JP2017083746A - Cleaning device and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To appropriately remove a residual material, such as a toner on surfaces of image holding members by using a cleaning member having a contact member formed of an elastic body attached to the leading end part of a support member using a metal plate spring.SOLUTION: In a cleaning device 30 that, by using a cleaning member 31 having a contact member 312 formed of an elastic body attached to the leading end part of a support member 311 formed of a metal plate spring so that the contact member faces image holding members 10 and 14, brings an edge part 312a of the contact member on the cleaning member into contact with the surfaces of the moving image holding members to remove a residual material t on the surfaces of the image holding members, the edge part of the contact member on the opposite side of the leading end part of the support member is brought into contact with the surfaces of the image holding members.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to a cleaning device that removes toner and other residues on the surface of an image holding member from the surface of the image holding member by a cleaning member, and an image forming apparatus using such a cleaning device. In particular, a cleaning member is used in which a contact member made of an elastic body is attached to the tip of a support member made of a metal plate spring so as to face the image holding member. When the edge portion of the member is brought into contact with the surface of the moving image holding member and the residue is removed from the surface of the image holding member, the edge portion of the contacting member is In that the residue on the surface of the image holding member can be stably and appropriately removed.

  Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, or a composite machine thereof, after transferring a toner image from an image holding member that holds and moves the toner image on the surface, the surface of the image holding member For example, a toner image formed on the photosensitive member is removed from the surface of the image holding member by a cleaning device, such as an intermediate transfer member such as an intermediate transfer belt or a recording sheet. After the toner image is transferred to the surface of the photosensitive member, the toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive member is removed by a cleaning device, or the toner image transferred to the intermediate transfer member is transferred to a recording sheet. The toner or the like remaining on the surface of the toner is removed by a cleaning device.

  Here, as such a cleaning device, conventionally, an edge portion on the tip side of a cleaning member made of a plate-like cleaning blade made of an elastic material such as urethane is used to hold an image after the toner image is transferred. A toner or the like remaining on the surface of the image holding member is removed from the surface of the image holding member in contact with the surface of the member.

  In the cleaning apparatus as described above, as shown in FIG. 1A, the cleaning blade 2 is arranged such that the front end side of the cleaning blade 2 is directed in the same direction (forward direction) as the moving direction of the image holding member 1. The edge portion 2a on the leading end side of the cleaning blade 2 is in contact with the surface of the image holding member 1, or the leading end side of the cleaning blade 2 is in the direction opposite to the moving direction of the image holding member 1 as shown in FIG. In some cases, the edge portion 2a on the front end side of the cleaning blade 2 is brought into contact with the surface of the image holding member 1 so as to face the surface.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 1A, the edge portion 2a on the front end side of the cleaning blade 2 facing the moving direction and the forward direction of the image holding member 1 is brought into contact with the surface of the image holding member 1 so that the toner or the like When removing the residual t from the surface of the image holding member 1, the edge portion 2 a on the front end side of the cleaning blade 2 is pulled by the moving image holding member 1, and the residual t on the surface of the image holding member 1 is removed from the cleaning blade. 2 easily passes through the edge portion 2a on the front end side, and it becomes difficult to sufficiently remove the residue t from the surface of the image holding member 1. Further, in order to remove the residue t from the surface of the image holding member 1, when the contact pressure for bringing the edge portion 2 a on the front end side of the cleaning blade 2 into contact with the surface of the image holding member 1 is increased, the cleaning blade 2. Is deformed, the surface upstream of the edge 2a of the cleaning blade 2 in the moving direction of the image holding member 1 is brought into contact with the surface of the image holding member 1 to be in a so-called anti-node state, and image holding is performed. There is a problem that it is difficult to sufficiently remove the residue t remaining on the surface of the member 1.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1B, the edge portion 2a on the front end side of the cleaning blade 2 facing in the direction opposite to the moving direction of the image holding member 1 is brought into contact with the surface of the image holding member 1 to When the residue t is removed from the surface of the image holding member 1, the edge 2 a on the front end side of the cleaning blade 2 is pushed toward the upstream side in the moving direction of the image holding member 1, and then the surface t of the image holding member 1. The residue t remaining on the surface of the image holding member 1 is appropriately dammed to the edge portion 2 a on the front end side of the cleaning blade 2, and the residue t becomes the surface of the image holding member 1. Will be properly removed from.

  However, when the edge portion 2a on the front end side of the cleaning blade 2 facing in the direction opposite to the moving direction of the image holding member 1 is brought into contact with the surface of the image holding member 1 in this way, the surface of the image holding member 1 and the cleaning blade When the frictional resistance between the two edge portions 2a increases, the edge portion of the cleaning blade 2 that is in contact with the surface of the image holding member 1 is pulled downstream in the moving direction by the moving image holding member 1. As a result, the tip of the cleaning blade 2 is deformed, the tip of the cleaning blade 2 is inverted downstream in the moving direction, and the residue t cannot be removed properly from the surface of the image holding member 1. was there.

