KR101031003B1 - Cleaning apparatus, cartridge, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of this invention is to provide the cleaning apparatus, the cartridge, and the image forming apparatus in which the fall of the sealing property was suppressed.

In order to solve the above problems, a housing having a cleaning member for contacting along a direction intersecting with the moving direction of the surface of the upper retainer and removing the developer on the surface of the upper retainer, and a developer accommodating portion for receiving the removed developer; A blocking member disposed outside the first edge positioned at the longitudinal end side of the cleaning member of the developer accommodating portion, closing the gap between the housing and the cleaning member, disposed outside the blocking member in the longitudinal direction of the cleaning member, A sliding member that slides relative to the surface of the upper retaining surface in contact with the upper retaining surface, and a fixed member that solidifies after being applied in a liquid phase between the sliding member and the housing, thereby fixing the sliding member to the housing; It is arranged, and the predetermined part on the side where the cleaning member is disposed is relatively The height of the member was provided with a wall portion that is set at a low level.

Image forming apparatus, cleaning apparatus, housing, openings, blades

Description

CLEANING APPARATUS, CARTRIDGE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS}

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cleaning apparatus for wiping unnecessary objects on the image retainer, a cartridge having the cleaning apparatus, and an image forming apparatus having the cleaning apparatus.

Background Art [0002] An image forming apparatus has conventionally been known in which an image is formed on a recording medium by transferring and fixing the developing image formed on the surface of the image retainer holding the developing image by toner onto the recording medium. Such an image forming apparatus includes a cleaning apparatus for cleaning residues such as residual toner remaining on the surface of the image retainer after transferring the developed image onto the recording medium, by bringing the blade tip into contact with the surface of the image retainer. have.

In the cleaning apparatus for cleaning the residue in this way, the residue wiped by the blade is recovered in the housing, and the blade is fixed to a part of the housing.

Such a cleaning device partially covers a rectangular opening connected to the inside of the housing with a rectangular blade, presses the remaining opening portion onto the upper retainer, and is wiped by the tip of the blade that is part of the peripheral edge of the remaining opening portion. There is a lead in the residue through the remaining opening part into the housing.

In addition, in the image forming apparatus employing the cleaning apparatus, in order to prevent leakage of residue from the gap between the blade and the housing, an elastic seal material is sandwiched between these gaps as a sealing material.

1 is a view showing an opening of a housing of a conventional cleaning device.

In Fig. 1, the openings 210a connected to the recess space for collecting the residues of the housing 21 and the peripheral edge portions forming the peripheral edges of the openings 210a are denoted by reference numerals A, B, C, The state where D is attached is shown. In addition, these code | symbols A, B, C, and D are made for the convenience of the following description, and are not actually attached to the housing 21. As shown in FIG. In addition, the peripheral edge portion A, the peripheral edge portion B, and the peripheral edge portion C are on the same plane, whereas the peripheral edge portion D is on the plane that intersects that plane.

In addition, FIG. 1 shows the felt adhesive surface 2103 to which the sheet piece which has the felt layer which contact | connects an image holding body on the surface mentioned later in detail is adhere | attached.

2 is a view illustrating a housing to which a felt member is attached.

In FIG. 2, the state where the felt member 25 is arrange | positioned like the edge of the blade 22 fixed to the housing 21 is shown. In addition, although only one edge part of the blade 22 is shown here, the other edge part is also the same.

3 is a view showing a state in which the cleaning device is pressed on the upper retainer.

3 shows a case where the cleaning device, in which the blade 22 is fixed to the housing 21 via the elastic sealing material 90, is pressed against the image retainer 10 from the peripheral edge portion D side. The felt member 25 is composed of an upper felt layer 251 and a lower elastic layer 252. The felt member 25 is attached to the felt adhesive surface 2103 through a double-sided tape 26. have. In addition, the felt member 25 is left and right in FIG. 3 to clean the residue of the blade 22 wiped off by the end edge 221 of the blade 22 shown in FIG. This is to prevent leakage from the gas. In addition, the leakage of the residue to the front side in FIG. 3 is prevented by the film member (not shown here) adhering to the peripheral edge part D. As shown in FIG.

In Citation 1, in a container 1 in which waste toner (waste developer) is recovered, waste toner recovered in the sealed container 1 from a gap generated between the container 1 and the blade 2 ( In order to prevent product defects in which the waste developer) leaks, it is disclosed to apply a liquid elastomer 5 as a sealing agent to the gap.

In addition, in the reference document 2, in the edge seal sheet surface part of the developing sleeve in the developing container, of the concave-shaped end seal adhesive sheet part 3b formed in the edge part of the developing container 3, A plurality of ribs 53 are formed on the inner surface, and the elastic portion 52 made of foamed urethane so as to fill these ribs 53 is injected by an appropriate amount by injection and foamed to form the elastic portion 52, and The felt 50 is pressed against the elastic member 52 at an appropriate pressure to the developer carrying member (developing sleeve) to impart the necessary elastic pressing force to sufficiently prevent the toner leakage function by the felt 50. According to the structure, that is, the adoption of the liquid material, the structure in which the elastic layer 252 of the felt member 25 shown in FIG. 3 is replaced with this liquid material having elasticity is described.

[Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-162820

[Patent Document 2] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 8-314269

In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning apparatus in which the deterioration of the sealing property is suppressed, a cartridge having the cleaning apparatus, and an image forming apparatus having the cleaning apparatus.

