JP2016118638A - Protective layer forming device, image forming apparatus, and process cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a protective layer forming device that can change a pressing force of a pressing mechanism according to a change in environmental temperature without removing an attachment device to supply an appropriate amount of a protective agent to a protective agent supply target.SOLUTION: A protective agent pressing force changing mechanism 321 changing a protective agent pressing force of a pressing mechanism 300c included in a protective agent application device 3, is provided with a rotatable screw member 321b driven by a driving motor controlled by a control part 110 of a printer. Thus, the protective agent pressing force can be automatically changed according to a change in environmental temperature to form an appropriate protective layer on a surface of a photoreceptor 1 without removing the protective agent application device 3 from the printer to which the device is attached. In particular, the entire length of a first spring member 321a, a second spring member 321b, and the protective agent pressing force changing mechanism 321 is changed by driving to rotate the rotatable screw member 321b included in the protective agent pressing force changing mechanism 321 according to a change in environmental temperature to change the protective agent pressing force.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

  The present invention relates to a protective layer forming apparatus, an image forming apparatus, and a process cartridge.

  In electrophotographic image forming apparatuses such as printers, facsimiles, and copiers, a protective agent such as a lubricant is an object for supplying a protective agent for protecting an image carrier such as a photosensitive member or an intermediate transfer belt and reducing friction. Some have a protective layer forming apparatus that supplies a surface of an image carrier to form a protective layer.

For example, Patent Document 1 describes an image forming apparatus including the following protective layer forming apparatus (lubricant supply apparatus).
A solid protective agent (solid lubricant), a supply member (supply roller) for supplying a protective agent scraped from the solid protective agent to a protective agent supply target (photoconductor), and a protective agent holding member for holding the solid protective agent (Lubricant holding member) and a storage case (case) for storing the protective agent holding member.
Moreover, in order to scrape off the protective agent from the solid protective agent, the following is also provided as a pressing mechanism (pressing means) for pressing the solid protective agent toward the supply member. The storage case includes a pair of swing members (arm members) supported so as to be swingable (rotatable) and biasing means (springs) for biasing the swing members. Each swing member swings while sliding on the inner peripheral surface of the storage case or the protective agent holding member by the urging force.
And each rocking | swiveling member rock | fluctuates centering on the rocking | fluctuation fulcrum (support shaft) each provided in the position symmetrical with respect to the center of the longitudinal direction of a solid protective agent of a protective agent holding member or a storage case. Thus, the pressing force for pressing the solid protective agent toward the supply member is made uniform in the longitudinal direction of the solid protective agent.

In addition, the following is provided as means for changing the pressing force of the pressing mechanism (pressing force changing means).
Between the one end portion of the urging means and the support portion that supports the one end portion, a first posture that narrows and connects the one end portion and the support portion in the urging direction, and the one end portion and the support portion It is a switching member that can be switched to a second posture in which the gap is expanded and connected in the urging direction.
Patent Document 1 describes that the pressing force of the pressing mechanism can be easily changed by performing an operation of switching the posture of the switching member.

However, in the conventional protective layer forming apparatus, in a high temperature environment such as 27 [° C.] or higher, the supply member is softened and the force for scraping off the protective agent is reduced, so that the supply amount of the protective agent to the protective agent supply target is reduced. Will decrease. As a result, film-like adhesion of the toner component to the surface to which the protective agent is supplied, so-called toner filming, occurs.
On the other hand, in order to avoid the occurrence of toner filming, if the force to scrape the protective agent is increased by increasing the pressing force that presses the solid protective agent against the supply member, this time, the protective agent is supplied in a low temperature environment. An excessive amount of protective agent is supplied to the target. As a result, charging failure occurs due to the scraped off protective agent flying and adhering to the charging member.

  In the protective layer forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1, when changing the pressing force of the pressing mechanism, the operator manually operates the image forming apparatus, which is a mounting apparatus for mounting the protective layer forming apparatus, from the protective layer. It is necessary to remove the forming device and switch the posture of the switching member. For this reason, in order to change the pressing force of the pressing mechanism in accordance with the fluctuation of the environmental temperature and to supply an appropriate amount of the protective agent to the protective agent supply target, it is mounted every time the environmental temperature fluctuates. An operation for removing the protective layer forming apparatus from the image forming apparatus occurs, which takes time for the operator.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the invention according to claim 1 holds a solid protective agent, a supply member that supplies the protective agent scraped from the solid protective agent to a protective agent supply target, and the solid protective agent. A protective agent holding member, a storage case for storing the protective agent holding member, a pair of swinging members supported in a swingable manner in the storage case, and a biasing force for biasing the pair of swinging members And the pair of oscillating members swing while sliding on the inner peripheral surface of the storage case or the protective agent holding member by the urging force of the urging unit, and the solid protective agent A protective layer forming apparatus including a pressing mechanism that presses toward the supply member, and includes a protective agent pressing force variable mechanism that can change a pressing force of the pressing mechanism, and the protective agent pressing force variable mechanism includes the protection mechanism. The drive controlled by the controller of the mounting device for mounting the layer forming device. Source by, characterized in that it has a driven member to be driven.

  According to the present invention, there is provided a protective layer forming apparatus capable of supplying an appropriate amount of a protective agent to a protective agent supply target by changing the pressing force of the pressing mechanism in accordance with a change in environmental temperature without being removed from the mounting apparatus. Can be provided.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a printer according to an embodiment. The enlarged view which shows one of four image formation units. The schematic block diagram of a protective layer formation apparatus. The schematic block diagram of the protective layer formation apparatus in the last stage of use. The schematic block diagram which shows the protective agent coating device provided with the press mechanism of the example. The schematic block diagram which shows the state at the end of use of the protective agent coating device shown in FIG. Explanatory drawing which provided the protective agent pressing force variable mechanism in the press mechanism shown in FIG. 5, FIG. FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of a spring holding member, a rotatable screw member, and a screw receiving member, which are internal members of the protective agent pressing force variable mechanism of FIG. 7. Explanatory drawing when the internal member of the protective agent pressing force variable mechanism 321 of FIG. 8 is combined. FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram of a configuration in which the rotating side surface of the rotatable screw member can be rotated by an external drive member by using the protective agent pressing force variable mechanism of FIG. 9.

Hereinafter, an embodiment applied to a printer which is an electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied will be described.
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a printer according to the present embodiment.
This printer includes an intermediate transfer belt 56 as an image carrier at substantially the center inside the printer. The intermediate transfer belt 56 is an endless belt, and is a first stretching roller 52 (transfer backup roller) that is four stretching rollers, a second stretching roller 53, a third stretching roller 54, and a fourth stretching roller. 55 (drive roller) is supported across and driven to rotate in the direction of arrow A in the figure. Below the intermediate transfer belt 56, four image forming units corresponding to yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) toners are arranged along the belt surface of the intermediate transfer belt 56. It is out. In addition, a control unit 110 that controls the operation of each unit or each device is provided in the printer main body.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing one of the four image forming units.
Since all image forming units have the same configuration, the subscripts Y, M, C, and K indicating the distinction of colors are omitted here. Each image forming unit has a photoconductor 1 as an image carrier, and a charging device 2 as a charging unit for uniformly charging the surface of the photoconductor is formed around each photoconductor 1 and a surface of the photoconductor. A developing device 4 is provided as developing means for developing the electrostatic latent image with each color toner into a toner image. Further, a protective agent coating device 3 which is a protective layer forming device for supplying a protective agent to the surface of the photosensitive member by coating, and a cleaning device 8 for cleaning the surface of the photosensitive member after the toner image transfer are arranged.

Each image forming unit is configured as a process cartridge that is detachable from the printer, and the photosensitive member 1, the charging device 2, the developing device 4, the cleaning device 8, and the protective agent coating device 3 are replaced at once.
Further, as shown in FIG. 1, below the four image forming units, an electrostatic latent image is written on the surface of each uniformly charged photoconductor that is exposed based on the image data of each color and writes an electrostatic latent image. An exposure apparatus 9 is provided as a forming means. A primary transfer roller 51 serving as a primary transfer unit that primarily transfers a toner image formed on the photoconductor 1 onto the intermediate transfer belt 56 at a position facing each photoconductor 1 with the intermediate transfer belt 56 interposed therebetween. Are arranged.

  A secondary transfer roller 61 as a secondary transfer unit is pressed against the outside of the portion of the intermediate transfer belt 56 supported by the first stretching roller 52, and a predetermined voltage is applied to the secondary transfer roller 61. Yes. A contact portion between the secondary transfer roller 61 and the intermediate transfer belt 56 is a secondary transfer portion, and the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 56 is transferred onto a transfer sheet as a recording material. An intermediate transfer belt cleaning device 57 for cleaning the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 56 after the secondary transfer is provided outside the portion of the intermediate transfer belt 56 supported by the fourth stretching roller 55. Above the secondary transfer portion, a fixing device 70 is provided for fixing the toner image on the transfer paper to the transfer paper. The fixing device 70 includes a heating roller 72 and a fixing belt 71 that is wound around the fixing roller 73, and a pressure roller 74 that is disposed so as to oppose and press against the fixing roller 73 via the fixing belt 71. . In addition, a paper feeding device 20 is provided at the bottom of the printer. The paper feeding device 20 places a transfer paper, which is a recording material, and sends the transfer paper toward the secondary transfer unit.

The photoreceptor 1 is an organic photoreceptor, and a surface protective layer is formed of a polycarbonate-based resin.
The charging device 2 includes a charging roller 2a configured by covering a conductive cored bar with a medium resistance elastic layer as a charging member. The charging roller 2a is disposed with a small gap with respect to the photoreceptor 1 and is applied with a predetermined voltage. Further, the charging roller 2a is provided with a charging cleaning member 2b for cleaning in contact with the surface of the charging roller 2a.

  In the developing device 4, a developing sleeve 4 a as a developer carrying member provided with a magnetic field generating means is disposed at a position facing the photoconductor 1. Below the developing sleeve 4a, there are provided two screws 4b for mixing the toner charged from the toner bottle with the developer and pumping the toner into the developing sleeve 4a while stirring. The developer composed of toner and magnetic carrier pumped up by the developing sleeve 4a is regulated to a predetermined developer layer thickness by the doctor blade 4c and is carried on the developing sleeve 4a. The developing sleeve 4a carries and conveys the developer while moving in the same direction at a position facing the photoconductor 1, and supplies toner to the electrostatic latent image portion on the photoconductor 1. In FIG. 1, the configuration of the two-component developing type developing device 4 is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a one-component developing type developing device can also be applied.

  The protective agent coating apparatus 3 includes a solid protective agent 3b housed in a fixed case, and a supply member that constitutes a coating unit that applies a powdery protective agent scraped from the solid protective agent 3b to the surface of the photoreceptor 1. As an application roller 3a. As the application roller 3a, a brush roller or a urethane foam roller can be used. The rotation direction of the application roller 3 a is a rotation direction with respect to the photoreceptor 1.

  The solid protective agent 3b is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape and is pressed toward the application roller 3a by a pressing mechanism 3c described later. As the protective agent for the solid protective agent 3b, a protective agent containing at least a fatty acid metal salt is used. As the fatty acid metal salt, for example, a substance such as a fatty acid metal salt having a lamellar crystal structure such as fluorine resin, zinc stearate, calcium stearate, barium stearate, aluminum stearate, magnesium stearate, or the like can be used. Substances such as lauroyl lysine, monocetyl phosphate sodium zinc salt, lauroyl taurine calcium and the like can also be used.

  Of these fatty acid metal salts, it is particularly preferable to use zinc stearate. This is because zinc stearate has very good extensibility on the surface of the photoreceptor 1 and has low hygroscopicity, and even when the humidity changes, the lubricity is not easily lost. . Therefore, it is possible to form a protective layer made of a protective agent having a high ability to protect the surface of the photoreceptor, which is hardly affected by environmental changes, and to protect the surface of the photoreceptor satisfactorily. Moreover, since it has the characteristic that lubricity is hard to be impaired, the effect of reducing cleaning defects can be obtained satisfactorily.

  Further, the protective agent of the solid protective agent 3b preferably contains inorganic fine particles such as boron nitride which is an inorganic protective agent, and the crystal structure of boron nitride is a hexagonal low-pressure phase (h-BN) or And cubic high-pressure phase (c-BN). Among these boron nitrides, hexagonal low-pressure phase boron nitride crystals have a layered structure and are easily cleaved. For this reason, the friction coefficient can be maintained at about 0.2 or less up to nearly 400 [° C], the characteristics are not easily changed by discharge, and the lubricity is not lost compared to other protective agents even when subjected to discharge. .

  By adding such boron nitride, the protective agent supplied to the surface of the photoreceptor 1 and thinned does not deteriorate early due to discharge generated when the charging device 2 or the primary transfer roller 51 is operated. Moreover, it is possible to prevent the photosensitive layer of the photosensitive member 1 from being oxidized and evaporated by discharge. Further, since boron nitride can exhibit its lubricity even with a slight addition amount, it is effective against problems caused by adhesion of a protective agent to the charging roller 2a and the like, and blade noise of the cleaning blade 8a.

