JP2017203826A - Cleaning body and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cleaning body and an image forming apparatus in which cleaning performance of a chip blade having a plate spring member and a sheet metal member discretely fixed thereto is stabilized.SOLUTION: A chip blade 200 comprises an elastic member 201 pressure-welded to an image carrier at one end, a plate spring member 202 supporting the other end of the elastic member 201 and a sheet metal member 204 supporting the plate spring member 202, in which the plate spring member 202 and the sheet metal member 204 are anchored at many portions with intervals in a Y direction in the state of partly overlapping. An end 300 of the plate spring member 202 has a waveform shape. Thus, a deflection coefficient of a support member at a junction portion 211 is smaller than that at a non-junction portion 210, so that the abutting pressure of the elastic member 201 on an intermediate transfer belt can be equalized. Therefore, the wear volume of the elastic member 201 does not fluctuate, allowing cleaning performance of the chip blade 200 to be stabilized.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a cleaning body and an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to a technique for removing toner remaining on the surface of an image carrier uniformly.

  In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, a toner remaining on the surface of an image carrier after the toner image on the image carrier is transferred to a recording medium or an intermediate transfer member is cleaned by a chip blade. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the chip blade includes an elastic member 201 that presses against the image carrier 102 at one end, a plate spring-like member 202 that supports the other end of the elastic member 201, and a sheet metal that supports the plate spring-like member 202. The elastic member 201 is cleaned by stick slip that alternately repeats deformation due to static friction with the image carrier 102 and restoration due to elastic restoring force.

In this case, when the amount of deformation of the elastic member 201 varies along the main scanning direction and the contact pressure between the image carrier 102 and the elastic member 201 is not uniform in the main scanning direction, the image carrier 102 and the elastic member 201 are moved. It causes uneven wear of itself. As a result, the cleaning performance is not stable, and the residual toner removal performance is degraded.
To deal with such a problem, for example, a chip blade in which a concave portion is formed at one end of the sheet metal member 204 has been proposed. If such a sheet metal member 204 is used, the leaf spring member 202 is more easily elastically deformed at the center than at both ends in the main scanning direction of the chip blade, so that the elastic member 201 and the image carrier 102 are in contact with each other. The pressure can be made substantially uniform in the main scanning direction. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the elastic member 201 and the image carrier 102 from being worn unevenly, so that the cleaning performance can be stabilized.

JP 2008-065044 A JP 2007-033856 A JP 2004-361504 A

However, in the above prior art, the plate spring-like member 202 and the plate-like member 204 are bonded and fixed over the entire main scanning direction, but in general, by spot welding advantageous in connection strength and manufacturing cost. It is often fixed discretely along the main scanning direction.
Since the manner of distribution of the contact pressure between the elastic member 201 and the image carrier 102 in the main scanning direction differs between the case of being fixed discretely and the case of being adhesively fixed throughout, the above prior art is applied. However, the instability of the cleaning performance due to the deformation of the elastic member 201 cannot be solved.

Further, in order to secure a sufficient contact pressure regardless of the position in the main scanning direction, a measure to increase the force pressing the elastic member 201 against the image carrier 102 may be considered, but depending on the position in the main scanning direction If the pressure becomes too large, the wear of the elastic member 201 and the image carrier 102 may be accelerated and the life may be shortened.
The present invention has been made in view of the problems as described above, and stabilizes the cleaning performance of a chip blade in which a leaf spring-like member and a sheet metal-like member are discretely fixed while ensuring a sufficient life. An object of the present invention is to provide an improved cleaning body and image forming apparatus.

  In order to achieve the above object, the cleaning body according to the present invention contacts an image forming equivalent region on the surface of the image carrier along the main scanning direction, and cooperates with the rotation of the image carrier with the toner remaining in the region. And an elastic member that is scraped off by an elastic force, and a support member that supports an end surface of the elastic member that is far from the contact point with the image carrier, and each of the support members is a member of the elastic member. The plate spring-like member is composed of a sheet metal-like member and a leaf spring-like member having a width corresponding to the width, and the base end of the sheet metal-like member is fixed to a predetermined position on the image forming main body side facing the surface of the image carrier, And a leaf spring member extending from the sheet metal member toward the surface of the image carrier, and the elastic member is connected to the stretched end. Connection between the member and the sheet metal member is a state in which both members are partially overlapped A first portion including only one fixing position, using a dividing surface orthogonal to the main scanning direction, and being fixed at a plurality of positions spaced apart in the main scanning direction along the overlapping portion; The leaf spring so that the contact pressure between the image carrier and the elastic member is substantially equal between the first part and the second part when divided into the second part not including the attachment position. The shape of at least one of the sheet-like member and the sheet metal-like member changes along the main scanning direction.

  In this way, the contact pressure between the elastic member and the image carrier is made uniform in the main scanning direction without any unevenness, thereby eliminating uneven wear in the main scanning direction of the elastic member tip and causing uniform wear. be able to. Therefore, it is possible to realize excellent cleaning performance by suppressing occurrence of toner wiping residue due to residual toner slipping through the tip of the elastic member. Further, if the contact pressure between the elastic member and the image carrier is made uniform in the main scanning direction, the force for pressing the elastic member against the image carrier can be reduced compared with the case where the contact pressure is uneven. Therefore, the lifetime of the elastic member and the image carrier can be sufficiently secured.

In this case, the shape of at least one of the leaf spring member and the sheet metal member is along the main scanning direction so that the deflection coefficient of the support member is smaller in the first portion than in the second portion. It is desirable to have changed.
In the case where the first portion and the second portion have the same width in the main scanning direction, the second portion is more in plan view than the first portion in the plate spring-like member. It is desirable that the shape of the leaf spring-like member changes along the main scanning direction so that the area of the portion that does not overlap the sheet metal-like member is increased.

In this case, the wider the interval between the fastening positions in the main scanning direction, the larger the area of the second portion located within the interval that does not overlap the sheet metal member of the plate spring member. It is further preferable that the shape of the plate spring-like member changes along the main scanning direction.
In the case where the first portion and the second portion have the same width in the main scanning direction, the second portion is more planar than the first portion in the plan view. It is desirable that the shape of the sheet metal member changes along the main scanning direction so that the area of the portion where the sheet metal member overlaps increases.

In this case, the wider the interval between the fixing positions in the main scanning direction, the larger the area of the portion where the leaf spring-like member and the sheet metal-like member overlap in the second portion located within the interval. It is more preferable that the shape of the sheet metal member changes along the main scanning direction.
Further, it is desirable that the plate spring-like member and the sheet metal-like member are fixed at three or more positions.

  An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes the cleaning body according to the present invention.

1 is a cross-sectional view showing a main configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the main structures of the cleaning apparatus. 1 is an external perspective view of a chip blade 200. FIG. FIG. 9 is a diagram for comparing the floating of the leaf spring-like member 202 from the sheet metal-like member 204 in a state where the elastic member 201 is in contact with the intermediate transfer belt 102, wherein (a) shows the floating at the joining portion 211, and (b) ) Indicates floating in the non-joined portion 210. It is an external appearance perspective view of the chip blade 200 which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is an external appearance perspective view of the chip blade 200 which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is an external appearance perspective view of the chip blade 200 which concerns on the modification of this invention. It is an external appearance perspective view of the chip blade 200 which concerns on the modification of this invention. It is an external appearance perspective view of the chip blade 200 which concerns on the modification of this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of a cleaning body and an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[1] First Embodiment In the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, the end portion on the elastic member side of the plate spring-like member constituting the chip blade is welded between the plate spring-like member and the sheet metal-like member. It is characterized by a waveform shape according to the above.

(1-1) Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus First, the configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described.
As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 is a so-called tandem color printer. The image forming stations 110Y, 110M, 110C, and 110K included in the image forming apparatus 1 receive toner images of respective colors Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan), and K (black) under the control of the control unit 101. Form. For example, when a yellow toner image is formed at the image forming station 110Y, first, the charging device 112 uniformly charges the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 111.

