JP3429626B2 - Paper powder collection brush - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a paper dust collecting brush provided in a small electrophotographic image forming apparatus such as a small printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the spread of personal computers (personal computers) used on personal desks, printers for recording documents, graphics, etc. created on personal computers on paper have become popular with personal computers. There is a demand for miniaturization so that it can be installed on a desk.

In order to respond to the above personal use by the electrophotographic printer, it is indispensable to downsize the image forming section. There is a so-called cleaningless method as one method for reducing the size of the image forming unit. In the cleaning-less system, a cleaning device for collecting residual toner, paper dust, etc. on the surface of the photoconductor is omitted, and a paper dust collecting brush is provided instead.

[0004]

However, the structure of the conventional paper dust collecting brush does not always meet the demand for miniaturization, and it is necessary to devise the structure. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a paper dust collecting brush that can be applied to a small electrophotographic image forming apparatus, has a simple configuration, and can be easily produced.

[0005]

The paper dust collecting brush according to claim 1 for achieving the above object is a paper dust collecting brush for collecting paper dust adhering to the surface of a photoconductor, and having a planar shape. A base having a planting plate portion having a long rectangular shaped planting surface, and a waist portion rising from one long side of the planting plate portion with respect to the planting surface, and a dense base on the planting surface. And a resilient holding means that is attached to the surface of the planting plate opposite to the planting surface and elastically presses the brush material against the photoconductor with a predetermined force. , Of the above waist part
The above-mentioned planting through the notch part formed by cutting out the end
The base includes a power supply member elastically contacting the plate portion, and the base is integrally formed of a conductive material, and has a substantially L-shaped cross section when cut in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction. It is characterized by including the part of.

According to the structure of the first aspect, since the brush member is provided with a waist by the waist portion formed on the base, the brush member in contact with the surface of the photosensitive member is moved by the movement of the surface of the photosensitive member. It can be prevented from falling in the moving direction. Further, since the brush material is pressed against the surface of the photoconductor by an appropriate force by the elastic holding means attached to the planting plate portion of the base, the surface of the photoconductor is not damaged by the brush material. The paper dust and the like adhering to the can be efficiently collected. In addition, the integrally formed base
Is created, for example, by bending a metal plate.
Image formation because it can be configured and the configuration is simple.
Suitable for equipment. Also, the effort required to create the base
Since it is small, it is suitable for mass production.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a brush material which is pressed against the surface of the photoconductor to collect the paper dust adhering to the surface of the photoconductor, and a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the surface of the photoconductor. At the planting plate portion in which the brush material is densely planted on the long rectangular planting surface, and from each long side of the planting plate portion, standing upright in the direction perpendicular to the planting surface, A base provided with two plate-shaped members facing each other, and a plate-shaped member on the downstream side in the moving direction of the surface of the photoconductor functions as a waist portion for mounting the brush member on the waist, and the planting plate portion. Attached to the surface opposite to the planting surface, and elastic holding means for elastically pressing the brush material against the surface of the photoconductor with a predetermined force, and a notch at the end of the waist portion.
Elastically to the planting plate through the notch formed by
A paper dust collecting brush including a power supply member in contact with the brush. According to the configuration of claim 2, since the brush member is supported by the waist portion, the brush member in contact with the surface of the photoconductor can be prevented from falling in the moving direction due to the movement of the surface of the photoconductor. Further, since the brush material is pressed against the surface of the photoconductor with an appropriate force by the elastic holding means attached to the planting plate portion of the base,
The paper dust and the like adhering to the surface of the photoconductor can be efficiently collected without damaging the surface of the photoconductor with the brush material. Further, the base has two plate-shaped members rising from both long sides of the planting plate in a direction perpendicular to the planting surface, and the plate-shaped member on the downstream side in the moving direction of the photoconductor surface is Since it functions as a waist portion, it is not necessary to consider the mounting direction of the paper dust collecting brush when the paper dust collecting brush is attached to the surface of the photoconductor. The invention according to claim 3 is the paper dust collecting brush according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the base is integrally formed by bending a metal plate. According to the configuration of claim 3, the base integrally formed by bending the metal plate,
Construction is simple, after suitable for small image forming apparatus, less effort required to create, Ru suitable der for mass production.

Further, the invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that the elasticity holding means is a sponge sheet having a predetermined thickness attached to the entire surface of the planting plate opposite to the planting surface. The paper dust collecting brush according to any one of claims 1 to 3 . According to the structure described in claim 4, since the sponge sheet is used as the elastic holding means, the structure is simple and the processing can be easily performed.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of a printer to which a paper dust collecting brush according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. Also, in FIG.
It is sectional drawing which simplifies and shows the internal structure of the printer shown in FIG. This printer is, for example, a small printer placed on a desk of an individual and used, and is connected to a personal computer or the like to easily print out a created document or figure.

A cover 2 that can be opened and closed is attached to the upper surface of the apparatus body 1. The cover 2 covers about the front half of the upper surface of the apparatus main body 1, and can be opened by pulling up the front portion in the direction of arrow A around the fulcrum 5 shown in FIG. For example, when a paper jam or the like occurs on the transport path 7, the cover 2 can be opened to remove the jammed paper.

A tray insertion port 3 is formed behind the cover 2, and a paper feed tray 4 is inserted into the tray insertion port 3 so as to be detachable. The paper feed tray 4 is attached so as to extend obliquely upward and rearward, and the paper to be supplied into the apparatus main body 1 is placed on the upper surface. The internal configuration of the apparatus body 1 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. Near the lower end of the paper feed tray 4 inside the apparatus main body 1, a paper feed roller 6 for separating and feeding the papers placed on the paper feed tray 4 one by one is provided. Paper feed roller 6
The sheet that has been started to be conveyed is conveyed along the conveyance path 7, and after the image is recorded, the sheet is ejected from the sheet ejection port 8. The transport path 7 is provided from the paper feed tray 4 to the paper discharge port 8
It is formed in a substantially straight line with a downward slope.

A paper detection switch 9 for detecting the paper to be supplied is provided at a predetermined position slightly downstream of the paper feed roller 6 in the paper conveyance direction. Further, on the downstream side of the paper detection switch 9, an imaging unit 20 provided with the photoconductor drum 21 and a transfer unit 40 for transferring the toner image formed on the photoconductor drum 21 to the paper are provided on the conveyance path 7. It is placed across.
Further downstream of the imaging unit 20 and the transfer unit 40, a fixing unit 50 for fixing the toner image transferred from the photosensitive drum 21 to the paper by the function of the transfer unit 40 on the paper is arranged.

A laser irradiation unit 60 for generating a laser beam based on data provided from a printer cable 10 connected to a rear surface 1a of the apparatus body 1 via a connector 11 is provided below the apparatus body 1. It is arranged. The laser irradiation unit 60 is equipped with a semiconductor laser light source, a lens, a polygon mirror, and the like.
Laser beam L generated from the laser irradiation unit 60
B is guided to the imaging unit 20.

The imaging unit 20 includes a photosensitive drum 21 which is rotationally driven in the direction of arrow B in the figure, a charger 22 provided below the photosensitive drum 21, and a charger 22 in the rotational direction B of the photosensitive drum 21. Also includes a paper dust collecting brush 23 arranged on the upstream side. The paper dust collecting brush 23 is for collecting the paper dust adhering to the surface of the photosensitive drum 21 and cleaning the surface of the photosensitive drum 21. In forming an image, the surface of the photosensitive drum 21 is uniformly charged by the charger 22, and then exposed by the laser beam LB from the laser irradiation unit 60. As a result, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image to be formed is formed on the surface of the photoconductor drum 21.

Photosensitive drum 2 on which this electrostatic latent image is formed
The surface of No. 1 then faces the developing unit 30. The developing unit 30 includes a sub roller 31 and a developing roller 32. The developing roller 32 is pressed against the photosensitive drum 21 with a predetermined force, and attaches a necessary amount of toner to the surface of the photosensitive drum 21. As a result, the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photoconductor drum 21 is visualized as a toner image.

The photosensitive drum 21 further rotates, and the toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 21 faces the transfer unit 40. The transfer unit 40 is attached to the cover 2, and sandwiches the transport path 7 between the photosensitive drum 2 and the transfer unit 40.
1 is provided with a transfer roller 41. By the function of the transfer roller 41, the toner image formed on the surface of the photoconductor drum 21 is transferred to the lower surface of the supplied paper. Paper dust is removed from the surface of the photoconductor drum 21 after the transfer by the paper dust collecting brush 23 and is charged again by the charger 22, and then the residual toner is collected by the developing unit 30.

The sheet on which the toner image is transferred on the lower surface is guided to the fixing unit 50. The fixing unit 50 includes a pressure roller 51 disposed above the transport path 7 and a heat roller 52 provided below the transport path 7 so as to face the pressure roller 51. The pressure roller 51 is pressed against the heat roller 52 by the urging force of a spring (not shown). As a result, the paper passing between the pressure roller 51 and the heat roller 52 is pressed and heated by the heat roller 52, so that the toner particles are fixed on the paper. The fixing unit 50 is further provided with a pair of discharge rollers 53 and 54, and the sheet after the fixing process is discharged to the outside of the apparatus main body 1 by the pair of discharge rollers 53 and 54.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged left sectional view showing the imaging unit 20 and the developing unit 30. The imaging unit 20 includes a cylindrical photosensitive drum 21 that is long in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface, a charger 22 provided below the photosensitive drum 21, and an upstream side of the charger 22 in the rotation direction B of the photosensitive drum 21. Then, the paper dust collecting brush 23 provided so as to be in contact with the peripheral surface of the photoconductor drum 21 is provided.

On the other hand, the developing unit 30 has a housing 3 in which a space for storing toner is formed.
3, a stirring member 34 disposed in the housing 33,
A sub roller 31 and a developing roller 32 are provided. In the stirring member 34, a plurality of arms 91 attached to a rotating shaft 90 extending in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface at predetermined intervals in the axial direction, and the plurality of arms 91 are connected at their tips. It includes a connecting plate 92 extending in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface, and a sheet-like member 93 attached to the surface of the connecting plate 92 so as to be perpendicular to the arm 91. The sheet-shaped member 93 is made of a flexible material,
For example, it is made of PET film, and the vicinity of its tip portion is in contact with the inner surface of the housing 33. Rotating shaft 9
When 0 is rotationally driven, the stirring member 34 is rotated in the direction of arrow C in the drawing, and the sheet-shaped member 93 rotates along the inner surface of the housing 33. As a result, the toner in the housing 33 is evenly stirred. When the amount of toner remaining in the housing 33 is low, the toner accumulated in the lower portion of the housing 33 is sent to the sub roller 31 and the developing roller 32 by the sheet member 93.

The sub roller 31 and the developing roller 32 are provided so as to be in contact with each other, and each is indicated by arrow D.
And is rotated in the E direction. By this rotation, the toner is triboelectrically charged, and the sub roller 31 and the developing roller 3
2 is electrostatically adsorbed on the peripheral surface. At this time, the sub roller 31
Makes the toner more effectively triboelectrically charged. Further, below the developing roller 32, a toner regulating plate 35 made of, for example, a metal thin plate such as stainless steel is provided so as to contact the developing roller 32. The toner regulating plate 35 is provided.
Thus, the amount of toner attached to the developing roller 32 is regulated uniformly.

A toner scattering prevention sheet 36 is provided above the developing roller 32 so as to contact the developing roller 32.
Is provided to prevent the toner in the housing 33 from flowing out to the imaging unit 20 side. The toner scattering prevention sheet 36 is made of, for example, a PET film. The developing roller 32 is the photosensitive drum 21.
The toner adhered to the surface of the developing roller 32 as described above is transferred to the surface of the photoconductor drum 21 as described above, and the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoconductor drum 21 is developed into a toner image. To be done.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the imaging unit 20. In FIG. 4, the photosensitive drum 21 is omitted for simplicity. Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a pair of drum support plates 24 and 25 and a charger holding frame 28 connecting the drum support plates 24 and 25.
The photosensitive drum 21 and the charger 22 are held by a frame 29 composed of
The paper dust collecting brush 23 is adhered and fixed to a brush mounting plate 98 extending from the upper edge of the sheet 2.

More specifically, the charger 22 is
A front plate 94 that is formed to have a length substantially the same as the axial length of the photosensitive drum 21 and is located in front of the charger 22 in FIG. 4, and a front plate 9 that is spaced apart from the front plate 94 by a predetermined distance.
4 and a pair of connecting side plates 96 and 97 for connecting the front plate 94 and the rear plate 95, and a charger (not shown) in the space defined by these. Lines and grids are arranged.

A brush mounting plate 98 is formed in a state of extending obliquely upward and rearward from the upper edge of the rear plate 95 of the charger 22. The paper dust collecting brush 23 is adhesively fixed to the surface of the brush mounting plate 98 facing the photosensitive drum 21 via a sponge sheet 75. As a result, the paper dust collecting brush 23 comes into contact with a position on the upstream side of the surface of the photoconductor drum 21 facing the charger 22 in the rotation direction of the photoconductor drum 21.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the paper dust collecting brush 23. The configuration of the paper dust collecting brush 23 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 and 5. The paper dust collecting brush 23 includes a brush material 71 and a base 72 on which the brush material 71 is planted. The base 72 is formed to have a length substantially the same as the axial length of the photosensitive drum 21 (see FIG. 3), and has an L-shaped cross section when cut in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction. . Base 72
Is integrally formed by bending an iron plate or the like having a thickness capable of ensuring a predetermined strength. Therefore, base 7
2 is suitable for mass production because it can be made relatively easily. Further, since the base 72 has a predetermined strength, it does not deform. The material forming the base 72 may be a material having conductivity,
Other than the iron plate, a metal plate such as a copper plate can be exemplified.

The base 72 is provided with a rectangular shaped planting plate portion 73 having a long planar shape, and a state in which it stands up from one long side of the planting plate portion 73 in a direction perpendicular to the planting plate portion 73. And a waisted portion 74 are included. One surface of the planting plate portion 73 is a planting surface for planting the brush material 71, and the brush material 71 having a predetermined height is densely planted on the planting surface. The waist portion 74 is formed in the same direction as the brush material 71 planted on the planting surface of the planting plate portion 73 up to a predetermined position lower than the height of the brush material 71. Waist part 7
4 is a brush material 7 with respect to the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 21.
It is formed so as to be positioned on the downstream side of 1, and has a function of preventing the brush material 71 from falling down to the downstream side in the rotation direction due to the movement of the surface of the photosensitive drum 21.

A portion of the waisted portion 74 in the vicinity of the end in the longitudinal direction is notched, and the power feeding member 76 is provided through the notched portion.
Are in elastic contact with the planting plate portion 73. Brush material 71
Has conductivity, and is connected from the power supply member 76 to the planting plate 7
A bias of a predetermined voltage is applied via 3. The reason why the bias is applied to the brush material 71 is to prevent the paper powder adsorbed by the brush material 71 from returning to the photoconductor drum 21, and the residual toner adhering to the surface of the photoconductor drum 21 after the transfer. This is for weakening the electrostatic coupling with the photoconductor drum 21.

On the surface of the planting plate 73 opposite to the planting surface,
A sponge sheet 75 as an elastic holding means for elastically holding the paper dust collecting brush 23 against the stress from the photoconductor is attached to the entire surface. Sponge sheet 75
Is formed in a long sheet shape having substantially the same size as the planting plate portion 73, and has a thickness capable of generating a predetermined elastic force. Further, the surface of the sponge sheet 75 opposite to the surface bonded to the planting plate portion 73 is bonded and fixed to the brush mounting plate 98. That is, the planting plate portion 73 is attached to the brush attachment plate 98 via the sponge sheet 75, and the brush material 71 of the paper dust collecting brush 23 is a predetermined force due to the elastic force of the sponge sheet 75. It is pressed against the surface of the drum 21. Therefore, the paper dust collecting brush 23 can efficiently scrape the attached paper dust without damaging the surface of the photoconductor drum 21.

The sponge sheet 75 is a brush mounting plate 98.
Need not be attached to the entire surface of the brush mounting plate 98. If the paper dust collecting brush 23 can be elastically biased toward the photoconductor drum 21 in a stable state, the brush mounting plate 98 can have both left and right end portions and a central portion. It may be attached only to. Thus, since the sponge sheet 75 is used as a means for elastically holding the paper dust collecting brush 23, the configuration is simple and the processing can be facilitated. However, the paper dust collecting brush 23 is not limited to the sponge sheet 75.
What is necessary is just to be capable of elastically biasing toward the photoconductor drum 21. For example, it is possible to use a coil spring instead of the sponge sheet 75. At this time, as shown in FIG. 6, a plurality of coil springs 7 are provided so that the paper dust collecting brush 23 can be stably attached to the brush attaching plate 98.
It is preferable that 7 are provided at predetermined intervals. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, a corrugated leaf spring 78 may be interposed between the base 72 and the brush mounting plate 98.

Further, in the above embodiment, the base 72
Is provided with a waisted portion 74 in a state where it rises from one long side of the planting plate portion 73 in a direction perpendicular to the planting surface, and is formed in an L-shaped cross section. It suffices if the shape portion is included. For example, the base 72 is formed to have a U-shaped cross section by providing two plate-shaped members facing each other in a state of rising from both long sides of the planting plate portion 73 in a direction perpendicular to the planting surface. May be done. In this case, when attaching the paper dust collecting brush 23 to the brush mounting plate 98, it is not necessary to consider the attaching direction of the paper dust collecting brush 23, and the brush member 7 with respect to the rotation direction of the photoconductor drum 21.
The plate-like member located on the downstream side of 1 serves as a waist portion 74 for mounting the brush material 71 on the waist.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. For example, in the above-described embodiments, a small printer has been described as an example. Of course, the present invention can be applied to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a facsimile apparatus in addition to the printer. In addition to this, various modifications can be made within the scope described in the claims.

[0032]

According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the brush material, which is in contact with the surface of the photoconductor, from falling down in the moving direction due to the movement of the surface of the photoconductor, since the brush material is stiffened by the waist portion. . Further, since the brush material is elastically pressed against the photoconductor with an appropriate force by a sponge sheet attached to the planting plate portion of the base, the photoconductor surface is not damaged by the brush material and the photoconductor is not damaged. The paper dust and the like adhering to the surface can be efficiently collected.

Further, the base has a simple structure and is suitable for a small-sized image forming apparatus. Moreover, the base requires less labor and is suitable for mass production.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of a printer to which a paper dust collecting brush according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a simplified internal configuration of the printer shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a left sectional view of an imaging unit and a developing unit.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of an imaging unit.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of a paper dust collecting brush.

FIG. 6 illustrates another configuration of the paper dust collecting brush.
It is the figure which looked at the paper dust collection brush from the upper part.

FIG. 7 is a view of the paper dust collecting brush as viewed from above in order to explain still another configuration of the paper dust collecting brush.

[Explanation of symbols]

23 Paper dust collection brush 71 Brush material 72 base 73 Planting Board 74 waist part 75 sponge sheet

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Masaru Goto 1-2-2 Tamatsukuri, Chuo-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture Mita Industry Co., Ltd. No. 28 Mita Kogyo Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Mitsuhiro Nakajima 1-2-2 Tamatsukuri, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Mita Kogyo Co., Ltd. (56) Reference JP-A-6-282201 (JP, A) JP Flat 6-317970 (JP, A) JP 61-28986 (JP, A) JP 4-274464 (JP, A) Actual flat 6-59862 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int .Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G03G 21/00 G03G 21/10-21/12 G03G 15/16-15/16 103 G03G 15/02-15/02 103

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A paper dust collecting brush for collecting paper dust adhered to the surface of a photoconductor, comprising: a planting plate portion having a planting surface having a rectangular shape in a plan view, and the planting plate portion. On the other hand, the base with a waisted part that stands up from the long side to the planting surface, the brush material densely planted on the planting surface, and the side of the planting plate opposite to the planting surface. attached to the surface, through the brush member to the photosensitive member and resiliently pressed against resilient holding means with a predetermined force, the end cutting out and formed cutaway portions of the waist with portions
And a power feeding member elastically contacting the planting plate portion, the base is integrally formed of a conductive material, and has a cross-sectional shape when cut in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction. , A paper dust collecting brush including a substantially L-shaped portion. 2. A brush material, which is pressed against the surface of the photoconductor to collect paper dust adhering to the surface of the photoconductor, and a rectangular plant which is long in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the surface of the photoconductor. A planting plate portion in which the brush material is densely planted on a surface, and two plate-like members that stand upright from each long side of the planting plate portion in a direction perpendicular to the planting surface and face each other. A plate-like member on the downstream side with respect to the moving direction of the surface of the photoconductor, which is opposite to the planting surface of the planting plate portion, and the base functioning as a waist portion for stiffening the brush material. And an elastic holding means for elastically pressing the brush material against the surface of the photoconductor with a predetermined force, and a notched portion formed by notching the end of the waist portion.
And a power feeding member elastically contacting the planting plate portion . 3. The base is integrally formed by bending a metal plate.
Alternatively, the paper dust collecting brush described in 2 . Wherein said resilient retaining means, the planting standing portion of the planting elevational of claims 1 characterized in that it is a sponge sheet of a predetermined thickness which is adhered to the entire opposite surface 3 The paper dust collecting brush according to any one of the above.