JPH09152825A - Device for supplying lubricant to image carrier for electrophotographic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To stably supply lubricant to an image carrier by keeping relation between the surface roughness of a rotating roller and the interval of the surface ruggedness within a specified range. SOLUTION: A rotating body 27 is provided in the vicinity of a rotating brush 26, the rotating body 27 is, for example, a stainless roller having the diameter of 16mm, and has the surface roughness by sand blasting method, etc. It is desirable to keep the relation between the surface roughness of the roller 27 and the interval P of surface ruggedness of the roller 27 within the specified range, especially to set the surface roughness of the roller 27 in the range of >=3 micrometers and <=20 micrometer in terms of 10 points average surface roughness Rz, and the surface ruggedness interval P of the roller 27>=20 micrometers. This, the lubricant can be supplied to the image carrier without lowering ability for scratching solid lubricant by means of the roller 27.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention forms an image by using a toner on an image bearing member such as a photoconductor or a transfer belt, such as a copying machine, a laser printer or a laser facsimile, and prints the image on a paper. It can be applied to the electrophotographic apparatus for recording in. More specifically, the present invention relates to a lubricant supply device for an image carrier, which supplies a lubricant to the surface of the image carrier in such an electrophotographic apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 4, a solid lubricant 1, a lubricant 1 and a photosensitive member 2 are provided in a lubricant supplying device for a photosensitive member in a laser copying machine, for example. There is a configuration in which the rotary brushes 3 that come into contact with each other and rotate are provided (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 56-142567).

However, in such a conventional lubricant supplying apparatus, since the solid lubricant 1 is directly scraped off by the rotating brush 3, for example, the supply amount to the photosensitive member 2 is increased at the initial stage, but it is used over time. As a result, the amount of the lubricant 1 is reduced, and there is a problem that an appropriate amount of the lubricant 1 cannot be constantly supplied.

Therefore, in order to constantly supply an appropriate amount of lubricant, a solid lubricant and a rotary roller which elastically presses the lubricant and carries a fixed amount of lubricant on the peripheral surface as the lubricant rotates. And a rotating brush that rotates in contact with the rotating roller and the image bearing member to transfer the lubricant on the rotating roller to the image bearing member. A lubricant supply device has been proposed (see Japanese Patent Application No. 6-250204).

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned device, the lubricant adheres to the rotary roller after a certain amount of time, and the ability to scrape off the solid lubricant of the rotary roller decreases. As a result, an appropriate amount of lubricant cannot be supplied to the image bearing member, resulting in a problem that image formation is adversely affected.

Therefore, the present invention provides a lubricant supply device for an image carrier in an electrophotographic apparatus, which can stably supply the lubricant to the image carrier even after a certain amount of time has elapsed. With the goal.

[0007]

In the present invention, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a solid lubricant and the lubricant are elastically pressed, and a fixed amount of the lubricant is applied to the peripheral surface as the lubricant rotates. A rotating roller to be carried and a roller that is in contact with the rotating roller.
Regulating member for regulating the amount of lubricant on the roller and its rotation roll.
And a rotating brush that rotates in contact with each of the roller and the image bearing member to turn the lubricant on the rotating roller into the image bearing member,
In the lubricant supplying device for the image carrier in the electrophotographic apparatus having the above, the relationship between the surface roughness of the rotary roller and the interval between the surface irregularities is kept within a predetermined range.

[0008]

In the lubricant supplying device for the image carrier in the electrophotographic apparatus having the above-described structure, the lubricant is supplied to the image carrier without deteriorating the ability to scrape off the solid lubricant by the rotary roller. To perform.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a schematic structure of a laser copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, around the photosensitive member.

Reference numeral 11 in the figure denotes a drum-shaped photosensitive member which is an image bearing member. An arrow A in the figure indicates around the photoconductor 11.
The charging device 12, the developing device 13, the transfer device 14, the separating device 15, the cleaning device 16, and the static eliminator 17 are arranged in the driving direction indicated by. An optical writing device 18 is provided above the charging device 12. Then, at the time of recording, the paper is fed from the paper feeding unit and is conveyed to the lower side of the photoconductor 11 at a timing by a pair of registration rollers.

The photosensitive member 11 is rotationally driven in the clockwise direction indicated by the arrow A, at which time the surface is uniformly charged by the charging device 12, and the surface from the optical writing device 18 is charged on the surface.
The work L is irradiated to form an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor 11.

Next, after the unnecessary charges in the non-image area on the photoconductor 11 are removed by the eraser 19, the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor 11 is continuously passed by the toner when passing through the position of the developing device 13. Make the image visible. Then, this visible image is transferred by the transfer device 14 onto the upper surface of the sheet conveyed below the photoconductor 11. After the transfer, the charge is removed by the separating device 15 and the photoconductor 1
Separate the paper from 1. After the separation, the sheet is conveyed to a fixing device, where the transferred image is fixed and then discharged to the outside of the copying machine main body.

On the other hand, the photosensitive drum 11 after the image transfer is cleaned by the cleaning blade 2 of the cleaning device 16 for the residual toner.
After removing with 0, the charge removal charger 2 of the charge removal device 17
The static electricity is removed by 1 and the static electricity is radiated by the static elimination lamp 22 to be electrostatically initialized to prepare for the next use.

By the way, in the above-mentioned laser copying machine, for example, the surface of the photoconductor 11 and the cleaner pressed against it.
In order to prevent the wearing blade 20 from being worn, a lubricant applying means 25 for applying a lubricant to the peripheral surface of the photoconductor 11 is arranged between the cleaning device 16 and the charge eliminating device 17.

The lubricant applying means 25 is provided with a rotating brush 26. The rotary brush 26 comprises a cylindrical member made of aluminum having a diameter of 13 mm, and a polyester fiber formed in a loop shape having a bristle length of 6 mm in a brush shape. Formed and have a diameter of 25 mm. Then, both ends are appropriately rotatably supported and arranged parallel to the photoconductor 11, and the surface of the photoconductor 11 is rotatably provided with the tip of the polyester fiber in contact with the surface of the photoconductor 11.

In the vicinity of the rotating brush 26, the rotating body 2
7 is provided. The rotating body 27 is a stainless steel roller having a diameter of 16 mm and is provided with a surface roughness by, for example, a sandblast method.

The both ends are rotatably supported and arranged parallel to the rotary brush 26, and the polyester fibers are rotatably provided in contact with the peripheral surface of the rotor 27.

On the outer circumference of the rotating body 27, the solid lubricant 2
8 is provided. As the solid lubricant 28, one having zinc stearate as a main component, which is melted and then cooled and solidified to be formed into a horizontally long plate shape, is used.
It is provided movably between a pressing position for pressing against 7 and a retracted position for releasing the pressing.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, on the surface of the rotating body 27, that is, the rotating roller 27, the amount of the lubricant supplied to the rotating roller 27 by the solid lubricant 28 is adjusted. A blade 50 as a restricting member is in contact with the blade.

Then, one end of the elastic member 29 is pressed against the base end side of the solid lubricant 28. The elastic member 2
9 is provided by pressing the other end against one end of the lever 30. The lever 30 is rotatably supported by a support shaft 31 at a substantially middle length, and the other end is connected to the tip of a plunger 33 of a solenoid 32. A compression coil spring 34 is wound around the plunger 33. The compression coil spring 34 has one end pressed against the other end of the lever 30 and the other end pressed against the main body of the solenoid 32. Then, the lever 30, the solenoid 32, the plunger 33, the compression spring 34, etc. are used to drive the drive means 3.
5 is constituted.

When copying, the drive means 25 is used.
Is turned on and the lever 30 is centered around the support shaft 31.
Is rotated counterclockwise, the lever 30 moves the solid lubricant 28 to the pressing position, and the solid lubricant 28 is pressed against the rotating body 27 by using the elastic member 29. .

In the present embodiment, the relationship between the surface roughness of the rotary roller 27 and the interval between the irregularities on the surface of the rotary roller 27 is kept within a predetermined range, and in particular, the surface of the rotary roller 27 is kept. The roughness is set within the range of 3 to 20 micrometer in terms of ten-point average surface roughness Rz, and the interval between the irregularities on the surface of the rotary roller 27 is set to 20 or more micrometer. It became clear from this experiment that is desirable.

The reason for this is that when an experiment was conducted using a relatively fine roller roller 27 having a ten-point average surface roughness Rz of less than 3 micrometer, the surface roughness of the roller was fine. The irregularities are covered with the lubricant adhering to the rotary roller 27, so that the solid lubricant 28 cannot be effectively scraped by the irregularities on the surface, and the scraping amount is reduced.

On the other hand, if a relatively rough surface roughness Rz of 20 micrometer or more is used as the rotary roller 27, when the solid lubricant 28 is scraped, excessive scraping occurs and the lubricant The supply amount exceeds the upper limit of the appropriate amount range. Further, if the surface is rough like this, the blade 50 is heavily consumed, and the life of the blade 50 is significantly shortened.

At the same time, the interval between the irregularities on the surface of the rotary roller 27 shown in FIG. 3, that is, the so-called pitch length P is
It was revealed from this experiment that it is preferable that the thickness is 20 micrometer or more.

The reason for this is that if the intervals of the irregularities are very narrow, the surface of the rotary roller 27 slips on the surface of the solid lubricant 28, and the amount of scraping of the solid lubricant 28 decreases. It is thought that there is something. As a result of this experiment, it was found that the length P between the pitches of the rotary roller 27 in order to keep the lubricant supply amount within an appropriate range should be 20 micrometer or more. In addition, the rotary roller 2
7 As a means for adjusting the pitch between the surfaces, fine particles are attached to the surface of the rotary roller by using an adhesive or the like.

The drive means 25 described above is electrically connected to the control means 38 for controlling it. Toner density detecting means 40 for detecting toner density adhering to the outside of the image forming area on the photoconductor 11 is connected to the control means 38.

As the solid lubricant 28, in addition to the zinc stearate, barium stearate, lead stearate, nickel stearate, cobalt stearate, iron stearate, copper stearate, strontium stearate, calcium stearate, Cadmium stearate, magnesium stearate, manganese oleate, iron oleate, cobalt oleate, lead oleate, magnesium oleate, copper oleate, palmitic acid, zinc cobalt palmitate, copper palmitate,
Relatively higher fatty acids such as magnesium palmitate, aluminum palmitate, calcium palmitate, lead cabriolate, lead cabronate, zinc linolenate, cobalt linolenate, and cadmium linolenate can be used. Further, colloidal high temperature silica powder can be used, and further, natural wax such as carnauba wax can be used.

Further, in the illustrated laser copying machine, an example is shown in which the photoconductor 11 for transferring an image onto a sheet is used as an image carrier. However, although not shown, the images formed on the photoconductor are sequentially transferred to the intermediate transfer belt to form a color image on the intermediate transfer belt, and the color images are transferred at one time to form the image on the paper. In a color laser copying machine to be formed, it may be used as an intermediate transfer member such as an intermediate transfer belt.

[0030]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the invention, a solid lubricant and the lubricant are elastically pressed against each other, and a fixed amount of the lubricant is carried on the peripheral surface as the lubricant rotates. Rotating roller, a toner amount regulating member that abuts on the rotating roller and regulates the amount of the lubricant on the roller, and the rotating roller and the image bearing member respectively contact and rotate. Then, in a lubricant supplying device for an image carrier in an electrophotographic apparatus, which comprises a rotating brush that uses the lubricant on the rotating roller as the image carrier, the surface roughness and surface of the rotating roller are Since the relationship with the interval of the unevenness is kept within a predetermined range, it is possible to constantly supply the lubricant to the image carrier in a stable manner.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram around a photosensitive member in a laser copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of a rotary roller used in the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the surface of a rotary roller used in the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of a part around a photoconductor in a conventional laser copying machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Photoreceptor (Image Carrier) 25 Lubricant Applying Means 27 Rotating Body 28 Solid Lubricant 29 Elastic Member 50 Regulation Member

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A solid lubricant, a rotary roller that is elastically pressed against the solid lubricant, and carries a fixed amount of the lubricant on the peripheral surface as it rotates, and abuts on the rotary roller. The regulating member for regulating the amount of the lubricant on the roller and the rotating roller and the image bearing member respectively come into contact with each other to rotate, and
In a device for supplying a lubricant to an image carrier in an electrophotographic apparatus having a rotary brush that uses the lubricant on the roller as the image carrier, the relationship between the surface roughness of the rotary roller and the interval between the surface irregularities. Is maintained within a predetermined range, a lubricant supply device for an image carrier in an electrophotographic apparatus. 2. The surface roughness of the rotary roller is 10 micron average surface roughness Rz of 3 micrometer or more and 20 micrometer or less, and the interval between the irregularities of the rotary roller is 20. The lubricant supply device for an image carrier in an electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lubricant supply device is kept at a micrometer or more.