  Next, the optical writing device 113 exposes the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 111 to form an electrostatic latent image. The developing device 114 supplies yellow toner to the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 111 to develop (develop) the electrostatic latent image to form a yellow toner image. The primary transfer roller 115 electrostatically transfers (primary transfer) the toner image from the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 111 to the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 102. The toner remaining on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 111 after the primary transfer is removed by the cleaner 116 and discarded.

The intermediate transfer belt 102 is an endless belt, is stretched around the secondary transfer roller pair 103 and the driven roller 104, and rotates and travels in the direction of arrow A while carrying a toner image.
Similarly, the magenta, cyan, and black toner images formed by the image forming stations 110M, 110C, and 110K are primary-transferred onto the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 102 so as to overlap with the yellow toner image. As a result, a color toner image is formed. The intermediate transfer belt 102 conveys the color toner image to the secondary transfer nip of the secondary transfer roller pair 103.

The sheet feeding cassette 120 stores recording sheets S, and the pickup roller 121 sends out the recording sheets S one by one. When the recording sheet S reaches the timing roller 122, conveyance is temporarily stopped, and then the recording sheet S is conveyed to the secondary transfer roller pair 103 in synchronization with the conveyance of the color toner image by the intermediate transfer belt 102.
The secondary transfer roller pair 103 electrostatically transfers (secondary transfer) the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 102 onto the recording sheet S. After the secondary transfer, the toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 102 is scraped off by the cleaning device 100 and discarded. The recording sheet S to which the toner image has been transferred is thermally fixed on the toner image by the fixing device 105 and then discharged onto the discharge tray 107 by the discharge roller 106.

The control unit 101 is connected to a communication network (not shown) such as a LAN (Local Area Network), and accepts a print job from another device.
(1-2) Configuration of Cleaning Device 100 Next, the configuration of the cleaning device 100 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 2, the cleaning device 100 has a configuration in which a chip blade (cleaning body) 200 is accommodated in a housing 210. An opening 211 is provided in the housing 210 in order to bring the tip blade 200 into contact with the intermediate transfer belt 102 wound around the driven roller 104. With the opening 211 facing the intermediate transfer belt 102, the housing 210 is disposed close to the intermediate transfer belt 102.

  The chip blade 200 includes an elastic member 201, a leaf spring-like member 202, and a sheet metal-like member 204, and the elastic member 201 is bonded and fixed to the leaf spring-like member 202. The leaf spring-like member 202 and the sheet metal-like member 204 are spot welded in a state where a part thereof is overlapped with each other. A spot welded portion 203 by spot welding penetrates the plate spring-like member 202 and the sheet metal-like member 204.

  In spot welding, for example, the plate spring member 202 and the plate member 204 are heated by laser irradiation in a state where the plate spring member 202 is pressed against the plate member 204. As a result, the plate spring member 202 and the sheet metal member 204 are melted and solidified and welded. Laser spot welding is mainly used for welding small and thin objects that require precision. The laser is used in a pulse oscillation mode or a pulse gating mode, and has a merit that heat input is small because of a very short heating time for high output, and distortion is small after welding.

  The sheet metal member 204 supports the plate spring member 202 so that the elastic member 201 receives contact pressure from the image carrier in a state where the elastic member 201 is in contact with the intermediate transfer belt 102. For this reason, the sheet metal member 204 has a substantially L-shaped cross section, and the end opposite to the plate spring member 202 is screwed to the housing 210 (not shown). Here, the contact pressure can be expressed by the magnitude of the force applied by the elastic member 201 to the image carrier in the longitudinal unit length of the portion where the elastic member 201 contacts the image carrier.

As a material of the elastic member 201, for example, thermosetting urethane rubber having excellent mechanical properties such as wear resistance, chipping resistance, and creep resistance can be used. Further, it is desirable to use stainless steel (SUS) for the leaf spring-like member 202.
With the elastic member 201 in pressure contact with the intermediate transfer belt 102, spot welding is performed at three or more locations along the direction parallel to the axial direction of the driven roller 104, in other words, along the main scanning direction. Here, instead of spot welding, the leaf spring member 202 and the sheet metal member 204 may be fastened by discrete means (screws or the like) other than spot welding.

When the intermediate transfer belt 102 is rotated in the direction of arrow A while the chip blade 200 is in contact with the intermediate transfer belt 102, the residual toner on the outer surface of the intermediate transfer belt 102 is scraped off by the elastic member 201. It falls into the housing 210.
In order to prevent the residual toner that has fallen into the housing 210 from spilling out of the housing 210, a seal member that closes the gap between the lower end portion 212 of the opening 211 of the housing 210 and the intermediate transfer belt 102 is attached to the housing 210. You may wear it. As the seal member, for example, a thermoplastic polyurethane film can be used.

Also, residual toner conveying means (auger or the like) (not shown) is disposed inside the housing 210 and conveys residual toner that has fallen into the housing 210 to the outside of the housing 210. As a result, the residual toner is collected in the waste toner collection box.
In the following, a portion of the chip blade 200 including the plate spring-like member 202, the spot welded portion 203, and the sheet metal-like member 204 is referred to as a “support member”.

(1-3) Configuration of Chip Blade 200 Next, the configuration of the chip blade 200 will be described in more detail.
FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of the chip blade 200. In FIG. 3, the axial direction of the driven roller 104 is the Y direction (main scanning direction) in a state where the chip blade 200 is attached to the image forming apparatus 1. Further, in a state where no external force is applied to the chip blade 200, the direction orthogonal to the Y direction in the main surface of the leaf spring-like member 202 is defined as the X direction, and the direction orthogonal to the X and Y directions is defined as the Z direction.

As shown in FIG. 3, the plate spring-like member 202 constituting the tip blade 200 has an end portion 300 on the side where the elastic member 201 is attached in a plan view. This waveform shape is a combination of semicircles having the same radius.
In the corrugated end portion 300, the portion corresponding to the spot welded portion 203 in the Y direction (the portion corresponding to the alternate long and short dash line BB in FIG. 3) is closest to the sheet metal member 204 side in the X direction. In addition, a location (a location corresponding to the alternate long and short dash line CC in FIG. 3) located just in the middle between adjacent spot welds 203 in the Y direction is farthest from the sheet metal member 204 in the X direction.

  Hereinafter, when the support member is viewed in a plan view from the Z direction, it is more in the Y direction than the intermediate position between the spot welded portions 203 adjacent in the Y direction (a location corresponding to the alternate long and short dash line CC in FIG. 3). A portion close to the spot welded portion 203 is referred to as a “joined portion” of the support member, and a portion other than the “joined portion” of the support member is referred to as a “non-joined portion”. In FIG. 3, the joining portion 211 and the non-joining portion 210 are both shown as portions sandwiched between two-dot chain lines.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the leaf spring member 202 is directly fixed to the sheet metal member 204 by spot welding at the joining portion 211, so that the joining portion is caused by the elastic member 201 coming into contact with the intermediate transfer belt 102. Even if stress is applied to 211, the portion of the joint portion 211 where the leaf spring member 202 overlaps the sheet metal member 204 is not easily deformed. For this reason, the leaf | plate spring-like member 202 maintains the state closely_contact | adhered to the sheet-metal-like member 204. FIG.

On the other hand, in the non-joined portion 210, the leaf spring member 202 is not directly fixed to the sheet metal member 204, but the leaf spring member 202 is indirectly fixed to the sheet metal member 204 via the joint portion 211. . For this reason, when stress is applied to the non-joined portion 210, the portion of the leaf spring member 202 that overlaps the sheet metal member 204 is deformed to some extent and floats.
In this way, in the state where the deformation amount of the leaf spring-like member 202 is different between the joining portion 211 and the non-joining portion 210 where the sheet metal-like member 204 overlaps (the state where there is a floating unevenness), When the portion 300 has a linear shape parallel to the Y direction, the elastic restoring force of the leaf spring-like member 202 differs between the joined portion 211 and the non-joined portion 210. For this reason, when the end portion 300 of the plate spring-like member 202 is aligned with the end portion of the elastic member 201, the contact pressure between the elastic member 201 and the intermediate transfer belt 102 is also uneven along the Y direction.

