JPH02213868A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate maintenance by forming a foreign matter removing member which removes the foreign matter sticking to a carrying roller in the shape of a sheet and recovering the foreign matter housed in a foreign matter storage member to a foreign matter housing vessel. CONSTITUTION:The device is provided with the sheet-shaped foreign matter removing member 34 whose leading edge is brought into contact with the surface of the carrying roller 17 to remove the foreign matter 35 sticking to the carrying roller, the foreign matter storage member 36 which once houses the foreign matter 35 removed by the foreign matter removing member 34, and the attachable/detachable foreign matter housing vessel 37 which is arranged in the direction of a longitudinal edge to collect the foreign matter 35 housed in the foreign matter storage member 36. Then, the foreign matter 35 sticking to the carrying roller is removed by the sheet-shaped foreign matter removing member 34. The removed foreign matter 35 is once housed in the foreign matter storage member 36, and the housed foreign matter 35 is recovered to the foreign matter housing vessel 37. In addition, the foreign matter housing vessel 37 is fetched, and the whole vessel 37 or only the foreign matter 35 in the vessel 37 is disposed. Therefore, the maintenance can be facilitated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application This invention relates to image formation in which an image is recorded on a sheet of paper using, for example, an electrophotographic method while the sheet of paper is conveyed by a conveyance roller in a copying machine, a printer, a printer, a facsimile machine, etc. Regarding equipment.

In conventional techniques, for example, in electrophotographic image forming apparatuses, when a sheet of paper is conveyed to a transfer position with paper dust or other foreign matter attached thereto, the foreign matter may transfer to the surface of a photoreceptor and produce an abnormal image. In addition, if the foreign matter moves from the photoreceptor to the developing device or cleaning device and accumulates there, it can cause image defects, etc. Therefore, in conventional image forming devices, foreign matter that adheres to the paper is removed by a conveyance roller. The above-mentioned deterioration in image quality has been prevented by removing foreign matter adhering to the conveyance roller using, for example, the following three means.

(2) For example, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-229268, a cleaning member was attached to the developing device, and the cleaning member was brought into contact with the surface of the conveying roller to remove foreign matter adhering to the conveying roller.

■ For example, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-279381, a scraper is brought into contact with the surface of a conveyance roller to remove foreign matter adhering to the conveyance roller, and the removed foreign matter is separated by the conveyance roller or fall prevention film. It was held within the space to be.

■ For example, as described in Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 63-39258, a sponge member is brought into contact with the surface of the conveyance roller to remove foreign matter adhering to the conveyance roller, and the removed foreign matter is removed from the cartridge-type paper powder catcher. It was collected in

However, with the methods described in ■ and ■, the foreign matter removed from the conveyance roller is collected in a fixed location, but there is a problem in that it is difficult to collect and dispose of it from that fixed location. .

On the other hand, with the means described in (2), there is a problem in that the foreign matter removed from the conveyance roller rides on the sponge member, making it difficult to collect the paper powder inside. Therefore, when the paper dust receptacle is pulled out to dispose of foreign matter, the foreign matter on the sponge member may scatter and contaminate the inside of the apparatus body.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve such conventional problems in image forming apparatuses, to reliably collect foreign matter adhering to the conveyance roller, and to simplify the disposal of the collected foreign matter and facilitate maintenance work. There is a particular thing.

Means for Solving the Problems Therefore, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus that records an image on a sheet of paper 13 while conveying the sheet of paper 13 with a conveying roller, for example, as shown in the illustrated embodiment below. - A sheet-shaped foreign matter removing member 34 such as 17 that contacts the surface of the conveying roller with its tip to remove foreign matter 35 attached to the conveying roller, and a foreign matter that temporarily stores the foreign matter 35 removed by the foreign matter removing member 34. A storage member 36 and a removable foreign matter storage container 37 that is disposed at the longitudinal end of the foreign matter storage member 36 and collects the foreign matter 35 once stored in the foreign matter storage member 36.
It is characterized by comprising:

Operation Then, the foreign matter 35 adhering to the conveyance roller is removed by the sheet-like foreign matter removing member 34, the removed foreign matter 35 is temporarily stored in the foreign matter storage member 36, and the stored foreign matter 35 is placed in the foreign matter storage container 37. to recover. Then, the foreign matter storage container 37 is taken out as appropriate and the whole container 37 or only the foreign matter 35 inside the container 37 is discarded.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 6 shows a schematic diagram of the entire internal mechanism of a laser printer which is an embodiment of the present invention.

