JP5638161B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus that includes an optical scanning device that forms an electrostatic latent image on an image carrier.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet, a technique as described in Patent Document 1 is known as an optical scanning device that forms an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive drum carrying an image. In this technique, an exposure apparatus as an optical scanning apparatus includes a laser diode, a lens, a polygon mirror, a polygon motor, an fθ lens, a folding mirror, and a light transmission member having a dustproof function in a housing. ing.

  Laser light emitted from the laser diode is guided to the polygon mirror through the lens. The laser light incident on the polygon mirror that is rotationally driven by the polygon motor is reflected and deflected by the mirror surface of the polygon mirror, and then reflected by the folding mirror through the fθ lens. The laser light reflected by the folding mirror is guided to the drum surface of the photosensitive drum rotating in the sub-scanning direction while being scanned in the main scanning direction via the transparent light transmitting member.

  In the technique described in Patent Document 1, the exposure apparatus further includes a shielding member that covers the light transmission member. The shielding member is movable between a position covering the light transmitting member and a position exposing the light transmitting member. When the exterior cover of the image forming apparatus is in the open state, the shielding member covers the light transmitting member, thereby preventing laser light from being emitted to the outside of the image forming apparatus. Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which a cleaning member capable of cleaning a light transmission member is attached to a shielding member. By moving the shielding member to a position covering the light transmitting member, the cleaning member comes into contact with the light transmitting member, and the toner and dust attached to the light transmitting member are cleaned.

JP 2005-192076 A

  However, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, a drive motor for sliding the cleaning member relative to the light transmitting member is disposed. For this reason, the image forming apparatus is increased in size and cost.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and is an image forming apparatus capable of cleaning a light transmitting member of an optical scanning device without including a driving means such as a driving motor for moving the cleaning member. The purpose is to provide.

  An image forming apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes an exterior casing, a cover attached to the exterior casing so as to be openable and closable, a laser light source that emits laser light, and the laser light source, A light scanning device disposed in the exterior housing, including a housing having an opening to pass through, a light transmissive member disposed in the housing so as to cover the opening of the housing, and transmitting the laser light; A cleaning member that slides on the surface of the light transmitting member from which the transmitted laser light is emitted and cleans the light transmitting member, and the cleaning member transmits the light in conjunction with the opening / closing operation of the cover. An interlocking mechanism that moves the cleaning member so as to slide on the surface of the member, and the interlocking mechanism is interlocked with a change from the closed state to the open state of the cover, While the cleaning member is slid on the surface of the light transmitting member, the second position that blocks the optical path of the laser light from the first position that does not block the optical path of the laser light that has passed through the light transmitting member. The plate-shaped support member that moves the cleaning member, extends in the direction intersecting the light transmission member at the first position, and shields the optical path at the second position. And a sheet member that is disposed on the support member and extends toward the light transmission member, and of the support member at a position opposite to the light transmission member. The interlocking mechanism rotates the support member in a first direction around the shaft portion in response to a change from the closed state to the open state of the cover, and the seat The tip of the extending direction of the member is From the position 1 to the second position, the light transmitting member is slid to the surface to be cleaned from the one end side to the other end side of the light transmitting member, and the second member of the cleaning member is moved to the second position. In this position, the front end portion of the sheet member is in contact with the area to be cleaned on the other end side of the emission portion through which the laser beam passes on the surface of the light transmitting member. To do.

  According to this configuration, for example, when the user opens and closes the cover, the opening and closing operation of the cover is transmitted to the cleaning member by the interlocking mechanism, and the cleaning member slides on the surface of the light transmitting member. For this reason, in order for the cleaning member to clean the light transmission member, it is not necessary to arrange driving means such as a driving motor. As a result, an increase in size and cost of the image forming apparatus is suppressed.

  Further, according to this configuration, the cleaning member that cleans the light transmission member can also be used as a shielding member that shields the emission path from which the laser light is emitted from the optical scanning device. When the cover is closed, the laser light transmitted through the light transmitting member is not shielded by the cleaning member. However, when the cover is opened, the laser light transmitted through the light transmitting member is shielded by the cleaning member. In a state where the cover is opened, there is a possibility that the laser light may enter the eyes of the user. According to this configuration, the laser light can be prevented from entering the eyes of the user.

  Further, according to this configuration, the cleaning member includes the support member, the sheet member, and the shaft portion. The interlocking mechanism rotates the support member in the first direction around the shaft portion in accordance with a change from the closed state to the open state of the cover, and slides the front end portion of the sheet member on the surface of the light transmitting member. For this reason, it becomes possible to clean the surface of the light transmission member by the front end portion of the sheet member as the support member rotates about the shaft portion.

  Further, according to this configuration, since the sheet member can be elastically deformed, if the length of the sheet member in the direction intersecting with the light transmitting member is set to be long, the cleaning member (supporting member) is rotated. Accordingly, even if the distance between the support member and the light transmission member changes, the sheet member can be reliably slid on the surface of the light transmission member.

  In the above configuration, the support member of the cleaning member is preferably made of a black resin material.

  In the above configuration, the exterior housing includes a shaft support portion that rotatably supports the cover, and the cover can be freely opened and closed by being rotated around the shaft support portion. In accordance with a change from the state to the closed state, an arm portion that enters the internal space of the exterior casing is provided, and the moving unit is connected to the shaft portion of the cleaning member and enters the internal space. Coupling of rotating the shaft portion in a second direction opposite to the first direction and moving the cleaning member from the second position to the first position by contacting the arm portion. It is desirable to provide a section.

  According to this configuration, the cover can be freely opened and closed by being rotated around the shaft support portion disposed in the exterior housing. Moreover, the arm part arrange | positioned at a cover approachs into the internal space of an exterior housing | casing with the change from the open state of a cover to a closed state. The linkage portion of the interlocking mechanism is connected to the shaft portion of the cleaning member and is brought into contact with the arm portion that enters the internal space, so that the shaft portion of the cleaning member is in the second direction opposite to the first direction. And the cleaning member is moved from the second position to the first position. For this reason, the movement of the cleaning member from the second position to the first position is realized by the arm portion and the linkage portion.

