JPH08146693A - Image forming device and process cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To integrate a charging member and a cleaning member together by combination, and to reduce the number of processes in an assembling process and the cost of an image forming device by supporting a supporting member for the charging member with the cleaning member. CONSTITUTION: The supporting member 2-2 of a charge roller 2-1 is fixed on the supporting metal plate 4-1-2 of a cleaning blade 4-1 to be integrated with a charger 2. A hole A for fixing the supporting member 2-2 of the charge roller 2-1 is formed on both ends in the longitudinal direction of the supporting metal plate 4-1-2 of the cleaning blade 4-1 and the circular shaft B of the supporting member 2-2 of the charge roller 2-1 is inserted into the holes A. The external member 2-2-1 of the supporting member 2-2 is made by molding and while being heated, the circular shaft B of the inserted part is crushed to be integrated with the supporting metal plate 4-1-2 of the cleaning blade 4-1.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a structure of a charging device and a cleaning member in an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic apparatus for forming an image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 19 shows a conventional example. In an electrophotographic apparatus that forms an image using an electrophotographic process,
The charging device 2 for forming a latent image on the image carrier 1 has been a contact charging member made of an elastic body such as a charging roller, a charging blade, and a charging brush. At this time,
For example, as shown in FIG. 19, the charging roller 2-1 includes a core metal 2-1-4 made of iron and an Asker C hardness of about 80.
The charging roller 2 is made of a cylindrical rubber member of 2 degrees.
1 is 300 g of weight / weight with respect to the image carrier 1 so as to sufficiently contact the image carrier 1 and sufficiently follow its rotational movement.
It was pressed by a spring 2-2-2 so as to come into contact with a pressure of cm2.

Further, as the cleaning device 4, in order to scrape off the transfer residual developer on the image bearing member 1 cleanly, a cleaning blade 4-1 made of a plate-shaped rubber having an Asker C hardness of about 65 degrees is brought into contact pressure. It was positioned with high accuracy with respect to the position of the image carrier 1 so as to come into contact with the image carrier 1 at 30 g weight / cm.

Here, for example, the image carrier 1, the charging device 2, the cleaning device 4, and further the developing device 3 are provided.
In the process cartridge PC in which the above are integrated, the image carrier 1, the charging device 2, and the cleaning device 4 are included.
Was formed integrally with the first unit, and the second unit in which the developer and the developing device 3 were integrated. Here, the cleaning device 4 which is the first unit
As shown in FIG. 20, the housing 4-3 is integrally provided with a positioning rib 15 for the cleaning blade 4-1. Based on this, the cleaning blade 4-1 is moved in the direction of the arrow h. The cleaning device 4 is configured by being attached to the housing 4-3, and independently of this, a supporting member 2-for supporting the charging roller 2-1 in the housing 4-3. Two
Is integrally provided, and the charging roller pressing spring 2-2-2 and the holding member 2-2-3 of the charging roller 2-1 are set in the supporting member in the direction of arrow i, and further, this holding member is held. The charging device 2 is completed by setting the charging roller 2-1 on the member 2-2-3.

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, the contact portion of the charging roller is deformed when it is left in contact with the image carrier at a high pressure for a long period of time. However, this may have caused a defective image. For this reason, when the number of days from the manufacture to the actual use is long, the life of the component may reach the end before use even though durability deterioration does not occur.

Similarly, the contact surface of the image bearing member, which is subjected to high pressure, may be changed in material, resulting in defective images.

These phenomena are other contact charging members. The same occurs when a charging blade, a charging brush, or the like is used, and further, not only the contact charging member, but also the cleaning blade that contacts the image carrier, which may cause an image defect. It was

In order to solve these problems, a pressure releasing mechanism for the charging member and the cleaning member to the image carrier is provided so as not to contact the image carrier except when necessary. Since the charging member and the pressure releasing mechanism for the cleaning member are separately provided, there are problems that the mechanism is complicated and the cost is high.

In order to assemble the first unit of the process cartridge PC, the line stroke is generally based on the housing 4-3, which is the frame of the unit, and firstly, the cleaning blade 4-1. And so on to complete the cleaning device 4, and secondly,
Since the charging device 2 is completed by attaching the charging member to the charging member support member 2-2, and thirdly, the image carrier 1 is attached, the assembly process takes time and the process cartridge There is a problem that the PC becomes expensive.

Further, in order to recycle the process cartridge and the like, when disassembling the process cartridge, three steps are required as described above, and both can be reused by washing or the like. There is a problem that the functional parts such as the charging roller and the cleaning blade have to be disassembled and cleaned separately.

Further, when the cleaning member is attached, it is necessary to provide the housing with a positioning rib for the cleaning blade in order to improve the positional accuracy.

Further, the supporting member for supporting the charging roller is integrally formed in the housing,
When attaching the cleaning blade to the housing, the position of the charging roller support member must be set outside the both longitudinal ends of the cleaning blade so that the charging roller support member does not become an obstacle. . For this reason, there has been a limitation that the length of the charging roller in the longitudinal direction must be longer than the length of the cleaning blade regardless of the length of the charging area.

A first object of the present invention is to shorten the working time such as disassembling when assembling and reusing an image forming apparatus having a process cartridge, and to reduce the cost of the product. Another object of the present invention is to provide a structure of a cleaning member and a charging member that may simply perform a pressure releasing mechanism for the image carrier.

A second object of the present invention is to reduce the number of parts of the image forming apparatus and to downsize the image forming apparatus.

[0015]

Means and Actions for Solving the Problems First of the Invention
According to another aspect of the present invention, an image forming device is provided with at least an image carrier, a charging unit that charges the image carrier, and a cleaning unit that contacts the image carrier and cleans the developer on the image carrier. In the image forming apparatus, the supporting member of the charging member for the charging unit is supported by the cleaning member for the cleaning unit.

In a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus, the image carrier and the cleaning member are supported by the same frame body, and the image forming according to the first aspect of the invention. It is a process cartridge of the apparatus.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the distance from the image carrier to the cleaning member is always constant, and the pressure of the charging member on the image carrier is always constant. An image forming apparatus according to a first aspect of the invention.

A fourth invention of the present invention is characterized in that the distance from the image carrier to the cleaning member and the distance from the image carrier to the charging member are always constant. The image forming apparatus described in 1.

A fifth aspect of the present invention is the image forming apparatus according to the fourth aspect, wherein the charging member is a charging roller having an Asker C hardness of 50 degrees or less.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the pressure of the charging member on the image carrier and the pressure of the cleaning member on the image carrier are always constant. The image forming apparatus according to the invention.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the charging member and the cleaning member are integrally formed and are floatingly supported by a frame,
The image forming apparatus according to the sixth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the charging member and the cleaning member are simultaneously pressed against the image carrier by the same elastic body.

An eighth invention of the present invention is at least an image carrier, a charging means for charging the image carrier, and a cleaning for contacting the image carrier and cleaning the developer on the image carrier. In the image forming apparatus including the means, the supporting member of the cleaning member for the cleaning unit is supported by the supporting member of the charging member for the charging unit.

A ninth invention of the present invention is the image forming apparatus according to the eighth invention, wherein the charging member is a charging roller having an Asker C hardness of 50 degrees or less.

The tenth invention of the present invention is the image forming apparatus according to the eighth invention, characterized in that the image carrier and the charging member are supported by the same frame body. It is a process cartridge of.

An eleventh aspect of the present invention is that the distance from the image carrier to the charging member is always constant, and the pressure of the cleaning member on the image carrier is always constant. An image forming apparatus according to an eighth aspect of the invention.

In a twelfth aspect of the present invention, at least an image bearing member, a charging means for charging the image bearing member, and a cleaning for contacting the image bearing member to clean the developer on the image bearing member. In the image forming apparatus including the means, the supporting member that supports both ends of the charging member for the charging unit also functions as a positioning member for the cleaning blade for the cleaning unit. is there.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the distance between the outer rectangles of the two supporting members for supporting the both ends of the charging member is provided within a width in the longitudinal direction of the cleaning blade. An image forming apparatus according to a twelfth aspect of the invention.

[0028]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a first embodiment of the present invention, and is a schematic cross-sectional view of a laser printer body forming a laser printer and a process cartridge detachable from the laser printer.

As shown in FIG. 2, the process cartridge PC is a compact assembly of the image carrier 1, the charging device 2, the developing device 3, and the cleaning device 4,
In this process cartridge PC, a first unit in which the image carrier 1, the charging device 2 and the cleaning device 4 are integrated, and a second unit which is a unit of the developing device 3 including the developer 5 are combined. It is a thing.

The developing device 3 is brought into contact with the developing sleeve 3-1 carrying the developer 5 and the magnet roller 3-2, and the developing sleeve 3-1 at a pressure of 230 gf / cm @ 2 to develop the developing sleeve 3-. 1 is composed of an elastic blade 3-3 for regulating the coating of the developer 5 and a developer container 3-4 for accommodating the developer 5.

The laser printer body includes a paper feed roller 6, a transfer device 7, a fixing device 8, a paper discharge roller 9, a fan 10, an optical section 11 for emitting a laser beam, and an exterior section 12.
Then, the process cartridge PC is attached to this to complete a laser printer.

The charging device 2 includes a charging roller 2-1 which is a charging member and a supporting member 2-2 for the charging roller, and contacts the image carrier 1 to charge the image carrier. The charging roller 2-1
A latent image is formed by exposing the image carrier 1 charged by the above with the laser beam shown by the arrow d. The developing device 3 is placed close to the image carrier 1, and the developing sleeve 3-1 rotates in the direction of arrow c to convey the developer 5 and perform development.

The latent image on the image carrier 1 is developed by the developing device 3, the image is transferred to the transfer paper 13 by the transfer device 7, and further transferred to the transfer paper 13 by the fixing device 8.
Fixed on top. At this time, the developer 5 which is not completely transferred to the transfer paper 13 and remains on the image carrier 1 is removed from the image carrier 1 by the cleaning device 4.

The cleaning device 4 includes a cleaning blade 4-1 which is a cleaning member, and a squeeze sheet 4-.
2 and a first housing 4-3 that forms a cleaning container with them and supports the image carrier 1 and the charging device 2.
Further, the cleaning blade 4-1 has an Asker C hardness of 65 for contacting the image carrier 1 for cleaning.
A rubber blade 4-1-1 and a supporting sheet metal 4-1-2 to which the rubber blade is vulcanized and attached. The cleaning blade 4-1 is always installed at a fixed position with respect to the image carrier 1, and the contact pressure of the rubber blade 4-1-1 on the image carrier 1 causes the rotation of the image carrier 1. Although there is a slight change in the position due to, it is constant at about 30 g weight / cm.