  The solid protective agent 3b of the present embodiment was obtained by compression molding a protective agent material containing zinc stearate and boron nitride. Note that the molding method of the solid protective agent 3b is not limited to this, and other molding methods such as melt molding may be employed. Thereby, the effect of the zinc stearate described above and the effect of the boron nitride described above can be obtained.

  The solid protective agent 3b is scraped off and consumed by the application roller 3a, and the thickness of the solid protection agent 3b decreases with time. However, since the solid protective agent 3b is pressed by the pressing mechanism 3c, the solid protective agent 3b is always in contact with the application roller 3a. The application roller 3a applies a protective agent scraped off from the solid protective agent 3b in contact with the surface of the photoreceptor while rotating. Thereafter, the applied protective agent is spread by contact between the surface of the photoreceptor 1 and the cleaning blade 8a to form a thin film. As a result, the coefficient of friction of the surface of the photoreceptor 1 is reduced. Since the protective agent film attached to the surface of the photoreceptor 1 is very thin, charging by the charging roller 2a is usually not hindered.

  The cleaning device 8 includes a cleaning blade 8a as a cleaning member, a support member 8b, a toner recovery coil 8c, and a blade pressure spring 8d. The cleaning blade 8a is formed by forming a rubber such as urethane rubber or silicone rubber into a plate shape, and the edge of the cleaning blade 8a is in contact with the surface of the photoconductor 1 to remove the toner on the photoconductor 1 remaining after transfer. To do. In addition to the cleaning blade, a known member such as a cleaning brush can be widely used as the cleaning member.

In the present embodiment, the protective agent coating device 3 is disposed on the downstream side in the moving direction of the photoconductor surface with respect to the position where the photoconductor 1 faces the primary transfer roller 51 (primary transfer portion) and on the upstream side with respect to the cleaning device 8. The As a result, the protective agent applied to the surface of the photoconductor by the protective agent coating device 3 is stretched by the rubbing of the surface of the photoconductor with the cleaning blade 8a, and uneven application of the protective agent applied to the surface of the photoconductor is thereby eliminated. It can be roughly leveled.
In the present embodiment, the protective agent coating device 3 is provided inside the cleaning device 8. As a result, the toner adhering to the application roller 3a when the photoconductor 1 is rubbed is shaken off by the solid protective agent 3b or flicker, and is easily recovered by the toner recovery coil 8c together with the toner recovered by the cleaning blade 8a. be able to.

Next, the protective agent coating device 3 will be described in more detail.
FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of the protective agent coating apparatus 3.
As shown in FIG. 3, there is provided a protective agent holding member 3d that holds the portion of the solid protective agent 3b opposite to the surface (lower surface in the drawing) that contacts the application roller 3a in the longitudinal direction. . The protective agent holding member 3d is provided so as to be able to contact and separate from the storage case 3e and the application roller 3a. Further, a pressing mechanism 3c that presses the protective agent holding member 3d toward the supply member side is provided in the upper space in the drawing from the protective agent holding member 3d of the storage case 3e.

The pressing mechanism 3c is provided in the vicinity of both ends in the longitudinal direction of the protective agent holding member 3d, and has a swinging member 31a swingably attached to the storage case 3e, and a spring 31b as a biasing means. Yes. Each end of the spring 31b is attached to the swing member 31a. Each oscillating member 31a obtains an urging force in the direction of arrow D in the figure from the spring 31b toward the longitudinal center of the protective agent holding member. By this urging force, the swing member on the right side in the drawing is biased so as to swing counterclockwise in the drawing and the swing member on the left side in the drawing swings clockwise in the drawing. Thereby, the arc-shaped contact portion 311 that contacts the protective agent holding member 3d of each swing member 31a is urged toward the protective agent holding member 3d as shown in FIG.
Here, the pressing mechanism 3c is provided with a spring 31b as an urging means, so that the structure for swinging each swing member 31a can be simplified.

  In the initial stage of use, the swinging end portion of each swinging member 31a is swung in a direction approaching the inner peripheral surface 32 of the upper surface portion of the storage case 3e against the biasing force of the spring 31b. With such a configuration, the two swinging members 31a receive the biasing force of the spring 31b, press the protective agent holding member 3d with equal force, and apply the solid protective agent 3b held by the protective agent holding member 3d to the application roller. Press to 3a. Therefore, the solid protective agent 3b is uniformly pressed against the application roller 3a in the longitudinal direction. As a result, the amount of the protective agent scraped off by the rotation of the application roller 3a is uniform in the longitudinal direction, and the protective agent can be applied evenly on the surface of the photoreceptor 1.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of the protective agent coating apparatus 3 at the end of use (when the remaining amount of the solid protective agent is small).
When the solid protective agent 3b is gradually scraped by the rubbing by the application roller 3a, the swinging member 31a swings and the protective agent holding member 3d moves to the application roller side. As shown in FIG. 4, when the amount of the solid protective agent becomes small, the swinging end of the swinging member 31a comes into contact with the protective agent holding member 3d.
In the pressing mechanism 3c of the present embodiment, even if the height of the solid protective agent 3b decreases with time, the pressing force that presses (presses) the solid protective agent 3b toward the application roller 3a (hereinafter referred to as a protective agent as appropriate). It is possible to suppress a decrease in pressing force). Therefore, fluctuations in the amount of the powder protective agent supplied to the surface of the photoreceptor 1 from the beginning to the time can be suppressed to a small level.

The reason why such a result is obtained is as follows.
In general, as the length of the spring as a whole increases with respect to the amount of change in elongation of the spring that changes from the beginning until the solid protective agent 3b disappears, the variation in the biasing force of the spring with respect to the amount of change in the spring becomes smaller. That's it. The conventional pressing mechanism is arranged in a state where the spring is contracted, and the direction of the urging force (extrusion force) is made to coincide with the pressing direction of the solid protective agent 3b against the application roller 3a. In this configuration, the longer the length of the entire spring, the more difficult it is to match the direction of the biasing force of the spring and the pressing direction of the solid protective agent 3b against the application roller 3a. There is a limit to how long it can be. In addition, in the conventional pressing mechanism, an arrangement space for the length of the spring must be secured in the radial direction of the application roller 3a, leading to an increase in the size of the apparatus. For these reasons, in the conventional pressing mechanism, a relatively short spring must be used, and the urging force fluctuation of the spring with time increases.