  In order to solve such a problem, if the end portion 300 of the leaf spring-like member 202 is corrugated, the joint portion 211 is elastic in the joint portion 211 when the joint portion 211 and the non-joint portion 210 have the same width in the Y direction. The support area of the plate spring-like member 202 that supports the member 201 (the area that does not overlap the plate-like member 204 of the plate spring-like member 202 in plan view from the Z direction) is smaller than the support area of the non-joined portion 210.

Thereby, the deflection coefficient of the support member in the joint portion 211 is smaller than the deflection coefficient of the support member in the non-joint portion 210. Here, the deflection coefficient is a coefficient representing the magnitude of the reaction force (elastic force to return the deflection) generated when the member is deflected by the unit deflection amount.
Further, since the elastic member 201 is made of a material that is more easily elastically deformed than the plate spring-like member 202, the portion of the elastic member 201 that has a smaller support area by the plate spring-like member 202 contacts the intermediate transfer belt 102. Easy to bend by contact pressure. For this reason, since the elastic member 201 has a smaller support area in the Y direction in the portion corresponding to the bonding portion 211 than in the portion corresponding to the non-bonding portion 210, the elastic member 201 is easily bent.

  In this way, the variation in the contact pressure due to the floating unevenness can be eliminated, and the contact pressure of the elastic member 201 with respect to the intermediate transfer belt 102 can be made uniform in the Y direction. Accordingly, the amount of wear at the tip portion of the elastic member 201 that contacts the intermediate transfer belt 102 does not vary in the Y direction, so that the cleaning performance of the chip blade 200 can be stabilized.

[2] Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
The image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment has substantially the same configuration as the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment, but differs in the shape of the leaf spring-like member 202 provided in the chip blade 200. Yes. Hereinafter, description will be made by paying attention to this difference. In the present specification, the same reference numerals are given to members and the like that are common to the embodiments.

  Also in the present embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, when the leaf spring-like member 202 is viewed in plan from the Z direction, an exactly intermediate position between the spot welds 203 adjacent in the Y direction. A portion closer to the spot welded portion 203 in the Y direction is referred to as a “joined portion”, and a portion other than the “joined portion” is referred to as a “non-joined portion”. Further, a portion of the chip blade 200 including the plate spring-like member 202, the spot welded portion 203, and the sheet metal-like member 204 is referred to as “support member”.

As shown in FIG. 5, the chip blade 200 according to the present embodiment is provided with a rectangular through hole 500 in the leaf spring-like member 202 when viewed in plan from the Z direction. Further, the end portion 501 of the leaf spring-like member 202 on the elastic member 201 side is a straight line parallel to the Y direction and coincides with the end portion of the elastic member 201.
In this way, when the joint portion 211 and the non-joint portion 210 have the same width in the Y direction, the support area at the joint portion 211 is smaller than the support area at the non-joint portion 210. In addition, the deflection coefficient of the support member in the joint portion 211 is smaller than the deflection coefficient of the support member in the non-joint portion 210. As a result, the influence of the floating unevenness is offset, so that the contact pressure between the elastic member 201 and the intermediate transfer belt 102 is made uniform in the Y direction (the axial direction of the driven roller 104). Accordingly, the amount of wear at the tip of the elastic member 201 does not vary in the Y direction, so that the cleaning performance can be stabilized.

[3] Third Embodiment Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.
The image forming apparatus according to the third embodiment has substantially the same configuration as the image forming apparatuses according to the first and second embodiments, while the shape of the leaf spring-like member 202 included in the chip blade 200 and The shape of the sheet metal member 204 is different. Hereinafter, description will be made by paying attention to this difference.

