JP5450961B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile.

  Since recent electrophotographic image forming apparatuses use toner as a developer, the toner is scattered in the image forming apparatus. Further, depending on the use environment of the apparatus, dust floats in the image forming apparatus. Since the optical unit of the image forming apparatus dislikes toner, dust, and the like, the inside of the optical unit is sealed so that toner, dust, and the like do not enter the inside of the optical unit. The image forming apparatus has an opening through which a laser emitted from the optical unit passes. In order to prevent toner, dust and the like from entering the inside of the optical unit, the opening has a cover glass through which the laser can pass.

  With such a configuration, toner or dust that falls or floats in the image forming apparatus from the developing unit enters the exposure optical path, adheres to the cover glass, and blocks the optical path. Occurrence of omission occurred. Therefore, it is necessary to devise a configuration in which toner, dust and the like do not adhere to the cover glass in order to prevent the above-described density reduction and image loss.

  Therefore, a user or a service person accesses the inside of the image forming apparatus main body and cleans the cover glass with a soft cloth or the like. However, since the opening area of the opening having the cover glass is small and the surface of the cover glass must be cleaned so as not to be damaged, the cleaning work becomes very complicated and it is difficult to surely clean. It was.

  In order to solve this problem, various cleaning configurations have been proposed as a configuration for removing toner, dust, and the like attached to the cover glass. In Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 4-159574), a user can remove toner or dust attached to a cover glass by simply sliding a synthetic foam resin cleaning member through a supporting means provided in an optical unit. A configuration that can be removed by service personnel is disclosed.

  Further, in Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-313459), a shutter member that shields and opens an optical path of a light beam is provided with a seal member, and the seal member includes a cleaning member that rubs the cover glass. The configuration is disclosed.

  Further, in Patent Document 3 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-75764), the shutter is provided with a plurality of elastic blades, brushes, or cloth fleece cleaning means, and the cleaning means slides on the light output window of the optical device. The structure to perform is disclosed.

  Further, Patent Document 4 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-333799) discloses a configuration in which a plurality of cleaning means using a brush or an elastic member are provided in a scanner cover and cleaned by abutting against dust-proof glass of a laser scanner. .

JP-A-4-159574 JP 2005-313459 A JP-A 63-75764 JP 2004-333799 A

  As a recent trend, the environment where the image forming apparatus is installed is diversified, and various substances adhere to the cover glass. Specific examples of the deposit include not only toner but also dust in the air, abrasion powder generated from the main body of the image forming apparatus, and the like, and are composed of substances having various particle sizes and shapes. For this reason, with the technology that uses an elastic blade or brush as a cleaning member to move toner and dust and perform cleaning, there is a concern that fine particles and shapes of dust cannot be reliably cleaned, resulting in image defects. there were.

  Further, as the life of the image forming apparatus advances, the amount of toner and dust adhering to the cover glass tends to increase. Therefore, in the technique of wiping and cleaning toner and dust using a cloth or sponge as a cleaning member, if a large amount of toner or dust adheres to the cover glass, the cleaning member cannot be wiped off and an image defect occurs. Concerns have increased. That is, since the cleaning capability of the wiping type cleaning member immediately becomes saturated, the cleaning member must be replaced many times before the lifetime of the apparatus. Further, there is a concern that toner or dust once wiped from the cleaning member may be reattached on the cover glass.

  In addition, as the image forming apparatus becomes smaller and the output speed increases, the amount of heat generated in the image forming apparatus increases, and cooling in the image forming apparatus is required more than ever to guarantee a high-quality printed image. It is becoming. Actually, air outside the image forming apparatus is taken into the image forming apparatus and blown to the heat generating portion to cool the inside of the image forming apparatus. For this reason, the amount of dust entering the image forming apparatus increases, the area in which the toner in the image forming apparatus scatters also increases, and the possibility that toner, dust, etc. adhere to the cover glass is increasing. is there.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of reliably cleaning a cover glass even when foreign matter (toner or dust) of various particle sizes and shapes adheres to the cover glass more than expected. And

Typical configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention in order to solve the above problems, detachable cartridge and, light emitted toward the sensitive light body passes elongated transparent to the device body An optical unit having a member, and a cleaning member for cleaning the surface of the transmission member, and the transmission member is moved in the longitudinal direction of the transmission member by inserting and removing the cartridge from the apparatus main body. In the image forming apparatus, the cleaning member includes a moving member for moving the foreign matter on the surface of the transmission member, and a wiping portion for wiping the foreign matter on the surface of the transmission member, The moving member and the wiping portion move in a first direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the transmitting member while contacting the surface of the transmitting member to clean the surface of the transmitting member, and the first direction The moving member is disposed on the downstream side of the wiping member. When the cleaning member is engaged with the cartridge, the cleaning member is moved in the longitudinal direction by inserting and removing the cartridge from the apparatus main body. The surface of the transmission member is cleaned, and the cleaning member is not engaged with the cartridge and is present in the apparatus main body when the cartridge is not inserted into the apparatus main body.

