JP2020106731A - Lubricant application device and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a lubricant application device that can apply a lubricant to a long image carrier uniformly in a longitudinal direction, and an image forming apparatus.SOLUTION: A lubricant application device comprises: a plurality of solid lubricants 21 to 23 that are arranged side by side along a longitudinal direction X of a long image carrier 171; a plurality of support members 31 to 33 that are arranged side by side to support each of the plurality of lubricants; a lubricant application member 40 that rotates while in contact with the image carrier to apply the lubricants to the image carrier; and a plurality of pressing members 50 that press each of the plurality of lubricants supported by the plurality of support members against the lubricant application member.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

The present invention relates to a lubricant applying device and an image forming device.

2. Description of the Related Art In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, a technique is known in which, in order to clean an image bearing member such as a photoconductor, the residual toner after transfer is physically rubbed by a cleaning blade to be removed. There is also known a technique of applying a lubricant to the surface of the image carrier in order to reduce the friction during the rubbing or to facilitate removal of the residual toner adhering to the surface of the image carrier.

For example, in Patent Document 1 below, a solid lubricant is held by a support member, and the lubricant application member is rotated while the support member is pressed against and brought into contact with the lubricant application member by a pressing member. There is disclosed a lubricant applying device which scrapes the lubricant from the surface of the image carrier and applies the lubricant scraped by the lubricant applying member to the surface of the image bearing member.

JP, 2008-40346, A

By the way, the core metal of the lubricant applying member is desired to have a small diameter in order to reduce the cost and secure the space. Further, in order to deal with large-sized paper, a long image carrier is required, and a long core metal is also required. A long cored bar having a small diameter and low rigidity is likely to be bent by its own weight. When the bending of the cored bar occurs, the lubricant does not rub against the end of the lubricant applying member, and there is a problem that the lubricant cannot be applied uniformly in the longitudinal direction of the long image bearing member.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and provides a lubricant applying device and an image forming device capable of applying a lubricant uniformly in the longitudinal direction of a long image carrier. To aim.

(1) A plurality of solid lubricants arranged side by side along the longitudinal direction of the elongated image carrier, and a plurality of support members arranged side by side so as to support each of the plurality of lubricants. , A lubricant applying member that rotates in contact with the image bearing member and applies the lubricant to the image bearing member, and a plurality of the lubricants supported by a plurality of the supporting members to the lubricant applying member. A lubricant applying device having a plurality of pressing members which are pressed against each other.

(2) The method according to (1), further including a first limiting portion that limits the movement of the support member in a direction orthogonal to the pressing direction of the pressing member and intersecting the longitudinal direction of the image carrier. Lubricant application device.

(3) The lubricant applying device according to (2), further including a second limiting portion that limits movement of the support member in the longitudinal direction of the image carrier.

(4) The plurality of the support members according to any one of (1) to (3) above, further including a connecting portion that connects one adjacent support member and another adjacent support member to each other. Lubricant application device.

(5) The above-mentioned (4), wherein the connecting portion has a sliding surface that slides in the pressing direction of the pressing member on the end surface of each of the adjacent one of the supporting member and the other supporting member. Lubricant application device.

(6) The sliding surfaces of one of the support members and the other of the support members have a recess in part, and the recess of one of the support members and the recess of another support member that are adjacent to each other, The above-mentioned (5), wherein in the state where the sliding surfaces are in contact with each other, a housing space whose longitudinal direction is the pressing direction of the pressing member is formed, and the connecting portion further has a sphere housed in the housing space. Lubricant application device.

(7) The lubricant applying device according to (6), wherein the spherical body is a paramagnetic body, and the adjacent one supporting member and the other supporting member are ferromagnetic bodies.

(8) Relative movement of the one support member and the other support member that are adjacent to each other in the direction orthogonal to the pressing direction of the pressing member and intersect with the longitudinal direction of the image carrier. The lubricant applying device according to (4) above, which has a first connection limiting portion that limits

(9) The connection part includes a second connection restriction part that restricts relative movement of the one support member and the other support member that are adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction of the image carrier. The lubricant application device according to item 1.

(10) The connecting portion has a convex portion projecting in the longitudinal direction of the image bearing member at an end portion of one adjacent supporting member, and a concave portion that is received by the convex portion at an end portion of another supporting member. The lubricant application device according to (9) above, wherein the first connection limiting portion and the second connection limiting portion are configured by contact surfaces of the convex portion and the concave portion.

(11) Among the adjacent lubricants, one of the lubricants has a wedge-shaped wedge portion, and the other lubricant has a fitting portion that fits into the wedge portion. 10. The lubricant application device according to any one of 10).

