JPS63137277A - Cleaning device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent a removed and recovered toner from being leaked and scattered to the outside by sucking air from a blowing means through an inlet port provided above a cleaning blade. CONSTITUTION:A main duct 50 is arranged in the rear part of a device, and air where the toner is mixed is gathered and carried out from the suction port provided in a proper position. A lower duct 51 is provided under the device and is surrounded with upper and lower face plates 263 and 262 and frame body side plates and has the same width as an image carrier 10 and has an inlet port 511 near the surface of the image carrier. An inlet area 52 is formed into a hollow part with plates 266 and 260, a partitioning wall 267, and mylar plates 268 and 269, and suction port 521 is formed with the upper face of the free end side of a cleaning blade 21 and the plate 266 and closely faces the surface of the image carrier 10 and is extended throughout the carrier 10 in the lengthwise direction. Air in the area 52 is sucked through windows 264 in right and left ends of the plate 260. Meanwhile, air is jetted from a window 611 of a rear face plate 61 of an electrifying electrode 60 through a duct 531. By this constitution, the toner removed and recovered by an elastic roll, a fur brush, and a cleaning blade is not leaked neither scattered out of the device.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to a cleaning device for an electrostatic recording device such as an electrophotographic copying machine, and more particularly, it removes and collects residual toner on an image bearing member, and the removed and collected toner leaks to the outside by a blowing means and a 92212 means. The present invention relates to a cleaning device that cleans an image carrier by preventing it from scattering.

[Conventional technology]

Generally, electrostatic recording devices such as transfer type electrophotographic copying machines. In the case of odor, a rotating drum-type image carrier having a photoconductive photosensitive layer on the outer peripheral surface is used, and while the image carrier is rotated, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive layer and developed with toner.
The obtained toner image is transferred to recording paper. After the transfer is completed, the residual toner on the outer peripheral surface of the image carrier is removed and cleaned by a cleaning device, and an IYP electrostatic latent image is formed again, and a new image is transferred. As is well known, the action of the cleaning vclt is performed by the pressure (including contact) action of a blade member or other cleaning member against the surface of the image carrier. For example, a blade cleaning method is a typical leaning method. In the blade cleaning method, the edge of the blade member is brought into pressure contact with the surface of the image carrier to forcibly remove toner adhering to the peripheral surface. This cleaning method is widely used because it is easy to create grooves and has a high cleaning effect. This blade cleaning method can be further classified into two types depending on the method of pressing the blade against the image carrier. One of them is when the blade is located on the downstream side in the rotation direction of the image carrier with respect to a line connecting the pressure contact point where the blade comes into pressure contact with the image carrier and the rotation center of the image carrier, Another case is when the blade is located upstream in the rotation direction of the image carrier with respect to a line connecting the pressure contact point and the rotation center. These two types are called a counter type (counter type or reverse type) when the blade is installed downstream of the pressure contact point. , and the case where the blade is installed upstream of the pressure contact point is called a trail type (prograde type or trailing type). In the case of the counter type, although the ability to scrape off the image carrier is high, the image carrier is easily damaged. The trail type has the following characteristics: it causes little damage to the image bearing member, but it is somewhat lacking in ability to remove residual toner.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

In particular, when using a cleaning brush and not using suction, toner will leak from between the cleaning device and the drum due to the airflow, and even if a blower can prevent the charged wire from getting dirty, suction alone will not prevent dirt from forming inside the machine. This method has the disadvantage that toner leakage cannot be prevented, and when a suction device for scattered toner is installed, it may not be able to suction the toner effectively depending on its mounting position, and another disadvantage is that it requires a large area. The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art, and provides a cleaning means that does not damage the image carrier and can efficiently collect residual toner on the surface of the image carrier. It is an object of the present invention to provide a cleaning device using an electrostatic recording device that can maintain and improve the cleaning ability and obtain clear and excellent images.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The above object is to provide a cleaning device for removing residual toner on an image bearing member, which includes a sag 282 means for sucking air inside and outside the cleaning device, and a sag 282 means for sucking air inside and outside the cleaning device, and a means for sucking air into the vicinity above the cleaning device. This is achieved by a cleaning device equipped with a blowing means, characterized in that the air blown from the blowing means is sucked through a suction port of the suction means provided on the upper part of the cleaning blade. be done. τEmbodiment Examples of the cleaning device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 15, but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto. First, each process up to the cleaning device in the electrostatic recording apparatus will be briefly explained. The image carrier 10 is a drum-shaped photoreceptor in which a photoconductive substance is layered at a constant thickness on a conductive metal substrate. The surface passes sequentially through a plurality of processing stations (not shown). The image carrier 10 is charged by a charger, and the surface of the image carrier 10 retains a uniform charge. The image carrier 10, whose photoconductive surface is uniformly charged, rotates in the direction of the arrow and enters the exposure section. In the exposure section, reflected light from the original is irradiated onto the photoconductive surface of the image carrier 10 through an optical system such as a mirror and lens, causing the electric arm in the exposed area to be discharged and creating an electrostatic latent image of the original in that area. . The image carrier lO on which the electrostatic latent image has been formed enters the developing section as it rotates in the direction of the arrow. In the developing section, the electrostatic latent image is developed by a developing device, and a developing material containing charged toner particles adheres to the latent image to visualize it into the original shape of the document. The image carrier 10 carrying the toner image visualized by the toner further rotates and enters the transfer section 6 In the transfer section, the recording paper is conveyed in synchronization with the toner image, and the toner is transferred to the recording paper. Transfer the image. The recording paper onto which the toner image has been transferred goes up to the separator as a transfer paper, is separated from the image carrier lO, is further fixed by a fixing device, and is discharged outside the machine. On the other hand, the image carrier 10 separated from the recording paper by the separator enters the cleaning device RA20 according to the present invention while carrying untransferred residual toner, where the residual toner on the image carrier 10 is removed. Reference numeral 20 denotes a cleaning device for removing and cleaning the toner remaining on the image carrier 10 after transfer (representing the entire cleaning device provided). Cleaning blade 2L7 hoop brush 22 and elastic roller 23
is installed inside the frame 26, and the static elimination electrode 27 is installed outside the frame 26. The cleaning blade 21 is made of hard urethane rubber with a thickness of about 5 mm, has a length substantially corresponding to the width of the image carrier, and is held by a blade holder 28. The cleaning blade 21 is controlled so that the blade holder 28 engages with a pressing/releasing means, and the cleaning blade 21 is pressed against and released from the trail type of the image carrier 10. The fur brush 22 has a structure in which conductive bristles 29 are embedded together with fabric in a conductive pipe made of aluminum or the like. The hair body 29 is made of acrylic yarn (manufactured by Toyo Rayon), has a thickness of 6.2 denier, a length of 6 mm including the fabric, and a flocking density of 50,000 fibers per square inch, and is directly flocked to the fabric. The structure is such that a fabric is joined to the conductive pipe. The 7-ar brush 22 is located upstream of the cleaning blade 21 in the rotational direction of the image carrier 10 and at a position where it is in pressure contact with the image carrier 10 with a nip width of about 3 to 4 mm. 1 and rotates in the opposite direction to the rotational direction of the image carrier 10 to actively rub and remove residual toner on the surface of the image carrier. Further, a 7-piece printer 30 is provided on the substantially opposite side of the image carrier 10 to the 7-ar brush 22. The 7-threader 30 is a rigid rod with a diameter of about 5 mm, and has a length substantially equivalent to 1lOf1 of the fur brush 22, and is constituted by the free end of the bristles 29 of the fur brush 22. The bristles 29 are installed at a position about 2 to 3 mm inward from the outer circumferential circle of the fur brush 22 so as to strike the bristles 29 uniformly along the entire length of the fur brush 22 in the longitudinal direction. The surface of the elastic roller 23 is covered with a rubber material or a foamed elastic material such as sponge, and is rotatable at a position below the first and second cleaning members and in contact with the image carrier 10 with slight pressure. It is pivoted on. The elastic roller 2
3, it can be driven by just lightly touching the image carrier 10, has good sealing with the image carrier 10, has little leakage or scattering of toner to the outside, and has no relative speed with the image carrier 10; Furthermore, since the toner adhering to the fine pores on the surface of the elastic row 223 is made to slip easily, it has the characteristic of preventing toner filming and scratches on the surface of the image carrier. Further, a scraper 32 is provided on the substantially opposite side of the image carrier 10 with respect to the elastic roller 23. The scraper 32 is made of mylar with a thickness of about 100 microns, has a length substantially corresponding to the width of the elastic roller 23, and has free ends pressed against each other over the entire length of the elastic roller 223. The end is fixed to a scraper holder 33 which is disposed between the side plates of the frame 26 so as to be rotatable about the longitudinal direction as an axis of rotation. The scraper holder 33 is fixed to the side plate with screws or the like, but the screws or the like can be loosened as necessary to change the pressing force of the scraper 32 against the elastic roller 23 as appropriate. Below the scraper 32, that is, the cleaning device 2
A pressure feeding screw 34 is disposed near the lower portion of the toner 0, and the toner that has fallen onto the pressure feeding screw 34 is transported to a developing device (not shown) for reuse. A charge eliminating electrode 27 is provided below the elastic roller 23, and removes the charge of the residual toner that is in a charged state on the image carrier 1o immediately before cleaning. The static elimination electrode 27 is attached to a plate piece that constitutes the frame 26 of the cleaning device 20 made of extruded aluminum material. That is, the cross-sectional shape is approximately semicircular, and the image carrier 1 is substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction (perpendicular to the plane of the paper).
The four plate pieces of the frame 2G having the same width as 0 constitute the back plate 271 of the static elimination electrode 27. A current-carrying electrode wire is stretched across the center of the semicircular back plate 271, and the back plate 27
The distance from No. 1 to the wire is approximately 7 mm. The distance between the surface of the image carrier and the wire is also approximately 7 mm. Thus, after the transfer process is completed, the image carrier 1 remains untransferred.
The untransferred toner adhering to the outer peripheral surface of image carrier 1
According to the rotation in the direction of the arrow 0, the tip of the static elimination type f!
When the toner reaches the opposite position of the toner 27, the charged state of the residual toner is removed by the action of the static eliminating electrode 27. Next, it passes through an elastic roller 23 that is lightly pressed against the image carrier 10,
- reaching the opposing position of the brush 22; The fur brush 22
is brought into pressure contact with the image carrier 10 with a nip width of 3 to 4 mm, and rubs and removes residual toner on the image carrier while rotating in the opposite direction to the image carrier. Approximately 20% to 40% of the residual toner on the image carrier is removed by the 7-Ar brush 22. However, the residual toner that could not be removed by the fur brush 22 is removed by the fur brush 22.
2, the adhesion to the image carrier is sufficiently relaxed, and then the cleaning blade 21 scrapes it off. The residual toner rubbed and removed from the image carrier by the 7T-brush 22 is transferred to the bristles 29 of the 7-fur brush 22, and as the fur brush 22 rotates, it is conveyed to the 7-T brush 30 installation position. 7, and falls onto the pressure feeding screw 34. The residual toner scraped off by the cleaning blade 21 falls along the circumferential surface of the image carrier and reaches the fur brush 22 . Since the 7T-brush 22 is rotating in the opposite direction to the rotation direction of the image carrier as described above, a part of the toner that has fallen from the cleaning blade 21 is collected by the bristles 29 of the 7T-brush 22 and transported. The remaining toner is knocked off by the toner 30, but the remaining toner falls from the separation part between the image carrier and the fur brush 22 and reaches the elastic roller 23. As mentioned above, the elastic roller 23 and the image carrier 10 are in a sealed state, and the elastic roller 23 rotates following the image carrier 10, so that the toner that has fallen will not reach any further downward. The scraper 3 is conveyed according to the rotation of the elastic roller 23.
2 and reaches the pressure feeding screw 34 section. FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the cleaning device showing the trail type pressure contact/release mechanism of the cleaning blade 21 against the image carrier 10. Pressure welding/release 8! h1 is a DC motor 43 fixedly supported at three points above the right side plate 24 facing the image carrier 10, a drive gear G1 fixed to the main shaft of the DC motor 43, and a drive gear G1. An intermediate gear G2 that meshes with the intermediate gear G2, a cam 44 that shares the rotating shaft to which the intermediate gear G2 is fixed and is also fixed to the rotating shaft, and a stay that engages with the cam surface of the cam 44 with an engaging portion 421. 42 and the stay 4
2 is fixed to the shaft end of the blade shaft 41; a blade holder 28 that swings as the blade shaft 41 rotates; and the blade holder 28 is always attached to the image carrier 1.
It is constituted by a pair of left and right pressure contact springs 46 and 47 that are biased towards zero. The DC motor 43 is a geared motor that outputs the rotational speed of its output shaft in a state that has already been adjusted by a plurality of gears in the housing of the motor. The drive gear G1 is fixed. The intermediate gear G2 that meshes with the drive gear G1 is made of synthetic resin, has a sleeve receiving portion on the right side plate 24, and is fixed together with the cam 44 to a rotating shaft 45 that is rotatably supported by the bearing portion. The rotational force from the drive gear G1 is transmitted to both the intermediate gear G2 and the cam 44. The stay 42 has a lateral engaging portion 421 at one end that is engaged with the cam surface of the cam 44, and the other end is fixed to the blade shaft and rotates as the cam 44 rotates. The driven motion of the stay engaging portion 421 is transmitted to the rotation of the blade shaft, and is converted into an operation of pressing the cleaning blade 21 against the image carrier 10 and releasing it. The load when the cleaning blade 21 is pressed against the image carrier is a value determined by the pressure springs 46 and 47, and the actual value in the example is 30 g/cm to 50 g.
/c It is a plow. The mechanism for pressing and releasing the cleaning blade 21 against the image carrier 10 is constructed as described above, and its operation will be explained below. In response to the copy start signal, the DC motor 43 rotates for a predetermined time, and the drive gear G1 fixed to the output shaft of the DC motor 43 rotates the cam 44 together with the intermediate gear G2, so that the engagement portion 421 of the stay 42 The cam surface of the cam moves upward due to the force of the pressure springs 46 and 47, rotates the blade shaft 41, and thus the cleaning blade 21
is brought into pressure contact with the image carrier 10. During copying, the cleaning blade 21 continues to be in the pressure contact state and continues to scrape off residual toner on the image carrier. In response to the copy end signal, a timer (not shown) activated by the signal causes the DC motor 43 to start rotating after about one minute, and the cam 44 engages the engaging portion 421 of the stay 42.
is pushed down against the force of the pressure springs 48, 47, and the cleaning blade 21 is thus separated from the surface of the image carrier. Due to the operation of the above-mentioned pressure-contact/release mechanism, the pressure of the cleaning blade 21 against the image carrier can be kept to the minimum necessary, so that the image generated by the cleaning blade being constantly in pressure-contact with the image carrier can be reduced. By reducing scratches, dents, etc. on the carrier, these scratches,
Copy defects caused by dents or the like can be prevented from occurring, and at the same time, the life of the image carrier can be extended. In addition, by providing the R mechanism for pressing and releasing the cleaning blade against the image carrier on the cleaning device side,
Compared to the conventional method in which the driving force is obtained from outside the device via a transmission means, the intermediate transmission member or the same means has a simple structure. By eliminating the need for a drive force transmission means from outside the cleaning device, this method not only makes it easier to install and remove the device during cleaning and maintenance, but also eliminates the need for conventional drive force transmission. Problems caused by cumulative variations in processing accuracy of each member can be eliminated. 3 to PltJ5 are diagrams showing a suction means for sucking toner from a suction port disposed at an appropriate position in the present cleaning device, which includes an electric suction fan (not shown) or the like in the copying device. The cleaning device according to the present cleaning device includes a main duct 50, a lower duct 51, and a cleaning area 52.
, a first suction roller 264, a second suction roller 265, and a blowing means 53. The main duct 50 is disposed on the back side of the cleaning device W1, and collects all the toner-containing air from the suction ports disposed at appropriate locations in the cleaning device, and is connected to an electric suction fan (not shown) inside the copying device. It is a conduit that transports the water to the other parts of the body. The lower duct 51 is provided near the bottom of the cleaning device, and includes an upper duct plate 263, a lower duct plate 262, a right side plate 24, and a left side plate 25, which are both sides of the cleaning device frame. The elastic roller 23 has a cross-sectional shape substantially equal to the width of the image carrier.
A lower suction port 511 is provided below the image carrier in close proximity to and opposite to the surface of the image carrier. The suction area 52 has a hollow portion formed by a top plate 266, a back plate 260, an intermediate partition wall 267, a first mylar plate 268 fixed near both ends of the intermediate partition wall, and a second mylar plate 269. The upper surface of the free end side of the cleaning blade 21 and the upper surface plate 266 form an upper suction port 521. The upper suction port 521 is connected to the image carrier 10.
The openings are closely opposed to each other on the surface and are mutually opened along the entire length in the longitudinal direction. In addition, two openings, a first suction hole 264 and a second suction hole 265, are provided in the back plate 260 of the succinct area 52 at opposing positions near both ends of the image carrier. A suction opening for sucking the air in the first area 752 is formed. The blower means 53 includes an electric blowing fan (not shown) provided in the copying machine and a duct 531 of the 7-ring type.
and a blow-out opening 611 provided in the charging back plate 61 of the charging electrode 60, and the duct 5
31, a flow path is formed from the blow-off opening 611 to the upper suction port 521 via between the lamp holder notch 621 of the lamp holder 62 and the surface of the image carrier. The sag 232 means according to the present cleaning device has the above-mentioned structure, and its operation will be explained. After confirming that the cleaning blade 21 is pressed against the image carrier, an electric suction fan and an electric blow-off fan (not shown) in the copying apparatus start operating in response to a copy start signal. An air flow path is formed by the operation of each of these fans. The flow path is a flow path where suction is first drawn from the lower suction port 511, passes through the lower duct 51, and reaches the main duct 50, and on the other hand, from near both ends of the image carrier or from the upper suction port 521, the suction is drawn to the suction area 52. This is a flow path that is sucked by the first suction hole 264 and the second suction hole 265 of the area 52 and reaches the main liquid 50. Further, the flow path of the air blown from the blower means 53 is a flow path after the upper suction port 521 that passes through the mi and the second suction port of the suction area 52 and reaches the main duct 50. will be merged. The cleaning device is the intermediate gap! ! ! 267 and the first Mylar plate 268 fixed thereto.
and the second fin 2-plate 269 into two hollow parts, the upper part of which is the swivel area 52, and the lower part is the cleaning area 5.
It is 4. The cleaning area 54 includes a seven-ear brush 22, a seven-layer brush 30, an elastic roller 23, and a scraper 3.
2. A pressure feeding screw 34 and the like are installed, and during the cleaning operation, some of the toner scraped off by the cleaning blade 21 or the toner knocked off from the 7 hoop brush 22 by the 7 ripper 30 is transferred to the cleaning area 54. It is scattered inside and is in a state of being crowded. The suction means in this cleaning device are the upper suction port 521 and the lower suction port 5 of the suction area 52.
11 surrounds the cleaning area 54, and the toner leaking from the cleaning area 54 is immediately sucked up to prevent the harmful effects of the scattered toner on others. 2601: The first of the two openings provided
@The pulling roller 264 and the second suction roller 265 are provided at positions facing near both ends of the image carrier, so that they can be used not only in the saccharging area but also in both left and right ends of the blade holder 28. □ Left side plate 25
and through the slight gap between the right side plate 24,
It acts on the residual toner near both ends of the image carrier, which has conventionally been relatively difficult to clean, and sucks the toner. Opening 81 in the charging back plate 61 of the charging electrode 60
The flow of air blown from the IS 611, sucked from the upper suction port 521, and following the flow path converging at the suction area 52 has a cleaning effect on toner etc. adhering to the electrode wire of the charging electrode 60, and also For the toner leaking near the upper suction port 521, the blowing effect from the previous blowout and the suction effect combine to control scattering in one direction, and the air provides a rubbing and removal effect on the surface of the image carrier. do. The lower duct plate 262, which is a component of the lower duct 51, is made of metal such as extruded aluminum.
The longitudinal direction (perpendicular to the paper) has substantially the same width as the image carrier, and the cross-sectional shape is as shown in the figure, that is, one side is a curved surface forming a duct and the other side is a static elimination electrode. It is one plate piece with a curved surface forming 27 back plates 271. As a result of adopting a plate piece that serves both purposes, the number of structural members of the device can be significantly reduced. Figure 6 shows the cleaning blade 2 of this cleaning device.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the swing mechanism of FIG. The swinging mechanism operates to swing the cleaning blade 21 in the longitudinal direction of the image carrier 10 after the cleaning blade 21 comes into pressure contact with the image carrier 10. The swing mechanism is provided on the left side plate 25 of the frame 26 of the cleaning device 20, and is connected to the gear G12. G16°G
17. It is composed of a gear support plate 37, a swing groove 35, and a guide 36. A rotational driving force is transmitted to the gear G12 from outside the cleaning device, and is configured integrally with a gear G13 having a different external shape, while a gear G15 is transmitted via a gear G14.
The rotational force is transmitted to the -77- brush 22 to rotate it. Further, the gear G12 meshes with the gear Gll fixed to the screw shaft of the pressure feeding screw 34, and rotates the pressure feeding screw 34. The gear G16 is a fiddler that transmits the rotation from the gear G12 to the gear G17, and is rotatably supported by the left side plate 25 by a gear support plate 37. The gear G17 is pivotally fixed to a rotating shaft which is fixed to the left side plate 25 and has a cam with a swing groove 35 carved therein integrally fixed thereto. The guide 36 is fixed to the 7-lade pongee 41, and the convex portion of the guide engages with the swing groove, and the gear G17
The rotation of the blade acts to swing the blade shaft. The swinging mechanism of the cleaning blade 21 of this cleaning device has the above-mentioned structure, and its operation will be explained below. In FIG. 6, the gear G12. to which the rotational driving force from outside the cleaning device is transmitted. G13 rotates, and rotational force is transmitted from gear G12 to gear G17 via gear G16, and a cam that is integrally fixed to gear G17 rotates, causing the swing WIt35 carved in the cam to rotate.
transmits a swinging motion of 2 mm to the guide element 36 with an amplitude of 1 mm to the left and right. The blade shaft to which the guide element 36 is fixed to the shaft end is driven by the guide element 36 and is caused to swing in the longitudinal direction of the shaft. As a result of this swinging, a gap is created between the cleaning blade 21 and its left and right side plates, that is, the right side plate 24 and the left side plate 25 according to the period of the swing. When the air in the suction area 52 is sucked from the suction hole 264 and the second suction hole 265, the suction effect is applied alternately to both ends of the image carrier through the gap. FIG. 7 shows the image carrier 10 in this cleaning device,
7 is a sectional view showing the mutual relationship between the 7-ar brush 22 and the 7-ar brush 30. FIG. First, a description will be given of the overlapping length of biting, which appropriately expresses the state of pressure contact between the image carrier and the 7-ar brush, and between the 77-push and the 7-rubrush. The overlapping length of biting means that when a 7-hoo brush is pressed against the image carrier or a 7-ritzker is pressed against a 7-ar brush, the overlap length is 7.
This refers to one of the deformed parts generated by deformation of the pressure contact part of the arp 2shi. That is, the locus circle drawn by the tip of the bristles of the fur brush when it is not deformed and the image carrier and the 7-seven car are in pressure contact with the 7-ar brush, and therefore the locus circle and each outer circumference intersect, and there is an overlapped portion by both. is formed. The maximum value of the overlapping portion viewed in the radial direction is referred to as the overlapping length of both sides. The overlapping length of mutual biting between the image carrier 10, the seven fur brushes 22, and the seven filters 30 in this cleaning device is expressed using the symbols used in FIG. The overlapping length of biting between the 7 ritzker 30 and the fur brush 22 can be expressed as EF, and the overlapping length of the biting between the 7 ritzker 30 and the fur brush 22 can be expressed as AD.
It has a structural feature that the overlapping length AD of the two hoop brushes 22 is greater than, or at most equal to, the overlapping length &EF of the image carrier 10 and the hoop brush 22. This is because the bristles 29 of the 7-hoo brush 22 rotate in the opposite direction to the rotation direction of the image carrier 10 and rub and remove residual toner adhering to the surface of the image carrier 10, causing the aforementioned biting. This is due to the operational reason that less toner is collected on the rotation center side than the overlap length EF. That is, this is because it is relatively difficult for toner to enter the inner portion of the brush 22, which is calculated by subtracting the overlapping length of the bristles with the image carrier 10 from the length of the bristles 29. Therefore, the toner collected between the bristles of the 7-hoop brush 22 and near the surface thereof is conveyed by the rotation of the fur brush 22 itself, and is knocked off to the 7-hoop brush 30. The above-mentioned biting overlap length AD is at most equal to the above-mentioned EF, or if it is made a little larger, it has the effect that the toner can be sufficiently knocked off from the 7 hoop brush 22. In this cleaning device, the 7-picker 30 is located below the horizontal line from the center of rotation of the 7-hoop brush 22, and is located below the image carrier 1.
It has a structural feature in that it is located downstream in the rotational direction of the seven hoop brush 22 with respect to the portion in pressure contact with the seven hoop brush 22. Since the fur brush 22 rotates in the opposite direction to the rotation of the image carrier 10 in the direction indicated by the arrow in the figure, if the fur brush 22 shown in the figure is placed at an appropriate position in the lower half, That's enough. This is because the fur brush 22, which has rubbed and removed the residual toner on the image carrier 10 and collected it on its bristles 29, is conveyed by its own rotation and reaches the installation position of the seven toner cartridges 30.
When the toner is knocked off from the bristles 29 by the Ritzker 30, the toner is knocked off at the moment the bristles come into contact with the Ritzker 29, and the toner passes through the Ritzker 29 and the toner is removed from the Ritzker. It can be divided into those that are thrown away depending on the force of the defection. In the latter case, there is a concern that the toner that has been blown away may return to the 7-hoop brush 22. However, in this cleaning device having the above-described configuration, the position of the 7-hoop brush 30 is
Since the toner is closed below the horizontal line from the center of rotation of the hoop brush 22 and on the downstream side in the rotational direction of the seven hoop brush at the pressure contact area between the image carrier and the seven hoop brush, the blown toner does not fly back onto the seven hoop brush 22. This has the effect of falling onto the pressure feeding screw 34 without any damage. The cross-sectional shape of the seven filters 30 of this cleaning device has the following structural features. That is, as shown in FIG. 7, the cross-sectional shape of the 7-piece car 30 is defined by the maximum point of the overlapping length of the 7-piece car 30 biting into the 7T-brush 22, the point indicated by symbol A in the figure, and the fur The drawing of the tip of the bristles 29 of the brush 22 (the line connecting the point where the outer locus circle intersects with the seven ridges 30 on the downstream side in the rotational direction of the fur brush 22, the point indicated by symbol B in the figure is designated as 12, When the line connecting A and the rotation center of the fur brush 2Z is I, the angle between 11 and 12 is 4.
5° or less, and let θ be the angle that the ζ line connecting the A and B (i.e. 12) makes with the 11, and the outer locus circle of the A and the 7T-plush 22 is in the direction of rotation. When the angle formed by the line connecting the point C that intersects with the outline of the 7Ritzker 30 on the upstream side and the above l is 02, θ2 is always larger than 01 or is equal to -1 and (1). This is because the seven hoop brushes 22 rub and remove residual toner on the surface of the image carrier 10, and collect the toner between the bristles 29 and on the surface thereof. When these toners are transported and knocked off by the seven litterers 30, the bristles 29 are removed after passing through the seven litterers 30 as described above.
In order to increase the effect of the toner being blown away from the bristle body 29 by the force when returning from the so-called fallen hair state to the erected state, the cross-sectional shape of the above-mentioned 7 litters is relevant. Force-30 Maximum point A of overlapping length of bite
In the later part, that is, on the downstream side in the rotational direction of the seven hoop brushes 22, the force accompanying the return of the side bristles 29 is preferably free of any resistance to its movement. Depends on the reason. An example of the preferable shape of the cleaning device as described above is shown in FIG. The angle between , and 12 is 4
The angle θ2 between the e1 and the AC is always 1 below 5°.
．． If the conditional expression that the angle θ1 formed by Due to the cross-sectional shape of the 7-force in this example, the 7-7 force is
After passing, the force of the bristles 29 is increased compared to the conventional one, and the toner can be effectively separated from the seven-arc brush 22. In addition, the toner previously deposited on the seven-arc brush 22 is removed. 7. Now falls easily
No longer deposits on Ritzker. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the structure of the inner unit 40 of this cleaning device. The inner unit 40 includes a fur brush 22, an elastic roller 23.7, a roller 30. Scraper 32, scraper holder 33, intermediate wall 267, first mylar plate 2
68, f: tS2 mylar plate 269, right inner plate 2
81, left inner plate 282, etc. Bearing portions of the seven hoop brushes 22 and elastic rollers 23 are fixed to the right inner plate 281 and the left inner plate 282 of the inner unit 40, respectively, and the fur brushes 22 and elastic rollers 23 are therefore rotatable. It is configured. Said 7 scraper 30 and scraper holder 3
3 and the middle partition wall 267 are fixed to the right inner side plate 281 and the left inner side plate 282, respectively, with screws or the like. This inner unit 40 has a right inner plate 2 attached to the right side plate 24.
81 has a structure in which a left inner plate 282 is fitted into the left side plate 25, and the right side plate 24 shown in FIG.
and the right inner plate 281, the right side plate 24,
The right inner plate 281 is fitted into the inner opening 242 which is carved in the same shape as the outer shape of the right inner plate 281, and the shaft 221 of the inner unit 40 is inserted into the substantially U-shaped groove 241. Once fitted, the hole 245 of the right side plate 24 and the hole 283 of the right inner plate 281 are aligned, and a screw or the like is screwed in to fix the two together. The inner unit 40 is equipped with members such as the 7-ear brush 22, the elastic roller 23, and the scraper 32, which are easily soiled and wear out compared to other parts in the device. In order to replace consumable parts, the inner unit 40 is often removed from the frame 26 of the cleaning device, but since it is configured as described above, it can be removed with a simple operation. FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining an installation method for installing the present cleaning device together with the frame 26 on the image carrier side of the main body of the copying apparatus. As mentioned above, the real leaning equipment jfi20 has a frame body 26.
It has a structure in which each cleaning member is housed inside the copying machine, and it has a unit structure independent from the main body of the copying machine, and can be installed and removed with simple operations, which is the first precept. . The cleaning device 20 can be attached to and removed from the main body of the copying machine by attaching a fixing shaft 247 and a straddling groove 246, which is a substantially inverted U-shaped groove, to the right side plate Z4 of the frame body 26, and the left side plate 25. A fixed shaft 257 and a straddling groove 256 are respectively provided in the structure. The explanation will be given on the left side plate 25 side shown in FIG. 9, but the explanation on the right side plate 24 side will be omitted since it has a symmetrical structure and is the same. The straddling groove 256 in the left side plate 25 is a groove cut out in the left side plate 25 in an inverted U shape near the intersection of the rear and bottom parts, when the opening surface of the cleaning device RA20 is the front side. , W in the direction from the opening side of the groove toward the bottom thereof, and the shape is such that the fixed shaft 257 is viewed from above. The fixed shaft 257 is fixed vertically outward near the intersection of the upper and front portions of the left side plate 25. Support shafts 741 and 751 that support the straddle grooves 246 and 256 and the fixed shaft 247 are provided on the right side wall 74 and left side wall 75 of the drum mount 70 on the side of the copying apparatus main body on which the cleaning device 20 is installed, respectively. After the fixing shafts 247, 257 are brought into contact with the supporting protrusions 742, 752 that support and fix the .257, the fixing screw 7 is
44, 754 are provided with fixing convex portions 743, 753 which are suppressed and fixed. The structure of installing this cleaning device 20 together with the frame 26 on the drum mount 70 on the side of the main body of the copying machine is as described above. The following describes how to install it. The right side plate 24 and the left side plate 25 of the frame 26 on the cleaning device side! ! The riding grooves 246 and 256 are made to face the right side wall 74 of the drum mount 70 and the support 1111741.751 of the left side plate 75, and the support shaft is brought into contact with the bottom of the N-end groove from the opening of the spanning groove. Insert the frame until they touch. After confirming the contact, the frame body is rotated around the left and right support shafts 741, 751 on the drum mount 70.
The fixed shaft 247°25 is rotated toward the image carrier side.
7 is brought into contact with the support protrusions 742 and 752 of the right side @Q174 and the left side plate 75. Thereafter, the fixing screws 44t and 54 press the fixing shafts 247, 257 against the abutting portions of the supporting protrusions 742° 752, so that the fixing shafts 247, 257 of the fixing screws 744° 754 are pressed against the supporting protrusions 742. Press and fix against .752. The straddle grooves 246, 256 on the left and right side plates of the frame on the cleaning device side are supported by the support shafts 741, 751 on the left and right side walls on the drum mount 70 side, and the hind limb frame 26 is rotated toward the image carrier side. When installing the frame 26, due to the positional relationship between the straddle groove and the fixed shaft as described above.
When the fixed shaft position passes a vertically upward line from the center of the support shaft, the center of gravity of the frame shifts to the image carrier side with respect to the support shaft, and the center of gravity of the frame moves to the image carrier side with respect to the support shaft. Generates a force that causes the body to rotate toward the side. Since the frame body 26 obtains the above-mentioned force, the fixed shafts 247 and 257
42, 752, the fixing screw 7
Coupled with the effect of pressing and fixing the fixing shafts 247, 257 of 44, 754, the positioning effect of the frame 26 on the drum mount 70 is further ensured. FIG. 10 shows the image carrier 10 of the main cleaning rcfa.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a pressure contact mechanism of the elastic roller 23 against the elastic roller 23; Said pressure welding 8! The grooves are provided in the right inner plate 281 and the left inner plate 282 of the inner unit, and near both shaft ends of the elastic roller 23, and are symmetrical, and are arranged in the elliptical bearing 233I234.
and elliptical recesses 289 and 290 and pongee push springs 28 and 28
8, spring fixing protrusions 285, 286, etc. Below, the pressure welding mechanism is attached to the right inner plate 2 shown in Figure tjIJ10.
This will be explained on the 81 side. The elliptical bearing 233 is rotatably pivotally connected to both ends of the roller shaft 231 of the elastic roller 23, and has a substantially elliptical outer shape with a flat portion in the longitudinal direction. The elliptical recess 289 is located on the right inner plate 2 of the inner unit.
81 is a substantially elliptical recess having a flat part in the long axis direction, and the elliptical bearing 233 is loosely fitted into the four carved parts, and the flat part is in the long axis direction. It is slightly longer than the elliptical bearing. The elastic roller 23 is pressed against the image carrier 10 by a screw or the like.
! The structure is constructed as described above, and its function will be explained below with reference to the right inner plate 281 side. The elliptical bearing 233 is slidably fitted to the elliptical four portion 289, and the elastic force ff is exerted by the action of the axial spring 287.
-223 is the elliptical recess 28 together with the elliptical bearing 233.
It is pressed against the image bearing member 9. This cleaning device is mounted on the drum mount 70 together with the frame 26.
When assembled to the image carrier 1, the elastic roller 23 is attached to the image carrier 1.
0, and the force of the axially pushing spring is set to such an extent that the image carrier and the elastic roller 23 maintain a sealed state. The bearing is slightly bent by the pressure from the carrier, and the elliptical bearing is pushed back from the state of being pressed against the image carrier side of the four elliptical parts. That is, the pressing force of the elastic roller 23 when pressed against the image carrier is determined by the force of the axially pressing spring. With this simple pressure contact mechanism, the elastic roller 23 can be attached to the image carrier 1.
The pressing force of pressure contact with respect to 0 is the axial pressing spring 287.
As a result of being able to easily adjust the pressing force in step 8, if the pressing force of the elastic roller against the image bearing member is too strong, the residual toner will be strongly pressed, causing the image bearing member to stick to the image bearing member. There are drawbacks such as fluctuations in the rotational torque of the body and accelerated wear of the elastic roller itself.On the other hand, if the pressing force of the body roller against the image carrier is too weak, a gap is created between the elastic roller and the image carrier. Although there are drawbacks such as not being able to maintain a sealed state between the two and causing toner leakage, it has become possible to eliminate the above drawbacks by using the pressure contact mechanism. FIG. fiS11 is a sectional view showing a cleaning device according to another embodiment, and FIG. 12 is a sectional view showing the main part of the cleaning device shown in FIG. 11 in more detail. The cleaning device shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 has a construction similar to the cleaning device of the above-described embodiment except that it does not include a toner leakage prevention means. This toner leakage prevention means is composed of a vibrating Mylar 55, a Mylar support plate 56, a vibrating stay 57, a diaphragm 58, and the like. The vibrating mylar 55 has a length substantially equal to the entire length in the longitudinal direction of the elastic roller 23, and its free end side is located close to and opposite to the elastic roller 23 and located near below the scraper 32, and the other side The end portion is fixed to a Mylar support plate ≦56, which is composed of eight members each having an abbreviated cross-section. The mylar support plate 56 has the same length as the mylar because it fixes the mylar to each other along the entire length in the longitudinal direction, and a diaphragm 58 made of a rigid thin plate also serves as the outer wall of the pressure feeding screen A-34. The upper surface plate 263 is fixed to the upper surface plate 263. The vibrating stay 57 is a rigid thin plate having a substantially U-shaped cross section, one end of which is fixed to the mylar support plate 56 with a fixing member 561, and the free end thereof is screwed onto the screw shaft 341 of the pressure feeding screw 34. The vibration effect is transmitted to the mylar support plate 56 by the movement of the protrusion as the screw shaft rotates. The diaphragm 5 is fixedly fixed to both the mylar support plate 56 and the outer wall of the pressure feeding screw 34, and the vibration plate 56 is fixed to both the mylar support plate 56 and the outer wall of the pressure feeding screw 34, so that vibrations from the vibration stay 56 are not generated while the mylar support plate 56 and fixing members are mounted. is transmitted to the vibrating mylar. The toner leakage prevention means has the above-mentioned structure, and its operation will be explained below. The toner adhering to the surface of the elastic roller 23 is brought into pressure contact with the image carrier 10 and conveyed as the driven elastic roller 23 rotates, and is scraped off from the roller surface by the scraper 32. It falls along the slope onto the pressure feeding screw 34 and is fed under pressure. Near pressure contact 7α where the scraper 32 is in pressure contact with the elastic roller 23! I! A part of the removed toner sneaks into the scraper on the downstream side in the rotational direction of the elastic roller 23 and falls from near the pressure contact point. There is also floating toner, which has the possibility of leaking and scattering from the opening below the elastic roller 23 on the cleaning device side, which has an opening close to the surface of the image carrier. The vibrating mylar 55, which is disposed close to and facing the scraper 32 on the downstream side in the rotational direction of the elastic EL-723, uses the vibration effect accompanying the rotation of the pressure feeding screw 34 to remove the back side of the scraper as described above. This has the effect of preventing toner that has sunk into the toner or floating toner from being deposited on the vibrating mylar itself, and at the same time prevents the toner from leaking and scattering from the lower opening of the elastic roller 23. The sequence of the suction 3 action in the cleaning device according to the present invention as described above will be explained with reference to the time chart of FIG. ■Before, the blade pressure welding/release motor is turned on.
In the N state, the DC motor 43 is started and the cleaning blade 21 starts pressing against the image carrier 10. After a predetermined period of time has elapsed from the start of the pressing operation of the cleaning blade 21, the pressing operation is completed, and then the operations of (1) the main motor, (2) the suction fan, and (3) the blow fan are simultaneously started. This is because the cleaning blade 21 is attached to the security image carrier 1.
