 42 is provided with a sleeve outside a magnetic roll (fixed magnet) having magnetism. The developer in the first stirring chamber 43A is adsorbed on the surface of the developing roll 42 by the magnetic force of the magnetic roll and is transported to the developing area. Further, the developing roller 42 has a roll shaft supported rotatably on the developing container main body 41A. Here, the developing roll 42 and the electrophotographic photoreceptor 10 rotate in the same direction, and the developer adsorbed on the surface of the developing roll 42 at the opposite portion is opposite to the traveling direction of the electrophotographic photoreceptor 10. It is conveyed from the direction to the development area.

  Further, a bias power source (not shown) is connected to the sleeve of the developing roll 42 so that a developing bias is applied (in this embodiment, a direct current component is applied so that an alternating electric field is applied to the developing region. (A bias in which an alternating current component (AC) is superimposed on (DC) is applied).

  In the first stirring chamber 43A and the second stirring chamber 44A, a first stirring member 43 (stirring / conveying member) and a second stirring member 44 (stirring / conveying member) that convey the developer while stirring are disposed. The first stirring member 43 includes a first rotating shaft that extends in the axial direction of the developing roll 42, and an agitating / conveying blade (protrusion) that is helically fixed to the outer periphery of the rotating shaft. Similarly, the second agitating member 44 includes a second rotating shaft and an agitating / conveying blade (protrusion). The stirring member is rotatably supported by the developing container main body 41A. The first stirring member 43 and the second stirring member 44 are arranged such that the developer in the first stirring chamber 43A and the second stirring chamber 44A is conveyed in the opposite directions by rotation thereof. .

  One end of a replenishment conveyance path 46 for supplying replenishment developer including replenishment toner and replenishment carrier to the second agitation chamber 44A is connected to one end side in the longitudinal direction of the second agitation chamber 44A. The other end of the replenishment conveyance path 46 is connected to a replenishment developer storage container 47 that contains a replenishment developer.

  In this manner, the developing device 40 supplies the replenishment developer from the replenishment developer storage container (toner cartridge) 47 to the development device 40 (second stirring chamber 44A) through the replenishment conveyance path 46.

Here, the developer used in the developing device 40 will be described.
As the developer, a two-component developer including a toner and a carrier is employed.

First, the toner will be described.
The toner includes, for example, toner particles containing a binder resin, a colorant, and, if necessary, other additives such as a release agent, and external additives as necessary.

The toner particles have an average shape factor (shape factor = (ML ² / A) × (π / 4) × 100), and ML represents the maximum length of the particles, where A represents the maximum length of the particles (Representing the projected area) is preferably from 100 to 150, more preferably from 105 to 145, and even more preferably from 110 to 140. Further, the toner preferably has a volume average particle diameter of 3 μm or more and 12 μm or less, more preferably 3.5 μm or more and 10 μm or less, and further preferably 4 μm or more and 9 μm or less.

  The toner particles are not particularly limited by the production method, and for example, a kneading and pulverizing method in which a binder resin, a colorant and a release agent, and a charge control agent and the like are added, if necessary, are kneaded, pulverized, and classified; A method of changing the shape of the particles obtained by the kneading and pulverization method by mechanical impact force or thermal energy; the polymerization monomer of the binder resin is emulsion-polymerized, the formed dispersion, the colorant and the release agent Emulsion polymerization aggregation method to obtain a toner particle by mixing a mold agent and, if necessary, a dispersion of a charge control agent, and agglomerating and heat-fusing; a polymerizable monomer for obtaining a binder resin, and coloring Suspension polymerization method in which a solution of an agent, a release agent and, if necessary, a charge control agent is suspended in an aqueous solvent for polymerization; a binder resin, a colorant and a release agent, and if necessary, a charge control agent Toner particles produced by a solution suspension method in which a solution such as a liquid is suspended in an aqueous solvent and granulated There will be used.

  Further, a known method such as a production method in which the toner particles obtained by the above method are used as a core, and agglomerated particles are further adhered and heated and fused to give a core-shell structure is used. The toner production method is preferably a suspension polymerization method, an emulsion polymerization aggregation method, or a dissolution suspension method in which an aqueous solvent is used from the viewpoint of shape control and particle size distribution control, and an emulsion polymerization aggregation method is particularly desirable.

  The toner is produced by mixing the toner particles and the external additive with a Henschel mixer or a V blender. Further, when the toner particles are produced by a wet method, they may be externally added by a wet method.

  On the other hand, as the carrier, iron powder, glass beads, ferrite powder, nickel powder, or the like coated with a resin is used. Further, the mixing ratio of the carrier and the toner is not particularly limited and is set within a known range.

(Transfer device)
Examples of the primary transfer device 51 and the secondary transfer device 52 include a contact transfer charger using a belt, a roll, a film, a rubber blade, and the like, a scorotron transfer charger using a corona discharge, a corotron transfer charger, and the like. A transfer charger known per se can be used.

  As the intermediate transfer member 50, a belt-like member (intermediate transfer belt) such as polyimide, polyamideimide, polycarbonate, polyarylate, polyester, rubber containing a conductive agent is used. Further, as the form of the intermediate transfer member, a cylindrical one is used in addition to the belt shape.

(Cleaning device)
The cleaning device 70 includes a housing 71, a cleaning blade 72 disposed so as to protrude from the housing 71, and a lubricant supply device 60 disposed downstream of the cleaning blade 72 in the rotation direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 10. , Including.
The cleaning blade 72 may be supported by the end portion of the casing 71 or may be separately supported by a support member (holder). The form supported at the end of 71 is shown.

First, the cleaning blade 72 will be described.
Examples of the material constituting the cleaning blade 72 include urethane rubber, silicon rubber, fluorine rubber, propylene rubber, and butadiene rubber. Among these, urethane rubber is preferable.
The urethane rubber (polyurethane) is not particularly limited as long as it is usually used for forming polyurethane. For example, a urethane prepolymer comprising a polyol (for example, a polyester polyol such as polyethylene adipate or polycaprolactone) and an isocyanate (for example, diphenylmethane diisocyanate) can be used. The urethane rubber (polyurethane) is preferably made from a cross-linking agent such as 1,4-butanediol, trimethylolpropane, ethylene glycol or a mixture thereof.

Next, the lubricant supply device 60 will be described.
The lubricant supply device 60 is provided, for example, inside the cleaning device 70 and upstream of the cleaning blade 72 in the rotation direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 10.

  The lubricant supply device 60 includes, for example, a rotating brush 61 disposed in contact with the electrophotographic photosensitive member 10 and a solid lubricant 62 disposed in contact with the rotating brush 61. . In the lubricant supply device 60, the rotating brush 61 is rotated while being in contact with the solid lubricant 62, whereby the lubricant 62 adheres to the rotating brush 61, and the attached lubricant 62 becomes the electrophotographic photosensitive member. The film of the lubricant 62 is formed on the surface 10.

  Note that the lubricant supply device 60 is not limited to the above-described form, and may be, for example, a form that employs a rubber roll instead of the rotating brush 61.

  Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 101 according to the present embodiment will be described. First, the electrophotographic photoreceptor 10 rotates along the direction indicated by the arrow a, and at the same time is negatively charged by the charging device 20.

  The electrophotographic photoreceptor 10 whose surface is negatively charged by the charging device 20 is exposed by the exposure device 30, and a latent image is formed on the surface.

  When the portion where the latent image is formed on the electrophotographic photoreceptor 10 approaches the developing device 40, the developing device 40 (developing roll 42) attaches toner to the latent image and forms a toner image.

  When the electrophotographic photosensitive member 10 on which the toner image is formed further rotates in the direction of arrow a, the toner image is transferred to the outer surface of the intermediate transfer member 50.

  When the toner image is transferred to the intermediate transfer member 50, the recording paper P is supplied to the secondary transfer device 52 by the recording paper supply device 53, and the toner image transferred to the intermediate transfer member 50 is transferred by the secondary transfer device 52. Transferred onto the recording paper P. As a result, a toner image is formed on the recording paper P.

  The toner image is fixed on the recording paper P on which the image is formed by the fixing device 80.

  In the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, the configuration in which the charging device is configured by the unit of the charging member and the cleaning member has been described, that is, the configuration in which the charging member is employed as the member to be cleaned has been described. The member to be cleaned is not limited to a photoconductor (image holding member), a transfer device (transfer member; transfer roll), and an intermediate transfer member (intermediate transfer belt). The unit of the member to be cleaned and the cleaning member disposed in contact with the member may be directly disposed in the image forming apparatus, or may be disposed in the image forming apparatus as a process cartridge as described above. May be.

  In addition, the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment is not limited to the above configuration, and the image forming apparatus that does not include the intermediate transfer member and directly transfers the toner image formed on the photosensitive member to a recording medium such as paper. A well-known image forming apparatus such as the image forming apparatus may be employed.

