JPH0131627B2 - - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention Technical Field The present invention relates to a cleaning device for removing developer, paper dust, etc. remaining on the surface of a photoreceptor after powder image transfer in a powder image transfer type electrophotographic copying machine. be.

Prior Art In powder image transfer type electrophotographic copying machines, some toner remains on the surface of the photoreceptor even after the powder image is transferred onto the copy sheet. Many types of devices have been proposed. One type of cleaning device of this type is one in which an elastic blade member made of rubber, synthetic resin, etc. is brought into pressure contact with the surface of the photoreceptor, and as the photoreceptor rotates, it scrapes off the toner remaining on the surface. Although this type of cleaning device has a very simple structure, it is capable of cleaning toner well, and is therefore often used in general copying machines. However, especially in the case where the elastic blade member is brought into contact with the surface of the photoconductor at a position where it descends from the top, coarse foreign matter other than toner powder, such as paper powder and lint, may be present in the residual toner. If such foreign substances are included, these foreign substances may accumulate and become trapped at the portion where the tip of the blade contacts the surface of the photoreceptor, and the toner may not be scraped off sufficiently. Additionally, if relatively hard foreign substances such as fragments of the photoconductor coating are mixed into the toner, the photoconductor rotates while these foreign substances are trapped between the photoconductor surface and the blade tip. Disadvantages also occur, such as damage to the surface of the photoreceptor due to friction and premature wear of the blade.

Furthermore, if the cleaning device is used for a long time, toner powder may adhere to the tip of the elastic blade member, deteriorating the cleaning effect.

Purpose The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide a means for removing foreign matter on the surface of a photoreceptor before cleaning with an elastic blade member, and to also provide a means for removing foreign matter on the surface of a photoreceptor before cleaning with an elastic blade member, and to also provide a means for removing foreign matters on the surface of a photoreceptor before cleaning with an elastic blade member. It is an object of the present invention to provide a compact and inexpensive cleaning device which solves the above-mentioned problems by cleaning toner accumulated at the tip of a member.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a cleaning device in which an elastic blade member is brought into pressure contact with the surface of a photoconductor to remove residual toner on the surface of the photoconductor as the photoconductor rotates. , an elastic blade member provided so as to be able to approach and separate from the photoreceptor; and an elastic blade member provided forward of the elastic blade member with respect to the rotational direction of the photoreceptor, and constantly in contact with the surface of the photoreceptor, and the elastic blade member The present invention provides a cleaning device characterized by comprising a brush roller that is rotatably provided while contacting the tip of the elastic blade member when the cleaning device is located at a distance from the photoreceptor.

Embodiment An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1, L denotes a cleaning device, and 1 denotes its housing. Inside the housing 1, there is a brush roller 3 that rotates in contact with the surface of a photoreceptor 2 that rotates in a clockwise direction, and A cleaning blade 4 that lightly presses against the surface of the body 2
is provided.

The brush roller 3 is connected to a drive source (not shown) and consists of a rotating shaft 3a that rotates in a clockwise direction, and brush bristles 3b that are implanted in the rotating shaft 3a and whose tips come into contact with the surface of the photoreceptor 2. be. The brush bristles 3b are made of nylon, have a diameter of about 80 μm, a bristles length of about 10 mm, and have a density of 200 bristles/cm ^{2 .}
are provided at a density of Reference numeral 5 denotes a beating rod, which is fixed at a position where the tips of the brush bristles 3b abut, and is provided for the purpose of knocking off foreign matter adhering to the brush 3b. The brush roller 3 is not limited to this embodiment, and the brush bristles 3b do not generate static electricity due to friction on the surface of the photoreceptor, nor do they damage the surface. Other methods can also be used as long as they meet the following conditions. For example, rabbit hair, rayon, etc. can be used as the material for the brush bristles 3b.

The elastic blade member 4 is composed of a phosphor bronze plate 4a with a thickness of about 200 μm having appropriate elasticity, and an elastic body 4b made of polyurethane provided at the tip of the plate. The entire width of the body 2 is in contact. Incidentally, among the angles formed between the photoreceptor surface and the elastic member 4b at the contact point between the elastic member 4b and the photoreceptor 2 rotating clockwise, the angle on the cleaning side of the photoreceptor is an obtuse angle. The base of the phosphor bronze plate 4a is a holding member 6
The holding member 6 is fixed to a rotating shaft 7 provided in the housing 1. Further, a swinging arm 8 is connected to the rotating shaft 7 outside the housing 1, and the cleaning blade 4 and the swinging arm 8 are configured to be able to rotate integrally around the rotating shaft 7. It's summery. In addition,
Since the free end 8a of the swinging arm 8 is always biased obliquely upward by the biasing member 9, the elastic body 4b is normally in pressure contact with the surface of the photoreceptor 2. However, when the free end portion 8a is rotated downward against the biasing force, the elastic body 4b is separated from the surface of the photoreceptor 2, and the cleaning blade 4 is brought into contact with the bristles 3b of the brush roller 3. brush roller 3
is installed. Note that 10 is a toner recovery tank provided in the lower part of the housing 1, and a toner conveying means (not shown) is provided inside.

Next, the operation of the cleaning device L having the above configuration will be explained.

After the toner image is transferred, the photoreceptor 1 has residual toner T or coarse foreign matter P such as paper powder or lint on its surface.
Continue rotating while keeping it attached. When the part to which the foreign matter P has adhered reaches the cleaning device L, the surface of the photoconductor 2 first comes into contact with the bristles 3b of the brush roller 3 rotating in the direction of the arrow, and relatively coarse particles such as paper and lint are removed. Foreign matter P is removed. Then, the coarse foreign matter P is carried while attached to or contained in the brush bristles 3b, is removed by the beating rod 5, and is collected in the toner collection tank 10 below. On the other hand, the photoreceptor 2 rotates with only the residual toner T attached to its surface, and comes into contact with the elastic body 4b of the cleaning blade 4 provided behind the brush roller 3 in the direction of rotation. At this time, all of the toner T is scraped off by the elastic body 4b, and is collected in the toner collection tank 10 in the same manner as the coarse foreign matter P. Incidentally, the coarse foreign matter and toner collected in the toner collection tank 10 are transported to the housing 1 by a toner conveying means (not shown).
carried outside.

As described above, if the cleaning device T of this embodiment is used, the coarse foreign matter P such as paper dust and lint adhering to the surface of the photoreceptor 2 can be removed before cleaning with the elastic blade member, and the toner T can be removed. Since it is removed by the elastic blade member, the surface of the photoreceptor is cleaned without any inconvenience.

By the way, when this cleaning device L is used for a long period of time, the elastic body 4 of the cleaning blade 4
Toner adheres to the tip of b, and the elastic body 4b is attached to the photoreceptor 2.
The cleaning effect may be slightly weakened due to the lack of uniform contact with the surface, but in this case, the free end 8 of the swinging arm 8 may be
When a is pushed down, the cleaning blade 4 rotates around the rotation shaft 7, and the elastic body 4b comes into contact with the bristles 3b of the brush roller 3, so that the toner adhering thereto can be removed. can. For this reason, cleaning blade 4
This has the advantage that the elastic body 4b can be easily cleaned without having to take it out from the housing 1.

Effects As is clear from the above description, the present invention provides a cleaning device in which an elastic blade member is brought into pressure contact with the surface of a photoconductor to remove residual toner on the surface of the photoconductor as the photoconductor rotates. an elastic blade member provided so as to be able to move toward and away from the photoreceptor; and an elastic blade member provided forward of the elastic blade member with respect to the rotational direction of the photoreceptor and constantly in contact with the surface of the photoreceptor. Since this cleaning device is characterized by comprising a brush roller that is rotatable while contacting the tip of the elastic blade member when the brush roller is located at a distance from the photoreceptor, paper dust and other particles are removed from the residual toner. Even if coarse foreign matter such as lint or fragments of the photoreceptor coating is mixed in, the brush roller can remove it before it reaches the elastic blade member, and the brush roller can also remove any coarse foreign matter that has adhered to the tip of the elastic blade member. Since toner can also be removed, the number of parts is small, and the device itself is compact and inexpensive, making it possible to prevent deterioration of the cleaning effect.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the cleaning device of the present invention. 2... Photoreceptor, 3... Brush roller, 4... Elastic blade member, 6... Holding member, 7... Rotating shaft, 8... Rocking arm, L... Cleaning device, T
...Residual toner, P...Coarse foreign matter.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A cleaning device in which an elastic blade member is brought into pressure contact with the surface of a photoconductor to remove residual toner on the surface of the photoconductor as the photoconductor rotates. an elastic blade member, which is provided in front of the elastic blade member with respect to the rotational direction of the photoreceptor, is in constant contact with the surface of the photoreceptor, and when the elastic blade member is in a position separated from the photoreceptor; A cleaning device comprising: a brush roller rotatably provided while contacting a tip of a member.