JP2558327Y2 - Transfer drum cleaning device - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning a transfer drum in a color copying machine, and more particularly, to a transfer drum cleaning device using means for bringing a cleaning brush into contact with the transfer drum and air suction means. The present invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning a device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a copying machine for making a color copy, a photoconductor for forming a plurality of monochromatic color toner images is arranged along a moving path of a sheet, and the photoconductor is formed on the photoconductor using an electrophotographic method. Means for forming a color toner image are often used. In the copying machine, a color toner image formed on a photoreceptor is transferred in a state of being superimposed on a sheet, and thereafter, the sheet carrying the toner image is fixed through a fixing device to form a color copy. Means are used.

In the above-described color copying machine, for example, in an apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. S59-155870, a sheet is conveyed along a straight path while being supported by a belt. A mechanism for creating four color toner images of yellow, cyan, magenta, and black is arranged along the transport path, and the toner images of each color are transferred to a sheet supported by a belt. Like that.

[0004] In addition to the method in which the sheet is supported by the belt, a method in which the sheet is supported by a drum member may be used. For example, in the examples disclosed in JP-B-59-26954 and JP-A-1-107280, a sheet is supported on a transfer drum, a photoconductor is arranged on the transfer drum, and the paper is formed on the photoconductor. A means for transferring the obtained toner image to a sheet is used. The two conventional devices differ in the configuration and the like of a developing device provided on a photoreceptor. In the example disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-1107280, means shown in FIG. 6 is used. . In the color copying machine 1 shown in FIG. 7, four photosensitive drums 3, 3 are arranged around a transfer drum 2 supporting a sheet.
m, 3c, and 3b are arranged.

In order to form a color toner image on the photoconductor, for example, as represented by photoconductor 3,
An electrophotographic toner image forming mechanism is provided therearound. That is, the charging corotron 4, the image writing device 5, the developing device 6, the transfer corotron 7, and the cleaning device 8 are arranged on the photoreceptor 3, respectively. Then, using a writing device similar to a general laser printer, an image is written on a photosensitive member uniformly charged by a charging corotron to form an electrostatic latent image, and the latent image is developed. The toner is supplied from the device 6 to form a toner image, and the toner image is transferred to a sheet by discharge from the transfer corotron 7.
The cleaning device disposed around the photoreceptor 3 is used to remove toner remaining on the surface of the photoreceptor after transferring the toner image to the paper.

In the conventional example, the photosensitive members 3, 3m, 3c, and 3 provided around the transfer drum 2 are provided.
For b, four color toner images of yellow, cyan, magenta, and black are created. Then, each time the transfer drum makes one rotation, the operation of transferring the color toner image formed on each photoconductor to the paper is performed, and the color toner images of a plurality of different colors are transferred onto the paper in a superimposed state. In the copying machine 1, the paper is sent from a paper tray 10 by a paper feed roller 11, transported by a transport roller 12 toward the transfer drum 2, and supported by the transfer drum 2 via a guide member 13. . Further, the transfer drum 2 uses a means for holding the sheet by static electricity with respect to the surface of the drum. After transferring the toner image to the sheet, the sheet is transferred to the sheet by using a multi-peeling mechanism (not shown). The fixing device 1 is separated from the transfer drum and passes through the paper guide 15.
The fixing device 16 fixes the image by applying heat and pressure thereto, and sends out a copy to a discharge tray 17.

However, in the copying machine as described above, there is a problem that the surface of the transfer drum 2 holding the paper is stained by toner, and it is required to clean the surface of the transfer drum as needed. Therefore, conventionally, a cleaning assay 20 as shown in FIG.
Is designed to clean the surface of the transfer drum.

In the cleaning assay 20 shown in FIG. 8, a suction duct 23 is provided on a main body duct 21 provided with suction means such as a fan, and the suction duct 23 is provided.
Is provided so that the main body duct 21 can be swung via the fulcrum 22. When cleaning the transfer drum 2, the entire cleaning assay 20 is swung through the fulcrum 22 to bring the cleaning brush 25 into contact with the transfer drum 2, and the cleaning brush 25 is driven by the brush member. The surface of the transfer drum is cleaned.

[0009]

However, in the conventional transfer drum cleaning means having the above-described structure, a means for swinging the entire cleaning assay via the fulcrum 22 is used. It is necessary to compose the drive mechanism in a complicated manner corresponding to the large size. Further, when the cleaning assay is swung, a heavy body duct is supported, and in order to operate the air suction mechanism in a good state, a suction means such as a fan provided in the copier body is required. It is also necessary to consider the configuration of the connection section and the like, and for these reasons, there is a problem that the configuration of the device becomes complicated.

[0010]

The object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks of the conventional cleaning assay, in which the main body duct of the cleaning assay is arranged at a fixed position, and the cleaning brush is directed to the transfer drum with respect to the main body duct. The present invention relates to an apparatus which can simplify a cleaning mechanism for a transfer drum by movably providing the transfer drum.

[0011]

According to the present invention, one or a plurality of photoconductors are arranged around a transfer drum for holding a sheet in the direction of rotation of the transfer drum. A copying machine that forms an image, transfers the color image on a sheet held on a transfer drum in a superimposed manner, and creates a color copy, wherein a cleaning assay is arranged on the transfer drum, The present invention relates to an apparatus configured to remove surface dirt. In the present invention, the cleaning assay includes a main body duct for disposing the cleaning assay at a fixed position, a suction duct provided for a suction part of the main body duct, and a cleaning brush provided detachably to the transfer drum. The brush and the suction duct are integrally swingably supported via a rotation fulcrum so that the brush and the suction duct can protrude and retract from the main body duct. When cleaning the transfer drum, the cleaning brush and the suction duct are integrally formed. The cleaning device is configured to approach the transfer drum and perform a cleaning operation of the transfer drum.

[0012]

[0013]

With the above-described configuration, in the apparatus according to the present invention, since it is not necessary to swing the main body duct, the driving mechanism of the cleaning brush can be simplified. Therefore, in the apparatus of the present invention, since a support mechanism for the main body duct is not required, the structure of the copying machine can be easily cleaned without complicating the structure of the copying machine.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The construction of the transfer drum cleaning device of the present invention will be described with reference to the illustrated example. In the embodiment of the present invention described below, only the relationship between the transfer drum 2 of the color copying machine and the cleaning assay 20 is shown. In this embodiment, a color copying machine having a configuration as shown in FIG. It is configured to be applied to machines and the like. In the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG.
The cleaning assay 20 is arranged so as to correspond to.

The cleaning assay 20 comprises a main body duct 21 arranged at a fixed position, and a brush assay 30 provided at an air suction portion of the main body duct 21. In the embodiment of the present invention, the main body duct 2
1 is connected to a suction device such as a fan and sucks toner, paper powder, and the like together with air from a suction unit where a brush assay is arranged, as in the case of the conventional cleaning assay.
It is configured to include a means for cleaning the air through a filter or the like and discharging the air to the outside.

In the cleaning assay 20,
An opening 24 is provided in the upper part of the main body duct 21, the suction duct 34 is disposed at a fixed position with respect to the opening 24, and the cleaning brush 31 of the brush assay 30 is disposed with respect to the suction duct 34 so as to be able to protrude and retract, Cleaning brush 3
1 is provided so as to be able to be separated from and brought into contact with the transfer drum 2. The cleaning brush 31 is supported by a fulcrum 33 via an arm 32, and is configured to be swingable by a drive mechanism (not shown).

When a command button of the color copier is pressed during the cleaning operation of the transfer drum 2, a driving mechanism for the brush assay is operated to swing the cleaning brush 31 toward the transfer drum 2. I do.
Then, while rotating the transfer drum 2 in a state where the transfer drum 2 is not supported, the cleaning brush 31 is rotated, and the air suction mechanism provided in the main body duct 21 is operated to clean the surface of the transfer drum. To In the embodiment of the present invention, the driving means for the cleaning brush 31 can use, for example, a single motor, and drives the transfer drum 2 and the cleaning brush 31, respectively, regardless of other driving mechanisms. Meanwhile, the cleaning work can be performed.

Therefore, in the apparatus of the present invention, since only the brush assay 30 is configured as a mechanism for swinging toward the transfer drum, the weight borne by the driving mechanism is very small. The configuration of the drive mechanism can be simplified. In addition, by using the above-described cleaning assay, it is only necessary to secure a space for swinging the brush assay inside the color copier, which has a great effect on the arrangement of other devices. Giving is prevented.

In another embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG.
The suction duct 34 is swingable together with the cleaning brush 31. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the brush assay 30 is constituted by supporting the cleaning brush 31 and the suction duct 34 by the arm 32, and is provided so as to be able to protrude and retract from the opening 24 of the main body duct 21 toward the transfer drum. ing. Then, the cleaning brush 31 and the suction duct 34 are integrally moved toward the transfer drum 2 by swinging the arm 32 through the fulcrum 33, and the cleaning brush 31
Thus, the operation of cleaning the surface of the transfer drum 2 can be performed. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the suction duct 34 is curved along an arc centered on the fulcrum 33 so that the brush assay can be performed at the opening of the main duct 21. Even when swinging, it is possible to prevent the gap from being greatly expanded and to prevent air from leaking.

Accordingly, in the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 2, the distance between the transfer drum 2 and the main body duct 21 can be set relatively large.
An extra space can be provided at a position corresponding to the cleaning assay. Since the space can be effectively used for maintenance or the like of another device, the space in the machine can be effectively used.

In another embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG.
In addition to the example shown in FIG.
4, a shield 36 is provided to prevent formation of an extra opening at the suction duct 34. Therefore, when cleaning the transfer drum 2 with the cleaning brush 31, the air is sucked only from the opening of the suction duct 34, and the toner, dust and the like scraped from the surface of the transfer drum by the cleaning brush 31 are removed.
Processing such as suction through the main body duct 21 and discharge in a state where dust and the like are removed can be performed.

In the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 4, the cleaning brush 31 and the suction duct 3 shown in FIG.
4 shows a case where a shield 36 as shown in FIG. In FIG. 4, since the shield 36 is provided for the opening 24 of the main body duct 21, the suction duct 3
Even when 4 comes out of the opening, the surrounding area can be shielded in a good state, and air can be sucked only from the opening of the suction duct 34.

The embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 5 is different from the embodiments shown in FIGS.
Is swung toward a cleaning assay to perform a cleaning operation. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the main body duct 35 and the suction duct 34
And cleaning assay 2
0, and the cleaning brush 31 is disposed at the tip of the suction duct 34. The transfer drum 2 is swingably provided by a support means (not shown) via a drum fulcrum 38. When the transfer drum is cleaned, the transfer drum 2 is moved to a position close to a cleaning assay. The cleaning brush 31 is moved to drive the cleaning brush 31 to perform an operation of removing dirt and the like on the surface.

In the example shown in FIG. 5, the transfer drum 2 is constructed so as to be able to be taken out of the apparatus main body as in the case of the photosensitive drum. , And the cleaning position can be set in two stages. For example, the transfer drum 2 is set to be able to be pulled out of the main body in a state where the transfer drum 2 is swung by one step via the drum fulcrum 38, and further, the cleaning mode is set by swinging the transfer drum 2 largely. Can be used.

[0026]

In the apparatus shown in FIG. 5, when the transfer drum 2 is swung to the position indicated by reference numeral 2a as indicated by a virtual line, the transfer drum 2 is moved to the cleaning brush 31 and cleaning is performed. Set to be performed. Then, the transfer drum can be driven at that position, and the cleaning operation by the cleaning brush 31 is performed. Therefore, in the apparatus of the present invention, the cleaning operation for the transfer drum can be easily performed even by providing the mechanism for moving the transfer drum.

The embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 6 shows a case in which a full-color copying machine is provided with an arbitrary mechanism of the cleaning means shown in FIGS. In the full-color copying machine shown in FIG. 6, one photoconductor drum 3 is arranged for the transfer drum 2, and a plurality of developing units 3b, 3c, 3m and 3y are supported on the photoconductor drum 3. The developing unit 6A is arranged. The developing device supported by the developing device unit 6A includes:
Black, cyan, magenta, and yellow toners are stored, and a color image is formed on a photoconductor at a position where each developing unit approaches the photoconductor drum 3, and the color image is transferred to the transfer drum 2. To transfer the image in a state of being superimposed on the paper held in the printer.

In the color copying machine shown in FIG. 6, a cleaning assay 20 provided with a cleaning brush 31 so as to be detachable from the transfer drum 2 is arranged. The surface of the transfer drum 2 can be cleaned while pressing the brush 31 against the transfer drum 2 and driving the drum and the brush. In the example shown in FIG. 6, any of the examples shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 can be used as the means for swinging the cleaning brush 31 and the suction duct.

The transfer drum cleaning device of the present invention can be applied to, for example, a color copying machine 1 as shown in FIG. 7, but in addition, a sheet is held on the transfer drum. The present invention can be applied to any color copying machine that makes a color copy in a state where the color copy is performed.
The transfer drum may be stained, for example, by arranging a stain sensor at a predetermined position corresponding to the transfer drum, and performing any time between copying operations based on information detected by the sensor. Alternatively, when the operator finds out the occurrence of dirt, an arbitrary operation mode can be set, for example, by pressing a button provided on the control panel to set a cleaning mode.

[0031]

Since the transfer drum cleaning device of the present invention has the above-described configuration, it does not require a support mechanism for the main body duct, so that the structure of the copying machine is not complicated. Thus, a means for easily cleaning the transfer drum can be constituted. Further, as described above, by swinging the cleaning brush and the suction duct, the driving mechanism of the cleaning brush can be simplified, and an extra space can be provided inside the apparatus.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a transfer drum cleaning device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an apparatus for adding a shield to FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an apparatus for adding a shield to FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an apparatus for moving a transfer drum with respect to a cleaning assay.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing an example in which the cleaning device of the present invention is applied to a full-color copying machine.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a general color copying machine.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional transfer drum cleaning device.

[Signs in the figure]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Color copying machine 2 Transfer drum 3 Photoreceptor drum 20 Cleaning assay 21 Main body duct 23 Suction duct 25 Cleaning brush 30 Brush assay, 31 Cleaning brush 32 Arm 34 Suction duct 36 Shield

Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Jun Takagi 2274 Hongo, Ebina-shi, Kanagawa Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. Ebina Office (56) References JP-A-2-148083 (JP, A) JP-A-55-103581 (JP) , A) Special table Hei 1-501736 (JP, A)

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] 1. A transfer drum for holding a sheet, one or more photoconductors are arranged around the transfer drum in a rotation direction thereof,
A copying machine for forming a color image of a single color on each of the photoconductors, transferring the color image so as to overlap a sheet held on a transfer drum, and creating a color copy; An apparatus for arranging an assay and removing dirt from the surface of the transfer drum, wherein a main body duct for arranging the cleaning assay at a fixed position, and a suction duct provided for a suction part of the main body duct,
And a cleaning brush provided detachably to and from the transfer drum. The cleaning brush and the suction duct are supported so as to swing integrally via a rotation fulcrum so as to be able to protrude and retract from the main body duct. The cleaning device for cleaning the transfer drum, wherein the cleaning brush and the suction duct are integrally brought close to the transfer drum when cleaning the transfer drum.