(12) The lubricant application device according to any one of (1) to (11), wherein the plurality of lubricants are arranged over the entire area of the image carrier in the longitudinal direction.

(13) Any one of the above (1) to (12), wherein the one adjacent lubricant and the other adjacent lubricant have overlapping portions that overlap each other in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of the image carrier. Lubricant applying device

(14) An image forming apparatus comprising the lubricant applying device according to any one of (1) to (13) above and the image carrier.

In the image forming apparatus configured as described above, the support member supports each of the plurality of solid lubricants, and the pressing member presses each of the plurality of support members against the lubricant application member. Therefore, the plurality of pressing members can press the plurality of lubricants against the lubricant applying member so as to follow the bending of the core metal of the lubricant applying member. Thereby, the influence of the bending of the core metal of the lubricant applying member can be suppressed, and the lubricant can be applied uniformly in the longitudinal direction of the long-sized lubricant applying member.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the image forming part which concerns on this embodiment. It is a side view showing the schematic structure of the lubricant application device concerning this embodiment. It is a front view showing the schematic structure of the lubricant application device concerning this embodiment. It is a figure showing a schematic structure of a plurality of lubricants and a plurality of support members concerning this embodiment. It is sectional drawing which follows the AA line of FIG. It is an enlarged view of the part B enclosed with the dashed-dotted line in FIG. 6A. FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of a plurality of support members according to Modification 1. FIG. 9 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of a plurality of support members according to Modification 1. It is a top view of a plurality of lubricants concerning the modification 2. 13 is a plan view of a plurality of lubricants and a plurality of support members according to Modification 3. FIG.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same elements will be denoted by the same reference symbols, without redundant description. Further, the dimensional ratios in the drawings are exaggerated for convenience of description, and may differ from the actual ratios.

<First Embodiment>
First, the schematic configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a control unit 110, a storage unit 120, a communication unit 130, an operation panel 140, a paper feeding unit 150, a conveyance unit 160, an image forming unit 170, and a fixing unit 180. These are connected to each other via a bus for exchanging signals.

The control unit 110 is a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and executes control of the above-described components and various arithmetic processes according to a program.

The storage unit 120 is a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores various programs and various data in advance, a RAM (Random Access Memory) that temporarily stores the programs and various data as a work area, and a hard disk that stores various programs and various data. Composed of.

The communication unit 130 is an interface for communicating with another device such as a user's PC (Personal Computer) via a network such as a LAN. The communication unit 130 receives a print job from the user's PC, for example.

The operation panel 140 includes a touch panel, a numeric keypad, a start button, a stop button, and the like, displays various information, and is used to input various instructions.

The paper feed unit 150 includes a plurality of paper feed trays that accommodate paper sheets that are recording materials used for printing, and feeds the paper sheets accommodated in the paper feed trays one by one.

The conveyance unit 160 includes a conveyance path, a plurality of conveyance roller pairs arranged along the conveyance path, and a drive motor (not shown) that drives the conveyance roller pairs, and feeds the paper fed from the paper feed unit 150. The sheet is conveyed to the image forming section 170 or the fixing section 180 located downstream thereof.

The image forming unit 170 forms an image on a sheet based on the image data included in the print job by using a well-known image forming process such as an electrophotographic method including the steps of charging, exposing, developing, and transferring. .. The image forming unit 170 is an intermediate unit which is an endless belt that is rotatably supported by an image forming unit that forms an image with toner of each color of yellow 170Y, magenta 170M, cyan 170C, and black 170B and is rotatably supported by a plurality of rollers. Equipped with a transfer body. Details of the image forming unit 170 will be described later with reference to FIG.

The fixing unit 180 includes a pressure roller and a heating roller, and heats and fixes the image by pressing and heating the sheet on which the image is formed by the image forming unit 170.

Next, a schematic configuration of the image forming unit 170 will be described. As described above, the image forming unit 170 includes the image forming units for the respective colors, but since the image forming units for the respective colors have the same configuration, the following description focuses on one image forming unit.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the image forming unit 170 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of the lubricant applying device 10 according to the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming unit 170 includes a photosensitive drum 171, a charging device 172, an exposure device 173, a developing device 174, a transfer device 175, an intermediate transfer member 176, a lubricant applying device 10, and a cleaning blade 177.

The photoconductor drum (image bearing member) 171 is a drum-shaped metal photoconductor having a photosensitive layer made of a resin containing an organic photoconductor on the outer circumference of a drum-shaped metal base. It is an image carrier. The photoconductor drum 171 rotates in the direction of arrow A at a predetermined speed, as shown in FIG. Examples of the resin forming the photosensitive layer include polycarbonate resin, silicone resin, polystyrene resin, acrylic resin, methacrylic resin, epoxy resin, polyurethane resin, vinyl chloride resin, melamine resin and the like.