  EXAMPLES The present invention will be specifically described below with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.

[Example 1]
(Preparation of cleaning member 1)
Sheet area so that the thickness becomes 2.0 mm with respect to rectangular foamed urethane (EP-70; manufactured by Inoac Corporation) sheet (length: 30 mm, width: 224 mm, thickness: 5.0 mm) Heat compressed using a larger SUS plate. The thickness of a part of the SUS plate (a rectangular shape having an axial width of 15 mm and a circumferential width of 5 mm, at least one circumferential position at each axial position, and a total area ratio of 20% at intervals of 7 mm in the circumferential direction) is 2. A urethane sheet having a convex shape was prepared using a sheet having a thickness of 7 mm and a thickness of 1 mm at the margin of the margin (5 mm on both edges in the longitudinal direction).
A double-sided tape was attached to the flat margin on the flat side of the sheet, and then wound around a φ8 mm shaft and pressed onto a flat plate to adhere the double-sided tape. Thereafter, urethane foam was extracted from the shaft to produce a foamed urethane endless belt having a convex shape.

(Preparation of charging roll)
-Formation of foamed elastic layer-
The following mixture was kneaded with an open roll, and the surface of a 6 mm diameter conductive support made of SUS416 was coated in a cylindrical shape so as to have a thickness of 1.5 mm. This was put into a cylindrical mold having an inner diameter of 18.0 mm, vulcanized at 170 ° C. for 30 minutes, taken out from the mold, and then polished to obtain a cylindrical conductive foamed elastic layer A.

・ Rubber material: 100 parts by mass (epichlorohydrin-ethylene oxide-allyl glycidyl ether copolymer rubber) Gechron 3106: manufactured by Nippon Zeon Co., Ltd.)
・ Conducting agent (Carbon Black Asahi Thermal: manufactured by Asahi Carbon Co., Ltd.) ... 25 parts by massConducting agent (Ketjen Black EC: manufactured by Lion) ... 8 parts by mass Lithium acid) ... 1 part by mass, vulcanizing agent (sulfur) 200 mesh: manufactured by Tsurumi Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. ... 1 part by mass, vulcanization accelerator (Noxeller DM: manufactured by Ouchi Shinsei Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.) ) 2.0 parts by mass ・ Vulcanization accelerator (Noxeller TT: Ouchi Shinsei Chemical Co., Ltd.) ... 0.5 parts by mass

-Formation of surface layer-
Dispersion A obtained by dispersing the following mixture in a bead mill is diluted with methanol, dip-coated on the surface of the conductive foamed elastic layer A, and then heated and dried at 140 ° C. for 15 minutes to obtain a surface layer having a thickness of 4 μm. And a conductive roll was obtained. This was used as a charging roll.

・ Polymer material ... 100 parts by mass (copolymerized nylon) Alamine CM8000: manufactured by Toray Industries, Inc .... 30 parts by mass (antimony-doped tin oxide) SN-100P: manufactured by Ishihara Sangyo Co., Ltd./solvent ( Methanol) ... 500 parts by mass ・ Solvent (butanol) ... 240 parts by mass

  The circumferential length of the obtained charging roll was 37.7 mm.

[Example 2]
(Preparation of cleaning member 2)
Part of the SUS plate used for heat compression (A rectangular shape with an axial width of 15 mm and a circumferential width of 5 mm, at least one circumferential position at each axial position, the circumferential direction is irregular, and the overall area ratio is 20%) A cleaning member 2 was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that a material having a thickness of 2.7 mm and a thickness of 1 mm of the margin of the margin (5 mm on both edges in the longitudinal direction) was used.
(Preparation of charging roll)
The same charging roll as in Example 1 was used.

[Example 3]
(Preparation of cleaning member 3)
Part of the SUS plate used for heat compression (A rectangular shape with an axial width of 15 mm and a circumferential width of 5 mm, at least one axial position at each circumferential position, the axial direction is irregular, and the overall area ratio is 6%) A cleaning member 3 was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that a material having a thickness of 2.7 mm and a thickness of 1 mm in the margin of the margin (5 mm on both edges in the longitudinal direction) was used.
(Preparation of charging roll)
The same charging roll as in Example 1 was used.

[Example 4]
(Preparation of cleaning member 4)
A part of the SUS plate used for heating and compression (a rectangular shape with an axial width of 15 mm and a circumferential width of 5 mm, irregular in the axial and circumferential directions, the total area ratio is 15%) is 2.7 mm thick, and a margin part ( A cleaning member 4 was produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that a material having a thickness of 1 mm in the longitudinal direction (both edges 5 mm) was used.
(Preparation of charging roll)
The same charging roll as in Example 1 was used.

[Example 5]
(Preparation of cleaning member 5)
A portion of the SUS plate used for heating and compression (a rectangular shape having an axial width of 15 mm and a circumferential width of 5 mm, at both axial positions at 45 mm positions, at least one axial position in each axial position, with a circumferential interval of 7 mm, A cleaning member in the same manner as in Example 1 except that a shape having an area ratio of 8%) having a thickness of 2.7 mm and a thickness of 1 mm at the margin (5 mm in both longitudinal edges) is used. 5 was produced.

(Preparation of charging roll)
The same charging roll as in Example 1 was used.

[Example 6]
(Preparation of cleaning member 6)
The thickness of a part of the SUS plate used for heat compression is 2.7 mm (a rectangular shape with an axial width of 15 mm and a circumferential width of 5 mm, irregular at both the axial and circumferential positions at 45 mm positions on both ends in the axial direction, the total area ratio is 6%). A cleaning member 6 was produced in the same manner as in Example 1, except that a paste having a shape with a thickness of 1 mm at the margin (5 mm on both edges in the longitudinal direction) was used.
(Preparation of charging roll)
The same charging roll as in Example 1 was used.

[Example 7]
(Preparation of cleaning member 7)
Part of the SUS plate used for heat compression (A rectangular shape with an axial width of 15 mm and a circumferential width of 5 mm, at least one circumferential position at each axial position, the circumferential direction is irregular, and the overall area ratio is 20%) A cleaning member 7 was produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that a material having a thickness of 2.1 mm and a shape having a thickness of 1 mm in the margin part (region of both edges 5 mm in the longitudinal direction) was used.
(Preparation of charging roll)
The same charging roll as in Example 1 was used.

[Example 8]
(Preparation of cleaning member 8)
Part of the SUS plate used for heat compression (A rectangular shape with an axial width of 15 mm and a circumferential width of 5 mm, at least one circumferential position at each axial position, the circumferential direction is irregular, and the overall area ratio is 20%) A cleaning member 8 was produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that a thickness of 2.2 mm was used and a shape having a thickness of 1 mm at the margin part (region of both edges 5 mm in the longitudinal direction) was used.
(Preparation of charging roll)
The same charging roll as in Example 1 was used.

[Example 9]
(Preparation of cleaning member 9)
Part of the SUS plate used for heat compression (A rectangular shape with an axial width of 15 mm and a circumferential width of 5 mm, at least one circumferential position at each axial position, the circumferential direction is irregular, and the overall area ratio is 20%) A cleaning member 9 was produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that a thickness of 3.5 mm was used and a shape having a thickness of 1 mm at the margin (5 mm on both edges in the longitudinal direction) was used.
The same charging roll as in Example 1 was used.

[Example 10]
(Preparation of the cleaning member 10)
Part of the SUS plate used for heat compression (A rectangular shape with an axial width of 15 mm and a circumferential width of 5 mm, at least one circumferential position at each axial position, the circumferential direction is irregular, and the overall area ratio is 20%) A cleaning member 10 was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that a material having a thickness of 4.0 mm and a thickness of 1 mm in the margin of the margin (5 mm on both edges in the longitudinal direction) was used.
(Preparation of charging roll)
The same charging roll as in Example 1 was used.

[Example 11]
(Preparation of the cleaning member 11)
Part of the SUS plate used for heat compression (A rectangular shape with an axial width of 15 mm and a circumferential width of 5 mm, at least one circumferential position at each axial position, the circumferential direction is irregular, and the overall area ratio is 20%) A cleaning member 11 was produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that a thickness of 4.2 mm was used and a shape having a thickness of 1 mm at the margin (5 mm on both edges in the longitudinal direction) was used.
(Preparation of charging roll)
The same charging roll as in Example 1 was used.

[Comparative Example 1]
(Preparation of the cleaning member 12)
A cleaning member 12 was produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the SUS plate used for heat compression had a shape with a thickness of 1 mm at the margin of the margin (5 mm on both edges in the longitudinal direction).
(Preparation of charging roll)
The same charging roll as in Example 1 was used.

