JPH0337010Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a cleaning device for an electrophotographic device.

In an electrophotographic apparatus, toner remaining on the surface of a photoreceptor after transfer is removed from the surface of the photoreceptor for the next image forming process, and is usually collected in a toner collection bottle. The toner collected in this bottle is
Periodically or when alerted that the bottle is full, the bottle is removed from the toner outlet of the cleaning device and disposed of appropriately; conventionally, when the bottle is removed, the toner outlet is exposed. Because the toner was left as it was, the toner that had adhered or aggregated there would fall and contaminate other parts of the electrophotographic apparatus.

The present invention was made with the aim of eliminating the drawbacks of such conventional devices, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a cleaning device that eliminates these drawbacks in a simple and convenient form.

Next, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a drum having an electrostatic latent image forming member (hereinafter referred to as photoreceptor) 2 mounted on its circumferential surface, which rotates in the direction shown by arrow A during operation. Although not shown, as the photoreceptor 2 rotates, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the document is formed on the surface of the photoreceptor 2, and then the latent image is developed and converted into a toner powder image, which is then transferred onto a suitable support. transcribed. Some toner powder remains on the photoreceptor surface after the toner image is transferred, and it is therefore necessary to remove such residual toner from the photoreceptor surface for subsequent imaging. code 3
shows a cleaning device for removing residual toner, which has a pair of opposing side plates 4 (only one side is shown). A shaft 5 is installed between these side plates 4, and a blade attachment member 6 is provided so as to be pivotable about this shaft. A tension spring 8 whose one end is fixed to the side plate 4 and the other end is fixed to one end of the member 6, and the action of the tension spring 8 causes the member 6 to pivot counterclockwise at all times. on the other hand,
A rubber blade 7 is attached to the other end of the member 6, and its tip is brought into pressure contact with the surface of the photoreceptor 2 by the action of the spring 8, so that when the photoreceptor is moved, it is rubbed against it and placed on top of it. Scrape off any remaining toner. In this example, the blade 7 extends over the entire longitudinal length of the photoreceptor and comes into contact with the surface of the photoreceptor. The one end of the member 6 consists of a rod-shaped portion formed on both ends in the longitudinal direction of the member 6, and the long hole 61 formed in the rear plate 60 of the cleaning device and the rear plate 60
It protrudes rearward through a hole 72 of an adjustment plate 71 provided so as to be adjustable. As shown in FIG. 2, the hole 72 has a size large enough to allow the rod-shaped end of the member 6 to move in the vertical direction, and its movement width is smaller than that restricted by the elongated hole 61. As a result, when the entire cleaning device is moved in the direction of separating it from the photoreceptor surface, as will be described later, the end of the member 6 comes into contact with the upper end of the hole 72 of the adjustment plate 71, causing the counterclockwise movement of the member 6 and therefore the blade 7. Limit movement.
Note that the adjustment plate 71 is fixed to the rear plate 60 by set screws 73 and 74, but one set screw 74
are screwed to the rear plate 60 through arcuate elongated holes 75 provided in the adjustment plate 71. Therefore, by loosening these screws, the adjustment plate 71 can be fixed to the screw 73.
The position can be adjusted by pivoting around the center. Thereby, the movement width of the member 6, and thus the blade 7, can be adjusted as desired.

A casing 9 with an open top is provided below the blade 7 to receive the toner scraped off by the blade 7. Casing 9
extend parallel to the axis of the drum 1, and each end is fixed to the side plate 4. An opening 10 is formed in one side of the side plate 4 so as to communicate with the internal space defined by the casing 9.
As will be described later, an end portion of a toner conveying member 11 disposed within the casing 9 projects out of the casing 9 through this opening 10. On the other hand, casing 9
One end of a thin film-like rubber body 12 is fixed to one end edge, that is, the lower end edge as seen in FIG. The rubber body 12 extends over almost the entire length of the photoconductor 2 in the longitudinal direction, and the other end contacts the surface of the photoconductor 2 to transfer the toner scraped off by the blade 7 into the casing 9. invite.

A toner collection box 13 is further provided below the casing 9. The toner collection box 13 is comprised of a casing with an open top, and is detachably attached to the side plate 4. When in use, it is fixed to the side plate 4 by a suitable fixing means such as a set screw. At the upper end of the toner collection box 13 near the photoreceptor,
A film body 14 made of a resin such as polyethylene terephthalate is fixed such that its free edge is in contact with the photoreceptor 2 over substantially its entire length in the longitudinal direction. The film body 14 functions to guide the toner powder that escapes the rubber body 12 and falls into the toner collection box.

FIG. 2 shows the state in which the cleaning device 3 is attached to the main body of the electrophotographic apparatus. Numbers 62 and 63 in the figure
are stays fixed to the main body of the electrophotographic apparatus, and extend parallel to the axis of the photosensitive drum 1. As shown, a stay 63 is provided at the lower end of the side plate 4.
A notch 64 is formed to match the notch 64, and the stay 63 is positioned within the notch 64, that is, the cleaning device 3 is arranged so as to be able to pivot around the stay 63. On the other hand, a stop lever 66 is attached to the upper part of the side plate 4 so as to be pivotable about a pin 65. One end of the lever 66 is fixed to the other end of a tension spring 67, one end of which is fixed to the side plate 4. Due to the action of the spring 67, the lever 66 is always biased so that it pivots counterclockwise as seen in FIG. has been done. The upper side of the other end of the lever 66 has notches 68, 6 that can be engaged with the stay 62.
9 is formed. These notches firmly engage the stay 62 by the action of the spring, thereby holding the cleaning device 63 in a predetermined position. FIG. 1 shows the state when the notch 68 is engaged with the stay 62, and the rubber blade 7 is in pressure contact with the photoreceptor surface and is in the operating position. If it is undesirable for the rubber blade 7 to be in contact with the photoreceptor surface, such as during transportation of the electrophotographic device, operate the lever 66 to disengage the notch 68 and the stay 62,
The cleaning device is pivoted to engage the notch 69 and the stay 62. FIG. 3 shows the position of the plate 7 at this time. Reference numeral 70 is a pin for lever operation, and is fixed to one end of the lever 66. Note that by removing the notches 68 and 69 from the stay 62, the cleaning device can be removed from the main body of the electrophotographic apparatus.

The toner transport member 11, as clearly shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, consists of a coiled helix, one end of which extends to the outside of the casing 9 through the opening 10 in the side plate 4. As shown in FIGS. The other end of the one member 11 is coupled to a drive device 15 provided on the other side plate 4 . As shown in FIG.
has a shaft member 17 rotatably attached to the side plate 4 by a bearing 16, and this shaft member 1
A cylindrical member 18 (the center of rotation and the central axis of which coincides with each other) formed at one end of the toner transport member 7 is fitted into the spiral of the toner transport member 11 and holds the transport member 11 in the axial direction of the cylindrical member 18 . At the same time, one end 19 of the conveying member 11 is inserted into a radial hole formed in the cylindrical member 18 and fixed, so that the shaft member 17 and the conveying member 11 operate integrally. The other end of the shaft member 17 protrudes to the outside of the side plate 4, and a gear 20 is fixed to this protruding portion. When the cleaning device 3 is set at the position shown in FIG. 1, the gear 20 engages with a drive gear 21 provided on the main body of the electrophotographic apparatus, and receives a driving force from a drive source (not shown) through the gear 21. to rotate the conveying member 11. The toner collected in the casing 11 by the rotation of the conveying member 11 is moved to the left side as seen in FIG.
That is, it is transported in the direction of arrow B.

Referring again to FIGS. 4 and 5, a discharge pipe 22 is provided surrounding the conveying member 11 projecting outward from the side plate 4. The discharge pipe 22 has an opening 1
It consists of a tube with an inner diameter approximately equal to 0 and both ends are open, one end of which is fixed to the side plate 4 so that the inner edge approximately coincides with the edge of the opening 10, and the other end is fixed to the side plate 4. It serves as an outlet 23 for the toner carried by the toner 11. In the figure, the conveyance member 11 protrudes further outward than the discharge port 23, but it may be positioned substantially in line with the discharge port or slightly recessed inward of the discharge port.
Two locking portions 24 and 25 are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the discharge pipe 22 in a protruding manner. In this example, the locking portion 24
and 25 form an annular protruding portion surrounding the circumferential surface of the discharge pipe 22, but it does not necessarily have to be annular.
A cylindrical shutter member 26 is disposed surrounding the discharge pipe 22 so as to be movable in the axial direction of the discharge pipe 22. The shutter member 26 has an outer flange 27 protruding radially outward at its tip (end on the discharge port 23 side), and an inner flange 28 protruding radially inward at its rear end. A compression coil spring 29 surrounds the shutter member 26.
will be provided. Both ends of the coil spring 29 are respectively locked by the locking portion 25 and the outer flange 27, so that the action of the coil spring 29 pushes the shutter member 26 to the left as shown in FIG. 28 stops at the position where it abuts against the locking portion 24. In this state, the discharge port 23 of the discharge pipe 22 is located inside the shutter member 26.

A toner collection bottle (hereinafter referred to as a bottle) 30 is detachably attached to the main body of the electrophotographic apparatus and is engageable with the discharge port 23 . As shown in FIG. 2, the bottle 30 is mounted along a guide plate 31 provided on the main body of the electrophotographic apparatus. The guide plate 31 has upright parts 32 on both sides thereof, and the bottle 30 is attached and removed along the longitudinal direction of the part 32 so as to be sandwiched between the upright parts 32. 7th
The figure shows the bottle 30 installed in a predetermined position. Reference numeral 50 in the figure indicates a stopper for the bottle 30;
The stopper 50 is rotatably provided at the tip of a shaft 51 protruding from the side plate 36 of the main body of the electrophotographic apparatus, and holds the back of the bottle 30 as shown in the figure to fix the bottle in a predetermined position. The bottle 30 is made of a thin-walled hollow body made of a transparent or translucent (for example, cloudy) synthetic resin material, and has an opening 33 on its upper side surface that can engage with the outlet 23 of the discharge pipe 22. Furthermore, a protruding portion 35 defined by two recesses 34 and extending in the vertical direction is formed on the front surface of the bottle 30.

An optical detection device consisting of a light emitter 37 and a light receiver 38 (for example a phototransistor) is fixed to the side plate 36 . The light emitter 37 and the light receiver 38 are spaced apart from each other and juxtaposed, and when the bottle is attached, the protruding portion 35 of the bottle is located in the space between them. Therefore, the light emitted by the light emitter 37 passes through the protruding portion 35 of the bottle and enters the light receiver 38.
Therefore, the toner in the bottle is transmitted to the light receiving section 38a of the light emitter 37 and the light receiving section 38a.
until the light is stored at the level of the optical path connecting the light receiver 3.
8 continues to receive light from the light emitter 37 and becomes High.
The control means (not shown) that receives this signal confirms that there is still room for storage in the bottle. Now, when more toner is collected and the stored toner accumulates above the level of the optical path, the light from the light emitter 37 is blocked by the toner stored in the bottle and does not reach the light receiver 38. The output signal of 38 changes to Low. As a result, the control means lights up a display lamp provided on the operation panel of the electrophotographic apparatus to warn the operator that the toner in the bottle is almost full.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 40 is a micro switch fixed to the side plate 36, and an actuator 41 of the switch 40 is pressed by the front surface of the bottle when the bottle 30 is installed in a predetermined position, and is activated.
energize. The switch 40 energizes the light emitter 37 to cause it to emit light when it is energized, and cuts off the power to the light emitter 37 and turns it off when it is deenergized, that is, when the bottle is removed. . This means that when the bottle is removed from the predetermined position, the light receiver 37 outputs a low signal and lights up the indicator lamp indicating that the toner is full.
Note that when the output of the light receiver 37 is low, that is, when the toner in the bottle is full or the bottle has been forgotten to be attached, the control means controls the entire electrophotographic apparatus so that it does not function.

Referring again to FIGS. 4 and 5, the figures show the operating state of the discharge tube 22 and shutter member 26 when the bottle 30 is removed or installed. The bottle 30 is mounted along the guide 32 as described above. At this time, bottle 30
The vicinity of the periphery of the opening 33 contacts the outer flange 27 of the shutter member 26 and pushes it downward against the action of the compression spring 29, thereby exposing the outlet 23 of the discharge pipe 22 to the outside from the shutter member 26. .
In the illustrated example, the opening 33 is formed to be slightly wider than the outer diameter of the discharge pipe 22, and therefore the discharge port 23 of the discharge pipe 22 is located inside the bottle 30, and in this state, the bottle 30 is attached to the stopper as described above. It is held by 50. The toner thus conveyed from inside the casing 9 is sequentially discharged from the discharge port 23 and collected into the bottle. Now, put bottle 30 at outlet 2.
3, the shutter member 26 immediately returns to the state shown in FIG. 4 due to the action of the compression spring 29. As a result, the discharge port 23 is connected to the shutter member 2.
6, the toner that has adhered or aggregated to the discharge port 23 is prevented from falling to other sections within the electrophotographic apparatus.

As described above, according to the present invention, with an extremely simple configuration, it is possible to solve the problem of toner contamination in other departments that conventionally occurred when the toner collection bottle was removed.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of the cleaning device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the device of FIG. 1 incorporated into an electrophotographic device, and FIG.
This figure is a side sectional view showing the device shown in FIG. 1 in another state, FIGS. 4 and 5 are side sectional views showing different states of the device shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. is a side sectional view of a different part from FIGS. 4 and 5, and FIGS. 7 and 8 are perspective views of still another part of the apparatus of FIG. 2. 7...Blade, 9...Casing, 10...
Toner conveyance member, 22...Discharge pipe, 23...Discharge port, 26...Shutter member, 29...Compression spring, 30...Toner collection bottle.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] a toner removal device that removes residual toner on the surface of the photoreceptor and collects it in a casing; a fixed discharge pipe that projects outward from a side surface of the casing and communicates with the inside of the casing; a toner conveying member that is disposed through the casing and the fixed discharge pipe and conveys the toner collected in the casing to the discharge port; and a toner conveying member that surrounds the fixed discharge pipe. a cylindrical shutter member that is movable in the axial direction and is located in a position that covers and exposes the discharge port by moving in the axial direction; and in a normal state, the discharge port is located within the shutter member; a toner collection bottle having an opening into which the fixed discharge pipe can be inserted; and a stop means for maintaining the toner collection bottle in the attached state; When the collection bottle is attached to the fixed discharge pipe, the vicinity of the periphery of the opening of the toner collection bottle pushes the shutter member to expose the discharge port of the fixed discharge pipe against the action of the biasing device, thereby causing the toner collection bottle to be discharged. A cleaning device for an electrophotographic apparatus, characterized in that an outlet is located within a toner collection bottle, and the toner collection bottle is held in this state by the stopper.