In the present specification, the longitudinal direction of the photoconductor drum 171 is indicated by an arrow X in the drawing and is referred to as “longitudinal direction X”. Here, the longitudinal direction of the photoconductor drum 171 is the direction along the rotation axis of the photoconductor drum 171 rotating in the direction of arrow A, as shown in FIG.

The charging device 172 is composed of a charging charger or the like, is arranged around the photosensitive drum 171, and uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 171 to a constant potential.

The exposure device 173 exposes the surface of the photoconductor drum 171 charged by the charging device 172 with a laser or the like to form an electrostatic latent image corresponding to image data on the surface of the photoconductor drum 171.

The developing device 174 visualizes the electrostatic latent image formed by the exposure device 173 using a developer containing toner. Further, the developing device 174 performs reversal development in which toner is attached to the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image on the surface of the photoconductor drum 171.

The transfer device 175 transfers the toner image formed by the developing device 174 and conveyed by the rotation of the photosensitive drum 171 to the intermediate transfer member 176.

The intermediate transfer body 176 conveys the toner image transferred by the transfer device 175 to a secondary transfer area (not shown) and transfers it to a sheet.

The lubricant applying device 10 applies a lubricant to the photosensitive drum 171. This prevents wear when the cleaning blade 177 disposed downstream of the lubricant applying device 10 rubs the surface of the photoconductor drum 171, and removes residual toner adhering to the surface of the photoconductor drum 171. It can be done easily. Details of the lubricant applying device 10 will be described later with reference to FIG.

The cleaning blade 177 is in contact with the surface of the photoconductor drum 171, and removes the residual toner on the photoconductor drum 171.

After the residual toner is removed by the cleaning blade 177, the photosensitive drum 171 is charged again by the charging device 172, the next electrostatic latent image is formed by the exposure device 173, and the toner image is formed by the developing device 174. It repeats the operation such as.

As shown in FIG. 3, the photosensitive drum 171 is rotating in the direction of arrow A. The residual toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 171 after the transfer (secondary transfer) to the plain paper is completed is removed by the cleaning blade 177. Thereby, the surface of the photoconductor drum 171 can be kept clean and the photoconductor drum 171 can be repeatedly used.

Subsequently, a schematic configuration of the lubricant applying device 10 will be described.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of the lubricant applying device 10 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the plurality of lubricants 21-23 and the plurality of support members 31-33 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 6A is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. FIG. 6B is an enlarged view of a portion B surrounded by an alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 6A.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the lubricant applying device 10 supports a plurality of solid lubricants 21 to 23 arranged side by side along the longitudinal direction X, and a plurality of lubricants 21 to 23, respectively. A plurality of supporting members 31 to 33 arranged side by side, a lubricant applying member 40 that rotates while abutting on the photosensitive drum 171 and applies a plurality of lubricants 21 to 23 to the photosensitive drum 171; A plurality of pressing members 50 that press each of the lubricants 21 to 23 against the lubricant applying member 40, 60 that restricts the movement of the support members 31 to 33, and a connecting portion 70 that connects adjacent support members 31 to 33 to each other. , And the connecting portion 70 has a sphere 80 that is housed in a housing space 72 formed by a concave portion 71A of a part of the sliding surface 71 of the connecting portion 70.

The plurality of lubricants 21 to 23 are formed by melting and molding powder of metal soap, and are solid and long. As a material for forming the plurality of lubricants 21 to 23, a material that can be applied to the surface of the photoconductor drum 171 and that lowers the surface energy and can reduce the adhesive force of the residual toner remaining on the surface of the photoconductor drum 171 is used. Can be selected. Examples thereof include fatty acid metal salts and fluororesins, which may be used alone or in combination of two or more. As the fatty acid of the fatty acid metal salt, a linear hydrocarbon is preferable, for example, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, etc. are preferable, and stearic acid is more preferable. Examples of the metal include lithium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, zinc, cadmium, aluminum, cerium, titanium and iron. Among these, zinc stearate, magnesium stearate, aluminum stearate, iron stearate and the like are preferable, and zinc stearate is most preferable.

As shown in FIG. 4, the plurality of support members 31 to 33 are long members that support each of the plurality of lubricants 21 to 23. As a material of the plurality of support members 31 to 33, for example, metal is used. Details of the plurality of support members 31 to 33 will be described later with reference to FIGS. 5 to 6B.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the lubricant applying member 40 is a brush member in which fibers 42 are planted as brush bristles on the outer circumference of a long cylindrical cored bar 41. The lubricant applying member 40 rotates while being in contact with the photosensitive drum 171, and applies a plurality of lubricants 21 to 23 to the photosensitive drum 171. The longitudinal direction of the core metal 41 of the lubricant applying member 40 is a direction along the longitudinal direction X of the photosensitive drum 171.

As shown in FIG. 4, the pressing member 50 is a member that presses each of the plurality of support members 31 to 33 against the lubricant applying member 40, and the material thereof is, for example, a compression spring. One end of the pressing member 50 is fixed to a side wall (not shown) of the lubricant applying device 10. The pressing direction of the pressing member 50 is a direction in which the plurality of lubricants 21 to 23 are brought closer to the photoconductor drum 171, and in the present embodiment, a direction indicated by an arrow Z in the drawing. In the following description, the pressing direction of the pressing member 50 is also simply referred to as “pressing direction Z”.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the limiting portion 60 is a member that is provided outside both ends of the plurality of support members 31 to 33 corresponding to the longitudinal direction X of the photosensitive drum 171. As a material for forming the limiting portion 60, for example, resin is used. In the present embodiment, the limiting portion 60 limits the movement of the plurality of supporting members 31 to 33 in the lateral direction Y and the movement of the plurality of supporting members 31 to 33 in the longitudinal direction X. And a second limiting unit 62 for limiting.

The direction Y, which is orthogonal to the pressing direction Z of the pressing member 50 and intersects the longitudinal direction X of the photosensitive drum 171, is a direction along the lateral direction of the plurality of supporting members 31 to 33, and in the present embodiment, This is the direction indicated by arrow Y in the figure. In the following description, it will be simply referred to as “short-side direction Y”.

Subsequently, a schematic configuration of the plurality of lubricants 21 to 23 and the plurality of support members 31 to 33 will be described.

The plurality of lubricants 21-23 are supported by each of the plurality of support members 31-33, and the plurality of support members 31-33 are, as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6A, end portions as end portions along the lateral direction Y. It has parts 31A, 31B, 32A, 32B, 33A, and 33B, respectively. The restriction portion 60 has an end portion 60A adjacent to the end portion 31A of the support member 31 and an end portion 60B adjacent to the end portion 33B of the support member 33.

In the plurality of support members 31 and 33, the end portions 31A and 33B have convex portions 31C and 33D that project in the longitudinal direction X toward the adjacent limiting portions 60, respectively.

The limiting portion 60 is U-shaped as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6A. The ends 60A, 60B have recesses 60C, 60D for receiving the protrusions 31C, 33D of the ends 31A, 33B. The support members 31 and 33 are connected to the restriction portion 60, respectively, with the convex portions 31C and 33D received in the concave portions 60C and 60D. The limiting part 60 is fixed to a side wall (not shown) of the lubricant applying device 10. Therefore, with the concave portions 60C and 60D of the ends 60A and 60B of the limiting portion 60 receiving the convex portions 31C and 33D, the limiting portion 60 moves the supporting members 31 and 33 in the lateral direction Y and the longitudinal direction X. Limitingly, the plurality of support members 31 to 33 can move only in the pressing direction Z. In this way, the limiting portion 60 has a guide function of guiding the movement of the plurality of support members 31 to 33 in the pressing direction Z.

The connecting portion 70 is a member that connects the plurality of supporting members 31 to 33 to each other, as shown in FIGS. 4, 6A, and 6B. In the present embodiment, a case will be described in which the end faces of the adjacent end portions 31B and 32A of the support members 31 and 32 and the end faces of the adjacent end portions 32B and 33A of the support members 32 and 33 have the connecting portion 70.

The connecting portion 70 is a sliding surface that slides in the pressing direction Z on the end faces of the adjacent end portions 31B and 32A of the support members 31 and 32 and the end faces of the adjacent end portions 32B and 33A of the support members 32 and 33. Has 71.

As shown in FIG. 6B, the sliding surface 71 has a recess 71A in part. The concave portions 71A of the adjacent end portions 31B and 32A of the support members 31 and 32 and the concave portions 71A of the adjacent end portions 32B and 33A of the support members 32 and 33 are pressed with their respective sliding surfaces 71 in contact with each other. An elliptic spherical accommodation space 72 having a longitudinal direction in the direction Z is formed.

The sphere 80 is a member housed in the housing space 72, as shown in FIG. 6A. The material of the sphere 80 is, for example, metal. As shown in FIG. 6B, the sphere 80 can move up and down along the pressing direction Z that is the longitudinal direction of the accommodation space 72. As a result, the adjacent recesses 71A can slide on each other while utilizing the curved surface of the spherical body 80. Therefore, the plurality of support members 31 to 33 can improve the slidability in the movement along the pressing direction Z performed with the respective sliding surfaces 71 in contact with each other.

The sphere 80 is a paramagnetic material, and the plurality of support members 31 to 33 are ferromagnetic materials. Thereby, the connecting portions 70 of the plurality of support members 31 to 33 are more firmly connected by the magnetic force between the support members 31 to 33 and the spherical body 80.

Although the number of lubricants and supporting members according to the first embodiment has been described as three, the number of lubricants and supporting members is not particularly limited.

Further, the connecting method and shape of the convex portions 31C and 33D of the end portions 31A and 33B and the concave portions 60C and 60D of the end portions 60A and 60B can be variously modified without departing from the gist thereof.

Further, the shape of the accommodation space 72 has been described as an elliptic spherical shape, but may be, for example, a spherical shape or a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and is not particularly limited as long as it is a space in which the pressing direction Z is longitudinal.

Moreover, although the number of the spheres 80 accommodated in the accommodation space 72 has been described as one, it may be plural.

Further, although the connecting portion 70 has been described as having the sliding surface 71, the accommodation space 72, and the sphere 80, it does not have the accommodation space 72 and the sphere 80, and connects the plurality of support members 31 to 33 with pins, for example. May be.

As described above, the lubricant applying device 10 according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of solid lubricants 21 to 23 arranged side by side along the longitudinal direction X of the long photosensitive drum 171 and a plurality of lubricants. A plurality of supporting members 31 to 33 arranged side by side so as to support each of the lubricants 21 to 23, and a lubricant applying member that rotates while being in contact with the photosensitive drum 171 to apply the lubricant to the photosensitive drum 171. 40 and a plurality of pressing members 50 that press each of the plurality of lubricants 21 to 23 supported by the plurality of support members 31 to 33 against the lubricant applying member 40.

According to the lubricant applying device 10 as described above, the plurality of pressing members 50 can press the plurality of lubricants 21 to 23 against the lubricant applying member 40 so as to follow the bending of the core metal 41 of the lubricant applying member 40. it can. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the influence of the bending of the core metal 41 of the lubricant applying member 40 and apply the plurality of lubricants 21 to 23 uniformly in the longitudinal direction X.

The lubricant applying device 10 further includes a first limiting portion 61 that limits the movement of the plurality of support members 31 to 33 in the lateral direction Y. Thereby, the movement of the plurality of support members 31 to 33 in the lateral direction Y is restricted, and the pressing member 50 twists the lubricants 21 to 23 supported by the plurality of support members 31 to 33 in the lateral direction Y, respectively. Can be prevented from being pressed. Therefore, it is possible to apply the plurality of lubricants 21 to 23 uniformly in the longitudinal direction X.

The lubricant applying device 10 further includes a second limiting portion 62 that limits the movement of the plurality of support members 31 to 33 in the longitudinal direction X. Thereby, the movement of the plurality of support members 31 to 33 in the longitudinal direction X is restricted, and the pressing member 50 twists the plurality of lubricants 21 to 23, which are respectively supported by the plurality of support members 31 to 33, in the longitudinal direction X. Can be prevented. Therefore, it is possible to apply the plurality of lubricants 21 to 23 uniformly in the longitudinal direction X.

When the lubricant applying device 10 has the limiting portion 60 having the first limiting portion 61 and the second limiting portion 62, the plurality of support members 31 to 33 can move only in the pressing direction Z. Therefore, the first limiting portion 61 and the second limiting portion 62 can have a guide function for guiding the movement of the plurality of support members 31 to 33 in the pressing direction Z.

The plurality of support members 31 to 33 further include a connecting portion 70 that connects one adjacent support member and another support member to each other. As a result, even when the plurality of support members 31 to 33 are pressed while being inclined along the bending of the core metal 41 of the lubricant applying member 40, the adjacent support members are not twisted with respect to each other, and are even in the longitudinal direction X. A plurality of lubricants 21-23 can be applied.

The connecting portion 70 has a sliding surface 71 that slides in the pressing direction Z of the pressing member 50 on each end surface of the adjacent one supporting member and the other supporting member. Accordingly, even when the plurality of supporting members 31 to 33 are pressed while being inclined along the bending of the core metal 41 of the lubricant applying member 40, the adjacent one supporting member and the other supporting member have the sliding surface 71. Since the plurality of support members 31 to 33 pass each other through the plurality of support members 31 to 33, the plurality of support members 31 to 33 can pass each other with a small frictional resistance.

The sliding surfaces 71 of the one supporting member and the other supporting member partially have a recessed portion 71A, and the recessed surfaces 71A of the adjacent one supporting member and the recessed portion 71A of the other supporting member have the sliding surfaces 71 with respect to each other. When in contact with each other, a housing space 72 whose pressing direction Z of the pressing member 50 is long is formed, and the connecting portion 70 further includes a sphere 80 housed in the housing space 72. As a result, even when the plurality of support members 31 to 33 are pressed while being inclined along the bending of the core metal 41 of the lubricant applying member 40, the slidability of movement with respect to the movement of the support members in the pressing direction Z is improved. Can be improved.

The sphere 80 is a paramagnetic material, and the adjacent one supporting member and the other supporting member are ferromagnetic materials. Thereby, even when the plurality of support members 31 to 33 are pressed while being inclined along the bending of the core metal 41 of the lubricant applying member 40, the adjacent support members of the ferromagnetic material do not separate from each other, The sphere 80 is more strongly connected via the magnetism. Therefore, the plurality of pressing members 50 can uniformly apply the plurality of lubricants 21 to 23 to the lubricant applying member 40 in the longitudinal direction X.

Although the lubricant coating device has been described above through the embodiments, the invention is not limited to the description of the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

<Modification 1>
For example, modified examples of the plurality of support members 31 to 33 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 7A and 7B. In the above-described first embodiment, the lubricant application device 10 has been described as having the restricting portion 60, the housing space 72, and the sphere 80. However, the supporting member according to the modified example 1 shown in FIGS. 60, the accommodation space 72, and the sphere 80 are not provided, and a connecting portion 90 is provided instead of the connecting portion 70. In addition, the number of supporting members according to the first modification will be described as two. The same components as those in the first embodiment described above are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 7A is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of a plurality of support members 34 and 35 according to the first modification. FIG. 7B is a side view showing a schematic configuration of the plurality of support members 34 and 35 according to the first modification.

As shown in FIG. 7A, the plurality of support members 34 and 35 have end portions 34B and 35A, respectively, as end portions along the lateral direction Y. In the first modification, a plurality of supporting members 34 and 35 further includes a connecting portion 90 that connects the supporting members 34 and 35 to each other.

Among the end portions of the plurality of support members 34, 35, the end portion 34B has a convex portion 34C protruding in the longitudinal direction X toward the adjacent end portion 35A, and the end portion 35A is a concave portion 35C received by the convex portion 34C. Have. Thereby, the plurality of support members 34 and 35 according to the first modification are connected to each other by the convex portion 34C of the end portion 34B and the concave portion 35C of the end portion 35A.

As shown in FIG. 7A, the convex portion 34C of the end portion 34B further includes a dome-shaped protruding portion 93P on the end surface in the direction along the longitudinal direction X of the end surfaces of the connecting portion 90 where the adjacent support members overlap each other. Have. In addition, the recess 35C of the end portion 35A is a dome in which the dome-shaped protrusion 93P is fitted to the end surface in the direction along the longitudinal direction X of the end surfaces of the connecting portion 90 where the adjacent support members 34 and 35 overlap each other. It further has a concave portion 93S. As a result, as shown in FIG. 7B, the dome-shaped protruding portion 93P and the dome-shaped depressed portion 93S restrict the relative movement of the support member in the longitudinal direction X relative to the first connection limiting portion 91 and the lateral direction Y. The second connection limiting unit 92 that limits the physical movement is configured.

As a result, the plurality of support members 34, 35 are limited in relative movement in the longitudinal direction X and the lateral direction Y by the first connection limiting portion 91 and the second connection limiting portion 92, and only in the pressing direction Z. Can be moved to. Therefore, the connecting portion 90 can prevent the plurality of pressing members 50 from twisting and pressing the plurality of lubricants respectively supported by the plurality of supporting members 34 and 35 in the longitudinal direction X and the lateral direction Y. .. Further, the plurality of support members 34 and 35 can relatively rotate and move around the dome-shaped protrusion 93P and the dome-shaped depression 93S.

In addition, the connecting method and the shape of the convex portion 34C of the end portion 34B and the concave portion 35C of the end portion 35A can be variously modified without departing from the gist thereof. For example, among the adjacent end portions, the end portion 35A may be the convex portion and the end portion 34B may be the concave portion.

As described above, the plurality of support members 34 and 35 according to the first modification have the connecting portion 90 that connects the adjacent one support member 34 and the other support member 35 to each other. The connecting portion 90 has a first connecting limiting portion 91 that limits the relative movement of the one supporting member 34 and the other supporting member 35 that are adjacent to each other in the lateral direction Y.

According to the plurality of support members 34, 35 as described above, the first connection limiting portion 91 limits the movement of the plurality of support members 34, 35 in the lateral direction Y, and the pressing member 50 causes the plurality of support members 34. , 35 can be prevented from being twisted and pressed in the lateral direction Y. Therefore, the plurality of pressing members 50 can uniformly apply the plurality of lubricants to the lubricant applying member 40 in the longitudinal direction X.