  Conventionally, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, as the cleaning member 3, one side of a support member 3a made of a metal plate spring is fixed to the fixing member 4, and the tip of the support member 3a is elastically attached. The thing to which the thing to which the contact member 3b comprised by the body was attached is proposed.

  When such a cleaning member 3 is used, as shown in FIG. 2, the cleaning member 3 is attached to the front end portion of the support member 3a so that the front end side of the cleaning member 3 is directed in the same direction as the moving direction of the image holding member 1. The edge portion 3b1 on the front end side of the contact member 3b is brought into contact with the surface of the image holding member 1 to remove the residue t such as toner remaining on the surface of the image holding member 1, 3, the front end of the contact member 3b attached to the front end portion of the support member 3a so that the front end side of the cleaning member 3 is directed in the direction opposite to the moving direction of the image holding member 1 as shown in FIG. It is known that the edge portion 3b1 on the side is brought into contact with the surface of the image holding member 1 to remove the residue t such as toner remaining on the surface of the image holding member 1.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 2, the abutting member 3 b attached to the distal end portion of the support member 3 a so that the distal end side of the support member 3 a in the cleaning member 3 is directed in the same direction as the moving direction of the image holding member 1. When the leading edge side edge 3b1 is brought into contact with the surface of the image holding member 1, the tip of the abutting member 3b attached to the leading end of the support member 3a as in the case of FIG. The side edge portion 3 b 1 is pulled by the moving image holding member 1, and the residue t on the surface of the image holding member 1 easily passes through the edge of the contact member 3 b, and the residue t is removed from the surface of the image holding member 1. It becomes difficult to remove it sufficiently. Further, the contact pressure that causes the edge portion 3b1 on the front end side of the contact member 3b to contact the surface of the image holding member 1 in order to sufficiently remove the residue t such as toner remaining on the surface of the image holding member 1. Is increased, the central portion of the support member 3a is deformed so as to face the image holding member 1, and the frictional resistance between the surface of the image holding member 1 and the contact member 3b increases, so that the image holding member moves. 1, the edge portion 3 b 1 on the front end side of the contact member 3 b is pulled in the moving direction of the image holding member 1, whereby the surface upstream of the edge portion 3 b 1 of the contact member 3 b facing the image holding member 1 is pulled. There is a problem in that it is difficult to sufficiently remove the residue t remaining on the surface of the image holding member 1 by contacting the surface of the image holding member 1 and being in a bumpy state.

  Also, as shown in FIG. 3 and Patent Document 1, etc., the cleaning member 3 is attached to the distal end portion of the support member 3a so that the distal end side of the support member 3a is directed in the direction opposite to the moving direction of the image holding member 1. When the edge portion 3b1 on the front end side of the contact member 3b is brought into contact with the surface of the image holding member 1, the edge portion 3b1 of the contact member 3b is upstream of the moving direction of the image holding member 1 by the support member 3a. Abutting pressure is applied so that the edge 3b1 on the front end side of the abutting member 3b abuts against the surface of the image holding member 1 while being pressed toward the side. Even if the height is increased, the residue t remaining on the surface of the image holding member 1 is appropriately removed from the surface of the image holding member 1 by the upstream end face of the edge portion of the contact member 3b. The edge of the contact member 3b Surface of the downstream side in the movement direction of the image supporting member 1 than 3b1 is never that contacts the surface of the image holding member 1.

  However, the edge portion 3b1 on the distal end side of the contact member 3b attached to the distal end portion of the support member 3a is placed on the surface of the image holding member 1 so as to face in the direction opposite to the moving direction of the image holding member 1 in this way. In the case of contact, when the frictional resistance between the surface of the image holding member 1 and the edge portion 3b1 of the contact member 3b increases, the edge portion 3b1 of the contact member 3b that contacts the surface of the image holding member 1 is increased. However, as the image holding member 1 moves, the image holding member 1 is pulled and deformed downstream in the moving direction, and the front end of the support member 3a to which the contact member 3b is attached hits the surface of the image holding member 1 so that the image There was a problem that the surface of the holding member 1 was damaged.

JP 2008-102322 A

  The present invention uses a cleaning member attached to the front end portion of a support member made of a metal plate spring so that the contact member made of an elastic body faces the image holding member. An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problem in a cleaning apparatus in which the edge portion of a member is brought into contact with the surface of a moving image holding member to remove residues from the surface of the image holding member. It is.

  That is, according to the present invention, in the cleaning device as described above, the edge portion of the abutting member is stably and appropriately abutted on the surface of the image holding member by the support member, An object of the present invention is to make it possible to stably and appropriately remove residues on the surface.

  In the cleaning device according to the present invention, in order to solve the above-described problems, the contact member made of an elastic body faces the image holding member at the tip of the support member made of a metal leaf spring. In a cleaning device that uses an attached cleaning member and abuts the edge portion of the contact member on the cleaning member with the surface of the moving image holding member to remove residues on the surface of the image holding member. The edge portion of the abutting member on the side opposite to the front end side of the supporting member is brought into contact with the surface of the image holding member.

