JP3406099B2 - Electrophotographic equipment - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to charging and charging of laser copying machines, laser printers, laser facsimiles, etc.
The present invention relates to an electrophotographic apparatus that records on paper by using an electrophotographic process of optical writing, development, and transfer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in a laser copying machine, a filming layer of toner or a toner additive may be formed on the surface of a photosensitive member, a charging roller, a transfer roller, a transfer belt, or other rotary member with use. is there. This filming layer causes, for example, uneven charging and uneven transfer, which lowers transfer efficiency.
As a result, it causes deterioration of image quality. Therefore, in order to prevent the formation of the filming layer, it is necessary to apply a lubricant to the surface of the rotating body.

Therefore, in a conventional laser copying machine, as shown in FIG. 4, for example, a solid lubricant 1 and a rotating brush 3 which rotates in contact with the solid lubricant 1 and the photoconductor 2 are provided. There is a structure.

When the laser copying machine is driven, the rotary brush 3 is rotated together with the photoconductor 2, and the rotary brush 3 is rotated.
And scrape off the solid lubricant 1 little by little to
It had been applied to the surface.

By the way, the solid lubricant 1 is worn by use. However, since the usage conditions of users are various,
The amount of wear of the solid lubricant 1 also varies. However, in the conventional laser copying machine, since it is not possible to accurately know when to replace the solid lubricant, it is not possible to notice that the solid lubricant has run out, and a filming layer is formed on the peripheral surface of the rotating body. was there.

Therefore, in the conventional laser copying machine, the solid lubricant 1 is replaced early, for example, at the time of maintenance.

[0007]

However, in such a conventional laser copying machine, since the solid lubricant 1 is replaced early, there is a problem that the running cost becomes high.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to reduce the running cost by appropriately replacing the lubricant in an electrophotographic apparatus in which a lubricant is applied to prevent the formation of a filming layer by the toner. .

[0009]

Therefore, in the electrophotographic apparatus of the present invention, as shown in, for example, the following illustrated embodiments, a photoreceptor 11 having a filming layer formed on the peripheral surface thereof by toner, an intermediate transfer member, and a charging member are provided. A rotor such as a roller or a transfer roller, rollers 26 and 41 for directly or indirectly applying a lubricant to the peripheral surface of the rotor, and the rollers 26 and 41.
Solid lubricant 27 pressed against 41, and the solid lubricant 2
Holder 28 that holds 7 and is displaced with the decrease
40, a detection means 30 for detecting when the holders 28, 40 are displaced by a certain amount or more, and a display means 32 for displaying that the solid lubricant 27 has been exhausted when detected by the detection means 30. It is characterized by that.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, for example, as shown in the following illustrated embodiment, in the electrophotographic apparatus according to the first aspect, when the detection means 30 detects, the display means 32 causes the solid state to change. It is characterized by warning that the lubricant 27 will run out, and displaying that it has run out thereafter.

[0011]

When the electrophotographic apparatus is driven, the rollers 26 and 41 are rotated together with the rotary body, and the solid lubricant 27 is applied directly or indirectly to the peripheral surface of the rotary body by the rollers 26 and 41. To do. As the solid lubricant 27 decreases with time, the holder 2
When 8.40 is displaced by a certain amount or more, it is detected by the detecting means 30.
The display means 32 displays that the solid lubricant 27 is exhausted.

According to the second aspect, the detecting means 30
If the solid lubricant 27 is exhausted, the display means 32 warns that the solid lubricant 27 is exhausted, and displays that the solid lubricant 27 is exhausted.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a schematic structure around a photoconductor in a laser copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Reference numeral 11 in the drawing denotes a drum-shaped photosensitive member which is an image bearing member. Around the photosensitive member 11, the charging device 12, the developing device 13,
Transfer device 14, separation device 15, cleaning device 16,
The static eliminator 17 is arranged. An optical writing device (not shown) is provided above the charging device 12.

Then, at the time of recording, the paper P is sent out from the paper feeding section and is conveyed to the lower side of the photoconductor 11 at a timing by a pair of registration rollers.

The photosensitive member 11 is rotationally driven in the clockwise direction indicated by arrow A, at which time the surface is uniformly charged by the charging device 12, and the laser light L from the optical writing device is applied to the surface.
To form an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor 11.

Next, after removing unnecessary charges in the non-image area on the photoconductor 11 by the eraser, the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor 11 is visualized by the toner when passing through the position of the developing device 13. Image.

Then, this visible image is transferred by the transfer device 14 onto the upper surface of the paper P conveyed to the lower side of the photoconductor 11. After the transfer, the charge is removed by the separating device 15 to separate the paper P from the photoconductor 11.

After the separation, the paper P is conveyed to the fixing device,
Therefore, the transferred image is fixed and then discharged to the outside of the copying machine body.

On the other hand, after the image transfer, the photoconductor 11 removes the residual toner by the cleaning blade 2 of the cleaning device 16.
After removing it by 0, it is neutralized by the static eliminator 17 and electrostatically initialized to prepare for the next use.

By the way, in the above-mentioned laser copying machine, in order to prevent the filming layer of toner from being formed on the peripheral surface of the photoconductor 11, the photoconductor is provided between the cleaning device 16 and the charge eliminating device 17. A lubricant applying device 24 for applying a lubricant is arranged on the peripheral surface of the body 11.

The lubricant applying device 24 is provided in the outer case 2
5 is provided. The outer case 25 has a box shape elongated in the axial direction of the photoconductor 11 and has a window hole 25a facing the photoconductor 11.

A roller 26 is provided in the outer case 25. The roller 26 is formed of an elastic body such as sponge. The both ends of the photosensitive member 11 are rotatably supported as appropriate.
Is arranged in parallel with the peripheral surface of the photoconductor 11 through the window hole 25a, and is rotatably provided in a clockwise direction indicated by an arrow B by a driving unit (not shown).

The tip of a solid lubricant 27 is pressed against the roller 26. As the solid lubricant 27, for example, a material containing natural wax or zinc stearate as a main component is melted, then cooled and solidified to form a horizontally long plate shape, and the base end side is supported by a holder 28 to be provided.

The holder 28 is formed in a laterally long shape with an inverted U-shaped cross section, has an opening 28a on the right side in the drawing, and has a locking portion 28b upward from the upper surface, and protrudes from the left side surface in the drawing to form an arm portion 28c. Set up. And the arm portion 28
The tip of c is attached to a support shaft 29, and is rotatably provided around the support shaft 29. The base end side of the solid lubricant 27 is put in the opening 28a and is fixed and held by a double-sided tape. . Then, the tip side of the solid lubricant 27 is placed on the roller 26 and pressed against the peripheral surface of the roller 26 by its own weight.

On the other hand, a switch button 30a of the detecting means 30 is pressed against the locking portion 28b of the holder 28. The detection means 30 uses a push switch,
The display means 3 is provided so as to be appropriately supported in the outer case 25.
It is electrically connected to 2.

The display means 32 is supported by the main body of the copying machine and a display window 32a is provided so as to be visible from the outside.

When the laser copying machine is driven, the photosensitive member 11 is rotated in the direction of arrow A and the roller 26 is rotated in the direction of arrow B. Then, the solid lubricant 27 is scraped off little by little by the roller 26, and a fixed amount of the solid lubricant 27 is carried on the peripheral surface of the roller 26. Then, the solid lubricant 27 carried on the roller 26 is applied to the roller 2.
In step 6, it is directly coated on the photoconductor 11.

When the solid lubricant 27 wears and shortens due to use over time, the tip of the solid lubricant 27 disengages from the peripheral surface of the roller 26, and the holder 28 moves around its support shaft 29 by its own weight. It rotates in the direction and is displaced by a certain amount or more as shown in FIG. Then, the locking portion 28b of the holder 28 separates from the switch button 30a, and the detection means 30 is activated. Then, the signal from the detection means 30 is sent to the display means 32 via the CPU. The display means 32 displays in the display window 32a that the solid lubricant 27 has run out. At the same time, the driving of the laser copying machine is stopped.

Next, FIG. 3 shows a schematic structure around a photoconductor in a laser copying machine according to another embodiment of the present invention.
Reference numeral 35 in the drawing denotes a cleaning case of the cleaning device 16. A protrusion 36 is provided in the cleaning case 35 so as to protrude inward from the inner surface.

A compression spring 37 is provided in the protrusion 36.
To store. The compression spring 37 has one end pressed against the inner surface of the cleaning case 35 and the other end pressed against the holder 40.

The holder 40 is formed in a laterally long shape with an inverted U-shape in longitudinal section, has an opening 40a on the right side in the drawing, and has a locking portion 40b extending upward from the upper surface through a long groove of the protrusion 36. Then, the inside of the protrusion 36 is provided so as to be movable in the left-right direction in the drawing.

The solid lubricant 27 is held by the holder 40.
To provide. As the solid lubricant 27, the same solid lubricant 27 as shown in FIG. 1 is used, and the tip end thereof is elastically pressed against the roller 41 by being urged by the compression spring 37.

The roller 41 is made of stainless steel and is formed to have a predetermined surface roughness by, for example, a sandblast method. Then, both ends are appropriately supported and are provided rotatably in the direction of arrow D by a driving means (not shown). A rotating brush 42 is provided in contact with the roller 41.

The rotary brush 42 is formed by using, for example, polyester fiber. Then, the both ends are appropriately rotatably supported and are arranged in parallel with the photoconductor 11, and in the state where the tip of the brush is in contact with the surface of the photoconductor 11, the driving force is also transmitted to the photoconductor 11 so that the brush can be rotated in the direction of arrow C To be installed.

On the other hand, on the right side of the locking portion 40b of the holder 40 in the figure, the detecting means 30 is arranged at a constant interval. The detection means 30 is provided by using a push switch, supported appropriately in the cleaning case 35, and electrically connected to the display means 32.

Thus, when the laser copying machine is driven, the photosensitive member 11 is rotated in the direction of arrow A, the rotary brush 42 is rotated in the direction of arrow C, and the roller 41 is rotated in the direction of arrow D. . Then, the solid lubricant 27 is scraped off little by little with the roller 41, and a fixed amount of the lubricant is carried on the peripheral surface of the roller 41. Then, the lubricant carried on the roller 41 is applied to it by the rotation of the rotary brush 42, and the lubricant applied to the rotary brush 42 is applied onto the photoconductor 11. Then, the lubricant applied on the photoconductor 11 is thinly spread by the cleaning blade 20.

As the solid lubricant 27 decreases with time, the holder 40 is displaced to the right in the figure. When the holder 40 is displaced by a certain amount or more, the locking portion 40
The switch button 30a of the detection means 30 is pushed by b, and the detection means 30 is operated. And the detecting means 30
To send to the display means 32 via the CPU.
In the display means 32, the solid lubricant 27 is applied to the display window 32a.
Indicates that there is no. At the same time, the driving of the laser copying machine is stopped.

In the above-mentioned laser copying machine, when the detection means 30 detects, the display means 32 indicates that the solid lubricant 27 is exhausted. However, although not shown, when the detection means 30 detects, the display means 32 may warn that the solid lubricant 27 is exhausted, and display that the solid lubricant 27 is exhausted thereafter.

For example, when two detecting means 30 are used and the first detecting means detects the same, the display means 32 warns that the solid lubricant 27 is exhausted, and then the second detecting means detects. At this time, the display means 32 may display that the solid lubricant 27 is exhausted.

On the other hand, for example, one detecting means 30 detects in two stages, and when the first detection is performed, the display means 32 is used.
Warning that the solid lubricant 27 is exhausted, and when the next detection is performed, the solid lubricant 2 is displayed on the display unit 32.
You may display that 7 is gone. Further, for example, when one detection means 30 detects, the display means 32
Then, a warning that the solid lubricant 27 is exhausted may be given, and thereafter, after the prescribed number of sheets have been counted, or after a predetermined use time has elapsed, the display means 32 may display that the solid lubricant 27 has been exhausted.

In the illustrated embodiment described above, the detection means 30 is a push switch. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the detection means may be configured to use another type, for example, an optical sensor.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the rotating member having the filming layer formed on the peripheral surface by the toner is the photosensitive member 1.
The example is 1. However, the rotating body may be, for example, a charging roller included in the charging device 12, or a transfer roller or a transfer belt included in the transfer device 14. Further, in a color laser copying machine that sequentially transfers images formed on a photoconductor onto an intermediate transfer belt to form a color image on the intermediate transfer belt and transfers the color images at one time to form an image on a sheet. May be an intermediate transfer member such as the intermediate transfer belt.

[0044]

As described above, according to the present invention, the holder is displaced with the decrease of the lubricant with the passage of time, and when the holder is displaced by a certain amount or more, it is detected by the detecting means, and the solid lubricant disappears. Since it is displayed on the display means,
The lubricant can be properly replaced by clarifying the replacement time. Therefore, for example, it is possible to prevent the running cost from being increased by replacing the lubricant early during maintenance, while preventing the filming layer from being formed on the peripheral surface of the rotating body due to the delay of the replacement of the lubricant. can do.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the detection means detects, the display means warns that the solid lubricant is running out, and then displays that the solid lubricant is running out. The replacement of the lubricant can be performed immediately when the lubricant is exhausted.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram around a photoconductor in a laser copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a state explanatory view showing a state in which the solid lubricant of the lubricant applying device is exhausted and the holder is displaced by a certain amount or more.

FIG. 3 shows a laser copying machine according to another embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a part around the photoconductor.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of a lubricant application device provided in a conventional laser copying machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 Photoconductor (rotating body) 26 Roller 27 Solid lubricant 28 Holder 30 Detection means 32 display means 40 holder 41 Roller

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Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A rotating body having a filming layer formed on its peripheral surface by toner, a roller for directly or indirectly applying a lubricant to the peripheral surface of the rotating body, and a roller pressed against the roller. The solid lubricant, the holder that holds the solid lubricant and displaces as it decreases, the detection means that detects when the holder is displaced by a certain amount, and the solid lubricant when the detection means detects the solid lubricant. An electrophotographic apparatus, comprising: a display unit that displays that it is gone. 2. The electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the detection means detects, the display means warns that the solid lubricant is exhausted, and then displays that the solid lubricant is exhausted.