JPH0485579A - Cleaning device for image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To surely reproduce a cleaning blade at low cost by providing a means for compensating the change of a cleaning function which is caused when the edge of the cleaning blade is cut off. CONSTITUTION:When the life of a cartridge expires, the tip part of the blade edge to which hatching is performed is cut off by 0.5-1mm in order to reuse the cleaning blade. Then, the abutting state of the blade edge on the surface of the image carrier is naturally changed and entering quantity becomes small, so that the blade can not be used as it is. Therefore, a spacer 6 is disposed between a supporting member 2 for supporting the blade 3 and the housing of a cleaning device so as to secure the entering quantity alpha1(alpha1<alpha2). Since the tip part of the ;blade is cut off and the; parallel part (c) of the blade is short, a desired cleaning condition is obtained by setting alpha1 in this case smaller than the inital entering quantity alpha2.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (1) Purpose of the Invention (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic method, such as an electrostatic copying machine or a printer, and particularly to a cleaning device thereof. .

(Prior art and issues to be solved) A well-known image forming apparatus that transfers a transferable toner image formed on the surface of an image carrier onto a transfer material such as paper, includes an image carrier, a charging device, a developing device, a cleaning device, etc. There are already widely used devices in which a cartridge is integrally configured and the cartridge is removably attached to the main body of an image forming apparatus.

Elastic cleaning blades are widely used as a cleaning means for cleaning devices used in such devices because they have a simple configuration, are compact, and have excellent cleaning functions. It is normal for cartridge type cartridges to be discarded and replaced with a new one when the stored toner runs out.As a practical matter, when the cartridge reaches the end of its lifespan, there is a A triangular chip of about 3 μm in size can range from a triangular chip of about 20 μm in large cases, and for this reason, it has been common practice to discard the cleaning blade at the end of the life of the cartridge.

However, since the chips mentioned above on the edge of the cleaning blade are small, the blade material usually maintains the specified properties sufficiently, and if the chipped part is removed, it will be fully functional. It is clear that it is possible to recover

By the way, in order to cut off and reuse the edge of the blade, it is necessary to inspect all the blades for chips, regardless of whether or not the edge is chipped, and of course, it is necessary to clean all the blades on which toner has adhered. was necessary.

Therefore, in reality, it is quite costly to reuse such leaning blades. Mechanically reduce the contact edge side to the image carrier by 0.5 to 11
The purpose of the cleaning blade is to reuse the cleaning blade at a low cost by removing approximately I11 and making it possible to bring the removed new edge into contact with the surface of an image carrier easily and reliably at a desired angle and pressure. That is.

(2) Structure of the Invention (Technical Means for Solving the Problems and Their Effects) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a method that is held by a support member attached to a housing of a cleaning device and is pressed against the surface of an image carrier. In a cleaning device equipped with a cleaning blade, when the edge of the cleaning blade is cut off in order to cope with the wear and tear of the edge due to use, a means is provided for compensating for a change in the cleaning function due to this cutting. It is something.

With this configuration, it is possible to reliably regenerate the cleaning blade at low cost, and stable cleaning can be performed over a long period of time.

(Description of Embodiments) FIG. 1 is a side sectional view schematically showing a cartridge of an image forming apparatus suitable for applying the present invention, in which an image bearing member extends perpendicularly to the plane of the paper and rotates in the direction of the arrow. The body 1, the wide charger 7, the developing device 8, and the cleaning device 5 are housed integrally in a housing 9.
is detachably attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus (not shown).

The cleaning device 5 will be explained below.

The cleaning device 5 extends parallel to the axial direction of the image carrier 1, and includes a cleaning blade 3 integrally provided with a supporting member 2 attached to an opening formed on the image carrier side.
It is assumed that one edge of the free edge of the image carrier 1 comes into pressure contact with the surface of the image carrier 1.

Reference numeral 4 in the figure is a scoop sheet.

FIG. 2 also shows a cleaning device similar to the above, and shows the configuration of the cleaning device that is first installed in the cartridge. Assume that they are in contact with each other,
For reuse, the hatched portion is removed and used, and this state is shown in FIG. 1 above.

