JP2798978B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus for transferring a single-color toner image by superimposing it on an intermediate transfer member and further transferring the color image from the intermediate transfer member to transfer paper. About.

[Conventional technology]

Not only in color copiers, but generally in copiers,
A cleaning device is provided for cleaning dirt (residual toner, paper dust, etc.) on the surface of the photoreceptor after transfer to transfer paper.

Therefore, in the above-described color copying apparatus having the intermediate transfer member to which the toner image is once transferred, the intermediate transfer member also needs to be cleaned after the toner image is transferred onto the transfer paper.

Conventionally, U.S. Pat.No. 4,515,460 or 4,6
As shown in JP-A-97,920, in a color copying apparatus using an intermediate transfer member, a cleaning device is provided independently for both the photoconductor and the intermediate transfer member.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

In the above prior art, the number of cleaning devices increases, which complicates the devices and increases the cost.

Further, there is a problem that it takes time and effort to process the waste toner collected from each of the cleaning devices, and the maintainability is poor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of improving a cleaning device, simplifying the device, reducing costs, and improving maintainability.

[Means for solving the problem]

An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that sequentially forms an image with a color toner on a photoreceptor, superimposes and transfers the image on an intermediate transfer body for each image formation, and further transfers the toner image onto transfer paper to form a color image. A cleaning device having a cleaning member movable to a first position for cleaning the body surface and a second position for cleaning the surface of the intermediate transfer member, wherein the cleaning member cleans the surface of the intermediate transfer member; Is achieved by means for separating the intermediate transfer member and the photosensitive member.

[Action]

In the above means, the intermediate transfer body is separated from the photoreceptor during cleaning of the intermediate transfer body, so that it is possible to prevent transfer residual toner and paper dust on the intermediate transfer body from adhering to the photoreceptor surface, Adverse effects (dirt, etc.) on the body and the devices disposed around it can be prevented, and the performance is improved.

〔Example〕

 Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show the construction of an embodiment of a color copying apparatus according to the present invention. The scanner 1 is constructed so that it can be opened and closed by a fulcrum 1a as shown in FIG. It is in jam handling.

A color scanner unit 2 composed of a light source 3, a converging optical element 4, and a 1: 1 color sensor 5 scans each color in the direction of an arrow. Are connected on the equal-magnification color sensor 5 by the converging optical element 4. These image data are written on the photoreceptor 8 via a polygon mirror 7 by a laser driver (not shown) to form an electrostatic latent image.

The electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor 8 is developed by the developing device 9 for each color of Y, M, C, and Bk, and is transferred to the intermediate transfer body 10 for each color. The intermediate transfer member 10 is constituted by a polyester belt or the like.

The cleaning blade 12 of the cleaning device 11 is configured to be movable (swingable in the direction of the arrow) so as to satisfy the cleaning conditions for both the photoconductor 8 and the intermediate transfer body 10. That is, the cleaning blade 12 is in contact with the photoconductor 8 while transferring the toner image on the photoconductor 8 to the intermediate transfer body 10, and performs an operation of cleaning the surface of the photoconductor 8.

After the transfer from the photoreceptor 8 to the intermediate transfer member 10 is completed (after all the transfer of Y, M, C, and Bk is completed in the case of color) and after the toner image created on the intermediate transfer member 10 After the end passes the contact point of the cleaning blade 12, the cleaning blade 12 moves to a position in contact with the intermediate transfer member 10.

At this time, the toner image on the intermediate transfer body 10 is transferred to the transfer paper sent from the paper supply unit 14 through the paper supply roller 15 and the registration roller 16 by the transfer unit 13, and the transfer paper passes through the fixing unit 17. The sheet is sent to the discharge tray 18.

After the transfer onto the transfer paper, the surface of the intermediate transfer body 10 is sequentially cleaned by the cleaning blade 12 to prepare for the next transfer.

After the cleaning of the intermediate transfer member 10 is completed, the cleaning blade 12 moves toward the photoconductor 8 again to prepare for the next transfer.

FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are structural views of essential parts according to a modified embodiment. In this embodiment, when the cleaning blade 12 is at the second position for cleaning the intermediate transfer member 10, the intermediate transfer member 10 The configuration is such that the photoconductor 8 is separated from the photoconductor 8.

The operation of the intermediate transfer member 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 3 shows a case where a toner image is transferred from the photoreceptor 8 to the intermediate transfer member 10 under the action of the transfer portion 19. Thus, the photoconductor 8 and the intermediate transfer member 10 are in contact with each other. In this state, at least the rear end of the toner image is
Maintained until 19 passes. Then, as described above, after the rear end of the toner image on the intermediate transfer member 10 moves to a position where the rear end is not disturbed by the cleaning blade 12, the cleaning blade 12 moves toward the intermediate transfer member 10.

 Next, the movement of the intermediate transfer member 10 will be described.

After the rear end of the toner image on the photoconductor 8 is transferred to the intermediate transfer body 10, and after the transfer to the transfer paper 20 by the transfer unit 13, the leading end of the remaining toner image on the intermediate transfer body 10 The intermediate transfer member 10 moves in a direction away from the photoconductor 8 before reaching the contact point.

The purpose of this movement is to prevent transfer residual toner and paper dust on the intermediate transfer member 10 from adhering to the surface of the photosensitive member 8, thereby preventing unnecessary contamination of the photosensitive member 8.

In the separated state, the surface of the intermediate transfer body 10 after the transfer is cleaned by the cleaning blade 12, and comes into contact with the photoconductor 8 again in preparation for the next transfer. On the other hand, the intermediate transfer member
After the cleaning of the cleaning blade 10 is completed, the cleaning blade 12 moves toward the photoconductor 8 again and prepares for the next copy.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, while cleaning the intermediate transfer member, the intermediate transfer member is separated from the photoconductor, so that the transfer residual toner and paper dust on the intermediate transfer member may adhere to the surface of the photoconductor. Can be prevented, adverse effects (dirt, etc.) on the photoreceptor and devices disposed around the photoreceptor can be prevented, and the performance can be improved. Further, by providing a plurality of cleaning devices, it is possible to eliminate the complexity of the entire apparatus, increase in cost, and reduction in maintainability.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 and 2 are block diagrams of an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, and FIGS. 3 and 4 are explanatory views for explaining the movement of an intermediate transfer member according to a modified embodiment. 8 photoconductor, 10 intermediate transfer member, 11 cleaning device, 12 cleaning member.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] An image forming apparatus for sequentially forming an image with a color toner on a photosensitive member, superimposing and transferring the image on an intermediate transfer member for each image formation, and further transferring the toner image on a transfer paper to form a color image. A cleaning device having a cleaning member movable to a first position for cleaning the surface of the photoconductor and a second position for cleaning the surface of the intermediate transfer member, wherein the cleaning member cleans the surface of the intermediate transfer member; An image forming apparatus wherein the intermediate transfer member and the photosensitive member are separated when in the position.