  According to the present invention, the cover glass can be reliably cleaned even when foreign matter (toner or dust) having various particle sizes and shapes adheres to the cover glass more than expected.

[First embodiment]
A first embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The dimensions, materials, relative arrangements, and the like of the components described in the present embodiment are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to those unless otherwise specified.

[Entire configuration of image forming apparatus]
The overall configuration of the image forming apparatus will be outlined. FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an overall configuration of a color laser printer 100 which is an embodiment of an image forming apparatus.

  A color laser printer 100 shown in FIG. 1 includes four rotatable photosensitive drums 1 (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d), an optical unit 3, a feeding device 13, a fixing unit 14, and a secondary transfer unit 15. ing.

  Around each photosensitive drum 1, a charging roller 2, a developing unit 4, a cleaner unit 5, an intermediate transfer belt unit 12, and a drum cleaning blade 8 are arranged in order according to the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 1. Here, these members around the photosensitive drum 1 are referred to as process means acting on the photosensitive drum.

  The photosensitive drum 1, the charging roller 2, the developing unit 4, the cleaner unit 5, and the cleaning blade 8 are integrally formed as a process cartridge 7. The process cartridge 7 can be inserted into and removed from the color laser printer 100 in the rotation axis direction of the photosensitive drum 1.

  These four process cartridges 7a, 7b, 7c, and 7d have the same structure, but images of toners of different colors, that is, yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (Bk) are displayed. It differs in the point to form.

  The developing units 4a to 4d as developing means include developing rollers 24a, 24b, 24c, and 24d, developer application rollers 25a, 25b, 25c, and 25d, and a toner container.

  The cleaner units 5a to 5d include photosensitive drums 1a to 1d as image carriers, charging rollers 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d, cleaning blades 8a, 8b, 8c, and 8d, and a waste toner container.

  The photosensitive drums 1a to 1d are configured by applying an organic photoconductive layer (OPC) to the outer peripheral surface of an aluminum cylinder. Both ends of the photosensitive drum 1 are rotatably supported by flanges, and a driving force is transmitted to a first end from a driving motor (not shown) in the direction of the arrow (clockwise direction) in FIG. Driven by rotation.

  The charging rollers 2a to 2d are conductive rollers formed in a roller shape. The rollers are brought into contact with the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 1a to 1d, and a charging bias voltage is applied by a power source (not shown) to thereby form a photosensitive member. The surface of the drum 1 is uniformly charged.

  The optical unit 3 is disposed below the process cartridges 7 a to 7 d, performs exposure based on image signals to the photosensitive drums 1 a to 1 d, and forms electrostatic latent images on the photosensitive drum 1.

  With the above-described configuration, the photosensitive drums 1a to 1d are charged to a predetermined negative potential by the charging rollers 2a to 2d, and then electrostatic latent images are formed by the optical unit 3, respectively. The electrostatic latent images are reversely developed by the developing units 4a to 4d, and negative toner is attached to form Y, M, C, and Bk toner images, respectively.

  In the intermediate transfer belt unit 12, an intermediate transfer belt 12e is stretched around a drive roller 12f and a tension roller 12g, and the tension roller 12g applies tension in the direction of arrow E. Further, primary transfer rollers 12a, 12b, 12c, and 12d are disposed inside the intermediate transfer belt 12e so as to face the respective photosensitive drums 1a to 1d, and a transfer bias is applied by a bias applying unit (not shown). It has a configuration.

  Each photosensitive drum rotates in the direction of the arrow, the intermediate transfer belt 12e rotates in the direction of arrow F, and a positive bias is applied to the primary transfer rollers 12a, 12b, 12c, and 12d. Thus, the toner images on the photosensitive drum 1a are sequentially transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 12e, and are conveyed to the secondary transfer unit 15 in a state where the four color toner images are overlapped.

  The feeding device 13 includes a feeding roller 9 that feeds the sheet S from the inside of the feeding cassette 11 that stores the sheet S, and a conveyance roller pair 10 that conveys the fed sheet S.

  The feeding cassette 11 can be pulled out toward the front of the main body in FIG. 1 (the direction of the rotation axis of the photosensitive drum 1). The user pulls out the feeding cassette 11 and removes it from the apparatus main body, and then the sheet S Is set and inserted into the apparatus main body to complete the sheet supply.

  The sheets S stored in the feeding cassette 11 are pressed against the feeding roller 9 and separated and conveyed one by one by the separation pad 23 (this is called a friction piece separation method).

  Then, the sheet S conveyed from the feeding device 13 is conveyed to the secondary transfer unit 15 by the registration roller pair 17.

  In the secondary transfer unit 15, a four-color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 12 e is secondarily transferred onto the conveyed sheet S by applying a positive bias to the secondary transfer roller 16.

  The fixing unit 14 serving as a fixing unit applies heat and pressure to the image formed on the transfer material and fixes the image.

