JPS63210981A - Cleaning device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To permit satisfactory recovery of a residual toner on the surface of an image carrier without damaging the image carrier by providing an elastic roller, shielding means for shielding and inducting the toner by oscillating the toner and desticizing electrode for the residual toner to the position below a cleaning blade and fur brush. CONSTITUTION:This cleaning device is provided with a 1st cleaning member consisting of the cleaning blade 21 which is mainly brought into pressurized contact with the image carrier to scrape the residual toner from said carrier, the 2nd cleaning member consisting of the fur brush which is mainly brought into sliding contact with the image carrier 21 to rub off the residual toner therefrom, the elastic roller 23 which is disposed below the two cleaning members 21, 22, is constituted freely rotatably and is brought into pressurized contact with the image carrier the shielding means which is formed of a thin rigid plate in the position opposite to the surface of the roller 23 in proximity thereto and oscillates to shield and induct the toner and the desticizing electrode 27 which is provided below the roller 23 and destaticizes the charge of the residual toner. The respective actions and effects of the electrode 27, the brush 22 and the blade 21 are synergistically acted to improve the recovery rate of the residual toner on the image carrier, by which the exact copy having good image quality is obtd.

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 to a cleaning device that removes residual toner on an image carrier using a cleaning blade and a fur brush. [Conventional technology]

Generally, in an electrostatic recording device such as a transfer type electrophotographic copying machine, a rotary drum-type image carrier having a photoconductive photosensitive layer on the outer peripheral surface is used, and the photosensitive layer is An electrostatic latent image is formed on the layer and developed with toner, and the resulting toner image is transferred to recording paper.After the transfer, the outer peripheral surface of the image carrier is covered with residual toner. The electrostatic latent image is peeled off and cleaned by the cleaning device, and an electrostatic latent image is formed again, and a new image is transferred. This is done by the pressure contact (contact contact) action of the cleaning member. For example, a typical cleaning method is the blade cleaning method. In this blade cleaning method, the blade member is attached to the circumferential surface of the image carrier. This blade is of a type that presses the edge and forcibly peels off the toner adhering to the peripheral surface.This cleaning method is widely used because it has a structure that can be used only on parts and has a high cleaning effect. Cleaning methods can be further classified into two types depending on the method of pressure contact of the blade against the image carrier.One is the 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. On the other hand, when the blade is on the downstream side in the rotational direction of the image carrier,
The other case is when the blade is on the flow side of 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 a counter type (counter type or reverse type) in which the blade peels off residual toner on the image carrier, and the blade is installed downstream of the pressure contact point. When the blade is installed on the flow side from the contact point, it 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. Also+irr
The tray-trail type has the following characteristics: on the one hand, it causes less damage to the image bearing member, but on the other hand, it is somewhat lacking in ability to remove residual toner.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

In the case of the counter-type blade cleaning method described in 1iflJ, it is particularly effective in removing residual toner from the image carrier, but on the other hand, the blade always opposes the rotational direction of the image carrier and is strongly pressed so that it bites into the surface. This method has the disadvantage that it causes one scratch on the surface of the image carrier in order to maintain the tendency to Particularly when a foreign object is present between the blade and the image carrier, the blade rotates while pressing the foreign object against the surface of the image carrier, which tends to cause streak-like scratches. The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned shortcomings of the prior art, and provides a method that does not damage the image bearing member and which can effectively collect residual toner on the surface of the image bearing member. It is an object of the present invention to provide a cleaning device for an electrostatic recording device that can maintain and improve the cleaning ability and obtain clear and excellent images.

[Means to solve the problem]

The above object is to provide a cleaning device for removing residual toner on an image bearing member; a second cleaning member consisting of a fur brush that primarily rubs the body to remove residual toner; and an elastic member disposed below the two cleaning members and rotatably configured to press against the image carrier. a roller, a shielding means formed of a rigid thin plate located below the elastic roller and close to the surface of the elastic roller and configured to vibrate proactively to shield and guide the toner; This is achieved by a cleaning device characterized in that it is equipped with a static elimination electrode that eliminates the electric charge.

【Example】

An embodiment 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 lO is a drum-shaped photoreceptor in which a photoconductive substance is laminated to a certain thickness on a conductive metal substrate, and is configured to be rotatable, and rotates in the direction shown by the arrow to remove its photoconductive surface. is configured to sequentially pass through a plurality of processing stages (not shown). The image carrier 10 is charged by a charger, and the surface of the image carrier 10 uniformly retains the charge and has an angle of 4°. The image carrier lO, whose photoconductive surface is uniformly charged, turns 101 in the direction of the arrow and enters the exposure section. In the exposure section, the light reflected from the original is irradiated onto the photoconductive surface of the image carrier lO through an optical system such as a mirror lens, etc., and the electric charge in the exposed area is discharged, and the original is exposed to that area. Creates an electrostatic latent image. The image carrier 10 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 1! : A developing material containing an I-electronic toner is attached to the latent image and is visualized into the original shape of the document. The image carrier 10 carrying the toner image made microscopic by the toner further rotates and enters the transfer section. In the transfer section, a recording sheet is conveyed in synchronization with the toner image, and the toner image is transferred onto the recording sheet. 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 9, is further fixed by a fixer, 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 20 according to the present invention while carrying untransferred residual toner, and here the image carrier! 0 residual toner is removed. Reference numeral 20 denotes the entire cleaning device provided to remove and clean toner remaining on the image carrier 10 after transfer. The cleaning device 20 includes a cleaning blade 2, a fur brush 22, and an elastic roller 23, which are first and second cleaning members that primarily perform cleaning operations.
