JP2019008049A - Lubricant supply device, image forming unit, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To reduce the occurrence of defective supply of solid lubricant compared with a case where a lubricant supply device does not comprise a buffer member interposed between a solid lubricant and a plate-like member that holds the solid lubricant.SOLUTION: A lubricant supply member comprises: a solid lubricant 176 that is held by a metal plate-like member 177; a cleaning brush 172 that is driven to rotate in contact with a photoreceptor drum 11 to supply the solid lubricant 176 to the photoreceptor drum 11; and a buffer member 180 that is interposed between the solid lubricant 176 and plate-like member 177.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a lubricant supply device, an image forming unit, and an image forming apparatus.

  Conventionally, as a technique related to the lubricant supply device, for example, those disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3 have already been proposed.

  Patent Document 1 has a latent image carrier, a developing unit, a plurality of image forming units each including a lubricant application unit that applies a lubricant to the surface of the latent image carrier, and an endless belt member. The latent image carriers of the plurality of image forming means are respectively brought into contact with the front surface of the belt member to form a plurality of transfer nips, and the visible images on the latent image carriers are visible at the respective transfer nips. In an image forming apparatus for transferring an image to the front surface or a recording sheet held on the front surface, at least a first latent image carrier and a second of the plurality of latent image carriers. The latent image carriers are respectively pressed against individual belt extension regions of the belt member, and the respective belt extension regions are partially applied to the peripheral surface of the first latent image carrier and the peripheral surface of the second latent image carrier. To form the transfer nip, and the second In which omitting the lubricant applying means in the image forming means comprises an image bearing member.

  Patent Document 2 discloses a solid lubricant, an application member that applies a lubricant powder scraped from the solid lubricant to an object to be coated, a holding member that holds the solid lubricant, and an urging force of the holding member. And a biasing means for bringing the solid lubricant on the holding member into contact with the application member, and a groove for restricting movement of the solid lubricant toward the application member in a predetermined direction. Is provided on a facing member disposed to face the holding member, and a convex part for engaging with the groove is provided on the holding member.

  Patent Document 3 discloses a solid lubricant, a lubricant holding member that supports the solid lubricant, a lubricant holder that houses the solid lubricant and the lubricant holding member, and the solid lubricant to be coated. In a lubricant application device, comprising: a lubricant application means for applying to an object; and a pressing means for pressing the lubricant holding member between the lubricant holding member and the lubricant holder. The frictional resistance reducing member is interposed on the sliding contact surface with the lubricant holding member.

JP 2014-077784 A JP 2011-197122 A JP 2007-219506 A

  The object of the present invention is to suppress the occurrence of poor supply of solid lubricant as compared with the case where a buffer member interposed between the solid lubricant and the plate-like member holding the solid lubricant is not provided. There is to do.

The invention described in claim 1 is a solid lubricant held on a metal plate-like member;
A rotating member that rotates in contact with the image carrier and supplies the solid lubricant to the image carrier;
A buffer member interposed between the solid lubricant and the plate member;
A lubricant supply device.

In the invention described in claim 2, the plate-like member is supported rotatably about a fulcrum,
2. The lubricant supply device according to claim 1, wherein the solid lubricant held by the plate-like member is in contact with the surface of the rotating member by its own weight.

The invention described in claim 3 is a solid lubricant held on a metal plate-like member;
A supply member for supplying the solid lubricant to the supply member;
A cushioning member for relaxing the impact transmitted to the solid lubricant through the plate-like member;
A lubricant supply device.

  The invention described in claim 4 is the lubricant supply device according to claim 3, wherein the buffer member is interposed between the solid lubricant and the plate-like member.

The invention described in claim 5 is the lubricant supply device according to claim 3, wherein the buffer member is disposed on a surface of the plate-like member on the lubricant supply device main body side.
In the invention described in claim 6, the plate-like member is arranged to be rotatable around a fulcrum,
The lubricant supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the solid lubricant is disposed at an outer peripheral end portion along a radial direction of the plate-like member and contacts the supply member by its own weight.

  The invention described in claim 7 is the lubricant supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the solid lubricant is arranged so that an area in contact with the supply member increases with wear. It is.

The invention described in claim 8 is configured to be rotatable and to hold an image holding member for holding a toner image,
A solid lubricant held by a metal plate member;
A cleaning member that supplies the solid lubricant to the image carrier while cleaning the surface of the image carrier;
A buffer member interposed between the solid lubricant and the plate member;
An image forming unit.

  The invention described in claim 9 is an image forming apparatus including the lubricant supply device described in any one of claims 1 to 7 or the image forming unit described in claim 8.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the supply of the solid lubricant is achieved as compared with the case where the buffer member interposed between the solid lubricant and the plate-like member holding the solid lubricant is not provided. It is possible to suppress the occurrence of defects.

  According to the invention described in claim 2, the solid lubricant held by the plate-like member is attached to the solid lubricant as compared with the case where the solid lubricant is not configured to contact the surface of the rotating member by its own weight. The structure can be simplified.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the solid lubricant can be stably supplied as compared with the case where the shock absorbing member for reducing the impact transmitted to the solid lubricant is not provided via the plate-like member. Can do.

  According to the invention described in claim 4, the shock-absorbing member suppresses an impact from directly acting on the solid lubricant as compared with a case where the buffer member is not interposed between the solid lubricant and the plate-like member. can do.

According to the invention described in claim 5, the buffer member is not disposed on the surface of the plate-like member on the lubricant supply device main body side, and the plate-like member is on the lubricant supply device main body side. By striking the surface, it is possible to suppress the impact from acting on the solid lubricant.
According to the invention described in claim 6, the plate-like member is arranged so as to be rotatable around a fulcrum, and the solid lubricant is arranged at an outer peripheral end portion along a radial direction of the plate-like member. The solid lubricant can be supplied with a simple configuration as compared with the case where the supply member is not brought into contact with the supply member by its own weight.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the solid lubricant is consumed as the solid lubricant is consumed as compared with a case where the solid lubricant is not disposed so as to increase the area in contact with the supply member as consumed. Even when the dead weight is reduced, the solid lubricant can be stably supplied.

  According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the solid lubricant can be supplied more stably than in the case where the image forming unit does not include a buffer member interposed between the solid lubricant and the plate-like member. be able to.

  According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, solid lubrication is possible as compared with the case where the lubricant supply device according to any one of the first to seventh aspects or the image forming unit according to the eighth aspect is not provided. The agent can be supplied stably.

1 is a configuration diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus to which a lubricant supply device and an image forming unit according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention are applied. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating an image forming unit of an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention; It is a perspective block diagram which shows a photoconductive drum unit. FIG. 2 is a perspective configuration diagram illustrating a main body of a photosensitive drum unit. FIG. 2 is a partially broken perspective view showing a photosensitive drum unit. It is a perspective view showing a holding member holding a solid lubricant. It is a perspective block diagram which expands and shows the principal part of the holding member holding the solid lubricant. It is a perspective block diagram which expands and shows the principal part of the holding member holding the conventional solid lubricant. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a partially broken perspective configuration diagram showing a main part of a drum cleaning device as a lubricant supply device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. It is a cross-sectional block diagram which shows the principal part of the drum cleaning apparatus as a lubricant supply apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[Embodiment 1]
1 and 2 show an image forming apparatus to which the lubricant supply device and the image forming unit according to the first embodiment are applied. FIG. 1 shows an outline of the whole image forming apparatus, and FIG.

<Overall Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus>
The image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment is configured as a color printer, for example. The image forming apparatus 1 holds a plurality of image forming apparatuses 10 that form toner images developed with toner constituting the developer 4 and the toner images formed by the respective image forming apparatuses 10 and finally An intermediate transfer device 20 that transports to a secondary transfer position T2 for secondary transfer to a recording paper 5 as an example of a recording medium, and a required recording paper 5 to be supplied to the secondary transfer position T2 of the intermediate transfer device 20 are accommodated. And a fixing device 40 for fixing the toner image on the recording paper 5 secondarily transferred by the intermediate transfer device 20. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1a denotes an apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus 1, and the apparatus main body 1a is formed of a support structure member, an exterior cover, or the like. A broken line in the figure indicates a main conveyance path through which the recording paper 5 is conveyed inside the apparatus main body 1a.

