KR100335427B1 - Transfer roller cleaning apparatus for printer - Google Patents

Abstract

The transfer roller cleaning apparatus of the wet electrophotographic printer according to the present invention comprises a transfer roller for attaching a developer supplied from a developer feeder to a photosensitive medium with a rotating developer roller to transfer an electrostatic latent image formed by exposure to a recording sheet. A transfer roller cleaning apparatus for a wet electrophotographic printer for cleaning, the transfer roller cleaning apparatus being provided on one side of the transfer roller and remaining on the transfer roller by having a cleaning means provided in contact with an outer circumferential surface of the transfer roller to rotate and rotate. The quality of the print image can be improved by recovering toner particles and foreign matter by the cleaning roller which is in close contact with the transfer roller and rotated.

Description

Transfer roller cleaning apparatus for wet electrophotographic printer

The present invention relates to a wet electrophotographic printer, and more particularly, to a transfer roller cleaning apparatus for cleaning a transfer roller for transferring a toner image formed on a photosensitive medium to a recording paper.

In general, an electrophotographic printer forms a latent electrostatic image on a photosensitive medium such as a photosensitive belt or a photosensitive drum, develops the electrostatic latent image with a toner of a predetermined color, and transfers the image onto a recording sheet to obtain a desired image. It is an image forming apparatus. The electrophotographic printer is classified into dry and wet according to the toner used. In the dry electrophotographic printer, powder toner is used, whereas in the wet electrophotographic printer, the toner in a liquid carrier of a volatile component is used. A liquid developer in which is mixed is used. In the case of the wet type, the printing quality is better than that of the dry type, and the damage caused by the harmful toner dust can be prevented, and the use thereof is gradually increased.

1 is a schematic overall configuration diagram showing a general wet electrophotographic printer.

Referring to Figure 1, the general configuration of a general wet electrophotographic color printer, the photosensitive belt 110 as a photosensitive medium is supported by three rotating rollers 121, 122, 123 in a substantially triangular closed curve form. It is installed to run circular tracks.

A laser scanning unit (LSU) 130 is formed below the photosensitive belt 110 to form an electrostatic latent image by exposure by irradiating a laser beam to the photosensitive belt 110 according to an image signal. A developing apparatus 140 is provided for developing an electrostatic latent image by attaching a developer containing a toner of a specific color to an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive belt 110. The laser scanning unit 130 and the developing device 140 are electrostatic latent images for each color, that is, black, yellow, cyan, magenta, as shown for color printing. A plurality is provided so that formation and development are possible.

The photosensitive belt 110 has a constant charge by the voltage applied from the charging device 150, and as shown in the arrow direction, that is, traveling in a predetermined direction. In this case, the laser scanning unit 130 scans the laser beam corresponding to the pattern portion of a specific color to the photosensitive belt 110, and thus the portion that receives the light of the photosensitive belt 110 loses charge. There will be a voltage difference with the unlighted part.

Although the detailed configuration of the developing device 140 is not shown, a developing roller (not shown) for transferring the developing solution to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive belt 110 and supplying the developing solution to the surface of the developing roller are provided. It includes a developer for supply (not shown). Therefore, according to the developing device 140, the developer supplied from the developer supplyer is transferred to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive belt 110 through the developing roller, and a developer having a specific color is applied to a portion where the charge of the photosensitive belt 110 is lost. Develop.

The developing solution attached to the latent electrostatic latent image of the photosensitive belt 110 is dried while passing through the drying device 160 to remain as a filmed developing toner in which the liquid component is removed. The developing toner filmed on the recording surface of the photosensitive belt 110 as described above is transferred to the transfer roller 124 installed in parallel with the primary roller 121 with the photosensitive belt 110 interposed therebetween. The desired image can be obtained by being transferred to the recording paper 126 supplied through the fixing roller 125 provided in parallel with the roller 124. Reference numeral 170 is an antistatic device for releasing the charging state of the photosensitive belt 110 after the printing is completed.

Like the conventional wet electrophotographic color printer described above, an electrophotographic printer capable of obtaining a desired image by circulation of a photosensitive medium to which a developing toner is attached has a developing toner attached to its recording surface in a process of cycling the photosensitive medium. When transferred to a recording paper or a transfer roller for relaying to the recording paper, a perfect transition can be made to obtain a good image.

However, the toner image attached to the transfer roller 124 is not completely transferred to the recording paper 126 during the transfer process, and the toner image is transferred to the next transfer process with a small amount of toner particles remaining. Fine stakes, dust particles, and the like are attached to the surface of the transfer roller 124. Therefore, such residual toner particles, fine particles, dust particles, and the like contaminate the surface of the transfer roller 124, resulting in a problem that it is difficult to obtain a clean and clear image on the recording paper as the printing operation accumulates.

Therefore, such residual developing toner accumulates on the transfer roller as a contaminant together with foreign matters such as dust in proportion to the number of subsequent prints, thereby causing a problem of degrading image quality in subsequent printing processes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to improve the conventional problems as described above, and provides a transfer roller cleaning apparatus for a wet electrophotographic printer for removing foreign substances such as toner remaining in the transfer roller so as to improve print image quality. The purpose is to.

1 is a schematic overall configuration diagram showing a general wet electrophotographic printer,

2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a transfer roller cleaning apparatus for a wet electrophotographic printer according to the present invention;

3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a transfer roller cleaning apparatus of a wet electrophotographic printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

<Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

110 ... Photosensitive belt 121,122,123 ... Rotating roller

124 transfer roller 125 fixing roller

126 ... recording paper 130 ... laser scanning unit (LSU)

140 ... Developing device 150 ... Charging device

160 ... Drying device 170 ... Static eliminator

a ... first position b ... second position

223 cleaning roller 225 ...

226 ... hinge point 227 ... solenoid absent

228 Cam member 229 Pressing means

In order to achieve the above object, a transfer roller cleaning apparatus of a wet electrophotographic printer according to the present invention attaches a developer supplied from a developer feeder to a photosensitive medium with a rotating developer roller to record an electrostatic latent image formed by exposure. In the transfer roller cleaning apparatus of the wet electrophotographic printer for cleaning the transfer roller to be transferred to the paper, the cleaning roller is provided on one side of the transfer roller, the cleaning means is provided in contact with the outer circumferential surface of the transfer roller to rotate and rotate It is characterized by including.

According to the present invention, the cleaning means is installed on one side of the transfer roller, the cleaning roller is rotated in contact with the transfer roller; The cleaning roller is coupled to one end thereof, and the cleaning roller is rotatable about a hinge point between a first position where the cleaning roller is in contact with the outer circumferential surface of the transfer roller and a second position that is spaced apart from the first position by a predetermined distance. Installed rotation lever; And a solenoid member coupled to the other end of the pivoting lever to pivot the pivoting lever.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the cleaning means, the cleaning roller is installed on one side of the transfer roller, the roller in contact with the transfer roller; The cleaning roller is coupled to one end thereof, and the cleaning roller is rotatable about a hinge point between a first position where the cleaning roller is in contact with the outer circumferential surface of the transfer roller and a second position that is spaced apart from the first position by a predetermined distance. Installed rotation lever; Press means installed on one side of the main body to press the pivot lever toward the second position; And a cam member which is installed in contact with the other end of the pivoting lever to rotate the cleaning roller toward the first position.

Hereinafter, a transfer roller cleaning apparatus of a wet electrophotographic printer according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a transfer roller cleaning apparatus of a wet electrophotographic printer according to the present invention. Like reference numerals in the drawings shown above indicate the same components.

Referring to FIG. 2, the transfer roller cleaning apparatus of the wet electrophotographic printer according to the present invention is a device for removing foreign substances such as toner remaining in the transfer roller 124 so as to improve print image quality. As the first cleaning means, the toner image developed by being attached to the electrostatic latent image of the photosensitive belt 110 by the developing device 140 is installed in parallel with the primary rotating roller 121 with the photosensitive belt 110 interposed therebetween. The transfer roller 124 is installed on the surface of the transfer roller 124 on the entry side of the recording paper 126 which is transferred through the fixing roller 125 installed in parallel with the transfer roller 124.

In more detail, the first cleaning means is installed on the surface of the transfer roller 124 on the side of the recording paper 126 supplied through the fixing roller 125 installed in parallel with the transfer roller 124. It is provided with a cleaning roller 223 in contact with the roller 124 to rotate relative to the transfer roller 124.

In addition, a rotation lever 225 is coupled to one end of the cleaning roller 223 to rotate the cleaning roller 223 about the hinge point 226 of its central axis. Here, reference numeral a denotes a first position where the cleaning roller 223 is in contact with the outer circumferential surface of the transfer roller 124 by the rotation of the rotation lever 225. Reference numeral b denotes a second position which is stopped at a predetermined interval of rotation and spaced apart from the first position a. Thus, the solenoid member 227 is provided at the other end of the rotation lever 225 to rotate the rotation lever 225 to the first and second positions (a) and (b).

The transfer roller cleaning apparatus of the wet electrophotographic printer according to the present invention having the first cleaning means as described above cleans the photosensitive medium by the following action.

In the transfer roller cleaning apparatus of the wet electrophotographic printer according to the present invention, the transfer toner image developed by being attached to the electrostatic latent image of the photosensitive belt 110 is transferred to the transfer roller 124 and transferred to the recording paper 126 for printing. The toner image transferred to the roller is in contact with the transfer roller 124 until it reaches the first cleaning means, that is, toward the cleaning roller 223, and the transfer roller 124 is cleaned while being pressed under rotation. This is because, after the completion of the previous printing operation, the residual developer remaining in the squeegee roller (not shown) when the developing device (not shown) is separated from the photosensitive belt 110, and the first toner image of the next printing operation is transferred to the transfer roller. It contaminates the photosensitive belt 110 and the transfer roller 124 before being used to prevent the recording paper 126 from being dried on the transfer roller 124 when the printing of the first recording paper 126 is contaminated or severe. To do this.

Then, when the toner image transferred to the transfer roller 124 approaches the cleaning roller side 223, the cleaning roller 223 advances the cleaning roller p by the advance of the pusher p due to the driving of the solenoid member 227. 223 and the rotating lever 225 coupled to the solenoid member 227 are rotated to the second position (b) around the hinge point 226, thereby cleaning roller 223 transfer roller 124 The contact with the is released to be in a state spaced apart from the second position (b). Here, the cleaning roller 223 may be rotated to either the upper or lower portion of the first position (a).

On the other hand, after the printing is completed, the residual image as described above is attached to the surface of the transfer roller 124. At this time, the pusher p of the solenoid member 227 is reversed, and the cleaning roller 223 is rotated to contact the first position a, that is, the outer circumferential surface of the transfer roller 124, so that the direction of rotation of the transfer roller 124 By the driven rotation in the opposite direction, the cleaning roller 223 cleans the toner image and residual contaminants adhered from the photosensitive belt 110 to the transfer roller 124 using the friction force.

Here, the reason for installing the first cleaning means on the surface of the transfer roller 124 on the inlet side of the recording paper 126 is that the first cleaning means is installed to contact the transfer roller 124 on the outlet side of the recording paper 126. The residual toner image and contaminants of the photosensitive belt 110 are attached to the fixing roller 125, and another means for pressurizing and fixing the fixing roller 125 arises, and the transfer roller 124 This is because when the recording paper 126 is curled, the recording paper 126 is wound around and adhered to the first cleaning means installed at the exit side of the recording paper 126, thereby making it difficult to remove the recording paper 126.

In addition, a transfer roller cleaning apparatus of a wet electrophotographic printer according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a transfer roller cleaning apparatus of a wet electrophotographic printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. Like reference numerals in the drawings shown above indicate the same components.

Referring to FIG. 3, the transfer roller cleaning apparatus of the wet electrophotographic printer according to an embodiment of the present invention may remove foreign substances such as toner remaining in the transfer roller 124 so as to improve the print image quality. As a second cleaning means for removal, the toner image developed by being attached to the electrostatic latent image of the photosensitive belt 110 by the developing device 140 is parallel to the primary rotating roller 121 with the photosensitive belt 110 interposed therebetween. The transfer roller 124 is transferred to the transfer roller 124 and is installed on the surface of the transfer roller 124 on the side of the recording paper 126 which is supplied through the fixing roller 125 installed in parallel with the transfer roller 124.

In more detail, the second cleaning means is installed on the surface of the transfer roller 124 on the side of the recording paper 126 supplied through the transfer roller 124 and the fixing roller 125 installed side by side. There is provided a cleaning roller 223 which is in contact with the roller 124 and is driven to rotate relative to the transfer roller 124.

In addition, a rotation lever 225 is coupled to one end of the cleaning roller 223 to rotate the cleaning roller 223 about the hinge point 226 of its central axis. Here, reference numeral a denotes a first position where the cleaning roller 223 is in contact with the outer circumferential surface of the transfer roller 124 by the rotation of the rotation lever 225. Reference numeral b denotes a second position which is stopped at a predetermined interval of rotation and spaced apart from the first position a. In this way, the cam member 228 is provided at the other end of the pivot lever 225 to pivot the pivot lever 225 to the first and second positions (a) and (b). Then, it is connected to the main body of the printer and one side of the rotation lever 225, the pressing means 229, that is, a spring member is provided to press the rotation lever 225 toward the second position (b).

The transfer roller cleaning apparatus of the wet electrophotographic printer according to the embodiment of the present invention having the second cleaning means as described above cleans the transfer roller by the following action.

In the transfer roller cleaning apparatus of the wet electrophotographic printer according to the present invention, the transfer toner image developed by being attached to the electrostatic latent image of the photosensitive belt 110 is transferred to the transfer roller 124 and transferred to the recording paper 126 for printing. The toner image transferred to the roller 124 is in contact with the transfer roller 124 until it reaches the second cleaning means, that is, toward the cleaning roller 223, and cleans the transfer roller 124 while pressing and rotating. The reason for this is that after the end of the previous printing operation, the remaining developer remaining in the squeegee roller (not shown) when the developing device (not shown) is separated from the photosensitive belt 110, the first toner image of the next printing operation is transferred to the transfer roller 124. The photosensitive belt 110 and the transfer roller 124 are contaminated before being transferred to the sheet, so that the recording paper 126 is dried on the transfer roller 124 when the printing of the first recording paper 126 is contaminated or severe. This is to prevent it.

Then, when the toner image transferred to the transfer roller 124 approaches the cleaning roller 223, the cleaning roller 223 is installed on one side of the printer body and is connected to one side of the rotation lever 225. That is, it is stopped at the second position (b) about the hinge point 226 of the rotation lever 225 coupled to the cleaning roller 223 and the solenoid member 227 by the elastic bias of the spring member.

As a result, the contact with the transfer roller 124 is released and printing proceeds in a state spaced apart from the second position (b). Here, the cleaning roller 223 may be rotated by any one of the upper and lower portions of the first position a by the pressing means 229.

On the other hand, after the printing is completed, the residual image on the photosensitive belt 110 is attached to the surface of the transfer roller 124. At this time, the cam member 227 which cam moves by a drive motor (not shown) is driven to rotate the projection of the cam member 227. Then, when the protrusion is directed downward, the cleaning roller 223 rotates to the first position a by interfering to press the other end of the rotation lever 225. The cleaning roller 223 rotated to the first position (a) is brought into contact with the surface of the transfer roller 124 to be driven in the opposite direction to the rotation direction of the transfer roller 124, whereby the photosensitive belt ( The cleaning roller 223 cleans the toner image and the remaining contaminants attached to the transfer roller 124 from the 110.

Here, when printing starts again, the cleaning roller 223 is rotated to the second position (b) to release the contact with the transfer roller 124. The protrusion of the cam member 228 is driven upward to release the pressing force. The cleaning roller 223 is rotated to the second position b by the restoring force of the pressing means 229. The reason why the second cleaning means is provided on the inlet side of the recording paper 126 is also the same as the first cleaning means described above.

According to the transfer roller cleaning apparatus of the wet electrophotographic printer according to the present invention, the quality of the print image can be improved by recovering toner particles and foreign matter remaining in the transfer roller by the cleaning roller which is rotated in close contact with the transfer roller.

Claims (1)

A transfer roller cleaning apparatus for a wet electrophotographic printer having a transfer roller for transferring an image formed on an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive medium by exposure and development, and a fixing roller that rotates to face the transfer roller and supplies recording paper therebetween. To And a cleaning means provided to be rotatable and rotatable in contact with an outer circumferential surface of the transfer roller at one side of the transfer paper supplied with the recording paper. The cleaning means, A cleaning roller which rotates in contact with the transfer roller; The cleaning roller is coupled to one end thereof, and the cleaning roller is rotatable about a hinge point between a first position where the cleaning roller is in contact with the outer circumferential surface of the transfer roller and a second position that is spaced apart from the first position by a predetermined distance. Installed rotation lever; Press means installed on one side of the main body to press the pivot lever toward the second position; And And a cam member which is installed in contact with the other end of the rotation lever to rotate the cleaning roller toward the first position.