JPS63188182A - Cleaning device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To satisfactorily discharge a developer by providing a guide part which guides a part of the developer, which is transported toward a discharging exit by a transporting means, in the reverse direction and preventing the developer from being solidified even if a large quantity of the developer is transported toward the discharging exit. CONSTITUTION:Toner remaining on a photosensitive drum 2 is scraped by a cleaning blade 32 and is transported toward a casing 36 by rotation of a toner recovery auger 33. When a cover body 38 is opened, this toner (t) transported toward the casing 36 is dropped and discharged from a discharging exit 37 by gravity. In this case, a part of toner (t) transported by rotation of the toner recovery auger 33 is guided reverse along the inside face of a slope part 40 when brought into contact with the inside face of the slope 40 of the casing 36. Consequently, the toner (t) is not solidified in the casing 36 even if a large quantity of toner (t) is transported by the toner recovery auger 33 because the quantity of toner (t) scraped from the photosensitive drum 2 is large, and the toner is satisfactorily discharged from the discharging exit.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a cleaning device provided in, for example, an electronic copying machine.

(Prior Art) Generally, in electronic copying machines and the like, residual toner on a photosensitive drum is removed and cleaned by a cleaning device.

The above-mentioned cleaning device includes a cleaning blade that is brought into contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum, the toner on the photosensitive drum is scraped off by the cleaning blade, the scraped toner is conveyed to the discharge port by a toner collection auger, and the toner is conveyed to the discharge port by the toner collection auger. A device in which the gas is discharged from the outlet is known.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, in the past, there has been a problem in that when the amount of toner to be cleaned is large, the toner concentrates and solidifies on the discharge port side of the cleaner unit, making it impossible to discharge it.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) In order to solve the problems listed in item L, the present invention guides a part of the developer transferred to the discharge port side by the transfer means in the opposite direction4. One of its features is that it has a guide section.

(Function) The above means prevents the developer from solidifying even if it concentrates on the discharge port side.

(Example) The present invention will be described below with reference to an example shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of an electronic copying machine, and numeral 1 in the figure is the main body of the apparatus. A photosensitive drum 2 as an image carrier is rotatably provided approximately at the center of the apparatus main body 1.
Around the photosensitive drum 2, a charging charger 3, a phenomenon device 4, and a copying/peeling charger 5a are arranged in order along the rotational direction of the photosensitive drum 2.

A 5BS cleaning device @6 and a static elimination lamp 7 are provided.

Furthermore, lower paper feed cassettes 8 and 9 are removably attached to one side of the lower part of the apparatus main body 1, and rollers 10
The sheets P are fed one by one and conveyed along the paper conveyance path 11 by the rotation of a and 10b.

The paper conveyance path 11 includes a registration roller 12 and a transfer and peeling charge 1y5 in the conveyance direction of the paper P.
A, 5b, 11 feeding bells 1-14, a fixing device 15, and a paper ejection roller 16 are provided.

Note that 17 is a manual guide for manually picking up the paper P.
Reference numeral 18 denotes a paper ejector for receiving the paper P ejected from the paper ejecting roller 16.

On the other hand, a document platen glass 19 is provided on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 1, and a document presser 20 is provided on the document platen glass 19. The original G on which the original platen is set on the lath 19 is exposed by an exposure system 21 provided at the upper side of the main body 1 of the apparatus. That is,
In the figure, 22 is an exposure lamp, and the light emitted from this exposure lamp 22 and reflected from the original G is transmitted to the first to third mirrors 2.
3, 24, 25 and 1 nons 26 are further guided to the photosensitive drum 2 via a fourth mirror 27.

However, when copying, first open the document presser 20 and press the original SG onto the document table glass 19, then close the document presser 20 again and turn on the start button (not shown). As a result, the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 is charged by the charging charger 3, and the reflected light from the original IG scanned by the exposure lamp 22 is reflected onto the charged surface of the photosensitive drum 2 by the first to third mirrors 23, 24, . 25, a lens 26, and a fourth mirror 27 to form an electrostatic latent image.This electrostatic latent image is visualized by supplying toner as a developer from the developer 4. Ru.

On the other hand, at this time, the upper or lower paper feed cassette 8,
Paper P is supplied from 9 or a manual guide 17, and is sent between the photosensitive drum 2 and the transfer/separation chargers 5a, 5b via the registration rollers 12. Here, the developed image on the photosensitive drum 21 is transferred to the paper P by the action of the transfer charger 5a, and then the filtP is peeled off from the photosensitive drum 2 by the action of the peeling charger 5b, and transferred to the fixing device 15 by the conveyor belt 14. transported. The image on the paper Pi is fixed by the fixing device 15, and then the paper is discharged onto a paper discharge tray 18 via a paper discharge roller 16.

Incidentally, during the image transfer, the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 2 is removed by the cleaning device 6.

Next, the cleaning device 6 will be described in detail based on FIGS. 2 to 5. 31 in the figure is a cleaner unit,
The photosensitive drum 2, cleaning blade 32, and toner collection auger 33 are integrally set in the cleaner unit 31. Above cleaning blade 3
2 has its lower edge brought into contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 to scrape off the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 2.

Further, the toner collection auger 33 is provided below the cleaning blade 32, and one end thereof protrudes from one side surface of the cleaner unit 31. Power is transmitted to the protruding end of the toner collection auger 33 via gears 34 and 35, causing it to rotate. Further, the other end of the toner collection auger 33 protrudes from the other side surface of the cleaner unit 31, and this protrusion is covered by the casing 36. A discharge port 37 is provided on the lower surface of the casing 36, and this discharge port 3
7 is adapted to be opened and closed by a lid body 38 provided so as to be slidable. The lid body 38 has a spring 39
It is energized by the button and closes automatically when you release your hand.

Incidentally, an inclined portion 40 serving as a guide portion is formed at a corner portion of the upper surface of the casing 36.

This inclined portion 40 is configured to guide the toner transferred by the toner collection auger 33 in the opposite direction by guiding it along its inner surface.

Thus, the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 2 is scraped off by the cleaning blade 32 and transferred toward the casing 36 by the rotation of the toner collection auger 33. Toner t sent to this casing 36 side
When the lid body 38 is opened, the liquid will fall and be discharged from the discharge port 37 by gravity.

Incidentally, a portion of the toner t transferred by the rotation of the toner collection auger 33 is transferred to the inclined portion 4 of the casing 36.
When it hits the inner surface of the inclined portion 40, it is guided in the opposite direction along the inner surface of the inclined portion 40.

Therefore, even if a large amount of toner t is scraped off from the photosensitive drum 2 and a large amount of toner t is transferred by the toner collection auger 33, it will not solidify inside the casing 36 and will be properly discharged from the discharge port 37. become.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment,
As shown in FIG. 6, the guide portion 4o may be formed in an arc shape.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, even if a large amount of developer is transferred to the discharge port side, the developer does not solidify, can be discharged well, and the discharge amount can be kept constant. It is effective.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 1 is a configuration diagram showing the inside of an electronic copying machine, Fig. 2 is a partially cutaway front view of the leaning device, and Fig. 3 is a side view thereof. Figure, 4th
The figure is a partially cutaway plan view of the cleaning device.
The figure is a cross-sectional view taken along the line v--v in the fourth factor, and FIG. 6 is a partially cutaway front view of another embodiment of the present invention. 2... Photosensitive drum (image carrier), 31... Cleaning unit, 37... Ejection port, 40... Guide portion.

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) In an apparatus for scraping off the developer remaining on the image carrier and discharging the scraped off developer from the discharge port of the cleaning unit, a transfer means for transporting the scraped off developer to the discharge port. and a guide portion that guides a portion of the developer transferred to the discharge port side by the transfer means in the opposite direction. (2) The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the guide portion is provided in an inclined or arcuate shape on the discharge port side of the cleaning unit. (3) The cleaning device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cleaning unit is a cartridge.