The cleaning device of the present invention for achieving the above object,

A cleaning member which contacts in a direction crossing the moving direction of the surface of the image retainer and removes the developer on the surface of the image retainer;

A housing having a developer accommodating portion for accommodating the developer removed by the cleaning member;

A blocking member disposed outside the first edge positioned at the longitudinal end side of the cleaning member of the developer accommodating portion, and closing the gap between the housing and the cleaning member;

A sliding member disposed outside the blocking member in the longitudinal direction of the cleaning member, the sliding member being in sliding contact with the surface of the upper retainer and sliding relative to the upper retainer surface;

Having a fixing material that solidifies after being applied in a liquid phase between the sliding member and the housing, and fixes the sliding member to the housing,

It is arrange | positioned around the said fixing material, The wall part of the side in which the said cleaning member is arrange | positioned is set lower than the other wall part in the height with respect to the said phase holding member.

In the cleaning apparatus of the present invention, the sliding member is fixed to a location surrounded by the wall portion in which the fixing material is filled. That is, in the cleaning apparatus of the present invention, even when the sliding member receives the pressure from the contacting retaining member, the fixing material is surrounded by the wall, so that the fixing material is difficult to expand laterally, and the contact pressure of the sliding member against the retaining member is lowered. There is no case. In addition, even if the filling amount of the fixing material is too large, the excess portion does not even return to the contact surface with the peripheral surface of the upper retaining member of the sliding member by the outflow from the wall portion on the side where the cleaning member is disposed. . Therefore, according to the cleaning apparatus of the present invention, the sealing property decreases when the contact pressure of the sliding member is lowered to the upper retainer, or the surplus of liquid material is returned to the contact surface of the sliding retainer with the peripheral surface of the retaining retainer. The fall of the sealing property by entering is suppressed.

Here, it is preferable that the sliding member is mounted such that after the fixing material is injected into the liquid phase inside the wall portion, the fixing material is extruded into the wall portion on the side where the cleaning member of the wall portion is disposed. Do.

Even when the fixing material contained in the inside of the wall portion is excessive, as described above, when the sliding member is mounted to extrude the fixing member toward the side where the cleaning member is disposed, the sliding member is mounted so as to extrude the fixing member toward the side other than the side where the cleaning member is disposed. In comparison with the case, the excess of the liquid material, the sliding of the sliding member to the contact surface with the peripheral surface of the upper retainer is further suppressed.

In addition, it is preferable that the bottom portion of the inner side of the wall portion has a portion where the distance from the surface of the retainer becomes shorter as it moves away from the wall portion on the side where the cleaning member is disposed in the longitudinal direction of the cleaning member. .

In this way, the excess of the liquid material can be reliably directed to the side where the cleaning member is disposed.

Here, the bottom portion of the inner side of the wall portion has a concave portion or convex portion inclined toward the downstream side of the movement direction of the surface of the image retainer as it approaches the wall portion of the side on which the cleaning member is disposed in the longitudinal direction of the cleaning member. It is preferable that the wall surface on the downstream side of the moving direction of the upper retaining surface of the wall portion is closer to the wall portion of the side on which the cleaning member is disposed in the longitudinal direction of the cleaning member. It is also a preferable form to incline toward the downstream side of.

In this case, the force received by the sliding member in contact with the moving holding member becomes a force for pressing the fixing material toward the blocking member, contributing to the improvement of the sealing property of the gap between the housing and the cleaning member.

Moreover, it is preferable that the said sealing member consists of the same material as the said fixing material, and is apply | coated outside rather than the said 1st edge continuously with application | coating of this fixing material.

This improves the adhesiveness of the fixing material and the sealing material which flowed out from the wall portion on the side where the cleaning member is arranged, and contributes to the improvement of the sealing property of the gap between the housing and the cleaning member.

The projecting portion provided on the sliding member and protruding from the sliding member to the side where the cleaning member is disposed on the upstream side of the surface of the upper retainer in a moving direction with respect to a portion where the cleaning member and the peripheral surface of the upper retainer contact. and,

It is preferable to have a bank part provided in the said housing and blocking the blocking member apply | coated to the said housing in the moving direction upstream of the surface of the said upper retainer with respect to the location where the protrusion part of the said sliding member and the circumferential surface of the said upper retainer contact. Do.

If such a bank is provided, the flow of the liquid material in the horizontal direction can be directed in the vertical direction. Thereby, the sealing property of the upstream side of the movement direction of an upper surface holding body can be improved rather than the protrusion part in which sealing property tends to fall.

The embankment further has a first wall across the edge where the embankment is provided, and a second wall connected to the first wall and extending toward the protruding portion along the boundary between the edge and the opening. It is also a preferable form.

If the embankment is such, the sealability on the upstream side of the upper retainer surface in the moving direction can be more effectively improved than the protruding portion.

In the protruding portion, the cleaning member side is in contact with the cleaning member, and the front end of the second wall is located on the first wall side from the boundary between the cleaning member side of the protruding portion and the cleaning member. It is also in a preferred form.

If the second wall extends beyond the boundary line to the cleaning member side, the containment member blocked by the second wall pressurizes the cleaning member, and the contact pressure of the cleaning member to the retaining member of the cleaning member changes. Can be avoided.

