JP5598143B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art An image forming apparatus having a configuration in which a blade of a cleaning device is separated from an intermediate transfer member when a developer image is formed on the intermediate transfer member has been conventionally known (for example, see Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-114995

  An object of the present invention is to obtain an image forming apparatus capable of reliably separating a removing member of a cleaning device from an image holding member when a developer image is formed on the image holding member.

In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a transfer device including an image carrier that is rotationally driven and holds a developer image, and the image carrier. A sealing member that has a rotation axis direction as a longitudinal direction, and is in contact with a downstream side in the rotation direction of the image carrier from a transfer position for transferring the developer image from the image carrier to a recording medium ; A removing member that removes the developer remaining on the image carrier by contacting the downstream side in the rotational direction of the image carrier with respect to the sealing member , and the sealing member. and with the removal member from the image forming apparatus main body and the longitudinal direction of the one cleaned is withdrawable constructed in side apparatus, provided in the transfer device and the cleaning device definitive in the pull-out side of the cleaning device, the developing Before forming the agent image A first separation mechanism for separating the said pulling out side of the removing member with respect to the image carrier, wherein the drawer side is provided to the transfer device or the image forming apparatus main body on the opposite side, during the formation of the developer image A second separation mechanism that separates the opposite side of the removal member from the image carrier in synchronization with the first separation mechanism; and the cleaning device, the first separation mechanism and the second separation mechanism. And a third separation mechanism that interlocks with a separation operation of the separation mechanism with a time difference and separates the sealing member from the image carrier .

Further, the image forming apparatus according to claim 2, in the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transfer device has a rotary shaft which is rotationally driven by a drive source, wherein the first separation mechanism, the a first cam member fixed to an end portion of the pull-out side of the rotary shaft, provided in the cleaning device, the Rukoto moved by the first cam member, the first pressing for pressing the removing member to spacing direction And the second separation mechanism is provided in the second cam member fixed to the opposite end portion of the rotation shaft, and the transfer device or the image forming apparatus main body, and the second separation mechanism. the Rukoto moved by the cam member, is characterized by having a second pressing member for pressing the spacing direction the removal member in synchronization with the first pressing member.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the developer image is formed on the image carrier, the separation mechanism that separates the removal member of the cleaning device from the image carrier is provided on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the removal member. The removal member can be reliably separated from the image holding member as compared with the configuration that is not provided.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the first cam member and the second cam member fixed to the rotating shaft are removed as compared with the configuration in which the first pressing member and the second pressing member are not moved, respectively. The member can be reliably separated from the image carrier in synchronization.

Schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment Schematic diagram showing the configuration of the image forming unit (A) Perspective sectional view showing a state where the cleaning blade and the seal member are in contact with the intermediate transfer belt, (B) Side sectional view showing a state where the cleaning blade and the seal member are in contact with the intermediate transfer belt. (A) Perspective sectional view showing a state where the cleaning blade and the seal member are separated from the intermediate transfer belt, (B) Side sectional view showing a state where the cleaning blade and the seal member are separated from the intermediate transfer belt. Perspective view showing the cleaning device The perspective view which shows the 1st separation mechanism by the side of the cleaning apparatus which separates a cleaning blade The perspective view which shows the 2nd separation mechanism by the side of the intermediate transfer unit which separates a cleaning blade A plan view showing the first separation mechanism and the second separation mechanism without the intermediate transfer belt The perspective view which shows a mode that a cleaning apparatus is pulled out from an image forming apparatus main body with an intermediate transfer unit. The perspective view which shows the state which removed the cleaning apparatus from the intermediate transfer unit A perspective view showing a cleaning device and an intermediate transfer unit Side view showing a configuration in which the cleaning blade and the seal member are separated with a time difference Side view showing a state in which the cleaning blade is separated earlier than the seal member Side view showing a state where the sealing member is separated from the cleaning blade

  Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1, an arrow UP is an upward direction of the image forming apparatus 10, and an arrow RI is a right direction of the image forming apparatus 10. The front side in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface shown in FIG. 1 is the front side of the image forming apparatus 10 and is the front side. In this embodiment, the recording paper P is used as an example of the recording medium, and the upstream side in the transport direction of the recording paper P is simply referred to as “upstream side”, and the downstream side in the transport direction is simply referred to as “downstream side”.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 10 includes a sheet storage unit 12 that stores recording paper P from the lower side to the upper side in the vertical direction, and a sheet storage unit that is provided above the sheet storage unit 12. The image forming unit 14 for forming an image on the recording paper P supplied from 12, the document reading unit 16 for reading the document G provided on the upper side of the image forming unit 14, and the image forming unit 14 for image formation And a control unit 20 that controls the operation of each unit of the apparatus 10.

  The paper storage unit 12 is provided with a first storage unit 22, a second storage unit 24, and a third storage unit 26 that store recording papers P of different sizes. Each of the first storage unit 22, the second storage unit 24, and the third storage unit 26 is provided with a delivery roll 32 that sends the stored recording paper P to the transport path 28 in the image forming apparatus 10. A pair of transport rolls 34 and 36 that transport the recording paper P one by one are provided in the transport path 28 on the downstream side of each delivery roll 32.

  Further, a pair of transports are performed so that the recording paper P sent from a reverse transport path 29 (to be described later) joins the transport path 28 and is transported downstream of the transport roll 36 of the third storage unit 26. A roll 50 is provided. An alignment roll 38 that temporarily stops the recording paper P and feeds it to a secondary transfer position to be described later at a predetermined timing is provided downstream of the transport roll 50.

