JPS61200570A - Cleaning device for copying machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To stabilize the cleaning performance of a blade member by providing elastic bodies between a support member and the blade member symmetrically across a pivot while supporting the nearly center part of the blade member pivotally on the support member. CONSTITUTION:The blade member B is supported in an oscillatory state around a pivot 6 as a center of oscillation and the blade member B is applied with the energizing force of a leaf spring 60 at the side of a photosensitive drum 1 symmetrically across the pivot 6. Therefore, the blade member B adjusts itself to an attitude parallel to a photosensitive body 1 and the press-contacting force of the blade member B does not become nonuniform. Further, when the amount of remaining toner on the surface of a photosensitive body 1 varies breadthwise, a blade base 51 and a blade 51 can be detached together with the holder consisting of a fixed clamping plate 53 and a movable clamping plate 54, so the replacing operation is facilitated. Thus, the cleaning performance of the blade member is stabilized.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] This invention relates to a cleaning device for a copying machine, and in particular,
The present invention relates to an improvement in a cleaning device that employs a so-called blade cleaning method.

[Prior Art] As a conventional cleaning device for this type of copying machine, there is one disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 57-204575. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a support arm (2) as a support member is swingably disposed near a photosensitive drum (1) as a photoreceptor. ) is attached to the swinging free end of the support arm (2) to urge the support arm (2) toward the photosensitive drum (1). Attach the blade member (B) extending in the width direction of the photosensitive drum (
1) The blade member (B) is brought into elastic contact along the width direction of the surface, and the blade member (B) causes the photosensitive drum (
1) The residual toner attached to the surface is scraped off. In FIG. 4, reference numeral (4) indicates a housing that surrounds the blade member (B), and (5) indicates this housing.

This is a sealing member that maintains airtightness between the lower opening edge of the drum (4) and the photosensitive drum (1).

By the way, in this type, the above support arm (
2) If the blade member (B) is firmly fixed in place, the blade member (B) may be fixed as shown by the imaginary line in FIG. 5 due to manufacturing or installation errors. A situation may arise where the photosensitive drum (1) is arranged non-parallel to the surface. In this case, the pressing force of the blade member (B) against the surface of the photosensitive drum (1) becomes uneven in the width direction of the photosensitive drum (1), which impairs the cleaning performance of the blade member (B). A situation like this happens. In order to solve this situation, conventionally, a substantially central portion of the blade member (B) is pivotally supported on the support arm (2), and the blade member (B) is rotated about the pivot shaft (6). There is one that allows B) to oscillate. According to this type, even if the blade member (B) is arranged non-parallel to the surface of the photosensitive drum (1), the blade member (B) is self-adjusted to follow the surface of the photosensitive drum (1). Because of that,
The parallelism between the blade member (B) and the surface of the photosensitive drum (1) is always maintained, so that the pressing force of the blade member (B) is approximately equal in the width direction of the photosensitive drum (1). -, and the cleaning performance of the blade member (B) is improved.

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention 1] However, in such a conventional cleaning device for a copying machine, the attitude of the blade member (B) is self-adjusted to a desired state; , if there is a difference in the amount of residual toner on the surface of the photosensitive drum (1) in the width direction of the photosensitive drum (1), the coefficient of friction will be smaller in areas with a large amount of residual toner, whereas the residual toner opening will be smaller. Since the coefficient of friction increases in areas where the amount of residual toner is small, the blade member (B) is inevitably attracted to the side with the least amount of residual toner, and accordingly, the portion of the blade member (B) corresponding to the area where the amount of residual toner is large is is the photosensitive drum (1)
rise from the surface. Therefore, a problem arises in that the pressing force of the blade member (B) portion against the surface of the photosensitive drum (1) is insufficient compared to other portions, and the cleaning performance of the blade member (B) is degraded.