  Here, when the edge portion of the abutting member on the side opposite to the front end side of the support member is brought into contact with the surface of the image holding member as described above, the front end side of the support member is in the same direction as the moving direction of the image holding member. The edge portion of the abutting member on the side opposite to the front end side of the support member, that is, the edge portion on the upstream side in the moving direction of the image holding member is brought into contact with the surface of the image holding member. The edge of the abutting member on the side opposite to the tip side of the support member, that is, the edge on the downstream side of the moving direction of the image holding member is the surface of the image holding member so that the side faces in the direction opposite to the moving direction of the image holding member. It can be made to contact.

  As described above, the edge of the abutting member on the upstream side in the moving direction of the image holding member on the side opposite to the leading end side of the supporting member so that the leading end side of the supporting member is directed in the same direction as the moving direction of the image holding member. When the portion is brought into contact with the surface of the image holding member, the residue remaining on the surface of the image holding member is appropriately removed from the surface of the image holding member by the end surface of the edge portion of the contact member on the upstream side in the moving direction of the image holding member. Will be removed. In addition, when the contact pressure that causes the edge portion of the contact member to contact the surface of the image holding member is increased, the frictional resistance between the surface of the image holding member and the contact member increases, Even if the edge portion of the contact member is pulled downstream in the moving direction by the image holding member, the downstream surface of the contact member facing the image holding member is deformed in a direction away from the surface of the image holding member. The downstream surface of the abutting member does not come into contact with the image holding member and does not hit the belly.

  Further, as described above, the edge of the abutting member on the downstream side in the moving direction of the image holding member on the side opposite to the leading end side of the supporting member so that the leading end side of the supporting member is directed in the direction opposite to the moving direction of the image holding member. When the portion is brought into contact with the surface of the image holding member, the edge portion of the contact member is pushed to the upstream side in the moving direction of the image holding member by the support member, and the edge of the contact member When the contact pressure that causes the surface to contact the surface of the image holding member is increased, the frictional resistance between the surface of the image holding member and the contact member increases, and the edge portion of the contact member is Even if the holding member is pulled downstream in the movement direction, the edge portion of the contact member is prevented from being drawn downstream in the movement direction of the image holding member. As a result, the upstream surface of the abutting member that faces the image holding member is not drawn into the downstream side in the moving direction of the image holding member, and the tip of the support member does not hit the surface of the image holding member.

  Further, in the cleaning device according to the present invention, as described above, in bringing the edge portion of the abutting member opposite to the distal end side of the support member into contact with the surface of the image holding member, It is possible to provide a bent portion that is bent in a direction in which the front end side is separated from the image holding member, and to attach the contact member to the bent portion. In this way, when the bent portion is provided at the tip of the support member and the contact member is attached to the bent portion, the support member does not contact the surface of the image holding member, and The contact angle at which the edge portion is brought into contact with the surface of the image holding member can be adjusted appropriately, and the residue on the surface of the image holding member can be appropriately removed.

  In addition, when attaching the contact member to the bent portion provided at the distal end portion of the support member, the contact member can be attached beyond the bent portion of the support member. Here, when the contact member is attached beyond the bent portion of the support member, the contact member is appropriately pressed against the surface of the image holding member by the support member. It is preferable that the abutting member is held by the support member at the position of the normal line of the image holding member at the position where the edge portion of the image comes in contact with the surface of the image holding member.

  In the cleaning device according to the present invention, when the edge portion of the abutting member on the side opposite to the front end side of the support member is brought into contact with the surface of the image holding member as described above, the surface of the image holding member is brought into contact. In order to ensure that the residue on the surface of the image holding member is properly removed by the edge portion of the abutting member that has been removed, the surface other than the edge portion does not contact the surface of the image holding member. The contact angle θ between the tangent of the image holding member at the position where the edge portion of the member contacts and the surface upstream of the edge portion in the moving direction of the image holding member is 45 ° ≦ θ ≦ 90 °. It is preferable to satisfy the above condition.

  In the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the cleaning device as described above is used to remove the residue on the surface of the image holding member.

  In the cleaning device according to the present invention, a cleaning member in which a contact member made of an elastic body is provided at a tip portion of a support member made of a metal plate spring is used on a side opposite to the tip side of the support member. Since the edge portion of the contact member is brought into contact with the surface of the image holding member to remove the residue on the surface of the image holding member, the edge portion of the contact member is moved by the support member as described above. Accordingly, the residue on the surface of the image holding member can be appropriately removed over a long period of time.

