JP4598461B2 - Cleaning device, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a cleaning device for cleaning an image carrier, or a process cartridge equipped with such a cleaning device or a part thereof and mounted on an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, or a printer, and such a cleaning device or process. The present invention relates to such an image forming apparatus having a cartridge.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in image forming apparatuses such as copying machines, facsimile machines, printers, etc., a cleaning apparatus that cleans an image carrier such as a photoconductor has been employed. The cleaning device is used to remove unnecessary materials such as developer and paper dust remaining on the surface of the image carrier, because they adversely affect image formation.

  For example, when the developer is a two-component developer, usually only the toner used for development out of the toner and the carrier contained in the developer adheres to the image carrier, but the toner and the carrier are also included. May adhere to the surface of the image carrier, and in this case, there is a problem in that white spots occur in the portion where the carrier is attached and the peripheral portion, resulting in a reduction in image quality. Therefore, as a cleaning device, for example, as described in [Patent Document 1] and [Patent Document 2], a cleaning device including a member that comes into contact with the surface of an image carrier and removes a carrier is widely used. ing.

  The cleaning device described in [Patent Document 1] has, as such members, a rotating brush that contacts the image carrier and a blade. Moreover, the cleaning apparatus described in [Patent Document 2] has a member using magnetic force as the member. The cleaning device having such a member described in [Patent Document 2] is disposed in the developing device, and constitutes a cleaning device separate from the cleaning device provided separately from the developing device. .

JP 2000-259055 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-92810

  However, in the configuration in which the carrier attached to the image carrier is removed by the rotary brush in contact with the image carrier as in the rotary brush described in [Patent Document 1], the carrier is removed from the image carrier and rotated. When the carrier attached to the brush comes into contact with the image carrier, the photosensitive film on the surface of the image carrier is scraped, and the life of the image carrier is shortened. There is a problem that it reattaches to the carrier.

Further, the blade described in [Patent Document 1] removes unnecessary materials from the image carrier like the rotating brush. However, when a carrier or the like is sandwiched between the blade and the image carrier, such a blade is used. There is also a problem in that the carrier or the like also removes the photosensitive film on the surface of the image carrier when it contacts the image carrier, thereby shortening the life of the image carrier.

  In addition, like the cleaning device described in [Patent Document 2], disposing a plurality of cleaning devices has a problem of increasing costs and increasing the size of the device. In addition, there is a problem that it may be difficult to dispose a plurality of cleaning devices around an image carrier having a limited space.

  The present invention provides a cleaning device for cleaning an image carrier while preventing scratches on the image carrier, suppressing the increase in cost and size, and such a cleaning device or a part thereof, such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, a printer, etc. It is an object of the present invention to provide a process cartridge mounted on an image forming apparatus, and such an image forming apparatus having such a cleaning device or a process cartridge.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention described in claim 1 is a rotating brush that cleans the image carrier, and an unnecessary portion that is disposed so as to bite into the rotating brush, engages with the rotating brush, and adheres to the rotating brush. There is a cleaning device having a removing member made of a magnetic material for removing an unnecessary developer from the rotating brush for removing an object from the rotating brush .

2. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the removing member is in a roller shape and is rotatable .

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the cleaning device according to the first or second aspect, the position where the removal member is engaged with the rotary brush has a discharge path for discharging unnecessary matter, and the rotational direction of the rotary brush In this case, the position of the rotating brush is a position downstream of the cleaning position of the image carrier and is positioned upstream of the position connecting the rotation center of the rotating brush and the discharge path. It is characterized by.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the cleaning device according to any one of the first to third aspects, the removing member is rotatably arranged.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the cleaning device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the removal member is disposed so as to be replaceable.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the cleaning device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the blade for cleaning the image carrier at a position downstream of the rotating brush in the rotational direction of the image carrier. It is characterized by having.

  The invention according to claim 7 is the cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 or the rotating brush provided in the cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, and A process cartridge having a removal member and an image carrier.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the process cartridge according to the seventh aspect, the image forming apparatus is detachably disposed.

  A ninth aspect of the present invention is an image forming apparatus having the cleaning device according to any one of the first to sixth aspects or the process cartridge according to the seventh or eighth aspect.

The present invention is a rotary brush for cleaning an image carrier, and is arranged so as to bite into the rotary brush, and engages with the rotary brush to remove unnecessary substances attached to the rotary brush from the rotary brush . At least a part of the cleaning device includes a removing member made of a magnetic material for removing developer, which is an unnecessary material, from the rotating brush. Therefore, the rotating brush can be removed from the image carrier with a simple structure. An unnecessary object such as an attached carrier is removed by a removing member by adsorbing it to a magnetic body, and the photosensitive film on the surface of the image carrier is not scraped off when the unnecessary object contacts the image carrier. Since it is possible to prevent the life of the carrier from being shortened and to prevent the carrier attached to the rotating brush from reattaching to the image carrier, scratches on the image carrier can be prevented. Providing a cleaning device that can clean the image carrier while stopping, contributes to good cleaning of the image carrier for a long period of time and good image formation over a long period of time, and suppresses the increase in cost and size can do.

