JP5091559B2 - Lubricant coating apparatus, image forming apparatus, process cartridge, and method for controlling lubricant coating apparatus - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a lubricant coating apparatus, an image forming apparatus, a process cartridge, and a control method for the lubricant coating apparatus, and in particular, a holding unit that holds a solid lubricant and an image obtained by scraping the held solid lubricant. It relates to a lubricant coating apparatus and a rotary member for applying a charge of lifting body.

Generally, in an image forming apparatus, a lubricant is applied to the image in charge lifting body. Application of the lubricant to the image responsible lifting body, improving the cleaning property of the image in charge bearing member, the toner to the image responsible lifting bodies, additives contained in the toner, starch contained in the transfer material (transfer sheet), It has been reported that it is effective in suppressing filming due to talc and the like.

  Patent Document 1 discloses an image carrier, a transfer mechanism for transferring a toner image formed on the surface of the image carrier to a recording paper, and a toner image formed on the surface of the image carrier after the transfer to the recording paper by the transfer mechanism. An image forming apparatus that includes a cleaning device that includes a cleaning blade that cleans residual toner is described that includes a lubricant application device that applies a lubricant to the surface of an image carrier. In this image forming apparatus, the cross section is formed in a trapezoidal shape so that the amount of solid lubricant scraping changes in response to an increase in the total number of rotations of the rotating member. For this reason, the solid lubricant is initially applied with a high pressure against the rotating brush, the amount of solid lubricant applied is large, and the solid applied to the surface of the photoreceptor as the total use time of the image forming apparatus becomes longer. The amount of lubricant is reduced.

Further, Patent Document 2 discloses a lubricant in which a solid lubricant is brought into contact with a rotating brush, the lubricant adhering to the brush is applied to an image carrier, and a film made of the lubricant is formed on the surface of the image carrier. An image forming apparatus that includes a film forming unit and a storage unit that stores image formation information, and that controls the amount of lubricant applied to the surface of the image carrier based on the information stored in the storage unit. Have been described.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-279788 JP 2002-244486 A

Incidentally, in the image forming apparatus described above, the solid lubricant applied to the image bearing member is a lubricant is consumed because it is scraped by the lubricant applying mechanism represented by the brush member is applied to the image charge of lifting body Go. Here, the solid lubricant cleaning device consists of applying mechanism integrally, and an image charge of lifting member and the lubricant coating mechanism such as a solid body lubricant comprise configured members such as the process cartridge constituted integrally In order to prolong the service life, it is conceivable to increase the solid lubricant or reduce the consumption of the lubricant.

However, increasing the size of the solid lubricant does not meet the demand for downsizing the image forming apparatus, and leads to an increase in the cost of the solid lubricant. On the other hand, if the consumption amount of the lubricant is simply reduced, the effect of the above-described lubricant application is reduced, and problems such as a reduction in cleaning performance and a reduction in filming margin occur.

  Here, the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1 has a problem that only a rough coating amount control until the end of its life can be performed because the application amount (consumption amount) of the solid lubricant is controlled by changing the cross-sectional shape. .

  In addition, the storage unit of the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 2 stores a solid lubricant usage history (or cartridge usage history), and the application amount is not controlled in one job. The solid lubricant in the fixed position compensates for the decrease in biting into the application brush due to consumption, and the position of the solid lubricant is changed depending on the use history, and the change in the application amount due to the job length cannot be compensated. .

Therefore, the present invention extends the life of the lubricant by efficiently using the lubricant while ensuring the necessary consumption, and thus extends the life of the unit, thereby applying a low-cost, high-efficiency lubricant. It is an object of the present invention to provide a mechanism , an image forming apparatus, a process cartridge, and a control method for a lubricant applying apparatus .

The invention of claim 1
In a lubricant application device comprising a holding unit for holding a solid lubricant, and a rotating member that scrapes the applied solid lubricant and applies it to an image carrier.
It said image to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the carrier, to visualize the electrostatic latent image as a toner image, changing the rotational speed of the rotary member in the image forming job you transfer the toner image visualized on paper A rotational speed control device,
A leveling member that uniformly levels the lubricant applied to the image carrier,
Said revolution speed control system, said by coating the fabric of the surface of the image bearing member of said solid lubricant by the rotation member of the lubricant applying device regardless of the number of sheets to perform a transfer to any image forming job solid order to the consumption of lubricant constant, as a control performed per image forming job, will slow down with time the rotational speed of the rotary member from the start of the image formation job, or imaging job The lubricant application device is characterized in that control is performed such that the number of rotations of the rotating member decreases as the number of sheets on which the transfer is performed increases.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the lubricant application device according to the first aspect, the rotational speed control device slows the rotational speed of the rotating member based on the passage of time from the start of one image forming job. instead of going, and performs the cumulative rotational speed of the rotating member with respect to the continue to slow the rotational speed of the rotary member control from the start of one imaging job.

A third aspect of the present invention, the lubricant applying device according to claim 1, wherein the rotational speed control system, instead of from the start of one image generating job over time, from the start of the one image forming job The number of rotations of the rotating member is controlled on the basis of the number of images formed on the image carrier.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the lubricant application device according to any one of the first to third aspects, the rotating member is a brush-like member.

The invention of claim 5 is a process cartridge, wherein Rukoto such as an integral structure with at least an image bearing member, a lubricant coating apparatus according to any one of 1 to 4.

The invention of claim 6 is an image forming apparatus according to claim Rukoto includes a lubricant coating apparatus according to any one of 請 Motomeko 1 to 4.

A seventh aspect of the present invention is an image forming apparatus comprising the process cartridge according to the fifth aspect.

The invention of claim 8
A holding unit that holds the solid lubricant, a rotating member that scrapes the applied solid lubricant and applies the solid lubricant to the image carrier, the surface of the image carrier is charged, and the surface of the image carrier is exposed. , an electrostatic latent image formed, visualization by toner the electrostatic latent image, and a rotational speed controller for changing the rotational speed of the rotary member in the line cormorants imaging job transfer to paper the toner image visualized In the control method of the provided lubricant application device,
Said revolution speed control system, said by coating the fabric of the surface of the image bearing member of said solid lubricant by the rotation member of the lubricant applying device regardless of the number of sheets to perform transfer for every image generating job solid order to the consumption of lubricant constant, as a control performed per image forming job, will slow down with time the rotational speed of the rotary member from the start of the image formation job, or imaging job The control method of the lubricant application device is characterized in that control is performed such that the number of rotations of the rotating member is decreased as the number of sheets to be transferred is increased.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the control method for the lubricant application device according to the eighth aspect, the rotational speed control device is configured to delay the time based on the passage of time from the start of one image forming job. Instead, control is performed to slow down the rotational speed of the rotating member based on the cumulative rotational speed of the rotating member from the start of the one image forming job.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the control method for the lubricant application device according to the eighth aspect, the rotation speed control device is configured to start one image forming job instead of elapse of time from the start of one image forming job. The number of rotations of the rotating member is controlled based on the number of images formed on the image carrier from the time.

  According to the present invention, the lubricant application device includes the rotation speed control device that changes the rotation speed of the rotating member during image formation, so that fine application amount control for each use mode is possible, and the necessary consumption amount By efficiently using the lubricant while ensuring the above, it is possible to extend the life of the lubricant, and thus extend the life of the unit to achieve low cost and high efficiency.

  Embodiments as the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  An image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of an image forming apparatus equipped with the present invention. The image forming apparatus according to this example is an in-body discharge type color image forming apparatus.

  In the image forming apparatus 100, an image forming unit 110 is disposed substantially at the center, and a paper feeding unit 130 is disposed immediately below the image forming unit 110. In this image forming apparatus 100, it is assumed that another sheet feeding device can be added to the lower part as necessary. Above the image forming unit 110, a reading unit 140 that reads a document through the paper discharge storage unit 150 is disposed. A recording medium (hereinafter referred to as paper) on which an image is formed is discharged and stored in the discharge storage unit 150. Note that the arrows in FIG. 1 indicate the sheet passing path.

  In the image forming unit 110, yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (Bk) image forming units are arranged. Below 110, an exposure device 120 that irradiates the surface of the photosensitive member with laser light with image information is disposed.

  The image forming unit of the image forming unit 110 is arranged corresponding to each color of Y, M, C, and Bk. For example, the surface of the photoconductor 111 that is an image carrier is charged around the photoconductor 111 having a drum shape. A charging device 112 that performs processing and a developing device 113 that visualizes an electrostatic latent image formed by exposure on the surface of the photoreceptor 111 are provided.

  An upper portion of the image forming unit 110 has an intermediate transfer device 114 that superimposes toner images developed on the Y, M, C, and Bk photoconductors 111, a transfer device 115 that transfers the toner image to paper, A cleaning device 116 that removes and collects toner remaining on the surface of the photoconductor after transfer, a lubricant coating device 200 for reducing the friction coefficient of the surface of the image carrier such as the photoconductor 111, and fixing the toner on the paper from which the toner image was obtained. A fixing device 118 to be processed is disposed downstream in the paper conveyance path.

  In this example, in order to facilitate maintenance, the photosensitive member 111, the charging device 112, the developing device 113, the cleaning device 116, and the like are incorporated in one unit as a process cartridge PC, and are detachable from the apparatus main body. The sheet that has passed through the fixing device 118 is discharged and stored in the discharge storage unit 150 via the discharge roller 119.

  Unused paper is stored in the paper feed unit 130, and the paper placed at the uppermost position is sent out from the paper feed cassette by the rotation of the paper feed roller 137 and conveyed to the registration roller 121. The registration roller 121 is controlled to start rotation at a timing so that the conveyance of the paper is temporarily stopped and the positional relationship between the toner image formed on the surface of the photoconductor 111 and the leading edge of the paper is a predetermined position. .

  In the reading unit 140, in order to perform reading scanning of a document (not shown) placed on the contact glass 142, a reading traveling body 141 including a document illumination light source and a mirror reciprocates. The image information scanned by the reading traveling body 141 is read as an image signal into the CCD 144 installed behind the lens 143. The read image signal is digitized and subjected to image processing. Based on the image-processed signal, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive member 111 by light emission of a laser diode (not shown) of the exposure device 120. The optical signal from the laser diode reaches the photosensitive member via a known polygon mirror or lens.

  Next, the image forming apparatus lubricant application device according to this example will be described. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of an image forming unit including a lubricant application device according to the embodiment.

  The image forming unit according to this example is configured by disposing a cleaning device 116 and a lubricant application device 200 around the photoreceptor 111. In this example, after the toner is transferred to the intermediate transfer member by the intermediate transfer device 114, the transfer residual toner on the photoreceptor 111 is cleaned by the cleaning device 116. Thereafter, a solid lubricant is applied by the lubricant application device 200.

  In the cleaning device 116, a cleaning fur brush 132 that contacts the photoconductor 111, a transfer roller 134 that transfers residual toner removed from the photoconductor 111, and a cleaning blade 135 are incorporated in a case 131. The case 131 is provided with an inlet seal 133.

Further, in this example, the brush roll 215 is controlled to rotate independently of the rotation of the photoconductor 111 by the rotation control device 400, that is, the brush roll 215 is connected to the motor 410 by the rotating shaft 411, and the 410 is rotated. The controller 420 controls the rotation speed.
In addition, the lubricant application device 200 includes a brush roll 215 that is a rotating member that contacts the solid lubricant 220 and the photoreceptor 111. A solid lubricant 220 is pressed against the brush roll 215 by a pressing member, and the lubricant scraped off by the brush roll 215 is applied to the photoreceptor 111. The pressing means is disposed between the unit main body member 211 and the solid lubricant 220, and between the compression spring 212 that presses the solid lubricant 220 toward the brush roll 215, and between the compression spring 212 and the solid lubricant 220. And a holder 214 that is a holding portion for the solid lubricant 220. The lubricant application device 200 includes a leveling member 216 formed of a thermoplastic or thermosetting urethane blade that uniformly levels the lubricant applied to the photoreceptor 111 with the brush roll 215.

As the solid lubricant 220, zinc stearate is used. The zinc stearate, melting the NOF zinc stearate and Sakai Chemical Ltd. SZ2000, etc., can be used solid body lubricant created solidifying. The material of the solid lubricant is not limited to zinc stearate, and other materials having a lubricating effect such as potassium stearate, aluminum stearate, calcium stearate, and the like can be used.

  In this example, the brush roll 215 has a roll shape formed by winding a brush in which PET fibers having a low resistance of 6d (order of the square of 10) are implanted with 50000 filaments per square inch around a metal core. Used. The material of the brush roll is not limited to PET fiber, and acrylic fiber, polyamide synthetic fiber, or the like may be used, or non-conductive fiber may be used. In addition, the material is not limited to the brush roll, and other materials may be used as long as they are capable of scraping solid lubricant such as urethane foam.

  The brush roll 215 scrapes off the solid lubricant 220 and applies the scraped lubricant to the photoreceptor 111. The lubricant scraping member and the lubricant application member may be separated.

  In this example, the leveling member 216 is disposed so as to maximize the effect of lubrication. This leveling member may not be used as long as the lubrication with the brush roll 215 can sufficiently withstand the required specifications even without a blade.

  Next, a lubricant application device according to another embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a lubricant application device according to another embodiment. In this example, the number of parts is reduced by integrating the lubricant application device 300 with the cleaning device. In this example, the lubricant application device 300 includes a brush roll 315 that is a rotating member that contacts the solid lubricant 320 and the photoreceptor 111. A solid lubricant 320 is pressed against the brush roll 315 by a pressing member, and the lubricant scraped off by the brush roll 315 is applied to the photoreceptor 111. The pressing means is disposed between the unit body member 311 and the solid lubricant 320, and between the compression spring 312 that presses the solid lubricant 320 toward the brush roll 315, and between the compression spring 312 and the solid lubricant 320. And a holder 314 which is a holding part for the solid lubricant 320 to be arranged. The lubricant application device 300 also includes a leveling member 216 formed of a thermoplastic or thermosetting urethane blade that uniformly levels the lubricant applied to the photoreceptor 111 with the brush roll 215. In this example, the leveling member 316 is configured to also serve as a cleaning blade.

  In this example, similarly to the first embodiment described above, the brush roll 315 is controlled to rotate independently of the rotation of the photoconductor 111 by the rotation control device 400, that is, the brush roll 215 is a rotating shaft. 411 is connected to the motor 410, and the rotation control unit 420 controls the number of rotations 410.

  However, this embodiment is more susceptible to the amount of waste toner than the first embodiment described above, and the variation in lubricant application is likely to be large. However, in practice, the application mechanism and control method according to the present invention are practiced. It will not be an obstacle.

  Next, control of the rotation control device 400 will be described. In this example, the following control is performed in the lubricant application apparatuses 200 and 300 having the above-described configurations. The lubricant application devices 200 and 300 are provided with a rotation control device that controls the rotation of the brush rolls 215 and 315. The rotation control device controls the number of rotations of a motor that drives the brush rolls 215 and 315.

  That is, in this embodiment, in the rotation control device 400, the rotation control unit 420 slows the rotation of the motor 410, that is, the rotation speed of the brush rolls 215 and 315 as the image formation time elapses from the start of image formation. . Specifically, the rotation control unit 420 controls the rotation speed of the brush rolls 215 and 315 with reference to the cumulative rotation speed of the brush rolls 215 and 315 from the start of image formation.

Next, control of the rotation control device will be described. FIG. 4 is a graph showing the relationship between the number of rotations of the brush roll and one job operation time. In this example, the rotation control unit 420 decreases the number of rotations of the brush rolls 215 and 315 as the number of output sheets in one job increases. Thus, it is possible to improve the life of the solid lubricant, and hence the life of the solid lubricant coating mechanism, the cleaning device when integrated with the cleaning device life, the process cartridge when integrated with the image charge of bearing member The service life can be extended.

Hereinafter, the reason why the rotation control device is controlled will be described. In the lubricant applying device is to control the amount of solid bodies lubricant applied to the photoconductor 111, there is a method of the following (1) to (4).
(1) Controlling the pressing force of the solid lubricant to the brush roll.
(2) Control the number of rotations of the brush roll.
(3) Change the fiber type, fiber diameter, and flock density of the brush roll.
(4) Control the hardness (ease of scraping) of the solid lubricant.

However, once (1) the pressing force of the solid lubricant to the brush roll, (3) the fiber type, fiber diameter, flocking density of the brush roll, and (4) the hardness of the solid lubricant are set once. It is very difficult to control the application amount (consumption amount) of the solid lubricant by changing the conditions in the image. Those described in Patent Document 2 described above, but trying to control the coating amount (consumption) by changing the amount of biting into the brush roll of the solid lubricant based on the total rotation time of the image charge of lifting body, Since it is subject to variations in the scraping speed of the solid lubricant, it is not suitable for delicate control.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, the rotation speed of the brush roll as a solid lubricant scraping / applying member is arranged separately from the photosensitive member 111, and the rotation control device 400 that can be controlled independently is arranged. .

Here, the background to which the inventors have arrived at the invention will be described. Figure 5 is a graph showing the coating weight of the image responsible lifting of solid lubricant, the relationship between the friction coefficient between the paper by Euler belt method of the image responsible lifting body. In the figure, it is called actually due or is how applied to the image charge of lifting body is unknown, the coating amount by substituting the weight loss of the solid lubricant.

In the evaluation of the present inventors, among some machine configurations, relationships of the coefficient of friction of the coating amount and the image responsible diester per image responsible bearing member travel distance of the solid lubricant, the coefficient of friction increasing coating weight Draws a curve where the friction coefficient increases as the coating amount decreases and the coating amount decreases. It is known that this is placed on a single curve under certain imaging conditions (evaluation with all or some imaging conditions other than the solid lubricant application amount fixed). In particular, this tendency becomes noticeable in the system in which the solid lubricant is disposed after the cleaning device.

When Paradoxically speaking, the lubricant coating amount in a certain one case of determining the constant of the solid lubricant coating condition system, an image charge of lifting body coefficient of friction is that to become integrated value (in consideration of variation) .

However, the operating distance of the image responsible lifting body in one image formation is changed, that is, when an image output one by one image forming job (at transfer sheet), 100 sheets of images output on one image forming job even in a solid lubricant coating amount per driving distance of the image charge of lifting body it is confirmed to be changed.

  This is because when the lubricant application mechanism is installed inside the cleaning, the influence of the waste toner is strong and the change in the lubricant consumption due to the length of the travel distance per job cannot be detected. It has also been affected.

That is, when the image in charge bearing member travel distance per one job is short (one per job output) decreases lubricant coating amount, the friction coefficient of the image charge of lifting body is increased. If the image in charge bearing member travel distance per one job is long (Toka 100 sheets per job, 1000 sheets output) increases the lubricant application amount, the friction coefficient of the image charge of lifting body is confirmed that the increase .

Here, when the application capacity of solid lubricant is determined based on the result of continuous jobs such as 100 sheets output per job, the amount of lubricant applied decreases when only one sheet is output per job. Te, cleaning failure, possibly the friction coefficient of the generated image responsible lifting body in the region of filming increases occurs. In addition, if the application capacity of solid lubricant is determined based on the result of a job such as output of one sheet per job, the amount of applied lubricant increases when the usage is performed only for continuous jobs. Are likely to occur earlier, and problems due to excessive application of lubricant (deterioration of the image due to charging roller contamination when using a charging roller system) are likely to occur.

The coating amount of the original lubricant, rather than managing the pressing force and other conditions of the brush roller of the lubricant, but is where you want to manage the actual coefficient of friction coating amount (= consumed) and field responsible lifting body Confirmation during actual image formation is difficult. In addition, when a job starts, the machine does not know how long (number of sheets) the job will continue. In the case of copy output, the number of documents is unknown at the time of simultaneous output. Also, the output (printing) of the printer / FAX is not completed by the control of the image forming system.

Therefore, to be a solid lubricant coating amount reaching the friction coefficient of the image bearing member which aims at the output one per job at the beginning of all Ku imaging a constant coating amount of the solid lubricant for every job The number of rotations of the brush roll is started at a high state, and as the time or number of sheets of one job increases, the number of rotations of the brush roll is decreased and finally continuous output (100 sheets in the evaluation of the inventors). Since only a change of measurement variation could be observed between the output and 1000 sheets output, the solid lubricant application amount of about 100 sheets output is set as the lower limit.Of course, this should be set in accordance with the machine. Therefore, it is not stipulated that the output of 100 sheets is set as the lower limit), and the brush roll is rotated at a low number of revolutions with the coating amount adjusted until the friction coefficient of the target image carrier is obtained. It may be Re.

This control is intended to be performed per job, the next job to be performed to start again after the image responsible lifting member is stopped once, the high rotational speed of the rotational speed of the previous job as well as the brush roll Starting can make up for the shortage of solid lubricants in short jobs.

This is to good to control the rotational speed of the brush roll based continuous drive time of the image charge of lifting body as described above, it may be performed the rotational speed control based on the continuous output sheets in one job Absent. For more detailed control, it is better to use continuous drive time as a base.

  Further, the rotational speed may be changed continuously, or the rotational speed may be decreased stepwise in several steps according to a certain driving time and the number of output sheets.

  When mounting a solid lubricant, it is not possible to select conditions for causing poor cleaning or filming, and to determine the amount of solid lubricant to be applied under conditions where there is a small number of output sheets per job with no margin. Become. In that case, if the output with the increased number of output per job is continued, the consumption of the solid lubricant is accelerated and it becomes difficult to extend the life.

  In the present invention, this portion is scraped and the number of revolutions of the coating member is varied (reduced) within a continuous time in one job, thereby suppressing excessive consumption of the solid lubricant and solidifying for a longer period of time. A lubricant may be usable.

  As a result, the life of the solid lubricant can be improved, and consequently the life of the solid lubricant application mechanism, the life of the cleaning device when integrated with the cleaning device, and the process cartridge when integrated with the image carrier. The service life can be extended.

