JPH0493974A - Cleaning device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To surely remove residual toner even when the residual toner has a small particle size by removing the residual toner one the surface of an image carrier by a brush member which rubs the surface of the image carrier. CONSTITUTION:A higher bias voltage than a bias voltage impressed on the brush member 11 is impressed on a collecting roller 14 from a power surface 15, so that the toner 2 remaining on the brush 11a is collected to the peripheral surface of the roller 14. Then, a scraping member 16 is allowed to press-contact to the circumference of the roller 14 which collects the toner 2 by a pressing means 17 such as a spring, etc., so that the toner 2 is scraped from the periph eral surface of the roller 14 by the member 16 and carried by a toner carrying coil 18. Next, a cleaning agent 21 is supplied to the peripheral surface of the roller 14 by a cleaning agent supply means 20. The toner 2 collected by the roller 14 is easily scraped from the peripheral surface of the roller 14 by the member 16, and the toner 2 is prevented from being accumulated on the periph eral surface of the roller 14. Therefore, the toner 2 adhering to the brush 11a is stably collected by the roller 14 over a long period.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a cleaning method for removing toner remaining on the surface of an image carrier after transfer in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer. The present invention relates to an apparatus, and in particular, to a cleaning apparatus that can stably remove toner of small particle size from the surface of an image carrier even when toner of small particle size is used in the above-mentioned image forming apparatus. .

[Prior art and its problems] Conventionally, in image forming apparatuses such as copying machines and printers,
A cleaning device for removing toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier after transfer generally has a blade cleaner pressed against the surface of the image carrier, and this blade cleaner removes the toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier. A device that was designed to be removed from the surface of the carrier was used.

On the other hand, in recent years, in order to form high-definition images in image forming apparatuses such as those described above, consideration has been given to using toner with a reduced particle size.

However, when toner with such a small particle size is used, if the toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier is removed by the cleaning device as described above, this toner will be removed due to its small particle size. The toner slips through the blade cleaner, and the toner is not sufficiently removed from the surface of the image carrier, and the remaining toner fuses to the surface of the image carrier, causing black streak-like noise on the formed image, etc. A problem arose.

Additionally, in the past, in order to improve the cleaning performance of toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier, cleaning agents were added to the developer or applied to the surface of the image carrier. .

However, when a cleaning agent is added to a developer, there is a problem in that the environmental stability and charging properties of the developer are adversely affected.

On the other hand, when the cleaning agent is applied to the surface of the image carrier, the cleaning agent may scatter and contaminate the inside of the image forming apparatus, or the cleaning agent may enter the developing device and have an adverse effect on the developer. It is difficult to uniformly apply the cleaning agent to the surface of the image carrier, which causes uneven application of the cleaning agent to the surface of the image carrier, resulting in unevenness in the formed image, and even This requires a space to provide a coating device for coating the cleaning agent around the image carrier, which poses problems such as making it difficult to downsize the image forming apparatus.

In addition, in recent years, as a cleaning device for removing toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier, as shown in FIG. A conductive brush (lla) provided on a brush member (11) that rotates in the direction rubs the brush member (11), and a power supply (12) is applied to the brush member (11) so that the charged polarity of the toner (2) is opposite to that of the toner (2). A bias voltage for collecting the toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier (1) is applied, and the toner (
2) was developed to be collected by the brush <1 la) of this brush member (11).

In this cleaning device, the brush (lla) of the rotating brush member (11) is applied to the dusting rod (13) as described above, and the toner (2>) collected by the brush (lla) is removed from the brush (lla). After knocking out the brush (lla) from inside the brush (lla), the brush (lla) is then passed through the collection roller (
14) and apply a bias voltage higher than the bias voltage applied to the brush member (11) to the collecting roller (14) from the power source (15), This collection roller (14) removes the remaining toner (2) from the
It was made to collect on the surrounding surface of.