  On the other hand, in the pressing mechanism 3c of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the spring 31b is arranged in an extended state, and the solid protective agent 3b is applied to the application roller 3a by its urging force (tensile force). Can be pressed. Therefore, even if the length of the entire spring is increased, the problem as in the conventional pressing mechanism does not occur. Moreover, in the pressing mechanism 3c of the present embodiment, the spring 31b is arranged so that the length direction of the spring 31b coincides with the long direction of the solid protective agent 3b, that is, the axial direction of the application roller 3a. Therefore, even if the length of the spring 31b is increased, the arrangement space does not increase in the radial direction of the application roller 3a, and the apparatus does not need to be enlarged. For this reason, the spring 31b much longer than the length of the spring used with the conventional press mechanism can be employ | adopted for the press mechanism 3c of this embodiment. As a result, it is possible to suppress fluctuations in the biasing force of the spring over time.

Here, the modification of the press mechanism with which the protective agent coating apparatus 3 is provided is demonstrated using figures.
FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a protective agent coating apparatus 3 having a modified pressing mechanism 300c, and FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a state in the last stage of use of the protective agent coating apparatus 3 shown in FIG. is there.
In this modification, the pressing mechanism 300c is configured such that each swinging member 301a is swingably attached to the protective agent holding member 3d. As a result, each oscillating member 301a is applied in a direction in which the oscillating end portion of each oscillating member 301a moves away from the protective agent holding member 3d by a biasing force from the spring 301b toward the longitudinal center of the protective agent holding member 3d. Be forced. And the rocking | fluctuation end part of each rocking | fluctuation member 301a becomes a structure contact | abutted to the internal peripheral surface 32 of the upper surface part of the storage case 3e.

  As shown in FIG. 5, in the initial stage of use, the swing end of each swing member 301a is disposed in a state of swinging in a direction approaching the protective agent holding member 3d against the biasing force of the spring 301b. In this modification, the two swinging members 301a receive the biasing force of the spring 301b and press the inner peripheral surface 32 of the upper surface of the case with equal force to each other, so that the solid protective agent 3b held by the protective agent holding member 3d. Is pressed against the coating roller 3a. Also in this modified example, when the solid protective agent 3b is gradually scraped by rubbing with the application roller 3a, the swinging member 301a swings and the protective agent holding member 3d moves to the application roller side. Then, when the amount of the solid protective agent finally becomes small, each swinging member 301a swings to a state as shown in FIG.

Next, the protective agent pressing force variable mechanism 321 provided in the protective agent coating apparatus 3 as a protective layer forming apparatus, which is a feature of the present embodiment, will be described.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram in which the protective agent pressing force variable mechanism 321 is provided in the pressing mechanism 300c shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, and FIG. 7 (a) is a protective agent in which the protective agent pressing force variable mechanism 321 is provided. FIG. 7B is a schematic configuration diagram of the protective agent pressing force variable mechanism 321. FIG. FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of a spring holding member 321a, a rotatable screw member 321b, and a screw receiving member 321c, which are internal members of the protective agent pressing force variable mechanism 321 of FIG.

  FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram when the internal members of the protective agent pressing force variable mechanism 321 in FIG. 8 are combined. FIG. 9A shows the spring holding member 321a, the rotatable screw member 321b, and the screw receiving member 321c. Explanatory drawing when full length is made into (alpha). 9B shows the protective agent pressing force variable mechanism 321 in FIG. 9, and the rotatable screw member 321b is rotated clockwise in the advancing direction of the screw receiving member 321c, and the spring holding member 321a, the rotatable screw member 321b, And it is explanatory drawing when the full length of the screw receiving member 321c is set to β. FIG. 10 shows a configuration in which the rotating side surface of the rotatable screw member 321b is made into a gear shape by the protective agent pressing force variable mechanism 321 shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B so that it can be rotated by the external drive member 322. It is a schematic block diagram.

As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the protective agent pressing force variable mechanism 321 provided in the protective agent coating apparatus 3 of the present embodiment includes a first spring 320a divided into two of a pressing mechanism 300c and a first spring 320a. It arrange | positions between the two springs 320b, and has connected the 1st spring 320a and the 2nd spring 320b. The pressing mechanism 300c is provided with the first spring 320a and the second spring 320b as urging means, thereby simplifying the configuration for swinging each swing member 31a. However, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. For example, in the pressing mechanism 3c shown in FIG. 3 or the like, any one end of the spring 31b and a swinging member on the side close to this end. A protective agent pressing force variable mechanism 321 may be provided between 31a and 31a to connect them.
The protective agent pressing force variable mechanism 321 has a spring holding member 321a, a rotatable screw member 321b, and a screw receiving member 321c as shown in FIG.

  Then, as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, by rotating the rotatable screw member 321b included in the protective agent pressing force variable mechanism 321 in the clockwise direction of the thread of the screw receiving member 321c, The total length can be displaced from α to β. That is, since the protective agent pressing force variable mechanism 321 has the screw portion of the rotatable screw member 321b and the screw thread of the screw receiving member 321c into which the rotatable screw member 321b is screwed, the rotational motion of the rotatable screw member 321b is linearly moved. Can be converted. Thereby, since the full length of the protective agent pressing force variable mechanism 321 shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B can be shortened, the displacement amount of the first spring 320a and the second spring 320b can be increased, and the biasing force can be increased. Therefore, it is possible to increase the protective agent pressing force. Further, by having a mechanism composed of the rotatable screw member 321b and the screw receiving member 321c that can expand and contract the entire length of the protective agent pressing force variable mechanism 321, the protective agent pressing force can be changed with a simple configuration. Become. Moreover, it becomes possible to arbitrarily change the protective agent pressing force by using a mechanism constituted by the rotatable screw member 321b and the screw receiving member 321c.

  Further, in the driving of the external driving member 322, the control unit 110 shown in FIG. 10 is externally driven at an arbitrary timing based on the information of the temperature sensor 121 in the vicinity of the arrangement position of the protective agent coating device 3 shown in FIG. A gear drive motor (electric motor) for rotating the member 322 is controlled. That is, the protective agent coating apparatus 3 has a temperature sensor 121 that measures the environmental temperature in the vicinity of the position where the protective agent coating apparatus 3 is disposed, and the protective agent pressing force can be varied according to the environmental temperature measured by the temperature sensor 121. The mechanism 321 can be controlled. Thereby, it becomes possible to obtain the optimal protective agent pressing force according to the environmental temperature (environmental condition).