  In addition, in the front view of the image forming apparatus 10, the upstream conveyance path 28 including the conveyance roll 50 is formed in a straight line in the vertical direction. The downstream conveyance path 28 including the alignment roll 38 is formed in a substantially straight line from the left side of the image forming unit 14 to the right side, that is, the paper discharge unit 15 provided on the right side surface of the apparatus main body 10A. Further, a reverse conveyance path 29 is provided below the conveyance path 28 on the downstream side including the alignment rolls 38, and the recording paper P is reversed and conveyed.

  The reversal conveyance path 29 has a first guide member 31 that guides the recording paper P from the conveyance path 28 to the reversal conveyance path 29, and a straight line in the vertical direction from the lower right side of the image forming unit 14 to the lower right side of the paper storage unit 12. A reversing unit 30 provided on the reversing unit 30, a second guide member 35 for guiding the recording paper P conveyed to the reversing unit 30 from the reversing unit 30 to a conveying unit 37 described later, and a recording sheet guided by the second guiding member 35. And a transport unit 37 that transports P.

  The downstream side of the transport unit 37 is joined to a transport path 28 between the transport roll 36 and the transport roll 50 of the third storage unit 26. The reversing unit 30 is provided with a pair of transport rolls 42 at a predetermined interval, and the transport unit 37 is provided with a pair of transport rolls 44 at a predetermined interval. It is provided at multiple locations.

  The first guide member 31 has a substantially triangular prism shape when viewed from the front, and the leading end portion is moved to either the transport path 28 or the reverse transport path 29 by a driving unit (not shown), so that the recording paper P is transported through the transport path. 28 or the reverse conveyance path 29 is guided. Similarly, the second guide member 35 also has a substantially triangular prism shape when viewed from the front. When the leading end is moved to either the reversing unit 30 or the conveying unit 37 by a driving unit (not shown), the recording paper P is moved. The reversing unit 30 or the conveyance unit 37 is guided.

  Further, a foldable manual sheet feeding unit 46 is provided on the left side surface of the apparatus main body 10A. The recording paper P supplied from the manual paper feed unit 46 is transported by the transport roll 48 and is joined to the transport path 28 downstream of the transport roll 50 and upstream of the alignment roll 38. It has become.

  The document reading unit 16 includes a document transport device 52 that automatically transports the document G one by one, a platen glass 54 that is disposed below the document transport device 52 and on which one document G is placed, and the document transport device 52. And a document reading device 56 that reads the document G conveyed by the document G or the document G placed on the platen glass 54.

  The document conveyance device 52 has an automatic conveyance path 55 in which a plurality of pairs of conveyance rolls 58 are arranged. A part of the automatic conveyance path 55 is arranged so that the recording paper P passes over the platen glass 54. Yes. Further, the document reading device 56 reads the document G conveyed by the document conveying device 52 in a state of being stationary at the left end portion of the platen glass 54, or reads the document G placed on the platen glass 54 while moving in the right direction. It is supposed to read.

  The image forming unit 14 includes a cylindrical photosensitive member 62 disposed in the approximate center of the apparatus main body 10A with the direction from the front side to the back side of the apparatus main body 10A being the axial direction. The photosensitive member 62 is driven to rotate in the direction of arrow R (clockwise direction in the drawing) by a driving unit (not shown) and holds an electrostatic latent image formed by light irradiation. A corotron charging member 64 that charges the surface of the photoconductor 62 is provided above the photoconductor 62 and at a position facing the surface (outer peripheral surface) of the photoconductor 62.

  An exposure device 66 is provided at a position downstream of the charging member 64 in the rotation direction of the photoconductor 62 and facing the surface of the photoconductor 62. The exposure device 66 is configured by an LED (Light Emitting Diode), and irradiates (exposes) light onto the surface of the photoreceptor 62 charged by the charging member 64 based on an image signal corresponding to each toner color. An electrostatic latent image is formed.

  The exposure device 66 is not limited to the LED system, and may be one that scans laser light with a polygon mirror, for example. Further, the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photoconductor 62 is developed with toner of each predetermined color on the downstream side in the rotation direction of the photoconductor 62 from the portion irradiated with light by the exposure device 66. A rotation switching type developing device 70 is provided.

  The developing device 70 develops corresponding to each toner color of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), black (K), first special color (E), and second special color (F). (Not shown). The developing devices are arranged side by side in the circumferential direction, and are switched by being rotated by a central angle of 60 ° by a motor (not shown) that is a rotational drive source so as to face the surface of the photoreceptor 62. ing.

  The first special color (E) and the second special color (F) are, for example, special colors (including transparency) other than yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). When the first special color (E) and the second special color (F) are used, the image is formed with six colors of Y, M, C, K, E, and F. It has become. Further, an image may be formed with four colors of Y, M, C, and K and the first special color (E) or the second special color (F), or the first special color (E). The image may be formed with four colors excluding the second special color (F).

  An intermediate transfer unit as an example of a transfer device in which a toner image formed on the surface of the photoconductor 62 is primary-transferred downstream of the developing device 70 in the rotation direction of the photoconductor 62 and below the photoconductor 62. 60 is provided. The intermediate transfer unit 60 has an endless intermediate transfer belt (intermediate transfer member) 68 as an example of an image holding member that moves in the direction of arrow A (counterclockwise direction in the drawing).

  The intermediate transfer belt 68 is in contact with a drive roll 61 that is rotationally driven by the control unit 20, a tension applying roll 63 for applying tension to the intermediate transfer belt 68, and a back surface (inner peripheral surface) of the intermediate transfer belt 68. Then, it is wound around a plurality of transport rolls 65 that are driven to rotate and an auxiliary roll 69 that rotates in contact with the back surface of the intermediate transfer belt 68 at a secondary transfer position described later.