The cartridge of the present invention for achieving the above object,

An image carrier for moving a surface and holding an image on the surface;

A cleaning member which contacts in a direction crossing the moving direction of the surface of the image retainer and removes the developer on the surface of the image retainer;

A housing having a developer accommodating portion for accommodating the developer removed by the cleaning member;

A blocking member disposed outside the first edge positioned at the longitudinal end side of the cleaning member of the developer accommodating portion, and closing the gap between the housing and the cleaning member;

A sliding member disposed outside the blocking member in the longitudinal direction of the cleaning member, the sliding member being in sliding contact with the surface of the upper retainer and sliding relative to the upper retainer surface;

Having a fixing material which solidifies after being applied in a liquid phase between the sliding member and the housing, and fixes the sliding member to the housing,

It is arrange | positioned around the said fixing material, The wall part of the side in which the said cleaning member is arrange | positioned is set lower than the other wall part in the height with respect to the said retainer.

According to the cartridge of the present invention, a clean cartridge in which leakage of developer is suppressed is realized.

Here, it is preferable that the sliding member is mounted such that after the fixing material is injected into the liquid phase inside the wall portion, the fixing material is extruded to the wall portion on the side where the cleaning member of the wall portion is disposed.

It is also preferable that the bottom of the inner side of the wall portion has a portion where the distance from the surface of the image retainer becomes shorter as the distance from the wall portion on the side where the cleaning member is disposed in the longitudinal direction of the cleaning member becomes shorter.

Further, a protruding portion which is provided in the sliding member and protrudes from the sliding member to the side where the cleaning member is disposed on the upstream side in the movement direction of the surface of the upper retainer with respect to a portion where the cleaning member and the peripheral surface of the upper retainer contact. and,

It is preferable to have a bank part provided in the said housing and blocking the blocking member apply | coated to this housing in the upstream of the movement direction of the said upper surface holding body with respect to the location where the protrusion part of the said sliding member and the circumferential surface of the said upper body contact. Do.

The image forming apparatus of the present invention for achieving the above object,

An image retainer on which the surface moves and which retains the phase on the surface;

Charging means for imposing a charge on the surface of the image bearing; exposure means for forming a latent image by exposing the surface of the image bearing after charge; developing means for developing the latent image with a developer to form a developing image on the surface of the image bearing. And an image forming portion having transfer means for transferring the developing image to the transfer target object; And

A housing having a cleaning member for contacting along a direction crossing the moving direction of the image retaining surface and removing the developer on the surface of the image retaining surface, and a developer accommodating portion for receiving the developer removed by the cleaning member; A blocking member disposed outside the first edge positioned at the longitudinal end side of the cleaning member of the developer accommodating portion, and closing the gap between the housing and the cleaning member; and the sealing member in the longitudinal direction of the cleaning member. A sliding member which is disposed on the outer side of the housing and moves relatively in contact with the surface of the image holding surface, and is applied in a liquid state between the sliding member and the housing, and solidifies the sliding member. Which has a fixing material fixed to the side, and is disposed around the fixing material, and on which the cleaning member is disposed Characterized in that a wall portion provided with a cleaning device which is set to be low in height on the paraelectric delay than other wall portions.

According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, a clean image forming apparatus in which leakage of the developer in the apparatus is suppressed is realized.

Here, it is preferable that the sliding member is mounted such that after the fixing material is injected into the liquid phase inside the wall portion, the fixing material is extruded to the wall portion on the side where the cleaning member of the wall portion is disposed.

The bottom portion of the inner side of the wall portion may also have a portion where the distance from the surface of the image retainer becomes shorter as the distance from the wall portion on the side where the cleaning member is disposed in the longitudinal direction of the cleaning member.

Further, a protruding portion which is provided in the sliding member and protrudes from the sliding member to the side where the cleaning member is disposed on the upstream side in the movement direction of the surface of the upper retainer with respect to a portion where the cleaning member and the peripheral surface of the upper retainer contact. and,

It is preferable to have a bank part provided in the said housing and blocking the blocking member apply | coated to this housing in the upstream of the movement direction of the said upper surface holding body with respect to the location where the protrusion part of the said sliding member and the circumferential surface of the said upper body contact. Do.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a cleaning apparatus in which the deterioration of the sealing property is suppressed, a cartridge having the cleaning apparatus, and an image forming apparatus having the cleaning apparatus.

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Hereinafter, the Example of this invention is described.

4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus.

In the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 4, externally transmitted to the surface of the photoconductive drum 10, which is an example of an image retainer rotating in the direction of arrow A, to which a predetermined charge is applied by the charging roll 11. The latent electrostatic image is formed by irradiating the exposure light generated by the exposure machine 12 based on the on-image data, and the electrostatic latent image is developed by the toner accommodated in the developing device 13 having the developing roll 131 rotating in the direction of arrow C. do. The developing image obtained by this phenomenon is drawn out from a paper cassette (not shown), and transferred onto a recording paper conveyed in the arrow B direction by a transfer roll 14 rotating in the arrow D direction, and the fixing unit 15 The image formation is performed on the recording sheet by fixing with the paper. This image forming apparatus 1 is one embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

In addition, in FIG. 4, the cleaning apparatus 2 which contacts the part which finished transfer image development with respect to the recording paper of the photosensitive drum 10, and removes the residue which remained on the surface of the photosensitive drum 10, Is shown. Moreover, in this image forming apparatus 1, the photosensitive drum 10 and the cleaning apparatus 2 are cartridgeized, and are loaded so that the extraction from the inside of this printer 1 may be free. Thereby, when the image defect etc. which originate in the photosensitive drum 10 or the cleaning apparatus 2 generate | occur | produce, it can be replaced by the user's hand by the cartridge 20th. This cartridge 20 is one embodiment of the cartridge of the present invention.

5 is a front view of a part of the cleaning apparatus.

FIG. 5 shows an end of the cleaning device 2 when the cleaning device 2 is viewed from the developing device 13 side over the image retaining body. Since this cleaning apparatus 2 is symmetrical, only the edge part shown here is demonstrated below. This cleaning apparatus 2 is one embodiment of the cleaning apparatus of the present invention.

The cleaning device 2 includes a cleaning frame 21 as an example of the housing according to the present invention, a blade 22 as an example of the cleaning member according to the present invention, a blade support plate 23 for supporting the blade 22, and a film member. (24) And the felt member 25 is provided as an example of the sliding member by this invention.

The blade 22 contacts the tip 221 with the photosensitive drum 10 to remove residues remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 10.

The blade support plate 23 is a metal plate material which supports the blade 22, and is fixed to the housing 21 by the fixing screw 230. As shown in FIG.

The cleaning frame 21 has a concave space accommodating the unnecessary matter removed from the surface of the photosensitive drum 10, the main body portion 210 on which the blade support plate 23 for supporting the blade 22 is screwed, and The holding part 211 which hold | maintains both ends of the photosensitive drum 10 rotatably is provided. In addition to the bosses 2101 used for positioning the blade supporting plate 23, the main body portion 210 is provided with the cleaning frame 21 at a predetermined position in the image forming apparatus 1. The boss 2102 used for this purpose is also provided. In addition, although it mentions later in detail, the screw fixing with respect to the cleaning frame 21 of the blade support plate 23 which supported the blade 22 is a liquid seal applied to the peripheral edge of the opening 210a of the cleaning frame 21. It is performed through the thermoplastic elastomer 20 (refer FIG. 10) which is ash. As a result, the residue collected in the recess space does not leak from the gap between the housing 21 and the blade support plate 23.

6 is a view showing a blade support plate in a state of supporting the blade.

In FIG. 6, the surface of the side on which the blade support plate 23 in a state in which the blade 22 is supported before being screwed to the housing 21 of the cleaning device 2 shown in FIG. 5 is opposed to the housing 21. Is shown facing up. 6 shows the state in which the hole 23a through which the screw 230 shown in FIG. 5 passes, and the hole 23b through which the boss 2101 of the housing 21 penetrate are provided.

6, the smoothness of the surface of the peripheral edge part of the opening 210a of the housing 21 provided in the blade support plate 23 on the surface of the side which opposes the housing 21 is shown. The rougher surface portion 231, which is lower in smoothness, is shown in diagonal lines. The rough surface portion 231 shown by oblique lines in FIG. 6 is a thermoplastic elastomer applied to the peripheral edge of the opening 210a of the housing 21 when the blade supporting plate 23 is screwed to the housing 21. 20) (see FIG. 10).

FIG. 7: is sectional drawing of the blade support plate of the state which supported the blade shown in FIG.

In FIG. 7, the case where A-A 'cross section is seen from the hole 23a, 23b side shown in FIG. 6 is shown. Thus, since the smoothness of the part of the blade support plate 23 which the thermoplastic elastomer 20 contacts is lower than the smoothness of the surface of the peripheral edge part of the opening 210a of the housing 21, the used cleaning apparatus ( When the blade support plate 23 is detached from 2) and the housing 21 is recycled, since the thermoplastic elastomer 20 adheres to the blade support plate 23 side, the sealing material which is a foreign material in the housing 21 is removed. Less hassle Here, the description returns to FIG. 5 and continues.

The felt member 25 is a sheet piece having a felt layer on the upper surface, and in a state where the photosensitive drum 10 is held by the holding portion 211 of the housing 21, the felt member 25 is in contact with the photosensitive drum 10 to form a blade 22. This is to prevent the leakage of residue from the longitudinal direction of the). In addition, in this embodiment, this felt member 25 is also supported by the thermoplastic elastomer 20. FIG. 5 shows a state in which the felt member 25 has a protrusion 250 protruding at a position before wiping of the residue from the photosensitive drum 10 by the tip 221 of the blade 22. Details of this protrusion 250 will be described later.

The film member 24 is in the form of a sheet made of polyurethane, and in a state where the photosensitive drum 10 is held by the holding portion 211 of the housing 21, the tip portion 241 is in contact with the photosensitive drum 10. By doing so, leakage of the residue from the side opposite to the blade 22 is prevented.

However, by simply applying the thermoplastic elastomer 20 to the portion where the felt member 25 is adhered, the thermoplastic elastomer 20 expands extensively by pressure, so that the felt member (for the photosensitive drum 10) There exists a possibility that sealing property may fall by the dispersion | variation in adhesiveness of 25).

Therefore, in the cleaning apparatus of the present embodiment, the expansion of the thermoplastic elastomer 20 can be extended by providing the mouth wall portion 2104 surrounding the site of the application of the thermoplastic elastomer 20 for fixing the felt member 25. It is preventing.

8 is an external view of the housing.

8 shows a housing 21 in a state before the blade support plate 23, the felt member 25, and the film member 24 are attached to the main body portion 210 while the blade 22 is supported. The state which the opening 210a of the recess space which collect | recovers a residue was exposed is shown.

8, the peripheral edge portion A, the peripheral edge portion B, the peripheral edge portion C, and the peripheral edge portion D, which form the peripheral edge of the opening 210a of the recess space, are shown. The edge portion B, and the peripheral edge portion C, are on the same side, whereas this peripheral edge portion D is on the side that intersects that side. In addition, although the skin part E is on the plane where the peripheral edge part A and the peripheral edge part C exist in the side near the peripheral edge part B side, the position becomes high, so that it moves away from the peripheral edge part B. It is shaped.

8, the mouth wall part 2104 which enclosed the part corresponding to the felt member 25 shown in FIG. 5 on the housing except for the peripheral edge part B side is shown, and the skin part E is this mouth wall part ( A location surrounded by 2104. In addition, although the code | symbol A to the code | symbol E are attached | subjected to the peripheral edge which forms the opening 210a in FIG. 8, it attaches for the convenience of the following description, and is not actually attached to the housing 21. As shown in FIG. In addition, the thermoplastic elastomer 20 is apply | coated to the peripheral edge part with which the code | symbol A was attached | subjected from code | symbol A to code | symbol E, and which code | symbol E was attached | subjected.

In addition, although the state with which the bank member 30 is provided in the peripheral edge part D side on the peripheral edge part B is shown in FIG. 8, the description about the bank member 30 is postponed.

Here, the assembly method of the cleaning apparatus 2 is demonstrated easily, referring FIGS. 8-10.

9 is a view showing the flow of assembly of the cleaning apparatus.

9 is a step S1 in which the thermoplastic elastomer 20 which is applied in a liquid phase and solidified to seal the gap between the members forms a peripheral edge portion of the opening 210a of the housing 21 shown in FIG. 8. Is applied to the peripheral edge portion A, the peripheral edge portion B, the peripheral edge portion C, and the skin portion E. As step S2, the film member 24 is stuck to the peripheral edge part D. As shown in FIG. Here, the lower part of the film member 24 adheres to the peripheral edge part D with the double-sided tape 26 (refer FIG. 15). As step S3, the blade support plate 23 in the state which supported the blade 22 is screwed and fixed to the housing 21. As shown in FIG. At this stage, the peripheral edge portion of the opening 210a is the blade supporting plate 23 and the film member 24 in the state of supporting the blade 22 except for each of the peripheral edge portion B and the peripheral edge portion C. The size of the opening 210a is also considerably narrowed as compared with the state shown in FIG.

10 is a view showing a narrowed opening. In addition, in FIG. 10, the edge of the opening which is invisible to the member is shown by the dashed-dotted line, and the thermoplastic elastomer 20 which is not visible by the member is shown by the dotted line. In addition, illustration of the film member 24 previously assembled at this stage is abbreviate | omitted here in order to prevent a trouble.

FIG. 10 shows a state in which the opening 210a shown in FIG. 8 is covered with the blade 22 and narrowed.

In addition, in FIG. 10, a blade (of the thermoplastic elastomer 20 applied to the peripheral edge portion A, the peripheral edge portion B, and the peripheral edge portion C, and the skin portion E constituting the peripheral edge of the opening 210a) 22 and the thermoplastic elastomer 20 in the portion covered by the blade support plate 23 are pressed and expanded by fixing to the housing 21 of the blade support plate 23 supporting the blade 22. have.

In addition, in FIG. 10, the bank member 30 for blocking the thermoplastic elastomer 20 is provided from the vicinity of the boundary line of the peripheral edge part B and the peripheral edge part D from the vicinity of the boundary line of the peripheral edge part B and the opening 210a. The state which was done is shown.

In the cleaning apparatus 2 of the present embodiment, the thermoplastic elastomer 20 between the protrusion 250 (see FIG. 5) of the felt member 25 and the film member 24 is promoted to return to a space where it is difficult to return. In order to do this, the bank member 30 is provided in the peripheral edge part D side on peripheral edge parts B and C, respectively.

11 is an external perspective view of the embankment member.

The embankment member 30 shown in FIG. 11 is the vicinity of the boundary line of the 1st wall part 301 which crosses the peripheral edge part B, and this peripheral edge part B and the opening 210a which the edge part connected with this 1st wall part 301 connected. It consists of a second wall portion 302 extending along. The first wall portion 301 protrudes from the side including the peripheral edge portion D at the same time as the thickness of the double-sided tape 25 for adhering the film member 24 to the peripheral edge portion D and at the same time the peripheral edge portion D Slightly inclined along the second wall portion 302 is installed vertically. Returning to Fig. 9, the explanation will continue.

As step S4, the felt member 25 is arrange | positioned at the upper surface of the mouth wall part 2104.

12 is a view showing a state of the flow of the thermoplastic elastomer according to the adhesion of the felt member.

12A shows the thermoplastic elastomer 20 contained in the center of the covered portion E surrounded by the mouth wall portion 2104 and the thermoplastic elastomer 20 coated on the neighboring peripheral edge portion B. As shown in FIG.

12A, the opening part 2104a arrange | positioned at the blade 22 side and the height with respect to the photosensitive drum 10 is set relatively low compared with another location is shown. Although the opening part 2104a is set to the same height as the surface in which the thermoplastic elastomer 20 is apply | coated in this embodiment, you may change the height with respect to the said surface. By changing the height of the opening 2104a, the thermoplastic elastomer 20 deforms after being solidified and contacts a region having a different height, thereby limiting the movement of the felt member 25 due to the rotation of the photosensitive drum 10. . Moreover, in order to restrict the movement of the felt member 25 by the rotation of the photosensitive drum 10, it is preferable to provide the convex part or recessed part which intersects with the moving direction of the photosensitive drum 10 in the above-mentioned part E. These convex portions or concave portions will be described later.

12A also shows a second wall portion 302 of the embankment member 30 provided on the peripheral edge portion B. As shown in FIG.