  The environmental temperature measured by the temperature sensor 121 shown in FIG. 10 is sequentially stored in a memory included in the control unit. Then, when a predetermined timing arrives during a standby period of the printer in which the sheet passing operation is not performed in the printer and the photosensitive member 1 is stopped, the control unit 110 first starts the last 30 minutes. Calculate the average temperature. And the control part 110 judges whether the average temperature is less than 15 [degreeC], or is 27 [degrees C] or more.

When the condition that the average temperature is 15 [° C.] or more and less than 27 [° C.] is satisfied, the control unit 110 does not perform anything and does not perform control to change the protective agent pressing force.
When the high temperature condition that the average temperature is 27 [° C.] or higher is satisfied, the control unit 110 sends a signal to the gear drive motor of the external drive member 322, and the rotatable screw member 321b is clocked in the traveling direction of the screw receiving member 321c. Rotating motion is applied to increase the protective agent pressing force.
By increasing in this way, the pressing force of the pressing mechanism can be increased only in a high temperature environment, and the occurrence of toner filming in a high temperature environment can be suppressed while suppressing the occurrence of charging failure in a low temperature environment. Can be suppressed.

On the other hand, when the low temperature condition that the average temperature is less than 15 [° C.] is satisfied, the control unit 110 sends a signal to the drive motor of the external drive member 322, causing the rotatable screw member 321b to oppose the traveling direction of the screw receiving member 321b. A clockwise rotation is applied to reduce the protective agent pressing force.
By reducing in this way, it is possible to reduce the pressing force of the pressing mechanism only in a low temperature environment, while suppressing the occurrence of toner filming in a high temperature environment and preventing the occurrence of charging defects in a high temperature environment. Can be suppressed.
In addition, as described above, by having the rotatable screw member 321b that can be driven by the drive motor controlled by the control unit 110, the process cartridge to which the protective agent coating device 3 is attached when the protective agent pressing force is changed. Need not be removed from the installed printer.

As described above, the protective agent coating apparatus 3 of the present embodiment has the rotatable screw member 321b driven by the drive motor controlled by the control unit 110 of the printer to which the process cartridge to which the protective agent coating apparatus 3 is attached is mounted. The protective agent pressing force variable mechanism 321 is provided.
By providing such a protective agent coating apparatus 3, the protective agent coating apparatus 3 of this embodiment can have the following effects.
The control unit 110 of the printer controls the driving motor that drives the rotatable screw member 321b of the protective agent pressing force variable mechanism 321 according to the change in the environmental temperature to automatically change the pressing force of the pressing mechanism 300c. Is possible.
Therefore, unlike the protective layer forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the pressing force of the pressing mechanism 200c is changed according to the change in the environmental temperature without removing the protective agent coating apparatus 3 from the printer, An amount of protective agent can be supplied to the photoreceptor 1.
Therefore, it is possible to provide the protective agent coating apparatus 3 that can supply an appropriate amount of the protective agent to the photoconductor 1 by changing the pressing force of the pressing mechanism 300c in accordance with a change in the environmental temperature without being removed from the printer.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7A, the swinging member 31a is supported by the protective agent holding member 3d so as to be swingable, and slides on the inner peripheral surface 32 of the storage case 3e when swinging. By providing the protective agent pressing force variable mechanism 321 in the storage case 3e, the following effects can be obtained.
With respect to the application roller 3a and the storage case 3e, the weight held by the protective agent holding member 3d moving in the pressing direction can be reduced, and the protective agent holding member 3d can be quickly moved when the pressing force is changed. .
On the other hand, the protective agent application device 3 shown in FIG. 3, that is, the swinging member 31a is swingably supported by the storage case 3e and slides on the protective agent holding member 3d when swinging. The present invention can also be applied to a configuration in which the pressing force variable mechanism 321 is provided in the protective agent holding member 3d.
By configuring in this way, even when the gap between the protective agent holding member 3d and the storage case 3e is wide and loose, a uniform pressing force can be obtained in the longitudinal direction of the solid protective agent 3b. it can.

Further, in this embodiment, as an example of the high temperature condition and the low temperature condition, when the average temperature for the latest 30 minutes is 27 [° C.] or more, the high temperature condition is exemplified, and when the average temperature for the latest 30 minutes is less than 15 [° C.] However, the high temperature condition and the low temperature condition are not limited to such conditions.
For example, it may be a condition for the average temperature over a period other than the latest 30 minutes, or a condition for the measured temperature itself, not the average temperature. The threshold temperature may also be a temperature other than 27 [° C.] or 15 [° C.].

In the present embodiment, the temperature sensor 121 that measures the environmental temperature in the vicinity of the position where the protective agent coating device 3 is disposed is used as a temperature sensor used when the control unit 110 controls the drive motor of the external drive member 322. .
However, the temperature sensor used when controlling the drive motor of the external drive member 322 is not limited to this. For example, the temperature sensor is attached to the outer surface of the casing of the printer (image forming apparatus) and the environment at the place where the printer is installed What measures temperature etc. may be sufficient. By controlling the drive motor of the external drive member 322 with the control unit 110 using the environmental temperature measured by such a temperature sensor, it is possible to obtain the protective agent pressing force according to the environmental temperature.
However, as described above, by arranging the temperature sensor 121 in the vicinity of the arrangement position of the protective agent coating device 3, it is possible to obtain an optimum pressing force such as the protective agent pressing force according to the environmental temperature.

Regarding the adjustment of the spring displacement amount, the relationship between the rotation speed of the gear and the advancement amount of the rotatable screw member 321b is measured in advance, and an optimum rotation speed is obtained by giving a rotation speed at which a desired spring displacement amount can be appropriately obtained. It is possible to obtain a large protective agent pressing force.
However, the adjustment of the spring displacement amount is not limited to this method. For example, a displacement amount detection sensor is attached to the inside of the screw receiving member 321c, and the advance amount of the rotatable screw member 321b becomes a specified length. It is also possible to use a method of stopping the rotation operation when

Although the gear drive is adopted as the rotation method of the rotatable screw member 321b, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the screw portion of the rotatable screw member 321b is directly rotated by a drive motor (electric motor) or the like. It is also possible to adopt a configuration that does.
Further, a drive source such as a drive motor that rotates the rotatable screw member 321b may be included in any of the protective agent coating device 3, the process cartridge, and the printer.
Here, the protective agent pressing force variable mechanism 321 of the present embodiment is a swivel mechanism composed of the spring holding member 321a and the rotatable screw member 321b as described above (with two connection points so that they can rotate freely with each other). Connection portion).
The spring holding member 321a and the screw receiving member 321c cannot be rotated so that the first spring 320a and the second spring 320b are not twisted. For this reason, by adding a rotatable screw member 321b that can rotate independently and can be assembled with the spring holding member 321a, it can be converted into a linear motion without rotating the spring holding member 321a. This makes it possible to change the overall spring displacement.