Next, the scraping member (16) is brought into pressure contact with the circumferential surface of the collection roller (14) that has collected the toner (2) in this way by means of a biasing means (17) such as a spring, so that the circumferential surface of the collection roller (14) The scraping member (16) scrapes the toner (2) collected in I made it.

In this way, the toner (2) remaining on the surface of the image carrier (1)
) is removed from the surface of the image carrier (1) by the brush member (11), even if the toner (2) remaining on the surface of the image carrier (1) is of small particle size. The toner (2) is now reliably removed from the surface of the image carrier (1) by the brush member (11).

However, after the toner (2) collected by the brush member (11>) is collected on the circumferential surface of the collecting roller (14) as described above, a member is used to scrape off the toner (2) from the circumferential surface of the collecting roller (14). <16), if toner 2) has a small particle size, this toner (
The toner (2) slipped through the scraping member (16) and was not sufficiently scraped off from the circumferential surface of the collecting roller (14), and the toner (2) gradually accumulated on the circumferential surface of the collecting roller (14).

In this way, the toner (2) is transferred to the collection roller (1
When the toner (2) is accumulated on the circumferential surface of the brush (Ila
) The toner (2) remaining on the brush member (11) is no longer sufficiently collected, and gradually
a), and the collection power of the toner (2) by this brush member (11) also decreases, causing a problem that the toner (2) remaining on the surface of the image carrier (1) cannot be sufficiently removed. .

Further, the collection roller (14) and the scraping member (1
Due to poor slippage between the scraping member (16) and the cleaning device (16), the scraping member (16) is subject to significant wear, which requires frequent replacement of the scraping member (16) or replacement of the entire cleaning device. The work is troublesome, and
There was also the problem of high running costs.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems in a cleaning device that removes toner remaining on the surface of an image carrier from the surface of the image carrier. .

In other words, in the above-mentioned leaning device, even if the toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier has a small particle size, the present invention removes such small particle size toner from the surface of the image carrier for a long period of time. The objective is to be able to reliably remove it over a wide range of areas.

"Means for Solving the Problems J" In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the cleaning device according to the present invention removes toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier by rubbing the surface of the image carrier. A brush member to be removed, a collection roller that collects toner attached to the brush member from the brush member, a voltage application unit that applies a bias voltage for toner collection to the collection roller, and a collection roller that collects the toner collected by the collection roller. A scraping member for scraping off the roller and a cleaning agent supply means for supplying the cleaning agent to the peripheral surface of the collecting roller are provided.

Here, it is preferable to use a brush member provided with a conductive brush, and to apply a bias voltage for collecting toner having a polarity opposite to the charged polarity of the toner to this brush member. .

In addition, when supplying the cleaning agent to the circumferential surface of the collecting roller by the cleaning agent supplying means, in addition to supplying a powdered cleaning agent or a hardened solid cleaning agent by pressing it against the circumferential surface of the collecting roller, liquid It may be applied in a state.

Here, the cleaning agent to be supplied to the peripheral surface of the collection roller includes, for example, metal salts of fatty acids such as zinc stearate, aluminum stearate, calcium stearate, and zinc laurate, silicon oxide particles, and fine particles of tetrafluoroethylene resin. Powder and the like can be used, but the material is not particularly limited to these.

In the cleaning device according to the present invention, toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier is removed from the surface of the image carrier by the brush member that rubs the surface of the image carrier as described above. , the cleaning agent is supplied to the peripheral surface of the collection roller by the cleaning agent supplying means, and a bias voltage for toner collection is applied to the collection roller from the voltage application means, so that the cleaning agent is supplied to the peripheral surface of the collection roller, The toner attached to the brush member is collected.

The toner thus collected on the peripheral surface of the collection roller is scraped off from the collection roller by the above-mentioned scraping member.

When the cleaning agent is supplied to the circumferential surface of the collecting roller that collects toner in this manner by the cleaning agent supplying means, the toner collected by the collecting roller is easily scraped from the circumferential surface of the collecting roller by the above-mentioned scraping member. This prevents toner from accumulating on the circumferential surface of the collection roller, and the toner adhering to the brush member can be stably collected by the collection roller over a long period of time.

Therefore, the toner adhering to the brush member is not collected by the collection roller and accumulated on the brush member, which reduces the toner collection power of the brush member, and the toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier is removed. will also be carried out stably over a long period of time.

Furthermore, since the cleaning agent is supplied to the circumferential surface of the collection roller as described above, the friction between the collection roller and the scraping member is reduced, and the wear of the scraping member is also reduced.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be specifically described based on the accompanying drawings.

The cleaning device of this embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is similar to the conventional cleaning device shown in FIG.
A brush member (11) provided with a conductive brush (lla) is used as the brush member (11) for rubbing the surface of the image carrier (1), and this brush member (11) is rotated in the opposite direction to the image carrier (1). The above-mentioned brush (
The surface of the image carrier (1) is rubbed with Then, the toner (2) remaining on the surface of the image carrier (1) is removed by the brush (11) of the brush member (11).
lla).

Therefore, the toner (2) remaining on the surface of the image carrier (1)
) is of small particle size, this brush member (11)
This ensures that the toner (2) is removed from the surface of the image carrier (1).

Then, in this way, the toner (2) is applied to the brush member (11).
After collecting the brush member (
The brush (lla) of No. 11) was applied to the dusting rod (13) to knock out the toner (2) collected by the brush (lla) from inside the brush (lla).

Also, brush the toner (2) collected in this way (
lla), then use this brush (l
The toner (2) adhering to la) is removed from the collection roller (
14).

Here, toner (2) attached to the brush <1la)
In order to collect it on the collection roller (14), as in the conventional case, the brush (l) of the rotating brush member (11) is
la) is brought into contact with the circumferential surface of the rotating collection roller (14), and the collection roller (14) is connected to the power source (15).
4), a bias voltage for toner recovery higher than the bias voltage applied to the brush member (11) is applied, and the remaining toner (la) without being knocked out from the brush (lla) is
2) was collected on the circumferential surface of this collection roller (14).

Next, the scraping member (16) is brought into pressure contact with the circumferential surface of the collection roller (14) that has collected the toner (2) in this way by means of a biasing means (17) such as a spring, so that the circumferential surface of the collection roller (14) The scraping member (16) scrapes the collected toner (2) from the circumferential surface of the collection roller (14), and the thus scraped toner (2) is conveyed by the toner conveying coil (18). I did it like that.

In the cleaning device of this embodiment, the toner (2) attached to the brush (lla) as described above is
) is collected by the collection roller (14), the cleaning agent (21) is supplied to the circumferential surface of the collection roller (14) by the cleaning agent supply means (20).

Here, in supplying the cleaning agent (21) to the circumferential surface of the collection roller (14), this collection roller (
On the side opposite to the brush member (11) of 14), store the cleaning agent (21) on the scraping member (16) so that the cleaning agent (21) contacts the circumferential surface of the collection roller (14). At the same time, a rubber regulating blade (22) is brought into pressure contact with the circumferential surface of the collecting roller (14), and the cleaning agent (21) is supplied to the circumferential surface of the collecting roller (14) by the regulating blade (22).
The cleaning agent (21) was supplied thinly and uniformly to the circumferential surface of the collecting roller (14).

When the cleaning agent (21) is supplied to the peripheral surface of the collection roller (14) in this way, the toner (2) collected on the collection roller (14) is removed from the collection roller (14) by the scraping member (16). The toner (2) can now be easily scraped off from the circumferential surface of the collecting roller (14), and the toner (2) no longer accumulates on the circumferential surface of the collection roller (14).

Therefore, the toner (2) adhering to the brush (ILa) as described above is stably collected by the collection roller (14) over a long period of time.
The toner (2) adhering to a) gradually spreads onto the brush (lla>
The toner (2) is accumulated in the brush member (11) and
) without reducing the collection power of the image carrier (1
) The toner (2) remaining on the surface of the toner (2) can now be removed stably over a long period of time.

