JPH0441351B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a cleaning device and an image forming apparatus using the cleaning device.

Conventionally, elastic cleaning has been used as a device for cleaning image bearing bodies such as image forming apparatuses that form electrostatic latent images on image bearing bodies such as photoconductors based on electrophotography, and then develop and transfer the images after the transfer is completed. A blade method is widely used in which a blade is brought into contact with an image carrier for cleaning. In such a cleaning device, a sheet-like guide member is disposed upstream of the cleaning member contact position in the moving direction of the image carrier, and deposits on the image carrier are passed through to reach the cleaning position. On the other hand, the material removed by the cleaning member is guided away from the image carrier on the back side of the sheet-like guide member, that is, on the opposite side to the side where the image carrier is provided.

Further, the width of the cleaning member is set larger than the width of the image forming area of the image carrier. The width of the sheet-like guide member is set to be sufficiently longer than the width of the cleaning member to prevent the removed material from leaking and scattering from the end of the guide member. However, in order to downsize the cleaning device, it is conceivable to shorten the width of the sheet-like guide member so that the end of the guide member is located near the image forming area of the image carrier. It has been found that in this case, the removed material scatters, which adversely affects image formation.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and relates to a cleaning device that does not cause developer scattering, and an image forming apparatus using the cleaning device.

Hereinafter, details of the present invention will be explained using specific examples with reference to the drawings.

In the embodiment described below, the residual developer on the cleaning member and the image carrier that moves to the cleaning member position is passed through, and the developer removed by the cleaning member is passed through the cleaning member, that is, on the back side of the image carrier. a sheet-like guide member that guides the sheet-like guide member so as to be separated from the image carrier on a surface opposite to the side where the image carrier is provided; The present invention provides a cleaning device for removing residual developer on an image carrier, and an image forming apparatus using the cleaning device.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of main parts of an image forming apparatus to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes an image carrier, which is an example in which a photoreceptor containing a photoconductive material such as Se or OPC is supported in the form of a drum. This drum-shaped image carrier 1 rotates in the direction of the arrow.

A corona discharger 2 charges the surface of the image carrier 1 uniformly. 3 is an optical means such as a short focus optical element array, which irradiates the image carrier 1 with a light image.

A developing device 4 develops an electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier 1 in response to irradiation with a light image.

A timing roller 5 functions to send the transfer material 8 fed from a paper feeding means (not shown) to the transfer position in synchronization with the development on the image carrier 1. 6 is a transfer material guide. Further, 7 is a transfer corona discharger, which is the back surface of the transfer material 8, that is, the image carrier 1.
A transfer corona is applied by a transfer corona discharger 7 to the surface opposite to the side on which the images are provided, and the developed images on the image carrier 1 are transferred to the transfer material 8.

Reference numeral 9 denotes a conveyor belt that guides the transfer material 8 after the transfer is completed to a fixing means (not shown).

10 is a cleaning device to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. In the figure, reference numeral 11 denotes an elastic cleaning blade that removes the developer remaining on the image carrier 1 after transfer from the image carrier 1. Reference numeral 12 denotes a sheet-like guide member that guides removed materials such as residual developer removed from the image carrier 1 by the blade 11 in a direction away from the image carrier 1 and into the casing 13 . Here, the guide member 12 is provided upstream of the blade 11 in the moving direction of the image carrier 1 . Now, FIG. 2 is a side end perspective view of the cleaning device shown in FIG. 1. As shown in the figure, in the apparatus of this embodiment, in addition to the end sheet member 14 provided at the opening side end of the housing 13, the sheet guide member 12 is provided at the side end back side of the sheet-shaped guide member 12, that is, on the side where the image carrier 1 is provided. A sealing member 15 is arranged on the opposite side. Therefore, the guide member 12 is interposed between the seal member 15 and the image carrier 1. Further, the sealing member 15 is made of an elastic member such as moltoprene, urethane foam, or felt, and there is no risk of interfering with and restraining the displacement of the end portion of the sheet-shaped guide member 12. In this embodiment, the sealing member 15 is disposed in close contact with the end sealing member 14, but the two may be separate or integrated (incidentally, the third
(The figure is an example of one unit).

In this embodiment, as is clear from FIG. 2, the cleaning blade 11 is provided at a side position thereof, and extends from the side toward the upstream side of the cleaning blade 11 with respect to the moving direction of the layer carrier 1. An end sealing member 14 is provided on the upstream side of the cleaning blade 11 with respect to the moving direction of the image carrier 1, and an end sealing member 14 is provided on the guide member 1.
A sealing member 15 is provided on the back side of the end portion of 2.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, since both seal members are in close contact with each other as shown in the figure, the possibility that the collected material (developer) in the housing leaks from the side edge of the sheet-shaped guide member 12 and scatters is more reliably prevented. can. Note that the middle end sealing member 14 in FIG. 2 has an arcuate portion.

Now, FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an example of setting the end portion of the sheet-like guide member 12 with respect to the image forming area of the image carrier 1. In FIG.

P in the figure indicates the end of the image forming area of the image carrier 1, and the area to the right of this P line is the image forming area. D
is the distance between the side edge of the sheet-like guide member 12 and the P line. Q is an end face of the seal member 15. In this embodiment, the end seal 14 and the seal member 15 are integrated, and a portion thereof is located on the back surface of the end portion of the guide member 12.

In the figure, the residual developer on the image carrier 1 normally exists on the right side of the P line. And blade 1
1, most of the developer is removed from the image carrier 1 and falls directly below, but some of the developer is removed by the blade 1.
It moves to the left side of the line P (outside the image forming area) along the contact edge 11b with the image bearing member 1 of No. 1, and hits the end surface Q of the sealing member 15 provided outside the image forming area and falls. At this time, the end surface Q of the seal member 15
The developer falls along the guide member 12 and is guided into the housing via the back surface of the sheet-like guide member 12. At this time D
Even within 15 mm, leakage from the side edges of the sheet-like guide member 12 was completely prevented. The distance d between the sheet member end surface Q and the P line is approximately 5 mm. Note that in the case of a conventional configuration in which the seal member 15 is not provided, D
20 to 25 mm or more, and even with this size, it was difficult to completely prevent developer from leaking.

Note that, as is clear from FIG. 3, the end seal member 14 is also arranged outside the image forming area like the seal member 15.

As described above, in this embodiment, since the end surface Q of the sealing member 15 contacts the cleaning edge 11b of the blade 11 inside the side edge 11a of the blade 11 (on the image forming area side), the sealing member 15 moves along the cleaning edge 11b. The incoming developer falls before it reaches the side edge of the blade, which is effective in preventing the developer from scattering.

As described above, in the above-mentioned embodiment, since the side end portion of the sheet-like guide member can be installed close to the image forming area, that is, the installation width of the sheet-like guide member can be made close to the image forming area width of the image carrier. Not only was it possible to downsize the device, but it was also possible to reliably prevent the developer removed from the image carrier after transfer by the cleaning blade from leaking outside and scattering. .

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the size of the apparatus, and to provide a cleaning apparatus that does not cause developer scattering, and an image forming apparatus using the cleaning apparatus.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an image forming apparatus to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is a side end perspective view of a cleaning device to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied, and FIG. 3 is an image forming area FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an example of setting the end of a sheet-like guide member relative to the end of the sheet-like guide member. In the figure, 1; image carrier; 2; corona discharger; 3;
Optical means, 4; developing device, 11; cleaning member, 12; sheet-shaped guide member, 14; end sealing member, 15; sealing member.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A cleaning device for removing developer on an image carrier, comprising: a cleaning member provided for removing developer on the image carrier; and a cleaning member that removes the developer from the image carrier. a guide member provided upstream of the cleaning member with respect to the moving direction of the image carrier for guiding the developer removed from the image carrier in a direction away from the image carrier; an end seal member provided at a lateral position and extending from the side toward the upstream side of the cleaning member with respect to the moving direction of the image carrier; A cleaning device comprising: a seal member provided on the back side of an end of the guide member on the upstream side of the cleaning member. 2. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the end seal member and the seal member are separate bodies and are disposed in close contact with each other. 3. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the end seal member and the seal member are an integral member. 4. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the end seal member and the seal member are provided outside an image forming area of the image carrier. 5. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the end seal member has an arcuate portion. 6. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the guide member is interposed between the seal member and the image carrier. 7. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the sealing member is made of an elastic member such as moltoprene, urethane foam, or felt. 8. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the end seal member and the seal member are an integral member, and a portion thereof is located on the back surface of the end portion of the guide member. 9. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning member is an elastic cleaning blade. 10. An image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium, comprising: an image bearing member; a latent image forming means for forming a latent image on the image bearing member; and a latent image formed on the image bearing member by the latent image forming means. a developing device for developing a latent image; a transfer device for transferring the image developed by the developing device to a recording medium; and a cleaning member provided for removing developer on the image carrier after transfer. and an upstream side of the cleaning member with respect to the moving direction of the image carrier for guiding the developer removed from the image carrier by the cleaning member in a direction away from the image carrier. a guide member provided; an end seal member provided at a lateral position of the cleaning member and extending from the side thereof toward the upstream side of the cleaning member with respect to the moving direction of the image carrier; An image forming apparatus comprising: a sealing member provided on the back side of an end of the guide member on the upstream side of the cleaning member with respect to the moving direction of the image carrier.