JP2017129692A - Image formation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable prevention of reduction in durability of a cleaning device, and enable adhesion matters adhering to a belt member to be sufficiently removed.SOLUTION: An image formation device comprises: a belt member that is travellably stretched; a cleaning member that is disposed with a tip end caused to abut against the belt member, and sweeps out adhesion matters adhering to the belt member; an adhesion matter storage part for storing the swept adhesion matter; an adhesion matter conveyance member that conveys the adhesion matter stored in the storage part; and a lubricant agent supply member that is disposed in contact with the adhesion matter conveyance member in a lower part further than a contact part of the cleaning member with the belt member, and supplies a lubricant agent to the contact part accompanied by the conveyance of the adhesion matter due to the adhesion matter conveyance member. The lubricant agent is supplied to the contact part of the cleaning member with the belt member, and thus, the cleaning member, the belt member and the like are resistant to abrasion, and friction between the cleaning member and the belt member is hardly larger.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, image forming apparatuses such as printers, copiers, facsimiles, and multifunction machines, such as electrophotographic color printers, are provided with yellow, magenta, cyan, and black image forming units. The surface of the photosensitive drum is charged by a charging roller, and is exposed by an LED head in which LED elements are arranged in a line to form an electrostatic latent image. The toner on the developing roller is formed on the electrostatic latent image. Is attached to form a toner image.

  Then, the sheets stored in the sheet cassette are fed one by one, adsorbed to the transfer belt, conveyed along each image forming unit as the transfer belt travels, and passed through the transfer belt as a belt member. Thus, the toner image on each photoconductive drum is transferred onto the paper by a transfer roller facing the photoconductive drum of each image forming unit, and a color toner image is formed on the paper. A color toner image is fixed on a sheet in a fixing device, and a color image is formed.

  Further, in a color printer that uses an intermediate transfer belt as a belt member, a toner image on each photosensitive drum is transferred by a transfer roller that faces the photosensitive drum of each image forming unit via the intermediate transfer belt. The toner image is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt so that a color toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt, and the color toner image is transferred onto a sheet.

  Incidentally, a cleaning device is provided in order to remove toner as an adhering matter adhering to the transfer belt, the intermediate transfer belt and the like. In the cleaning device, a cleaning blade made of urethane rubber or the like is disposed with its tip in contact with a transfer belt, an intermediate transfer belt or the like, and the toner is scraped off by the cleaning blade.

  However, if the cleaning blade, transfer belt, intermediate transfer belt, etc. are worn and the friction between the cleaning blade and the transfer belt, intermediate transfer belt, etc. increases, the durability of the cleaning device decreases, and the tip of the cleaning blade is turned over and chipped. And the toner adhering to the transfer belt, the intermediate transfer belt, and the like cannot be sufficiently removed. Therefore, a part of the toner scraped off by the cleaning blade is deposited around the cleaning blade and supplied as a lubricant to the contact portion between the cleaning blade and the transfer belt, the intermediate transfer belt, etc. , And the like are prevented from occurring (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2009-8904 A

  However, in the conventional color printer, if toner accumulates excessively around the cleaning blade, the toner cannot be reliably prevented from agglomerating and turning over to the tip of the cleaning blade and chipping. End up.

  The present invention solves the problems of the conventional color printer, can prevent the durability of the cleaning device from being lowered, and can sufficiently remove deposits adhering to the belt member. An object is to provide a forming apparatus.

  Therefore, in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, a belt member stretched freely by a plurality of rollers and a front end of the belt member are disposed in contact with the belt member. Cleaning member for scraping off deposits adhered to the member, deposit storage unit for storing deposits scraped off by the cleaning member, and deposit for transporting deposits stored in the deposit storage unit The contact member is disposed below the contact portion between the transport member and the cleaning member and the belt member so as to be in contact with the deposit transport member, and the deposit is transported by the deposit transport member to the contact portion. And a lubricant supply member that supplies the lubricant.

  According to the present invention, in the image forming apparatus, a belt member stretched by a plurality of rollers and a front end thereof are disposed in contact with the belt member. Cleaning member for scraping off deposits adhered to the member, deposit storage unit for storing deposits scraped off by the cleaning member, and deposit for transporting deposits stored in the deposit storage unit The contact member is disposed below the contact portion between the transport member and the cleaning member and the belt member so as to be in contact with the deposit transport member, and the deposit is transported by the deposit transport member to the contact portion. And a lubricant supply member that supplies the lubricant.