is installed inside the frame body 26, and the static eliminating electrode 27 is installed outside the frame body 26. The cleaning blade 21 has a thickness of about 5 rn rn
It is made of hard urethane rubber, has a length substantially corresponding to the width lit of the image carrier, and is held by the blade holder 28. The cleaning blade 21 is controlled so that the blade Ruder 28 is engaged with a pressing/releasing means, and is controlled to press and release the image carrier 10 in the trail type manner. 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 (Toyo Rayon Ring) with a thickness of 6.2 denier and a length of 6 m including the fabric.
m, the density of flocking is 5000 fibers per square inch, and the structure is such that the flocking is directly carried out on the fabric and the fabric is joined to the roll-shaped rigid body. The fur brush 22 is installed at a position upstream of the cleaning blade 21 in the rotation direction of the image carrier 10 and in pressure contact with the image carrier IO with a nip width of about 3 to 13 mm, and is arranged to press against the image carrier IO with a nip width of about 3 to 13 mm. It rotates in the opposite direction to the rotational direction to actively rub and remove residual toner on the surface of the image carrier. Further, a flicker 30 is provided on the substantially opposite side of the image carrier 10 to the fur brush 22. The flicker 30 is a hard rod having a rigidity of about 5 mff1 when viewed directly, and has a length substantially corresponding to the width of the fur brush 22, and a circle formed by the open end of the bristles 29 of the fur brush 22. That is, the fur brush 2 is inserted into the outer circumference of the fur brush 22 by about 1 to z mm.
The bristles 29 are arranged so as to strike the bristles 29 uniformly over the entire length of the bristles 29 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 to a position below the above-mentioned first and second cleaning members' and lightly pressed against the image carrier 10. It is pivoted on. the elastic roller;
23 can be driven by just making light contact with the image carrier 10, and has good sealing with the image carrier 10, with little toner leakage or scattering, and furthermore, the image carrier! Since there is no relative velocity with respect to zero and the toner adhering to the fine holes on the surface of the elastic roller 23 is made to slip easily, it has the characteristics that toner filming and scratches on the surface of the image carrier do not occur. Also, the image at support 1'0 is pressed against the elastic roller 23.
A scraper 32 is provided on the opposite side of the scraper 32, which has a length substantially corresponding to the width of the elastic roller 23, and whose free end is in pressure contact with the elastic roller 23 over the entire length thereof. , the other end is attached β1 to a scraper holder 33 which is rotatably installed as a longitudinal axis between the steel plates of the frame 2G. The scraper holder 3
3 is fixed to the side plate 1iii with screws, etc., and if necessary, tighten the screws 11 to reduce the elasticity of the scraper 32;
It is possible to change the pressure applied to the roller 23 as appropriate. A pressure feeding screw 34 is disposed below the scraper 32, i.e. in the vicinity of the lower part of the cleaning device 20 as shown in 1) η, and the toner that has fallen onto the pressure feeding screw x-34 is collected for reuse (not shown). transported to the developing device. A charge eliminating electrode 27 is provided below the roller 23 on the bullet, and neutralizes the charge 6:I of the residual toner present in the charged portion on the image bearing member 0 immediately before cleaning. The static elimination electrode 27 is attached to one plate piece that constitutes the frame 26 of the cleaning device a220, which is made of extruded aluminum material. That is, the concave portion of the plate piece of the frame 2G, which has a substantially semicircular cross-sectional shape and has substantially the same width as the image carrier 10 in the longitudinal direction (perpendicular to the paper surface), constitutes the back plate 271 of the static elimination electrode 27. do. A current-carrying electrode wire is stretched across the center of the semicircular back plate 271, and the back plate 27! The distance from the wire to the wire is about 7 mm. The distance between the surface of the portrait 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, its tip becomes the static elimination electrode 2.
7, the charged state of the residual toner is neutralized by the action of the static eliminating electrode 27. Next, the image carrier 1
It passes through the l-ra 23 with the elasticity that is lightly pressed against the fur brush 22 and reaches a position opposite the fur brush 22 by 4 degrees. The fur brush 22 presses against the image carrier lO with a nip width of 3 to 4 mm, rotates in the opposite direction to the image carrier, and then rubs and removes the residual toner on the image carrier by 4 degrees. Ru. The fur brush 22
Approximately 20% to 40% of the residual toner on the image carrier
About % is removed. However, the residual toner that could not be removed by the fur brush 22 is sufficiently loosened from adhering to the image carrier by the rubbing action of the fur brush 22, and is then scraped off by two cleaning blades S. The residual toner rubbed and removed from the image carrier by the fur brush 22 is removed by the bristles of the fur brush 22.
As the fur brush 22 rotates, the fur brush 22 moves to the flicker 30 installation position, where it is knocked off by the flicker 30 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 . As described above, the fur brush 22 is rotating in the opposite direction to the 101 rotation direction of the image carrier, so some of the toner that has fallen from the cleaning blade 2I is collected by the bristles 29 of the fur brush 22 and transported. However, 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 tO are in a sealed state, and the elastic roller 23 rotates following the image carrier 10, so that the falling toner cannot reach any further downward C. Instead, it is conveyed according to the rotation of the elastic roller 23 and scraped off by the scraper 32.
It reaches 34 parts. FIG. 2 shows I) Pressure contact of the cleaning blade 21 to the image carrier IO 21q performed by the trail type.
Cancellation f! FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the cleaning device showing AMII. The pressure contact/release mechanism includes a DC motor 43 fixedly supported at three points above the right side plate 24 facing the image carrier 10, and a drive gear CI fixed to the main shaft of the DC motor 43. , an intermediate gear G2 that meshes with the drive gear Gl, a cam 44 that shares a rotating shaft to which the intermediate gear G2 is fixed and is also fixed to the rotating shaft, and an engaging portion on the cam surface of the cam 44. A stay 42 that engages at 421, a blade shaft 41 to which the stay 42 is fixed to the shaft end, a blade holder 28 that swings as the blade shaft 41 rotates, and a blade 1; A pair of left and right pressure contact springs 46 that bias the image carrier 10.
47. 1) The C 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, and the output shaft end via the plurality of built-in gears is made of a sintered alloy. The drive gear G1 is fixed. The intermediate gear G2 that meshes with the drive gear GK is made of synthetic resin, has a bearing part on the right side plate 24, and is attached to the rotating shaft 45 which is rotatably supported by the bearing part, together with the cam 44. The rotational force from the drive gear Gl is transmitted to both the intermediate gear G2 and the cam 44. The stay 42 has a side 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 so that the stay 42 engages with the cam surface of the cam 44 as the cam 44 rotates. The driven interlocking of the stay i engaging portion 421 is transmitted to the rotation of the blade shaft, and is converted into pressing and releasing operations of the cleaning blade 2N against the image carrier 10. Note that 1! when the cleaning blade 2I is pressed against the image carrier. : 1 weight is a value determined by the pressure contact spring 46.47, and the actual value in the example is 30 g/as to 50 g/as. The mechanism for pressing and releasing the cleaning blade 21 against the image carrier lO is constructed as follows, and its operation will be described below. Upon receiving the copy start signal, the C motor 43 rotates for a predetermined period of 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, causing the stay 42 to engage. ff1 (421 is pressure spring 4
6 and 47, the cam moves up following the cam surface of the cam, rotates the blade shaft 41[deg.], and thus the cleaning/rade 21 is brought into pressure contact with the image carrier IO. During copying, the cleaning blade 21 continues to be in the pressure contact state and continues to scrape off the residual toner on the image carrier -1-. 1) C motor 43 after about 1 minute by a timer (not shown) activated by the copy end signal.
starts rotating, and the cam 44 pushes down the engaging portion 421 of the stay 42 against the urging force of the pressure springs 46 and 47, and the two cleaning blades are therefore separated from the surface of the image carrier. Due to the operation of the above-mentioned pressure contact/release mechanism, the pressure contact of the cleaning blade 2I against the image carrier can be kept to the minimum necessary, so that the cleaning blade 2I is constantly in pressure contact with the image carrier. Scratches, dents, etc. on the image carrier can be reduced, and these scratches,
It is possible to prevent copy defects caused by dents and the like, and at the same time, it is possible to extend the life of the image carrier. In addition, by providing a mechanism for pressing and releasing the cleaning blade against the image carrier on the cleaning device side,
Compared to the conventional method in which driving force is obtained from outside the device via a transmission means, an intermediate transmission member or the same means is required. It will be a mournful composition. This method, which eliminates the need for a driving force transmission means from outside the cleaning device, not only makes it easier to install and remove the device during cleaning and maintenance, but also eliminates the need for conventional driving force transmission. Eliminate the problems caused by cumulative variations in machining accuracy of valley parts. FIGS. 3 to 5 are diagrams showing an electric suction fan (not shown) or the like in the copying apparatus and a suction means for sucking toner from a suction port disposed at an appropriate position in the present cleaning device. The suction means related to this cleaning device includes a main duct 50, a lower duct 51, and a suction area 5.
2, a first suction hole 264, a second suction hole 265, and a valve C1 means 53. The main duct 50 is disposed on the back side of the cleaning device, and collects all the air and air mixed with toner from the suction port placed at an appropriate location in the cleaning device, and drains the air inside the copying device (not shown). This is a conduit that conveys to the electric suction fan section. The lower duct 51 is provided near the bottom of the cleaning device, and includes a −1; surface duct plate 263, a lower surface duct plate 1-262, and a right side plate 24 that is both sides of the cleaning device frame. The image carrier is surrounded by the left side plate 25 and has a substantially width [l
Below the elastic roller 23, there is a shield 6 close to and facing the surface of the image carrier, and the lower suction area 51 is -L.
The face plate 266, the back plate 260, and the middle distance!
267 and near both ends of the intermediate septum. The first mylar plate 268 and the second mylar plate 269 form one hollow part, and the upper surface of the open end side of the cleaning blade 21 and the upper surface plate 266 form an upper suction port 521. The reading suction port 521 is located close to the surface of the image carrier 10 and has an opening U-L extending over the entire length in the longitudinal direction. The first suction hole 264 and the second suction hole 265, which are two 1jFJ0 parts, face each other near both ends of the image carrier.
・The amount of suction that sucks the air in the sash 1 area γ52.

[Forms part 1.] 1) The blower means 53 includes an electric blow-off fan (not shown) provided in the copying machine, a duct 531 from the fan, and a charging back plate 6 of the charging electrode GO! It is composed of 11 parts and 6 blow-out openings provided in the duct 531, and passes through the blow-out opening 611 between the lamp holder notch 621 of the lamp holder 62 and the surface of the image carrier, and then the upper suction Mouth 52! Form a flow path leading to. The swivel means according to the present cleaning device has the above-mentioned structure, and its operation will be explained below. 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 and reaches the main duct 50 via the lower duct 51.
This is a flow path that reaches the suction area 52, is sucked by the first suction hole 264 and the second suction hole 265 of the area 52, and reaches the main duct 50#. Furthermore, the flow path of the air blown from the blower means 53 described above after the upper suction port 521 is as follows: merges into the road. The cleaning device includes the intermediate wall 267 and a first mylar plate 268 coated with Ri1.
and a second Mylar plate 269 into two hollow parts, of which the upper part is the succinct area 52 and the lower part is the cleaning area 54. A fur brush 22 and flickers 30 and -34 are installed in the cleaning area 54, and during the cleaning operation, the toner scraped off by the cleaning blade 21 or the flicker 30 is removed.
A part of the toner that is knocked off from the fur brush 22 is scattered in the cleaning area 54 and is trapped in the cleaning area 54. The cleaning area 54 is surrounded by a two-part suction port 521 and a lower suction port 511, and toner leaking from the cleaning area 54 is immediately sucked to prevent the harmful effects of scattered toner on others. . The second of the two openings provided on the back plate 260
The suction hole 265 and the second suction hole 265 are provided at positions facing near both ends of the image carrier, so that they can be used not only in the swivel 1 area but also in both left and right ends of the blade holder 2B and the left side. It passes through a small gap formed between the left side plate 25 and the right side plate 24, and acts on the residual toner near both ends of the image carrier, which has conventionally been relatively difficult to clean, and sucks the toner. The flow of air that follows the flow path that is blown from the opening ett in the charging back plate 6 of the charging electrode GO, is sucked from the upper suction port 521, and merges at the sash 1 area 52 is caused by the flow of air that flows through the charging electrode GO. In addition to exerting a cleaning effect on toner etc. that adheres to the wire, the blowing effect of the previous blowout and the effect of suction combine to clean the toner that has leaked out near the upper suction port 521, and the surface of the image carrier is cleaned by air. Demonstrates a 4° rubbing and removal effect. The lower duct plate 262, which is a component of the lower duct 51, is made of metal such as extruded aluminum, and has a length substantially the same as the width of the image carrier in the longitudinal direction (perpendicular to the paper). However, the cross-sectional shape is as shown in the figure.
Hitting - one side is a curved surface forming a duct and the other side is the static elimination electrode 2
This is one plate piece with a curved surface forming the back plate 271 of No. 7. 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. 4 shows the swing mechanism of No. 1. After the cleaning blade 21 comes into pressure contact with the image carrier 10, the swing mechanism moves the cleaning blade 2! in the longitudinal direction of the image carrier 10. It acts to make the oscillate. The swinging mechanism is provided on the left side plate 25 of the frame 2G of the cleaning device 20, and is connected to gears G12°Glf3. C
10, a gear support plate 37, a swing groove 35, and a guide 36. A rotational driving force is transmitted to the gear 012 from outside the cleaning device described in 11η, and is configured integrally with a gear Gt3 having a different external shape.
A rotational force is transmitted to I5 to rotationally drive the fur brush 22. Also, the gear CI2 is connected to the pressure feed screw x-34.
It meshes with a gear Gll fixed to the screw shaft, and rotates the pressure feeding screw 34. This is an idler that transmits information to G17, and is rotatably supported by the left side plate 25 by a gear support plate 37. The gear ( ) 17 integrally runs a cam on which a swing FR 35 is carved, and is pivoted to a rotating shaft fixed to the left side plate 25. The guide 36 is fixed to the four folds of the flade shaft. The convex portion of the guide is engaged with the swing groove 11q, and the gear C
The rotation of I7 acts to swing the blade shaft. The swinging mechanism of the two cleaning blades of this cleaning device is constructed as described above, and its operation will be explained below.8. reactor. In FIG. 6, the gear GI2. to which rotational driving force is transmitted from outside the cleaning device. G13 rotates, and rotational force is transmitted from gear CI2 to gear IG to gear CI7, and a cam that is integrally fixed to gear GI7 rotates, causing the oscillation carved in the cam to rotate. The groove 35 causes a swinging motion of 2 mm to the left and right with an amplitude of 1 mm to the guide element 3.
．． 6. The blade shaft to which the guide 3G is fixed to the shaft end is driven by the guide 3G to swing in the longitudinal direction of the shaft. As a result of this rocking, the cleaning blade 21 creates a gap of 1'' between 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 rocking, so that the cleaning blade 21 creates a gap of 1'' 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. When the air in the image area 52 is sucked from the first suction 10264 and the second suction hole 265 set at 260, both ends of the image carrier are passed through the gap 1 and the front side. The effect of the suction action h (extends to the image bearing member 10 shown in FIG. 7)
F4 between the fur brush 22 and the flicker 30
+ It is a cross-sectional view showing the mutual relationship. First, let us explain the bite m that appropriately expresses the state of pressure contact between the image carrier and the fur brush a, and the fur brush and the flicker. The biting FIt refers to the deformed portion m generated by the deformation of the pressed portion of the fur brush when the fur brush is pressed against the image carrier or when the fur brush is pressed against the fur brush. That is, the trajectory circle drawn by the tip of the bristles of the fur brush when it is not deformed, the image carrier and the flicker are in pressure contact with the fur brush, and therefore the trajectory circle intersects with each outer circumference, and an overlapping portion is formed by both. be done. The maximum value of the overlapping portion viewed in the half-screw direction is referred to as both biting m. The mutual bite m between the image carrier 10, the fur brush 22, and the flicker 30 of 11η in this cleaning device is shown in FIG. ° symbol
The bite nl between the image carrier 10 and the fur brush 22 can be expressed as lCF, and the bite m between the flicker 30 and the fur brush 22 can be expressed as ΔD.
Therefore, in the case of this device, flicker 30 and fur brush 2 are always connected.
2 is a configuration in which the bite fiAD between the image carrier 10 and the fur brush 22 is greater than or at most equal to the bite 111 E I'' between the image carrier 10 and the fur brush 22. The bristles 29 of No. 22 rotate in the opposite direction to the rotational direction of the image carrier 1O while rubbing and removing the residual toner adhering to the surface of the image carrier 1O. This is due to the effect 1; that there is less chance of collecting toner on the rotation center side. This is because it is relatively difficult for toner to penetrate into the inner part of the fur brush 22, which is defined by the hair length hJ of the body 29 and the biting Eit between the image carrier lO and the fur brush 22. Therefore, the toner collected between the bristles of the fur brush 22 and near the surface thereof is conveyed by the rotation of the fur brush 22 itself and is knocked off to the flicker 30. The aforementioned bite ff1AD has the effect of being able to sufficiently knock off the toner from the fur brush 22 if it is at most equal to the aforementioned EF or slightly larger. The flicker 30 in this cleaning device is located below the horizontal line from the rotation center of the fur brush 22, and is located below the image carrier 1.
The fur brush 22 has a structural feature in that it is located downstream in the rotational direction of the fur brush 22 from the part of the fur brush 22 that is in pressure contact with the fur brush 22 . The fur brush 22 is the image carrier! Since the flicker 30 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow in the figure, which is opposite to the rotation of 0, it is sufficient to install the flicker 30 at an appropriate position in the lower half of the illustrated fur brush 2 and 2. 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 to the installation position of the flicker 30, and is driven by the flicker 30. When the toner is knocked off from the bristles 29, the toner is knocked off at the moment the bristles come into contact with the flicker, and the toner passes through the flicker and the toner separates from the flicker. It can be divided into those that are blown away depending on the force of the moment. In this latter case, there is a concern that the toner that has been blown away may fly back onto the fur brush 22; In this cleaning device characterized by the above-described configuration, the flicker 30 is positioned below the horizontal line from the rotation center of the fur brush 22 and at the part of the fur brush that is in pressure contact with the image carrier. Since it is located on the downstream side in the rotational direction, the effect of the blown toner not returning to the fur brush 22-1 but falling onto the pressure feeding screw 34 by 4 degrees is eliminated. The cross-sectional shape of the flicker 30 of this cleaning device has various structural features described below. That is, the cross-sectional shape of the flicker 30 as shown in FIG. The flicker 3 for the brush 22
The maximum point of 0 penetration, the point indicated by the symbol in the figure, and the corresponding) γ
- A line connecting the point where the outer locus circle drawn by the tip of the bristles 29 of the brush 22 intersects the flicker 30 at the downstream side in the rotating direction of the fur brush 22, and the point indicated by the symbol 1 (in the figure). h, and when the line connecting the above formula and the rotation center of the fur brush 22 is 1, the angle between a and I21 is 45° or less, and the line connecting A in 11q and the above n (i.e., h) and e1 have an angle θ, and intersect the point C where the outline locus circle of the fur brush 22 intersects with the outline of the flicker 3o on the upstream side in the rotational direction. When the angle between the 4° line and the above a is θ!, then 0
! is always 0. It is constructed so that it has a relationship of being greater than or equal to . This is because the fur brush 22 rubs and removes the residual toner on the surface of the image carrier IO, collects and conveys the toner between the bristles 29 and on the surface thereof, and the flicker 30 collects the toner. When the toner is knocked off, the hair body 29 passes through the flicker 30 as described above.
In order to increase the effect of separating the toner from the bristle body 29, which is blown away by the force applied when the bristle body 29 returns from the so-called fallen state to the erected state, the cross-sectional shape of the flicker described in 1) is relevant. In the latter half of the flicker 30's maximum biting point, that is, on the downstream side in the direction of rotation of the fur brush 22, the urging force accompanying the return of the steel bristle body 29 acts as a resistance to its movement. This is due to operational reasons that it is preferable that there be no substances that affect the An embodiment of the preferred shape of the cleaning device as described above is shown in FIG. 7, but the shape of the flicker is not limited to the embodiment shown in the figure, and the shape of the flicker is determined according to the two conditional expressions mentioned above. If the angle between e and 1 is 45° or less, the nodal angle Q between g and AC is always greater than or equal to the nodal angle 01 between a and the above. If you are satisfied with it, it will produce the same effect. Due to the cross-sectional shape of the flicker in this embodiment, the flicker
After passing, the urging force of the fur brush 29 is increased compared to the conventional one, and the toner can be effectively separated from the fur brush 22. In addition, the toner that was previously deposited on the flicker is now removed. It will fall easily and will not accumulate on the flicker. 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, a flicker 30, a scraper 32, a scraper holder 33, an intermediate wall 267, and a first mylar plate 2.
68, second mylar plate 269, right inner plate 281.
It is composed of a left inner plate 282 and the like. Right inner plate 28 of the inner unit 40! Bearings for the fur brush 22 and the elastic roller 23 are fixed to the left inner plate 282, respectively, so that the fur brush 22 and the elastic roller 23 are rotatable. The flicker 7.30, the scraper holder 33 and the middle wall 267 are respectively connected to the right inner plate 281.
It is also fixed to the left inner plate 282 with screws or the like. This inner unit 40 has a right inner plate 2 attached to the right side plate 24.
81 is N/1 m where the left inner plate 282 is fitted into the left side plate 25. To explain the right side plate 24 and the right inner plate 281 shown in FIG. 8, the right side plate 24
The right inner plate 28! The right inner plate 281 is fitted into the inner space r-11<242 which is carved in the same shape as the outer shape of the inner unit 40, and the shaft 22! is attached loosely, 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 both. The inner unit 40 is equipped with members such as a fur brush 22, an elastic rope 23, and a scraper 32, which are easily soiled and wear out compared to the other eight parts in the device, and are used for cleaning, maintenance, and maintenance. The inner unit 40 is often removed from the frame 26 of the cleaning device in order to replace consumable parts or to replace consumable parts. Can be removed. 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. Honri Leaning Sou &! 220 is the frame body 26 as mentioned above.
Each of the cleaning members is housed inside the copying apparatus, forming a unit structure independent from the main body of the copying apparatus, and can be installed and removed with simple operations. In order to attach and remove the cleaning device 20 to the main body of the copying machine, a fixing shaft 247 and a substantially inverted U-shaped straddle groove 246 are attached to the right side plate 24 of the frame 26, and a straddle groove 246 is attached to the left side plate 25. A fixed shaft 257 and a straddling groove 256 are respectively provided in the structure. The left side plate 25 side shown in FIG. 9 will be explained in 11q, but the right side plate 24 side has a bilaterally symmetrical structure and is the same, so the explanation will be omitted. The nη-marked straddle groove 256 in the left side plate 25 is formed by cutting out the left side plate 25 in an inverted U shape near the intersection of the rear part and the bottom, assuming that the opening surface of the cleaning device 20 is the front side. The fixed shaft 257 is shaped like an extension of the wave groove in the direction from the opening side to the bottom thereof. The fixed shaft 257 is fixed vertically outward in the vicinity of the intersection between the second part and the front part of the left side plate 25. On the right side wall 74 and left side wall 75 of the drum mount 70 on the side of the main body of the copying machine on which the cleaning device 20 is installed, there are support shafts 741 and 751 that support the straddle M grooves 246° and 256, and the fixed shaft 247, respectively. .
It has a configuration in which fixing convex portions 743 and 753 are fixed by pressing at 44.754. The mounting structure for installing the cleaning device 20 together with the frame 26 on the drum mount 70 on the copying apparatus main body side has the above-mentioned structure, and the method of mounting will be described below. The straddling grooves 246, 256 of the right side plate 24 and left side plate 25 of the frame 26 on the cleaning device side are opposed to the support shafts 741, 751 of the right side wall 74 and left side plate 75 of the drum mount 70. , insert the frame through the opening of the straddle groove until the support shaft abuts the bottom of the straddle groove. Connect the slow wave frame to the left and right support shafts 741.7 to confirm contact.
51 as the center of rotation, the drum mount 70 is rotated toward the image carrier side, and the fixed shafts 247, 257 are connected to the support convex portions 742, 75 of the right side wall 74 and the left side plate 75.
2. After that, the fixing screws 744, 754
i) i) The fixed shafts 247, 257 are connected to the supporting protrusions 74.
The suppression is fixed to 2,752. 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 slow wave frame 26 is rotated toward the image carrier side. Due to the positional relationship between the straddling groove and the fixed shaft as described above, the frame 26
When the fixed shaft position passes a vertically upward line from the center of the support shaft, the center of gravity of the frame moves toward the image carrier with respect to the support shaft, and the image carrier is moved around the support shaft. Generates an urging force that rotates toward the body. Since the frame body 26 obtains the urging force, the fixed shafts 247, 257 press the contact portions of the supporting convex portions 742, 752, so that the fixed shafts 247, 257 of the fixing screws 744° 754 are suppressed and fixed. Coupled with this action, the positioning effect of the frame 2G relative to the drum mount 70 can be made more reliable. FIG. 1θ is a perspective view showing a structure in which the elastic roller 23 is brought into pressure contact with the image carrier lO of the present cleaning device. The pressure contact mechanism is provided on the right inner plate 281, the left inner plate 282, and near both shaft ends of the elastic roller 23 of the inner unit, and is symmetrical, with an elliptical bearing 233° 234 and elliptical recesses 289, 290. and shaft springs 287, 288
It is composed of a spring fixing convex M285.2H, etc. The pressure contact mechanism will be explained below from the right inner plate 281 side shown in FIG. 10. The elliptical bearing 233 is a bearing rotatably connected to both ends of the U shaft 231 of the elastic roller 23, and has a substantially elliptical outer shape with a flat portion in the long sleeve direction. There is. 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 recess in the long axis direction. It is slightly longer than an elliptical bearing. The axial spring 287 is a thin metal plate having spring properties of approximately W.
It is a spring formed in a 4-shape, and the above-mentioned (i inner plate 281
It is fixed to a spring fixing protrusion 285 provided in the spring with a screw or the like. The pressing mechanism of the elastic roller 23 against the image carrier lO is constructed as described above, and its function will be explained below with reference to the right inner plate 281 side. Due to the action of the axial spring 287, the elastic roller 23 is pushed into the elliptical recess 289 together with the elliptical bearing 233.
The image bearing member side is pressed. 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 biasing force of the axial spring is set to such an extent that the supporting body 11 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 elliptical recess. That is, the pressing force of the elastic roller 23 when it is pressed against the image carrier is determined by the biasing force of the pivot spring. Due to this convenient pressure contact III structure, the pressing force of the elastic roller 23 against the image carrier IO is applied to the axially pressing spring 287.
As a result of being able to easily adjust the pressure with 288 and obtaining a preferable pressing force, conventionally, for example, if the pressing force of the elastic roller against the image bearing member is too strong, the residual toner will be strongly pressed, causing it to stick to the image bearing member. On the other hand, if the pressing force of the elastic roller against the image and carrier J is too weak, there will be problems between the elastic roller and the image carrier J. However, the above-mentioned disadvantages can be overcome by the pressure contact mechanism. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a cleaning device according to another embodiment, and FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing the main part of the cleaning device shown in FIG. 1I in further detail. The cleaning device shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 has a construction in which a toner leak prevention means is provided in the cleaning device of the above-described embodiment. 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 made of a rigid bar in the shape of an abbreviation. 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-fed scolico 34. The upper surface plate 263 is fixed to the upper surface plate 263. The vibration stay 57 is made of a rigid thin plate and is formed into a substantially U-shape, one end of which is fixed to the mylar support plate 56 with a fixing member 561, and the free end side of the vibration stay 57 is fixed to the mylar support plate 56 with a fixing member 561.
-34 screw shaft 34! It is engaged with a projection 11H342 formed by inserting a screw or the like into the shaft, and as the screw shaft rotates, the vibration effect is transmitted to the mylar support plate 56 by the movement of the projection. The diaphragm 58 is fixed to both the mylar support plate 56 and the outer wall of the pressure feed screen L-34,
The vibrations from the vibrating stay 56 are transmitted to the vibrating mylar while the mylar support plate 56 and the fixing member 11 are left in place. The toner leakage prevention means has the above 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 1G and is 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. In the vicinity of the pressure contact point where the scraper 32 is in pressure contact with the elastic roller 23, a portion of the scraped toner sneaks into the downstream side of the scraper in the rotational direction of the elastic roller 23 and is deposited near the pressure contact point. fall from There is also toner in a floating state, and these toners are absorbed by the elastic a-ra 23 on the cleaning device side, which is close to the surface of the image carrier.
There is a possibility of leakage and scattering from the lower 114 opening. The vibrating mylar 55, which is provided close to and facing the scraper 32 on the downstream side in the rotational direction of the elastic roller 23, uses the vibration effect caused by the rotation of the pressure feeding screw 34 to suppress the scraper as described above. This has the effect of preventing toner that has gotten into the back side or floating toner from being deposited on the vibrating Mylar itself, and at the same time, preventing the toner from leaking and scattering from the opening below the elastic roller 23. The sequence of the suction action in the cleaning device according to the present invention as described above will be explained with reference to the time chart of FIG. ■The blade pressure welding/release motor is O.
The DC motor 43 is started and the cleaning blade 2! is in the N state. Image carrier! Start pressing operation against 0. The pressure contact is completed after a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the start of the pressure contact operation of the cleaning blade 21, and then the operations of (1) the main motor, (2) the SAXILON fan, and (3) the blow fan are simultaneously started. This is because the cleaning blade 21 is attached to the image carrier l.
In addition to the reason that the cleaning action of the residual toner by the cleaning blade 21 is impossible unless the pressure contact with the cleaning blade is completed, there is also the reason that rIftF! If 1 exists, the air blown out from the blower means 53 from the gap 1)f)
It is inevitable that the toner will invade the E'z leaning area 54 and leak the toner outside from the cleaning area which is filled with donors. In this way, the image carrier of the cleaning blade 21! 0
Are the main motor, suction fan, and probe 1 working at the same time after the pressure welding is completed? The second operation is started and copying is performed. At the end of the copying process, when the number of copied recording sheets reaches a desired number and a copying end signal is issued, the main motor, saxophone cylinder, and blow fan simultaneously stop operating. After the time ffl has elapsed until the effects of the succinct fan and blow fan subside, ■
The blade pressure contact/release monitor is started, and the DC motor 43 rotates and releases the cleaning blade 21 so as to move it #IR away from the image carrier 10. This is also for the same reason as described above, and is strictly controlled so that the cleaning area is kept in a sealed state by pressure contact between the blade and the image carrier, and air is not blown into the cleaning area by the blow fan. FIG. 14 shows a flowchart when the present cleaning device starts copying. When the copy button is turned ON, the ON status will be notified by lighting up L, ED, etc. If o +> p, copy button again ONa! make a work By turning on the copy button, the cleaning blade 2
The pressure contact/release DC motor 43 starts and rotates the cleaning blade 21 in the direction toward which the cleaning blade 21 is brought into pressure contact with the image carrier IO. After waiting for the 11 seconds required for the cleaning blade 21 to reliably come into pressure contact with the image carrier 10 to complete, the main motor, succinct fan, and blow fan operate simultaneously to start copying. FIG. 15 shows a flowchart when the present cleaning device finishes copying. When a desired number of copied recording sheets are ejected outside the machine, a copy completion signal is issued. Upon completion of copying, the main motor,
The operation of the blow fan is stopped at the same time. After that, the time required for the air flow by the succinct fan or blow fan to stop. Wait until the cleaning blade 21
The I)C motor 43 for pressing and releasing the blade starts to rotate in the direction of releasing the blade, and the blade is separated from the image carrier and continues in this state. Effects 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, fur brush, and cleaning blade work synergistically to clean the surface of the image bearing member. The recovery rate of residual toner is improved, and the shielding means is activated to prevent toner from leaking onto the surface of the image carrier facing the cleaning device 11r1, thereby keeping it in a clean state.As a result, the image quality is improved. Thus, a cleaning device for an electrostatic recording device that can obtain accurate copies with good quality has been 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. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the cleaning device frame as seen from the image carrier side, FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the suction duct, FIG. FIG. 7 is a sectional view illustrating the mutual relationship among the image carrier, fur brush, and flicker, as well as their individual characteristics. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the inner unit of the cleaning device. FIG. 9 10 is an explanatory diagram showing how the present cleaning device is assembled together with the frame on a drum mount, FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a pressure contact mechanism of an elastic roller against an image carrier, FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing a cleaning device according to another embodiment, and FIG. 12
The figure is an enlarged sectional view of the main parts of the cleaning device shown in FIG. 1K, FIG. 13 is a time chart of the suction means of the cleaning device, and FIG. , FIG. 15 is a flowchart of the present cleaning device at the end of copying. 10...Image carrier 20...Cleaning device 2I...Cleaning blade 22...Fur brush 23...Elastic roller 24
...Right side plate 25...Left side plate 26...
Frame body 27... Static elimination electrode 28... Blade holder 29... Hair body 22... Shaft
233,234...elliptical bearing 241,251...
Substantially U-shaped groove 242, 252...inner opening 246.
256... Straddling groove 247, 257... Fixed shaft 260... Back plate 262... Lower duct plate 263... Upper duct plate 264... First suction port 265... No. 2 Suction port 266...Top plate 267...Middle partition wall 26
8...First Mylar plate 26...Second Mylar plate 271...Back plate 281...Right inner plate 282...Left inner plate 285.286...Spring fixing convex portion 287.288... ... Axial push spring 289.290 ... Oval shaped four parts 30 ... Flicker 32 ... Scraper 33 ...
Scraper holder 34... Pressure feed scraper: L-35... Rocking groove 3G...
・Guide 37...Gear support plate 341...
Screw shaft 342...Protrusion 40...Inner unit 41...Blade shaft 42...Stay
43...DC motor 44...Cam
45...Rotating shaft 46.47...Pressure spring 421
...Engaging part 50...Main duct 51...Lower duct 52...Success duct 53...Blower means 54...Cleaning area 55...Vibrating mylar 56...Mylar support Plate 57 - Vibration stay 58 - Vibration plate 511
...Lower suction port 521...Top suction port 53
1... Duct 60... Charging electrode 6K... Charging back plate 62... Lamp holder 611... Opening 62
1... Lamp holder notch 70... Drum mount 74... Right side wall 75.
...Left side l 741,751...Support shaft 7
42,752...Support convex portion 743,753...
Fixing convex portions 744, 754...fixing holes Gl, G2. G11. G12. G13,014,015
．． G16. G17... Gear applicant Konishiroku Photo Industry Co., Ltd. Figure 14 Figure 15

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A cleaning device for removing residual toner on an image carrier, wherein a first cleaning member comprising a cleaning blade that comes into pressure contact with the image carrier to scrape off the residual toner and the image carrier are rubbed together. a second cleaning member consisting of a fur brush for scrubbing residual toner; an elastic roller disposed below the two cleaning members and rotatably configured to press against the image carrier; A shielding means formed of a rigid thin plate and configured to vibrate to shield and guide the toner is provided below and in close opposition to the surface of the elastic roller, and a static elimination electrode is provided below the elastic roller to eliminate the electric charge of the residual toner. A cleaning device characterized by: