JPS61114281A - Cleaning device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enlarge the contained volume of a cleaned image forming material and to miniaturize the entire device by providing a push-in-means for pushing the returned image forming material into a containing chamber together with a gauge member installed on the opening of the containing chamber. CONSTITUTION:The gauge member 70 is installed on the overall opening 41 for pushing toner into the containing chamber 40 along an inner wall, and fixed to the periphery of the opening 41. When a push-in-body 42 rotates to carry out an pushing-in action, an elastic member 44 is pushed to the gauge member 70 to be bent, and due to pressure force at said time the toner T is pushed into the containing chamber 40 through the gauge member 70. Thus a large amount of the image forming member can be contained without scaling up the overall device, and checking and maintenance can be facilitated with easy unification.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to a cleaning device provided corresponding to an image bearing member in a photoreceptor position in a 1III image forming apparatus for electrophotographic copying.

[Technical Background of the Invention and Problems Therewith] In a conventional image forming apparatus, for example, an electrophotographic copying machine, the @ side of a drum-shaped photoreceptor 10 forming an image carrier as illustrated in FIG. A cleaning device 1 for scraping off and cleaning 11I1 image forming material, ie, toner, remaining on the photoreceptor 10 after the transfer operation has a grade 12 arranged parallel to the photoreceptor 10.

Then, the toner that has been graded and collected by grade 12 is conveyed along the axial line meter direction of the photoreceptor 10 in one direction, for example, to the front side, by a conveyance member 13 configured with a snow slide provided in the mount JJ, An Im-composed one is seen that is stored through an opening 15 into a toner gel 14 attached to its end.

However, in the above known configuration, the toner is
The cleaning fkf11x is located at one end of the apparatus II and the photoreceptor 10, which causes the following problems. In other words, this box J4 becomes a hindrance during maintenance and inspection of the device i11 and the surrounding area including the photoreceptor 10. especially.

In a structure in which the device VIt1 and the photoreceptor 10 are integrated into a unit, handling thereof becomes difficult.

Furthermore, the capacity of the MEX itself is limited due to its relationship with the main body of the copying machine, so it is not possible to secure sufficient storage capacity.
There are also problems such as having to frequently replace the toner when the box is full of toner.

In addition, as another conventional example, a 1 m length shown in FIG. 6 is also available. That is, the casing 16 of the cleaning device z1 is enlarged and the lower part between the internal chambers is used as the toner box J4. Then, the toner tf layer 12 on the photoreceptor JO is ejected, collected in the casing 16 (b), and accumulated in the toner box 14 .

However, in this configuration, since the toner container is open in the casing 16, there is a risk that the p-grade and the photoreceptor may be contaminated by scattered toner that has accumulated.

Assuming the toner box part is large enough to prevent this, im cleaning the whole thing.

Another problem is that the unit structure of the photoreceptor and the photoreceptor becomes larger.

[Purpose of the invention]

The present invention has been made based on the above-mentioned conventional circumstances, and its purpose is to increase the storage volume of cleaned image forming material and to downsize the entire apparatus. An object of the present invention is to provide a new leaning device that does not cause trouble in maintenance and inspection.

[Summary of the invention]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention basically comprises: a collection means for collecting the image forming material from the carrier, and a means for storing the image forming material collected by the collecting stage. The storage chamber is substantially sealed except for a storage opening, and a mesh member is disposed in the opening, and cooperates with the mesh member to store the image forming material (g + collected). The present invention proposes a cleaning device that is equipped with a pushing means for pushing into a storage chamber through an opening.

The #I configuration has a capacity of 1ft to accommodate 1lll of image forming material without increasing the size of the entire device.

Furthermore, it is easy to maintain and inspect at 1% ht1t, and fully achieves the above purpose.

[Embodiments of the invention]

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 of the drawings.

The cleaning device of this embodiment shows a configuration applied to a single-child photocopying machine as an m-image forming device.

In FIG. 1, 20 is a cleaning device.

2 is a drum-shaped photoreceptor serving as an image carrier, and 22 is an original table that can reciprocate on a copy base 23.

24 is the copy original 25 placed on the original table 22.
5, an exposure rung serving as a light source that irradiates light during a copying operation; 26, an optical system that guides the reflected light of the irradiated light onto the photoreceptor 2 using a plurality of mirrors and lenses; 27, a charging device;
8 is a developing device which has a developing roller 29 and applies an image forming material (hereinafter referred to as "toner") to the photoreceptor, and 30 is a transfer peeler having a transfer part 3 and a peeling part S2. It is a device.

During a copying operation, an original image is projected onto the photoreceptor 2) as shown by the chain line and is turned off, and as the photoreceptor 2) rotates clockwise as shown by the arrow, the current fil'! kfjitz
The toner is applied and visualized by s.

On the other hand 1. Copy paper P is fed from the paper feed cassette attached to the main body zsK9) JJ6 or from the manual paper feed section (not shown) to the main body 2.
3, and is sent to the photoreceptor 2 on a conveyance path shown by a broken line via the registration roller 5at. Then, the toner image on the photoreceptor 2) is transferred onto the paper P by the transfer separation device 30, and then the paper Pr! The light body 2) is peeled off and sent out as shown by the arrow, and the fixing process is not carried out at the fixing device (not shown), so it is ejected from the main body 23 and collected, for example, on a paper output tray. It is now possible to

Here, the cleaning device 20 cleans the photoreceptor 2 by scraping off the toner T remaining on the surface of the photoreceptor 2), and (b) collects the remaining toner. And photoreceptor 2
) returns to the charging device 27 to complete the -cycle copying operation.

The cleaning device 20 is connected to the axis of the photoreceptor 2 [1tx-X(
(Fig. 3), the casing 35, a rubber toner scraping grade 36 mounted above the front end thereof, and a toner collecting blade 3 mounted below the front end thereof.
).

The casing 35 has a partition member 38 along the longitudinal direction in the middle part.
is arranged, and the front side thereof, the side corresponding to the photoreceptor 2) serves as a cleaner s39.

Further, the opposite side is divided into a toner storage chamber 40. The storage chamber 40 has a lower area of the partition member 39 with a certain height range, leaving a portion formed as a toner storage opening 4.
It is essentially a closed space.

A rotary pusher 42 constituting a toner pusher is provided in a lower region of the cleaner part 39 facing the storage opening 4 . As this pusher body 42 rotates as shown by the arrow in FIG. 1, the collected toner T is actively pushed into the storage chamber 40 through the opening 41'lf.
It will be stored there.

As shown in FIG. 2, the rotating pusher body 42 supports a rotating shaft 43 and an elastic member 44 that constitutes a blade attached radially around the rotating shaft 43.

A gear 45 is attached to one end of the rotating shaft 43.
5 is connected to a drive source on the main body (not shown), and when driven, the rotating shaft 43 rotates as shown by the arrow in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The axial movement Y-Y of the rotating shaft 43 corresponds to the axis set x-x of the photoreceptor 2).
The elastic member 44, which is parallel to the direction shown in FIG. .

A 200μ stutter is used.

As shown in FIG. 3, the cleaning WItJIL 20 is configured into one unit together with the photoreceptor 2) and the charging device 27. Inside, a photoreceptor 2J is arranged along the axis @x-blade, and a band 'I [device 27 and cleaning device 20 are arranged in parallel, and a unit frame 4
It is surrounded by 6. A handle 47 attached to one end of the frame 46 allows the skeleton unit to be attached to the main body 23 and to be pulled out during maintenance and inspection.

The unit frame 46 includes the document fIIIt-photoconductor 2.
) and a lightless slit 48 and a hole 49 for letting in the static electricity removal light are formed.

Further, as will be described later, the upper surface portion 50 of the casing 35 forming the ceiling portion of the storage chamber 40 of the cleaning device zO includes:
A metal sensor 51 and an electrode 52 are provided as detection means for detecting the amount of accumulated toner.

The detection means is deformed by the toner pressure as the amount of toner TO accumulated in the storage chamber 40 increases.

The sensor 51 is activated by the deformation movement.

For example, a detection signal is sent to a fitting part (not shown) on the main body 23. 5j! In the case of this embodiment, the detection means is arranged on the ceiling of the storage chamber 40, and operates gradually when the toner T becomes full.

In other words, a toner full detector is formed.

The specific structure of the detection means is shown in an exploded view in FIG.