  In this case, since the lubricant is supplied to the contact portion between the cleaning member and the belt member by the lubricant supply member, the cleaning member, the belt member, and the like are not worn, and the friction between the cleaning member and the belt member increases. There is nothing. Therefore, the durability of the cleaning device can be improved, and it is possible to prevent the tip of the cleaning member from being turned, chipped, etc., so that the deposits adhered to the belt member can be sufficiently removed. .

  In addition, the lubricant supply member is disposed in contact with the deposit transport member, and the deposit stored in the deposit storage unit is transported by the deposit transport member. Since the lubricant is supplied to the contact portion, the deposit does not aggregate in the deposit storage portion. Therefore, the lubricant can be reliably supplied to the contact portion between the cleaning member and the belt member.

It is a figure which shows the arrangement | positioning state of the 1st cleaning apparatus in embodiment of this invention. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a printer in an embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing of the image forming unit in embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the 1st cleaning device in an embodiment of the invention. It is a 1st figure for demonstrating operation | movement of the 1st cleaning apparatus in embodiment of this invention. It is a 1st figure for demonstrating operation | movement of the deposition member in embodiment of this invention. It is a 2nd figure for demonstrating operation | movement of the deposition member in embodiment of this invention. It is a 3rd figure for demonstrating operation | movement of the deposition member in embodiment of this invention. It is a 2nd figure for demonstrating operation | movement of the 1st cleaning apparatus in embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In this case, a color printer as an electrophotographic image forming apparatus will be described.

  FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of the printer in the embodiment of the present invention.

  In the figure, reference numeral 10 denotes a printer, Cs denotes a housing, and the housing Cs includes a lower case Lc and an upper cover Cv.

  In the printer 10, image forming units 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11Bk for yellow, magenta, cyan, and black are detachably disposed on the main body of the printer 10, that is, the apparatus main body, and each image forming unit 11Y, In correspondence with 11M, 11C, and 11Bk, an LED head 21 serving as an exposure apparatus is provided to be suspended from the upper cover Cv.

  Reference numeral 31 denotes a photosensitive drum as an image carrier rotatably disposed in each of the image forming units 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11Bk, and u0 is disposed below the image forming units 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11Bk. Transfer unit. The transfer unit u0 sequentially transfers a toner image as a developer image of each color onto an intermediate transfer belt 30 as a belt member below the image forming units 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11Bk, and transfers a color toner image. A first transfer unit u1 for primary transfer for forming, and a second transfer unit u2 for secondary transfer for transferring a color toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 30 to a sheet P as a medium. Consists of.

  The first transfer unit u1 includes a driving roller 22 as a first roller (support member), a driven roller 23 as a second roller (support member), and a tension roller 24 as a third roller (support member). In the present embodiment, a plurality of rollers, the intermediate transfer belt 30 stretched by the drive roller 22, the driven roller 23 and the tension roller 24, and moved in the direction of the arrow, is exposed via the intermediate transfer belt 30. A transfer roller 41 as a primary transfer member facing the body drum 31, and a fourth roller disposed on the downstream side of the tension roller 24 in the running direction of the intermediate transfer belt 30 and bending the intermediate transfer belt 30. The bending roller 25 as a (support member) and the downstream side of the bending roller 25 in the running direction of the intermediate transfer belt 30 Oite comprises is abutted against the intermediate transfer belt 30 first cleaning unit 100 and the like disposed. The first cleaning device 100 removes the toner T as the developer remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 30 after the color toner image is transferred onto the paper P. A primary transfer portion is formed between each photosensitive drum 31 and the transfer roller 41.

  The second transfer unit u2 is a secondary transfer unit that is rotatably disposed opposite to the tension roller 24 via the tension roller 24 and the intermediate transfer belt 30 as a secondary transfer roller. And a transfer roller 45 as a transfer member. A secondary transfer portion is formed between the tension roller 24 and the transfer roller 45.

  Under the lower case Lc, a paper cassette 17 is disposed as a medium accommodating portion for accommodating the paper P. A feeding roller 16 is disposed at the front end of the paper cassette 17 and is separated adjacent to the feeding roller 16. A roller pair 18 is provided.

