JP2860922B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cleaning unit / developer supply unit in which a cleaning unit for removing and containing a residual developer on the surface of a photoreceptor and a developer supply unit for supplying a developer are integrated. (Hereinafter, referred to as CTM) and a photoconductor unit body (hereinafter, referred to as a CTM) that movably supports the photoconductor
OBM), an image forming apparatus such as a facsimile machine, a copying machine, and a printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 9 shows a conventional image forming apparatus using a CT.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an installation relationship between M and OBM, and 1 is a developer supply unit 2 that supplies a developer to a development unit (not shown).
A CTM 4 that integrates a cleaning unit 3 that removes residual developer on the photoreceptor surface with a cleaning means such as a cleaning blade or a cleaning brush and stores the collected developer therein has a plurality of support rollers ( OBMs 7 composed of a belt-shaped photoreceptor 6 supported and driven movably in a certain direction by 5 and a frame to be described later are formed on a support frame 8 of the apparatus main body. This is a recess for receiving the end of the CTM1.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged sectional view of the cleaning means shown in FIG. 9. In this embodiment, the cleaning unit 3 is provided so as to face one of the support rollers 5 and the photosensitive member 6 is provided.
A cleaning blade 9 for removing the residual developer on the surface is provided. Further, an arc-shaped projection 10a is formed on the case 10 of the CTM 1 near the cleaning blade 9, and this projection 10a is brought into contact with the frame 11 supporting the support roller 5 of the OBM 4.

Therefore, as shown in FIG.
Can rotate about the concave portion 7, and as shown in FIG. 10, when the protrusion 10 a contacts the frame 11 of the OBM 4, the CTM 1 and the OBM 4 are positioned.

[0005]

In the above-mentioned conventional apparatus, in order to make the cleaning of the photosensitive member 6 satisfactory,
It is necessary to accurately position the cleaning blade 9 as the cleaning means and the support roller 5 facing the cleaning blade 9 at the set position.

However, the positional relationship between the greening blade 9 and the support roller 5 depends on the CTM 1 and the OB as described above.
Since it is determined by the positioning with respect to the M4, there is a high possibility that the tolerance of each component is picked up and deviated from the installation position, and there is a problem that the positioning tends to vary. Due to the variation, the contact state between the cleaning blade 9 and the photoconductor 6 also varies, and the cleaning blade 9
Bending and poor cleaning may occur, thereby deteriorating the image quality of the formed image.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus which can easily and accurately position a CTM and an OBM and can perform good cleaning on a photosensitive member.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, a first means of the present invention comprises an OBM and a cleaning member for removing a residual developer on the surface of a photoreceptor, and stores the removed developer. An image forming apparatus comprising: a cleaning unit that performs cleaning and a CTM in which a developer supply unit that supplies a developer to a photoconductor development unit is integrated, and the CTM is positioned with respect to the photoconductor. A claw portion protruding from a side of the cleaning portion on which the cleaning member is provided, and engaging the claw portion with a bearing member provided on the photosensitive member support shaft, and contacting the developer supply portion with a support frame. The positioning is performed by contacting.

The second means is the first means,
The claw portion is generally U-shaped as a whole.

The third means is characterized in that in the first and second means, the claw portion is extended from a side portion of the cleaning portion.

[0011]

According to the above means, the CTM and the OBM are reliably positioned by the engagement between the claw portion provided on the cleaning unit and the bearing member provided on the photosensitive member support shaft. And the cleaning means of the CTM with respect to the set position are reduced, good cleaning is performed, and high-quality image formation is performed. Further, since the engagement is performed smoothly in a state where the frictional resistance is good due to the presence of the bearing member and the friction is small, the OBM and C
Setting of TM becomes easy.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Members corresponding to those described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an OBM and a CTM as a first reference example for explaining an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of an assembled state of the first reference example. A claw portion 20a is formed at an end portion of each of the OBM 4 and a positioning engagement arm 20 formed so as to have a substantially U-shape as a whole is projected.
On one side, a flange portion 21 serving as a locking portion protrudes beside the support roller 5 which is a shaft close to the cleaning blade 9. The center of the flange portion 21 matches the center of the support roller 5. In the figure, reference numeral 22 denotes a rotating frame which is provided rotatably with respect to the frame 11 which supports two support rollers 5 at both ends, and which supports one support roller 5 at the tip. A spring that presses the frame 11 and the rotating frame 22 to apply tension to the photoconductor 6 via the support roller 5.

In the assembled state shown in FIG. 2, the claw portion 20a of the engaging arm 20 of the CTM 1 is engaged with the flange portion 21 of the OBM 4, and the end of the CTM 1 is rotatably supported by the concave portion 7 of the support frame 8. CTM1 and OBM4
Relative positioning. Therefore, even if the CTM 1 is slightly moved up and down due to a variation in the support position of the CTM 1 in the concave portion 7 of the support frame 8, as shown in the explanatory diagram of FIG. As a result, the contact position between the support roller 5 and the cleaning blade 9 is not affected.

FIG. 4 shows OBM and CT in the second reference example.
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of M, and FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of an assembled state of the second reference example. The difference between the second reference example and the first reference example is that a substantially U-shaped end is formed. The positioning engagement arm 25 having the claw portion 25a formed thereon is connected to the frame 11 of the OBM 4.
Above the supporting roller 5 near the cleaning blade 9 on the side of the case 10 of the CTM 1.
By projecting a receiving shaft 26 as a locking portion and engaging the claw portion 25a of the engaging arm 25 with the receiving shaft 26, the CTM
1 and the OBM 4 are positioned relative to each other.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a main part of the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 7 is a side view of FIG. 6, and CTM 1 has the same configuration as that of the first embodiment, O to receive 20
There is a feature in the configuration of the locking portion of the BM4. That is, a bearing 31 as a highly slippery member is rotatably and axially movably provided between the side surfaces of the support roller 5 and the frame 11 on the support shaft 30 which is a locking portion of the support roller 5 close to the cleaning blade 9. It is. As the bearing 31, a normal bearing member made of an oil-impregnated material can be used.
It is regulated by a pair of rings 32 fitted to the zero.

In the first embodiment, when the engagement arm 20 of the CTM 1 and the bearing 31 are engaged with each other, the frictional resistance is reduced by the presence of the bearing 31, so that the engagement is performed smoothly.
Moreover, the rotation of the CTM 1 described with reference to FIG. 3 is also performed smoothly.

FIG. 8 is a side view of a main part of the second embodiment of the present invention, in which the engaging arm 20 of the CTM 1 which engages with the supporting shaft 30 of the supporting roller 5 of the OBM 4 close to the cleaning blade 9 has a high lubrication. A U-shaped bearing 35 which is an elastic member is fitted,
The engagement between the U-shaped bearing 35 and the support shaft 30 allows the engagement arm 20 and the support shaft 30 to smoothly engage and rotate as in the first embodiment. Engagement arm 2
0 is formed of ABS resin integrally with the case 10 of the CTM 1, and the U-shaped bearing 35 is
And the U-shaped bearing 35 may be integrally formed.

[0019]

As described above, according to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the CTM and the OBM are engaged with the claw provided on the cleaning unit and the bearing provided on the photosensitive member support shaft. Can be reliably positioned by
Variations in the set positions of the OBM photoconductor and the CTM cleaning means are reduced, the photoconductor is cleaned satisfactorily, and high-quality image formation is performed for a long time. Further, the engagement is smoothly performed in a state where the frictional resistance is good due to the presence of the bearing member and the frictional resistance is small, so that the OBM and the CTM can be set and positioned easily and accurately.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an OBM and a CTM according to a first reference example for explaining an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an assembled state of the first reference example of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between an engagement arm and a flange portion of the first reference example.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of an OBM and a CTM according to a second reference example.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of an assembled state of the second reference example of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a main part of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a side view of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a side view of a main part of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an installation relationship between a CTM and an OBM in a conventional image forming apparatus.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a cleaning unit shown in FIG. 9;

[Explanation of symbols]

1: CTM (cleaning unit / developer supply unit unit), 2: developer supply unit, 3: cleaning unit, 4
... OBM (photoconductor unit), 5 ... support roller,
6 photoreceptor, 7 recess, 8 support frame, 9
Cleaning blade, 10 case, 11 frame, 20, 25 engaging arm, 20a, 25a claw portion, 21 flange portion (locking portion), 26 receiving shaft (locking portion), 30 support shaft (Locking portion), 31, 35 ... bearing (high-slippery member).

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] A developing unit that includes a photoreceptor unit, a cleaning member that removes residual developer on the surface of the photoreceptor, and a developer that stores the removed developer and a developing unit that supplies the developer to the photoreceptor developing unit. An image forming apparatus comprising: a cleaning / developer supply unit unit body having an integrated developer supply unit; and wherein the cleaning / developer supply unit unit body is positioned with respect to the photoconductor.
A claw portion protrudes from a side of the cleaning portion where the cleaning member is installed, and the claw portion is engaged with a bearing member provided on the photosensitive member support shaft, and the developer supply portion is brought into contact with a support frame. The image forming apparatus is configured to perform the above positioning. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said claw portion is substantially U-shaped as a whole. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the claw portion extends from a side portion of the cleaning unit.