Further, the charging roller 2-1 is a roller-shaped elastic body 2-1-2 composed of a cored bar and an elastic body around it having an Asker C hardness of 80 degrees, and is a spring in the support member 2-2. 2-2-2, 300g weight / cm2 on image carrier 1
The surface of the image carrier 1 is charged while being pressed and contacted by the pressure of 1, and rotating in the direction of arrow b following the rotation of the image carrier 1 in the direction of a.

Here, in this embodiment, according to the present invention, the supporting member 2-2 of the charging roller 2-1 is fixed on the supporting metal plate 4-1-2 of the cleaning blade 4-1. The cleaning blade 4-1 and the charging device 2 are integrated.

As shown in FIG. 3, holes A for fixing the supporting member 2-2 of the charging roller 2-1 are provided at both longitudinal ends of the supporting metal plate 4-1-2 of the cleaning blade 4-1. The round shaft B of the supporting member 2-2 of the yoke-shaped charging roller 2-1 as shown in the figure is inserted into the hole A in the direction of arrow e. External member 2-2-of the support member 2-2
1 is made of a mold, and by crushing the round shaft B of the inserted portion while heating, as shown in FIG. 4, a supporting sheet metal 4-1 of the cleaning blade 4-1 is provided.
Become one with two. Inside the support member 2-2 of the charging roller 2-1, a pressing spring 2-2-2 and a charging roller 2-1 are provided.
There is a holding member 2-2-3 that holds the core metal 2-1-4 of the charging roller 2-1.
The charging unit 2 and the cleaning blade 4-1 are completed by rotatably fitting the units 1-4. Like the normal cleaning blade, this integrated component is mounted on the first unit on which the squeeze sheet 4-2 is stretched, and by further mounting the image carrier 1, as shown in FIG. Is completed.

In the normal process of assembling the first unit, referring to FIG. 19, obviously, on the line process, (1) the squeeze sheet 4-2 is stretched over the unit,
(2) The cleaning blade 4-1 is attached to the unit. (3) The pressing spring 2-2-2 and the charging roller 2-1 are attached to the charging roller support member 2-2 provided in the unit.
5 steps of attaching a holding member 2-2-3 for holding the core metal 2-1-4 of (4), (4) attaching the charging roller 2-1 to the unit, and (5) attaching the image carrier 1 to the unit. However, in the present embodiment, except for the line stroke, by assembling the cleaning blade charging device integrated parts, on the line stroke,
Since only the steps (1), (2) and (5) are required, the assembly time can be significantly shortened and the product price can be reduced.

Further, in the case of the process cartridge embodying the present invention, it is possible to handle the charging device 2 and the cleaning blade 4-1 as an integral part even in the disassembling operation when reusing the process cartridge, and therefore the dismantling process The work is facilitated, and the cleaning work required when the parts of the charging roller 2-1 and the cleaning blade 4-1 are reused can be simultaneously performed as an integrated part, which reduces the cost of recycled products. It also contributes to price reduction.

Further, when the charging roller 2-1 and the cleaning blade 4-1 are not pressed against the image carrier 1 for a long period of time, the charging roller 2-1 and the cleaning blade 4-1 are deformed, and the image is deformed. The pressure release mechanism for the image carrier 1 to prevent the contamination on the carrier 1 is also the charging roller 2-1 and the cleaning blade 4-1 in this embodiment.
However, it is not necessary to separately provide them, and only one pressure releasing mechanism is required. Therefore, the pressure releasing of the charging roller 2-1 and the cleaning blade 4-1 to the image carrier 1 can be performed easily and inexpensively. That is, the charging blade 2-1 and the rubber blade 4-1-1 are brought into pressure contact with the image carrier 1 in one operation by providing the cleaning blade supporting sheet metal 4-1-2 so as to be movable back and forth with respect to the image carrier 1. Can be separated.

In this embodiment, the charging roller 2
-1 may be directly supplied to the core metal 2-1-4 of the charging roller 2-1 from the outside, and the charging roller supporting member 2-2-1 may be made of a conductive material. Alternatively, the cleaning blade supporting metal plate 4-1-2 which is a metal plate may be used.

In this embodiment, the charging roller is described as the charging member, but the present invention can be applied to other charging members such as a charging brush and a charging blade.

Further, although the present embodiment has been described by taking the case where the present invention is applied to the process cartridge of the laser printer as an example, the present invention is not limited to the process cartridge of the laser printer and does not have a process cartridge. It is also widely applicable to electrophotographic devices such as laser printers and copying machines.

[Second Embodiment] FIGS. 6 and 7 show a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.
Of the first embodiment in which the image carrier 1, the charging device 2 and the cleaning device 4 of the process cartridge PC which is detachable from the laser printer body for forming the laser printer are integrated. FIG.

The process cartridge PC is a compact assembly of the image carrier 1, the charging device 2, the developing device 3 and the cleaning device 4. This process cartridge PC is composed of the image carrier 1, the charging device 2 and the cleaning device. The device 4 includes the first unit integrated with the developer 5
The second unit, which is a unit of the developing device 3 including
It is a combination.

The cleaning device 4 includes a cleaning blade 4-1 which is a cleaning member, and a squeeze sheet 4-.
2 and the housing 4-3 of the first unit, and the cleaning blade 4-1 is a rubber blade 4-1-1 having an Asker C hardness of 65 degrees that comes into contact with the image carrier 1 for cleaning and this rubber. It is composed of a supporting sheet metal 4-1-2 formed by vulcanizing and molding a blade. The cleaning blade 4-1 is always installed at a fixed position with respect to the image carrier 1, and the contact pressure of the rubber blade on the image carrier 1 is small at the position due to the rotation of the image carrier 1. Although it fluctuates, it is constant at about 30 g weight / cm.

Also in this embodiment, the cleaning blade 4-1 and the charging device 2 are integrated.

In the present embodiment, the supporting sheet metal 4-1-2 of the cleaning blade 4-1 is, as shown in FIG.
The charging roller support member 2 is formed by bending both longitudinal ends thereof.
-2, and the tip has a groove with a semicircular bottom 2-
It has 2-4 and supports the charging roller 2-1. Therefore, the position of the charging roller 2-1 is relative to the image carrier 1.
Always in place. At this time, the charging roller 2-1 is a roller-shaped charging member composed of a cored bar 2-1-4 and an elastic body 2-1-2 having an Asker C hardness of 40 degrees around the cored bar 2-1-4. The -1 surface flexibly contacts the image carrier 1 and charges the image carrier 1 while rotating in the direction of arrow b following the rotation of the image carrier 1 in the direction a.

By carrying out the present embodiment, the supporting sheet metal 4-1-2 of the cleaning blade 4-1 is simply punched and bent, and at the same time as the cleaning blade 4-1, the supporting member of the charging roller 2-1 is simultaneously supported. Since 2-2 is obtained, the cost can be reduced.

Further, similar to the first embodiment, a great effect can be obtained in reusing the process cartridge PC and releasing the pressure of the cleaning blade 4-1 and the charging roller 2-1 to the image carrier 1 at the same time.

Further, in this embodiment, the charging roller 2
Since the power feeding method to -1 can be performed through the cleaning blade supporting metal plate 4-1-2 which is a metal plate, it is not necessary to newly provide a power feeding member, and the cost can be reduced.

Incidentally, the charging roller 2-1 in this embodiment.
As for the hardness, the distance between the core metal 2-1-4 and the image carrier 1 does not change. Therefore, in order to flexibly contact the image carrier 1 and follow the image carrier 1 to charge, It is desirable that the C hardness is 50 degrees or less.

Although the charging roller 2-1 has been described as the charging member in this embodiment, the present invention can be applied to other charging members such as a charging brush and a charging blade.

Further, although the present embodiment has been described by taking the case where the present invention is applied to the process cartridge of the laser printer as an example, the present invention is not limited to the process cartridge of the laser printer and does not have a process cartridge. It is also widely applicable to electrophotographic devices such as laser printers and copying machines.

[Third Embodiment] FIGS. 8 and 9 show a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 shows a third embodiment of the present invention.
Of the first embodiment in which the image carrier 1, the charging device 2 and the cleaning device 4 of the process cartridge PC which is detachable from the laser printer body for forming the laser printer are integrated. FIG. FIG. 9 is a schematic front view of the first unit before the image carrier 1 is mounted.

The process cartridge PC is a compact assembly of the image carrier 1, the charging device 2, the developing device 3 and the cleaning device 4. The process cartridge PC is composed of the image carrier 1, the charging device 2 and the cleaning device. 4 is an integrated first unit and a second unit, which is a unit of the developing device 3 including the developer 5, combined together.

The cleaning device 4 includes a cleaning blade 4-1 which is a cleaning member, and a squeeze sheet 4-.
2 and the housing 4-3 of the first unit, and the cleaning blade 4-1 is a rubber blade 4-1-1 having an Asker C hardness of 65 degrees for cleaning by contacting the image carrier 1 and this rubber. A supporting sheet metal 4-1-2 having a blade integrated by vulcanization molding is provided.

Also in this embodiment, the cleaning member and the charging device are integrated.

In this embodiment, the charging roller 2-1
In the first housing 4-3, the support member 2-2 of the charging roller 2-1 is provided in the first housing 4-3 so as to be rotatable at a fixed position in the first housing 4-3. 1
In contrast, it is always in a fixed position. At this time, the charging roller 2
-1 is core metal 2-1-4 and Asker C hardness 4 around it
This is a roller-shaped charging member composed of a 0-degree elastic body 2-1-2, whereby the surface of the charging roller 2-1 flexibly abuts on the image carrier 1 and moves in the a direction of the image carrier 1. The image carrier 1 is charged while being rotated in the direction of arrow b following the rotation.

On the other hand, the cleaning blade 4-1 has a core metal 2-1 of the charging roller 2-1 at both longitudinal ends thereof.
-4 is supported by a charging roller holding arm 4-6 so as to be rotatable. Further, the cleaning blade 4-1 has a cleaning blade pressurizing spring 4- from the upper part thereof so as to press the image carrier 1 with a load of 30 g weight / cm around the core metal 2-1-4. It is pressed by 4. At this time, between the upper part of the cleaning blade 4-1 and the housing 4-3 constituting the cleaning container, a sealing member 4-5, which is a flexible foam material, is evenly arranged in the longitudinal direction and has a spring length. The inside of the cleaning container is hermetically sealed while following the changes in.

By carrying out this embodiment, as in the first embodiment, it becomes possible to assemble an integral part of the charging device 2 and the cleaning blade 4-1 in a process different from the line process. Since the time can be greatly reduced, the price of the process cartridge can be reduced.

Also, as in the first embodiment, the process of reusing the process cartridge can be greatly shortened, and the cost can be reduced.

Further, since the cleaning blade 4-1 abuts on the image carrier 1 under a constant load, it is not necessary to position the cleaning blade 4-1 with high positional accuracy, and the pressure releasing mechanism also uses a pressing spring. This can be easily done.

As a method of supporting the charging roller 2-1 by the first housing 4-3, in order to rotate the charging roller 2-1 more smoothly, as shown in FIG. 10, the charging roller 2-1 is used.
Conical center hole 2-1-4 at the end of core 2-1-4
The center hole 2-1-4a may be fitted to the conical protrusion 4-3-1 of the housing 4-3.

The charging roller 2-1 in this embodiment is used.
As for the hardness, the distance between the core metal 2-1-4 and the image carrier 1 does not change. Therefore, in order to flexibly contact the image carrier 1 and follow the image carrier 1 to charge, It is desirable that the C hardness is 50 degrees or less.

Although the charging roller 2-1 has been described as the charging member in this embodiment, the present invention can be applied to other charging members such as a charging brush and a charging blade.

Further, although the present embodiment has been described by taking the case where the present invention is applied to the process cartridge of the laser printer as an example, the present invention is not limited to the process cartridge of the laser printer and does not have a process cartridge. It is also widely applicable to electrophotographic devices such as laser printers and copying machines.

[Fourth Embodiment] FIGS. 11 and 12 show a fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a fourth embodiment of the present invention in which the image carrier 1, the charging device 2 and the cleaning device 4 of the process cartridge PC which is detachable from the laser printer body for forming the laser printer are integrated. It is a schematic sectional drawing of the 1st unit which became.

The process cartridge PC is a compact assembly of the image carrier 1, the charging device 2, the developing device 3 and the cleaning device 4. The process cartridge PC includes the image carrier 1, the charging device 2 and the cleaning device. 4 is an integrated first unit and a second unit which is a unit of the developing device 3 including a developer.

The cleaning device 4 includes a cleaning blade 4-1 which is a cleaning member, and a rake sheet 4-.
2 and the housing 4-3 of the first unit, and the cleaning blade 4-1 is a rubber blade 4-1-1 having an Asker C hardness of 65 degrees that comes into contact with the image carrier 1 to perform cleaning. A supporting sheet metal 4-1-2 integrally formed by vulcanizing and molding a rubber blade is provided.

Also in this embodiment, the cleaning member and the charging device 2 are integrated.

In this embodiment, in order to fix the supporting member 2-2 of the charging roller 2-1 to the both longitudinal ends of the supporting sheet metal 4-1-2 of the cleaning blade 4-1 as in the first embodiment. 12 is provided (see FIG. 3), and the supporting member 2-2 of the charging roller 2-1 made of the mold having the shape shown in FIG. 12 is inserted into this hole and fixed by heat welding. To be done. The charging roller 2-1 is rotatably held at a fixed position with respect to the cleaning blade 4-1 on the groove 2-2-4 of the supporting member.

Here, the integral part of the charging device 2 and the cleaning blade 4-1 is a tension member provided between the drum shaft 1-1 and the spring hook 2-2-5 provided on the charging roller support member 2-2. The pressure spring 14 urges the image carrier 1 toward the image carrier 1, and the image carrier 1 is charged with a charging roller 2-1 and a rubber blade 4-.
1-1 is pressed. At this time, between the upper part of the cleaning blade 4-1 and the housing 4-3 constituting the cleaning container, a sealing member 4-5, which is a flexible foam material, is provided in the longitudinal direction as in the third embodiment. The charging device 2 has a uniform structure, seals the interior of the cleaning container while following the change in the spring length, and rotates the image carrier 1,
It also prevents the cleaning blade 4-1 from swinging around as an integral part.

By carrying out this embodiment, as in the first embodiment, it is possible to assemble an integral part of the charging device 2 and the cleaning blade 4-1 in a process different from the line process. Since the time can be greatly reduced, the price of the process cartridge can be reduced.

Further, as in the first embodiment, since the process of reusing the process cartridge can be greatly shortened, the cost can be reduced.

Further, since the charging roller 2-1 and the cleaning blade 4-1 contact the image carrier 1 with a constant load, it is not necessary to perform positioning with high positional accuracy, and the pressure releasing mechanism is also added. This can be easily performed by using a mechanism for loosening the pressure spring 14.

In this embodiment, the charging roller 2
-1 may be directly fed to the core metal 2-1-4 of the charging roller 2-1 from the outside, and the charging roller supporting member 2-2 may be made of a metal by using a conductive material. You may perform it through the cleaning blade support sheet metal 4-1-2 which is a plate.

Although the charging roller 2-1 has been described as the charging member in this embodiment, the present invention can be applied to other charging members such as a charging brush and a charging blade.

Further, although the present embodiment is described by taking the case where the present invention is applied to the process cartridge of the laser printer as an example, the present invention is not limited to the process cartridge of the laser printer and does not have a process cartridge. It is also widely applicable to electrophotographic devices such as laser printers and copying machines.

[Fifth Embodiment] FIGS. 13 and 14 show a fifth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a fifth embodiment of the present invention, in which the image carrier 1, the charging device 2 and the cleaning device 4 of the process cartridge PC which is detachable from the laser printer body for forming the laser printer are integrated. It is a schematic sectional drawing of the 1st unit which became.