  In the above configuration, the linkage portion is disposed in the exterior casing, is in contact with the arm portion, is connected to the rotatable link member, and the shaft portion of the cleaning member, and is connected to the link member. A contact piece that can be contacted, and a biasing member that biases the link member so as to be separated from the contact piece, and the arm as the cover changes from an open state to a closed state. When the portion rotates the link member biased by the biasing member toward the contact piece, and the link member contacts the contact piece, the shaft portion of the cleaning member becomes It is desirable to rotate in the second direction.

  According to this configuration, the linkage portion is disposed in the exterior casing, is in contact with the arm portion, is connected to the rotatable link member, and the shaft portion of the cleaning member, and is capable of coming into contact with the link member. A contact piece and a biasing member that biases the link member so as to be separated from the contact piece. As the cover changes from the open state to the closed state, the arm portion rotates the link member, and the link member contacts the contact piece, so that the shaft portion of the cleaning member rotates in the second direction. Is done. As a result, the cleaning member is moved from the second position to the first position. For this reason, the movement of the cleaning member from the second position to the first position is realized by the arm portion, the link member, the contact piece, and the biasing member.

  In the above configuration, it is preferable that the cleaning member is disposed at the second position by the weight of the cleaning member in a state where the contact piece is not in contact with the link member.

  According to this configuration, in a state where the contact piece is not in contact with the link member, the cleaning member is disposed at the second position by the weight of the cleaning member. For this reason, when the cover is changed from the closed state to the open state, when the arm portion is detached from the internal space of the exterior housing and the link member is separated from the contact piece, the cleaning member is moved by the own weight. To the first position. For this reason, it becomes possible for a sheet | seat member to contact the surface of a light transmissive member with dead weight of the cleaning member.

  According to the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus capable of cleaning a light transmitting member of an optical scanning device without providing a driving means such as a driving motor for moving the cleaning member.

1 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and shows a state in which an opening / closing cover is closed. 1 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and shows a state in which an opening / closing cover is opened. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an internal structure of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is an internal perspective view of the exposure apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows a mode that the exposure apparatus was mounted | worn with the mounting part of the exposure apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the mounting part of the exposure apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the mounting part of the exposure apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the exposure apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the exposure apparatus when the open / close cover of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention is closed. FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the exposure apparatus when the opening / closing cover of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention is opened. It is a perspective view which shows the mounting part and opening / closing cover of the exposure apparatus which concern on embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view for demonstrating the connection part which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view for demonstrating the connection part which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is an expanded sectional view near a link accommodation part concerning an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the motion of the link member which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the motion of the link member which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a printer 100 (image forming apparatus) according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the printer 100 with the opening / closing cover 200C opened upward. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the internal structure of the printer 100 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The printer 100 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 is a so-called monochrome printer, but in other embodiments, the image forming apparatus is a color printer, a facsimile machine, a multifunction machine having these functions, or a toner image on a sheet. Other devices for forming may be used. Note that the terms used in the following description, such as “up”, “down”, “front”, “rear”, “left” and “right”, are merely for the purpose of clarifying the description. There is no limitation on the principle of the image forming apparatus.

  The printer 100 includes an exterior housing 200 that houses various apparatuses for forming an image on the sheet S. The exterior housing 200 includes an upper wall 201 that defines the upper surface of the exterior housing 200, a bottom wall 220 (FIG. 3) that defines the bottom surface of the exterior housing 200, and a back surface between the upper wall 201 and the bottom wall 220. A wall 245 (FIG. 2) and a front wall 250 located in front of the back wall 245 are included. The exterior housing 200 includes a main body internal space 260 (internal space) in which various devices are arranged. As shown in FIG. 2, a main body opening 260 </ b> A that opens the main body internal space 260 upward is formed in the upper portion and the front portion of the exterior casing 200. An opening / closing cover 200 </ b> C that allows the body opening 260 </ b> A to be freely opened and closed is attached to the exterior housing 200.

  A paper discharge unit 210 is disposed at the center of the upper wall 201. The paper discharge unit 210 includes an inclined surface that is inclined downward from the front portion to the rear portion of the upper wall 210. The sheet S on which the image is formed in the image forming unit 120 described later is discharged to the paper discharge unit 210. In addition, a manual feed tray 240 is disposed at the center of the front wall 250 in the vertical direction. The manual feed tray 240 is rotatable up and down with the lower end as a fulcrum (arrow D1 in FIG. 3).

  The opening / closing cover 200 </ b> C can be opened / closed in a vertical direction by using a pair of arms 230 arranged at both ends in the left / right direction, with a hinge portion described later as a fulcrum (FIGS. 1 and 2). In the open state of the opening / closing cover 200C, the main body internal space 260 is opened to the outside through the main body opening 260A, while in the closed state of the open / close cover 200C, the main body internal space 260 is closed.

  The printer 100 includes a cassette 110, a pickup roller 112, a first paper feed roller 113, a second paper feed roller 114, a transport roller 115, a registration roller pair 116, and an image forming unit 120.

  The cassette 110 accommodates the sheet S inside. The cassette 110 includes a lift plate 111 that supports the sheet S. The lift plate 111 is inclined so as to push up the leading edge of the sheet S.

  The pickup roller 112 is disposed on the leading edge of the sheet S pushed up by the lift plate 111. When the pickup roller 112 rotates, the sheet S is pulled out from the cassette 110.

  The first paper feed roller 113 is disposed downstream of the pickup roller 112. The first paper feed roller 113 sends the sheet S further downstream. The second paper feed roller 114 is disposed near the fulcrum of the manual feed tray 240. The second paper feed roller 114 pulls the sheet S on the manual feed tray 240 into the exterior housing 200. The user can selectively use the sheet S accommodated in the cassette 110 or the sheet S placed on the manual feed tray 240.

  The conveyance roller 115 is disposed downstream (hereinafter also simply referred to as downstream) of the first paper supply roller 113 and the second paper supply roller 114 in the sheet conveyance direction (hereinafter also simply referred to as conveyance direction). The transport roller 115 transports the sheet S sent out by the first paper feed roller 113 and the second paper feed roller 114 further downstream.

