JPS63118782A - Magnetic brush type cleaning device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent toner from being blocked between a sleeve and a tufts regulating plate by providing the titled device with a tuft regulating roller to be rotated in a direction returning toner to a toner stock to regulate the toner on the sleeve to a prescribed thickness. CONSTITUTION:The tufts regulating roller 11 for regulating the thickness of toner 1a on the sleeve 1c is rotated in the direction returning the toner into the toner stock 1b. The device is also provided with a toner scraping member 12 for scraping the toner 1a sticking to the periphery of the roller 11. Even if paper powder or the like is stuck to a gap part A between the sleeve 1c and the roller 11, the paper power or the like is returned to the toner stock 1b because of the rotation of the roller 11 and the gap part A is not jammed with paper power or the like. The paper powder is more hardly stuck by forming a rugged surface on the tufts regulating roller 11. Further, by providing a sealing material to the end face of the roller 11, the toner 1a is not leaked and the toner 1a can be completely prevented from being leaked from a bearing part to the outside.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] (Industrial application field) The present invention relates to a magnetic brush type cleaning device.

(Prior art) In electrostatic recording devices such as electrophotographic copying machines,
An electrostatic charge image of the document or information to be recorded is formed on a photoconductor or a current-visiting body using reflected light or electrical information signals obtained by exposing and scanning the document, and this electrostatic charge image is developed with a developer containing toner. This visible image is transferred to recording paper and then fixed to form a recorded image.

In the above device, an electrostatic image holding member (hereinafter referred to as an "image support") such as a photoreceptor or dielectric is used to transfer a toner image onto a recording paper during the series of electrophotographic processes described above so that it can be used repeatedly. After separation, it is necessary to remove the charge and toner remaining on the surface of the image support. Therefore, a static eliminator such as a corona discharger or a lamp is used to remove the electric charge, and a so-called cleaning device is generally used to remove the residual toner.

There are various known cleaning devices conventionally used in this type of electrostatic recording device, such as a plate type, a fur brush type, and a magnetic brush type. The residual toner on the image support is collected by the magnetic force of the toner.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of a laser printer having a conventional magnetic brush type cleaning device, and in the figure, l is a developing/cleaning device. In this conventional example, in order to reduce costs, the developing/cleaning device 211 serves both as a developing device and a magnetic brush type cleaning device.

A laser beam 2 emitted from a semiconductor laser drive circuit (not shown) is shaped on the way, passes through an optical system 3 within the apparatus, and is projected onto the circumferential surface of a photoreceptor 4, which is an image support. The photoreceptor 4 is an endless photoreceptor formed by joining the belt on the right end at its end surface, and since its circumferential surface has been charged in advance by the charging/transfer pole 5, it receives the aforementioned laser beam 2. As a result, an electrostatic latent image is formed by an electrostatic signal.

Subsequently, the photoreceptor 4 is supplied with toner by the developing/cleaning device gll, and the electrostatic latent image on the peripheral surface becomes a toner image, rotates below the conveyor table 6, and is conveyed clockwise. In parallel with this, recording paper is carried into the apparatus from the automatic paper feeder 7, and the toner image on the photoreceptor 4 is transferred to the charging/transfer pole 5.
is transferred onto this recording paper. The recording paper to which the toner image has been transferred melts and fixes the toner at a fixing roller 8, and is then discharged from the apparatus by a paper discharge roller 9.

On the other hand, the photoreceptor 4 transfers the toner image onto the recording paper at the charging/transfer pole 5, separates the recording paper, and then is exposed to a laser beam to eliminate the static charge. Weaken the adhesion force, then develop and clean the i! Residual toner is collected using a magnetic brush method depending on If.

The cleaned photoreceptor 4 is charged 11 times by the charging/transfer electrode 5, and the next electrophotographic process is started.

FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged view of the developing/cleaning device GLL. This device includes a toner la containing magnetic powder, a toner container 1b for storing the toner 1a, a sleeve lc on which the toner 1a is placed and rotates counterclockwise, and a group of magnets for attracting the toner 1a. A magnet roller 1d rotating in the opposite direction to the sleeve lc, and a sleeve lc
It consists of a spike regulating plate 1e that regulates the thickness of the upper toner 1a to 0.3 to 0.5 mm, and is configured so that the tips of the toner 1a placed on the sleeve lc come into contact with the photoreceptor 4. . Since the toner 1a is magnetic, the residual toner on the photoreceptor 4 is attracted to the toner 1a on the sleeve lc by the mechanical abrasion force and magnetic attraction force received from the toner layer and is collected.

However, on the photoreceptor 4 after transfer, not only residual toner but also paper dust separated from the recording paper (or paper fibers of a piece of paper, etc.) adheres to the surface of the photoreceptor 4, and these paper dust are stored in the cleaning device together with the residual toner. Mixed. Since the toner 1a in the toner storage container lb is constantly stirred, this paper powder is either placed on the sleeve lc again, or the gap A between the spike control plate 1e and the sleeve lc is very narrow ((0,3~ 0.5m
m) These paper particles may adhere to this portion, which may cause the toner 1a to become clogged. Then, a problem arises in that a sufficient thickness of toner la is not placed on the sleeve lc, and the tips of the toner la do not come into contact with the photoreceptor 4, making it impossible to clean the photoreceptor 4.

(Object and structure of the invention) The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned points, and an object of the present invention is to prevent toner from clogging between the sleeve and the spike regulating plate in a magnetic brush type cleaning device. In order to achieve this purpose, a spike regulating roller is provided at a certain distance from the sleeve to regulate the toner on the sleeve to a predetermined thickness and to rotate in a direction to return the toner to the toner container. It was configured as follows.

