JP4569401B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine, a printer, or a facsimile, and more specifically, an image forming type in which an image formed on an image carrier is transferred to a recording material via an intermediate transfer member. Relates to the device.

  In recent years, so-called full-color tandem machines have been proposed in image forming apparatuses such as printers, copiers, and facsimile machines for the purpose of forming color images at high speed and high image quality. As a typical tandem machine, four image forming units of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) are arranged in parallel with each other, and each of these image forming units. The toner images of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, which are sequentially formed in Step 1, are transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt, which is an intermediate transfer member, in a multiple transfer (primary transfer), and then the recording material (from the intermediate transfer belt) For example, a full-color or black-and-white (monochrome) image can be formed by collectively transferring (secondary transfer) onto a sheet of paper and fixing the toner image formed on the recording material.

  In secondary transfer, for example, a secondary transfer roll disposed on the toner image carrying surface side (front side) of the intermediate transfer belt and a non-toner image carrying surface side (back side) of the intermediate transfer belt with the intermediate transfer belt interposed therebetween. And a secondary transfer apparatus provided with a backup roll disposed in the middle). When such a secondary transfer device is used, a predetermined secondary transfer bias is applied between the secondary transfer roll and the backup roll in a state where the sheet is sandwiched between the secondary transfer roll and the intermediate transfer belt. As a result, the toner image carried on the intermediate transfer belt is secondarily transferred onto the paper (see Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-305559 (page 7-8, FIG. 2)

  By the way, in this type of image forming apparatus, the paper that has passed through the secondary transfer device is conveyed as it is without being peeled off from the intermediate transfer belt, which may cause problems such as paper jam (jamming) and image distortion. . Such a problem is likely to occur particularly when using paper that is weak, such as thin paper. This is because the sheet charged during the secondary transfer is attracted to the intermediate transfer belt side under the influence of the secondary transfer electric field formed in the vicinity of the secondary transfer device by the applied secondary transfer bias. It is thought to occur.

  With respect to such a problem, in Patent Document 1 described above, a conductive member is disposed close to the intermediate transfer belt along the intermediate transfer belt on the back side of the intermediate transfer belt after passing through the secondary transfer region, It is described that a bias applying power source for applying a predetermined voltage to the conductive member is connected. By adopting such a configuration, the electric field formed between the secondary transfer roll and the backup roll on the downstream side of the secondary transfer region can be weakened, and the paper after the secondary transfer is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt. It becomes possible to suppress sticking.

  However, the technique described in Patent Document 1 has a problem that the apparatus configuration is complicated and the apparatus itself is increased in size and the cost is increased because a new bias application power source must be attached. It was.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a technical problem, and an object of the present invention is to suppress sticking of a recording material to an intermediate transfer member with a simple configuration.

  For this purpose, the image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied is rotatably disposed, and is disposed so as to be rotatable so as to face the image bearing member on which the toner image is carried. In the primary transfer area where the intermediate transfer member and the image carrier and the intermediate transfer member face each other, the primary transfer portion that transfers the toner image on the image carrier to the intermediate transfer member, and the intermediate transfer member and the recording material face each other. A secondary transfer portion that transfers the toner image transferred onto the intermediate transfer member to the recording material in the secondary transfer region, a conductor disposed inside the intermediate transfer member after passing through the secondary transfer region, A charge supply unit configured to supply the conductor with a charge having the same polarity as the charging polarity of the recording material after passing through the secondary transfer region, received from the intermediate transfer member.

  In such an image forming apparatus, the charge supply unit is disposed inside the intermediate transfer member after passing through the primary transfer region, and removes the charge inside the intermediate transfer member and is electrically connected to the conductor. A charge removing member and a non-linear resistance element electrically connected between the conductor and the charge removing member and the ground can be provided. In the case where the intermediate transfer member is composed of an endless intermediate transfer belt that is stretched by a plurality of roll members that are rotatably arranged, the charge supply unit includes a primary transfer region of the plurality of roll members. The intermediate transfer belt is stretched at a portion that has passed through, a predetermined roll member that is electrically connected to the conductor, and a non-linear line that is electrically connected between the conductor and the predetermined roll member and the ground And a resistance element. Further, as a charge supply unit, the cleaning member is disposed in contact with the inner side of the intermediate transfer member, cleans the inner side of the intermediate transfer member, and is electrically connected to the conductor, and the conductor, the cleaning member, and the ground. And a non-linear resistance element electrically connected therebetween. In this case, the cleaning member can have the charging series having the same polarity as the charging polarity of the recording material after passing through the secondary transfer portion relative to the intermediate transfer member.

  From another point of view, the image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied is rotatably disposed, and is capable of rotating opposite to the image bearing member on which the toner image is carried. A primary transfer portion that transfers the toner image on the image carrier to the intermediate transfer member in the primary transfer region in which the intermediate transfer member and the image carrier and intermediate transfer member face each other; an intermediate transfer member and a recording material; In the secondary transfer area facing each other, a secondary transfer portion that transfers the toner image transferred onto the intermediate transfer body to the recording material, and a conductive material disposed inside the intermediate transfer body after passing through the secondary transfer area. And a charge supply member that receives the charge accumulated in the intermediate transfer member after passing through the primary transfer region and supplies the charge to the conductor.

  In such an image forming apparatus, the charge supply member can receive a charge having a polarity opposite to the charged polarity of the intermediate transfer member after passing through the secondary transfer region from the inside of the intermediate transfer member after passing through the primary transfer region. In addition, the conductor and the charge supply member can be grounded via a non-linear resistance element. Further, the primary transfer unit includes a primary transfer member that is disposed in pressure contact with the image carrier via the intermediate transfer member, and the intermediate transfer member and the primary transfer member are disposed inside the intermediate transfer member after passing through the primary transfer region. It can be characterized in that charges generated with the peeling discharge are accumulated.

  According to the present invention, since the electric charge received from the intermediate transfer member is supplied to the conductor disposed inside the intermediate transfer member after passing through the secondary transfer region, a dedicated power source is not provided separately. With a simple configuration, sticking of the recording material to the intermediate transfer member can be suppressed.

The best mode for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as an embodiment) will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
<Embodiment 1>
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus to which the exemplary embodiment is applied. The image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is a so-called tandem type, so-called intermediate transfer type image forming apparatus. This image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image forming units 10 (10Y, 10M, 10C, 10K) on which toner images of each color component are formed by an electrophotographic method, and each color component toner image formed by each image forming unit 10. An intermediate transfer belt 15 that sequentially transfers (primary transfer) and holds the toner image, and a secondary transfer unit 20 that collectively transfers (secondary transfer) the superimposed toner image transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 15 to a sheet P that is a recording material. A fixing device 60 for fixing the secondary transferred image on the paper P is provided. The image forming apparatus also includes a control unit 40 that controls the operation of each device (each unit) and a user interface (UI) 41 that is used to give an operation instruction by the user.

  Each image forming unit 10 (10Y, 10M, 10C, 10K) has a photosensitive drum 11 as an image carrier that rotates in the direction of arrow A. Around the photosensitive drum 11, there are a charger 12 for charging the photosensitive drum 11, a laser exposure device 13 for writing an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 11 (the exposure beam is indicated by Bm in the figure), and each color. A developing device 14 that contains component toner and visualizes the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 11 with the toner, and a primary transfer that transfers each color component toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 11 to the intermediate transfer belt 15. Electrophotographic devices such as a primary transfer roll 16 as a transfer portion or a primary transfer member and a drum cleaner 17 from which residual toner on the photosensitive drum 11 is removed are sequentially disposed. These image forming units 10 are arranged substantially linearly in the order of yellow (Y color), magenta (M color), cyan (C color), and black (K color) from the upstream side of the intermediate transfer belt 15. Yes. Each developing device 14 uses a negatively charged toner as each color component toner.

The intermediate transfer belt 15 as an intermediate transfer member is made of a resin such as polyimide or polyamide containing an appropriate amount of an antistatic agent such as carbon black. The intermediate transfer belt 15 is a film-like endless belt having a thickness of, for example, about 0.1 mm. The volume resistivity of the intermediate transfer belt 15 can be appropriately selected from the range of 10 ⁶ to 10 ¹⁴ Ω · cm. In the present embodiment, the volume resistivity is about 10 ¹¹ to 10 ¹³ Ω · cm. A higher one is used. The intermediate transfer belt 15 is circulated and driven (rotated) at a predetermined speed in the direction of arrow B shown in the drawing by various rolls. As these various rolls, a drive roll 31 that is driven by a motor (not shown) having excellent constant speed and circulates and drives the intermediate transfer belt 15, and an intermediate that extends substantially linearly along the arrangement direction of the photosensitive drums 11. An idle roll 32 that supports the transfer belt 15, a tension roll 33 that functions as a correction roll that applies a constant tension to the intermediate transfer belt 15 and prevents the intermediate transfer belt 15 from meandering, and a backup provided in the secondary transfer unit 20. A roll 25 is provided. In the present embodiment, the drive roll 31, the idle roll 32, the tension roll 33, and the backup roll 25 constitute a plurality of rolls that stretch the intermediate transfer belt 15.

  Each primary transfer roll 16 provided inside the intermediate transfer belt 15 facing the respective photosensitive drums 11 and extending substantially linearly has a polarity opposite to the toner charging polarity (in this embodiment, positive polarity). ) Voltage is applied. As a result, the toner images on the respective photosensitive drums 11 are sequentially electrostatically attracted to the intermediate transfer belt 15 to form toner images superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 15.

  The secondary transfer unit 20 includes an endless secondary transfer conveyance belt 21 disposed on the toner image carrying surface side of the intermediate transfer belt 15, a backup roll 25, and the like. The backup roll 25 is a tube of EPDM and NBR blend rubber with carbon dispersed on the surface, and the inside is made of EPDM rubber, and the surface resistivity is 7 to 10 logΩ / □ and the roll diameter is 28 mm. Is set to 70 ° (Asker C), for example. The backup roll 25 is disposed on the back side of the intermediate transfer belt 15 to form a counter electrode of the secondary transfer conveyance belt 21 and a metal power supply roll 26 to which a secondary transfer bias described later is stably applied. They are tangentially arranged.

On the other hand, the secondary transfer conveyance belt 21 is a semiconductive endless belt stretched by a driving roll 22 and a peeling roll 23 and having, for example, a volume resistivity of 10 ⁶ to 10 ¹⁰ Ω · cm. The secondary transfer conveyance belt 21 is driven by a driving roll 22 and given a predetermined tension by a peeling roll 23. The driving roll 22 is disposed in pressure contact with the backup roll 25 with the secondary transfer conveyance belt 21 and the intermediate transfer belt 15 interposed therebetween, and performs a secondary transfer on the sheet P conveyed on the secondary transfer conveyance belt 21. Is functioning as The peeling roll 23 also has a function of peeling the paper P carried on the secondary transfer conveyance belt 21 by stretching the secondary transfer conveyance belt 21 with a predetermined curvature.

  Further, on the downstream side of the secondary transfer portion 20 of the intermediate transfer belt 15, the intermediate transfer belt 15 is disposed so as to face the drive roll 31, and residual toner and paper on the intermediate transfer belt 15 after the secondary transfer are disposed. A belt cleaner 35 that removes powder and cleans the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 15 is attached. Further, on the inner side of the intermediate transfer belt 15 downstream of the secondary transfer unit 20 in the moving direction of the intermediate transfer belt 15 and upstream of the belt cleaner 35, the rear side of the intermediate transfer belt 15 is cleaned. A belt inner surface cleaner 36 is attached.

  On the other hand, on the inner side of the intermediate transfer belt 15 upstream of the yellow image forming unit 10Y, a reference signal serving as a reference for taking the image forming timing in each image forming unit 10 (10Y, 10M, 10C, 10K) is provided. A generated reference sensor (home position sensor) 42 is arranged. The reference sensor 42 recognizes a predetermined mark provided on the inner side of the intermediate transfer belt 15 (the back side of the image carrying surface) and generates a reference signal. The control unit 40 based on the recognition of the reference signal In response to the instruction, each image forming unit 10 (10Y, 10M, 10C, 10K) is configured to start image formation. An image density sensor 43 used for image quality adjustment is disposed outside the intermediate transfer belt 15 on the downstream side of the black image forming unit 10K.

  Further, in the present embodiment, a paper tray 50 that accommodates the paper P and a pickup roll 51 that takes out and sends out the paper P accumulated in the paper tray 50 at a predetermined timing are provided as a paper transport system. Further, the conveyance roll 52 that conveys the paper P fed by the pickup roll 51, the conveyance chute 53 that feeds the paper P conveyed by the conveyance roll 52 to the secondary transfer unit 20, and the secondary transfer conveyance belt 21 are secondary. Conveying belts 54 and 55 are provided for conveying the sheet P conveyed after being transferred to the fixing device 60.

  Further, the fixing device 60 is in contact with the heating roll 61, which includes a heating roll 61 that includes a heating source (not shown) and is rotatably arranged, a pressure belt 62 that is rotatably pressed against the heating roll 61, and the heating roll 61. An oil supply unit 63 that supplies oil (silicone oil) as a release agent to the surface of the heating roll 61 is provided. A fluororubber layer having good releasability is formed on the surfaces of the heating roll 61 and the pressure belt 62. In the present embodiment, amine-modified silicone oil that has high affinity with fluoro rubber and high peelability is used as the silicone oil. Note that the pressure belt 62 is arranged in pressure contact with the heating roll 61 in a state of being rotatably supported by a plurality of rolls, so that a wide fixing nip region is formed between the pressure belt 62 and the heating roll 61. It has become.

  Further, in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, the intermediate transfer belt 15 is located on the intermediate transfer belt 15 downstream of the black image forming unit 10K in the moving direction of the intermediate transfer belt 15 and upstream of the idle roll 32. Near the belt 15, a charge removing member 71 as a charge removing member or a charge supplying member is disposed in a non-contact manner. This static elimination member 71 is comprised with the metal which has electroconductivity, such as stainless steel, for example. On the other hand, on the inner side of the intermediate transfer belt 15 on the downstream side in the moving direction of the intermediate transfer belt 15 relative to the secondary transfer unit 20, a peeling plate 72 as a conductor is disposed in a non-contact manner in the vicinity of the intermediate transfer belt 15. . The peeling plate 72 is also made of a metal having conductivity such as stainless steel, like the charge eliminating member 71 described above.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a primary transfer system and a secondary transfer system in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. A primary transfer power source 18 (specifically 18Y, 18M, 18C, 18K) for applying a positive primary transfer bias is connected to the primary transfer roll 16 (specifically, 16Y, 16M, 16C, 16K). Yes. On the other hand, each photosensitive drum 11 (specifically, 11Y, 11M, 11C, 11K) is grounded. As a result, in each primary transfer region where the photosensitive drum 11 and the primary transfer roll 16 are in pressure contact with each other via the intermediate transfer belt 15, an electric field (primary transfer electric field) from each primary transfer roll 16 toward the corresponding photosensitive drum 11 is obtained. Is formed. Therefore, the toner (negatively charged) carried on each photosensitive drum 11 receives an electrostatic force by this primary transfer electric field and is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 15.

  In the secondary transfer unit 20, a secondary transfer power source 27 that applies a negative secondary transfer bias to the power supply roll 26 is connected. On the other hand, the drive roll 22 provided at a position facing the backup roll 25 is grounded. As a result, in the secondary transfer region where the drive roll 22 and the backup roll 25 are in pressure contact with each other via the intermediate transfer belt 15 and the secondary transfer conveyance belt 21, an electric field (secondary transfer) from the drive roll 22 to the backup roll 25 is obtained. Electric field) is formed. Accordingly, the toner (negatively charged) carried on the intermediate transfer belt 15 receives an electrostatic force by the secondary transfer electric field, and the sheet nipped between the intermediate transfer belt 15 and the secondary transfer conveyance belt 21. It will be transferred to P.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the above-described static eliminating member 71 and the peeling plate 72 are electrically connected, and these are grounded (grounded) via a varistor 80 as a non-linear resistance element. Here, as the varistor 80, for example, one operating at a varistor voltage Vb of ± 3 kV is used. In the present embodiment, the charge supply unit is configured by the static elimination member 71 and the varistor 80.

  Next, a basic image forming process of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described. Image data output from an image reading device (IIT) (not shown), a personal computer (PC) (not shown), or the like is input to an image forming apparatus as shown in FIG. In the image forming apparatus, after predetermined image processing is performed by an image processing apparatus (IPS) (not shown), an image forming operation is performed by the image forming unit 10 or the like. In the image processing apparatus (IPS), the input reflectance data is subjected to predetermined image editing such as shading correction, positional deviation correction, brightness / color space conversion, gamma correction, frame deletion, color editing, and moving editing. Image processing is performed. The image data that has been subjected to image processing is converted into color material gradation data of four colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K), and is output to the laser exposure unit 13. .

  The laser exposure unit 13 irradiates the photosensitive drums 11 of the image forming units 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K with, for example, an exposure beam Bm emitted from a semiconductor laser according to the input color material gradation data. Yes. In the photosensitive drum 11 of the image forming units 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K, the surface is charged by the charger 12, and then the surface is scanned and exposed by the laser exposure unit 13 to form an electrostatic latent image. The formed electrostatic latent images are yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) by the developing units 14 in the respective image forming units 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K. The toner image is developed.

  The toner images formed on the photosensitive drums 11 of the image forming units 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K (see FIG. 1) are intermediately transferred at the primary transfer portion where the photosensitive drums 11 and the intermediate transfer belt 15 are in contact with each other. Transferred onto the transfer belt 15. More specifically, in the primary transfer portion, a primary transfer bias is applied to the base material of the intermediate transfer belt 15 by the primary transfer roll 16 to reverse the toner charging polarity, and the unfixed toner image is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 15. Primary transfer is performed by sequentially superimposing on the surface. The unfixed toner image primarily transferred in this way is conveyed to the secondary transfer unit 20 as the intermediate transfer belt 15 rotates. The residual toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 11 after the transfer to the intermediate transfer belt 15 is conveyed to a portion facing the drum cleaner 17 as the photosensitive drum 11 rotates, and the photosensitive drum 11 is transferred by the drum cleaner 17. Removed from above.

  On the other hand, in the paper transport system, the pickup roll 51 (see FIG. 1) rotates in accordance with the image formation timing, and the paper P of a predetermined size is supplied from the paper tray 50. The paper P supplied by the pickup roll 51 is transported by the transport roll 52 and reaches the secondary transfer unit 20 via the transport chute 53. Before reaching the secondary transfer unit 20, the paper P is temporarily stopped, and the registration roll (not shown) rotates in accordance with the movement timing of the intermediate transfer belt 15 carrying the toner image as described above. Thus, the position of the paper P and the position of the toner image are aligned.

  In the secondary transfer unit 20, the drive roll 22 is pressed against the backup roll 25 via the semiconductive secondary transfer conveyance belt 21 and the intermediate transfer belt 15. At this time, the sheet P transported at the same timing is sandwiched between the intermediate transfer belt 15 and the secondary transfer transport belt 21. At this time, when a secondary transfer bias having the same polarity as the charging polarity of the toner is applied to the power supply roll 26, a secondary transfer electric field is formed with the secondary transfer conveyance belt 21 (drive roll 22) as a counter electrode, and an intermediate transfer is performed. The unfixed toner image carried on the belt 15 is electrostatically transferred onto the paper P in the secondary transfer region pressed by the drive roll 22 and the backup roll 25.

  Thereafter, the sheet P (see FIG. 1) on which the toner image is electrostatically transferred is transported by the secondary transfer transport belt 21 and transport belts 54 and 55 provided on the downstream side of the secondary transfer transport belt 21 in the sheet transport direction. Is further conveyed by. Here, the sheet P conveyed on the secondary transfer conveyance belt 21 is separated from the secondary transfer conveyance belt 21 by the curvature of the separation roll 23 that stretches the secondary transfer conveyance belt 21 in the vicinity of the separation roll 23. Then, it is transported further downstream. The transport belts 54 and 55 perform speed control so as to match the optimal transport speed in the fixing device 60, and transport the paper P to the fixing device 60. The unfixed toner image on the paper P conveyed to the fixing device 60 is fixed on the paper P by being subjected to a fixing process by heat and pressure by the fixing device 60. Then, the paper P that has passed through the fixing device 60 is discharged to the outside of the device by a discharge roll (not shown). Further, after the transfer onto the paper P is completed, the residual toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 15 is conveyed to a portion facing the belt cleaner 35 as the intermediate transfer belt 15 rotates, and is intermediated by the belt cleaner 35. It is removed from the transfer belt 15.

Next, operations of the charge removal member 71 and the peeling plate 72 in the above-described image forming process will be described in detail.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged schematic view of the vicinity of the black image forming unit 10 </ b> K and the charge removal member 71. As described above, a positive primary transfer bias is applied to the primary transfer roll 16K by the primary transfer power source 18K, and the photosensitive drum 11K is grounded. As a result, in the primary transfer region Tr1 where the photosensitive drum 11K and the primary transfer roll 16K are in pressure contact via the intermediate transfer belt 15, a primary transfer electric field E1 is formed from the primary transfer roll 16K to the photosensitive drum 11K.

  Since the toner T constituting the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 11K is negatively charged, the primary transfer electric field E1 formed in the primary transfer region Tr1 causes the photosensitive drum 11K to transfer to the intermediate transfer belt 15. Transfer and adhere to. That is, the toner T is primarily transferred from the photosensitive drum 11K to the intermediate transfer belt 15. At this time, the intermediate transfer belt 15 is affected by the primary transfer electric field E1, and a positive charge is induced on the toner image carrying surface side of the intermediate transfer belt 15 to be charged positively. On the other hand, immediately after passing through the primary transfer region Tr1, peeling discharge occurs in the primary transfer post-nip region S1 where the primary transfer roll 16K and the intermediate transfer belt 15 shift from the contact state to the separated state, and the toner image carrying surface of the intermediate transfer belt 15 Negative charge is induced on the back side (back side) of the negative electrode, and it is negatively charged. The negative charges induced on the back side of the intermediate transfer belt 15 in this way are transported to the charge removal region facing the charge removal member 71 as the intermediate transfer belt 15 moves in the direction of arrow B.

  In the charge removal region, negative charges induced on the back surface side of the intermediate transfer belt 15 move to the charge removal member 71 side. As a result, the back side of the intermediate transfer belt 15 is neutralized. Note that negative charges are induced on the back surface of the intermediate transfer belt 15 when passing through the yellow, magenta, and cyan image forming units 10Y, 10M, and 10C in addition to the black image forming unit 10K. The accumulated negative charge amount is large. In this way, by removing the negative charge existing on the back side of the intermediate transfer belt 15 using the charge eliminating member 71, excessive charging on the back side of the intermediate transfer belt 15 is eliminated, and the charge is carried on the intermediate transfer belt 15. The scattered toner T is suppressed.

  Further, the negative charge moves to the charge removal member 71, so that the charge removal member 71 has a predetermined negative voltage V. However, in this embodiment, since the static elimination member 71 is grounded via the varistor 80 (see FIG. 2), the voltage V is a varistor voltage Vb (in this embodiment, ± 3 kV, which is a negative charge). Therefore, it will not exceed -3 kV). Further, since the peeling plate 72 (see FIG. 2) is connected to the static elimination member 71, the voltage V induced in the static elimination member 71 is applied to the peeling plate 72 as it is. The toner T (negatively charged) carried on the intermediate transfer belt 15 is held by the positive charge existing in the intermediate transfer belt 15, and therefore has a particular problem when passing through the charge removal member 71. Will not occur.

  FIG. 4 is an enlarged schematic view of the vicinity of the secondary transfer unit 20. As described above, a negative secondary transfer bias is applied to the backup roll 25 from the secondary transfer power supply 27 via the power supply roll 26. The drive roll (secondary transfer roll) 22 is grounded. As a result, in the secondary transfer region Tr2 where the drive roll 22 and the backup roll 25 are pressed against each other via the paper P (and the intermediate transfer belt 15 and the secondary transfer conveyance belt 21), the drive roll 22 moves toward the backup roll 25. A secondary transfer electric field E2 is formed.

  As described above, the toner T constituting the toner image carried on the intermediate transfer belt 15 has a negative charging polarity. For this reason, the toner T on the intermediate transfer belt 15 is transferred and adhered from the intermediate transfer belt 15 onto the paper P by the secondary transfer electric field E2 in the secondary transfer region Tr2. That is, the toner T on the intermediate transfer belt 15 is secondarily transferred to the paper P. At this time, the secondary transfer conveyance belt 21 is positively charged under the influence of the secondary transfer electric field E2. Further, the sheet P is also charged positively by the influence of the secondary transfer electric field E2. However, immediately after the sheet P passes through the secondary transfer region Tr2, the intermediate transfer belt 15 and the sheet P are affected by the peeling discharge in the secondary transfer postnip region S2 where the contact state shifts from the contact state to the separated state, and this time, the negative electrode Will be charged. As a result, in the secondary transfer post-nip region S2, the paper P is strongly attracted to the secondary transfer conveyance belt 21 side, and the paper P is conveyed in a state of being stably adsorbed to the secondary transfer conveyance belt 21. It will be.

  On the other hand, the intermediate transfer belt 15 is strongly charged to positive polarity by the peeling discharge generated in the above-described secondary transfer post-nip region S2. Accordingly, the intermediate transfer belt 15 and the paper P are easily attracted to each other on the secondary transfer post nip region S2 side, that is, the paper P is easily attracted to the intermediate transfer belt 15 side. Become.

  Here, in the present embodiment, a peeling plate 72 is provided inside the intermediate transfer belt 15 on the downstream side of the secondary transfer unit 20. A negative voltage V generated by negative charges transferred from the intermediate transfer belt 15 to the charge removal member 71 after the primary transfer is applied to the peeling plate 72. Therefore, many negative charges exist on the surface of the peeling plate 72 facing the intermediate transfer belt 15. Then, due to the negative charge on the peeling plate 72, the positive charge existing on the intermediate transfer belt 15 at the portion facing the peeling plate 72 moves to the peeling plate 72 side, and the intermediate transfer belt 15 is neutralized. Therefore, in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, the sheet P that has passed through the secondary transfer region Tr2 is not electrostatically attracted to the intermediate transfer belt 15 side, and the sheet P is stuck to the intermediate transfer belt 15. Can be prevented.

  In the present embodiment, since the negative voltage V applied to the peeling plate 72 can be supplied from the static elimination member 71 (see FIG. 3), the voltage V for static elimination is applied to the peeling plate 72. There is no need to provide a separate power source. For this reason, simplification of the device configuration, size reduction of the device, and cost reduction can be achieved.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, since the voltage V is supplied to the peeling plate 72 using the varistor 80 (see FIG. 2), the voltage V higher than the varistor voltage Vb is not applied to the peeling plate 72. For this reason, generation | occurrence | production of the malfunction by applying the excessive voltage V to the peeling plate 72 can be prevented. In this embodiment, by using the varistor 80, which is a passive element, voltage control is possible with only the element, so there is no need to provide a complicated control system.

<Embodiment 2>
FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a primary transfer system and a secondary transfer system in an image forming apparatus to which the exemplary embodiment is applied. Although the present embodiment is substantially the same as the first embodiment, the intermediate transfer belt 15 is attached to the part where the peeling plate 72 grounded via the varistor 80 passes through each image forming unit 10 (see FIG. 1). The embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that it is electrically connected to a stretched idle roll 32 (predetermined roll member, charge supply member). That is, in this embodiment, the idle roll 32 and the varistor 80 function as a charge supply unit. In the present embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  In the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the back surface of the intermediate transfer belt 15 that has passed through each image forming unit 10 (see FIG. 1) is peeled off from each primary transfer roll 16. The negative charge is induced by the peeling discharge generated in the primary transfer post-nip region S1 (see FIG. 3). The negative charge induced on the back surface side of the intermediate transfer belt 15 in this way moves to the idle roll 32 side when it reaches a portion in contact with the idle roll 32 as the intermediate transfer belt 15 moves. As a result, the back side of the intermediate transfer belt 15 is neutralized.

  Further, the negative charge moves to the idle roll 32, so that the idle roll 32 has a predetermined negative voltage V. However, in this embodiment, since the idle roll 32 is grounded via the varistor 80, the voltage V is varistor voltage Vb (in this embodiment, it is ± 3 kV, and since it is a negative charge, it is −3 kV. Will not exceed). Further, since the peeling plate 72 is connected to the idle roll 32, the voltage V induced in the idle roll 32 is applied to the peeling plate 72 as it is. When the negative voltage V is applied to the peeling plate 72 in this manner, negative charges are induced on the surface of the peeling plate 72 facing the intermediate transfer belt 15 after the secondary transfer. Accordingly, as in the first embodiment, it is possible to remove the charge of the intermediate transfer belt 15 that is positively charged after the secondary transfer, and the sheet P that has passed the secondary transfer region Tr2 (see FIG. 4) is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 15. It can prevent sticking to.

<Embodiment 3>
FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a primary transfer system and a secondary transfer system in an image forming apparatus to which the exemplary embodiment is applied. The present embodiment is substantially the same as the first embodiment, but the peeling plate 72 that is grounded via the varistor 80 is electrically connected to the belt inner surface cleaner 36 (cleaning member, charge supply member). This is different from the first embodiment. That is, in the present embodiment, the belt inner surface cleaner 36 and the varistor 80 function as a charge supply unit. In the present embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  In the present embodiment, the belt inner surface cleaner 36 is constituted by a rotatable fur brush, for example. Such a fur brush is made of a material that is on the minus side of the material of the intermediate transfer belt 15 in a charging series, such as a fluororesin. Further, the fur brush does not always rotate, but is normally fixed, and the position of contact with the intermediate transfer belt 15 is periodically set according to a predetermined timing (for example, the number of rotations of the intermediate transfer belt 15). It is configured to stagger.

  In the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, the brush portion of the belt inner surface cleaner 36 rubs the back surface of the moving intermediate transfer belt 15 to remove foreign matters such as toner adhering to the back surface of the intermediate transfer belt 15. Yes. As a result, the back side of the intermediate transfer belt 15 is always kept clean, and, for example, driving by the drive roll 31 is performed well.

  Further, when the brush portion of the belt inner surface cleaner 36 rubs the back surface of the intermediate transfer belt 15, a negative voltage is induced in the brush portion. This is because the charging polarity of the belt inner surface cleaner 36 is more negative than that of the intermediate transfer belt 15 as described above. When the belt inner surface cleaner 36 is negatively charged in this way, the belt inner surface cleaner 36 has a predetermined negative voltage V. However, in this embodiment, since the idle roll 32 is grounded via the varistor 80, the voltage V is varistor voltage Vb (in this embodiment, it is ± 3 kV, and since it is a negative charge, it is −3 kV. Will not exceed). Further, since the peeling plate 72 is connected to the belt inner surface cleaner 36, the voltage V induced in the belt inner surface cleaner 36 is also applied to the peeling plate 72 as it is. When the negative voltage V is applied to the peeling plate 72 in this manner, negative charges are induced on the surface of the peeling plate 72 facing the intermediate transfer belt 15 after the secondary transfer. Accordingly, as in the first embodiment, it is possible to remove the charge of the intermediate transfer belt 15 that is positively charged after the secondary transfer, and the sheet P that has passed the secondary transfer region Tr2 (see FIG. 4) is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 15. It can prevent sticking to.

  In the first to third embodiments, the varistor 80 having a varistor voltage Vb of 3 kV is used. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the design can be changed as appropriate according to the required specifications. A varistor 80 that can vary the varistor voltage Vb may be used. Further, instead of the varistor 80, a non-linear resistance element such as a Zener diode can be used.

1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus to which the exemplary embodiment is applied. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining details of a primary transfer system and a secondary transfer system in the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is an enlarged schematic view of the vicinity of a black image forming unit and a charge removal member. It is the schematic diagram which expanded the secondary transfer part vicinity. In Embodiment 2, it is a figure for demonstrating the detail of a primary transfer system and a secondary transfer system. In Embodiment 3, it is a figure for demonstrating the detail of a primary transfer system and a secondary transfer system.

Explanation of symbols

10 (10Y, 10M, 10C, 10K) ... Image forming unit, 11 (11Y, 11M, 11C, 11K) ... Photosensitive drum, 15 ... Intermediate transfer belt, 16 (16Y, 16M, 16C, 16K) ... Primary transfer roll , 18 (18Y, 18M, 18C, 18K) ... primary transfer power source, 20 ... secondary transfer unit, 21 ... secondary transfer transport belt, 22 ... drive roll, 23 ... peeling roll, 25 ... backup roll, 26 ... power supply roll , 27 ... secondary transfer power source, 31 ... drive roll, 32 ... idle roll, 33 ... tension roll, 36 ... belt inner surface cleaner, 50 ... paper tray, 60 ... fixing device, 71 ... static elimination member, 72 ... release plate, 80 ... Varistor, Vb ... Varistor voltage, E1 ... Primary transfer electric field, E2 ... Secondary transfer electric field, S1 ... Primary transfer post nip region, S2 ... Secondary transfer post nip region, Tr ... a primary transfer region, Tr2 ... secondary transfer area

Claims (9)

An image carrier that is rotatably arranged and carries a toner image;
An intermediate transfer member that is rotatably disposed opposite the image carrier;
A primary transfer portion that transfers a toner image on the image carrier to the intermediate transfer member in a primary transfer region where the image carrier and the intermediate transfer member face each other;
A secondary transfer portion that transfers the toner image transferred onto the intermediate transfer member to the recording material in a secondary transfer region where the intermediate transfer member and the recording material face each other;
A conductor disposed inside the intermediate transfer member after passing through the secondary transfer region;
A charge supply unit for acquiring a charge having the same polarity as the charge polarity of the recording material after passing through the secondary transfer region through the inside of the intermediate transfer member, and supplying the acquired charge of the same polarity to the conductor; An image forming apparatus including: An image carrier that is rotatably arranged and carries a toner image;
An intermediate transfer member that is rotatably disposed opposite the image carrier;
A primary transfer portion that transfers a toner image on the image carrier to the intermediate transfer member in a primary transfer region where the image carrier and the intermediate transfer member face each other;
A secondary transfer portion that transfers the toner image transferred onto the intermediate transfer member to the recording material in a secondary transfer region where the intermediate transfer member and the recording material face each other;
A conductor disposed inside the intermediate transfer member after passing through the secondary transfer region;
A charge supply unit configured to supply, to the conductor, a charge having the same polarity as the charge polarity of the recording material after passing through the secondary transfer region, received from the intermediate transfer member;
Including
The charge supply unit includes:
A charge removing member that is disposed inside the intermediate transfer member after passing through the primary transfer region, removes the charge inside the intermediate transfer member, and is electrically connected to the conductor;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a non-linear resistance element electrically connected between the conductor and the charge removing member and ground. An image carrier that is rotatably arranged and carries a toner image;
An intermediate transfer member that is rotatably disposed opposite the image carrier;
A primary transfer portion that transfers a toner image on the image carrier to the intermediate transfer member in a primary transfer region where the image carrier and the intermediate transfer member face each other;
A secondary transfer portion that transfers the toner image transferred onto the intermediate transfer member to the recording material in a secondary transfer region where the intermediate transfer member and the recording material face each other;
A conductor disposed inside the intermediate transfer member after passing through the secondary transfer region;
A charge supply unit configured to supply, to the conductor, a charge having the same polarity as the charge polarity of the recording material after passing through the secondary transfer region, received from the intermediate transfer member;
Including
The intermediate transfer member comprises an endless intermediate transfer belt stretched by a plurality of roll members arranged rotatably.
The charge supply unit includes:
Among the plurality of roll members, the intermediate transfer belt is stretched at a portion that has passed through the primary transfer region, and a predetermined roll member that is electrically connected to the conductor;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a non-linear resistance element electrically connected between the conductor and the predetermined roll member and ground. An image carrier that is rotatably arranged and carries a toner image;
An intermediate transfer member that is rotatably disposed opposite the image carrier;
A primary transfer portion that transfers a toner image on the image carrier to the intermediate transfer member in a primary transfer region where the image carrier and the intermediate transfer member face each other;
A secondary transfer portion that transfers the toner image transferred onto the intermediate transfer member to the recording material in a secondary transfer region where the intermediate transfer member and the recording material face each other;
A conductor disposed inside the intermediate transfer member after passing through the secondary transfer region;
A charge supply unit configured to supply, to the conductor, a charge having the same polarity as the charge polarity of the recording material after passing through the secondary transfer region, received from the intermediate transfer member;
Including
The charge supply unit includes:
A cleaning member that is disposed in contact with the inside of the intermediate transfer body, cleans the inside of the intermediate transfer body, and is electrically connected to the conductor;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a non-linear resistance element electrically connected between the conductor and the cleaning member and ground.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the cleaning member has a charging series on the same polarity side as the charging polarity of the recording material after passing through the secondary transfer portion with respect to the intermediate transfer member. An image carrier that is rotatably arranged and carries a toner image;
An intermediate transfer member that is rotatably disposed opposite the image carrier;
A primary transfer portion that transfers a toner image on the image carrier to the intermediate transfer member in a primary transfer region where the image carrier and the intermediate transfer member face each other;
A secondary transfer portion that transfers the toner image transferred onto the intermediate transfer member to the recording material in a secondary transfer region where the intermediate transfer member and the recording material face each other;
A conductor disposed inside the intermediate transfer member after passing through the secondary transfer region;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a charge supply member that receives charges accumulated in the intermediate transfer member after passing through the primary transfer region and supplies the charges to the conductor.   The charge supply member receives a charge having a polarity opposite to a charge polarity of the intermediate transfer member after passing through the secondary transfer region from the inside of the intermediate transfer member after passing through the primary transfer region. 6. The image forming apparatus according to 6.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the conductor and the charge supply member are grounded via a non-linear resistance element. The primary transfer portion includes a primary transfer member disposed in pressure contact with the image carrier via the intermediate transfer member,
The electric charge generated by the peeling discharge between the intermediate transfer member and the primary transfer member is accumulated inside the intermediate transfer member after passing through the primary transfer region. Image forming apparatus.

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