[Evaluation]
Using the cleaning member and the charging roll produced in each example, density unevenness due to pressure fluctuation on the charging roll and cleaning performance were evaluated.
The cleaning member is mounted by passing the inside of the cleaning member through one resin shaft (φ5) that can be fixed to the process cartridge so that the amount of biting between the charging roll and the cleaning member becomes 0.7 mm. The inter-axis distance with the member was adjusted. Specifically, the cleaning member and the charging roll are mounted on the process cartridge of the color printer DocuPrint C2110 (manufactured by Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.) modified so that the cleaning member can be mounted as described above. The resulting density unevenness and cleaning property were evaluated. The voltage applied to the charging roll, the rotation speed of the charging roll, and the developer used were the same in each example.

(Evaluation test for uneven density due to pressure fluctuation of charging roll)
The density unevenness evaluation test caused by the pressure fluctuation of the charging roll was performed by outputting one halftone image having a density of 30% in an environment of 10 ° C. and 20%. That is, the obtained halftone image having a density of 30% was visually evaluated by the following three-stage evaluation.
A: Density unevenness in image quality does not occur B: Density unevenness in image quality occurs but acceptable C: Density unevenness in image quality occurs at an unacceptable level

(Cleaning evaluation test)
In the cleaning property evaluation test, after the density unevenness evaluation test due to the pressure fluctuation of the charging roll, 150,000 image quality patterns with an average image density of 5% were printed on A4 paper, and then a halftone image with a density of 30% was 1 It was done by outputting a sheet. The obtained halftone image having a density of 30% was evaluated by the following three-step evaluation. The evaluation was performed by ignoring the density unevenness generated in the density unevenness evaluation test caused by the pressure fluctuation of the charging roll. In addition, the edge part (area | region of 40 mm of both ends of a short side) and the area | regions other than an edge part were evaluated, respectively.
A: Density unevenness in image quality does not occur B: Density unevenness in image quality occurs but acceptable C: Density unevenness in image quality occurs at an unacceptable level

  The evaluation results are shown in Table 1.

  From the above results, it can be seen that the present example is better in both cleaning properties and density unevenness evaluation than the comparative example.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Electrophotographic photoreceptor (image holding body), 20 charging device, 22 charging roll (charging member), 22A conductive core, 22B foam elastic layer, 30 exposure device, 40 developing device, 41 developing container, 42 developing roll, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 50 Intermediate transfer body, 51 Primary transfer apparatus, 52 Secondary transfer apparatus, 53 Recording paper supply apparatus, 54 Intermediate transfer body cleaning apparatus, 60 Lubricant supply apparatus, 70 Photoconductor cleaning apparatus, 80 Fixing apparatus, 100 Charging roll cleaning member (Cleaning belt), 101 image forming apparatus, 102 elastic layer, 104 convex portion, 112 suspended roller, 114 cleaning unit, 122 support portion, 130 support body, 200, 300 charging roll cleaning member (cleaning belt), P recording paper

Claims (11)

  A cleaning member having an endless belt shape and dotted with convex portions on an outer peripheral surface that performs cleaning by contacting the surface of the member to be cleaned.   The cleaning member according to claim 1, wherein the convex portions are scattered irregularly on the outer peripheral surface.   The cleaning member according to claim 1, wherein the convex portions are scattered at least at both end portions in the width direction on the outer peripheral surface.   The cleaning member according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the convex portions are scattered in a circumferential direction and a width direction on the outer peripheral surface.   The height of the said convex-shaped part is 0.2 mm or more and 2 mm or less, The cleaning member of any one of Claims 1-4.   Having a foamed elastic layer constituting the outer peripheral surface, and compressed in the thickness direction so that the thickness of the foamed elastic layer is smaller in a region other than the convex portion than in a region where the convex portion exists. The cleaning member according to any one of claims 1 to 5. The cleaning member according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
A support member that supports the cleaning member such that the cleaning member rotates in the circumferential direction;
A cleaning unit for an image forming apparatus. A charging unit including a charging member for charging a member to be charged;
The cleaning unit according to claim 7 for cleaning the surface of the charging member;
A charging device comprising:   The charging device according to claim 8, wherein the support member that supports the cleaning member is integrated with the charging unit. At least the charging device according to claim 8 or 9,
A process cartridge that is detachable from the image forming apparatus. An image carrier,
A charging unit comprising the charging device according to claim 8 or 9, and charging a surface of the image carrier;
Latent image forming means for forming a latent image on the surface of the charged image carrier;
Developing means for developing the latent image formed on the image carrier with a developer containing toner into a toner image;
Transfer means for transferring the toner image to a transfer object;
An image forming apparatus comprising: