JPH04172440A - Device for electrophotography - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To readily remove dust attached on the surface of a dustproof member by providing a cleaning means for cleaning the surface of the dustproof member. CONSTITUTION:A cleaning means 8 is located at the end portion of dustproof glass 10 when not in use. When a step motor 5 is driven by a predetermined amount(rotated in its normal or reverse direction), an arm 8a fixed to a wire 7 is put in a reciprocating movement along a rail 15 and a pad 8 provided to the arm 8a is put in a reciprocating movement while in contact with the surface of the dustproof guide 10 so that cleaning is automatically carried out. This cleaning operation is carried out each time a fixed number of copies are made, so that image light L of good quality can be guided onto a photosensitive drum 1 over a long period without using any special cleaning equipment as during maintenance. Constantly stable electrostatic latent images and visible images can thus be obtained.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to an electrophotographic apparatus having an optical means and a photoreceptor, such as a copying machine or a laser printer.

(Prior Art) FIG. 5 shows a conventional electrophotographic apparatus of this type. 1
00 is a photoreceptor, and a primary charger 101, a developer 102, a transfer charger 103, and a cleaning device 104 are provided around the photoreceptor 100. Further, a reflecting mirror 105 is provided above the photoreceptor 100 as an optical means. Furthermore, between the photoreceptor 100 and the reflecting mirror 105,
Dustproof glass 1 as a dustproof member held by frame 106
07 is established.

In the conventional example configured in this manner, image light 108 from a document (not shown) is projected onto the photoreceptor 100 via the reflection mirror 105, and an electrostatic latent image is formed. The electrostatic latent image moves toward the developing device 102 as the photoreceptor 100 rotates, and is developed through the developer in the developing device 102 to become visible. This developed image is then transferred via a transfer charger 103 onto a transfer paper 109 that is conveyed from a paper feed system (not shown). Next, the transfer paper 109 is sent to a fixing device (not shown), and this developed image is fixed as a permanent image on the transfer paper 109, and the photoreceptor 100 after the transfer is transferred to a cleaning device 10.
4, the residual developer is cleaned, and thereafter similar operations are repeated to sequentially form images on the transfer paper 109.

On the other hand, although developer, oil mist, etc. are scattered around the photoreceptor lOO during the above operation, these impurities do not adhere to the reflecting mirror 105 because they are blocked by the dustproof glass 107.

Therefore, the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor 100 becomes stable. Therefore, it is necessary to frequently clean the dustproof glass 107 during periodic maintenance. In addition, in the past, dustproof glass 10 was installed for easy cleaning.
There is also a configuration in which the device 7 can be taken in and out of the device body.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, in the above conventional example, a special cleaning tool is separately prepared, and this cleaning tool is used to clean the dustproof glass.
The cleaning work was extremely troublesome because the 07 was being cleaned, and cleaning could only be done during maintenance. As a result, in an electrophotographic device (such as a high-speed machine that copies a large number of sheets) where the dustproof glass 107 is frequently dirty, the quality of the image light 108 deteriorates and the latent image formed on the photoreceptor 100 deteriorates. was to occur.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electrophotographic apparatus that can easily clean the surface of a dustproof member without the need for special cleaning tools.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes an optical means for guiding image light, an electrostatic latent image is formed by the image light projected by the optical means, and the electrostatic latent image is formed by the image light projected by the optical means. In an electrophotographic apparatus, the electrophotographic apparatus has a photoconductor that is visualized by a developer, and a light-transmitting dustproof member is provided between the optical means and the photoconductor, and the dustproof member is provided with a surface of the dustproof member that is cleaned. The invention is characterized in that it is provided with a cleaning means for cleaning.

(Function) In the present invention based on the above configuration, the image light guided by the optical means passes through the dustproof member and is projected onto the photoreceptor, thereby forming an electrostatic latent image. This electrostatic latent image is made visible by a developer. Dust such as developer scattered around the photoreceptor is blocked by the dustproof member and does not adhere to the optical means. Dust attached to the surface of the dustproof member can be easily removed by a cleaning means provided on the dustproof member.

(Example) Next, an example in which the present invention is applied to a copying machine will be described. Third
The figure shows a schematic configuration of the main parts of a copying machine. In the figure, 1 is a photosensitive drum, which is a photosensitive member, and around the photosensitive drum are a primary charger 2, a developer 3, a transfer charger 17, and a cleaner. A container 18 is provided.

FIGS. 1 and 2 are diagrams showing the structure around the photosensitive drum 1 in detail. Reference numeral 12 designates a blank exposure lamp that removes charges from unnecessary areas such as between sheets after forming an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 1, and reference numeral 13 designates an exposure lamp that uniformly removes charges on the photosensitive drum 1 after cleaning. .

Further, above the photosensitive drum 1, a lens (
(not shown) and a reflecting mirror 4 are provided. A plate-shaped dustproof glass 10 is provided between the reflection mirror 4 and the photosensitive drum 1 as a light-transmissive dustproof member. This dustproof glass 1.0 prevents developer and oil mist from scattering around the photosensitive drum 1.

This is to prevent dust and the like from adhering to the reflecting mirror 4 and a lens (not shown). The dustproof glass 10 is an elongated glass provided along the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 1, and is fitted into the rail 14 of the frame 20 for holding. Further, the end of the dustproof glass 10 is held down by a stopper 1 to prevent it from easily falling out from within the rail 15. 8 is a cleaning means provided on one side of the dustproof glass 10, that is, on the lower side facing the photosensitive drum 1;
It has a pad 8b in contact with the surface of 0 and an arm 8a. Further, the leg portion 8a' of the arm 8a is arranged to be slidable within a rail 15 provided on the lower surface of the frame body 20.

Further, a part of the wire 7 is fixed to the arm 8a by a fixing member 1a. This wire 7 is stretched along the longitudinal direction of the dust-proof glass 10, and is looped around a pair of pulleys 6 (for convenience, only one is shown). Further, the drive shaft of a step motor 5, which can freely rotate in forward and reverse directions, is connected to this pulley 6.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be explained.

First, the photosensitive drum 1 is uniformly charged by the wide charger 2.
When exposed to image light from an original (not shown) above, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 1 according to the image light. The electrostatic latent image is transferred to the developing device 3 as the photosensitive drum l rotates.
and is developed by the developer in the developing device 3,
Be visualized. This developed image is then transferred via a transfer charger 17 onto a transfer paper P that is conveyed from a paper feed system (not shown). Next, the transfer paper P carrying the developed image is sent to a fixing device (not shown), where it is fixed as a permanent image on the transfer paper P, and the photosensitive drum l after the transfer is transferred to a cleaning device 1.
8, the residual developer is cleaned, and thereafter similar operations are repeated to form images on the transfer paper P in sequence.

During the above operation, dust such as developer, oil mist, dust, etc. scattered around the photosensitive drum 1 is blocked by the dustproof glass 10, so that it does not adhere to optical means such as the reflecting mirror 4. When dust adheres to the surface (lower surface) of the dustproof glass 10 in a copying machine that makes a large number of copies, it can be removed as follows.

First, when the cleaning means 8 is not in use, it is located on the end side of the dustproof glass 10 as shown in the second figure. When the step motor 5 is driven by a predetermined amount (forward/reverse), the arm 8a fixed to the wire 7 reciprocates along the rail 15, and the pad 8b provided on the arm 8a moves against the dust-proof guide 10.
Cleaning is performed automatically by reciprocating while in contact with the surface. If this cleaning operation is performed every time a certain number of copies are made, it is possible to guide high-quality image light onto the photosensitive drum 1 over a long period of time without having to prepare special cleaning tools as in the case of maintenance. Therefore, stable electrostatic latent images and visible images can always be obtained.

FIG. 4 shows another example of the structure of the cleaning means 8. In this embodiment, cleaning means 8 are provided on both sides of the dustproof glass 10. Therefore, both the upper and lower surfaces of the dustproof glass 10 can be cleaned, which is more effective. Other structural functions are the same as those described above.

Further, the stepping motor 5 may be configured so that the operator can arbitrarily drive the stepping motor 5 by operating an operation panel (not shown).

Furthermore, if the dust-proof glass is configured to be freely drawn out to the outside of the apparatus main body along the longitudinal direction, the surface can be cleaned by pulling out the dust-proof glass along the longitudinal direction without operating the cleaning means 8.

Note that the present invention is also applicable to laser printers, facsimile machines, and the like.

(Effects of the Invention) Since the present invention is constructed as described above, it is possible to easily clean the surface of the dustproof means without having to prepare special cleaning tools as required during maintenance, and the surface of the dustproof means can be easily cleaned over a long period of time. Good quality image light can be directed onto the photoreceptor. Therefore, stable electrostatic latent images and visible images can always be obtained.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 to 4 show embodiments of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a front sectional view showing the main parts when the present invention is applied to a copying machine, and FIG. 2 is a cleaning means seen from the photoreceptor side. 3 is a schematic front view of the peripheral structure of the photoreceptor, FIG. 4 is a front sectional view showing another example of the structure of the cleaning means, and FIG. 5 shows the structure of a conventional electrophotographic apparatus. It is a schematic front view. Explanation of symbols 1... Photosensitive drum (photosensitive body) 4... Reflecting mirror (optical means) 8... Cleaning means 10... Dust-proof glass (dust-proof member) L-... Image light Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Figure 3 +7 Figure 4

Claims (1)

[Claims] It has an optical means for guiding image light, and a photoreceptor on which an electrostatic latent image is formed by the image light projected by the optical means, and this electrostatic latent image is made visible by a developer, the optical means and the photoreceptor. 1. An electrophotographic apparatus comprising a light-transmissive dustproof member provided between the dustproof member and the dustproof member, wherein the dustproof member is provided with cleaning means for cleaning the surface of the dustproof member.