JP5305166B2 - Lubricant supply device, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a lubricant supply device that supplies a lubricant to an image carrier provided in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, or a facsimile, a process cartridge including the lubricant, and an image forming apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus, a cleaning apparatus that removes transfer residual toner and the like adhering to a photosensitive member by sliding a cleaning member on the surface of the photosensitive member that is an image carrier has been widely used. This cleaning device has a problem in that the cleaning member is worn over time due to continuous sliding of the cleaning member on the surface of the photosensitive member, causing chipping or deformation, and the cleaning performance is deteriorated. Further, there is also a problem that the surface of the photosensitive member is worn by continuing to rub the cleaning member, and the life of the photosensitive member is shortened. In response to such a problem, a lubricant supply device that supplies a lubricant to the surface of the photoconductor so as to reduce frictional resistance between the surface of the photoconductor and the cleaning member and suppress wear of the cleaning member and the photoconductor. Is known (for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2).

  In the lubricant supply device, it is desired to supply an appropriate amount of lubricant to the surface of the photoreceptor. If the supply amount is too small, a cleaning failure may occur in a portion where the lubricant is not sufficiently supplied, or wear of the cleaning member will progress. On the other hand, if the supply amount of the lubricant is too large, the charging member disposed near or in contact with the surface of the photoconductor is contaminated, or the lubricant absorbs moisture in a high temperature and high humidity environment. The formed electrostatic latent image flows, causing image blurring. Therefore, it is desirable to stably supply an appropriate amount of lubricant close to the minimum necessary amount on the surface of the photoreceptor.

  Patent Document 1 describes a typical configuration of a lubricant supply device. This lubricant supply device is rotatably provided with a supply roller such as a brush roller or a sponge roller as a lubricant supply member so that the outer peripheral surface is in contact with the surface of the photoreceptor. A solid lubricant obtained by solidifying zinc stearate or the like is pressed against the supply roller through a lubricant holding member by a compression spring or the like as a lubricant pressing means. Thereby, the solid lubricant ensures a predetermined pressure and comes into contact with the supply roller. As the supply roller rotates, the solid lubricant is scraped off and the scraped powder (hereinafter referred to as shaving powder) is supplied to the surface of the photoreceptor. The lubricant supply device configured as described above is held on the supply roller so that the supply roller scrapes an appropriate amount of the solid lubricant by securing a predetermined pressure and bringing the solid lubricant into contact with the supply roller. It is possible to adjust the shaving powder to an appropriate amount. Therefore, this lubricant supply device can continue to supply an appropriate amount of lubricant to the surface of the photoreceptor. Also, the configuration is relatively simple.

  In the lubricant supply device, it is also desired to supply the lubricant uniformly to the surface of the photoreceptor. For this purpose, it is preferable that the particle size or shape of the lubricant to be supplied is controlled. However, it is difficult to control the particle size and shape of the cutting powder in the configuration in which the supply roller supplies the solid lubricant cutting powder, and in terms of supplying the lubricant to the surface of the photoreceptor in a uniform state. There is a limit.

  On the other hand, Patent Document 2 describes a lubricant supply device that contains a powder lubricant and supplies it to the surface of the photoreceptor. This lubricant supply apparatus has an advantage that it is easy to supply the lubricant to the surface of the photoreceptor in a uniform state by using a powder lubricant whose particle size or shape is controlled. However, in a lubricant supply device that supplies a powder lubricant, it is difficult to continue supplying an appropriate amount of lubricant to the surface of the photoreceptor with a relatively simple configuration. For example, in the configuration described in Patent Document 2 in which the powder lubricant is in direct contact with the surface of the photoreceptor, it is difficult to control the supply amount.

  It is also conceivable to supply the powder lubricant to the surface of the photoconductor with the same configuration as that for supplying the solid lubricant to the surface of the photoconductor using a supply roller. Specifically, powder lubricant is filled in the space between the supply roller and the lubricant holding member, and the powder lubricant is secured to the supply roller via the lubricant holding member by a compression spring or the like to supply the powder lubricant. It is comprised so that it may contact | abut. In this configuration, in order to supply a powder lubricant in an amount close to the minimum necessary amount to the supply roller, it is necessary to set the predetermined pressure very small as compared with the case where a solid lubricant is used. The pressing force is reduced. When the ratio of the pressing force is small with respect to the sliding resistance between the lubricant holding member and the peripheral member, it is difficult to secure a stable predetermined pressure because the pressing force is easily influenced by variations in the sliding resistance. Become. That is, it is difficult and practically difficult for the powder lubricant to stably contact the supply roller while maintaining a very small predetermined pressure. As a result, the amount of powder lubricant held on the supply roller changes, and it is difficult to continue supplying the appropriate amount of lubricant to the surface of the photoreceptor.

  Although it is conceivable to separately provide a supply agitator and a regulating member so as to keep the amount of the powder lubricant held on the supply roller constant, the configuration of the lubricant supply device becomes complicated.

  As described above, when the powder lubricant is accommodated and supplied to the surface of the photoreceptor, it is difficult to continue supplying an appropriate amount of lubricant close to the minimum necessary amount to the surface of the photoreceptor with a simple configuration. Therefore, although there is a limit in supplying the lubricant to the surface of the photoreceptor in a uniform state, conventionally, a lubricant supply device using a solid lubricant has been mainly used.

  In the lubricant supply device using the above solid lubricant, a solidified fatty acid metal salt such as zinc stearate is widely used as the solid lubricant, and it is possible to reduce the friction coefficient and protect the photoreceptor. Can be obtained. In recent years, it has been found that, in addition to this, by supplying an inorganic or organic lubricant, a higher cleaning performance can be stabilized and a photosensitive member can be protected. Specifically, the fatty acid metal salt is altered by an electrostatic hazard due to an image forming process, and the lubricity is deteriorated. For this reason, the friction coefficient reducing effect of the lubricant supplied to the surface of the photoreceptor tends to decrease with time. In contrast, boron nitride, which is an inorganic lubricant, does not deteriorate due to electrostatic hazards, so it has a stable friction coefficient reduction effect over time, and suppresses deterioration of the cleaning member over time, and cleaning over time. Great effect of stabilizing performance. However, the protective effect of the photoreceptor with only boron nitride is small. For this reason, by mixing and supplying the fatty acid metal salt and boron nitride, it is possible to obtain a more stable friction coefficient reducing effect over time and a protective effect of the photoreceptor.

  However, when a solid lubricant in which a fatty acid metal salt is mixed with an inorganic and organic lubricant is manufactured and supplied by a lubricant supply device using the solid lubricant, there are some problems.

As a method for producing a solid lubricant, there are generally melt molding in which it is melted to a melting point or higher and then solidified in a mold or the like, and compression molding in which powder is solidified by applying high pressure with a mold or the like. Regarding the melt molding of solid lubricants in which fatty acid metal salts and inorganic and organic lubricants are mixed, solid lubricants become extremely hard when the mixing ratio of inorganic and organic lubricants to fatty acid metal salts is large. For this reason, since the mixing ratio of the inorganic and organic lubricants exceeds about 5%, it is necessary to press with a very high pressure to scrape with the supply roller, which is a practical problem regarding the durability of the supply roller. Further, the solid lubricant by compression molding can be scraped off by a supply roller and supplied to the surface of the photoreceptor as before, but there is a problem that the molding apparatus becomes larger and the cost is higher than melt molding.
Due to such manufacturing problems, it is often difficult to use a solid lubricant in which a fatty acid metal salt is mixed with inorganic and organic lubricants. For this reason, inorganic and organic lubricants are usually used as powder lubricants.

  On the other hand, although the fatty acid metal salt can be produced as a powder lubricant, there is a problem that it is difficult to supply an appropriate amount of the lubricant supply apparatus that supplies only the powder lubricant as described above. For this reason, if the fatty acid metal salt can be stably supplied as a solid lubricant and the inorganic and organic lubricants can be stably supplied as a powder lubricant, higher cleaning performance can be expected, and a protective effect of the photoreceptor can be expected. . As described above, there is a demand to stably supply both the solid lubricant and the powder lubricant. However, if the means for stably supplying each of them is separately provided, the configuration of the lubricant supply device is further complicated. turn into.

  In addition, it is desired to stably supply both the solid lubricant and the powder lubricant from the viewpoint of supplying the lubricant to the surface of the photoreceptor in a uniform state. For example, by supplying not only a solid lubricant but also a fatty acid metal salt powder lubricant together with a fatty acid metal salt alone, a finer and more uniform powder lubricant than the solid lubricant shaving powder can be supplied. The effect of compensating the unevenness and supplying the lubricant uniformly to the surface of the photoreceptor can be expected. However, also in this case, separate supply means are required, and the configuration of the lubricant supply device becomes complicated.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above background, and an object of the present invention is to provide a lubricant supply device capable of stably supplying a solid lubricant and a powder lubricant onto an image carrier with a simple configuration, A process cartridge and an image forming apparatus are provided.

In order to achieve the above object, a first aspect of the present invention provides a rotatable lubricant supply member disposed so that an outer peripheral surface thereof is in contact with the surface of an image carrier, a solid lubricant, and the solid lubricant. Lubricant holding member held on the side opposite to the supply member, and pressing means for pressing the solid lubricant through the lubricant holding member so that the solid lubricant contacts the lubricant supply member at a predetermined pressure And a housing for housing them, and in the lubricant supply device that supplies the shaving powder obtained by scraping the solid lubricant to the surface of the image carrier while the lubricant supply member rotates, the lubricant supply member A powder lubricant is filled in a space adjacent to the solid lubricant on the upstream side or downstream side of the rotation direction and surrounded by the lubricant holding member, the lubricant supply member, and a part of the housing, and The powder lubricant via the lubricant holding member by means By pressing, it is characterized in that to hold the powder lubricant to the lubricant supply member.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rotatable lubricant supply member disposed such that the outer peripheral surface is in contact with the surface of the image carrier, and a rotatable lubricant disposed so that the outer peripheral surface is in contact with the lubricant supply member. A shaving member, a solid lubricant, a lubricant holding member that holds the solid lubricant on the opposite side of the lubricant shaving member, and the solid lubricant so as to contact the lubricant shaving member at a predetermined pressure A pressing means that presses the solid lubricant via the lubricant holding member and a housing that accommodates the pressing means are provided, and the lubricating powder that scrapes off the solid lubricant while the lubricant scraping member rotates is lubricated. In the lubricant supply device that supplies the surface of the lubricant supply member and supplies the shaving powder to the surface of the image carrier while the lubricant supply member rotates, on the upstream side or the downstream side of the rotation direction of the lubricant supply member. Adjacent to the solid lubricant, the lubricant holding member A powder lubricant is filled in a space surrounded by the lubricant supply member and a part of the casing, and the powder lubricant is pressed by the pressing means through the lubricant holding member, thereby The body lubricant is held by the lubricant supply member.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the lubricant supply device of the first or second aspect, the powder lubricant and the solid lubricant are different types of lubricants.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the lubricant supply device according to the first, second, or third aspect, the solid lubricant contains a fatty acid metal salt.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the lubricant supply device according to the fourth aspect, the solid lubricant contains zinc stearate.
The invention of claim 6 is the lubricant supply device of any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein the powder lubricant contains an inorganic lubricant. .
According to a seventh aspect of the invention, in the lubricant supply apparatus of the sixth aspect, the powder lubricant contains boron nitride.
The invention according to claim 8 is the lubricant supply device according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7, wherein the average particle size of the powder lubricant is an average particle size of the shaving powder. It is smaller than the diameter.
Further, the invention of claim 9 is directed to an image carrier, a toner image forming unit that forms a toner image on the image carrier, a transfer unit that transfers the toner image on the image carrier to a transfer target, An image forming apparatus comprising: a cleaning unit that removes transfer residual toner on the image carrier; and a lubricant supply unit that supplies a lubricant onto the image carrier.
The lubricant supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 8 is adopted as the lubricant supply means.
According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the ninth aspect, the cleaning means is disposed downstream of the lubricant supply device with respect to the surface movement direction of the image carrier. is there.
According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the ninth aspect, the cleaning means is disposed upstream of the lubricant supply device with respect to the surface movement direction of the image carrier. is there.
According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus of the eleventh aspect, the lubricant supplied to the surface of the image carrier is leveled downstream of the lubricant supply device with respect to the surface movement direction of the image carrier. A lubricant leveling member is provided.
According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the image carrier and at least the lubricant supply device according to the first to eighth aspects of the present invention are integrally configured so as to be detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus. .

In the present invention, a powder lubricant is filled in a space adjacent to the solid lubricant and surrounded by the lubricant supply member, the lubricant holding member, and a part of the casing, and the pressing means is interposed via the lubricant holding member. By pressing the powder lubricant, the powder lubricant is held from the space to the lubricant supply member. Further, the pressing means presses the solid lubricant through the lubricant holding member to bring the solid lubricant into contact with the lubricant supply member or the lubricant shaving member at a predetermined pressure, and the shaving powder obtained by scraping the solid lubricant is supplied to the lubricant supply member To hold. Over time, the solid lubricant is scraped and reduced in volume, but the lubricant holding member pressed by the pressing means is displaced so as to approach the lubricant supply member, and the solid lubricant is applied to the lubricant supply member at a predetermined pressure. Make contact. Further, since the powder lubricant filled in the space is held by the lubricant supply member and the amount thereof is reduced, the contact pressure between the powder lubricant and the lubricant supply member is reduced, but the powder lubricant is a solid lubricant. Since the pressure is pressed through the lubricant holding member displaced so as to approach the lubricant supply member due to the volume reduction, reduction in the contact pressure between the powder lubricant and the lubricant supply member can be suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to stabilize the amount of the powder lubricant that is held by the lubricant supply member from the space. In this configuration, the pressing force by the pressing means presses the solid lubricant and is relatively large. Therefore, the pressing force is less affected by sliding resistance with the housing, and it is easy to ensure a predetermined pressure stably. For this reason, it is possible to stably hold an appropriate amount of powder lubricant and an appropriate amount of solid lubricant shaving powder on the lubricant supply member. Therefore, it is possible to stably supply an appropriate amount of solid lubricant shavings and an appropriate amount of powder lubricant to the surface of the image carrier.
Further, this configuration only fills a part of the region in which the solid lubricant is accommodated with the powder lubricant in contrast to the conventional configuration in which only the solid lubricant is supplied. For this reason, compared with the apparatus which provides the means which supplies each of a powder lubricant and a solid lubricant separately, a structure is simple.

  According to the present invention, there is an excellent effect that the solid lubricant and the powder lubricant can be stably supplied onto the image carrier with a simple configuration.

1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of a printer according to an embodiment. The perspective view which shows the state which open | released the side cover provided in the main body case of the printer. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a main part of an image forming unit including a lubricant supply device. The schematic block diagram for demonstrating a mode that the lubricant was consumed with time in FIG. The schematic block diagram of the modification of the image forming unit provided with the lubricant supply apparatus. FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram of another modification of an image forming unit including a lubricant supply device. FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram of another modification of an image forming unit including a lubricant supply device. FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram of another modification of an image forming unit including a lubricant supply device. The schematic block diagram of what provided the powder lubricant seal member in the longitudinal direction edge part of the lubricant supply apparatus.

Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a color printer (hereinafter referred to as a printer) which is an image forming apparatus will be described.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of a printer according to the present embodiment. In the main body case 2 of the printer 1, a printer engine 3, an optical writing device 4 that emits a light beam, a paper feed cassette 5 that stores a recording paper P as a recording medium, and a recording paper P to which a toner image is transferred. A fixing device 6 for fixing processing, a waste toner collecting container 7 for collecting waste toner generated after transferring the toner image, and the like are provided.

  The printer engine 3 includes image forming units 22Y, C, M, and K as color toner image forming units that form four color toner images of yellow (Y), cyan (C), magenta (M), and black (K). Is a so-called tandem type image forming apparatus in which Y, C, M, and K colored toner images formed by the respective image forming units are superposed to form a full color image. Each of the image forming units 22Y, 22C, 22M, and 22K includes photoreceptors 8Y, 8C, 8M, and 8K that are image carriers.

  An intermediate transfer belt 13 as an intermediate transfer member is disposed so as to face the image forming units 22Y, 22C, 22C, and 22K. Primary transfer rollers 12Y, 12C, 12M, and 12K are arranged at positions facing the photoconductors 8Y, 8C, 8M, and 8K via the intermediate transfer belt 13. Further, a secondary transfer roller 14 that collectively transfers the toner images on the intermediate transfer belt 13 onto the transfer paper P is disposed downstream of the image forming units 22Y, 22C, 22M, and 22K with respect to the surface movement direction of the intermediate transfer belt 13. ing. Further, a belt cleaning device 15 for removing toner remaining on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 13 is provided downstream of the secondary transfer roller 14.

  Each of the image forming units 22Y, 22C, 22C, 22M, and 22K has substantially the same configuration and operation except that the toner color of the developer stored therein is different. Therefore, the suffixes Y, C, M, and K are omitted as appropriate. The configuration and operation of the image forming unit 22 will be described. The image forming unit 22 includes a charging roller 9 that is a charging device, a developing device 10, and a cleaning device 11 around the photoreceptor 8.

  The photoconductor 8 is formed in a cylindrical shape and is connected to a drive motor (not shown), and rotates around a center line by a drive force from the drive motor. A photosensitive layer on which an electrostatic latent image is formed is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the photoreceptor 8.

  The charging roller 9 is disposed in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive member 8 or with a minute gap. When a voltage is applied to the charging roller 9 from a power supply unit (not shown), corona discharge is generated between the charging roller 9 and the photoconductor 8, and the outer peripheral surface of the photoconductor 8 is made uniform. Charged.