In the chip blade 200 according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, when viewed in plan from the Z direction, the end portion 600 on the leaf spring-like member 202 side of the sheet metal-like member 204 has a corrugated shape. . Similar to the end portion 300 of the leaf spring-like member 202 in the first embodiment, this corrugated shape is a shape in which semicircles having the same radius are combined.
In the end portion 600 of the waveform shape, the portion corresponding to the spot welded portion 203 in the Y direction (the portion corresponding to the alternate long and short dash line BB in FIG. 6) is farthest from the elastic member 201 side in the X direction. In addition, a location (a location corresponding to the alternate long and short dash line CC in FIG. 6) located just in the middle between adjacent spot welds 203 in the Y direction is closest to the elastic member 201 in the X direction.

The end portion 601 of the leaf spring-like member 202 on the elastic member 201 side is a straight line parallel to the Y direction, like the end portion 501 of the leaf spring-like member 202 in the second embodiment. , Which coincides with the end of the elastic member 201.
In this way, when the joint portion 211 and the non-joint portion 210 have the same width in the Y direction, the support area of the sheet metal member 204 that supports the leaf spring member 202 in the joint portion 211 (from the Z direction). In the plan view, the area where the leaf spring member 202 and the sheet metal member 204 overlap) is smaller than the support area in the non-joined portion 210.

  Further, since the deflection coefficient of the support member in the joining portion 211 is smaller than the deflection coefficient of the support member in the non-joining portion 210, the contact pressure between the elastic member 201 and the intermediate transfer belt 102 is the Y direction (the axis of the driven roller 104). Direction). Accordingly, the amount of wear at the tip of the elastic member 201 does not vary in the Y direction, so that the cleaning performance can be stabilized.

[4] Modifications As described above, the present invention has been described based on the embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and the following modifications can be implemented. .
(1) In the first embodiment, the case where the end portion 300 of the leaf spring-like member 202 has a corrugated shape in plan view has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Needless to say, the following may be used instead. In the first embodiment, the waveform is a combination of semicircles having the same radius, but an arc having a smaller central angle than the semicircle may be used, or at least the center angle and the radius may be used. You may combine the circular arc from which one side mutually differs.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the end portion 700 of the leaf spring-like member 202 may have a mountain shape (Δ shape), and as shown in FIG. 8, the end portion 800 of the leaf spring-like member 202 has a trapezoidal shape. It may be. Furthermore, the effect of the present invention can be obtained even when the waveform shape is other than an arc, such as a sine wave shape.
(2) In the second embodiment, the case where the leaf spring member 202 is provided with the rectangular through-hole 500 in plan view has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. Instead of this, a through-hole 500 other than a rectangular shape such as a triangular shape, a polygonal shape having five or more corners, or a circular shape or an elliptical shape may be provided.

  (3) In the third embodiment, the case where the end portion 600 of the sheet metal member 204 has a corrugated shape in plan view has been described as an example, but it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to this. Alternatively, the following may be used instead. In the first embodiment, the waveform is a combination of semicircles having the same radius, but an arc having a smaller central angle than the semicircle may be used, or at least the center angle and the radius may be used. You may combine the circular arc from which one side mutually differs.

Further, the end portion 700 of the sheet metal member 204 may have a mountain shape (Δ shape) or a trapezoidal shape. Furthermore, the effect of the present invention is the same even if the waveform shape is other than an arc, such as a sine wave shape.
(4) In the above embodiment, the case where the number of spot welds 203 is four has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the number of spot welds 203 may be three. It may be five or more.

  Further, the intervals between the spot welds 203 in the Y direction may be equal intervals or unequal intervals. When the distance between the spot welds 203 in the Y direction is unequal, the distance between the spot welds 203 sandwiching the non-joint part in the Y direction is compared with the non-joint part 210 having the same width in the Y direction. It is desirable to increase the support area as the width increases.

  (5) In the second embodiment, the case where the through-hole 500 provided in the leaf spring-like member 202 overlaps the elastic member 201 in a plan view from the Z direction has been described as an example. Needless to say, the following may be used instead. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, a plate spring-like member 202 in which only a part of the through-hole 900 overlaps with the elastic member 201 in a plan view from the Z direction may be used.