  The image forming apparatus 10 includes four image forming apparatuses 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K that respectively form four color toner images of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). It is configured. These four image forming devices 10 (Y, M, C, K) are arranged in a line along the horizontal direction in the internal space of the device main body 1a.

  Each image forming device 10 (Y, M, C, K) includes a photosensitive drum 11 as an example of a rotating image carrier, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and this photosensitive drum 11. The following devices are mainly arranged around the. The main devices are a charging device 12 that charges a peripheral surface (image holding surface) on the photosensitive drum 11 on which an image can be formed to a required potential, and image information (on the charged peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 11). The exposure device 13 as an example of an electrostatic latent image forming unit that irradiates light based on a signal to form an electrostatic latent image (for each color) having a potential difference, and the corresponding color (Y , M, C, K) developing device 14 (Y, M, C, K) as an example of a developing unit that develops a toner image by developing with toner of developer 4 and intermediate transfer device 20 A primary transfer device 15 for transferring the toner image, a pre-cleaning static eliminating device 16 for discharging before cleaning the image holding surface of the photosensitive drum 11 after the primary transfer, and an image holding surface of the photosensitive drum 11 after the primary transfer. Drum cleaning device 17 that removes and removes adhered matters such as toner Etc.

  The photosensitive drum 11 is formed by forming an image holding surface having a photoconductive layer (photosensitive layer) made of a photosensitive material on the peripheral surface of a cylindrical or columnar base material to be grounded. The photosensitive drum 11 is supported so as to rotate in a direction indicated by an arrow A when power is transmitted from a rotation driving device (not shown).

  The charging device 12 is configured by a non-contact type charging device such as a corona discharger that is disposed without being in contact with the photosensitive drum 11. In addition, as the charging device 12, a contact-type charging device such as a charging roll disposed in contact with the photosensitive drum 11 may be used.

  The exposure device 13 irradiates the charged peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 11 with a laser beam LB configured according to image information input to the image forming apparatus 1 to form an electrostatic latent image. To form. When the latent image is formed, image information (signal) input to the image forming apparatus 1 by any means is transmitted to the exposure apparatus 13. The exposure device 13 is an LED print head that forms an electrostatic latent image by irradiating light to the photosensitive drum 11 with LEDs as a plurality of light emitting elements arranged along the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 11. It may be used.

  As shown in FIG. 2, each of the developing devices 14 (Y, M, C, K) holds the developer 4 inside a housing 140 in which an opening and a storage chamber for the developer 4 are formed. Held by the developing roll 141, the developing roll 141 that conveys the developing drum 141 facing the photosensitive drum 11, the agitating and conveying members 142 and 143 such as a screw auger that conveys the developer 4 while passing the developing roll 141 while stirring. And a layer thickness regulating member 144 that regulates the amount (layer thickness) of the developer to be developed. A developing voltage is supplied to the developing device 14 from a power supply device (not shown) between the developing roll 141 and the photosensitive drum 11. Further, the developing roll 141 and the agitating / conveying members 142 and 143 are rotated in a required direction by receiving power from a rotation driving device (not shown). Further, as the four-color developer 4 (Y, M, C, K), a two-component developer containing a nonmagnetic toner and a magnetic carrier is used.

  The primary transfer device 15 is in contact with the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 11 at the primary transfer position T1 via the intermediate transfer belt 21 and rotates, and a contact type transfer device including a primary transfer roll to which a primary transfer voltage is supplied. It is. As the primary transfer voltage, a DC voltage having a polarity opposite to the charging polarity of the toner is supplied from a power supply device (not shown).

  The pre-cleaning static eliminator 16 is constituted by a static eliminator such as a corotron that neutralizes the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 after the primary transfer is completed by applying an electric charge having a polarity opposite to the charged polarity of the toner.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the drum cleaning device 17 is disposed inside a container-shaped main body 170 and removes adhered matter such as residual toner and cleans it, and removes adhered matter such as residual toner. A cleaning brush 172 to be cleaned and a delivery member 173 such as a screw auger that collects and removes adhering substances such as toner removed by the cleaning plate 171 and the cleaning brush 172 and sends them to a collection system (not shown). The drum cleaning device 17 also has a function as a lubricant supply device, as will be described in detail later.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the intermediate transfer device 20 is disposed so as to exist at a position below each image forming device 10 (Y, M, C, K). The intermediate transfer device 20 includes an intermediate transfer belt 21 that circulates in a direction indicated by an arrow B while passing through a primary transfer position T1 between the photosensitive drum 11 and the primary transfer device 15 (primary transfer roll), and an intermediate transfer belt. A plurality of belt support rolls 22 to 27 that hold the belt 21 in a desired state from its inner periphery and support the belt 21 so as to be circulated, and an outer peripheral surface (image holding surface) of the intermediate transfer belt 21 supported by the belt support roll 26. ) And a secondary transfer device 30 that secondary-transfers the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 21 onto the recording paper 5, and remains on the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 21 after passing through the secondary transfer device 30. The belt cleaning device 28 mainly removes adhering substances such as adhering toner and paper dust and cleans them.

  As the intermediate transfer belt 21, for example, an endless belt made of a material in which a resistance adjusting agent such as carbon black is dispersed in a synthetic resin such as polyimide resin or polyamide resin is used. The belt support roll 22 is configured as a drive roll, the belt support rolls 23 and 25 are configured as driven rolls that hold the travel position of the intermediate transfer belt 21, and the belt support roll 24 applies tension to the intermediate transfer belt 21. The belt support roll 26 is configured as a secondary transfer backup roll, and the belt support roll 27 is configured as a support roll that supports the back surface of the intermediate transfer belt 21 that the belt cleaning device 28 contacts. Yes.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the secondary transfer device 30 rotates at a secondary transfer position T <b> 2 that is an outer peripheral surface portion of the intermediate transfer belt 21 supported by the belt support roll 26 in the intermediate transfer device 20. It is configured as a belt device. The secondary transfer device 30 circulates while holding the secondary transfer belt 31 from its inner periphery in a desired state while circulating through the secondary transfer position T2 in a direction indicated by an arrow C while passing through the secondary transfer position T2. A plurality of belt support rolls 32 and 33 that are movably supported, and a belt cleaning device 34 that cleans the surface of the secondary transfer belt 31 are provided. The belt support roll 32 functions as a secondary transfer roll.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the fixing device 40 includes a roll-type or belt-type heating rotator 41 that is heated by a heating means (heat source) so that the surface temperature is maintained at a predetermined temperature, and this heating unit. A roll-type or belt-type pressurizing rotator 42 that rotates in contact with the rotator 41 at a required pressure is arranged. In the fixing device 40, a contact portion where the heating rotator 41 and the pressing rotator 42 come into contact becomes a fixing processing unit that performs a required fixing process (heating and pressing).

  As shown in FIG. 1, the paper feeding device 50 is disposed so as to exist at a position below the intermediate transfer device 20. The paper feeding device 50 is a single (or plural) paper container 51 that accommodates recording papers 5 of a desired size and type, and sends out the recording paper 5 from the paper container 51 one by one. The apparatus 52 is mainly configured. The paper container 51 is attached so that it can be pulled out, for example, to the front side (side surface on which the user faces during operation) of the apparatus main body 1a.

  Between the paper feeding device 50 and the secondary transfer device 30, a plurality of (or a single) paper transporting roll pairs 53 to 56 for transporting the recording paper 5 delivered from the paper feeding device 50 to the secondary transfer position T <b> 2, as illustrated. A paper feed conveyance path 57 composed of a non-conveyance guide is provided. The pair of paper transporting rolls 56 disposed at the position immediately before the secondary transfer position T2 in the paper feed transporting path 57 is configured as a roll (registration roll) that adjusts the transporting timing of the recording paper 5, for example.

  Further, between the secondary transfer device 30 and the fixing device 40, a plurality (or a single) of paper conveyance belts 58 and 59 for conveying the recording paper 5 delivered from the secondary transfer device 30 to the fixing device 40 and a conveyance guide. A paper conveyance path 61 composed of 60 is provided.

