JPH10240016A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily remove carrier from a magnet with easy operation by movably providing the magnet and scraping the carrier removed from an image carrier by the magnetic force of the magnet by means of a scraping member when the magnet is moved. SOLUTION: A recovery device 15 is equipped with a casing 16 and a slide board 17 is slidably attached to the casing 16. The slide board 17 is separately opposed to a photoreceptor drum 1 in a state where a surface side is inclined and the magnet 18 for attracting the carrier is provided on the back surface side of the slide board 17. Only the central part of the slide board 17 has the magnetic force and the slide length of the magnet 18 is set so that the magnet 18 can slide until it is separated from a cleaning blade which scrapes the carrier. Thus, the carrier removed from the drum 1 by the magnetic force of the magnet 18 is scraped while the slide board 17 slidably contacts with the cleaning blade by the movement of the magnet 18.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus for forming an image using a two-component developer composed of a toner and a carrier.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Some image forming apparatuses, such as electrophotographic apparatuses, develop an electrostatic latent image formed on a photosensitive drum by supplying a two-component developer composed of a toner and a carrier. During development using this two-component developer, a part of the carrier may adhere to the photosensitive drum. If the carrier adheres, the photosensitive drum is damaged, so it is necessary to remove the adhered carrier.

For this reason, a magnet is provided on the photosensitive drum so as to be spaced apart from the photosensitive drum, and the magnetic force of the magnet attracts the carrier to remove the carrier from the photosensitive drum.
However, as the amount of carrier removed by the magnet increases, the removed carrier comes into contact with the photosensitive drum, causing image defects such as white stripes. Therefore, in order to eliminate the image defect, the carrier collected by the magnet is removed from the magnet.

[0004]

However, in the prior art, since the magnet was fixedly provided, the carrier had to be removed using a vacuum cleaner or the like in order to remove the carrier, which was troublesome. .

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances,
An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of easily removing a carrier from a magnet by a simple operation without using a vacuum cleaner or the like.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is directed to an image bearing member for carrying a latent image, and a carrier provided on the latent image carried on the image bearing member. Developing means for supplying and developing a two-component developer composed of toner; and a movable means movably provided at a position opposed to and separated from the image carrier to remove the carrier adhered to the image carrier by the magnetic force during the development. The apparatus includes a magnet and a scraping means for scraping the carrier removed by the magnet when the magnet is moved.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image carrier for carrying a latent image, and a developing means for supplying a two-component developer comprising a carrier and a toner to the latent image carried on the image carrier to develop the latent image. A mounting member movably provided on one side of the image carrier so as to be movably opposed to the image carrier, and a carrier provided on the other surface of the mounting member and magnetically removing the carrier adhered to the image carrier during the development. A magnet attached to one surface of the mounting member; and a scraping means provided in contact with the one surface of the mounting member and slidably contacting the carrier when the mounting member moves to scrape the carrier.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image carrier for carrying a latent image, and a developing means for supplying and developing a two-component developer serving as a carrier and a toner to the latent image carried on the image carrier. A mounting member movably provided on one side of the image carrier so as to be movably opposed to the image carrier, and a carrier provided on the other surface of the mounting member and magnetically removing the carrier adhered to the image carrier during the development. A magnet attached to one side of the mounting member, a scraping means provided in contact with the one side of the mounting member, and sliding upon the movement of the mounting member to scrape the carrier; and And a storage unit for storing the scraped carrier.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image carrier for carrying a latent image, and a developing means for supplying a two-component developer comprising a carrier and a toner to the latent image carried on the image carrier to develop the latent image. A non-magnetic mounting member movably provided on one side of the image bearing member so as to be movably opposed to the image carrier, and a width dimension smaller than the mounting member provided on the other surface side of the mounting member; A magnet that removes the carrier adhered to the image carrier by magnetic force by development of the means and attaches the carrier to one surface of the mounting member; and a magnet provided in contact with one surface of the mounting member, the magnet being provided when the mounting member moves. And a storage section for storing the carrier scraped by the scraping means by slidingly contacting the carrier on the mounting member until the paper passes.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image carrier for carrying a latent image, and a developing means for supplying a two-component developer comprising a carrier and a toner to the latent image carried on the image carrier to develop the latent image. Transfer means for transferring a visual image developed by the developing means to a material to be transferred, a cleaning member which slides along the transfer means and cleans the transfer means, and faces and separates from the image carrier. A magnet that is movably provided at a position and removes the carrier attached to the image carrier by the magnetic force during the development, a scraping unit that scrapes the carrier removed by the magnet when the magnet moves, the magnet and the magnet, Operating means for connecting the cleaning member and moving the magnet and the cleaning member at the same time;

According to the present invention, a magnet is provided movably,
The carrier removed from the image carrier by the magnetic force of the magnet is scraped by a scraping member when the magnet is moved, so that the carrier can be removed from the magnet only by moving the magnet without using a vacuum cleaner or the like. .

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an image forming unit of the electrophotographic apparatus. At the approximate center of the image forming unit,
A photosensitive drum 1 as an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image (image) is formed by laser light R from an optical device (not shown) is rotatably provided in an arrow direction. Around the photosensitive drum 1, a charging device 2 for charging the photosensitive drum 1 to a predetermined charge along a rotation direction thereof, a photosensitive drum 1
Developing device 3 as a developing means for developing the electrostatic latent image formed by supplying a two-component developer consisting of a toner and a carrier, a carrier collecting device 15 described in detail later, and a photosensitive drum 1 A transfer device 4a for transferring the transferred toner image onto the paper P, a peeling device 4b for peeling the paper P on which the toner image has been transferred from the photoconductor 1, a cleaning device 5 for scraping off the remaining toner on the photosensitive drum 1, and A static eliminator 6 for eliminating charges on the photosensitive drum 1 is sequentially arranged.

A paper feed path 8 for feeding paper P is provided at a position corresponding to the upstream of the photosensitive drum 1 in the rotation direction and to the right of the photosensitive drum 1. This paper feed path 8
Is a pair that corrects the inclination of the sheet P, aligns the leading end of the toner image on the photosensitive drum 1 with the leading end of the sheet P, and feeds the sheet P at the same speed as the moving speed of the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 1. Is provided.

The toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 1 is transferred to a position on the photosensitive drum 1 corresponding to the downstream in the rotation direction, and the paper P on which the toner is electrostatically adhered is transferred.
, A fixing device (not shown) that heats and melts the toner transferred to the paper P and fixes the toner on the paper P, and discharges the paper P on which the toner image is fixed to the outside of the apparatus. A pair of discharge rollers (not shown) are provided.

Next, the image forming operation will be described. First, a copy button (not shown) is turned on. Thereby, the laser beam is scanned on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 charged to a predetermined potential by the charging device 2 according to the image information, and an electrostatic latent image is formed. The electrostatic latent image is sent to the developing device 3 by the rotation of the photosensitive drum 1, and is developed by supplying a two-component developer including a toner and a carrier. This developer image is sent to the carrier processing device 15 by the rotation of the photosensitive drum 1, where the carrier on the photosensitive drum 1 is attracted and removed by magnetic force, as described later. After the carrier is removed, the developer image is sent to the image transfer section. At the same time, after the paper P is aligned by the timing roller 9, the paper P is sent to the image transfer unit at a predetermined timing, and the developer image on the photosensitive drum 1 is transferred to the paper P by the transfer charger 4a. After the image is transferred, the sheet P is separated from the photosensitive drum 1 by the separation charger 4b, and is conveyed by the conveyance device 11. Paper P on which this image has been transferred
Is fixed by a fixing device (not shown) and then discharged.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the collecting device 15 for collecting the carrier on the photosensitive drum 1. As shown in FIG. This collection device 15
Is located between the developing device 3 and the transfer charger 4a and is opposed to the photosensitive drum 1 at a distance.

The recovery device 15 includes a casing 16 having a U-shaped cross section, and a slide table 17 as an attachment member as shown in FIG. 3 is slidably attached to the casing 16. The slide table 17 is opposed to the photosensitive drum 1 with a front surface inclined in a state of being inclined, and a plate-shaped rubber magnet 18 for sucking a carrier is integrally provided on the rear surface of the slide table 17. The rubber magnet 18 has a magnetic force of 100 to 200 Gauss and is provided at a distance of 0.5 to 1.5 mm from the photosensitive drum 1. As the rubber magnet 18, a single-sided multi-pole isotropic rubber magnet is used. Rubber magnet 1
An operation shaft 19 for sliding operation of the slide table 17 is attached to 8.

The front end of the casing 16 protrudes forward from the photosensitive drum 1, and an upper wall 21 is integrally formed on the upper surface of one of the side walls 16a, as shown in FIG. It is projected. A holding member 23 is attached to the rising wall 21 so as to face the bottom surface 16 b of the casing 16. The cleaning member 22 has a cleaning member 22 for scraping the carrier on the slide table 17. Is attached.

The slide table 1 is located below the casing 16.
A collection box 24 for storing a carrier dropped from above is provided. The above-mentioned slide table 17 is formed of a plate-shaped non-magnetic member that is larger in width and length than the plate-shaped rubber magnet 18. This is because the carrier escapes to the side surface of the magnet 18 with the naked magnet, so that the carrier cannot be completely peeled off even if the carrier is swept by the cleaning blade 22 or the like.

Therefore, in the present invention, only the central portion of the slide table 17 is provided with a magnetic force, and the slide length of the rubber magnet 18 can be slid until the magnet 18 is swept away from the cleaning blade 22. I have.

The lower end of the cleaning blade 22 is in contact with the slide table 17 so that the carrier can be scraped off when the slide table 17 slides. A flexible member such as urethane rubber is used for the cleaning blade 22 to improve the adhesion to the slide table 17.

Stoppers 26, 26 are provided on both inner surfaces of the casing 16, and a rear end of the slide base 17 is in contact with the stoppers 26, 26 so as to contact the slide base 17.
A bent piece 27 for preventing the falling off is formed.

Next, a case where the carrier collected by the collecting device 15 is removed will be described. First, the user holds the front end of the operating shaft 19 by hand and pulls it out toward the user. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 5, the slide table 17 is slid, and the cleaning blade 22 is slid on the upper surface thereof. This cleaning blade 22
The carrier K on the slide table 17 is scraped off by the sliding contact. The scraped carrier K slides down along the inclination of the slide table 17, falls from the slide table 17, and is collected in the collection box 24. After the carrier K is scraped in this way, the operating shaft 19 is pushed into the slide table 1.
7 is returned to the original position and is opposed to the photosensitive drum 1.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the magnet 18 is slidably provided and the carrier K removed from the photosensitive drum 1 by the magnetic force of the magnet 18.
The carrier K can be removed from the magnet 18 by simply sliding the magnet 18 without using a vacuum cleaner or the like as in the related art, since the slide table 17 is slid in contact with the cleaning blade 22 by the movement of the magnet 18. In addition, the operation of removing the carriage K becomes easy.

FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a pad 34 is provided as a cleaning member for cleaning the discharge wire 33 of the transfer charger 4a, and the pads 34, 34 are slid along the discharge wire 33 by the back and forth operation of the operating shaft 31. The discharge wire 33 can be cleaned.

In this embodiment, the connecting member 3 serving also as a handle is a front end of the operating shaft 19 of the carrier collecting device 15 and the pad operating shaft 31.
They are linked by two.