  In addition, this embodiment only showed the typical form of this invention, and this invention is not limited to this embodiment. That is, those skilled in the art can implement various modifications in accordance with conventionally known knowledge without departing from the scope of the present invention. Of course, such modifications are also included in the scope of the present invention as long as they have the configurations of the rubbing member, the protective agent coating apparatus 3 and the image forming apparatus (printer) of the present invention.

The protective layer forming apparatus according to the present invention may form a protective agent layer on the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt, for example. In this case, the protective layer forming apparatus may be provided adjacent to the intermediate transfer belt cleaning apparatus. Alternatively, it may be provided by being incorporated in an intermediate transfer belt cleaning device.
Furthermore, the protective layer forming apparatus referred to in the present invention is not limited to being provided on only one of the photoreceptor and the intermediate transfer belt, and may be provided on both the photoreceptor and the intermediate transfer belt.
Moreover, the process cartridge provided with the protective layer forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied can also achieve the same effects as the protective agent coating apparatus 3 described above.

Next, a verification experiment performed for confirming the effect of the present invention will be described.
More specifically, a plurality of examples and comparative examples in which image formation is actually performed using the image forming apparatus corresponding to the above-described embodiment will be described.

Example 1
In Example 1, an image forming apparatus (image MP C5503) manufactured by Ricoh Co., Ltd. was modified like the protective layer forming apparatus of the embodiment described with reference to FIGS. Moreover, the control part 110 and the temperature sensor 121 shown in FIG. 10 were mounted.
As a supply member for supplying the protective agent, a urethane roller (an image forming apparatus imagio MP C5503 mounted product manufactured by Ricoh Co., Ltd.) was attached.
When the length α [cm] of the protective agent pressing force variable mechanism is 14 [cm] as the two spring members, the pressing force (pressing force) [shown in Table 1 (spring member 1 in Table 3) described later] [ N] was obtained.

Furthermore, in Example 1, as the protective agent, zinc stearate containing boron nitride as inorganic fine particles was used. The compounding ratio (mass ratio) of zinc stearate and boron nitride is “9” for zinc stearate and “1” for boron nitride.
Then, except for the protective layer forming apparatus, the constituent elements of the image forming apparatus imagio MP C5503 manufactured by Ricoh Co., Ltd. were used as they were to obtain the image forming apparatus of the first example.

(Example 2 to Example 5)
As described in Table 1 described later, the image forming apparatuses of Examples 2 to 5 under the same conditions as in Example 1 except that the spring members are changed to spring members 2 to 5 shown in Table 3 described later. Got.

(Comparative Example 1)
In Comparative Example 1, an image forming apparatus imagio MP C5503 manufactured by Ricoh Co., Ltd. was used as it was.
As a supply member for supplying the protective agent, a urethane roller (an image forming apparatus imagio MP C5503 mounted product manufactured by Ricoh Co., Ltd.) was attached.
As the spring member, when the length α [cm] of the protective agent pressing force variable mechanism is 14 cm, the spring member that can obtain the pressing force (pressing force) [N] shown in Table 2 (spring member 1 in Table 3). 1 was attached.

(Comparative Example 2 to Comparative Example 5)
As described in Table 2 to be described later, an image forming apparatus of the second example was obtained under the same conditions as in Comparative Example 1 except that the spring members 2 to 5 shown in Table 3 to be described later were changed. .

(Evaluation)
In each of the image forming apparatuses of Examples 1 to 5 and Comparative Examples 1 to 5 obtained as described above, 10,000 sheets of an A4 size test chart with an image area ratio of 5% Image formation was continuously performed over a period of time.
This 10,000-sheet image formation is performed in a low temperature environment with a temperature of 10 [° C.] and a relative humidity of 15% RH, a standard environment with a temperature of 23 [° C.] and a relative humidity of 50% RH, and a temperature of 27 [ [° C.] and a high temperature environment with a relative humidity of 80% RH.
However, after image formation under one environment, the photosensitive drum, the charging roller, and the protective agent coating device of each example and each comparative example are replaced with new ones, and the same conditions except for the environment are used. Then, the following measurement and evaluation were performed.

In each environment, after forming 10,000 images, the protective agent consumption rate [mg / km] is measured.
The evaluation was performed according to the following procedure.
First, it was confirmed whether or not an image abnormality called black streak appeared in an image formed under each environment. Further, the charging roller in each image forming apparatus after formation under each environment was visually checked for contamination. Then, image abnormalities (black streaks) and dirt on the charging roller were comprehensively evaluated based on the following three evaluation criteria.

○: No image abnormality (black streak) is confirmed, and the charging roller after image formation is hardly contaminated.
Δ: Image abnormality (black streaks) is confirmed, and slight contamination is confirmed on the charging roller after image formation.
X: An image abnormality (black streak) exceeding the allowable level appears on the image from about 5,000 sheets, and the charging roller after the image formation is also confirmed to have a stain exceeding the allowable level.

Next, it was confirmed whether or not an image abnormality such as a white streak-like defect appeared in an image formed under each environment. In addition, visual wear and photoreceptor filming (toner filming) were confirmed for the photoreceptor in each image forming apparatus after formation under each environment. Then, image abnormalities, photoconductor wear, and photoconductor filming were comprehensively evaluated based on the following three evaluation criteria.
○: Image abnormality (white streak) is not confirmed, and wear and photoreceptor filming are hardly confirmed on the photoreceptor after image formation.
Δ: Image abnormality (white streaks) appears in the image from about 1,000 sheets. Although wear is not confirmed on the photoconductor after image formation, filming is confirmed on the photoconductor.
X: Image abnormalities (white streaks) exceeding the allowable range appear on the image from about 1,000 sheets. Excessive wear or photoreceptor filming is confirmed on the photoreceptor after formation.

(Evaluation results)
The evaluation results for Examples 1 to 5 and Comparative Examples 1 to 5 described above are shown in Tables 1 and 2 below.
In addition, when the length α [cm] of the protective agent pressing force variable mechanism is 14 [cm], the spring member 1 to the spring member that can obtain the pressing force (pressing force) [N] shown in Tables 1 and 2 Table 3 which is a control table of 5 is also shown.

