WO2023277961A1 - Ensemble courroie de transfert intermédiaire doté d'un récipient pour substance étrangère - Google Patents

Ensemble courroie de transfert intermédiaire doté d'un récipient pour substance étrangère Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2023277961A1
WO2023277961A1 PCT/US2022/014665 US2022014665W WO2023277961A1 WO 2023277961 A1 WO2023277961 A1 WO 2023277961A1 US 2022014665 W US2022014665 W US 2022014665W WO 2023277961 A1 WO2023277961 A1 WO 2023277961A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
intermediate transfer
transfer belt
roller
belt assembly
inlet
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2022/014665
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Junho Lee
Hoyoung Lee
Original Assignee
Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. filed Critical Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
Publication of WO2023277961A1 publication Critical patent/WO2023277961A1/fr

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/14—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for transferring a pattern to a second base
    • G03G15/16—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for transferring a pattern to a second base of a toner pattern, e.g. a powder pattern, e.g. magnetic transfer
    • G03G15/1605—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for transferring a pattern to a second base of a toner pattern, e.g. a powder pattern, e.g. magnetic transfer using at least one intermediate support
    • G03G15/1615—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for transferring a pattern to a second base of a toner pattern, e.g. a powder pattern, e.g. magnetic transfer using at least one intermediate support relating to the driving mechanism for the intermediate support, e.g. gears, couplings, belt tensioning
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/14—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for transferring a pattern to a second base
    • G03G15/16—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for transferring a pattern to a second base of a toner pattern, e.g. a powder pattern, e.g. magnetic transfer
    • G03G15/1605—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for transferring a pattern to a second base of a toner pattern, e.g. a powder pattern, e.g. magnetic transfer using at least one intermediate support
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G2215/00—Apparatus for electrophotographic processes
    • G03G2215/16—Transferring device, details
    • G03G2215/1604—Main transfer electrode
    • G03G2215/1623—Transfer belt

Definitions

  • An electrophotographic image forming apparatus may operate by supplying a toner contained in a developing device to an electrostatic latent image formed on a photoconductor to form a visible toner image on the photoconductor, transfer the toner image to a print medium, and fix the transferred toner image on the print medium.
  • a plurality of toner images of different colors may be respectively formed on a plurality of photoconductors to print a color image.
  • the plurality of photoconductors respectively face a plurality of intermediate transfer rollers with an intermediate transfer belt therebetween.
  • the intermediate transfer belt is supported by a plurality of support rollers to be circulated.
  • the toner images are transferred, from the plurality of photoconductors, to a print medium via the intermediate transfer belt.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an intermediate transfer belt assembly according to an example.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates a portion "VA" of FIG. 1 according to an example.
  • FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line X1-X1' of FIG. 2 according to an example.
  • FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line X2-X2' of FIG. 2 according to an example.
  • FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a container member according to an example.
  • FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to an example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
  • a toner may leak from a developing device and may contaminate an intermediate transfer belt and/or an intermediate transfer roller.
  • the developing device may include a sealing structure to reduce or prevent toner leakage.
  • an end region that is outside an effective image region may not be completely sealed and toner leakage may occur at the end region.
  • leaked toner may fall toward the intermediate transfer belt assembly facing the developing device and contaminate the intermediate transfer belt and/or the intermediate transfer roller.
  • the contamination of the intermediate transfer belt and/or the intermediate transfer roller may deteriorate a transfer quality of a toner image from a photoconductor to the intermediate transfer belt, such as by distorting an intermediate transfer bias electric field.
  • an intermediate transfer belt assembly may include a container member located outside the effective image region to form a container space to contain a foreign substance (e.g., a toner).
  • the intermediate transfer roller may be located inside the intermediate transfer belt to support the intermediate transfer belt.
  • a gap ring may be located at an end of the intermediate transfer roller.
  • a gap ring is located on each end of the intermediate transfer roller.
  • the container member may have an inlet that may be located below the gap ring. A foreign substance, such as a toner falling from the developing device, is to be received and contained in the container member through the inlet.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an intermediate transfer belt assembly according to an example.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates a portion "VA" of FIG. 1 according to an example.
  • an intermediate transfer belt assembly 6 may include an intermediate transfer belt 60, an intermediate transfer roller 61 located inside the intermediate transfer belt 60 to support the intermediate transfer belt 60, a gap ring 65 located at an end of the intermediate transfer roller 61 , and a container member 600 having an inlet 601 , the inlet 601 located below the gap ring 65, to form a container space 602 for a foreign substance.
  • the intermediate transfer belt assembly 6 may further include a sealing cover 700 to cover an end of the intermediate transfer roller 61 .
  • the sealing cover 700 may include an opening portion 701 to expose the gap ring 65 and a frame 69 to rotatably support the end of the intermediate transfer roller 61 .
  • the inlet 601 of the container member 600 may be aligned with the opening portion 701 of the sealing cover 700.
  • the container member 600 may form the container space 602 for the foreign substance together with the frame 69.
  • the intermediate transfer belt 60 may have a form of an endless belt and may include a transfer region 60-1 and a non-transfer region 60-2 that is opposite the transfer region 60-1 .
  • the transfer region 60-1 may include a region to face a photoconductor to be described below and to receive a toner image formed on the photoconductor.
  • a width W1 of the intermediate transfer belt 60 is greater than a width EA of an effective image region.
  • the effective image region is a region used for image formation, that is, a region to which a toner image may be transferred from the photoconductor to be described below.
  • the intermediate transfer belt 60 may be supported by a pair of support rollers 62 and 63 and may be circulated.
  • the support roller 62 may be a driving roller, and the support roller 63 may be a driven roller.
  • a tension roller 64 may be located near the support roller 63 to apply tension to the intermediate transfer belt 60.
  • An elastic force to press the intermediate transfer belt 60 outward may be applied to the tension roller 64 by an elastic member (not shown).
  • a width W2 of the pair of support rollers 62 and 63 and the tension roller 64 may be greater than the width W1 of the intermediate transfer belt 60.
  • the pair of support rollers 62 and 63 and the tension roller 64 may be supported by the frame 69.
  • the frame 69 may include a pair of frames 69a and 69b, which may be apart from each other in a width direction of the intermediate transfer belt 60.
  • a plurality of intermediate transfer rollers 61 may be arranged in a running direction of the intermediate transfer belt 60.
  • the plurality of intermediate transfer rollers 61 may be located inside the intermediate transfer belt 60 to support the intermediate transfer belt 60.
  • the plurality of intermediate transfer rollers 61 may be located between the pair of support rollers 62 and 63 and face the transfer region 60-1 of the intermediate transfer belt 60.
  • the intermediate transfer roller 61 may have a rotation shaft 61-4 and a roller portion 61-3.
  • the roller portion 61-3 is to support the transfer region 60-1 of the intermediate transfer belt 60.
  • a length L1 of the roller portion 61-3 of the intermediate transfer roller 61 is greater than the width EA of the effective image region.
  • the length L1 of the roller portion 61-3 of the intermediate transfer roller 61 may be less than the width W1 of the intermediate transfer belt 60.
  • the plurality of intermediate transfer rollers 61 may be rotatably supported by the frame 69. Both ends of the intermediate transfer roller 61 may be rotatably supported by the pair of frames 69a and 69b with bushings 61 -1a and 61 -1 b therebetween, respectively.
  • the bushings 61 -1a and 61- 1 b may be inserted onto the rotation shaft 61-4 of the intermediate transfer roller 61 and may be supported by the pair of frames 69a and 69b.
  • the plurality of intermediate transfer rollers 61 may press the transfer region 60-1 of the intermediate transfer belt 60 outward.
  • the bushings 61 -1a and 61- 1 b may be supported on the pair of frames 69a and 69b to be able to pivot or elevate, and springs 61 -2a and 61 -2b may apply an elastic force to the bushings 61 -1 a and 61 -1 b so that the intermediate transfer roller 61 elastically pushes the intermediate transfer belt 60 outward.
  • a gap ring 65 is provided at each end of the intermediate transfer roller 61.
  • the gap rings 65 may be rotatably coupled to the rotation shaft 61-4 of the intermediate transfer roller 61.
  • the gap rings 65 may have a disc-shape and the outer periphery of the gap rings 65 may be circular.
  • the gap rings 65 may maintain a distance between the photoconductor to be described below and the intermediate transfer roller 61 .
  • the outer periphery of the gap rings 65 may be in contact with the photoconductor.
  • the gap rings 65 may be located outside the effective image region.
  • the container member 600 may be supported below the gap rings 65 to form the container space 602.
  • the container member 600 may be coupled to the frame 69.
  • a pair of container members 600 may be respectively coupled to the pair of frames 69a and 69b.
  • the container member 600 may include the inlet 601.
  • the container member 600 has four inlets 601 respectively corresponding to four intermediate transfer rollers 61 .
  • four container members respectively corresponding to four intermediate transfer rollers 61 may be provided, or two container members respectively corresponding to two intermediate transfer rollers 61 may be provided.
  • the inlet 601 may be below the gap ring 65.
  • the gap ring 65 may be located in a vertical projection area of the inlet 601.
  • the inlet 601 may be located outside the effective image region.
  • the inlet 601 may be in communication with the container space 602. A foreign substance such as a toner or the like may enter the container space 602 through the inlet 601.
  • An example of an intermediate transfer belt assembly 6 may further have the sealing cover 700.
  • the sealing cover 700 may cover both ends of the intermediate transfer roller 61.
  • the sealing cover 700 may be coupled to each of the pair of frames 69a and 69b to cover both ends of the intermediate transfer roller 61 .
  • the opening portion 701 exposing the gap ring 65 may be provided in the sealing cover 700.
  • Four opening portions 701 may be provided to correspond to the gap ring 65 of each of the four intermediate transfer rollers 61.
  • the gap ring 65 may be exposed through the opening portion 701 to be in contact with a photoconductor to be described below.
  • the sealing cover 700 may partially cover the intermediate transfer belt 60.
  • the sealing cover 700 may cover an edge 60-3 of the intermediate transfer belt 60 in a width direction.
  • An inner edge 702 of the sealing cover 700 may be located outside the width EA of the effective image region. In other words, a distance between the inner edges 702 of a pair of the sealing covers 700 respectively coupled to the pair of frames 69a and 69b may be greater than the width EA of the effective image region.
  • an electrostatic latent image formed on a photoconductor is developed into a visible toner image by a toner supplied from a developing device.
  • the toner image is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 60 from the photoconductor.
  • the developing device accommodates a toner therein, and forms a toner layer on an outer periphery of a developing roller.
  • the developing roller is partially exposed to the outside through a developing opening portion provided in a developing device housing.
  • the exposed outer periphery of the developing roller faces the photoconductor, and the toner is supplied from the developing roller to the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor by a developing bias voltage applied to the developing roller.
  • a gap between the developing roller and the developing opening portion is sealed by a sealing structure, which is not shown.
  • the sealing between an end of the developing roller in a longitudinal direction and an end of the developing opening portion may inadvertently allow a toner to leak through the end of the developing roller in the longitudinal direction.
  • both ends of the developing roller in the longitudinal direction are located outside the effective image region, the toner leaked from the developing device may fall in the vicinity of the gap ring 65.
  • the toner leaked from the developing device may be adhered to the rotation shaft 61-4 of the intermediate transfer roller 61.
  • the intermediate transfer roller 61 As the intermediate transfer roller 61 is rotated, the toner may scatter and contaminate the roller portion 61-3 of the intermediate transfer roller 61 and the intermediate transfer belt 60.
  • An intermediate transfer bias voltage for transferring a toner image of the photoconductor to the intermediate transfer belt 60 is applied to the intermediate transfer roller 61.
  • An intermediate transfer electric field is formed between the photoconductor and the intermediate transfer roller 61 by the intermediate transfer bias voltage.
  • the container member 600 to accommodate a foreign substance may be provided in the intermediate transfer belt assembly 6.
  • the inlet 601 of the container member 600 may be located below the gap ring 65.
  • a foreign substance (e.g., toner) falling from the developing device may pass through the inlet 601 to be accommodated in the container space 602 inside the container member 600. Accordingly, the possibility of contamination of the intermediate transfer roller 61 and the intermediate transfer belt 60 due to scattering of the foreign substance may be reduced, and deterioration of the transfer quality may be prevented.
  • the sealing cover 700 to cover both ends of the intermediate transfer roller 61 is provided.
  • the sealing cover 700 may cover the edge 60-3 of the intermediate transfer belt 60 in the width direction. Accordingly, the foreign substance (e.g., toner) may be prevented from entering the inside of the intermediate transfer belt assembly 6, for example, the inside of the intermediate transfer belt 60, by the sealing cover 700.
  • the foreign substance e.g., toner
  • a size of the inlet 601 of the container member 600 may be greater than a size of the opening portion 701 of the sealing cover 700.
  • FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line X1-XT of FIG. 2 according to an example.
  • FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line X2-X2' of FIG. 2 according to an example.
  • a width 603 of the inlet 601 may be greater than a width 703 of the opening portion 701.
  • a width 604 of the inlet 601 may be greater than a width 704 of the opening portion 701.
  • the container member 600 may include an upper wall 610 facing the opening portion 701 of the sealing cover 700.
  • the inlet 601 may penetrate the upper wall 610.
  • the inlet 601 may include an extension wall 620 extending upward from the upper wall 610 toward the opening portion 701 .
  • the widths 603 and 604 of the inlet 601 refer to a width of an end of the inlet 601 , the end being close to the opening portion 701 .
  • the inlet 601 may have a funnel shape in which a cross-sectional area thereof decreases as a distance from the opening portion 701 increases.
  • the extension wall 620 may extend with an incline from the upper wall 610 so that the cross-sectional area of the inlet 601 decreases as a distance from the opening portion 701 increases.
  • the cross-sectional area of the end of the inlet 601 is large, a foreign substance such as a toner falling through the opening portion 701 may pass through the inlet 601 to be accommodated in the container space 602 inside the container member 600.
  • a cross-sectional area of an end of the inlet 601 , the end being far from the opening portion 701 , that is, an end close to the upper wall 610 of the inlet 601 is small, and thus, it is difficult for the foreign substance such as a toner accommodated in the container space 602 to be exposed to the outside through the inlet 601 .
  • the intermediate transfer belt assembly 6 may be erected.
  • the cross-sectional area of the end close to the upper wall 610 of the inlet 601 is small, the possibility that the foreign substance such as a toner leak from the container member 600 may be reduced.
  • the container member 600 may include an open side portion facing the frame 69a.
  • the frame 69a together with the container member 600 may form one side wall of the container space 602, for example, one side wall in the longitudinal direction RD of the intermediate transfer roller 61 . According to such an example, a material cost of the container member 600 may be reduced.
  • FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a container member according to an example.
  • the container member 600 may have one side portion open, and the open one side portion may be blocked by the frame 69 based on the container member 600 being coupled to the frame 69. Accordingly, the container member 600 and the frame 69 may form the container space 602 together.
  • the container member 600 may have a plurality of inlets 601 respectively corresponding to the plurality of intermediate transfer rollers 61.
  • the container member 600 may have four inlets 601-1 , 601-2, 601-3, and 604-4 respectively corresponding to four intermediate transfer rollers 61 .
  • the container space 602 may be a single (e.g., continuous) space corresponding to the four inlets 601-1 , 601-2, 601-3, and 604-4 in common.
  • the container space 602 may be divided into four spaces respectively corresponding to the four inlets 601-1 , 601-2, 601-3, and 604-4.
  • the container space 602 is divided into three container spaces 602-1 , 602-2, and 602-3 respectively corresponding to one inlet 601 -1 , two inlets 601 -2 and 601 -3, and one inlet 601 -4.
  • four container members 600 each having the inlet 601 and the container space 602 and corresponding to each of four intermediate transfer rollers 61 may also be used.
  • FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to an example.
  • the image forming apparatus is to print a color image on a print medium P by an electrophotographic method.
  • the image forming apparatus has the intermediate transfer belt assembly 6.
  • the structure of the intermediate transfer belt assembly 6 is the same as described with reference to FIG. 1 to 5.
  • an example of the image forming apparatus may include a plurality of photoconductive drums (photoconductors) 21 on which toner images may be formed, the intermediate transfer belt 60 to which the toner images are transferred, the plurality of intermediate transfer rollers 61 located to face the plurality of photoconductive drums 21 with the intermediate transfer belt 60 therebetween, a plurality of gap rings 65 provided on both ends of the plurality of intermediate transfer rollers 61 to adjust a distance with the plurality of photoconductive drums 21 , and the container member 600 located below the plurality of gap rings 65 to form the container space 602 to contain a foreign substance.
  • the image forming apparatus may include a plurality of developing devices 2.
  • the plurality of developing devices 2 may be attachable/detachable to/from a main body 1 .
  • An exposure device 13, a transfer unit, and a fuser 15 are provided in the main body 1.
  • the main body 1 may be provided with a print medium transport unit to load and transport the print medium P on which an image is to be formed.
  • the plurality of developing devices 2 may include, for example, four developing devices 2 for developing images of colors of cyan C, magenta M, yellow Y, and black K. Developers, for example toners of colors of cyan C, magenta M, yellow Y, and black K may be accommodated in each of four developing devices 2.
  • toners of colors of cyan C, magenta M, yellow Y, and black K may be respectively accommodated in four toner supply containers, and the toners of colors of cyan C, magenta M, yellow Y, and black K may be respectively supplied from the four toner supply containers to the four developing devices 2.
  • the image forming apparatus may further include a developing device 2 for accommodating and developing toners of various colors such as light magenta, white, or the like, in addition to the above-described colors.
  • a developing device 2 for accommodating and developing toners of various colors such as light magenta, white, or the like, in addition to the above-described colors.
  • reference symbols C, M, Y, and K refer to a component to develop images of colors of cyan C, magenta M, yellow Y, and black K.
  • the developing device 2 of the present example may be an integrated developing device. Developing devices 2C, 2M, 2Y, and 2K may be mountable/demountable in/from the main body 1 through a door, which is not shown.
  • the developing device 2 may include a photosensitive unit 2-1 and a developing unit 2-2.
  • the photosensitive unit 2-1 may include a photoconductive drum 21 .
  • the photoconductive drum 21 is an example of a photoconductor on which an electrostatic latent image may be formed, and may include a conductive metal pipe and a photoconductive layer on a periphery of the conductive metal pipe.
  • a charging roller 23 is an example of a charger to charge the photoconductive drum 21 to have a uniform surface electric potential. Instead of the charging roller 23, a charging brush, a corona charge, or the like may be used.
  • the photosensitive unit 2-1 may further have a cleaning roller (not shown) to remove a foreign substance attached to the surface of the charging roller 23.
  • a cleaning blade 25 is an example of a cleaning member to remove a toner or a foreign substance remaining on the surface of the photoconductive drum 21 after a transfer operation to be described below.
  • Other types of cleaning members such as a rotatable brush or the like may be used instead of the cleaning blade 25.
  • a toner or a foreign substance removed from the photoconductive drum 21 by the cleaning blade 25 is referred to as a waste toner.
  • the waste toner is accommodated in a waste toner container 26.
  • the developing unit 2-2 may have a toner container 29.
  • the developing unit 2-2 is to supply a toner accommodated in the toner container 29 to an electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductive drum 21 to develop the electrostatic latent image into a visible toner image.
  • a developing method may include a one-component developing method using a toner or a two- component developing method using a toner and a carrier.
  • the developing device 2 of the present example uses the one-component developing method but is not limited thereto.
  • a developing roller 22 is to attach a toner to an outer periphery thereof and supply the toner to the photoconductive drum 21 .
  • a developing bias voltage for supplying the toner to the photoconductive drum 21 may be applied to the developing roller 22.
  • a contact developing method in which the photoconductive drum 21 and the developing roller 22 come into contact with each other to form a development nip N, is used.
  • a supply roller 27 supplies a toner in the toner container 29 to a surface of the developing roller 22.
  • a supply bias voltage may be applied to the supply roller 27.
  • the developing unit 2-2 may further include a regulating member 28 to regulate an amount of toner supplied to the development nip N in which the photoconductive drum 21 and the developing roller 22 are in contact with each other.
  • the regulating member 28 may include, for example, a blade that elastically contacts a surface of the developing roller 22 to regulate an amount of toner attached to an outer periphery of the developing roller 22.
  • the exposure device 13 is to irradiate light modulated according to image information to the photoconductive drum 21 to form an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductive drum 21 .
  • a laser scanning unit (LSU) using a laser diode as a light source, and a light emitting diode (LED) exposure device using an LED as a light source may be used as the exposure device 13.
  • the transfer unit may include the intermediate transfer belt assembly 6 and a transfer roller 66.
  • the intermediate transfer belt assembly 6 is the same as described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5.
  • a toner image developed on the photoconductive drum 21 of each of the developing devices 2C, 2M, 2Y, and 2K is temporarily transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 60.
  • the intermediate transfer belt 60 is supported by the support rollers 62 and 63 and the tension roller 64 and may be circulated.
  • Four intermediate transfer rollers 61 are arranged at positions facing the photoconductive drum 21 of each of the developing devices 2C, 2M, 2Y, and 2K with the intermediate transfer belt 60 therebetween.
  • the gap ring 65 is brought into contact with the photoconductive drum 21 to maintain a distance between the photoconductive drum 21 and the intermediate transfer roller 61.
  • An intermediate transfer bias voltage may be applied to four intermediate transfer rollers 61 to intermediately transfer a toner image developed on the photoconductive drum 21 to the intermediate transfer belt 60.
  • the transfer roller 66 may be located to face the intermediate transfer belt 60.
  • the transfer roller 66 may face the support roller 63 with the intermediate transfer belt 60 therebetween.
  • An elastic member 67 may press the transfer roller 66 toward the support roller 63 to form a transfer nip.
  • a transfer bias voltage is supplied to the transfer roller 66 to transfer the toner image intermediately transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 60 to the print medium P.
  • a controller uses the charging roller 23 to charge a surface of the photoconductive drum 21 to have a uniform electric potential.
  • the exposure device 13 irradiates four light beams modulated according to image information of each color to the photoconductive drums 21 of the developing devices 2C, 2M, 2Y, and 2K to form electrostatic latent images on the photoconductive drums 21.
  • the developing rollers 22 of the developing devices 2C, 2M, 2Y, and 2K respectively supply C, M, Y, and K toners to corresponding photoconductive drums 21 to develop the electrostatic latent images into visible toner images.
  • the developed toner images are transferred and superimposed onto the intermediate transfer belt 60.
  • the print media P loaded on a loading table 17 are drawn out one by one by a pick-up roller 16, and transported to the transfer nip formed by the transfer roller 66 and the intermediate transfer belt 60 by a feed roller 18.
  • the toner images on the intermediate transfer belt 60 are transferred to the print media P by the transfer bias voltage applied to the transfer roller 66.
  • the toner images are fused on the print medium P by heat and pressure.
  • the print medium P, on which fusing is completed, is discharged to the outside by a discharge roller 19.
  • the developing device 2 may be located above the intermediate transfer belt assembly 6 based on the direction of gravity.
  • the developing roller 22 may be partially exposed to the outside through a developing opening portion provided in a developing device housing 24.
  • a gap between the developing roller 22 and the developing device housing 24 is sealed by a sealing structure, which is not shown.
  • sealing between an end of the developing roller 22 in a longitudinal direction and the developing device housing 24 may allow leakage of a foreign substance (e.g., a toner). Accordingly, a toner may leak through an end of the developing roller 22 in the longitudinal direction. Because the developing device 2 is located above the intermediate transfer belt assembly 6, a toner leaked from the developing device 2 may fall onto the intermediate transfer belt assembly 6 due to gravity.
  • the toner leaked from the developing device 2 mainly falls in the vicinity of the gap ring 65.
  • the toner leaked from the developing device 2 may contaminate the roller portion 61-3 of the intermediate transfer roller 61 and the intermediate transfer belt 60, thereby deteriorating transfer quality.
  • air may flow inside the main body 1 , and a toner leaked from the developing device 2 may be scattered inside the main body 1 of the image forming apparatus and contaminate components inside the main body 1 or leak to the outside of the main body 1 through an air vent provided in the main body 1 .
  • an image forming apparatus includes the container member 600 to accommodate a foreign substance such as a toner, the container member 600 having a plurality of inlets 601 located below the plurality of gap rings 65.
  • a foreign substance such as toner falling from the developing device 2 may pass through an inlet 601 to be accommodated in the container space 602 inside the container member 600.
  • the possibility of contamination of the intermediate transfer roller 61 and the intermediate transfer belt 60 due to scattering of a leaked toner may be reduced, and deterioration of the transfer quality may be prevented.
  • scattering of the foreign substance e.g., toner
  • the image forming apparatus of the present example may have the sealing cover 700 covering both ends of the intermediate transfer roller 61.
  • a foreign substance e.g., toner
  • the size of the inlet 601 of the container member 600 may be greater than the size of the opening portion 701 of the sealing cover 700.
  • the inlet 601 may have a funnel shape in which the cross-sectional area thereof decreases as a distance from the opening portion 701 increases.
  • the inlet 601 of this shape may be implemented by the extension wall 620 extending with an incline from the upper wall 610 so that the cross-sectional area of the inlet 601 decreases as the distance from the opening portion 701 increases.
  • a foreign substance such as a toner may be accommodated in the container space 602 inside the container member 600 through the inlet 601 , while it is difficult for the foreign substance such as a toner accommodated in the container space 602 to be exposed to the outside through the inlet 601 .
  • the intermediate transfer belt assembly 6 may be erected. In this case, because the cross-sectional area of an end close to the upper wall 610 of the inlet 601 is small, the possibility that the foreign substance such as a toner leaks from the container member 600 may be reduced.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electrostatic Charge, Transfer And Separation In Electrography (AREA)

Abstract

Un ensemble courroie de transfert intermédiaire donné à titre d'exemple comprend une courroie de transfert intermédiaire, un rouleau de transfert intermédiaire situé à l'intérieur de la courroie de transfert intermédiaire de façon à supporter la courroie de transfert intermédiaire, un anneau d'espacement situé sur une extrémité du rouleau de transfert intermédiaire, et un élément de récipient comprenant un espace de récipient destiné à contenir une substance étrangère, l'élément de récipient comportant une entrée située au-dessous de l'anneau d'espacement.
PCT/US2022/014665 2021-06-29 2022-02-01 Ensemble courroie de transfert intermédiaire doté d'un récipient pour substance étrangère WO2023277961A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
KR10-2021-0085035 2021-06-29
KR1020210085035A KR20230001920A (ko) 2021-06-29 2021-06-29 이물질을 수용하는 수용 부재를 구비하는 중간 전사 벨트 조립체

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2023277961A1 true WO2023277961A1 (fr) 2023-01-05

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Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5731824A (en) * 1995-12-18 1998-03-24 Xerox Corporation Ink level sensing system for an ink jet printer
JP2005107222A (ja) * 2003-09-30 2005-04-21 Toshiba Corp 画像形成装置
US8065913B2 (en) * 2008-09-30 2011-11-29 Xerox Corporation Ink level sensor
WO2013064418A1 (fr) * 2011-10-31 2013-05-10 Elfa International Ab Dispositif de maintien
WO2018135846A2 (fr) * 2017-01-19 2018-07-26 Hp Printing Korea Co., Ltd. Cartouche de développement ayant un élément d'étanchéité
WO2020190364A1 (fr) * 2019-03-21 2020-09-24 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Structure de courroie de transfert intermédiaire servant à maintenir une distance axiale entre un rouleau d'entraînement et un rouleau de secours

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5731824A (en) * 1995-12-18 1998-03-24 Xerox Corporation Ink level sensing system for an ink jet printer
JP2005107222A (ja) * 2003-09-30 2005-04-21 Toshiba Corp 画像形成装置
US8065913B2 (en) * 2008-09-30 2011-11-29 Xerox Corporation Ink level sensor
WO2013064418A1 (fr) * 2011-10-31 2013-05-10 Elfa International Ab Dispositif de maintien
WO2018135846A2 (fr) * 2017-01-19 2018-07-26 Hp Printing Korea Co., Ltd. Cartouche de développement ayant un élément d'étanchéité
WO2020190364A1 (fr) * 2019-03-21 2020-09-24 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Structure de courroie de transfert intermédiaire servant à maintenir une distance axiale entre un rouleau d'entraînement et un rouleau de secours

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