JP2021128281A - Lubricant supply device, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To prevent a foreign substance, such as toner from being easily accumulated at the ends of a lubricant supply roller.SOLUTION: There is provided a lubricant supply roller 16a that supplies lubricant to a photoreceptor drum 11 (image carrier) and has a small-diameter shank 16a2 formed to project from both ends in an axial direction of a large-diameter roller part 16a1. There is provided a holding frame 16g that rotatably holds the shank 16a2 of the lubricant supply roller 16a. There is provided a paddle-like member 16f on the shank 16a2 between the holding frame 16g and a roller part 16a1.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

The present invention relates to a lubricant supply device that supplies a lubricant to an image carrier such as a photoconductor drum and an intermediate transfer belt, and a process cartridge and an image forming device including the lubricant supply device.

Conventionally, in image forming devices such as copiers and printers, wear / loss of cleaning blades that come into contact with image carriers such as photoconductor drums and intermediate transfer belts and deterioration of image carriers have been reduced, and cleaning defects over time have been reduced. A technique for installing a lubricant supply device that supplies a lubricant to the surface of an image carrier is widely known for the purpose of suppressing the occurrence of filming on the surface of the image carrier (for example, patent documents). See 1st grade.).

Specifically, the lubricant supply device urges the lubricant supply roller that slides into the photoconductor drum (image carrier), the solid lubricant that slides into the lubricant supply roller, and the solid lubricant toward the lubricant supply roller. It is composed of urging members, etc.
Then, the lubricant is gradually scraped from the solid lubricant by the lubricant supply roller rotating in a predetermined direction, and the lubricant scraped off by the lubricant supply roller is applied (supplied) to the surface of the photoconductor drum.

In the conventional lubricant supply device, deposits such as toner adhering to the image carrier (photoreceptor drum) are removed by the lubricant supply roller, and the deposits that are collected by the lubricant supply roller and detached are removed. There is a problem that foreign matter collects at the end of the lubricant supply roller (between the roller part of the lubricant supply roller and the holding frame that rotatably holds the shaft part of the lubricant supply roller). rice field. Then, in such a case, the accumulated foreign matter may overflow from the device and cause an abnormal image.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and provides a lubricant supply device, a process cartridge, and an image forming device in which foreign matter such as toner does not easily accumulate at the end of the lubricant supply roller. To do.

The lubricant supply device according to the present invention includes a lubricant supply roller in which a small-diameter shaft portion is formed so as to project at both ends in the axial direction of the large-diameter roller portion to supply the lubricant to the image carrier, and the above-mentioned lubricant supply roller. A holding frame for rotatably holding the shaft portion of the lubricant supply roller is provided, and a paddle-shaped member is provided on the shaft portion between the holding frame and the roller portion.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a lubricant supply device, a process cartridge, and an image forming device in which foreign matter such as toner does not easily accumulate at the end of the lubricant supply roller.

It is an overall block diagram which shows the image forming apparatus in embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the image-forming part. It is the schematic sectional drawing which looked at the inside of the lubricant supply device in the axial direction. It is an enlarged view which shows the main part of the lubricant supply device. It is a perspective view which shows the lubricant supply roller. (A) A perspective view showing the paddle-shaped member before assembly, and (B) a perspective view showing the paddle-shaped member after assembly. It is a perspective view which shows the operation which the lubricant supply roller and the solid lubricant are assembled with a holding frame. It is a schematic diagram which shows the dimensional relationship of a paddle-shaped member and a lubricant supply roller. It is an enlarged view which shows the main part of the lubricant supply device as a modification. It is a figure which shows the roller part of the lubricant supply roller.

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In each figure, the same or corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals, and the duplicated description thereof will be appropriately simplified or omitted.

First, FIG. 1 describes the overall configuration and operation of the image forming apparatus 1.
In FIG. 1, 1 is a tandem color copier as an image forming apparatus, 2 is a writing unit that emits laser light based on input image information, 3 is a document conveying unit that conveys a document D to a document reading unit 4, and 4 is a document conveying unit. A document reading unit for reading image information of the document D, 7 is a paper feeding unit for accommodating a sheet P such as transfer paper, and 9 is a registration roller (timing roller) for adjusting the transfer timing of the sheet P.
Further, 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10BK are process cartridges in which toner images of each color (yellow, magenta, cyan, and black) are formed, 17 is an intermediate transfer belt in which toner images of a plurality of colors are superimposed and transferred, and 18 is an intermediate. A secondary transfer roller for transferring the toner image on the transfer belt 17 onto the sheet P, and 19 is an intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit for cleaning the intermediate transfer belt 17.
Further, 20 is a primary transfer roller that superimposes and transfers a toner image formed on the photoconductor drum 11 of each process cartridge 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10BK on the intermediate transfer belt 17, and 21 runs on the intermediate transfer belt 17. The driving roller 30 is a fixing device for fixing an unfixed image on the sheet P, and 50Y, 50M, 50C, and 50BK are toner containers containing toner of each color (yellow, magenta, cyan, black).

