JP5657725B2 - Cleaning rod, lens unit, image forming device - Google Patents

Description

  Embodiment described in this specification is related with the technique which can suppress the catching of the cleaning part to the edge of the cleaning object.

  In an image forming apparatus, a light source device exposes a photoconductor to form an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor. A developing device develops the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image on the photoreceptor. The image forming apparatus transfers the toner image on the photoreceptor to a sheet.

  Some image forming apparatuses use an LED head (LED: Light Emitting Diode) as a light source device. The LED head includes a light emitting element and a lens array. Since the lens array of the LED head is in a position close to the photoconductor, foreign matters such as toner and paper dust are likely to adhere to the light exit surface. If the light exit surface of the lens array is contaminated with foreign matter, image unevenness occurs and image quality is degraded.

  Therefore, it is possible to remove foreign matter on the light exit surface by applying a cloth-like member to the light exit surface from one end side in the longitudinal direction of the lens array and wiping the light exit surface toward the other end in the longitudinal direction. If the edge is sharp, there is a problem that the cloth-like member is caught on the edge and the cleaning work becomes complicated. Further, there is a problem that the cloth-like member caught on the edge is torn, and the fibers generated from the torn part adhere to the lens array, resulting in image unevenness, leading to a decrease in image quality.

  As a technique for solving these problems, there is one that prevents a cloth-like member from being caught at the end of the lens array by attaching a resin cover with a rounded edge to the end of the lens array (for example, Patent Document 1). In addition, as a technique for solving the above problem, a cleaning device that automatically cleans the light exit surface of the lens array by the cleaning unit is provided, and the cleaning unit is brought into contact with the light exit surface after the edge is passed over the cleaning device. There is one provided with a mechanism (for example, Patent Document 2).

JP 2010-52156 A JP 2005-411147 A

  However, these Patent Documents 1 and 2 require a resin cover to be attached to the end of the lens array and a mechanism for bringing the cleaning portion into contact with the light emitting surface after the edge is overcome. There is a problem that a department is required. In addition, since the size of the airframe has been reduced in recent years, there is a problem that it is difficult to secure a space for arranging these element portions.

  This specification suppresses the cleaning part from being caught on the edge of the object to be cleaned, and an object thereof is to provide a technique capable of reducing the size.

Generally, according to the embodiment, the cleaning rod includes a rotating member and a holding member. Rotating member includes a shaft portion in the width direction on both sides, located on one side of the shaft portion in the longitudinal direction, a first cleaning unit which can wipe the foreign matter on the cleaning object comprises a first run-up face, There the other side of the shaft portion in the longitudinal direction, and a second cleaning unit which can sweep foreign substances on the cleaning object. Holding member, sliding the hole which the shaft portion is inserted to Ete rotating member Bei both sides in the width direction of the turning member turnably held, in a first direction toward the cleaning object side perpendicular to the width direction To do . The first riding surface is a tapered or arc-shaped riding surface extending in a direction orthogonal to the first direction and the width direction as it is away from the shaft portion in the first direction, and the object to be cleaned when the holding member slides in the first direction. The rotating member is rotated by hitting and the first cleaning unit is placed on the object to be cleaned .

1 is a diagram illustrating an internal configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment. It is a figure which shows the position of the developing device and LED head at the time of image formation. It is a figure which shows the position of the developing device and LED head at the time of a maintenance. It is a perspective view of a cleaning stick. Side view showing configuration of cleaning rod It is a figure which shows a mode that a 1st cleaning part rides on a lens array. It is a figure which shows the cleaning state by a 1st, 2nd cleaning part. It is a side view which shows the structure of the cleaning stick | rod of 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows a mode that a 1st cleaning part rides on a lens array. It is a figure which shows the cleaning state of the outward path | route of a cleaning stick. It is a figure which shows the cleaning state of the return path of a cleaning stick. It is a figure which shows the modification of the riding surface of a 1st, 2nd cleaning part.

