JP3955840B2 - Cleaning jig, image forming apparatus, and consumables used in image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a cleaning jig that removes deposits attached to a plate-like member and removes the adhering matter attached to the plate-like member and an apparatus in which a proximity member is disposed close to the tip of the plate-like member, a copying machine, a facsimile machine, and a printer using the same The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as the above and consumables used in the image forming apparatus.

  As an apparatus in which a proximity member is disposed close to the plate member and the tip thereof, for example, a developer regulating member that is a plate member and a developer carrier that is a proximity member arranged close to the tip thereof are provided. A developing device is known. And as what cleans the deposit | attachment adhering to this developer control member using a cleaning jig, the "developing apparatus" of patent document 1, the "printing apparatus" of patent document 2, etc. are known. The cleaning jigs in these developing devices and printing devices are provided in the developer case so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction of the developer regulating member, interposed between the developer carrying member and the developer regulating member. Yes. By moving these cleaning jigs in the longitudinal direction of the developer regulating member, adhering substances such as paper dust and toner lumps adhering to the front end surface of the developer regulating member are removed. However, these cleaning jigs are assembled in the main body of the developing device or the printing device. Therefore, the developing device and the printing apparatus using the cleaning jig require moving means for moving the cleaning jig, and it is necessary to secure an installation space for the moving means and a standby space for the cleaning jig. For this reason, there has been a problem that the cost and size of the apparatus main body of the developing device and the printing device are increased. Further, the cleaning jigs described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 are formed so as to clean only the end surface of the tip portion of the developer regulating member. For this reason, there also exists a malfunction that the deposit | attachment adhering to the back surface of the surface which faced the image development area side in the front-end | tip part of a developer control member cannot be removed.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-175078 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-150638

  In order to solve the above problems, the applicant of the present application, in Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-175095, allows not only the front end surface of the developer regulating member but also the back surface of the front end of the developer regulating member by gripping and moving the operator. A cleaning tool that can be cleaned was proposed. In this cleaning jig, the operator holds the grip portion, and the free end portion is inserted into the gap between the developer carrying member (proximity member) and the developer regulating member (plate-like member). The contact portion is brought into contact with the back surface of the front end of the developer regulating member. Then, in this state of contact, the cleaning jig main body is moved along the gap to clean the tip surface of the developer regulating member by the cleaning jig main body, and the developer regulation by the abutting portion. It also cleans the back of the tip of the member.

  FIG. 12 is an explanatory view showing a cleaning jig 200 described as one example of the above Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-175095. The cleaning jig 200 is composed of a film-like elastic body including a gripping portion 200A, a free end portion 200B, and a contact portion 200C. The contact portion 200C is formed by providing a U-shaped cut 200D on the cleaning jig main body. When performing a cleaning operation using the cleaning jig 200, the operator holds the holding portion 200A of the cleaning jig main body. Then, at the end portion (end portion not shown) of the developing roller (developer carrying member) 51, the free end portion 200B is disposed between the developing roller 51 and the doctor blade (developer regulating member) 57. Insert into the gap (doctor gap). By this insertion, the free end portion 200B comes into contact with the developing roller facing surface of the partition plate 58 disposed so that the tip thereof faces both end regions of the developing roller surface, and is curved. The partition plate 58 is for partitioning a paddle wheel (not shown) inside the developing device and the developing roller 51 so that the developer is not supplied to the end region of the developing roller 51. When the free end portion 200B is curved, the contact portion 200C of the cleaning jig 200 tends to bend with respect to the cleaning jig main body. In this state, when the operator pulls the cleaning jig 200 lightly in the direction of pulling out the cleaning tool 200 from the doctor gap, the end portion of the contact portion 200 </ b> C hits the back surface of the doctor blade 57. When the operator further pulls, the contact portion 200C enters the gap between the back surface of the doctor blade 57 and the doctor-facing surface of the partition plate 58. As a result, almost the entire contact portion 200 </ b> C is in contact with the back surface of the distal end portion of the doctor blade 57. When the operator moves the cleaning jig 200 along the doctor gap while maintaining this state, the paper dust adhered to the front end surface of the doctor blade 57 and the rear end surface of the doctor blade 57 by the cleaning jig main body portion. Deposits such as toner lump are scraped off by the cleaning jig main body and the contact portion 200C.

However, when the operator moves the cleaning jig 200 from one end portion of the developing roller 51 to the other end portion, the side edge portion 200E of the free end portion 200B near the other end portion becomes the side surface of the partition plate 58 as shown in FIG. Will hit the lower side 58a. Therefore, the movement of the free end portion 200B is obstructed by the partition plate 58, and the contact portion 200C of the cleaning jig 200 cannot move any further. Therefore, there arises a problem that a part of the back surface of the distal end of the doctor blade 57 cannot be cleaned.
Note that this problem is not limited to the partition plate 58, the movement inhibiting member such as a side edge portion 200E is hit prevent its movement of the free end portion 200B when moving the cleaning jig 200, the developing roller or the like of the developer In the case where it is arranged opposite to the carrier, it can occur in the same manner.

In view of the above problems, the present invention is an improvement of the cleaning member proposed in Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-175095. The object of the present invention is to prevent the movement-inhibiting member as described above from facing the developer carrier. Cleaning jig and image forming apparatus capable of removing deposits adhering to the back surface of the tip of the plate-like developer regulating member without being obstructed by the movement inhibiting member And a consumable used in the image forming apparatus.

To achieve the above object, a first aspect of the invention, one cleaning jig body into the gap between the developer carrying member which is disposed close to the tip of the plate-like developer regulating member and the developer regulating member part insert the a cleaning jig for cleaning and removing deposits adhered to the rear surface located on the back surface of the insertion side of the distal end portion of the developer regulating member, grasping the cleaning jig body And a contact part that comes into contact with the back surface at the tip of the developer regulating member after the part of the cleaning jig main body is inserted into the gap, and the corresponding contact part comes into contact with the back surface. A flexible free end located on the back side of the gap, and the side edge of the free end is moved when the cleaning jig body is moved along the gap. The movement-inhibiting member that prevents the movement when hitting is opposed to the developer carrier with a gap. Be those used in the developing device is location, the cleaning jig body being in contact with the contacting portion on back surface when moving along the gap, in the moving direction with respect to the direction of movement The free end portion is formed such that the side edge portion of the free end portion that faces is inclined toward the rear side in the movement direction toward the distal end side of the free end portion.
Further, the invention of claim 2 is the cleaning jig of claim 1, wherein the cleaning jig body portion between the grip portion and the free end portion is formed of a flexible material, and the contact portion is the even of a is it wherein the cuts to be U-shaped is a portion surrounded by the cut thus obtained is provided to the body part when placed the free end portion on the left side.
Further, the invention according to claim 3 is the cleaning jig according to claim 2, wherein the inclination start position of the side edge portion is parallel to the moving direction and is in the vicinity of a virtual straight line passing through the root of the contact portion. Thus, the above-mentioned free end portion is formed.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image carrier, latent image forming means for forming a latent image on the image carrier, and development for forming a visible image on the image carrier by developing the latent image. The cleaning jig of claim 1, 2 or 3 is detachably attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus, and the developing means includes a plate-like developer regulating member and the developer. A developer carrying body disposed in proximity to the tip of the regulating member, and when the cleaning jig main body of the cleaning jig is moved along the gap between the developer regulating member and the developer carrying body. The movement inhibiting member that prevents the movement by the side edge of the free end portion of the cleaning jig coming in contact with the developer carrying member with a gap is provided.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image carrier, latent image forming means for forming a latent image on the image carrier, and development for developing the latent image to form a visible image on the image carrier. And a developing tool, wherein the cleaning tool is removably attached to a part of the consumable, and the developing means is a plate. A developer carrying member disposed in the vicinity of the tip of the developer regulating member, and a cleaning jig body of the cleaning jig between the developer regulating member and the developer carrying body. A movement-inhibiting member that prevents the movement of the cleaning jig when it is moved along the gap between the side edges of the free end of the cleaning jig and is opposed to the developer carrier with a gap. It is characterized by.

When performing the cleaning operation using the cleaning jig of claims 1 to 3 and the cleaning jig removably attached to the consumables used in the image forming apparatus of claim 4 and the image forming apparatus of claim 5, A part of the cleaning jig main body is inserted into the gap between the developer regulating member and the developer carrier . Thereafter, the contact portion of the cleaning jig is brought into contact with the rear surface of the tip of the developer regulating member to be cleaned, and is moved along the gap in that state. Thereby, the adhering matter adhering to the back surface of the tip of the developer regulating member is scraped off and removed by the contact portion. In addition, even when a movement inhibiting member that faces the side edge of the free end and impedes its movement when the cleaning jig is moved is disposed facing the developer carrier , Due to the inclination and the bending of the free end, the contact position of the side edge that contacts the movement inhibiting member slides toward the tip of the free end. As a result, the free end can enter between the movement-inhibiting member and the developer carrier . Therefore, the cleaning jig can be moved without being obstructed by the movement-inhibiting member.

As described above, according to the first to fifth aspects of the present invention, even if the movement inhibiting member as described above is arranged to face the developer carrier , the developer regulating member is not obstructed by the movement inhibiting member. There is an excellent effect that it is possible to remove deposits adhering to the back surface portion of the tip.

A laser copying machine as an image forming apparatus using the cleaning jig of the present invention will be described below.
FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an example of a laser copying machine. In the laser copying machine, a photosensitive drum 12 as an image carrier is provided in the copying machine main body 10. Around the photosensitive drum 12, image forming devices such as a charging device 13, a developing device 14, a transfer / conveyance device 15, a cleaning device 16, and a charge eliminating device 17 are disposed. A laser writing device 18 is provided on the upper part of these image forming devices. A fixing device 25 is disposed on the left side of the cleaning device 16 in the drawing. A document reading device 30 is provided in the upper part of the copying machine main body 10. On the copying machine main body, an automatic document feeder 41 is attached so as to be openable and closable so as to cover the contact glass 40 installed on the upper surface thereof. On the other hand, a duplex unit 35 is disposed at the lower part of the copying machine main body 10. The copying machine main body 10 is placed on a paper feed table 43. In the paper feed table 43, a plurality of paper feed cassettes 44 are provided in multiple stages. Each paper feed cassette 44 is provided with a paper feed roller 45 corresponding thereto. Each of the paper feed rollers 45 conveys the sheet fed from the corresponding paper feed cassette 44 to the conveyance path 46.

Next, the copying operation of the laser copying machine will be described.
In FIG. 2, the copy document is set on the automatic document feeder 41 or on the contact glass 40. When a start switch (not shown) is pressed after setting, the image information of the set document is read by the document reading device 30 in units of pixels. In response to the document reading operation, a sheet in the paper feeding cassette 44 selected in advance is conveyed to the conveying path 46 by the rotation of the corresponding paper feeding roller 45. The sheet conveyed to the conveyance path 46 is abutted against the registration roller 48 via the sheet feeding path 36 and temporarily stopped. The temporarily stopped sheet is fed below the photosensitive drum 12 as the registration roller 48 rotates at a predetermined timing in accordance with the rotation of the photosensitive drum 12.

  In response to the document reading operation, the photosensitive drum 12 rotates in a predetermined direction. As the photosensitive drum 12 rotates, the surface of the photosensitive drum 12 is first uniformly charged by the charging device 13. Next, the laser writing device 18 irradiates the surface of the photosensitive drum 12 with laser light L corresponding to the image information of the document read by the document reading device 30. As a result, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the original image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 12. This electrostatic latent image is converted into a visible image (toner image) by the toner in the developer supplied from the developing device 14. The toner image formed on the photosensitive drum is transferred by the transfer / conveyance device 15 onto the sheet fed below the photosensitive drum 12 by the rotation of the registration roller 48. In the toner image transfer process, toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 12 without being transferred onto the sheet is removed from the surface of the photosensitive drum 12 by the cleaning device 16. Further, the charge remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 12 after the transfer process is neutralized by the neutralization device 17.

  The sheet on which the toner image has been transferred in the transfer step is conveyed to the fixing device 25 by the transfer / conveyance device 15. The fixing device 25 fixes the toner image transferred in the transfer process on the sheet. The sheet on which the toner image is fixed is discharged onto a tray (not shown) outside the apparatus through a paper discharge path 38. Here, when a toner image is also formed on the back surface of the sheet on which the toner image is fixed, the sheet after the toner image is formed on one side is sent to the duplex unit 35 through the reverse path 39. The sheet sent to the duplex unit 35 is turned upside down, sent to the registration roller 48, and temporarily stopped. In the same way as when copying on one side, the toner image is transferred and fixed on the back side of the sheet, and the sheet is then discharged onto a tray outside the apparatus through a paper discharge path 38.

Next, the developing device 14 will be described.
FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the developing device 14.
The developing device 14 includes a developing tank 50 and a developing hopper 60. In the developing case 59 of the developing tank 50, a first developing roller 51 and a second developing roller 52 are provided as developer carrying members, which are proximity members. Further, a paddle wheel 53, a stirring roller 54, a conveying screw 55, a separator 56, and the like are provided. Further, the developing device 14 is provided with a doctor blade 57 as a developer regulating member which is a plate-like member so as to face the peripheral surface of the first developing roller 51. Further, in the vicinity of both end portions of the first developing roller 51 and the second developing roller 52, a partition plate 58 is provided so as to be opposed to each other with a predetermined interval. The partition plate 58 partitions the paddle wheel 53 in the developing device so that the developer is not supplied outside the magnetized region at the end of the developing roller 51. In the developing case 59, a two-component developer composed of a carrier and a toner is accommodated. On the other hand, in the developing hopper 60, a toner supply member 61, a supply regulating plate 62, an agitator 63, and the like are provided. In the developing hopper 60, replenishment toner is accommodated.

  In FIG. 3, the developer in the developing case 59 is stirred and frictionally charged by the rotation of the stirring roller 54 and then carried on the surfaces of the first developing roller 51 and the second developing roller 52 by the rotation of the paddle wheel 53. Is done. The developer carried on the surfaces of the first developing roller 51 and the second developing roller 52 passes through a gap (doctor gap) formed between the first developing roller 51 and the second developing roller 52, thereby thinning the developer to a predetermined thickness. It becomes. The doctor gap of the developing device 14 is set to about 0.6 mm. The electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 12 is converted into a toner image by the toner in the developer supplied from the developing device 14 by the toner in the thinned developer. The The developing device 14 is provided with a toner scattering preventing device 70 (see FIG. 2). The toner scattering prevention device 70 includes an exhaust unit 72 connected to the developing device 14 by an intake tube 71. The exhaust means 72 sucks the scattered toner. The scattered toner sucked by the exhaust unit 72 is stored in the toner storage unit 74 disposed in the copying machine main body 10 through the exhaust tube 73. A suction duct 75 is attached to the tip of the exhaust tube 73 as shown in FIG. The suction duct 75 is formed in an elongated rectangular shape, and a connection port 76 for connecting one end of the intake tube 71 is provided at the center of the upper surface. Further, an opening 77 is provided on the lower surface of the suction duct 75 as shown in FIG.

By the way, in the developing device 14 configured as described above, paper dust may be clogged in the doctor gap between the first developing roller 51 and the doctor blade 57. At the portion where the paper gap in the doctor gap is clogged, the thickness of the developer thin layer formed on the first developing roller 51 is changed from the normal state shown in FIG. 6A to FIG. 6B. As shown, it may decrease. As described above, when the thickness of the developer thin layer is reduced, the developing ability is lowered, and the image density of the toner image may be partially reduced.
This problem can be solved by using the following cleaning jig.

FIG. 7A is a plan view of the cleaning jig 100. FIG. 7B is a side view of the cleaning jig 100.
The cleaning jig 100 includes a gripping part 100A, a free end part 100B, and a contact part 100C. The free end 100B is formed of a film-like flexible material. The cleaning jig may be formed of any material as long as at least the free end portion 100B is formed of a film-like flexible material. For example, a resin film can be used. Moreover, the thickness of the cleaning jig main body is formed thinner than the size of the doctor gap. Here, the cleaning jig was made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) having a thickness of 0.1 mm. As shown in FIG. 7 (a), the contact portion 100C is obtained by providing a U-shaped cut 100D in the cleaning jig main body portion between the gripping portion 100A and the free end 100B. It is a part surrounded by 100D. The end portion of the contact portion 100C is formed so as to face the back surface of the distal end portion of the doctor blade 57 in a state where the free end portion 100B enters the doctor gap. Further, the abutting portion 100C is formed so that the end thereof forms a short side of a pair of parallel opposing sides of a trapezoid.
In addition, as shown in FIG. 8, as the contact part 300C, the main body of the cleaning jig 300 may be punched. In the illustrated example, the end of the cut 300D of the contact portion 300C formed by this punching process is provided with a round hole for the purpose of reinforcement.