[Means and effects for solving the problems] This invention has been made by focusing on the above-mentioned problems. To provide a cleaning device for a copying machine, which allows the blade member to self-adjust to a desired posture without being affected by variations in the amount of residual toner, thereby stabilizing the cleaning performance of the blade member. be. In order to achieve this object, the present invention is based on a type in which a substantially central portion of a blade member is pivotally supported on a support member disposed near a photoconductor, and the support member and the blade member are connected to each other. An elastic body is interposed therebetween, and the blade member is biased symmetrically across the pivot axis toward the surface of the photoreceptor. In this case, an elastic rubber, a plate spring, or the like is used as the elastic body, and the elastic body is attached to the support portion, or rather, to the blade member. According to such an invention, even if the blade member is arranged non-parallel to the photoreceptor surface, the blade member is self-adjusted following the photoreceptor surface, and manufacturing errors and installation errors of the blade member are avoided. In addition to being reliably absorbed, the blade member is semi-forcibly pressed against the surface of the photoreceptor by the biasing force of the elastic body, so that one side of the blade member is Even if the blade member tries to float, the floating of the blade member is effectively regulated, and the pressing force of the blade member against the surface of the photoreceptor is kept substantially constant.

[Embodiment 1] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the basic configuration of the cleaning device for a copying machine is that a rotatable support arm (20) is disposed near the photosensitive drum (1). While attaching the blade member (B) to the photosensitive drum (1), the support arm (20) is biased clockwise via the spring member (30) to bounce the blade member (B) onto the surface of the photosensitive drum (1). It was designed so that they were in contact with each other.

In this embodiment, the housing (40) that stores the blade member (8) includes a pair of side plates (41) fixed to the body of the copying machine (not shown), and a connection constructed between the upper ends of the side plates (41). The toner receiver constructed between the plate (42) and the lower end of the side plate (41) is composed of a plate (43). The support arm (20) has a rotating shaft portion (21
), and a support shaft (24) connected to both ends of the rotating shaft (21) is pivotally supported on the side plate (41). . Further, the spring member (30) is interposed between the one arm portion (22) and the connecting plate (42), and the support arm (20) is directed toward the photosensitive drum (1). It is designed to be rotationally biased.

Further, a bent portion (25) forming a surface for mounting the blade member (B) is formed on the rotationally free end side of the other arm portion (23), and a substantially central portion of this bent portion (25) is formed. A substantially central portion of the blade member (B) is supported by a pivot (6). In this embodiment, the blade member (B) has a guide groove portion along the longitudinal direction and the bent portion (
A blade base (51) pivotally supported by the blade base (51), a blade piece (52) made of a plate-shaped elastic material, and a fixed clamping plate (51) that is removably fitted into the guide groove of the blade base (51). 53) is attached to the fixed clamping plate (53) so that the position Wl can be adjusted, and the fixed clamping plate (53) is attached so that the position Wl can be adjusted.
53) and a movable clamping plate (54) that clamps the blade piece (52) to such an extent that it does not come off.

Further, a stopper wall portion (26) is provided at the rotation free end of the bending portion (25) for regulating the swinging range of the blade member (B).
) is erected, and the blade base (51) of the blade member (B) is spaced apart from the stopper wall (26). A pair of leaf springs (6G) as elastic bodies are interposed between the stopper wall (26) and the blade base (51). Each leaf spring (60
) are arranged symmetrically with respect to the pivot shaft (6) at a position spaced apart from the pivot shaft (6), while each leaf spring (6
G) is equipped with a curved portion (61) that protrudes toward the blade base (51), and one end of the curved portion (61) is attached to the stopper wall portion (26) with a stopper (62) such as a screw.
), and the blade base (51
), each of the curved portions (61) is brought into elastic contact with the curved portions (61).

In FIG. 1, reference numeral (70) represents a toner collecting means for collecting the toner scraped off by the blade member (B).

Therefore, according to the cleaning device for a copying machine according to this embodiment, the attachment of the blade member (B) may be performed temporarily.
Assuming that the blade member (B) is arranged non-parallel to the surface of the photosensitive drum (1), the blade member (B)
) will come into strong pressure contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum (1) momentarily, but the blade member (B) is supported so as to be swingable about the pivot shaft (6). After swinging within a small angular range, the photosensitive drum (1) is stably arranged to follow the surface of the photosensitive drum (1).

Therefore, the blade member (B) is attached to the photosensitive drum (1).
) will be self-adjusted to a posture parallel to the surface,
It comes into contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum (1) with a substantially uniform pressing force. At this time, the biasing force of the leaf spring (60) acts on the blade member (B), and the blade member (B) is symmetrically moved across the photosensitive drum (1) with the pivot (6) in between. ) side, no unnecessary rotational force is generated in the blade member (B).

As a result, the above-mentioned self-adjustment function of the blade member (B) is not impaired, and the situation in which the pressing force by the blade member (B) becomes uneven is also effectively avoided.

Furthermore, if the amount of residual toner on the surface of the photosensitive drum (1) differs in the width direction, there will be a difference in the coefficient of friction on the surface of the photosensitive drum (1). The negative side of the blade member (B) corresponding to the area with the least amount of oxidation is attracted to the photosensitive drum (1) side, and as a result, as shown by the imaginary line in FIG. The side tries to rise. At this time, the one leaf spring (60) semi-forcibly pushes back the part of the blade member (B) that is about to float, so that the blade member (B) does not float up and the photosensitive drum (
1) The posture is maintained while following the surface. For this reason,
The blade member (B) comes into contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum (1) with a substantially uniform pressing force, and the residual toner on the surface of the photosensitive drum (1) is evenly removed.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, blade pieces (52
) is damaged, it is necessary to replace the blade member (B), but when replacing the blade member (B), remove the blade piece (52) from the blade base (51). A fixed clamping plate (53) and a movable clamping plate (54)
), the damaged blade piece (52) is removed from the holder, a new blade piece (52) is reassembled to the holder, and then the blade base (51) is removed. The new blade piece (52) may be attached to each phase of the holder. At this time, since the blade piece (52) itself is not pivotally supported by the support arm (20), the blade piece (52)
There is no need to remove the pivot (6) each time the blade member (B) is replaced, and the members other than the blade piece (52) can be used as they are, so there is no need to replace the blade member (B). It won't be a hassle. Further, the holder is configured to reliably hold the blade piece (52) without applying unnecessary external force to the blade piece (52).
The situation where the elastic function etc. of 52) are impaired is also effectively avoided.

In the above embodiment, the leaf spring (60) is arranged symmetrically with respect to the axis (6) of the blade member (B), but this is not necessarily the case. As long as the leaf springs (60) have different elastic coefficients and are biased symmetrically across the pivot shaft (6), there is no problem in arranging leaf springs (60) having different elastic coefficients at appropriate positions. Also, regarding the mounting location and mounting method of the leaf spring (60), F
The design is not limited to that shown on the second actual flow side, and the design may be changed as appropriate, for example, by attaching the leaf spring (60) to the blade member (B) side. Furthermore, the blade member (B), the support member that supports this blade member (B), the biasing means for this support member, etc. are not limited to those shown in the above embodiments, and the design may be changed as appropriate. Of course it can be done.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the cleaning device for a copying machine according to the present invention, the blade member is made to always follow the surface of the photoreceptor, so that manufacturing and mounting of the blade member is free from errors. The cleaning performance of the blade member can be stabilized at all times without being affected by variations in residual toner on the surface of the photoreceptor.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing one embodiment of a cleaning device for a copying machine according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a view taken from the direction shown in FIG. 4 is an explanatory sectional view showing an example of a conventional cleaning device for a copying machine, and FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line v--v in FIG. 4. [Explanation of symbols] (B)...Blade member (1)...Photosensitive drum (photosensitive member) (2) (2G)...Support arm (support member) (6)
...Pivot (60) ...Plate spring (elastic body) Patent applicant: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. Agent
Patent Attorney Tomohiro Nakamura (2 others) Gino Gino ○q) No.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A support member that is biased toward the photoreceptor is disposed near the photoreceptor, a blade member extending along the width direction of the surface of the photoreceptor is attached to the support member, and the blade member is attached to the surface of the photoreceptor. In a cleaning device for a copying machine, which removes residual toner adhering to the surface of the photoreceptor by bringing members into elastic contact with each other, a substantially central portion of the blade member is pivotally supported on the support member; and the blade member, an elastic body is interposed between the blade member and the photoconductor to bias the blade member symmetrically across the pivot axis. cleaning equipment.