In a conventional cleaning device, the edge of the cleaning member, which is a plate-like cleaning blade made of an elastic material, is brought into contact with the surface of the image holding member, so that toner remaining on the surface of the image holding member When removing the residue, (A) shows a state in which the front end side of the cleaning blade is directed in the same direction as the moving direction of the image holding member and the edge portion on the front end side is in contact with the surface of the image holding member. FIG. 4B is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the edge portion on the front end side is in contact with the surface of the image holding member so that the front end side of the cleaning blade is directed in the direction opposite to the moving direction of the image holding member. It is explanatory drawing. In a conventional cleaning device, a cleaning member is used in which a contact member made of an elastic body is provided at the tip of a support member made of a metal plate spring, and the tip of the cleaning member is the same as the moving direction of the image holding member. FIG. 6 is a schematic explanatory view showing a state in which the tip of the contact member provided at the tip of the support member is in contact with the surface of the image holding member in the direction of the direction. In a conventional cleaning device, a cleaning member in which a contact member made of an elastic body is provided at the tip of a support member made of a metal plate spring is used, and the tip of the cleaning member is opposite to the moving direction of the image holding member. FIG. 6 is a schematic explanatory view showing a state in which the tip of the contact member provided at the tip of the support member is in contact with the surface of the image holding member in the direction of the direction. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional explanatory diagram illustrating a usage state of the image forming apparatus using the cleaning device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows a state in which a residue remaining on the surface of an image holding member is removed using a cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 4B is a schematic explanatory view showing a state in which the residue remaining on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt is removed by the cleaning device. In the cleaning device according to the above-described embodiment, the front end side of the support member in the cleaning member faces the moving direction and the forward direction of the image holding member, and is opposite to the front end side of the contact member attached to the front end portion of the support member. FIG. 6 is a schematic explanatory view showing a state in which an upstream edge portion on the side is in contact with the surface of the image holding member. In the cleaning device according to the above-described embodiment, as a cleaning member, a bent portion that is bent in a direction away from the image holding member is provided at the distal end portion of the support member, and a contact member is provided on a surface of the bent portion that faces the image holding member. It is the schematic explanatory drawing which showed the example using what was attached. In the cleaning member shown in FIG. 7, (A) and (B) are schematic partial explanatory views showing an example in which the contact member is provided so as to protrude rearward from the bent portion provided at the front end portion of the support member. is there. In the cleaning device according to another embodiment of the present invention, the tip of the contact member attached to the tip of the support member so that the tip side of the support member of the cleaning member is directed in the direction opposite to the moving direction of the image holding member FIG. 6 is a schematic explanatory view showing a state in which a downstream edge portion on the opposite side to the side is in contact with the surface of the image holding member. In the cleaning device according to the other embodiment, as a cleaning member, a bent portion that is bent in a direction away from the image holding member is provided at the front end portion of the support member, and is in contact with a surface of the bent portion that faces the image holding member. It is the schematic explanatory drawing which showed the example using what attached the member.

  Next, a cleaning device and an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The cleaning device and the image forming apparatus according to the present invention are not limited to those shown in the following embodiments, and can be implemented with appropriate modifications within a range that does not change the gist thereof.

  In the image forming apparatus 100 according to this embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 4, four developing devices that store developer corresponding to the four photoconductors (image holding members) 10 on which toner images are formed. 13, each developing device 13 uses different colors of toner in each developer, and uses black, yellow, magenta, and cyan toners.

  Here, in the image forming apparatus 100, the respective photoreceptors 10 are rotated so that the surface of each photoreceptor 10 is charged by the charging device 11, and the thus charged photoreceptors 10 are charged. The latent image forming device 12 performs exposure according to the image formation information, and forms an electrostatic latent image on the surface of each photoconductor 10.

  Then, for each photoconductor 10 on which an electrostatic latent image is formed in this manner, a toner of a predetermined color is supplied from the corresponding developing device 13 to the electrostatic latent image on each photoconductor 10 to perform development. A toner image of each color is formed on the surface of each photoconductor 10.

  Next, the surface of the intermediate transfer belt (image holding member) 14 in the form of an endless belt that is rotated around the rotation roller 14a by transferring the color toner images formed on the respective photoreceptors 10 as described above. In addition, primary transfer is sequentially performed by primary transfer rollers 15 provided to face the respective photoreceptors 10 to form a full-color toner image on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 14.

  Further, the toner t or the like remaining on the surface of each photoconductor 10 without being transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 14 is removed from the surface of each photoconductor 10 by the first cleaning device 30A (30). Try to remove.

  The full-color toner image formed on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 14 as described above is guided to a position facing the secondary transfer roller 16 by the intermediate transfer belt 14.

  On the other hand, the recording sheet S accommodated in the lower part of the image forming apparatus 100 is fed by the sheet feeding roller 17 and sent to the timing roller 18, and the recording sheet S is fed by the timing roller 18 to the intermediate transfer belt 14 and the secondary transfer roller. 16, the toner image formed on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 14 is transferred to the recording sheet S by the secondary transfer roller 16. Further, the residual t such as toner remaining on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 14 without being transferred to the recording sheet S is removed from the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 14 by the second cleaning device 30B (30). ing.

