JPH0345250Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to improvements in blade cleaning devices used in recording devices, such as electrophotographic copying machines.

The blade cleaning device is generally shown in Figure 1A.
In many cases, the blade B, which has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape held by a holding frame H, is pressed against the surface of the image carrier D, which is the surface to be cleaned, such as a photoreceptor drum made of selenium, etc. In this state, rotate the image carrier D in the direction of the arrow to scrape off the residual developer (generally toner) on the surface to be cleaned, and perform cleaning so that the surface of the image carrier D can be used for the next copying cycle. It is a device that performs Here, the holding frame H is pressed by a pressing means (not shown),
Supported in a releasable manner.

Further, FIG. 1B is a view of FIG. 1A viewed from the X direction. In order to bring the cleaning edge portion E of the blade B into uniform contact with the image carrier D, it is necessary to ensure the linearity of the cleaning edge portion E, the uniformity of the pressing force of the blade B against the image carrier D, and It is required to maintain the accuracy of the cleaning edge portion E. If the cleaning edge portion of the blade does not uniformly abut against the image holder, uneven load and pressure will occur, resulting in poor cleaning and ultimately a defective image.

FIG. 2 shows a blade attachment mechanism of a conventional blade cleaning device. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken at right angles to the long side direction of the blade, in which the holding frame 1 consists of a fixing frame 1a and a tightening frame 1b, and the blade 2 is tightened and fixed with screws. In the case of a blade cleaning device that is tightened and fixed with screws like this, the tightening force is uneven, so the blade 2 must be accurately attached to the holding frame 1 so that the cleaning edge portion 2e of the blade 2 is brought into uniform contact with the image holder D. is difficult. In particular, when the blade is in contact with the image holder as shown in Figure 1, a force is applied in the direction in which the blade is pulled out, making it easy for the blade to come out of the holding frame, and even if it does not come out, the position of the cleaning edge may be displaced. There was a fear that I would put it away. Also, even in the case shown in FIG. 2, the blade 2 itself is structured so that it is not compressed by the holding frame 1 as much as possible, but due to aging, the blade 2
There is a drawback in that the tightened portion is compressed and deformed by the pressing force of the holding frame 1. Therefore, it is not suitable for using multiple edges of the blade as cleaning edges.

In the present invention, the blade is brought into contact with the image holder,
A blade cleaning device for removing developer attached to the surface of an image carrier includes a blade having a convex portion or concave portion extending parallel to the long side direction on the top and bottom surfaces, and a holding frame having concave portions or convex portions formed on the top and bottom inner surfaces. The blade has a cross-sectional shape cut at right angles to the long side direction of the blade, and is formed to be symmetrical laterally and/or vertically, and the convex or concave portion of the blade fits into the concave or convex portion of the holding frame. This configuration makes it possible to provide a blade cleaning device that is easy to use and has good performance.

In other words, the present invention eliminates the drawbacks of the conventional methods and allows the blade to be attached simply by inserting it into the holding frame.It also prevents the blade from falling out of the holding frame even when the image holding body is rotated, and also prevents the blade from falling out of the holding frame during blade manufacturing. Even when attaching the blade to the holding frame, it is easy to accurately position the tip of the blade so that the cleaning edge of the blade comes into uniform contact with the image holder. To provide a blade cleaning device in which a plurality of edge portions of the blade can be used as cleaning edge portions.

An embodiment showing an example of the blade cleaning device of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 3 to 6. In addition, Figure 3~
FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken at right angles to the long side direction of the blade. To explain Fig. 3, uniform convex portions 3C are formed on both sides of the blade along the long side direction of the blade 3, and the cross-sectional shape of the blade 3 taken along the long side direction is symmetrical in the left and right and top and bottom. . Further, the holding frame 11 also has concave portions 11C uniformly formed along the long side direction so that the blade 3 fits therein. Also, the contact portion 3C of the blade 3 with the image holder D
A gap 11d is formed on the opposite side of the holding frame 11 so that the blade 3 is not subjected to pressing force by the holding frame 11. If the blade attachment mechanism is configured as shown in Figure 3, by replacing one blade with the holding frame, the four edges can be used equally as cleaning edges, resulting in a fourfold increase in service life. There is. Of course, the four edge parts must be molded or cut into exactly the same shape. Furthermore, to achieve precision in the position of the tip of the blade during cutting, for example, create a jig that is the same as the holding frame, fit the convex part of the blade to the concave part of the holding frame, press down the blade, and cut both ends of the blade. This can be easily done. Figure 4 shows recesses 4C on both sides of the blade 4.
This is another embodiment of the present invention in which a convex portion 12C is formed on the holding frame 12 so as to fit into the convex portion 12C, and the effects thereof are similar to those described in the embodiment of FIG. FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the present invention in which no gap is formed on the opposite side of the contact portion 5e between the blade 5 and the image holder D. In this case as well, the blade 5 can be attached by simply inserting it into the holding frame 13, and the shape is such that no unnecessary pressing force is applied to the blade 5 from the holding frame 13. The uneven portion prevents it from coming off in any direction other than the long side. However, compared to the embodiment shown in FIG.
3 has the disadvantage of being difficult to insert. In addition, FIG. 6 shows that the cross-sectional shape of the blade 6 taken in the long side direction is
The blade 6 is attached to the holding frame 1, although it is not symmetrical left and right and up and down.
This is another embodiment of the present invention in which the two diagonal edge portions can be used as cleaning edge portions by replacing the two diagonal edge portions with the cleaning edge portions.

As described above, the blade-type cleaning device of the present invention is configured so that the plurality of edge portions of the blade do not receive pressure from the holding frame, thereby preventing the plurality of edge portions of the blade from deforming. By molding or cutting multiple edges of the blade into exactly the same shape, multiple edges of the blade can be used as cleaning edges, and by replacing the cleaning edges with one blade. This has the advantage of extending the life of the blade. In addition, since the uneven portions are formed on the blade and the holding frame, there is an advantage that the tip position of the blade can be easily determined when manufacturing the blade, when cutting the blade, and when inserting the blade into the holding frame. It became.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram of a commonly used blade cleaning device, and FIG. 1B is a view of FIG. 1A viewed from the X direction. FIG. 2 is an example of a conventional blade cleaning device that is fixed by tightening with screws. 3 to 6 show embodiments of the present invention. H, 1, 11, 12, 13, 14...holding frame,
B, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6...blade, D...image holder, E, 2e...cleaning edge portion, T
...Residual developer (generally toner), 1a... Fixed frame, 1b... Tightening frame, 3e, 4e, 5e, 6e
...Contact part of blade with image holder, 3C, 4
C, 5C, 6C... Uneven part of the blade, 11C,
12C, 13C, 14C...Concave and convex portions of holding frame, 1
1d...Gap.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] (1) In a blade cleaning device that removes developer attached to the surface of an image holder by bringing a blade into contact with the image holder, a convexity extending parallel to the long side direction on the upper and lower surfaces. consisting of a blade having a recess or concave portion formed therein, and a holding frame having a concave portion or a convex portion formed on the upper and lower inner surfaces, and a cross-sectional shape cut perpendicularly to the long side direction of the blade is formed to be symmetrical laterally and/or vertically; A blade cleaning device for a recording device, characterized in that a convex or concave portion of the blade is fitted with a concave or convex portion of a holding frame. (2) A blade cleaning device for a recording device according to claim 1, wherein a gap is formed between the holding frame and the blade on the opposite side of the blade held by the holding frame from the image holding body.