JP4123474B2 - Writing optical device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a writing optical device in an image forming unit such as a copying machine, a laser printer, or a laser facsimile machine, and in particular, a cover body covering a dust-proof glass portion provided in a portion for storing optical components, and the vicinity thereof. The present invention relates to the discharge and cleaning of foreign matter accumulated on the formed member.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In the image forming apparatus, in the case where the writing optical device is installed below the position where the photosensitive member is installed, a beam emitting opening provided in the housing for emitting a laser beam from the writing optical device. Because of this, the laser will inevitably drop and adhere to foreign matter such as dust and scattered toner on the surface of the dust-proof glass that covers the beam exit opening. In many cases, the beam is optically affected, and as a result, defects on the formed image are generated.
[0003]
Therefore, in the invention relating to the optical writing unit described in Patent Document 1, by providing an eaves-like member directly above the laser light emitting portion in the optical writing unit, the optical writing unit falls from the top to the dust-proof glass. It has been proposed to make it difficult for foreign objects such as dust to adhere.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-230640
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, as in the invention described in Patent Document 1, it is possible to prevent foreign matter from adhering to some extent by providing a guard member such as an eaves-like member on the dustproof glass, but this cannot be prevented by itself. is the current situation.
[0006]
Further, the space near the dust-proof glass in the writing optical device is generally narrow, and even if foreign matter such as scattered toner adheres to the dust-proof glass, it is difficult to remove it.
[0007]
The object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, to prevent foreign matter from adhering to the dust-proof glass, and to allow easy and reliable discharge without depositing even if foreign matter enters. It is an object of the present invention to provide a writing optical device that can remove foreign substances adhering to each part.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is a writing optical apparatus that is installed below a photosensitive member and deflects and scans the main scanning direction of the photosensitive member with a light beam, and includes an optical component. In a writing optical apparatus in which a cover body that covers a dustproof glass portion provided in a light beam emitting opening in a housing to be housed is installed, a dustproof glass cleaning member that cleans the outer surface of the dustproof glass on the cover body The cleaning member is provided with a cover body / cleaning member for cleaning the bottom of the cover body, and at least one discharge opening for discharging foreign matter accumulated on the bottom of the cover body to the outside is provided. With this structure, the dust-proof glass part is covered with the cover body, and it is possible to prevent foreign matter from entering and sticking to the dust-proof glass as much as possible. In addition, when foreign matter adheres to the dust-proof glass, the dust-proof glass / cleaning member and the cover / cleaning member are provided, so that foreign matter inside the cover can be reliably removed to the outside, and foreign matter can be discharged. By reducing the opening area, it is possible to reduce the risk of foreign matter entering from the discharge opening.
[0010]
According to a second aspect of the invention, the optical writing device according to claim 1, in the dustproof glass cleaning member, an opening cleaning member for cleaning the light beam emitting opening peripheral portion of the cover body In addition to the dust-proof glass, it is possible to remove foreign matters that are caught on the edge or part of the cover body.
[0011]
According to a third aspect of the invention, the optical writing apparatus of claim 1 Symbol mounting, characterized in that detachable cover member to the housing, by this arrangement, the abnormal situation in the abnormal image is output Even if this occurs, it is possible to easily remove foreign matters and the like attached to the dust-proof glass by removing the cover body.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[0013]
Figure 1 is a sectional view of a main part of Reference Example 1 for illustrating an illustrative shaped state of the optical writing apparatus of the present invention, 1 is belt-shaped photosensitive belt, 2 exposure of the photosensitive belt 1 A driving roller that is installed at a position to drive and move the belt-shaped photosensitive member 1, 3 is a developing unit that performs toner development on the belt-shaped photosensitive member 1, and 4 is a laser light source and a laser driving circuit (not shown) inside the housing 5. , A polygon mirror, and various optical components.
[0014]
The writing optical device 4 scans and exposes the surface of the belt-like photosensitive member 1 in the main scanning direction (direction perpendicular to the drawing) with a laser beam L emitted from a laser light source driven based on image data. It forms a latent image. The latent image on the surface of the belt-like photoreceptor 1 is developed with toner in the developing unit 3 by an electrophotographic image forming process, and the toner image is transferred onto a recording sheet by a transfer charger (not shown).
[0015]
FIG. 1 shows a part of the writing optical device 4, and a beam emission opening 6 is formed in the housing 5 so that the laser beam L is emitted to an exposure position on the belt-like photoconductor 1 installed obliquely above. And a dust-proof glass 7 is provided so as to close the opening 6 for beam emission. An upper portion of the housing 5 is covered with an upper cover body 8, and an end portion of the upper cover body 8 extends to form an eave-like cover portion 9 that covers the upper portion of the dust-proof glass 7. Further, the housing 5 is provided with a dust-proof glass cover body 10 having an open end 10a on the belt-like photosensitive member 1 side so as to surround the periphery of the dust-proof glass 7 together with the eave-like cover portion 9 of the upper cover body 8. .
[0016]
The dust-proof glass cover body 10 is installed in the housing so that its longitudinal direction extends in the main scanning direction of the belt-like photoreceptor 1 and the open end 10a on the belt-like photoreceptor 1 side faces obliquely upward. ing. The dust-proof glass cover body 10 is provided at its lower portion with an engagement leg portion 12 that is detachably fitted to a locking projection portion 11 projecting from the housing 5. Further, at the upper portion of the engagement leg portion 12, A discharge opening 13 for discharging foreign matter deposited on the bottom of the dust-proof glass cover body 10 to the outside is provided over the entire length of the housing 5.
[0017]
The laser beam L includes a beam emitting opening 6 of the housing 5, a dust-proof glass 7, an open end 10 a of the dust-proof glass / cover body 10, an eave-like cover portion 9 of the upper cover body 8, and a dust-proof glass / cover body 10. The surface of the belt-like photoconductor 1 is exposed through the open end 10a of the dust-proof glass / cover body 10 and exposed.
[0018]
In the reference example 1, since it is configured as described above, foreign matters such as scattered toner from the developing unit 3 or a cleaning unit (not shown) are caused by the eaves-like cover portion 9 of the upper cover body 8 and the dust-proof glass cover body 10. The wall formed so as to be enclosed is prevented from entering the interior, and foreign matter reaches the dust-proof glass 7 and adheres to it, thereby preventing the formed image from becoming abnormal.
[0019]
Further, when foreign matter enters the cover, the dust falls outside the discharge opening 13 provided in the entire longitudinal direction of the dust-proof glass / cover body 10, so that the foreign matter accumulates inside the dust-proof glass / cover body 10. Nothing will happen.
[0020]
Figure 2 is a sectional view of Example 2 for illustrating an illustrative shaped state of the optical writing apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the main part in Reference Example 2. In the following description, members corresponding to those already described are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.
[0021]
In Reference Example 2, a dust-proof glass / cleaning member 15 is provided on the dust-proof glass / cover body 10, and a guide portion 16 is provided for guiding sliding of the dust-proof glass / cleaning member 15 relative to the dust-proof glass 7.
[0022]
The dustproof glass / cleaning member 15 has an L-shaped cross section including a holder portion 18 that holds a cleaning pad 17 that contacts the dustproof glass 7 and a sliding portion 19 that is slidably fitted to the guide portion 16. In addition, an operation rod 20 for an operator to move the dust-proof glass / cleaning member 15 from the outside is provided at a connection portion between the holder portion 18 and the sliding portion 19.
[0023]
The cleaning pad 17 is affixed to the holder portion 18 and the pad material is preferably a polyester film, a bristle brush, or a foamed member such as a sponge. However, the cleaning pad 17 has some flexibility and does not damage the surface of the dust-proof glass 7. Any material can be used.
[0024]
Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a discharge opening 21 for discharging foreign matter deposited on the bottom of the dust-proof glass / cover body 10 to a part of the upper portion of the engaging leg 12 in the dust-proof glass / cover body 10. Is provided.
[0025]
Since the reference example 2 is configured as described above, as in the reference example 1, foreign matter such as scattered toner from the developing unit 3 or a cleaning unit (not shown) is prevented from adhering to the eaves-like cover portion 9 of the upper cover body 8 and the dust proof. The wall formed so as to be surrounded by the glass cover body 10 is prevented from entering the inside, and foreign matter reaches the dust-proof glass 7 and adheres to it, thereby causing an abnormality in the formed image. Can be prevented.
[0026]
In addition, when foreign matter adheres to the dust-proof glass 7, the operator operates the operation rod 20 of the dust-proof glass / cleaning member 15 by hand, and the dust-proof glass / sliding out of the region where the laser beam L normally passes is normally performed. By sliding the cleaning member 15 along the guide portion 16 of the dust-proof glass / cover body 10, the cleaning pad 17 can be brought into sliding contact with the surface of the dust-proof glass 7 to remove foreign matters attached to the dust-proof glass 7. .
[0027]
In this way, the foreign matter removed from the dust-proof glass 7 by the cleaning pad 17 and deposited on the bottom of the dust-proof glass / cover body 10 falls outside through the discharge opening 21 provided at the bottom of the dust-proof glass / cover body 10. Therefore, it is possible to prevent foreign matter removed by cleaning from reattaching to the dust-proof glass 7 and forming an abnormal image without depositing inside the dust-proof glass / cover body 10.
[0028]
4 and 5 are explanatory views of the configuration and operation of the dust-proof glass / cleaning member according to the first embodiment of the writing optical apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the entire dust-proof glass / cleaning member according to the first embodiment. a sectional view, the embodiment 1 reference example 2 differs from the lower part of the holder portion 18 of the dust-proof glass cleaning member 15, in order to clean the bottom of the dust-proof glass cover 10, a polyester film , A cover body / cleaning member 25 made of a hair brush or the like is provided.
[0029]
In the first embodiment, since the structure described above, in the same manner as in Reference Example 2, FIG. 5, as shown in FIG. 6, the control rod 20 of the dust-proof glass cleaning member 15 the operator operates by hand, a laser By sliding the dust-proof glass / cleaning member 15 evacuated outside the beam L passing area along the guide portion 16 of the dust-proof glass / cover body 10, foreign matter adhering to the dust-proof glass 7 by the cleaning pad 17 is removed. Since it can be removed and foreign matter can be moved to the installation position of the discharge opening 21 by the cover body / cleaning member 25 and reliably discharged to the outside, the end of the dustproof glass cover body 10 can be removed. Even if the discharge opening 21 is provided only in part, the foreign matter can be moved to the discharge opening 21, so that a sufficient effect for discharging the foreign matter can be obtained. In this way, by reducing the installation area of the discharge opening 21, it is possible to reduce the risk of foreign matter entering from the opening.
[0030]
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the dust-proof glass / cleaning member in Embodiment 2 according to the writing optical apparatus of the present invention. The difference of Embodiment 2 from Reference Example 2 is that of the dust-proof glass / cleaning member 15. The holder portion 18 is cleaned of substantially the entire opening for emitting the laser beam L in front of the dust-proof glass 7 formed so as to be surrounded by the eave-like cover portion 9 of the upper cover body 8 and the dust-proof glass cover body 10. Therefore, an opening / cleaning member 30 made of a foaming member such as a sponge is provided.
[0031]
In the second embodiment, since it is configured as described above, when the operator slides the operation rod 20 of the dust-proof glass / cleaning member 15 by hand as in Reference Example 2, the opening / cleaning member 30 Since the entire opening for emitting the laser beam L in the dust-proof glass cover body 10 can be cleaned, the eaves-like cover portion 9 of the upper cover body 8 or the end of the dust-proof glass cover body 10 It is possible to remove and clean foreign matters such as lint, paper dust, and toner adhering to the area.
[0032]
As described above, according to the configuration of each embodiment, the cover body 8, 9, 10 is provided on the housing 5, and the opening to the outside around the dust-proof glass 7 is made as narrow as possible, so that foreign matter adheres to the dust-proof glass 7. In addition to providing a foreign matter discharge opening 13 and 21 at the bottom of the dust-proof glass cover body 10, it can be discharged without being deposited even if foreign matter enters the cover body. . Further, the dust-proof glass / cleaning member 15 and the cover body / cleaning member 25 can efficiently discharge foreign matter. Furthermore, by providing the opening / cleaning member 30 for cleaning the inside of the cover bodies 8, 9, and 10, foreign matter adhering to each part can be removed.
[0033]
Therefore, it is possible to prevent adverse effects on the laser beam L due to foreign matter at each part through which the laser beam L passes, so that optical writing on the photosensitive member is performed satisfactorily and deterioration of the formed image is prevented.
[0034]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the dust-proof glass portion is covered by the cover member, entry of foreign matter into the dust-proof glass, attaching can be prevented as much as possible, it was or, if foreign matter has adhered to the dust-proof glass The dust-proof glass / cleaning member and cover / cleaning member can reliably remove foreign matter inside the cover body, and the foreign matter can be reversed from the discharge opening by reducing the opening area for foreign matter discharge. Since good cleaning is always performed in the light beam passage region, for example, the risk of entering the light beam can be reduced, optical writing with excellent reliability is realized.
[Brief description of the drawings]
[1] for illustrating an illustrative shaped state of the optical writing apparatus of the present cross-sectional view of a main part of Reference Example 1 for illustrating an illustrative shaped state of the optical writing device of the invention the present invention; FIG It illustrates the main part of the dust-proof glass cleaning member in the first embodiment of the optical writing device of a cross-sectional view FIG. 4 the invention showing a principal part in a cross-section view FIG. 3 reference example 2 reference example 2 FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view as viewed from the planar state the whole of the dustproof glass cleaning member in illustration 6 embodiment 1 of the operation of the dust-proof glass cleaning member in the first embodiment [Fig. 7] optical writing of the present invention Sectional drawing which shows the principal part of the dust-proof glass cleaning member in Embodiment 2 which concerns on an apparatus
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Belt-like photoconductor 4 Writing optical apparatus 5 Housing 6 Beam emission opening 7 Dust-proof glass 8 Upper cover body 9 Eave-like cover part 10 Dust-proof cover / cover body 10a Open end 11 Locking protrusion part 12 Engagement leg parts 13 and 21 Discharge opening 15 Dust-proof glass / cleaning member 16 Guide portion 17 Cleaning pad 18 Holder portion 19 Sliding portion 20 Operation rod 25 Cover body / cleaning member 30 Opening portion / cleaning member

Claims (3)

A writing optical apparatus that is installed below a photosensitive member and deflects and scans the main scanning direction of the photosensitive member with a light beam, and is provided with a dustproof opening provided in an opening for emitting a light beam in a housing that houses optical components. In the writing optical apparatus in which the cover body covering the glass portion is installed,
The cover body is provided with a dust-proof glass / cleaning member for cleaning the outer surface of the dust-proof glass, and the cleaning member is provided with a cover body / cleaning member for cleaning the bottom of the cover body, and deposited on the bottom of the cover body. A writing optical apparatus , wherein a discharge opening for discharging foreign matter to the outside is provided in at least one position of the cover body . 2. The writing optical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the dust-proof glass / cleaning member is provided with an opening / cleaning member for cleaning a light beam emitting opening in the cover body . Optical writing device according to claim 1, characterized in that provided detachably the cover member to the housing.

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