JP2019061068A - Cleaning unit and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To prevent a reduction in contact pressure of a cleaning member compared with a case where an accumulation member is fixed to the entire back face of the cleaning member.SOLUTION: A cleaning unit comprises: a cleaning blade 103 as a cleaning member that has a plate shape, projects obliquely with respect to the surface of a photoreceptor 56 as a cleaning target material, is in contact with the surface at the projecting leading edge, and scrapes off an unnecessary object from the surface with the edge; and a Mylar 109 as an accumulation member that is fixed to a portion of the entire length in a projection direction in which the cleaning member projects of the back face of the cleaning member, which is on the opposite side of the front face facing the cleaning target object, and extends in the projection direction, has its extending tip projecting from the back face of the cleaning member, and temporarily accumulates the unnecessary object scraped off by the cleaning member.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a cleaner and an image forming apparatus.

  In the prior art, there is provided a cleaner which brings a blade, which is a plate-like cleaning member, into contact with a photosensitive member, etc. to be cleaned, and rubs off unnecessary matter which has been carried out with toner and paper dust from the object to be cleaned. An image forming apparatus provided is known.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, the tip of the elastic blade for toner removal, which is in contact with the photosensitive member with the tip directed upward from the lower side, projects further forward than the blade and is opposite to the surface in contact with the photosensitive member. There is disclosed a technique of providing an elastic film-like toner collecting member for collecting the toner scraped off from the toner.

JP 9-16046 A

  When the retention member for temporarily retaining the unnecessary object that the cleaning member rubs off the object to be cleaned is fixed over the entire back surface of the cleaning member, the flexibility of the cleaning member is reduced and the retained unnecessary object is the cleaning member The pressing force may move the entire cleaning member away from the object to be cleaned, thereby reducing the contact pressure on the object to be cleaned. Such a decrease in contact pressure causes poor cleaning such as the passage of unwanted matter.

  Then, this invention aims at suppressing the contact pressure fall of a cleaning member compared with the case where a retention member is fixed to the whole back of a cleaning member.

The cleaner according to claim 1 is
A cleaning member having a plate shape, protruding obliquely with respect to the surface of the object to be cleaned, the protruding forward edge being in contact with the surface, and scraping unwanted matter from the surface by the edge;
Of the back surface of the cleaning member with respect to the surface opposite to the object to be cleaned, the cleaning member is fixed to a part of the entire length in the protruding direction of the protruding member and extends in the protruding direction A retention member protruding from the back surface and temporarily retaining unnecessary material scraped off by the cleaning member;
Equipped with

The cleaner according to claim 2 is the cleaner according to claim 1,
A support member supporting the side of the cleaning member opposite to the projecting direction;
The retention member is fixed to the cleaning member at a linear location along the support member.

The cleaner according to claim 3 is the cleaner according to claim 2, wherein
The retention member is fixed to the side of the support member rather than the center of the total length of the cleaning member.

The cleaner according to claim 4 is the cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
The retention member is fixed to the cleaning member at a part of the total length of the cleaning member opposite to the front side.

The cleaner according to claim 5 is the cleaner according to claims 1 to 4,
The retention member is fixed to a portion of the total length of the cleaning member at a distance from the leading edge.

The cleaner according to claim 6 is the cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
Of the total length of the cleaning member, the portion to which the retaining member is fixed is narrower than the other portions to which the retaining member is not fixed.

The cleaner according to claim 7 is the cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The front end of the retention member protrudes from the back surface of the cleaning member by a length shorter than the thickness between the front and back surfaces of the cleaning member.

A cleaner according to claim 8 is the cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
The retention member is provided at an end of the entire width of the cleaning member along the leading edge with a central portion open.

A cleaner according to claim 9 is the cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
The object to be cleaned is such that an image is formed on an image forming area which is a part of the surface,
The cleaning member has the leading edge extended to a contact width exceeding the full width of the image forming area;
The retention member is provided in a range across the boundary of the image forming area in the contact width direction.

The cleaner according to claim 10 is the cleaner according to claim 9.
The cleaning member is provided adjacent to an end of the cleaning member in the contact width direction, and is provided with a protective material that prevents the unnecessary matter from being deviated to the outside of the contact width.
An end of the retaining member in the contact width direction is located between the boundary of the image forming area and the protective material.

The cleaner according to claim 11 is the cleaner according to claim 9.
The cleaning member is provided adjacent to an end of the cleaning member in the contact width direction, and is provided with a protective material that prevents the unnecessary matter from being deviated to the outside of the contact width.
The retention member is in contact with the protective material.

The cleaner according to claim 12 is the cleaner according to any one of claims 9 to 11,
The retention member is fixed to a portion of the back surface of the cleaning member corresponding to the inside of the image forming area.

The cleaner according to claim 13 is the cleaner according to any one of claims 9 to 12,
The fixed length in the projecting direction of the portion where the retaining member is fixed to the back surface of the cleaning member is smaller toward the end in the contact width direction.

The cleaner according to claim 14 is the cleaner according to any one of claims 9 to 13,
The surface of the cleaning member in contact with the waste retained by the retention member has a surface layer having lower friction with the waste than the other portions.

The cleaner according to claim 15 is
A cleaning member having a plate shape, protruding obliquely with respect to the surface of the object to be cleaned, the protruding forward edge being in contact with the surface, and scraping unwanted matter from the surface by the edge;
On the back surface of the cleaning member relative to the surface opposite to the object to be cleaned, a part of the entire length in the projecting direction in which the cleaning member protrudes is fixed and extends in the projecting direction A retention member protruding from the back side for temporarily retaining unnecessary material scraped off by the cleaning member;
Equipped with

The image forming apparatus according to claim 16 is
An image carrier for forming an image on the surface and holding the image;
A transfer unit for transferring the image from the image carrier to a transfer target;
And a cleaning device for removing unwanted matter present on the image carrier after transfer of the image from the image carrier,
The above cleaner is
A cleaning member having a plate shape, protruding obliquely with respect to the surface of the image carrier, the protruding forward edge being in contact with the surface, and scraping unwanted matter from the surface with the edge;
Of the back surface of the cleaning member with respect to the surface opposite to the image carrier, the cleaning member is fixed to a part of the entire length in the protruding direction of the protruding member and extends in the protruding direction. A retention member protruding from the back surface and temporarily retaining unnecessary material scraped off by the cleaning member;
Equipped with

  According to the cleaner according to claim 1 and claim 15 and the image forming apparatus according to claim 16, compared with the case where the retention member is fixed to the entire back surface of the cleaning member, the decrease in contact pressure of the cleaning member is suppressed. it can.

  According to the cleaner according to the second aspect of the invention, the decrease in the contact pressure of the cleaning member is suppressed, and the replacement of unnecessary matters is increased.

  According to the cleaner according to the third aspect of the present invention, replacement of unnecessary matters is increased as compared with the case where the center is fixed ahead.

  According to the cleaner which concerns on Claim 4, replacement of unnecessary things increases compared with the case where it fixes by the front side.

  According to the cleaner according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, replacement of unnecessary matters is increased as compared with the case where it is fixed without leaving a distance from the front edge.

  According to the cleaner according to the sixth aspect of the invention, the decrease in the contact pressure of the cleaning member is suppressed, and the replacement of unnecessary matters is increased.

  According to the cleaner according to the seventh aspect of the present invention, unwanted matter can be stably retained as compared with the case where it protrudes longer than the thickness.

  According to the cleaner according to the eighth aspect, the unwanted matter is retained at the end and the replacement of the unwanted matter is promoted in the central portion.

  According to the cleaner according to the ninth aspect, unnecessary matter can be sent out of the image forming area.

  According to the cleaner according to claim 10, unnecessary matter can be sent to the vicinity of the protective material.

  According to the cleaner according to claim 11, unnecessary substances can be sent to the protective material.

  According to the cleaner according to claim 12, compared with the case where the full width of the staying material is fixed to the cleaning member, the unnecessary matter can be efficiently sent to the end side of the staying material.

  According to the cleaner according to claim 13, compared with the case where the fixed length of the staying material is uniform, the unnecessary matter can be efficiently sent to the end side of the staying material.

  According to the cleaner according to claim 14, replacement of unnecessary matters is increased as compared with the case where the surface layer is not provided.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a multifunction peripheral corresponding to an embodiment of an image forming apparatus of the present invention. It is a cross-sectional block diagram which shows the structure of a drum cleaner. It is a figure which shows the position in the protrusion direction with respect to the cleaning blade. It is a figure which shows the position in the extension direction with respect to the cleaning blade. FIG. 8 is a view showing the arrangement of the mylar as viewed from the photosensitive drum side at an end in the extending direction. It shows the arrangement of mylars as viewed from the front side in the projecting direction for the end in the extending direction. It is a figure which shows the extension direction position of mylar with respect to a cleaning blade in the 1st other example. It is a figure which shows arrangement | positioning of mylar with respect to a cleaning blade in the 1st another example about the edge part of the extension direction. FIG. 21 is a view showing the arrangement of the mylar with respect to the cleaning blade in the second alternative example with respect to the end in the extending direction. It is a figure which shows arrangement | positioning of mylar with respect to a cleaning blade in 3rd another example. It is a figure which shows arrangement | positioning of mylar with respect to a cleaning blade in a 4th other example. It is a figure which shows arrangement | positioning of mylar with respect to a cleaning blade in a 5th other example.

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

  FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a multifunction peripheral corresponding to an embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

  An image reader 10 for reading an image from a document is provided on the upper portion of the multifunction device 1. The image reader 10 includes a platen glass 11 on which a document is placed, and an image reading sensor 12 disposed below the platen glass 11. At the time of image reading by the image reader 10, a document is set downward on the platen glass 11, and an image of the document is read by the scanning of the image reading sensor 12 through the platen glass 11 to generate image data. .

  The multifunction device 1 is provided with a processing controller 20, and the processing controller 20 has a control unit 21 for controlling the overall operation of the copying machine 1, a plurality of operation buttons, and a display screen. A user interface (UI) unit 22 for receiving operation input from the user and displaying various information for the user, and an image processing unit 23 for obtaining image data and performing image processing on the image data are provided. . The image processing unit 23 obtains image data from an external device such as a personal computer (PC) or the like, an internal telephone communication device (not shown), or the image reader 10 described above.

  Further, the multi-function device 1 is provided with an image output unit 30 that operates under the control of the control unit 21 to perform image output using toners of respective colors corresponding to image data of the respective colors. An image is output on a sheet of paper, which is a type of recording material. The image output in the image output unit 30 is image data obtained by reading the image by the image reader 10, an image obtained from an external device such as a PC, or a telephone communication device (not shown) inside the multifunction device 1. It is done based on the data. That is, the multifunction device 1 has the functions of a copier, a printer and a facsimile.

  The image output unit 30 in the present embodiment is provided with a plurality of (four in this example) image engines 50. These image engines 50 are engines that form toner images with toners of corresponding colors. Each image engine 50 has a structure in which a charger 51, an exposure device 52, and a developing device 53 are arranged in order around the rotating photosensitive drum 56, and charging of the surface of the photosensitive drum 56, an image Through exposure of a pattern according to data and development with a developer containing toner, a toner image of each color is formed.

  An endless transfer belt 61 is disposed above the image engines 50 and circulates along a circulation path along the four image engines 50.

  The toner images of the respective colors formed on the photosensitive drums 56 by the respective image engines 50 are transferred so as to sequentially overlap on the transfer belt 61 by the action of the respective primary transfer devices 54, and a color image is formed on the transfer belt 61. Be done. The color image on the transfer belt 61 is conveyed to the secondary transfer device 70 by the circulation of the transfer belt 61. On the other hand, residual toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 56 after transfer of the toner image is removed from the surface of the photosensitive drum 56 by the drum cleaner 55.

  Below the image output unit 30, a storage tray 31 in which sheets are stacked and stored is provided. The sheets stored in the storage tray 31 are taken out sheet by sheet by the various transport rollers 80 and transported along the transport path R.

  The color image on the transfer belt 61 is transferred to the sheet transported to the secondary transfer device 70 along the transport path R by the action of the secondary transfer device 70. The residual toner remaining on the transfer belt 61 after transfer is removed from the surface of the transfer belt 61 by the belt cleaner 62.

  The sheet on which the color image has been transferred by the secondary transfer unit 70 is further conveyed upward along the conveyance path R and passes through the fixing unit 90. In the fixing unit 90, heat and pressure are applied to the sheet, and the color image on the sheet is fixed on the sheet. The sheet passing through the fixing unit 90 is further conveyed upward by the conveyance roll 80 and discharged onto the stacking tray 32 formed on the upper surface of the image output unit 30.

  The image quality of the image output on the sheet by the image output unit 30 is improved by the surface of the photosensitive drum 56 and the transfer belt 61 being cleaned properly by the drum cleaner 55 and the belt cleaner 62. The drum cleaner 55 and the belt cleaner 62 correspond to an embodiment of the cleaner of the present invention. In the drum cleaner 55 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the photosensitive drum 56 corresponds to an example of the object to be cleaned according to the present invention, and also corresponds to an example of the image carrier. It corresponds to an example of a transfer device said to. Further, in the belt cleaner 62 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the transfer belt 61 corresponds to an example of the object to be cleaned according to the present invention and also corresponds to an example of the image carrier. It corresponds to an example of the transfer device according to the invention.

  The following description will be made in more detail focusing on the drum cleaner 55.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the drum cleaner 55. As shown in FIG.

  The photosensitive drum 56 has a cylindrical shape extending in a direction perpendicular to the sheet of FIG. 2, and the drum cleaner 55 also extends along the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 56 with respect to the sheet of FIG. 2. It has a shape extending in the vertical direction. Hereinafter, the direction in which the photosensitive drum 56 and the drum cleaner 55 extend in this manner is referred to as an “extending direction”.

  The drum cleaner 55 includes a housing 101 having an internal space extending in the extending direction. The housing 101 is provided with a slit extending in the extending direction, and the drum cleaner 55 is disposed such that the slit faces the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 56.

  A metal support bar 102 extending in the extending direction is fixed to the edge of the slit of the housing 101, and a plate-like cleaning blade 103 extending in the extending direction is fixed to the support bar 102. It is fixed. The cleaning blade 103 is, for example, a rubber member, and is supported by the support bar 102 by fixing one edge 104 of the two edges 104 and 105 extending in the extending direction to the support bar 102. There is. The cleaning blade 103 corresponds to an example of the cleaning member according to the present invention, and the support bar 102 corresponds to an example of the support member according to the present invention.

  Of the two edges 104 and 105 of the cleaning blade 103, the edge 105 opposite to the side fixed to the support bar 102 is a free end, and the side fixed to the support bar 102 is the free end Focusing on the direction (hereinafter referred to as “projecting direction”), the cleaning blade 103 protrudes obliquely to the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 56 toward the upstream side of the circumferential surface movement. In addition, although this protrusion direction may be above or horizontal with respect to the gravity direction, the lower part is not desirable.

  The cleaning blade 103 is in contact with the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 56 at the free end side edge portion 105 which protrudes in such a manner, and forms a linear contact line extending in the extending direction. Then, the cleaning blade 103 receives residual toner T from the photosensitive drum 56 at an edge portion 105 (hereinafter, this edge portion 105 may be referred to as a contact side edge portion 105) in contact with the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 56. Scrape

  The residual toner T scraped off the photosensitive drum 56 by the cleaning blade 103 falls into the internal space of the housing 101 and is stored. A transport auger 106, which is a helical member, is disposed in the housing 101, and when the transport auger 106 is rotationally driven, the residual toner T in the housing 101 is transported and discarded.

  Of the front and back surfaces of the cleaning blade 103, Mylar 109, which temporarily holds residual toner T scraped off from the photosensitive drum 56 by the cleaning blade 103, on the back surface 108 side with respect to the front surface 107 facing the photosensitive drum 56. It is provided. The mylar 109 is a flexible film made of, for example, a resin, and forms a so-called toner reservoir by retaining the residual toner T in the vicinity of the above-described contact line. The mylar 109 corresponds to an example of the retaining member according to the present invention.

  When a toner reservoir is formed by the mylar 109, particles of the residual toner T are stably supplied to the contact line. If toner particles are exhausted in the contact line, the frictional force between the cleaning blade 103 and the photosensitive drum 56 may become excessive and the cleaning blade 103 may be turned up. However, the stable supply of toner particles by the toner accumulation causes the cleaning blade 103 to It is avoided.

  FIG. 3 is a view showing the position of the mylar 109 with respect to the cleaning blade 103 in the projecting direction.

  The mylar 109 is fixed to the cleaning blade 103 at a part of the total length in the projecting direction. As a fixing method, for example, sticking and fixing using a double-sided tape 110 is used. By fixing a part of the mylar 109 in this manner, the mylar 109 is pushed by the toner particles of the toner reservoir and is bent as shown in FIG. 1, and as a result, the toner particles contained in the toner reservoir are Exchange is promoted. By replacing the toner particles in this manner, new toner is held in the toner reservoir, so that the contamination of the photosensitive drum 56 with the deteriorated toner can be avoided.

  Further, the tip of the mylar 109 in the protrusion direction protrudes further than the tip of the cleaning blade 103 in the protrusion direction, and the protrusion amount L of the mylar 109 from the cleaning blade 103 is smaller than the thickness d of the cleaning blade 103. Since the tip of the mylar 109 protrudes with such a small protrusion amount L, bending of the mylar 109 which promotes replacement of toner particles is realized. Conversely, the collapse of the toner accumulation due to excessive bending is also suppressed, and the toner accumulation is stably formed.

  When the fixing portion of the mylar 109 is considered for the cleaning blade 103, it is fixed to a part of the total length of the cleaning blade 103 in the projecting direction. Since the flexibility of the cleaning blade 103 is maintained by being fixed to a part in this manner, the cleaning blade 103 is appropriately bent by the contact with the photosensitive drum 56. The bending of the cleaning blade 103 keeps the contact pressure between the cleaning blade 103 and the photosensitive drum 56 at an appropriate pressure, and as a result, the cleaning property is maintained.

  Further, on the tip of the cleaning blade 103 in the projecting direction, a surface layer 115 is formed to reduce the friction between the cleaning blade 103 and the toner particles. The formation of the surface layer 115 is realized by, for example, a coating of diamond like carbon, impregnation of isocyanate, fluorine coating such as PTFE, or the like. The surface layer 115 corresponds to an example of the surface layer in the present invention.

  FIG. 4 is a view showing the position of the mylar 109 with respect to the cleaning blade 103 in the extending direction.

  4 shows the cleaning blade 103, the mylar 109 and the photosensitive drum 56 as viewed from the left side of FIG. 2, and the lateral direction in FIG. 4 is the extending direction.

  As described above, a toner image is formed on the image forming area 111 in which both ends in the extending direction of the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 56 are removed. In order to clean the entire image forming area 111, the cleaning blade 103 is in contact with the photosensitive drum 56 at a contact line with a contact width Wt which exceeds the width Wi of the image forming area 111.

  The length of the mylar 109 in the width direction is shorter than the contact width Wt but exceeds the width Wi of the image forming area 111. Therefore, the toner accumulation formed by the mylar 109 spreads to the outside of the image forming area 111, and high cleanability is realized even at the end portion with little residual toner.

  FIGS. 5 and 6 are diagrams showing the arrangement of the mylar 109 at the end in the extending direction.

  FIG. 5 shows the cleaning blade 103, the mylar 109 and the support bar 102 when viewed from the photosensitive drum 56 side, and the upper side of FIG. 5 is the front side in the projecting direction.

  FIG. 6 shows the cleaning blade 103 and the mylar 109 when viewed from the front side in the projecting direction.

  As shown in FIG. 5, a seal member 112 is provided adjacent to the end in the extending direction of the cleaning blade 103 to prevent toner particles from leaking out beyond the end of the cleaning blade 103. The end of the mylar 109 extends beyond the image forming area 111 to the front of the seal member 112. That is, the end of the mylar 109 is located between the boundary of the image forming area 111 and the seal member 112. By the end of the mylar 109 reaching such a position, a toner reservoir is formed up to the vicinity of the seal member 112. The seal member 112 corresponds to an example of the protective material in the present invention.

  On the other hand, for example, the fixed range of the Mylar 109 fixed to the cleaning blade 103 by the double-sided adhesive tape 110 is a range that can be accommodated in the image forming area 111. That is, the position of the double-sided tape 110 corresponding to the fixed range of the mylar 109 is a position where the end does not exceed the boundary of the image forming area 111. With such a fixed range, as shown in FIG. 6, the deflection of the end side is larger than that of the center side. That is, as for the distances L1 and L2 at which the tip in the projection direction of the mylar 109 separates from the cleaning blade 103 due to the bending of the mylar 109, the distance L1 at the end side in the extension direction is the distance at the central side in the extension direction It is larger than L2. As described above, since the deflection of the mylar 109 is increased at the end side in the extending direction, the movement of the toner particles in the toner reservoir to the end side along the mylar 109 is promoted.

  Further, the fixed range of the mylar 109 (i.e., the range of the double-sided tape 110) is a linear range along the support bar 102. With such a fixed range, the mylar 109 is bent over the entire length in the extending direction, and replacement of toner particles in the toner reservoir is promoted.

  Hereinafter, another example will be described in which the position and fixed position of the mylar 109 are different.

  FIG. 7 is a view showing the extending direction position of the mylar 109 with respect to the cleaning blade 103 in the first alternative example.

  FIG. 7 shows the cleaning blade 103, the mylar 109 and the photosensitive drum 56 when viewed from the back side of the cleaning blade 103, and the lateral direction in FIG. 7 is the extending direction.

  In a first alternative example, the mylar 109 is divided and deployed at both ends in the extending direction. Conversely speaking, the mylar 109 is not provided at the central part in the extending direction. At the central portion in the extension direction, a large number of images are formed in the image forming area 111 and the residual toner is also abundant, so a sufficient toner accumulation is formed even if the mylar 109 is not provided. Further, in the central portion, the replacement of the toner particles in the toner accumulation is promoted by the absence of the mylar 109.

  FIG. 8 is a view showing the arrangement of the mylar 109 with respect to the cleaning blade 103 in the first modification with respect to the end in the extending direction.

  FIG. 8 shows the cleaning blade 103 and the mylar 109 when viewed from the front side in the projecting direction.

  FIG. 8 shows the cleaning blade 103, the mylar 109 and the support bar 102 when viewed from the photosensitive drum 56 side, and the upper side of FIG. 8 is the front side in the projecting direction.

  FIG. 8 shows the cleaning blade 103, the mylar 109 and the support bar 102 when viewed from the photosensitive drum 56 side, and the upper side of FIG. 8 is the front side in the projecting direction.

  Also in the first alternative example, the end of the mylar 109 straddles the boundary of the image forming area 111 as in the embodiment shown in FIG. In the first alternative example, the mylar 109 extends to a position in contact with the seal member 112. As described above, when the mylar 109 is in contact with the seal member 112, a toner reservoir is formed to the close proximity of the seal member 112. Further, in consideration of the tolerance of the size in the extending direction in the mylar 109, as shown in FIG. 7, the central portion in the extending direction is open, so that even if the mylar 109 is in contact with the sealing member 112. Tolerances will be absorbed at the center.

  In addition, in the first alternative example, the mylar 109 is fixed to the cleaning blade 103 by a double-sided tape 110 provided on a part of the side opposite to the front side where the mylar 109 protrudes from the cleaning blade 103. By being fixed at such a place, bending of the mylar 109 on the front side protruding from the cleaning blade 103 occurs.

  FIG. 9 is a view showing the arrangement of the mylar 109 with respect to the cleaning blade 103 in the second modification with respect to the end in the extending direction. The upper side of FIG. 9 is the front side in the projecting direction.

  In the second alternative example, the fixing point of the mylar 109 by the double-sided tape 110 is tapered toward the end in the extending direction. That is, the length of the double-sided tape 110 (fixed portion) in the protruding direction is shorter toward the end in the extending direction. As described above, since the fixing portion has a tapered shape, the deflection of the mylar 109 is larger at the end than at the central portion, and the toner accumulation is guided in the direction of the end.

  FIG. 10 is a view showing the arrangement of the mylar 109 relative to the cleaning blade 103 in the third modification. The upper side of FIG. 10 is the front side in the projecting direction.

  In the third alternative example, a double-sided tape 110 for fixing the mylar 109 to the cleaning blade 103 is provided at a position closer to the support bar 102 than the center in the total length of the cleaning blade 103 in the projecting direction. By fixing the mylar 109 to such a portion of the cleaning blade 103, the flexibility of the cleaning blade 103 on the front side in the projecting direction is maintained, and the contact pressure at the contact line is maintained.

  FIG. 11 is a view showing the arrangement of the mylar 109 with respect to the cleaning blade 103 in the fourth alternative example. The upper side of FIG. 11 is the front side in the projecting direction.

  In the fourth alternative example, a double-sided tape 110 for fixing the mylar 109 to the cleaning blade 103 is provided at a position spaced a distance L4 from the tip of the cleaning blade 103 in the projecting direction. It is desirable that the size of the distance L4 left from the tip be larger than half of the cleaning blade 103.

  By fixing the mylar 109 to such a portion of the cleaning blade 103, the mylar 109 is bent on the front side in the projecting direction, and the replacement of toner particles in the toner reservoir is promoted.

  FIG. 12 is a view showing the arrangement of the mylar 109 with respect to the cleaning blade 103 in the fifth alternative example. The upper side of FIG. 12 is the front side in the projecting direction.

  In the fifth alternative example, of the total length of the cleaning blade 103 in the projecting direction, the width of the fixed portion where the mylar 109 is fixed by the double-sided tape 110 is narrower than the width of the non-fixed portion 116. By fixing the mylar 109 in such a width, the overall flexibility of the cleaning blade 103 is maintained, and the contact pressure at the contact line is maintained.

  Also, in the above description, a tandem-type color multifunction machine is exemplified as an embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, but the image forming apparatus of the present invention may be a monochrome dedicated machine or a printer dedicated machine Or, it may be a copier-only machine or a facsimile-only machine.

  In the above description, an indirect transfer type apparatus is exemplified as an embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, but in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the image is directly transferred from the photosensitive member to the recording material directly. It may be a transfer type device.

  In addition, the present invention was invented for the purpose of solving the problems described in the section “Problems to be solved by the invention”, but the configuration of the present invention is another in the form not to solve the problems. The diversion to the purpose is not prevented, and the form in which the configuration of the present invention is diverted as such is also an embodiment of the present invention.

1 ... complex machine, 10 ... image reader, 20 ... processing controller, 30 ... image output unit,
50: Image engine, 51: Charger, 52: Exposure unit, 53: Development unit,
54: primary transfer unit, 55: drum cleaner, 56: photosensitive drum,
61: Transfer belt 62: Belt cleaner 70: Secondary transfer device
80: Transport roller, 90: Fixing device, 101: Case, 102: Support bar,
103: Cleaning blade, 109: Myra, 110: Double-sided tape,
111 ... image forming area, 112 ... seal member, 115 ... surface layer

Claims (16)

A cleaning member having a plate shape, protruding obliquely with respect to the surface of the object to be cleaned, the protruding forward edge being in contact with the surface, and scraping unwanted matter from the surface by the edge;
Of the back surface of the cleaning member to the surface opposite to the object to be cleaned, the cleaning member is fixed to a part with respect to the entire length in the protruding direction of the protruding portion, and extends in the protruding direction. A retention member protruding from the back surface and temporarily retaining unnecessary material scraped off by the cleaning member;
The cleaning device characterized by having. The cleaning member includes a support member supporting a side opposite to the protruding direction of the cleaning member,
The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the retention member is fixed to the cleaning member at a linear location along the support member.   The cleaning device according to claim 2, wherein the retention member is fixed to the support member side more than the center of the total length of the cleaning member.   The said retention member is what was fixed to this cleaning member by one part located on the opposite side to the said front side among the said full length of the said cleaning member, It is characterized by the above-mentioned. The cleaner described in 1.   The cleaning according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the retaining member is fixed to a portion of the total length of the cleaning member at a distance from the leading edge. vessel.   The part to which the said retention member is fixed among the said full length of the said cleaning member is narrower than the other part to which this retention member is not fixed, It is any one of Claim 1 to 5 characterized by the above-mentioned. Cleaners.   The said front-end | tip of the said retention member protruded only the length shorter than the thickness between front and back of this cleaning member from the said back surface of the said cleaning member, It is characterized by the above-mentioned. Cleaners.   8. The holding member according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the holding member is provided at an end of the entire width of the cleaning member along the leading edge with a central portion open. The cleaner described. The object to be cleaned is such that an image is formed on an image forming area which is a part of the surface,
The cleaning member has the leading edge extended to a contact width beyond the full width of the image forming area;
The cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the retaining member is provided in a range crossing the boundary of the image forming area in the contact width direction. The cleaning member is provided with a protection material arranged adjacent to an end in the contact width direction, which prevents the unnecessary matter from leaking out of the contact width.
The cleaning device according to claim 9, wherein an end of the retaining member in the contact width direction is located between the boundary of the image forming area and the protective material. The cleaning member is provided with a protection material arranged adjacent to an end in the contact width direction, which prevents the unnecessary matter from leaking out of the contact width.
The cleaner according to claim 9, wherein the retention member is in contact with the protective material.   The cleaning device according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the retaining member is fixed to a portion corresponding to the inside of the image forming area on the back surface of the cleaning member. .   The fixed length in the said protrusion direction of the part by which the said retention member was fixed to the said back surface of the said cleaning member is so small that it goes to the edge part in the said contact width direction, It is characterized by the above-mentioned. The cleaner described in.   10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the cleaning member has a surface layer having a lower friction with the unnecessary portion than the other portion on the side in contact with the unnecessary matter retained by the retaining member. The cleaner according to any one of 13. A cleaning member having a plate shape, protruding obliquely with respect to the surface of the object to be cleaned, the protruding forward edge being in contact with the surface, and scraping unwanted matter from the surface by the edge;
A part of the cleaning member is fixed to a back surface of the cleaning member facing the object to be cleaned with respect to the entire length of the cleaning member in the projecting direction, and extends in the projecting direction. A retention member protruding from the back side for temporarily retaining unnecessary material scraped off by the cleaning member;
The cleaning device characterized by having. An image carrier for forming an image on the surface and holding the image;
A transfer unit that transfers the image from the image carrier to a transfer target;
And a cleaning device for removing unwanted matter present on the image carrier after transfer of the image from the image carrier,
The cleaner is
A cleaning member having a plate shape, protruding obliquely with respect to the surface of the image carrier, the protruding forward edge being in contact with the surface, and scraping unwanted matter from the surface by the edge;
Of the back surface of the cleaning member with respect to the surface opposite to the image carrier, the cleaning member is fixed to a part with respect to the full length in the protruding direction and protrudes in the protruding direction. A retention member protruding from the back surface and temporarily retaining unnecessary material scraped off by the cleaning member;
An image forming apparatus equipped with

Images