In addition, in this example, the collection roller (1
In supplying the cleaning agent (21) to the circumferential surface of the collecting roller (14), a rubber regulating blade (22) is brought into pressure contact with the circumferential surface of the collecting roller (14). The amount of the cleaning agent (21) is adjusted, but the rubber regulation blade (22)
Instead, a metal regulating blade (
23), or as shown in Fig. 3, a regulating member (24) made of sponge or the like is brought into pressure contact with the circumferential surface of the collecting roller (14), and the regulating member (24) is supplied to the circumferential surface of the collecting roller (14). It is also possible to adjust the amount of cleaning agent (21) applied.

In addition, the cleaning agent (21) is collected by the collection roller (14).
As shown in Figure 4, when supplying to the circumferential surface of
A feed roller (25) is provided in the portion containing the cleaning agent (21), and the feed roller (25)
The cleaning agent (21) is collected by the roller (14).
), or as shown in FIG. 5, the contained cleaning agent (21 ) may be pressed against the circumferential surface of the collection roller (14).

The feed roller (25) is not limited to a cylindrical roller as shown in FIG. 4, but may be polygonal, bladed, or the like.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 6, a cleaning agent (21)
A transport means (28) is provided for transporting the material to the collection roller (14), and the transport means (28) transports the collection roller (14) to the collection roller (14).
It is also possible to supply the cleaning agent (21) to the peripheral surface of the cleaning agent (21), and in this case, the cleaning agent (21) is supplied to the conveying member (29) made of cloth or the like of the conveying means (28)
The cleaning agent (21) is impregnated with the cleaning agent (21) and the conveying member (29) is brought into contact with the peripheral surface of the collection roller (14>).
It is also possible to apply it to the circumferential surface of the collection roller (14).

[Effects of the Invention] As detailed above, in the cleaning device according to the present invention, the toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier is removed by the brush member that rubs the surface of the image carrier as described above. Since the toner is removed from the surface of the image carrier, even if the toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier has a small particle size, this brush member will remove the toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier. are now reliably removed from surfaces.

Further, in the cleaning device according to the present invention, when the toner adhering to the brush member is collected by the collection roller, the cleaning agent is supplied to the peripheral surface of the collection roller by the cleaning agent supplying means, so that the cleaning agent is supplied to the peripheral surface of the collection roller. The toner collected by the roller is easily scraped off from the circumferential surface of the collecting roller by the scraping member, and toner does not accumulate on the circumferential surface of the collecting roller, and the toner adhering to the brush member is removed from the collecting roller. This has enabled stable recovery over a long period of time.

In addition, since the toner adhering to the brush member is stably collected by the collection roller in this way, the toner adhering to the brush member accumulates on this brush member, reducing the toner collection power of this brush member. The toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier can now be stably removed from the surface of the image carrier over a long period of time by using this brush member.

As a result, when the cleaning device according to the present invention is used, even if the toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier has a small particle size, such small particle size toner can be removed from the surface of the image carrier. Since then, it has become possible to reliably remove it over a long period of time.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing how a cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present invention is used, and FIGS. 2 to 6 are schematic cross-sectional views showing how cleaning devices according to other embodiments of the present invention are used. 7 are schematic cross-sectional views showing the state of use of a conventional cleaning device. 1>...Image carrier (2)...Toner 11.
... Brush member (14) ... Collection roller 15
... Voltage application means (power supply) 17 ... Scraping member 20 ... Cleaning agent supply means 21 ... Cleaning agent

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A brush member that rubs the surface of the image carrier to remove toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier, a collection roller that collects toner adhering to the brush member from the brush member, and this collection roller. a voltage applying means for applying a bias voltage for collecting toner to the collecting roller; a scraping member for scraping the toner collected by the collecting roller from the collecting roller; and a cleaning agent supplying means for supplying a cleaning agent to the circumferential surface of the collecting roller. A cleaning device comprising: