JPH07287483A - Electrophotographic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To remove ozone remaining around a photoreceptor drum by providing a sucking member for sucking air into the photoreceptor drum, a discharge hole for discharging the air and an ozone adsorbent inside. CONSTITUTION:A blade 2 for sucking the air in a device into the photoreceptor drum 1 is formed on one end part of it and works as a fan, to conduct the air around the drum 1, that is, the air including the ozone generated by a corona discharger. On the other hand, the discharge hole 3a for discharging the air in the drum 1 is formed on the other end part of it. A circular ozone removing filter 4 is provided in the drum 1, the air including the ozone around the drum 1 is sucked thereinto and the ozone is decomposed/removed at the time of passing through the ozone removing filter 4, to be discharged from the discharge hole 3a.

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 or a printer, and more particularly to an electrophotographic apparatus having a hollow photosensitive drum and a corona discharger.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an electrophotographic apparatus used for an information recording apparatus such as a copying apparatus or a printer using this type of electrophotographic system, a corona discharge device such as an optical section, a photosensitive drum, a charger, a transfer unit, and a charge eliminator is used. It is composed of an electric device, a developing device, a cleaner, a fixing device, a paper feeding / conveying unit and the like. In the process around the photoconductor drum, first, the surface of the photoconductor is uniformly charged by a charger in a dark place. Next, light is applied by an exposure device to remove the charged electric charge in the exposed part to form an electrostatic latent image.
In the developing device, the toner charged with the opposite polarity to the electrostatic latent image is superposed on the electrostatic latent image, visualized and sent to the transfer device. In the transfer device, the polarity opposite to the charge polarity of the toner is applied from the back side of the recording paper. Is applied to the recording paper, and the toner image is transferred to the recording paper by the electrostatic force. The latent image charges on the photoconductor drum after transfer are removed by a charge remover. Further, the residual toner remaining on the photosensitive drum without being transferred is removed by a cleaner. Since a corona discharger is used as the charger, the transfer device, and the static eliminator, ozone generated by the discharge of the corona discharger accumulates around the photoconductor drum and oxidizes and deteriorates the surface of the photoconductor. Therefore, in order to prevent such a situation, a duct is provided so as to cover the corona discharger, and an ozone removal filter is provided at the other end of the duct to discharge the corona discharger out of the machine. In this ozone removing means, a fan or the like is provided at one end or in the middle of the duct in order to efficiently guide the ozone generated from the corona discharger into the duct.

[0003]

However, in the configuration of the above-described conventional electrophotographic apparatus, the corona dischargers of the charging device, the transfer device, and the static eliminator generally have different installation positions, and therefore each corona discharge device is different. In addition, a duct must be provided, which causes a problem in downsizing the device. Further, due to the suction force of the fan installed at one end of the duct or in the middle of the duct, the suction force locally acts on the photosensitive drum, and the toner powder carried by the electrostatic force on the photosensitive drum is scattered. There is also a problem in that good image formation cannot be performed due to this.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to reduce the size of the apparatus and reduce the cost, and to use ozone that is stagnant around the photosensitive drum with a simple structure. An object is to provide an electrophotographic apparatus that can be removed.

[0005]

According to the present invention, in order to solve the above problems, a suction member for sucking air around the photosensitive drum into the inside of the photosensitive drum is provided at one end of the photosensitive drum, and the other end is provided. Is provided with an exhaust hole for exhausting air inside the photoconductor drum, and an ozone adsorbent is provided inside the photoconductor drum.

[0006]

In the present invention as described above, the air around the photosensitive drum containing ozone is sent to the inside of the photosensitive drum by the suction member, ozone is removed inside the photosensitive drum, and the air is exhausted from the other end of the photosensitive drum. To do.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a sectional perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a hollow photosensitive drum, and one end of this photosensitive drum 1 is provided with a blade 2 for sucking air in the apparatus into the photosensitive drum 1. Since the photoconductor drum 1 rotates during image formation as described above, the blades act like a fan and the air around the photoconductor drum, that is, the ozone generated by the corona discharger as described above. The air containing is introduced into the photosensitive drum 1. On the other hand, at the other end of the photosensitive drum 1, an exhaust hole 3 for exhausting the air inside the photosensitive drum 1 is formed.
a is formed.

A circular ozone removal filter 4 is provided inside the photosensitive drum 1, and
Air containing ozone in the vicinity is sucked into the inside of the photoconductor drum 1, and when passing through the ozone removal filter 4, the ozone is decomposed and removed, and from the discharge hole 3a provided at the other end of the photoconductor drum 1. Exhausted.

Further, FIG. 2 shows another embodiment. Instead of the ozone removing filter 4 used in the above-described embodiment, the ozone adsorbing sheet 5 is provided along the inner wall surface of the photosensitive drum 1.
A discharge hole 3b is provided at the other end of the photoconductor drum 1 along the inner wall surface of the photoconductor drum 1. According to the present embodiment having the above-described configuration, the photosensitive drum 1
It is possible to prevent the influence of unevenness of rotation due to the eccentricity of the rotary shaft due to the ozone removing agent when the toner rotates, and the discharge hole 3b is provided along the inner wall surface of the photosensitive drum. Therefore, ozone is surely adsorbed on the ozone adsorption sheet 5 and exhausted.

[0010]

As described above, the present invention has a simple structure in which the suction member is formed at one end of the photosensitive drum and the ozone removing agent is provided inside the photosensitive drum. Since it can be removed, it is possible to effectively use the inside of the photoconductor drum which has not been used before.
It is possible to downsize the device and reduce the cost.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional perspective view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Photosensitive Drum 2 Blades 3a, 3b Discharge Hole 4 Ozone Removal Filter 5 Ozone Adsorption Sheet

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An electrophotographic apparatus having a hollow photoconductor drum and a corona discharger arranged around the photoconductor drum, wherein air around the photoconductor drum is provided at one end of the photoconductor drum inside the photoconductor drum. An electrophotographic apparatus comprising: a suction member for sucking into and a discharge hole for discharging air inside the photosensitive drum at the other end, and an ozone adsorbent inside the photosensitive drum. 2. The electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ozone adsorbent has a sheet shape and is attached to the inner wall surface of the photoconductor.