As shown in Table 1, all of Examples 1 to 5 are “good”. Thereby, it turns out that the protective agent pressing force variable mechanism mentioned above is effective in image quality improvement.
On the other hand, as shown in Table 2, in Comparative Examples 1 to 5, since there is no protective agent pressing force variable mechanism, photoconductor filming occurs in a high temperature environment or charging roller contamination occurs in a low temperature environment. The condition that the functions of both were simultaneously good was not obtained.
That is, an image forming apparatus including a protective agent coating apparatus to which the present invention is applied supplies an appropriate amount of a protective agent according to a change in environmental temperature, toner filming in a high temperature environment to which the protective agent is supplied, It was confirmed that the occurrence of charging failure under a low temperature environment can be suppressed.

What has been described above is merely an example, and the present invention has a specific effect for each of the following modes.
(Aspect A)
A solid protective agent such as the solid protective agent 3b, a supply member such as a coating roller 3a for supplying the protective agent scraped from the solid protective agent to a protective agent supply target such as the photoreceptor 1 and the intermediate transfer belt 56, and the solid protection A protective agent holding member such as a protective agent holding member 3d for holding the agent, a storage case such as a storage case 3e for storing the protective agent holding member, and a pair of swinging swingably supported in the storage case A swing member such as a member 301a, and biasing means such as a first spring 320a and a second spring 320b biasing the pair of swing members, and the pair of swings by the biasing force of the biasing means. A pressing mechanism 300c that swings while sliding on the inner peripheral surface such as the inner peripheral surface 32 of the storage case or the protective agent holding member and presses the solid protective agent toward the supply member. And a pressing agent The protective layer forming device such as the cloth device 3 includes a protective agent pressing force variable mechanism such as a protective agent pressing force variable mechanism 321 that can change the pressing force of the pressing mechanism, and the protective agent pressing force variable mechanism includes the protective layer. A driven member such as a rotatable screw member 321b driven by a drive source such as a drive motor controlled by a control unit such as the control unit 110 of a mounting apparatus such as a printer that mounts the forming apparatus; Features.

According to this, as explained about the above-mentioned embodiment, the following effects can be produced.
It becomes possible to automatically change the pressing force of the pressing mechanism by controlling the driving source that drives the driven member of the protective agent pressing force variable mechanism by the control unit of the mounting device in accordance with the variation of the environmental temperature. .
Therefore, unlike the protective layer forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the pressing force of the pressing mechanism is changed according to the variation of the environmental temperature without removing the protective layer forming apparatus from the mounting device, and an appropriate amount is obtained. It becomes possible to supply this protective agent to the protective agent supply target.
Therefore, it is possible to provide a protective layer forming apparatus that can supply an appropriate amount of protective agent to a protective agent supply target by changing the pressing force of the pressing mechanism in accordance with a change in environmental temperature without being removed from the mounting device.

(Aspect B)
In (Aspect A), the protective agent pressing force variable mechanism such as the protective agent pressing force variable mechanism 321 has one or a plurality of swivel mechanisms including a spring holding member 321a and a rotatable screw member 321b. It is characterized by being.
According to this, as explained about the above-mentioned embodiment, the following effects can be produced.
Members such as the spring holding member 321a and the screw receiving member 321c to which the inactive members such as the first spring 320a and the second spring 320b are connected cannot be rotated so that the urging member is not twisted. For this reason, by adding a rotatable screw member 321b that can rotate independently and can be assembled with the spring holding member 321a, it can be converted into a linear motion without rotating the spring holding member 321a. This makes it possible to change the overall spring displacement.

(Aspect C)
In (Aspect A) or (Aspect B), the pressing mechanism such as the pressing mechanism 300c has one or a plurality of spring members such as the spring 31b or the first spring 320a or the second spring 320b as the biasing means. It is characterized by.
According to this, as described in the above embodiment, the configuration for swinging each swing member such as the swing member 31a can be simplified.

(Aspect D)
In any one of (Aspect A) to (Aspect C), the protective agent pressing force variable mechanism such as the protective agent pressing force variable mechanism 321 is a rotatable screw that converts a rotational motion of the rotatable screw member 321b into a linear motion. It has a mechanism such as a screw portion of the member 321b and a screw thread of a screw receiving member 321c into which the screw portion is screwed.
According to this, as explained about the above-mentioned embodiment, the following effects can be produced.
Since the total length of the protective agent pressing force variable mechanism can be shortened, the displacement amount of the biasing means such as the spring 31b or the first spring 320a or the second spring 320b can be increased, and the biasing force can be increased. It becomes possible to increase the pressing force such as the protective agent pressing force.

(Aspect E)
In any one of (Aspect A) to (Aspect D), the protective agent pressing force variable mechanism such as the protective agent pressing force variable mechanism 321 is a mechanism such as a rotatable screw member 321b and a screw receiving member 321c that can expand and contract its entire length. It is characterized by having.
According to this, as described in the above embodiment, the protective agent pressing force can be changed with a simple configuration.

(Aspect F)
In any one of (Aspect A) to (Aspect E), the swinging member such as the swinging member 31a is swingably supported by the protective agent holding member such as the protective agent holding member 3d, and is stored when swinging. The protective case pressing force variable mechanism such as the protective agent pressing force variable mechanism 321 is provided in the storage case, and slides on the inner peripheral surface such as the inner peripheral surface 32 of the storage case such as the case 3e. It is characterized by.
According to this, as described in the above embodiment, the weight held by the protective agent holding member moving in the pressing direction can be reduced with respect to the supply member such as the application roller 3a and the storage case, and the pressing force is changed. The protective agent holding member can be moved quickly.

(Aspect G)
In any one of (Aspect A) to (Aspect E), the swinging member such as the swinging member 31a is swingably supported by the storage case such as the storage case 3e, and the protective agent holding member 3d is swung. The protective agent holding member such as a protective agent pressing force variable mechanism 321 is provided on the protective agent holding member.
According to this, as described in the above embodiment, the longitudinal direction of the solid protective agent such as the solid protective agent 3b even when the gap between the protective agent holding member and the storage case is wide and loose. Even pressing force can be obtained.

(Aspect H)
In an image forming apparatus such as a printer provided with a protective layer forming apparatus that forms a protective layer by supplying a protective agent to the surface of an image carrier such as the photosensitive member 1 or the intermediate transfer belt 56, the protective layer forming apparatus includes: A protective layer forming apparatus such as the protective agent coating apparatus 3 of any one of A) to (Aspect G) is provided.
According to this, as described in the above embodiment, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that can achieve the same effects as the protective layer forming apparatus of any one of (Aspect A) to (Aspect G).

