JPH0132989B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a cleaning device for a copying machine, and more particularly, a cleaning device for collecting and disposing of toner removed from the surface of a photosensitive drum of a copying machine in a toner collection container.

In conventional cleaning devices, after the toner image on the photosensitive drum of a copying machine is transferred to transfer paper, the toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum is scraped off with a rubber blade. The toner was dropped into a provided toner collection container (hereinafter referred to as a toner box), and the toner box was removed from the copying machine body at any time to dispose of the toner.

By the way, the toner removed from the photosensitive drum is mixed with fine fibers from the transfer machine and has a large angle of repose, so it does not fall down easily. A means is provided to make it easier for the toner to fall into the toner box. However, in a copying machine configured to transport transfer paper directly below the main body of the cleaning device, the toner box is small and it is necessary to frequently remove accumulated toner. Furthermore, since the toner in the toner box and the toner scraped off by the rubber blade are connected to each other, when the toner box is removed from the main body of the copying machine, there is a problem that the toner scatters inside the copying machine.

In addition, as another conventional example, a rotating rubber roller is provided directly below a rubber blade, the scraped toner is attached to the circumferential surface of the rubber roller, and the toner is sent. There was a method that increased the volume of the toner box by placing the toner inlet at the top of the box, but this conventional example required a large torque to rotate the rubber roller, and it was different from the previous conventional example. Similarly, when the toner box is removed from the copying machine main body, there is a problem in that toner is scattered inside the copying machine main body.

Furthermore, as another conventional example, before removing the toner box from the copying machine main body, the cleaning device main body is taken out from the copying machine main body, and then the toner box is separated and the toner is discarded, and the toner is spilled inside the copying machine. Although some methods have been proposed to prevent this, the problem still remains that the area around the copier is stained with toner.

The present invention aims to solve the problems of the above-mentioned conventional example, and is capable of storing a large amount of toner in a toner box compared to the conventional method, and also prevents toner from spilling into the copying machine when taking out the toner box. This cleaning device is realized with a simple structure.
Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained based on illustrated embodiments.

1 and 2 are a side sectional view and a partially cutaway perspective view of a main part of a first embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the tip of a cleaning blade 3 provided on a support shaft 2 rotatably disposed parallel to the rotation axis of the photosensitive drum 1 is in contact with the surface of a photosensitive drum 1 of a copying machine. ing. This cleaning blade 3 constitutes a cleaning means for scraping off toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 after being transferred to paper. The scraped off toner 4 falls below the cleaning blade 3 under its own weight. On the other hand, below the cleaning blade 3, a rotating shaft 5 that is parallel to the rotating shaft of the photosensitive drum 1 and freely rotatable is provided, and arm-shaped support plates 6 are provided at both ends of the rotating shaft 5. are attached so that the bases thereof can rotate integrally with the rotating shaft 5. A hopper-shaped toner discharge member 8 is attached to the tip of the pair of support plates 6 by a pin 7 so as to be freely movable. Below the rotating shaft 5,
A toner receiving tray 9 is provided to temporarily retain the toner 4 scraped off by the cleaning blade 3, and one end 10 of the toner discharging member 8 can slide on the upper surface of the toner receiving tray 9. Here, the toner discharge member 8 maintains a constant posture due to its own weight and approaches the toner tray as the rotating shaft 5 rotates in the direction of arrow A, but is guided by the toner tray 9 so as to be tilted in the direction of arrow B. . In this case, once the toner discharge member 8 is tilted, it will not be reversed.

As the rotating shaft 5 rotates in the direction of arrow A, the toner discharge member 8 slides on the toner tray 9, and the scraping end surface 11 of the toner discharge member 8 collects the toner 4 retained on the toner tray 9. container 1
2 toward the toner inlet 13.

When the lower end 10 of the toner discharge member 8 reaches the upper end of the toner tray 9, the toner discharge member 8
After protruding from the upper end of the toner receiving tray 9, the toner 4 returns to the position determined by its own weight with rotational movement, and the toner 4 is forcibly pushed into the toner collection container 12 through the toner inlet 13.

