JP6853635B2 - Cleaning equipment, transfer equipment and image forming equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a cleaning device, and more particularly to a cleaning device that removes toner remaining on the outer peripheral surface of a transfer belt suspended orbitably suspended by a plurality of suspension rollers. The present invention also relates to a transfer device and an image forming device including a cleaning device.

An example of a conventional cleaning device of this type is disclosed in Patent Document 1. The cleaning device of Patent Document 1 includes a cleaning blade that abuts on the outer peripheral surface of the transfer belt between the suspension rollers. By arranging the cleaning blades between the suspension rollers in this way, it is possible to reduce the width direction of the image forming apparatus as compared with arranging the cleaning blades so as to face the suspension rollers.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2014-142578

In the technique of Patent Document 1, since the cleaning blades are provided between the suspension rollers, the opposing rollers are provided at positions facing the cleaning blades with the transfer belt sandwiched in order to keep the linear pressure of the cleaning blades with respect to the transfer belt constant. However, if the opposing rollers are simply provided, the transfer belt may be wavy or bent, the linear pressure of the cleaning blade with respect to the transfer belt may not be constant, and the residual toner of the transfer belt may not be properly removed.

Therefore, a main object of the present invention is to provide a novel cleaning device, transfer device and image forming device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning device, a transfer device and an image forming device capable of appropriately suppressing waviness or bending of the transfer belt and appropriately removing residual toner of the transfer belt.

The first invention is a cleaning device for removing toner remaining on the outer peripheral surface of a transfer belt suspended so as to be movable around by a plurality of suspension rollers, and a predetermined pressure is applied to the outer peripheral surface of the transfer belt between the suspension rollers. A cleaning blade provided so as to abut and scrape off the toner remaining on the outer peripheral surface of the transfer belt, an opposing roller provided so as to face the cleaning blade across the transfer belt, and a contact between the cleaning blade and the transfer belt. A first pressing roller is provided on the upstream side in the circumferential movement direction of the contact position to press the outer peripheral surface of the transfer belt, and the position where the tip of the cleaning blade abuts on the transfer belt is the contact between the transfer belt and the opposing roller. The position is set to the downstream side of the central position in the orbital movement direction of the transfer belt of the region, and each of the cleaning blade, the opposing roller and the first pressing roller is located on the downstream side in the orbital movement direction among the positions between the suspension rollers. A second pressing roller, which is arranged at a position on the side of the suspended roller to be arranged and is provided on the downstream side in the circumferential movement direction of the transfer belt at the contact position between the cleaning blade and the transfer belt, presses the outer peripheral surface of the transfer belt. It is a cleaning device further provided.

In the first invention, the cleaning device includes a cleaning blade and an opposing roller, and removes the toner remaining on the outer peripheral surface of the transfer belt after the toner image is transferred to the paper. The cleaning blade is provided so as to come into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the transfer belt at a predetermined pressure between the suspension rollers, that is, at a position other than the curved portion where the suspension roller suspends the transfer belt, and the toner remaining on the outer peripheral surface of the transfer belt is provided. Scrap off. Further, the opposing roller is provided so as to face the cleaning blade with the transfer belt sandwiched between them. Then, in the first invention, the position where the tip of the cleaning blade comes into contact with the transfer belt is set to a position downstream of the central position in the circumferential movement direction of the transfer belt in the contact region between the transfer belt and the opposing roller. As a result, the transfer belt is wound around the opposing roller, and the contact area of the transfer belt with respect to the opposing roller is increased. That is, the cleaning blade is used to increase the contact area of the transfer belt with respect to the opposing roller. Further, in the first invention, a first pressing roller for pressing the outer peripheral surface of the transfer belt is further provided, and the first pressing roller is upstream of the contact position between the cleaning blade and the transfer belt in the circumferential movement direction of the transfer belt. It is provided on the side. The cleaning blade, each of the opposing roller and the first pressing roller, of among the positions between the suspension roller is disposed at a position of the suspension roller side disposed on the downstream side in the circumferential direction of movement. Furthermore, in the first invention, a second pressing roller for pressing the outer peripheral surface of the transfer belt is provided on the downstream side in the circumferential movement direction of the transfer belt at the contact position between the cleaning blade and the transfer belt.

According to the first invention, since the contact area of the transfer belt with respect to the opposing roller can be increased, the waviness or bending of the transfer belt can be appropriately suppressed, and the residual toner of the transfer belt can be appropriately removed by the cleaning blade.

The second invention is an invention subordinate to the first invention. In the second invention, the position where the tip of the cleaning blade comes into contact with the transfer belt is on the tangent line of the most downstream position in the circumferential movement direction of the transfer belt on the outer peripheral surface of the opposing roller, or at a position upstream of the tangent line. Set.

According to the third invention, the contact area of the transfer belt with respect to the opposing roller can be made larger, and the waviness or bending of the transfer belt can be suppressed more appropriately.

A third invention comprises a transfer belt movably suspended by a plurality of suspension rollers, and a cleaning device according to the first or second invention for removing toner remaining on the outer peripheral surface of the transfer belt. Is.

The fourth invention is an image forming apparatus including the transfer apparatus according to the third invention.

Also in the third and fourth inventions, the same action and effect as those of the first or second invention can be obtained, and the residual toner of the transfer belt can be appropriately removed by the cleaning blade.

According to the present invention, since the contact area of the transfer belt with respect to the opposing roller can be increased, the waviness or bending of the transfer belt can be appropriately suppressed, and the residual toner of the transfer belt can be appropriately removed by the cleaning blade.

The above-mentioned object, other object, feature and advantage of the present invention will become more apparent from the detailed description of the examples described below with reference to the drawings.

It is a schematic diagram which shows the schematic structure of the image forming apparatus provided with the cleaning apparatus which is 1st Example of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the transfer apparatus included in the image forming apparatus of FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows the schematic structure of the transfer apparatus of FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows the cleaning apparatus which is 1st Example of this invention. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the arrangement position of a cleaning blade. It is a schematic diagram which shows the cleaning apparatus which is 2nd Example of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the cleaning apparatus which is 3rd Example of this invention.

[First Example]
With reference to FIG. 1, the cleaning device 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is used for the image forming device 100 that forms an image on paper by an electrophotographic method. As will be described in detail later, the cleaning device 10 includes a cleaning blade 76, an opposing roller 78, and the like, and is provided in the transfer device 42 included in the image forming device 100. After the toner image is transferred to the paper, the transfer belt (intermediate transfer) is provided. The toner remaining on the outer peripheral surface of the belt 54) is removed.

First, the basic configuration of the image forming apparatus 100 will be schematically described. In this embodiment, the image forming apparatus 100 is a multifunction device (MFP) having a copying function, a printer function, a scanner function, a facsimile function, and the like.

As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 100 includes an apparatus main body 12 including an image forming unit 30 and the like, and an image reading apparatus 14 arranged above the apparatus main body 12.

The image reading device 14 includes a document mounting table 16 formed of a transparent material. A document holding cover 18 can be opened and closed above the document mounting table 16 via a hinge or the like. The document holding cover 18 is provided with an ADF (automatic document feeder) 24 that automatically feeds the documents placed on the document placing tray 20 one by one to the image reading position 22. Although not shown, an operation unit such as a touch panel and operation buttons for receiving input operations such as printing instructions by the user is provided on the front side of the document mounting table 16.

Further, the image reading device 14 includes an image reading unit 26 including a light source, a plurality of mirrors, an imaging lens, a line sensor, and the like. The image reading unit 26 exposes the surface of the document with a light source, and guides the reflected light reflected from the surface of the document to the imaging lens by a plurality of mirrors. Then, the reflected light is imaged on the light receiving element of the line sensor by the imaging lens. The line sensor detects the brightness and chromaticity of the reflected light imaged on the light receiving element, and generates image data based on the image of the surface of the document. As the line sensor, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), a CIS (Contact Image Sensor), or the like is used.

The device main body 12 includes a control unit 28 including a CPU, a memory, and the like, an image forming unit 30, and the like. The control unit 28 transmits a control signal to each part of the image forming apparatus 100 including the transfer apparatus 42 in response to an input operation to an operation unit such as a touch panel, and causes the image forming apparatus 100 to execute various operations. The control unit 28 is also a control unit for the transfer device 42 and the cleaning device 10 in order to control the entire image forming device 100.

The image forming unit 30 includes an exposure unit 32, a developer 34, a photoconductor drum 36, a photoconductor cleaner unit 38, a charger 40, a transfer device 42, a fixing unit 44, and the like, and includes a paper feed tray 48 or a manual paper feed tray 50. An image is formed on the paper conveyed from the paper, and the image-formed paper is discharged to the output tray 52. As the image data for forming an image on the paper, the image data read by the image reading unit 26, the image data transmitted from an external computer, or the like is used.

The image data handled by the image forming apparatus 100 corresponds to four color images of black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y). Therefore, each of the developer 34, the photoconductor drum 36, the photoconductor cleaner unit 38, and the charger 40 is provided so as to form four types of latent images corresponding to each color, and four images are provided by these. The station is configured.

The photoconductor drum 36 is an image carrier in which a photosensitive layer is formed on the surface of a conductive cylindrical substrate, and the charger 40 is a member that charges the surface of the photoconductor drum 36 to a predetermined potential. is there. Further, the exposure unit 32 is configured as a laser scanning unit (LSU) provided with a laser emitting unit, a reflection mirror, and the like, and by exposing the surface of the charged photoconductor drum 36, the electrostatic latency corresponding to the image data is obtained. An image is formed on the surface of the photoconductor drum 36. The developing device 34 visualizes an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photoconductor drum 36 with four-color (YMCK) toner. Further, the photoconductor cleaner unit 38 removes the toner remaining on the surface of the photoconductor drum 36 after development and image transfer.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the transfer device 42 includes an intermediate transfer belt 54, a drive roller 56, a driven roller 58, four intermediate transfer rollers 60, a secondary transfer roller 62, a cleaning device 10, and the like. , Arranged above the photoconductor drum 36.

The intermediate transfer belt 54 is a flexible, endless belt, and is formed of a synthetic resin, rubber, or the like appropriately blended with a conductive material such as carbon black. The intermediate transfer belt 54 is suspended by a plurality of suspension rollers provided in parallel with each other, a drive roller 56 and a driven roller 58 arranged at predetermined intervals in the lateral direction in the first embodiment, and the outer peripheral surface on the lower side thereof. (Bottom surface) is arranged so as to abut on the outer peripheral surface of the photoconductor drum 36. Then, the intermediate transfer belt 54 orbits in a predetermined direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 1) as the drive roller 56 is rotationally driven.

The drive roller 56 is rotatably provided around its axis by a drive unit (not shown). The driven roller 58 rotates with the orbital movement of the intermediate transfer belt 54 and applies a constant tension to the intermediate transfer belt 54 to prevent the intermediate transfer belt 54 from loosening.

The intermediate transfer roller 60 is arranged at a position facing each photoconductor drum 36 with the intermediate transfer belt 54 interposed therebetween. At the time of image formation, a predetermined voltage (primary transfer voltage) is applied to the intermediate transfer roller 60, so that a transfer electric field is formed between the photoconductor drum 36 and the intermediate transfer belt 54. Then, by the action of this transfer electric field, the toner image formed on the outer peripheral surface of the photoconductor drum 36 is transferred to the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 54.

The secondary transfer roller 62 is provided so as to press the intermediate transfer belt 54 with the drive roller 56. At the time of image formation, a predetermined voltage (secondary transfer voltage) is applied to the secondary transfer roller 62, so that a transfer electric field is formed between the intermediate transfer belt 54 and the secondary transfer roller 62. Then, due to the action of this transfer electric field, the toner image formed on the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 54 is transferred to the paper while the paper passes through the transfer nip region between the intermediate transfer belt 54 and the secondary transfer roller 62. Transcription (secondary transcription).

After the toner image is transferred to the paper, the toner remaining on the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 54 is removed by the cleaning device 10 and collected in the toner collection box 72. However, although the cleaning device 10 mainly removes residual toner, it can also remove paper dust and the like adhering to the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 54.

The cleaning device 10 includes a cleaning blade 76, an opposing roller 78, and the like, and is a substantially linear portion between the suspension rollers (between the drive roller 56 and the driven roller 58), that is, a curvature in which the suspension roller suspends the intermediate transfer belt 54. It is provided at a position other than the part. In this first embodiment, the cleaning device 10 is provided on the upper portion of the intermediate transfer belt 54 (the portion on the return side after transfer to paper). Further, the toner collection box 72 is provided on the front side of the image forming apparatus 100, and accommodates the toner conveyed from the cleaning apparatus 10 by the conveying screw 82. The specific configuration of the cleaning device 10 will be described later.

Returning to FIG. 1, the fixing unit 44 includes a heat roller 64 and a pressure roller 66, and is arranged above the secondary transfer roller 62. The heat roller 64 is set to have a predetermined fixing temperature, and when the paper passes through the nip area between the heat roller 64 and the pressure roller 66, the toner image transferred to the paper is melted. The toner image is heat-fixed to the paper by mixing and pressure welding.

In such an apparatus main body 12, the paper from the paper feed tray 48 or the manual paper feed tray 50 is sent to the paper output tray 52 via the registration roller 68, the secondary transfer roller 62, and the fixing unit 44. 1 Paper transport path L1 is formed. Further, when performing double-sided printing on paper, the paper after single-sided printing is completed and has passed through the fixing unit 44 is placed on the first paper transport path L1 on the upstream side of the secondary transfer roller 62 in the paper transport direction. A second paper transport path L2 for returning is formed. A plurality of transport rollers 70 for additionally applying a propulsive force to the paper are appropriately provided in the first paper transport path L1 and the second paper transport path L2.

When performing single-sided printing (image formation) in the apparatus main body 12, the paper is guided one by one from the paper feed tray 48 or the manual paper feed tray 50 to the first paper transport path L1, and is guided by the transport roller 70 to the registration roller 68. Will be transported to. Then, the resist roller 68 conveys the paper to the secondary transfer roller 62 (transfer nip portion) at the timing when the tip of the paper and the tip of the image information on the intermediate transfer belt 54 match, and the toner image is transferred onto the paper. Will be done. After that, by passing through the fixing unit 44 (fixing nip portion), the unfixed toner on the paper is melted and fixed by heat, and the paper is discharged onto the paper ejection tray 52.

On the other hand, when double-sided printing is performed, when the rear end of the paper that has passed through the fixing unit 44 reaches the transport roller 70 near the output tray 52 after single-sided printing is completed, the transport roller 70 is rotated in the reverse direction. As a result, the paper runs in the reverse direction and is guided to the second paper transport path L2. The paper guided to the second paper transport path L2 is conveyed by the transport roller 70 through the second paper transport path L2, and is guided to the first paper transport path L1 on the upstream side of the resist roller 68 in the paper transport direction. At this point, the front and back sides of the paper are reversed, and then the paper passes through the secondary transfer roller 62 and the fixing unit 44 to print on the back side of the paper.

Subsequently, the configuration of the cleaning device 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. In the following description, for the sake of simplification of the text, it may be simply referred to as "upstream side" or "downstream side", but this means the upstream side or the downstream side in the circumferential movement direction of the intermediate transfer belt 54. Shall be.

As described above, the cleaning device 10 is a device that removes residual toner remaining on the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 54 after the toner image formed on the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 54 is transferred to the paper. It is arranged on the upper part of the transfer belt 54. The cleaning device 10 includes components such as a cleaning blade 76, an opposing roller 78, a sub blade 80, and a transfer screw 82. These components are held in a predetermined arrangement mode by a frame 84 or the like.

The cleaning blade 76 is a long rectangular plate-shaped elastic member, and is provided so as to extend in the width direction (direction orthogonal to the circumferential movement direction) of the intermediate transfer belt 54. The cleaning blade 76 is provided between the drive roller 56 and the driven roller 58 so that the tip corner portion thereof abuts on the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 54 in the counter direction at a predetermined pressure, and the intermediate transfer belt 54 is provided. The toner remaining on the outer peripheral surface of the is mechanically scraped off.

The opposing roller 78 is provided so as to face the cleaning blade 76 with the intermediate transfer belt 54 interposed therebetween. The opposing roller 78 is a member for keeping the linear pressure of the cleaning blade 76 with respect to the intermediate transfer belt 54 constant.

The sub-blade 80 is a long rectangular plate-shaped member, and is provided so as to extend in parallel with the opposing roller 78 at a position near the upstream side of the cleaning blade 76 in the circumferential movement direction of the intermediate transfer belt 54. The sub blade 80 is provided so as to abut in the follow direction with respect to the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 54, and the toner scraped from the intermediate transfer belt 54 by the cleaning blade 76 does not leak (do not return) to the upstream side. ) Receive toner.

The transport screw 82 is a transport member that transports the toner scraped from the intermediate transfer belt 54 by the cleaning blade 76 to the toner recovery box 72. The transport screw 82 has a columnar rotating shaft and spiral blades in which an elliptical plate is spirally wound around the outer peripheral surface of the rotating shaft, and is provided above the cleaning blade 76 in parallel with the opposing roller 78.

In such a cleaning device 10, after the toner image is transferred to the paper at the transfer nip portion, the toner remaining on the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 54 is scraped off by the cleaning blade 76. Then, the toner scraped off by the cleaning blade 76 is conveyed to the toner recovery box 72 by the conveying screw 82 at any time.

Here, if the opposing roller 78 is simply provided so that the tip of the cleaning blade 76 faces the position where the tip of the cleaning blade 76 abuts on the intermediate transfer belt 54, the intermediate transfer belt 54 will be wavy or bent, and the intermediate transfer belt 54 will be wavy or bent. The linear pressure of the cleaning blade 76 may not be constant, and the residual toner of the intermediate transfer belt 54 may not be properly removed.

Therefore, in this first embodiment, as can be clearly seen from FIG. 5, the position where the tip of the cleaning blade 76 comes into contact with the intermediate transfer belt 54 is set at the intermediate transfer belt 54 in the contact region between the intermediate transfer belt 54 and the opposing roller 78. By setting the intermediate transfer belt 54 to a position downstream of the central position P in the orbital movement direction of the above, the intermediate transfer belt 54 is bent along the outer peripheral surface of the opposing roller 78 so that it can be wound around the opposing roller 78. The contact area of the intermediate transfer belt 54 with respect to the roller 78 is increased. In other words, in this first embodiment, the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 54 is used by using the cleaning blade 76 at a position downstream of the contact region between the intermediate transfer belt 54 and the opposing roller 78 in the absence of the cleaning blade 76. Is pressed with a predetermined pressure to increase the contact area of the intermediate transfer belt 54 with respect to the opposing roller 78. As a result, the waviness or bending of the intermediate transfer belt 54 is appropriately suppressed, so that the cleaning blade 76 can be uniformly brought into contact with the intermediate transfer belt 54 over its entire length. Therefore, the cleaning blade 76 can appropriately remove the residual toner of the intermediate transfer belt 54.

At this time, the contact region between the intermediate transfer belt 54 and the opposing roller 78 is preferably set so that the central angle θ of the corresponding opposing roller 78 is 30 degrees or more, and is set to 40 degrees or more. It is more preferable to be done. Further, the larger the contact area between the intermediate transfer belt 54 and the opposing roller 78, the more the waviness or bending of the intermediate transfer belt 54 is suppressed, but the cleaning blade 76 becomes difficult to install. Therefore, the intermediate transfer belt 54 and the opposing roller are difficult to install. The contact region with the 78 is preferably set so that the central angle θ of the corresponding opposing roller 78 is within 90 degrees.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5B, the position where the tip of the cleaning blade 76 abuts on the intermediate transfer belt 54 is in contact with the most downstream position 78a in the circumferential movement direction of the intermediate transfer belt 54 on the outer peripheral surface of the opposing roller 78. It is preferable to set the position on the line or on the upstream side of the tangent line. This is because if the contact position of the cleaning blade 76 with respect to the intermediate transfer belt 54 shifts too far to the downstream side, the function of the opposing roller 78 deteriorates.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, since the contact area of the intermediate transfer belt 54 with respect to the opposing roller 78 can be increased, the waviness or bending of the intermediate transfer belt 54 is appropriately suppressed, and the intermediate transfer is performed by the cleaning blade 76. The residual toner of the belt 54 can be appropriately removed.

Further, since the cleaning blade 76 is brought into contact with the intermediate transfer belt 54 between the suspension rollers (between the drive roller 56 and the driven roller 58), the transfer device 42 and the image forming device 100 can be reduced in the width direction. it can.

[Second Example]
Next, the cleaning device 10 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the pressing roller 90 is further provided. Since the configurations of the other parts are the same, the parts common to the above-described first embodiment are given the same reference numbers, and duplicate explanations are omitted or simplified.

As shown in FIG. 6, the cleaning device 10 of the second embodiment is provided on the upstream side of the contact position between the cleaning blade 76 and the intermediate transfer belt 54 in the circumferential movement direction of the intermediate transfer belt 54, and is provided for intermediate transfer. A pressing roller 90 that presses the outer peripheral surface of the belt 54 downward is further provided. The pressing roller 90 is a driven roller that rotates with the orbital movement of the intermediate transfer belt 54, and is provided so as to extend in parallel with the opposing roller 78. By pressing the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 54 with the pressing roller 90 in this way, the intermediate transfer belt 54 with respect to the opposing roller 78 is located upstream of the contact position between the cleaning blade 76 and the intermediate transfer belt 54. The contact area becomes large. As a result, the waviness or bending of the intermediate transfer belt 54 is more appropriately suppressed, so that the cleaning blade 76 can be brought into contact with the intermediate transfer belt 54 more uniformly over its entire length. Therefore, the residual toner of the intermediate transfer belt 54 can be removed more appropriately.

Further, in the second embodiment, the pressing roller 90 is located closer to the opposing roller 78 than the suspension roller (driving roller 56) provided at least on the upstream side of the pressing roller 90. It is placed close to 78. Thereby, the waviness or bending of the intermediate transfer belt 54 can be suppressed more appropriately.

According to this second embodiment, the waviness or bending of the intermediate transfer belt 54 can be suppressed more appropriately. Therefore, the cleaning blade 76 can be brought into contact with the intermediate transfer belt 54 more uniformly over the entire length thereof, and the residual toner of the intermediate transfer belt 54 can be removed more appropriately by the cleaning blade 76.

[Third Example]
The cleaning device 10 according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 7. In this third embodiment, the arrangement position of the pressing roller is different from that in the second embodiment described above. Since the configurations of the other parts are the same, the same reference numbers are given to the parts common to the above-mentioned first embodiment and the second embodiment, and the duplicated description is omitted or simplified.

As shown in FIG. 7, the cleaning device 10 of the third embodiment is provided on the downstream side of the contact position between the cleaning blade 76 and the intermediate transfer belt 54 in the circumferential movement direction of the intermediate transfer belt 54, and is provided for intermediate transfer. A pressing roller 92 that downwardly presses the outer peripheral surface of the belt 54 is further provided. By providing such a pressing roller 92, the contact area of the intermediate transfer belt 54 with respect to the opposing roller 78 becomes large on the downstream side of the contact position between the cleaning blade 76 and the intermediate transfer belt 54. As a result, the waviness or bending of the intermediate transfer belt 54 is more appropriately suppressed, so that the cleaning blade 76 can be brought into contact with the intermediate transfer belt 54 more uniformly over its entire length. Therefore, the residual toner of the intermediate transfer belt 54 can be removed more appropriately.

Further, in the third embodiment, the pressing roller 92 is located closer to the opposing roller 78 than the suspension roller (driven roller 58) provided at least at the closest position on the downstream side of the pressing roller 92. It is placed close to 78. Thereby, the waviness or bending of the intermediate transfer belt 54 can be suppressed more appropriately.

According to the third embodiment, the waviness or bending of the intermediate transfer belt 54 can be suppressed more appropriately as in the second embodiment. Therefore, the cleaning blade 76 can be brought into contact with the intermediate transfer belt 54 more uniformly over the entire length thereof, and the residual toner of the intermediate transfer belt 54 can be removed more appropriately by the cleaning blade 76.

In the second and third embodiments described above, the pressing rollers 90 and 92 are provided on either the upstream side or the downstream side of the contact position between the cleaning blade 76 and the intermediate transfer belt 54, but upstream. Pressing rollers 90 and 92 may be provided on both the side and the downstream side.

Further, when the pressing roller 92 is provided on the downstream side of the contact position between the cleaning blade 76 and the intermediate transfer belt 54, the contact area of the intermediate transfer belt 54 with respect to the opposing roller 78 is directed to the downstream side by the pressing roller 92. Will be enlarged. Therefore, the position where the tip of the cleaning blade 76 comes into contact with the intermediate transfer belt 54 does not necessarily have to be set to a position downstream of the central position of the contact region between the intermediate transfer belt 54 and the opposing roller 78. That is, when the pressing roller 92 is provided on the downstream side of the contact position between the cleaning blade 76 and the intermediate transfer belt 54, the cleaning blade 76 is not necessarily used to increase the contact area between the intermediate transfer belt 54 and the opposing roller 78. No need.

Further, as the pressing rollers 90 and 92, rollers having a sponge layer on the outer peripheral portion can also be used. As a result, the pressing rollers 90 and 92 have a function of suppressing waviness or bending of the intermediate transfer belt 54 and also a function of a cleaning member for removing toner remaining on the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 54.

Furthermore, although not shown, the cleaning device 10 may further include a brush roller provided on the upstream side of the cleaning blade 76 and on the downstream side of the sub blade 80.

In the case of the transfer device 42 or the image forming device 100 in which the photoconductor drum 36 or the like is arranged above the intermediate transfer belt 54, the cleaning device 10 (cleaning blade 76) is arranged below the intermediate transfer belt 54. You can also do it. Further, in the case of the image forming apparatus 100 in which the suspension rollers for suspending the intermediate transfer belt 54 are arranged at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction, the cleaning device 10 is arranged on the side portion (horizontal side) of the intermediate transfer belt 54. You can also do it.

Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the intermediate transfer belt 54 is exemplified as the transfer belt to be cleaned by the cleaning device 10, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the cleaning device 10 can also remove the toner remaining on the outer peripheral surface of the secondary transfer belt.

Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, as the image forming apparatus 100, a multifunction device in which a copying machine, a facsimile, a printer, etc. are combined is exemplified, but the image forming apparatus 100 is any one of a copying machine, a facsimile, a printer, and the like, or It may be a multifunction device that combines at least two of these.

In addition, the specific numerical values, materials, shapes, etc. mentioned above are merely examples, and can be appropriately changed as necessary, such as product specifications.

10 ... Cleaning device 30 ... Image forming unit 42 ... Transfer device 54 ... Intermediate transfer belt 76 ... Cleaning blade 78 ... Opposing roller 80 ... Sub blade 82 ... Conveying screw 90, 92 ... Pressing roller 100 ... Image forming device

Claims (4)

A cleaning device that removes toner remaining on the outer peripheral surface of a transfer belt suspended so that it can be moved around by a plurality of suspension rollers.
A cleaning blade provided between the suspension rollers so as to come into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the transfer belt at a predetermined pressure and scrape off the toner remaining on the outer peripheral surface of the transfer belt.
An opposing roller provided so as to face the cleaning blade across the transfer belt, and an upstream side of the contact position between the cleaning blade and the transfer belt in the circumferential movement direction of the transfer belt, the transfer Equipped with a first pressing roller that presses the outer peripheral surface of the belt
The position where the tip of the cleaning blade comes into contact with the transfer belt is set to a position downstream of the central position in the circumferential movement direction of the contact region between the transfer belt and the opposing roller.
The cleaning blade, wherein each of the opposed roller and the first pressing roller, of among the positions between the suspension roller is disposed at a position of suspension roller side disposed on the downstream side in the circulation direction of movement,
A cleaning device further provided with a second pressing roller provided on the downstream side of the contact position between the cleaning blade and the transfer belt in the circumferential movement direction of the transfer belt to press the outer peripheral surface of the transfer belt. The position where the tip of the cleaning blade comes into contact with the transfer belt is set to a position on the tangent line of the most downstream position in the circumferential movement direction of the outer peripheral surface of the facing roller, or a position on the upstream side of the tangent line. Item 1. The cleaning device according to item 1. The transfer device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a transfer belt suspended so as to be movable around by a plurality of suspension rollers, and a cleaning device according to claim 1 or 2, which removes toner remaining on the outer peripheral surface of the transfer belt. An image forming apparatus including the transfer apparatus according to claim 3.

Images