In addition to the reason that cleaning the residual toner by the cleaning blade 21 is impossible unless the pressure contact with the cleaning blade is completed, if there is a gap between the image carrier and the cleaning blade, the gap is The air blown from the blower means 53 enters the cleaning area 54, causing a large amount of toner to leak out from the cleaning area, which is filled with toner. In this way, the image carrier 10 of the cleaning blade 21
When the pressure contact is completed, the twin motor, the suction fan, and the blow fan start operating at the same time, and copying is performed. At the end of the first copy process, when the copy completed record D# reaches a desired number of copies and a copy end signal is issued, the operations of (1) the main motor, (2) the suction tank 77, and (3) the blow fan simultaneously stop operating. The sakshi 1 in 77 in and blow 7
After a period of time has elapsed until the influence of the cleaning blade 21 subsides, the (1) blade pressure-contact/release motor is started, and the DC motor 43 rotates to separate the cleaning blade 21 from the image carrier 10, thereby releasing the pressure-contact. This is also for the same reason as described above, and is closely controlled in order to keep the cleaning area in a sealed state by pressure contact between the blade and the image carrier and to prevent air from being blown into the cleaning area by the blower 77. Ru. FIG. 14 shows a flowchart when the present cleaning device starts copying. When copy button 0Nfi is created, the LED etc. will light up.
Notify N status. If it is OFF, press the copy button again 0N
Do fi. By turning on the copy button, the cleaning blade 2
The pressure contact/release DC motor 43 starts and rotates in a direction to bring the cleaning blade 21 into pressure contact with the image carrier 10 . After waiting for 6 seconds, which is required for the cleaning blade 21 to complete the reliable pressure contact with the image carrier 10, the main motor, the spool 3r, and the blow fan operate simultaneously to start copying. FIG. 15 shows a 70-chart at the end of copying by this cleaning device. A signal indicating the end of copying is issued when a desired number of copied recording sheets are ejected outside the machine. Upon completion of copying, the main motor,
The operation of the blow fan is stopped at the same time. Thereafter, after waiting for 12 seconds, which is the time required for the air flow by the suction fan or the blow fan to stop, to control the pressure of the cleaning blade 21 and the DC motor 43 for contact/release in the direction of releasing the blade. The blade starts rotating and is separated from the image carrier and continues in this state.

【Effect of the invention】

As is clear from the above description, in the cleaning device for an electrostatic recording device of the present invention, the functions and effects of the static eliminating electrode, the 7-hoo brush, and the 917-ning blade work synergistically to remove residual toner on the image carrier. The recovery rate is improved, and the cleaning blade 232 is operated only when the cleaning blade is pressed against the image carrier so as not to disturb the toner that has accumulated in the cleaning area.
Since the surface of the image carrier that faces close to the top of the cleaning device is kept clean, toner stains on the charging device can be prevented, and as a result, the electrostatic recording device can produce high-quality and accurate copies. Cleaning equipment will be provided.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of the cleaning device of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a side sectional view showing the cleaning blade pressure contact/release mechanism, and Fig. 3 is for explaining the suction means of the cleaning device. 4 is a view of the frame of the cleaning device as seen from the image carrier side, FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the suction duct, FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the swinging mechanism of the cleaning blade, and FIG. 7 is a sectional view illustrating the mutual relationship between the image carrier, the 7-hoo brush, and the 7-ripper, as well as their individual features; ttS8 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the inner unit of the present cleaning device; and FIG. 9 is the present cleaning device. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the pressure contact mechanism of the elastic roller against the image carrier, FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing a cleaning device according to another embodiment, and FIG. Fig. 11 is an enlarged sectional view of the main parts of the cleaning device, Fig. 13 is a time chart of the present cleaning device for 1 succimin, and Fig. 14 is a 70-chart of the present cleaning device at the time of copy start. , FIG. 15 is a flowchart when the present cleaning device finishes copying. 10... Image carrier 20... Cleaning device 21... Cleaning blade 22...-7 Arplash 23... Elastic roller 2
4... Right side plate 25... Left side plate 26.
...Frame body 2F...Static elimination electrode 28...
Blade holder 29...hair body 221...pongee
233, 234...elliptical bearing 241.
251... Substantially U-shaped groove 242.252... Inner opening 246.256... Straddling groove 247.25
7...Fixed shaft 260...Back plate 262...Bottom duct plate 263...Top duct plate 264...First suction port 265...Second suction port 266...Top plate 267.・Intermediate partition wall 268
...11 Mylar plate 269...@2 Mylar plate 2 feet...Back plate 281...Right inner plate 282
... Left inner plate 285.286 ... Spring fixing convex part 287.288 ... Pongee push spring 289.290 ... Oval shaped four parts 30 ... 7 Ritzker 32 ... Scraper 3
3... Scraper holder 34... Force feeding screw 35... Rocking groove 36...
・Guide 37 ・Gear support plate 341 ・
...Screw Tsumugi 342...Protrusion 40...Inner unit 41...Blade shaft 42...Stay
43...DC motor 44...Cam
45... Rotating shaft 46, 47... Pressure spring 4
21... Engaging portion 50... Main duct 51.
・・Downward duct 52・・Sakushishin area 53・・・
・Blower means 54... Cleaning area 55... Vibrating mylar 56... Mylar support plate 5... Vibrating stay 58... Vibrating plate 51
1... Lower suction port 521... Upper suction port 53
1...Duct 60...Charged? 4 poles 61... Charging back plate 62... Lamp holder 611... Opening 621
... Lamp holder notch 70 ... Drum mount 74 ... Right side wall 75
...Left side wall Fu 411 Fu 51...Support shaft 7
42.752...Support convex portion 743,753...
Fixing convex portions 744, 754...Fixing screws Gl, 2. G11. G121G13. G14. G15
．． G16. G17... Gear applicant Konishiroku Photo Industry Co., Ltd. Figure 14 Figure 15

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A cleaning device for removing residual toner on an image bearing member, which is provided with suction means for sucking air inside and outside the cleaning device, and blowing means for blowing air near the top of the cleaning device, A cleaning device characterized in that the air blown from the blowing means is sucked through a suction port of the suction means provided on the upper part of the cleaning blade. (2) The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the blowing means is installed on a charging electrode.