The process cartridge PC is a compact assembly of the image carrier 1, the charging device 2, the developing device 3 and the cleaning device 4. The process cartridge PC is composed of the image carrier 1, the charging device 2 and the cleaning device. The device 4 is a combination of the integrated first unit and the second unit which is the unit of the developing device 3 including the developer.

The cleaning device 4 includes a cleaning blade 4-1 which is a cleaning member and a squeeze sheet 4-.
2 and the housing 4-3 of the first unit, and the cleaning blade 4-1 is a rubber blade 4-1-1 having an Asker C hardness of 65 degrees that comes into contact with the image carrier 1 for cleaning and this rubber. It consists of a supporting sheet metal 4-1-2 integrated with a blade by vulcanization molding. The cleaning blade 4-1 is always installed at a fixed position with respect to the image carrier 1, and the rubber blade 4 for the image carrier 1 is provided.
The contact pressure of -1-1 is constant at about 30 g weight / cm, although the position varies slightly due to the rotation of the image carrier 1.

The charging roller 2-1 includes a core metal 2-1.
4 and its surrounding elastic body with Asker C hardness of 80 degrees 2-1
2 is a roller-shaped charging member including a supporting member 2-
The pressure spring 2-2-2 in 2 causes the image carrier 1 to move to 3
While pressing and abutting at a pressure of 00 g weight / cm2 and rotating in the direction of arrow b following the rotation of the image carrier 1 in the direction of a,
The image carrier 1 is charged.

In this embodiment, according to the present invention, the charging roller support member pedestal 2-4 for supporting the support member 2-2 of the charging roller 2-1 is the cleaning blade 4.
It also serves as the positioning member 15 of -1.

The cleaning blade 4-1 is, as shown in FIG. 15, a cleaning blade supporting sheet metal 4-1-2.
Has a scoring part C near both longitudinal ends of the scoring C
14, as shown in FIG. 14, is abutted in the direction of arrow f toward the charging roller support member pedestal 2-4 provided on the positioning member 15 that is a part of the housing 4-3 that constitutes the first unit. The scratch C is fitted and fixed to the pedestal 2-4.

Then, inside the spring 2-2 for pressurization,
-2 and a holding member 2-2-3 for holding the core metal 2-1-4 of the charging roller 2-1.
The external member 2-2-1 in the direction of arrow g in FIG.
By supporting the charging roller supporting member pedestal 2-4, which also functions as the positioning member 15 of the cleaning blade 4-1, with the hole 2-2-4, the supporting member 2 for the charging roller 2-1 is fixed.
-2 is fixed to the first unit.

As a result, the cleaning blade 4-1
The positioning member can be omitted.

Further, as shown in FIG. 21, the conventional supporting member 2-2 for supporting the charging roller 2-1 does not hinder the mounting of the cleaning blade 4-1 to the housing 4-3. , The cleaning blade supporting sheet metal 4-1-2 was provided outside the longitudinal end portions, but in the present embodiment, the supporting member 2-2 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG.
Since the core metal 2-1-4 of the charging roller 2-1 located inside the two longitudinal ends of the charging roller 2-1 can be made extremely short, the process cartridge PC can be made more compact.

Although the charging roller 2-1 has been described as the charging member in this embodiment, the present invention can be applied to other charging members such as a charging brush and a charging blade.

Further, although the present embodiment is described by taking the case where the present invention is applied to the process cartridge of the laser printer as an example, the present invention is not limited to the process cartridge of the laser printer and does not have a process cartridge. It is also widely applicable to electrophotographic devices such as laser printers and copying machines.

[Sixth Embodiment] FIGS. 17 and 18 show a sixth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 17 shows a sixth embodiment of the present invention, in which the image carrier 1, the charging device 2 and the cleaning device 4 of the process cartridge PC which is detachable from the laser printer main body for forming the laser printer are integrated. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the first unit that has become

The process cartridge PC is a compact assembly of the image carrier 1, the charging device 2, the developing device 3 and the cleaning device 4. The process cartridge PC has the image carrier 1, the charging device 2 and the cleaning device. The device 4 is a combination of the integrated first unit and the second unit which is the unit of the developing device 3 including the developer.

The cleaning device 4 includes a cleaning blade 4-1 which is a cleaning member and a squeeze sheet 4-.
2 and the housing 4-3 of the first unit, and the cleaning blade 4-1 is a rubber blade 4-1-1 having an Asker C hardness of 65 degrees that comes into contact with the image carrier 1 for cleaning and this rubber. It is composed of a supporting sheet metal 4-1-2 which is formed by vulcanizing and molding a blade. The cleaning blade 4-1 is always installed at a fixed position with respect to the image carrier 1, and the rubber blade 4-for the image carrier 1 is provided.
The contact pressure of 1-1 is constant at about 30 g weight / cm, although the position varies slightly due to the rotation of the image carrier 1.

Also in this embodiment, the supporting member 2-2 of the charging roller 2-1 also serves as the positioning member of the cleaning blade 4-1. In this embodiment, an arm-shaped support member 2-2 integrally formed in the housing as a support portion of the charging roller 2-1 which also functions as a positioning member for the cleaning blade 4-1 is directly charged. The core metal 2-1-4 of the roller 2-1 is held, so that the position of the charging roller 2-1 is always at a fixed position with respect to the image carrier 1. At this time, the charging roller 2-1 has a core metal 2-
1-4 and the surrounding Asker C hardness 40 degree elastic body 2-
1-2 is a roller-shaped charging member, which allows the charging roller surface to flexibly contact the image carrier 1 and rotate in the direction of arrow b following the rotation of the image carrier 1 in the direction a. Meanwhile, the image carrier 1 is charged.

Also in this embodiment, the positioning member for the cleaning blade 4-1 can be omitted.

Further, conventionally, as shown in FIG. 21, the supporting member 2-2 for supporting the charging roller 2-1 does not hinder the attachment of the cleaning blade 4-1 to the housing 4-3. Although the cleaning blade supporting sheet metal 4-1-2 was provided outside the longitudinal end portions of the cleaning blade supporting sheet metal sheet 4-1-2, in the present embodiment, the supporting member 2-2 has the cleaning blade supporting sheet metal sheet 4-1 as shown in FIG. -2
Since the core metal of the charging roller 2-1 located inside both longitudinal end positions can be made extremely short, the process cartridge PC can be made more compact.

In this embodiment, the charging roller 2
-1 may be directly fed to the core metal 2-1-4 of the charging roller 2-1 from the outside, and the charging roller supporting member 2-2 may be made of a metal by using a conductive material. You may perform it through the cleaning blade support sheet metal 4-1-2 which is a plate.

The charging roller 2-1 in this embodiment is used.
As for the hardness, the distance between the core metal 2-1-4 and the image carrier 1 does not change. Therefore, in order to flexibly contact the image carrier 1 and follow the image carrier 1 to charge, It is desirable that the C hardness is 50 degrees or less.

In this embodiment, the charging roller 2-1 was described as the charging member, but the present invention can be applied to other charging members such as a charging brush and a charging blade.

Further, although the present embodiment has been described by taking the case where the present invention is applied to the process cartridge of the laser printer as an example, the present invention is not limited to the process cartridge of the laser printer and does not have a process cartridge. It is also widely applicable to electrophotographic devices such as laser printers and copying machines.

[0102]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, at least the image bearing member, the charging means for charging the image bearing member, and the developer on the image bearing member are brought into contact with the image bearing member. In an image forming apparatus provided with a cleaning unit for cleaning, a support member of a charging member for the charging unit is
By being supported by the cleaning member for the cleaning means, the charging member and the cleaning member can be assembled and integrated, and in the assembly process,
The number of steps can be reduced, and as a result, the image forming apparatus can be made inexpensive. Also, even in the process of disassembling the process cartridge, one process can be similarly reduced, and particularly when the cleaning blade and the charging roller are reused together, these can be regarded as one component, and the process is simplified. , It became possible to reduce the cost of these reuse. When a mechanism for releasing the pressure contact of the charging member and the cleaning member with respect to the image carrier is provided, the charging member and the cleaning member can be unpressurized with respect to the image carrier by one pressure releasing mechanism.

A second aspect of the present invention is the process cartridge according to the first aspect, in which the image carrier and the cleaning member are supported by the same frame, so that the process cartridge is manufactured in particular. The above effect can be remarkably exhibited in reproduction.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the distance from the image carrier to the cleaning member is always constant, and the pressure of the charging member on the image carrier is constant. Since it is always constant, the assembling is easy and the assembling accuracy is easy to obtain, and the assembling accuracy is good.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the distance from the image bearing member to the cleaning member and the distance from the image bearing member to the charging member are:
Since it is always constant, the number of parts can be reduced and the assembling accuracy is good.

In a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect, the charging member is a charging roller having an Asker C hardness of 50 degrees or less, so that a uniform charging effect is obtained.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the pressure of the charging member on the image carrier and the pressure of the cleaning member on the image carrier are always constant. As a result, uniform charging is performed and the performance of removing the residual developer on the image carrier does not change.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the sixth aspect, the charging member and the cleaning member are integrally constructed and are floatingly supported, and the charging member and the cleaning member are applied to the image carrier. Since the pressure is simultaneously applied by the same elastic body, even if the charging roller and the cleaning roller are worn or deformed in a durable manner, the pressure applied to the image carrier does not always change.

An eighth aspect of the present invention is directed to an image carrier, a charging means for charging the image carrier, and a cleaning means for contacting the image carrier and cleaning the developer on the image carrier. And a cleaning member supporting member for the cleaning unit is supported by a supporting member of the charging member for the charging unit. As a result, the number of steps in the assembly process can be reduced, and as a result, the image forming apparatus can be made inexpensive. Further, also in the process of disassembling the process cartridge, one process can be similarly reduced, and particularly when the cleaning blade and the charging roller are reused together, these can be regarded as one component, and the process is simplified. , It became possible to reduce the cost of these reuse. When a mechanism for releasing the pressure contact of the charging member and the cleaning member with respect to the image carrier is provided, the charging member and the cleaning member can be unpressurized with respect to the image carrier by one pressure releasing mechanism.

In a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the eighth aspect, the charging member is a charging roller having an Asker C hardness of 50 degrees or less, so that a uniform charging effect is obtained.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the eighth aspect, the process cartridge in which the image carrier and the charging member are supported by the same frame body is used. In the above, the effect of the eighth invention can be achieved particularly.

In an eleventh aspect of the present invention based on the eighth aspect, the distance from the image bearing member to the charging member is always constant, and the pressure of the cleaning member against the image bearing member is constant. Since it is always constant, the assembling is easy, the assembling accuracy is easy to obtain, and the assembling accuracy is good.