According to this embodiment, the carrier K can be removed from the magnet 18 only by sliding the magnet 18 without using a vacuum cleaner or the like as in the first embodiment, and the carriage K can be removed. The work is facilitated, and by pulling the connecting member 32 toward the user, the carrier collecting process and the cleaning of the discharge wire 33 can be performed at the same time. Even if the user cannot determine the cause of the image defect, the same operation is performed. Can be dealt with.

[0028]

As described above, according to the present invention, the magnet is provided movably, and the carrier removed from the image carrier by the magnetic force of the magnet is scraped off by the scraping member when the magnet is moved. The carrier can be removed from the magnet simply by moving the magnet without using a machine or the like, and the work of removing the carriage is facilitated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating an image forming unit according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing a carrier collection device.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a slide table to which a magnet is attached.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a scraping portion of the carrier.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an operation of scraping a carrier on a slide table.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a carrier recovery apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 photosensitive drum (image carrier) 3 developing means 4a transfer charger (transfer means) K carrier 17 slide base 18 magnet P paper (transfer material) 22 cleaning blade (scraping means) 32 Connecting member (operating means) 34 Pad (cleaning member)

Claims (7)

[Claims] An image carrier for carrying a latent image; developing means for supplying a two-component developer comprising a carrier and a toner to the latent image carried on the image carrier to develop the latent image; A magnet that is movably provided at a position facing away from the magnet, and that removes the carrier adhered to the image carrier by the magnetic force during the development, and a scraping unit that scrapes the carrier removed by the magnet when the magnet moves, An image forming apparatus comprising: 2. An image carrier for carrying a latent image, developing means for supplying a two-component developer comprising a carrier and a toner to the latent image carried on the image carrier to develop the latent image, and the image carrier A mounting member movably provided on one side of the mounting member and movably provided on the other side of the mounting member, the carrier attached to the image carrier during the development is removed by magnetic force, and the one surface of the mounting member is removed. An image forming apparatus comprising: a magnet attached to a side of the mounting member; and a scraping unit provided in contact with one surface of the mounting member, and slidably contacting the mounting member to scrape the carrier when the mounting member moves. . 3. An image carrier for carrying a latent image, developing means for supplying a two-component developer comprising a carrier and a toner to the latent image carried on the image carrier and developing the latent image, and the image carrier A mounting member movably provided on one side of the mounting member and movably provided on the other side of the mounting member, the carrier attached to the image carrier during the development is removed by magnetic force, and the one surface of the mounting member is removed. A magnet attached to the mounting member, a scraping means provided in contact with one surface side of the mounting member, and slidably contacting when the mounting member moves to scrape the carrier; and a carrier scraped by the scraping means. An image forming apparatus, comprising: a storage unit that stores therein. 4. An image carrier for carrying a latent image, developing means for supplying a two-component developer comprising a carrier and a toner to the latent image carried on the image carrier for development, and the image carrier A non-magnetic mounting member movably provided with one surface side facing away from the other; a width dimension smaller than the mounting member provided on the other surface side of the mounting member; A magnet that removes the carrier adhered to the carrier by magnetic force and adheres to one surface side of the mounting member; and a magnet that is provided in contact with one surface side of the mounting member, and slides until the magnet passes when the mounting member moves. An image forming apparatus, comprising: a scraping unit for scraping the carrier on the mounting member; and a storage unit for storing the carrier scraped by the scraping unit. 5. An image carrier for carrying a latent image, developing means for supplying a two-component developer comprising a carrier and a toner to the latent image carried on the image carrier to develop the latent image, and A transfer unit for transferring the developed visual image to the transfer material; a cleaning member that slides along the transfer unit to clean the transfer unit; and a movable member movably provided at a position facing the image carrier. A magnet for magnetically removing a carrier attached to the image carrier during the development, a scraping unit for scraping the carrier removed by the magnet when the magnet is moved, and connecting the magnet and the cleaning member;
And an operating means for simultaneously moving the magnet and the cleaning member. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the magnet has a magnetic force of 100 to 200 Gauss. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a separation width between the image carrier and the magnet is 0.5 to 1.5 mm.