JPH05142935A - Unit body consisting of cleaning section and developer supplying section - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the outflow of recovered toners to the outside. CONSTITUTION:A body 22 for preventing the outflow of a developer formed by fixing a sheet 21 to a sponge 20 is interposed between a shutter 9 which is provided in a cleaning chamber 5 and opens and closes the aperture of a case 10 and a bearing 13 which receives a revolving shaft supporting the shutter 9 to close the gap G between the revolving shaft 11 and a bearing 13 by the sponge 20. Further, the deformation of the sponge 20 is prevented by the sheet 21 so as not to affect the opening and closing actions of the shutter 9.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is applied to an image forming apparatus using a dry developer, and a cleaning section for removing and containing residual developer on the surface of a photosensitive member and a developing section for supplying a new developer. The present invention relates to a cleaning section / developer supply section unit body in which an agent supply section is integrated.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming apparatus, collecting a residual developer removed from the surface of a photosensitive member and supplying a new developer to a developing section are troublesome operations for users.
The cleaning section / developer supply section unit body has the advantage of good workability since the recovery and supply operations are completed once.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view showing a schematic structure of a conventional cleaning unit / developer supply unit unit. Reference numeral 1 is a belt-shaped photosensitive member, 2 is a roller for supporting the photosensitive member 1, and 3 is a cleaning unit. Developer supply unit unit (hereinafter CTM
4) CTM3 developer supply chamber, 5 CTM3
Cleaning chamber, 6 is a known developing unit that visualizes the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photoreceptor 1 with a developer (toner), and 7 is provided in the developer supplying chamber 4 to develop a new toner. Conveying means for feeding to the section 6, and 8 and 9 are a cleaning blade and a shutter provided in the cleaning chamber 5.

The cleaning blade 8 is in contact with the surface of the photoconductor 1 at the portion of the roller 2, removes residual toner and the like on the surface of the photoconductor 1, and removes the residual toner to the toner collecting section 5a in the cleaning chamber 5. It has a plate shape to guide it. The shutter 9 is a case of the cleaning chamber 5.
A rotary shaft 11 is provided to open and close the opening 10a formed in the shaft 10. Further, the rotating shaft 11 is provided with a brush 12 for sending the residual toner adhering to the cleaning blade 8 toward the toner collecting portion 5a.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view showing the bearing portion of the rotary shaft 11, and the rotary shaft 11 is provided on the side wall of the case 10 of the cleaning chamber 5.
The bearing 13 for receiving is fixed. The rotary shaft 11 is rotated by a drive source (not shown), and the shutter 9 and the brush 12 are rotated.
To rotate.

When the CTM 3 is set at a predetermined position of the image forming apparatus, the shutter 9 is rotated from the state shown in FIG.
It is rotated clockwise about 11, and the opening 10a
Is opened, and when the CTM 3 is removed from the image forming apparatus, the state shown in FIG. 12 is returned to and the opening 10a is closed.

[0007]

The above-mentioned conventional CTM3
At this point, the toner stored in the toner recovery chamber 5a of the cleaning chamber 5 flows out of the CTM 3 through the gap G between the shaft 11 and the bearing 13, which causes a problem of toner contamination. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 14, it has been considered that a sponge body 14 is interposed between the side wall of the shutter 9 and the bearing 13 to seal the toner outflow passage (gap G). Rotation, as shown in Figure 15,
A part of the sponge body 14 enters between the shutter 9 and the shaft 11, frictional resistance is applied as a load to the rotation of the shutter 9, and there is a problem that the shutter 9 is difficult to close.

Further, in the above-mentioned conventional CTM 3, the collected toner soars in the toner collecting section 5a, and the case 1
There was a problem that it would flow out from the 0 opening 10a.
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 16, it was considered to provide a sponge body 15 outside the shutter 9 to prevent the collected toner from flowing in the direction of arrow A. However, when the shutter 9 is opened and closed, the sponge body 15 and the case 10 are closed. Since the inner wall slides, frictional resistance is added as a load, and the sponge body 15 is deformed especially when the shutter 9 is moved to close as shown in FIG. 17, and the shutter 9 becomes difficult to close.

An object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning unit / developer supply unit unit (CTM) which prevents the collected toner from flowing out.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a cleaning section for removing and containing residual developer on the surface of a photoreceptor and a developer supplying section for supplying a new developer to the developing section are integrated. In the CTM described above, the first means of the present invention is to secure an elastic body and a fixed member to the elastic body between a rotating body rotatably supported by a rotating shaft in the cleaning unit and a bearing supporting the rotating shaft. The developer outflow preventive body including the thin plate is installed.

A second means is the above-mentioned CTM, wherein a shutter for opening and closing an opening provided in the case is provided in the cleaning section, and the developing is composed of an elastic member which comes into contact with the inner surface of the case via an elastic plate. A feature is that an agent seal body is provided.

A third means is characterized in that, in the above-mentioned CTM, a brush body which substantially covers an opening provided in the case as a cleaning means and is in contact with the surface of the photosensitive member is provided in the cleaning portion. ..

A fourth means is characterized in that, in the above-mentioned third means, a flicker that comes into contact with the brush body is provided in the cleaning section.

A fifth means is characterized in that, in the above-mentioned fourth means, a developer adsorbing member is provided near the flicker.

[0015]

According to the above-mentioned first means, the elastic body is interposed between the shutter or the brush, which is the rotating body in the cleaning section, and the bearing of the rotating shaft that supports the rotating body, and the space between the rotating shaft and the bearing is increased. The thin plate fixed to the elastic body prevents the elastic body from being deformed.
It is possible to prevent adverse effects on the rotating operation of the rotating body due to deformation of the elastic body, prevent toner from flowing out, and smooth the rotating operation of the rotating body.

According to the second means, since the elastic member for contacting the inner surface of the case of the cleaning unit and for blocking the flow of the collected toner is provided on the shutter via the elastic plate, the elastic member is provided on the inner surface of the case. Even if a large frictional resistance force is applied during sliding, the elastic plate is deformed to escape, the opening and closing operation of the shutter is smoothed, and the toner can be prevented from flowing out.

According to the third means, by using a brush body as the cleaning means and by covering the case opening of the cleaning section with the brush body, it is possible to prevent toner from flowing out from the opening.

According to the fourth means, since the toner and the like attached to the brush body are removed by flicker, the brush body can be used in a state close to the initial state.

According to the fifth means, the toner removed by the flicker is captured by the developer adsorbing member, and the scattering of the toner in the cleaning section is suppressed, so that the toner recovery is stabilized.

[0020]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Members corresponding to those described with reference to FIGS. 12 to 17 are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a main portion of a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a schematic configuration of the first embodiment. The first embodiment and FIGS. The difference from the conventional example described based on the above is that, on the shutter 9 side of the elastic body 20 made of sponge or felt interposed between the side wall of the shutter 9 which is a rotating body and the side portion of the recess 13a of the bearing 13, Made of polyethylene terephthalate film, etc.
A thin plate 21 having a thickness of about 1 mm is fixed by an appropriate means such as a double-sided adhesive tape, the diameter of the thin plate 21 is made larger than the diameter of the elastic body 20, and the outer peripheral portion of the thin plate 21 slides outside the bearing 13. The developer outflow prevention member 22 thus configured is installed.

By providing the thin plate 21, the elastic body 20
Deformation of the shutter 9 is prevented because the deformation of the elastic body 20 is prevented.
The rotation of the brush 12 and the brush 12 is not blocked, and the gap G between the rotating shaft 11 and the bearing 13 is reliably shielded by the elastic body 20.

In the first embodiment, the rotary shaft 11 is provided with the shutter 9 and the brush 12 as the rotary body.
If the shutter 11 and / or the brush 12 is provided on the developer 11, the developer outflow prevention member 22
Can be applied.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the schematic construction of the second embodiment of the present invention. The shutter 9 is different from the second embodiment and the conventional example described with reference to FIGS. At the other end of an elastic plate 25 made of polyethylene terephthalate film or the like having one end fixed, a developer seal member 27 is provided, which has an elastic member 26 made of sponge or felt that slides on the inner wall of the case 10 fixed. ..

The developer seal member 27 can block the flow A of the collected toner in the cleaning chamber 5 by the elastic member 26 contacting the inner wall of the case 10 and shielding the gap between the shutter 9 and the case 10. It is possible to prevent the toner from flowing out to the outside. Further, the shutter 9 moves from the state in which the opening 10a of the case 10 shown in FIG. 3 is closed to the state in which the opening 10a shown in FIG. 4 is opened, and conversely, when the opening 10a moves to the closed state. , Elastic member 26 and case
10 Elastic plate even if frictional resistance due to sliding with inner wall increases
Since the 25 bends and escapes, the elastic member 26 does not deform excessively,
A smooth opening / closing operation of the shutter 9 is performed.

If both the above-mentioned first and second embodiments are adopted, the shielding property for preventing the toner of the CTM 3 from flowing out can be further improved.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a schematic structure of a main part of the third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a part of the main part of the third embodiment. In the third embodiment, , CTM3
In the cleaning chamber 5 of FIG. 7, as shown in FIG. 7, the brush body 32 in which a large number of fibers 31 are planted on the outer periphery of the shaft body 30 is
Is installed so that the opening 10a of the case 10 is covered with a part of the case 10 and the tip end of the fiber 31 of the opening 10a is in contact with the surface of the photoconductor 1. By rotating the brush 32, the photoconductor 1 The residual toner on the surface is removed, and the removed toner is stored in the toner recovery unit 5a. In addition, in the figure
Reference numeral 33 is a drive gear for rotating the brush body 32.

Residual toner is removed by the brush body 32, and the collected toner is prevented from flowing out from the opening 10a by covering the opening 10a with the tip of the fiber 31.

FIG. 8 shows a modified example of the third embodiment, in which a thin film body 35 made of polyethylene terephthalate film or the like is provided around the opening 10a of the case 10 and the thin film body 35 is formed.
By enclosing the peripheral portion in the vicinity of the contact portion between the brush body 32 and the photoconductor 1 by 35, it is possible to more effectively prevent the toner from flowing out to the outside during the operation of the brush body 32.

FIG. 9 is a schematic configuration diagram of a fourth embodiment of the present invention, in which a plurality of (three in the figure) rod-shaped rods extending into the rotation region of the brush body 32 in the cleaning chamber 5 are shown. The flicker 40-42 of the brush body 32 is forcibly dropped by the flicker 40-42 to forcibly drop the toner at the tip of the fiber 31.
Is always kept close to the initial unused state. Further, the flicker 40 to 42 can block the collected toner T at a position far from the opening 10a of the case 10 at the mounting base as shown in FIG.
It is possible to prevent the toner from scattering in the toner collecting section 5a.

To prevent the toner T, which is forcibly dropped by the flicker 40-42, from scattering, the lower portion of the horizontally extending flicker 40 and 41, as in the fifth embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. Alternatively, the magnets 43, 44, 45, which are the developer adsorbing members, are fixed to the upper part of the cleaning chamber 5 and the magnetic toner T is adsorbed as shown in FIG.

[0032]

As described above, according to the first means of the present invention, since the elastic body for sealing the toner outflow passage between the rotary shaft and the bearing is prevented from being deformed by the thin plate, the toner is prevented from deforming. According to the second means, it is possible to prevent external outflow and to smoothly rotate the rotating body. Further, according to the second means, the elastic member that blocks the toner flow between the inner surface of the cleaning section and the shutter is slidable with the inner surface of the case. Even if a large frictional resistance force is applied during movement, the elastic plate that supports the elastic member can escape and be escaped. Therefore, the toner can be prevented from flowing out and the shutter opening / closing operation can be favorably performed. The brush can prevent toner from flowing out from the opening, and
According to the means, the brush body can be used in a good condition by removing the toner and the like adhering to the brush body with the flicker, and according to the fifth means, the toner removed with the flicker is developed. Since the toner is captured by the agent adsorbing member and prevented from scattering, the toner is stably collected, so that the CTM capable of preventing the collected toner from flowing out can be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a main part in a first embodiment of a CTM according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a schematic configuration of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the second embodiment of FIG. 3 in a state where the opening is open.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a partially cutaway perspective view of an essential part of the third embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a brush body.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a modified example of the third embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a schematic configuration diagram of a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram of a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an illustration of toner adsorption according to the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a conventional CTM.

13 is a sectional view of a bearing portion of the CTM of FIG.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view showing a conventional toner shield structure of a bearing portion.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory view showing a deformed state of the sponge body of FIG.

FIG. 16 is a sectional view showing a structure for blocking a toner flow in a conventional cleaning chamber.

17 is a cross-sectional view of the structure of FIG. 16 in a closed state of the opening.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Photosensitive member, 3 ... CTM (cleaning unit / developer supplying unit unit), 4 ... Developer supplying chamber, 5 ... Cleaning chamber, 6 ... Developing unit, 8 ... Cleaning blade, 9 ... Shutter, 10 ... Case, 10a ... opening,
11 ... Rotary shaft, 12 ... Brush, 13 ... Bearing, 20 ... Elastic body, 21 ... Thin plate, 22 ... Developer outflow prevention body, 25 ... Elastic plate, 26 ... Elastic member, 27 ... Developer sealing body, 30 ... Shaft Body, 31 ... Fiber, 32 ... Brush body, 40-42 ... Flicker, 43-45 ... Magnet (developer adsorbing member).

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification number Reference number within the agency FI Technical indication location G03G 15/16 21/00 113 (72) Inventor Hiroshi Saito 1-3-3 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo No. 6 within Ricoh Co., Ltd.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A cleaning unit / developer supply unit unit in which a cleaning unit for removing and storing the residual developer on the surface of the photoconductor and a developer supply unit for supplying a new developer to the developing unit are integrated. , A developer outflow prevention member including an elastic member and a thin plate fixed to the elastic member is provided between a rotating member rotatably supported by the rotating shaft in the cleaning unit and a bearing supporting the rotating shaft. A cleaning unit / developer supply unit unit body. 2. A cleaning unit / developer supply unit unit in which a cleaning unit for removing and storing residual developer on the surface of the photoconductor and a developer supply unit for supplying new developer to the developing unit are integrated. A cleaning unit is provided with a shutter that opens and closes an opening provided in the case in the cleaning unit, and a developer seal body made of an elastic member that is in contact with the inner surface of the case through an elastic plate is provided in the shutter. -Developer supply unit unit. 3. A cleaning unit / developer supply unit unit in which a cleaning unit for removing and containing residual developer on the surface of the photoconductor and a developer supply unit for supplying new developer to the developing unit are integrated. A cleaning unit / developer supply unit unit body, wherein a brush body that substantially covers an opening provided in the case as a cleaning means and contacts the surface of the photoconductor is provided in the cleaning unit. 4. A cleaning section / developer supply section unit body according to claim 3, wherein a flicker that comes into contact with the brush body is provided in the cleaning section. 5. The cleaning unit / developer supply unit unit according to claim 4, wherein a developer adsorption member is provided near the flicker.