In a twelfth aspect of the present invention, at least an image carrier, a charging means for charging the image carrier, and the image carrier are brought into contact with each other to clean the developer on the image carrier. In the image forming apparatus provided with the cleaning means, the supporting member for supporting both ends of the charging member for the charging means also serves as the positioning member of the cleaning blade for the cleaning means, which is conventionally required. Positioning ribs can be omitted, and
Conventionally, since the supporting portion of the charging member can be provided at the position of the positioning rib which is inside the longitudinal end portions of the supporting blade of the cleaning blade, the length of the core bar of the charging roller is set to the longitudinal direction of the supporting blade of the cleaning blade. It is not necessary to make it longer than both ends, and the housing can be made smaller.

The thirteenth invention of the present invention is the twelfth invention, wherein the distance between the outer rectangles of the two support members supporting both ends of the charging member is shorter than the longitudinal width of the cleaning blade. This has the effect of reducing the width of the image forming apparatus.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a laser printer having a process cartridge according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the process cartridge of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the cleaning blade of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an assembled state of FIG.

5 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a first unit of the process cartridge of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a first unit of the process cartridge according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the cleaning blade of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view showing a first unit of a process cartridge according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

9 is a front view of the charging roller and the cleaning blade of FIG.

10 is a partially enlarged view of FIG.

FIG. 11 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a first unit of the process cartridge according to the fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

12 is a perspective view showing the cleaning blade of FIG. 11. FIG.

FIG. 13 is a vertical sectional view showing a first unit of the process cartridge according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

14 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the assembling method of FIG.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing the cleaning blade in FIG.

16 is a front view showing a supporting relationship between a charging roller and a cleaning blade in FIG.

FIG. 17 is a vertical sectional view showing a first unit of the process cartridge according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a front view showing a supporting relationship between the charging roller and the cleaning blade in FIG.

FIG. 19 is a vertical sectional view showing a conventional process cartridge.

20 is a vertical sectional view showing an assembling method of the charging roller and the cleaning blade in FIG.

FIG. 21 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a supporting relationship between a charging roller and a cleaning blade of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image carrier 2 Charging device 2-1 Charging roller 2-2 Charging roller support member 2-2-1 External member of support member 2-2-2 Charging roller pressure spring 2-2-3 Charging roller core metal holding member 3 Developing Device 3-1 Developing Sleeve 3-2 Magnet Roller 3-3 Developing Blade 3-4 Developing Container 4 Cleaning Device 4-1 Cleaning Blade 4-1-1 Rubber Blade 4-1-2 Support Sheet Metal 4-2 Squisheet 4 -3 First Housing 4-4 Cleaning Blade Pressing Spring 4-5 Sealing Member 4-6 Charging Roller Holding Arm 5 Developer 6 Paper Feed Roller 7 Transfer Device 8 Fixing Device 9 Paper Ejection Roller 10 Fan 11 Optical Section 12 Exterior Part 13 Transfer paper 14 Pressure spring 15 Rib a Rotation direction of image carrier b Rotation direction of charging roller c Rotation direction of developing sleeve d Laser Exposure direction e Mounting direction of charging roller supporting member f Cleaning direction of cleaning blade g Mounting direction of charging roller supporting member h Cleaning direction of cleaning blade i Mounting direction of charging member A Mounting hole of charging roller supporting member B Charging roller supporting member Mounting part C Cleaning blade scraping part

Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification number Internal reference number FI Technical indication location G03G 21/10 (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Adachi 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. ( 72) Inventor Taku Hino 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc.

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. An image comprising at least an image carrier, a charging unit for charging the image carrier, and a cleaning unit for contacting the image carrier and cleaning a developer on the image carrier. In the image forming apparatus, the supporting member of the charging member for the charging unit is supported by the cleaning member for the cleaning unit. 2. The process cartridge for an image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in the image forming apparatus, the image carrier and the cleaning member are supported by the same frame. 3. The distance from the image carrier to the cleaning member is always constant, and the pressure of the charging member on the image carrier is always constant. The image forming apparatus according to item 1. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the distance from the image carrier to the cleaning member and the distance from the image carrier to the charging member are always constant. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the charging member is a charging roller having an Asker C hardness of 50 degrees or less. 6. The pressure of the charging member on the image carrier,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pressure of the cleaning member on the image carrier is always constant. 7. The charging member and the cleaning member are integrally formed and floatingly supported by a frame, and the pressing of the charging member and the cleaning member to the image carrier is
The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the same elastic body is used to perform the operations at the same time. 8. An image comprising at least an image carrier, a charging unit for charging the image carrier, and a cleaning unit for contacting the image carrier and cleaning the developer on the image carrier. In the image forming apparatus, the supporting member of the cleaning member for the cleaning unit is supported by the supporting member of the charging member for the charging unit. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the charging member is a charging roller having an Asker C hardness of 50 degrees or less. 10. The process cartridge of the image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein, in the image forming apparatus, the image carrier and the charging member are supported by the same frame. 11. The distance from the image carrier to the charging member is always constant, and the pressure of the cleaning member on the image carrier is always constant. The image forming apparatus according to item 1. 12. An image carrier, at least a charging unit for charging the image carrier, and an image carrier in contact with the image carrier,
In an image forming apparatus including a cleaning unit that cleans the developer on the image carrier, a supporting member that supports both ends of a charging member for the charging unit positions a cleaning blade for the cleaning unit. An image forming apparatus that doubles as a member. 13. The distance between the outer rectangles of the two support members supporting both ends of the charging member is set within a width in the longitudinal direction of the cleaning blade. The image forming apparatus according to item 1.