The reference numeral 10 in the figure is the main body of the apparatus. A paper feed tray 11 is detachably attached to the right side of the apparatus main body 10 in the figure. In the paper feed tray 11, sheets 13 are stacked and stored on a bottom plate 12. Then, push up the bottom plate 12 with the lever 14,
The leading edge of the uppermost paper 13 is pressed against the paper feed roller 15. Then, the paper 13 is sent out in the six directions of arrows in the drawing by the paper feeding roller 15, guided by guide plates 16, 16, and stopped by pressing the leading end between a pair of registration rollers 17, 17. The registration rollers 17 are driven in accordance with the rotation of the drum-shaped photoreceptor 18, and are sent out toward the photoreceptor 18 at a predetermined timing.

The photoreceptor 18 is driven by a drive device (not shown),
Rotates clockwise in the figure. At that time, the charger 19
The surface is uniformly charged, and then the surface is irradiated with laser light from the laser optical system 2o to form an electrostatic latent image there. Thereafter, when passing through the developing device 21 position, toner is applied by the developing device 21 to visualize the electrostatic latent image.

The visible image is transferred to the photoreceptor 18 at a predetermined timing as described above.
The transfer charger 22 transfers the image onto the paper 13 that has been sent out. The paper 13 onto which the visible image has been transferred is transferred to the fixing device 2
3, where it is fixed by applying heat and pressure. Thereafter, the paper ejection direction is switched using the switching lever 24, and the paper is ejected through the paper transport path 25 in the direction of arrow B and stacked on the paper ejection section 26, or ejected in the direction of arrow C and stacked on the paper ejection tray 27. . The paper discharge tray 27 is detachably attached to the left side of the apparatus main body 10 in the figure.

On the other hand, residual toner is removed from the photoreceptor 18 after the visible image has been transferred by a cleaning device 28 , and then the charge is removed by a charge removal brush 29 .

By the way, in the laser printer shown in FIG. 6, the apparatus main body 10 is divided into an upper main body 10A and a lower main body 1. The first
As shown in the figure, the upper body 10A can be opened and closed with respect to the lower body 10B. The upper body 10A includes a laser optical system 20 and the like.

On the other hand, the lower body 10B includes a photoreceptor 18, a charger 19, a developing device 2, a cleaning device 28, and the like housed in an image forming case 30, as well as a transfer charger 22, a fixing device 23, and the like. The image forming case 30 has a mounting shaft 31 (see FIG. 6) inside the lower body 10B.
It is rotatably provided as shown in FIG. 1 about the center.

Now, in this invention, a pair of registration rollers 17, 17, which are conveyance rollers, are arranged one above the other as shown in FIG.
The paper 13 is conveyed in the direction of the arrow in the figure while being held between them. The upper registration roller 17 of the pair of registration rollers 17 is rotatably supported within the notch 33 of the upper guide plate 16. A foreign matter removing member 34 is provided with its tip in contact with the surface, and foreign matter 35 such as paper powder adhering to the upper registration roller 17 is removed by the foreign matter removing member 34. The foreign matter removing member 34 has a sheet shape elongated in the axial direction of the roller 17, and its base end is attached to the foreign matter storage member 36. The foreign matter storage member 36 is similarly elongated in the axial direction of the roller 17, has a U-shaped vertical cross section, and is mounted on the upper guide plate 16. Then, the foreign matter 35 removed by the foreign matter removing member 34 is guided into the foreign matter storage member 36 through the foreign matter removing member 34 and temporarily stored therein. As shown in FIG. 3, at one end in the longitudinal direction of the foreign matter storage member 36, there is a foreign matter 3 that has been stored in the foreign matter storage member 36.
A foreign matter storage container 37 for collecting 5 is arranged. The foreign matter container 37 is detachably provided in the holder 38 as shown in FIG. The holder 38 is attached to the lower body 10 as shown in FIG.
It is installed outside the frame 39 in B.

Therefore, when discarding the foreign matter 35 that has just been collected, as shown in FIG. the foreign object removing member 34.
Then, the upper part of the foreign matter storage member 36 is opened. Thereafter, the foreign matter 35 in the foreign matter storage member 36 may be collected into the foreign matter storage container 37 using a cotton swab or the like, but in the illustrated embodiment, the foreign matter 35 is collected using a cleaning tool 40 shown in FIG. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the cleaning tool 40 is taken out, and the elastic body 41 attached to the lower end of the cleaning tool 40 is attached to the foreign material removing member 34 and the foreign material storage member 3.
Contact the top surface of 6. Then, the cleaning tool 40 is moved along the roller 17 as indicated by the arrow in the figure, and the foreign matter 35 on the foreign matter removal member 34 and the foreign matter storage member 36 is scraped off into the foreign matter storage container 37. After that, remove the foreign matter container 37 from the holder 38 and remove the entire container 37 or the container 37.
Only the foreign matter 35 inside is discarded. However, the holder 3 again
8, the image forming case 30 is returned to its original state, and the upper body 10A is closed.

Note that as the elastic body 41 of the cleaning tool 40, rubber, a brush, foamed urethane, or the like is used.

By the way, in the illustrated embodiment described above, the foreign matter storage container 37
An independent one was established as a. However, as shown in FIG. 4, for example, the foreign matter container 37 and the waste toner container 42
and may be formed integrally.

The waste toner storage container 42 is connected to the cleaning device 28 inside the image forming case 30 through a pipe 43 . Then, the waste toner collected by the cleaning device [28] is sent into the waste toner storage container 42 through a pipe 43. Therefore, when the waste toner storage container 42 is disposed of entirely or only the waste toner therein, the foreign matter storage container 37 is disposed of at the same time.
Dispose of the whole or only the foreign matter 35 therein.

Further, in the illustrated embodiment described above, a dedicated cleaning tool 4° is provided. However, as shown in FIG. 5, for example, it may be provided integrally with a cleaning tool for cleaning the discharge electrode 44 of the transfer charger 22.

That is, in the cleaning tool 40 shown in FIG. 5, an elastic body 41 for cleaning the foreign matter removal member 34 and the foreign matter storage member 36 is attached to the main body 45, and an elastic body 46 for cleaning the discharge electrode 44 is attached to the main body 45.

Further, a fitting groove 47 is formed in the main body 45 at a position adjacent to one elastic body 41, and a fitting groove 47 is formed in the position adjacent to one elastic body 41.
A contact portion 48 is formed at a position adjacent to 6. Then, the vertical part 49 of the foreign matter storage member 36 is fitted into the fitting groove 47,
The contact portion 48 is brought into contact with the housing 50 of the transfer charger 22, and the cleaning tool 40 is moved in the axial direction of the registration rollers 17. This makes it possible to simultaneously clean the foreign matter removal member 34, the foreign matter storage member 36, and the discharge electrode 44. Guided by vertical portion 49 and housing 50
Since the discharge electrode 44 is positioned at 1, it is possible to reliably and easily clean the discharge electrode 44 without damaging it. The upper registration roller 17 may also be cleaned using the elastic body 41 at the same time.

Note that if the cleaning tool 4o is stored in a place where it will not get in the way in the main body 10 of the apparatus, it can be taken out immediately when necessary, and workability can be improved.

Effects of the Invention Therefore, according to the present invention, since the foreign matter removing member for removing foreign matter adhering to the conveyance roller is made in the form of a sheet,
The removed foreign matter can be guided to the foreign matter storage member through the foreign matter removing member and reliably stored in the foreign matter storage member. In addition, the foreign matter stored in the foreign matter storage member is collected into the foreign matter container, the container is taken out as appropriate, and the whole container or only the foreign matter inside the container is disposed of, so it can be collected without scattering during disposal. This makes it easy to dispose of foreign substances. Therefore, the present invention has the effect of making maintenance work easier.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show a laser printer which is an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the main body opened and the imaging case raised, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross section of the registration roller portion of the laser printer. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of one end side portion thereof, FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating another example of the foreign matter storage container, FIG. 5 is an explanatory configuration diagram illustrating another example of the cleaning tool, and FIG. FIG. 6 is an overall schematic diagram of the internal mechanism of the laser printer shown in FIG. 1. 13... Paper 17... Registration roller (conveyance roller)
34...Foreign matter removal member 35...Foreign matter 36...Foreign matter storage member 37...Foreign matter storage container

Claims (1)

[Claims] In an image forming apparatus that records an image on a sheet of paper while conveying the sheet with a conveyance roller, a sheet-like foreign matter removing member that contacts the surface of the conveyance roller with its tip to remove foreign matter adhering to the conveyance roller; A foreign matter storage member that temporarily stores foreign matter removed by a foreign matter removing member; and a removable foreign matter storage container that is disposed at a longitudinal end of the foreign matter storage member and that collects foreign matter once stored in the foreign matter storage member. Image forming device.