JP5504997B2 - Cleaning member, charging device, transfer device, assembly, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a cleaning member, a charging device, a transfer device, an assembly, and an image forming apparatus.

  The charging device of Patent Document 1 includes a shaft, a roller that is coupled to both ends of the shaft, contacts the outer peripheral surface of the charging roller, and transmits a driving force transmitted from the charging roller to the shaft, along the axial direction of the shaft. A cleaning roller having a cleaning member provided in a spiral shape and in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the charging roller is provided.

  The charging device of Patent Document 2 is provided with a cleaning roller in which a cleaning unit that contacts the charging roller and cleans the surface of the charging roller is formed.

JP 2008-070532 A JP 2008-304729 A

  An object of the present invention is to obtain a cleaning member, a charging device, a transfer device, an assembly, and an image forming apparatus that can suppress uneven cleaning of a member to be cleaned.

A cleaning member according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a core material that is rotatably supported and a member to be cleaned while being spirally disposed on the core member and contacting the member to be cleaned while being driven to rotate by the member to be cleaned. A cleaning unit that cleans a member, and an axial direction of the core material, the cleaning unit is disposed at a distance from the cleaning unit, and the height of the core material in the radial direction is higher than the cleaning unit in a free state. A contact portion that is low and contacts the member to be cleaned.

  As for the cleaning member which concerns on Claim 2 of this invention, the said contact part is arrange | positioned helically with respect to the said core material.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cleaning member that is rotatably supported, and a member to be cleaned while being spirally disposed on the core member and contacting the member to be cleaned while being rotated by the member to be cleaned. A cleaning section for cleaning a member, and a plurality of the cleaning sections disposed between the cleaning sections in the axial direction of the core material, spaced apart in the axial direction and the circumferential direction of the core material, And a contact portion that is lower than the cleaning portion in a free state and contacts the member to be cleaned.

  As for the cleaning member which concerns on Claim 4 of this invention, the said contact part is integrally molded by the said core material.

  The charging device according to claim 5 of the present invention includes a charging member that rotates to charge the outer peripheral surface of the image carrier, and the cleaning unit and the contact unit are in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the charging member, and the charging member The cleaning member according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning member rotates following the rotation of the cleaning member.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the transfer device rotates or rotates, and the transfer member that transfers the developer image to the transfer member, the cleaning portion, and the contact portion are in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the transfer member. The cleaning member according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning member rotates following the rotation or rotation of the transfer member.

  An assembly according to claim 7 of the present invention includes the image carrier and the charging device according to claim 5 that charges an outer peripheral surface of the image carrier, and is assembled to the main body in a replaceable manner. It is done.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus comprising: the image carrier; the charging device according to claim 5 that charges an outer peripheral surface of the image carrier; and the image carrier charged by the charging member. An exposure device that exposes the outer peripheral surface to form an electrostatic latent image, a developing device that visualizes the electrostatic latent image formed on the outer peripheral surface of the image carrier as a developer image, and the outer peripheral surface of the image carrier And a transfer unit that transfers the developer image formed on the transfer member directly or indirectly to the transfer member.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus comprising: an image holding member; a charging unit that charges the outer peripheral surface of the image holding member; and an outer peripheral surface of the image holding member that is charged by the charging unit. An exposure device that forms an electrostatic latent image, a developing device that visualizes an electrostatic latent image formed on the outer peripheral surface of the image carrier as a developer image, and a developer image formed on the outer peripheral surface of the image carrier The transfer apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the transfer device is directly or indirectly transferred to a transfer member.

  An image forming apparatus according to a tenth aspect of the present invention is an exposure apparatus that forms an electrostatic latent image by exposing the outer periphery of the assembly according to the seventh aspect and a charged image carrier provided in the assembly. And a developing device that visualizes the electrostatic latent image formed on the outer peripheral surface of the image carrier as a developer image.

  The invention according to claim 1 can suppress uneven cleaning of the member to be cleaned as compared with the configuration in which the contact portion does not contact the core material.

  The invention according to claim 2 can suppress uneven cleaning of the member to be cleaned as compared with a configuration in which the contact portion is not spirally arranged with respect to the core member.

  The invention according to claim 3 can suppress uneven cleaning of the member to be cleaned as compared with a configuration in which a plurality of contact portions are not provided at intervals in the axial direction and the circumferential direction of the core member.

  According to the invention of claim 4, the cleaning member can be easily manufactured as compared with a configuration in which the core member and the contact portion are separately manufactured and assembled.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the charging performance of the charging member can be improved as compared with the configuration in which the contact portion does not contact the core material.

  The invention according to claim 6 can improve the transfer performance of the transfer member as compared with the configuration in which the contact portion does not contact the core material.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the charging performance of the charging member can be improved as compared with the configuration in which the contact portion does not contact the core material.

  According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to obtain a good image as compared with the configuration in which the contact portion does not contact the core material.

  According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, a better image can be obtained as compared with the configuration in which the contact portion does not contact the core material.

  The invention of claim 10 can obtain a better image as compared with the configuration in which the contact portion does not contact the core material.

1 is an overall view of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a front view showing the cleaning member, charging device, and exchange cartridge concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is a front view which shows the cleaning member etc. which concern on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the cleaning member which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the cleaning member which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. (A) It is sectional drawing which shows the cleaning part which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. (B) It is sectional drawing which shows the contact part which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. (A), (B), (C), (D) It is a side view which shows the cleaning state of the charging roll by the cleaning member which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. (A), (B) It is a front view which shows the rotation state of the cleaning member which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a partial block diagram of the image forming apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. (A), (B) It is a front view which shows the rotation state of the cleaning member which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a front view which shows the cleaning member which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention. (A), (B) It is a front view which shows the rotation state of the cleaning member which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the cleaning member which concerns on 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a side view of the cleaning member and transfer belt concerning a 5th embodiment of the present invention.

  An example of the cleaning member, the charging device, the transfer device, the assembly, and the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 1 shows an image forming apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment. The image forming apparatus 10 includes a housing 10A that constitutes a main body. The housing 10A includes an image processing unit that performs image processing on input image data. A control unit 12 is provided for controlling the operation. An exposure device 14 that performs exposure with the laser beam LB is provided in the center of the housing 10A. Here, the image processing unit of the control unit 12 processes the input image data into gradation data of four colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). The processed gradation data is sent to the exposure device 14.

  Above the exposure device 14, four image forming units 16Y, 16M, 16C, and 16K of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) are arranged at intervals in the horizontal direction. Has been. In the following description, Y, M, C, and K may be omitted when there is no need to distinguish between Y, M, C, and K. Further, the arrow UP indicates the upper direction in the vertical direction.

  The four image forming units 16Y, 16M, 16C, and 16K are all configured in the same manner, and a photoreceptor 18 as an example of a cylindrical image carrier that is rotationally driven at a predetermined speed, and the photoreceptor. A charging device 20 that charges the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive member 18 and an electrostatic latent image formed by exposing the exposure device 14 to the outer peripheral surface of the charged photosensitive member 18 with a predetermined color toner (developer). The image forming apparatus includes a developing device 22 that develops and visualizes the toner image (developer image), and a cleaning device 24 that cleans the outer peripheral surface of the photoreceptor 18.

  The charging device 20 has a cylindrical shape and is rotatably provided on the lower side of the photoconductor 18. The charging device 20 is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the photoconductor 18 and charges the photoconductor 18. A cleaning member 27 that is rotatably provided below the charging roll 25 and contacts the charging roll 25 to clean the outer peripheral surface of the charging roll 25 is included. The charging roll 25 is driven to rotate when the photosensitive member 18 is rotated by a driving unit (not shown), and is applied with a voltage by a voltage applying unit (not shown) including a power source. The outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive member 18 is charged by discharge due to a potential difference between the two. Details of the cleaning member 27 will be described later.

  Here, the photosensitive member 18 and the charging device 20 constitute a replacement cartridge 30 (see FIG. 2) as an example of an assembly. The replacement cartridge 30 is assembled to the housing 10A in a replaceable manner. ing.

  The exposure apparatus 14 is provided with four semiconductor lasers (not shown) configured in common for the four image forming units 16Y, 16M, 16C, and 16K. LB-Y, LB-M, LB-C, and LB-K are emitted according to the gradation data.

  Further, in the exposure apparatus 14, the laser beams LB-Y, LB-M, LB-C, and LB-K emitted from the semiconductor laser are rotated through an f-θ lens (not shown) disposed on the optical path. The polygon mirror 26 which is a polygon mirror is irradiated and deflected and scanned by the polygon mirror 26. Then, the laser beams LB-Y, LB-M, LB-C, and LB-K deflected and scanned by the polygon mirror 26 pass through the imaging lens and a plurality of mirrors (not shown) to the respective photoreceptors 18. The upper exposure point is scanned and exposed from obliquely below.

  Further, since the exposure device 14 is configured to scan and expose the outer peripheral surface of the photoreceptor 18 from below, toner or the like is supplied from the four image forming units 16Y, 16M, 16C, and 16K located above. May fall. For this reason, the periphery of the exposure apparatus 14 is sealed by a rectangular parallelepiped frame 28. The four laser beams LB-Y, LB-M, LB-C, and LB-K are transmitted through the upper portion of the frame 28 toward the photoreceptors 18 of the image forming units 16Y, 16M, 16C, and 16K. Transparent glass windows 31Y, 31M, 31C, 31K are provided.

  On the other hand, a primary transfer unit 21 is provided above each of the image forming units 16Y, 16M, 16C, and 16K as an example of a transfer unit that primarily transfers a toner image on each photoconductor 18. The primary transfer unit 21 includes an endless intermediate transfer belt 32, a driving roll 40 around which the intermediate transfer belt 32 is wound and rotated to rotate the intermediate transfer belt 32 in an arrow direction (counterclockwise direction in the drawing), The intermediate transfer belt 32 is wound around, a tension applying roll 36 that applies tension to the intermediate transfer belt 32, a cleaning blade 38 that cleans the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 32, and the photoreceptors 18Y and 18M with the intermediate transfer belt 32 interposed therebetween. , 18C, 18K, and primary transfer rolls 34Y, 34M, 34C, 34K arranged on the opposite side.

  The primary transfer unit 21 is energized to the four primary transfer rolls 34Y, 34M, 34C, and 34K by an energizing unit (not shown), whereby the primary transfer unit 21 is placed on the photoreceptor 18 of the image forming units 16Y, 16M, 16C, and 16K. The sequentially formed toner images of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) are transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 32 in a multiple manner.

  Further, on the opposite side of the drive roll 40 with the intermediate transfer belt 32 interposed therebetween, a transfer unit that secondarily transfers the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 32 to the sheet member P by being energized by an energization unit (not shown). As an example, a secondary transfer roll 42 is provided. Further, a sheet conveyance path 56 for conveying a sheet member P as an example of a recording medium is provided above and below the secondary transfer roll 42 in the housing 10A. Here, the yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) toner images transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 32 are transferred to the driving roll 40 by the intermediate transfer belt 32. It is conveyed to a portion sandwiched between the next transfer rolls 42. The toner images of the respective colors are secondarily transferred to the sheet member P conveyed along the paper conveyance path 56 at this portion.

