JPH06186888A - Electrophotographic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent abrasion on both end parts of a cleaning member and to stably remove residual toner by supplying a lubricant to both end parts of an image carrier having the press-contact of both end parts of the cleaning member. CONSTITUTION:After a toner image formed on the surface of the image carrier 1 by a developing device 3 is transferred, the cleaning member 61 is pressed to contact with the surface of the image carrier 1 over the entire length in the axial direction of the image carrier 1. Then, the lubricant is supplied to both side parts in the axial direction of the image carrier 1 with which both end parts of the cleaning member 61 come in contact, from a lubricant supplying means 9. As a skid, one obtained by compressing/processing resin beads and forming them to the shape of a curved plate corresponding to the curvature of the image carrier 1 is used. Thus, both end parts of the cleaning member 61 are not directly compressed but the frictional resistance of both end parts is made low, so that the abrasion, turning up, etc., of the cleaning member 61 can be prevented.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrophotographic apparatus such as a copying machine and a printer, and more particularly, to a toner image formed on the surface of an image carrier by a developing device and then transferred to the image carrier. The present invention relates to an electrophotographic apparatus in which a plate-shaped cleaning member is brought into pressure contact with a surface of the image carrier to remove the toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an electrophotographic apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer, the surface of an image carrier is generally charged by a charger while moving the image carrier, and then the The electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the image bearing member by exposing the charged surface of the image bearing member from the exposure device according to the image information, and the electrostatic latent image is thus formed on the image bearing member. On the other hand, toner is supplied from the developing device to form a toner image on the image carrier.

After the toner image thus formed on the image carrier is transferred to a transfer member by a transfer charger, a plate-like cleaning member is brought into pressure contact with the surface of the image carrier to make the image carrier. The toner remaining on the surface of the was removed.

In the electrophotographic apparatus as described above, generally, as shown in FIG. 1, the width x of the image forming portion for supplying the toner from the developing apparatus to form the toner image on the image carrier 1. However, the width is narrower than the width of removing the toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier 1 by pressing the plate-shaped cleaning member 61 into contact therewith.

Therefore, in such an electrophotographic apparatus, the toner does not remain on both sides of the image carrier 1 to which the both ends of the cleaning member 61 are pressed.
Both ends of the cleaning member 61 are directly brought into pressure contact with the surface of the image carrier 1.

However, as described above, the cleaning member 61 is
When both ends of the cleaning member 61 are directly pressed against the surface of the image carrier 1, the friction at both ends of the cleaning member 61 is smaller than that at the center of the cleaning member 61 where the toner remains on the surface of the image carrier 1. There is a problem that the resistance becomes large, so that both ends of the cleaning member 61 are worn more than the central part, and the toner and the like are scattered from the both ends of the worn cleaning member 61 into the electrophotographic apparatus.

Further, as described above, the cleaning member 61
Both end portions of are directly pressed against the surface of the image carrier 1 and the frictional resistance increases, so that the cleaning member 61 is turned up as the image carrier 1 moves, as shown in FIG. There is also a problem that the toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier 1 cannot be sufficiently removed.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, after a toner image formed on the surface of an image carrier is transferred by a developing device, a plate-like cleaning member is brought into pressure contact with the surface of the image carrier, It is an object of the present invention to solve the above problems in an electrophotographic apparatus in which the toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier is removed by this cleaning member.

That is, in the present invention, the width of the image forming portion for supplying the toner from the developing device to form the toner image on the image carrier as described above is such that the plate-like cleaning member is brought into pressure contact with the image carrier. Even if the width of the cleaning member is narrower than the width for removing the toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier and the toner does not remain on both sides of the image carrier against which the both ends of the cleaning member are pressed, the both ends of the cleaning member Does not come into direct pressure contact with the surface of the image carrier, and both ends of this cleaning member wear more than the center part thereof, and toner and the like enter the electrophotographic apparatus from the both ends of the cleaning member thus worn. It is said that the toner scatters or the cleaning member flips up as the image carrier moves, so that the toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier cannot be sufficiently removed. It not, it is an object to make it possible to stably remove the toner remaining on the surface of the image bearing member.

[0010]

According to the present invention, in order to solve the above problems, a toner image formed on the surface of an image bearing member is transferred by a developing device, and then the surface of the image bearing member is transferred. In an electrophotographic apparatus in which a plate-like cleaning member is pressed against the surface of the image carrier to remove the toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier, both ends of the cleaning member are pressed against both sides of the image carrier. A lubricant supply means for supplying a lubricant to the part is provided.