In FIG. 2, when the cleaning blade 3 is in its natural state, it is arranged so as to intersect the surface of the image carrier, so that the blade edge actually comes into pressure contact with the image carrier.

In a natural state, the distance α2 between the blade edge a and the point where the blade end face intersects with the surface of the image carrier is the amount of penetration of the blade, and by appropriately setting this and the rubber hardness of the blade, a good toner removal function can be achieved. Obtainable.

When the life of the cartridge has expired, in order to reuse the cleaning blade, the tip of the blade edge with the hatching is cut off by 0.5 to 1 mm as described above, which naturally causes the blade edge to reach the surface of the image carrier. Since the abutment state changes and the amount of penetration becomes smaller, it cannot be used as is.

Therefore, in the illustrated device, as shown in FIG. 1, a spacer 6 is disposed between the support member 2 that supports the blade 3 and the housing of the cleaning device, so that the amount of penetration α
1 (α×α2).

In this case, α1 is smaller than the above-mentioned initial penetration amount α2 because the blade tip is cut off and the parallel part C of the blade is shortened (by setting it, desired cleaning conditions can be obtained .

Of course, there is a permissible range for the contact pressure to the image carrier, so α
In some cases, it is possible to set 1=α2.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment, in which the cleaning blade 3 has an arrangement in which it is glued to the support member 2.

In the case of initial installation, the blade 3 is attached to the support member 2 with a length e
In the case of reuse, after adhering the blade to the amount d shown in the figure, cut off an appropriate amount of the edge side to make the free length f of the blade 3 the same as the original one. shall be ensured.

With this configuration, it is possible to perform good leaning as many times as desired under the same conditions until the physical properties of the rubber itself deteriorate.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment in which holes 1+, 1+J5 and
Two sets are provided as shown in i-j, and support member 2 of hole 1 + sJ'
The distances g and h from the edge of the housing 5 are formed such that g<h, and screw holes 12 and j2 are provided on the housing 5 side at positions corresponding to the holes L+ and -1+.

For initial installation, insert blade 3 into hole i+ and screw hole 1.
When reusing the blade 3, the blade edge is cut off and the blade 3 is fixed to the housing 5 using the hole j2 and the screw hole j2.

By appropriately setting the positions of the guard holes Lg, ji, ji, etc. and changing them sequentially according to the damage to the blade edge, the cleaning blade can be used in good condition for a long period of time. With such a configuration, it can be easily applied to various types of cleaning blades such as chip type blades, adhesive type blades, and sandwich type blades.

FIG. 5 shows still another embodiment, in which the cleaning blade is a pinching type blade, and the blade 3
are sandwiched and supported by a pair of sandwiching members 21 and 22.

If the free length k of the blade 3 is set appropriately, in the case of reuse, the position of the blade 3 can be adjusted each time after the end of the blade edge is cut off so that k remains stable. Cleaning can be performed.

The case where the present invention is applied to a cleaning device in a cartridge-type image forming apparatus has been described above.
It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to this, and similar effects can be obtained even when the cleaning device is disposed as a single unit within the image forming apparatus.

(3) As described in detail, in the present invention, in a cleaning device that uses a cleaning blade to remove residual toner on the surface of an image bearing member, each time the cleaning blade is reused, the tip of the blade is removed. Since there is no need to inspect the edges for defects and they can be reused, it is possible to maintain good leaning function at low cost.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a schematic side sectional view of the main parts of a process cartridge to which the present invention is applied, and Fig. 2 is a side view of the same cleaning device portion, illustrating the initial installation state of the cleaning blade and how to reuse it. , FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the cleaning device showing another embodiment, FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing still another embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of the cleaning device showing still another embodiment. It is. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Image carrier, 2... Support member, 3, Cleaning blade, 5... Housing.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] In a cleaning device including a cleaning blade that is held by a support member attached to a housing of the cleaning device and presses against the surface of an image carrier, there is provided a cleaning device to cope with wear and tear of the edge of the cleaning blade due to use. A cleaning device comprising means for compensating for a change in cleaning function due to the cutting of an edge when the edge is cut.