JP2021139977A - Lubricant supply device, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To reduce a trouble that an attachment retained in the vicinity of a contact part between a solid lubricant and a lubricant supply rotating body is attached to the lubricant supply rotating body again.SOLUTION: There is provided a scraping member 16d that is provided with a free end 16d3 in contact with a lubricant supply roller 16a (lubricant supply rotating body) and scrapes off an attachment attached to the lubricant supply roller 16a. There is provided a conveying screw 16f (conveying member) that is opposite to the lubricant supply roller 16a with the scraping member 16d therebetween and conveys the attachment scraped off by the scraping member 16d. The scraping member 16d has an opening 16d1 formed between the free end 16d3 and a fixed end 16d4 and is provided with a projection 16d2 projecting from a lower end of the opening 16d1 in a direction to approach the conveying screw 16f.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The present invention relates to a lubricant supply device that supplies a lubricant to the surface of an image carrier such as a photoconductor drum or an intermediate transfer belt, a process cartridge provided with the lubricant supply device, a copier, a printer, a facsimile, or a combination thereof. It relates to an image forming apparatus such as a machine.

Conventionally, in image forming devices such as copiers and printers, the surface of the image carrier is lubricated for the purpose of reducing deterioration over time and generation of abnormal images due to wear of the image carrier such as a photoconductor drum and a cleaning blade. A technique for installing a lubricant supply device for supplying an agent is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1 and the like).

On the other hand, in Patent Document 1, an untransferred toner that is removed from an image carrier and supported on a brush (lubricant supply rotating body) by forming an opening in a holding member that holds the solid lubricant is used as a solid lubricant. A technique of scraping at a contact portion with and discharging from an opening is disclosed.

In the conventional lubricant supply device, even if the deposits such as untransferred toner adhering to the lubricant supply rotating body are positively scraped by the scraping member, the scraped deposits stay and the lubricant is supplied. It sometimes reattached to the rotating body. Then, the deposits reattached to the lubricant supply rotating body are scraped from the lubricant supply rotating body again at the contact portion with the solid lubricant, but the scraped deposits eventually stay. It had been reattached to the lubricant supply rotating body. Then, the reattached deposits have entered between the solid lubricant and the lubricant supply rotating body, causing problems such as poor lubricant supply.

On the other hand, by applying the technique of Patent Document 1, a scraping member is provided with an opening (discharge port) for discharging the deposits accumulated in the vicinity of the contact portion between the solid lubricant and the lubricant supply rotating body. The measures to be provided in are conceivable. However, even in that case, the deposits discharged from the opening may flow back from the opening and reattach to the lubricant supply rotating body.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and is a problem that the deposits accumulated in the vicinity of the contact portion between the solid lubricant and the lubricant supply rotating body are reattached to the lubricant supply rotating body. It is an object of the present invention to provide a lubricant supply device, a process cartridge, and an image forming device.

The lubricant supply device according to the present invention includes a lubricant supply rotating body that rotates in a predetermined rotation direction to supply lubricant to the surface of the image carrier, and a solid lubricant that abuts on the lubricant supply rotating body. A scraping member provided with a free end portion that abuts on the lubricant supply rotating body at a position downstream of the image carrier in the rotational direction and upstream of the solid lubricant in the rotational direction. And a transport member that faces the lubricant supply rotating body via the scraping member and transports the deposits scraped by the scraping member in a predetermined transport direction. The removing member is provided with an opening formed between the free end portion and the fixed end portion, and a protruding portion protruding from the lower end of the opening in a direction approaching the transport member.

According to the present invention, the problem that the deposits accumulated in the vicinity of the contact portion between the solid lubricant and the lubricant supply rotating body reattach to the lubricant supply rotating body is reduced, and the lubricant supply device, the process cartridge, and the like. And an image forming apparatus can be provided.

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 an enlarged view which shows the lubricant supply device. It is the schematic which shows the main part of the lubricant supply device in the width direction. It is an enlarged view which shows the lubricant supply device as a comparative example. It is the schematic which shows the main part of the lubricant supply device in the width direction as a modification.

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 that reads image information of the document D, 7 is a paper feed device that accommodates a sheet P such as transfer paper, 9 is a resist roller (timing roller) that adjusts the transfer timing of the sheet P, 10Y, 10M, 10C, 10BK indicates a process cartridge in which a toner image of each color (yellow, magenta, cyan, black) is formed.

Further, 17 is an intermediate transfer belt on which toner images of a plurality of colors are superimposed and transferred, 18 is a secondary transfer roller for transferring a color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 17 onto the sheet P, and 19 is an intermediate transfer belt 17. 20 is a primary transfer roller that transfers a toner image formed on the photoconductor drums 12 of each process cartridge 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10BK by superimposing the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 17. Is a drive roller for running the intermediate transfer belt 17, 30 is a fixing device for fixing an unfixed image on the sheet P, and 50Y, 50M, 50C, and 50BK contain toners of each color (yellow, magenta, cyan, black). Indicates a toner cartridge (toner container).

Hereinafter, the operation of the image forming apparatus during normal color image forming will be described.
Note that FIG. 2 can also be referred to for the image forming process performed on the photoconductor drum 12 of each process cartridge 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10BK.

First, the document D is conveyed 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.
Specifically, the document reading unit 4 scans the image of the document D on the contact glass 5 while irradiating the light emitted from the illumination lamp. Then, the light reflected by the document D is imaged on the color sensor via the mirror group and the lens. The color image information of the document D is read by a color sensor for each RGB (red, green, blue) color separation light, and then converted into an electrical image signal. Further, based on the RGB color-separated image signal, the image processing unit performs processing such as color conversion processing, color correction processing, and spatial frequency correction processing to obtain color image information of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black.

Then, the image information of each color of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black is transmitted to the writing unit 2. Then, the writing unit 2 emits laser light L (see FIG. 2) based on the image information of each color toward the corresponding photoconductor drum 12.

On the other hand, the photoconductor drums 12 of the four process cartridges 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10BK are each rotating counterclockwise in FIG. Then, first, the surface of the photoconductor drum 12 is uniformly charged at the portion facing the charging device 14 (charging roller) (the charging step). In this way, a charging potential is formed on the photoconductor drum 12. After that, the surface of the charged photoconductor drum 12 reaches the irradiation position of each laser beam L.
In the writing unit 2, laser light corresponding to an image signal is emitted from 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 12 of the first process cartridge 10Y 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 12 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 12 after being charged by the charging device 14.

Similarly, the laser beam corresponding to the magenta component is irradiated on the surface of the photoconductor drum 12 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 12 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 12 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 surface of the photoconductor drum 12 on which the electrostatic latent image of each color is formed reaches a position facing the developing device 13 (developing device), respectively. Then, toners of each color are supplied from each developing device 13 onto the photoconductor drum 12, and the latent image on the photoconductor drum 12 is developed (this is a developing step).
After that, the surface of the photoconductor drum 12 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 12 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 12 after the primary transfer step reaches a position facing the cleaning blade 15 (cleaning device), respectively. Then, the cleaning blade 15 recovers the untransferred toner remaining on the photoconductor drum 12 (cleaning step).
After that, the surface of the photoconductor drum 12 passes through the static elimination device, and a series of image forming processes in the photoconductor drum 12 are completed.

On the other hand, the intermediate transfer belt 17 on which the toner images of each color on the photoconductor drum 12 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 device 19. Then, the untransferred toner adhering to the intermediate transfer belt 17 is collected by the intermediate transfer belt cleaning device 19, and a series of transfer processes on 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 feeding device 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 after passing through the transport guide from the paper feed device 7 that stores the sheet P such as paper. 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 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 12 as an image carrier, a charging device 14 (charging roller) for charging the photoconductor drum 12, and a latent image formed on the surface of the photoconductor drum 12. A developing device 13 (developing device) for developing, a cleaning blade 15 (cleaning device) for removing untransferred toner on the photoconductor drum 12, and a lubricant supply device 16 for supplying (applying) a lubricant to the surface of the photoconductor drum 12. , 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 by excluding the alphabets (Y, C, M, BK) of the reference numerals in FIG. 2 and the like.

Here, the photoconductor drum 12 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 12, 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 12 is rotationally driven in a predetermined direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 2) by a main motor (not shown). In the present embodiment, the developing device 13, the charging device 14 (charging roller), the lubricant supply roller 16a, and the transport screw 16f, which will be described later, are also shown by transmitting the driving force from the main motor via the gear train. It is rotationally driven in the direction of the arrow shown in 2.

The charging device 14 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 the rotation of the photoconductor drum 12 with respect to the lubricant supply device 16. It is arranged so as to come into contact with the photoconductor drum 12 on the downstream side in the direction.
Then, a predetermined voltage (charging bias) is applied to the charging device 14 from the power supply unit installed in the device main body 1, thereby uniformly charging the surface of the opposing photoconductor drum 12.
In the present embodiment, the charging device 14 is brought into contact with the photoconductor drum 12, but the charging device 14 may be opposed to the photoconductor drum 12 with a minute gap without being brought into contact with the photoconductor drum 12.

The cleaning blade 15 (cleaning device) is arranged on the downstream side in the rotation direction of the photoconductor drum 12 with respect to the lubricant supply device 16. The cleaning blade 15 is made of a rubber material such as urethane rubber, and is in contact with the surface of the photoconductor drum 12 at a predetermined angle and at a predetermined pressure. As a result, deposits such as untransferred toner adhering to the photoconductor drum 12 are mechanically scraped off and collected in the process cartridge 10 (lubricant supply device 16). Then, the deposits such as toner collected in the process cartridge 10 are conveyed as waste toner by the transport screw 16f toward the waste toner recovery container (not shown).
Further, the cleaning blade 15 in the present embodiment also functions as a thinning blade for thinning the lubricant supplied on the photoconductor drum 12 by the lubricant supply roller 16a.

The developing apparatus 13 includes a developing roller 13a (developer carrier), transfer screws 13b1 and 13b2 for stirring and conveying the developer G in the developing apparatus 13, and a doctor blade 13c (development) that regulates the amount of the developer on the developing roller 13a. Agent control member), etc.
The developing roller 13a is arranged so as to face the photoconductor drum 12 with a minute gap, and the developing region (development nip) in which the magnetic brush contacts the position facing the photoconductor drum 12 (development gap). Is formed. A developer G (two-component developer) composed of toner T and carrier C is housed in the developing apparatus 13. Then, the developing device 13 develops an electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor drum 12 (forms a toner image).

With reference to FIG. 1, the toner cartridges 50Y, 50M, 50C, and 50BK (toner container) contain toner T for supplying into the developing apparatus 13. 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 (not shown) installed in the developing device 13, the toner replenishing device is used. Toner T is appropriately replenished from the corresponding toner cartridge among the four toner cartridges 50Y, 50M, 50C, and 50BK toward the inside of the developing apparatus 13.
The four toner cartridges 50Y, 50M, 50C, and 50BK are configured so that they can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body 1, and when the toner in the toner cartridge runs out, they are replaced with new ones.

Hereinafter, the lubricant supply device 16 will be described in more detail.
With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the lubricant supply device 16 is provided with a lubricant supply roller 16a (lubricate) in which brush bristles that are in sliding contact with the photoconductor drum 12 are provided so as to supply the lubricant on the photoconductor drum 12. Supply rotating body), solid lubricant 16b that is in sliding contact with the lubricant supply roller 16a (brush bristles), compression spring 16c as an urging member that urges the solid lubricant 16b to the lubricant supply roller 16a, and lubricant supply. A scraping member 16d (scraper) for removing deposits such as toner adhering to the roller 16 is installed.
The lubricant supply roller 16a is arranged on the upstream side of the photoconductor drum 12 in the rotation direction with respect to the cleaning blade 15 and on the downstream side of the photoconductor drum 12 in the rotation direction with respect to the primary transfer roller 20.

In the lubricant supply device 16 of the present embodiment, the cleaning blade 15 is installed, and the lubricant supply roller 16a also functions as a cleaning brush, and the untransferred toner adhering to the surface of the photoconductor drum 12 It is also used as a cleaning device to remove deposits such as.
Further, the lubricant supply device 16 is conveyed as a transfer member that conveys deposits such as untransferred toner collected in the device by the cleaning blade 15 and the lubricant supply roller 16a (cleaning roller) toward the outside of the device. The screw 16f is installed internally.

The lubricant supply roller 16a as the lubricant supply rotating body is a roller member in which straight bristles or loop-shaped brush bristles are wound on a shaft portion (core metal) made of a metal material, and the brush bristles thereof. Is rotationally driven in the counterclockwise direction of FIG. 3 in a state of being in contact with the surface of the photoconductor drum 12. As a result, the lubricant is supplied from the solid lubricant 16b onto the photoconductor drum 12 via the lubricant supply roller 16a. Then, the lubricant supplied on the photoconductor drum 12 is thinned by the cleaning blade 15 arranged on the downstream side of the lubricant supply device 16.
As the brush bristles of the lubricant supply roller 16a, 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. 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 is rotationally driven so as to be in sliding contact with the photoconductor drum 12 rotating in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 2 in the counter direction (counterclockwise direction) (rotation in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 2). ). That is, the rotation direction of the lubricant supply roller 16a is configured to be opposite to the rotation direction of the photoconductor drum 12 at the sliding contact position with the photoconductor drum 12.
Further, the lubricant supply roller 16a is arranged so as to be in sliding contact with the solid lubricant 16b and the photoconductor drum 12, and the lubricant is scraped from the solid lubricant 16b by the rotation of the lubricant supply roller 16a. The lubricant is applied onto the photoconductor drum 12.
Further, a compression spring 16c (a urging member) is arranged behind the solid lubricant 16b (lubricant holding member 16e) in order to eliminate uneven contact between the lubricant supply roller 16a and the solid lubricant 16b. , The solid lubricant 16b is urged toward the lubricant supply roller 16a.

Further, the lubricant supply roller 16a rotates so as to be in sliding contact with the photoconductor drum 12, and scrapes off deposits such as untransferred toner adhering to the surface of the photoconductor drum 12. The deposits scraped and supported by the lubricant supply roller 16a are removed by the scraping member 16d, collected in the lubricant supply device 16, and transported to the outside of the device by the transfer screw 16f.
The scraping member 16 and the transport screw 16f will be described in more detail later.

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 lamellar 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 12 can be reduced in friction. That is, the lamella crystals that uniformly cover the surface of the photoconductor drum 12 by receiving a shearing force can effectively cover the surface of the photoconductor drum 12 with a small amount of lubricant. Then, the surface of the photoconductor drum 12 is covered relatively evenly, and it is possible to satisfactorily protect the surface of the photoconductor drum 12 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, it becomes difficult for the toner and the lubricant to slip through the cleaning device (cleaning blade 15), and the charging device 14 becomes dirty. It can be made difficult.

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. 3 and the like, the lubricant supply device 16 according to the present embodiment includes a lubricant supply roller 16a as a lubricant supply rotating body, a solid lubricant 16b, a scraping member 16d, and a conveyor. A transport screw 16f, etc. as a member is installed.
The lubricant supply roller 16a rotates in a predetermined rotation direction and functions as a lubricant supply rotating body that supplies the lubricant to the surface of the photoconductor drum 12 (image carrier).
The solid lubricant 16b is in contact with the lubricant supply roller 16a (lubricant supply rotating body).

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the scraping member 16d is a member that scrapes off the deposits adhering to the lubricant supply roller 16a (lubrication supply rotating body). In the present embodiment, as the scraping member 16d, a thin resin sheet that comes into contact with the lubricant supply roller 16a in the counter direction is used.
The scraping member 16d is on the downstream side in the rotation direction with respect to the photoconductor drum 12 (image carrier) (the downstream side in the rotation direction of the lubricant supply roller 16a) and is in the rotation direction with respect to the solid lubricant 16b. A free end portion 16d3 (contact portion) that abuts on the lubricant supply roller 16a is provided at a position on the upstream side (the upstream side in the rotation direction of the lubricant supply roller 16a).
That is, the scraping member 16d is cantilevered and supported by the fixed end portion 16d4 being fixed to the device case. Then, the free end portion 16d3 of the scraping member 16d is in sliding contact with the brush bristles of the lubricant supply roller 16a, and the deposits adhering to the lubricant supply roller 16a are mechanically scraped off by the scraping member 16d. become.
As described above, the deposits scraped off by the scraping member 16d cannot be applied to the photoconductor drum 12 in addition to the toner, paper dust, and charge products removed from the photoconductor drum 12. Lubricants and the like are also included, but in the present specification and the like, the "adhesion" scraped by the scraping member is defined to include all of them.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the transport screw 16f transports the deposits scraped by the scraping member 16d in a predetermined transport direction (the vertical direction in FIG. 3 and the left-right direction in FIG. 4). It functions as a transport member to be transported to. Further, the transport screw 16f is arranged so as to face the lubricant supply roller 16a (lubricant supply rotating body) via the scraping member 16d.
Specifically, the transport screw 16f is a screw member in which a screw portion is spirally formed on a shaft portion, and by rotating in the counterclockwise direction of FIG. 3, deposits (recovered matter) such as toner are used as waste toner. It is transported from the left side to the right side of FIG. 4 in the direction of the broken line arrow. The waste toner conveyed from the left side to the right side of FIG. 4 by the transfer screw 16f is discharged from the discharge port, flows into the waste toner transfer path 40, and is conveyed toward the waste toner collection container by the waste toner transfer screw 10a. Will be done. The axial direction (conveyance direction) of the transport screw 16f substantially coincides with the axial direction of the lubricant supply roller 16a. The periphery of the transport screw 16f is covered with the scraping member 16d and the device case, and serves as a transport path by the transport screw 16f.

Here, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, in the present embodiment, the scraping member 16d is formed with an opening 16d1 between the free end portion 16d3 and the fixed end portion 16d4. The opening 16d1 conveys deposits (recovered matter) such as toner that have accumulated in the vicinity of the contact portion between the solid lubricant 16b and the lubricant supply roller 16a (the region N surrounded by the broken line in FIG. 3). It functions as a discharge port for discharging toward the screw 16f.
Further, the scraping member 16d is provided with a protruding portion 16d2 that protrudes from the lower end of the opening 16d1 in a direction approaching the transport screw 16f (convey member). The protruding portion 16d2 functions as a guide portion that guides the deposit (collected material) discharged from the opening 16d1 toward the transport screw 16f.

Specifically, the scraping member 16d is lubricated except for the vicinity of the free end portion 16d3 (below the free end portion 16d3 and the vicinity of the region M surrounded by the broken line in FIG. 3) and the opening 16d1. It is formed so as to isolate the space in which the agent supply roller 16a and the solid lubricant 16b are installed and the space in which the transport screw 16f is installed. That is, the space in which the lubricant supply roller 16a and the solid lubricant 16b are installed and the space in which the transport screw 16f is installed communicate with each other in the vicinity of the free end portion 16d3, and also communicate with each other even at the opening 16d1.
In the vicinity of the free end portion 16d3, the space where the lubricant supply roller 16a and the solid lubricant 16b are installed and the transport screw 16f cover almost the entire width direction (the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 3). It communicates with the installed space. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4, the opening 16d1 is formed not in the entire width direction but only in a part in the width direction. Further, the opening 16d1 is formed at the central portion in the lateral direction orthogonal to the width direction (longitudinal direction).

By providing the scraping member 16d with the opening 16d1 and the protruding portion 16d2 in this way, the deposits accumulated in the vicinity of the contact portion (region N) between the solid lubricant 16b and the lubricant supply roller 16a are supplied with the lubricant. The problem of reattachment to the roller 16a is reduced.
Specifically, referring to FIG. 5 (A), the deposits adhering to the lubricant supply roller 16a are positively scraped by the scraping member 161d, but after being scraped, the region below the free end portion. Some of them stay at M and reattach to the lubricant supply roller 16a. Then, the deposits reattached to the lubricant supply roller 16a are scraped off from the lubricant supply roller 16a again at the contact portion with the solid lubricant 16b, and eventually the solid lubricant 16b and the lubricant supply roller 16a It stays in the vicinity of the contact portion with (region N). Then, as in the lubricant supply device 161 shown in FIG. 5 (A), in the case where the scraping member 161d does not have an opening, there is no escape place for the deposits accumulated in the region N, so that the lubricant supply roller 16a Will adhere again to. In such a case, the deposits reattached to the lubricant supply roller 16a enter between the solid lubricant 16b and the lubricant supply roller 16a, causing problems such as poor lubricant supply.
On the other hand, in the case where the opening 162d1 is formed in the scraping member 162d like the lubricant supply device 162 shown in FIG. 5B, a screw 16f for transporting the deposits accumulated in the region N is installed. Since it can be discharged into the space, the problem described in FIG. 5 (A) is reduced. However, even if the opening 162d1 is formed in the scraping member 162 as in the lubricant supply device 162 shown in FIG. 5B, the deposits are not smoothly discharged from the opening 16d1 toward the transport screw 16f, or the opening is opened. The deposit discharged from 162d1 may flow back from the opening 162d1 and reattach to the lubricant supply roller 16a. Then, when such discharge failure or backflow occurs, the deposits reattached to the lubricant supply roller 16a become the solid lubricant 16b and the lubricant supply roller 16a, as in the case of FIG. 5A. If it gets in between, problems such as poor lubrication supply will occur.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the scraping member 16d is provided with an opening 16d1, and the protruding portion 16d2 for guiding the discharge of the deposit (recovered material) from the opening 16d1 to the transport screw 16f is formed by the scraping member 16d. Therefore, it is possible to reduce poor discharge of deposits and backflow from the opening 16d1 as described with reference to FIG. 5 (B). That is, the toner and the like staying in the region N are smoothly discharged from the opening 16d1 in the direction of the white arrow in FIG.
Therefore, it is less likely that the deposits reattached to the lubricant supply roller 16a will enter between the solid lubricant 16b and the lubricant supply roller 16a.

Here, the scraping member 16d in the present embodiment is formed by subjecting a resin sheet to a cutting and bending process with an opening 16d1 and a protruding portion 16d2.
That is, in the scraping member 16, the protruding portion 16d2 is not joined to the other portion as a separate component, but the protruding portion 16d2 is integrally formed with the other portion.
As a result, the scraping member 16 can be formed at a low cost with a smaller number of parts as compared with the case where the protruding portion 16d2 is configured as a separate part.
In the present embodiment, the resin sheet is used as the scraping member 16d, but a metal plate can also be used as the scraping member 16d.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, in the present embodiment, the upper surface of the protruding portion 16d2 of the scraping member 16d is inclined downward from the side of the opening 16d1 toward the side of the transport screw 16f.
Specifically, the inclination angle of the protrusion 16d2 (upper surface) is set to be larger than the angle of repose for the toner, which accounts for most of the deposits.
Therefore, the toner (adhesion) discharged from the opening 16d1 slides down on the upper surface of the protrusion 16d2 without staying, and falls to the position of the transport screw 16f. Then, the dropped toner (adhesion) is transported by the transport screw 16f toward the downstream side in the transport direction (right side in FIG. 4).

The tip of the protruding portion 16d2 (the portion farthest from the opening 16d1) is close to the transport screw 16f.
Therefore, the gap between the transport screw 16f and the protrusion 16d2 becomes extremely narrow, and the toner (adhesion) that has slipped down the protrusion 16d2 falls from the space between the transport screw 16f and the scraping member 16d by its own weight. It becomes difficult for such a thing to occur. Therefore, the problem that the toner that has fallen by its own weight from the space between the transport screw 16f and the scraping member 16d slows down the movement of the toner that moves from the region M to the position of the transport screw 16f is less likely to occur.
If the gap between the protrusion 16d2 and the transport screw 16f is zero, the above-mentioned problems can be further reduced. Therefore, the tip of the protrusion 16d2 is formed of a flexible member such as a mylar. , It can also be configured to come into contact with the transport screw 16f.

Here, as shown in FIG. 4, in the present embodiment, the upper surface of the protruding portion 16d2 of the scraping member 16d is from the upstream side (the left side in FIG. 4) of the transport screw 16f in the transport direction. It is formed so as to incline downward toward the downstream side (to the right in FIG. 4).
That is, the upper surface of the protruding portion 16d2 is not a horizontal plane, but is an inclined surface that is inclined downward from the upstream side in the transport direction to the downstream side in the transport direction at a predetermined inclination angle θ.
Therefore, the toner (adhesion) discharged from the opening 16d1 slides down the upper surface of the protrusion 16d2 mainly toward the downstream side of the opening 16d1 in the transport direction, not directly below the opening 16d1 or on the upstream side in the transport direction. Become. Therefore, the toner falls from the protruding portion 16d2 without hindering the transport of the waste toner by the transport screw 16f, as compared with the case where the upper surface of the protruding portion 16d2 slides down directly below the opening 16d1 or toward the upstream side in the transport direction. Later, it is smoothly transported to the downstream side in the transport direction by the transport screw 16f.

<Modification example>
As shown in FIG. 6, the lubricant supply device 16 as a modified example is also provided with an opening 16d1 and a protruding portion 16d2 in the scraping member 16d.
However, in the modified example, a plurality of openings 16d1 and protrusions 16d2 are provided at different positions in the transport direction (the width direction and the left-right direction in FIG. 6).
Specifically, the first opening 16d1 and the protrusion 16d2 are provided on the left side of the center position in the width direction, and the second opening 16d1 and the protrusion 16d2 are provided on the right side of the center position in the width direction.
By providing the scraping member 16d with a plurality of openings 16d1 and protrusions 16d2 in this way, it is possible to improve the discharge property of toner (adhesion) from the openings 16d1 toward the transport screw 16f.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, in the modified example, the plurality of openings 16d1 are formed so that at least one of the shape and the height position is different from each other. Specifically, the first opening 16d1 arranged on the left side of FIG. 6 is formed so that the opening area thereof is larger than the opening area of the second opening 16d1 arranged on the right side. Further, the height position of the upper end of the first opening 16d1 arranged on the left side of FIG. 6 (the position in the vertical direction of FIG. 6) is the height of the second opening 16d1 arranged on the right side. It is formed so as to be higher than the position.
Further, the plurality of projecting portions 16d2 are formed so that the angles θ1 and θ2 inclined in the transport direction are different from each other. Specifically, the first protrusion 16d2 arranged on the left side of FIG. 6 has an inclination angle θ1 in the transport direction larger than the inclination angle θ2 of the second protrusion 16d2 arranged on the right side. It is formed in (θ1> θ2).
In this way, the amount of toner (adhesion amount) discharged from the opening 16d1 on the downstream side in the transport direction (right side in FIG. 6) toward the transport screw 16f is measured on the upstream side in the transport direction (left side in FIG. 6). This is to make it smaller than the amount of toner (the amount of deposits) discharged from the opening 16d1 toward the transport screw 16f. In the transport path by the transport screw 16f, the amount of waste toner on the downstream side in the transport direction (the amount of toner (adhesion) flowing in from the region M and transported) is larger than that on the upstream side in the transport direction, so that it is downstream. By making the amount of discharge from the opening 16d1 on the side smaller than the amount of discharge from the opening 16d1 on the upstream side, it is possible to reduce the problem that the amount of toner locally increases in the transport path by the transport screw 16f. Can be done.
The shapes and height positions of the plurality of openings 16d1 and the inclination angles θ1 and θ2 of the plurality of protrusions 16d2 are optimized according to the state of bias in the transport direction of the amount of waste toner in the transport path by the transport screw 16f. Is preferable.

As described above, the lubricant supply device 16 according to the present embodiment is a lubricant supply roller 16a (lubrication) that rotates in a predetermined rotation direction to supply the lubricant to the surface of the photoconductor drum 12 (image carrier). The agent supply rotating body) and the solid lubricant 16b that abuts on the lubricant supply roller 16a are provided. Further, a scraping member provided with a free end portion 16d3 that abuts on the lubricant supply roller 16a at a position downstream of the photoconductor drum 12 in the rotation direction and upstream side of the solid lubricant 16b in the rotation direction. 16d is provided. Further, a transport screw 16f (transport member) is provided so as to face the lubricant supply roller 16a via the scraping member 16d and transport the deposits scraped by the scraping member 16d in a predetermined transport direction. ing. The scraping member 16d is provided with an opening 16d1 formed between the free end portion 16d3 and the fixed end portion 16d4, and a protruding portion 16d2 protruding from the lower end of the opening 16d1 in a direction approaching the transport screw 16f. ..
As a result, it is possible to reduce the problem that the deposits accumulated in the vicinity of the contact portion between the solid lubricant 16b and the lubricant supply roller 16a reattach to the lubricant supply roller 16a.

In the present embodiment, the photoconductor drum 12, the charging device 14, the developing device 13, the cleaning device (cleaning blade 15), 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 not be used as constituent members of the process cartridge, but may be configured to be detachably attached to the image forming apparatus main body 1 by themselves. In particular, the lubricant supply device 16 can be configured to be detachably 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 are detachably installed with respect to the image forming apparatus main body.

Further, in the present embodiment, as the lubricant supply roller 16a (lubricant supply rotating body), a rod in which straight hair-shaped or loop-shaped brush hairs are wound around the outer periphery of the core metal is used, but the lubricant is supplied. As the roller 16a (lubricant supply rotating body), one in which a foamed elastic layer made of foamed polyurethane (urethane foam) or the like is formed on a core metal can also be used.
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. Various forms can also be used.
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 12 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,
12 Photoreceptor drum (image carrier),
15 Cleaning blade,
16 Lubricant supply device,
16a Lubricant supply roller (lubricant supply rotating body),
16b solid lubricant,
16c compression spring (biasing member),
16d scraping member (scraper),
16d1 outlet (opening),
16d2 protruding part (guide part),
16d3 free end,
16d4 fixed end,
16f Conveying screw (conveying member).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 10-260614

Claims (10)

A lubricant supply rotating body that rotates in a predetermined rotation direction to supply a lubricant to the surface of the image carrier,
The solid lubricant that comes into contact with the lubricant supply rotating body,
A scraping member provided with a free end portion that abuts on the lubricant supply rotating body at a position downstream of the image carrier in the rotational direction and upstream of the solid lubricant in the rotational direction. When,
A transport member that faces the lubricant supply rotating body via the scraping member and transports the deposits scraped by the scraping member in a predetermined transport direction.
With
The scraping member is characterized by having an opening formed between the free end portion and the fixed end portion and having a protruding portion protruding from the lower end of the opening in a direction approaching the transport member. Feeding device. The scraping member includes a space in which the lubricant supply rotating body and the solid lubricant are installed, and a space in which the transport member is installed, except for the vicinity of the free end portion and the opening. The lubricant supply device according to claim 1, wherein the lubricant supply device is formed so as to be isolated. The lubricant supply device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the upper surface of the protruding portion is inclined downward from the side of the opening toward the side of the transport member. The lubricant supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the upper surface of the protruding portion is inclined downward from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transport direction. The lubricant supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the protruding portion has a tip portion close to the transport member. The lubricant supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a plurality of the openings and the protrusions are provided at different positions in the transport direction. The plurality of openings differ in at least one of the shape and the height position, respectively.
The lubricant supply device according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of protrusions have different angles of inclination in the transport direction. The scraping member is formed by cutting and bending the opening and the protruding portion, and is characterized in that the scraping member comes into contact with the lubricant supply rotating body in the counter direction. The lubricant supply device according to any one of claims 7. 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 and the image carrier. An image forming apparatus comprising the lubricant supply apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8 and the image carrier.

Images