  Then, the recording sheet S to which the toner image has been transferred as described above is guided to the fixing device 19, and after the transferred toner image is fixed to the recording sheet S by the fixing device 19, the toner image is thus obtained. The recording sheet S on which the toner has been fixed is discharged by the discharge roller 20.

  Next, the first and second cleaning devices 30 (30A and 30B) according to the embodiment used in the image forming apparatus 100 will be described.

  Here, in each of the first and second cleaning devices 30 (30A, 30B), the residual toner or the like remaining on the surface of each of the photoreceptors 10 and the intermediate transfer belt 14 is not transferred. When removing the object t, as shown in FIGS. 5A, 5B, etc., one side of the support member 311 formed of a metal plate spring is fixed to the fixing member 32 as the cleaning member 31, while the fixing member 32 is fixed. A support member 311 extended from the member 32 is attached to a tip end portion of an abutting member 312 made of an elastic body.

  The material of the support member 311 includes, for example, stainless steel and phosphor bronze having high corrosion resistance. Particularly, it is preferable to use stainless steel having high strength and low fatigue, and its thickness is In order to ensure good followability to the photoreceptor 10 and the intermediate transfer belt 14, it is preferable to set the thickness to about 0.03 to 0.1 mm. The material of the abutting member 312 includes urethane rubber used in a conventional cleaning blade, and unlike the conventional cleaning blade, it does not require a support function or a function to impart a contact force. Fluorine rubber (FKM), styrene butadiene rubber (SBR), acrylonitrile rubber (NBR) or the like can also be used, and those having excellent wear resistance and ozone resistance are preferably used.

  Here, in each of the first and second cleaning devices 30 (30A, 30B) in the embodiment used in the image forming apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 4, as shown in FIGS. 5 (A), (B), and FIG. Further, the front end side of the support member 311 in the cleaning member 31 is directed in the same direction as the direction in which the photosensitive member 10 and the intermediate transfer belt 14 move, that is, the movement direction and the forward direction, and is attached to the front end portion of the support member 311. In the abutting member 312, the edge portion 312 a on the side opposite to the front end side of the support member 311, that is, the edge portion 312 a on the upstream side in the moving direction of the photosensitive member 10 or the intermediate transfer belt 14 is connected to the photosensitive member 10 or the intermediate transfer member. The cleaning member 31 removes the residue t such as toner from the surface of the photoreceptor 10 and the intermediate transfer belt 14 by contacting the surface of the belt 14. It is to be collected by the cleaning device 30 by. The residue t collected in the cleaning device 30 from the surface of the photoreceptor 10 or the intermediate transfer belt 14 in this way is carried out from the cleaning device 30 by the screw 33 provided in the cleaning device 30.

  Here, as described above, the front end side of the support member 311 in the cleaning member 31 faces the moving direction of the photosensitive member 10 and the intermediate transfer belt 14 in the forward direction, and is in contact with the front end portion of the support member 311. When the upstream edge portion 312a on the opposite side of the front end side of the member 312 is brought into contact with the surface of the photoconductor 10 or the intermediate transfer belt 14, the residue t on the surface of the photoconductor 10 or the intermediate transfer belt 14 is applied. The contact member 312 is dammed to the end surface on the upstream side in the moving direction continuous with the edge portion 312a, and is appropriately removed from the surface of the photoreceptor 10 and the intermediate transfer belt 14.

  Further, the edge portion 312a of the contact member 312 is brought into contact with the surface of the photoconductor 10 or the intermediate transfer belt 14 so as to increase the force for removing the residue t from the surface of the photoconductor 10 or the intermediate transfer belt 14. When the contact pressure is increased, the frictional resistance between them increases, and the edge portion 312a of the contact member 312 is strongly pulled downstream in the movement direction by the photosensitive member 10 or the intermediate transfer belt 14. In this case, the leading end side of the cleaning member 31 is deformed in a direction away from the photoconductor 10 and the intermediate transfer belt 14, and the moving direction is continuous with the edge portion 312 a of the contact member 312 facing the photoconductor 10 and the intermediate transfer belt 14. The downstream surface does not come into contact with the surface of the photoconductor 10 or the intermediate transfer belt 14 and does not hit the belly.

  Further, when the residue t is removed from the surface of the photoreceptor 10 or the intermediate transfer belt 14 as described above, the residue t is appropriately removed from the surface of the photoreceptor 10 or the intermediate transfer belt 14. The contact angle θ between the end surface on the upstream side in the moving direction continuous with the edge portion 312a and the tangent line x of the photoreceptor 10 or the intermediate transfer belt 14 at the position where the edge portion 312a contacts is 45 ° to 90 °. It is preferable to be in the range.

  Here, in the cleaning device 30 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the front end side of the support member 311 of the cleaning member 31 is directed in the forward direction with respect to the moving direction of the photoconductor 10 and the intermediate transfer belt 14 as described above. When the edge portion 312a of the contact member 312 on the side opposite to the front end side of the support member 311 is brought into contact with the surface of the photoreceptor 10 or the intermediate transfer belt 14, the cleaning member 31 is moved to the photoreceptor 10 or the intermediate transfer belt. The support member 311 is bent by the force pressed against the surface of the contact member 311, and the edge portion 312 a of the contact member 312 on the side opposite to the front end side of the support member 311 is formed on the surface of the photoreceptor 10 or the intermediate transfer belt 14. It is made to contact.

  However, the edge of the contact member 312 on the opposite side of the front end side of the support member 311 so that the front end side of the support member 311 in the cleaning member 31 is directed in the forward direction with respect to the moving direction of the photoconductor 10 and the intermediate transfer belt 14. The method for bringing the portion 312a into contact with the surface of the photoreceptor 10 or the intermediate transfer belt 14 is not limited to this.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 7, a bent portion 311 a that is bent in a direction away from the photoconductor 10 or the intermediate transfer belt 14 at the front end portion of the support member 311 that faces the moving direction and the forward direction of the photoconductor 10 or the intermediate transfer belt 14. The abutting member 312 is attached to a surface of the bent portion 311a facing the photoreceptor 10 and the intermediate transfer belt 14, and the edge portion of the abutting member 312 on the side opposite to the front end side of the supporting member 311 is provided. 312a can be brought into contact with the surface of the photoreceptor 10 or the intermediate transfer belt 14.

  Here, the contact member 312 is attached to the bent portion 311a provided at the tip of the support member 311 as described above, and the edge portion 312a of the contact member 312 on the side opposite to the tip of the support member 311 is attached to the photoconductor 10 or When contacting the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 14, it is preferable to make the thickness of the support member 311 on the side fixed to the fixing member 32 larger than the thickness of the support member 311 in the bent portion 311a. In this way, even when the edge portion 312a of the contact member 312 is strongly pulled downstream in the movement direction by the photosensitive member 10 or the intermediate transfer belt 14, the support member having a large thickness on the side fixed to the fixing member 32 is provided. By 311, the contact member 312 is strongly held and prevented from being deformed, and the residue t is appropriately removed from the surface of the photoreceptor 10 and the intermediate transfer belt 14. In the cleaning member 31 shown in FIG. 6 as well, the thickness of the support member 311 on the side fixed to the fixing member 32 can be made larger than the thickness of the portion of the support member 311 to which the contact member 312 is attached. preferable.

  Further, as described above, when the bent portion 311a bent in the direction away from the photoconductor 10 and the intermediate transfer belt 14 is provided at the distal end portion of the support member 311 and the contact member 312 is attached to the bent portion 311a, By changing the angle or the like of the bent portion 311a in the support member 311, the contact angle θ between the photosensitive member 10 and the tangent line x of the intermediate transfer belt 14 at the position where the edge portion 312a contacts can be adjusted appropriately. Thus, it is possible to easily remove the residue t from the surface of the photoreceptor 10 and the intermediate transfer belt 14.

  Further, as described above, when the bent portion 311a is provided at the tip of the support member 311 and the contact member 312 is attached to the bent portion 311a, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the contact member The edge portion 312a of the 312 may be protruded upstream of the bent portion 311a in the moving direction of the photosensitive member 10 and the intermediate transfer belt 14. When the edge portion 312a of the contact member 312 is protruded from the bent portion 311a in this way, the position of the normal line y of the photoreceptor 10 or the intermediate transfer belt 14 at the position where the edge portion 312a of the contact member 312 contacts. The abutting member 312 is attached to and held by the support member 311, and the edge portion 312 a of the abutting member 312 is appropriately pressed against the surface of the photoconductor 10 and the intermediate transfer belt 14 by the support member 311. It is preferable to do.

  In each of the first and second cleaning devices 30 (30A, 30B) in the above-described embodiment, the leading end side of the support member 311 in the cleaning member 31 moves in the direction in which the photoreceptor 10 and the intermediate transfer belt 14 move. The edge portion 312a on the opposite side to the tip side of the contact member 312 attached to the tip portion of the support member 311 is contacted with the surface of the photoreceptor 10 or the intermediate transfer belt 14. However, the cleaning device 30 according to the present invention is not limited to this,

  For example, as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the front end side of the support member 311 in the cleaning member 31 is directed in the direction opposite to the direction in which the photoreceptor 10 and the intermediate transfer belt 14 move, and the support member 311 In the abutting member 312 attached to the front end portion, the edge portion 312a on the side opposite to the front end side of the support member 311, that is, the edge portion 312a on the downstream side in the moving direction of the photoconductor 10 or the intermediate transfer belt 14 is replaced with the photoconductor 10 or The cleaning member 31 may be brought into contact with the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 14 to remove the residue t such as toner from the surface of the photoreceptor 10 or the intermediate transfer belt 14.

  Here, as described above, the front end side of the support member 311 in the cleaning member 31 faces the direction opposite to the direction in which the photosensitive member 10 and the intermediate transfer belt 14 move, and is attached to the front end portion of the support member 311. When the downstream edge portion 312a on the opposite side of the front end side of the contact member 312 is brought into contact with the surface of the photoreceptor 10 or the intermediate transfer belt 14, the downstream edge portion 312a of the contact member 312 is supported. The member 311 is in contact with the surface of the photoconductor 10 or the intermediate transfer belt 14 while being pressed toward the upstream side in the moving direction of the photoconductor 10 or the intermediate transfer belt 14, and a residue t on the photoconductor 10 or the intermediate transfer belt 14. Is appropriately blocked by the edge portion 312a of the contact member 312 and appropriately removed from the surface of the photoreceptor 10 and the intermediate transfer belt 14. Uninaru.

  Further, the edge portion 312a of the contact member 312 is brought into contact with the surface of the photoconductor 10 or the intermediate transfer belt 14 so as to increase the force for removing the residue t from the surface of the photoconductor 10 or the intermediate transfer belt 14. When the contact pressure is increased, the frictional resistance between them increases, and the edge portion 312a of the contact member 312 is strongly pulled downstream in the movement direction by the photosensitive member 10 or the intermediate transfer belt 14. As described above, since the downstream edge portion 312a of the contact member 312 is pushed toward the upstream side in the moving direction of the photosensitive member 10 and the intermediate transfer belt 14 by the support member 311, the contact member 312 is pressed. This edge portion 312a is suppressed from being drawn downstream in the moving direction of the photoconductor 10 and the intermediate transfer belt 14. As a result, in the contact member 312, the upstream surface continuous with the edge portion 312 a facing the photoreceptor 10 and the intermediate transfer belt 14 contacts the photoreceptor 10 and the intermediate transfer belt 14. It is possible to prevent the belly contact state, and the tip of the support member 311 does not hit the surface of the photoreceptor 10 or the intermediate transfer belt 14.

  Further, at the edge portion 312a of the contact member 312 that is in contact with the surface of the photoconductor 10 or the intermediate transfer belt 14 as described above, the residue t is appropriately removed from the surface of the photoconductor 10 or the intermediate transfer belt 14. In order to be removed, the surface of the abutting member 312 facing the photoreceptor 10 and the intermediate transfer belt 14 on the upstream side in the movement direction from the edge portion 312a and the photoreceptor 10 at the position where the edge portion 312a abuts. The contact angle θ with the tangent line x of the intermediate transfer belt 14 is preferably in the range of 45 ° to 90 ° as in the case described above.

  Here, in the structure shown in FIG. 9, the front end of the support member 311 in the cleaning member 31 is directed in the direction opposite to the direction in which the photosensitive member 10 and the intermediate transfer belt 14 move. When the edge portion 312a of the contact member 312 on the opposite side to the surface is brought into contact with the surface of the photoreceptor 10 or the intermediate transfer belt 14, a force that presses the cleaning member 31 against the surface of the photoreceptor 10 or the intermediate transfer belt 14 is used. The support member 311 is bent so that the edge portion 312a of the contact member 312 on the side opposite to the front end side of the support member 311 is brought into contact with the surface of the photoconductor 10 or the intermediate transfer belt.

  However, the edge of the contact member 312 on the side opposite to the tip side of the support member 311 so that the tip side of the support member 311 in the cleaning member 31 faces in the direction opposite to the moving direction of the photoconductor 10 or the intermediate transfer belt 14. The method for bringing the portion 312a into contact with the surface of the photoreceptor 10 or the intermediate transfer belt 14 is not limited to this.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 10, a bent portion 311 a that is bent at a tip portion of a support member 311 that is in a direction opposite to the moving direction of the photoconductor 10 or the intermediate transfer belt 14 in a direction away from the photoconductor 10 or the intermediate transfer belt 14. Attaching the abutting member 312 to the surface of the bent portion 311a facing the photoreceptor 10 and the intermediate transfer belt 14, the downstream edge portion 312a on the opposite side to the tip side of the abutting member 312 is provided. The surface of the photoreceptor 10 or the intermediate transfer belt 14 can be brought into contact.

  Further, as described above, when attaching the contact member 312 to the bent portion 311a provided at the distal end portion of the support member 311, although not shown, the edge portion 312a of the contact member 312 is connected to the bent portion. The support member 311 is protruded further downstream in the moving direction of the photoconductor 10 and the intermediate transfer belt 14 than 311a, or the support member 311 on the side fixed to the fixing member 32 rather than the thickness of the support member 311 in the bent portion 311a. The thickness can also be increased.

  Next, in a commercially available compound machine (manufactured by Konica Minolta: bizhub C284e), a cleaning device that removes the residue remaining on the surface of the photoreceptor is modified, and the cleaning member used in the cleaning device and the arrangement state thereof are changed. The experiment was conducted.

  Here, in this experiment, a metal plate spring made of SUS304 and having a Young's modulus of 193000 MPa and having a thickness in the range of 60 to 80 μm is used as the supporting member in the cleaning member, and the Young's modulus is 7. What was comprised with the urethane rubber of 8 Mpa, and became thickness 3mm or 4mm was used. Further, the support member is extended by 27 mm from the fixing member, and a contact member having a length of 7 mm is attached to the distal end portion of the support member, or a bent portion is provided at a position 7 mm from the distal end of the support member. The contact member is attached to the bent portion.

  As shown in Table 1 below, in Examples 1 to 5, a cleaning member is provided as shown in FIG. 6, and in Examples 6 and 7, as shown in FIG. A cleaning member is provided. In Examples 8 to 11, a cleaning member is provided as shown in FIG. 7, and in Examples 12 and 13, a cleaning member is provided as shown in FIG. In Example 1, the cleaning member was provided as shown in FIG. 2, and in Comparative Example 2, the cleaning member was provided as shown in FIG.

  Table 1 below shows the thickness of the support member, the thickness of the contact member, the protrusion amount of the contact member from the bent portion, the contact pressure of the edge portion of the contact member with respect to the photosensitive member, and the contact angle θ. And the evaluation on the damage of the photosensitive member by the support member and the cleaning property (CL property) by the cleaning member were performed, and the results are shown in Table 1 below. In addition, the protrusion amount-1 mm of the contact member in Example 9 indicates that the contact member is 1 mm shorter than the bending position of the bent portion.

  Here, regarding the evaluation of the damage of the photoconductor by the support member, the surface of the photoconductor is cleaned by each of the above-described cleaning members in a high temperature / high humidity environment at a temperature of 30 ° C. and a humidity of 85%. After continuously forming 500 images with 0% coverage and no toner images on the size paper, the state of the photoconductor is examined, and the support member does not contact the photoconductor and the photoconductor is completely scratched. ◎, when the support member is in a range where the support member slightly touches the photoconductor but does not affect the image, ○, when the photoconductor is damaged by the support member, and × The results are shown in Table 1 below.

  Further, regarding the evaluation of the cleaning property (CL property) by the cleaning member, the surface of the photoconductor is cleaned by each of the cleaning members in a low temperature / low humidity environment at a temperature of 10 ° C. and a humidity of 15%. After continuously forming 50,000 toner images with a coverage of 5% on the size paper, the cleaning state on the surface of the photoconductor is examined, and when there is no cleaning defect A, it is possible to confirm a slight wiping residue. The results are shown in Table 1 below, where B is the case where the remaining wiping can be confirmed, but C is the range that does not affect the image, and D is the case where the remaining wiping is conspicuously affecting the image.

  As is clear from this result, when the cleaning member is provided as shown in the embodiment of the present invention, the photosensitive member is damaged by the support member as in the conventional example in which the cleaning member is provided as shown in FIG. Thus, the cleaning performance of the cleaning member is improved as compared with the conventional example in which the cleaning member is provided as shown in FIG.

10 Photoconductor (image holding member)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Charging device 12 Latent image forming device 13 Developing device 14 Intermediate transfer belt (image holding member), 14a Rotating roller 15 Primary transfer roller 16 Secondary transfer roller 17 Paper feed roller 18 Timing roller 19 Fixing device 20 Paper discharge roller 30 Cleaning device , 30A First cleaning device, 30B Second cleaning device 31 Cleaning member 32 Fixing member 33 Screw 100 Image forming device 310 Cleaning member 311 Support member, 311a Bending portion 312 Contact member, 312a Edge portion S Recording sheet t Residue x Tangent y Normal θ Contact angle

Claims (8)

  A cleaning member is used in which a contact member made of an elastic body is attached to the tip of a support member made of a metal plate spring so as to face the image holding member. In the cleaning device that removes the residue on the surface of the image holding member by bringing the edge portion into contact with the surface of the moving image holding member, the edge portion of the abutting member on the side opposite to the tip side of the support member A cleaning device characterized by being brought into contact with the surface of the image holding member.   2. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a front end side of the support member in the cleaning member is directed in the same direction as a moving direction of the image holding member.   2. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a tip end side of the support member in the cleaning member is directed in a direction opposite to a moving direction of the image holding member.   4. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein a bent portion is provided at a distal end portion of the support member so that a distal end side is bent away from the image holding member. A cleaning device having a contact member attached thereto.   5. The cleaning device according to claim 4, wherein the contact member is attached so as to protrude beyond a bent portion of the support member.   6. The cleaning device according to claim 5, wherein the contact member is attached to the support member at a position of a normal line of the image holding member at a position where the edge portion of the contact member contacts the surface of the image holding member. A cleaning device.   7. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein a tangent of the image holding member at a position where the edge portion of the abutting member abuts and a position of the image holding member from the edge portion. A cleaning device characterized in that the contact angle θ with the surface on the upstream side in the moving direction satisfies a condition of 45 ° ≦ θ ≦ 90 °.   An image forming apparatus comprising a cleaning device for removing residues on the surface of an image holding member, wherein the cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 is used.

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