JPH0363685A - Cleaning device for image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To preclude staining due to toner scattering by detecting the suspension state of toner and releasing a blade after the toner settles sufficiently. CONSTITUTION:Toner which is removed with the blade 30 which is pressed against the surface 22 of a photosensitive body by a support member 31 is scattered in a casting 33. When copying operation is finished, a sensor 34 detects the suspension state of the toner with an ultrasonic wave. The output value of the sensor 34 is compared with a reference value of a storage means 37, it is judged that the toner 23 settles sufficiently when those values coincide with each other, and the release signal for the blade 30 is outputted to a solenoid 39. The solenoid 29 draws a pin 41 in with the signal, a lever 42 rotates counterclockwise, and the member 31 rotates clockwise around a pivot shaft 32, so that the blade 30 leaves the surface 22. The toner 23 settles sufficiently, so it is never scattered out of the casting 33 and the staining due to the toner scattering is therefore eliminated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a cleaning device for an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a facsimile machine.

[Prior Art] A conventional copying machine equipped with a cleaning device is shown in FIG.

In the figure, inside the apparatus main body l, a photosensitive drum 2 is provided with a photoconductive material on the surface on which a latent image of a document 12 is formed.
is rotatably installed. Around the photoreceptor drum 2, along the direction of rotation, there is a charging section 3, an exposure section 4 that is irradiated with image light, a developing section 5 that develops the latent image on the photoreceptor drum 2, and the developed image. Members such as a transfer separation section 7 for transferring and separating the toner onto the paper 6, a cleaning device 8 for removing toner remaining on the photoreceptor drum 2, and a static elimination section 9 are arranged in this order.

Further, the apparatus main body 1 is equipped with a microcomputer 0 as an example of a control means for controlling various aspects of the apparatus main body 1.

3 and 4 are schematic side views of members such as the cleaning blade 81 inside the cleaning device 8. FIG.

By pressing the tip of this blade 81 against the surface 22 of the photoreceptor drum 2 (hereinafter referred to as the photoreceptor surface) as shown in FIG. 3, the toner 23 adhering to the photoreceptor surface 22 is removed. That's what I do.

By the way, when using a rubber blade, in order to prevent the blade 81 from deforming due to pressure, it is necessary to occasionally separate the blade 81 from the photoreceptor surface 22, as shown in FIG.

However, immediately after the photosensitive drum 2 stops rotating, a large amount of the toner 23 removed by the blade 81 is blown up into the cleaning device 8 . Therefore, immediately after the photosensitive drum 2 stops rotating, the blade 8
1 is released, the toner 23 that flies up is transferred to the fourth
As shown in the figure, it leaks to the outside of the cleaning device 8. This scattered toner 23 adheres to members such as the static eliminating section 9 and the charging section 3, and adversely affects image formation.

Therefore, conventionally, a technique is known in which the blade 81 is released after a predetermined period of time has elapsed after the rotation of the photoreceptor drum 2 has stopped, the flying toner has moved downward, and the scattering has stopped. Open 63-204286).

[Problem to be solved by the invention] However, the blade 8 based on such time
The first release method is based on the humidity and temperature inside the cleaning device 8.
It has the problem of not being able to respond to environmental changes such as wind flow and differences in models.

Therefore, stains caused by toner scattering cannot be sufficiently prevented.

In view of the problems of the prior art, the present invention addresses environmental changes such as humidity, temperature, and wind flow within the cleaning device.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a cleaning device for an image forming apparatus that can accommodate differences in models and the like and can sufficiently prevent stains caused by toner scattering.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention provides a cleaning blade that is brought into pressure contact with and released from the surface of a photoconductor to clean toner adhering to the surface of the photoconductor, and a drive means that drives the cleaning blade. In a cleaning device for an image forming apparatus, which is equipped with a casing or the like for housing these components, a sensor is disposed within the casing and detects a floating state of toner within the casing, and a sensor that detects a floating state of toner within the casing and data that corresponds to a good state of the toner in advance. A cleaning device for an image forming apparatus is provided, comprising: a storage means for storing the above information; and a determination means for controlling the driving means based on the output of the sensor and the data stored in the storage means.

[Function] The present invention enables the sensor disposed inside the casing to
The toner floating state is detected, the detection result is compared with a reference value measured in advance, and the driving means is controlled according to the result to release the blade.

