JP3576139B2 - Cleaning equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a cleaning device for collecting toner remaining on the surface of an image carrier, and more particularly to a cleaning device provided with a unit for accumulating the collected toner in the cleaning device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a cleaning device B used in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer to collect toner remaining on the surface of an image carrier such as a photosensitive drum is shown in FIGS. 2A and 2A. As shown in FIG. 2B showing a cross section in the X2 direction of FIG. 2, a rotating cylindrical member is urged in the direction of the image carrier 2 by an urging spring 1a (not shown in FIG. 2A). A blade 1 for contacting the surface of the image carrier 2 (not shown in FIG. 2A) and scraping the toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier 2; and a case 3 for receiving the scraped toner. And an example of a toner conveying means provided in the case 3 for conveying the toner toward one end of the case 3 and discharging the toner from an opening 3a formed at an end of the case 3. A helical wing that rotates around a predetermined rotation axis in the case 3 A spiral 4 and a sealing member 5 attached to an end surface of the case 3 parallel to the rotation axis of the image carrier 2 on the upstream side of the image carrier 2 in the rotation upstream direction, in parallel with the end surface; , And is schematically configured.
Here, the blade 1 reciprocates in the rotation axis direction of the image carrier 2 (indicated by an arrow Z2 in FIG. 2A) by a cam mechanism (not shown) synchronized with the rotation of the image carrier. It may be something. This is a method for preventing a foreign matter such as paper dust from being caught between the blade 1 and the image carrier 2 and damaging the surface of the image carrier 2. It is.
As a result, the toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier 2 can be efficiently removed and collected, and the quality of an image formed by the image forming apparatus provided with the cleaning device B is prevented from deteriorating. In addition, the toner can be collected by a toner collection container (not shown) provided in the image forming apparatus.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Here, in the above-described conventional cleaning device B, the opening 3a and the spiral 4 are generally formed of a thermoplastic plastic such as an ABS resin from the viewpoint of ease of processing or reduction in size and weight. Therefore, it is necessary to arrange the two members (the opening 3a and the spiral 4) with a predetermined clearance so as to avoid the influence of damage or wear due to contact.
Therefore, in the cleaning device B, as shown in FIG. 2B, the toner scraped off and conveyed from the surface of the image carrier 2 removes the clearance 6 between the opening 3a and the spiral 4. (Indicated by a hatched portion in the drawing), the toner is gradually aggregated, and the toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier 2 cannot be reliably recovered.
Further, the recovered toner is compressed and aggregated in the clearance 6 by the conveying force of the spiral 4 as the aggregation of the toner progresses, and finally blocked by the clearance 6. As a result, the rotation of the spiral 4 is hindered, and not only the toner collecting ability is reduced, but also the spiral 4 and the like may be damaged.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning device for recovering toner remaining on the surface of an image carrier, wherein the collected toner is aggregated in the cleaning device. An object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning device that can be surely collected without causing a cleaning operation.
[0004]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a blade for scraping toner remaining on the surface of a rotating cylindrical image carrier by contacting the surface of the rotating cylindrical image carrier, and a case for receiving the scraped toner. And a toner conveying means provided in the case for conveying the toner scraped by the blade toward one end of the case and discharging the toner to the outside through an opening formed at an end of the case. A substantially semi-cylindrical arch-shaped elastic member in a region adjacent to the opening and surrounded by the image carrier, the blade, the case, and the toner conveying means. Te, the elastic member for the blade in sliding contact at the top near the substantially semi-cylindrical arched provided, the blades, the toner remaining on the surface of the image bile lifting member while being in contact with the elastic member Configured as a cleaning device, characterized in that to take come.
With this configuration, the elastic member can be irregularly elastically deformed by vibration (stress) generated by the blade in sliding contact with the image carrier, and the elastic member is deformed by the elastic deformation. The toner can be transported in the direction of the opening by separating the toner adhering to the surface of the elastic member facing the toner transport means before aggregating.
Thus, the toner remaining on the image carrier can be reliably collected without aggregating in the vicinity of the opening, and furthermore, the cleaning device can be prevented from being damaged.
Furthermore, since this configuration is a simple configuration based on the conventional configuration, there is no inconvenience in terms of manufacturing cost and miniaturization.
[0005]
Here, as the toner conveying means, a spiral provided with a spiral wing that rotates around a predetermined rotation axis in the case may be used.
This makes it possible to transport the toner toward one end of the case with a simple configuration that does not hinder miniaturization of the apparatus.
[0006]
Further, the elastic member may be a flexible film .
Thus, even when the elastic member interferes with the toner conveying means due to the elastic deformation of the flexible film, it is possible to avoid damaging the elastic member and the toner conveying means. .
Furthermore, the elastic member has a flexible film and a porous elastic member provided on a surface of the flexible film facing the blade, wherein the porous elastic member is a blade. It is desirable that the sliding contact be made.
By providing the porous elastic member in this manner, it becomes possible to apply an urging force to the blade in the direction of the image carrier, thereby preventing the blade from being turned up by the rotation of the image carrier. This effectively prevents the toner from leaking from the vicinity of the blade.
Further, the porous elastic member can be regarded as a seal member that fills a gap between an end of the blade and the opening, and prevents the toner from leaking out of the cleaning device.
[0007]
Furthermore, the blade may reciprocate in the direction of the rotation axis of the image carrier.
This allows the blade to periodically elastically deform the elastic member due to the reciprocating movement of the blade, and further effectively causes the toner adhering to the surface of the elastic member facing the toner conveying means. Can be peeled before agglomeration and conveyed in the opening direction.
[0008]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments and examples of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings to provide an understanding of the present invention. The following embodiments and examples are mere examples embodying the present invention, and do not limit the technical scope of the present invention.
Here, FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a cleaning device A according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a conventionally known cleaning device B.
[0009]
The cleaning device A includes a blade 1, a case 3, an opening 3a, and a cleaning device A, as shown in FIG. 1A showing a schematic configuration and FIG. A schematic configuration is provided with an elastic member 3 b, a spiral 4 (corresponding to an example of a toner conveying unit), and a seal member 5.
The blade 1 urged in the direction of the image carrier 2 by an urging spring 1a (not shown in FIG. 1A) comes into contact with the surface of the rotating cylindrical image carrier 2 and The toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier 2 is scraped off, and a cam mechanism (not shown) synchronized with the rotation of the image carrier 2 rotates the image carrier 2 in the direction of the rotation axis (in FIG. (Represented by Z1).
The case 3 receives the toner scraped by the blade 1. A spiral 4 having a spiral wing that rotates around a predetermined rotation axis in the case 3 conveys the toner toward one end of the case 3 and is formed at an end of the case 3. It is discharged from the opening 3a.
The seal member 5 is attached to an end surface of the case 3 parallel to the rotation axis of the image carrier 2 on the upstream side of the image carrier 2 in the rotation upstream direction, in parallel with the end surface, and This prevents the toner being conveyed from leaking out of the cleaning device A, and is formed of, for example, a urethane sheet.
Thereby, the toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier 2 can be efficiently removed and collected, and the toner can be collected by a toner collection container (not shown) provided in the image forming apparatus. it can. The configuration of the cleaning device as described above is conventionally known.
[0010]
The cleaning device A according to the embodiment of the present invention is located in a region adjacent to the opening 3a and surrounded by the image carrier 2, the blade 1, the case 3, and the spiral 4. It further includes an elastic member 3b provided.
The blade 1 is in sliding contact with the elastic member 3b, and as a result, as shown in FIG. 1B, vibrations generated when the blade 1 scrapes the toner from the image carrier 2 ( Stress), the elastic member 3b can be irregularly elastically deformed, and the elastic member 3b aggregates the toner adhering to the surface of the elastic member 3b facing the spiral 4 by the elastic deformation. Before carrying out, it becomes possible to convey in the direction of the opening 3a. This can prevent the toner from aggregating in the clearance between the elastic member 3b and the spiral 4.
Furthermore, the blade provided in the cleaning device A according to the embodiment of the present invention is configured to reciprocate in the rotation axis direction of the image carrier.
Thus, the blade 1 can periodically elastically deform the elastic member 3b by the reciprocating movement of the blade 1, and vibration (stress) generated when the toner is scraped off from the image carrier 2 Alone, it is possible to make the deformation larger than the elastic deformation, and it is possible to more effectively prevent the toner from aggregating.
As described above, it is preferable that the elastic member 3b is a flexible film 3d so as to be elastically deformed by sliding contact with the blade 1.
Accordingly, the elastic member 3b is irregularly elastically deformed by vibration (stress) generated when the toner is scraped from the image carrier 2, and is elastically deformed by the elastic deformation of the elastic member 3b. Even when the spiral 4 interferes with the elastic member 3, it is possible to prevent the elastic member 3 b and the spiral 4 from being damaged.
Further, it is preferable that a porous elastic member 3c is provided on a surface of the flexible film 3d facing the blade 1.
This makes it possible to apply an urging force in the image carrier direction 2 to the blade 1, to prevent the blade 1 from rolling up due to the rotation of the image carrier 2, and from the vicinity of the blade 1 to the blade 1. Leakage of toner can be effectively prevented.
Further, the porous elastic member 3c can be regarded as a seal member that fills a gap between the end of the blade 1 and the opening 3a, and prevents the toner from leaking out of the cleaning device A. It has an important effect of preventing it. Therefore, by using the cleaning device A according to the embodiment of the present invention, the toner can be reliably collected without aggregating in the vicinity of the opening 3a. Can be prevented beforehand.
[0011]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the present invention provides a blade that scrapes toner remaining on the surface of a rotating cylindrical image carrier by contacting the surface of the rotating cylindrical image carrier, and a case that receives the scraped toner. A toner conveying means provided in the case for conveying the toner scraped by the blade toward one end of the case and discharging the toner to the outside through an opening formed at the end of the case. An elastic member having a substantially semi-cylindrical arch shape in a region adjacent to the opening and surrounded by the image carrier, the blade, the case, and the toner conveying means; an elastic member for the blade in sliding contact at the top near the substantially semi-cylindrical arched provided, the blades scrape the toner remaining on the surface of the image bile lifting member while being in contact with the elastic member Configured as a cleaning device according to claim Rukoto.
With this configuration, the elastic member can be irregularly elastically deformed by vibration (stress) generated by the blade in sliding contact with the image carrier, and the elastic member is deformed by the elastic deformation. The toner can be transported in the direction of the opening by separating the toner adhering to the surface of the elastic member facing the toner transport means before aggregating.
Thus, the toner remaining on the image carrier can be reliably collected without aggregating in the vicinity of the opening, and furthermore, the cleaning device can be prevented from being damaged.
Furthermore, since this configuration is a simple configuration based on the conventional configuration, there is no inconvenience in terms of manufacturing cost and miniaturization.
[0012]
Here, as the toner conveying means, a spiral provided with a spiral wing that rotates around a predetermined rotation axis in the case may be used.
This makes it possible to transport the toner toward one end of the case with a simple configuration that does not hinder miniaturization of the apparatus.
[0013]
Further, the elastic member may be a flexible film .
Thus, even when the elastic member interferes with the toner conveying means due to the elastic deformation of the flexible film, it is possible to avoid damaging the elastic member and the toner conveying means. .
Furthermore, the elastic member has a flexible film and a porous elastic member provided on a surface of the flexible film facing the blade, wherein the porous elastic member is a blade. It is desirable that the sliding contact be made.
By providing the porous elastic member in this manner, it becomes possible to apply an urging force to the blade in the direction of the image carrier, thereby preventing the blade from being turned up by the rotation of the image carrier. This effectively prevents the toner from leaking from the vicinity of the blade.
Further, the porous elastic member can be regarded as a seal member that fills a gap between an end of the blade and the opening, and prevents the toner from leaking out of the cleaning device.
[0014]
Furthermore, the blade may reciprocate in the direction of the rotation axis of the image carrier.
This allows the blade to periodically resiliently deform the elastic member by the reciprocating movement of the blade, and further effectively causes the toner adhering to the surface of the elastic member facing the toner conveying means. Can be peeled before agglomeration and conveyed in the opening direction.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a cleaning device according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a conventionally known cleaning device.
[Explanation of symbols]
A ... cleaning device B ... cleaning device 1 ... blade 1a ... urging spring 2 ... image carrier 3 ... case 3a ... opening 3b ... elastic member 3c ... porous elastic member 3d ... flexible film 4 ... spiral 5 ... Seal member 6 ... clearance

Claims (5)

A blade for contacting the surface of the rotating cylindrical image carrier and scraping toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier;
A case for receiving the scraped toner,
A toner conveying means provided in the case, for conveying the toner scraped by the blade toward one end of the case, and discharging the toner to the outside through an opening formed at the end of the case;
A cleaning device comprising:
A substantially semi-cylindrical arch-shaped elastic member is provided adjacent to the opening and surrounded by the image carrier, the blade, the case, and the toner conveying means. A cleaning device, comprising: an elastic member that comes into sliding contact with the blade near the top of the shape, wherein the blade scrapes off the toner remaining on the surface of the image bearing member while contacting the elastic member. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the toner conveying unit is a spiral provided with a spiral wing that rotates around a predetermined rotation axis in the case. 3. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the elastic member is a flexible film. The elastic member includes a flexible film and a porous elastic member provided on a surface of the flexible film facing the blade, and the porous elastic member comes into sliding contact with the blade. the cleaning device according to claim 1 or 2 comprising Te. The cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the blade reciprocates in a rotation axis direction of the image carrier.

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