JPH0564866U - Paper dust collecting mechanism in electrophotographic device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Object] The present invention, in an image forming system comprising a combination of a plurality of units, can efficiently dispose a paper dust collecting mechanism in a narrow space position around a resist and store it in a container. An object of the present invention is to provide a paper dust collecting mechanism capable of preventing the paper dust from re-scattering and reusing the paper dust collecting container without lowering the paper dust collecting efficiency. The present invention is characterized in that the recovery container is attached to a part of the outer wall of a developing unit or a transfer unit adjacent to a registration roller, and the container can be replaced together with the process means.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a paper dust collecting mechanism in an electrophotographic apparatus applicable as a copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile, and more particularly to a paper dust collecting mechanism capable of collecting paper dust at a most preferable position for image formation.

[0002]

[Prior Art]

 Conventionally, a paper feed roller, a registration roller, a transfer device, and a fixing device are arranged along the transfer paper conveyance path, and the transfer paper that has once been waiting at the entrance end of the registration roller via the paper feed roller is placed on the transfer device. After guiding the toner image to the transfer position in synchronism with the toner image on the photosensitive drum, the toner image is transferred to the transfer paper side using corona discharge of the transfer device, and then the transfer of the transferred toner image. The image is fixed by passing the paper through the transfer device as it is. However, since the transfer paper to which the toner image is transferred is plain paper without surface coating, it passes through the various rollers. When paper dust adheres to the photoconductor drum side, paper dust, etc., easily accumulates inside the cleaning blade and the drum, resulting in poor cleaning or moisture absorption by the paper dust. Feeling of using In the body drum, the image flow tends to occur.

Further, even if the paper dust adheres to the discharge wire of a transfer charger or the like, smooth transfer may not be performed in some cases. For this reason, in order to eliminate such a defect, the surface of the various transport roller members located on the upstream side of the transfer paper is coated with an insulating material, and an elastic member such as mylar is rubbed on the surface to prevent static electricity on the transport roller surface. By causing the paper dust from the transfer paper to adhere, the paper dust is scraped by using the elastic member, and the scraped paper dust is collected in a collecting container provided near the elastic member. Such technology has been proposed. (Actual fairness 3-48603 others)

[0004]

The roller members located upstream of the transfer position are generally a paper feed roller and a resist roller. Of the two rollers, the roller that comes into full contact with the transfer paper is the resist roller. For this reason, if an attempt is made to remove the paper dust using a registration roller, for example, since the photosensitive drum and other process means are arranged in the vicinity of the registration roller, an independent paper dust collection is performed. It is difficult to provide a container, and even if it is provided, it will not be possible to secure a sufficient storage capacity for paper powder that is sufficient for the machine durability.

Therefore, in general, it is necessary to configure the recovery container so that it can be exchanged. However, with such a configuration, not only the recovery container but also a guide for the withdrawal must be formed in a narrow space around the drum. No, it does not necessarily lead to space saving. Further, if the recovery container is configured to be replaceable, it is difficult for the user to grasp the replacement time, and there is a possibility that paper dust in the container may overflow to cause contamination inside the machine. Even if the recovery container is configured to be replaceable as described above, the paper powder trapped inside the collection container is also trapped along with toner, etc., so it should be thoroughly cleaned and reused. Since it is difficult to supply, it was common to discard the collection container after each replacement. However, this is not preferable in terms of resource saving.

In view of the drawbacks of the prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide a paper dust collecting mechanism configured to efficiently collect the paper dust in the collecting container while achieving a narrow space around the resist. And Another object of the present invention is to provide a paper dust collecting mechanism capable of preventing the paper dust from re-scattering and reusing the paper dust collecting container without lowering the paper dust collecting efficiency. Another object of the present invention is to provide a paper dust collecting mechanism capable of efficiently removing the paper dust attached to the transfer device.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The invention according to claim 1 provides a paper dust collecting mechanism configured to efficiently collect paper dust in the collecting container while achieving a narrow space around the resist. The collection container is integrally assembled to one replaceable process means, and more specifically, when the paper dust catching roller is a registration roller, a developing unit adjacent to the registration roller. The first feature is that the container is attached to a part of the outer wall of the transfer unit or the transfer unit, and preferably is detachably attached, and the second feature is that the container can be replaced together with the process means. There is a point that was configured.

On the other hand, in order to efficiently remove the paper dust adhering to the transfer device together with the above-mentioned object, the invention as claimed in claim 3 comprises a corona discharge wire extending in the axial direction of the transport roller in the recovery container. The recovery container is arranged adjacent to the transfer device, and the recovery container is configured to be movable relative to the discharge line of the transfer device in parallel to the discharge device. The relative movement of the container allows the release container to be released through a cleaning member provided on one side of the container. The feature is that the electric wire can be rubbed.

[0009]

[Action]

 According to the invention of claim 1, it is not necessary to provide an independent guide means for the recovery container, and for example, the space between the outer wall of the developing unit (transfer device) and the registration roller is used, in other words, the narrowing is achieved. It is possible to efficiently arrange the collection container in the designated space. Further, since the developing unit is regularly replaced after printing a predetermined number of sheets, by setting the volume of the collection container corresponding to the predetermined number of sheets, it is possible to ensure that paper dust does not overflow. The collection container can be replaced.

[0010] For example, by sticking a peelable adhesive tape to the bottom of the collection container, the paper dust is surely trapped and the paper dust is prevented from re-scattering, and the adhesive tape is regularly peeled off. By creating a new adhesive surface, the paper dust collecting container can be reused without lowering the paper dust collecting efficiency. In this case, the recovery container can be detached from the developing unit so that it can be used semipermanently.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the same effect as that of the first aspect of the invention can be obtained by constructing the transfer device and the recovery container, which are arranged adjacent to each other, so as to be integrally drawn out of the apparatus. In addition, in particular, since the transfer device and the collection container are configured to be relatively movable in the discharge line axis direction, the discharge line is rubbed by the relative movement of the outer container through the cleaning member provided on one side of the container. The cleaning can be done easily.

[0012]

【Example】

 Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be illustratively described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, unless otherwise specified, the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative positions, etc. of the constituent parts described in this embodiment are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention to them, but are simple. It's just an example. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a main part around a photosensitive drum of an electrophotographic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which a paper feed cassette 1, a paper feed roller 2, a registration roller pair 3, and a feed roller are fed along a recording paper feed direction. The photoconductor drum 5 and the transfer device 6 via the guide 4, and the developing roller 71 facing the photoconductor drum 5, and the developing unit 7 and the like disposed above the registration roller pair 3 are arranged. ing.

Then, a rear end side outer wall of the bottom surface of the container 72 forming the developing unit 7 is hung downward, and a U-shaped collection container 11 having an upper surface opening on a side of the hanging wall 73 facing the registration roller pair 3. And the elastic member 18 whose free end is in contact with the peripheral surface of the upper resist roller 3a at the other end of the recovery container 11. A peelable adhesive tape 12 is laminated on the bottom surface of the recovery container 11. The upper resist roller 3a is formed of an insulating coating on the surface of a metal roller. On the other hand, a flexible resin plate is used for the elastic member 18, and the surface of the upper resist roller 3a can be charged by rubbing the both.

According to this structure, the transfer paper supplied from the paper feed roller 2 and waiting at the entrance end of the registration roller pair 3 is moved by the registration roller pair 3 in synchronism with the toner image start end on the drum 5 side. When the recording paper is conveyed to the drum 5 side, the paper powder on the upper surface of the recording paper is electrostatically adsorbed by the upper roller 3a due to the contact with the upper resist roller 3a caused by the conveyance, and is collected by scraping the elastic member 18. It is collected in the container 11. Then, the paper powder stored in the recovery container 11 is adsorbed by the adhesive tape 12 and is not scattered again. When the developing unit 7 is replaced, the collecting container 11 together with the developing unit 7 is taken out of the apparatus. At this time, only the collecting container 11 is detached from the developing unit 7 and attached to a new developing unit 7, and the paper dust is attached. By peeling off the adhesive tape 12 of the first layer, a new adhesive surface can be formed and it can be repeatedly used.

FIG. 2 shows another embodiment in which paper dust on the back surface of the transfer paper can be removed and the corona discharge line 6a stretched on the transfer device 6 can be cleaned. The transfer device 6 extends in the axial direction of the drum 5. And the side wall of the transfer device 6 facing the lower resist roller 3b and the side wall of the recovery container 11 are in contact with each other and both are arranged adjacent to each other. , The both members 6 and 11 are integrally fitted to the U-shaped guide 14. Then, the two members 6 and 11 are fitted with the guide strips 15a and the guide grooves 15b extending in the longitudinal direction on the side walls abutting each other, and the two members are integrally shafted along the U-shaped guide 14. It can be pulled out in any direction.

Further, since the guide strip 15a and the guide groove 15b can be pulled out in a state where the position is regulated in the longitudinal direction, both members 6 and 11 can be pulled out in a state where the other is left in the U-shaped guide 14. It is constructed so that it can be pulled out in the axial direction along the guide line 15a (groove 15b). On the other hand, a cleaning member 17 that holds the discharge wire 6a in a slidable manner is attached to the inner side of the recovery container 11 via a U-shaped arm 16. The cleaning member 17 is formed by attaching a felt 17a to the inner peripheral surface side of the U-shaped fixed frame 17b.

According to this embodiment, the paper dust on the back surface of the recording paper contacting the lower resist roller 3b is collected in the collecting container 11 as in the above embodiment. Since the transfer device 6 does not always need to be replaced regularly, for example, when the toner is replaced, the recovery container 11 is pulled out along the guide strip 15a of the transfer device 6 and then the adhesive tape 12 on the surface layer is peeled off to clean it. After forming the adhesive surface, the container 11 is pushed back again, and the above-mentioned operation is repeated. However, when the container 11 is pulled out, the felt surface 17a of the cleaning member 17 rubs the discharge wire 6a. It is possible to remove the paper powder and the toner attached to 6a.

[0018]

【effect】

 As described above, according to the invention of claim 1, it is possible to efficiently collect the paper powder in the recovery container while achieving a narrow space around the resist. According to the inventions of claims 2 and 4, it is possible to prevent the paper dust from re-scattering and to reuse the paper dust collecting container without lowering the paper dust catching efficiency. Further, according to the present invention described in claim 3, in addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 1, it is possible to efficiently remove the paper dust adhering to the transfer device 6. It has various remarkable effects.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of essential parts around a photosensitive drum of an electrophotographic apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a main part around a photosensitive drum of an electrophotographic apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a cutaway perspective view of the paper collection container and the transfer device shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 Registration Roller Pair 18 Elastic Member 11 Paper Collection Container 6 Transfer Device 6a Discharge Line 17 Cleaning Member

Claims (4)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A paper dust collecting mechanism configured to collect paper dust adhered to a conveying roller formed to be capable of catching the paper dust by contact with a transfer paper into the collecting container while scraping the paper dust. A paper dust collecting mechanism in an electrophotographic apparatus, characterized in that it is integrally assembled with one replaceable process means, and the container can be replaced together with the process means. 2. The paper dust collecting mechanism according to claim 1, wherein a peelable adhesive tape is attached to the bottom of the collecting container. 3. A paper dust collecting mechanism configured to collect paper dust adhering to a conveying roller formed to be capable of catching the paper dust by contact with a transfer paper into the collecting container while scraping the paper dust. The recovery container is arranged adjacent to a transfer device provided with a corona discharge line extending in the axial direction of the transport roller, and the recovery container is configured to be relatively movable parallel to the discharge line of the transfer device. A paper dust collecting mechanism in an electrophotographic apparatus, characterized in that the discharge line can be rubbed through a cleaning member provided on one side of the container. 4. The paper dust collecting mechanism according to claim 3, wherein a peelable adhesive tape is attached to the bottom of the collecting container.