  Further, on the opposite side of the photoconductor 62 across the intermediate transfer belt 68, a primary transfer roll 67 for primary transfer of the toner image formed on the surface of the photoconductor 62 to the surface (outer peripheral surface) of the intermediate transfer belt 68. Is provided.

  The primary transfer roll 67 is in contact with the back surface of the intermediate transfer belt 68 at a position away from the position where the photoconductor 62 and the intermediate transfer belt 68 are in contact with the downstream side in the moving direction of the intermediate transfer belt 68. When the primary transfer roll 67 is energized from a power source (not shown), the toner image on the photoreceptor 62 is primarily transferred onto the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 68 by a potential difference from the grounded photoreceptor 62. ing.

  Further, a cleaning device that removes residual toner remaining on the surface of the photoreceptor 62 without being primarily transferred to the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 68 on the downstream side in the rotation direction of the photoreceptor 62 with respect to the primary transfer roll 67. 74 is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the cleaning device 74 is configured to collect residual toner and the like by a cleaning blade 73 and a brush roll 75 that are in contact with the surface of the photoreceptor 62. Further, on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the photoconductor 62 with respect to the cleaning device 74 (downstream side with respect to the primary transfer roll 67), a static elimination device 76 that performs static elimination by irradiating the surface of the photoconductor 62 with light. .

  The static eliminator 76 irradiates the surface of the photoconductor 62 with light before collecting the residual toner or the like by the cleaning device 74, thereby reducing the adhesion force due to static electricity such as residual toner on the surface of the photoconductor 62. In addition, the recovery rate of the residual toner and the like is increased. It should be noted that a neutralization device for the surface of the photoconductor 62 after collecting residual toner or the like may be provided downstream of the cleaning device 74 in the rotation direction of the photoconductor 62 and upstream of the charging member 64.

  The surface of the intermediate transfer belt 68 is determined in advance by detecting a mark (not shown) on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 68 at a position facing the tension applying roll 63 around the intermediate transfer belt 68. A position detection sensor 83 is provided that detects the reference position and outputs a position detection signal that serves as a reference for the start timing of the image forming process.

  Further, on the opposite side of the auxiliary roll 69 across the intermediate transfer belt 68, as an example of a transfer member that secondarily transfers the toner image (developer image) primarily transferred onto the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 68 onto the recording paper P. The secondary transfer roll 72 is provided. The secondary transfer roll 72 is configured to be able to contact and separate (contact and separate) from the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 68 by a retract mechanism (not shown).

  That is, the secondary transfer roll 72 is separated from the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 68 until the toner image of each color is primarily transferred onto the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 68. When the image is primarily transferred, the toner image on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 68 is transferred onto the recording paper P by contact with the surface and energized from a power source (not shown). Next transfer is to be done. A secondary transfer position where the toner image is transferred onto the recording paper P is between the secondary transfer roll 72 and the auxiliary roll 69.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a fixing device 80 for fixing the toner image on the recording paper P on which the toner image is transferred by the secondary transfer roll 72 is provided downstream of the secondary transfer position. Yes. The fixing device 80 includes a heat source that generates heat when energized, a heating roll 82 disposed on the toner image surface side (upper side) of the recording paper P, and a lower side of the heating roll 82. And a pressurizing roll 84 that pressurizes the outer peripheral surface 82.

  A transport roll 40 that transports the recording paper P toward the paper discharge unit 15 or the reversing unit 30 is provided on the downstream side of the fixing device 80. Also, yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), black (K), first special color (E), and second special are located below the document reader 56 and above the developing device 70. Toner cartridges 78Y, 78M, 78C, 78K, 78E, and 78F that store the respective color (F) toners are provided to be replaceable in the horizontal direction.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, on the opposite side of the drive roll 61 across the intermediate transfer belt 68 (on the downstream side of the secondary transfer position and above the conveyance path 28), after the secondary transfer, A cleaning device 100 is provided as an example of a cleaning device that removes and collects residual toner remaining on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 68 without being transferred to the recording paper P.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the cleaning device 100 is provided with a casing 102 having a rectangular opening 104 disposed to face the intermediate transfer belt 68, and an upper side of the opening 104. A cleaning blade 106 as an example of a removing member that contacts the belt 68 and removes residual toner, and is provided in the opening 104 at a position opposite to the cleaning blade 106 (lower side) and contacts the intermediate transfer belt 68. And a sealing member 108 as an example of a sealing member that seals a gap between the housing 102 and the intermediate transfer belt 68. As will be described later, the cleaning blade 106 and the seal member 108 can be brought into contact with and separated from (contacted and separated from) the intermediate transfer belt 68.

  Further, the cleaning device 100 includes a conveying member 128 that conveys residual toner stored in the housing 102 to one end in the longitudinal direction, and a suction unit (illustrated) that sucks residual toner and the like into the housing 102. (Not shown), a filter 112 provided in the housing 102 for capturing dust containing residual toner, a position where the cleaning blade 106 and the seal member 108 are in contact with the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 68, and the position of the intermediate transfer belt 68. And a part of a retract mechanism 130 (an example of a first link member 142 described later provided on the drawer side) as an example of a moving unit that moves between a position separated from the surface.

  Hereinafter, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the longitudinal direction of the casing 102 and the opening 104 (the direction from the front side to the back side when the image forming apparatus 10 is viewed from the front) is indicated by the arrow D direction, The arrangement of each member in the casing 102 will be described with the height direction of the casing 102 orthogonal to the arrow D direction as the arrow H direction, and the right direction in the figure orthogonal to the arrow D direction and the arrow H direction as the arrow W direction. . Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the state where the cleaning blade 106 and the seal member 108 are separated from the intermediate transfer belt 68 may be referred to as a retracted state.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, side plates 114 and 116 are attached to both ends of the casing 102 in the longitudinal direction (arrow D direction) with screws. A first movable member 110 made of a sheet metal having an L-shaped cross section is provided on the upper portion of the housing 102. The first movable member 110 is arranged in a mountain shape on the WH plane, and the arrow D direction is set in the axial direction on the back side of one inclined portion 110A (inclined portion toward the lower left in FIG. 3B). The support shaft 118 is fixed.

  Both ends of the support shaft 118 are rotatably supported by bearings (not shown) provided on the side plates 114 and 116. A support plate 119 made of a sheet metal having an L-shaped cross section is attached to the upper surface of the inclined portion 110A of the first movable member 110 with a screw. Furthermore, one end portion (upper end portion) of the cleaning blade 106 arranged in the inclination direction of the inclined portion 110A in the short direction is fixed to the lower portion of the support plate 119 by adhesion.

  The cleaning blade 106 is a plate made of resin that is rectangular in plan view, and is attached to the support plate 119 so that the longitudinal direction thereof is along the longitudinal direction of the opening 104. Accordingly, the cleaning blade 106 is provided along the edge of the opening 104 on the downstream side in the transport direction of the intermediate transfer belt 68.

  The cleaning blade 106 comes into contact with the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 68 at the free end side (the other end not bonded to the support plate 119) when the retract mechanism 130 described later is not operating. The residual toner remaining on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 68 is scraped off and removed. The residual toner removed by the cleaning blade 106 is collected in the housing 102.

  In addition, a second movable member 120 made of a sheet metal whose longitudinal direction is the arrow D direction and whose cross-sectional shape is an L shape is provided on the left side of the housing 102 on the WH plane. The second movable member 120 is disposed so as to protrude leftward on the WH plane, and the inclined portion 120A (an inclined portion toward the lower left in FIG. 3B) disposed on the upper side. On the back side, a support shaft 121 (see FIGS. 12 to 14) that is rotatably provided with the arrow D direction as an axial direction is attached.

  Thus, the second movable member 120 is supported to be rotatable about the support shaft 121. As will be described later, the second movable member 120 moves (rotates) in conjunction with the first movable member 110 and with a time difference. In addition, one end portion (lower end portion) of the seal member 108 in the short direction is fixed to the upper portion of the inclined portion 120A of the second movable member 120 by adhesion.

  The seal member 108 is made of, for example, a rectangular transparent film material in a plan view, and is disposed on the lower side of the cleaning blade 106. The seal member 108 is attached to the second movable member 120 so as to be in contact with the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 68 along the upstream edge of the opening 104 in the conveyance direction of the intermediate transfer belt 68. ing.

  The seal member 108 is bonded to the free end side (the second movable member 120 when the cleaning blade 106 is in contact with the intermediate transfer belt 68 and when the retract mechanism 130 starts to operate as described later. The other end portion that is not in contact with the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 68 is maintained. As a result, the gap between the housing 102 and the intermediate transfer belt 68 is sealed.

  Note that the front end (upper end) of the seal member 108 is disposed along the moving direction of the intermediate transfer belt 68, but the residual toner is not scraped off by the seal member 108. Further, the opening 104 is an open part from the lower end of the support plate 119 to the upper end of the second movable member 120 in the housing 102.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, an attachment member 113 for attaching a filter 112 (to be described later) inside the housing 102 is provided on the right side of the housing 102 on the WH plane. The attachment member 113 has a frame shape in which openings 113A formed of a plurality of through holes are formed in the longitudinal direction of a rectangular plate material in plan view.

  The attachment member 113 is provided obliquely inside the housing 102 so that the lower part of the WH plane is farther from the intermediate transfer belt 68 and the opening 104 than the upper part. By being separated by the mounting member 113, a suction path 115 having an inverted triangular shape on the WH plane is formed on the right side of the housing 102. A filter 112 is attached to the housing 102 by the attachment member 113.

  The filter 112 is an aggregate of fibers, and has a long rectangular shape along the longitudinal direction (arrow D direction) of the housing 102 in a front view. Further, the filter 112 is bonded to the mounting member 113, and the lower portion of the filter 112 is lower than the upper portion of the opening 104 between the opening 104 and the suction path 115 in the housing 102 in a side view (WH plane). It is provided diagonally so as to be away from. Furthermore, a partition wall 117 is erected on the bottom wall 102 </ b> A between the opening 104 and the filter 112 in a side view (W-H plane) in the housing 102.

  The height of the partition wall 117 is set so that the upper end position H1 of the seal member 108 is disposed above the upper end position H2 of the partition wall 117 in the retracted state shown in FIG. The mounting position of the filter 112 is set so that the upper end position H4 of the filter 112 is arranged on the upper side of the lower end position H3 of the cleaning blade 106.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a conveying member that conveys residual toner stored in the casing 102 at a lower portion of the casing 102 and between the partition wall 117 and the second movable member 120. 128 is provided. The conveying member 128 is rotatably supported with the arrow D direction as the rotation axis direction, and a plurality of spiral grooves are formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof.

  The conveying member 128 includes a driving device 90 (see FIG. 8) provided on the back side of the apparatus main body 10A as an example of a driving source including a motor and a gear group (not shown). And the residual toner collected and stored in the housing 102 is conveyed toward the back side of the apparatus main body 10A.

  As shown in FIG. 5, a cylindrical collection path 122 is provided continuously with the conveying member 128 on the back side (outside side) of the apparatus main body 10 </ b> A from the side plate 116 of the housing 102. The residual toner collected and stored in the housing 102 is conveyed by a conveying member 128 to a collection tank (not shown) via a collection path 122.