Note that 14 in FIG. 2 is a gear for rotationally driving the rotating shaft 5, which is interlocked with the photosensitive drum 1 via an intermediate gear 16 by a gear 15 provided at one end of the rotating shaft of the photosensitive drum 1. It is designed to be rotationally driven. Of course, this driving means is not limited to gears, and may be directly driven by a motor or driven by a chain.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of a main part of a second embodiment of the present invention. This uses a disk-shaped support plate 6' instead of the arm-shaped support plate 6 in the previous embodiment, and a plurality of disk-shaped support plates (six in the figure) are placed near the peripheral edge of the support plate 6'.
The toner discharge members 8' are rotatably attached to each other by pins 7', and the toner 4 retained on the toner tray 9 is transferred to each toner discharge member 8'.
The operation and effect of pushing out the toner at the scraping end surface 11' and discharging and storing the toner into the toner collection container 12 through the toner inlet 13 are the same as in the previous embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway perspective view of a third embodiment of the present invention. This is located at the center of the rotating shaft 5 as shown in FIG.
A support plate 6'' corresponding to the support plate 6 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 is attached, and two toner discharge members 8a and 8b corresponding to 8 in FIGS. 1 and 2 are rotatable with a pin 7''. It is designed to be attached to
The operation and effect are the same as in the previous embodiment.

As is clear from the above description, in the present invention, the toner removed from the photosensitive drum by the cleaning means is forcibly discharged into the toner collection container via the toner receiving tray by the toner discharging member. This has the advantage that the toner inlet of the toner collection container can be provided upward, and the toner storage capacity of the toner collection container can be increased compared to the conventional method. Furthermore, it has the advantage of a simple structure, a small number of parts, and highly reliable operation. Furthermore, when the toner ejecting member is brought into sliding contact with the toner receiving tray by its own weight as in the above-described embodiment, there is an advantage that the torque for driving the toner ejecting member can be small.
Further, according to the present invention, the toner that has been pushed out from above the toner tray by the scraping end surface of the toner discharge member can be forcibly pushed out from the near-sharp end surface of the toner tray and fall into the toner collection container. Therefore, the toner in the toner collection container and the toner on the toner tray can always be separated, which is an extremely important feature that prevents toner from scattering inside the copying machine when the toner collection container is removed from the cleaning device. It has excellent advantages.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a main part of a first embodiment of the invention, FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway perspective view of the embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 3 is a main part of a second embodiment of the invention. FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway perspective view of a third embodiment of the present invention. 1... Photosensitive drum, 3... Cleaning blade, 4... Toner, 5... Rotating shaft, 6, 6',
6″...Support plate, 7, 7', 7″...Pin, 8,
8', 8a, 8b...toner discharge member, 9...toner tray, 12...toner collection container, 13...
Toner inlet, 14...gear.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A cleaning means for removing toner adhering to the surface of the photosensitive drum, a toner tray for temporarily retaining the toner removed from the surface of the photosensitive drum by the cleaning means, and the toner tray. a toner discharging mechanism including a toner discharging member that slides on the top and scrapes out and discharges the toner retained on the toner tray in a predetermined direction; and a toner collecting container that collects the toner discharged by the toner discharging mechanism. A cleaning device for a copying machine, comprising: 2. In the statement of claim 1, the toner discharge mechanism includes a rotating shaft that rotates in a predetermined direction, a support plate attached to the rotating shaft so as to be able to rotate integrally therewith, and the supporting plate. The structure includes a toner discharging member rotatably supported on a plate, and one end of the toner discharging member presses against the upper surface of the toner tray with a required pressure as the rotating shaft rotates. sliding in contact and conveying the toner with the toner scraping end surface to the toner collection container;
A cleaning device for a copying machine, characterized in that the cleaning device is configured such that toner is carried in through an inlet.