  The optical writing device 4 emits a light beam corresponding to the image data, and exposes the outer peripheral surface of the uniformly charged photoreceptor 8. By this exposure, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image data is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the photoreceptor 8.

  The developing device 10 supplies toner to the photoreceptor 8. The supplied toner adheres to the electrostatic latent image formed on the outer peripheral surface of the photoconductor 8, and the electrostatic latent image on the outer peripheral surface of the photoconductor 8 is visualized as a toner image.

  The intermediate transfer belt 13 is a loop belt formed with a resin film or rubber as a base, and is stretched around a driving roller 16, an entrance roller 17, and a tension roller 18. Then, the drive roller 16 connected to a drive motor (not shown) is rotated and rotated in the direction of arrow A. The entrance roller 17 and the tension roller 18 are driven to rotate by the frictional force with the intermediate transfer belt 13 as the intermediate transfer belt 13 rotates in the direction of arrow A. In the printer of this embodiment, the intermediate transfer belt 13, the driving roller 16, the entrance roller 17, the tension roller 18, and the belt cleaning device 15 are housed in the belt case 13a and unitized.

  The primary transfer roller 12 is disposed on the inner peripheral surface side (inside the loop) of the intermediate transfer belt 13, and the toner image on each photoconductor 8 is intermediately transferred by applying a transfer voltage to the primary transfer roller 12. Transferred onto the belt 13. The toner images formed on the respective photoreceptors 8 are sequentially transferred and superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 13, and a color toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 13.

  The cleaning device 11 cleans the outer peripheral surface of the photoconductor 8 after the toner image is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 13. By this cleaning, toner, paper dust, and the like remaining on the outer peripheral surface of the photoreceptor 8 after the toner image is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 13 are collected as waste toner.

  The recording paper P is fed from within the paper feed cassette 5 and is transported by the transport roller 19 and the registration roller 20, and is sent to the secondary transfer position where the intermediate transfer belt 13 and the secondary transfer roller 14 come into contact with each other. At this timing, a transfer voltage is applied to the secondary transfer roller 14, whereby the color toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 13 is transferred to the recording paper P.

  After the toner image is transferred to the recording paper P, the recording paper P is sent to the fixing device 6, and heat and pressure are applied in the fixing device 6 to be fixed. The toner image melted by this fixing process is fixed on the recording paper P. The recording sheet P for which the fixing process has been completed is discharged onto a discharge tray 21 formed on the upper surface of the main body case 2.

  The belt cleaning device 15 cleans the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 13 after the color toner image is transferred to the recording paper P. By this cleaning, toner, paper dust, and the like remaining on the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 13 after the toner image is transferred are collected as waste toner.

  The waste toner collection container 7 receives waste toner collected by the cleaning device 11 and the belt cleaning device 15 and stores the waste toner that has been charged. The waste toner collection container 7 is detachably attached to the main body case 2, and is removed from the main body case 2 when the waste toner in the waste toner collection container 7 is almost full. 7 is attached.

  Further, the image forming units 22Y, 22C, 22M, and 22K are accommodated in cases, respectively, and form the process cartridges 23Y, 23C, 23M, and 23K. Each process cartridge 23 is detachably attached to the main body case 2. By taking such a form of the process cartridge 23, replacement and maintenance work is facilitated. Further, it is possible to maintain the positional accuracy between the members with high accuracy, and to improve the quality of the formed image. In this embodiment, the photosensitive member 8, the charging roller 9, the developing device 10, and the cleaning device 11 are integrated and described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and there are various process cartridge configurations. For example, the process cartridge is integrated into at least one of the charging roller 9, the developing device 10, and the cleaning device 11 and the photosensitive member 8 and unitized. Is mentioned.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the side cover 24 provided on the main body case 2 is opened. By opening the side cover 24, the printer engine 3 and the waste toner collecting container 7 appear. Then, the process cartridge 23, the intermediate transfer belt 13, or the waste toner collecting container 7 can be replaced and other maintenance can be performed.

  Furthermore, the printer of this embodiment includes a lubricant supply device 50 that supplies a lubricant onto the photosensitive member 8 of the process cartridge 23. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a main part of an image forming unit including a lubricant supply device. In the process cartridge 23, a cleaning device 11, a lubricant supply device 50, and a charging device roller 9 are disposed from the upstream side with respect to the rotation direction of the photosensitive member 8. The cleaning device 11 that removes transfer residual toner and the like adhering to the photoconductor 8 includes a cleaning blade 31 that is a cleaning member that slides on the surface of the photoconductor 8, and prevention of scattering of transfer residual toner and the like scraped off by the cleaning blade 31. And a powder conveying coil 32 that conveys transfer residual toner and the like. The charging means includes a charging roller 9, a charging roller pressing spring 35, a charging cleaner roller 37 for cleaning the surface of the charging roller, a charging cleaner roller pressing spring 38, and the like.

  The lubricant supply device 50 includes a brush roller 51 as a lubricant supply member, a solid lubricant 52, a lubricant holding member 53 that holds the solid lubricant 52, a lubricant pressing spring 54 that is a lubricant pressing means, and powder. A lubricant 55, a frame 56 for accommodating these, and the like are provided. Further, a lubricant leveling blade 57 is provided as a lubricant leveling member for leveling the lubricant supplied onto the photosensitive member 8 and applying a thin film. The brush roller 51 is rotatably provided so that the outer peripheral surface is in contact with the surface of the photoconductor 8. The solid lubricant 52 is obtained by solidifying zinc stearate or the like, and is attached to the lubricant holding member 53 so as to be integrated. The solid lubricant 52 is pressed by a lubricant pressing spring 54 via a lubricant holding member 53 and abuts against the brush roller 51 while ensuring a predetermined pressure. Further, the lubricant supply device 50 and the brush roller 51 are adjacent to the downstream side of the solid lubricant 52 with respect to the rotation direction of the brush roller 51, and powder is contained in a space surrounded by the brush roller 51, the lubricant holding member 53, and the frame body 56. The body lubricant 55 is filled.

  Since the solid lubricant 52 is pressed through the lubricant holding member 53 and is in contact with the brush roller 51 at a predetermined pressure, the solid lubricant 52 is scraped out in an appropriate amount, and an appropriate amount of shavings is held in the brush roller 51. The Further, the powder lubricant 55 filled in the space surrounded by the brush roller 51, the lubricant holding member 53, and the frame body 56 on the downstream side of the solid lubricant 52 is passed through the lubricant holding member 53. It is pressed by the pressing spring 54 and contacts the brush roller 51 with a predetermined pressure. Thereby, the powder lubricant 55 is held by the brush roller 51 from the space. The solid lubricant shavings and powder lubricant held by the brush roller 51 are supplied onto the photoconductor 8 as the brush roller 51 rotates.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram for explaining a situation when the lubricant in the lubricant supply device 50 is consumed over time. Over time, the solid lubricant 52 is scraped and reduced in volume, but the lubricant holding member 53 pressed by the lubricant pressing spring 54 moves upward so as to approach the brush roller 51, and the solid lubricant 52 is brushed. The roller 51 is brought into contact with a predetermined pressure. As a result, the predetermined amount of the solid lubricant 52 is continuously scraped off, so that the predetermined amount of the shaving powder is continuously held by the brush roller 51. Further, as the powder lubricant 55 is held on the brush roller 51 over time, the amount of the powder lubricant 55 filled decreases. For this reason, the contact pressure between the powder lubricant 55 and the brush roller 51 decreases, but the powder lubricant 55 is displaced upward so as to approach the brush roller 51 due to the volume reduction of the solid lubricant 52. Therefore, a decrease in the contact pressure between the powder lubricant 55 and the brush roller 51 can be suppressed. Therefore, the amount of the powder lubricant 55 held by the brush roller 51 from the space can be stabilized.

  In this configuration, since the pressing force by the lubricant pressing spring 54 presses the solid lubricant 52 and is relatively large, it is less affected by sliding resistance with the frame body 56, and the predetermined pressure is stably applied. Easy to secure. For this reason, it is possible to stably hold the brush roller 51 with the appropriate amount of the solid lubricant 52 and the appropriate amount of the powder lubricant 55. Therefore, it is possible to stably supply the appropriate amount of the solid lubricant 52 and the powder lubricant 55 to the surface of the photoconductor 8.

  Further, in this configuration, in contrast to the conventional configuration in which only the solid lubricant 52 is supplied, only a part of the region in which the solid lubricant 52 is accommodated is filled with the powder lubricant 55. rare. For this reason, compared with the apparatus which provides the means which supplies each of the powder lubricant 55 and the solid lubricant 52 separately, a structure is simple.

  In FIG. 3, the rotation direction of the brush roller 51 is not limited. Further, the arrangement of the solid lubricant 52 and the powder lubricant 55 is not limited. The powder lubricant 55 may be filled in a space surrounded by the brush roller 51, the lubricant holding member 53, and the frame 56 adjacent to the upstream side of the solid lubricant 52.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of a modified example of the image forming unit including the lubricant supply device. In FIG. 3 described above, the lubricant supply device 50 is arranged so as to supply the lubricant from the lower side to the surface of the photoconductor 8 vertically below the rotation center of the photoconductor 8. On the other hand, in FIG. 5, the lubricant supply device 50 is arranged so as to supply the lubricant from above to the surface of the photoconductor 8 vertically above the rotation center of the photoconductor 8. In this configuration, the pressing direction of the solid lubricant 52 is substantially vertically downward. In such a case, the powder lubricant 55 is excessively held by the brush roller 51 or the powder lubricant 55 falls downward from the contact portion between the powder lubricant 55 and the brush roller 51. there is a possibility. In order to suppress such a problem, the powder lubricant seal member 60 is provided so as to regulate the contact portion between the powder lubricant 55 and the brush roller 51. As shown in FIG. 5, a weight 63 can be used as a pressing means for pressing the solid lubricant 52. Further, as the pressing means, a pressurizing mechanism described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-293240 can be used, and the fluctuation of the pressing force with respect to the volume reduction of the solid lubricant 52 is further suppressed.

  In the lubricant supply device 50 of FIG. 5, over time, the solid lubricant 52 is scraped off and the volume is reduced, and the lubricant holding member 53 pressed against the weight 63 moves downward so as to approach the brush roller 51. The solid lubricant 52 is brought into contact with the brush roller 51 with a predetermined pressure. As a result, the predetermined amount of the solid lubricant 52 is continuously scraped off, so that the predetermined amount of the shaving powder is continuously held by the brush roller 51. Further, as the powder lubricant 55 is held on the brush roller 51 over time, the amount of the powder lubricant 55 filled decreases, but the powder lubricant 55 reduces the volume of the solid lubricant 52. Therefore, the amount of the powder lubricant 55 to be held by the brush roller 51 from the space can be stabilized because the pressure is pressed through the lubricant holding member 53 displaced downward so as to approach the brush roller 51.

  FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of another modification of the image forming unit including the lubricant supply device. The image forming unit in FIG. 6 has a configuration in which the cleaning device 11 is arranged on the downstream side in the rotation direction of the photosensitive member 8 with respect to the lubricant supply device 50. In this configuration, the cleaning blade 31 of the cleaning device 11 also serves as a lubricant leveling member. For this reason, the number of parts can be reduced and the cost can be reduced.

  FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram of another modified example of the image forming unit including the lubricant supply device. The lubricant supply device 50 of FIG. 7 includes a sponge roller 58 as a lubricant supply member arranged so that the outer peripheral surface is in contact with the surface of the photoconductor 8, and lubrication arranged so that the outer peripheral surface is in contact with the sponge roller 58. And a brush roller 59 as a material shaving member. The solid lubricant 52 is pressed through a lubricant holding member 53 to a brush roller 59 as a lubricant shaving member by a lubricant pressing spring 54. As a result, the solid lubricant 52 abuts against the brush roller 59 while securing a predetermined pressure. The brush roller 59 scrapes the solid lubricant 52 while rotating, supplies the shaved shaving powder to the surface of the sponge roller 58, and supplies the shaving powder to the surface of the photoconductor 8 while the sponge roller 58 rotates. In the lubricant supply device 50 of FIG. 3 described above, the function of cutting the solid lubricant 52 and the function of supplying the surface to the surface of the photoconductor 8 are performed by one brush roller 51. However, the lubricant supply of FIG. In the apparatus 50, each function is performed separately for the brush roller 58 and the sponge roller 59. Then, a powder lubricant 55 is filled in a space adjacent to the downstream side of the solid lubricant 52 with respect to the rotation direction of the sponge roller 59 and surrounded by the sponge roller 59, the lubricant holding member 53, and the frame body 56. To do. Thereby, as described above, an appropriate amount of the solid lubricant 52 and the appropriate amount of the powder lubricant 55 can be stably held by the sponge roller 59. Therefore, an appropriate amount of the solid lubricant 52 and the appropriate amount of the powder lubricant 55 can be stably supplied to the surface of the photoconductor 8. In this way, by performing the cutting function and the supplying function with separate members, it is possible to optimize the respective functions and further increase the reliability.

  FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram of another modification of the image forming unit including the lubricant supply device. The lubricant supply device 50 of FIG. 8 is provided with a lubricant sliding member 64 for improving the sliding property between the lubricant holding member 53 and the frame 56 in a part of the frame 56. Specifically, the lubricant sliding member 64 is integrally provided at a corresponding position of the frame body 56 so as to slide at two positions inside the both ends of the lubricant holding member 53. By limiting the sliding part, it is possible to reduce the sliding failure rate due to the wrinkles of the sliding part. By limiting the sliding part to high precision, it is possible to achieve high functionality and low cost. It becomes. The lubricant sliding portion 64 is not limited to being configured integrally with the frame body 56, and may be a separate member.

  However, by providing such a lubricant sliding member 64, a gap is formed between the lubricant holding member 53 and the other part of the frame body 56. When a gap is generated between the space filled with the powder lubricant 55 and the frame 56 surrounding the space, the powder lubricant 55 enters the gap, and the wasteful powder lubricant 55 that is not used is generated. End up.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, a powder lubricant seal that prevents the powder lubricant 55 from entering the gap between the region filled with the powder lubricant 55 and the frame 56 surrounding the region. A member 61 is provided. In FIG. 8, a powder lubricant seal member 61 is attached to the lubricant holding member 53. By providing such a powder lubricant seal member 61, the powder lubricant 55 is prevented from entering the gap, and the filled powder lubricant 55 can be used without waste. As the powder lubricant seal member 61, a flexible sheet member such as polyurethane or polyurethane terephthalate, or a foam member such as rubber or polyurethane is suitable.

  FIG. 9 is a schematic configuration diagram of a powder lubricant seal member 61 attached to a solid lubricant holding member 53 at the longitudinal end of the lubricant supply device 50. A powder lubricant seal member 61 that prevents the powder lubricant 55 from entering the gap between the region containing the powder lubricant 55 and the frame 56, the brush roller 51, and the like surrounding the region. Provide. As a result, the powder lubricant 55 does not enter the gap, and the filled powder lubricant 55 can be used without waste. As the powder lubricant seal member 61, a flexible sheet member such as polyurethane or polyurethane terephthalate, or a foam member such as rubber or polyurethane is suitable.

  Using such a lubricant supply device 50, both the solid lubricant 52 and the powder lubricant 55 are supplied onto the photoreceptor 8. Further, a fatty acid metal salt (A) is used as the solid lubricant 52, and an inorganic lubricant (B) or an organic lubricant (C) is supplied as the powder lubricant 55. When the fatty acid metal salt (A) is used as the solid lubricant 52, it can be manufactured by melt molding, which is a conventionally used inexpensive manufacturing method. Further, by using the inorganic lubricant (B) as the powder lubricant 55, it is possible to supply the lubricant at low cost and optimally.

  Examples of the fatty acid metal salt (A) include barium stearate, lead stearate, iron stearate, nickel stearate, cobalt stearate, copper stearate, strontium stearate, calcium stearate, cadmium stearate, magnesium stearate, Zinc stearate, zinc oleate, magnesium oleate, iron oleate, cobalt oleate, copper oleate, lead oleate, manganese oleate, zinc palmitate, cobalt palmitate, lead palmitate, magnesium palmitate, palmitate Aluminum, calcium palmitate, lead caprylate, lead caprate, zinc linolenate, cobalt linolenate, calcium linolenate, zinc ricinoleate, cadmium ricinoleate and mixtures thereof There, but is not limited to this. Moreover, you may mix and use these. Among them, zinc stearate is most preferably used because it is particularly excellent in film formability on the photoconductor 8, and is also used in the lubricant supply device 50 of the present embodiment as described above.

  The inorganic lubricant (B) refers to an inorganic compound that cleaves and lubricates itself or causes internal slip. Specific examples include talc, mica, boron nitride, molybdenum disulfide, tungsten disulfide, kaolin, smectite, hydrotalcite compound, calcium fluoride, graphite, plate-like alumina, sericite, and synthetic mica. However, it is not limited to this. Among them, boron nitride is most preferably used because the hexagonal mesh surfaces in which atoms are firmly combined overlap with each other at a wide interval, and the force acting between the layers is only weak van der Waals force, so that it is easily cleaved and lubricated. As described above, the lubricant supply device 50 of this embodiment is also used. These inorganic lubricants may be surface-treated as necessary for the purpose of imparting hydrophobicity.

  Examples of the organic lubricant (C) include PTFE and melamine cyanurate.

  Although the fatty acid metal salt (A) has an effect of reducing a friction coefficient and a protection effect of the photoconductor 8, it is deteriorated by an electrostatic hazard due to an image forming process and deteriorates lubricity. For this reason, the friction coefficient reducing effect of the lubricant supplied to the surface of the photoreceptor tends to decrease with time. On the other hand, since the inorganic lubricant (B) or the organic lubricant (C) is hardly deteriorated by electrostatic hazard, it has a stable friction coefficient reducing effect over time, and the cleaning blade 31 is deteriorated over time. The effect of suppressing and stabilizing the cleaning performance over time is great. However, the protective effect of the photoreceptor with only the inorganic lubricant (B) or the organic lubricant (C) is small. Therefore, by supplying both the fatty acid metal salt (A) and the inorganic lubricant (B) or the organic lubricant (C), a more stable friction coefficient reducing effect can be obtained over time, and the photosensitive The protective effect of the body 8 is obtained.

  Further, by supplying not only the solid lubricant 52 but also the fatty acid metal salt powder lubricant 55 with the fatty acid metal salt (A) alone, a finer and more uniform powder than the shaving powder of the solid lubricant 52 is supplied. The lubricant 55 can be supplied to compensate for unevenness, and the lubricant can be uniformly supplied to the surface of the photoreceptor 8.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, as the lubricant supply device 50, the brush roller 51 as the rotatable lubricant supply member arranged so that the outer peripheral surface is in contact with the surface of the photoconductor 8, the solid lubricant 52, and the solid The lubricant holding member 53 that holds the lubricant 52 on the side opposite to the brush roller 51 and the solid lubricant 52 via the lubricant holding member 53 so that the solid lubricant 52 contacts the brush roller 51 at a predetermined pressure. A lubricant pressing spring 54 as pressing means for pressing and a frame body 56 as a housing for housing them are provided. The brush roller 51 supplies, to the surface of the photoreceptor 8, shaving powder obtained by scraping the solid lubricant 52 while rotating. A powder lubricant 55 is filled in a space adjacent to the solid lubricant 52 upstream or downstream with respect to the rotation direction of the brush roller 51 and surrounded by the brush roller 51, the lubricant holding member 53, and the frame body 56. The powder lubricant 55 is held by the brush roller 51 from the space when the lubricant pressing spring 54 presses the powder lubricant 55 via the lubricant holding member 53. Over time, the solid lubricant 52 is scraped and reduced in volume, but the lubricant holding member 53 pressed by the lubricant pressing spring 54 is displaced so as to approach the brush roller 51, and the solid lubricant 52 is moved to the brush roller 51. At a predetermined pressure. Further, since the powder lubricant 55 filled in the space is held by the brush roller 51 and the amount thereof is reduced, the contact pressure between the powder lubricant 55 and the brush roller decreases, but the powder lubricant 55 is a solid lubricant. Since the pressure is pressed through the lubricant holding member 53 that is displaced so as to approach the brush roller 51 due to the volume reduction of 52, a decrease in the contact pressure between the powder lubricant 55 and the brush roller 51 can be suppressed. Therefore, the amount of the powder lubricant 55 held by the brush roller 51 from the space can be stabilized. In this configuration, since the pressing force by the lubricant pressing spring 54 presses the solid lubricant 52 and is relatively large, it is less affected by sliding resistance with the frame body 56, and is stably supplied with a predetermined pressure. Easy to secure. Therefore, an appropriate amount of the powder lubricant 55 and an appropriate amount of the solid lubricant 52 can be stably held on the brush roller. Therefore, an appropriate amount of the solid lubricant 52 and the appropriate amount of the powder lubricant 55 can be stably supplied to the surface of the photoconductor 8. Further, this configuration only fills a part of the region in which the solid lubricant 52 is accommodated with the powder lubricant 55 as compared with the conventional configuration in which only the solid lubricant is supplied, and almost no parts are added. Absent. For this reason, compared with the apparatus which provides the means which supplies each of the powder lubricant 55 and the solid lubricant 52 separately, a structure is simple.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the lubricant supply device 50 includes the sponge roller 58 as a lubricant supply member disposed so that the outer peripheral surface is in contact with the surface of the photoconductor 8, and the outer peripheral surface is in contact with the sponge roller 58. And a brush roller 59 as a lubricant shaving member arranged in this manner. The solid lubricant 52 is pressed through a lubricant holding member 53 to a brush roller 59 as a lubricant shaving member by a lubricant pressing spring 54. As a result, the solid lubricant 52 abuts against the brush roller 59 while securing a predetermined pressure. The brush roller 59 supplies the cutting powder from the solid lubricant 52 while rotating to the surface of the sponge roller 58, and supplies the cutting powder to the surface of the photoconductor 8 while the sponge roller 58 rotates. In this lubricant supply device 50, the function of scraping the solid lubricant 52 and the function of supplying it to the surface of the photoconductor 8 are performed separately for each brush roller 58 and sponge roller 59. A powder lubricant 55 is filled in a space adjacent to the downstream side of the solid lubricant 52 with respect to the rotational direction of the sponge roller 59 and surrounded by the sponge roller 59, the lubricant holding member 53, and the frame 56. As described above, the appropriate amount of the solid lubricant 52 and the appropriate amount of the powder lubricant 55 can be stably held by the sponge roller 58. Therefore, an appropriate amount of the solid lubricant 52 and the appropriate amount of the powder lubricant 55 can be stably supplied to the surface of the photoconductor 8. In this way, by performing the cutting function and the supplying function with separate members, it is possible to optimize the respective functions and further increase the reliability.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, by using different types of lubricants for the solid lubricant 52 and the powder lubricant 55, the characteristics of the respective lubricants can be utilized, and the friction coefficient reducing effect that is more stable over time, The protective effect of the photoconductor 8 can be obtained.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the solid lubricant 52 contains the fatty acid metal salt (A), so that a certain friction coefficient reducing effect and a protecting effect of the photoconductor 8 are obtained. In particular, when the fatty acid metal salt (A) contains zinc stearate, the effect of reducing the friction coefficient and the protection effect of the photoreceptor 8 are excellent, and the film formability on the photoreceptor 8 is excellent. Further, when the fatty acid metal (A) is molded into the solid lubricant 52, it is possible to produce the solid lubricant by melt molding, which is an inexpensive production method.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, since the powder lubricant 55 contains the inorganic lubricant (B), the powder lubricant 55 hardly changes in quality due to an electrostatic hazard, and thus has a friction coefficient reducing effect stably over time. The effect of suppressing the shortcomings of the fatty acid metal salt (A) and stabilizing the cleaning performance over time is great. In particular, boron nitride is most preferable because hexagonal mesh surfaces in which atoms are firmly combined overlap each other at a wide interval, and the force acting between the layers is only a weak van der Waals force, so that it is easily cleaved and lubricated. Further, by using the inorganic lubricant (B) as the powder lubricant 55, it is possible to supply the lubricant at low cost and optimally.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, not only the solid lubricant 52 but also the fatty acid metal salt powder lubricant 55 is supplied together with the fatty acid metal salt (A) alone, so Further, the fine and uniform powder lubricant 55 can be supplied to compensate for unevenness, and the lubricant can be uniformly supplied to the surface of the photoreceptor 8.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the cleaning device 11 is disposed downstream of the lubricant supply device 50. In this configuration, the cleaning blade 31 of the cleaning device 11 also serves as a lubricant leveling member. Therefore, the number of parts can be reduced, and the cost can be reduced.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the cleaning device 11 is disposed upstream of the lubricant supply device 50. According to this configuration, there is an advantage that the lubricant can be easily supplied uniformly onto the photosensitive member 8 from which the residual toner has been removed. Further, in this configuration, by providing the lubricant leveling member 57 for leveling the lubricant supplied to the surface of the photoreceptor 8 downstream of the lubricant supply device 50, the lubricant is more uniform on the photoreceptor 8. It becomes.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the photoconductor 8 and at least the lubricant supply device 50 are integrally configured as a process cartridge 23 configured to be detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus, whereby replacement and maintenance work can be performed. Becomes easier.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 8 Photoconductor 9 Charging roller 10 Developing device 11 Cleaning device 13 Intermediate transfer belt 22 Image forming unit 23 Process cartridge 31 Cleaning blade 50 Lubricant supply device 51 Brush roller 52 Solid lubricant 53 Lubricant holding member 54 Lubricant pressing spring 55 Powder Body lubricant 56 Frame 57 Lubricant leveling blade 58 Sponge roller 59 Brush roller 60, 61 Powder lubricant seal member 63 Weight 64 Lubricant sliding member

