JP3733254B2 - Method for assembling image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a facsimile machine, and a printer, and an assembling method thereof. Specifically, the present invention relates to a particle image carrier that carries a particle image that is an aggregate of image forming particles, and a particle image carrier. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including an abutting member that abuts and an assembling method thereof.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as this type of image forming apparatus, a cleaning device having an abutting member is provided, and residual toner as image forming particles adhering to a latent image carrier or an intermediate transfer body as a particle image carrier, What cleans by cleaning with this cleaning device is known. As such a cleaning device, a cleaning member as a first contact member, an opening for bringing the cleaning member into contact with the particle image carrier, and a gap between the opening and the particle image carrier are sealed. What has a sealing member which is a 2nd contact member is common.
[0003]
Also known is an image forming apparatus provided with an application mechanism for applying fine lubricant powder to a particle image carrier. This coating mechanism reduces the frictional resistance between the particle image carrier and the cleaning member by applying a fine powder of lubricant to the particle image carrier, thereby reducing damage to the particle image carrier due to friction between the two. To do.
[0004]
Further, in an image forming apparatus in which toner images of respective colors are sequentially superimposed and primarily transferred onto an intermediate transfer member, and a toner image of the respective colors is secondarily transferred to a recording member to form a plurality of color images, There is also known one provided with a contact / separation mechanism for bringing each contact member into contact with or separated from the intermediate transfer member. This contact / separation mechanism avoids contact between the toner image before completion of superimposition on the intermediate transfer member and each contact member, and eliminates disappearance or deformation of the toner image caused by the contact. is there.
[0005]
In these conventional image forming apparatuses, a large amount of toner adheres and is laminated on the non-contact surface of each contact member with the particle image carrier. When the amount of the laminated toner is increased, the toner is reversely transferred to the latent image carrier or the intermediate transfer member, and the background portion of the image is stained (hereinafter referred to as background contamination), or the color of the color image is disturbed. The problem arises.
[0006]
In particular, in an image forming apparatus having the contact / separation mechanism, when the contact members are separated from the intermediate transfer member, the laminated toner on the contact members is scattered from the opening, dropped, or intermediate. Various problems are likely to occur due to transfer onto the transfer body. For example, when toner is scattered from the opening, the scattered toner is attached to a non-image portion of a latent image carrier or an intermediate transfer member, or attached to a conveyance member of a recording member, and the recording is performed. This will cause dirt and back dirt on the member. Further, when the toner is dropped from the opening, the toner is scattered on the toner tray to receive the dropped toner, and the same background dirt and back dirt are generated. In addition, when the toner is transferred onto the intermediate transfer member, the transfer toner is retained in a nip portion formed by the contact between the latent image carrier and the intermediate transfer member, and the transferred toner is followed by the nip portion. The toner image adheres to the toner image and deteriorates the image quality.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in an image forming apparatus provided with the coating mechanism and the contact / separation mechanism, the laminated toner is remarkably generated during the initial image formation immediately after the assembly of the apparatus, but the amount of the laminated toner increases as the number of image formation increases. Tend to decrease gradually. And the mysterious phenomenon that it becomes difficult to raise each problem mentioned above with the increase in the number of times of image formation has arisen. Specifically, in this type of image forming apparatus, after performing an image forming operation on about 300 transfer sheets, it is difficult to cause the above-described problems. Therefore, as a result of intensive studies to elucidate the cause of such an inexplicable phenomenon, the present inventor found the cause as follows. That is, the lubricant fine powder scattered from the coating mechanism and the lubricant fine powder scattered by scraping off from the intermediate transfer belt adhere to the cleaning member and the seal member in accordance with the image forming operation of the image forming apparatus. The adhesiveness between these contact members and the toner is gradually reduced. The amount of the laminated toner is gradually decreased by gradually decreasing the adhesiveness in this way.
[0008]
The present invention has been made in view of the above background, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of reducing the stacking of image forming particles on the contact member from the initial image formation at the shipping destination, and the image forming apparatus. An assembly method is provided.
[0010]
In the present invention, “providing” is a concept indicating delivery in a state where it can be normally used, and does not indicate mere delivery. For example, when it is necessary to set a provision object at the delivery destination, it is not provided until the setting is completed.
[0018]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  The invention according to claim 1 is a particle image carrier that carries a particle image that is an aggregate of image forming particles;A cleaning device for cleaning the image forming particles adhering to the particle image carrier, a cleaning blade for contacting and removing the particle image adhering to the surface of the particle image carrier, and the cleaning blade An opening for making contact with the particle image carrier and a gap between the opening and the particle image carrier are sealed from the opening while making the surface facing the lower side in the vertical direction contact the particle image carrier. The cleaning device has a seal member that reduces scattering of the image-forming particles, and a contact / separation mechanism for bringing the cleaning blade and the seal member into and out of contact with the particle image carrier,In the assembling method of the image forming apparatus for transferring the particle image to the recording member, the bag containing the lubricant powder isSeal memberIn the above particle image carrierOn the upper surface facing the upper side in the vertical directionBy pressing the lubricant powder through the mesh of the bag.The top surfaceIt is characterized by being applied to.
[0019]
  In this assembling method, a lubricant is applied to the contact member at the time of assembling the image forming apparatus, thereby reducing the adhesion between the corresponding contact member and the image forming particles. The image forming apparatus assembled in this way makes it difficult for image forming particles to adhere to the particle lamination surface of the contact member from the first image formation at the shipping destination.Therefore, in the image forming apparatus assembled by this assembling method, the lubricant is applied to the contact member at the time of assembling or shipping, and the contact member and the image are preliminarily formed before the first image formation at the shipping destination. Adhesion with the formed particles is reduced. Of the lubricants applied to the contact member, those applied to the contact surface with the particle image carrier are subject to contact with the particle image carrier when the image forming operation is started at the shipping destination. Disengage from the contact surface and disappear. On the other hand, the material applied to the non-contact surface which is the particle lamination surface is fixed to the non-contact surface without contacting the particle image carrier even when the image forming operation is started at the shipping destination. The lubricant thus fixed makes it difficult for image forming particles to adhere to the particle lamination surface of the contact member from the initial image formation at the shipping destination.
Further, in this assembling method, the efficiency of the operation of applying the lubricant to the contact member is improved. For example, since the particle lamination surface of the contact member is a non-contact surface with the particle image carrier, the lubricant applied to the contact surface with the particle image carrier does not directly contribute to the reduction of particle lamination. Further, as described above, the lubricant applied to the contact surface comes into contact with the particle image carrier by the operation of the apparatus at the shipping destination, and is detached from the contact surface and disappears. For this reason, the operation of applying the lubricant to the contact surface is not so important. Therefore, in this assembling method, the lubricant is applied to the non-contact surface of the contact member with the particle image carrier, thereby eliminating the unimportant work and improving the efficiency of the application work.
[0022]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In order to facilitate understanding, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to an electrophotographic printer as an image forming apparatus will be described below.
First, the printer according to this embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printer according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 1, a writing optical unit (not shown) converts color image data transmitted from a personal computer or the like into an optical signal and applies it to a photosensitive drum 1 as a particle image carrier uniformly charged to a negative polarity. A negative latent image corresponding to the original image is formed. As the writing optical unit, for example, a semiconductor laser, a light emission drive control unit (not shown) that controls light emission and drive thereof, a polygon mirror, a rotation drive motor that rotationally drives this, an f / θ lens, Some of them consist of a reflective mirror.
[0023]
The photosensitive drum 1 is rotated in the direction of arrow A, that is, counterclockwise by a drive system (not shown).
[0024]
Around the photosensitive drum 1, in addition to the writing optical unit, a photosensitive member cleaning device 2 as a contact device, a charging charger 3 as a charging unit, a revolver developing unit 4 as a developing unit, and a primary transfer. A unit 10 is provided. The photoreceptor cleaning device 2 includes a fur brush 2a and a photoreceptor cleaning blade 2b as contact members, and cleans residual toner as image forming particles remaining on the surface of the photoreceptor drum 1 after the primary transfer.
[0025]
The revolver developing unit 4 has a Bk developing unit 4a, a C developing unit 4b, an M developing unit 4c, and a Y developing unit 4d. The developing unit for each color is moved around the drum axis by the photosensitive drum 1. Can be positioned at the development position opposite to the. Each of these color developing devices includes a developing paddle (not shown) for pumping up and stirring the developer, a toner density detecting sensor (not shown) for detecting the toner density of the developer, and the developer drum 1 carrying the developer. Each has a developing sleeve (not shown) in contact with the surface. The internal structures of these four developing units (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) are the same.
[0026]
The developer accommodated in these four developing units (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) is a two-component developer composed of toner and a magnetic carrier, and the toner in the developer is negatively charged. Yes. The developer in each developing device is detected as a toner concentration shortage by a toner concentration detection sensor when the toner concentration decreases due to toner consumption accompanying development. Then, this information is transmitted to a control unit (not shown), and supply toner is supplied from a toner bottle of a toner supply device (not shown). In this way, the toner density in the developing device is kept at a predetermined density.
[0027]
The primary transfer unit 10 includes an intermediate transfer belt 11 as an intermediate transfer member, a primary transfer bias roller 12 as a charge applying unit, a primary transfer power source 17 connected thereto, a ground roller 13 as a primary charge removing unit, and a belt drive. A driving roller 14, a tension roller 15, a transfer backup roller 16 and the like are used as means.
[0028]
The intermediate transfer belt 11 is stretched by these rollers and is moved endlessly in the direction of the arrow by a driving roller 14 that is driven to rotate clockwise in the drawing. The drive motor of the drive roller 14 is driven and controlled by a control unit (not shown) as control means. All the rollers that stretch the intermediate transfer belt 11 are made of a conductive material, and each of the rollers other than the primary transfer bias roller 12 is grounded. The primary transfer bias roller 12 is disposed downstream of the primary transfer region of the nip formed by the contact between the intermediate transfer belt 11 and the photosensitive drum 1 in the moving direction of the intermediate transfer belt 11.
[0029]
A primary transfer bias is applied to the primary transfer bias roller 12 by a primary transfer power source 17. A grounded earth roller 13 is disposed upstream of the primary transfer region in the moving direction of the intermediate transfer belt 11. The intermediate transfer belt 11 is urged toward the photosensitive drum 1 by the primary transfer bias roller 12 and the earth roller 13 to form the nip portion.
[0030]
The intermediate transfer belt 11 has a multilayer structure including a surface layer, an intermediate layer, and a base layer. The surface layer is located on the outer peripheral surface side in contact with the photosensitive drum 1, and the base layer is located on the inner peripheral surface side. To be arranged. Further, an adhesive layer for adhering both layers is interposed between the intermediate layer and the base layer. The intermediate transfer belt 11 in this embodiment has a volume resistivity ρV of 10 according to the measurement method of JIS K 6911.¹¹The medium resistance is adjusted to about [Ωcm]. The volume resistivity ρV is 10¹²If an intermediate transfer belt of [Ωcm] or more is used, transfer dust after the primary transfer can be effectively reduced, but it is necessary to neutralize the intermediate transfer belt after the secondary transfer. At this time, the volume resistivity ρV is 10¹⁴Although [Ωcm] or more can be used, it is not suitable as an intermediate transfer belt in terms of durability and the like. The surface resistivity on the surface layer side of the intermediate transfer belt 11 is 10¹³It is desirable to be configured to be about [Ω / □].
[0031]
Reinforcing members are provided at both ends in the width direction on the back surface of the intermediate transfer belt 11. This reinforcing member is intended to prevent twisting of the belt, and this reinforcing member causes a gap between the vicinity of both ends in the width direction of the intermediate transfer belt 11 and the photosensitive drum 1 during primary transfer. May be formed. For this reason, on the back surface of the intermediate transfer belt 11 where the nip portion is formed, a backup member 18 is provided in contact with the vicinity of both ends in the width direction to avoid the formation of the gap.
[0032]
Around the intermediate transfer belt 11, a belt cleaning device 50 as a contact device having a coating mechanism 20 and a secondary transfer unit 60 as transfer means are installed. These can be brought into and out of contact with the intermediate transfer belt 11 by a contact and separation mechanism (not shown). The belt cleaning device 50 will be described in detail later.
[0033]
The secondary transfer unit 60 includes a secondary transfer bias roller 61 facing the transfer backup roller 16 of the primary transfer unit 10 and a secondary transfer power source 62 connected to the secondary transfer bias roller 61. Then, the transfer sheet 100 is conveyed between the rollers at the same timing. This paper transport device includes a paper feed roller, a registration roller, a transfer paper cassette that stores transfer paper 100 of each size, a manual paper feed tray for supplying OHP paper, cardboard, and the like.
[0034]
When the transfer paper 100 passes through the secondary transfer region between both rollers, the superimposed toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 11 is secondarily transferred to the surface of the transfer paper 100 and then conveyed to the fixing device 70.
[0035]
The fixing device 70 melts an unfixed toner image on the transfer paper 100 between a pair of fixing rollers including a fixing roller 71 and a pressure roller 72 controlled to a predetermined temperature, and fixes the unfixed toner image. .
[0036]
Next, the developing operation when the order of development of the electrostatic latent images on the photosensitive drum 1 is set to Bk, C, M, and Y will be described. Note that the order of the developing operations is not limited to this.
[0037]
The writing optical unit first forms a Bk latent image on the photosensitive drum 1 by laser light based on each color image information sent from a personal computer or the like. This Bk latent image is developed into a Bk toner image by the adhesion of Bk toner from the Bk developing device 4a. The Bk developing device 4a rotates the developing sleeve in advance before the leading end portion of the Bk latent image reaches the developing position that is opposed to the photosensitive drum 1 in order to reliably develop the Bk latent image. deep. As a result, when the leading end portion of the Bk latent image reaches the developing position, the developer on the developing sleeve can be brought into a spiked state, so that the entire Bk latent image can be reliably developed. Further, when the Bk developing device 4a passes the developing position with respect to the rear end portion of the Bk latent image, the developer carried on the developing sleeve is quickly cut off and becomes inoperative. At this time, at least the leading end portion of the C latent image to be developed next is completely inactivated before reaching the developing position of the Bk developing device 4a. Note that the developer is cut off by switching the developing sleeve of the Bk developing device 4a in the direction opposite to the rotating direction during the developing operation.
[0038]
As described above, the Bk toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 1 by the Bk developing device 4a is primarily transferred to the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 11 driven at the same linear velocity as that of the photosensitive drum 1, and by this primary transfer. The Bk process ends.
[0039]
In parallel with the primary transfer of the Bk toner image, the next C process is started on the photosensitive drum 1 side. That is, the optical writing unit forms a C latent image on the photosensitive drum 1 at a predetermined timing by laser light based on the C image data acquired from the color image information. This C latent image is developed into a C toner image by the C developing device 4b. The rotation of the developing sleeve in the C developing device 4c is started before the rear end portion of the Bk latent image passes the developing position of the C developing device 4c and before the leading end portion of the C latent image reaches the developing position. The Then, when the C developing device 4b passes the rear end portion of the C latent image with respect to this developing position, the developer carried on the developing sleeve is cut off as in the case of the Bk developing device 4a. Inoperable. At this time, it is made to be completely inoperative before reaching the leading end of the next M latent image.
[0040]
The C toner image thus developed and formed on the photosensitive drum 1 is primary-transferred superimposed on the Bk toner image primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 11.
[0041]
Thereafter, also in the M process and the Y process, latent image formation, development, and primary transfer are performed based on the respective image data as in the above-described C process. In this way, the Bk, C, M, and Y toner images sequentially formed on the photosensitive drum 1 are primarily transferred while being superimposed on the same image surface on the intermediate transfer belt 11, thereby enabling the intermediate transfer belt. A full-color toner image in which these four colors are superimposed is formed on 11.
[0042]
At least until the full-color toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 11, specifically, after the primary transfer of the first color Bk toner image to the end of the primary transfer of the fourth color Y toner image. In the meantime, each contact member in the belt cleaning device 50 is separated from the intermediate transfer belt 11 by a contact / separation mechanism (not shown).
[0043]
The toner image primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 11 is sent to the secondary transfer region so as to be secondarily transferred onto the transfer paper 100. At this time, the secondary transfer bias roller 61 of the secondary transfer unit 60 is normally pressed against the intermediate transfer belt 11 by the contact / separation mechanism at the timing when the full-color toner image is transferred onto the transfer paper 100. Next, a secondary transfer bias having a predetermined value is applied to the secondary transfer bias roller 61 by a secondary transfer power source 62, and a secondary transfer electric field is formed in the secondary transfer region. As a result, the full-color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 11 is transferred onto the transfer paper 100. The transfer paper 100 is conveyed in the direction of the registration roller from a transfer paper cassette having a size designated on an operation panel (not shown), and is fed to the secondary transfer area. When the transfer paper 100 is fed in this way, the transfer paper 100 is transferred to the secondary transfer region in accordance with the timing at which the leading edge of the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 11 reaches the secondary transfer region by the registration roller. Paper is fed to
[0044]
The transfer paper 100 onto which the full-color toner image, which is a combined image of each color on the intermediate transfer belt 11, is collectively transferred is then transported to the fixing device 70 by the paper transport device, and the unfixed toner image on the surface thereof is fixed. , Unloaded to a copy tray (not shown) and stacked.
[0045]
The surface of the photosensitive drum 1 after the primary transfer is cleaned by the photosensitive member cleaning unit 2 and is uniformly discharged by a discharging lamp (not shown) as a discharging unit. The intermediate transfer belt 11 after the secondary transfer is cleaned by pressing the belt cleaning device 50 by the contact / separation mechanism.
[0046]
The print mode for obtaining four full colors has been described above. In the other three-color print mode and the two-color print mode, the same operation as the above-described four-color print mode is performed except that the color used is different. Done. In the case of the single color print mode, only the developer of the color developing device is sprinkled and activated until a predetermined number of prints are completed, and each contact member of the belt cleaning device 50 is placed in the middle. The printing operation is performed by driving the intermediate transfer belt 11 at a constant speed in the forward movement direction while keeping the transfer belt 11 in contact with the intermediate transfer belt 11 and the photosensitive drum 1. Become.
[0047]
Next, the belt cleaning device 50 will be described in detail.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the belt cleaning device 50 together with the intermediate transfer belt 11 and the secondary transfer region. As shown in the figure, this belt cleaning device 50 has a coating mechanism 20 for applying zinc stearate powder as a fine lubricant powder to the intermediate transfer belt 11 and a residual toner on the intermediate transfer belt 11. A cleaning unit 30 and a driving unit 40 having each driving mechanism are provided.
[0048]
The application mechanism 20 includes a brush bracket 21, a shaft 22, a brush roller 23, a zinc stearate lump 24, a spring 25, and the like. The brush bracket 21 is swingably supported by a shaft 22 provided in the vicinity of its end, and a spring 25 is connected to the opposite end. On the lower surface, the brush roller 23 that contacts the intermediate transfer belt 11 and the zinc stearate block 24 are held. The brush roller 23 is applied to the intermediate transfer belt 24 while scraping the zinc stearate lump 24 into a fine powder. By this application, the frictional resistance between the intermediate transfer belt 11 and a cleaning blade 32 described later can be reduced, and damage to the intermediate transfer belt 11 due to the friction between them can be reduced.
[0049]
The cleaning unit 30 includes a blade bracket 31, a cleaning blade 32 as a cleaning member fixed to the end of the blade, a spring 33 connected to an end opposite to the end, and the like. The cleaning blade 32 is in contact with the intermediate transfer belt 11 and mechanically scrapes and removes residual toner adhering to the surface.
[0050]
The drive unit 40 includes a cam shaft 41, a cam 42, a recovery pipe 43, a seal member 44, a seal cam 45, a toner tray 46, and the like. The seal member 44 as a contact member seals the gap formed between the lower end of the opening region R formed in the belt cleaning device 50 main body and the intermediate transfer belt 11, so that zinc stearate powder or a cleaning blade is sealed. The residual toner scraped off by 32 is prevented from scattering from the opening region R.
[0051]
FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a state in which the cleaning blade 32 and the seal member 44 are in contact with the intermediate transfer belt 11. In FIG. 3, the residual toner T adhering to the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 11 first comes into contact with the seal member 44 by the endless movement of the intermediate transfer belt 11. The seal member 44 is made of a material having low rigidity and is in contact with the intermediate transfer belt 11 in the trailing direction as shown in the figure. Most of the residual toner 7 is allowed to pass through. However, a very small amount of residual toner T is retained in a wedge shape upstream of the contact portion with the intermediate transfer belt 11 in the belt moving direction. The residual toner T staying in this way is eventually dropped and stored in the toner tray 46 shown in FIG. The residual toner T that has passed through the contact portion between the seal member 44 and the intermediate transfer belt 11 is scraped off by the cleaning blade 32 and then guided to the inside of the belt cleaning device 50 along the upper surface of the seal member 44. However, as shown in FIG. 3, some residual toner T adheres to and accumulates on the non-contact surface of the cleaning blade 32 and the seal member 44 with the intermediate transfer belt 11.
[0052]
Next, the contact / separation mechanism of each contact member in the belt cleaning device 50 will be described.
FIG. 4A is a perspective view showing a main part of the blade bracket 31. In FIG. 4A, the blade bracket 31 is swingably supported by a shaft 34 supported by a side plate of a cleaning unit (not shown).
[0053]
FIG. 4B is a perspective view showing a main part of the brush bracket 21. As shown in the figure, the brush bracket 21b is also slidably supported by a shaft 22 supported on a side plate of a cleaning unit (not shown). An input gear that receives driving from a driving unit (not shown) on the cleaning unit main body side is fixed to the shaft 22, and the brush roller 23 is rotated by driving the input gear. Specifically, when the input gear is driven based on a process signal of a control means (not shown), the brush roller rotation gear is rotated via the idle gear, thereby rotating the brush roller 23.
[0054]
FIG. 5A is a perspective view showing the swing end portions of the blade bracket 31 and the brush bracket 21 together with the cam shaft 41. As shown in the drawing, two protrusions 21 a protrude from the swing end portion of the brush bracket 21, and a protrusion 31 b protrudes from the center of the swing end portion of the blade bracket 31. The brush bracket 21 is disposed on the blade bracket 31 so as to sandwich the protrusion 31b between the two protrusions 21a. As described above, the swing end portions of the two brackets 21 and 31 are arranged in a straight line.
[0055]
Below these swinging end portions, a cam shaft 41 is disposed so that the two protrusions 21a are opposed to the two brush cams 42a and the protrusion 31b is opposed to the blade cam 42b. The two brush cams 42a and the blade cam 42b are arranged on the cam shaft 41 so as to be displaced in the circumferential direction as shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG.
[0056]
The cam shaft 41 is connected to a driving means on the printer main body (not shown), and is rotated counterclockwise in the drawing. Then, by this rotation, the two brush cams 42a and the two protrusions 21a are brought into contact with and separated from each other to swing the brush bracket 21, or the blade cam 42b and the protrusion 31b are brought into contact with and separated from each other. Oscillate. By such contact and separation, as shown in the schematic views of FIGS. 6A and 6B, the cleaning blade 32 is brought into contact with and separated from the intermediate transfer belt 11, or the schematic views of FIGS. 7A and 7B. As shown, the brush roller 23 can be brought into contact with or separated from the intermediate transfer belt 11.
[0057]
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, one end of the seal member 44 is fixed to a hook-like stay 47 provided on the apparatus cover member. A seal cam 45 (not shown) is disposed in the vicinity of the stay 47, and is configured to contact and separate from the stay 47 in synchronization with the contact and separation between the blade cam 42b and the protrusion 31b. By this contact and separation, as shown in FIG. 8, the hook-shaped stay 47 is deformed, and the seal member 44 swings in the direction of the arrow C and contacts and separates from the intermediate transfer belt 11. At the same time, the cleaning blade 32 contacts and separates from the intermediate transfer belt 11.
[0058]
In the printer of this embodiment, as described above, when the toner images of the respective colors are transferred on the intermediate transfer belt 11, the contact members (brush rollers 23, 23) in the belt cleaning device 50 are transferred. The cleaning blade 32 and the seal member 44) are separated from each other. This separation avoids contact between the toner image before completion of superimposition on the intermediate transfer belt 11 and these contact members, thereby eliminating the problem of disappearance or deformation of the toner image caused by the contact. Yes. However, as shown in FIG. 3, residual toner T is accumulated on the seal member 44 and the cleaning blade 32, and if the separation distance between the seal member 44 or the cleaning blade 32 and the intermediate transfer belt 11 is short, The accumulated toner T may fly from the seal member 44 or the cleaning blade toward the intermediate transfer belt 11 due to the influence of the electric charge on the intermediate transfer belt 11. When the accumulated toner T is caused to fly in this way, there is a problem in that it adheres onto the intermediate transfer belt 11 and disturbs the color of the full-color image or soils the background portion. Therefore, in the printer according to the present embodiment, the accumulated toner T does not fly from the seal member 44 or the cleaning blade toward the intermediate transfer belt 11, so that the seal member 44, the cleaning blade 32, and the intermediate transfer belt 11 do not fly. The separation distance D is set long (FIG. 8). As a result, the disturbance of the color of the full-color image and the background contamination due to the flying toner from the seal member 44 and the cleaning blade 32 are eliminated.
[0059]
By the way, in the image forming apparatus provided with such a contact / separation mechanism, when the contact members of the belt cleaning device 50 are separated from the intermediate transfer belt 11, the laminated toner T on the contact members is removed from the opening region R ( Various problems are likely to occur due to scattering, dropping, or shifting onto the intermediate transfer belt 11 from FIG. For example, when the toner is scattered from the opening region R, the scattered toner is attached to the non-image portion of the photosensitive drum 1 or the intermediate transfer belt 11 or is attached to the conveyance member of the transfer paper 100. Then, background stains and back stains are generated on the transfer paper 100. Further, when the toner is dropped from the opening region R, the toner is scattered on the toner tray 46 (see FIG. 2), and the same background dirt and back dirt are generated. Further, when the toner is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 11, the transferred toner stays in the nip portion of the primary transfer region, and the transferred toner adheres to the subsequent toner image at the nip portion, thereby reducing the image quality. I will let you.
[0060]
On the other hand, conventionally, in a printer having an application mechanism for applying a fine lubricant powder as in the present embodiment, although toner is remarkably generated during initial image formation immediately after the assembly of the apparatus, the transfer toner is about 300 sheets of paper. After the image forming operation is performed, accumulated toner is hardly generated. The present inventor has found the cause of such a phenomenon as follows through intensive research. That is, the zinc stearate powder scattered from the tip of the cleaning blade 32 and the brush roller 23 adheres to the non-contact surface of the cleaning blade 32 and the seal member 44 with the printing operation, and the non-contact surface. Gradually lowers adhesion to toner. Then, the amount of the laminated toner is gradually reduced by gradually reducing the adhesiveness in this way. Accordingly, the coating mechanism 20 exhibits a function of applying the zinc stearate powder to the cleaning blade 32 and the seal member 44 in addition to the function of applying the zinc stearate powder to the intermediate transfer belt 11.
[0061]
However, even if the application function is exhibited in this manner, the above-described problems may occur immediately after the apparatus is loaded and set and until the printing operation of about 300 transfer sheets is completed. Therefore, the printer according to the present embodiment has the following characteristic configuration in order to reduce toner accumulation on each contact member from the initial printing operation immediately after the apparatus is loaded and set.
[0062]
Hereinafter, this characteristic configuration will be described.
In the printer of this embodiment, zinc stearate powder is applied to the cleaning blade 32 and the seal member 44 at the time of assembling the apparatus. Prior to the first printing operation at the shipping destination, the contact member and the toner are in advance. Adhesion is reduced.
[0063]
FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing an example of a method of applying zinc stearate powder to the cleaning blade 32 and the seal member 44. In FIG. 9, a cloth bag 101 made of silk or the like and having a fine mesh structure encloses a zinc stearate powder 24a, and when pressed or hit, zinc stearate is exposed to the outside through the fine mesh. Powder 24a is scattered. Such a configuration is widely known, for example, as a rosin bag for applying an anti-slip agent. In addition, the application | coating means of the zinc stearate powder 24a is not limited to the cloth bag 101, For example, a brush etc. may be sufficient.
[0064]
As described above, the toner lamination surface of the cleaning blade 32 and the seal member 44 is a non-contact surface with the intermediate transfer belt 11. For this reason, the zinc stearate powder applied to the contact surface with the intermediate transfer belt 11 does not directly contribute to the reduction of accumulated toner. Further, when the printing operation is started at the shipping destination, it is removed from the contact surface due to contact with the intermediate transfer belt 11 and disappears. For this reason, the application | coating operation | work of the zinc stearate powder 24a with respect to a contact surface is not so important. Therefore, in the printer of this embodiment, the zinc stearate powder 24a is applied only to the non-contact surface of the cleaning blade 32 and the seal member 44 with the intermediate transfer belt 11. By such application | coating, the operation | work which is not important is abbreviate | omitted and efficiency improvement of an application | coating operation | work is achieved.
[0065]
The zinc stearate powder 24a applied to the non-contact surface is fixed to the non-contact surface without contacting the intermediate transfer belt 11 even when the printing operation is started at the shipping destination. The zinc stearate powder 24a thus fixed makes it difficult for the toner to adhere to the toner accumulation surface, which is the non-contact surface, from the first printing operation at the shipping destination.
[0066]
As described above, the application mechanism 20 of the printer according to the present embodiment exhibits the function of applying the zinc stearate powder 24a to the cleaning blade 32 and the seal member 44 in addition to the function of applying the zinc stearate powder to the intermediate transfer belt 11. To do. However, at the time of assembling the apparatus, once zinc stearate is applied to the non-contact surface, the zinc stearate is fixed to the non-contact surface for a long time. For this reason, in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the function of applying the lubricant to the contact members such as the cleaning blade 32 and the seal member 44 is not essential. However, when such a coating function is provided, it is possible to permanently reduce the adhesion of the image forming particles to the contact member.
[0067]
FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the state of toner adhering to the cleaning blade 32 and the seal member 44 after the zinc stearate powder 24a is applied. As shown in the figure, it can be seen that the adhesion of the toner to the non-contact surface of the cleaning blade 32 and the seal member 44 is lowered by the application of the zinc stearate powder 24a, and the toner is difficult to deposit on the contact surface. As shown in FIG. 2, the cleaning blade of the printer of this embodiment is in contact with the intermediate transfer belt 11 in a state of being nearly vertical, and even if the zinc stearate powder 24 a is applied, the intermediate transfer belt 11. The toner tends to stay on the upstream side in the belt moving direction with respect to the contact portion. However, even if it stays in this way, since the zinc stearate powder 24a is applied to the non-contact surface of the cleaning blade, the toner does not adhere only to the cleaning blade 32. However, since such toner retention is not preferable, the printer of this embodiment generates an air flow in the drawing depth direction between the brush roller 23 and the cleaning blade 32 in FIG. The toner in contact with the blade 32 is collected by this air flow.
[0068]
As described above, according to the printer of the present embodiment, it is difficult for the toner to adhere to the toner accumulation surface of the cleaning blade 32 and the seal member 44 from the initial printing operation at the shipping destination. It is possible to reduce toner accumulation on the contact member.
[0069]
Further, in the device assembly process, the efficiency of the operation of applying the zinc stearate powder 24a to the cleaning blade 32 and the seal member 44 can be improved, so that the manufacturing cost of the device can be reduced.
[0070]
In the present embodiment, a printer having a configuration in which zinc stearate powder is applied as a lubricant to the cleaning blade 32 and the seal member 44 has been described. However, the lubricant used in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is the same. It is not limited.
[0071]
Further, the printer in which the lubricant is applied to the cleaning blade 32 and the seal member 44 at the time of assembling the apparatus has been described. However, at least the lubricant may be applied before the apparatus is provided to the user. It may be applied at the time of setting at the shipping destination.
[0072]
Further, the contact device according to the present invention is not limited to the cleaning device. For example, the lubricant application dedicated device including a coating member, a paper transport roller, a transfer bias roller, a transfer backup roller, and the like as a contact member, a paper transport The present invention can also be applied to a device, a transfer bias device, a transfer backup device, and the like.
[0077]
【The invention's effect】
  Claim1According to the invention, since it is difficult for the image forming particles to adhere to the particle lamination surface of the contact member from the first image formation at the shipping destination, the image forming particles from the first image forming at the shipping destination to the corresponding contact member can be prevented. There is an excellent effect that lamination can be reduced.
Moreover, since the efficiency of the application | coating operation | work of the lubricant with respect to a contact member is improved, there exists the outstanding effect that the manufacturing cost of an apparatus can be reduced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printer according to an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a belt cleaning device 50 of the printer together with an intermediate transfer belt 11 and a secondary transfer region.
3 is a schematic view showing a state in which the cleaning blade 32 and the seal member 44 of the belt cleaning device 50 are in contact with the intermediate transfer belt 11. FIG.
4A is a perspective view showing a main part of a blade bracket 31 of the belt cleaning device 50. FIG.
FIG. 4B is a perspective view illustrating a main part of the brush bracket 21 of the belt cleaning device 50.
5A is a perspective view showing the swing end portions of the blade bracket 31 and the brush bracket 21 together with the cam shaft 41. FIG.
FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view showing the cam shaft 41.
FIGS. 6A and 6B are schematic views showing the contact state of the cleaning blade 32 with respect to the intermediate transfer belt 11. FIGS.
FIGS. 7A and 7B are schematic views showing the contact state of the brush roller 23 with respect to the intermediate transfer belt 11. FIG.
FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram for explaining a separation state of the seal member 44 and the cleaning blade 32 from the intermediate transfer belt 11;
9 is a schematic view showing an example of a method of applying zinc stearate powder to the cleaning blade 32 and the seal member 44. FIG.
FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing a toner adhesion state on the cleaning blade 32 and the seal member 44 after the zinc stearate powder 24a is applied.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Photosensitive drum
2 Photoconductor cleaning device
2a Fur brush
2b Photoconductor cleaning blade
3 Charger 3
4 Revolver development unit 4
4a Bk developer
4b C developer
4c M developer
4d Y developer
10 Primary transfer unit
11 Intermediate transfer belt
12 Primary transfer bias roller
13 Earth Roller
14 Drive roller
15 Tension roller
16 Transfer backup roller
17 Primary transfer power supply
20 Coating mechanism
21 Brush bracket
21a protrusion
22 axes
23 Brush roller
24 Zinc stearate lump
24a Zinc stearate powder
30 Cleaning section
31 Bracket for blade
31b Protrusion
32 Cleaning blade
33 Spring
40 Drive unit
41 camshaft
42 cam
42a Brush cam
42b Blade cam
43 Recovery pipe
44 Sealing member
45 Sealing cam
46 Toner tray
47 stay
50 Belt cleaning device
60 Secondary transfer unit
61 Secondary transfer bias roller
62 Secondary transfer power supply
70 Fixing device
71 Fixing roller
72 Pressure roller
100 transfer paper
101 cloth bag

Claims (1)

A particle image carrier that carries a particle image, which is an aggregate of image forming particles, and a cleaning device that cleans the image forming particles attached to the particle image carrier; A cleaning blade that scrapes and removes the particle image adhering to the particle, an opening for contacting the cleaning blade with the particle image carrier, and a surface facing downward in the vertical direction is brought into contact with the particle image carrier. However, a seal member that seals a gap between the opening and the particle image carrier to reduce scattering of image forming particles from the opening, and a contact for bringing the cleaning blade and the seal member into and out of contact with the particle image carrier. In the assembling method of the image forming apparatus having the separation mechanism in the cleaning device and transferring the particle image to the recording member,
The bag containing therein a lubricant powder, by pressing on the top surface facing the upper side in the vertical direction is a surface not in contact with the particle image bearing member in the sealing member, said the lubricant powder through the mesh of the bag An assembling method comprising applying to an upper surface .

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