  As shown in detail in FIGS. 6 and 7, the retract mechanism 130 includes a first separation mechanism 130 </ b> A provided in the cleaning device 100 on the front side (drawing side described later) of the apparatus main body 10 </ b> A, and the apparatus main body 10 </ b> A. And a second separation mechanism 130B provided in the intermediate transfer unit 60 on the back side (the side opposite to the drawer side).

  Further, in the intermediate transfer unit 60, a side plate 124 is provided on the drawing side (front side) of the cleaning device 100, and a side plate 126 is provided on the side opposite to the drawing side of the cleaning device 100 (back side). It has been. Note that the side plates 124 and 126 are separate from the side plates 114 and 116 provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction (front side and back side) of the cleaning device 100.

  In addition, one end portion of each coil spring 152 is attached to the end portion on the downstream side of the first movable member 110 and on the opposite side to the drawing side and the drawing side, and the other end portion of each coil spring 152 is Attached to the bottoms of the side plates 114 and 116, respectively. As a result, the first movable member 110 is configured to be subjected to a force that rotates in the + J direction shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, the first separation mechanism 130 </ b> A is a first cam member fixed to one end of a shaft member 132 protruding outward (front side) from the side plate 124 of the intermediate transfer unit 60. The first eccentric cam 134 as an example and the outer surface of the side plate 114 of the cleaning device 100 are rotatably provided, and are moved (rotated) by being pressed by the rotating first eccentric cam 134 to be moved first. The first link member 142 as an example of a first pressing member that moves the member 110 and further the second movable member 120 in a direction in which the second movable member 120 is separated from the intermediate transfer belt 68 is configured.

  The shaft member 132 as an example of the rotation shaft is rotatably supported by the side plate 124 and the side plate 126 of the intermediate transfer unit 60, and as shown in FIG. ) Is provided with a coupling member 88. The coupling member 88 meshes with the coupling member 86 provided on the output shaft 85 projecting from the driving device 90 toward the drawing side, whereby the rotational driving force is transmitted from the driving device 90 to the shaft member 132. It has come to be.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the other end portion of the coil spring 138 having one end portion attached to the side plate 124 is attached to a predetermined portion of the first eccentric cam 134 that is eccentric about the shaft member 132. Yes. By the pulling force (restoring force) of the coil spring 138, the first eccentric cam 134 is rotated in a direction away from a roll 146 of the first arm 142B described later.

  In addition, the first link member 142 has a configuration in which two plate members having the same shape that is substantially “V” in a front view are integrated with a space therebetween. That is, the first link member 142 includes a main body part 142A, a first arm 142B extending from the upper left part to the left obliquely upward in the front view of the main body part 142A, and an obliquely upper right part from the upper right part in the front view of the main body part 142A. A second arm 142 </ b> C that extends, and is formed in a generally “V” shape as viewed from the front.

  An arc-shaped notch 142D fixed to the support shaft 140 is formed at the lower end of the main body 142A, and the support shaft 140 can be rotated by a bearing (not shown) provided on the side plate 114. It is supported. Furthermore, rolls 146 and 148 are mounted on the upper end portion of the first arm 142B and the upper end portion of the second arm 142C so as to be rotatable in the same axial direction as the support shaft 140, respectively.

  Here, the first link member 142 moves around the support shaft 140 (with the support shaft 140 as a fulcrum) in the + J direction (clockwise direction in FIG. 6) or −J direction (counterclockwise direction in FIG. 6) ( The first arm 142B and the second arm 142C move in the + J direction or the −J direction.

  As shown in FIG. 6, in the first link member 142, one end of the coil spring 150 is attached to the edge of the main body 142A on the second arm 142C side, and the other end of the coil spring 150 is It is attached to the bottom of the side plate 114. As a result, a force for rotating in the + J direction acts on the first link member 142, and the roll 146 does not contact the first eccentric cam 134 in the non-retracting state shown in FIG. ing.

  The roll 148 of the second arm 142 </ b> C is configured to be always in contact with the planar contact portion 110 </ b> B formed at the drawing-side end portion of the first movable member 110. Further, the roll 146 of the first arm 142B comes into contact with the first eccentric cam 134 by the rotation of the first eccentric cam 134 in the + J direction, and the first eccentric cam 134 rotates by the rotation of the first eccentric cam 134 in the −J direction. It is separated from the cam 134.

  The roll 148 of the second arm 142C is in contact with the first movable member 110 when the first eccentric cam 134 contacts the roll 146 of the first arm 142B and moves the first link member 142 in the + J direction. The first movable member 110 is moved in the −J direction by pressing the portion 110B downward. When the first eccentric cam 134 is separated from the roll 146 of the first arm 142B, the first movable member 110 is moved in the + J direction by the pulling force (restoring force) of the coil spring 152.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the second separation mechanism 130 </ b> B is fixed to the other end portion of the shaft member 132 protruding outward (back side) from the side plate 126 of the intermediate transfer unit 60. A second eccentric cam 136 as an example of a cam member and a first movable member which is rotatably provided on the outer surface side of the side plate 126 and moves (rotates) when pressed by the rotated second eccentric cam 136. 110, and further, a second link member 144 as an example of a second pressing member that moves the second movable member 120 in a direction in which the second movable member 120 is separated from the intermediate transfer belt 68.

  The second eccentric cam 136 has substantially the same shape as the first eccentric cam 134, and is fixed to the shaft member 132 without shifting from the axial direction of the shaft member 132. The second link member 144 has the same configuration as that of the first link member 142, and is in the + J direction or −J around the support shaft 141 that is rotatably supported by the side plate 126 by a bearing (not shown). By moving (rotating) in the direction, the first arm 144B and the second arm 144C extending from the upper part of the main body 144A toward the diagonally upward right and diagonally upward to the left are respectively in the + J direction or the −J direction. It is supposed to move.