(Aspect I)
(Aspect H) includes a temperature sensor such as the temperature sensor 121 that measures the environmental temperature, and the control unit such as the control unit 110 drives the drive motor or the like according to the environmental temperature measured by the temperature sensor. It is characterized by controlling the source.
According to this, as described in the above embodiment, it is possible to obtain a pressing force such as a protective agent pressing force according to the environmental temperature.

(Aspect J)
In (Aspect I), the temperature sensor such as the temperature sensor 121 is arranged in the vicinity of the arrangement position of the protective layer forming apparatus such as the protective agent coating apparatus 3.
According to this, as described in the above embodiment, it is possible to obtain an optimum pressing force such as a protective agent pressing force according to the environmental temperature.

(Aspect K)
In (Aspect I) or (Aspect J), when the control unit such as the control unit 110 satisfies a predetermined high temperature condition such as an environmental temperature measured by a temperature sensor such as the temperature sensor 121 of 27 [° C.] or higher, Drive so that the pressing force of the pressing mechanism such as the pressing mechanism 300c is increased by the protective agent pressing force variable mechanism such as the protective agent pressing force variable mechanism 321 provided in the protective layer forming apparatus such as the protective agent coating apparatus 3 Control of the drive source such as a motor is performed.
According to this, as described in the above embodiment, it is possible to increase the pressing force of the pressing mechanism only under a high temperature environment, while suppressing the occurrence of charging failure under a low temperature environment, The occurrence of toner filming can be suppressed.

(Aspect L)
In any one of (Aspect I) to (Aspect K), the control unit such as the control unit 110 satisfies a predetermined low-temperature condition such that the environmental temperature measured by a temperature sensor such as the temperature sensor 121 is less than 15 [° C.]. In the case of satisfying, the pressing force of the pressing mechanism such as the pressing mechanism 300c is decreased by the protective agent pressing force variable mechanism such as the protective agent pressing force variable mechanism 321 provided in the protective layer forming apparatus such as the protective agent coating apparatus 3. In addition, the drive source such as a drive motor is controlled.
According to this, as described in the above embodiment, it is possible to reduce the pressing force of the pressing mechanism only under a low temperature environment, while suppressing the occurrence of toner filming under a high temperature environment, and under a high temperature environment. The occurrence of charging failure can be suppressed.

(Aspect M)
A protection that is configured to be detachable from a main body of an image forming apparatus such as a printer, and forms a protective layer by supplying a protective agent to the surface of an image carrier such as the photoreceptor 1 and the intermediate transfer belt 56 provided in the image forming apparatus In a process cartridge provided with a layer forming apparatus, a protective layer forming apparatus such as the protective agent coating apparatus 3 of any one of (Aspect A) to (Aspect G) is provided as the protective layer forming apparatus. Features.
According to this, as described in the above embodiment, it is possible to provide a process cartridge that can achieve the same effects as the protective layer forming apparatus of any one of (Aspect A) to (Aspect G).

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Photoconductor 3 Protection agent coating device 3a Application | coating roller 3b Solid protection agent 3c Pressing mechanism 3d Protection agent holding member 3e Storage case 31a Oscillating member 31b Spring 32 Inner peripheral surface (storage case)
56 Intermediate transfer belt 110 Control part 121 Temperature sensor 300c Pressing mechanism 301a Oscillating member 301b Spring 311 Abutting part 320a First spring 320b Second spring 321 Protective agent pressing force variable mechanism 321a Spring holding member 321b Revolving screw member 321c Screw receiver Member 322 External drive member S Sliding area

JP 2014-178352 PR

Claims (13)

A solid protective agent;
A supply member for supplying a protective agent scraped from the solid protective agent to a protective agent supply target;
A protective agent holding member for holding the solid protective agent;
A storage case for storing the protective agent holding member;
A pair of swinging members supported in the storage case so as to be swingable; and biasing means for biasing the pair of swinging members, and the pair of swinging members by the biasing force of the biasing means A protective layer forming apparatus comprising: a pressing mechanism that presses the solid protective agent toward the supply member by swinging while sliding on the inner peripheral surface of the storage case or the protective agent holding member In
A protective agent pressing force variable mechanism capable of changing the pressing force of the pressing mechanism,
The protective agent pressing force variable mechanism includes a driven member that is driven by a drive source controlled by a control unit of a mounting device that mounts the protective layer forming device. . The protective layer forming apparatus according to claim 1,
The protective layer forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the protective agent pressing force variable mechanism has one or a plurality of swivel mechanisms. In the protective layer formation apparatus of Claim 1 or 2,
The said press mechanism has a 1 or several spring member as said urging | biasing means, The protective layer formation apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. In the protective layer forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The protective layer forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the protective agent pressing force variable mechanism has a mechanism for converting a rotational motion into a linear motion. In the protective layer formation apparatus as described in any one of Claims 1 thru | or 4,
The protective layer forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the protective agent pressing force variable mechanism has a mechanism capable of extending and contracting its entire length. In the protective layer forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The swing member is swingably supported by the protective agent holding member, and slides on the inner peripheral surface of the storage case when swinging,
The protective layer forming apparatus, wherein the protective agent pressing force variable mechanism is provided in the storage case. In the protective layer forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The swing member is swingably supported by the storage case, and slides on the protective agent holding member when swinging,
The protective layer forming apparatus, wherein the protective agent pressing force variable mechanism is provided on the protective agent holding member. In an image forming apparatus comprising a protective layer forming apparatus for forming a protective layer by supplying a protective agent to the surface of an image carrier,
An image forming apparatus comprising the protective layer forming apparatus according to claim 1 as the protective layer forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8.
It has a temperature sensor that measures the environmental temperature,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the control unit controls the drive source in accordance with an environmental temperature measured by the temperature sensor. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9.
The image forming apparatus, wherein the temperature sensor is arranged in the vicinity of the arrangement position of the protective layer forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9 or 10, wherein:
When the environmental temperature measured by the temperature sensor satisfies a predetermined high temperature condition, the control unit
The image forming apparatus, wherein the drive source is controlled so that the pressing force of the pressing mechanism is increased by the protective agent pressing force variable mechanism provided in the protective layer forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 11,
When the environmental temperature measured by the temperature sensor satisfies a predetermined low temperature condition, the control unit
The image forming apparatus, wherein the driving source is controlled so that the pressing force of the pressing mechanism is reduced by the protective agent pressing force variable mechanism provided in the protective layer forming apparatus. It is configured to be detachable from the image forming apparatus main body,
In a process cartridge provided with a protective layer forming apparatus for supplying a protective agent to the surface of an image carrier provided in the image forming apparatus to form a protective layer,
An image forming apparatus comprising the protective layer forming apparatus according to claim 1 as the protective layer forming apparatus.

Images