The case where B-B 'cross section in FIG.12 (a) is seen in the arrow direction is shown in FIG.12 (b).

As shown in (b) of FIG. 12, this skin portion E has an inclination toward the opening portion 2104a that is farther from the peripheral edge portion B with respect to the center portion, that is, the height with respect to the photosensitive drum 10 is increased. It has a shape.

In FIG. 12C, the edge of the felt member 25 on the side opposite to the protrusion 250 is aligned with the edge on the side opposite to the peripheral edge portion B side of the mouth wall 2104, and thus the mouth wall portion 2104. The state which is to be put on the upper surface of is shown. In the assembly of this cleaning apparatus 2, when this felt member 25 is covered on the upper surface of the mouth wall part 2104, as shown in FIG.12 (c), the edge and the mouth wall part on the opposite side to the protrusion part 250 are shown. After positioning with the edge on the opposite side to the peripheral edge portion B side of the upper surface of 2104, the thermoplastic elastomer 20 contained in the skin portion E is extruded toward the opening portion 2104a of the mouth wall portion 2104. It covers the upper surface of the mouth wall part 2104. The covering of the felt member 25 is such that even when the thermoplastic elastomer 20 contained therein is excessive, the surplus flows out from the opening 2104a, so that the contact pressure between the felt member 25 and the photosensitive drum 10 is appropriate. To do that.

FIG. 12D shows a state where the upper surface of the mouth wall portion 2104 is completely covered by the felt member 25, and the photosensitive drum 10 is pressed from thereon.

12D shows a state in which the thermoplastic elastomer 20 leaked out from the opening 2104a of the mouth wall portion 2104 is completely joined with the thermoplastic elastomer 20 applied to the peripheral edge portion B. As shown in FIG. have. This is because the felt member 25 covers the upper surface of the mouth wall portion 2104 gradually from the edge opposite to the peripheral edge portion B to the edge of the peripheral edge portion B side as described above, so that the skin portion E The thermoplastic elastomer 20 contained therein is pressurized to expand into the space inside the mouth wall portion 2104, and the photosensitive drum 10 is pressurized, so that the surplus lost in the interior of the mouth wall portion 2104 is lost. It is because it flowed out from the opening part 2104a. In the assembly of the cleaning device 2, the thermoplastic elastomer 20 is surrounded by the mouth wall portion 2104 even when the felt member 25 receives the pressure from the photosensitive drum 10 in contact with the thermoplastic elastomer 20. There is no case where the 20 extends extensively so that the contact pressure of the felt member 25 to the photosensitive drum 10 does not decrease, and even when the filling amount of the thermoplastic elastomer 20 is excessively large, the excess portion is a wall portion. By flowing out from the opening part 2104a provided in the 2104, returning to the contact surface with the photosensitive drum 10 of the felt member 25 is prevented. As a result, the felt member 25 is brought into close contact with the photosensitive drum 10 at an appropriate pressure, and the deterioration of the sealability is suppressed. Moreover, even if the thermoplastic elastomer 20 flows out from the opening part 2104a to the peripheral edge part B, it joins with the thermoplastic elastomer 20 apply | coated to the peripheral edge part B, and contributes to the containment of the clearance gap in the peripheral edge part B. As shown in FIG. Therefore, in the present Example, the same material is used for the peripheral edge part B and the skin part E. FIG.

13 is a top view of the felt member. In addition, illustration of the photosensitive drum 10 and the film member 24 pressed by the felt member 25 is abbreviate | omitted here.

FIG. 13A shows a state in which the felt member 25 is covered with the mouth wall portion 2104, and the protrusion 250 of the felt member 25 is positioned before the residue 22 is wiped by the blade 22. Protrudes to the edge of the blade 22 is shown.

If the felt member 25 which does not have the protrusion part 250 contact | connects the both ends of the blade 22, from the opening 210a along the contact surface of the felt member 25 and the side surface 222 of the blade 22, There is a risk that the residue will leak, so this protrusion 250 is intended to block this leak route. In addition, the thermoplastic member 20 is responsible for the elastic performance required as the support of the felt member 25, thereby making the felt member 25 thinner. Thereby, the deformation amount of the thermoplastic elastomer 20 by the contact of the photosensitive drum 10 and the felt member 25 becomes small, and also the amount of immersion of the felt member in the thermoplastic elastomer 20 becomes small.

FIG. 13B illustrates a felt member 25 having ribs 2511 provided on the rear surface of the surface in contact with the photosensitive drum 10 as an example of the convex portion or the recessed portion described above. Since the rib 2511 is formed to be inclined toward the downstream side in the rotational direction of the photosensitive drum 10 as it approaches the blade 22 side, the thermoplastic elastomer 20 subjected to the pressure according to the rotation of the photosensitive drum 10 is formed. Gathered toward the opening 210a side, it further contributes to the containment of the gap in the peripheral edge portion B. Further, the photosensitive drum is similarly formed when the wall surface of the mouth wall portion 2104 is formed to be inclined toward the downstream direction of the photosensitive drum 10 as the wall surface on the downstream side in the rotational direction of the photosensitive drum 10 approaches the blade 22 side. The thermoplastic elastomer 20 pressurized by the rotation of (10) gathers toward the opening 210a side, further contributing to the containment of the gap in the peripheral edge portion B. FIG. Again, return to Fig. 9 to continue the description.

As Step S5, the photosensitive drum 10 is attached to the cleaning frame 21 in a state where the tip 241 of the film member 24 is knocked down toward the felt member 25 side.

14 is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C 'shown in FIG.