The connecting portion 90 has a second connecting limiting portion 92 that limits the relative movement of the one supporting member 34 and the other supporting member 35 that are adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction X. As a result, the second connection restricting portion 92 restricts the movement of the plurality of support members 34, 35 in the longitudinal direction X, and the pressing member 50 causes the lubricants respectively supported by the plurality of support members 34, 35 in the longitudinal direction X. It is possible to prevent twisting and pressing. Therefore, the plurality of pressing members 50 can uniformly apply the plurality of lubricants to the lubricant applying member 40 in the longitudinal direction X.

When the plurality of support members 34, 35 have the connecting portion 90 having the first connection limiting portion 91 and the second connection limiting portion 92, the plurality of support members 34, 35 can move only in the pressing direction Z. Therefore, the first connection limiting portion 91 and the second connection limiting portion 92 can have a guide function for guiding the movement of the plurality of support members 34, 35 in the pressing direction Z.

The connecting portion 90 has a convex portion 34C projecting in the longitudinal direction X at the end portion 34B of one adjacent support member 34 and a concave portion 35C received at the convex portion 34C at the end portion 35A of the other supporting member 35. However, the first connection limiting portion 91 and the second connection limiting portion 92 are configured by the contact surfaces of the convex portion 34C and the concave portion 35C. As a result, even when the plurality of support members 34, 35 are pressed while being inclined along the bending of the cored bar 41 of the lubricant applying member 40, the plurality of support members 34, 35 are not twisted with respect to each other. The lubricant supported by 35 can be applied to the lubricant applying member 40. Therefore, the plurality of pressing members 50 can uniformly apply the plurality of lubricants to the lubricant applying member 40 in the longitudinal direction X.

<Modification 2>
Next, a modified example of the plurality of lubricants 21 to 23 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The same components as those in the first embodiment described above are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the plurality of lubricants 24 to 26 according to the second modification.

As shown in FIG. 8, the plurality of lubricants 24 to 26 have end portions 24B, 25A, 25B, 26A as end portions along the longitudinal direction X, respectively.

The end portions 24B and 26A have wedge-shaped wedge portions 94, and the end portions 25A and 25B have fitting portions 95 that fit into the wedge portions 94. As a result, the plurality of lubricants 24 to 26 have overlapping portions W1 that overlap each other in the lateral direction Y. Therefore, when the plurality of lubricants 24 to 26 are pressed against the lubricant applying member 40 by the plurality of pressing members 50, the lubricant can be applied to the entire region of the lubricant applying member 40 in the longitudinal direction X.

The shapes of the wedge portions 94 and the fitting portions 95 of the plurality of lubricants 24 to 26 can be variously modified without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, a structure having a step shape, a hemispherical shape, a polygonal shape, and a partial shape thereof can be given. Further, it is sufficient that one of the adjacent end portions is the wedge portion 94 and the other is the fitting portion 95.

As described above, in the plurality of lubricants 24 to 26 according to the modified example 2, one of the adjacent lubricants has a wedge-shaped wedge portion 94, and the other lubricant fits into the wedge portion 94. It has a fitting portion 95.

According to the lubricants 24 to 26 as described above, when the pressing member 50 presses the plurality of lubricants 24 to 26 supported by the plurality of support members against the lubricant applying member 40, the plurality of lubricants 24 to 26 are folded. And the lubricant can be applied to the entire region of the lubricant applying member 40 in the longitudinal direction X.

The plurality of lubricants 24 to 26 are arranged over the entire area in the longitudinal direction X. Accordingly, the pressing member 50 can prevent uneven application of the lubricant to the lubricant applying member 40 when the plurality of lubricants 24 to 26 supported by the plurality of supporting members are pressed against the lubricant applying member 40. ..

The adjacent one lubricant and the other lubricant have overlapping portions W1 that overlap each other in the lateral direction Y. Accordingly, when the plurality of lubricants 24 to 26 supported by the plurality of support members are pressed against the lubricant applying member 40, the pressing member 50 is applied to the lubricant applying member 40 so as to overlap each other in the lateral direction Y. The lubricant can be applied. Therefore, the lubricant can be reliably applied to the entire area of the lubricant applying member 40 in the longitudinal direction X.

<Modification 3>
Next, a modified example of the plurality of lubricants 21 to 23 and the plurality of support members 31 to 33 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 9. The same components as those in the first embodiment described above are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the plurality of lubricants 27 to 29 and the plurality of support members 37 to 39 according to the modified example 3.

As shown in FIG. 9, the plurality of lubricants 27 to 29 may be arranged in a zigzag manner in the lateral direction Y. In this case, the plurality of support members 37 to 39 and the plurality of lubricants 27 to 29 are not the same width in the short-side direction Y, but the plurality of support members 37 to 39 that are connected in series have the same width within the width of the support member. A plurality of lubricants 27 to 29 arranged in a staggered manner within the range are respectively supported.

Further, the plurality of lubricants 27 to 29 are arranged so as to have overlapping portions W2 that overlap each other in the lateral direction Y. In this case, the end portions of the plurality of support members 37 to 39 adjacent to each other have a substantially L-shaped upper surface. Thereby, the application area of the plurality of lubricants 27 to 29 to the lubricant application member 40 necessarily has a portion that overlaps in the lateral direction Y, and the pressing member 50 includes the plurality of lubricants supported by the plurality of support members 37 to 39. When 27 to 29 are pressed against the lubricant applying member 40, a plurality of lubricants 27 to 29 can be applied to the entire area of the lubricant applying member 40 in the longitudinal direction X.

1 image forming apparatus,
10 Lubricant applying device,
21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 lubricant,
24B, 25A, 25B, 26A end,
31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38, 39 support members,
31A, 31B, 32A, 32B, 33A, 33B, 34B, 35A ends,
31C, 33D, 34C convex portion,
35C, 60C, 60D, 71A recess 40 lubricant applying member,
41 core metal,
42 fibers,
50 pressing member,
60 control unit,
60A, 60B ends,
61 first restriction unit,
62 the second restriction part,
70, 90 connection part,
71 sliding surface,
72 accommodation space,
80 spheres,
91 first connection restriction unit,
92 Second connection restriction unit,
93P dome-shaped protrusion,
93S Domed depression,
94 Wedge,
95 Fitting part,
110 control unit,
120 storage unit,
130 Communication unit,
140 operation panel,
150 paper feed section,
160 transport section,
170 image forming unit 171 photosensitive drum,
172 charging device,
173 exposure apparatus,
174 developing device,
175 transfer device,
176 intermediate transfer member,
177 cleaning blade,
180 fixing unit,
W1, W2 Overlap part.

Claims (14)

A plurality of solid lubricants arranged side by side along the longitudinal direction of the long image carrier,
A plurality of support members arranged side by side so as to support each of the plurality of lubricants;
A lubricant applying member that rotates in contact with the image carrier and applies the lubricant to the image carrier;
A lubricant applying device, comprising: a plurality of pressing members that press each of the plurality of lubricants supported by the plurality of supporting members against the lubricant applying member. The lubricant applying device according to claim 1, further comprising a first limiting portion that limits movement of the support member in a direction orthogonal to a pressing direction of the pressing member and intersecting the longitudinal direction of the image carrier. .. The lubricant application device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a second restriction portion that restricts movement of the support member in the longitudinal direction of the image carrier. The lubricant application device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the plurality of support members further include a connecting portion that connects one adjacent support member and another adjacent support member to each other. The lubricant application device according to claim 4, wherein the connecting portion has a sliding surface that slides in the pressing direction of the pressing member on each end surface of the one adjacent supporting member and the other supporting member. The sliding surfaces of one of the support members and the other of the support members have a recess in part,
The recess of the adjacent one of the support members and the recess of the other support member, in a state in which the sliding surface is in contact with each other, to form a storage space in which the pressing direction of the pressing member is long,
The lubricant application device according to claim 5, wherein the connecting portion further has a sphere that is housed in the housing space. The sphere is a paramagnetic material,
The lubricant application device according to claim 6, wherein the one support member and the other support member that are adjacent to each other are ferromagnetic materials. The connecting portion is
A first connection restricting portion that restricts relative movement of the one supporting member and another supporting member that are adjacent to each other in a direction orthogonal to the pressing direction of the pressing member and intersecting the longitudinal direction of the image carrier. The lubricant application device according to claim 4, which comprises: The connecting portion is
The lubricant applying device according to claim 8, further comprising a second connection limiting portion that limits relative movement of the one supporting member and the other supporting member that are adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction of the image carrier. The connecting portion is
A convex portion projecting in the longitudinal direction of the image carrier at one end of the adjacent one of the supporting members;
And a concave portion that is received by the convex portion at the end portion of the other supporting member,
The lubricant application device according to claim 9, wherein the first connection limiting portion and the second connection limiting portion are configured by contact surfaces of the convex portion and the concave portion. One of the adjacent lubricants has a wedge-shaped wedge portion,
The lubricant application device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the other lubricant has a fitting portion that fits into the wedge portion. The lubricant application device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the plurality of lubricants are arranged over the entire area of the image carrier in the longitudinal direction. 13. The lubricant applying device according to claim 1, wherein the one adjacent lubricant and the other adjacent lubricant have overlapping portions that overlap each other in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of the image carrier. .. An image forming apparatus comprising: the lubricant applying device according to any one of claims 1 to 13; and the image carrier.