The cleaning jig 100 is used as follows by an operator.
As shown in FIG. 9, the operator grips the grip portion 100 </ b> A of the cleaning jig 200 and inserts the free end portion 100 </ b> B into the doctor gap between the first developing roller 51 and the doctor blade 57. When the free end portion 100B is further inserted into the doctor gap, the tip end of the free end portion 100B comes into contact with the wall portion 14A provided in the developing device 14, as shown in FIG. Thereby, the progress of the tip of the free end portion 100B is blocked by the wall portion 14A, and the flexible free end portion 100B is curved. Then, the end portion of the contact portion 100 </ b> C of the cleaning jig 100 is bent and raised at a portion facing the rear surface of the distal end portion of the doctor blade 57. In this manner, the cleaning jig 100 is gently pulled in the direction in which the cleaning jig 100 is pulled out from the doctor gap in a state where the end portion of the contact portion 100C is bent and raised at a portion facing the back surface of the distal end portion of the doctor blade 57. As a result, the contact portion 100C comes into contact with the back surface of the distal end portion of the doctor blade 57 as shown in FIG. Thus, the operator moves the cleaning jig 100 along the doctor gap while the contact portion 100C remains in contact with the back surface of the distal end portion of the doctor blade 57. As a result, the adhering matter such as paper dust and toner lump that adheres to the back surface of the front end portion of the doctor blade 57 is removed. In the developing device 14 shown in FIG. 3, a part of the member forming the scattered toner suction portion by the toner scattering preventing device 70 serves as the wall portion 14A.

Next, the movement of the cleaning jig characteristic of the present invention will be described.
FIGS. 1A and 1B are explanatory views for explaining the movement of the cleaning jig 100 at the end of the developing roller 51.
When the operator moves the cleaning jig 100 along the doctor gap as described above and the cleaning jig 100 reaches the vicinity of the end portion of the developing roller 51, as shown in FIG. 1A, the free end portion 100B side. The edge portion 100E contacts the lower side 58a of the side surface of the partition plate 58. Here, the free end portion 100B of the cleaning jig 100 according to the present embodiment is configured so that the cleaning jig main body extends along the doctor gap in a state where the contact portion 100C is in contact with the back surface of the distal end portion of the doctor blade 57 as illustrated. When moving, the side edge portion 100E facing in the moving direction with respect to the moving direction is formed to incline backward in the moving direction toward the distal end side of the free end portion 100B. Therefore, when the operator further moves the cleaning jig 100, the flexible free end portion 100B is curved, and the side edge portion 100E slides along the lower side 58a of the side surface of the partition plate 58. As a result, the free end portion 100B can enter between the partition plate 58 and the developing roller 51 as shown in FIG. As a result, the cleaning jig 100 can be moved to the end of the developing roller 51. Therefore, even if the partition plate 58 is disposed opposite to the end portion of the developing roller 51, it is attached over the entire area of the back surface portion of the distal end portion of the doctor blade 57 facing the developing roller portion (center portion) not facing the partition plate 58. The kimono can be removed. Further, the adhering matter can also be removed from a part of the back surface of the distal end portion of the doctor blade 57 facing the developing roller portion (both end region portions) facing the partition plate 58, that is, the portion where the abutting portion 200C can abut. it can.

In the present embodiment, the side edge portion 100E of the free end portion 100B is parallel to the moving direction and from the vicinity of the virtual straight line passing through the root of the contact portion 100C, the tip of the free end portion 100B. It is inclined so as to taper toward. By inclining in this way, all the side edge portions of the free end portion 100B located inside the developing device with respect to the back surface of the doctor blade 57 are inclined as described above. Therefore, even with respect to the developing device having a configuration in which the side edge portion is in contact with the lower side 58a of the side surface of the partition plate 58 at a position close to the back surface of the doctor blade 57, the side along the lower side 58a. The edge part 100E can be slid reliably. However, when the cleaning jig 100 is dedicated to a specific developing device, the movement inhibiting member such as a partition member to which the side edge portion 100E of the free end portion 100B hits the inside of the specific developing device. In response, the starting position of the slope can be determined. For example, in the case of hitting the movement-inhibiting member at a position closer to the distal end side of the free end portion 100B than the virtual straight line, it may be inclined to taper from the contact position toward the distal end of the free end portion 100B. Good.
Moreover, in this embodiment, although the side edge part 100E becomes a shape tapering straight toward the front-end | tip of the free end part 100B, the shape where the side edge part 100E tapers while bending may be sufficient.

As described above, in the cleaning jigs 100 and 300 according to the present embodiment, a part of the cleaning jig main body is inserted into the gap between the doctor blade 57 that is a plate-like member and the developing roller 51 that is a proximity member disposed in the vicinity of the distal end. Then, cleaning is performed by removing the adhering material adhering to the back surface located on the back side of the insertion side surface of the distal end portion of the doctor blade 57. The cleaning jigs 100 and 300 include a gripping part 100A for gripping the cleaning jig main body, and an abutting part 100C that abuts against the back surface of the distal end of the doctor blade 57 after inserting a part of the cleaning jig main body into the doctor gap. And a flexible free end portion 100B positioned on the back side of the doctor blade 57 with respect to the doctor gap when the abutting portion is brought into contact with the back surface of the distal end portion of the doctor blade 57. When the cleaning jig main body is moved along the doctor gap in a state where the contact portion 100C is in contact with the back surface of the distal end portion of the doctor blade 57, the free end portion facing the moving direction with respect to the moving direction. The free end portion 100B is formed so that the side edge portion 100E of 100B is inclined rearward in the movement direction toward the distal end side of the free end portion. Thereby, the deposit | attachment adhering to the front-end | tip part back surface of the doctor blade 57 can be scraped off and removed by the contact part 100C. In addition, even when the partition plate 58 is disposed to face the developing roller 51 so that the side edge portion 100E of the free end portion 100B is caught during this movement, the free end portion 100B is inclined by the inclination of the side edge portion 100E. Can enter between the partition plate 58 and the developing roller 51 while curving. Therefore, the abutting portion 100C can also be brought into contact with the back surface portion of the distal end portion of the doctor blade 57 disposed in the vicinity of the developing roller portion facing the partition plate 58, and this portion can also be cleaned.
Moreover, the cleaning jig of this embodiment forms the cleaning jig main-body part between the holding part 100A and the free end part 100B with a flexible material, and the contact part 100C has the free end part 100B on the left side. This is a portion surrounded by the cut 100D obtained by providing the main body with a cut 100D that is U-shaped when placed. Since such a contact part 100C can be obtained by a simple manufacturing process, the manufacturing cost of the cleaning jig can be reduced.
In the present embodiment, the starting position of the inclination at the side edge portion 100E of the free end portion 100B is in the vicinity of a virtual straight line that is parallel to the moving direction and passes through the root of the contact portion 100C. Accordingly, as described above, the lower side of the developing device having a configuration in which the side edge portion 100E is in contact with the lower side of the side surface of the partition plate 58 at a position close to the back surface of the doctor blade 57. The free edge portion 100B can be curved by reliably sliding the side edge portion along the side.
The laser copying machine, which is an image forming apparatus of this embodiment, includes a photosensitive drum 12 that is an image carrier, and a laser writing device 18 that is a latent image forming unit that forms a latent image on the photosensitive drum 12. The image forming apparatus has a developing device 14 as a developing means for developing the latent image to form a visible image on the photosensitive drum 12, and the cleaning jigs 100 and 300 can be detached from the image forming apparatus main body. Is attached. This eliminates the need for an operator such as a service person to carry the cleaning jigs 100 and 300 one by one, making it difficult to lose the cleaning jig.
The cleaning jig may be removably attached to a part of consumables such as a toner cartridge used in the laser copying machine. Thereby, when exchanging consumables, the above-described cleaning operation can be easily performed, and regular maintenance can be promoted.

(A) And (b) is explanatory drawing for demonstrating a motion of the cleaning jig in the edge part of the developing roller provided in the developing device of the laser copying machine in this embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the laser copying machine. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the developing device. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a suction duct provided in the developing device. The perspective view which shows the opening part of the suction duct. (A) is the schematic which shows the state in which the developer thin layer of normal thickness is formed on the 1st developing roller of the developing device. FIG. 4B is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in which a thin developer layer is formed when paper dust is clogged in the doctor gap between the first developing roller and the doctor blade of the developing device. (A) is a top view of the cleaning jig which concerns on embodiment. (B) is a side view of the cleaning jig. The perspective view which shows the other example of a cleaning jig. Explanatory drawing which shows the state which inserted the free end part of the cleaning jig which concerns on embodiment into the doctor gap. Explanatory drawing which shows the state which made the front-end | tip of the free end part of the cleaning jig contact the wall part of a developing device. Explanatory drawing which shows the state which made the contact part of the cleaning jig contact | abut with respect to the front-end | tip part back surface of a doctor blade. Explanatory drawing which shows the cleaning jig described as one of the Examples of Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-175095.

Explanation of symbols

12 Photosensitive drum 14 Developing device 14A Wall portion 51 First developing roller 57 Doctor blade 58 Partition plate 100, 200, 300 Cleaning jig 100A, 200A, 300A Holding portion 100B, 200B, 300B Free end portion 100C, 200C, 300C Contact part 100D, 200D, 300D Cut 100E, 200E, 300E Side edge

Claims (5)

Insert a portion of the cleaning jig body into the gap between the plate-like developer regulating member and said juxtaposed with the tip of the developer regulating member was a developing agent carrier, the at the distal end of said developer regulating member A cleaning jig that performs cleaning by removing deposits attached to the back surface located on the back side of the insertion side surface,
A gripping part for gripping the cleaning jig body;
After inserting a part of the cleaning jig main body into the gap, an abutting portion that abuts on the back surface at the tip of the developer regulating member;
A flexible free end located on the back side of the gap when the abutting part is in contact with the back side;
When the cleaning jig main body is moved along the gap, the movement inhibiting member which is prevented from moving by hitting the side edge of the free end portion is used for a developing device which is arranged to face the developer carrier with a gap. Because
When the cleaning jig main body is moved along the gap with the contact portion being in contact with the back surface, the side edge portion of the free end portion facing the moving direction with respect to the moving direction is free. A cleaning jig, wherein the free end portion is formed so as to be inclined rearward in the moving direction toward the distal end side of the end portion. The cleaning jig according to claim 1,
A cleaning jig body part between the grip part and the free end part is formed of a flexible material,
The cleaning tool according to claim 1, wherein the contact portion is a portion surrounded by the cut obtained by providing a cut in a U shape when the free end is placed on the left side. In the cleaning jig of Claim 2,
The free end portion is formed so that the inclination start position of the side edge portion is in the vicinity of a virtual straight line that is parallel to the moving direction and passes through the root of the contact portion. Cleaning jig. An image carrier;
Latent image forming means for forming a latent image on the image carrier;
In an image forming apparatus having a developing unit that develops the latent image to form a visible image on an image carrier,
The cleaning jig according to claim 1, 2 or 3 is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus main body ,
The developing means includes a plate-like developer regulating member and a developer carrier disposed in proximity to the tip of the developer regulating member, and the cleaning jig body of the cleaning jig is connected to the developer regulating member and the developer regulating member. When moving along the gap between the developer carrying member and the side edge of the free end of the cleaning jig, the movement inhibiting member that prevents the movement is disposed opposite the developer carrying member with a gap. an image forming apparatus characterized in that is. An image carrier;
Latent image forming means for forming a latent image on the image carrier;
A consumable used in an image forming apparatus having a developing means for developing the latent image to form a visible image on an image carrier,
The cleaning jig of claim 1, 2, or 3 is detachably attached to a part of the consumables ,
The developing means includes a plate-like developer regulating member and a developer carrier disposed in proximity to the tip of the developer regulating member, and the cleaning jig body of the cleaning jig is connected to the developer regulating member and the developer regulating member. When moving along the gap between the developer carrying member and the side edge of the free end of the cleaning jig, the movement inhibiting member that prevents the movement is disposed opposite the developer carrying member with a gap. consumables of an image forming apparatus, characterized in that is.

Images