JPH01185587A - Cleaning device for image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To surely prevent a toner from leaking from the edge of a blade by fitting a sealing member to both edges of an elastic cleaning member unitedly. CONSTITUTION:A sealing material 6 is unitedly fitted to both edge surfaces of a cleaning blade 3. As the fitting means, the blade 3 is fitted to a plate member 3a, thereafter, a mold for molding a sealing member is fitted to both edges of the blade, a liquid ulethane rubber is injected into it, thereafter, a formation into a sponge condition is executed by foaming, and the sealing member 6 is unitedly joined to the edges without a gap. Thus, the toner removed by the blade travels in the side direction of the blade, and the escape from the edges to the external side of a cleaning device can be reduced.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (1) Purpose of the Invention (Field of Industrial Application) This invention relates to an image forming apparatus that uses an electrostatic recording process, such as an electrostatic copying machine or a printer, and particularly to a cleaning device for the same. .

(Prior art and issues to be solved) In a well-known image forming apparatus that repeats the process of transferring a transferable toner image formed on the surface of an image carrier onto a sheet-like transfer material such as paper, It is necessary to sufficiently remove residual toner that does not transfer to the image carrier and remains on the image carrier.

As a cleaning means for this purpose, a cleaning device is disposed close to the image carrier, and a cleaning blade made of an elastic material such as rubber is attached to the opening facing the image carrier. The edge of the blade is pressed against the image carrier at the post-transfer position to scrape off and remove the residual toner, and at the position where the toner falls,
Conventionally, devices have been widely used in which a scooping sheet or an elastic cleaning roller is disposed in contact with the image carrier to receive the fallen toner and guide it to a predetermined location within the device.

This kind of leaning blade has a simple structure, low cost, and excellent toner removal function, so it is suitable as a cleaning means, but all of the scraped toner is immediately transferred to a predetermined area in the cleaning device. However, in reality, it runs sideways along the blade edge, reaches the end of the blade, and then escapes from the gap between the opening of the cleaning device and the image carrier, contaminating various parts inside the device. However, it was not possible to avoid inconveniences such as deterioration of the functions of internal members in the future.

In order to avoid such defects, a sealing member made of maltbrene or the like is installed in the casing of the cleaning device at a position corresponding to the side surface of the cleaning blade and scooping sheet to further prevent the sideways running toner from coming out. Measures have been proposed to prevent them from escaping in the opposite direction, but in this type of device, the blade, scoop sheet, etc. are attached to the casing and then the sealing material is attached, so there is no need to attach the sealing material to the sides of these components. It is difficult to bring the sealing member into reliable contact with the sealing member, and it is also not easy to prevent leakage of toner.

Of course, the gap can be eliminated by strongly pressing the sealing member against the side surface of the blade, but in this case, the cleaning blade or scooping sheet may be distorted and the flatness of the contact edge against the image carrier may be lost. This is not preferable because there is a risk that the toner may slip through or leak.

The present invention has been made to deal with such a situation, and provides a cleaning device that is capable of reliably preventing leakage of toner from the end of the cleaning blade in a cleaning device equipped with a cleaning blade. The purpose is to provide

(2) Structure of the invention (technical means for solving the problem, its operation) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a system for removing residual toner on the surface of an image carrier by pressing it against the surface of the image carrier of an image forming apparatus. A cleaning device equipped with an elastic cleaning member is characterized in that seal members are integrally attached to both ends of the elastic cleaning member.

With this configuration, it is possible to reliably prevent the toner removed from the image carrier by the cleaning member from running sideways to both ends of the member and further escaping from there to the outside of the cleaning device. can.

(Description of Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of the cleaning device according to the present invention, and this cleaning device 2 has a rotating cylindrical shape extending in the vertical direction on the nine paper surfaces as shown by the chain line. It is arranged close to and parallel to the image carrier l.

A cleaning blade 3 integrally molded with a plate member 3a made of a rigid material such as metal is attached to the casing 2a of the cleaning device 2, and one edge of the blade is attached to the image carrier. Residual toner shall be removed by pressure contact with the surface.

As is well known, in the vicinity of the image carrier 1, there are of course a main charger, an exposure section, a developing device, a transfer means, and other members necessary for forming a mountain image. Since they are not directly related to the invention, they are all omitted.

Toner removed by the cleaning blade is
It is assumed that the toner is guided by the scooping sheet 4 to reach the toner storage section, and is further discharged by an appropriate means such as a conveyance screw 5 as necessary.

In the cleaning device as described above, the present invention is characterized in that a sealing material is integrally attached to both end surfaces of the cleaning blade.

The installation method is as follows: After attaching the blade 3 to the plate member 3a, attaching molds for molding the seal member to both ends of the blade, and injecting liquid urethane rubber into the molds.
It is foamed to form a sponge shape, and the sealing member 6 is integrally joined to the end face of the blade 3 without any gaps, as shown in FIG.

When the cleaning device 2 is installed in a predetermined position, the sealing member 6 is pressed against the surface of the image carrier. Therefore, in order to reliably prevent toner leakage, the thickness of the sealing member 6 is adjusted to the thickness of the cleaning blade 3. 0.3~ than that
It is preferable to make the sealing member thicker by 0.5 mm, and it is appropriate that the number of bubbles in the sealing member is about 30 to 180 mesh.

When the sealing member is molded using a mold, a skin layer is formed, which causes greater friction than when the porous layer is exposed on the surface. Either form a large layer and remove the surface skin layer so that the porous part is exposed when the specified size is reached, or coat the surface of the skin layer with ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, Teflon resin, polyimide, or polyamide resin. It is better to attach a sheet.

3, 4A and 4B respectively show other embodiments of the cleaning blade according to the present invention, in which the cleaning blade in FIG. Seal member 6 on the surface
' and shown in Figures 4A and 4B,
Seal members 6 are provided on both the front and back surfaces of the blade near both ends.
” was formed.

By forming the blade in this manner, it is possible to more effectively prevent toner from escaping from the blade end.

In the above example, we will explain the case where the sealing member is molded and integrated with the cleaning blade. However, it is of course possible to join the sealing member with adhesive, etc. It is obvious that the present invention is also applicable to blades that are not limited to those in which an elastic blade material is integrally molded onto a plate member, but also those in which only the blade material is attached to a casing.

(3) As described in the detailed description of the invention, in a cleaning device using a cleaning blade, toner removed by the blade runs to the side of the blade and exits from the end of the cleaning device. It can greatly reduce toner leakage, prevent toner from escaping, contaminating various parts of the image forming apparatus due to scattering, deterioration of the functions of various parts due to this, and preventing negative effects on images, resulting in high-quality images. It is important that it contributes to obtaining the following.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a side view of essential parts showing an embodiment of the cleaning device according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a plan view showing one end of the same cleaning blade, and Fig. 3 is an end of the cleaning blade showing another embodiment. FIG. 4A is a plan view of the end of the cleaning blade showing another embodiment, and FIG. 4B is a sectional view of the same. ■00. Image carrier, 200. Cleaning device, 3@・
・Cleaning blade, 4.Fist/scoop sheet, 6.
6.6″ participation/seal parts.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A cleaning device including an elastic cleaning member that comes into pressure contact with the surface of an image carrier to remove residual toner on the surface, further comprising sealing members integrally attached to both ends of the elastic cleaning member. A cleaning device.