  The registration roller pair 116 has a function of correcting the oblique conveyance of the sheet S. Thereby, the position of the image formed on the sheet S is adjusted. The registration roller pair 116 supplies the sheet S to the image forming unit 120 in accordance with the timing of image formation by the image forming unit 120.

  The image forming unit 120 includes a photosensitive drum 121 (image carrier), a charger 122, an exposure device 123 (optical scanning device), a developing device 124, a toner container 125, a transfer roller 126, and a cleaning device 127. With.

  The photosensitive drum 121 has a substantially cylindrical shape. The photosensitive drum 121 has an electrostatic latent image formed on its peripheral surface and carries a toner image corresponding to the electrostatic latent image.

  The charger 122 is applied with a predetermined voltage and charges the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 121 substantially uniformly.

  The exposure device 123 irradiates the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 121 charged by the charger 122 with laser light. The laser light is emitted in accordance with image data output from an external device (not shown) such as a personal computer that is communicably connected to the printer 100. As a result, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image data is formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 121. The exposure apparatus 123 will be described in detail later.

  The developing device 124 supplies toner to the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 121 on which the electrostatic latent image is formed. The toner container 125 supplies toner to the developing device 124. The toner container 125 supplies toner to the developing device 124 sequentially or as necessary. When the developing device 124 supplies toner to the photosensitive drum 121, the electrostatic latent image formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 121 is developed (visualized). As a result, a toner image is formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 121.

  The transfer roller 126 is rotatably disposed so as to contact the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 121. When the sheet S conveyed from the registration roller pair 116 passes between the photosensitive drum 121 and the transfer roller 126, the toner image formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 121 is transferred to the sheet S. .

  The cleaning device 127 removes the toner remaining on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 121 after the toner image is transferred to the sheet S. The peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 121 cleaned by the cleaning device 127 passes again below the charger 122 and is uniformly charged. Thereafter, the above-described toner image is newly formed.

  The printer 100 further includes a fixing device 130 that fixes the toner image on the sheet S on the downstream side of the image forming unit 120 in the transport direction. The fixing device 130 includes a heating roller 131 that melts the toner on the sheet S and a pressure roller 132 that causes the sheet S to adhere to the heating roller 131. When the sheet S passes between the heating roller 131 and the pressure roller 132, the toner image is fixed on the sheet S.

  The printer 100 further includes a plurality of transport roller pairs 133 disposed downstream of the fixing device 130 and a discharge roller pair 134 disposed downstream of the transport roller pair 133. The sheet S is conveyed upward by the conveying roller pair 133 and is finally discharged from the exterior casing 200 by the discharge roller pair 134. The sheets S discharged from the exterior housing 200 are stacked on the paper discharge unit 210.

  Next, the configuration of the exposure apparatus 123 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the exposure apparatus 123 according to this embodiment. 4 corresponds to a state in which the top plate 80T (see FIGS. 5 and 8) of the exposure apparatus 123 is removed. The exposure device 123 is disposed in the main body internal space 260. That is, the exposure device 123 is disposed in the exterior casing 200. The exposure device 123 includes a housing 80 (see FIG. 8), a laser diode 81 (laser light source), lens portions 82 and 83, a polygon motor unit 7, an fθ lens 85, and a folding mirror 86. .

  The housing 80 is a housing that houses the components of the exposure apparatus 123. The housing 80 is a flat housing having a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from above. The housing 80 includes a housing main body 80G and a top plate 80T (FIGS. 5 and 8). The housing body 80G is defined by a right wall 810, a rear wall 811, a left wall 812, and a front wall 813 on the right side, the rear side, the left side, and the front side, respectively. The bottom surface of the housing 80 is defined by the bottom portion 80S. The top plate 80T is mounted above the housing main body 80G and is connected to the right wall 810, the rear wall 811, the left wall 812, and the front wall 813. Inside the housing 80, an internal space S in which various optical components are arranged is formed.

  The laser diode 81 emits (outputs) laser light corresponding to an image data signal generated and output by an image memory (not shown). The laser diode 81 is disposed inside the right wall 810 of the housing 80. The laser diode 81 is electrically connected to a circuit board (not shown) that controls the emission timing of the laser light. The lens units 82 and 83 are configured by, for example, a collimator lens or a prism, and have a function of converting incident laser light into parallel light.

  The polygon motor unit 7 is disposed at a substantially central portion of the housing 80. The polygon motor unit 7 includes a polygon motor 71 and a polygon mirror 72 on a substrate. The polygon motor 71 receives a drive current and rotates the polygon mirror 72 at a predetermined rotational speed. The polygon mirror 72 is formed in a flat plate shape having a regular polygonal shape (regular hexagonal shape in FIG. 4) in plan view, and includes a plurality of mirror surfaces. The polygon mirror 72 is rotationally driven in the direction of arrow DP in FIG. In other words, the polygon motor 71 rotates the polygon mirror 72 so that each mirror surface of the polygon mirror 72 faces the left wall 812 and then faces the front wall 813. The polygon mirror 72 deflects the laser light from the lens unit 83 while being rotated by the polygon motor 71 and scans toward the fθ lens 85.

  The fθ lens 85 is disposed along the left-right direction in front of the polygon motor unit 7. The fθ lens 85 is disposed between the polygon motor 71 and the front wall 813. The fθ lens 85 has a substantially arch shape when viewed from above. In particular, the central portion of the fθ lens 85 protrudes toward the polygon mirror 72, and both end portions of the fθ lens 85 protrude toward the folding mirror 86 (front wall 813). The fθ lens 85 has a function of refracting the laser light deflected by the polygon mirror 72 and scanning the photosensitive drum 121 at a constant speed. The folding mirror 86 is provided to reflect the laser light from the fθ lens 85 and guide it to the photosensitive drum 121.

  As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, an emission opening 850 (opening) for emitting the laser beam reflected by the folding mirror 86 to the outside of the exposure device 123 is formed at the bottom 80 </ b> S of the housing 80. Yes. The exit opening 850 is opened opposite to the folding mirror 86 at a position below and behind the folding mirror 86. The exit opening 850 has a predetermined width in the front-rear direction and is disposed along the left-right direction (along the folding mirror 86).