In FIG. 14, the case where C-C 'cross section shown in FIG. 13 is seen in the arrow direction is shown, Here, the state where the to-be-parted part E has the surface shape of a substantially mortar form is shown.

In addition, this surface part E has such a planar shape by making the curved surface around the photosensitive drum 10 into the surface shape which made the felt member 25 contact with the photosensitive drum 10 by the equal pressure as a whole. For sake.

15 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line D-D 'shown in FIG.

FIG. 15 shows a state in which the thermoplastic elastomer 20 shown by diagonal lines is sealed without a gap between the member fixed or adhered to the housing 21.

15, the state in which the protrusion part 250 was immersed in the thermoplastic elastomer 20 except the upper surface of the felt member 25 is shown.

As indicated by the arrows in FIG. 15, the peripheral edge portion D side and the opening () of the thermoplastic elastomer 20 directly under the protrusion 250 are immersed by the immersion of the protrusion 250 by contact with the photosensitive drum 10. What has moved to the side of 201a moves in an upward direction favorably by being blocked by the direction to go to the bank member 30. This makes it difficult for the thermoplastic elastomer 20 to return when the bank member 30 is not provided, so that the m thermoplastic elastomer 20 can be easily moved between the film member 24 and the protrusion 250. .

The above is description of the flow of the assembly of the cleaning apparatus 2 of a present Example. Further, the assembly of the cleaning apparatus 2 is applied to the thermoplastic elastomer to the housing 21 as step S1, the blade supporting plate 23 is fixed as step S2, and the arrangement of the felt member 25 as step S3, step S4. As the arrangement of the film member 24 and the assembling procedure of the photosensitive drum 10 as step S5, there is no problem.

As explained above, according to the cleaning apparatus 2 of this embodiment, the sealing property fall by the contact pressure with respect to the photosensitive drum 10 of the felt member 25, or the photosensitive drum of the felt member 25 is reduced. The fall of the sealing property by too high a contact pressure with respect to (10) is suppressed. Moreover, in the cleaning apparatus 2 of this embodiment, since the bank member 30 is provided, the protrusion part 250 of the felt member 25 is immersed in the thermoplastic elastomer 20 apply | coated on the peripheral edge part B. Moreover, in FIG. Therefore, the thermoplastic elastomer 20 moved to the peripheral edge portion D side is blocked by the direction to go to the embankment member 30, and rises momentarily, and the peripheral edge portion D side of the protrusion 250 is overflowed by the thermoplastic elastomer 20. It is filled by the thermoplastic elastomer 20 without a gap. Thereby, the sealing property of the space between the film member 24 and the protrusion part 250 can be improved. In addition, according to the cartridge 20 of the present embodiment, a clean cartridge in which leakage of the residue is suppressed is realized. Further, according to the image forming apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, a clean image forming apparatus in which leakage of residues in the apparatus is suppressed is realized. In addition, in the above-mentioned embodiment, although the felt member 25 has the protrusion part 250 as a preferable example, even if a felt member does not have this protrusion part, a basic effect can be acquired.

1 is a view showing an opening of a housing of a conventional cleaning device.

2 is a view showing a housing to which a felt member is adhered.

3 is a view showing a state in which the cleaning device is pressed on the upper retainer.

4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus.

5 is a front view of a part of the cleaning apparatus.

6 is a view showing a blade support plate in a state of supporting a blade;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the blade support plate shown in FIG. 6 in a state of supporting the plate. FIG.

8 is an external view of a housing;

9 shows the flow of assembly of the cleaning device.

10 shows a narrowed opening;

11 is a perspective view of a vortex of the bank member.

12 shows a flow state of a thermoplastic elastomer, depending on the adhesion of the felt member.

13 is a top view of the felt member.

14 is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C 'shown in FIG.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line D-D 'shown in FIG. 13; FIG.

Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings

One… Image forming apparatus 2... Cleaning device

20 ... Thermoplastic elastomer 21... housing

210... Body portion 210a... Opening

211... Holding unit 2104. Wall

2104a... Opening 22. blade

23 ... Blade support plate 24.. Film member

25... Felt member 250... projection part

2511... Rib 30... Embankment

301... First wall portion 302. 2nd wall part

Claims (17)

A cleaning member contacting along a direction crossing the moving direction of the surface of the image retainer, and removing the developer on the surface of the image retainer; A housing having a developer accommodating portion accommodating the developer removed by the cleaning member, the housing disposed opposite the image retaining member; A blocking member disposed outside the first edge positioned at the longitudinal end side of the cleaning member of the developer accommodating portion, and closing the gap between the housing and the cleaning member; A sliding member disposed outside the blocking member in the longitudinal direction of the cleaning member and between the upper retainer and the housing, the sliding member being in sliding contact with the upper retainer surface and sliding relative to the upper retainer surface; , Having a fixing material that solidifies after being applied in a liquid phase between the sliding member and the housing, and fixes the sliding member to the housing, And a wall portion on the side where the cleaning member is disposed is set lower in height than the other wall portion in relation to the fixing material. The method of claim 1, And the sliding member is mounted to extrude the fixing material into the wall portion on the side where the cleaning member is disposed on the wall portion after the fixing material is injected into the liquid phase inside the wall portion. Cleaning device. The method of claim 2, The bottom part of the inner side of the said wall part has a site | part which becomes shorter from the said surface holding surface as it moves away from the wall part of the side in which the said cleaning member is arrange | positioned in the longitudinal direction of the said cleaning member. . The method of claim 2, The bottom portion of the inner side of the wall portion has a concave portion or a convex portion inclined toward the downstream side of the movement direction of the surface of the upper retainer as the closer to the wall portion of the side on which the cleaning member is disposed in the longitudinal direction of the cleaning member. Cleaning device. The method of claim 2, The wall surface on the downstream side in the moving direction of the upper retaining surface of the wall portion is inclined toward the downstream side in the moving direction of the upper retaining surface as the closer to the wall portion of the side on which the cleaning member is disposed in the longitudinal direction of the cleaning member. There is a cleaning apparatus. 6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, The blocking member is made of the same material as the fixing material, and is applied to the outside of the first edge in succession with the application of the fixing material. The method of claim 1, A protruding portion provided in the sliding member and protruding from the sliding member to the side where the cleaning member is disposed on the upstream side in the movement direction of the surface of the upper retainer with respect to a portion where the cleaning member and the peripheral surface of the upper retainer contact; And a bank installed in the housing, the blocking member applied to the housing blocking the protruding portion of the sliding member and the peripheral surface of the upper retainer on the upstream side of the upper retainer surface in a moving direction. Cleaning device. The method of claim 7, wherein The embankment has a first wall across the edge where the embankment is installed, and a second wall connected to the first wall and extending toward the protruding portion along a boundary between the edge and the opening of the developer accommodating portion. The cleaning apparatus characterized by having. The method of claim 8, The protruding portion is that the cleaning member side is in contact with the cleaning member, A front end of the second wall is located on the first wall side rather than a boundary between the cleaning member side of the protruding portion and the cleaning member. An image carrier for moving a surface and holding an image on the surface; A cleaning member contacting in a direction crossing the moving direction of the surface of the image retainer, and removing the developer on the surface of the image retainer; A housing having a developer accommodating portion accommodating the developer removed by the cleaning member, the housing disposed opposite the image retaining member; A blocking member disposed outside the first edge positioned at the longitudinal end side of the cleaning member of the developer accommodating portion, and closing the gap between the housing and the cleaning member; A sliding member disposed outside the blocking member in the longitudinal direction of the cleaning member and between the upper retainer and the housing, the sliding member being in sliding contact with the upper retainer surface and sliding relative to the upper retainer surface; , Having a fixing material which solidifies after being applied in a liquid phase between the sliding member and the housing, and fixes the sliding member to the housing, A cartridge disposed around the fixing material, wherein the wall portion on the side where the cleaning member is disposed is set to have a height lower than that of the wall retainer than the other wall portions. 11. The method of claim 10, And the sliding member is mounted to extrude the fixing material into the wall portion on the side where the cleaning member is disposed on the wall portion after the fixing material is injected into the liquid phase inside the wall portion. The method of claim 11, A bottom portion of the inner side of the wall portion has a portion in which the distance from the surface of the upper retainer becomes shorter as the distance from the wall portion on the side where the cleaning member is disposed in the longitudinal direction of the cleaning member. 11. The method of claim 10, A protruding portion provided in the sliding member and protruding from the sliding member to the side where the cleaning member is disposed on the upstream side in the movement direction of the surface of the upper retainer with respect to a portion where the cleaning member and the peripheral surface of the upper retainer contact; And a bank installed in the housing, the blocking member applied to the housing blocking the protruding portion of the sliding member and the peripheral surface of the upper retainer on the upstream side of the upper retainer surface in a moving direction. Cartridge made. An image carrier for moving a surface and maintaining an image on the surface; Charging means for imposing a charge on the surface of the image bearing, exposure means for forming a latent image by exposing the surface of the image bearing after charge, and developing means for developing the latent image with a developer to form a developing image on the surface of the image bearing. And an image forming portion having transfer means for transferring the developing image to a transfer object; And A cleaning member contacting along a direction intersecting with a moving direction of the surface of the retaining body and removing a developer on the surface of the retaining body; and a developer accommodating portion accommodating the developer removed by the cleaning member. A housing disposed to face the delay member, a blocking member disposed outside the first edge positioned at the longitudinal end side of the cleaning member of the developer accommodating portion, and closing the gap between the housing and the cleaning member; A sliding member disposed outside the blocking member in the longitudinal direction of the cleaning member and between the upper retainer and the housing, the sliding member being in sliding contact with the upper retainer surface and sliding relative to the upper retainer surface; After the liquid is applied between the sliding member and the housing to solidify And a cleaning device having a fixing material for fixing the ash to the housing, wherein the wall portion on the side where the cleaning member is disposed is set to have a lower height relative to the upper retainer than the other wall portions. An image forming apparatus, characterized in that. The method of claim 14, And the sliding member is mounted such that after the fixing material is injected into the liquid phase inside the wall portion, the fixing material is extruded into the wall portion on the side where the cleaning member of the wall portion is disposed. The method of claim 15, And an inner bottom portion of the wall portion has a portion in which the distance from the surface of the image retainer becomes shorter as it moves away from the wall portion on the side where the cleaning member is disposed in the longitudinal direction of the cleaning member. The method of claim 14, A protruding portion provided in the sliding member and protruding from the sliding member to the side where the cleaning member is disposed on the upstream side in the movement direction of the surface of the upper retainer with respect to a portion where the cleaning member and the peripheral surface of the upper retainer contact; And a bank installed in the housing, the blocking member applied to the housing blocking the protruding portion of the sliding member and the peripheral surface of the upper retainer on the upstream side of the upper retainer surface in a moving direction. An image forming apparatus.

Images