  A position where the removal member engages with the rotating brush at a position downstream of the image carrier cleaning position of the rotating brush in the rotating direction of the rotating brush. If it is assumed that the position of the rotating brush is upstream of the position connecting the rotation center of the rotating brush and the discharge path, it is removed from the image carrier and attached to the rotating brush with a simple configuration. Unnecessary items such as a carrier can be removed by a removing member, and when such unnecessary items come into contact with the image carrier, the photosensitive film on the surface of the image carrier is not scraped, and the life of the image carrier can be prevented from being shortened. In addition, since the carrier attached to the rotating brush can be prevented from reattaching to the image carrier, the image carrier can be cleaned well while preventing the image carrier from being scratched. Therefore, it is possible to contribute to the good cleaning of the image bearing member and the good image formation over a long period of time, and the unnecessary waste removed from the rotating brush can be efficiently discharged from the discharge path. Can be provided.

  If the removal member is arranged to be rotatable, the removal member that makes contact with the rotating brush at different positions due to the rotation, such as a carrier removed from the image carrier and attached to the rotating brush, with a simple configuration. This eliminates the need to remove the photosensitive film on the surface of the image carrier when such unwanted matter comes into contact with the image carrier, and prevents the life of the image carrier from being shortened. However, since it can be prevented from reattaching to the image carrier, the image carrier can be cleaned well while preventing damage to the image carrier, and the entire peripheral surface of the removal member is uniform and uniform. In this case, it is possible to maintain the performance of removing unwanted objects over a long period of time. Can contribute to performing good image formation over a satisfactorily cleaned long the image bearing member Te, it is possible to provide a cost increase, a cleaning device capable of suppressing an increase in size.

  If the removal member is disposed so as to be replaceable, the unnecessary member such as the carrier removed from the image carrier and attached to the rotating brush is removed by the removal member with a simple configuration, and the unnecessary member is removed from the image carrier. The photosensitive film on the surface of the image bearing member is not scraped when abutting on the image bearing member, so that the life of the image bearing member can be prevented from being shortened, and the carrier attached to the rotating brush can be reattached to the image bearing member. Therefore, the image carrier can be cleaned well while preventing the image carrier from being scratched, and the image carrier can be well cleaned over a long period of time, and good image formation can be achieved over a long period of time. At the same time, it is possible to provide a cleaning device that is easy to replace and has good maintainability, and that suppresses cost increase and size increase including running cost. .

  If the image carrier has a blade for cleaning the image carrier at a position downstream of the rotating brush in the rotation direction of the image carrier, the blade is removed from the image carrier and attached to the rotary brush with a relatively simple configuration. Unnecessary items such as a carrier are removed by a removing member, and when such unnecessary items come into contact with the image carrier, the photosensitive film on the surface of the image carrier is not scraped, and the life of the image carrier can be prevented from being shortened. Further, since it is possible to prevent the carrier or the like attached to the rotating brush from reattaching to the image carrier, unnecessary matters such as a carrier are sandwiched between the blade and the image carrier when cleaning with the blade. Therefore, even when cleaning with a blade, the photosensitive film on the surface of the image carrier is not scraped, and the life of the image carrier can be prevented from being shortened. While preventing scratches of the image bearing member, it is possible to satisfactorily clean the image bearing member by rotating brush and blade, it is possible to provide a cost increase, a cleaning device capable of suppressing an increase in size.

  The present invention provides the cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, or the rotating brush and the removal member provided in the cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, Since it is in a process cartridge having an image carrier, unnecessary objects such as a carrier removed from the image carrier and adhering to the rotating brush are removed by a removal member with a simple configuration, and the unnecessary objects abut on the image carrier. Sometimes the photosensitive film on the surface of the image carrier is not scraped, the life of the image carrier can be prevented from being shortened, and the carrier attached to the rotating brush can be prevented from reattaching to the image carrier. Therefore, it is possible to clean the image carrier well while preventing the image carrier from being scratched. Together can contribute to performing formation, reduction of running costs, also excellent in terms of effective use of resources, it is possible to provide a process cartridge capable of suppressing increase in cost, an increase in size.

  If the image forming apparatus is detachably disposed, unnecessary components such as a carrier removed from the image carrier and attached to the rotating brush are removed by a removal member with a simple configuration, and the unnecessary materials are removed from the image carrier. The photosensitive film on the surface of the image carrier is not scraped when abutting on the body, so that the life of the image carrier can be prevented from being shortened, and carriers attached to the rotating brush are reattached to the image carrier. Therefore, it is possible to clean the image carrier well while preventing the image carrier from being scratched, and to contribute to the good cleaning of the image carrier over a long period of time and good image formation over the long term. In addition to reducing running costs, effective use of resources, and easy replacement and good maintainability, it is excellent in process costs that prevent cost increase and increase in size. It is possible to provide a cartridge.

  Since the present invention resides in the cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 or the image forming apparatus having the process cartridge according to claim 7 or 8, it can be removed from the image carrier with a simple configuration. The unnecessary member such as the carrier attached to the rotating brush is removed by the removing member, and the photosensitive film on the surface of the image carrier is not scraped when the unwanted matter comes into contact with the image carrier. Shrinkage can be prevented, and carriers and the like attached to the rotating brush can be prevented from reattaching to the image carrier, so that the image carrier can be cleaned well while preventing damage to the image carrier. Provided is an image forming apparatus capable of excellently cleaning an image carrier over a long period of time and performing good image formation over a long period of time, and suppressing an increase in cost and an increase in size. Door can be.

  FIG. 1 schematically shows an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied and which can form a color image. The image forming apparatus 100 is a color laser printer, but may be other types of image forming apparatuses such as other types of printers, facsimile machines, copiers, and multifunction machines of copiers and printers. The image forming apparatus 100 performs an image forming process based on an image signal corresponding to image information received from the outside. The image forming apparatus 100 can form an image using plain paper generally used for copying, OHP sheets, thick paper such as cards and postcards, and envelopes as sheet-like recording media. .

  The image forming apparatus 100 includes photosensitive drums 20Y, 20C, 20M, and 20BK as image carriers that can form images as images corresponding to colors separated into yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, respectively. The installed tandem structure is adopted. The photosensitive drums 20Y, 20C, 20M, and 20BK are on the outer peripheral surface side of the transfer belt 11 as an intermediate transfer body, that is, an endless belt disposed almost at the center inside the main body 99 of the image forming apparatus 100, that is, image formation. Located on the surface side. In the state shown in FIG. 1, all of the photosensitive drums 20Y, 20C, 20M, and 20BK occupy positions that contact the transfer belt 11.

  The transfer belt 11 is movable in the direction of the arrow A1 while facing each of the photosensitive drums 20Y, 20C, 20M, and 20BK. Visible images, that is, toner images formed on the respective photosensitive drums 20Y, 20C, 20M, and 20BK are respectively superimposed and transferred onto the transfer belt 11 that moves in the direction of the arrow A1, and then collectively onto the transfer sheet S that is a recording medium. It is designed to be transcribed. The lower portion of the transfer belt 11 is opposed to the photosensitive drums 20Y, 20C, 20M, and 20BK, and the opposed portions receive the toner images on the photosensitive drums 20Y, 20C, 20M, and 20BK. A transfer portion 98 for transferring to the transfer belt 11 is formed.

  In the superimposing transfer to the transfer belt 11, the toner images formed on the photosensitive drums 20Y, 20C, 20M, and 20BK are transferred to the same position on the transfer belt 11 while the transfer belt 11 moves in the A1 direction. As described above, voltage application by primary transfer rollers 12Y, 12C, 12M, and 12BK disposed at positions facing the respective photosensitive drums 20Y, 20C, 20M, and 20BK across the transfer belt 11 causes the A1 direction upstream. The timing is shifted toward the downstream side.

  The transfer belt 11 is an elastic belt whose entire layer is formed using an elastic member such as a rubber agent. The transfer belt 11 may be a single-layer elastic belt, may be an elastic belt using a part of the elastic belt, or a conventionally used fluorine-based resin, polycarbonate resin, or polyimide resin. Or an inelastic belt may be used.

  Each of the transfer belts 11 has a detent guide (not shown) as a detent member at each edge thereof. The offset guide is provided to prevent the transfer belt 11 from being biased in any direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 1 when the transfer belt 11 rotates in the A1 direction. The stopper guide is made of urethane rubber, but can be made of various rubber materials such as silicon rubber. The detent guide has a thickness of 1 mm, and the thickness is appropriately selected within a range of about 0.3 to 2 mm. The detent guide is thicker than the transfer belt 11 main body and has high rigidity.

  The photosensitive drums 20Y, 20C, 20M, and 20BK are arranged in this order from the upstream side in the A1 direction. Each of the photosensitive drums 20Y, 20C, 20M, and 20BK has image stations 60Y, 60C, 60M, which are toner image forming units as image forming units, for forming yellow, cyan, magenta, and black images, respectively. 60BK is provided.

  The image forming apparatus 100 is provided in a main body 99 with four image stations 60Y, 60C, 60M, and 60BK facing each other above the photosensitive drums 20Y, 20C, 20M, and 20BK, and includes a transfer belt 11. A transfer belt unit 10 as a transfer unit, a secondary transfer roller 5 as a transfer member which is disposed opposite to the transfer belt 11 and is driven by the transfer belt 11, and image stations 60Y, 60C, 60M and 60BK. And an optical scanning device 8 as an optical writing device disposed to face the lower side.

  The image forming apparatus 100 also has a sheet feeding device as a sheet feeding cassette in which a transfer sheet S transported between the photosensitive drums 20Y, 20C, 20M, 20BK and the transfer belt 11 is loaded in the main body 99. 61 and the recording sheet S conveyed from the sheet feeding device 61 at a predetermined timing in accordance with the toner image formation timing by the image stations 60Y, 60C, 60M, and 60BK, the photosensitive drums 20Y, 20C, and 20M. , 20BK and the transfer belt 11, a registration roller pair 4 that feeds toward the transfer portion 98, and a sensor (not shown) that detects that the leading edge of the transfer sheet S has reached the registration roller pair 4.

  The image forming apparatus 100 also includes a fixing device 6 as a roller fixing type fixing unit for fixing the toner image on the transfer sheet S to which the toner image is transferred, and a fixed transfer sheet S in the main body 99. A discharge roller 7 that discharges to the outside of the main body 99; toner bottles 9Y, 9C, 9M, and 9BK that are disposed above the transfer belt unit 10 and filled with toners of yellow, cyan, magenta, and black; A rail (not shown) is provided as a guide portion for guiding the transfer belt unit 10 when the transfer belt unit 10 is attached to and detached from the main body 99.

  The image forming apparatus 100 also includes a paper discharge tray 17 that is disposed above the main body 99 and is loaded with the transfer paper S discharged to the outside of the main body 99 by the discharge roller 7, and the front side of the main body 99, that is, the front of the paper surface in FIG. On the side, a front panel (not shown) that can be opened and closed and exposes the inside of the main body 99 when opened.

  In addition to the transfer belt 11, the transfer belt unit 10 includes primary transfer rollers 12Y, 12C, 12M, and 12BK, a drive roller 72 that is a drive member around which the transfer belt 11 is wound, a transfer inlet roller 73, The cleaning counter roller 74 and a spring 75 as a biasing unit that biases the cleaning counter roller 74 in a direction to increase the tension of the transfer belt 11 are provided.

  The transfer belt unit 10 is also detachably supported by the main body 99, and holds a driving roller 72, a transfer inlet roller 73, a cleaning counter roller 74, a spring 75, a later-described separating means, and the like, and the housing of the transfer belt unit 10 is supported. The intermediate transfer belt case 14 and the intermediate transfer belt case 14 are integrated with each other, the cleaning device 13 serving as an intermediate transfer belt cleaning device that is disposed facing the transfer belt 11 and cleans the transfer belt 11, and the transfer belt 11. And a separating means having a lever (not shown) for separating the photosensitive drums 20Y, 20C, 20M and 20BK from each other.

The cleaning counter roller 74 has a function as a tension roller as a pressure member that applies a predetermined tension suitable for transfer to the transfer belt 11 by the action of the spring 75.
Although not shown in detail, the cleaning device 13 includes a cleaning brush and a cleaning blade disposed so as to face and contact the transfer belt 11, and remove foreign matters such as residual toner on the transfer belt 11. The transfer belt 11 is cleaned by scraping and removing with a cleaning brush and a cleaning blade.

  The transfer belt unit 10 can be attached to and detached from the main body 99 by being detachable to the front side in FIG. 1 by sliding the main body 99 along the rail. The transfer belt unit 10 is detachable from the main body 99 in a third state to be described later.

  The sheet feeding device 61 is disposed at the lower part of the main body 99 and has a feeding roller 3 as a paper feeding roller that contacts the upper surface of the uppermost transfer sheet S. The uppermost transfer sheet S is fed toward the registration roller pair 4 by being driven to rotate in the clockwise direction.

  The fixing device 6 includes a fixing roller 62 having a heat source therein, and a pressure roller 63 pressed against the fixing roller 62. The fixing sheet 62 carrying the toner image is transferred to the fixing roller 62 and the pressure roller 63. By passing through a fixing portion that is a pressure contact portion, the carried toner image is fixed on the surface of the transfer paper S by the action of heat and pressure.

  The yellow, cyan, magenta, and black toners in the toner bottles 9Y, 9C, 9M, and 9BK are respectively provided in the image stations 60Y, 60C, 60M, and 60BK by a predetermined replenishment amount through a conveyance path (not shown). 2 is supplied to the developing device 50Y shown in FIG.

  The primary transfer rollers 12Y, 12C, and 12M are integrated by a bracket (not shown). The bracket can be swung around the transfer entrance roller 73, and the image forming apparatus 100 selects the position of the bracket so that the primary transfer rollers 12Y, 12C, 12M, and 12BK are selected as shown in FIG. In a state in which the transfer belt 11 and the photosensitive drums 20Y, 20C, 20M, and 2BK are in contact with each other, and a primary (not shown), respectively. It is possible to set a second state in which the transfer rollers 12Y, 12C, and 12M are separated from the photosensitive drums 20Y, 20C, and 20M, respectively, and the transfer belt 11 and the photosensitive drums 20Y, 20C, and 20M are separated from each other. It is possible.

  The swinging of the bracket is performed based on control by a control unit including a CPU (not shown) by a driving unit such as a motor (not shown) including a cam (not shown). The image forming apparatus 100 forms a full-color image in the first state, and forms a monocolor, that is, a monochrome image, in the second state. The control means swings the bracket depending on whether the color mode is the full color mode or the mono color mode.

  At the time of switching between the first state and the second state, the primary transfer roller 12BK does not move and occupies a position where the transfer belt 11 contacts the photosensitive drum 20BK. On the other hand, by rotating the lever, the primary transfer roller 12BK is displaced in a direction in which the primary transfer roller 12BK comes into contact with and separates from the photosensitive drum 20BK independently of the primary transfer rollers 12Y, 12C, and 12M. It is like that.

  When the primary transfer rollers 12Y, 12C, 12M, and 12BK are separated from the photosensitive drums 20Y, 20C, 20M, and 20BK, respectively, and the transfer belt 11 and the photosensitive drums 20Y, 20C, 20M, and 20BK are separated, image formation is performed. The device 100 is in the third state. The transfer belt unit 10 can be attached to and detached from the main body 99 only when the image forming apparatus 100 is in the third state by the above-described operation. In other words, the transfer belt unit 10 is prohibited from being detached from the main body 99 in a state other than the third state.

  Regarding the image stations 60Y, 60C, 60M, and 60BK, the configuration will be described as a representative of the configuration of the image station 60Y including the photosensitive drum 20Y. Since the configuration of other image stations is substantially the same, in the following description, for the sake of convenience, reference numerals corresponding to the reference numerals assigned to the configuration of the image station including the photosensitive drum 20Y are used for other image stations. A detailed description will be omitted as appropriate for the station configuration, and those with Y, C, M, and K at the end of the reference numerals are used to form yellow, cyan, magenta, and black images, respectively. It is assumed that this is the configuration.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the image station 60Y including the photosensitive drum 20Y includes a primary transfer roller 12Y and a cleaning unit around the photosensitive drum 20Y along a rotation direction B1 which is a clockwise direction in the drawing. A cleaning device 40Y as a charging device, a charging device 30Y as a charging device as a charging means, and a developing device 50Y as a developing unit as a developing means.

  The charging device 30Y includes a charging roller 31Y that rotates in contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum 20Y, and a cleaning roller 32Y that rotates in contact with the charging roller 31Y. The charging roller 31Y is connected to a voltage applying means (not shown) for applying a bias of an alternating current component to a direct current, and in the charging region facing the photosensitive drum 20Y, the surface of the photosensitive drum 20Y is neutralized at the same time as the charging roller 31Y. The polarity is charged.

The cleaning roller 32Y is driven to rotate by the charging roller 31Y to clean the charging roller 31Y.
As described above, in this embodiment, the charging system using the contact roller is adopted. However, the charging system may be one using a proximity roller or one using a corotron system. .

  The developing device 50Y includes a developing case 55Y having an opening at a portion facing the photoconductor drum 20Y, and a developing roller 51Y disposed in close proximity to the photoconductor drum 20Y so as to face the photoconductor drum 20Y from the opening. A developing blade 52Y that regulates the developer on the developing roller 51Y to a certain height and a lower portion of the developing case 55Y so as to face each other, and stir the developer and apply the developer to the developing roller 51Y. It has a first conveying screw 53Y and a second stirring screw 54Y for supplying, and a bias applying means (not shown) for applying a developing bias of a DC component.

  In the developing device 50Y, the developing roller 51Y whose developer carrying amount is regulated by the developing blade 52Y is rotated between the developing roller 51Y and the photosensitive drum 20Y by the developing bias by the bias applying means. A developer whose amount is adjusted to an appropriate amount by the developing blade 52Y is carried to the developing area in between, and the yellow toner in the developer is electrostatically transferred to the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 20Y. The electrostatic latent image is visualized as a yellow toner image.

To the developer in the developing case 55Y, yellow toner is replenished and supplied from the toner bottle 9Y, and the yellow toner and the developer supplied by the first conveying screw 53Y and the second stirring screw 54Y are stirred and mixed. The developed developer is supplied to the developing roller 51Y.
In this embodiment, the DC component developing bias is applied by the bias applying means. However, the developing bias may be an AC component, or an AC component superimposed on the DC component.

A predetermined voltage suitable for primary transfer is applied to the primary transfer roller 12Y by a bias application unit and a bias control unit having a power source (not shown).
As shown in FIG. 3, the optical scanning device 8 shown in FIG. 1 irradiates a region between the charging region and the developing region of the photosensitive drum 20Y with the light-modulated laser light L and applies the charging roller 31Y. The surface of the charged photosensitive drum 20Y is exposed to form an electrostatic latent image that is visualized as a yellow toner image by the developing device 50Y.

  The cleaning device 40Y has a cleaning case 43Y having an opening at a portion facing the photoconductor drum 20Y, and scrapes off unnecessary materials such as residual toner, carrier, and paper dust on the photoconductor drum 20Y in contact with the photoconductor drum 20Y. The brush roller 45Y as a rotating brush to be cleaned and the rotating direction B1 of the photosensitive drum 20Y contact the photosensitive drum 20Y at a position downstream of the brush roller 45Y and scrape off unnecessary matter on the photosensitive drum 20Y. And a cleaning blade 41Y as a blade for cleaning.

  The cleaning device 40Y is also rotatably supported by a roller-like flicker 46Y as a removing member that contacts the brush roller 45Y and adheres to the brush roller 45Y from the brush roller 45Y, and a cleaning case 43Y. There is a discharge screw 42Y that constitutes a part of a discharge path (not shown) for transporting the unneeded material scraped and removed by the brush roller 45Y, flicker 46Y, and cleaning blade 41Y toward a waste toner bottle (not shown). is doing.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the brush roller 45Y has a shaft 47Y that forms the center of rotation, and a brush portion 44Y that is configured by a brush implanted in the shaft 47Y, and rotates the shaft 47Y to the cleaning case 43Y. A drive (not shown) is supported in the direction D1 which is the same direction as the direction B1 at a position facing the photosensitive drum 20Y so that the tip of the brush constituting the brush portion 47Y is rubbed against the surface of the photosensitive drum 20Y. It is rotationally driven by means. The tip of the brush constituting the brush portion 47Y rubs the surface of the photoconductor drum 20Y to scrape off unnecessary materials adhering to the surface of the photoconductor drum 20Y, and some of the unnecessary materials are rotated by the brush portion 44Y. It falls along with it, and other one part adheres to the brush part 44Y.

  The discharge screw 42Y is rotatably supported by the cleaning case 43Y with a shaft 66Y that forms the center of rotation of the discharge screw 42Y. The discharge screw 42Y is disposed at the bottom of the cleaning case 43Y and is driven to rotate in the F1 direction by a driving unit (not shown). The waste is directed toward the waste toner bottle and discharged outside the cleaning case 43Y, in other words, outside the cleaning device 40Y.

  The shape of the cleaning case 43Y is scraped off from the photosensitive drum 20Y by the brush roller 45Y, flicker 46Y, and cleaning blade 41Y, and the removed unnecessary material is collected at the bottom, which is a mortar shape in this embodiment. In addition, the unnecessary matter gathered at the bottom is efficiently discharged by the discharge screw 42Y.

  The base end of the cleaning blade 41Y is fixed to the cleaning case 43Y, and the front end is in contact with the photosensitive drum 20Y. The cleaning blade 41Y is inclined in such a manner that the base end side thereof faces the discharge screw 42Y, and the unnecessary matter removed from the photosensitive drum 20Y is guided to the discharge screw 42Y and efficiently discharged by the discharge screw 42Y. ing.

  The flicker 46Y includes a shaft 48Y that forms a rotation center, and a roller portion 49Y that is integral with the shaft 48Y and that is in sliding contact with the brush portion 44Y. The shaft 48Y is rotatably supported by the cleaning case 43Y, and the roller portion 49Y. Is arranged to bite into the brush portion 44Y. Accordingly, the flicker 46Y comes into contact with the brush portion 44Y by the rotation of the brush roller 45Y, and the brush portion 44Y is rubbed and struck by the flicker 46Y, so that unnecessary matter attached to the brush portion 44Y is removed. Is done.

  The flicker 46Y is removed in such a manner that unwanted materials are knocked down from the brush portion 44Y and dropped, and at the same time, the flicker 46Y is adsorbed from the brush portion 44Y. That is, as shown in FIG. 4A, the flicker 46Y is composed of a permanent magnet 65Y as a magnetic body as a whole, and the developer contained in the unwanted matter attached to the brush portion 44Y. In particular, the magnetic carrier is adsorbed and removed. By using the permanent magnet 65Y as the magnetic material, the flicker 46Y is provided at a low cost.

  The permanent magnet 65Y is disposed to remove the developer, particularly the carrier, contained in the unwanted matter attached to the brush portion 44Y, and is disposed on at least a part of the flicker 46Y or the roller portion 49Y. The arrangement position can be determined according to the position at which the carrier or the like adheres to the brush portion 44Y. For example, the carrier or the like at the end of the brush portion 44Y is noticeably attached. In some cases, as shown in FIG. 4B, the permanent magnet 65Y may be disposed only at the end of the roller portion 49Y.

  As described above, the flicker 46Y is not only removed by hitting an unnecessary object from the brush part 44Y, but also removed by being attracted, so that an unnecessary object such as a carrier adheres to the roller part 49Y. Therefore, if the same position of the roller portion 49Y comes into contact with the brush portion 44Y, unnecessary matter will mainly adhere to the contact position of the roller portion 49Y with the brush portion 44Y. Performance is likely to deteriorate. Therefore, the flicker 46Y is rotatably supported by the shaft 48Y on the cleaning case 43Y, and is disposed rotatably. The entire peripheral surface of the roller portion 49Y abuts against the brush portion 44Y evenly and adsorbs unnecessary matter. It is like that.

  In the present embodiment, the flicker 46Y is appropriately rotated by driving means including gears (not shown) in the same direction as the direction D1 at a position facing the brush portion 44Y. If it is possible to rotate, but the entire peripheral surface of the roller portion 49Y can be uniformly abutted against the brush portion 44Y without being biased by the rotation to the brush portion 44Y, and can rotate to remove unnecessary objects, it can be rotated. Alternatively, the shaft 48Y may be simply supported by the cleaning case 43Y so as to be rotatable.

  Further, even if the entire peripheral surface of the roller portion 49Y abuts uniformly on the brush portion 44Y without unevenness, and even if an unnecessary object is adsorbed, the cleaning performance due to the adsorption deteriorates over time, so the flicker 46Y is attached to the cleaning case 43Y. It is detachable and replaceable so that maintenance can be easily performed, and only the flicker 46Y can be replaced without replacing other parts such as the brush roller 45Y and the cleaning blade 41Y. Therefore, the maintenance is performed at a low cost.

  A part of the unwanted matter removed from the brush portion 44Y by the flicker 46Y is adsorbed to the roller portion 49Y, but the other falls. The dropped unwanted matter is discharged to the outside of the cleaning device 40Y by the discharge screw 42Y. In order to increase the discharge efficiency of the unwanted matter by the discharge screw 42Y, the arrangement position of the flicker 46Y is in the direction D1 of the brush portion 44Y. It is disposed downstream of the cleaning position of the photosensitive drum 20Y, that is, the sliding contact position, and upstream of the position connecting the center of the shaft 47Y and the center of the shaft 66Y of the brush portion 44Y. Has been.

Therefore, the unnecessary material that has been removed from the brush portion 44Y by the flicker 46Y and dropped is efficiently collected toward the discharge screw 42Y and discharged by the discharge screw 42Y.
In this way, unnecessary matter removed from the photosensitive drum 20Y by the brush roller 45Y, the flicker 46Y in contact with the brush roller 45Y, and the cleaning blade 41Y inclined toward the discharge screw 42Y is collected at the bottom. Combined with the function of the cleaning case 43Y having the shape, it is efficiently collected toward the discharge screw 42Y, and the collected unnecessary materials are efficiently discharged by the discharge screw 42Y.

  In addition, the brush roller 45Y removes unnecessary objects including the carrier from the photosensitive drum 20Y, and unnecessary substances attached to the brush roller 45Y are removed by the flicker 46Y, so that the brush roller 45Y cleans the photosensitive drum 20Y. In this case, the photosensitive film on the surface of the photosensitive drum 20Y is not cut, and the life of the photosensitive drum 20Y is not shortened.

  Furthermore, since the unnecessary matter adhering to the brush roller 45Y is removed by the flicker 46Y, the unnecessary matter adhering to the brush roller 45Y is prevented from reattaching to the photosensitive drum 20Y. When cleaning the drum 20Y, unnecessary objects, in particular, carriers are prevented from being caught between the cleaning blade 41Y and the photosensitive drum 20Y, and the photosensitive film on the surface of the photosensitive drum 20Y is not scraped, and the photosensitive drum 20Y. Does not shorten the lifespan.

  Of the photoconductor drum 20Y, the primary transfer roller 12Y, the cleaning device 40Y, the charging device 30Y, and the developing device 50Y constituting the image station 60Y, excluding the primary transfer roller 12Y, that is, the photoconductor drum. 20Y, the cleaning device 40Y, the charging device 30Y, and the developing device 50Y constitute a process cartridge 95Y as an image forming unit as a unit. The process cartridge 95Y is integrated with the main body 99 in FIG. It is detachable to the front side of the paper and is detachable.

  Further, the photosensitive drum 20Y is detachable from the main body 99 to the front side in FIG. 1, and is detachable. The photosensitive drum 20Y constitutes the process cartridge 95Y, and a cleaning device. Among the 40Y, the charging device 30Y, and the developing device 50Y, the one excluding the photosensitive drum 20Y, that is, the cleaning device 40Y, the charging device 30Y, and the developing device 50Y constitutes a unit. Is integrated and detachable from the main body 99 toward the front side of the sheet in FIG.

  Further, the developing device 50Y alone is detachable from the main body 99 toward the front side of the sheet of FIG. 1, and is detachable, and also constitutes a process cartridge 95Y, and a cleaning device 40Y. Among the charging device 30Y and the developing device 50Y, those other than the developing device 50Y, that is, the photosensitive drum 20Y, the cleaning device 40Y, and the charging device 30Y constitute a unit, and this unit is integrated. Thus, the main body 99 can be detached from the front side in FIG.

  As the photosensitive drum 20Y rotates in the B1 direction, the surface is uniformly charged by the charging roller 31Y, and an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the yellow color is formed by exposure scanning of the laser beam L from the optical scanning device 8. The electrostatic latent image is developed with the yellow toner by the developing device 50Y, and the yellow toner image obtained by the development is primarily transferred to the transfer belt 11 that moves in the A1 direction by the primary transfer roller 12Y. Unnecessary substances including toner remaining after the transfer are satisfactorily removed by the cleaning device 40Y and used for the next charge removal and charging by the charging roller 31Y.

  Similarly, toner images of the respective colors are formed on the other photosensitive drums 20C, 20M, and 20BK, and the formed toner images of the respective colors are transferred to the A1 direction by the primary transfer rollers 12C, 12M, and 12BK. 11 is sequentially transferred to the same position on the head. The toner image superimposed on the transfer belt 11 moves to the transfer unit 98 that is the secondary transfer unit that is opposed to the secondary transfer roller 5 as the transfer belt 11 rotates in the A1 direction. 2 is secondarily transferred to the transfer paper S.

  The transfer sheet S conveyed between the transfer belt 11 and the secondary transfer roller 5 is fed from the sheet feeding device 61 by the feeding roller 3 and fed, and is detected by the registration roller pair 4 as a detection signal by the sensor. Based on this, the leading edge of the toner image on the transfer belt 11 is sent out at a timing facing the secondary transfer roller 5.

  When the transfer paper S has transferred and carried toner images of all colors, the transfer paper S enters the fixing device 6 and acts by heat and pressure when passing through the fixing portion between the fixing roller 62 and the pressure roller 63. As a result, the carried toner image is fixed, and a color image is formed on the transfer paper S. The fixed transfer paper S that has passed through the fixing device 6 passes through the paper discharge roller 7 and is stacked on the paper discharge tray 17 at the top of the main body 99. On the other hand, the transfer belt 11 that has finished the secondary transfer is cleaned by a cleaning brush and a cleaning blade provided in the cleaning device 13 to prepare for the next development process.

In such a configuration, when the transfer belt unit 10 is detached from the main body 99, the front panel is opened, and the lever is operated to be in the third state, and then pulled out while sliding along the rail.
Since the transfer belt unit 10 is attached to and detached from the main body 99 in the third state, deterioration of the transfer belt 11 and the photosensitive drum 20BK due to sliding friction between the transfer belt 11 and the photosensitive drum 20BK at the time of attachment and detachment is prevented. . Moreover, since it attaches and detaches as a unit, a user can attach or detach easily, ensuring positioning accuracy.

  Not only the transfer belt unit 10 but also the process cartridges 95Y, 95C, 95M, and 95BK can be attached to and detached from the main body 99 as described above. Also when attaching or detaching these units, the image forming apparatus 100 is set to the second state or the third state by the separating means or the like, and the photosensitive drum in the unit to be attached or detached is separated from the transfer belt 11. Thus, deterioration of the transfer belt 11 due to rubbing and the photosensitive drum to be attached and detached is prevented. In addition, since the unit is attached and detached, the user can easily attach and detach while ensuring positioning accuracy.

  It is also effective from the viewpoint of reducing running costs and effective use of resources to attach and detach the process cartridges 95Y, 95C, 95M, and 95BK, the transfer belt unit 10 and the like as necessary. In other words, the life of each component is generally different, for example, the life of the main unit and the unit are different, but the device can be used up to the life of the longest-life component by setting the replacement cycle according to the life. From the viewpoint of reducing running costs and effective use of resources. Also, during maintenance without replacement, maintenance is easy by removing only necessary parts and performing maintenance.

  As described above, the cleaning apparatuses 40Y, 40C, 40M, and 40BK, the process cartridges 95Y, 95C, 95M, and 95BK, and the image forming apparatus 100 to which the present invention is applied have been described as embodiments for carrying out the present invention. It is sufficient that at least the image carrier and the cleaning device are provided, and it is sufficient that at least the image carrier, the brush roller, and the flicker are provided even if the entire cleaning device is not provided.

  The present invention is a cleaning device disposed on an image carrier such as the transfer belt 11 in the above-described embodiment, in which a toner image is transferred from another image carrier, like the cleaning device 13 in the above-described embodiment. You may apply to. This is also because such an image carrier may be transferred with an unnecessary object such as a carrier when a toner image is transferred from another image carrier.

Moreover, although the above-described cleaning apparatus employs a cleaning method in which cleaning is performed using a blade, a blade rescreening method in which cleaning is performed using only a brush may be employed.
The application of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment unless particularly limited in the above description.

1 is a schematic front view of an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a schematic front view showing a process cartridge provided in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a schematic front view showing a cleaning device provided in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 and the process cartridge shown in FIG. 2. It is a perspective view which shows the removal member with which the cleaning apparatus shown in FIG. 3 was equipped.

Explanation of symbols

20Y, 20C, 20M, 20BK Image carrier 40Y, 40C, 40M, 40BK Cleaning device 41Y Blade 42Y Discharge path 45Y Rotating brush 46Y Removal member 65Y Magnetic body 95Y, 95C, 95M, 95BK Process cartridge 100 Image forming device D1 Rotating brush Direction of rotation

Claims (9)

A rotating brush that cleans the image carrier , and at least a portion that is disposed so as to bite into the rotating brush and that engages with the rotating brush and removes unwanted matter attached to the rotating brush from the rotating brush. A cleaning device comprising: a removing member made of a magnetic material for removing an unnecessary developer from the rotating brush . 2. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the removing member is in a roller shape and is rotatable .   3. The cleaning device according to claim 1, further comprising: a discharge path for discharging an unnecessary object, wherein the position at which the removal member engages with the rotating brush is an image of the rotating brush in the rotation direction of the rotating brush. A cleaning device, wherein the cleaning device is positioned downstream of the cleaning position of the carrier and upstream of a position connecting the rotation center of the rotating brush and the discharge path.   4. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the removing member is rotatably arranged.   5. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the removal member is disposed so as to be replaceable.   6. The cleaning device according to claim 1, further comprising a blade for cleaning the image carrier at a position downstream of the rotating brush in the rotation direction of the image carrier. apparatus.   The cleaning brush according to any one of claims 1 to 6, or the rotary brush and the removal member provided in the cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, an image carrier, A process cartridge.   8. The process cartridge according to claim 7, wherein the process cartridge is detachably disposed in the image forming apparatus.   An image forming apparatus comprising the cleaning device according to claim 1 or the process cartridge according to claim 7 or 8.

Images