Each embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings.
(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the image forming apparatus 100.
The image forming apparatus 100 is an MFP (Multi Function Peripheral), and includes a reading unit 31, a paper feed cassette 32, an image forming unit 33, a fixing device 34, and a control unit (not shown). The reading unit 31 reads a sheet on the document table 311. The paper feed cassette 32 stores sheets. The image forming unit 33 forms an image on the sheet taken out from the paper feed cassette 32.

  The image forming unit 33 includes a photoreceptor 10, a lens unit 11, a developing device 13, a driving roller 101, a primary transfer roller 14, a transfer belt 30, a secondary transfer counter roller 102, and a secondary transfer roller 103. The transfer fixing method of the image forming apparatus 100 is a quadruple tandem type, and the members 10, 11, 13, and 14 are made of Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan), and K (black). For each image formation.

The outer circumferential surface of the photosensitive member 10 is a photosensitive surface such as an OPC (Organic Photo Conductor), and a toner image is formed on the photosensitive surface by the lens unit 11 and the developing device 13 and carries the toner image.
The lens unit 11 is around the photoconductor 10 and exposes the photoconductor 10 to form an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor 10.

  The Y to K developing units 13 accommodate Y to K toners, respectively. The developing device 13 supplies the toner accommodated therein to the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor 10 by the magnet roller 12. As a result, the developing device 13 develops the electrostatic latent images on the Y to K photoconductors 10 to form Y to K toner images on the photoconductor 10.

The drive roller 101 drives the transfer belt 30 counterclockwise in FIG.
The toner images on the Y to K photoconductors 10 are sequentially transferred to the same position on the transfer belt 30 by the transfer bias voltage by each primary transfer roller 14 and are superimposed. As a result, a single color toner image is formed on the transfer belt 30.

  A sheet is conveyed from the sheet feeding cassette 32 between the secondary transfer counter roller 102 and the secondary transfer roller 103. The toner image on the transfer belt 30 is transferred to the sheet by the transfer bias voltage from the secondary transfer roller 103 between the secondary transfer counter roller 102 and the secondary transfer roller 103. The sheet on which the image has been transferred is heated and pressed by the fixing unit 34 to fix the image, and is then discharged to the paper discharge unit 35.

  An unillustrated control unit includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a memory that stores various programs read by the CPU, and an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) that is a dedicated circuit that realizes various functions. Control one whole.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the positions of the developing units 13 and the LED heads 111 for Y to K during image formation. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the positions of the developing units 13 and the LED heads 111 for Y to K during maintenance. FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the developing device 13 moves the magnet roller 12 away from the photoreceptor 10 around the rotation center 131 by a driving mechanism (not shown) during maintenance of the image forming apparatus 100 (FIG. 3). Turn counterclockwise. The maintenance time indicates, for example, a non-execution time of a print job.

  The lens unit 11 includes an LED head 111 (light source device), a cleaning bar 4 (FIG. 3), a case 110 that houses the LED head 111, and a proximity / separation mechanism (not shown) that drives the cleaning bar 4.

  The LED head 111 exposes the photoreceptor 10. The LED head 111 includes an LED array 112 (light emitting element) in which LEDs are arranged in a scanning direction (first direction) that is a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 2, and extends in the scanning direction, and each LED of the LED array 112 emits light. A lens array 113 (an object to be cleaned) that images light on the surface of the photoreceptor 10. The surface of the lens array 113 facing the photoreceptor 10 is a light emitting surface 114 that emits light. The lens array 113 protrudes from the LED array 112.

A proximity / separation mechanism (not shown) positions the LED head 111 at an exposure position close to the photoreceptor 10 shown in FIG. 2 during image formation. The proximity / separation mechanism moves the LED head 111 from the photosensitive member 10 to a standby position shown in FIG. 3 away from the exposure position during maintenance.
The cleaning bar 4 enters the gap S1 between the lens array 113 and the photoreceptor 10 during maintenance, and cleans the light emitting surface 114 of the lens array 113.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the cleaning rod 4.
The cleaning rod 4 has a longitudinal shape and includes a rotating member 5 at the tip. The rotating member 5 includes a first cleaning unit 6 and a second cleaning unit 7 described later (see FIG. 5). The cleaning rod 4 slides in the Y direction by a drive mechanism (not shown), that is, reciprocates along the lens array 113, and uses the first and second cleaning units 6, 7 to emit the light exit surface 114 of the lens array 113. Clean.

  Hereinafter, the longitudinal direction of the cleaning rod 4 is defined as the + −Y direction (first direction), the width direction of the cleaning rod 4 orthogonal to the Y direction is defined as the + −X direction (second direction), and the direction orthogonal to the XY direction is defined. The Z direction (third direction) is assumed. The Y direction is the scanning direction, and the X direction is the sub-scanning direction. The + Z direction is a direction close to the photoconductor 10 in the radial direction of the photoconductor 10, and the −Z direction is a direction away from the photoconductor 10 in the radial direction of the photoconductor 10. In the present embodiment, the + Z direction is an upward direction in the vertical direction, and the −Z direction is a downward direction in the vertical direction (see FIG. 1).

FIG. 5 is a side view showing the configuration of the cleaning rod 4.
The cleaning bar 4 includes a rotating member 5 and a holding member 8.
The rotating member 5 includes a plate-like main body 51, columnar shafts 52 on both sides in the X direction that is the width direction of the main body 51, and both sides of the shaft 52 with the shaft 52 in the Y direction. There are provided first and second cleaning units 6 and 7.

  In the main body 51, the + Y direction side of the shaft portion 52 is an arc-shaped portion 511 that bulges in the −Z direction, and the −Y direction side of the shaft portion 52 is an arc-shaped second cleaning that bulges in the −Z direction. It is part 7.

  The first cleaning unit 6 includes the arc-shaped portion 511 and a cloth-like member 61 attached to the surface of the arc-shaped portion 511 on the −Z direction side. The cloth-like member 61 is made of a soft material such as cloth or nonwoven fabric. The first cleaning unit 6 can wipe foreign matter on the lens array 113 with the cloth-like member 61. Wiping foreign matter on the lens array 113 means removing the foreign matter from the lens array 113 by rubbing the first cleaning portion 6 on the surface of the lens array 113 to attach the foreign matter to the first cleaning portion 6. In the surface on the −Z direction side of the first cleaning unit 6, the + Y direction front end side is an arcuate ride surface 62 (first ride surface) that extends in the −Z direction as it proceeds to the shaft portion 52 side (−Y direction front end side). It has become.

  The first cleaning portion 6 has a shape having an arc-shaped riding surface 62, and has a shape that easily escapes in the + Z direction when hitting the edge 115 of the lens array 113. The edge 115 refers to the −Y direction end of the light exit surface 114 of the lens array 113.

  As described above, the second cleaning portion 7 is formed on the −Y direction side of the shaft portion 52 in the main body portion 51 and bulges in an arc shape in the −Z direction. The second cleaning unit 7 is heavier than the first cleaning unit 6. Here, the home position of the cleaning rod 4 is the position of FIG. 5 where the rotating member 5 is located on the −Y direction side of the lens array 113. In this embodiment, since the 2nd cleaning part 7 is heavier than the 1st cleaning part 6, when the cleaning stick 4 exists in a home position, as for the rotation member 5, the 1st cleaning part 6 is the 2nd cleaning. The posture is positioned in the + Z direction with respect to the portion 7. On the surface on the −Z direction side of the second cleaning unit 7, the front end side in the + Y direction is a riding surface 71 (second riding surface) that extends in the + Z direction as it proceeds to the shaft portion 52 side.

Such a second cleaning unit 7 contacts the light emitting surface 114 of the lens array 113 and sweeps foreign matter on the lens array 113. The cleaning of the foreign matter on the lens array 113 means that the foreign matter is moved by moving the second cleaning unit 7 while contacting the surface of the lens array 113.
The lengths of the first and second cleaning units 6 and 7 in the X direction are the same as the lengths of the light emitting surfaces 114 in the X direction.

  The holding member 8 includes a pair of side plates 81 located on both sides in the X direction of the rotating member 5 and extending in the Y direction (see FIG. 4). The side plate 81 has circular hole portions 82 at portions located on both sides in the X direction of the rotating member 5. The shaft portion 52 is inserted into the hole portion 82. The hole 82 holds the rotating member 5 in a rotatable manner.

  When cleaning the lens array 113 with the cleaning rod 4 during maintenance of the image forming apparatus 100, the cleaning rod 4 slides in the + Y direction from the home position toward the lens array 113 by a drive mechanism (not shown). Here, when the cleaning rod 4 is at the home position and the first and second cleaning portions 6 and 7 are not in contact with the lens array 113, the rotating member 5 is the seesaw centered on the shaft portion 52 as a fulcrum. It can be freely rotated clockwise or counterclockwise as shown in FIG. In addition, the first cleaning unit 6 includes an arc-shaped riding surface 62.

  Therefore, when the cleaning bar 4 moves in the + Y direction and the first cleaning unit 6 contacts the edge 115 of the lens array 113, the first cleaning unit 6 is edged by the arc-shaped riding surface 62 as shown in FIG. It will move onto the lens array 113 without being caught by 115.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, since the 2nd cleaning part 7 is heavier than the 1st cleaning part 6, when the cleaning stick 4 exists in a home position, the direction of the 1st cleaning part 6 is + Z rather than the 2nd cleaning part 7. Will be located in the direction. Thereby, in this embodiment, the catch by the edge 115 of the 1st cleaning part 6 can be suppressed more effectively.

  When the cleaning rod 4 further moves in the + Y direction from the position shown in FIG. 6, the second cleaning unit 7 also rides on the lens array 113 as shown in FIG. 7, and both the first and second cleaning units 6 and 7 are in contact with the lens. Contact the array 113. As the cleaning rod 4 moves in the + Y direction, the two first and second cleaning units 6 and 7 come into contact with the lens array 113 in a state where the pressure is balanced and with sufficient pressure, and foreign matter on the lens array 113 Are wiped off and the foreign matter is swept in the + Y direction. The cleaning rod 4 moves in the + Y direction until the second cleaning unit 7 comes off the lens array 113, and the second cleaning unit 7 sweeps foreign matter out of the lens array 113.

  As described above, the cleaning rod 4 of the present embodiment has the arc-shaped riding surfaces 62 and 71 in the first and second cleaning portions 6 and 7 and the rotating member 5 is rotatably provided. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the first and second cleaning units 6 and 7 are automatically mounted on the lens array 113 without being caught by the edge 115 simply by sliding the cleaning bar 4 on the LED head 111. The first and second cleaning units 6 and 7 can wipe off and sweep out foreign matters on the lens array 113.

  In the present embodiment, the mechanism for causing the first and second cleaning units 6 and 7 to ride on the lens array 113 is simple, and the mechanism is a small space between the photoconductor 10 and the LED head 111. Therefore, the size and cost can be reduced.

  When the foreign matter on the lens array 113 is wiped with the first cleaning unit 6, the fibers of the first cleaning unit 6 may adhere to the lens array 113 even if the foreign matter is wiped off. However, in this embodiment, after the foreign matter on the lens array 113 is wiped by the first cleaning unit 6 and then the lens array 113 is swept by the second cleaning unit 7, the fibers of the first cleaning unit 6 are transferred to the lens array 113. It can prevent adhesion.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 8 is a side view showing the configuration of the second cleaning unit 7A.
In the present embodiment, the cleaning rod 4 reciprocates on the lens array 113 for cleaning.
A portion of the side plate 81 located on both sides in the X direction of the rotating member 5 has an elongated hole portion 82A. The elongated hole portion 82A extends in the Z direction as it proceeds in the Y direction. The shaft portion 52 is inserted into the elongated hole portion 82A. The elongated hole portion 82A holds the shaft portion 52 so as to be movable in the YZ direction.

  The second cleaning unit 7 </ b> A includes a support part 512 on the −Y direction side of the rotating member 5 and a blade-like member 72 supported by the support part 512. The blade-like member 72 is a thin plate having a rectangular shape in plan view and has flexibility. The second cleaning unit 7A can sweep foreign matter on the lens array 113.

  In the surface on the −Z direction side of the first cleaning unit 6, the base end side in the + Y direction is an arc-shaped riding surface 63 that extends in the + Z direction as it proceeds to the shaft portion 52 side. The riding surface 63 smoothly guides the first cleaning unit 6 onto the lens array 113 when contacting the edge of the lens array 113 in the return path in which the cleaning rod 4 moves in the -Y direction.

  When the cleaning rod 4 moves in the + Y direction, as shown in FIG. 9, the first cleaning unit 6 comes into contact with the edge 115, whereby the rotating member 5 rotates clockwise in FIG. 9, and the rotating member 5 is lifted in the + Z direction, and the shaft portion 52 is guided to the + Z direction side of the elongated hole portion 82A. Accordingly, the first cleaning unit 6 rides on the lens array 113 without being caught by the edge 115.

  When the cleaning rod 4 further moves in the + Y direction, as shown in FIG. 10, the second cleaning portion 7A (blade-like member 72) rides on the lens array 113 while being bent. In the forward path of FIG. 10 in which the cleaning bar 4 moves in the + Y direction, the second cleaning unit 7A is bent and both the first and second cleaning units 6 and 7 are in contact with the lens array 113. Further, the shaft portion 52 is guided to the −Y direction side of the elongated hole portion 82A and receives force from the elongated hole portion 82A to the −Z direction side.

  As a result, in the forward path, the two first and second cleaning units 6 and 7 are in contact with the lens array 113 with sufficient pressure in a balanced state to clean foreign matter. The cleaning bar 4 moves in the + Y direction until the second cleaning unit 7A is disengaged from the lens array 113.

FIG. 11 is a view showing a cleaning state of the return path of the cleaning rod 4.
In the return path in which the cleaning rod 4 moves in the −Y direction, the second cleaning portion 7A bends, and at the same time, the shaft portion 52 is guided in the + Y direction of the elongated hole portion 82A and moves in the + Z direction side. A force is applied to the + Z direction side from 82A. As a result, since the first cleaning unit 6 is lifted from the lens array 113 on the return path, the cleaning rod 4 is prevented from adhering fibers from the first cleaning unit 6 to the lens array 113. The lens array 113 can be cleaned only by 7A.

(Modification)
FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating the riding surfaces 62B and 71B of the first and second cleaning units 6B and 7B.
The riding surfaces 62B and 71B of the first and second cleaning portions 6B and 7B may be tapered so as to extend in the −Z direction as proceeding toward the shaft portion 52 side.

The second cleaning unit may have the same weight as the first cleaning unit or may be lighter than the first cleaning unit.
In the first and second embodiments, the cleaning rod 4 cleaned the light emitting surface that emits light upward in the vertical direction. The second cleaning unit may be lighter than the first cleaning unit. In this case, when the rotating member is at the home position, the rotating member can be rotated so that the first cleaning unit is vertically downward, and the first cleaning unit is caught on the edge of the lens array 113. Can be suppressed.