1 is a schematic sectional view of an image forming apparatus equipped with the present invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the structure of the image forming unit containing the lubricant coating device which concerns on an Example. It is sectional drawing which shows the lubricant coating device which concerns on another Example. It is a graph which shows the relationship between the rotation speed of a brush roll, and 1 job operation time. And the coating amount of the image responsible lifting of solid lubricant is a graph showing the relationship between the friction coefficient between the paper by Euler belt method of the image responsible lifting body.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Image forming apparatus 110 Image forming part 111 Photoconductor 112 Charging apparatus 113 Developing apparatus 114 Intermediate transfer apparatus 115 Transfer apparatus 116 Cleaning apparatus 118 Fixing apparatus 119 Paper discharge roller 120 Exposure apparatus 130 Paper feed part 131 Case 132 Fur brush 133 Entrance seal 134 Transfer roller 135 Cleaning blade 137 Feed roller 140 Reading unit 150 Discharge storage unit 200 Lubricant application device 211 Unit main body member 212 Compression spring 214 Holder 215 Brush roll 216 Leveling member 220 Solid lubricant 300 Lubricant application device 311 Unit Main body member 312 Compression spring 314 Holder 315 Brush roll 316 Leveling member 320 Solid lubricant 400 Rotation control device 410 Motor 411 Rotating shaft 420 Rotation control unit

Claims (10)

In a lubricant application device comprising a holding unit for holding a solid lubricant, and a rotating member that scrapes the applied solid lubricant and applies it to an image carrier.
It said image to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the carrier, to visualize the electrostatic latent image as a toner image, changing the rotational speed of the rotary member in the image forming job you transfer the toner image visualized on paper A rotational speed control device,
A leveling member that uniformly levels the lubricant applied to the image carrier,
Said revolution speed control system, said by coating the fabric of the surface of the image bearing member of said solid lubricant by the rotation member of the lubricant applying device regardless of the number of sheets to perform a transfer to any image forming job solid order to the consumption of lubricant constant, as a control performed per image forming job, will slow down with time the rotational speed of the rotary member from the start of the image formation job, or imaging job The lubricant application device is characterized in that control is performed such that the number of rotations of the rotating member decreases as the number of sheets on which the transfer is performed increases.
The rotational speed control device replaces the rotation speed of the rotating member with the passage of time from the start of one image forming job as a reference, and the rotating member from the start of one image forming job. The lubricant application device according to claim 1, wherein control is performed to slow down the rotational speed of the rotating member with reference to the cumulative rotational speed. Said revolution speed control system, instead of from the start of one image generating job over time, the rotational speed of the rotary member based on the image formation sheet number of the image bearing member from the start of the one image forming job The lubricant application device according to claim 1, wherein the lubricant application device is controlled.   The lubricant applying device according to claim 1, wherein the rotating member is a brush-like member.   5. A process cartridge comprising at least an image carrier and the lubricant application device according to claim 1 as an integral structure.   An image forming apparatus comprising the lubricant application device according to claim 1. An image forming apparatus comprising the process cartridge according to claim 5 .
A holding unit that holds the solid lubricant, a rotating member that scrapes the applied solid lubricant and applies the solid lubricant to the image carrier, the surface of the image carrier is charged, and the surface of the image carrier is exposed. , an electrostatic latent image formed, visualization by toner the electrostatic latent image, and a rotational speed controller for changing the rotational speed of the rotary member in the line cormorants imaging job transfer to paper the toner image visualized In the control method of the provided lubricant application device,
Said revolution speed control system, said by coating the fabric of the surface of the image bearing member of said solid lubricant by the rotation member of the lubricant applying device regardless of the number of sheets to perform transfer for every image generating job solid order to the consumption of lubricant constant, as a control performed per image forming job, will slow down with time the rotational speed of the rotary member from the start of the image formation job, or imaging job A control method for a lubricant application device, wherein control is performed such that the number of rotations of the rotating member decreases as the number of sheets on which the transfer is performed increases.
The speed control device 1 an elapsed time from the start of the image formation job instead to continue to slow as a reference, based on the cumulative number of revolutions of the rotary member from the start of the 1 image generating job 9. The method of controlling a lubricant application device according to claim 8, wherein control is performed to slow down the rotational speed of the rotating member. Said revolution speed control system, instead of from the start of one image generating job over time, the rotational speed of the rotating member the image forming number of the image bearing member on the basis from the start of one image generating job The method of controlling a lubricant application device according to claim 8, wherein control is performed.