JPS5987481A - Cleaning device of intermediate transfer body - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To remove remaining toner, dust, paper powder, etc. adhered to an intermediate transfer body effectively without damaging the intermediate transfer body by sliding plural flexible blades fixed around a rotary shaft on the surface of the intermediate transfer body in the reverse direction against the moving direction of the transfer body. CONSTITUTION:The belt-like intermediate transfer body 5 is obtained by forming a heat resisting elastic body such as silicone rubber as a transfer layer on the surface of a belt base body consisting of a heat resisting resin film such as a stainless steel band. By using said intermediate transfer body 5, extremely clear picture recording is attained. Although toner is left or paper power or the like is adhered in/to the intermediate transfer body 5, the flexible blades 10B of the cleaning roll 10 which are rotated in the reverse direction against the movement of the transfer body 5 scratch these toner and dust efficiently. If a heat resisting elastic sheet consisting of silicone rubber e.g., the same material as the transfer layer of the intermediate transfer body 5, is used for the flexible blades 10B, scratching efficiency is more improved and the probability of the damage of the transfer layer is reduced.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a method for storing a toner image formed on a toner image forming body in one day.
The present invention relates to an improvement in a cleaning device for an intermediate transfer body of a recording device that transfers the image onto the intermediate transfer body and then retransfers the image onto a recording paper and fixes the image.

Silicone rubber or fluorine-based rubber is used for the transfer layer on the surface of the intermediate transfer body of the above-mentioned recording device. If you use a blade cleaning device or a rubbing cleaning device using heat-resistant cloth, such as those used for toner image forming bodies and fixing suppressing rollers that are formed on toner images, not only will the cleaning effect not be sufficient, but the transfer layer on the surface will be damaged. The problem is that it is easy to do. Therefore, a method of cleaning an intermediate transfer member by contacting and rotating a metal cylinder is known from US Pat. No. 3,649.992. This method utilizes the fact that the adhesion force of toner to metal is stronger than the adhesion force to silicone rubber, etc., and has the advantage that it can be cleaned without relatively damaging the transfer layer.

However, even with this method, not only toner but also paper dust from the recording paper adheres to the surface of the transfer layer, so it may not be possible to obtain a satisfactory cleaning effect, and the metal cylinder is hard, so the transfer layer may be damaged. Sometimes I do something.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to remove residual toner, dust, paper powder, etc. adhering to the intermediate transfer member without damaging the intermediate transfer member. An object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning device that effectively removes the particles.

The cleaning device of the present invention is characterized in that a plurality of flexible blades provided on the rotating shaft are configured to rub the surface of the intermediate transfer member in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the intermediate transfer member. The purpose has been achieved.

The present invention will be explained below with reference to illustrated examples.

The figure is a schematic side view of a recording apparatus according to the present invention, in which 1 is a toner image forming body that rotates in the direction of the arrow, and 2 is a toner image forming body that only removes residual toner from the toner image forming body 1 during the retention recording process. If not, a cleaning section 3 removes both the latent image and residual toner, and 3 a latent image forming section that forms an electrostatic latent image or a magnetic latent image on the surface of the toner image forming body 1 from which the latent image and residual toner have been removed. 4 is a dry developing section that develops the WII image into a toner image; 5 is a belt-like intermediate transfer member to which the toner image is transferred from the toner image forming member 1 and rotates in the direction of the arrow; 6 is the intermediate transfer member 5; A transfer pressure roller 7 is brought into pressure contact with the toner image forming body 1, a heating roller 7 has a built-in heat source 7A such as an infrared lamp or a resistance heating element, and heats the toner image on the intermediate transfer body 5; Tension roller, 9 i, t, %1lGt Fixing pressure roller which has a built-in QA and heats the recording paper P so that the toner image is easily re-transferred and fixed from the intermediate transfer member 5; 10 is a rotation shaft rotating in the direction of the arrow; 10A is a cleaning roller provided with a plurality of flexible blades IOB; 11 is a flexible blade IOB of the cleaning roller 10;
A removal bar 12 is used to remove dirt such as powder, and a collecting container is used to collect the removed dirt.

The belt-shaped intermediate transfer body 5 is made of stainless steel, polyimide, polyimide amide, or aromatic polyamide.

It consists of a belt base made of a heat-resistant resin film such as polyarylate or polyester, and a heat-resistant elastic material such as silicone rubber or fluorine-based rubber is provided as a transfer layer on the surface of the belt base.
A recording apparatus using such an intermediate transfer member 5 records images with excellent clarity. However, even then, toner remains on the intermediate transfer body 5, and paper dust and the like also adhere to it, so if the dirt comes into contact with the surface of the intermediate transfer body 5, the u! ′! A cleaning roller 1° flexible blade IOB rotating in the opposite direction to i'Il efficiently sows the seeds. It is preferable to use a heat-resistant elastic sheet of silicone rubber or fluorine-based rubber cap for the flexible blade IOB.

In this way, when the same material as the transfer layer of the intermediate transfer body 5 is used for the flexible blade IOH, the scraping efficiency is further improved,
The risk of damage to the transfer layer is also reduced.

If the toner is a magnetic toner, if a permanent magnet is used in the collection container 12 that receives the dirt removed by the removal bar 11, the dirt will be collected without being scattered.

It goes without saying that the present invention is applicable not only to intermediate transfer bodies having a single belt size but also to roller-shaped intermediate transfer bodies. The method is not limited to the photophotography method, and may be performed using an electrostatic recording method or a magnetic recording method.

In addition, when the intermediate transfer body is roller-shaped, it is like a heating roller provided with a transfer layer on the surface thereof, and it occupies the position of the transfer suppressing roller 6 together with the fixing suppressing roller 9. .

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The figure is a schematic side view of a recording device according to the present invention. 1... Toner image forming body, 2... Cleaning section,
3...Latent image forming section, 4...Dry developing section, 5.
...Intermediate transfer body, 6...Transfer pressure low, 7
...Heating roller, 8...Tension roller, 9...Fixing pressure roller, 1o...Cleaning roller, 10A...Rotating shaft, IOB...Flexible blade, 11...#Large Shibar, ■2...
・Collection container.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A cleaning device for an intermediate transfer body in a recording apparatus that transfers a toner image formed on a toner image forming body to an intermediate transfer body, and then retransfers and fixes it onto a recording paper, the cleaning device being connected to a rotating shaft. 1. A cleaning device for an intermediate transfer body, characterized in that a plurality of flexible blades are configured to rub the surface of the intermediate transfer body in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the intermediate transfer body. 2. The cleaning device for an intermediate transfer member according to item 1, wherein the flexible blade is made of a heat-resistant Mt rubber sheet.