  Alternatively, a plate spring-like member 202 having a through hole that does not overlap the elastic member 201 in plan view from the Z direction may be used. Even in this case, the support area in the non-joint portion 210 (the area that does not overlap the sheet metal member 204 of the plate spring-like member 202 in plan view from the Z direction) can be made smaller than the support area in the joint portion 211. Therefore, the contact pressure between the elastic member 201 and the intermediate transfer belt 102 can be made uniform in the Y direction.

Also in this embodiment, it goes without saying that the through hole 900 is not limited to a rectangular shape, and the through hole 900 may have a shape other than the rectangular shape.
(6) In the above embodiment, the case where the intermediate transfer belt 102 is cleaned has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the chip blade for cleaning the photosensitive drum 111 is also described. The same effect can be obtained by applying.

  (7) In the above-described embodiment, the case where the image forming apparatus 1 is a tandem type color printer has been described as an example. The present invention may be applied to a printer. The same effect can be obtained even if the present invention is applied to a copying machine equipped with a scanner, a facsimile machine equipped with a facsimile communication function, and a multi-function peripheral (MFP) equipped with these functions. Can do.

  The cleaning body and the image forming apparatus according to the present invention are useful as an apparatus that uniformly removes toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier.

1 ……………… Image forming apparatus 100 ………… Cleaning device 102 ………… Intermediate transfer belt 200 ………… Tip blade 201 ………… Elastic member 202 ………… Plate spring-like member 204... Sheet metal-like member 203... Spot welded portion 210. Ends 500, 900 ... through-holes

Claims (8)

An elastic member that abuts the image forming surface on the surface of the image carrier along the main scanning direction and scrapes the toner remaining in the region by elastic force in cooperation with the rotation of the image carrier;
A support member that supports an end face on the side far from the contact portion of the elastic member with the image carrier,
Each of the support members includes a sheet metal member and a leaf spring member each having a width corresponding to the width of the elastic member, and the base end of the sheet metal member is positioned at a predetermined position on the image forming body side facing the surface of the image carrier. A configuration in which the base end of the plate spring-like member is connected to the tip, the plate spring-like member extends from the plate-like member toward the surface of the image carrier, and the elastic member is connected to the extension end. A cleaning body,
The connection between the leaf spring-like member and the sheet metal-like member is fastened at a plurality of locations separated in the main scanning direction along the overlapped portion in a state where both the members are partially overlapped,
When dividing into a first part including only one fixing position and a second part not including the fixing position using a dividing surface orthogonal to the main scanning direction,
The shape of at least one of the leaf spring member and the sheet metal member is such that the contact pressure between the image carrier and the elastic member is substantially equal between the first portion and the second portion. A cleaning body, wherein the first portion and the second portion change along a main scanning direction. At least one of the leaf spring-like member and the sheet metal-like member changes along the main scanning direction so that the deflection coefficient of the support member is smaller in the first portion than in the second portion. The cleaning body according to claim 1. In the case where the first portion and the second portion have the same width in the main scanning direction,
The shape of the plate spring-like member is larger in the main scanning direction than the first portion so that the area of the second portion of the plate spring-like member that does not overlap the plate-like member is larger in plan view than the first portion. The cleaning body according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning body changes along the line. The larger the interval between the fixing positions in the main scanning direction, the larger the area of the portion of the second portion located within the interval that does not overlap the sheet metal member becomes larger. The cleaning member according to claim 1, wherein the shape of the member changes along the main scanning direction. In the case where the first portion and the second portion have the same width in the main scanning direction,
The shape of the sheet metal member in the main scanning direction is larger in the second portion than in the first portion so that the area of the portion where the plate spring member and the sheet metal member overlap is larger in plan view. The cleaning body according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the cleaning body changes along the line. As the interval between the fixing positions in the main scanning direction is wider, the area of the portion where the plate spring member and the sheet metal member overlap in the second portion located within the interval increases. The cleaning body according to claim 1, wherein the shape of the cleaning body changes along the main scanning direction. The cleaning body according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the plate spring-like member and the sheet metal-like member are fixed at three or more positions. An image forming apparatus comprising the cleaning body according to claim 1.

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