  Furthermore, in the second link member 144, one end portion of the coil spring 139 is attached to the edge portion of the main body portion 144A on the first arm 144B side, and the other end portion of the coil spring 139 is attached to the side plate 126. . Therefore, a force that is rotated in the −J direction by the coil spring 139 acts on the second link member 144, but at the position moved (rotated) by the tensile force (restoring force) of the coil spring 139. The roll 146 of the first arm 144B does not contact the second eccentric cam 136 by a stopper (not shown).

  Since the coil spring 152 has a stronger pulling force (restoring force) than the coil spring 139, the roll 148 of the second arm 144C is a flat contact portion 110C formed at the back end of the first movable member 110. It is configured to be always in contact with. Further, the roll 146 of the first arm 144B comes into contact with the second eccentric cam 136 by the rotation of the second eccentric cam 136 in the + J direction, and the second eccentric cam 136 rotates by the rotation of the second eccentric cam 136 in the −J direction. It is separated from the cam 136.

  The roll 148 of the second arm 144C contacts the first movable member 110 when the second eccentric cam 136 contacts the roll 146 of the first arm 144B and moves the second link member 144 in the + J direction. The first movable member 110 is moved in the −J direction by pressing the portion 110C downward. When the second eccentric cam 136 is separated from the roll 146 of the first arm 144B, the first movable member 110 is moved in the + J direction by the pulling force (restoring force) of the coil spring 152.

  Here, since the first link member 142 and the second link member 144 are configured to be moved by the first eccentric cam 134 and the second eccentric cam 136 that are both fixed to the shaft member 132, they are synchronized. Then, the contact portions 110B and 110C are pressed in the −J direction. Therefore, the cleaning blade 106 and the seal member 108 are reliably moved in a direction away from the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 68, and a shortage of the separation distance does not occur in each part in the longitudinal direction.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 12, one end portion 92A of a third link member 92 that is bent and formed in a substantially “U” shape in a side view is fixed to the end portion on the drawer side of the first movable member 110. One end of a coil spring 94 is attached to the other end 92B of the third link member 92. The other end portion of the coil spring 94 is attached to the lower end portion (below the support shaft 121) of the bracket 96 provided at the end portion on the drawer side of the second movable member 120.

  Further, one end portion of another coil spring 98 is attached to the other end portion 92 </ b> B of the third link member 92. One end portion of the coil spring 98 is a long hole-shaped ring portion 98A formed so as to be elongated in the longitudinal direction of the coil spring 98, and the upper side of the ring portion 98A is the other end portion of the third link member 92. The other end 92B is inserted into the through hole 92C formed in 92B, and is relatively movable in the longitudinal direction of the ring portion 98A.

  The other end of the coil spring 98 is attached to the upper end of the bracket 96 (above the support shaft 121). As will be described later, the cleaning blade 106 and the seal member 108 are determined in advance from the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 68 by the third link member 92 and the ring portion 98A (the first eccentric cam 134 and the second eccentric cam 136). This is a configuration in which they are separated in this order with a time difference (according to the rotation speed).

  Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the intermediate transfer unit 60 and the cleaning device 100 are configured so as to be able to be pulled out integrally from the apparatus main body 10 </ b> A by a rail member 18 (see FIG. 2) or the like. Then, after the cleaning apparatus 100 is pulled out from the apparatus main body 10A, as shown in FIG. 10, the cleaning apparatus 100 is pulled out from the apparatus main body 10A (intermediate transfer unit 60) in the pulling direction, and then intersects (orthogonal) with the pulling direction. It can be removed by moving it in the direction you want.

  Here, the first link member 142 is provided in the cleaning device 100 on the drawing side (front side) of the cleaning device 100. The second link member 144 is provided in the intermediate transfer unit 60 on the side (back side) opposite to the drawing side of the cleaning device 100. Therefore, when the cleaning device 100 is pulled out in the pulling direction and removed from the apparatus main body 10A, the second link member 144 is not caught by the intermediate transfer unit 60 or the apparatus main body 10A.

  In other words, the cleaning device 100 can be easily detached from the apparatus main body 10A (intermediate transfer unit 60) during replacement (maintenance) or the like, as shown in FIG. The one link member 142 is provided on the cleaning device 100 side, and the second link member 144 on the opposite side (back side) from the drawer side is provided on the intermediate transfer unit 60 side.

  As described above, when the cleaning device 100 is configured to include only the first link member 142 on one side (the drawing side) of the retract mechanism 130, the cleaning device 100 that is a periodic replacement unit is manufactured. There is also an advantage that the cost can be reduced.

  Further, when the cleaning device 100 is pulled out from the apparatus main body 10A together with the intermediate transfer unit 60 and then the cleaning device 100 is removed from the intermediate transfer unit 60, the contact portion 110B on the pull-out side of the first movable member 110 is moved downward (−J The cleaning blade 106 and the seal member 108 are separated from the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 68. At this time, the seal member 108 is separated from the cleaning blade 106 with a time difference. Yes.

  Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 10 configured as described above will be described. When the image forming apparatus 10 is activated, yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), black (K), the first special color (E), and the second special are supplied from an image processing apparatus (not shown) or from the outside. The image data of each color (F) is sequentially output to the exposure device 66.

  At this time, the developing device 70 is rotated and held so that one (yellow) developing device faces the surface (outer peripheral surface) of the photoreceptor 62. Further, the secondary transfer roll 72 is separated from the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 68 by the operation of a retract mechanism (not shown) until the toner images of the respective colors are multiplexed (primary) transferred onto the surface (outer peripheral surface) of the intermediate transfer belt 68. Has been.

  The cleaning blade 106 and the seal member 108 of the cleaning device 100 are also operated by the retract mechanism 130 until the toner images of the respective colors are transferred onto the surface (outer peripheral surface) of the intermediate transfer belt 68 by multiple (primary) transfer. 68 is spaced from the surface.

  In other words, the output shaft 85 of the driving device 90 is rotationally driven by the control unit 20, and the rotational driving force is transmitted to the shaft member 132 via the coupling members 86 and 88. Then, the eccentric cams 134 and 136 simultaneously rotate in the + J direction, and the first link member 142 and the second link member 144 are respectively supported by the support shafts 140 and 141 via the rolls 146 of the first arms 142B and 144B. Move (rotate) in the + J direction around the center.

  As a result, the second arm 142C of the first link member 142 and the second arm 144C of the second link member 144 move (rotate) in the + J direction, and the respective rolls 148 move to the contact portions 110B of the first movable member 110, 110C is pressed simultaneously (synchronously) in the -J direction. Then, the first movable member 110 moves (rotates) in the −J direction, and then the second movable member 120 moves (rotates) in the arrow + J direction.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 13, when the contact portions 110B and 110C are pressed in the −J direction by the second arms 142C and 144C, the cleaning blade 106 starts to separate from the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 68. At this time, the other end 92B of the third link member 92 moves in the right direction (arrow W direction) shown in the drawing and pulls the coil spring 94 in the right direction (arrow W direction), but is predetermined by the ring portion 98A. The coil spring 98 is not pulled rightward (in the direction of the arrow W) up to the travel distance.

  Accordingly, the second movable member 120 does not rotate (moves) around the support shaft 121, and the seal member 108 maintains a state in contact with the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 68. When the other end portion 92B of the third link member 92 moves rightward (in the direction of arrow W) up to a predetermined moving distance (exceeding the length in the longitudinal direction of the ring portion 94A), the coil spring 98 is pulled. start.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 14, the seal member 108 rotates about the support shaft 121 in the arrow + J direction and begins to separate from the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 68. When the contact portions 110B and 110C are further pressed in the −J direction, the cleaning blade 106 and the seal member 108 are both completely separated from the intermediate transfer belt 68 as shown in FIG. Become.

  In this manner, the contact portions 110B and 110C of the first movable member 110 are pressed in synchronization with each other on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the cleaning device 100, and the cleaning blade 106 and the seal member 108 are separated from the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 68. As a result, the cleaning blade 106 and the seal member 108 are reliably separated from the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 68, and the separation distance between the cleaning blade 106 and the seal member 108 relative to the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 68 does not occur. Therefore, the occurrence of image defects is suppressed or prevented.

  As described above, when the seal member 108 is separated from the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 68 with a predetermined time difference from the cleaning blade 106, residual toner spilled from the cleaning blade 106 is removed. It can be reliably collected in the housing 102. Therefore, contamination of the apparatus main body 10A with residual toner is suppressed or prevented.

  As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, when the cleaning device 100 is removed from the intermediate transfer unit 60, the finger-side contact portion 110B is pressed downward (in the −J direction) with fingers, and the cleaning blade 106 and The seal member 108 is separated from the intermediate transfer belt 68. At this time, the seal member 108 is separated with a time difference. Therefore, even when the cleaning device 100 is replaced (maintenance) or the like, the residual toner spilled from the cleaning blade 106 is reliably collected in the housing 102.

  The light emitted from the exposure device 66 according to the image data exposes the surface of the photosensitive member 62 charged by the charging member 64, and the surface of the photosensitive member 62 has an electrostatic latent corresponding to yellow image data. An image is formed. Further, the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photoreceptor 62 is developed as a yellow toner image by a yellow developer. Then, the yellow toner image on the surface of the photoconductor 62 is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 68 by the primary transfer roll 67.

  Subsequently, the developing device 70 is rotated by 60 ° in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 1, and the magenta developing device faces the surface of the photoreceptor 62. Then, charging, exposure, and development processes are performed, and the magenta toner image on the surface of the photoreceptor 62 is transferred onto the yellow toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 68 by the primary transfer roll 67. Similarly, toner images of cyan (C), black (K), and first special color (E) and second special color (F) are sequentially transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 68 in accordance with the color setting. The

  On the other hand, the recording paper P sent out from the paper storage unit 12 and transported through the transport path 28 is subjected to a secondary transfer position in synchronization with the multiple transfer of each toner image onto the intermediate transfer belt 68 by the positioning roll 38. It is conveyed to. Then, the toner image multiplex-transferred on the intermediate transfer belt 68 is transferred onto the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 68 by the operation of the auxiliary roll 69 and a retract mechanism (not shown) on the recording paper P conveyed to the secondary transfer position. Secondary transfer is performed by the contacted secondary transfer roll 72.

  The recording paper P on which the toner image is transferred at the secondary transfer position is conveyed toward the fixing device 80. The recording paper P conveyed to the fixing device 80 is heated and pressed by the heating roll 82 and the pressure roll 84, whereby the toner image transferred to the surface is fixed. Then, the recording paper P on which the toner image is fixed is discharged to the paper discharge unit 15 by the transport roll 40.

  Note that after the secondary transfer starts, the cleaning blade 106 and the seal member 108 of the cleaning device 100 come into contact with the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 68 by releasing the operation of the retract mechanism 130. That is, the coupling member 86 is separated from the coupling member 88 and the engagement between the coupling member 86 and the coupling member 88 is released.

  Then, the first eccentric cam 134 rotates in the reverse direction (−J direction) due to the pulling force (restoring force) of the coil spring 138, and the second eccentric cam 136 reverses (−J direction) via the shaft member 132. Therefore, the eccentric cams 134 and 136 are separated from the rolls 146 of the first arms 142B and 144B of the first link member 142 and the second link member 144, and the contact portions by the second arms 142C and 144C are separated. The pressure on 110B and 110C is released.

  As a result, the first movable member 110 rotates in the + J direction by the pulling force (restoring force) of the coil spring 152, and the second movable member 120 rotates in the -J direction by the pulling force (restoring force) of the coil springs 94 and 98. The cleaning blade 106 and the seal member 108 are brought into contact with the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 68.

  Thus, when the cleaning blade 106 comes into contact with the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 68, the residual toner remaining on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 68 without being transferred onto the recording paper P is scraped off and removed by the cleaning blade 106. And is collected in the housing 102. The residual toner collected in the housing 102 is stored on the bottom wall 102A of the housing 102, and is discharged to the collection tank through the collection path 122 by the conveying member 128.

  When an image is also formed on the back surface of the recording paper P, the front surface and the rear end of the recording paper P are sent by feeding the recording paper P to the reversing unit 30 after fixing the front surface image by the fixing device 80. Replace. Then, the recording paper P is conveyed in the direction of arrow B (see FIG. 1) by the reverse conveying path 29 and further fed into the conveying path 28, and image formation and fixing on the back surface of the recording paper P are performed in the same manner as described above.

  Further, in order to form an image on the back surface of the recording paper P, when the cleaning blade 106 and the seal member 108 of the cleaning device 100 are separated from the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 68 by the operation of the retract mechanism 130, a suction unit (not shown) is installed. Operate. As a result, the residual toner adhering to the cleaning blade 106 and the seal member 108 moves toward the filter 112 and is captured by the filter 112 or is dropped and stored on the bottom wall 102 </ b> A and collected by the conveying member 128. It is discharged into the tank.

  The suction unit is not limited to forming an image on the back surface of the recording paper P, but is operated when the cleaning blade 106 and the seal member 108 are in a retracted state separated from the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 68. It has become.

  The image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment has been described based on the examples shown in the drawings. However, the image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment is not limited to the illustrated examples. For example, the second separation mechanism 130B may be provided in the apparatus main body 10A instead of the intermediate transfer unit 60. In this case, the cleaning device 100 may be separated from the intermediate transfer unit 60 and pulled out from the apparatus main body 10A.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the first eccentric cam 134 and the second eccentric cam 136 fixed to the shaft member 132 are rotated in the + J direction and the −J direction by the driving device 90 and the coil spring 138. However, the coil spring 138 may be omitted, and the drive device 90 alone may be used to rotate in the + J direction and the −J direction, or to rotate only in either the + J direction or the −J direction.

  Further, the first link member 142 and the second link member 144 are formed in a substantially “V” shape in front view in order to avoid the shaft portion of the drive roll 61 projecting outward from the outer surface of the side plates 124 and 126 in the axial direction. However, what is necessary is just to be comprised so that each contact part 110B, 110C of the 1st movable member 110 can be pressed, and it is not limited to the shape of illustration.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image forming apparatus 10A Apparatus main body (an example of image forming apparatus main body)
60 Intermediate transfer unit (an example of a transfer device)
62 photoconductor 68 intermediate transfer belt (an example of an image carrier)
90 Drive device (an example of a drive source)
92 Third link member 100 Cleaning device (an example of cleaning device)
106 Cleaning blade (an example of a removal member)
108 seal member 110 first movable member 120 second movable member 130 retract mechanism 130A first separation mechanism 130B second separation mechanism 132 shaft member (an example of rotating shaft)
134 First eccentric cam (an example of a first cam member)
136 Second eccentric cam (an example of a second cam member)
142 first link member (an example of a first pressing member)
144 Second link member (an example of a second pressing member)

Claims (2)

A transfer device having an image carrier that is driven to rotate and holds a developer image;
A sealing member that contacts the downstream side of the rotation direction of the image carrier from the transfer position at which the developer image is transferred from the image carrier to a recording medium. ,
A removing member that removes the developer remaining on the image carrier by contacting a rotation direction of the image carrier to a longitudinal direction and contacting a downstream side of the image carrier in the rotational direction of the image carrier. ,
With the sealing member and the removal member, and the cleaning device from the image forming apparatus main body configured to be lead to one side of the longitudinal direction,
Provided in the transfer device and the cleaning device definitive in the pull-out side of the cleaning device, the at the time of formation of the developer image, a first separation mechanism for separating the said pulling out side of the removing member with respect to the image carrier,
Wherein the pull-out side is provided to the transfer device or the image forming apparatus main body on the opposite side, the during formation of the developer image, in synchronization with the first separation mechanism, the image holding said opposite side of said removal member A second separation mechanism for separating the body,
A third separation mechanism that is provided in the cleaning device and interlocks with a separation operation of the first separation mechanism and the second separation mechanism with a time difference, and separates the sealing member from the image carrier;
An image forming apparatus comprising: The transfer device has a rotation shaft that is rotationally driven by a drive source,
The first separation mechanism is
A first cam member fixed to an end of the rotating shaft on the drawer side;
Provided in the cleaning device, the Rukoto moved by the first cam member, a first pressing member for pressing the removing member to spacing direction,
Have
The second separation mechanism is
A second cam member fixed to the opposite end of the rotating shaft;
Wherein provided on the transfer device or the image forming apparatus main body, by Rukoto moved by the second cam member, and a second pressing member for pressing the spacing direction the removal member in synchronization with the first pressing member,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

Images