  On the downstream side of the fixing device 40, a paper discharge roll 62 for discharging the recording paper 5 on which the toner image is fixed by the fixing device 40 to a paper discharge portion (not shown) disposed on the side surface of the apparatus main body 1a is provided. A paper discharge conveyance path 63 is provided.

<Basic operation of image forming apparatus>
Hereinafter, a basic image forming operation by the image forming apparatus 1 will be described.

  Here, when the four image forming devices 10 (Y, M, C, K) are used to form a full-color image configured by combining toner images of four colors (Y, M, C, K). The image forming operation will be described.

  When the image forming apparatus 1 receives command information for requesting an image forming operation (printing), the four image forming apparatuses 10 (Y, M, C, K), the intermediate transfer apparatus 20, the secondary transfer apparatus 30, and the fixing apparatus. 40 etc. starts.

  In each image forming device 10 (Y, M, C, K), each photoconductor drum 11 is first rotated in the direction indicated by an arrow A, and each charging device 12 makes a required surface of each photoconductor drum 11 on the surface. It is charged with a polarity (negative polarity in the first embodiment) and a potential. Subsequently, the exposure apparatus 13 converts the image information input to the image forming apparatus 1 into each color component (Y, M, C, K) with respect to the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 after charging. The laser beam LB emitted based on the above signal is irradiated to form an electrostatic latent image of each color component constituted by a required potential difference on the surface thereof.

  Subsequently, each developing device 14 (Y, M, C, K) has a corresponding color charged with a required polarity (minus polarity) with respect to the electrostatic latent image of each color component formed on the photosensitive drum 11. (Y, M, C, K) toners are respectively supplied and electrostatically adhered to perform development. By this development, the electrostatic latent images of the respective color components formed on the respective photosensitive drums 11 are visualized as toner images of four colors (Y, M, C, K) respectively developed with the corresponding color toners. It becomes.

  Subsequently, when the toner images of the respective colors formed on the photosensitive drums 11 of the respective image forming devices 10 (Y, M, C, K) are conveyed to the primary transfer position T1, the primary transfer device 15 causes the respective colors. Are transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 21 rotating in the direction indicated by the arrow B of the intermediate transfer device 20 in such a manner that the toner images are sequentially superimposed.

  In each image forming apparatus 10 that has completed the primary transfer, after being neutralized by the pre-cleaning static eliminator 16, the drum cleaning device 17 removes the adhering matter so as to clean the surface of the photosensitive drum 11. Thereby, each image forming apparatus 10 is brought into a state in which the next image forming operation can be performed.

  Subsequently, in the intermediate transfer device 20, the toner image primarily transferred by the rotation of the intermediate transfer belt 21 is held and conveyed to the secondary transfer position T2. On the other hand, in the paper feeding device 50, the required recording paper 5 is sent out to the paper feeding conveyance path 57 in accordance with the image forming operation. In the paper feeding / conveying path 57, a pair of paper conveying rolls 56 as resist rolls feeds the recording paper 5 to the secondary transfer position T2 in accordance with the transfer timing.

  At the secondary transfer position T <b> 2, the secondary transfer belt 31 conveys the recording paper 5, and the secondary transfer roll 32 performs secondary transfer of the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 21 onto the recording paper 5 at once. In addition, in the intermediate transfer device 20 after the secondary transfer is completed, the belt cleaning device 28 removes adhered matters such as toner remaining on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 21 after the secondary transfer, and cleans it. Further, in the secondary transfer device 30, the belt cleaning device 34 removes and removes deposits such as toner remaining on the surface of the secondary transfer belt 31.

  Subsequently, the recording sheet 5 on which the toner image has been secondarily transferred is peeled from the intermediate transfer belt 21 and the secondary transfer belt 31 and then conveyed to the fixing device 40 by the two sheet conveying belts 58 and 59. In the fixing device 40, the necessary fixing process (heating and heating) is performed by introducing and passing the recording sheet 5 after the secondary transfer through the contact portion between the rotating rotating body 41 for heating and the rotating body 42 for pressing. Pressure) to fix the unfixed toner image on the recording paper 5. The recording paper 5 after the fixing is finished is discharged by a paper discharge roll 62 through a paper discharge conveyance path 63 to, for example, a discharge container (not shown) provided on the side surface of the image forming apparatus 1.