  In the process where the sheet S is nipped and conveyed through the fixing nip N together with the fixing belt 14a, the unfixed toner image on the transfer material S is heated and fixed by heating with the heater heat in the fixing belt 14a. The fixed sheet S is discharged to the discharge tray 121 by the discharge roller pair 120.

  On the other hand, the toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drums 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d after the toner image transfer is removed by the cleaning blades 8a, 8b, 8c, and 8d, and the removed toner is cleaned by the cleaner units 5a, 5b, 5c, It is collected in a waste toner container in 5d.

  Further, the toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 12e after the secondary transfer to the sheet S is removed by the transfer belt cleaning device 122, and the removed toner passes through a waste toner conveyance path (not shown) and passes through the back of the device. The toner is collected into a waste toner collecting container (not shown) disposed on the surface.

[Configuration of Cleaning Member 20]
FIG. 2 is a view of the process cartridge 7, the optical unit 3, and the cleaning member 20 as seen from the main cross-sectional direction of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 3 is a view of the cleaning member 20 viewed from the direction A in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus main body has a stay member 32 forming a main body skeleton. The stay member 32 includes an opening 30 for forming an optical path of light emitted from the optical unit 3, and a cartridge insertion guide 21 disposed in the vicinity of the opening 30. The user can easily insert the process cartridge 7 into a predetermined position of the apparatus main body by inserting the insertion rib 22 formed integrally with the process cartridge 7 along the insertion guide 21 in the rotation axis direction of the photosensitive drum 1. It can be installed. When the process cartridge 7 is positioned on the apparatus main body, the boss (not shown) arranged on the process cartridge 7 is positioned by fitting into a hole (not shown) of the apparatus main body, and in this state, the insertion rib 22 and the insertion are inserted. The guide 21 is not in contact.

  Further, a cover glass 31 as a transmission member through which light emitted from the optical unit 3 is transmitted is disposed so as to cover the opening 30. The cover glass 31 prevents foreign matter such as dust and toner from passing through the opening 30 from entering the optical unit, and prevents functional components inside the optical unit from becoming dirty and causing image defects.

  The printer 100 includes a cleaning member 20 that cleans the cover glass 31 by rubbing the surface (cleaning surface) of the cover glass 31.

  The cleaning member 20 includes a cleaning sheet (first cleaning unit) 26, a wiping member (second cleaning unit) 27, a cleaning member 26, and a base member 28 to which the wiping member 27 is attached. Then, the base member 28 of the cleaning member 20 is guided by the base guide 29 supported by the stay member 32 and moves in the rotation axis direction of the photosensitive drum 1.

  The cleaning sheet 26 is flexible, and moves the foreign matter on the surface of the cover glass 31 by moving the tip of the cleaning sheet 26 in contact with the surface of the cover glass 31 during cleaning.

  The wiping member 27 wipes off the foreign matter remaining on the surface portion of the cover glass 31 moved by the cleaning sheet 26 when the wiping member 27 moves in contact with the surface of the cover glass 31 during cleaning.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the angle formed when the cleaning sheet 26 and the surface of the cover glass 31 come into contact (the angle on the downstream side in the direction in which the cleaning member 20 advances during cleaning) is an obtuse angle, and in this embodiment is 135 °. Is set. Thereby, even a large amount of toner, dust, and dust can be sufficiently moved by the cleaning sheet 26, and slipping between the cleaning sheet 26 and the surface of the cover glass 31 can be minimized. If the angle formed between the cleaning sheet 26 and the surface of the cover glass 31 is too large, the tip edge of the cleaning sheet 26 cannot contact the surface of the cover glass 31, and a lot of foreign matter is generated by hitting the belly. On the contrary, if the angle formed between the cleaning sheet 26 and the surface of the cover glass 31 is too small, the cleaning sheet 26 is turned over. In view of these occurrence phenomena, the angle is set to 135 ° in the present embodiment, and both the foreign matter slips between the cleaning sheet 26 and the surface of the cover glass 31 and the cleaning sheet 26 is turned over are prevented. .

  The tip of the cleaning sheet 26 comes into contact with the surface of the cover glass 31 in a bent state, and the wiping member 27 comes into contact with the surface of the cover glass 31 in a state where it is urged and crushed. ing. In the present embodiment, a 100 μm thick polyester sheet is used as the cleaning sheet 26, and a 2 mm thick urethane foam having a hardness of about 100 N and a 1.5 mm thick polyester non-woven fabric are bonded as a wiping member 27 by a welding process. doing. The cleaning sheet 26 is bent by 1 mm, and the wiping member 27 is crushed by 1 mm.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the wiping member 27 after the surface of the cover glass 31 is cleaned. As shown in FIG. 4, the wiping member 27 is comprised with a nonwoven fabric (fibrous material). As a result, the foreign matter t such as dust or toner particles is intricately entangled with the fibers of the wiping member 27 and collected, and the collected deposit (foreign matter t) is difficult to separate from the wiping member 27.

  Then, during cleaning, the cleaning member 20 is moved in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 3 (traveling direction) to move a relatively large foreign substance out of the toner, dust, and the like whose tip of the cleaning sheet 26 is on the surface of the cover glass 31. Thereafter, the wiping member 27 is configured to wipe off relatively small foreign matter that the cleaning sheet 26 could not clean.

  The cover glass 31 is long, and the cleaning member moves in the longitudinal direction of the cover glass 31. At this time, the longitudinal direction of the cover glass 31 substantially coincides with the rotational axis direction of the photosensitive drum 1 so that the light can surely pass through the cover glass 31 and be irradiated onto the photosensitive drum 1. If it is this structure, since the range in which a cleaning member contacts the surface of the cover glass 31 becomes narrow compared with the structure to which a cleaning member moves to the transversal direction of the cover glass 31, contact with the cover glass 31 of a cleaning member It is easy to keep the state uniform, and the floating of the cleaning member can be suppressed.

  At one end in the longitudinal direction of the cover glass 31 (on the downstream side of the cover glass 31 in the direction in which the cleaning sheet 26 travels during cleaning), there is a reservoir 33 for collecting foreign substances that the cleaning sheet 26 has moved outside the surface of the cover glass 31. Has been placed. Reservoir 33 is a concave portion disposed outside the optical path area and on the downstream side of cover glass 31 in the direction in which cleaning member 20 advances during cleaning. With this configuration, the foreign matter t moved by the cleaning member 20 can be collected in one place without being scattered into the apparatus. In addition, since the reservoir 33 has a concave shape, the foreign matter t stored in the reservoir 33 re-enters the optical path area due to vibration generated from the image forming apparatus main body or an externally applied impact. Can be suppressed.

  Thus, the following merit is produced by comprising cleaning member 20 combining cleaning means (cleaning sheet 26, wiping member 27) from which a cleaning thought differs.

  First, there is not only toner that may adhere to the surface of the cover glass 31, but also dust that enters the apparatus from outside the image forming apparatus and abrasion powder generated from the apparatus main body. Therefore, it is necessary to clean foreign substances having various particle sizes and various shapes on the surface of the cover glass 31. Therefore, by combining the cleaning sheet 26 and the wiping member 27 having different cleaning philosophies, foreign substances having various particle sizes and shapes on the surface of the cover glass 31 can be reliably cleaned.

  Second, when the cleaning member 20 is composed only of the wiping member 27, the cleaning durability is determined by the amount of foreign matter stored in the wiping member 27. For this reason, if the foreign material accumulated in the wiping member 27 is saturated, the wiping member 27 can no longer be wiped off, and if it comes into contact with the cover glass 31 again in this state, the cover glass 31 is soiled. There is also. Therefore, after the relatively large foreign matter is moved by the cleaning sheet 26, the relatively small foreign matter remaining on the surface of the cover glass 31 is wiped by the wiping member 27. With this configuration, it is possible to delay the period for reaching the collection limit amount of the wiping member 27 and remarkably improve the durability of the cleaning member.

  This prevents the cleaning member from sufficiently cleaning the deposits on the surface of the cover glass at the time of cleaning, which has been a concern in the past, or conversely contaminating. Therefore, it is possible to suppress image defects such as a decrease in image density and image loss due to deposits on the surface of the cover glass throughout the life of the apparatus.

  Third, when the cleaning member 20 is composed only of the cleaning sheet 26, in order to satisfy the cleaning capability of the cleaning sheet 26, the dimensional tolerance of the cut surface of the cleaning sheet 26, the progress, the burr height, the cleaning sheet The amount of waves after pasting must be managed precisely. Therefore, by combining with the wiping member 27, an increase in cost due to precise management can be suppressed. Moreover, the fall of the cleaning capability by not being able to satisfy 100% of those severe precision at the time of mass production can be suppressed.

(Cleaning process)
The process of cleaning by the cleaning member 20 will be described. 5 and 6 are sectional views showing a cleaning process by the cleaning member 20.

  In Fig.5 (a), the cleaning member 20 is located in the home position (cleaning start position) before cleaning. A moving member 34 and a biasing member 35 are disposed behind the cleaning member 20 in the traveling direction (upstream side in the cleaning direction).

  The moving member 34 is slidably supported on a guide rail 36 fixed to the image forming apparatus main body. The urging member 35 is disposed between the stay member 32 and the base guide 29.

  The moving member 34 is housed in a door (not shown) for exchanging process cartridges and performing jam processing. When the surface of the cover glass 31 becomes dirty and an image defect occurs, an operator such as a user or a serviceman operates the moving member 34 to move the cleaning member 20 and clean the surface of the cover glass 31.

  When the cleaning member 20 is positioned at the home position, the biasing member 35 lifts the base guide 29 to a height at which the cleaning sheet 26 and the wiping member 27 are separated from the surface of the cover glass 31.

  In order for the cleaning member 20 to move from the home position and clean the surface of the cover glass 31, the operator first pushes the moving member 34 into the guide rail 36 and supports it. Further, when the operator moves the moving member 34 in the advancing direction (the arrow direction in FIG. 5), the biasing convex portion 34c of the moving member 34 is a slope 29a at the tip of the base guide 29 (near the insertion opening of the moving member). It hits. As a result, the base guide 29 is pushed down against the urging force of the urging member 35.

  The biasing convex portion 34c of the moving member 34 moves along the slope 29a of the base guide 29, reaches the top surface 29b of the base guide 29, moves from the base guide 29 to the slide surface 28b of the base member 28, and The member 28 is pushed down. In this state, the tip of the cleaning sheet 26 and the wiping member 27 are positioned to enter 1 mm with respect to the surface of the cover glass 31.

  The urging convex portion 34 c of the moving member 34 moves in the traveling direction on the slide surface 28 b, and an engaging portion 28 a integrally provided at the tip of the base member 28 and an engaging portion 34 a at the tip of the moving member 34. Engage. Then, as shown in FIG. 5B, the moving member 34 moves the base member 28 in the traveling direction, and the cleaning sheet 26 and the wiping member 27 move while cleaning the surface of the cover glass 31.

  As shown in FIG. 6A, when the cleaning sheet 26 and the wiping member 27 finish cleaning up to the end portion (cleaning end position) of the cover glass 31, the foreign matter moved by the cleaning sheet 26 is stored in the collecting portion 33. Is dropped. A very small amount of foreign matter wiped off by the wiping member 27 remains collected by the wiping member 27.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 6B, the operator returns the moving member 34 to the backward direction (the arrow direction in FIG. 6). The urging convex portion 34c of the moving member 34 moves in the backward direction on the slide surface 28b and comes off the slide surface 28b. At this time, the cleaning sheet 26 that has been bent by 1 mm by the biasing protrusion 34 c of the moving member 34 and the wiping member 27 that has been crushed by 1 mm are separated from the cover glass 31 by the force of the biasing member 35.

  Further, when the operator moves the moving member 34 in the backward direction, the second engaging portion 34 b provided at the distal end portion of the moving member 34 and the engaging portion 28 a of the base member 28 are engaged. The base member 28 is returned to the home position in conjunction with the movement of the moving member 34 in the backward direction.

  As described above, when the operator moves the moving member 34 in the traveling direction, the cleaning sheet 26 and the wiping member 27 come into contact with the surface of the cover glass 31. On the other hand, when the operator moves the moving member 34 in the backward direction, the cleaning sheet 26 and the wiping member 27 are separated from the surface of the cover glass 31 by the urging force of the urging member 35. As a result, the following effects are produced.

  First, when the cleaning sheet 26 and the wiping member 27 are moved away from the cover glass 31 without moving away from the cover glass 31, it is possible to prevent the cover glass 31 from being soiled again.

  Next, during cleaning, the cleaning sheet 26 is bent with respect to the cover glass 31, and the wiping member 27 is used in a crushed state. Therefore, the cleaning sheet 26 and the wiping member 27 are stressed or rubbed. I am receiving dynamic resistance. Therefore, if the cleaning sheet 26 and the wiping member 27 are in contact with the surface of the cover glass 31 even when returning to the home position, the cleaning sheet 26 and the wiping member 27 need to be twice as durable as the number of cleanings. And Therefore, the cleaning sheet 26 and the wiping member 27 are not in contact with the cover glass 31 when the base member 28 of the cleaning member 20 returns to the home position, so that the cleaning sheet 26 is made of a material that does not require sliding durability. The wiping member 27 can be configured.

  Further, in the present embodiment, both the cleaning sheet 26 and the wiping member 27 are separated from the cover glass 31, and the cleaning member 20 returns to the home position. Even if it is the structure which leaves | separates at least only the wiping member 27 from the cover glass 31, and returns to a home position, the said effect can be exhibited.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, although the structure of the cleaning member 20 which combined the cleaning means (cleaning sheet 26, the wiping member 27) from which a cleaning thought differs was shown, it is a structure of the cleaning member which has several cleaning parts with the same cleaning thought. Even if it exists, the said effect can be exhibited.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a cleaning process by the cleaning member 20 in the present embodiment. Note that the basic configuration of the image forming apparatus main body, the configuration of the cleaning member 20 and the operation thereof are the same as those described in detail in the first embodiment, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted here. Moreover, about the part which shows the same structure as 1st embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In Fig.7 (a), the cleaning member 20 is located in the home position (cleaning start position) before cleaning. A process cartridge 7 and a biasing member 35 are arranged as moving members behind the cleaning member 20 in the traveling direction (upstream side in the cleaning direction). The process cartridge 7 is inserted into and removed from the image forming apparatus main body when the user replaces the process cartridge 7.

  The process cartridge 7 is slidably supported by guide means (not shown) fixed to the image forming apparatus main body. The urging member 35 is disposed between the stay member 32 and the base guide 29.

When the cleaning member 20 is positioned at the home position, the biasing member 35 lifts the base guide 29 to a height at which the cleaning sheet 26 and the wiping member 27 are separated from the surface of the cover glass 31.
In order for the cleaning member 20 to move from the home position and clean the surface of the cover glass 31, the user first supports the process cartridge 7 on guide means (not shown) fixed to the image forming apparatus main body. Further, when the user inserts the process cartridge 7 in the direction of the rotation axis of the photosensitive drum 1 (the direction of the arrow in FIG. 7), the urging convex portion 34c provided at the lower part of the process cartridge is the tip of the base guide 29 (the process cartridge 7 The slope 29a in the vicinity of the insertion opening). As a result, the base guide 29 is pushed down against the urging force of the urging member 35.

  The urging projection 34c of the process cartridge 7 moves along the inclined surface 29a of the base guide 29, reaches the top surface 29b of the base guide 29, moves from the base guide 29 to the slide surface 28b of the base member 28, and The member 28 is pushed down. In this state, the tip of the cleaning sheet 26 and the wiping member 27 are positioned to enter 1 mm with respect to the surface of the cover glass 31.

  The urging convex portion 34 c of the process cartridge 7 moves on the slide surface 28 b in the traveling direction, and the engaging portion 28 a integrally provided at the distal end of the base member 28 and the distal end of the urging convex portion 34 c of the process cartridge 7. The engaging portion 34a provided on the side engages. Then, as shown in FIG. 7B, the base member 28 moves in the advancing direction in conjunction with the user inserting the process cartridge 7 into the image forming apparatus main body, and the cleaning sheet 26 and the wiping member 27 are moved. It moves while cleaning the surface of the cover glass 31. Then, in the operation before the process cartridge 7 is inserted to the image forming position, the cleaning sheet 26 and the wiping member 27 finish cleaning up to the end portion (cleaning end position) of the cover glass 31.

  Further, the base member 28 moves in the backward direction in conjunction with the operation of the user pulling out the process cartridge 7 from the image forming apparatus main body. At this time, the cleaning sheet 26 and the wiping member 27 move without contacting the surface of the cover glass 31. Since the operation of the cleaning member 20 is the same when the moving member 34 in the first embodiment is regarded as the process cartridge 7, the detailed description is omitted.

  In the present embodiment, the cleaning member 20 moves in conjunction with the operation of the user inserting the process cartridge 7 in the rotation axis direction of the photosensitive drum 1 to clean the surface of the cover glass 31.

  According to this configuration, as in the first embodiment, it is not necessary for an operator such as a user or a service person to perform a special operation for cleaning the cover glass. Can be cleaned. Therefore, usability is improved, and the possibility that the surface of the cover glass 31 becomes dirty and leads to image defects can be reduced.

[Third embodiment]
Next, a third embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 8 is a view showing the structure of the cleaning member in this embodiment, FIG. 8 (a) is a view of the cleaning member and the cover glass as viewed from the side, and FIG. It is sectional drawing seen from the opposing side. About the part which overlaps with said 1st embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the cleaning member includes a base member 28 supported by a base guide fixed to the main body of the image forming apparatus, and a base 40 as a holding unit that holds the cleaning sheet 26 and the wiping member 27. . The base 40 is provided with abutting surfaces 40 a and 40 b that abut against the cover glass 31 when the base guide 29 is pushed down and reaches a position where the cleaning member comes into contact with the cover glass 31. The abutting surfaces 40 a and 40 b are in positions where they abut against the outside of the light beam passage region P of the cover glass 31 with the cleaning sheet 26 and the wiping member 27 interposed therebetween.

  FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a cleaning process by the cleaning member in the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 9A, when the cleaning member is located at the home position (cleaning start position) before cleaning, the base 40 is supported on the base member 28 by springs 41 and 42 as elastic members. It is only done and is not in contact with other members.

  As shown in FIG. 9B, when the cleaning member advances and enters the cleaning state, the base member 28 is pushed down, and the tip of the cleaning sheet 26 and the wiping member 27 enter 1 mm with respect to the surface of the cover glass 31. It becomes a state. That is, the displacement in the contact direction between the tip of the cleaning sheet 26 and the cover glass of the wiping member 27 becomes a predetermined value (1 mm in this embodiment). At this time, the abutting surfaces 40 a and 40 b abut against the surface of the cover glass 31 outside the region where the light of the cover glass 31 is transmitted.

  The relationship between the height of the cleaning member and the surface of the cover glass 31 may be small or large depending on the dimensional variation of the object. Therefore, in order to absorb variations in the amount of pressing down of the base member 28, the springs 41 and 42 are compressed after the abutting surfaces 40a and 40b abut against the surface of the cover glass 31. By the compression of the springs 41 and 42, the tip of the cleaning sheet 26 and the wiping member 27 are configured to maintain a state in which 1 mm has entered the surface of the cover glass 31. For this reason, the pressure of the springs 41 and 42 is such that the cleaning sheet 26 and the wiping member 27 are intruded into the surface of the cover glass 31 by 1 mm even when the amount of depression of the base member 28 varies.

  With the configuration described above, the amount of penetration of the front end of the cleaning sheet 26 and the wiping member 27 into the surface of the cover glass 31 can always be kept constant, and the cleaning performance can be stably obtained.

[Fourth embodiment]
Next, a fourth embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the overall configuration of the color laser printer 100 in this embodiment. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view seen from the main body main cross section showing an outline of the cleaning member 20 in the present embodiment. FIG. 12 is a perspective view of FIG. 11 viewed from the B direction. About the part which overlaps with said 1st embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In the color laser printer 100 shown in FIG. 10, the arrangement direction of the four photosensitive drums 1 (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d) is inclined with respect to the installation surface M of the image forming apparatus main body. Further, the optical unit 3 disposed below the photosensitive drum 1 and the intermediate transfer belt unit 12 disposed above the photosensitive drum 1 are arranged in the arrangement direction of the photosensitive drums 1 (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d). Is inclined with respect to the installation surface M of the image forming apparatus. By adopting such a configuration and devising the arrangement of each unit, the image forming apparatus can be reduced in size.

  As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the cleaning member 20 includes a base member 28, a cleaning sheet 38, and a wiping member 27. Then, the base member 28 of the cleaning member 20 is guided by the base guide 29 supported by the stay member 32 and moves in the rotation axis direction of the photosensitive drum 1.

  The image forming apparatus of this embodiment is provided with a reservoir 37 instead of the reservoir 33. The cover glass 31 is long and the cleaning member 20 moves in the longitudinal direction of the cover glass 31. The reservoir portion 37 is provided not only on one end in the longitudinal direction of the cover glass 31 (downstream side in the direction in which the cleaning member 20 advances during cleaning) but also on the side surface side (portion along the longitudinal direction) of the cover glass 31. Yes. As a result, the reservoir portion can be widely arranged, and a sufficient capacity of the reservoir portion 37 can be secured.

  In the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment, the optical unit 3 is inclined with respect to the installation surface M of the image forming apparatus. The surface of the cover glass 31 attached to the optical unit 3 is also inclined with respect to the installation surface M of the image forming apparatus. Therefore, the reservoir 37 is disposed on the lower side along the inclination of the surface of the cover glass 31. Further, the stay member 32, the cleaning member 20 and the like provided in the image forming apparatus main body are also inclined.

  By providing the storage portion 37, it is possible to prevent foreign matter stored in the storage portion 37 from adhering to the cover glass 31 again due to vibration of the image forming apparatus main body or an externally applied impact. Furthermore, by providing the reservoir 37 on the lower side of the surface slope of the cover glass 31 attached to the optical unit 3, the foreign matter can be smoothly moved to the reservoir 37 using the surface slope of the cover glass 31. Can do.

  Further, the cleaning sheet 38 advances during cleaning of the cleaning member 20 so that the contact portion with the surface of the cover glass 31 faces the accumulation portion 37 side so that the foreign matter on the cover glass 31 is easily moved by the accumulation portion 37. Inclined with respect to direction. That is, the tip of the cleaning sheet 38 that contacts the surface of the cover glass 31 is inclined with respect to a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the cleaning member 20 moves from the cleaning start position toward the cleaning end position. In the present embodiment, the cleaning sheet 38 is inclined by 60 ° with respect to the traveling direction. Thereby, when the cleaning sheet 38 moves in the traveling direction, it is possible to move foreign matters such as toner and dust to the lower side along the inclination of the cover glass surface and to the inner side in the traveling direction. Therefore, even if there is a large amount of foreign matter t, it can be sequentially moved to the reservoir 37, so that slipping between the cleaning sheet 38 and the surface of the cover glass 31 can be minimized.

  As mentioned above, although the Example of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to the said Example at all, All the deformation | transformation are possible within the technical thought of this invention.

1 is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of a multicolor image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the optical unit, process cartridge, and cleaning member which concern on 1st embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the state at the time of cleaning of the cleaning member which concerns on 1st embodiment. It is the schematic which shows a mode after cleaning the foreign material of the wiping part which concerns on 1st embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the cleaning process by the cleaning member which concerns on 1st embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the cleaning process by the cleaning member which concerns on 1st embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the cleaning process by the cleaning member which concerns on 2nd embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the cleaning member which concerns on 3rd embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the cleaning process by the cleaning member which concerns on 3rd embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows embodiment of the multicolor image forming apparatus which concerns on 4th embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the optical unit, process cartridge, and cleaning member which concern on 4th embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the cleaning member which concerns on 4th embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

t ... Foreign matter 1 ... Photosensitive drum (image carrier)
3 ... Exposure means 20 ... Cleaning members 26 and 38 ... Cleaning sheet (first cleaning part)
27 ... Wiping member (second cleaning part)
31 ... Cover glass (cover member)
33, 37 ... Reservoir 100 ... Color laser printer (image forming apparatus)

Claims (20)

And a cartridge detachably mountable to the apparatus main body, an optical unit light emitted toward the sensitive light body having an elongated transmission member for transmitting, a cleaning member for cleaning the surface of said transparent member, the An image forming apparatus that cleans the transmissive member by moving the cleaning member in a longitudinal direction of the transmissive member by inserting and removing the cartridge from the apparatus main body;
The cleaning member includes a moving member for moving the foreign matter on the surface of the transmission member, and a wiping portion for wiping the foreign matter on the surface of the transmission member,
The moving member and the wiping portion move in a first direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the transmissive member while contacting the surface of the transmissive member, thereby cleaning the surface of the transmissive member. The moving member is disposed downstream of the wiping member,
When the cleaning member is engaged with the cartridge, the cleaning member moves in the longitudinal direction by inserting / removing the cartridge into / from the apparatus main body to clean the surface of the transmission member, and the cartridge is inserted into the apparatus main body. The image forming apparatus, wherein the cleaning member is not engaged with the cartridge and is present in the main body of the apparatus.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning member includes a holding unit that holds the moving member and the wiping unit, and the holding unit is supported by an elastic member.   When the cleaning member cleans foreign matter on the surface of the transmissive member, the permeable member reaches a predetermined value when the displacement of the holding portion in a direction in which the wiping portion contacts the transmissive member reaches a predetermined value. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising an abutting portion that abuts outside a region where light on a surface of the member is transmitted.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the photoconductors are present.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein an arrangement direction of the plurality of photosensitive members is inclined with respect to an installation surface of the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a surface of the transmission member of the optical unit is inclined with respect to an installation surface of the image forming apparatus.   Provided on the lower side along the inclination of the surface of the transmissive member, and having a lower reservoir for collecting foreign matter moved from the surface of the transmissive member to the outside of the transmissive member by the moving member of the cleaning member. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6. A cartridge detachably mountable to the apparatus main body, an optical unit light emitted toward the sensitive light body is provided with a transmission member for transmitting, and a cleaning member for cleaning the surface of said transparent member, wherein In the image forming apparatus for cleaning the transmitting member by moving the cleaning member by inserting and removing the cartridge into the apparatus main body,
The cleaning member includes a moving member for moving the foreign matter on the surface of the transmission member, and a wiping portion for wiping the foreign matter on the surface of the transmission member,
The moving member and the wiping portion move in the first direction while contacting the surface of the transmissive member to clean the surface of the transmissive member, and the moving member is downstream of the wiping member with respect to the first direction. Placed in
The cleaning member is supported by an elastic member, and includes a holding portion that holds the moving member and the wiping portion, and an abutting portion that abuts outside a region where light on the surface of the transmitting member is transmitted,
When the cleaning member cleans foreign matter on the surface of the transmissive member, the cleaning member moves when the displacement of the holding portion in a direction in which the wiping portion contacts the transmissive member reaches a predetermined value. An image forming apparatus, wherein the contact portion abuts against a surface of the transmission member. A cartridge detachably mountable to the apparatus main body, an optical unit light emitted toward the sensitive light body is provided with a transmission member for transmitting, and a cleaning member for cleaning the surface of said transparent member, wherein In the image forming apparatus for cleaning the transmitting member by moving the cleaning member by inserting and removing the cartridge into the apparatus main body,
The cleaning member includes a moving member for moving the foreign matter on the surface of the transmission member, and a wiping portion for wiping the foreign matter on the surface of the transmission member,
The moving member and the wiping portion move in the first direction while contacting the surface of the transmissive member to clean the surface of the transmissive member, and the moving member is downstream of the wiping member with respect to the first direction. Placed in
The surface of the transmission member of the optical unit is inclined with respect to the installation surface of the image forming apparatus,
Provided on the lower side along the inclination of the surface of the transmissive member, and having a lower reservoir for collecting foreign matter moved from the surface of the transmissive member to the outside of the transmissive member by the moving member of the cleaning member. An image forming apparatus.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein a plurality of the photoconductors are present.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein an arrangement direction of the plurality of photosensitive members is inclined with respect to an installation surface of the image forming apparatus.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmissive member is disposed below the cartridge.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the moving member is a sheet member.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the photosensitive member is rotatable, and the cleaning member moves in a rotation axis direction of the photosensitive member.   The moving member and the wiping portion do not contact the surface of the transmissive member when the cleaning member moves in a second direction opposite to the first direction. The image forming apparatus described in 1. A reservoir for storing foreign matter moved from the surface of the transmission member to the outside of the transmission member by the moving member;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reservoir is provided on the downstream side of the transmission member in the first direction. The cartridge image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that it comprises the photoreceptor. The cartridge image forming apparatus according to claim 17, characterized in that it comprises a process means acting on said photosensitive member.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge includes a toner container.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge accommodates an image forming unit.

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