  Rt is a medium conveyance path through which the paper P separated one by one by the separation roller pair 18 is conveyed, and a conveyance roller pair 19 is disposed on the downstream side of the separation roller pair 18 in the medium conveyance path Rt. The registration roller pair 20 is disposed on the downstream side of the conveyance roller pair 19 in the medium conveyance path Rt, and the secondary transfer portion is formed on the downstream side of the registration roller pair 20 in the medium conveyance path Rt.

  A fixing device 28 as a fixing device for fixing the color toner image transferred onto the paper P onto the paper P is disposed downstream of the secondary transfer portion in the medium transport path Rt. The fixing device 28 includes a heating roller 28a as a first fixing member, a pressure belt 28b as a second fixing member, and the like.

  A conveyance roller 26 is disposed on the downstream side of the fixing device 28 in the medium conveyance path Rt, and a discharge roller pair 27 is disposed on the downstream side of the conveyance roller 26 in the medium conveyance path Rt. In addition, a stacker 29 is formed on the upper cover Cv of the apparatus main body of the printer 10 for stacking sheets P discharged out of the apparatus main body by the discharge roller pair 27.

  A reversing mechanism Me for reversing the paper P when printing on both sides of the paper P is disposed between the transfer unit u0 and the paper cassette 17.

  Next, the image forming units 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11Bk will be described. Since the image forming units 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11Bk have the same structure, the image forming unit 11Y will be described in this case.

  FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the image forming unit in the embodiment of the present invention.

  In the figure, 11Y denotes an image forming unit, 12 denotes a unit case of the image forming unit 11Y, 13 denotes a toner storage chamber as a developer storage chamber formed in the unit case 12, and 14 denotes toner in the unit case 12. A toner storage chamber 15, which is formed above the storage chamber 13 and serves as a developer storage section for storing the toner T, is formed adjacent to the toner storage chamber 14 via the wall Wa, and will be described later. A waste toner storage chamber 33 as a developer recovery unit that collects waste toner as a developer is disposed at a predetermined location in the waste toner storage chamber 15 and is a first waste for transporting the waste toner. This is a waste toner conveying member as a developer conveying member. The waste toner conveying member 33 is a spiral, a coil spring having a spiral shape in the present embodiment, and conveys the waste toner as it rotates.

  The toner storage chamber 14 and the toner storage chamber 13 are communicated with each other via a toner supply port 35 as a developer supply port. In the toner storage chamber 14, the toner T is stirred and the toner supply port 35 is stirred. A stirring member 36 serving as a shielding member for opening and closing the door is rotatably disposed.

  The photosensitive drum 31 is rotatably arranged in the direction of the arrow, and 51 is rotatably arranged in contact with the photosensitive drum 31 to uniformly charge the surface of the photosensitive drum 31. A charging roller 52 serving as a charging device is rotatably disposed in contact with the photosensitive drum 31, and attaches toner T to an electrostatic latent image as a latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 31. A developing roller 53 as a developer carrying member that develops and forms a toner image is rotatably disposed in contact with the developing roller 52 in the toner storage chamber 13. A toner supply roller 54 as a developer supply member for supplying T is disposed with a predetermined portion in the vicinity of the tip in contact with the developing roller 52, and development for thinning the toner T on the developing roller 52 is performed. As an agent regulating member Image blade, 56, the toner image is an intermediate transfer belt 30 and the second cleaning device for removing toner T remaining on the photosensitive drum 31 after the transfer (Fig. 2).

  The second cleaning device 56 is made of urethane rubber or the like, and is disposed with its tip in contact with the photosensitive drum 31, and a cleaning blade 60 as a cleaning member that scrapes off the toner T, and the scraped toner T is removed. A waste toner transport member 61 as a second waste developer transport member transported to the waste toner storage chamber 15 as waste toner is provided. The waste toner conveying member 61 is a spiral, in the present embodiment, a coil spring having a spiral shape, like the waste toner conveying member 33, and conveys waste toner as it rotates. The waste toner transport member 33 and the waste toner transport member 61 are connected at a predetermined location.

  Reference numeral 21 denotes the LED head, and the LED head 21 forms the electrostatic latent image by exposing the surface of the photosensitive drum 31 uniformly charged by the charging roller 51.

  Next, the operation of the printer 10 will be described.

  When print data and a print command are sent from a host computer (not shown) as a host device to the printer 10, the paper P in the paper cassette 17 is fed out by the feeding roller 16 and separated one by one by the separating roller pair 18. To the medium transport path Rt. Thereafter, the paper P is transported by the transport roller pair 19, the skew feeding is corrected by the registration roller pair 20, and sent to the secondary transfer portion between the tension roller 24 and the transfer roller 45.

  On the other hand, in the image forming units 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11Bk, a driving motor (not shown) as a driving source is driven by a control unit (not shown), and each photosensitive drum 31, charging roller 51, developing roller 52, and toner supply roller 53 are driven. Then, the waste toner conveying member 61 and the like are rotated.

  Accordingly, the toner supply roller 53 supplies the toner T to the developing roller 52, and the toner T on the developing roller 52 is thinned by the developing blade 54 and charged. The surface of each photoconductive drum 31 is uniformly charged by the charging roller 51 and is exposed according to the print data by the LED head 21 to form an electrostatic latent image on the exposed portion of the surface.

  Subsequently, the toner T on the developing roller 52 is attached to the electrostatic latent image, and the electrostatic latent image is developed to form a toner image.

  Further, when the driving roller 22 is rotated in response to the rotation from the driving motor, the intermediate transfer belt 30 is caused to travel in the direction of the arrow, and at the primary transfer portion between each photosensitive drum 31 and the transfer roller 41. The toner images of the respective colors are transferred onto the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 30 by the transfer rollers 41, and a color toner image is formed on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 30.

  Subsequently, when the portion on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 30 where the color toner image is formed reaches the secondary transfer portion between the tension roller 24 and the transfer roller 45, the transfer roller 45 causes the color toner image to be printed on the paper. Transferred to P. Then, the paper P on which the color toner image has been transferred is sent to the fixing device 28, and the color toner image on the paper P is heated by the heating roller 28a and pressurized by the pressure belt 28b to be fixed on the paper P. As a result, a color image is formed on the paper P.

  The sheet P on which the color image is formed is conveyed by the conveying roller 26, then discharged from the apparatus main body by the discharge roller pair 27, and stacked on the stacker 29.

  On the other hand, in the image forming units 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11Bk, deposits remaining on the photosensitive drum 31 after the toner image on the photosensitive drum 31 is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 30, in the present embodiment, The toner T, foreign matter, and the like are scraped off by the cleaning blade 60, and are transported as waste toner along with the rotation of the waste toner transport member 61 and the waste toner transport member 33, and are sent to the waste toner storage chamber 15 and collected. .

  Next, the first cleaning device 100 will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a view showing the arrangement of a first cleaning device in an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the first cleaning device in an embodiment of the present invention.

  In the figure, 100 is a first cleaning device, 71 is a frame for supporting each member of the printer 10 (FIG. 2), in the present embodiment, the transfer unit u0 in the main body of the device. As a result, the driving roller 22, the driven roller 23, the tension roller 24, the transfer roller 41, and the like are rotatably supported. Reference numeral 72 denotes a frame cover which is disposed so as to cover the intermediate transfer belt 30 and the first cleaning device 100 and protects the intermediate transfer belt 30 and the first cleaning device 100 when the transfer unit u0 is attached / detached.

  Reference numeral 105 denotes a cleaning blade as a cleaning member that scrapes off toner T remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 30 and foreign matters, for example, adhering matter such as paper dust of the paper P, and 110 denotes the cleaning blade at a predetermined position in the apparatus main body. This is a scraping toner storage unit as a deposit storage unit supported by the frame 71, and the scraped material stored by the cleaning blade 105 is stored in the scraping toner storage unit 110.

  The scraping toner storage unit 110 is formed of a box-like body that is open at the top and extends in the width direction of the intermediate transfer belt 30, and is downstream in the traveling direction (arrow A direction) of the intermediate transfer belt 30. , The side wall 112 formed by being raised on the upstream side in the running direction of the intermediate transfer belt 30, and the side walls 111, 112 are connected to each other, and the “U” shape is formed downward. The bottom wall 113 is formed to be curved. The cleaning blade 105 is attached to the upper end of the side wall 111 via a holder 106.

  The holder 106 is made of a metal plate having a belt-like shape, and has one edge attached to the upper end of the side wall 111, and the other edge, in this embodiment, the front end on the downstream side in the running direction of the intermediate transfer belt 30. The cleaning blade 105 is prevented from being deformed by holding the cleaning blade 105 by being protruded toward the surface. Note that the holder 106 is deformed into an “L” shape by sheet metal processing to increase the strength.

  The cleaning blade 105 has a belt-like shape and is made of a rubber material such as elastic urethane rubber. One edge is attached to the edge of the holder 106, and the other edge, in this embodiment, the tip Is protruded toward the upstream side in the traveling direction of the intermediate transfer belt 30 and is in contact with the intermediate transfer belt 30, and attached to the intermediate transfer belt 30 as the intermediate transfer belt 30 travels. Scrap off the kimono.

  A follower roller 75 that applies a predetermined reaction force to the cleaning blade 105 so that the intermediate transfer belt 30 is not pressed and bent by the cleaning blade 105 on the back surface of the intermediate transfer belt 30 with which the tip of the cleaning blade 105 abuts. Is rotatably arranged.

  A thin film sealing member 108 as a sealing member is attached to the upper end of the side wall 112 via a holder 109.

  The holder 109 is made of a metal plate having a belt-like shape, one edge is attached to the upper end of the side wall 112, and the other edge, in this embodiment, the front end is the upstream side in the running direction of the intermediate transfer belt 30. The thin film seal member 108 is prevented from being deformed by holding the thin film seal member 108 (FIG. 4 shows the thin film seal member 108 and the holder 109 for the sake of convenience). Absent.). Note that the holder 109 is deformed into an “L” shape by sheet metal processing to increase the strength.

  The thin-film seal member 108 has a belt-like shape and is made of an elastic resin film. One edge is attached to the edge of the holder 109, and the other edge, in this embodiment, the front end is an intermediate transfer. The belt 30 is protruded toward the downstream side in the running direction and is in contact with the intermediate transfer belt 30 to allow the deposits on the intermediate transfer belt 30 to pass through.

  Further, in the scraping toner storage unit 110, a sealed space Sp is formed by the intermediate transfer belt 30, the cleaning blade 105, the thin film seal member 108 and the bottom wall 113, and the upper ends of the side walls 111 and 112 and the holders 106 and 109. In between, seals 122 and 123 made of a material such as sponge, sealing the sealed space Sp, and preventing the deposits scraped off by the cleaning blade 105 from leaking out of the sealed space Sp are provided.

  Further, a waste toner transporting member 134 as an adhering material transporting member for transporting the toner T and the like scraped by the intermediate transfer belt 30 as waste toner is rotatably disposed in the scraping toner storage unit 110. Is done. The waste toner conveying member 134 is a spiral, in the present embodiment, a coil spring having a spiral shape, and passes through an end wall 136 that closes one end of the scraping toner storage portion 110, and the scraping toner storage portion 110. It is connected to a gear g arranged outside. The gear g is connected to a waste toner transport motor (not shown) as a drive unit for transporting waste toner, and is rotated in the direction of arrow B in response to the rotation of the waste toner transport motor. The member 134 is rotated. Accordingly, the toner T in the scraping toner storage unit 110 is conveyed in the direction of arrow C.

  Further, the waste toner transported by the waste toner transport member 134 is sent to a waste toner storage chamber (not shown) as an adhering matter recovery unit and a developer recovery unit disposed at a predetermined location in the apparatus main body. And collected. Accordingly, the scraping toner storage unit 110 can be made small, and the printer 10 can be downsized.

  By the way, if the cleaning blade 105, the intermediate transfer belt 30 and the like are worn while the printer 10 is used for a long time, and the friction between the cleaning blade 105 and the intermediate transfer belt 30 increases, the durability of the first cleaning device 100 is improved. As a result, the toner T attached to the intermediate transfer belt 30 cannot be sufficiently removed. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the toner T scraped by the cleaning blade 105 is supplied as a lubricant to the contact portion between the cleaning blade 105 and the intermediate transfer belt 30 so that the tip of the cleaning blade 105 is turned and chipped. Etc. are prevented from occurring.

  For this purpose, a deposition member 133 as a lubricant supply member is disposed below the contact portion between the cleaning blade 105 and the intermediate transfer belt 30 in the sealed space Sp. The deposition member 133 is a thin film film member having a band shape and having elasticity, and in this embodiment, PET having a thickness of 0.1 [mm] or more and 0.5 [mm] or less. , PP, PE, etc., and one edge is attached to the upper end 143 of the bottom wall 113, and the other edge, in this embodiment, the front end is directed downstream in the running direction of the intermediate transfer belt 30. The deposits disposed in contact with the waste toner conveying member 134 and scraped off by the cleaning blade 105 are deposited on the deposition member 133. Note that the upper end 143 of the bottom wall 113 constitutes a mounting portion for the deposition member 133.

When the distance between the front end of the cleaning blade 105 and the front end of the deposition member 133 in the horizontal direction is LV, and the distance between the front end of the cleaning blade 105 and the front end of the deposition member 133 in the vertical direction is LH,
0 [mm] ≤ LV ≤ 5 [mm]
3 [mm] ≤ LH ≤ 10 [mm]
To be.

  In addition, the deposition member 133 is disposed to be inclined downward at a predetermined angle from one edge to the other edge (tip).

  Next, the operation of the first cleaning device 100 will be described.

  FIG. 5 is a first diagram for explaining the operation of the first cleaning device in the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a first diagram for explaining the operation of the deposition member in the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a second view for explaining the operation of the deposition member in the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a third view for explaining the operation of the deposition member in the embodiment of the present invention. 9 is a second diagram for explaining the operation of the first cleaning device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  In the figure, 30 is an intermediate transfer belt, 75 is a follower roller, 100 is a first cleaning device, 105 is a cleaning blade, 108 is a thin film seal member, 110 is a scraping toner container, 133 is a depositing member, and 134 is waste toner. It is a conveying member.

  In the second transfer unit u2 (FIG. 2), after the color toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 30 is transferred to the paper P, toner T, foreign matter γ, etc. remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 30 are intermediate. As the transfer belt 30 travels in the direction of arrow A, it is sent to the first cleaning device 100, passes between the thin film seal member 108 and the intermediate transfer belt 30, and enters the sealed space Sp.

  In the sealed space Sp, the toner T, the foreign matter γ, and the like are scraped off by the cleaning blade 105, dropped, and deposited on the deposition member 133.

  By the way, the waste toner conveying member 134 disposed under the accumulation member 133 is rotated in the direction of arrow B in response to the rotation of the waste toner conveying motor via the gear g. At this time, the waste toner conveying member 134 is rotated. Is rotated in the direction of arrow D on the deposition member 133.

  That is, when the waste toner transport motor is not driven and the rotation of the waste toner transport motor is not transmitted to the waste toner transport member 134, the stacking member 133 is placed in a substantially flat state as shown in FIG. The tip end eg of 133 is in contact with the uppermost portion q of the waste toner conveying member 134.

  Subsequently, the waste toner transport motor is driven, the rotation of the waste toner transport motor is transmitted to the waste toner transport member 134, and the waste toner transport member 134 is rotated 180 [deg.] In the direction of arrow B as shown in FIG. As shown, the spiral of the waste toner conveying member 134 apparently moves in the direction of arrow C. At this time, if the pitch of the spiral is ε, the spiral moves ε / 2 in the direction of the arrow C, and the part q moves most downward. Since the deposition member 133 is made of a resin film and easily deforms, a waveform having the same period as the helical pitch ε is formed on the deposition member 133.

  When the waste toner transport member 134 is further rotated 180 ° in the direction of arrow B, the spiral of the waste toner transport member 134 apparently further moves ε / 2 in the direction of arrow C, and the portion q is again at the uppermost position. Move to. As a result, as shown in FIG. 8, the corrugated peaks and valleys formed on the deposition member 133 are inverted.

  In this way, when the waste toner transport motor is driven and the waste toner transport member 134 is rotated in the direction of arrow B, a waveform is formed on the accumulation member 133, and the peaks and valleys are reversed, as described above. As described above, a slight vibration is generated in the accumulation member 133 in the direction of the arrow D.

  As a result, a part of the toner T scraped off by the cleaning blade 105 and deposited on the accumulation member 133 is wound up in the direction of arrow E along with the rotation of the waste toner conveyance member 134 (with the conveyance of the waste toner). , And supplied to a contact portion between the cleaning blade 105 and the intermediate transfer belt 30.

  Accordingly, the friction between the cleaning blade 105 and the intermediate transfer belt 30 does not increase, and the durability of the first cleaning device 100 can be improved. Therefore, the toner T, foreign matter γ and the like adhering to the intermediate transfer belt 30 can be sufficiently removed.

  By the way, when the toner T, foreign matter γ, etc. are excessively deposited on the deposition member 133, the toner T, foreign matter γ, etc. aggregate in the first cleaning device 100, and the cleaning blade 105 is turned up, chipped, or the like. It will not be possible to reliably prevent the occurrence.