  Further, on the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the sheet member P with respect to the secondary transfer roll 42 (hereinafter simply referred to as the downstream side), the fixing that fixes the toner image transferred to the sheet member P to the sheet member P by heat and pressure. A device 44 is provided. Further, on the downstream side of the fixing device 44, a discharge roll 46 that discharges the sheet member P on which the toner image is fixed to a discharge portion 48 provided on the upper portion of the housing 10A of the image forming apparatus 10 is provided.

  On the other hand, a sheet feeding member 50 on which the sheet members P are stacked is provided on the lower side in the housing 10 </ b> A of the image forming apparatus 10. Above the end of the paper feed member 50 on the paper transport path 56 side, a paper feed roll 52 that feeds the sheet member P stacked on the paper feed member 50 to the paper transport path 56 is provided. On the downstream side of 52, a separation roll 54 for separating and conveying the sheet members P one by one is provided. Further, an alignment roll 58 is provided on the downstream side of the separation roll 54 to match the conveyance timing of the sheet member P to the secondary transfer roll 42. As a result, the sheet member P supplied (conveyed) from the sheet feeding member 50 is moved to a position (secondary) where the intermediate transfer belt 32 and the secondary transfer roll 42 are in contact with each other by the alignment roll 58 that rotates at a predetermined timing. (Transfer position).

  Further, a double-sided conveyance path 62 for reversing the front surface and the back surface of the sheet member P is provided in the housing 10 </ b> A adjacent to the position from the alignment roll 58 to the discharge roll 46. The double-side conveyance path 62 is provided with a conveyance roll 60 for conveying the sheet member P discharged by the discharge roll 46 to the double-side conveyance path 62.

  Next, an image forming process of the image forming apparatus 10 will be described.

  First, gradation data of each color is sequentially output from the image processing unit in the control unit 12 to the exposure device 14. Subsequently, the laser beams LB-Y, LB-M, LB-C, and LB-K emitted from the exposure device 14 according to the gradation data are scanned on the outer peripheral surface of the photoconductor 18 charged by the charging roll 25. As a result of exposure, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the photoreceptor 18. Further, the electrostatic latent images formed on the photosensitive member 18 are developed by the developing devices 22Y, 22M, 22C, and 22K, and are respectively yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). It is visualized as a toner image of each color.

  Subsequently, a yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) toner image formed on each photoconductor 18 is circulated by a primary transfer roll 34 of the primary transfer unit 21. Multiple transfer is performed on the transfer belt 32. Here, the sheet member P is conveyed from the sheet supply member 50 to the secondary transfer position of the sheet conveyance path 56 by the sheet feed roll 52, the separation roll 54, and the alignment roll 58 at a predetermined timing. The color toner images on the intermediate transfer belt 32 are secondarily transferred onto the sheet member P by the secondary transfer roll 42.

  Subsequently, the sheet member P to which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing device 44, and the toner image on the sheet member P is fixed to the sheet member P by being heated and pressed by the fixing device 44. Then, the sheet member P after fixing is discharged by a discharge roll 46 to a discharge portion 48 provided on the upper portion of the housing 10A of the image forming apparatus 10.

  When image formation is performed on both surfaces of the sheet member P, first, image formation is performed on one surface of the sheet member P and fixing is performed by the fixing device 44. Subsequently, the sheet member P is not discharged as it is onto the discharge unit 48 by the discharge roll 46, but is switched to the transport direction and is transported to the double-side transport path 62 by the transport roll 60. Thereby, the front and back of the sheet member P are reversed. Then, the sheet member P is conveyed again to the alignment roll 58 with the front and back sides reversed, and the toner image is secondarily transferred to the back surface by the secondary transfer roll 42 and the toner image is fixed by the fixing device 44. Then, it is discharged onto the discharge unit 48.

  Next, the cleaning member 27 will be described.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the cleaning member 27 is provided along the axial direction of the charging roll 25 (hereinafter simply referred to as the axial direction) and facing the lower side of the charging roll 25. The cleaning member 27 is an example of a cylindrical core member 33 disposed along the axial direction of the charging roll 25 and a cleaning unit that is spirally disposed (wrapped) around the outer peripheral surface of the core member 33. A single foam 35 and a contact portion 37 disposed between the foams 35 in the axial direction of the core member 33 are provided.

  For example, the foam 35 is formed of a foam material of an elastically deformable urethane resin, and is fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the core material 33 by using a double-sided tape (not shown). Further, as shown in FIG. 6A, the cross section orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the foam 35 shows that the upper end portion 35A at both ends in the width direction is more than the upper end portion 35B at the center in the free state where no external force acts. The core member 33 (see FIG. 3) protrudes in the radial direction (hereinafter simply referred to as the radial direction). That is, the height from the bottom surface 35C (core member 33 side) of the foam 35 to the upper end portion 35A at both ends in the width direction is H1, and the height from the bottom surface 35C of the foam 35 to the center upper end portion 35B is H2. , H1> H2. Further, both sides (slanted sides) at both ends in the width direction of the cross section of the foam 35 are inclined in a direction in which the two upper end portions 35A approach each other. The width of the bottom surface 35C of the foam 35 in this cross section is W1.

  On the other hand, the contact portion 37 is formed of a material that is harder than the foam 35 and hardly elastically deforms, and is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the core member 33 in a spiral shape by using a double-sided tape (not shown). It is fixed between the foams 35 (gap in the axial direction). Further, as shown in FIG. 6B, the cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the contact portion 37 shows that the upper end portion 37A at the both ends in the width direction and the upper end portion 37B at the center are in the free state where no external force is applied. The trapezoidal shape has the same height in the radial direction of the core member 33 (see FIG. 3). That is, the height from the bottom surface 37C (the core material 33 side) of the contact portion 37 to the upper end portion 37A at both ends in the width direction and the height from the bottom surface 37C of the contact portion 37 to the upper end portion 37B at the center are all equal to H3. It has become. Further, both sides (slanted sides) at both ends in the width direction of the cross section of the contact portion 37 are inclined in a direction in which the two upper end portions 37A approach each other.

  Here, if the width of the bottom surface 37C in the cross section of the contact portion 37 is W2, W2 <W1. Further, the height H3 of the cross section of the contact portion 37 is H3 <H1 and H3 ≦ H2, and the upper end portions 37A and 37B of the contact portion 37 are in contact with the outer peripheral surface 25A (see FIG. 5) of the charging roll 25. It is the size to do. As described above, the contact portion 37 is disposed between the foams 35 in the axial direction of the core member 33, and the height in the radial direction of the core member 33 is lower than that of the foam member 35 in a free state.

  As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, both ends of the foam 35 are separated from the core 33 by sandwiching the end of the foam 35 with the core 33. A cylindrical holding member 78 is provided to prevent this. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in the charging device 20, the holding member 78 is rotatably supported by the bearing member 74, and the foam member 35 is disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the charging roll 25. The holding material 78 is supported at a position where contact is possible. With this configuration, when the charging roll 25 is rotated by driving means (not shown), a frictional force is generated at the contact portion between the foam 35 and the charging roll 25 as the charging roll 25 rotates, and the cleaning member 27 is driven. It is designed to rotate.

  Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described.

  In the image forming apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1, the toner image formed on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating photoconductor 18 is primarily transferred to the rotating intermediate transfer belt 32. Further, foreign matters such as toner remaining on the outer peripheral surface of the photoconductor 18 without being transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 32 are removed from the outer peripheral surface of the photoconductor 18 by the cleaning device 24. At this time, foreign substances such as an external additive having a small particle diameter contained in the toner (developer) pass through the cleaning device 24. Foreign substances such as external additives that have passed through the cleaning device 24 adhere to the outer peripheral surface of the charging roll 25.

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 8A, the outer surface of the charging roll 25 is in contact with the foam 35 such as the foam 35, the contact portion 37, the foam 35, and so on along the axial direction. The part 37 is contacting alternately. For example, if the cleaning member 27 is driven to rotate from the state shown in FIG. 8A, the part where the foam 35 is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the charging roll 25 as shown in FIG. 8B. The contact part 37 is in contact, and the foam 35 is in contact with the part where the contact part 37 is in contact.

  As shown in FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C, foreign substances such as external additives attached to the outer peripheral surface of the charging roll 25 rotating in the direction of the arrow (counterclockwise direction shown in the figure) The upper end portion 35A of the foam 35 of the cleaning member 27 that is driven to rotate is pushed by the outer peripheral surface of the charging roll 25 and the thickness direction of the foam 35 (the direction of arrow G shown in FIG. 7A) and the width direction ( It is pressed and aggregated by being elastically deformed (elastically compressed) in the direction indicated by the arrow H in FIG. 6A and 7A, 7B, 7C, and 7D, in order to facilitate understanding of the deformation of the foam 35 in the radial direction, The dimensions in the radial direction are exaggerated.

  Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 7D, the elastic deformation is restored by releasing the upper end portion 35 </ b> A of the foam 35 of the cleaning member 27 to be rotated from the contact with the charging roll 25, and this restoring force is restored. Accordingly, the agglomerated foreign matter such as the external additive is loosened from a dense state or repelled from the outer peripheral surface of the charging roll 25. In addition, since the foam 35 is spirally arranged on the core member 33, a component force in the axial direction acts on the foreign matter attached to the charging roll 25 by restoring the deformation in the width direction. A part of the removed foreign matter is accumulated in the foam 35, and a part of the foreign matter is dropped and captured by a foreign matter reservoir (not shown) provided below the cleaning member 27 in the gravity direction. Further, the foreign matter existing on the surface of the charging roll 25 while being loosened from the dense state may move to the photosensitive member 18 and be collected by the cleaning device 24.

  As described above, when the core member 33 rotates and the foam 35 cleans the outer peripheral surface of the charging roll 25, as a comparative example, the cleaning member 27 has no contact portion 37 and the core member 33 has an axial center portion. Since the foam 35 does not come into contact with the charging roll 25 at the central portion in the axial direction of the core material 33 when the bending due to gravity occurs, the foam 35 at the central portion in the axial direction of the core material 33 is removed from the charging roll 25. It is necessary to keep close to. However, when the foam 35 in the central portion in the axial direction of the core member 33 is brought close to the charging roll 25, both end portions in the axial direction of the core member 33 are hardly bent. Is closer to the charging roll 25 than necessary, and the contact state and frictional force between the foam 35 and the charging roll 25 are different between the central portion and both ends of the cleaning member 27, and uneven cleaning is caused on the outer peripheral surface of the charging roll 25. Will occur.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, when the cleaning member 27 of this embodiment is used, when the core member 33 rotates and the foam 35 cleans the outer peripheral surface of the charging roll 25, for example, In consideration of the occurrence of bending due to gravity in the central portion in the axial direction, even if the foam 35 in the central portion in the axial direction of the core material 33 is brought close to the charging roll 25 in advance, the axial direction of the core material 33 When the both end portions of the contact roller 37 approach the charging roll 25 more than necessary, the contact portions 37 at both end portions come into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the charging roll 25, and the size corresponds to the height (H3) of the contact portion 37. Is formed between the outer peripheral surface of the charging roll 25 and the outer peripheral surface of the core member 33. Thereby, it becomes difficult to produce a difference in the contact state and frictional force between the foam 35 and the charging roll 25 between the central portion and both ends of the cleaning member 27 in the axial direction, and uneven cleaning of the outer peripheral surface of the charging roll 25 is suppressed.

  Here, in the cleaning member 27, the contact portion 37 is spirally disposed with respect to the core member 33, and thus can be disposed in the axial gap of the foam 35 that is similarly spirally disposed. It has become. Further, since the contact portion 37 has a spiral shape, the contact portion 37 at any part in the axial direction comes into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the charging roll 25 while the cleaning member 27 rotates once. Thereby, the interval between the cleaning member 27 and the charging roll 25 is not at least smaller than the height H3 of the contact portion 37.

  Further, when the cleaning member 27 repels (removes) foreign matter such as an external additive attached to the outer peripheral surface of the charging roll 25, charging failure of the photoreceptor 18 is suppressed. For this reason, the quality of the toner image formed on the photoreceptor 18 is improved. Furthermore, since the quality of the toner image formed on the photoconductor 18 is improved, the quality of the output image formed on the sheet member P is improved.

  In the above-described embodiment, the upper end portions 35A at both ends in the width direction of the foam 35 are protruded from the upper end portion 35B at the center. However, the upper end portion 35A is not limited to both, and is either one of the upper end portions 35A. Also good. Furthermore, it is not necessary to project both ends. When one upper end portion 35A is projected, when the cleaning member 27 is driven to rotate, one of the two upper end portions 35A that first contacts the outer peripheral surface of the charging roll 25 (upstream side in the rotation direction) protrudes. This effectively repels (removes) foreign substances such as external additives from the charging member.

  Next, examples of the cleaning member, the charging device, the transfer device, the assembly, and the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Note that the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment are given to the members that are basically the same as those in the first embodiment described above, and the description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 9 shows an image forming apparatus 80 according to the second embodiment. The image forming apparatus 80 includes yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black provided on the lower side of the intermediate transfer belt 32 in the image forming apparatus 10 (see FIG. 1) of the first embodiment. The four-color replacement cartridge 30 (K) is provided on the upper side of the intermediate transfer belt 32. Since the configuration of the replacement cartridge 30 is the same for each color, only the replacement cartridge 30 for one color is shown in FIG. 9, and illustration of the other three colors is omitted.

  In the replacement cartridge 30 provided on the upper side of the intermediate transfer belt 32, the charging roll 25 is disposed on the upper side of the photoreceptor 18, and the cleaning member 27 is further disposed on the upper side of the charging roll 25. Then, around the photoreceptor 18, an exposure device 82 that performs exposure with laser light in order from the charging roll 25 in the rotation direction toward the downstream side, and the latent image on the photoreceptor 18 is developed with toner and visualized as a toner image. A developing device 84, a primary transfer roll 34, and a cleaning device 88 for cleaning the outer peripheral surface of the photoreceptor 18 are provided.

  Next, the operation of the second embodiment will be described.

  In the image forming apparatus 80 shown in FIG. 9, a latent image (electrostatic latent image) is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating photoreceptor 18 by charging with the charging roll 25 and exposure with the exposure device 82. Subsequently, the latent image on the outer peripheral surface of the photoconductor 18 is developed by the developing device 84 to become a toner image. Further, the formed toner image is transferred to the rotating intermediate transfer belt 32 by the primary transfer roll 34. Further, foreign matters such as toner remaining on the outer peripheral surface of the photoconductor 18 without being transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 32 are removed from the outer peripheral surface of the photoconductor 18 by the cleaning device 88. At this time, foreign substances such as an external additive having a small particle diameter contained in the toner (developer) pass through the cleaning device 88. Foreign substances such as external additives that have passed through the cleaning device 88 adhere to the outer peripheral surface of the charging roll 25.

  Foreign substances such as external additives attached to the outer peripheral surface of the charging roll 25 are loosened from a dense state by elastic deformation and restoration of the foam 35 in the cleaning member 27 that is driven to rotate as the charging roll 25 rotates, It is repelled from the outer peripheral surface of the charging roll 25. Thereby, the outer peripheral surface of the charging roll 25 is cleaned. Further, the charging roller 25 is cleaned to suppress the charging failure of the photosensitive member 18. For this reason, the quality of the toner image formed on the photoreceptor 18 is improved. Furthermore, since the quality of the toner image formed on the photoconductor 18 is improved, the quality of the output image formed on the sheet member P is improved.

  Here, when the core material 33 of the cleaning member 27 rotates and the foam 35 cleans the outer peripheral surface of the charging roll 25 as shown in FIGS. Since the center portion in the axial direction of the core material 33 tends to bend in the direction approaching the charging roll 25 due to gravity, the central portion in the axial direction of the core material 33 is unnecessarily charged. Even when approaching 25, the contact portion 37 at the center in the axial direction of the core member 33 contacts the outer peripheral surface of the charging roll 25, and a gap having a size corresponding to the height H <b> 3 of the contact portion 37 is left. The outer peripheral surface of 25 and the outer peripheral surface of the core member 33 are formed. Thereby, it becomes difficult to produce a difference in the contact state and frictional force between the foam 35 and the charging roll 25 in the axial direction of the cleaning member 27, and uneven cleaning of the outer peripheral surface of the charging roll 25 is suppressed.

  Next, an example of the cleaning member, the charging device, the transfer device, the assembly, and the image forming apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described. Note that the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment are given to the members that are basically the same as those in the first embodiment described above, and the description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 11 shows a cleaning member 90 of the third embodiment. The cleaning member 90 is provided below the charging roll 25 in place of the cleaning member 27 in the charging device 20 (see FIG. 1) of the first embodiment. The cleaning member 90 includes a core member 33, a foam 35 spirally disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the core member 33, and a contact portion 92 disposed between the foam members 35 in the axial direction of the core member 33. ,have.

  The contact portion 92 is formed of a material that is harder than the foam 35 and hardly elastically deforms. By using a double-sided tape (not shown), the foam attached on the outer peripheral surface of the core member 33 in a spiral shape. It is fixed between the bodies 35 (a gap in the axial direction). Further, the contact part 92 is not a single continuous body like the contact part 37 described above, and a plurality of small pieces 92A are spaced on one spiral (for example, the distances 93A and 93B in FIG. 11). , 93C, 93D). Note that, on the spiral arrangement of the contact portion 92, the intervals 93 </ b> A, 93 </ b> B, 93 </ b> C, and 93 </ b> D are smaller than the contact portion 92.

  Here, a plurality of contact portions 92 are arranged in the circumferential direction of the core member 33 when viewed from the axial direction of the core member 33. The contact portion 92 is arranged in the circumferential direction so that the charging roller 25 (see FIG. 12A) and the contact portion 92 are in contact with each other at any portion in the axial direction of the core member 33, that is, periodically. It is designed not to be a proper arrangement. Further, the cross-sectional shape of the contact portion 92 is the same as the cross-sectional shape of the contact portion 37 described above (see FIG. 6B), and the height from the bottom surface (core member 33 side) of the contact portion 92 to the upper end portion is high. The height is H3, which is lower than the foam 35.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, both ends of the foam 35 in the cleaning member 90 sandwich the end of the foam 35 between the core material 33 and the end of the foam 35 is the core material. A cylindrical holding member 78 is provided to prevent peeling from 33. The holding member 78 is rotatably supported by the bearing member 74. With this configuration, when the charging roll 25 is rotated by driving means (not shown), a frictional force is generated at the contact portion between the foam 35 and the charging roll 25 as the charging roll 25 rotates, and the cleaning member 90 is driven. It is designed to rotate.

  Next, the operation of the third embodiment will be described.

  In the image forming apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1, a toner image is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the photoconductor 18 by each process of charging, exposure, and development. Then, the formed toner image is transferred to the rotating intermediate transfer belt 32 by the primary transfer roll 34. Further, foreign matters such as toner remaining on the outer peripheral surface of the photoconductor 18 without being transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 32 are removed from the outer peripheral surface of the photoconductor 18 by the cleaning device 24. At this time, foreign substances such as an external additive having a small particle diameter contained in the toner (developer) pass through the cleaning device 24. Foreign substances such as external additives that have passed through the cleaning device 24 adhere to the outer peripheral surface of the charging roll 25.

  Here, as shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B, foreign substances such as external additives attached to the outer peripheral surface of the charging roll 25 are foamed in the cleaning member 90 that rotates following the rotation of the charging roll 25. Due to the elastic deformation and restoration of the body 35, the body 35 is loosened from the dense state or is repelled from the outer peripheral surface of the charging roll 25. Thereby, the outer peripheral surface of the charging roll 25 is cleaned. Further, the charging roller 25 is cleaned, so that the charging failure of the photoreceptor 18 (see FIG. 1) is suppressed. For this reason, the quality of the toner image formed on the photoreceptor 18 is improved. Furthermore, since the quality of the toner image formed on the photoconductor 18 is improved, the quality of the output image formed on the sheet member P is improved.

  In the cleaning member 90, for example, in consideration of the occurrence of bending due to gravity at the central portion in the axial direction of the core member 33, the foam 35 in the central portion in the axial direction of the core member 33 is preliminarily applied to the charging roll 25. Suppose you keep it close. In this state, when the core member 33 of the cleaning member 90 rotates and the foam 35 cleans the outer peripheral surface of the charging roll 25, both end portions in the axial direction of the core member 33 tend to approach the charging roller 25 more than necessary. However, the contact portions 92 (a plurality of small pieces 92A) at both ends are in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the charging roll 25, and a gap corresponding to the height H3 of the contact portion 92 is formed between the outer peripheral surface of the charging roll 25 and the core. It is formed between the outer peripheral surface of the material 33. Thereby, it becomes difficult to produce a difference in the contact state and frictional force between the foam 35 and the charging roll 25 between the central portion and both ends of the cleaning member 90 in the axial direction, and uneven cleaning of the outer peripheral surface of the charging roll 25 is suppressed.

  Next, an example of a cleaning member, a charging device, a transfer device, an assembly, and an image forming apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. Note that the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment are given to the members that are basically the same as those in the first embodiment described above, and the description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 13 shows the cleaning member 100 of the fourth embodiment. The cleaning member 100 is provided below the charging roll 25 in place of the cleaning member 27 in the charging device 20 (see FIG. 1) of the first embodiment. In addition, the cleaning member 100 includes a cylindrical core member 102 disposed along the axial direction of the charging roll 25 (see FIG. 2), a foam body 35 spirally disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the core member 102, And a contact portion 104 disposed between the foams 35 in the axial direction of the core material 102. The diameter and the axial length of the core material 102 are the same as those of the core material 33 (see FIG. 3). Further, for the purpose of preventing the bending of the core material 102, for example, a core metal may be inserted by forming a through hole in the axial center portion of the core material 102.

  The core material 102 and the contact portion 104 are integrally formed of a resin material that is harder and less elastically deformed than the foam 35, and the contact portion 104 is a single continuous body like the contact portion 37 described above. ing. Further, the cross-sectional shape of the contact portion 104 is the same as the cross-sectional shape of the contact portion 37 described above (see FIG. 6B), and the height from the bottom surface (core material 33 side) of the contact portion 104 to the upper end portion is high. The height is H3, which is lower than the foam 35.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, both ends of the foam 35 in the cleaning member 100 sandwich the end of the foam 35 between the core 33 and the end of the foam 35 is the core material. A cylindrical holding member 78 is provided to prevent peeling from 33. The holding member 78 is rotatably supported by the bearing member 74. With this configuration, when the charging roll 25 is rotated by driving means (not shown), a frictional force is generated at the contact portion between the foam 35 and the charging roll 25 as the charging roll 25 rotates, and the cleaning member 100 is driven. It is designed to rotate.

  Next, the operation of the fourth embodiment will be described.

  In the image forming apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1, a toner image is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the photoconductor 18 by each process of charging, exposure, and development. Then, the formed toner image is transferred to the rotating intermediate transfer belt 32 by the primary transfer roll 34. Further, foreign matters such as toner remaining on the outer peripheral surface of the photoconductor 18 without being transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 32 are removed from the outer peripheral surface of the photoconductor 18 by the cleaning device 24. At this time, foreign substances such as an external additive having a small particle diameter contained in the toner (developer) pass through the cleaning device 24. Foreign substances such as external additives that have passed through the cleaning device 24 adhere to the outer peripheral surface of the charging roll 25.

  Here, foreign substances such as external additives attached to the outer peripheral surface of the charging roll 25 become dense due to elastic deformation and restoration of the foam 35 in the cleaning member 100 of FIG. 13 that is driven to rotate as the charging roll 25 rotates. It is loosened from the state or repelled from the outer peripheral surface of the charging roll 25. Thereby, the outer peripheral surface of the charging roll 25 is cleaned. Further, the charging roller 25 is cleaned, so that the charging failure of the photoreceptor 18 (see FIG. 1) is suppressed. For this reason, the quality of the toner image formed on the photoreceptor 18 is improved. Furthermore, since the quality of the toner image formed on the photoconductor 18 is improved, the quality of the output image formed on the sheet member P is improved.

  In the cleaning member 100, for example, in consideration of the occurrence of bending due to gravity at the central portion in the axial direction of the core material 102, the foam 35 in the central portion in the axial direction of the core material 102 is preliminarily applied to the charging roll 25. Suppose you keep it close. In this state, when the core material 102 of the cleaning member 100 rotates and the foam 35 cleans the outer peripheral surface of the charging roll 25, both end portions in the axial direction of the core material 102 try to approach the charging roll 25 more than necessary. However, the contact portions 104 at both ends contact the outer peripheral surface of the charging roll 25, and a gap having a size corresponding to the height H3 of the contact portion 104 is formed between the outer peripheral surface of the charging roll 25 and the outer peripheral surface of the core member 102. It will be formed between. Thereby, it becomes difficult to produce a difference in the contact state and the frictional force between the foam 35 and the charging roll 25 between the central part and both ends in the axial direction of the cleaning member 100, and uneven cleaning of the outer peripheral surface of the charging roll 25 is suppressed.

  Next, an example of a cleaning member, a charging device, a transfer device, an assembly, and an image forming apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described. Note that the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment are given to the members that are basically the same as those in the first embodiment described above, and the description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 14 shows a transfer apparatus 110 according to the fifth embodiment. The transfer device 110 includes an intermediate transfer belt 32 in the image forming apparatus 10 (see FIG. 1), and a cleaning member 27 disposed in contact with the upper surface of the intermediate transfer belt 32 on the side close to the drive roll 40. Yes. The cleaning member 27 is provided above the intermediate transfer belt 32 in place of the cleaning blade 38 of the first embodiment, and both ends thereof are rotatably supported by bearings. A support member 112 is provided on the opposite side of the intermediate transfer belt 32 from the cleaning member 27 so as to contact the back surface of the intermediate transfer belt 32 and stabilize the contact state between the cleaning member 27 and the intermediate transfer belt 32. It has been.

  Next, the operation of the fifth embodiment will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 1, in the image forming apparatus 10, a toner image is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive member 18 by each process of charging, exposure, and development. The formed toner image is primarily transferred by the primary transfer roll 34 to the rotating intermediate transfer belt 32. Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 14, the toner image primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 32 is secondarily transferred onto the sheet member P by the secondary transfer roll 42 and is fixed to the sheet member P in the fixing step.

  Here, foreign matters such as transfer residual toner and external additives attached to the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 32 are caused by elastic deformation and restoration of the foam 35 in the cleaning member 27 that rotates following the rotation of the intermediate transfer belt 32. They are loosened from the dense state or repelled from the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 32. As a result, the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 32 is cleaned. In addition, the cleaning of the intermediate transfer belt 32 reduces the residual transfer toner that adheres to the area (background portion) where the toner on the sheet member P should not adhere, so the quality of the output image formed on the sheet member P is reduced. Will improve.

  Further, when the core member 33 of the cleaning member 27 rotates and the foam 35 cleans the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 32, the cleaning member 27 is disposed on the upper side of the intermediate transfer belt 32. Although the central portion in the axial direction of the material 33 tries to bend in the direction approaching the intermediate transfer belt 32, even if the central portion in the axial direction of the core material 33 approaches the intermediate transfer belt 32 more than necessary, The contact portion 37 at the center in the axial direction contacts the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 32, and a gap corresponding to the height H 3 of the contact portion 37 is formed between the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 32 and the core material 33. It is formed between the outer peripheral surface. As a result, differences in the contact state and frictional force between the foam 35 and the intermediate transfer belt 32 between the central portion and both ends in the axial direction of the cleaning member 27 are less likely to occur, and uneven cleaning of the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 32 is suppressed. The

  In addition, this invention is not limited to said embodiment.

  As the material of the foam 35, an elastically deformable urethane resin foam is employed, but the present invention is not particularly limited thereto, and other materials such as a foam material of a rubber material may be employed. Further, although the replacement cartridge 30 is configured by the photosensitive member 18, the charging roll 25, and the cleaning member 27, other members such as the developing device 22 and the cleaning device 24 may be added as components of the replacement cartridge 30. Further, although the cleaning member 27 is used for cleaning the charging roll 25 and the intermediate transfer belt 32, the installation location of the cleaning member 27 is not limited to these. For example, the intermediate transfer roll, the transfer roll, and the photoconductor You may use for cleaning.

  Further, in the cleaning member 100, the contact portion 104 may be divided so as to be spaced apart from the contact portion 92 of the cleaning member 90. Further, the cleaning members 27, 90, and 100 may be provided at two locations of the charging device 20 and the transfer device 110, or at three or more locations including the photoreceptor 18.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image forming apparatus 14 Exposure apparatus 18 Photosensitive body (image holding body)
20 Charging device 21 Primary transfer unit (transfer means)
22 Developing device 25 Charging roll (charging member, member to be cleaned)
27 Cleaning member 30 Replacement cartridge (assembly)
32 Intermediate transfer belt (transfer member, member to be cleaned)
33 Core 35 Foam (cleaning part)
37 Contact part 42 Secondary transfer roll (transfer means)
80 Image forming apparatus 82 Exposure apparatus 84 Developing apparatus 90 Cleaning member 100 Cleaning member 102 Core member 104 Contact portion 110 Transfer apparatus P Sheet member (transferred member)

Claims (10)

A core material rotatably supported;
A cleaning unit that spirally arranges on the core member and contacts the member to be cleaned and cleans the member to be cleaned while being driven to rotate by the member to be cleaned;
Arranged between the cleaning portions in the axial direction of the core material and spaced apart from the cleaning portion, the height in the radial direction of the core material is lower than the cleaning portion in a free state, and contacts the member to be cleaned A contact portion to perform,
A cleaning member.   The cleaning member according to claim 1, wherein the contact portion is disposed in a spiral shape with respect to the core member. A core material rotatably supported;
A cleaning unit that spirally arranges on the core member and contacts the member to be cleaned and cleans the member to be cleaned while being driven to rotate by the member to be cleaned;
The cleaning unit is disposed between the cleaning units in the axial direction of the core material, and is provided in a plurality at intervals in the axial direction and the circumferential direction of the core material, and the height in the radial direction of the core material is free. Lower than the contact portion that contacts the member to be cleaned,
A cleaning member.   The cleaning member according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the contact portion is integrally formed with the core member. A charging member that rotates and charges the outer peripheral surface of the image carrier;
The cleaning member according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the cleaning unit and the contact unit are in contact with an outer peripheral surface of the charging member and are driven to rotate as the charging member rotates.
A charging device. A transfer member that circulates or rotates and transfers the developer image to the transfer member;
The cleaning member according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the cleaning portion and the contact portion are in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the transfer member and are rotated following rotation or rotation of the transfer member;
A transfer device having The image carrier;
The charging device according to claim 5, wherein the outer peripheral surface of the image carrier is charged.
And an assembly that is replaceably assembled to the main body. The image carrier;
The charging device according to claim 5, wherein the outer peripheral surface of the image carrier is charged.
An exposure device that exposes an outer peripheral surface of the image carrier charged by the charging member to form an electrostatic latent image;
A developing device for visualizing the electrostatic latent image formed on the outer peripheral surface of the image carrier as a developer image;
Transfer means for directly or indirectly transferring the developer image formed on the outer peripheral surface of the image carrier to a transfer member;
An image forming apparatus. An image carrier,
Charging means for charging the outer peripheral surface of the image carrier;
An exposure apparatus that exposes an outer peripheral surface of the image carrier charged by the charging unit to form an electrostatic latent image;
A developing device for visualizing the electrostatic latent image formed on the outer peripheral surface of the image carrier as a developer image;
The transfer device according to claim 6, wherein the developer image formed on the outer peripheral surface of the image carrier is directly or indirectly transferred to a transfer member;
An image forming apparatus. An assembly according to claim 7;
An exposure device that exposes an outer peripheral surface of a charged image carrier provided in the assembly to form an electrostatic latent image;
A developing device for visualizing the electrostatic latent image formed on the outer peripheral surface of the image carrier as a developer image;
An image forming apparatus.

Images