[Examples] Examples of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing an embodiment of a cleaning device for an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

In the figure, a cleaning device 8 has an L-shaped cleaning blade 30 for cleaning toner adhering to the photoreceptor surface 22 of the photoreceptor drum 2. As shown in FIG. This blade 30 is fixed to the lower surface of a support member 31, and one end of the support member 31 is fixed to a pivot shaft 32 so as to rotate in the direction of the arrow. Below the support member 31, an L-shaped lever 42 is rotatably supported by the bin 40. One end of the lever 42 contacts the lower surface of the support member 31, and the other end is connected to a pin 41 of a solenoid 39, which is an example of the driving means 39. This solenoid 39 is connected to the casing 3 of the cleaning device 8.
It is fixed at 3. A toner collecting means 36 for collecting the settled toner 23 is provided in the lower part of the casing 33. Furthermore, a fur brush 35 for cleaning the toner 23 on the photoreceptor surface 22 is disposed above it.

Furthermore, a sensor 34 such as an optical sensor or an ultrasonic sensor is attached directly above the fur brush 35 to detect the floating state of toner inside the casing 33, preferably near the blade 30.

The optical sensor irradiates light toward the blade 30, receives reflected light, measures the amount of received light, and detects the amount of floating toner. Further, the ultrasonic sensor emits ultrasonic waves toward the blade 30, receives reflected waves, measures the amount of received waves, and detects the amount of floating toner.

The storage unit 37 is a storage unit such as a ROM that stores data corresponding to the good condition of the toner in advance.

That is, the sensor 3 corresponds to various floating states of toner in advance.
4 is measured, and a reference level corresponding to a toner state in a calm state is stored as data. The judgment means 38 stores the output value from the sensor 34 and the storage means 3.
7 and controls the solenoid 39 based on the result.

Next, the operation of the present invention will be explained in accordance with the above embodiment.

The image light of the original is irradiated onto the photoreceptor surface 22 to perform exposure. As a result, a latent image is formed on the photoreceptor surface 22.

The latent image is made into a toner image by a developing device 5 (see FIG. 2). This toner image is transferred by the transfer device 7 onto the paper 6 supplied from the storage cassette 29. However, not all of the toner is transferred, and some toner remains on the photoreceptor surface 22. In this way, the photoreceptor surface 22 on which the toner remains rotates. Since the blade 30 of the cleaning device 8 is in pressure contact with the photoreceptor surface 22, it removes the residual toner.

That is, since the solenoid 39 is extending its pin 41, the lever 42 is rotating clockwise. Therefore, the support member 31 rotates counterclockwise due to its own weight, and brings the blade 30 into pressure contact with the photoreceptor surface 22. The toner removed by the pressure contact flies up into the casing 33.

When copying is completed, the photosensitive drum 2 stops rotating. The sensor 34 detects the floating state of the toner by emitting light or ultrasonic waves.
Compare the output value from 4 and the reference level in the storage means 37. If the two values match, or if the difference is within a predetermined tolerance, the toner 23 has settled sufficiently, and the solenoid 39 is moved to the blade. 30 is output.

Upon receiving the signal, the solenoid 39 retracts the bin 41, and the lever 42 rotates counterclockwise about the bin 40 accordingly. As a result, the support means 31 rotates clockwise about the pivot 32. This causes blade 30 to move away from photoreceptor surface 22 . Even if the toner 23 is separated from the casing 33, the toner 23 has settled sufficiently.
It will not scatter to the outside.

Note that the mounting position of the sensor 34 is not limited to the above embodiment. Further, a plurality of them may be provided.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, the cleaning device for an image forming apparatus according to the present invention uses a sensor to detect the floating state of toner, and releases the blade after the toner has sufficiently settled. It can respond to environmental changes such as humidity, temperature, and wind flow within the device, as well as differences in models, and can sufficiently prevent stains caused by toner scattering.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing an embodiment of a cleaning device for an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of a conventional copying machine, and FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of a conventional copying machine. FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of the blade, etc. of the copying machine in another state. 22◆・・Photoconductor surface 30◆・・Blade 34・◆・
Sensor 37... Storage means 38... Judgment means 3
9...Solenoid

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A cleaning blade for cleaning toner adhering to the photoconductor surface after being brought into pressure contact with and released from the photoconductor surface, a driving means for driving the cleaning blade, and a casing for storing these members, etc. , a cleaning device for an image forming apparatus, comprising: a sensor disposed within the casing to detect a floating state of toner within the casing; a storage means storing data corresponding to a good state of the toner in advance; 1. A cleaning device for an image forming apparatus, comprising: a determining means for controlling the driving means based on the output and data stored in the storage means. (2) The cleaning device for an image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensor detects a floating state of toner near the cleaning blade.