  Therefore, as described above, the accumulation member 133 is formed from one edge to the other edge, that is, the bottom wall 113 so that the toner T, the foreign matter γ, and the like are not excessively accumulated on the accumulation member 133. From the edge attached to the upper end 143 to the tip eg, it is inclined downward at a predetermined angle. Further, the cleaning toner container 110 is directly below the cleaning blade 105, that is, from the upper end 141 on the side wall 111 side of the bottom wall 113 to the lowest point 142 of the bottom wall 113, facing the front end eg of the deposition member 133, An inclined surface Ws that is inclined in a shape is formed.

  Therefore, as fine vibration is generated in the accumulation member 133, the toner T, the foreign matter γ, and the like move toward the front end eg of the accumulation member 133 along the inclination of the accumulation member 133, and downward from the front end eg. It is dropped, guided in the direction of arrow F by the inclined surface Ws, and supplied to the waste toner conveying member 134.

  In addition, when the waste toner transport member 134 is rotated in the direction of arrow B and the spiral of the waste toner transport member 134 apparently moves in the direction of arrow C, the waveform formed on the deposition member 133 moves in the direction of arrow C, The toner T, foreign matter γ and the like on the member 133 are stirred.

  As a result, toner T, foreign matter γ, and the like are not excessively deposited on the accumulation member 133, and toner T, foreign matter γ, and the like do not aggregate in the scraping toner container 110, so that the toner T is cleaned. It is possible to reliably supply the contact portion between the blade 105 and the intermediate transfer belt 30. As the waste toner conveying member 134 rotates, the waste toner can be smoothly conveyed in the direction of arrow C.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the toner T is supplied to the contact portion between the cleaning blade 105 and the intermediate transfer belt 30 by the accumulation member 133, so that the friction between the cleaning blade 105 and the intermediate transfer belt 30 is large. Never become. Therefore, the durability of the first cleaning device 100 can be improved, and it is possible to prevent the tip of the cleaning blade 105 from turning and chipping. Foreign matter γ and the like can be sufficiently removed.

  Further, since the accumulation member 133 is disposed in contact with the waste toner conveying member 134, the toner T, the foreign matter γ, and the like accommodated in the scraping toner accommodating portion 110 are conveyed by the waste toner conveying member 134. Fine vibrations occur, and toner T, foreign matter γ, and the like are not excessively deposited on the deposition member 133. Accordingly, since the toner T, foreign matter γ, and the like do not aggregate in the scraping toner storage unit 110, the toner T, foreign matter γ, and the like can be reliably supplied to the contact portion between the cleaning blade 105 and the intermediate transfer belt 30. it can.

  In the present embodiment, the waste toner conveying member 134 is formed by a helical coil spring, but an auger having a spiral groove formed around a cylindrical bar. Etc. can be formed.

  In this embodiment, the color printer 10 is described. However, the present invention can be applied to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, an LED printer, a laser beam printer, a facsimile machine, and an MFP.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, It can change variously based on the meaning of this invention, and does not exclude them from the scope of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Printer 22 Drive roller 23 Driven roller 24 Tension roller 30 Intermediate transfer belt 105 Cleaning blade 110 Scraping toner storage part 133 Stacking member 134 Waste toner conveyance member T Toner γ

Claims (7)

(A) a belt member stretched freely by a plurality of rollers;
(B) a cleaning member that is disposed with its tip in contact with the belt member, and scrapes off deposits adhering to the belt member as the belt member travels;
(C) a deposit storage unit for storing the deposit scraped by the cleaning member;
(D) a deposit transporting member that transports the deposit stored in the deposit storage section;
(E) It is arranged in contact with the deposit transport member below the contact portion between the cleaning member and the belt member, and lubricates the contact portion as the deposit is transported by the deposit transport member. An image forming apparatus comprising: a lubricant supply member that supplies an agent.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the adhering material conveying member supplies the lubricant to the contact portion by generating a slight vibration in the lubricant supplying member as the adhering material is conveyed.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the attached matter transporting member transports the attached matter with rotation.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the adhering material conveying member is a spiral.   5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lubricant supply member is disposed to be inclined from an attachment portion to a tip end of the attached matter storage portion.   6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the attached matter storage unit has an inclined surface formed to be inclined linearly so as to face the tip of the lubricant supply member.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the deposit transported by the deposit transport member is sent to a deposit collection unit disposed in the apparatus main body.

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