JP 2006-251751 A JP 2005-18047 A

Claims (13)

A rotatable lubricant supply member arranged so that the outer peripheral surface is in contact with the surface of the image carrier, a solid lubricant, and a lubricant holding member for holding the solid lubricant on the side opposite to the lubricant supply member; A pressing means that presses the solid lubricant via the lubricant holding member so that the solid lubricant contacts the lubricant supply member at a predetermined pressure, and a housing that accommodates the pressing means are provided, and the lubricant supply In the lubricant supply device that supplies the shaving powder obtained by scraping the solid lubricant to the surface of the image carrier while the member rotates,
A powder lubricant is placed in a space adjacent to the solid lubricant on the upstream side or the downstream side in the rotational direction of the lubricant supply member and surrounded by the lubricant holding member, the lubricant supply member, and a part of the casing. Filling and pressing the powder lubricant through the lubricant holding member by the pressing means to hold the powder lubricant on the lubricant supply member. A rotatable lubricant supply member arranged so that the outer peripheral surface is in contact with the surface of the image carrier, a lubricant scraping member arranged so as to be in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the lubricant supply member, and a solid lubricant; A lubricant holding member for holding the solid lubricant on a side opposite to the lubricant shaving member, and the solid lubricant through the lubricant holding member so that the solid lubricant contacts the lubricant shaving member at a predetermined pressure. A pressing means for pressing the solid lubricant, and a housing for housing them, and supplying the cutting powder from which the solid lubricant is scraped while the lubricant scraping member rotates to the surface of the lubricant supply member; In the lubricant supply device that supplies the shaving powder to the surface of the image carrier while the lubricant supply member rotates,
A powder lubricant is placed in a space adjacent to the solid lubricant on the upstream side or the downstream side in the rotational direction of the lubricant supply member and surrounded by the lubricant holding member, the lubricant supply member, and a part of the casing. Filling and pressing the powder lubricant through the lubricant holding member by the pressing means to hold the powder lubricant on the lubricant supply member.   3. The lubricant supply device according to claim 1, wherein the powder lubricant and the solid lubricant are different types of lubricants.   4. The lubricant supply device according to claim 1, wherein the solid lubricant contains a fatty acid metal salt.   5. The lubricant supply device according to claim 4, wherein the solid lubricant contains zinc stearate.   The lubricant supply device according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, wherein the powder lubricant contains an inorganic lubricant.   7. The lubricant supply device according to claim 6, wherein the powder lubricant contains boron nitride.   The lubricant supply device according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7, wherein an average particle size of the powder lubricant is smaller than an average particle size of the shaving powder. Lubricant supply device. An image carrier, a toner image forming unit for forming a toner image on the image carrier, a transfer unit for transferring the toner image on the image carrier to a transfer target, and a transfer residual toner on the image carrier In an image forming apparatus comprising: a cleaning unit that removes toner; and a lubricant supply unit that supplies a lubricant onto the image carrier.
9. An image forming apparatus using the lubricant supply device according to claim 1 as the lubricant supply means.   10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the cleaning unit is disposed downstream of the lubricant supply device with respect to a surface movement direction of the image carrier.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the cleaning unit is disposed upstream of the lubricant supply device with respect to a surface movement direction of the image carrier.   12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein a lubricant leveling member for leveling the lubricant supplied to the surface of the image carrier is provided downstream of the lubricant supply device with respect to the surface movement direction of the image carrier. An image forming apparatus.   9. A process cartridge comprising an image carrier and at least the lubricant supply device according to claim 1 which are integrally formed and detachable from an image forming apparatus main body.

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