(Example) The present invention will be explained below based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a condylar diagram of one embodiment of the magnetic brush type cleaning device according to the present invention, in which the same components as in FIG. 5 are given the same reference numerals.

In the figure, reference numeral 11 denotes a spike regulating roller that regulates the thickness of the toner la on the sleeve lc to 0.3 to 0.5 mm;
It rotates in the direction to return the toner into the toner container lb, that is, in the counterclockwise direction in the figure.

12 is the toner 1 attached to the circumferential surface of the spike control roller 11;
This is a toner scraping member that scrapes off a.

With the above configuration, even if paper dust or the like adheres to the gap A between the sleeve lc and the spike control roller 11, since the roller 11 is rotating counterclockwise, the paper dust will be transferred to the toner storage container lb. If the rough paper dust is returned to the inside and the gap A is not clogged, if the surface of the grain raising regulating roller 11 is made uneven, it becomes difficult for the rough paper dust to clog. The toner 1a is always placed on the sleeve lc with an appropriate thickness, and the photoreceptor 4 can be cleaned thoroughly.

By the way, in this type of cleaning device, the bearings of the rollers are usually sealed to prevent toner from leaking outside, and conventionally, felt material was wrapped around the end of the sleeve to prevent toner leakage. . If this conventional method is applied to the cleaning device according to the present invention, a sealing material as shown in FIG. 2 can be obtained. Figure 2 (a) is a schematic side view with the sealing material attached, and (b) is a partial front view [4].
, (c) is a perspective view of the sealing material, and in the figure, 13
Reference numeral 14 denotes a sealing material wound around the end circumferential surface of a conventional sleeve lc, and numeral 14 denotes an ear-standing regulating roller seal when the conventional method is applied to the ear-standing regulating roller 11. However,
In this way, a seal 1 is attached to the peripheral surface of the end of the ear standing regulation roller 11.
4, the spike regulating roller 11 and sleeve l
Since the gap between C and C is as narrow as 0.3 to 0.5 mm, it is impossible to process felt material with that thinness. This results in areas that are not sealed.

If this happens, the toner 1a will leak from that location. Alternatively, if toner becomes clogged in that area and the clogged toner forms a lump and is discharged to the photoreceptor 4 side, the cleaning function will be degraded.

Therefore, in this embodiment, a sealing material is provided on the end face of the ear standing regulating roller 11. Figure 3 (a) is a front view of the roller part with the sealing material installed;
(B) is a perspective view of the sealing material, 15 is a spike regulating roller seal made of Teflon felt provided on the end surface of the spike regulating roller 11, and 16 is a seal between the toner storage container 1b and the spike regulating roller seal 15. It is an elastic body that fills the space, and includes a spike regulating roller 11, a seal 15. Elastic body 16
Each is attached using double-sided tape.

If this is done, the locations shown by broken lines B in FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b) will not occur, the toner 1a will not leak from there, and the leakage of the toner 1a from the bearing portion to the outside will be prevented. It can be completely prevented.

Note that this seal 15 can be applied not only to the cleaning device but also to the case where a spike regulating roller is used in a magnetic brush phenomenon device. Further, the same method can be applied not only to the sealing material of the spike control roller, but also to the sealing material of members arranged in the toner container such as the sleeve, toner conveying screw, and toner agitator.

Although this embodiment shows a cleaning device that rotates both the sleeve and the magnet roller, the present invention can also be carried out by rotating only the sleeve or only the magnet roller. In addition, the spike control roller may be made of a non-magnetic material such as aluminum or a magnetic material such as iron stainless steel. When a magnetic material roller is used, a wider gap is required to regulate the toner layer thickness to the same level than a non-magnetic material roller. (Between it and the sleeve) it becomes ilr and has the effect of making it harder for foreign objects to stick to it.

Further, the present invention can be applied not only to l-component toner but also to a magnetic brush cleaning device using two-component developer.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, in the present invention, the toner on the sleeve is regulated to a predetermined thickness at a position separated from the sleeve by a certain distance, and the toner is directed in the direction of returning to the toner container. Since the structure is equipped with a rotating grain control roller, it is possible to prevent toner from clogging between the sleeve and the grain control plate in the magnetic brush cleaning device, and to clean the photoreceptor. This effect can be obtained.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the magnetic brush type cleaning device according to the present invention, Figures 2 (a) and (b) show the sealing material installed using the conventional technology, and (c) shows the sealing material installed. Figure 3 (a) is a diagram showing the sealing material of the cleaning device shown in Figure 1 in its installed state, (b) is its perspective view, and Figure 4 is a conventional magnetic brush type cleaning device. A schematic route map of the laser printer equipped with
FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the cleaning device shown in FIG. l...Developing/cleaning device, l a-toner, l
b...Toner storage container, LC-sleeve, ld--magnetic roller, le-polishing regulation plate, 4...-photoreceptor, 11--polishing regulating roller, 14--piling regulating roller Seal, 16--Elastic body Fig. 1 Fig. 2

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A rotatable sleeve is provided in the toner container, and by rotating the sleeve, toner is attached to the circumferential surface of the sleeve to a predetermined thickness, and the toner is brought into contact with the image support to support the image. In a magnetic brush type cleaning device for collecting residual toner on a body, the toner on the sleeve is regulated to the predetermined thickness at a position separated from the sleeve by a certain distance, and the toner is returned to the toner container. A magnetic brush type cleaning device characterized by being provided with a spike regulating roller that rotates in a direction. (2) The magnetic brush type cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein a flat toner leakage prevention seal is provided between the end face of the edging regulating roller and the bearing of the roller.