JP3246606B2 - 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 an electrophotographic image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer having a plurality of discharge devices each having a cleaning member for cleaning a discharge wire .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in a copying machine, discharge devices are provided at various places such as a charging section, a charge removing section, a transfer section, and a sheet separating section of a photosensitive member of an image forming system provided in an apparatus main body.
In each of these discharge devices, a discharge wire (charge wire) is stretched with a predetermined tension.

When these discharge wires are soiled, they tend to cause uneven discharge, or to cause white streaks or the like on an image transferred to a sheet, thereby adversely affecting the image. In particular, when the copying machine is full-color, it appears as color unevenness, which tends to be a fatal problem. Therefore, it was necessary to periodically clean these discharge wires. If you have a grid,
It was necessary to periodically clean the pad.

Conventionally, a discharge wire cleaning apparatus for cleaning such a discharge wire is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Publication No. 61-458.
There is one described in JP-A-29. In this discharge wire cleaning device, a pad-shaped cleaning member that rubs against the discharge wire is attached to a pair of opposing cleaning member supports having elasticity, and a connecting rod connected to the support is attached to the discharge wire during cleaning. The cleaning member is moved along the discharge wire by moving the cleaning member along the stretching direction to remove dirt attached thereto.

When the cleaning member is in the retracted position where the discharge wire is not cleaned, a pair of elastic cleaning member supports engage with projections provided on the bottom of the discharge device and push them against each other. When opened, the cleaning member is separated from the discharge wire.

[0006] However, such a band in the main body of the apparatus.
Multiple parts installed in various places such as the electricity removal section, static elimination section, and paper separation section
Number of discharge devices move cleaning member to clean the discharge wire
There was a member for each discharge device
As the number of parts increases, cost increases
There was a problem that it became a step.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has a structure in which a cleaning member for cleaning a discharge wire is moved.
So that it is not necessary to provide members for each discharge device
To reduce the number of parts and reduce costs
The purpose is to be able to achieve .

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a cleaning member for cleaning a discharge wire stretched inside a discharge device, and a cleaning member support for supporting the cleaning member. in the image forming apparatus having a plurality of discharge devices having respectively, when the cleaning member Ru provided with one of the cleaning rod is moved along the ChoSo direction of the discharge wire co
Then, rotate the cleaning rod around its axis to
When the discharge wire is advanced along the
The tip of the sweep bar and the plurality of discharge devices facing the tip.
Screwing means for screwing the cleaning member supports of the device into each other
The step, the tip of the cleaning rod and the tip facing the tip
The cleaning rod is provided on each of the cleaning member supports of the plurality of discharge devices so that the cleaning rod can be commonly detachably connected to any of the cleaning member supports of the plurality of discharge devices.

[0009]

[0010]

[0011]

[0012]

[0013]

According to the image forming apparatus constructed as described above, the image forming apparatus
Sweep rods are used in various places such as the charging section, static elimination section, transfer section, and paper separation section.
Without providing a dedicated cleaning rod for each discharge device is provided and can be used in common by connecting to the cleaning member support of each discharge device only above during cleaning the cleaning rod.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
Cross-sectional view showing a part of a discharge device having, FIG. 2 is also a front view of the discharge wire cleaning device provided shown partially broken its discharge apparatus, Figure 3 is also mounted the discharge wire cleaning device 1 is an overall configuration diagram illustrating an example of a color copying machine that is an image forming apparatus in which possible discharge devices are provided at various locations.

The discharge wire cleaning device 10 is provided in the vicinity of a charger 2, a discharger 5 and a transfer drum 15 which are discharge devices provided around the photosensitive drum 1 of the copying machine shown in FIG. It can be applied to the transfer charger 3, the paper separating charger 4, the charge removing chargers 6, 7, and the chargers 8, 9, respectively.

The other parts in FIG. 3 are not directly related to the present invention and have a well-known configuration in a color copying machine using an electrophotographic system, so that the description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 1 shows an example in which a discharge wire cleaning device 10 is mounted on the charging charger 2. The discharge wire cleaning device 10 also serves to clean the grid 25.
An that the cleaning device, the discharging wire 12 that is stretched within the shield case that short illustration of the charging Chiyaja 2
A cleaning member 13 for cleaning the cleaning pad, a cleaning member support 14 for supporting the cleaner pad 13,
A cleaning rod 16 for moving the cleaning member support 14 along the direction in which the discharge wire 12 is stretched (the left-right direction in FIG. 1).

The cleaning member support 14 is formed of, for example, a resin material such as plastic or the like, and as shown in FIG. 2, the arms 14a and 14 can be elastically deformed in directions indicated by arrows A and B, respectively.
b are formed on both sides, and cleaner pads 13 are attached by adhesion to the lower ends of the arms 14a, 14b at positions corresponding to the side surfaces 14c, 14d of the cleaning member support 14, respectively. 14c, 14d
The cleaner pads 17 are adhered to the cleaner pads 13 so as to correspond to the cleaner pads 13 so that the cleaner pad 13 is pressed against the cleaner member 17 in a free state by the elastic force of the material of the cleaning member support 14 itself.

The cleaning member support 14 is formed such that its lower end is divergent and engagement portions 18 and 19 are formed at both ends thereof to project downward, and a grid cleaning pad 21 is adhered to the lower surface therebetween. It is attached by.

In addition, a hole 14e is formed above the front surface of the cleaning member support 14, and at a substantially middle portion in the height direction of the surface, a side opposite to the discharge wire 12 as shown in FIG. The guide rod portion 22 is protruded toward the side.

A support guide rod 24 having a small-diameter portion 24a formed on the left side between end blocks 23, 23 (the right side is not visible in FIG. 1) fixed to both sides of the charging charger 2, respectively. Are fixed by bridging, and the support guide rod 24 is fitted into the hole 14e of the cleaning member support 14 so that the cleaning member support 14 moves along the support guide rod 24. Part 2
2 is a guide hole 2 formed in the left end block 23.
3a so as to be movable.

Although the guide hole 23a is entirely parallel to the direction in which the discharge wire 12 is stretched, only the upper portion is inclined upward and to the right in FIG. 1 to hold the cleaner pad 13 of the cleaning member support 14. Is slightly lifted up,
The guide rod 22 is allowed to rise.

The hole 14e of the cleaning member support 14 is fitted into the support guide rod 24, and the guide rod portion 22 is fitted into the guide hole 23a of the end block 23, as shown in FIG. In a state where the cleaning member support 14 is moved in the direction, the respective cleaner pads 13 and 17 are connected to the discharge wire 12 as shown in FIG.
Also, the grid cleaning pad 21 is attached to the end blocks 2 on both sides.
It comes into contact with the grid 25 stretched between the members 3 and 23 so that they can be cleaned.

A screw hole 22a is formed at the left end of the guide rod portion 22 of the cleaning member support 14 shown in FIG. 1, and a male screw portion 16a formed at the tip of the cleaning rod 16 is formed in the screw hole 22a. Can be screwed, and the cleaning member support 14 can be moved along the direction in which the discharge wire 12 is stretched in a state where they are connected. That is, this implementation
In the example, a male screw portion 16a formed at the tip of the cleaning rod 16 is used.
And a screw hole 22a formed in the cleaning member support 14,
Rotate the cleaning rod about its axis to remove the discharge wire.
The tip of the cleaning rod when it is advanced in the mounting direction
And the cleaning member support of the discharge device facing the tip of the discharge device.
It functions as a screwing means that can be screwed together.

In this discharge wire cleaning apparatus, the cleaning member support 14 , the cleaner pads 13 and 17 cover the discharge wire 12, and the grid cleaning pad 21 controls the grid 25.
When the cleaning member support 14 is moved from the position shown in FIG. 1 where the cleaning is not performed to the retreat position (the position shown in FIG. 5) further leftward (the position shown in FIG. A lock mechanism 30 for locking the block 23 is provided.

The lock mechanism 30 includes the end block 2
A lower locking member 3 is formed at the lower end of the cleaning member support 14 so as to correspond to the engaging portions 18 and 19 of the cleaning member support 14, respectively .
That a snap claw portions 31, 31, consists of the cleaning member the support 14 side the engaging portions 18 and 19 of which engage them, moving from the position shown the cleaning member support 14 in Figure 1 to the left side When the snap claws 31, 31 are pushed down within the elastic range by the engaging portions 18, 19, when the engaging portions 18, 19 exceed the claws of the respective snap claws 31, FIG. As the material returns to the original position by the elastic return force of the material itself, the engaging portions 18, 19
Are locked respectively.

The engaging portion 1 of the cleaning member support 14
In the vicinity of the position shown in FIG. 1 where the projections 8 and 19 are in contact with the snap claws 31, 31, respectively, the support member guide rod 24 is formed to be thin (toward the small diameter portion 24 a). In the process of engagement by the snap claw portion 31, it moves slightly upward.

When the cleaning member support 14 is in its retracted position (the position shown in FIG. 5), the discharge wire cleaning device 10 engages with the cleaning member support 14 and the cleaning member support 14 As shown in FIG. 2, a cleaning member separating mechanism for moving the arms 14a and 14b on both sides to positions separated from the discharge wire 12 is provided.

In this embodiment, the cleaning member separating mechanism is a part of the cleaning member support 14 shown in FIG.
4a, 14b and side surfaces 14c, 14d, and separation protrusions 32, 33 protruding from the end block 23 so as to be able to fit into the gaps between the respective arm portions and the side surfaces. When moved to the retracted position shown in FIG. 5 and fixed by the lock mechanism 30, the separation projection 3
2 enters the gap between the arm 14a and the side 14c, and the separation projection 33 enters the gap between the arm 14b and the side 14d, and pushes and spreads the arms 14a and 14b as shown in FIG. The cleaner pads 13 are separated from the discharge wires 12, respectively.

The state in which the cleaner pads 13 are separated from the discharge wire 12 when the discharge wire 12 is not cleaned is as described above. When cleaning the discharge wire 12, the cleaning rod 16 is screwed into the screw hole 22a of the guide rod portion 22 of the cleaning member support 14 as shown in FIG. Push to the right.

The snap claw 3 of the lock mechanism 30
When a pressing force exceeding the holding force of 1 acts on the cleaning member support 14, it starts to move rightward in FIG. Therefore, since the separation projections 32 and 33 come out of the gaps between the arms 14a and 14b of the cleaning member support 14, the arms 14
a and 14b return to the original state, and the cleaner pads 13 and 17
As shown in FIG. 4, it adheres to the discharge wire 12 from both sides.

Therefore, if the cleaning rod 16 is kept pressed in this state, the dirt adhering to the discharge wire 12 is removed by the cleaner pads 13 and 17 and is cleaned.

Thus, the discharge wire cleaning device 10
Cleans the discharge wire 12 by manually moving the cleaning rod 16 in and out. When the cleaning is completed, the cleaning rod 16 is rotated in a direction opposite to the above-mentioned direction to release the screw from the guide rod portion 22, and the separation is stored.

The cleaning rod 16 is connected to the guide rod 2.
When the screw 2 is screwed to connect or separate the screw, the cleaning member support 14 is loose depending on the operation method, and the cleaning member support 14 does not work properly. There is a danger that the discharge wire 12 and the grid 25 may be damaged by the backlash of the wire 17 together with the wire 17 or may be cut off in some cases.

However, according to this embodiment, when the cleaning rod 16 is connected and disconnected as described above, the cleaning member support 14 is securely locked by the lock mechanism 30 at the retracted position shown in FIG. Such inconvenience does not occur. Further, the cleaner pads 13 and 17 are spaced from the discharge wire 12 by the cleaning member separation mechanism in its retracted position
At the same time, as shown in FIG.
To become separated state from the grid 25, where even if the attachment and detachment of the cleaning rod 16 thereof cleaner pads do not contact the discharging wire 12 and the grid 25.

As described above, according to this embodiment, when it is confirmed that white streaks or color unevenness occurs in a transferred image due to discharge unevenness caused by contamination of the discharge wire 12, the cleaning rod 16 is moved to move the cleaner. The pad 17 can be cleaned by a simple operation of simply sliding the pad 17 on the discharge wire 12.

The cleaning member support 14 of the cleaning rod 16
The cleaning pads 13 and 17 are connected to the discharge wire 12 and the grid cleaning pad 21 is connected to the grid 25.
The discharge wires 12 and the grid 25 are not damaged during the attaching and detaching operation.

In this embodiment, the cleaning rod 16 is connected to the charge removing charger 5 other than the charging charger 2 shown in FIG.
, 7, Transfer Charger 3, Paper Separation Charger 4, etc. Also commonly removed to the discharge wire cleaning device attached to the discharge device
As a result, the cost can be reduced by eliminating the necessity of providing the cleaning rod 16 for each discharge device, and the number of components of each discharge device is reduced. Becomes easier.

The cleaning rod 16 and the cleaning member support 1
The connection with the guide rod portion 22 of No. 4 is not limited to the screwing method according to this embodiment, but may be any other connecting means as long as it can be removed.

[0040]

[0041]

[0042]

As described above, the image according to the present invention is provided.
According to the image forming apparatus, the cleaning rod can be used for cleaning without having to provide a dedicated cleaning rod for each discharge device provided at various places such as a charging section, a charge removing section, a transfer section, and a paper separating section. Only these components can be connected to the cleaning member support of each discharge device and used in common, so that the configuration is simplified and the cost is reduced accordingly.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 has an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
It is a sectional view showing a part of that discharge device.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the discharge wire cleaning device provided in the discharge device, partially cut away.

FIG. 3 is an overall configuration diagram showing an example of a color copying machine which is an image forming apparatus in which discharge devices to which the discharge wire cleaning device can be attached are provided at various places.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing a state where a cleaner pad of the discharge wire cleaning device of FIG. 1 is in contact with the discharge wire.

FIG. 5 is a side view partially showing a state in which a cleaning member support of the discharge wire cleaning device of FIG. 1 is locked by a lock mechanism.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Charger 3 Transfer
Charger 4 Paper Separation Charger 5, 6,
7 Static elimination charger 10 Discharge wire cleaning device 12 Discharge
Electric wire 13, 17 Cleaner pad (cleaning member) 14 Kiyoshi
Cleaning member support 16 Cleaning stick 16a
 Male thread 18, 19 Engagement21 g
Lid cleaning pad  22 Guide rod part 23 D
Block25 grid 30 b
Lock mechanism 31 Snap claw(Separation lock member) 32,3
3 Separation projection

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Yoshio Takamiya 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Masanori Nagayama 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Ricoh Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-63-178270 (JP, A) JP-A-51-133029 (JP, A) JP-A-1-134478 (JP, A) Jpn. JP, U) Jpn. Sho 62-43367 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G03G 15/02

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus comprising: a plurality of discharge devices each including a cleaning member for cleaning a discharge wire stretched inside the discharge device, and a cleaning member support for supporting the cleaning member; its axis Rutotomoni, the cleaning rod provided with one of the cleaning rod for moving the member to ChoSo direction of the discharge wire
Rotate the wire around the wire in the direction
Tip of the cleaning rod and its tip when advanced along
And each cleaning member support of the plurality of discharge devices facing
Screwing means for screwing each other with each other;
And each cleaning unit of the plurality of discharge devices facing the tip end thereof
An image forming apparatus , wherein the cleaning rod is provided on a material support, and the cleaning rod can be commonly detachably connected to any of the cleaning member supports of the plurality of discharge devices.