Hereinafter, the operation of the image forming apparatus during normal color image forming will be described.
FIG. 2 can also be referred to for the image forming process performed on the photoconductor drum 11 of each process cartridge 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10BK.
First, the document D is transported from the document table in the direction of the arrow in the drawing by the transfer roller of the document transfer unit 3, and is placed on the contact glass 5 of the document reading unit 4. Then, the document reading unit 4 optically reads the image information of the document D placed on the contact glass 5.
Then, the image information of each color of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black is transmitted to the writing unit 2. Then, a laser beam L (see FIG. 2) based on the image information of each color is emitted from the writing unit 2 toward the corresponding photoconductor drum 11.

On the other hand, the photoconductor drums 11 of the four process cartridges 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10BK are each rotating counterclockwise in FIG. Then, first, the surface of the photoconductor drum 11 is uniformly charged at the portion facing the charging device 12 (charging roller) (the charging step). In this way, a charging potential is formed on the photoconductor drum 11. After that, the surface of the charged photoconductor drum 11 reaches the irradiation position of each laser beam L.
In the writing unit 2, laser light corresponding to the image signal is emitted from the four light sources corresponding to each color. Each laser beam passes through a different optical path for each of the yellow, magenta, cyan, and black color components (exposure process).

The laser beam corresponding to the yellow component is applied to the surface of the photoconductor drum 11 of the process cartridge 10Y, which is the first from the left side of the paper surface. At this time, the laser beam of the yellow component is scanned in the rotation axis direction (main scanning direction) of the photoconductor drum 11 by the polygon mirror rotating at high speed. In this way, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the yellow component is formed on the photoconductor drum 11 after being charged by the charging device 12.
Similarly, the laser beam corresponding to the magenta component is irradiated on the surface of the photoconductor drum 11 of the process cartridge 10M second from the left on the paper surface to form an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the magenta component. The cyan component laser beam is applied to the surface of the photoconductor drum 11 of the process cartridge 10C, which is the third from the left on the paper surface, to form an electrostatic latent image of the cyan component. The laser beam of the black component is applied to the surface of the photoconductor drum 11 of the process cartridge 10BK, which is the fourth from the left on the paper surface, to form an electrostatic latent image of the black component.

After that, the surfaces of the photoconductor drum 11 on which the electrostatic latent images of each color are formed reach the positions facing each other with the developing device 13. Then, toners of each color are supplied from each developing device 13 onto the photoconductor drum 11 to develop a latent image on the photoconductor drum 11 (a developing step).
After that, the surface of the photoconductor drum 11 after the developing step reaches a portion facing the intermediate transfer belt 17, respectively. Here, a primary transfer roller 20 is installed on each of the opposing portions so as to abut on the inner peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 17. Then, at the position of the primary transfer roller 20, toner images of each color formed on the photoconductor drums 11 of the process cartridges 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10BK are sequentially superimposed and transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 17. (This is the primary transfer step.).

Then, the surface of the photoconductor drum 11 after the primary transfer step reaches a position facing the cleaning blade 14 (cleaning portion), respectively. Then, the cleaning blade 14 recovers the untransferred toner remaining on the photoconductor drum 11 (cleaning step).
After that, the surface of the photoconductor drum 11 passes through the static elimination unit, and a series of image forming processes in the photoconductor drum 11 is completed.

On the other hand, the intermediate transfer belt 17 on which the toner images of each color on the photoconductor drum 11 of each process cartridge 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10BK are superimposed and transferred (supported) is a drive roller 21 (intermediate transfer belt 17 is stretched. By rotating the roller member (one of the plurality of supporting roller members) in the clockwise direction, the roller member travels in the clockwise direction in the drawing and reaches a position facing the secondary transfer roller 18. Then, the color toner image supported on the intermediate transfer belt 17 is transferred onto the sheet P at the position facing the secondary transfer roller 18 (the secondary transfer step).
After that, the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 17 reaches the position of the intermediate transfer belt cleaning portion 19. Then, the untransferred toner adhering to the intermediate transfer belt 17 is collected by the intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit 19, and a series of transfer processes in the intermediate transfer belt 17 are completed.

Here, the sheet P conveyed between the intermediate transfer belt 17 and the secondary transfer roller 18 (which is the secondary transfer nip) is conveyed from the paper feed unit 7 via the resist roller 9 and the like. Is.
Specifically, the sheet P fed by the paper feed roller 8 is guided to the resist roller 9 from the paper feed unit 7 that stores the sheet P after passing through the transport guide. The sheet P that has reached the resist roller 9 is conveyed toward the secondary transfer nip at the same timing.

Then, the sheet P to which the full-color image is transferred is guided to the fixing device 30 by the transport belt. In the fixing device 30, the color image is fixed on the sheet P by the nip of the fixing belt and the pressure roller.
Then, the sheet P after the fixing step is discharged as an output image to the outside of the apparatus main body 1 by the paper ejection roller, and a series of image forming processes is completed.

Next, the process cartridge 10 (image-creating unit) will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 2 and the like.
As shown in FIG. 2, the process cartridge 10 has a photoconductor drum 11 as an image carrier, a charging device 12 (charging roller) for charging the photoconductor drum 11, and a latent image formed on the surface of the photoconductor drum 11. A developing device 13 for developing, a cleaning blade 14 (cleaning unit) for removing untransferred toner on the photoconductor drum 11, a lubricant supply device 16 (lubricant supply unit) for supplying a lubricant to the surface of the photoconductor drum 11. It is composed of etc. The process cartridge 10 is configured to be removable (replaceable) with respect to the apparatus main body 1.
Since the process cartridges of each color have almost the same structure, the process cartridge, the photoconductor drum, and the developing device are shown in FIG. 2 excluding the alphabets (Y, C, M, BK) of the reference numerals.

Here, the photoconductor drum 11 as the image carrier is a negatively charged organic photoconductor, and a photosensitive layer or the like is provided on the drum-shaped conductive support.
In the photoconductor drum 11, an undercoat layer which is an insulating layer, a charge generating layer and a charge transport layer as a photosensitive layer, and a protective layer (surface layer) are sequentially laminated on a conductive support as a base layer.
The photoconductor drum 11 is rotationally driven in a predetermined direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 2) by a drive motor (not shown). In the present embodiment, the developing device 13, the charging device 12 (charging roller), the lubricant supply roller 16a, and the transport screw 15, which will be described later, are also shown by transmitting the driving force from the drive motor via the gear train. It is rotationally driven in the direction of the arrow shown in 2.

The charging device 12 is a charging roller (roller member) formed by coating the outer periphery of the conductive core metal (shaft portion) with an elastic layer of medium resistance, and is downstream of the cleaning blade 14 in the rotation direction of the photoconductor drum 11. It is arranged so as to come into contact with the photoconductor drum 11 on the side.
Then, a predetermined voltage (charging bias) is applied to the charging device 12 from the power supply unit installed in the device main body 1, thereby uniformly charging the surface of the opposing photoconductor drum 11.
In the present embodiment, the charging device 12 is brought into contact with the photoconductor drum 11, but the charging device 12 may be opposed to the photoconductor drum 11 with a minute gap without being brought into contact with the photoconductor drum 11.

The developing apparatus 13 is composed of a developing roller 13a (developer carrier), two developing transfer screws 13b1, 13b2, a doctor blade 13c (developer regulating member), and the like. Further, the developing device G (two-component developing agent) composed of the toner T and the carrier C is housed in the developing device 13. Then, the developing device 13 develops an electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor drum 11 (forms a toner image).

In addition, referring to FIG. 1, the toner containers 50Y, 50M, 50C, and 50BK contain the toner T for supplying into the developing apparatus 13 inside. Specifically, based on the information of the toner concentration (the ratio of the toner T in the developing agent G) detected by the magnetic sensor installed in the developing device 13, four toner containers are used via the toner replenishing device. Toner T is appropriately replenished from the corresponding toner container of 50Y, 50M, 50C, and 50BK toward the inside of the developing apparatus 13.

As shown in FIG. 2, the cleaning blade 14 (cleaning unit) is arranged on the downstream side in the rotation direction of the photoconductor drum 11 with respect to the lubricant supply roller 16a (lubricant supply device 16). The cleaning blade 14 is made of a rubber material such as urethane rubber, and is in contact with the surface of the photoconductor drum 11 at a predetermined angle and at a predetermined pressure. As a result, deposits (foreign matter) such as untransferred toner adhering to the photoconductor drum 11 are mechanically scraped off and collected inside the lubricant supply device 16. Then, the recovered toner is transported as waste toner toward the waste toner collection container (not shown) by the transport screw 15 (convey member).
Further, the cleaning blade 14 in the present embodiment also functions as a thinning blade for thinning the lubricant supplied on the photoconductor drum 11 by the lubricant supply roller 16a.

The lubricant supply device 16 includes a lubricant supply roller 16a (brush-shaped roller), a solid lubricant 16b, a holding plate 16e, a compression spring 16c as an urging member, a scraper 16d (see FIG. 4), and a paddle-shaped member 16f (FIG. 4). 4), holding frame 16 g (housing), and the like.

For details, with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4, the lubricant supply roller 16a is a roller portion in which straight bristles or loop-shaped brush bristles are wound on a shaft portion 16a2 (core metal) made of a metal material. 16a1 is formed. As the brush bristles, resin fibers such as polyester, nylon, rayon, acrylic, vinylon, and vinyl chloride can be used, and if necessary, conductive fibers mixed with a conductivity-imparting agent such as carbon can be used. Further, as the brush bristles, those having a length (hair feet) of 0.2 to 20 mm and a brush density of 20,000 to 100,000 F / inch ² can be used.
The lubricant supply roller 16a rotates in a predetermined rotation direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 2) in a state where the roller portion 16a1 (brush bristles) is in contact with the photoconductor drum 11 and the solid lubricant 16b, respectively. Driven. As a result, the lubricant is supplied from the solid lubricant 16b onto the photoconductor drum 11 via the lubricant supply roller 16a. That is, the lubricant supply roller 16a is arranged so as to be in sliding contact with the solid lubricant 16b and the photoconductor drum 11, and the lubricant supply roller 16a rotates to scrape the lubricant from the solid lubricant 16b. The lubricant is applied onto the photoconductor drum 11.

In the present embodiment, the lubricant supply roller 16a abuts on the photoconductor drum 11 on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the photoconductor drum 11 with respect to the cleaning blade 14 that abuts on the photoconductor drum 11 (image carrier). ing. Therefore, the lubricant supply roller 16a also functions as a cleaning roller that mechanically scrapes off deposits (foreign matter) such as untransferred toner adhering to the photoconductor drum 11. The deposits such as toner collected by the lubricant supply roller 16a are scraped off by the scraper 16d (see FIG. 4) and collected inside the lubricant supply device 16. Then, the recovered deposit is transported as a foreign substance such as waste toner toward the waste toner collection container (not shown) by the transport screw 15 (transport member).
In this way, the lubricant supply device 16 also functions as a cleaning device together with the cleaning blade 14. In other words, the lubricant supply device 16 is internally provided in the cleaning device.

Here, the scraper 16d (scraping member) is a thin metal plate having flexibility, and as shown in FIG. 4, lubricates the solid lubricant 16b on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the lubricant supply roller 16a. It is in contact with the agent supply roller 16a. Then, the scraper 16d removes the deposits adhering to the roller portion 16a1 (brush bristles) of the lubricant supply roller 16a.
Further, in the transport screw 15 as a transport member, the screw portion is spirally wound around the shaft portion, and deposits (foreign matter) such as toner removed by the scraper 16d are placed on one end side in the axial direction (FIG. (3 is on the left side) to the other end side in the axial direction (on the right side in FIG. 3). The deposit (foreign matter) transported by the transport screw 15 is discharged from the discharge port 40 on the other end side in the width direction, and is transported by another transport screw toward the waste toner collection container (not shown).
In the present embodiment, the paddle-shaped member 16f is installed at the end of the lubricant supply roller 16a, which will be described in detail later with reference to FIG. 4 and the like.

The solid lubricant 16b abuts (sliding) with the lubricant supply roller 16a and is formed in a columnar shape. The solid lubricant 16b is held by the holding plate 16e and is configured to be movable together with the holding plate 16e in a direction urged by the lubricant supply roller 16a.
The solid lubricant 16b is formed by adding an inorganic lubricant to zinc fatty acid metal. Further, as the fatty acid metallic zinc, those containing at least zinc stearate are preferable. The inorganic lubricant is preferably at least one of talc, mica, and boron nitride.
Zinc stearate is a typical lamella crystal powder. The lamella crystal has a layered structure in which amphipathic molecules are self-assembled, and when a shearing force is applied, the crystal cracks along the layers and becomes slippery. Therefore, the surface of the photoconductor drum 11 can be reduced in friction. That is, the lamella crystals that uniformly cover the surface of the photoconductor drum 11 by receiving a shearing force can effectively cover the surface of the photoconductor drum 11 with a small amount of lubricant. Then, the surface of the photoconductor drum 11 is covered relatively evenly, and it is possible to satisfactorily protect the surface of the photoconductor drum 11 from electrical stress in the charging process.
Further, by using an inorganic lubricant having a plate-like structure such as talc, mica, and boron nitride, the toner and the lubricant on the cleaning blade 14 are less likely to slip through, and the charging device 12 is less likely to be soiled. can.

The compression spring 16c as an urging member urges the holding plate 16e together with the solid lubricant 16b toward the lubricant supply roller 16a. The compression springs 16c are installed at both ends in the width direction (the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIGS. 2 and 4 and the left-right direction in FIG. 3).
The holding frame 16g functions as a housing (case) of the lubricant supply device 16.

Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of the lubricant supply device 16 characteristic of the process cartridge 10 (image forming device 1) in the present embodiment will be described in detail.
As described above with reference to FIG. 2, the lubricant supply device 16 is provided with a lubricant supply roller 16a that supplies the lubricant to the photoconductor drum 11 as an image carrier.
As shown in FIG. 3, the lubricant supply roller 16a is formed so that the small-diameter shaft portions 16a2 project from both ends of the large-diameter roller portion 16a1 in the axial direction. That is, as shown in FIG. 8, the outer diameter R1 of the roller portion 16a1 around which the brush bristles are wound is larger than the outer diameter R2 of the shaft portions 16a2 at both ends (R1> R2).

The shaft portion 16a2 of the lubricant supply roller 16a is rotatably held by the holding frame 16g of the lubricant supply device 16. The holding frame 16g is made of a resin material and functions as a housing (case) of the lubricant supply device 16, and other parts (solid lubricant 16b, compression spring 16c, holding plate 16e, transport). It also holds a screw 15 and the like.)
Specifically, the lubricant supply roller 16a is assembled as shown in FIGS. 7 (A) to 7 (B). That is, the shaft portion 16a2 of the lubricant supply roller 16a is inserted into the hole portion 16g1 (see FIG. 7A) of the holding frame 16g via a bearing (not shown) and is rotatably held.

Here, with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5, the lubricant supply device 16 according to the present embodiment is connected to the shaft portion 16a2 in X1 and X2 between the holding frame 16g and the roller portion 16a1 of the lubricant supply roller 16a. A paddle-shaped member 16f is provided.
Specifically, the lubricant supply device 16 (holding frame 16 g) is provided with an opening for bringing the lubricant supply roller 16a into contact with the photoconductor drum 11. Further, the lubricant supply device 16 (holding frame 16 g) is provided with a space in which the lubricant supply roller 16a and the transport screw 15 face each other. Then, in the lubricant supply device 16, gaps X1 and X2 (see also the gap X in FIG. 8) are formed between the holding frame 16g and the roller portion 16a1 of the lubricant supply roller 16a. The paddle-shaped member 16f is located at a position corresponding to the gaps X1 and X2, on the shaft portion 16a2 of the lubricant supply roller 16a, adjacent to the end surface of the roller portion 16a1, and in a direction away from the shaft portion 16a2. It is installed so that it protrudes. The paddle-shaped member 16f rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 4 together with the lubricant supply roller 16a. Further, in the present embodiment, the paddle-shaped members 16f are installed at both ends in the width direction.

More specifically, with reference to FIGS. 5, 6 and 8, in the paddle-shaped member 16f, a part of the flexible sheet member is used as a sticking portion 16f1 to cover all or a part of the shaft portion 16a2 in the circumferential direction. The wound portion is attached via the double-sided tape 160, and the portion other than the attachment portion 16f1 is bent as the overhanging portion 16f2 in the direction away from the shaft portion 16a2.
Therefore, the paddle-shaped member 16f (as a single part) before being assembled to the shaft portion 16a2 of the lubricant supply roller 16a is a rectangular sheet-like member as shown in FIG. 6A. One side of the double-sided tape 160 is attached to the portion (the portion to be the attachment portion 16f1), and the portion where the double-sided tape 160 is not attached becomes the overhanging portion 16f2. There is. Then, in such a paddle-shaped member 16f, as shown in FIGS. 5, 6 (B) and 8, the sticking portion 16f1 is attached to the shaft portion 16a2 of the lubricant supply roller 16a via the double-sided tape 160 in FIG. It is attached while being wound in the direction of the broken line arrow in FIG. 8B, and the overhanging portion 16f2 is bent in the direction of the white arrow in FIG. 8B with the boundary portion with the attachment portion 16f1 as the bending portion M. Then, the overhanging portion 16f2 functions as a main portion of the paddle-shaped member 16f that agitates and conveys foreign matter such as toner staying in the gaps X1 and X2 between the holding frame 16g and the roller portion 16a1.
In the present embodiment, the paddle-shaped member 13f is configured so that the attachment portion 16f1 is wound around almost all of the shaft portion 16a2 of the lubricant supply roller 16a in the circumferential direction. The paddle-shaped member 13f may be configured so that the sticking portion 16f1 is wound around a part (for example, two-thirds of the circumference).

As described above, since the lubricant supply roller 16a in the present embodiment is provided with the paddle-shaped member 16 at the position of the shaft portion 16a2 corresponding to the gaps X1 and X2 between the holding frame 16g and the roller portion 16a1, the lubricant is supplied. The deposits collected by the supply roller 16a and separated from the lubricant supply roller 16a (the deposits recovered from the photoconductor drum 11 and scraped off by the scraper 16d, including the lubricant) are It is less likely that foreign matter will accumulate at the ends (gap X1, X2) of the lubricant supply roller 16a. Therefore, foreign matter accumulated in the gaps X1 and X2 overflows from the lubricant supply device 16 and is less likely to cause a problem that causes an abnormal image.

Further, the above-mentioned effects will be supplementarily described.
Although the residual lubricant and the deposits recovered from the photoconductor drum 11 are carried on the lubricant supply roller 16a (roller portion 16a1) after the lubricant is supplied to the photoconductor drum 11, most of them are carried. It is scraped off by the scraper 16d and then transported by the transport screw 15. That is, the foreign matter carried on the lubricant supply roller 16a moves in the direction of the white arrow in FIG. 3 and then moves in the direction of the broken line arrow. However, the foreign matter that has moved to the gaps X1 and X2 between the roller portion 16a1 and the holding frame 16g (inner wall) is accumulated in the gaps X1 and X2 because there is no means for moving the foreign matter to the position of the transport screw 15.
Then, the foreign matter accumulated in the gaps X1 and X2 eventually becomes saturated (accumulated state), and a part of the foreign matter is pushed out to the side of the transport screw 15 or like the inner wall of the holding frame 16 g. As it becomes functional, it may become more difficult to accumulate in the gaps X1 and X2. However, in a high temperature environment, when images having a small image area ratio are printed one by one, the fluidity of the toner is significantly reduced, and the saturated foreign matter accumulated in the gaps X1 and X2 becomes present. It becomes difficult to push it to the side of the transport screw 15, or it becomes difficult to function like the inner wall of the holding frame 16g, and the foreign matter becomes difficult to function at the opening of the lubricant supply device 16 (at the opening on the side facing the photoconductor drum 11). There is.) Overflows. Then, an abnormal image is formed by the foreign matter that overflows in this way. As a specific example, if the overflowing foreign matter adheres to the photoconductor drum 11 and slips through the cleaning blade 14, streaks (vertical streaks) are formed in the image in the sub-scanning direction.
On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the foreign matter accumulated in the gaps X1 and X2 is agitated and conveyed by the paddle-shaped member 16f and sent out to the side of the conveying screw 15 (in the direction of the white arrow in FIG. 4). It is a move.). Therefore, the above-mentioned problems are alleviated.
In the present embodiment, the scraper 16d for removing the foreign matter carried on the lubricant supply roller 16a is installed, but even when such a scraper 16d is not installed, the lubricant supply roller 16a Since foreign matter may collect at the end, it is useful to install the paddle-shaped member 16f.

Here, in the present embodiment, the flexible sheet member to be the paddle-shaped member 16f is made of thin polyurethane (urethane sheet).
By forming the paddle-shaped member 16f with polyurethane (urethane sheet), even if the paddle-shaped member 16f comes into contact with the photoconductor drum 11 or the transport screw 15, the photoconductor drum 11 or the transport screw 15 is not damaged. The paddle-shaped member 16f itself is less likely to be damaged and is less likely to be caught in the photoconductor drum 11 or the transport screw 15.
In particular, in the present embodiment, as described above, the paddle-shaped member 16f has a sticking portion 16f1 wound around the shaft portion 16a2, and the overhanging portion 16f2 connected to the sticking portion 16f1 is bent to form a paddle shape. Since it is formed in the above shape, it does not easily come off from the shaft portion 16a2, and the performance as a paddle for stirring and transporting foreign matter such as toner can be improved.

Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the length of the overhanging portion 16f2 bent straight in the radial direction with respect to the shaft portion 16a2 is H, and the outer diameter of the roller portion 16a1 is R1. Assuming that the outer diameter of the shaft portion 16a2 is R2,
0 ≤ H- (R1-R2) / 2 ≤ 1 mm
It is configured so that the above relationship is established.
That is, in a state where the overhanging portion 16f2 is bent straight at a right angle to the shaft portion 16a2 in the radial direction, the tip of the overhanging portion 16f2 coincides with the position of the outer peripheral surface of the roller portion 16a1 or is 1 mm or less from the outer peripheral surface. It is configured to protrude with or to.
If the above-mentioned H- (R1-R2) falls below zero (lower limit value), the performance of stirring and transporting foreign matter of the paddle-shaped member 16f becomes difficult to be exhibited, and if it exceeds 1 mm (upper limit value). , The photoconductor drum 11 and the transport screw 15 may be damaged, or the photoconductor drum 11 and the transport screw 15 may be caught in the photoconductor drum 11. Therefore, it is configured so that the above-mentioned relationship is established.

<Modification example>
As shown in FIG. 9, in the lubricant supply device 16 as a modification, the paddle-shaped member 16f is installed only on the shaft portion 16a2 on one end side in the axial direction (the left side in FIG. 9) of both ends in the axial direction. Has been done. That is, unlike the one shown in FIG. 3, the paddle-shaped member 16f is not installed on the shaft portion 16a2 on the other end side in the width direction.
Further, in the modified example, the lubricant supply roller 16a removes and supports the deposits such as toner from the photoconductor drum 11 (image carrier) from the other end side in the axial direction (right side in FIG. 9). It is configured to be conveyed to one end side in the axial direction (the left side in FIG. 9) (transportation in the direction of the black arrow).
Specifically, the roller portion 16a1 of the lubricant supply roller 16a is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft portion 16a2 (one shaft portion formed so as to penetrate the roller portion 16a1 and extend to both sides in the width direction). , As shown in FIG. 10 (A), the brush bristles 16a10 are formed by spirally winding a base cloth on which bristles 16a10 are planted with a predetermined width X. With this configuration, the lubricant supply roller 16a scrapes off the lubricant from the solid lubricant 16b without a large bias in the width direction, and the lubricant supply roller 16a does not have a large bias in the width direction on the photoconductor drum 11. Lubricant can be supplied. Further, deposits such as toner collected from the photoconductor drum 11 by the lubricant supply roller 16a can also be supported on the lubricant supply roller 16a without a large bias in the width direction.
Further, in the modified example, as shown in FIG. 10B, the brush bristles 16a10 wound on the shaft portion 16a2 in the roller portion 16a1 are on one end side in the width direction (left side of FIGS. 9 and 10B). The hair is planted so as to incline. Therefore, the deposits such as the lubricant and the toner carried on the lubricant supply roller 16a (roller portion 16a1) gradually move to one end side in the width direction, and the effect of eliminating the above-mentioned large bias in the width direction is obtained. It will be easier to demonstrate.
In the lubricant supply device 16 configured in this way, the gap X1 on one end side in the width direction is on the downstream side in the transport direction by the lubricant supply roller 16a, and foreign matter is present as compared with the gap X2 on the other end side in the width direction. It becomes easy to collect. Further, the gap X1 on one end side in the width direction is a position corresponding to the upstream side of the transport path by the transport screw 15, and the transport force by the transport screw 15 is less likely to reach than the gap X2 on the other end side in the width direction. Is. Therefore, by installing the paddle-shaped member 16f only in the gap X1 on one end side in the width direction, it is possible to efficiently reduce the problem that foreign matter such as toner accumulates at the end of the lubricant supply roller 16a.

As described above, the lubricant supply device 16 according to the present embodiment is formed so that the small-diameter shaft portions 16a2 project from both ends of the large-diameter roller portion 16a1 in the axial direction, and the photoconductor drum 11 ( A lubricant supply roller 16a for supplying the lubricant to the image carrier) is provided. Further, a holding frame 16g for rotatably holding the shaft portion 16a2 of the lubricant supply roller 16a is provided. Further, a paddle-shaped member 16f is provided on the shaft portion 16a2 between the holding frame 16g and the roller portion 16a1.
As a result, foreign matter such as toner can be prevented from accumulating at the end of the lubricant supply roller 16a.

In the present embodiment, the photoconductor drum 11, the charging device 12, the developing device 13, the cleaning device (cleaning blade 14), and the lubricant supply device 16 are integrated to form the process cartridge 10, and the image forming unit is formed. We are trying to make it more compact and improve maintenance workability.
On the other hand, these constituent members may be configured to be interchangeably installed in the image forming apparatus main body 1 by themselves without being used as the constituent members of the process cartridge. In particular, the lubricant supply device 16 can be configured to be replaceably installed on the image forming apparatus main body 1 by itself. Even in such a case, the same effect as that of the present embodiment can be obtained.
In the present application, the "process cartridge" includes a charging device for charging the image carrier, a developing device for developing a latent image formed on the image carrier, and a cleaning device for cleaning the image carrier. It is defined as a unit in which at least one of them and an image carrier are integrated and detachably installed with respect to the image forming apparatus main body.

Further, in the present embodiment, as the lubricant supply roller 16a, a straight-haired or loop-shaped brush bristles are wound around the outer periphery of the core metal, but the lubricant supply roller 16a is foamed on the core metal. It is also possible to use a foam having an elastic foam layer made of polyurethane (urethane foam) or the like.
Further, in the present embodiment, the compression spring 16c is used as the urging member for urging the solid lubricant 16b with respect to the lubricant supply roller 16a, but the configuration of the urging member is not limited to this. For example, a pair of levers (rotating members) disclosed in Patent Document 1 and the like can be used as an urging member.
Further, in the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to the lubricant supply device 16 that supplies the lubricant to the surface of the photoconductor drum 11 as the image carrier, but the intermediate transfer belt 17 as the image carrier The present invention can also be applied to a lubricant supply device that supplies a lubricant to the surface.
And even in such a case, almost the same effect as that of the present embodiment can be obtained.

It is clear that the present invention is not limited to the present embodiment, and the present embodiment may be appropriately modified in addition to the suggestions in the present embodiment within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention. be. Further, the number, position, shape, etc. of the constituent members are not limited to the present embodiment, and can be a suitable number, position, shape, etc. for carrying out the present invention.

1 Image forming apparatus (image forming apparatus main body),
10 process cartridge,
11 Photoreceptor drum (image carrier),
14 Cleaning blade,
15 Transport screw (conveyor member),
16 Lubricant supply device,
16a Lubricant supply roller,
16a roller part, 16a2 shaft part,
16b solid lubricant,
16c compression spring (biasing member),
16d scraper,
16f paddle-shaped member,
16f1 sticking part, 16f2 overhanging part,
16g holding frame (holding member),
160 Double-sided tape.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2010-145877

Claims (10)

A lubricant supply roller, which is formed so that a small-diameter shaft portion protrudes at both ends of the large-diameter roller portion in the axial direction to supply a lubricant to the image carrier.
A holding frame that rotatably holds the shaft portion of the lubricant supply roller, and
With
A lubricant supply device characterized in that a paddle-shaped member is provided on the shaft portion between the holding frame and the roller portion. The paddle-shaped member is attached in a state where a part of the flexible sheet member is wound around all or a part of the shaft portion in the circumferential direction as an attachment portion, and a portion other than the attachment portion is attached. The lubricant supply device according to claim 1, wherein the overhanging portion is bent in a direction away from the shaft portion. When the length of the overhanging portion bent straight in the radial direction with respect to the shaft portion is H, the outer diameter of the roller portion is R1, and the outer diameter of the shaft portion is R2.
0 ≤ H- (R1-R2) / 2 ≤ 1 mm
The lubricant supply device according to claim 2, wherein the relationship is established. The lubricant supply device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the flexible sheet member is made of polyurethane. A solid lubricant that comes into contact with the lubricant supply roller,
A scraper that comes into contact with the lubricant supply roller on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the lubricant supply roller with respect to the solid lubricant to remove deposits adhering to the roller portion.
A transport member that transports the deposits removed by the scraper from one end side in the axial direction to the other end side in the axial direction.
The lubricant supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the lubricant supply device is provided. The lubricant supply device according to claim 5, wherein the paddle-shaped member is installed only on the shaft portion on one end side in the axial direction among both ends in the axial direction. The fifth or sixth aspect of the present invention, wherein the lubricant supply roller transports the deposits removed from the image carrier and carried from the other end side in the axial direction to one end side in the axial direction. Lubricant supply device. Any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the lubricant supply roller abuts on the image carrier on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the image carrier with respect to the cleaning blade that abuts on the image carrier. Lubricant supply device described in. A process cartridge that is detachably installed with respect to the main body of the image forming apparatus.
A process cartridge comprising the lubricant supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 8. An image forming apparatus comprising the lubricant supply apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

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