  Through the above operation, the recording paper 5 on which a full-color image formed by combining four color toner images is output.

<Configuration of image forming unit and drum cleaning device>
In the first embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the photosensitive drum 11, the drum cleaning device 17, and the pre-cleaning static elimination device 16 are integrally assembled, and an example of the image forming unit. The photosensitive drum unit 70 is configured. The photosensitive drum unit 70 is configured to be detachable from the apparatus main body 1a.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the main body 71 of the photosensitive drum unit 70 includes holding portions 72 and 73 that rotatably hold front and rear end portions along the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 11. It has. The holding portions 72 and 73 are provided with bearing members 74 and 75 that respectively rotatably support end portions along the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 11. A pre-cleaning static eliminator 16 and a drum cleaning device 17 are integrally assembled to the sides of the holding portions 72 and 73.

  As shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, the drum cleaning device 17 includes a main body 170 formed as a substantially rectangular parallelepiped box. The main body 170 of the drum cleaning device 17 is formed as a substantially rectangular parallelepiped box. The main body 170 of the drum cleaning device 17 is provided with an opening 174 on the side surface on the photosensitive drum 11 side. A cleaning plate 171 is attached to the upper portion of the opening 174 to remove the adhering matter such as residual toner on the photosensitive drum 11 and clean it. As the cleaning plate 171, a plate-like member (for example, a blade) made of a material such as rubber is used. The cleaning plate 171 constitutes a so-called doctor blade so as to abut from the downstream side along the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 11 toward the upstream side.

  In addition, a cleaning brush 172 as an example of a rotating member that removes and removes deposits such as residual toner and the like is disposed upstream of the cleaning plate 171 along the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 11 in the opening 174 of the drum cleaning device 17. It is arranged on the side so as to be rotatable along the clockwise direction. Further, a delivery member 173 such as a screw auger that rotates the body 170 of the drum cleaning device 17 so as to collect the toner and other deposits removed by the cleaning plate 171 and the cleaning brush 172 and send them to a collection system (not shown) is rotatable. Is arranged. The delivery member 173 is provided so that an end 173a for discharging the collected matter collected by the delivery member 173 to the outside protrudes from the back side of the photosensitive drum unit 70 toward the rear side of the apparatus main body 1a. Yes. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 175 denotes a seal member that seals the lower portion of the main body 170 of the drum cleaning device 17.

  The drum cleaning device 17 also serves as a lubricant supply device that supplies a lubricant to the surface of the photosensitive drum 11. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, a solid lubricant 176 is disposed on the upper portion of the cleaning brush 172 inside the main body 170 of the drum cleaning device 17. The solid lubricant 176 is held by a holding member 177 as an example of a metal plate member.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the holding member 177 is formed by bending a sheet metal such as stainless steel or iron into a required shape by pressing or the like, and fixing the shaft-like member 178 by welding or the like as necessary. ing. The holding member 177 is formed in a flat plate shape having a required width that is relatively narrow along the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 11, and has rigidity by bending one end portion along the width direction. It has an elevated flat plate portion 177a. Arm portions 177b and 177c for rotatably supporting the holding member 177 are integrally provided at both ends along the longitudinal direction of the flat plate portion so as to extend in the same direction intersecting the flat plate portion 177a. ing. A shaft-shaped member 178 for rotatably supporting the holding member 177 protrudes outwardly along the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 11 on the outer surface of the tip portion of each of the arms 177b and 177c. Is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 7, a solid lubricant 176 formed in an elongated rectangular parallelepiped shape is held on the flat plate portion 177 a of the holding member 177. However, the solid lubricant 176 is not directly held by the flat plate portion 177a of the holding member 177, but the buffer member 180 is interposed between the solid lubricant 176 and the flat plate portion 177a of the holding member 177.

  The buffer member 180 is a member that alleviates the direct impact of the impact on the solid lubricant 176 from the holding member 177. The buffer member 180 is made of foamed synthetic resin such as urethane foam, synthetic rubber, soft synthetic resin, or the like. The buffer member 180 has the same planar shape (width and length) as the solid lubricant 176, and is formed in an elongated sheet shape having a required thickness. The buffer member 180 is affixed via a double-sided tape or the like, or is fixed to the flat plate portion 177a of the holding member 177 by means such as adhesion. Similarly, the solid lubricant 176 is attached via a double-sided tape or the like, or is fixed to the buffer member 180 by means such as adhesion.

  As the solid lubricant 176, for example, a fatty acid metal salt (metal soap) is used. The fatty acid metal salt (metal soap) is a compound of a fatty acid such as stearic acid, lauric acid, octylic acid, and ricinoleic acid and a metal such as lithium, magnesium, calcium, barium, and zinc. Specifically, zinc stearate, lithium stearate, magnesium stearate, calcium stearate, barium stearate, calcium laurate, barium laurate, zinc laurate, calcium ricinoleate, barium ricinoleate, zinc ricinoleate, zinc octylate Etc. In this embodiment, zinc stearate (ZnSt) is used as the solid lubricant 176.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the holding member 177 has shaft-like members 178 provided at the tips of the arm portions 177 b and 177 c provided on both inner side surfaces along the longitudinal direction of the main body 170 of the drum cleaning device 17. The recess 181 is rotatably supported. The holding member 177 holding the solid lubricant 176 rotates with the shaft-like member 178 as a fulcrum, and is in contact with the surface of the cleaning brush 172 from above by its own weight as shown in FIG.

  In addition, the solid lubricant 176 is provided at the distal end portion, that is, the free end portion of the holding member 177 that rotates with the shaft-shaped member 178 as a fulcrum. The solid lubricant 176 comes into contact with the surface of the cleaning brush 172 by its own weight by the holding member 177 that rotates with the shaft-shaped member 178 as a fulcrum. At this time, initially, as shown in FIG. 2, only the corner portion of the lower end surface of the solid lubricant 176 having a rectangular cross section is disposed so as to contact the surface of the cleaning brush 172. The solid lubricant 176 scrapes the solid lubricant 176 onto the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 via the cleaning brush 172 and supplies the solid lubricant little by little. The solid lubricant 176 is scraped by the cleaning brush 172 and gradually wears over time, and the weight decreases. The solid lubricant 176 is configured such that the holding member 177 rotates clockwise with the shaft-shaped member 178 as a fulcrum and the contact area with the cleaning brush 172 gradually increases as the weight of the solid lubricant 176 decreases. ing. Therefore, even when the solid lubricant 176 is worn and the weight is reduced, the contact area with the cleaning brush 172 gradually increases, so that the required amount is stably stabilized by the cleaning brush 172 over time. It can be supplied to the surface of the drum 11.

2 and 5, reference numeral 185 denotes a scraping material that adheres to the cleaning brush 172 and scrapes off adhering materials such as toner and toner external additives removed from the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 by the cleaning brush 172. The taking member is shown.
In FIG. 9, reference numeral 182 indicates a drive gear that rotationally drives the delivery member 173, and reference numeral 183 indicates a driven gear that meshes with the drive gear 182 and rotationally drives the cleaning brush 172.

<Operation of Image Forming Unit and Drum Cleaning Device>
The photosensitive drum unit 70 is packed and transported in a factory in a state as shown in FIG. 3 while being stored in a storage container such as a cardboard box (not shown). Then, the photosensitive drum unit 70 is delivered to the user.

  At that time, when the photosensitive drum unit 70 is delivered in a packaged state, the photosensitive drum unit 70 may be subjected to vibration or impact during transportation. When vibration or impact during transportation acts on the photosensitive drum unit 70, the holding member 177 of the drum cleaning device 17 rotates about the shaft-shaped member 178, and the holding member 177 is a ceiling portion of the main body 170 of the drum cleaning device 17. The solid lubricant 176 held by the holding member 177 may be subjected to an impact. Further, when vibration or shock during transportation acts on the photosensitive drum unit 70, vibration or shock during transportation is applied to the solid lubricant 176 held by the holding member 177 that is rotatably supported with the shaft-shaped member 178 as a fulcrum. There is a risk of transmission.

  By the way, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the solid lubricant 176 is attached to the holding member 177 via the buffer member 180. Therefore, even when the holding member 177 hits the ceiling portion of the main body 170 of the drum cleaning device 17 and an impact is applied to the solid lubricant 176 held by the holding member 177 or a vibration or impact is transmitted during transportation. The vibration and impact acting on the holding member 177 are buffered by the buffer member 180, and the vibration and impact are not directly transmitted to the solid lubricant 176. As a result, vibrations or impacts are transmitted to the solid lubricant 176, and cracks, chips, or missing of the solid lubricant 176 are prevented or suppressed. Therefore, when the image forming apparatus 1 is replaced with a new photosensitive drum unit 70, the solid lubricant 176 is prevented or suppressed from being cracked, chipped, or missing, and the solid lubricant 176 is passed through the cleaning brush 172. The photosensitive drum 11 can be supplied stably.

  On the other hand, in the conventional drum cleaning device 17, as shown in FIG. 8, the solid lubricant 176 is directly attached to the holding member 177, so that vibration and impact during transportation cause solid lubrication via the holding member 177. The solid lubricant 176 may be cracked, chipped, missing, or the like.

[Embodiment 2]
FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram illustrating a drum cleaning device as an example of the lubricant supply device according to the second embodiment.

  In the drum cleaning device 17 according to the second embodiment, the buffer member 180 is not provided between the holding member 177 and the solid lubricant 176 but is provided on the inner surface side of the main body 170 of the drum cleaning device 17 of the holding member 177. It is configured as follows.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the buffer member 180 is provided on the inner surface side of the main body 170 of the drum cleaning device 17 of the holding member 177, that is, in the illustrated example, by means such as pasting or bonding via a double-sided tape. ing.

  In the case of the second embodiment, when an impact or vibration is applied to the packed photosensitive drum unit 70, the holding member 177 rotates with the shaft-shaped member 178 as a fulcrum, and the holding member 177 becomes the drum cleaning device 17. The shock at the time of striking against the inner surface of the main body 170 can be mitigated by the buffer member 180, and vibration or impact during transportation acts on the solid lubricant 176, and the solid lubricant 176 is cracked, chipped or missing. Can be prevented or suppressed.

  In the above-described embodiment, the full-color image forming apparatus that forms four color toner images of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) has been described as the image forming apparatus. Of course, the present invention can be similarly applied to the image forming apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming apparatus 1a ... Image forming apparatus main body 11 ... Photoconductor drum 14 ... Developing device 70 ... Photoconductor drum unit 176 ... Solid lubricant 177 ... Holding member 178 ... Shaft-shaped member 180 ... Buffer member

Claims (9)

A solid lubricant held by a metal plate member;
A rotating member that rotates in contact with the image carrier and supplies the solid lubricant to the image carrier;
A buffer member interposed between the solid lubricant and the plate member;
A lubricant supply device comprising: The plate-like member is supported rotatably about a fulcrum,
The lubricant supply device according to claim 1, wherein the solid lubricant held by the plate-shaped member comes into contact with the surface of the rotating member by its own weight. A solid lubricant held by a metal plate member;
A supply member for supplying the solid lubricant to the supply member;
A cushioning member for relaxing the impact transmitted to the solid lubricant through the plate-like member;
A lubricant supply device comprising:   The lubricant supply device according to claim 3, wherein the buffer member is interposed between the solid lubricant and the plate-like member.   The said buffer member is a lubricant supply apparatus of Claim 3 arrange | positioned on the surface at the side of the lubricant supply apparatus main body of the said plate-shaped member. The plate-like member is disposed so as to be rotatable around a fulcrum,
The lubricant supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the solid lubricant is disposed at an outer peripheral end portion along a radial direction of the plate-like member and contacts the supply member by its own weight.   The lubricant supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the solid lubricant is disposed so that an area in contact with the supply member increases with wear. An image holding body configured to be rotatable and holding a toner image;
A solid lubricant held by a metal plate member;
A cleaning member that supplies the solid lubricant to the image carrier while cleaning the surface of the image carrier;
A buffer member interposed between the solid lubricant and the plate member;
An image forming unit comprising:   An image forming apparatus comprising the lubricant supply device according to claim 1 or the image forming unit according to claim 8.

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