  In the second embodiment, the first cleaning unit 6A including the cloth-like member 61 is provided on the distal end side of the holding member 8, and the second cleaning unit 7A is located closer to the proximal end side of the holding member 8 than the first cleaning unit 6A. It was. However, the second cleaning portion 7 </ b> A may be on the distal end side of the holding member 8, and the first cleaning portion 6 </ b> A may be on the proximal end side of the holding member 8. In this case, after the foreign matter on the lens array 113 is swept out of the surface of the lens array 113 by the second cleaning unit 7A in the forward path, the foreign matter on the lens array 113 with less foreign matter is wiped and swept away on the return path first. Since the cleaning is performed by the second cleaning units 6 and 7, it is possible to suppress the adhesion of foreign matter to the first cleaning unit 6, and it is possible to suppress the reattachment of foreign matter from the first cleaning unit 6 to the lens array 113.

In the above embodiment, the lens array 113 of the LED head 111 is exemplified as the cleaning object of the cleaning rod 4, but the cleaning object may be other.
The present invention can be implemented in various other forms without departing from the spirit or main features thereof. Therefore, the above-described embodiment is merely an example in all respects and should not be interpreted in a limited manner. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the scope of claims, and is not restricted by the text of the specification. Further, all modifications, various improvements, alternatives and modifications belonging to the equivalent scope of the claims are all within the scope of the present invention.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming apparatus, 4 ... Cleaning rod, 5 ... Rotating member, 6 ... 1st cleaning part, 7 ... 2nd cleaning part, 8 ... Holding member, 10 ... Photoconductor, 11 ... Lens unit, 13 ... Developer , 52 ... Shaft part, 62 ... First riding surface, 71 ... Second riding surface, 82 ... Long hole part (hole part), 111 ... LED head (light source device), 112 ... LED array (light emitting element), 113 ... Lens array.

Claims (5)

A shaft portion in the width direction on both sides in the longitudinal direction is on one side of the shaft portion, a first cleaning unit which can wipe the foreign matter on the cleaning object comprises a first run-up surface, in the longitudinal direction There the other side of the shaft portion, and a rotating member and a second cleaning unit which can sweep foreign substances on the cleaning target object,
The shaft portion has the width direction on both sides Bei Ete the rotary member of the rotary member to the hole portion is rotatably held to be inserted, in a first direction toward the cleaning object side perpendicular to the width direction A holding member that slides ,
The first riding surface has a taper shape or an arc shape extending in a direction perpendicular to the first direction and the width direction as it is away from the shaft portion in the first direction, and the holding member slides in the first direction. Then, when the cleaning object hits the cleaning object, the rotating member is rotated so that the first cleaning unit rides on the cleaning object . The cleaning stick according to claim 1,
The second cleaning unit is heavier than the first cleaning unit, and the holding member slides in the first direction from the side of the cleaning object in a posture in which the first cleaning unit comes to the front end side in the first direction. When moving, the cleaning rod is characterized in that the first cleaning unit is positioned upward in the vertical direction. In the cleaning stick according to claim 1 or 2,
When the holding member slides in the first direction toward the cleaning object, the second cleaning part rotates the rotating member by hitting the cleaning object, thereby cleaning the second cleaning part. a second ride surface that makes ride on the object, comprising the tapered or second riding surface of the arc extending in the orthogonal direction between the first direction and the width direction with distance from the shaft portion in a first direction A cleaning stick characterized by that. A light source device comprising: a light emitting element extending in the first direction; and a lens array extending in the first direction and through which light emitted from the light emitting element passes.
The cleaning rod according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the light emitting surface of the lens array is cleaned.
A lens unit comprising: A photoreceptor carrying a toner image;
The lens unit according to claim 4, wherein the lens unit is around the photoconductor and exposes the photoconductor to form an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor.
A developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image and forming the toner image on the photoreceptor;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a light source device that moves to an exposure position and a stand-by position that moves away from the photosensitive member to a standby position that is separated from the exposure position.

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