On the upper surface s50 of the casing in which the fitting hole 53 is provided, a ring-shaped positioning member 54. Neoglen elastic medium Young 55. Coil spring 56. Movable electrode 5 whose base end is insulated
The 71-stock holding plate 68 is screwed one by one, and the upper surface part 50 is screwed with the screw 59.
mounted on. During installation, each pair of positioning pins 60 erected in the positioning member 64 is inserted through positioning holes 61, 62, 63° 64 provided corresponding to other parts, and each part is rotated by 1g1 relative to each other. Position yourself so that you don't vomit. and 1 elastic carag 550 cylinder part 5511 or hole 5
It is mated to 3.

All the parts are displayed in the manner of entering and leaving the storage room 40,
Screw holes 65 with screws 59 in corresponding positions of each part,
66, 67, and 68 to be assembled.

In the above configuration, when the toner T is full, the cylindrical portion 55m of the elastic cap 55 is compressed and broken due to the toner pressure, causing mechanical deformation, and the spring 56 is also compressed, and as a result, the movable electrode 57 is Upon contact, the sensor 5 is activated via the 11th pole 52 connected to the 1st pole, and a false full detection signal is sent out.

Further, in FIG. 1, reference numeral 69 denotes a shielding member attached to the partition plate 38 at a position above the closet body 42.
2, the toner flying up is suppressed.

9. In FIG. 1, a mesh member 70 is disposed over the entire surface of the I) JC 147 for pushing the toner into the storage chamber 40 along the inner wall surface. The mesh member 70 is fixed 8 to the ringing edge of the opening 41. The mesh member 70 is made of a stainless steel material with a thick mesh that can prevent the toner from passing under the accumulated pressure of the toner T stored therein. An example of 400 to 500 meshes is used.

On the other hand, the @-eye member 70 engages with the elastic member 44 when the push-in body 42 rotates and performs a push-in operation. i.e. 1
As shown in FIG. 1, the elastic member 44 is pressed against the mesh member 70 and deflects fc.

Due to the pressing force at that time, the toner T passes through the mesh portion 4470 and is pushed into the storage chamber 40.

As described above, the mesh of the mesh member 70 does not allow the toner to pass through due to the toner accumulation pressure, but has a desired size that allows the toner to pass through depending on the pressing force of the elastic portion 54L.

In this manner, the pusher body 42 can actively store the toner Tt by sequentially engaging the surrounding elastic members 44'1 with the WA mesh S material 70 while rotating.

In the embodiment, the h-mesh S material 70 is fixed to the inner wall surface of the storage chamber, but it may be attached to the outer wall surface. Also, the mesh S material is stretched on the frame in advance.

The frame may be configured to fit into the opening.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, in the present invention, a storage fP1 chamber is provided which is substantially sealed with a storage opening left, and an Il.
! It is designed to store the materials for taking images.

In addition, the eF40 is provided with a mesh member and a pushing means that cooperates with the mesh member to actively push 1 liter of image forming material into the storage chamber.

It has various effects such as being able to store a considerable amount of image forming material without increasing the size of the entire device, less scattering and flying up of the material, easy maintenance and inspection work, and easy unitization. is obtained.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Introduction 1 Figure 1 A schematic diagram of an electrophotographic copying machine embodying the cleaning device k of the present invention, Figure #42 is an enlarged perspective view of a toner pusher, Figure M3 is a cleaning device unitized with a photoreceptor and a charging device. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the detection means, FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing a conventional cleaning device fIL, and FIG. 6 is another conventional cleaning device fIL! FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the cleaning device of FIG. 20... Cleaning device, 2... Photoreceptor. 36...Grade, 40...Storage chamber, 4th...Storage-0, 42...Toner pusher, 70...Mesh member. Applicant's agent Patent attorney Suzue Takehiko'jn 4
';'3 5th H, 1

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) comprising a collecting means for collecting the image forming material from the image carrier, and a substantially sealed storage chamber leaving a storage opening for storing the image forming material collected by the collecting means; A cleaning device characterized in that a mesh member is disposed in the opening, and pushing means cooperates with the mesh member to push the collected image forming material into the storage chamber through the opening. (2) The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the pushing means has an elastic member that engages with the mesh member when pushing the image forming material. (3) The cleaning device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the mesh member is made of 400 to 500 mesh stainless steel material.