JPH0441350B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a cleaning device and an image forming apparatus using the cleaning device.

Conventionally, image forming apparatuses form an electrostatic latent image on an image bearing member such as an electrophotographic photoreceptor, and develop and transfer the image, or form a magnetic latent image on an image bearing member such as a magnetic recording medium, and develop and transfer the image. A blade cleaning method is commonly used as a device for cleaning an image bearing member of an image forming apparatus or the like.

In this type of cleaning device, the width of the cleaning blade that abuts across the moving direction of the image carrier is made sufficiently longer than the width of the image forming area of the image carrier, so that even if the removed developer The structure is such that the removed developer does not enter the image forming area from the blade side end even if the removed developer moves a considerable distance.

By the way, if an attempt is made to downsize the cleaning device in order to downsize the image forming apparatus, it becomes necessary to make the width of the cleaning blade closer to the width of the image forming area. For this reason, there is a possibility that the developer that has moved along the blade contact portion may enter the image forming area of the cleaned image carrier from the blade side end.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and relates to a cleaning device that can improve cleaning performance even though the device is downsized, and an image forming device using the cleaning device.

Hereinafter, details of the present invention will be explained using specific examples with reference to the drawings.

Note that the embodiment described below includes a cleaning member that abuts across the direction of movement of the image carrier, a capture member that abuts the surface of the image carrier on the downstream side of the end of the cleaning member in the direction of movement of the image carrier; The present invention provides a cleaning device for removing residual developer on an image carrier, and an image forming apparatus using the cleaning device.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an image forming apparatus to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes an image carrier, which is an example in which a photoreceptor containing a photoconductive material such as Se or OPC is supported in the form of a drum. A corona discharger 2 charges the image carrier 1 uniformly. 3 is an optical means such as a short-focus imaging optical element array, which irradiates a light image onto the image carrier 1. A developing device 4 develops an electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier 1 in response to light image irradiation. A timing roller 5 sends a transfer material 8 fed from a paper feeding means (not shown) to a transfer position in synchronization with the development on the image carrier 1. 6 is a transfer material guide.
Further, 7 is a transfer corona discharger. The transfer material 8 guided to the transfer position by the guide 6 is subjected to a transfer corona by a transfer corona discharger 7 from its back surface, that is, the surface opposite to the side where the image carrier 1 is provided. As a result, the developed images on the image carrier 1 are transferred onto the transfer material 8. 9 is a conveyor belt,
The transfer material 8 is conveyed to a fixing means (not shown).

10 is a cleaning device to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. In the figure, reference numeral 11 denotes an elastic cleaning blade that removes the developer remaining on the image carrier 1 after transfer from the image carrier 1. Reference numeral 12 denotes removed toner guide sheet members, each of which is provided at an opening of the housing 13. The developer removed from the image carrier 1 by the elastic cleaning blade 11 is guided in a direction away from the image carrier 1 by the removed toner guide sheet member 12 and led into the housing 13 .
Reference numeral 14 denotes a capturing member which comes into contact with the surface of the image carrier 1 on the downstream side in the direction of movement of the image carrier at the end of the cleaning member, and captures the removed developer leaking from the end of the blade 11. That is, in order to capture the residual developer on the image carrier 1 after transfer, the capturing member 1 is
Reference numeral 4 denotes a downstream side of the cleaning blade 11 with respect to the moving direction of the image carrier 1, and extends from an area where the cleaning blade 11 is provided to an area where the cleaning blade 11 is not provided with respect to the width direction of the image carrier 1. The image bearing member 1 is provided in contact with the image carrier 1 .

Now, FIG. 2 is a partial explanatory view of the cleaning device from the housing opening side (the side facing the image carrier).

In the figure, 11 is the aforementioned cleaning blade, and 12 is a removed toner guide sheet member.
14 is a capture member, and 15 is a seal member provided at the opening side end of the housing.

The capturing member 14 has a surface made of a material such as a porous elastic material or wool felt, and a sufficient pressing force is applied thereto to wipe away the developer that has slipped through the side edge of the blade 11 and leaked out. However, in order to avoid wear and tear on the surface of the image carrier, it is preferable to set the linear pressure to 1 kg/cm or less, preferably 100 gr/cm or less. The surface of the capture member 14 is made smooth (low coefficient of friction) in order to come into contact with the surface of the image carrier 1 (drum surface). Furthermore, it is important that the surface is porous or fibrous so that powder and the like can be easily collected within this surface. Wool felt, Teflon felt, etc. have elasticity by themselves, have a smooth surface, and have good powder-collecting properties. However, with the above-mentioned felt, a very small amount of fluff is likely to appear, and the fluff may enter the corona discharger and cause uneven charging, so it is better to, for example, lightly heat the surface. This makes it possible to obtain a good cleaning member that does not easily generate fuzz.

Note that the dashed line shown in FIG. 2P indicates the boundary of the image forming area on the image carrier 1, and the area to the right of the arrow is the forming area. The capturing member 14 has its end portion bounded by a boundary P.
Until now, the configuration is such that it does not enter the image forming area. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the image forming area of the image bearing member 1 from being partially abraded due to sliding friction with the capturing member 14.

Furthermore, FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a modified example configuration of the capture member 14.

The illustrated trapping member 14' has a functional multilayer structure in which the first layer 15' has an elastic function, and the second layer 16 has a sliding property and a trapping function. Specifically, the first layer 15' is made of Moltoprene, and the second layer 16 is made of flocked cloth or Seine skin-like polyester cloth. With this configuration, there was no damage to the image bearing member, the powder collection performance was high, and there was no occurrence of stains due to fluff, etc., and good results of use were shown.

In addition, the cleaning blade 1 and the capture member 14
(14') The narrower the distance, the better. Since the scattering from the blade end spreads out in a fan shape, if the gap between the two is too wide, a wide catching member will be required, and OPC
In the drum of an image bearing member that is easily damaged, such as the above-mentioned second line P in the figure, the light enters the image area on the right side of the figure and damages the image bearing member. For this reason, the forming material becomes an image with scratches. For this reason, as described above, regardless of whether the surface of the image carrier is easily scratched or not, it is preferable to arrange the capturing member outside the image forming area.

Also, a sealing member 15 provided at the opening side end of the housing
is in elastic contact with the side edge of the image carrier to prevent the removed developer from leaking out to the side. The upper side of this sealing member in the figure (downstream side in the direction of movement of the image carrier) may be extended to serve also as the first layer of the capturing member of the third illustrated configuration. In this case, as shown in FIG. 4, a sheet 17 having a smooth surface such as polyethylene may be attached to the end seal side, and a flocked cloth, felt, etc. 16 similar to that described above may be attached to the capture member 14'' side.

Furthermore, when the removed developer has magnetism, the trapping effect can be enhanced by applying a magnetic field to the trapping member. In the case of a normal tribo-type developer, an adsorption polarity voltage may also be used.

In this embodiment, the above-described configuration prevents the removed developer from entering the image forming area of the cleaned image carrier from the end of the blade.
Furthermore, the above configuration allows a compact device. In this way, in the above-described embodiment, the apparatus can be made even more compact, and the residual developer on the image carrier after transfer is prevented from going around from the blade end to the image forming area of the image carrier which has been cleaned. be able to. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the developer from adhering to, for example, the charging means and the like, thereby adversely affecting image formation.

As described above, the present invention provides a cleaning device that can make the device even more compact and can further improve the cleaning of an image carrier, and an image forming device using the cleaning device. I can do it.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an image forming apparatus using a cleaning device to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a cleaning device portion to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied, and FIG. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a capturing member to which another embodiment of the invention is applied. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram to which still another embodiment of the invention is applied. In the figure, 1: image carrier, 2: corona discharger, 3: optical means, 4: developing device, 10: cleaning device, 11: cleaning blade, 1
2; Guide sheet member, 14, 14', 14''; Capture member, 15; Seal member.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A cleaning device for removing developer on an image carrier, comprising: a cleaning member provided for removing developer on the image carrier; and a cleaning member for removing developer on the image carrier. In order to capture images, the cleaning member is installed from an area downstream of the cleaning member with respect to the moving direction of the image bearing member and where the cleaning member is installed with respect to the width direction of the image bearing member. A cleaning device comprising: a capturing member extending into a region where the image carrier is not covered and is provided in contact with the image carrier. 2. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the capturing member has a two-layer structure having a low-friction member on the surface that contacts the image carrier and an elastic member on the back surface thereof. 3. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the capturing member is in pressure contact with the image carrier in a planar manner. 4. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the capture member has a porous or fibrous surface. 5. Claim 1, wherein the capturing member is made of wool felt or Teflon felt.
Cleaning device as described in Section. 6. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the capturing member is provided in a non-image forming area of the image carrier. 7. An image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium, comprising: an image bearing member; a latent image forming means for forming a latent image on the image bearing member; and a latent image formed on the image bearing member by the latent image forming means. a developing device for developing a latent image; a transfer device for transferring the image developed by the developing device to a recording medium; and a cleaning member provided for removing developer on the image carrier after transfer. and, in order to capture the developer on the image carrier, the cleaning member is located downstream of the cleaning member with respect to the moving direction of the image carrier and with respect to the width direction of the image carrier. An image forming apparatus comprising: a capture member extending from an area where the cleaning member is provided to an area where the cleaning member is not provided and provided in contact with the image carrier. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the capturing member has a two-layer structure having a low-friction member on the surface that contacts the image carrier and an elastic member on the back surface thereof. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the capturing member is in pressure contact with the image carrier in a planar manner. 10. The cleaning device according to claim 7, wherein the capture member has a porous or fibrous surface. 11. The cleaning device according to claim 7, wherein the capturing member is made of wool felt or Teflon felt. 12. The cleaning device according to claim 7, wherein the capturing member is provided in a non-image forming area of the image carrier.