In order to provide the lubricant supplying means for supplying the lubricant to the both sides of the image carrier on which the both ends of the cleaning member are brought into pressure contact with each other as described above, for example, the lubricant supplying means is provided at the seal portions on both sides of the developing device. In addition to the sealant used in the electrophotographic apparatus, a sealant that is already used in the electrophotographic apparatus can be used as a lubricant supplying means. A lubricant supply means for supplying may be provided.

Resin beads or the like can be used as the lubricant supplied from the lubricant supply means to both sides of the image bearing member to which both ends of the cleaning member are pressed.
If the particle size is too small, the lubricant is not removed from the image bearing member by the cleaning member, but gradually accumulates on the surface of the image bearing member, which causes the cleaning member to rise and float, resulting in image bearing after transfer. There is a possibility that the toner remaining on the surface of the body cannot be sufficiently removed, and if the particle size is too large, the cleaning member will be lifted and floated by this lubricant, and the toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier after transfer. In general, it is preferable to use particles having a particle size of about 0.3 to 10 μm because they cannot be removed.

As such a lubricant, for example, those shown in Table 1 below can be used.

[0014]

[Table 1]

[0015]

In the present invention, after the toner image formed on the surface of the image carrier is transferred by the developing device, a plate-like cleaning member is brought into pressure contact with the surface of the image carrier,
When the toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier is removed by the cleaning member, the lubricant is supplied from the lubricant supplying means to both sides of the image carrier where the both ends of the cleaning member are in pressure contact as described above. .

Therefore, the width of the image forming portion for supplying the toner from the developing device to form the toner image on the image carrier is
It is narrower than the width of removing the toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier by pressing the plate-like cleaning member, and the toner remains on both sides of the image carrier to which both ends of the cleaning member are pressed. Even when the cleaning member does not exist, the lubricant is not supplied to the both sides of the image bearing member from the lubricant feeding means as described above, and the both ends of the cleaning member are not directly pressed against the surface of the image bearing member. The frictional resistance at both ends is reduced by the above-mentioned lubricant, so that both ends of the cleaning member are not worn more than the central part thereof, and the cleaning member does not turn up as the image carrier moves.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An electrophotographic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the electrophotographic apparatus of this embodiment, as the image carrier 1, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B,
An organic photosensitive layer 12 is formed on an outer peripheral surface of a cylindrical aluminum base 11, and flanges 13 having an outer peripheral surface covered with polytetrafluoroethylene are formed on both axial sides of the cylindrical base 11. The photoconductor drum 1 is attached, and the rotary shafts 14 are attached to the flanges 13 on both sides of the photoconductor drum 1.

In the electrophotographic apparatus of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the photosensitive drum 1 as described above is provided in the center portion thereof, and the photosensitive drum 1 is provided with the rotary shaft 14 interposed therebetween. Is rotated by a driving means (not shown), and around the photosensitive drum 1, a charging charger 2 is provided above the photosensitive drum 1, and from the charging charger 2 along the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 1. Developing device 3, transfer charger 4, separation charger 5,
A cleaning device 6 for pressing a plate-shaped cleaning member 61 into pressure contact with the surface of the photoconductor drum 1 and an eraser 7 are sequentially arranged, and above the charger 2 and between the charger 2 and the developing device 3, a photoconductor is provided. An optical system 9 including a semiconductor laser device for performing image exposure is arranged on the surface of the drum 1.

On the other hand, as the feeding means 8 for feeding a transfer sheet (not shown) on which an image is formed by this electrophotographic apparatus, in this embodiment, the sheet is fed onto a sheet feeding cassette 81 containing the transfer sheet. A roller 82 is provided, an intermediate roller 83 and a timing roller 84 are provided from the paper feed cassette 81 toward the transfer charger 4, and the transfer paper on which the toner image is transferred is discharged to a paper discharge tray 85. A transfer paper transport belt 86, a fixing roller 87, and a paper discharge roller 88 are provided from the separation charger 5 toward the paper discharge tray 85.

Further, in the cleaning device 6 described above, when the plate-shaped cleaning member 61 is pressed against the surface of the photoconductor drum 1, as shown in FIG. Flange 13 at
The cleaning member 61 is brought into pressure contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 over the entire axial length of the photosensitive drum 1.

When the lubricant 91 is supplied from the lubricant supplying means 9 to both axial sides of the photosensitive drum 1 to which both ends of the cleaning member 61 are pressed, the developing device in this embodiment is used. The seal members 31 provided at the seal portions on both sides of 3 are used as the lubricant supply means 9.

Here, as the seal member 31, as shown in FIG. 5, resin beads 91 serving as a lubricant 91 are compression-processed, and the curvature of the photosensitive drum 1 is adjusted so as to be in close contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum 1. The one formed into a curved plate shape corresponding to is used.

The sealing members 31 thus formed in a curved plate shape are provided on both sides of the photosensitive drum 1 in the axial direction as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B. The resin beads 91 of the seal member 31 are pressed against the surface of the photosensitive drum 1, and are supplied to the outer peripheral surface of the flange 13 on both axial side portions of the photosensitive drum 1.

In this embodiment, the resin beads 91 are compressed as described above, and the sealing member 31 formed in a curved plate shape corresponding to the curvature of the photosensitive drum 1 is used. The sealing member 31 formed in the curved plate shape as described above may be used by a binder construction method in which a small amount of binder resin is interposed in the 91 to process.

Then, in the developing device 3 provided with the seal member 31 as described above, as shown in FIG. 7, the two-component developer consisting of toner and carrier is accommodated in the casing 30, and the above-mentioned structure is used. At the opening of the casing 30 facing the photosensitive drum 1, a developing roller 32 having a magnet roller 32a inside is rotatably provided so as to face the photosensitive drum 1, and the developing roller 32 is A regulating plate 33 is provided at a position on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the developing roller 32 with respect to the position facing the photosensitive drum 1, with a predetermined distance from the surface of the developing roller 32.

Further, a partition wall 34 is provided in the casing 30 and a stirring supply member 35a for supplying the developer to the developing roller 32 while stirring the developer is provided in the developer supplying chamber 35 near the developing roller 32. A transport screw 36a is provided in the developer transport chamber 36 separated from the developer supply chamber 35 and the partition wall 34.

Further, in the developing device 3, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, housing housing portions 37 are formed on both sides of the casing 30 toward the outside, and a housing 37a is fitted in the housing housing portion 37, and the rotary shaft 32b of the developing roller 32 is attached to the casing 3.
0 is introduced into the housing accommodating portion 37 through the holes 30a provided on both sides thereof, and is rotatably supported by the housing 37a through a bearing 32c provided in the housing accommodating portion 37, and thus rotatably supported. The developing roller 32 is rotationally driven by a driving unit (not shown) via the rotating shaft 32b.

In the housing accommodating portion 37, the spacer roller 3 having a diameter slightly larger than that of the developing roller 32 with respect to the rotary shaft 32b of the developing roller 32.
8 is rotatably attached via a bearing 38a,
The spacer ring 3 is provided between the bearing 38a and the bearing 32c that supports the rotating shaft 32b of the developing roller 32 as described above.
8b is attached, and the stopper 38c is attached to the outside of the bearing 38a to which the spacer roller 32 is attached.
I attached it.

Then, the spacer rollers 32 having a diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the developing roller 32 as described above are brought into contact with the outer peripheral surfaces of the flanges 13 on both axially side portions of the photosensitive drum 1 to form the developing roller 32. A desired developing gap Ds is formed between the photosensitive drum 1 and the photosensitive drum 1.

Here, in providing the seal members 31 formed in a curved plate shape corresponding to the curvature of the photosensitive drum 1 on both sides of the developing device 3 as described above, in the embodiment, 8 to 10, the seal member 31 is attached to the surface of the housing 37a provided in the housing accommodating portion 37 on the side of the photosensitive drum 1, and the spacer rollers 32 are provided on the flanges 13 on both sides of the photosensitive drum 1. The seal member 31 is formed in a concave shape by cutting off only the portion where the spacer roller 32 contacts the flange 13 of the photosensitive drum 1 so as not to interfere with the contact with the outer peripheral surface of the seal member 31.

The seal member 31 thus formed in a concave shape is brought into contact with the outer peripheral surfaces of the flanges 13 on both axially side portions of the photosensitive drum 1 in the same manner as the spacer rollers 32, and the resin beads serving as the lubricant 91 are obtained. 91 is supplied from the seal member 31 to the outer peripheral surface of the flange 13.

In this embodiment, in order to prevent the seal member 31 from interfering with the contact between the spacer roller 32 and the outer peripheral surface of the flange 13 at both axial side portions of the photosensitive drum 1, this seal member 31 is used. Although the seal member 31 is formed in a concave shape, the shape of the seal member 31 is not particularly limited to such a shape, and the spacer roller 32 contacts the outer peripheral surface of the flange 13 at both axial side portions of the photosensitive drum 1. As long as it does not interfere with the contact, for example, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the seal member 31 may be formed in a hook shape, or as shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 3, the seal member 31 is provided with an opening 31a at a portion where the spacer roller 32 comes into contact with the flange 13, and the spacer roller 32 is projected from the opening 31a so that the spacer roller 32 comes into contact with the flange 13. Good.

Further, the sealing member 31 formed of the resin beads 91 as described above is brought into contact with the outer peripheral surfaces of the flanges 13 on both sides in the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 1, and the resin beads 91 are supplied from the sealing member 31. In this case, by supplying the resin beads 91, the sealing member 3
1 becomes thinner and a gap is formed between the photosensitive member 1 and the photosensitive drum 1, and the resin beads 91 are not properly supplied from the seal member 31 to the outer peripheral surface of the flange 13. Toner and the like may be scattered from the gap.

Therefore, when the seal member 31 formed of the resin beads 91 as described above is used, a leaf spring 311 is provided so as to project from the housing 37a side as shown in FIG. The seal member 31 is attached to 311 and the leaf spring 311 is used to press the seal member 31 against the outer peripheral surface of the flange 13 of the photosensitive drum 1, or as shown in FIG. The holding member 312 is held by the holding member 312, and the holding member 312 and the housing 37a are respectively provided with guide members 313.
The seal member 31 held by the holding member 312 by 13
It is preferable that the holding member is biased toward the photoconductor drum 1 side by the spring 314 so that the seal member 31 is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the flange 13 of the photoconductor drum 1 without rattling.

In the developing device 3, the developer in the developer carrying chamber 36 is transferred to the developer carrying chamber 3
6 is sent to the developer supply chamber 35 while being mixed and stirred by the transport screw 36a provided in the developer 6, and the developer thus sent is supplied to the developer supply chamber 3
It is supplied to the developing roller 32 by the agitation and supply member 35a provided in the inside 5.

When the developer is supplied to the developing roller 32 in this manner, the supplied developer is rotated by the magnetic force from the magnet roller 32a provided in the developing roller 32 while the developing roller 32 is rotated. Accordingly, the magnetic brush is formed on the developing roller 32 and is guided to the photosensitive drum 1 side.

While the developer is being guided to the photosensitive drum 1 as described above, the amount of the developer on the developing roller 32 is controlled by the regulating plate 33 provided with a predetermined distance from the surface of the developing roller 32. Is adjusted and then
Toner in the developer is supplied from the developing roller 32 to the image forming portion of the photosensitive drum 1, and a toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 1, and at the same time, the photosensitive drum 1 is formed.
The resin beads 91 are supplied from the seal member 31 to the outer peripheral surface of the flange 13 on both axially opposite sides.

Next, an image is formed on the transfer paper by the electrophotographic apparatus of this embodiment using the developing device 3 as described above, and a plate pressed against the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 in the cleaning device 6 is used. The state of the cleaning member 61 having a strip shape was examined.

Here, in forming an image by the electrophotographic apparatus of this embodiment, the photosensitive drum 1 is rotated by a driving means (not shown) and is rotated by the charging charger 2. The surface of the photosensitive drum 1 is uniformly charged, and the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 thus charged is exposed from the optical system 9 according to an image, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the image forming portion of the surface of the photosensitive drum 1. Was formed.

Then, on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 on which the electrostatic latent image is thus formed, the developing device 3 is formed as described above.
From the seal member 31 on the outer peripheral surface of the flange 13 on both sides in the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 1 while supplying toner from the photosensitive drum 1 to form a toner image on the electrostatic latent image portion formed on the photosensitive drum 1. The resin beads 91 were supplied.

On the other hand, for the transfer paper, the paper feed cassette 8
The transfer paper stored in No. 1 is pulled out by the paper feed roller 82, and the transfer paper thus pulled out is sent to the timing roller 83 through the intermediate roller 82.

Next, when the photosensitive drum 1 on which the toner image is formed as described above is rotated and the portion on which the toner image is formed is guided to the position of the transfer charger 4, in synchronization with this, the above timing is set. The transfer drum transfers the transfer paper by the roller 83 and the photosensitive drum 1 on which the toner image is formed.
And the toner image formed on the surface of the photoconductor drum 1 by the transfer charger 4 is transferred onto the transfer paper, and then the transfer paper is separated from the photoconductor drum 1 by the separation charger 5. .

Then, the transfer sheet separated from the photosensitive drum 1 in this way passes through the conveyor belt 85 and the fixing roller 86.
And the toner image transferred onto the transfer paper is fixed by the fixing roller 86, and then the transfer paper is ejected from the transfer roller 8.
7, the sheet is discharged to the sheet discharge tray 84.

On the other hand, in the photosensitive drum 1 from which the transfer paper has been separated as described above, the toner not transferred to the transfer paper remains on the surface thereof, and the portion where the toner remains in this way Is guided to the cleaning device 6 by the rotation of the photosensitive drum 1, and the plate-shaped cleaning member 6
When the toner reaches the position where 1 is pressed, the cleaning member 61 removes the toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1.

After removing the toner remaining on the surface of the photoconductor drum 1 in this manner, the surface of the photoconductor drum 1 is irradiated with light from the eraser 7, and the surface of the photoconductor drum 1 is exposed. The residual potential at is canceled.

Here, as described above, the toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 is cleaned by the plate-shaped cleaning member 61.
When the cleaning member 61 is removed by the above method, the toner does not remain on the outer peripheral surface of the flange 13 on both sides in the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 1 to which both ends of the cleaning member 61 are pressed, but the flange does not remain. Since the resin beads 91 are supplied from the seal member 31 to the outer peripheral surface of 13, the both ends of the cleaning member 61 were not directly pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the flange 13.

As a result, in the electrophotographic apparatus of this embodiment, even if the image formation is repeated, the both ends of the cleaning member 61 do not wear more than the central part, and the cleaning member 61 removes them. The toner does not scatter in the electrophotographic apparatus, and the cleaning member 61 does not turn up as the photosensitive drum 1 rotates, and remains on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 after transfer. It was possible to stably remove the remaining toner.

In this embodiment, as the photosensitive drum 1, the cylindrical substrate 1 as described above is used.
Although the flange 13 is projected on both sides of the axial direction of 1 and the sealing member 31 is pressed against the surface of the flange 13 on both sides to supply the resin beads 91, the above-mentioned photosensitive drum 1 is used. It is also possible to use the one in which the flange 13 does not project to both axial sides of the base body 11, and in this case, both end portions of the photoconductor drum 1 in which both end portions of the cleaning member 61 are brought into pressure contact are pressed. In the non-image portion, the sealing member 31 is brought into pressure contact with the photosensitive layer 12 provided on the substrate 11 or the substrate 11 not provided with the photosensitive layer 12 to supply the resin beads 91 serving as the lubricant 91. To

Further, in this embodiment, as the sealing member 31 which becomes the lubricant supplying means 9, the resin beads 91 are compression-processed as described above and formed into a curved plate shape corresponding to the curvature of the photosensitive drum 1. Although the seal member 31 is used, the seal member 31 is not limited to such a seal member. For example, as shown in FIG. 16, the seal member 31 is configured by a brush 31b and the brush 31b is used. The resin beads 91 serving as the lubricant 91 are filled in the inside, and the sealing member 31 is, as shown in (A) and (B) of FIG.
The resin beads 91 filled in the brush 31b by being pressed against the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 at both sides in the axial direction.
May be supplied to the surfaces of both sides of the photosensitive drum 1 in the axial direction.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 18A and 18B, a lubricant accommodating portion for accommodating the resin beads 91 in the rear portion of the seal member 31 which is brought into close contact with the surfaces of the both sides of the photosensitive drum 1 in the axial direction. 315 is provided and the seal member 31
Is provided with a supply hole 31c for supplying the resin beads 91 housed in the lubricant container 315 to the photosensitive drum 1 side, and the resin beads 91 housed in the lubricant container 315 are connected to the spring 316.
By the pushing plate 317 urged toward the photoconductor drum 1 side, the resin beads 91 are supplied to the surface of both sides in the axial direction of the photoconductor drum 1 by being pushed out toward the photoconductor drum 1 side through the supply hole 31c. Good.

Further, in providing the lubricant supply means 9 for supplying the lubricant 91 to both axial side portions of the photosensitive drum 1 against which both ends of the cleaning member 61 are pressed, in this embodiment, as described above, The seal members 31 provided at the seal portions on both sides of the developing device 3 are used as the lubricant supply means 9, but the lubricant supply means 9 is used.
There is no particular limitation on the location where the cleaning member 6 is provided.
It suffices that the lubricant 91 can be supplied to both axial side portions of the photosensitive drum 1 to which both end portions of 1 are pressed against each other. Good.

[0053]

As described above in detail, in the electrophotographic apparatus according to the present invention, after the toner image formed on the surface of the image carrier is transferred by the developing device, the plate is formed on the surface of the image carrier. When the cleaning member is pressed to remove the toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier, the lubricant is supplied from the lubricant supplying means to both sides of the image carrier to which both ends of the cleaning member are pressed. Therefore, the width of the image forming portion for supplying the toner from the developing device to form the toner image on the image carrier is
It is narrower than the width of removing the toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier by pressing the plate-like cleaning member, and the toner remains on both sides of the image carrier to which both ends of the cleaning member are pressed. Even in the case where the lubricant is not supplied, both ends of the cleaning member are not directly pressed against the surface of the image bearing member by the lubricant supplied from the lubricant supplying means.

As a result, in the electrophotographic apparatus according to the present invention, when the plate-like cleaning member is brought into pressure contact with the surface of the image carrier as described above to remove the toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier, Unlike the conventional case, the both ends of the cleaning member are not directly pressed against the surface of the image carrier, and the both ends of the cleaning member are not worn more than the central part thereof. The toner does not scatter in the electrophotographic apparatus, and the cleaning member does not turn up as the image carrier moves, so that the toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier can be stably removed. It was

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view showing a state in which a plate-shaped cleaning member is pressed against the surface of an image carrier.

FIG. 2 is a schematic explanatory view showing a state in which a plate-shaped cleaning member pressed against the surface of the image carrier is turned up as the image carrier moves.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a photosensitive drum used in an electrophotographic apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic explanatory view showing a state of the electrophotographic apparatus in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a seal member used in the electrophotographic apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a partial explanatory view showing a state in which the lubricant is supplied from the seal member to both sides of the image carrier in the electrophotographic apparatus of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic explanatory diagram of a developing device used in the electrophotographic apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional explanatory view showing a state in which a seal member is attached to the seal portion of the developing device and brought into close contact with the surface of the image carrier in the electrophotographic apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an electrophotographic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which a seal member attached to a seal portion of a developing device is
FIG. 3 is an exploded explanatory view showing a state of being brought into close contact with the surface of the image carrier.

FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional explanatory view from the side surface side showing a state in which a seal member is attached to the seal portion of the developing device and brought into close contact with the surface of the image carrier in the electrophotographic apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 shows a state in which the shape of the seal member is changed to a hook shape and the seal member is attached to the seal portion of the developing device and brought into close contact with the surface of the image carrier in the electrophotographic apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG.

FIG. 12 shows a state in which the shape of the seal member is changed to a hook shape and the seal member is attached to the seal portion of the developing device and brought into close contact with the surface of the image carrier in the electrophotographic apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a partial cross-sectional explanatory view from the side surface side.

FIG. 13 shows a state in which a seal member having an opening is used in the electrophotographic apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, and the seal member is attached to the seal portion of the developing device and brought into close contact with the surface of the image carrier. FIG.

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a seal member is attached to a leaf spring and pressed against the surface of an image carrier in the electrophotographic apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a schematic view showing a state in which the seal member is held by the holding member and pressed against the surface of the image carrier in the electrophotographic apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a seal member in which a brush is filled with a lubricant, showing a modified example of the seal member used in the electrophotographic apparatus in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a partial explanatory view showing a state in which the lubricant is supplied to both sides of the image carrier from the seal member in which the lubricant is filled in the brush.

FIG. 18 shows a modified example of the seal member used in the electrophotographic apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, in which the lubricant contained in the lubricant container is supplied to both sides of the image carrier through the supply holes provided in the seal member. It is a partial explanatory view showing a state.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Photoconductor drum (image bearing member) 3 Developing device 4 Transfer charger 6 Cleaning device 9 Lubricant supply means 11 Base 12 Photosensitive layer 13 Flange 31 Seal member 31b Brush 31c Supply hole 32 Developing roller 61 Cleaning member 91 Lubricant 315 Lubricant accommodating part 316 Spring 317 Extruded plate

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A toner image formed on the surface of an image carrier is transferred by a developing device, and then a plate-like cleaning member is pressed against the surface of the image carrier to remain on the surface of the image carrier. In the electrophotographic apparatus in which the toner is removed by the cleaning member, a lubricant supplying means for supplying a lubricant is provided to both sides of the image carrier to which both ends of the cleaning member are pressed. Electrophotographic device.