  As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the exposure apparatus 123 according to this embodiment further includes a seal glass 90 (light transmission member) fixed to the bottom 80S so as to cover the emission opening 850 from below. The seal glass 90 is a transparent glass plate and transmits the laser light that has passed through the emission opening 850. Further, the seal glass 90 has a function of preventing toner, dust, and the like from entering the exposure apparatus 123. Hereinafter, the portion of the surface of the seal glass 90 on the outer side of the housing 80 through which the laser beam that has passed through the seal glass 90 passes is referred to as an emission portion BA.

  In the exposure device 123, the laser light emitted from the laser diode 81 is guided to the polygon mirror 72 via the lens portions 82 and 83. The laser light incident on the rotating polygon mirror 72 is reflected and deflected by the mirror surface of the polygon mirror 72, passes through the fθ lens 85, and is reflected by the folding mirror 86. The laser light reflected by the folding mirror 86 passes through the emission opening 850. The laser beam that has passed through the emission opening 850 passes through the seal glass 90 and is horizontally scanned in a predetermined scanning direction (main scanning direction, the direction of arrow A in FIG. 4), while rotating around an axis perpendicular to the scanning direction ( It is guided to the drum surface of the photosensitive drum 121 that rotates in the sub-scanning direction (arrow B direction in FIG. 4).

  Next, a cleaning mechanism for the seal glass 90 of the exposure apparatus 123 will be described. In the present embodiment, the cleaning mechanism for the seal glass 90 is disposed inside the exterior housing 200. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state in which the exposure device 123 is mounted inside the exterior casing 200. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which the exposure device 123 is removed from FIG. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the mounting plate 220 on which the exposure apparatus 123 is mounted. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the mounting plate 220 with the exposure device 123 mounted. 9 and 10 are enlarged cross-sectional views (cross-sectional views orthogonal to the left-right direction) in a state where the exposure apparatus 123 is mounted on the mounting plate 220. FIG. 9 shows a state when the opening / closing cover 200C is closed, and FIG. 10 shows a state when the opening / closing cover 200C is opened.

  Referring to FIG. 5, the exterior casing 200 of the image forming apparatus 1 includes a mounting plate 220. The mounting plate 220 is a support plate disposed substantially horizontally below the paper discharge unit 210 inside the outer casing 200 (FIG. 3). The mounting plate 220 has side edges in the front-rear and left-right directions defined by a plate front wall 220D, a plate rear wall 220B, a plate left wall 220C, and a plate right wall 220A, respectively. The exposure device 123 is mounted on the mounting plate 220 from above. At this time, the front wall 813, the rear wall 811, the left wall 812, and the right wall 810 of the exposure apparatus 123 are the plate front wall 220D, the plate rear wall 220B, the plate left wall 220C, and the plate right wall 220A side of the mounting plate 220, respectively. It arrange | positions so that it may be located in.

  With reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, the mounting plate 220 is provided with an opening 220 </ b> W extending in the left-right direction corresponding to the seal glass 90 of the exposure apparatus 123. The exposure device 123 is mounted on the mounting plate 220, and the emission opening 850 (seal glass 90) is disposed above the opening 220W, so that the exposure device 123 passes through the opening 220W to the photosensitive drum 121. Laser light is irradiated (L in FIG. 4).

  When image formation is performed in the image forming apparatus 1, toner carried on the surface of the photosensitive drum 121 or toner scattered from the developing device 127 may float in the main body internal space 260. Further, dust may be mixed in the main body internal space 260 as the opening / closing cover 200C (FIG. 2) is opened and closed. As described above, when toner or dust floating in the main body internal space 260 adheres to the seal glass 90, the laser beam emitted from the exposure device 123 is blocked and an image is formed on the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 121. Defects are introduced. In order to solve such a problem, in the present embodiment, the cleaning member 51 is disposed around the opening 220 </ b> W of the mounting plate 220.

  With reference to FIGS. 6 to 9, the cleaning member 51 is disposed on the mounting plate 220. The cleaning member 51 is disposed on the rear side of the opening 220 </ b> W in the mounting plate 220. In a state where the exposure device 123 is mounted on the mounting plate 220, the cleaning member 51 is disposed below the seal glass 90. The cleaning member 51 is slid on the outer surface of the housing 80 in the seal glass 90 to clean the seal glass 90. More specifically, the cleaning member 51 cleans the area to be cleaned CA including the emission part BA in the surface of the seal glass 90 (FIG. 9). The cleaning member 51 includes a shielding portion 510 (support member), a cleaning sheet 52 (sheet member), and a shaft portion 511.

  The shield 510 corresponds to the main body portion of the cleaning member 51. The cleaning member 51 is a rectangular plate member having a long side extending in the left-right direction. The shield 510 is made of a black resin material.

  The cleaning sheet 52 is a rectangular sheet member that is attached to the upper surface side of the shielding portion 510 and has a long side extending in the left-right direction. In the present embodiment, the cleaning sheet 52 is a flexible sheet member made of, for example, urethane. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the fixing portion 522, which is one end portion in the short side direction (the lower end portion in FIGS. 9 and 10), is bonded and fixed to the shielding portion 510. Further, the front end portion 521 which is the other end portion in the short side direction of the cleaning sheet 52 (the upper end portion in FIGS. 9 and 10) extends upward from the shielding portion 510 to form a free end.

  The shaft portion 511 is a pair of shaft portions (right shaft portion 511 </ b> A and left shaft portion 511 </ b> B) respectively extending in the right direction and the left direction from one end portion (lower end portion in FIG. 9) of the shielding portion 510 in the short direction. (FIG. 6). That is, the shaft portion 511 is disposed at a position farthest from the seal glass 90 in the shielding portion 510 (a position opposite to the seal glass 90). The right shaft portion 511A and the left shaft portion 511B are inserted through a right bearing portion 221 and a left bearing portion 222 formed in the mounting plate 220 along the left-right direction, respectively. As a result, the cleaning member 51 is rotatable about the shaft portion 511 as a fulcrum.

  Hereinafter, in the present specification, as shown in FIG. 9, the position where the front end 521 of the shielding portion 510 of the cleaning member 51 is arranged at the rearmost position is defined as the first position of the cleaning member 51. Although described in detail later, the first position is the position of the cleaning member 51 in a state where the opening / closing cover 220C is closed. In the first position, the shielding portion 510 of the cleaning member 51 is disposed so as to be substantially orthogonal to the seal glass 90. The cleaning sheet 52 is bent forward near the upper end of the shield 510. Then, the front end portion 521 of the cleaning sheet 52 is brought into contact with an area outside (rear side) the area to be cleaned CA on the surface of the seal glass 90. As described above, when the cleaning member 51 is disposed at the first position, the leading end 521 of the cleaning sheet 52 does not cover the emission part BA of the seal glass 90. In other words, the distal end portion 521 is disposed at a position separated from the emission portion BA. That is, the cleaning member 51 is disposed at a position spaced rearward from the optical path L of the laser light transmitted through the seal glass 90 without blocking the optical path L of the laser light transmitted through the seal glass 90. Therefore, the laser beam reflected by the folding mirror 86 and transmitted through the sealing glass 90 through the emission opening 850 can be irradiated onto the photosensitive drum 121 through the opening 220W.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 10, after the shielding portion 510 of the cleaning member 51 is rotated with the shaft portion 511 as a fulcrum, the position where the tip portion 521 is disposed forward of the emission portion BA is set to the cleaning member. The second position of 51 is assumed. In the second position, the front end 521 of the cleaning sheet 52 of the cleaning member 51 is in contact with the area to be cleaned CA of the seal glass 90 in front of the emission part BA (in FIG. 10, the front end 521 is the target to be cleaned). It is in contact with the front edge of the cleaning area CA). In the moving process in which the cleaning member 51 moves from the first position to the second position, the leading end portion 521 of the cleaning sheet 52 slides on the outer surface of the housing 80 of the seal glass 90 (the area to be cleaned CA). Moved. As a result, the seal glass 90 is suitably cleaned. Even when toner or dust adheres to the seal glass 90, the toner or dust is scraped off from the seal glass 90 by the leading end 521 of the cleaning sheet 52. When the cleaning member 51 is disposed at the second position, the shielding portion 510 of the cleaning member 51 is positioned on the optical path L of the laser light that has passed through the seal glass 90. Therefore, the laser light transmitted through the seal glass 90 is shielded by the cleaning member 51.

  As described above, the cleaning member 51 is moved between the first position and the second position, so that the front end portion 521 of the cleaning sheet 52 includes the emission portion BA of the seal glass 90 and the area to be cleaned CA. Can be cleaned. Here, when drive means such as a drive motor is arranged to move the cleaning member 51, the printer 100 according to the present embodiment further increases in size and cost due to an increase in size and cost. The movement of the cleaning member 51 between the first position and the second position is performed by the interlocking mechanism 60 in conjunction with the opening / closing operation of the opening / closing cover 200C.

  FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the opening / closing cover 200 </ b> C and the mounting plate 220 of the printer 100 in order to explain the interlocking mechanism 60 according to the present embodiment. 12 and 13 are perspective views of the mounting plate 220 for explaining the linking part 65 constituting the interlocking mechanism 60. FIG. Further, FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the link member 500 constituting the linking portion 65 is attached to the attachment plate 220.

  The interlocking mechanism 60 includes the above-described arm portion 230 and the linkage portion 65 (FIGS. 12 and 13). The interlocking mechanism 60 moves the cleaning member 51 so that the cleaning member 51 slides on the surface of the seal glass 90 in conjunction with the opening / closing operation of the opening / closing cover 200 </ b> C.

  A pair of arms 230 is disposed at the rear end of the opening / closing cover 200C and at both ends in the left-right direction. The arm part 230 includes an arcuate curved part 231, a hinge shaft 232, and an extension part 233. One end of the bending portion 231 is connected to the rear end portion of the upper wall front portion 205 of the opening / closing cover 200C. The extending portion 233 extends from the other end portion of the bending portion 231, and a hinge shaft 232 is provided at the extended distal end portion. Then, the hinge shaft 232 is inserted into a pair of hinge bearings (shaft support portions) (not shown) disposed in the exterior casing 200. The hinge shaft 232 and the hinge bearing constitute a hinge portion of the opening / closing cover 200C. As a result, the opening / closing cover 200 </ b> C is rotatable about the hinge shaft 232 as a fulcrum. By this rotation, opening / closing of the opening / closing cover 200C is realized.

  The linkage portion 65 (FIG. 12) includes a link member 500 and a flat contact piece 512.

  The link member 500 includes a substantially triangular front side portion 500F whose apex is the foremost edge in the left-right direction, and a rear side portion 500R that is continuous to the rear side of the front side portion 500F and is substantially rectangular in the left-right direction view. . A link shaft portion 500 </ b> A protruding in the left-right direction is disposed at the foremost edge of the link member 500. Further, a link contact portion 500C, a link contacted portion 500D, and an engaging claw 500T, which will be described later, are disposed on the link member 500 (FIG. 15). Each of the link contact portion 500C and the link contacted portion 500D is an outer peripheral portion of the link member 500. More specifically, the link contact portion 500C is a lower outer peripheral portion of the rear side portion 500R, and the link contact portion 500D is an upper outer peripheral portion of the front side portion 500F. The link abutting portion 500C abuts on the abutting piece 512, and the link abutted portion 500D abuts on the arm portion 230 described above. Further, the engaging claw 500T is a claw portion that protrudes rearward from a corner portion on the lower side and the rear side of the rear side portion 500R.

  The contact piece 512 (FIGS. 12 and 13) is connected to the left end portion of the shaft portion 511 (left shaft portion 511 </ b> B) of the cleaning member 51. The contact piece 512 is disposed so as to be substantially orthogonal to the shielding portion 510 of the cleaning member 51 in the axial direction view (left-right direction view) of the shaft portion 511 (FIG. 13).

  As shown in FIG. 13, the shielding portion 510 of the cleaning member 51 has a shape that is wider in the left-right direction than the contact piece 512, and the shielding portion 510 is more than the contact piece 512. It is getting heavy. For this reason, when viewed in the left-right direction, the center of gravity position of the cleaning member 51 is shifted from the region where the contact piece 512 is disposed toward the region where the shielding portion 510 is disposed. As a result, when the cleaning member 51 in which the contact piece 512 is continuously provided is mounted on the right bearing portion 221 and the left bearing portion 222 of the mounting plate 220, the shielding portion 510 is opened by the dead weight of the cleaning member 51. It is rotated forward so as to close 220W. At the same time, the contact piece 512 is disposed so as to extend substantially upward.

  Furthermore, the mounting plate 220 includes a link housing portion 550 at a corner where the plate left wall 220C and the plate front wall 220D intersect. The link accommodating portion 550 has a box shape surrounded by a plurality of wall portions standing on the front, rear, left, and right. The link housing part 550 is opened upward. A slit 551 having a slight width in the front-rear direction and extending in the up-down direction is disposed in the right wall portion of the link housing portion 550. Further, a substantially cylindrical bearing portion 552 extending in the left-right direction is disposed inside the left wall of the link housing portion 550 (FIG. 12). Further, an engagement protrusion 550T (FIG. 15) is disposed on the inner wall of the rear wall portion of the link housing portion 550. The engagement protrusion 550T is a protrusion that protrudes forward from the inner wall.

  11 to 13, the right shaft portion 511 </ b> A and the left shaft portion 511 </ b> B of the cleaning member 51 are mounted on the right groove portion 221 and the left groove portion 222 of the mounting plate 220. At this time, the left end portion of the left shaft portion 511B is inserted from above into the slit 551 of the link housing portion 550, and the contact piece 512 is inserted into the link housing portion 550. Further, the link shaft portion 500 </ b> A of the link member 500 is attached to the bearing portion 552 of the link housing portion 550, and the link member 500 is housed in the link housing portion 550. Thus, the link member 500 can be rotated in the vertical direction with the link shaft portion 500A as a fulcrum. When the link member 500 is accommodated in the link accommodating portion 550, the lower end portion of the link member 500 (link abutting portion 500C, FIG. 15) moves the abutting piece 512 previously inserted into the link accommodating portion 550 upward. Press from.

  Further, referring to FIG. 14, a spring 95 (biasing member) is disposed on the link shaft portion 500 </ b> A of the link member 500. The spring 95 is a so-called torsion spring so that a locking portion 95A that is one end of the wire and an abutment portion 95B that is the other end of the wire protrude from the coil portion around which the wire is wound. Is provided. Further, the locking portion 95A and the contact portion 95B are disposed so as to be separated from each other with a predetermined interval in the circumferential direction of the coil portion. In a state where the coil portion of the spring 95 is inserted into the link shaft portion 500A, the distal end portion 95A1 of the locking portion 95A is bent and locked to the side wall 500B of the opening portion opened in the link member 500 (see FIG. 14, FIG. 15). On the other hand, the contact portion 95 </ b> B of the spring 95 is in contact with the contact surface 225. The contact surface 225 is a surface of the wall portion of the mounting plate 220. In FIG. 14, when the link member 500 is rotated in the direction of arrow D141 (downward) with the link shaft portion 500A as a fulcrum, the distance between the locking portion 95A of the spring 95 and the contact portion 95B is increased. The spring 95 is contracted and elastically deformed, and elastic energy is stored in the spring 95.

  Next, the movement operation of the cleaning member 51 accompanying the opening / closing operation of the opening / closing cover 200C will be described with reference to FIGS. 15 and 16 in addition to FIGS. 15 and 16 are cross-sectional views around the link member 500 for explaining the movement of the link member 500. FIG.

  When the opening / closing cover 200C is in the closed state as shown in FIG. 1, the curved portion 231 (FIG. 11) of the arm portion 230 presses the link contact portion 500D of the link member 500 backward ( Arrow D15 in FIG. 15). As a result, the link member 500 is rotated in the direction of the arrow D151 in FIG. 15, and the spring 95 is elastic so that the distance between the locking portion 95A and the contact portion 95B is reduced from the predetermined interval. It is deformed. The link contact portion 500C of the link member 500 presses the contact piece 512 downward (arrow D152 in FIG. 15).

  When the opening / closing cover 200C is in the closed state, the cleaning member 51 is located at the first position shown in FIG.

  As described above, when the opening / closing cover 200C is in the closed state with respect to the exterior casing 200, as shown in FIG. 9, the front end portion 521 of the cleaning sheet 52 of the cleaning member 51 is located behind the area to be cleaned CA. It is arranged outside. The cleaning member 51 is disposed at a position spaced rearward from the irradiation path L of the laser beam emitted from the emission portion BA of the seal glass 90. Therefore, when the opening / closing cover 200C is in the closed state, the laser light is emitted from the emission part BA of the seal glass 90 and is irradiated onto the photosensitive drum 121 through the opening 220W.

  On the other hand, when the opening / closing cover 200 </ b> C is opened (moved) so that the state shown in FIG. 2 is changed to the state shown in FIG. 2, the curved portion 231 of the arm portion 230 is linked to the link contact of the link member 500. It leaves | separates from the contact part 500D. As a result, the elastic energy of the spring 95 is released (arrow D142 in FIG. 14), and the link member 500 is rotated in the direction of the arrow D161 in FIG. As the link member 500 rotates, the link contact portion 500C of the link member 500 moves away from the contact piece 512. Then, when the engaging claw 500T of the link member 500 is engaged with the engaging protrusion 550T of the link housing portion 550, the rotation of the link member 500 in the direction of arrow D161 is stopped. When the link member 500 moves away from the contact piece 512, as described above, the contact piece 512 is rotated as shown by an arrow D162 in FIG. 16 due to the movement of the cleaning member 51 to which the contact piece 512 is connected due to its own weight. Moved. At the same time, the cleaning member 51 is rotated in the direction (first direction) indicated by the arrow D101 in FIG. At this time, the front end portion 521 of the cleaning sheet 52 of the cleaning member 51 is slid onto the cleaning area CA of the seal glass 90 as described above. As a result, the emission part BA of the seal glass 90 is suitably cleaned.

  Eventually, as shown in FIG. 2, when the opening / closing cover 200C is fully opened, the cleaning member 51 is disposed at the second position shown in FIG. The shielding portion 510 of the cleaning member 51 disposed at the second position shields the irradiation path L of the laser light emitted from the emission portion BA of the seal glass 90. Therefore, even when the laser beam is accidentally irradiated from the exposure device 123 in a state where the opening / closing cover 200C is opened and the user can visually recognize the inside of the main body internal space 260, The laser beam is shielded by the shielding part 510 of the cleaning member 51. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent the laser light from entering the user's eyes by mistake.

  When the opening / closing cover 200C is moved again so as to be in the closed state shown in FIG. 1, similarly to the above, 231 of the arm portion 230 presses the link contact portion 500D of the link member 500 (FIG. 15). Arrow D15). As the link member 500 rotates, the link contact portion 500C of the link member 500 presses the contact piece 512 and rotates the contact piece 512 (arrow D152 in FIG. 15). At the same time, the shaft portion 511 of the cleaning member 51 is rotated in a second direction (the direction of the arrow D102 in FIG. 10) opposite to the first direction, and the cleaning member 51 is moved from the second position to the first position. Moved to.

  As described above, according to the above-described embodiment, the opening / closing cover 200 </ b> C is arranged to be openable / closable with respect to the exterior casing 200 including the main body internal space 260. An exposure device 123 is arranged in the main body internal space 260. The exposure apparatus 123 includes a laser diode 81 that outputs laser light, a housing 80 that has an emission opening 850 that is opened in the bottom 80S and emits laser light, and a seal glass 90 that covers the emission opening 850 and transmits laser light. ,including. Further, the cleaning member 51 cleans the seal glass 90 by sliding on the surface of the seal glass 90 from which the transmitted laser light is emitted (that is, the surface of the seal glass 90 on the outside of the housing 80). . In particular, the cleaning member 51 is moved from the first position (non-shielding position) where the optical path of the laser light transmitted through the seal glass 90 is not shielded, and the emission part BA from which the laser light transmitted through the seal glass 90 is emitted. After being slid to the to-be-cleaned area CA, the second position (shielding position) where the optical path is shielded is reached. The interlocking mechanism 60 moves the cleaning member 51 between the first position and the second position in conjunction with the opening / closing operation of the opening / closing cover 200C. For this reason, in order for the cleaning member 51 to clean the seal glass 90, it is not necessary to arrange drive means such as a drive motor. Therefore, the printer 100 can be reduced in size by the amount that it is not necessary to dispose drive means such as a drive motor.

  Moreover, according to said embodiment, the cleaning member 51 shields the optical path of the laser beam radiate | emitted from the emission part BA of the sealing glass 90 in a 2nd position. For this reason, the cleaning member 51 that cleans the seal glass 90 can also be used as a shielding member that shields the laser light emission path.

  Moreover, according to said embodiment, the cleaning member 51 is arrange | positioned at the 1st position at the shielding part 510 extended in the direction which cross | intersects the sealing glass 90, and the shielding part 510, sealing glass The cleaning sheet 52 extended toward 90, and the shaft part 511 arrange | positioned in the position on the opposite side to the sealing glass 90 among the shielding parts 510 are provided. Further, the interlocking mechanism 60 rotates the shielding portion 510 in the first position in the first direction around the shaft portion 511 in accordance with the change from the closed state to the open state of the opening / closing cover 200C, and the cleaning sheet 52 The tip 521 is slid on the surface of the seal glass 90 (the area to be cleaned CA). For this reason, the cleaning member 51 moves from the first position to the second position as the cleaning member 51 rotates about the shaft portion 511, and the seal glass 90 can be cleaned.

  Moreover, according to said embodiment, the cleaning sheet 52 consists of flexible elastic members, such as a urethane sheet. For this reason, as the cleaning member 51 rotates, the cleaning sheet 52 can come into contact with the surface of the seal glass 90 while being elastically deformed.

  Further, according to the above-described embodiment, the exterior casing 200 includes the shaft support portion that rotatably supports the opening / closing cover 200C, and the opening / closing cover 200C is rotated around the shaft support portion, so that the opening / closing can be performed. Is done. In addition, the opening / closing cover 200 </ b> C includes an arm portion 230 that enters the main body internal space 260 in accordance with a change from the open state to the closed state. Further, the linkage portion 65 of the interlocking mechanism 60 is connected to the shaft portion 511 of the cleaning member 51 and is brought into contact with the arm portion 230 that has entered the main body internal space 260, thereby rotating the shaft portion 511 in the second direction. The cleaning member 51 is moved from the second position to the first position. For this reason, the movement of the cleaning member 51 from the second position to the first position is realized by the arm portion 230 and the linkage portion 65.

  Further, according to the above-described embodiment, the linking portion 65 is disposed on the exterior casing 200 (the mounting plate 220), is brought into contact with the arm portion 230, and is rotatable and the shaft of the cleaning member 51. A contact piece 512 that is connected to the portion 511 and can contact the link member 500, and a spring 95 that biases the link member 500 so as to be separated from the contact piece 512. As the opening / closing cover 200C changes from the open state to the closed state, the arm member 230 rotates the link member 500 biased by the spring 95 toward the contact piece 512, and the link member 500 contacts. By coming into contact with the piece 512, the shaft portion 511 of the cleaning member 51 is rotated in the second direction. Therefore, the movement of the cleaning member 51 from the second position to the first position is realized by the arm portion 230, the link member 500, the contact piece 512, and the spring 95.

  Further, according to the above-described embodiment, the cleaning member 51 is disposed at the second position by the weight of the cleaning member 51 in a state where the contact piece 512 is not in contact with the link member 500. Therefore, when the opening / closing cover 200 </ b> C is changed from the closed state to the open state, when the arm portion 230 is detached from the main body internal space 260 and the link member 500 is separated from the contact piece 512, the cleaning member 51 is self-weighted. Is moved from the second position to the first position. For this reason, the cleaning sheet 52 can come into contact with the surface of the seal glass 90 due to its own weight.

  The exposure apparatus 123 and the printer 100 (image forming apparatus) including the exposure apparatus 123 according to the embodiment of the present invention have been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the following modified embodiment is provided. Can be taken.

  (1) In the above-described embodiment, the cleaning member 51 has been described in the mode of shielding the laser light emission path at the second position, but the present invention is not limited to this. The cleaning member 51 may have only a function of cleaning an area including the emission part BA of the seal glass 90.

  (2) In the above embodiment, the interlock mechanism 60 includes the arm portion 230 and the linkage portion 65 in order to slide the cleaning member 51 on the surface of the seal glass 90. Is not limited to this. Another mode in which the cleaning member 51 is moved so as to contact the surface of the seal glass 90 in conjunction with the opening / closing operation of the opening / closing cover 200C may be employed. Further, the linkage portion 65 of the present invention is not limited to an aspect constituted by the link member 500, the contact piece 512, and the spring 95. The link part 65 may not be provided with the link member 500. In this case, a spring member (not shown) biases the contact piece 512 so that the cleaning member 51 is disposed at the second position. As the opening / closing cover 200C changes from the open state to the closed state, the arm portion 230 directly contacts the contact piece 512, and the cleaning member 51 is moved from the second position to the first position.

  (3) In the above embodiment, the cleaning member 51 is described as being disposed at the second position by its own weight in the open state of the opening / closing cover 200C. However, the present invention is limited to this. is not. The cleaning member 51 may be arranged at the second position by urging the cleaning member 51 with a spring (not shown).

  (4) In the above-described embodiment, the cleaning sheet 52 of the cleaning member 51 has been described in the form in which the cleaning sheet 52 is in contact with the surface of the seal glass 90 at the first position and the second position. Is not limited to this. The cleaning sheet 52 may be disposed at a position separated from the surface of the seal glass 90 in the first position or the second position. Even in this case, if the cleaning sheet 52 is configured to be slid to the cleaning area CA while the cleaning member 51 is moved between the first position and the second position, the seal is obtained. The glass 90 is suitably cleaned.

100 Printer (image forming device)
121 Photosensitive drum (image carrier)
123 Exposure device (optical scanning device)
200 Exterior casing 200C Open / close cover (cover)
205 Upper wall front portion 220 Mounting plate 220A Plate right wall 220B Plate rear wall 220C Plate left wall 220D Plate front wall 220W Opening 221 Right bearing portion 222 Left bearing portion 225 Contact surface 230 Arm portion 230A Left arm portion 230B Right arm portion 231 Bending portion 232 Hinge shaft 233 Extension portion 235 Front wall upper portion 500 Link member 500A Link shaft portion 500B Link inner wall portion 500C Link abutting portion 500D Link abutting portion 500T Engaging claw 51 Cleaning member 510 Shielding portion (supporting member) )
511 Shaft portion 511A Right shaft portion 511B Left shaft portion 512 Contact piece 52 Cleaning sheet (sheet member)
521 Tip 522 Fixing part 550 Link housing part 550T Engaging projection 551 Slit 60 Interlocking mechanism 65 Linking part 7 Polygon motor unit 71 Polygon motor 72 Polygon mirror 80 Housing 80G Housing body 80S Bottom 80T Top plate 81 Laser diode 810 Rear wall 811 Wall 812 Left wall 813 Front wall 82 Lens portion 83 Lens portion 85 fθ lens 86 Folding mirror 850 Outgoing aperture 90 Seal glass (light transmission member)
95 Spring (Biasing member)
95A Locking part 95B Abutting part BA Outlet part CA Cleaned area

Claims (3)

An exterior housing;
A cover that can be freely opened and closed with respect to the exterior housing;
A laser light source that emits laser light, a housing that contains the laser light source and has an opening through which the laser light passes, and light that is disposed in the housing so as to cover the opening of the housing and transmits the laser light An optical scanning device including a transmissive member and disposed in the exterior housing;
A cleaning member that is slid on the surface of the light transmitting member from which the transmitted laser light is emitted and cleans the light transmitting member;
In conjunction with the opening / closing operation of the cover, an interlocking mechanism that moves the cleaning member so that the cleaning member slides on the surface of the light transmission member;
With
The interlocking mechanism is configured such that an optical path of the laser light transmitted through the light transmitting member while sliding the cleaning member on the surface of the light transmitting member in conjunction with a change from the closed state to the open state of the cover. Moving the cleaning member from a first position that does not shield the laser beam to a second position that shields the optical path of the laser beam,
The cleaning member is
A plate-like support member extending in a direction intersecting the light transmission member at the first position, and shielding the optical path at the second position;
A sheet member made of a flexible elastic member, disposed on the support member and extending toward the light transmission member;
A shaft portion disposed at a position opposite to the light transmission member among the support members, and
The interlocking mechanism rotates the support member in a first direction around the shaft portion in accordance with a change from the closed state to the open state of the cover, and moves the leading end portion of the sheet member in the extending direction. From the first position to the second position, slide from one end side of the light transmitting member toward the other end side of the surface of the light transmitting member to be cleaned,
In the second position of the cleaning member, the leading end portion of the sheet member is in contact with the area to be cleaned on the other end side with respect to the emitting portion through which the laser beam passes on the surface of the light transmitting member. and,
The exterior housing includes a shaft support portion that rotatably supports the cover,
The cover includes an arm portion that can be freely opened and closed by being rotated around the shaft support portion, and that enters the internal space of the exterior housing in accordance with a change from the open state to the closed state. ,
The interlocking mechanism is
The cleaning member is connected to the shaft portion and is brought into contact with the arm portion that has entered the internal space, whereby the shaft portion is rotated in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and the cleaning is performed. A linking portion that moves the member from the second position to the first position;
The linkage part is
A link member disposed in the exterior housing, abutting on the arm portion, and rotatable.
A contact piece that is connected to the shaft portion of the cleaning member and is capable of contacting the link member;
A biasing member that biases the link member so as to be separated from the contact piece,
As the cover changes from the open state to the closed state, the arm member rotates the link member urged by the urging member toward the abutting piece, and the link member is brought into contact with the contact member. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the shaft portion of the cleaning member is rotated in the second direction by contacting the piece .   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support member of the cleaning member is made of a black resin material. The cleaning member, wherein in a state in which the contact piece is not in contact with the said link member, wherein by the weight of the cleaning member, to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that disposed in the second position Image forming apparatus.