JP2021130281A - Image forming device and cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

To enable a dust-proof cover covering an emission port through which scanning light is emitted from a light scanning device of an image forming device to be surely and stably cleaned.SOLUTION: An image forming device 1 comprises: an image carrier 30; a light scanning device 40 that light-exposes a surface of the image carrier 30; a dust-proof cover 42 that covers an emission port through which scanning light is emitted from the light scanning device 40; and a cleaner guidance passage 43 on which a cleaner 50 can be inserted and pulled along a surface of the dust-proof cover 42. The cleaner guidance passage 43 has a structure in which when the cleaner 50 is inserted thereinto, a cleaning member 53 of the cleaner 50 is separated from the dust-proof cover 42 and when the cleaner 50 is pulled therefrom, the cleaning member 53 is contacted with the surface of the dust-proof cover 42.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus provided with an optical scanning apparatus and forming an image by an electrophotographic method, and a cleaning tool for cleaning the surface of a dustproof cover covering an ejection port from which scanning light is emitted from the optical scanning apparatus.

An image forming device that forms an image by an electrophotographic method such as a printer or an MFP (Multifunction Peripherals) deflects the light emitted from a light source by a rotating polygon mirror or the like and scans on an image carrier such as a photoconductor drum. It has an exposure unit provided with an optical scanning device that converts the scanning light into light. Such an exposure unit is usually arranged close to an image forming unit including an image carrier, a developing device, or the like. Therefore, dust and paper dust in the image forming apparatus or dirty substances such as toner particles floating around the image forming unit do not enter the inside of the exposure unit at the ejection port where the scanning light is emitted from the exposure unit. A dustproof cover having light transmission is provided to prevent it.

In such an image forming apparatus, it is possible to prevent dirt substances from entering the exposure unit by arranging the dustproof cover. However, if a dirty substance adheres to the surface of the dust-proof cover, the dirty substance partially blocks the scanning light emitted from the dust-proof cover, making it impossible to form an appropriate electrostatic latent image on the surface of the image carrier. , Deterioration of image quality may occur.

In order to suppress such deterioration of image quality, conventionally, an image forming apparatus has been known in which a cleaning tool is inserted from the outside of the apparatus so that the dustproof cover can be cleaned (for example, Patent Document 1). This conventional image forming apparatus has an opening for inserting a cleaning tool from the outside of the apparatus main body toward the dustproof cover, and the cleaning tool is placed in the guide path inside the opening of the dustproof cover. A guide portion is provided to guide the surface so as to face the surface. On the other hand, the cleaning tool is configured to be elastically deformed by being regulated by the guide portion, and is configured to come into contact with the surface of the dustproof cover by the pressure due to the elastic deformation. Therefore, in the conventional image forming apparatus, the surface of the dustproof cover is cleaned by inserting the cleaning tool into the opening and pulling it out.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2015-999179

However, in the above-mentioned conventional technique, the cleaning tool is inserted while the cleaning tool is pressed against the surface of the dustproof cover at a constant pressure, and the cleaning tool is pulled out in the same state. There is a possibility that the dirt adhering to the cleaning tool when the cleaning tool is inserted will be separated from the cleaning tool when the cleaning tool is pulled out, and rather the dirt substance will remain in the back of the dustproof cover. In addition, dirt adhering to the tip of the cleaning tool when the cleaning tool is inserted may gradually separate from the cleaning tool when the cleaning tool is pulled out, and the dirt may remain near the center of the dustproof cover. In addition, since both the front end and the rear end of the cleaning tool are dirty with the cleaning tool once used, the dirt is likely to be reattached both when the cleaning tool is inserted and when the cleaning tool is pulled out, and the cleaning efficiency is likely to decrease. There is a problem.

Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus and a cleaning tool capable of reliably and stably cleaning the dustproof cover.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is an image forming apparatus, in which scanning light is emitted from an image carrier, an optical scanning apparatus that exposes the surface of the image bearing, and the optical scanning apparatus. The cleaning tool guide path is provided with a dust-proof cover that covers the injection port and a cleaning tool guide path through which the cleaning tool can be inserted and removed along the surface of the dust-proof cover. The structure is characterized in that the cleaning member of the cleaning tool is separated from the dustproof cover, and the cleaning member is brought into contact with the dustproof cover when the cleaning tool is pulled out.

According to the invention of claim 2, in the image forming apparatus of claim 1, the cleaning tool is provided with a protrusion protruding toward the side of the cleaning tool guide path at a position near the cleaning member, and the cleaning is performed. The tool guide path has a guide portion that projects inward from the side of the cleaning tool guide path at a position at a predetermined height from the surface of the dustproof cover, and the cleaning tool is inserted into the cleaning tool guide path. At that time, the protrusion is guided to the upper side of the guide portion to separate the cleaning member from the dustproof cover, and when the cleaning tool is pulled out from the cleaning tool guide path, the protrusion is placed below the guide portion. The configuration is characterized in that the cleaning member is brought into contact with the dustproof cover by guiding the cleaning member.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus of the second aspect, the cleaning tool guide path is connected to the protrusion when the cleaning member is inserted to a predetermined position near the inner end of the cleaning tool guide path. The configuration is characterized in that the engagement state with the guide portion is released and the cleaning member is brought into contact with the dustproof cover.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus of the third aspect, the cleaning tool guide path is provided with an urging member for urging the cleaning member toward the dustproof cover at the predetermined position. It is a configuration characterized by.

The invention according to claim 5 is the image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the cleaning tool is rotatable about a rotation axis provided on the protrusion or in the vicinity of the protrusion, and extends from the rotation axis. It has a lever member having one lever portion and a second lever portion extending from the protrusion portion to the opposite side of the first lever portion, and the cleaning tool guide path is in contact with the first lever portion at the predetermined position. The contact member has a contact member, and when the cleaning tool is inserted into the cleaning tool guide path, the lever member is tilted, and when the cleaning tool reaches a predetermined position, the contact member is brought into contact with the contact member. It is characterized in that the cleaning member is brought into contact with the dustproof cover by abutting on the first lever portion, engaging the second lever portion with the ceiling portion of the cleaning tool guide path, and rotating the lever member. It is a configuration to be.

According to the invention of claim 6, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, the dust-proof cover has a dirt-free region near the inner end of the cleaning tool guide path, and the cleaning The tool guide path is characterized in that the cleaning member of the cleaning tool is brought into contact with the dustproof cover after being inserted to the non-occurrence region.

According to the invention of claim 7, in the image forming apparatus of claim 1, the cleaning tool is provided with a protrusion protruding toward the side of the cleaning tool guide path at a position near the cleaning member, and the cleaning is performed. The tool guide path has a guide portion that projects inward from the side of the cleaning tool guide path at a position at a predetermined height from the surface of the dustproof cover, and the guide portion engages with the protrusion. A frictional force is generated between the protrusion and the cleaning tool, and when the cleaning tool is pulled out, the posture of the cleaning tool is displaced by the frictional force to bring the cleaning member into contact with the dustproof cover. It is a composition.

The invention according to claim 8 is an optical scanning device that exposes the surface of the image carrier, a dustproof cover that covers an injection port from which scanning light is emitted from the optical scanning device, and a cleaning tool along the surface of the dustproof cover. A cleaning tool used for cleaning the surface of the dustproof cover in an image forming apparatus including a cleaning tool guide path capable of inserting and removing the dust-proof cover, and an insertion rod inserted into the cleaning tool guide path and the said. A cleaning member provided at the tip of the insertion rod for cleaning by contacting the surface of the dustproof cover, and a protrusion provided near the cleaning member and protruding toward the side of the cleaning tool guide path. The protrusion is provided with a guide portion that protrudes inward from the side of the cleaning tool guide path.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the cleaning tool of the eighth aspect, a first lever portion that is rotatable around a rotation shaft provided on the protrusion or in the vicinity of the protrusion, and extends from the rotation shaft, and the above-mentioned. The configuration is characterized in that a lever member having a second lever portion extending from the protrusion portion to the opposite side of the first lever portion is further provided.

The invention according to claim 10 is a cleaning tool according to claim 8, wherein a grip portion provided on the base end side of the insertion rod and slidable along the longitudinal direction of the insertion rod, and a tip side of the insertion rod. A holding member for holding the cleaning member and a link member for changing the position or posture of the cleaning member held by the holding member according to the position of the gripping portion with respect to the insertion rod. When the cleaning tool is pulled out, the grip portion moves in the pulling direction along the insertion rod to change the position or posture of the cleaning member held by the holding member via the link member. The cleaning member is brought into contact with the dustproof cover.

According to the present invention, it becomes possible to reliably and stably clean the dustproof cover that covers the ejection port from which the scanning light is emitted from the optical scanning device.

It is a figure which shows one configuration example of an image forming apparatus. It is a figure which shows the image formation unit and the exposure unit in an enlarged manner. It is a perspective view which shows the state which opened the front cover of an image forming apparatus, and exposed a part of an image forming part. It is a figure which shows the detailed structure of the cleaning tool guideway in 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows one structural example of the cleaning tool in 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the cleaning process in order in 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the detailed structure of the cleaning tool guideway in 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows one structural example of the cleaning tool in 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the cleaning process in order in 2nd Embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the detailed structure of the cleaning tool guideway in 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows one structural example of the cleaning tool in 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the cleaning process in order in 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows one structural example of the cleaning tool in 4th Embodiment.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the embodiments described below, elements that are common to each other are designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicate description thereof will be omitted.

(First Embodiment)
FIG. 1 shows the XYZ three-dimensional coordinate system shown in FIG. 1 in one embodiment of the present invention, which is a three-dimensional coordinate system in which the XY plane is a horizontal plane and the Z direction is a vertical direction, and is different from the coordinate systems shown in other figures. It is a common coordinate system. The image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a type of apparatus that forms an image by an electrophotographic method, and is a device capable of forming a color image by a tandem method. The image forming apparatus 1 mainly forms an image on the sheet conveying section 2 that conveys the sheets 11 such as printing paper one by one and the sheet 11 conveyed by the sheet conveying section 2 inside the apparatus main body 1a. It has an image forming unit 3 to perform the image forming unit 3 and a fixing unit 4 for fixing the image formed on the sheet 11 by the image forming unit 3. Further, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a control unit 9 that controls the operations of the sheet conveying unit 2, the image forming unit 3, and the fixing unit 4 inside the apparatus main body 1a.

The sheet transport unit 2 includes a paper feed tray 10, a pickup roller 12, a paper feed roller 13, a transport path 14, a timing roller 15, a secondary transfer roller 16, and a transport roller 17. The paper feed tray 10 is a container for accommodating sheets 11 such as printing paper. The pickup roller 12 sends out at least one sheet 11 at the top of the plurality of sheets 11 housed in the paper feed tray 10 to the downstream side. The paper feed roller 13 separates only one sheet 11 at the top from the sheet 11 sent to the downstream side by the pickup roller 12, and feeds the one sheet 11 to the transport path 14 on the downstream side. The sheet 11 fed by the paper feed roller 13 is conveyed along the conveying path 14 in the direction of arrow F2. The sheet 11 sent out to the transport path 14 temporarily stops at the position of the timing roller 15. The timing roller 15 is driven in accordance with the image transfer timing formed by the image forming unit 3 to transfer the sheet 11 to the position of the secondary transfer roller 16. When the sheet 11 passes through the position of the secondary transfer roller 16, the image formed by the image forming unit 3 is secondarily transferred to the surface of the sheet 11.

The image forming unit 3 forms a toner image of four colors of Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan), and K (black), and is circulated and driven in a state where the toner images of each color are superimposed. The primary transfer is performed on the belt 23. As a result, a color image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 23. Then, when the color image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 23 passes through the position facing the secondary transfer roller 16, the image forming unit 3 secondarily applies the color image to the surface of the sheet 11 conveyed by the sheet conveying unit 2. Transfer.

The image forming unit 3 includes a plurality of exposure units 21 (21Y, 21M, 21C, 21K) corresponding to each color, a plurality of image forming units 20 (20Y, 20M, 20C, 20K) corresponding to each color, and each image. It is composed of a primary transfer roller 22 (22Y, 22M, 22C, 22K) arranged to face the forming unit 20, a plurality of toner bottles 26 (26Y, 26M, 26C, 26K) corresponding to each color, and an endless belt. An intermediate transfer belt 23, a drive roller 25 for circulatingly driving the intermediate transfer belt 23, and a driven roller 24 for driven rotation by the cyclic movement of the intermediate transfer belt 23 are provided.

The exposure unit 21 (21Y, 21M, 21C, 21K) is arranged near the image forming unit 20 (20Y, 20M, 20C, 20K) corresponding to each color. The exposure unit 21 (21Y, 21M, 21C, 21K) of the present embodiment illustrates the case where the exposure unit 21 (21Y, 21M, 21C, 21K) is provided at a lower position of each image forming unit 20. The exposure unit 21 (21Y, 21M, 21C, 21K) scans the surface of the image carrier (photoreceptor drum) of the image forming unit 20 (20Y, 20M, 20C, 20K) corresponding to each color based on the image data. By irradiating with light, the surface of the image carrier is exposed to form an electrostatic latent image. In the following, when the exposure units 21Y, 21M, 21C, and 21K of each color are not distinguished, they are collectively referred to simply as the exposure unit 21.

The image forming unit 20 (20Y, 20M, 20C, 20K) corresponding to each color is provided at a position below the intermediate transfer belt 23. The toner bottle 26 (26Y, 26M, 26C, 26K) is arranged above the intermediate transfer belt 23, and supplies a developer containing toner of each color to each image forming unit 20 (20Y, 20M, 20C, 20K). do.

Each image forming unit 20 (20Y, 20M, 20C, 20K) has the same configuration, only the color of the toner used is different. Therefore, in the following, when the image forming units 20Y, 20M, 20C, and 20K of each color are not distinguished, they are collectively referred to simply as the image forming unit 20. Further, with respect to the plurality of primary transfer rollers 22 (22Y, 22M, 22C, 22K) provided corresponding to the image forming unit 20 of each color, when they are not distinguished, they are collectively simply referred to as the primary transfer rollers 22. Called.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the image forming unit 20 and the exposure unit 21. The image forming unit 20 is arranged at a position facing the primary transfer roller 22 with the intermediate transfer belt 23 interposed therebetween. The image forming unit 20 includes an image carrier 30 arranged so as to face the primary transfer roller 22. The image carrier 30 is composed of, for example, a photoconductor drum extending in the X direction from the front side to the back side of the image forming apparatus 1, and has a photosensitive layer on the surface thereof. When image formation is performed in the image forming unit 20, the image carrier 30 is rotationally driven in a predetermined direction (clockwise direction). The image forming unit 20 includes a cleaner 31, a charging roller 32, and a developing device 33 around the image carrier 30. The charging roller 32 is a roller that charges the surface of the image carrier 30 to a predetermined charge. When the surface of the image carrier 30 is charged with a predetermined charge by the charging roller 32, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the image carrier 30 by the scanning light emitted from the exposure unit 21. The developing device 33 applies a developer composed of toner and a carrier to the surface of the image carrier 30, so that the electrostatic latent image is visualized with toner to form a toner image. The toner image formed on the surface of the image carrier 30 in this way is attached to the intermediate transfer belt 23 by the bias voltage applied from the primary transfer roller 22 when it comes into contact with the intermediate transfer belt 23 that circulates in the direction of the arrow F1. Primary transcription.

In the image forming unit 20 as described above, the lower space between the charging roller 32 and the developing device 33 is open, and the scanning light emitted from the exposure unit 21 located below the charging roller 32 is the scanning light of the image carrier 30. The surface is irradiated. The exposure unit 21 includes an optical scanning device 40 inside. The optical scanning device 40 includes, for example, a light source such as a laser diode and a deflecting means such as a polygon mirror that deflects the light from the light source, and generates scanning light 41 according to the image data to form the image carrier 30. Eject toward.

The exposure unit 21 is provided with an injection port for emitting scanning light 41 from the optical scanning device 40 at a position facing the image carrier 30, and the emission port is provided with a dirt substance inside the exposure unit 21. A dustproof cover 42 is provided to prevent the entry of light. For example, the dustproof cover 42 is a long cover extending in the X direction in parallel with the image carrier 30, and has light transmission. Since the exposure unit 21 of the present embodiment is located below the image forming unit 20, dirt substances, particularly toner particles scattered from the image forming unit 20, adhere to the surface of the dustproof cover 42. Therefore, the surface of the exposure unit 21 is provided with a cleaning tool guide path 43 capable of inserting and removing the cleaning tool from the outside of the apparatus main body 1a along the surface of the dustproof cover 42. The cleaning tool guide path 43 has a structure in which the upper portion thereof is formed as an open window 43a and does not block the scanning light 41 emitted from the optical scanning device 40.

The image forming unit 3 forms a toner image on the image carrier 30 with the above configuration, and first transfers the toner image to the intermediate transfer belt 23. The image forming unit 3 sequentially transfers the toner image of each color to the intermediate transfer belt 23 in the image forming unit 20 (20Y, 20M, 20C, 20K) of each color. As a result, when passing through the K-color image forming unit 20K, a color image composed of four colors of Y, M, C, and K is formed on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 23. The color image is joined to the surface of the sheet 11 when passing through the position of the secondary transfer roller 16, and is secondarily transferred from the intermediate transfer belt 23 to the surface of the sheet 11 by the bias voltage from the secondary transfer roller 16. ..

After that, the sheet 11 is conveyed to the fixing portion 4. The fixing portion 4 has a heating roller 28 and a pressurizing roller 29, and when the sheet 11 passes through the nip portion between the heating roller 28 and the pressurizing roller 29, the sheet 11 is heat-treated and pressurized. The processing is performed to fix the color image on the sheet 11. The sheet 11 that has been subjected to the heat treatment and the pressure treatment is then discharged onto the discharge tray 6 from the discharge port 5 provided in the upper part of the apparatus main body 1a by the transfer roller 17.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which the front cover of the image forming apparatus 1 is opened to expose a part of the image forming portion 3. As shown in FIG. 3, when the front cover is opened to expose the image forming unit 20, a cleaning tool guide path 43 for inserting and removing a cleaning tool for cleaning the dustproof cover 42 at a position below the image forming unit 20. Is provided. The cleaning tool guide path 43 has an opening 43b on the front side of the device, and the cleaning tool can be inserted in the direction of arrow F3 through the opening 43b. In FIG. 3, since a part of the image forming portion 3 is enlarged, only one cleaning tool guide path 43 is shown, but similar cleaning tool guide paths 43 are Y, M, C, and K. Since they exist for each color, the plurality of cleaning tool guide paths 43 are arranged at predetermined intervals in the Y direction.

4A and 4B are views showing a detailed configuration of the cleaning tool guide path 43, FIG. 4A shows a perspective view thereof, and FIG. 4B shows a cross-sectional view thereof. As shown in FIG. 4A, the cleaning tool guide path 43 is a square tubular hollow path extending linearly in the X direction, and is arranged so as to face each other on both the left and right sides. It has a pair of guide walls 44, 44 to be formed. Further, a dustproof cover 42 is provided on the central bottom surface of the cleaning tool guide path 43 in the longitudinal direction (X direction). The surface of the dustproof cover 42 is arranged so as to be flush with the bottom surface of the cleaning tool guide path 43. Further, the ceiling portion of the cleaning tool guide path 43 is an open window 43a in which at least the central portion is open, and is ejected from the optical scanning device 40 of the exposure unit 21 to the image carrier 30 via the dustproof cover 42. It has a structure that does not block the scanning light 41 that is heading toward it. The open window 43a is not provided with covers. By forming such an open window 43a as a window as small as possible, the amount of dirt substances adhering to the surface of the dustproof cover 42 can be reduced. Therefore, it is preferable to provide a ceiling portion in a region where the scanning light 41 on the front side, the back side, and the left and right sides of the cleaning tool guide path 43 does not pass.

For example, as shown in FIG. 4B, with respect to the longitudinal direction (X direction) of the cleaning tool guide path 43, the open window 43a is provided only in the central portion of the dustproof cover 42 (the portion through which the scanning light 41 passes). The other parts (front side and back side) are formed as a closed ceiling part. Therefore, the area R1 in which the ceiling portion is not provided inside the cleaning tool guide path 43 becomes a dirt generation region where the dirt substance easily adheres, and the areas R2 and R3 where the ceiling portion is provided are adhered with the dirt substance. It becomes a difficult dirt-free area. When cleaning the surface of the dustproof cover 42, the area that needs to be particularly cleaned is the area R1.

Such a cleaning tool guide path 43 separates the cleaning member of the cleaning tool from the surface of the dustproof cover 42 when the cleaning tool is inserted, and contacts the cleaning member with the surface of the dustproof cover 42 when the cleaning tool is pulled out. It has a structure to make it. That is, the cleaning tool guide path 43 not only guides the cleaning tool along the surface of the dustproof cover 42, but also does not exert the cleaning force of the cleaning member when the cleaning tool is inserted, and the cleaning tool is used only when the cleaning tool is pulled out. It has a function to exert cleaning power. Hereinafter, such a cleaning tool guide path 43 will be described in detail.

The guide walls 44 provided on both the left and right sides of the cleaning tool guide path 43 regulate the lateral movement of the cleaning tool when the cleaning tool is inserted into the cleaning tool guide path 43, and move the cleaning tool straight along the X direction. It has a function. Further, the guide wall 44 is provided with a guide portion 46 that projects inward from the side of the cleaning tool guide path 43 at a position at a predetermined height from the surface of the dustproof cover 42. The guide portion 46 is formed by, for example, a rib structure protruding inward of the guide portion 46, and is provided on both the left and right sides of the cleaning tool guide path 43. As shown in FIG. 4B, the guide portion 46 is provided at a position at a predetermined height from the surface of the dustproof cover 42, and the cleaning tool is provided from a position near the opening 43b on the front side of the cleaning tool guide path 43. It extends to a position near the inner end 48 of the guide path 43. For example, the front end 46a of the guide portion 46 is provided at a position slightly inward from the opening 43b of the cleaning tool guide path 43, and the back end 46b is the back end 48 of the cleaning tool guide path 43. It is provided at a position slightly closer to the front. In particular, the back end portion 46b of the guide portion 46 extends to the region R3 where dirt substances are hard to adhere, and has a certain gap between the guide portion 46 and the back end portion 48 of the cleaning tool guide path 43. ..

Further, an urging member 47 composed of a leaf spring or the like is provided at a position near the rear end portion 46b of the guide portion 46. The urging member 47 may be attached to the ceiling of the cleaning tool guide path 43, or may be attached to the guide wall 44. For example, as shown in FIG. 4B, when the urging member 47 is composed of a leaf spring, the leaf spring is tilted downward from the ceiling portion of the cleaning tool guide path 43 toward the back end portion 48. It is attached. Such an urging member 47 urges the cleaning tool inserted to the vicinity of the inner end portion 48 of the cleaning tool guide path 43 downward, and brings the cleaning member of the cleaning tool into contact with the surface of the dustproof cover 42. It has a function.

Further, inside the opening 43b of the cleaning tool guide path 43, an inclined guide 45 is provided from the guide wall 44 toward the inside. The inclination guide 45 is a guide for facilitating the pulling-out operation of the cleaning tool after the cleaning is completed, and is a slope 45a that inclines upward from the end of the dustproof cover 42 toward the opening 43b, and an opening from the slope 45a. It has a flat surface 45b connected to 43b. The inclined guides 45 are provided on both the left and right sides of the opening 43b, and form a constant gap 43c between the flat surface 45b connected to the opening 43b and the ceiling portion.

The amount of protrusion of the guide portions 46 and the inclined guides 45 provided on the left and right sides of the cleaning tool guide path 43 is the same. For example, assuming that the width of the portion provided with the guide portion 46 and the inclined guide 45 in the left-right direction is W1, this width W1 is smaller than the width W2 in the left-right direction of the cleaning tool guide path 43.

Next, the cleaning tool inserted into the cleaning tool guide path 43 as described above will be described. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of the cleaning tool 50. The cleaning tool 50 includes an insertion rod 51 that is inserted into the cleaning tool guide path 43, a cleaning member 53 that is provided at the tip of the insertion rod 51 and comes into contact with the surface of the dustproof cover 42 to clean the dustproof cover 42, and an insertion rod. It is provided at the tip of 51 and includes a protrusion 52 that projects laterally in both the left and right directions. The insertion rod 51 is configured as, for example, a long plate-shaped resin rod-shaped body. The cleaning member 53 is attached to one surface of the tip of the insertion rod 51. However, the cleaning member 53 may be provided on both sides of the tip of the insertion rod 51. The cleaning member 53 is made of a flexible material such as polyurethane. However, the cleaning member 53 may be formed of another material such as cloth as long as it can be cleaned without damaging the surface of the dustproof cover 42. The protrusion 52 is, for example, a cylindrical protrusion having a small diameter, and protrudes laterally from the left and right side surfaces of the insertion rod 51 by a predetermined length. The maximum width of the cleaning tool 50 is the protruding portion of the protrusion 52. Assuming that the width is W3, the cleaning tool 50 is designed so as to satisfy W1 <W3 <W2 in relation to the cleaning tool guide path 43. Such a cleaning tool 50 is inserted into the cleaning tool guide path 43 with the surface on which the cleaning member 53 is provided facing downward.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the cleaning steps in the first embodiment in order. First, as shown by an arrow Fa in FIG. 6A, the cleaning tool 50 is inserted into the cleaning tool guide path 43 with the cleaning member 53 facing downward from the opening 43b of the cleaning tool guide path 43. NS. At this time, the protrusion 52 of the cleaning tool 50 is inserted into the cleaning tool guide path 43 from the gap 43c formed in the upper part of the opening 43b by the inclined guide 45. In other words, the cleaning tool 50 has a structure in which the inclination guide 45 is an obstacle below the gap 43c and cannot be inserted into the cleaning tool guide path 43. Here, the flat surface 45b of the inclined guide 45 is formed on substantially the same surface as the upper surface of the guide portion 46. Therefore, if the tip of the cleaning tool 50 inserted into the gap 43c goes straight in the same state, the protrusion 52 enters the upper side of the guide portion 46. That is, when the operator grasps the base end side of the cleaning tool 50 and inserts the tip of the cleaning tool 50 into the inside of the cleaning tool guide path 43, the operator touches the tip of the cleaning tool 50 unless an intentional operation is performed. The provided protrusion 52 can be easily entered above the guide portion 46. Therefore, the cleaning tool guide path 43 has a function of guiding the protrusion 52 to the upper side of the guide portion 46 when the cleaning tool 50 is inserted. The front end 46a of the guide portion 46 is inclined upward toward the back side of the cleaning tool guide path 43 so that the protrusion 52 of the cleaning tool 50 can easily enter the upper side of the guide portion 46. A shape having a surface may be adopted.

After that, when the cleaning tool 50 is further inserted, the cleaning tool 50 advances toward the back side of the cleaning tool guide path 43 with the protrusion 52 engaged with the upper surface of the guide portion 46. At this time, the left and right sides of the cleaning tool 50 are supported by the guide portion 46, and the cleaning tool guide path 43 advances toward the back side in a state where the cleaning member 53 is separated from the surface of the dustproof cover 42.

When the cleaning tool 50 advances to the back side of the cleaning tool guide path 43, the tip of the cleaning tool 50 comes into contact with the urging member 47 as shown in FIG. 6B. When the cleaning tool 50 is further inserted from this state, the urging member 47 elastically deforms as the cleaning tool 50 advances. As the urging member 47 elastically deforms, a resistance force is generated when the cleaning tool 50 is inserted. When the cleaning tool 50 is further inserted against the resistance force, the protrusion 52 exceeds the position of the back end portion 46b of the guide portion 46. At this time, since the protrusion 52 is not supported by the guide portion 46, the cleaning tool 50 moves downward due to the urging force of the urging member 47, and as shown in FIG. 6C, the cleaning member 50 moves downward. The 53 is brought into contact with the bottom surface of the cleaning tool guide path 43. That is, the cleaning tool guide path 43 brings the cleaning member 53 into contact with the bottom surface of the cleaning tool guide path 43 only when the tip of the cleaning tool 50 is inserted to the dirt-free region near the back end portion 48. ..

When the cleaning member 53 of the cleaning tool 50 comes into contact with the bottom surface of the cleaning tool guide path 43, the protrusion 52 moves to a position below the guide portion 46. In this state, as shown by the arrow Fb in FIG. 6D, when the cleaning tool 50 is pulled out, the cleaning tool guide path 43 guides the protrusion 52 to the lower side of the guide portion 46 for cleaning. The member 53 is brought into contact with the surface of the dustproof cover 42. At this time, the guide portion 46 can maintain the contact pressure of the cleaning member 53 with respect to the dustproof cover 42 at a constant pressure by engaging with the protrusion 52 and pressing the tip of the cleaning tool 50 downward. A shape may be adopted in which the lower surface of the inner end portion 46b of the guide portion 46 is inclined so that the protrusion 52 can easily enter the lower side of the guide portion 46 when the cleaning tool 50 is pulled out.

As the cleaning tool 50 is pulled out, the cleaning member 53 moves from the dirt-free area (region R3 in FIG. 4) to the dirt-generating area (region R1 in FIG. 4), and further moves to the dirt-generating area (region R1 in FIG. 4). It moves from R1) to a dirt-free area (area R2 in FIG. 4). At this time, since the cleaning member 53 advances in the dirt generation area (region R1 in FIG. 4) in only one direction, the dirt substance existing in the dirt generation area can be cleaned toward the opening 43b. Then, as shown in FIG. 6E, the cleaning tool 50 for which the dustproof cover 42 has been cleaned advances diagonally upward along the inclination of the inclination guide 45 and is taken out from the opening 43b.

As described above, in the cleaning tool guide path 43, when the cleaning tool 50 is inserted, the cleaning tool 50 passes through the first path away from the dustproof cover 42, and when the cleaning tool 50 is pulled out, the cleaning tool 50 passes through the dustproof cover 42. The cleaning tool 50 is guided so as to pass through the second path approaching. Therefore, the cleaning tool guide path 43 separates the cleaning member 53 of the cleaning tool 50 from the dustproof cover 42 when the cleaning tool 50 is inserted, and contacts the cleaning member 53 with the dustproof cover 42 when the cleaning tool 50 is pulled out. Can be made to. By cleaning with the cleaning member 53 when the cleaning tool 50 is pulled out, the phenomenon that dirty substances remain in the back or near the center of the cleaning tool guide path 43 is unlikely to occur, and the dustproof cover can be cleaned. You will be able to do it reliably and stably.

Further, the cleaning tool guide path 43 is cleaned by releasing the engagement state between the protrusion 52 and the guide portion 46 when the tip of the cleaning tool 50 is inserted to a predetermined position near the inner end of the cleaning tool guide path 43. The member 53 is configured to be in contact with the dustproof cover 42. According to such a configuration, there is an advantage that the surface of the dustproof cover 42 can be uniformly cleaned from the back side to the front side when the cleaning tool 50 is pulled out.

Further, the cleaning tool guide path 43 is provided with an urging member 47 that urges the cleaning member 53 toward the dustproof cover 42 at a predetermined position near the back end of the cleaning tool guide path 43. With the urging member 47, the cleaning member 53 can be surely brought into contact with the dustproof cover 42 when the cleaning tool 50 is inserted to a predetermined position.

Further, the dustproof cover 42 has a dirt-free region (region R3 in FIG. 4) near the inner end of the cleaning tool guide path 43, and the cleaning tool guide path 43 includes a cleaning member 53 of the cleaning tool 50. The cleaning member 53 is brought into contact with the dustproof cover 42 when it is inserted to the dirt-free area. Therefore, when the cleaning tool 50 is pulled out, the cleaning member 53 can start cleaning from the area where there is not much dirt substance and clean the area through which the scanning light 41 passes. As a result, the area on the surface of the dustproof cover 42 through which the scanning light 41 passes can be reliably cleaned.

In the present embodiment, the inclined guide 45 provided in the cleaning tool guide path 43 is illustrated to have a substantially trapezoidal shape, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the cleaning member 53 covers the dustproof cover when the cleaning tool 50 is inserted. Any device may be used as long as it has a function of preventing the protrusion 52 from being inserted in contact with the surface of the 42 and guiding the protrusion 52 to the upper side of the guide portion 46. Further, the tilt guide 45 is not particularly essential, and the cleaning tool guide path 43 may be configured not to include the tilt guide 45. However, if the tilt guide 45 does not exist, it is possible that the cleaning member 53 is mistakenly inserted in contact with the surface of the dustproof cover 42 when the cleaning tool 50 is inserted. In order to prevent such an erroneous operation, it is preferable to provide some kind of guide member such as the tilt guide 45 described above.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The basic configuration, operation, and the like of the image forming apparatus 1 in the present embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment.

7A and 7B are views showing a detailed configuration of the cleaning tool guide path 43 in the second embodiment, FIG. 7A shows a perspective view thereof, and FIG. 7B shows a cross-sectional view thereof. As shown in FIG. 7A, the cleaning tool guide path 43 of the present embodiment is a square tubular hollow path extending linearly in the X direction as in the first embodiment. It has guide walls 44 and 44 on both the left and right sides to regulate the lateral movement of the cleaning tool. Further, a dustproof cover 42 is provided on the central bottom surface of the cleaning tool guide path 43 in the longitudinal direction (X direction) so as to be flush with the bottom surface of the cleaning tool guide path 43.

The cleaning tool guide path 43 has a guide portion 46 inside the guide wall 44. The guide portion 46 is the same as that described in the first embodiment, is provided at a position at a predetermined height from the surface of the dustproof cover 42, and is cleaned from a position near the opening 43b on the front side of the cleaning tool guide path 43. It extends to a position near the inner end of the tool guide path 43. Further, as shown in FIG. 7B, the cleaning tool guide path 43 has a contact member 61 at the back end of the cleaning tool guide path 43, and further contacts a position near the opening 43b on the front side. It has a member 62. These contact members 61 and 62 are members that come into contact with the tip of the cleaning tool 50 and change the posture of the cleaning tool 50. For example, the contact member 61 is provided in the cleaning tool guide path 43 further behind the back end portion 46b of the guide portion 46, and is formed as, for example, a rectangular member having a predetermined height. Further, the contact member 62 is formed as a rectangular member having a height lower than that of the contact member 61 in the vicinity of the opening 43b. The contact members 61 and 62 are not necessarily limited to a rectangular shape.

Similar to the first embodiment, such a cleaning tool guide path 43 separates the cleaning member 53 of the cleaning tool 50 from the surface of the dustproof cover 42 when the cleaning tool 50 is inserted, and the cleaning tool 50 is pulled out. Occasionally, it has a function of bringing the cleaning member 53 into contact with the surface of the dustproof cover 42.

8A and 8B are views showing one configuration example of the cleaning tool 50 in the present embodiment, FIG. 8A is an overall perspective view, and FIG. 8B is a side view showing an enlarged tip portion. .. The cleaning tool 50 is inserted into an insertion rod 51 that is inserted into the cleaning tool guide path 43, and a cleaning member 53 that is provided at the tip of the insertion rod 51 and comes into contact with the surface of the dustproof cover 42 to clean the dustproof cover 42. A protrusion 52 provided at the tip of the rod 51 and projecting laterally in both the left and right directions, and a lever member 54 rotatable about a rotation shaft 55 provided in the vicinity of the protrusion 52 are provided.

The lever member 54 is a member in which the first lever portion 54a and the second lever portion 54b are integrally formed. For example, the first lever portion 54a and the second lever portion 54b are bent so as to form a predetermined angle with each other. , As a whole is formed in the shape of a rough outline. The rotating shaft 55 is provided at a position near the protrusion 52 at the tip of the insertion rod 51, and is attached to the first lever portion 54a. The rotation shaft 55 may be provided on the protrusion 52. Such a lever member 54 can rotate around the rotation shaft 55, and can be displaced between, for example, the first posture A shown by the solid line and the second posture B shown by the broken line in FIG. 8B. In the first posture A, the lever member 54 is in a state of being tilted as a whole, and a state in which the first lever portion 54a is directed toward the tip end side. On the other hand, in the second posture B, the lever member 54 is in a state in which the first lever portion 54a is erected, and the second lever portion 54b is in a state in which the second lever portion 54b is projected from the upper surface of the insertion rod 51. In the first posture A and the second posture B, a height difference H is generated at the height position of the second lever portion 54b.

In the cleaning tool guide path 43 of the present embodiment, when the tip of the cleaning tool 50 inserted in the first posture A is inserted to the position of the contact member 61, the contact member 61 comes into contact with the lever member 54. The lever member 54 is displaced to the second posture B. As a result, the cleaning tool guide path 43 can bring the cleaning member 53 into contact with the surface of the dustproof cover 42 when the cleaning tool 50 is inserted all the way.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the cleaning steps in the second embodiment in order. First, as shown by an arrow Fa in FIG. 9A, in the cleaning tool 50, the cleaning member 53 is directed downward from the opening 43b of the cleaning tool guide path 43, and the lever member 54 is set to the first posture A. In this state, it is inserted inside the cleaning tool guide path 43. At this time, the protrusion 52 of the cleaning tool 50 is inserted above the guide portion 46 provided inside the cleaning tool guide path 43. After that, when the cleaning tool 50 is further inserted, the cleaning tool 50 advances toward the back side of the cleaning tool guide path 43 with the protrusion 52 engaged with the upper surface of the guide portion 46. At this time, the left and right sides of the cleaning tool 50 are supported by the guide portion 46, and the cleaning tool guide path 43 advances toward the back side in a state where the cleaning member 53 is separated from the surface of the dustproof cover 42.

When the protrusion 52 of the cleaning tool 50 advances to the position of the back end portion 46b of the guide portion 46, as shown in FIG. 9B, the tip of the first lever portion 54a of the tilted lever member 54 comes into contact with the contact member. It abuts on 61. When the cleaning tool 50 is further inserted from this state, the protruding portion 52 advances further to the back side beyond the position of the back side end portion 46b of the guide portion 46, whereas the first lever portion 54a is a contact member. Since it is in contact with 61, it cannot proceed to the back side, and the lever member 54 is rotated around the rotation shaft 55. That is, the lever member 54 is displaced from the first posture A to the second posture B. As the lever member 54 rotates, the tip of the second lever portion 54b comes into contact with the ceiling portion of the cleaning tool guide path 43. Therefore, the lever member 54 rotates with the tip of the second lever portion 54b in contact with the ceiling portion of the cleaning tool guide path 43. As a result, as shown in FIG. 9C, the cleaning member 53 is pushed down and comes into contact with the bottom surface of the cleaning tool guide path 43. That is, the cleaning tool guide path 43 brings the cleaning member 53 into contact with the bottom surface of the cleaning tool guide path 43 only when the tip of the cleaning tool 50 is inserted to the dirt-free region near the back end portion 48.

When the cleaning member 53 of the cleaning tool 50 comes into contact with the bottom surface of the cleaning tool guide path 43, the protrusion 52 moves to a position below the guide portion 46. In this state, as shown by the arrow Fb in FIG. 9D, when the cleaning tool 50 is pulled out, the cleaning tool guide path 43 guides the protrusion 52 to the lower side of the guide portion 46 for cleaning. The member 53 is brought into contact with the surface of the dustproof cover 42. At this time, the guide portion 46 can maintain the contact pressure of the cleaning member 53 with respect to the dustproof cover 42 at a constant pressure by engaging with the protrusion 52 and pressing the tip of the cleaning tool 50 downward. Further, the protrusion 52 does not engage with the lower surface of the guide portion 46, but the second lever portion 54b engages with the ceiling portion of the cleaning tool guide path 43 to press the tip of the cleaning tool 50 downward. It doesn't matter.

As shown in FIG. 9D, the cleaning member 53 moves from the dirt-free area (region R3 in FIG. 7) to the dirt-generating area (region R1 in FIG. 7) as the cleaning tool 50 is pulled out. Further, as shown in FIG. 9E, the area moves from the dirt generation area (region R1 in FIG. 7) to the dirt non-generation area (region R2 in FIG. 7). At this time, since the cleaning member 53 advances in the dirt generation area (region R1 in FIG. 7) in only one direction, the dirt substance existing in the dirt generation area can be cleaned toward the opening 43b. Then, as shown in FIG. 9F, the cleaning tool 50 that has finished cleaning the dustproof cover 42 brings the first lever portion 54a into contact with the abutting member 62 in the vicinity of the opening 43b. When the cleaning tool 50 is further pulled out, the lever member 54 is displaced from the second posture B to the first posture A and is taken out from the opening 43b.

As described above, in the cleaning tool guide path 43 of the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, when the cleaning tool 50 is inserted, the cleaning tool 50 passes through the first path away from the dustproof cover 42, and the cleaning tool 50 When the cleaning tool 50 is pulled out, the cleaning tool 50 is guided so as to pass through the second path close to the dustproof cover 42. Therefore, the cleaning tool guide path 43 separates the cleaning member 53 of the cleaning tool 50 from the dustproof cover 42 when the cleaning tool 50 is inserted, and contacts the cleaning member 53 with the dustproof cover 42 when the cleaning tool 50 is pulled out. Can be made to. By cleaning with the cleaning member 53 when the cleaning tool 50 is pulled out, the phenomenon that dirty substances remain in the back or near the center of the cleaning tool guide path 43 is unlikely to occur, and the dustproof cover can be cleaned. You will be able to do it reliably and stably.

The contact member 62 provided in the cleaning tool guide path 43 in the present embodiment is not particularly indispensable, and the cleaning tool guide path 43 may be configured not to include the contact member 62. In addition, the points other than those described above in the present embodiment are the same as those described in the first embodiment.

(Third Embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. The basic configuration, operation, and the like of the image forming apparatus 1 in the present embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a detailed configuration of the cleaning tool guide path 43 according to the third embodiment. As shown in FIG. 10, the cleaning tool guide path 43 of the present embodiment differs from the above-described first and second embodiments in the configuration of the guide portion 46 provided inside the guide wall 44. More specifically, the guide portion 46 of the present embodiment has two guides, an upper guide 46d and a lower guide 46e, which are parallel to each other inside the pair of guide walls 44 and 44. The distance D between the upper guide 46d and the lower guide 46e is the same as the diameter of the protrusion 52 provided on the cleaning tool 50. The cleaning tool guide path 43 of the present embodiment inserts the protrusion 52 of the cleaning tool 50 between the upper guide 46d and the lower guide 46e. Since the distance D between the upper guide 46d and the lower guide 46e is the same as the diameter of the protrusion 52 provided on the cleaning tool 50, the protrusion 52 is inserted between the upper guide 46d and the lower guide 46e for cleaning. When the tool 50 is inserted or pulled out, the guide portion 46 generates a frictional force with the protrusion 52. That is, the cleaning tool guide path 43 has a function of exerting a frictional force on the cleaning tool 50 when the cleaning tool 50 is inserted and pulled out.

Further, the guide portion 46 connects the upper guide 45d and the lower guide 46e to each other at the rear end portion 46b of the cleaning tool guide path 43 to close the gap between the upper guide 46d and the lower guide 46e. Therefore, the cleaning tool guide path 43 of the present embodiment is configured to move the cleaning tool 50 within the same route when the cleaning tool 50 is inserted and when it is pulled out. Further, at the front end portion 46a of the guide portion 46, the distance between the upper guide 46d and the lower guide 46e is widened, and the protrusion 52 is easily inserted between the upper guide 46d and the lower guide 46e.

11A and 11B are views showing one configuration example of the cleaning tool 50 in the present embodiment, FIG. 11A is a diagram showing a state of the cleaning tool 50 at the time of insertion, and FIG. 11B is a diagram showing a state of the cleaning tool 50 at the time of pulling out. It is a figure which shows the state of the cleaning tool 50. The cleaning tool 50 includes an insertion rod 51 inserted into the cleaning tool guide path 43, a holding member 56 provided at the tip of the insertion rod 51 and holding the cleaning member 53, and a holding member 56 by rotating the holding member 56. A rotating shaft 55 that changes the posture of the 56, a protrusion 52 that is provided at the tip of the insertion rod 51 and projects laterally in both the left and right directions, and a grip portion 58 that is provided on the base end side of the insertion rod 51. I have.

The base end side of the insertion rod 51 is formed as, for example, a small-diameter rod-shaped body 51a. The grip portion 58 is attached to the outside of the small-diameter rod-shaped body 51a provided on the base end side of the insertion rod 51, and is relatively slidable along the longitudinal direction (X direction) of the rod-shaped body 51a. .. One end of a link member 57 made of a wire or the like is connected to the grip portion 58.

The tip of the insertion rod 51 is formed as a holding member accommodating portion having a notched central portion, and the holding member 56 is attached to the holding member accommodating portion. The left and right sides of the holding member 56 are supported by the rotating shafts 55, and the holding member 56 can rotate around the rotating shafts 55. The holding member 56 is integrally formed with a support portion 56a supported by the rotating shaft 55, a holding portion 56b provided on the base end side of the support portion 56a, and a link connecting portion 56c provided on the tip end side of the support portion 56a. It is a thing. The holding portion 56b is held in a state where the cleaning member 53 is attached to the lower surface side thereof. The link connecting portion 56c is connected to the supporting portion 56a so as to form a predetermined angle (about 90 degrees) with respect to the holding portion 56b, for example. The other end of the link member 57 connected to the grip portion 58 is connected to the link connection portion 56c.

The holding member 56 as described above rotates about the rotation shaft 55 between the first posture as shown in FIG. 11A and the second posture as shown in FIG. 11B. Posture changes. The first posture is a state in which the holding portion 56b lifts the cleaning member 53, and the second posture is a state in which the holding portion 56b is displaced to a lower position and the cleaning member 53 is pushed down. When the cleaning tool 50 is inserted into the cleaning tool guide path 43, the cleaning tool 50 is in the first posture shown in FIG. 11A. The cleaning tool 50 may be provided with an urging member such as a spring to maintain the first posture shown in FIG. 11A when inserted. On the other hand, when the cleaning tool 50 is pulled out from the cleaning tool guide path 43, as shown in FIG. 11B, the grip portion 58 moves relative to the rod-shaped body 51a in the arrow Fx direction, and the link member 57 moves. By pulling the holding member 56, the holding member 56 rotates in the R direction about the rotation shaft 55. As a result, the holding member 56 changes from the first posture to the second posture. That is, when the cleaning tool 50 is pulled out from the cleaning tool guide path 43, the cleaning tool 50 rotates the holding member 56 around the rotation shaft 55 and takes the second posture shown in FIG. 11B. When the holding member 56 changes to the second posture, the holding portion 56b is displaced to a position lower than the first posture, so that the cleaning member 53 comes into contact with the surface of the dustproof cover 42.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the cleaning steps in the third embodiment in order. In the present embodiment, the operator performs the insertion operation and the pull-out operation of the cleaning tool 50 while grasping the grip portion 58 of the cleaning tool 50. First, as shown by an arrow Fa in FIG. 12A, the cleaning tool 50 is inserted into the cleaning tool guide path 43 with the cleaning member 53 facing downward from the opening 43b of the cleaning tool guide path 43. NS. At this time, the protrusion 52 of the cleaning tool 50 is inserted between the upper guide 46d and the lower guide 46e of the guide portion 46. Then, the cleaning tool 50 advances toward the back in the cleaning tool guide path 43 with the protrusion 52 sandwiched between the upper guide 46d and the lower guide 46e. When the cleaning tool 50 is inserted, the grip portion 58 is pushed into the insertion rod 51 in the X direction, so that the link member 57 is in a bent state and the holding member 56 maintains the first posture. At this time, the holding member 56 may maintain the first posture by the urging force of the urging member such as a spring. By maintaining the first posture when the cleaning tool 50 is inserted, the holding member 56 is in a state where the cleaning member 53 is separated from the surface of the dustproof cover 42. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 12B, the cleaning tool guide path 43 guides the cleaning tool 50 to the back side of the cleaning tool guide path 43 in a state where the cleaning member 53 is not in contact with the surface of the dustproof cover 42.

As shown in FIG. 12 (c), when the protrusion 52 of the cleaning tool 50 advances to the inner end portion 46b of the guide portion 46, the cleaning tool 50 cannot be inserted any more. In this state, the operator starts the pulling operation from that state. When the pulling operation of the cleaning tool 50 is started, a frictional force is generated between the guide portion 46 and the protrusion 52. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 12D, the grip portion 58 moves in the pulling direction relative to the insertion rod 51, and the holding member 56 moves from the first posture to the second posture via the link member 57. Change. That is, the holding member 56 changes from the first posture to the second posture before starting the movement in the pulling direction, and brings the cleaning member 53 into contact with the bottom surface of the cleaning tool guide path 43. By starting the pulling operation in a state where the tip of the cleaning tool 50 is inserted to the back end portion 46b of the guide portion 46, the cleaning member 53 is brought into a dirt-free area near the back end portion 48 of the cleaning tool guide path 43. Can be brought into contact with the bottom surface of the cleaning tool guide path 43.

When the pulling operation of the cleaning tool 50 is continued, the cleaning tool guide path 43 guides the cleaning tool 50 in the pulling direction while maintaining a frictional force between the guide portion 46 and the protrusion 52. .. Also at this time, the grip portion 58 is in a state of being relatively moved in the pulling direction with respect to the insertion rod 51. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 12E, the holding member 56 moves in the pulling direction while keeping the cleaning member 53 in contact with the bottom surface of the cleaning tool guide path 43.

As the cleaning tool 50 is pulled out, the cleaning member 53 moves from the dirt-free area (region R3 in FIG. 10) to the dirt-generating area (region R1 in FIG. 10), and further moves to the dirt-generating area (region R1 in FIG. 10). It moves from R1) to a dirt-free area (area R2 in FIG. 10). At this time, since the cleaning member 53 advances in the dirt generation area (region R1 in FIG. 10) in only one direction, the dirt substance existing in the dirt generation area can be cleaned toward the opening 43b. Then, the cleaning tool 50 for which the dustproof cover 42 has been cleaned is taken out from the opening 43b of the cleaning tool guide path 43.

As described above, the cleaning tool guide path 43 of the present embodiment is cleaned by the guide portion 46 projecting inward from the guide wall 44 sandwiching the protruding portion 52 of the cleaning tool 50 between the upper guide 46d and the lower guide 46e. When the tool 50 moves along the guide portion 46, a constant frictional force is generated. The cleaning tool guide path 43 is configured so that when the cleaning tool 50 is pulled out, the posture of the cleaning tool 50 is displaced by the frictional force so that the cleaning member 53 can come into contact with the surface of the dustproof cover 42. There is. Therefore, it is possible to perform cleaning by the cleaning member 53 when the cleaning tool 50 is pulled out, and it is unlikely that a dirty substance remains in the back or near the center of the cleaning tool guide path 43, and it is dustproof. The cover can be cleaned reliably and stably.

The points other than those described above in this embodiment are the same as those described in the first embodiment or the second embodiment.

(Fourth Embodiment)
Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In this embodiment, another aspect of the cleaning tool 50 that can be used in the cleaning tool guide path 43 described in the third embodiment will be described. The basic configuration and operation of the image forming apparatus 1 in this embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment. Further, the configuration of the cleaning tool guide path 43 is the same as that described in the third embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a configuration example of the cleaning tool 50 in the present embodiment, FIG. 13A is a diagram showing a state of the cleaning tool 50 at the time of insertion, and FIG. 13B is a diagram showing a state of the cleaning tool 50 at the time of insertion. It is a figure which shows the state of the cleaning tool 50 at the time of pulling out. The cleaning tool 50 includes an insertion rod 51 that is inserted into the cleaning tool guide path 43, a holding member 56 that is provided at the tip of the insertion rod 51 and holds the cleaning member 53, and a link member that changes the posture of the holding member 56. It includes 57, a protrusion 52 provided at the tip of the insertion rod 51 and projecting laterally in both the left and right directions, and a grip portion 58 provided on the base end side of the insertion rod 51.

The grip portion 58 is attached to the base end side of the insertion rod 51 and is relatively slidable along the longitudinal direction (X direction) of the insertion rod 51, for example, as in the third embodiment. The inside of the insertion rod 51 from the tip end to the base end is hollow, and a link member 57 composed of a wire or the like is housed in the hollow space, and one end of the link member 57 is connected to the grip portion 58. ing.

The holding member 56 provided at the tip of the insertion rod 51 includes a first member 71 fixed to the tip of the insertion rod 51, a second member 72 arranged to face the first member 71, and the first member 71. It has a pantograph structure 73 that connects the second member 72 to each other. The pantograph structure 73 is a structure that can be extended or contracted in the X direction. The cleaning member 53 is formed of a flexible material and is arranged so as to cover the periphery of the second member 72 and the pantograph structure 73. Further, the other end of the link member 57 is connected to the second member 72.

When the cleaning tool 50 is inserted into the cleaning tool guide path 43, the holding member 56 configured as described above takes a first posture in which the pantograph structure 73 is extended in the X direction as shown in FIG. 13 (a). maintain. In addition, in order to maintain the first posture at the time of insertion, an urging member or the like that urges the second member 72 in a direction away from the first member 71 may be separately arranged. In the first posture, the pantograph structure 73 is in a state of being contracted in the vertical direction orthogonal to the X direction, so that the cleaning member 53 arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the pantograph structure 73 is contracted in the vertical direction. Therefore, when the holding member 56 is inserted into the cleaning tool guide path 43 in the first posture, the cleaning member 53 advances toward the back of the cleaning tool guide path 43 while remaining floating from the surface of the dustproof cover 42. ..

On the other hand, when the cleaning tool 50 is pulled out, a frictional force acts between the guide portion 46 and the protrusion 52, so that the grip portion 58 is relatively in the pulling direction with respect to the insertion rod 51 as in the third embodiment. Will move to. At this time, the link member 57 connected to the grip portion 58 pulls the second member 72 of the holding member 56 in the direction close to the first member 71. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 13B, the pantograph structure 73 contracts in the X direction and changes to the second posture. When the pantograph structure 73 contracts in the X direction, it is in a state of extending in the vertical direction orthogonal to the X direction. Therefore, in the second posture, the cleaning member 53 arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the pantograph structure 73 expands in the vertical direction. Be expanded. When the cleaning member 53 is in the second posture expanded and deployed in the vertical direction in this way, the cleaning member 53 located below the pantograph structure 73 comes into contact with the surface of the dustproof cover 42. That is, in the present embodiment, when the first posture is changed to the second posture, the height position of the cleaning member 53 does not change, but the posture of the cleaning member 53 changes and comes into contact with the surface of the dustproof cover 42. ..

As described above, the cleaning tool 50 of the present embodiment maintains the first posture when inserted into the cleaning tool guide path 43 to separate the cleaning member 53 from the surface of the dustproof cover 42, and the cleaning tool guide path 43. When it is pulled out from, it changes to the second posture and is configured to bring the cleaning member 53 into contact with the surface of the dustproof cover 42.

As in the third embodiment, the cleaning tool guide path 43 of the present embodiment has a guide portion 46 projecting inward from the guide wall 44 between the upper guide 46d and the lower guide 46e, and the protruding portion 52 of the cleaning tool 50. When the cleaning tool 50 moves along the guide portion 46 by sandwiching the cleaning tool 50, a constant frictional force is generated. The cleaning tool guide path 43 is configured so that when the cleaning tool 50 is pulled out, the posture of the cleaning tool 50 is displaced by the frictional force so that the cleaning member 53 can come into contact with the surface of the dustproof cover 42. There is. Therefore, it is possible to perform cleaning by the cleaning member 53 when the cleaning tool 50 is pulled out, and it is unlikely that a dirty substance remains in the back or near the center of the cleaning tool guide path 43, and it is dustproof. The cover can be cleaned reliably and stably.

The points other than those described above in the present embodiment are the same as those described in the first to third embodiments.

(Modification example)
The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to the contents described in each of the above embodiments, and various modifications can be applied.

For example, in the above embodiment, the case where the image forming apparatus 1 is an apparatus having only a printing function has been illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the image forming apparatus 1 may be configured as an MFP having a plurality of functions such as a scanning function and a copying function as well as a printing function.

Further, in the above embodiment, the case where the image forming apparatus 1 is a color machine capable of forming a color image is illustrated. However, the image forming apparatus 1 is not limited to the color machine, and may be a monochrome-only machine.

1 Image forming device 21 Exposure unit 30 Image carrier 40 Optical scanning device 42 Dust-proof cover 43 Cleaning tool guide path 46 Guide part 47 Biasing member 50 Cleaning tool 51 Insertion rod 52 Protrusion part 53 Cleaning member 54 Lever member 55 Rotating shaft

Claims (10)

Image carrier and
An optical scanning device that exposes the surface of the image carrier,
A dustproof cover that covers the ejection port from which scanning light is emitted from the optical scanning device, and
A cleaning tool guide that allows the cleaning tool to be inserted and removed along the surface of the dustproof cover,
With
The cleaning tool guide path has a structure in which the cleaning member of the cleaning tool is separated from the dust-proof cover when the cleaning tool is inserted, and the cleaning member is brought into contact with the dust-proof cover when the cleaning tool is pulled out. An image forming apparatus characterized by having. The cleaning tool is provided with a protrusion that projects toward the side of the cleaning tool guide path at a position near the cleaning member.
The cleaning tool guide path has a guide portion that projects inward from the side of the cleaning tool guide path at a position at a predetermined height from the surface of the dustproof cover, and the cleaning tool guide path has the cleaning tool. When inserted, the protrusion is guided to the upper side of the guide portion to separate the cleaning member from the dustproof cover, and when the cleaning tool is pulled out from the cleaning tool guide path, the protrusion is placed under the guide portion. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning member is guided to the side and brought into contact with the dustproof cover. The cleaning tool guide path releases the engagement state between the protrusion and the guide portion when the cleaning member is inserted to a predetermined position near the inner end of the cleaning tool guide path, and the cleaning member is pulled. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image forming apparatus is brought into contact with a dustproof cover. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the cleaning tool guide path is provided with an urging member for urging the cleaning member toward the dustproof cover at the predetermined position. The cleaning tool is rotatable about a rotation shaft provided on the protrusion or in the vicinity of the protrusion, and has a first lever portion extending from the rotation shaft and a side opposite to the first lever portion from the protrusion. Has a lever member having a second lever portion extending to
The cleaning tool guide path has an abutting member that comes into contact with the first lever portion at the predetermined position, and when the cleaning tool is inserted into the cleaning tool guide path, the lever member is tilted. When the cleaning tool reaches the predetermined position, the contact member comes into contact with the first lever portion, and the second lever portion is engaged with the ceiling portion of the cleaning tool guide path to engage the lever member. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the cleaning member is brought into contact with the dustproof cover by rotating the cleaning member. The dust-proof cover has a dirt-free area near the inner end of the cleaning tool guide path.
The cleaning tool guide path according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the cleaning member of the cleaning tool is inserted into the non-occurrence region and then the cleaning member is brought into contact with the dustproof cover. Image forming device. The cleaning tool is provided with a protrusion that projects toward the side of the cleaning tool guide path at a position near the cleaning member.
The cleaning tool guide path has a guide portion that projects inward from the side of the cleaning tool guide path at a position at a predetermined height from the surface of the dustproof cover.
The guide portion engages with the protrusion to generate a frictional force with the protrusion, and when the cleaning tool is pulled out, the friction force displaces the posture of the cleaning tool to cause the cleaning member. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is brought into contact with the dustproof cover. An optical scanning device that exposes the surface of the image carrier,
A dustproof cover that covers the ejection port from which scanning light is emitted from the optical scanning device, and
A cleaning tool guide that allows the cleaning tool to be inserted and removed along the surface of the dustproof cover,
A cleaning tool used for cleaning the surface of the dustproof cover in an image forming apparatus comprising the above.
An insertion rod inserted into the cleaning tool guide path and
A cleaning member provided at the tip of the insertion rod and in contact with the surface of the dustproof cover for cleaning.
A protrusion provided near the cleaning member and protruding toward the side of the cleaning tool guide path, and a protrusion.
With
The cleaning tool is characterized in that the protrusion is engaged with a guide portion that protrudes inward from the side of the cleaning tool guide path. A first lever portion that can rotate around the protrusion or a rotation shaft provided in the vicinity of the protrusion and extends from the rotation shaft and a second lever that extends from the protrusion to the opposite side of the first lever portion. Lever member with a part,
The cleaning tool according to claim 8, further comprising. A grip portion provided on the base end side of the insertion rod and slidable along the longitudinal direction of the insertion rod,
A holding member provided on the tip end side of the insertion rod and holding the cleaning member,
A link member that changes the position or posture of the cleaning member held by the holding member according to the position of the grip portion with respect to the insertion rod.
With
When the cleaning tool is pulled out, the grip portion moves in the pulling direction along the insertion rod and changes the position or posture of the cleaning member held by the holding member via the link member. The cleaning tool according to claim 8, wherein the cleaning member is brought into contact with the dustproof cover.

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