JP3310850B2 - Apparatus for removing image forming substance from image carrier - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for removing an image forming material constituting an image from an image holding member on which an image has been formed by an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile, a printer, a printing machine, and the like. The present invention relates to an image forming substance removing apparatus, and more particularly, to a technique for cleaning a peeling member used in the image forming substance removing apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, from the viewpoint of effective use of resources, various methods and apparatuses for removing an image forming substance for removing an image forming substance from an image carrier in order to reuse the image carrier have been proposed ( For example, JP-A-1-101576, JP-A-2-55195, JP-A-4-64472, JP-A-4-82983, JP-A-4-3003
No. 95). In particular, in order to remove only the imaging substance without relatively damaging the image carrier, applicants have determined water, an aqueous solution containing a surfactant, an aqueous solution containing a water-soluble polymer, and an aqueous solution containing a surfactant. At least one type of water or an aqueous solution selected from the group consisting of an aqueous solution containing a water-soluble polymer and an aqueous solution, and heating the image-forming substance on the image-holding body to melt or soften the image-forming substance. The material is brought into contact with a peeling member capable of exhibiting an adhesive force larger than the adhesive force between the image carrier and the image forming material, and the image forming material is separated when the peeling member and the image carrier are separated. It has been proposed to peel off and remove from an image carrier (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Nos. 4-255916 and 5-23975).

[0003]

Problems to be Solved by the Invention Japanese Patent Application No. 4-255 mentioned above.
In a method for removing an image forming substance from an image carrier as proposed in Japanese Patent No. 916-916 or the like, the image forming substance removed from the image carrier and adhered on the peeling member is removed in order to maintain the peeling performance of the peeling member. It is preferable to perform cleaning.
Therefore, the present applicant has disclosed, for example, in the specification of Japanese Patent Application No. 5-201172 and Japanese Patent Application No. 7-18557, a cleaning device for cleaning the surface of the peeling member.
A brush roller as a cleaning rotating body that rotates at a high speed is brought into contact with a surface of a peeling member, for example, a toner offset belt which is a belt-like peeling member wound around a plurality of support rollers, and an image forming substance on the belt is removed. discloses what drop came the take. FIG. 22 shows a configuration example of a cleaning device according to this conventional example. In FIG. 22, a brush roller 308 rotating at a high speed with the support roller 302 as a backup roller is in contact with the surface of the toner offset belt 301 wrapped around the support roller 302 and the like. A metal brush material is provided on a surface portion 308a of the brush roller 308. Further, the surface of the belt 301 on the downstream side in the belt moving direction from the nip portion between the brush roller 308 and the belt 301 is provided.
A cleaning blade 309 for scraping off toner remaining on one surface is brought into contact with the cleaning blade.

In such a conventional cleaning apparatus, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus employs a photosensitive drum in order to completely remove toner, which is an image forming substance, adhered to the surface of a peeling member in the form of a strong film. More intense cleaning is required than when the residual toner is removed. Therefore,
As the brush material of the above-mentioned brush roller, a loop-like material woven of stainless steel fiber wound around a core metal was used, and this brush roller had to be pressed against the surface of the peeling member. As a result, the life of the peeling member may be impaired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object the purpose of suppressing damage to the surface of a peeling member to a degree of abrasion and of rotating a brush roller at high speed by pressing against a brush roller. An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for removing an image-forming substance from an image holding member provided with a cleaning device for a peeling member capable of improving the durability of the peeling member.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is directed to an image forming apparatus, comprising: A belt-like peeling member that can exert an adhesive force greater than the adhesive force,
After coming into contact with the image forming substance on the image holding member and separating the image forming material from the image holding member, a separating device for separating the image forming material from the image holding member, and removing the image forming substance attached on the separating member. An image-forming substance removing device for removing an image-forming substance from an image carrier, comprising: a roller-shaped cleaning member having a spiral edge in contact with a surface of the peeling member on an outer peripheral portion; Driving means for rotating and driving the cleaning member ;
Pressed against the cleaning member via the peeling member
And a backup member having a structured surface portion .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the apparatus for removing an image forming substance from the image carrier according to the first aspect, the image forming substance on the peeling member is brought into contact with the edge of the cleaning member at least once. Is what you do.

[0008]

For example, the linear velocity of the peeling member is V1, the linear velocity of the outer peripheral surface of the cleaning member is V2, the effective contact width of the cleaning member with respect to the peeling member in the moving direction of the surface of the cleaning member is We, and the cleaning is performed. When the distance between the edges on the outer peripheral surface of the member is L, We /
By setting the linear velocity and the like of the peeling member so as to satisfy V1 ≧ 1 / V2, the image forming substance on the peeling member can be brought into contact with the edge of the cleaning member at least once. In the case where a pressing member (backup member) for holding the peeling member between the cleaning member and pressing the peeling member toward the cleaning member is provided, the holding width of the cleaning member and the pressing member is provided. Ln corresponds to the effective hit width We.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image carrier according to the first aspect.
In the image forming substance removing apparatus,
Image remaining on the surface of the peeling member that has passed through the contact area with the material
That auxiliary cleaning means for removing
It is a feature. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the apparatus for removing an image forming substance from the image carrier according to the third aspect, the auxiliary cleaning means remains on the peeling member passing through the contact portion of the cleaning member and the surface thereof. A charge removing function for removing an image forming substance.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the apparatus for removing an image forming substance from the image carrier according to the first aspect, wherein a cover for covering the cleaning member is provided along an outer peripheral surface of the cleaning member. It is.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the apparatus for removing an image-forming substance from the image-holding body according to the first aspect, further comprising softening means for heating and softening the image-forming substance on the image-holding body brought into contact with the peeling member. And a cooling means for cooling the image forming substance on the peeling member to be removed by the cleaning member.

[0013] In the image forming material removing apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, the roller-shaped cleaning member having a spiral edge on the outer periphery contacting the surface of the peeling member is driven to rotate by the driving means, whereby the cleaning is performed. The edge of the member is scraped in continuous contact with the imaging material firmly adhered to the release member. And it is composed of an elastic body
Backup member having a broken surface
Cleaning contact with the cleaning member.
The edge of the contact member comes into contact with the surface of the peeling member with a predetermined contact force
I do.

In particular, in the image forming substance removing apparatus according to claim 2, in the image forming substance removing apparatus according to claim 1, the image forming substance on the peeling member is brought into contact with the edge of the cleaning member at least once. An image forming substance adhering to the peeling member is not left unremoved. For example, when the linear velocity or the like of the peeling member is set so as to satisfy We / V1 ≧ 1 / V2, the linear velocity V1
In the time We / V1 during which the peeling member passes through the portion of the effective contact width We, a time is required for the cleaning member to rotate by the distance L between the edges at a linear velocity V2, and an image on the peeling member is obtained. The forming material is brought into contact with the edge of the cleaning member at least once.

In the image forming substance removing apparatus according to the present invention, the image forming substance remaining on the surface of the peeling member passing through the contact portion with the cleaning member may be removed. It is removed by the auxiliary cleaning means.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image forming substance removing apparatus according to the third aspect, wherein the peeling member having passed through the contact portion of the cleaning member by an auxiliary cleaning means having a charge removing function, and After removing the image-forming substance remaining on the surface, the electrostatic adhering force of the image-forming substance remaining on the peeling member is weakened so that the image-forming substance is easily removed, or after the image-forming substance is easily removed. , Removing the imaging substance.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming substance removing apparatus of the first aspect, the image forming substance scraped off by the spiral edge of the cleaning member is replaced with the spiral forming element. While being held by the side surface of the edge and the inner surface of the cover provided along the outer peripheral surface of the cleaning member, the cleaning member is conveyed toward one end in the rotation axis direction.

Further, in the image forming substance removing apparatus according to the sixth aspect, the image forming substance removing apparatus according to the first aspect,
The image forming material on the peeling member to be removed by the cleaning member is cooled by a cooling unit, so that the image forming material softened by heating by the softening unit is solidified, and the image forming material on the peeling member is removed. It is easy to remove with a cleaning member.

[0019]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, the present invention relates to a method in which a heat-fusible toner (hereinafter, referred to as a toner) as an image forming substance is transferred from a transfer paper as an image carrier on which an image is formed by a transfer type electrophotographic copying machine. An embodiment applied to a toner removing device to be removed will be described. [Embodiment 1] FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a toner removing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. First, an outline of the whole will be described. This toner removing device includes a sheet feeding unit 100 that separates and feeds, one by one, transfer papers 1 on which toner images formed in a stacked state are formed; A liquid supply unit 200 serving as a destabilizing liquid applying unit for applying a destabilizing liquid to the transferred transfer paper 1, a liquid supply device 207 for supplying a processing liquid 2 described later to the liquid applying unit 200, A toner peeling unit 300 serving as a peeling unit for peeling and removing the toner from the transfer paper 1 to which the stabilizing liquid has been supplied, a drying unit 400 for drying the transfer paper 1 from which the toner has been removed, and a toner discharged from the drying unit 400 And a paper receiving unit 500 that receives the transfer paper 1.

The paper feed unit 100 feeds the transfer paper 1 stacked on the bottom plate 101 from the uppermost one to the paper feed roller 1.
02, the multi-feed is separated by a separation mechanism including a feed roller 103 and a separate roller 104, and only one transfer sheet 1 is sent out. The transfer paper 1 sent out by the paper supply unit 100 is transported by a transport roller pair 105, and timing adjustment and skew correction are performed by a registration roller pair 106, and the next liquid application unit 200
Sent to Since the specific configuration and operation of the paper feed unit 100 and the like are the same as those of the paper feed mechanism in the electrophotographic copying machine, detailed description will be omitted.

The liquid applying unit 200 includes a liquid container filled with a predetermined amount of a processing liquid 2 serving as an instability liquid that makes the transfer paper 1 and the toner adhere to an unstable state, and a liquid container in the liquid container. And two liquid applicators 201 and 202 in the transport direction. A paper regulating roller 2 is provided above the liquid application roller of each applicator so that the surfaces thereof face each other at a predetermined interval.
03 and 204 are provided. Then, in the transport direction of the transfer paper 1, the transfer paper is transported between the first-stage liquid applicator 201 and the second-stage applicator 202 and downstream of the second-stage applicator 201. Relay roller pair 205, 206
Is provided. And each liquid applicator 201, 202
A liquid receiving tank 215 is provided below the relay rollers 205 and 206 and the like.

The treatment liquid 2 includes at least one water selected from the group consisting of water, an aqueous solution containing a water-soluble polymer, an aqueous solution containing a surfactant, and an aqueous solution containing a water-soluble polymer and a surfactant. Alternatively, an aqueous solution can be used.

The liquid supply device 207 is provided at a lower portion of the device, and includes a replaceable replenisher bottle 208 and a replenisher bottle 2 which are exchangeable.
From 08, a processing liquid tank 210 to which the processing liquid 2 is appropriately replenished by an electromagnetic pump 209, a liquid supply pump 211 such as a blade pump built in the processing liquid tank 210, a pump motor 212 for rotating and driving the liquid supply pump 211, a liquid supply A liquid supply pipe 213 for sending the processing liquid 2 from the pump 211 to the liquid containers 201 and 202, and a processing liquid 2 discharged to a liquid receiving tank 215 from a liquid outlet provided at a lower portion of the liquid containers 201a and 202a. It is composed of a recovery pipe 214 for returning the liquid to the inside of the liquid tank 210. Here, the liquid supply pump 211
Is supplied to the liquid containers of the liquid applicators 201 and 202 through the liquid supply pipe 213. And
The processing liquid 2 flowing out of the liquid container and received by the liquid receiving tank 215 is returned to the processing liquid tank 210 through the recovery pipe 214 and circulated. During such a steady circulation operation of the processing liquid 2, in each of the liquid applicators 201 and 202, the liquid is supplied by the liquid supply pump 211 such that the liquid applying roller is immersed by a predetermined amount in the processing liquid 2 in the liquid container. The liquid amount and the like are set.

The toner peeling unit 300 includes a toner offset belt (hereinafter, referred to as an offset belt) 301 as a belt-like peeling member wound around a plurality of support rollers 302 (drive rollers) and 303, and an offset belt. The heating block 304 and the upper heating roller 305 with a built-in heating lamp provided so as to be in pressure contact with each other with the sandwiched surface 301 therebetween, the tension rollers 306 and 307 for applying a predetermined tension to the offset belt 301, and the surface of the offset belt 301 is cleaned. Cleaning device. This cleaning device will be described later in detail.

Here, the heating block 304 and the upper heating roller 305 bring the toner image surface of the transfer paper 1 into close contact with the offset belt 301 and heat the toner fixed on the transfer paper 1 to a softening temperature or higher to soften it. It is to let. The softening temperature of the toner used in this embodiment is about 50 to
Although it is 60 ° C., the softening temperature differs depending on the type of toner.

At least the surface of the offset belt 301 which is in contact with the toner is formed of a material capable of exhibiting an adhesive force greater than the adhesive force between the surface of the transfer paper 1 and the toner with respect to the softened toner. Have been. In this embodiment, a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) belt in which titanium oxide having a thickness of 100 μm is dispersed is used.
In addition, for example, a metal material such as an aluminum-based, copper-based, or nickel-based material, or a polymer material other than PET, such as polyetheretherketone (PEEK), may be used.

On the downstream side in the moving direction of the offset belt 301 from the pressure contact portion of the heating block 304 with the upper heating roller 305, a bending portion for changing the moving direction of the offset belt 301 by approximately 90 degrees with a predetermined radius of curvature. Is formed, and the direction of movement of the belt is rapidly changed around the bent portion to separate the curvature of the transfer paper 1 from the offset belt 301.

The drying unit 400 dries the transfer paper 1 so that the liquid holding amount of the transfer paper 1 becomes 10% or less of the paper weight, for example. And a paper pressing belt 402 that is wound around a plurality of support rollers and moves endlessly while being wound around the peripheral surface of the heating drum 401 at a fixed angle. As a material of the paper pressing belt 402, a material having heat resistance and air permeability, for example, a cloth such as canvas, cotton, and tetron can be used.

The paper receiving unit 500 includes a transport roller pair 501 for transporting the transfer paper 1 from the drying unit 400, a branch claw 502, and a discharge roller pair 503, 50.
4. Built-in paper discharge tray 505, external paper discharge tray (not shown)
And the like, and if necessary, a built-in paper discharge tray 50.
5 or an external discharge tray. Here, the built-in paper discharge tray 505 is configured to be slidable so that it can be pulled out to the front side of the apparatus.

In the toner removing apparatus having the above-described structure, the transfer paper 1 sent from the paper supply unit 100 is applied to the toner image surface (the lower surface in FIG.
And is sent to the toner peeling unit 300. For example, 2 g or more of the processing liquid 2 is applied to the A4 size transfer paper 1. In the toner peeling unit 300, the transfer paper 1
Is fixed by the heating from the heating block 304 and the upper heating roller 305, and the offset belt 3
01 adheres to the surface. Then, when the transfer paper 1 and the offset belt 301 are separated from each other around the bent portion of the heating block 304, the toner attached to the surface of the offset belt 301 is separated from the transfer paper 1, thereby removing the toner from the transfer paper 1 Is done. The transfer paper 1 from which the toner has been removed is dried by the drying unit 400, and is discharged onto the built-in discharge tray 505 of the paper receiving unit 500 by the discharge roller pair 503. By the above-described toner removal processing, the liquid is supplied to the transfer paper 1 to which the toner has adhered, and the toner is peeled off in a state where the liquid has penetrated into the interface of the transfer paper 1 with the toner. The toner can be removed. (Hereinafter, margin)

Next, a cleaning device for cleaning the surface of the offset belt 301 will be described in detail. As shown in FIG. 1, the cleaning device includes a spiral roller 310 as a roller-like cleaning member having a spiral edge on an outer peripheral portion thereof in contact with a surface of an offset belt 301, and a driving unit for driving the spiral roller 310 to rotate. And a brush roller 311 as auxiliary cleaning means for removing toner remaining on the surface of the offset belt 301 that has passed through a contact portion between the driving device (not shown) and the spiral roller 310.

A backup roller 312 as a backup member is pressed against the spiral roller 310 via an offset belt 301 in the direction of arrow A. The surface of the backup roller 312 is made of an elastic material, and forms a pressure contact portion having a nip width (clamping width) Ln as shown in FIG. Due to the pressure contact of the backup roller 312, the edge of the spiral roller 310 comes into contact with the toner adhering surface of the offset belt 301 with a predetermined contact force, and the toner is reliably scraped off at the edge.

Further, if the toner T heated and softened by the heating block 304 or the like is to be scraped off as it is, the toner T is apt to be lost. (Note that the conventional brush roller using stainless steel fiber is liable to be damaged.) . Therefore, a cooling device 313 is provided as cooling means for cooling the toner on the offset belt 301 before being removed by the spiral roller 310, and the cooling device 313 reduces the toner on the offset belt 301 to a softening temperature of 50 °.
After cooling to below C, it is scraped off by the spiral roller 310. The cooling device 313 includes the cooling fan 31.
3a and a cooling nozzle 313b (see the perspective view of FIG. 4). As can be seen from FIG. 4, the cooling device 313 blows air in the direction of arrow B over almost the entire width of the offset belt 310 and
The upper toner T is cooled.

The shape of the spiral blade of the spiral roller 310 is shown in FIG. 7 of JIS-B0172.
2, the shape of a core drill of JIS-B0171, the shape of FIG. 52 of JIS-0173, or the shape of a band-shaped member wound around a core metal can be applied. As the spiral roller 310 of the present embodiment, a roller having four spiral blades 310a as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B is used. The spiral blade twist angle θa in the case of having the four spiral blades 310a (see FIG. 5A and JIS)
−B0172), the practically usable range is about 5 ° to 60 °, more preferably 12 ° to 4 °.
A range of 5 ° is good. The spiral roller 310
The number of spiral blades 310a may be one or two or more. When the spiral blade 310a has a large helix angle θa, the spiral blade may have a single spiral blade. However, when the spiral blade has a small helix angle θa (including the case where θa = 0 °), the spiral blade may have multiple spiral blades. It is preferable to rotate at a higher linear velocity. Considering the good contact with the toner on the edge 310b of the spiral blade 310a and the suppression of noise during rotation, the spiral blade 310a
Is preferably about 4 to 12, more preferably 6 to 12.
About 12 articles is good.

The edge 310b of the spiral blade 310a of the spiral roller 310 is not provided with a cutting edge unlike a normal cutting edge for machining. That is, the rake angle θb for the cutting blade and the clearance angle θc of the outer peripheral surface of the spiral blade 310a (see FIG. 6) are not positively provided at the edge 310b of the spiral blade 310a. Accordingly, the toner can be separated from the offset belt 301 while being rubbed without scraping the offset belt 301 by the edge 310b of the spiral roller 310. The durability of 301 can be improved. Further, since it is not necessary to positively provide the clearance angle θc of the outer peripheral surface of the spiral blade 310a, the processing of the spiral blade 310a is easy, and the outer shape of the spiral roller 310 is maintained when the blade edge which is the edge 310b is damaged. The cutting edge, which is an edge, can be reworked as it is, that is, without reducing the outer diameter. The usable range of the rake angle θb is + 60 °
It is about −10 °, and more preferably in the range of 0 ° to + 45 °. In the spiral roller 310 of the present embodiment, both the rake angle θb and the clearance angle θc of the outer peripheral surface of the spiral blade 310a are set to almost 0 °.

The material of the spiral roller 310 may be any material having a surface hardness higher than that of the resin. For example, stainless steel or a normal blade material (carbon tool steel / SK material, SKH material, etc.) may be used. it can.

As shown in FIG. 7, the spiral roller 310 comprises a roller body 310c and bearings 310d formed at both ends thereof.
10c, an edge 310 for scraping off the toner
The spiral blade 310a having the letter "b" is formed. In the configuration example of FIG. 7, the roller body 310 c has straight portions at both ends which have substantially the same outer diameter as the portion where the spiral blade 310 a is formed, but the straight portion may not be provided. A center hole 310e having an inner surface in a conical shape is formed at an end of the bearing portion 310d, and a plurality of E-ring grooves 310f and D-cut portions 310g are formed on an outer peripheral surface of the bearing portion 310d. The bearings 310b at both ends of the spiral roller 310
Are preferably the same. By thus forming the same shape, the bearing portion 310b of the spiral roller 310 can be easily processed, and the degree of freedom of arrangement of the cleaning device in the main body of the toner removing device is increased.

When processing the spiral roller 310, the bearing 310d of the spiral roller 310 is used.
The spiral blade 310a and the bearing 310d of the roller body 310c are simultaneously processed while inserting and rotating a processing jig into the center holes 310e formed at both ends of the roller body 310c. By performing such processing, the spiral roller 310 can be attached to the main body of the toner removing device while maintaining the precision at the time of processing without any runout or eccentricity of the spiral roller 310, and due to the runout or eccentricity of the spiral roller 310. It is possible to prevent toner removal unevenness.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the spiral roller 310 attached to the cleaning device of the toner removing device.
The side substrate 341 is set on the bottom substrate 340 of the cleaning device. Then, the outer ring portion of the bearing 342 is inserted into the side substrate 341, and the inner ring portion of the bearing 342 is inserted into the bearing portion 310 b of the spiral roller 310 to be assembled. By assembling in this manner, the spiral roller 310 can be mounted on the main body of the toner removing device while maintaining the accuracy during the processing.

A rotation driven member 343 is inserted into one of the bearing portions 310d of the spiral roller 310, and an E-ring (not shown) attached to the E-ring groove 310f so that the rotation driven member 343 does not come off. Fixed. Then, the driving source 3 is connected to the driving source 344 via the rotation driving member 345 and the rotation driven member 343.
By transmitting the rotational driving force of 44 to the spiral roller 310, the spiral roller 310 rotates at a predetermined speed. FIG. 8 shows a configuration example in which the rotation driven member 343 is attached to the right side of the spiral roller 310.
May be attached to the opposite end (left side in FIG. 8).

As described above, the bearings 310b at both ends of the spiral roller 310 are supported by the bearings 342 and driven to rotate, so that the accuracy of the contact surface with the offset belt 301 is improved, and the width of the uniform contact surface is improved. (Nip width Ln), and the toner can be peeled and removed without unevenness.

Further, in order to prevent abnormal shaving and breakage of the offset roller 301 at both ends of the spiral roller 301 in the rotation axis direction due to waving or the like,
It is preferable that the length Le (see FIG. 7) of the spiral blade forming portion of the spiral roller 310 in the rotation axis direction is set to be equal to or shorter than the effective peeling width of the offset belt 301. For example, the length Le of the spiral blade forming portion of the spiral roller 310 in the rotation axis direction is set to be smaller than the width of the offset belt 301 by α in consideration of a shift in the width direction of the offset belt 301 when the offset belt 301 is repeatedly used. It is also preferable to set a shorter value.

Further, even when the transfer sheet 1 (original document to be processed) is displaced in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction, the spiral blade 310a is provided so that the reproduction width of the offset belt 301 for removing the toner can be secured. It is preferable to set the length Le of the edge forming portion in the rotation axis direction to be equal to or larger than the maximum width of the transfer paper 1. For example, the spiral roller 3
The length Le of the ten spiral blade forming parts in the rotation axis direction is
It is preferable that the transfer paper 1 is set to be longer than the maximum width of the transfer paper 1 by α in consideration of a shift in the width direction of the transfer paper 1 during the toner peeling process.

In the present embodiment, the spiral roller 310 has a linear velocity higher than the linear velocity of the offset belt 301 so that the toner T on the offset belt 301 contacts the edge of the spiral blade of the spiral roller 310 at least once. Is rotated, whereby the toner T on the offset belt 301 can be reliably scraped off at the edge. More specifically, by rotating the spiral roller 310 at a linear speed of 3 to 50 times the linear speed of the offset belt 301, the offset belt 3
Although it is possible to remove the toner T on the spiral roller 01, the optimum conditions for the rotation drive vary depending on the number of spiral blades of the spiral roller 310, the nip width Ln, the shape of the blade edge, the state of toner T adhesion, and the like. For example, the spiral roller 3 of the present embodiment
The outer diameter and rotation speed of 10 are 24 mmφ and 300 mm, respectively.
rpm, nip width Ln is around 1.5 mm, offset belt 301 (100 μm thick PET containing titanium oxide)
Film) at a linear velocity of 24 mm / sec,
The toner T on the offset belt 301 could be completely removed. That is, in the case of this specific example, there is an optimum condition where the linear velocity of the spiral roller 310 is about 15 times the linear velocity of the offset belt 301. The direction of rotation of the spiral roller 310 may be opposite to the direction of movement of the offset belt 301 as in the present embodiment, but may be forward if the linear velocity condition is satisfied.

Further, in the present embodiment, the toner may remain on the offset belt 301 due to static electricity without being completely removed by the spiral roller 310. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. The auxiliary brush roller 311 rotated in the direction opposite to the moving direction of the offset belt 301 as auxiliary cleaning means for removing the toner T remaining on the surface of the offset belt 301 that has passed through the contact portion with the spiral roller 310. Provided. By rotating the auxiliary brush roller 311 in the direction opposite to the moving direction of the offset belt 301 in this way, the residual toner on the offset belt 301 is removed and collected in the unit case 315, and the toner scattering is reduced. 315. The upper opening of the unit case 315 is sealed with an offset belt 301, and the spiral roller 31 is closed.
A seal member (not shown) is attached to the ends of the 0 and auxiliary brush rollers 311 in the rotation axis direction.

As a brush material of the auxiliary brush roller 311, polyester 250/24 (density of 300 loops / inch), PP170 / 20 (density of 60,000 pieces / inch) or the like can be used, but it is limited to these materials. What is necessary is just to be a thing which does not damage the offset belt 301 without doing. Here, the auxiliary brush roller 31
In the case where the first brush material has a charge removing function, for example, a brush material made of carbon fiber, it is possible to remove the toner while removing the charge of the offset belt 301 and the toner remaining thereon. As a result, the cleaning performance can be improved. Further, as the brush material of the auxiliary brush roller 311, a stainless steel fiber conventionally used, for example, SUS316 (12 μm × 1
00F, density 450 loops / inch). In this case, only the soft contact with the offset belt 301 is required, so that the driving load increases as in the case where the offset belt 301 is brought into contact with a strong contact pressure force, which causes an increase in the size of the drive motor and noise. There is no fear.

Although not shown, a device is provided for knocking down the toner attached to the auxiliary cleaning brush 311, thereby improving the repetitive performance of the auxiliary cleaning brush 311.

In this embodiment, a cover 316 is provided along the outer peripheral surface of the spiral roller 310 so as to cover the roller 310. The cover 316 is composed of a cylindrical member 316a and a flange member 316b, and for example, SUS304 can be used as a material for these members. The cylindrical member 31 of the cover 316
An opening 316c having a width W in the rotation axis direction is provided above 6a, and a part of the spiral roller 310 is exposed from the opening 316c. Spiral roller 31
The toner T removed by the 0 spiral blade is conveyed toward one end of the rotating shaft by the rotation of the spiral roller 316 while being held by the side surface of the spiral blade and the inner surface of the cylindrical member 316a. Further, the cylindrical member 1
It is preferable that the gap C between the inner surface of the spiral roller 6a and the outer peripheral surface of the spiral roller 310 is narrow in terms of conveying the toner T. In the case of the present embodiment, a good result was obtained at about 0.2 mm.

In addition, below the cylindrical member 316a,
An opening 316d for discharging toner is formed along the direction of the rotation axis, and the toner conveyed in a fixed direction in the cylindrical member 316a is discharged from the opening 316d, and falls and accumulates in the unit case 315. This opening 316d
May be any shape. For example, a plurality of round holes or long holes may be formed along the rotation axis direction, or a long slit-like opening may be formed along the rotation axis direction. Further, a paper pack is mounted inside the unit case 315, so that when the toner inside the unit cover 315 is full, it is only necessary to discard the paper pack, and the toner can be easily disposed. Note that, without providing the opening 316d, the end of the cylindrical member 316a is extended in the toner conveying direction, the extended portion is made detachable, and after a predetermined amount of toner is accumulated, the extended portion is removed. The toner may be disposed of. Further, instead of making the extending portion detachable, an opening for discharging toner is provided in the extending portion, and the toner is accommodated in a collection tank installed outside the unit case 315 from the opening of the extending portion. You may comprise.

In the cleaning device having the above structure,
After the toner firmly adhered to the offset belt 301 in the above-described toner peeling process is cooled to a softening temperature or lower by the cooling device 313, the offset belt 3 is also removed together with the paper powder, paper fibers, and the like also adhered on the offset belt 301.
It is scraped off by the edge of the spiral blade of the spiral roller 310 rotating at a linear velocity greater than 01. The toner T remaining on the offset belt 310 is removed by the auxiliary brush roller 311 and stored in the unit case 315. The toner removed by the spiral blade is conveyed to one end in the rotation axis direction while being guided by the side surface of the spiral blade and the inner surface of the cover 316 by the rotation of the spiral roller 310. The toner conveyed in this manner is discharged into the unit case 315 through an opening formed at a lower portion of the cover 316. Unit case 315
The toner inside is discarded together with the paper pack mounted on its inner surface.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the toner, paper dust, paper fiber, and the like firmly adhering to the offset belt 301 are scraped off by the edge of the spiral roller 310. And the durability of the offset belt 310 can be improved as compared with the case where the brush roller is rotated at high speed by pressing the brush roller. Further, since the toner remaining on the surface of the offset belt 310 that has passed through the contact portion with the spiral roller 310 is removed by the auxiliary cleaning roller 311, the toner adhered to the offset belt 301 is reliably removed, and the offset belt 301 is repeated. Peeling performance during use can be maintained.

In the case of a conventional cleaning device using a brush roller, toner and paper powder transferred together with the toner are accumulated in the brush material, which may impair the durability of the brush material itself. Further, since the brush material of the above-mentioned conventional brush roller is formed by winding and bonding a stainless steel fiber to a cored bar, the processing accuracy is not very good, and there is a possibility that uneven cleaning may occur due to uneven contact with the peeling member. is there. Further, since the brush roller is brought into contact with the peeling member with a strong pressing force, a driving load is increased, which may cause a noise of a driving motor. on the other hand,
According to the present embodiment, toner, paper dust, paper fibers, and the like can be removed from the offset belt 301 without the risk of causing a problem in the case of the brush roller.

In the cleaning device of the above embodiment, the auxiliary brush roller 311 is used as the auxiliary cleaning means.
In place of the auxiliary brush roller 311, a blade 317 and an offset belt 301 upstream of the blade 317 and a neutralizing roller 318 for neutralizing the toner thereon are used, as shown in FIG. Is also good. The use of such a blade 317 is simpler than the case where the brush roller 311 is used, and the cost can be reduced. The toner, paper dust, and the like attached to the charge removing roller 318 are removed by a blade 319.

In the cleaning device of the above embodiment, the backup roller 312 is used as a backup member. Instead of the backup roller 312, a rigid backup member 320 as shown in FIG. Good. This backup member is arranged so as to face the spiral roller 310 with a gap slightly smaller than the thickness d of the offset belt 301. By arranging the backup member 320 in this manner, only the attached matter such as toner on the offset belt 301 is separated and removed, and the offset belt 3 is removed.
01 itself can be prevented from progressing. Also in the case of this configuration, the toner and the like remaining on the offset belt 301 without being removed by the spiral roller 310 are removed by the auxiliary cleaning unit. As the backup means, the flexibility of the offset belt 301 is used as shown in FIG.
The offset belt 301 may be pressed against the spiral roller 310 at two places by b. In this configuration,
Compared to the case where one backup roller is used,
Since the pressing width of the spiral roller 310 against the offset belt 301 can be widened, the toner removing efficiency can be improved.
The rotation speed of 10 can also be relatively reduced. (Hereinafter, margin)

[Second Embodiment] FIG. 12 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of a toner peeling unit according to another embodiment. In the toner peeling unit according to the present embodiment,
An offset belt 301 wrapped around a plurality of support rollers 322a to 322d is disposed so as to be in contact with almost half of the outer peripheral surface of a large-diameter winding roller 323 with a built-in heater, and three pressure rollers 324a to 324 with a built-in heater.
c is the winding roller 323 via the offset belt 301
Is pressed against. The transfer paper 1 is placed on the offset belt 30 in contact with the support roller 322d with the toner adhering surface down.
Is supplied between the transfer belt 1 and the winding roller 323, and the toner on the transfer paper 1 is heated to soften the offset belt 30 while being softened.
Then, the transfer paper 1 is separated from the offset belt 301 by the curvature separation by the support roller 322a, so that the toner on the transfer paper 1 is peeled and removed. After the toner T transferred from the transfer paper 1 is cooled and solidified by the cooling device 313, it is removed by the spiral roller 310 and the auxiliary brush roller 311. The offset belt 301 from which the toner has been removed is used again for the toner peeling process.

[Third Embodiment] FIG. 13 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of a toner peeling unit according to still another embodiment. In the toner peeling unit according to the present embodiment, the offset belt 308 wound around the plurality of support rollers 326a to 326d and the plurality of support rollers 329
The transfer belt 331 is disposed so that the opposing belt 331 looped around a to 329d is in contact with the transfer paper conveyance path. In this transfer paper transport path, heating support rollers 325a, 325c, 325e, and 325g with built-in heaters on the offset belt 328 side.
The heating belt 325 b, 325 d, and 325 f with a built-in heater on the side of the opposing belt 331 and the offset belt 328 and the opposing belt 33
The transfer paper 1 is conveyed in a zigzag manner in the transfer paper conveyance path. The offset belt 328 and the opposing belt 331 are given tension by tension rollers 327a, b and 330a, b, respectively. The transfer paper 1 is supplied to the entrance of the transfer paper transport path where the support rollers 326a and 329a face each other with the toner adhering surface down, and the heating support roller 32
When the toner T on the transfer sheet 1 is repeatedly heated and pressed against the offset belt 328 in a multi-step manner while being zigzag-conveyed between 5a to 325g, the toner T is separated by curvature separation by the support roller 32da. By separating the transfer paper 1 from the offset belt 301, the toner on the transfer paper 1 is peeled and removed. The toner T transferred from the transfer paper 1 is cooled and solidified by a cooling device (not shown), and then removed by the spiral roller 310 and the auxiliary brush roller 311. Offset belt 328 from which toner has been removed
Is used again for the toner peeling process. In the case of this configuration example, an offset belt may be used for the opposing belt 31 so that toner can be removed from both surfaces of the transfer paper 1.

[Fourth Embodiment] FIG. 14 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of a toner peeling unit according to still another embodiment. In the toner peeling unit according to the present embodiment, a cylindrical peeling roller 332 is used instead of the offset belt 301, and the transfer paper 1 is
2, a heating lamp 335 and a reflector as heating means for heating the surface of the peeling roller 332 from the inside thereof at a position slightly upstream from the pressure contact portion between the pressing roller 333 pressing the pressure roller 2 and the peeling roller 33 in the surface moving direction of the peeling roller. 336. The spiral roller 310 and the auxiliary brush roller 311 are in direct contact with the surface of the peeling roller 332. The transfer paper is separated by a peeling roller 33 with one toner adhering surface facing down.
Is supplied to a pressure contact portion between the transfer roller 2 and the pressure roller 333, and while the toner on the transfer paper 1 is heated and softened, the separation roller 3
32, the transfer paper 1 is separated from the offset belt 301 by a separation claw or the like (not shown), so that the toner on the transfer paper 1 is peeled and removed. The toner T transferred from the transfer paper 1 is cooled and solidified by the cooling device 313, and then the spiral roller 310 and the auxiliary brush roller 3 are cooled.
Removed at 11. The offset belt 301 from which the toner has been removed is used again for the toner peeling process.

[Fifth Embodiment] FIG. 15A is a front view showing a schematic configuration of a toner removing device according to still another embodiment, and FIGS. 15B and 15C are used in the toner removing device. It is the expansion front view and expansion perspective view of a spiral roller and a backup roller. Here, the same portions as those of the toner removing device (FIGS. 1 and 2) of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their functions are also the same. Is omitted. However, in the toner removing unit 300 of the toner removing device of the present embodiment, instead of the heating block 304, a pressure heating roller 360 and a small-diameter separation roller 361 are used.
Is used.

The alphabetic symbols in FIG. 15B are defined as follows. Ln is the nip width (nipping width) (mm) of the spiral roller 310 and the backup roller 312, V1 is the linear speed of the offset belt (mm / sec), and V2 = π · D · (R
/ 60) is the linear velocity (m) of the outer peripheral surface of the spiral roller 310.
m / sec), L = (π · D) / H is the edge interval (mm) in the rotation direction on the outer peripheral surface of the spiral roller 310, D is the outer diameter (mm) of the spiral roller 310, and R Is the number of revolutions (rpm) of the spiral roller 310, and H is the number of spiral blades of the spiral roller.

15A and 15B, a backup roller 312 which rotates together with an offset roller 301 as a peeling member, and a spiral roller 310 as a cleaning member having a spiral blade 310a having its own rotating mechanism. Offset belt 30 between
1, the toner transferred to the offset belt 301 is scraped off by the spiral blade 310a of the rotating spiral roller 310. When the toner is scraped off by the spiral blade 310a of the spiral roller 310 as described above, the toner does not accumulate and clog in the escape portion other than the spiral blade 310a, and the accumulated toner is removed by the spiral blade 310a as the spiral roller 310 rotates. Fall outside.

Here, in contrast to a brush roller having a continuous cleaning function (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H3-116083), the spiral roller 310 used in the present embodiment has a configuration in which the edge of the spiral blade 310a passes. Only the cleaning function is performed, and the others do not function for cleaning. Therefore, the spiral roller 31
When the number of revolutions of 0 is increased indefinitely, cleaning can be surely performed. However, the mechanical noise of the spiral roller 310 as this rotating body increases with the number of revolutions, and the frequency is too low. Get higher. Further, the offset belt 301 is cut by the edge of the spiral roller 310, and the durability of the offset belt 301 is significantly reduced. Conversely, when the rotational speed of the spiral roller 310 is reduced in order to avoid the adverse effect of the increase in the rotational speed of the spiral roller 310, FIG.
6, the striped cleaning residue is generated on the offset belt 301. The hatched portion in FIG. 16 is a region where the toner T remains, and the arrow indicates the moving direction of the offset belt 301.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, various conditions are set so that the rotation speed is not adversely affected and the sprite-shaped cleaning residue is not generated. FIG.
In 5 (b), the time that the offset belt 301 passes through the nip width (nipping width) Ln (mm) at the linear velocity V1 (mm / sec) is represented by Ln / V1 (sec).
On the other hand, if the spiral roller 310 having the circumferential edge interval L (mm) rotates at a linear velocity V2 (mm / sec), the time required for the outer peripheral surface of the spiral roller 310 to move by the distance of the edge interval L is as follows. L / V2 (sec)
Becomes Of the movement time L / V2 (sec), the time during which the cleaning function is performed is represented by Ln / V2 (sec). FIG. 17 is a time chart schematically illustrating the relationship between the above Ln / V1, L / V2, and Ln / V2, in which the portion of the time Ln / V2 during which the cleaning function is exerted is upwardly convex. It is. As is clear from FIG. 17, it can be seen that the surface of the offset belt 301 cannot be continuously cleaned unless at least the relationship of Ln / V1 ≧ L / V2 is satisfied. Here, Ln / V1 ≧ L / V2 can also be expressed as Ln / V1 ≧ L / (π · D · (R / 60)) so that the relationship between Ln and R can be clearly understood. L and D in the formula are determined by the design of the spiral roller 310, and Ln is the load in the pressing direction applied between the spiral roller and the backup roller, the thickness and hardness of the rubber used for the backup roller, and each roller. Where R is the process setting.

The nip width (nipping width) Ln corresponds to the effective contact width We that actually functions for cleaning, and can be measured by the following measuring method I or measuring method II. For example, in the measurement method I, the black solid toner image is transferred to the offset belt 301, and the width in the roller rotation direction of the portion removed by rotating the spiral roller 310 with the offset roller 301 stationary in the cleaning device is determined. The measured value is defined as the nip width (clamping width) Ln. Further, for example, in the measurement direction II, the black solid toner image is transferred to the offset belt 301, and the spiral roller 301 is transferred to the cleaning device.
Is measured in a direction perpendicular to the belt moving direction of the portion removed by moving the offset belt 310 while the belt is stationary, and the measured value is referred to as tan θa (θa
Is divided by the torsion angle) to obtain the nip width (clamping width) Ln.

Hereinafter, a more specific example of the fifth embodiment will be described. In a first example of the fifth embodiment,
Rubber roller (outer diameter: φ20 mm, rubber hardness: 21 degrees, rubber thickness: 4 mm) as the backup roller 312
Using a spiral roller (outer diameter: φ24 mm, number of spiral blades: 4, twist angle θa: 35 degrees, rake angle θ
b: 0 °, land width Wl: 3 mm) 150 mm to 310
When pressed with a load of 8 kgf per width (total of both shaft ends) via the offset belt 301, the above measurement method was used.
When the nip width (clamping width) Ln corresponding to the effective contact width We was measured in II, the average was 2.13 mm. The linear velocity of the offset belt 301 is 25 mm / sec
, The rotation speed of the spiral roller 310 is 100 rpm
m, striped cleaning residue occurred,
At 200 rpm or more, 100% cleaning was possible. At this time, the rotation speed of the spiral roller 310 is 10
At 0 rpm, the above Ln / V1 = 85 msec, L / V
2 = 150 msec and Ln / V1 <L / V2, but the rotational speed of the spiral roller 310 is 200 rpm
In this case, Ln / V1 does not change and L / V2 = 75 msec, so that Ln / V1 ≧ L / V2 holds, and Ln / V1 is satisfied.
In the time interval, the edge of the spiral blade of the spiral roller 310 once hits the toner on the offset belt 301, so that 100% cleaning can be performed.

In the second example of the fifth embodiment, a rubber roller (outer diameter: φ20 m) is used as the backup roller 312.
m, rubber hardness 20 degrees, rubber thickness 4 mm), spiral roller (outer diameter: φ24 mm, number of spiral blades: 4)
Strip, twist angle θa: 35 °, rake angle θb: 0 °, land width Wl: 1.5 mm) 310, load 8 kgf per 150 mm width (total of both shaft ends), and offset belt 30
1 to clean the toner on the offset belt 301. And the offset belt 3
When the linear velocity of No. 01 was 25 mm / sec (corresponding to A4 lateral feed of 6 cpm), the noise was measured by changing the number of revolutions of the spiral roller 310, and the results in Table 1 were obtained.

[0066]

[Table 1]

From the results shown in Table 1, the spiral roller 3
It can be seen that the noise level tends to increase with an increase in the number of rotations of 10. Although it is clear from the use environment that the device noise should be low, it is important to balance the stability of the cleaning function and the cost involved. It is possible to increase the outer diameter of the spiral roller 310 if space expansion is allowed,
φ24 mm is a practical outer diameter. It is considered that the office environment is maintained if the noise of office equipment is 66 dB or less (for example, German standard: Blu).
e Noise regulation by Angel (1995.7)).

Therefore, based on Table 1 above, by controlling the rotational speed of the spiral roller 310 to 320 rpm or less, the noise regulation of the office equipment can be reduced to 66 dB or less. Further, under this condition, the durability of the offset belt 301 (PEEK (polyetheretherketone resin) material, 100 μm thickness) is 19 in terms of treated paper.
It becomes 0000 sheets, and a longer life can be secured than other mechanical parts.

In the toner removing device of the fifth embodiment, whether the nip width (nipping width) Ln is large or not.
Alternatively, if the distance L between the edges 310b of the spiral roller 310 is reduced, the number of revolutions of the spiral roller 310 that can obtain the same cleaning performance can be reduced. However, in that case, the spiral roller 310
In order to keep the pressure applied to the holding portion between the roller and the backup roller 312 constant, a large load needs to be applied.

Therefore, the cleaning device may be constituted by a plurality of spiral rollers so that the load does not need to be increased. In this case, 100% cleaning of the transfer toner on the offset belt 301 is achieved by controlling the rotation timing between the spiral rollers when the spiral rollers rotate. For example, three spiral rollers are mounted so that the relative positions of the respective spiral blades with respect to the belt moving surface are the same, and in consideration of the distance between the respective rollers, as shown in FIG. Is shifted so that the remaining portion of the cleaning generated by the scraping of the toner by the first spiral roller is scraped off by the next second and third spiral rollers.
As described above, by removing the toner on the offset belt 301 by sharing the plurality of spiral rollers, the rotational speed of the spiral roller is increased, and the load is increased in order to increase the nip width (nipping width). Of the transfer toner on the offset belt 301
% Cleaning can be achieved. In the above specific example, control is performed so as to shift the timing of starting the rotation of each spiral roller. However, the rotation of each spiral roller is started at the same time, and each of the rollers is offset so that the toner on the offset belt 301 is shared. Each roller may be mounted by adjusting the relative position of the spiral blade of the roller with respect to the belt moving surface.

Further, in the toner removing device of the fifth embodiment, there is a possibility that the axial end of the backup roller 312 may be damaged. For example, a rubber roller (outer diameter: φ36 mm, rubber hardness:
Spiral roller (outer diameter: φ60mm, number of spiral blades: 12) using JISA80 degree, rubber thickness: 1mm
Strip, twist angle θa: 30 °, rake angle θb: 5 °, land width Wl: 1 mm), and a load of 8 kgf per 150 mm width.
(Total of both shaft ends), when the rubber roller was pressed through the offset belt 301, the rubber roller was scraped at a portion of the rubber roller not in contact with the offset belt. In order to prevent this scraping, the spiral roller 3 opposing a portion of the rubber roller not in contact with the offset belt 301 is used.
When the outer peripheral surface of No. 10 is made a mirror surface (unprocessed) without forming a spiral blade, the spiral roller 31
0 drive torque increases, and a large torque (48 kgf · c
Even if the drive source (motor) of m) was used, an alarm was issued and the drive was stopped. It is considered that the increase in the driving torque is due to the contact between the surface of the backup roller 312 having a different linear velocity and the spiral blade of the spiral roller 310.

Therefore, in order to prevent the backup roller 312 from being scraped and the drive torque from increasing, the amount of the spiral roller 310 biting into the backup roller 312 when not passing through the offset belt 301 is determined by the thickness of the offset belt 301. It is preferable to set it below. For example, a rubber roller (outer diameter: φ36 mm, rubber hardness: JISA80 degree,
Spiral roller (outer diameter: φ using rubber thickness: 1 mm)
60 mm, number of spiral blades: 12, spiral angle θa:
30 °, rake angle θb: 5 °, land width Wl: 1 mm)
4kgf per 150mm width (total of both shaft ends)
Then, when the nip was pressed through the offset belt 301, the nip width (nipping width) Ln was 1.9 mm on average in the measurement method I. At this time, the spiral roller 310
When the cleaning operation was performed with the rotation speed set to satisfy the condition of Ln / V1 ≧ L / V2, the backup roller (rubber roller) 312 was not scraped and the driving torque did not increase. At this time, the spiral roller 310 without the offset belt 301 is used.
The amount of bite into the backup roller (rubber roller) 312 is 25 μm, and the film thickness of the offset belt 301 used at this time is 100 μm. Therefore, as shown in FIG. (Rubber roller) Gap between 312 and spiral roller 310 g = 100−25 = 75 μm
And no contact occurs between the two rollers. Note that FIG.
The middle Le is the width of the spiral blade forming portion on the outer peripheral surface of the spiral roller. Further, the bite amount 1 was determined by the following equation (1). In the expression 1, r is the radius of the backup roller (rubber roller) 312, and Ln is the nip width (clamping width).

(Equation 1)

Further, in order to prevent the backup roller 312 from being scraped and the drive torque from increasing, the spiral roller 310 and the backup roller 31 may be replaced with or in addition to the configuration in which the bite amount is set to a predetermined value or less.
2, the length of the holding portion in the rotation axis direction may be smaller than the width Le of the spiral blade forming portion of the spiral roller 310. For example, as shown in FIG. 20A, the length Lg of the rubber winding portion of the backup roller 312 in the rotation axis direction is used.
Is shorter than the width of the offset belt 301, and only the portion necessary for cleaning the spiral roller 310 with the spiral blade is set. At this time, the nip width (clamping width) L of the portion pressed through the offset belt 301
The measured value of n was 4.2 mm on average by the above-mentioned measuring method I. The amount of biting of the spiral roller 310 into the backup roller (rubber roller) 312 was 125 μm.

Also, instead of eliminating the parts other than those necessary for cleaning the backup roller (rubber roller) 312, as shown in FIG.
The same effect can be obtained even if portions other than those necessary for the cleaning of No. 10 are cut off. In either case, stable cleaning can be obtained if the cut amount of the spiral roller 310 is equal to or greater than the bite amount. (Hereinafter, margin)

[Sixth Embodiment] FIG. 21A is a front view showing a schematic configuration of a toner removing device according to still another embodiment, and FIG. 21B is a spiral roller and a backup used in the toner removing device. It is an enlarged front view of a roller.
Here, the same portions as those of the toner removing devices (FIGS. 1, 2, and 15) of the first and fifth embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their functions are also the same. A description of parts other than the device will be omitted.

The cleaning device according to the sixth embodiment includes:
The backup belt 352 is attached to the two backup rollers 350 and 351 rotating together with the offset belt 301.
, An offset belt 301 is sandwiched between a spiral roller 310 having its own rotation mechanism,
The toner transferred to the offset belt 301 is scraped off by a rotating spiral blade.

As an example of the sixth embodiment, the outer diameter φ2
A load F1 from above or one roller is fixed to two roller shafts via two backup rollers 352 via two backup rollers of 0 mm, and a tension load of F2 is applied to the other roller. At this time, nip width (clamping width)
The load per unit area applied to the entire area of Ln is about 1.5 kgf / cm ² on average (1.0 to 3.0 kgf / c
m range of ²⁾ to. Here, the nip width (pinching width) Ln
= 25 mm, V1 = 25 mm / sec, spiral roller 310 has an outer diameter of φ60 mm, the number of spiral blades is 24, twist angle θa is 30 °, rake angle θ
When cleaning is performed at a rotation speed of the spiral roller 310 of 6 rpm using a material having a b of 0 ° and a land width Wl of 1 mm, Ln / V1 = 1 sec and L / V2 = 417 msec.
Ln / V1 ≧ L / V2 holds, and 100% cleaning becomes possible. At this time, V2 = 19 mm / s
ec, and cleaning is possible even if not necessarily V1２V2.

[0078]

[0079]

According to the first to sixth aspects of the present invention, the roller-shaped cleaning member having a spiral edge abutting on the surface of the peeling member on the outer peripheral portion is driven to rotate by the driving means, whereby the cleaning is performed. Since the edge of the member is brought into contact with the image forming substance firmly adhered on the peeling member and scraped off, the cleaning member is rotated at a lower rotation speed than that in which the brush roller is strongly pressed and rotated at high speed. Even if is rotated, the image forming substance can be scraped off and removed, and the durability of the peeling member can be improved by suppressing the damage on the surface of the peeling member to a degree of abrasion. Further, since the image forming substance removed from the peeling member does not adhere to the brush and causes clogging as in the case of using a brush roller, the cleaning performance can be stably maintained. In addition, with elastic
The backup member having the configured surface portion is separated from the peeling portion.
Because it is pressed against the cleaning member via the material,
The edge of the leaning member is exposed to the surface of the
Surface, so that the image forming substance is
There is an effect that can be taken.

In particular, according to the second aspect of the present invention, the image forming substance on the peeling member is brought into contact with the edge of the cleaning member at least once to remove the image forming substance adhering on the peeling member. Since no residue is generated, there is an effect that the image forming substance adhered to the peeling member is more reliably removed, and the peeling performance of the peeling member when it is repeatedly used can be maintained.

In particular, according to the third aspect of the present invention, since the image forming substance remaining on the surface of the peeling member that has passed through the contact portion with the cleaning member is removed by the auxiliary cleaning means, it adheres to the peeling member. There is an effect that the image forming substance can be more reliably removed and the peeling performance of the peeling member at the time of repeated use can be maintained.

In particular, according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the auxiliary cleaning means having a charge removing function removes the charge of the peeling member passing through the contact portion of the cleaning member and the image forming substance remaining on the surface thereof. Accordingly, the image-forming substance can be removed by the auxiliary cleaning means while the electrostatic adhesion of the image-forming substance remaining on the peeling member is reduced to facilitate the removal of the image-forming substance, or after the removal is facilitated. Therefore, there is an effect that the image forming substance attached to the peeling member can be more reliably removed.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the image forming material scraped off by the spiral edge of the cleaning member is moved along the side surface of the spiral edge and the outer peripheral surface of the cleaning member. The cleaning member is conveyed toward one end in the rotation axis direction of the cleaning member while being held by the inner surface of the cover provided thereon, so that the image forming material removed by the cleaning member can be collected and discharged to the end. It has the effect of becoming.

According to the present invention, the image forming material on the peeling member to be removed by the cleaning member is cooled by the cooling means, so that the image softened by heating by the softening means. Solidify the forming substance,
Since the image forming substance on the peeling member is easily removed by the cleaning member, there is an effect that the image forming substance attached to the peeling member can be more reliably removed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating a schematic configuration of a toner removing unit of a toner removing device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing the entire configuration of the toner removing device.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a nip portion between a spiral roller and a backup roller used in a cleaning device of the toner removing device.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a cooling nozzle of the cooling device of the cleaning device.

FIG. 5A is a partial side view of the spiral roller.
(B) is a sectional view of the spiral roller.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a rake angle θb and a clearance angle θc of the outer peripheral surface of the spiral roller.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the spiral roller.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of attachment of the spiral roller to a device main body.

FIG. 9A is a front view illustrating a schematic configuration of a cleaning device according to a modification. (B) is sectional drawing of the cylindrical member of the spiral roller and cover of the same cleaning device.

FIG. 10 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of a cleaning device according to another modification.

FIGS. 11A and 11B are front views each showing a schematic configuration of a backup member according to still another modified example.

FIG. 12 is a front view illustrating a schematic configuration of a cleaning device used in a toner removing device according to another embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of a toner peeling unit used in a toner removing device according to still another embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a front view showing a toner removing unit used in a toner removing device according to still another embodiment.

FIG. 15A is a front view showing a toner peeling unit used in a toner removing device according to still another embodiment. (B)
(C) is an enlarged front view and an enlarged perspective view of a spiral roller and a backup roller used in the toner removing device.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram of a sprite-shaped cleaning residue on the offset belt.

FIG. 17 is a time chart for explaining a cleaning operation by a spiral roller.

FIG. 18 is a time chart for explaining a cleaning operation by a plurality of spiral rollers.

FIG. 19 is a side view of a spiral roller and a backup roller according to a modification.

FIGS. 20A and 20B are side views of a spiral roller and a backup roller according to another modification.

FIG. 21A is a front view illustrating a toner peeling unit used in a toner removing device according to still another embodiment. (B) is an enlarged front view of a spiral roller and a backup roller used in the toner removing device.

FIG. 22 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of a cleaning device according to a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Transfer Paper 300 Toner Peeling Unit 301 Offset Belt 302,302,303 Support Roller 306,307 Tension Roller 310 Spiral Roller 311 Auxiliary Brush Roller 312 Backup Roller 316 Cover 318 Static Eliminating Roller

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-7-36331 (JP, A) JP-A-2-259794 (JP, A) JP-A-3-98470 (JP, U) JP-A-60-160 165967 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G03G 21/00

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] A belt-like peeling member capable of exerting an adhesive force on an image forming substance adhering to the image holding member, which is greater than an adhesive force between the image forming material and the image holding member. A peeling device that separates the image forming material from the image holding member by contacting the image forming material on the image holding member and then separating the image forming material from the image holding member; An apparatus for removing an image forming substance from an image carrier, comprising: a roller-shaped cleaning member having a spiral edge abutting on a surface of the peeling member on an outer peripheral portion; A driving unit that rotationally drives the member, and the cleaning member via the peeling member.
Back-up with surface part made of elastic body pressed
An apparatus for removing an image forming substance from an image carrier, comprising a member and a member . 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image forming substance on said peeling member is brought into contact with an edge of said cleaning member at least once. Image forming substance removing device. 3. An apparatus for removing an image forming substance from an image carrier according to claim 1, further comprising an auxiliary cleaning means for removing the image forming substance remaining on the surface of the peeling member passing through the contact portion with the cleaning member. An apparatus for removing an image forming substance from an image holding member. 4. An apparatus for removing an image forming substance from an image carrier according to claim 3, wherein said auxiliary cleaning means has an image remaining on the surface of said peeling member passing through a contact portion of said cleaning member. An apparatus for removing an image forming substance from an image carrier, the apparatus having a charge elimination function for eliminating a charge of a forming substance. 5. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a cover for covering said cleaning member along an outer peripheral surface of said cleaning member. Forming substance removal device. 6. An apparatus for removing an image forming substance from an image holding member according to claim 1, further comprising a softening means for heating and softening the image forming material on the image holding member brought into contact with said peeling member. An apparatus for removing an image forming substance from an image carrier, comprising a cooling means for cooling an image forming substance on a peeling member to be removed.