JPH0442860Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a cleaning device for an electronic copying machine that has an improved collection structure for collected developer.

In an electronic copying machine, any developer (hereinafter referred to as toner) still remaining on the photoreceptor after the transfer process must be removed and collected by a cleaning device.
The cleaning device includes a removing means for removing toner from the photoreceptor and a collecting means for collecting the removed toner. As a removing means, a roll brush, a blade, etc. are used, and recently blades, which have a simple structure and do not take up much space, are often used.

By the way, as the collection means, a filter bag type similar to that used in household vacuum cleaners or a plastic collection box is used. However, the former has a problem in that it takes up a large amount of space and becomes an obstacle to downsizing the aircraft. In addition, in the latter case, when a service person or the like takes the toner home, they must bring a replacement collection box with them, but the collection box does not deform at all, so it takes up space and is inconvenient to carry. Furthermore, it is expensive and has disadvantages such as having a negative impact on costs.

The present invention was developed based on the above circumstances, and its purpose is to collect the removed developer in a foldable collection box, which is convenient when the developer is taken home. The present invention aims to provide a cleaning device for an electronic copying machine that can reduce costs.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings. As shown in FIG.
It is arranged opposite to a part of the peripheral wall of. Needless to say, in addition to the cleaning device 1, well-known copying process constituent devices such as a charging device, a developing device, and a transfer device are arranged opposite the peripheral wall of the photoreceptor 2. The cleaning device 1 is comprised of a removing means 3 and a collection means 4. Describing in detail from the removing means 3, 5 is a main blade, which is made of a hard elastic material such as butyl rubber, and extends along the axial direction of the photoreceptor 1. Further, the main blade 5 is supported by a blade holder 7, and a biasing mechanism 11 consisting of a lift lever 8, a tension spring 9, a set spring 10, etc. elastically biases the blade holder 7 to turn the edge of the blade 5. is brought into pressure contact with the photoreceptor 2. A collection roller 12 made of, for example, a conductive rubber roller is rotatably supported below the main blade 5 and is in rolling contact with the photoreceptor 2 . An auxiliary blade 13 made of the same material as the main blade 5 is in sliding contact with the collection roller 12 at its upper edge. Further, a receiving metal fitting 14 is provided below the collection roller 12, and brings the roller 14a into rolling contact with the photoreceptor 2.

The collection means 4 is constructed as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. That is, 15 is a transport rotatably supported along the vicinity of the lower edge of the auxiliary blade 13. The truss port 15 is constructed by providing a spiral collar piece 15b on the peripheral wall of a support shaft 15a. The lower periphery of the transport 15 is surrounded by a collection guide plate 16. A guide hole 18 that can be opened and closed by a shutter 17 is bored in the lower end surface of the collection guide plate 16 on the transport 15 rotation side. A recovery member 19 is disposed below the guide hole 18 . This collection member 19
A collection box 20, which will be described later, is housed in a lower casing 22 and an upper lid 21 made of, for example, plastic material. Therefore, when the upper lid 21 is opened, the collection box 20 can be inserted into and removed from the lower casing 22. Further, when the collection member 19 is in a predetermined position, the shutter 17 is automatically opened to connect the guide hole 18 and the collection box 20.
The recovery hole 20a bored in the hole faces the recovery hole 20a. When the collection member 19 is removed from its fixed position, the shutter 17
is adapted to automatically close the guide hole 12.

The collection box 20 is constructed as shown in FIG. First, as shown in A, relatively thick paper is bent to form a rectangular tube shape. The recovery hole 20a is provided in the center of this surface a. Also, each side a, b,
Make creases on c and d. That is, each surface a,
Creases 1, m, and n are formed on both ends of the sheets b, c, and d at predetermined intervals in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.
Surface b and surface d have a crease ss in the center along the longitudinal direction.
At both ends, make creases s, s and creases y, y that intersect the above folds 1, m, n. Then, as shown in B, fold inward along creases s, s, and form surface b. Fold and side d. Next, as shown in C, it is folded back along the fold lines 1 and 1 and fixed using a fastener such as a stapler (trade name). Therefore, the surface a and the surface c are close to each other, and the surface becomes flat as a whole. A seal 23 is attached to surface a near the collection hole 20a. If you store and carry them in this state, you can save space by stacking them. In actual use, as shown in D, by blowing air strongly through the collection hole 20a and urging both ends inward, the folds s and s are opened, and the folds n, m, and y are opened.
is bent to form a cubic box, that is, a collection box 20.

If the collection box 20 is housed in the lower casing 22 and covered with the upper lid 21, the collection box 20, although made of paper, will be sufficiently protected and there will be no strength problem. By arranging these at predetermined positions, the residual toner can be collected in the collection box 20 via the residual toner transport 15 removed by the removing means 3.

When the full display is displayed, the recovery box 20 is removed from a predetermined position and the recovery hole 20a is closed with the sealing seal 23. Therefore, there is no risk of toner dropping and soiling the hands, and the recovery box 20 is incinerated as it is, or in the case of incineration for taking home, there is no adverse effect because the recovery box 20 is made of paper.

Although the collection box 20 is made of relatively thick paper in the above embodiment, it is not limited to this, and may be made of a combustible and bendable material.

As explained above, according to the present invention, the developer removed by the removing means is collected in a foldable collection box, and the collection hole is closed with a seal and the entire collection box is replaced. Therefore, there is no need to transfer the developer from the collection box like in the past, and when replacing the collection box, the guide hole through which the developer is discharged is closed, so the developer is not scattered inside the machine. This way, you won't get the inside of the aircraft or your hands dirty. Furthermore, since the collection box has certain creases, the collection box can be folded into a uniform flat shape when stored or carried, so it does not take up much space.

In other words, according to the present invention, the space occupied by the developer collection box when not in use is reduced, making it easier to carry, store, and dispose of the developer collection box. It is possible to provide a cleaning device for an electronic copying machine that can completely prevent the machine body from becoming dirty.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show one embodiment of the present invention, in which Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the cleaning device, Fig. 2 is a partial perspective view thereof, and Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the cleaning device.
The figure is a partial vertical cross-sectional view, and FIGS. 4A to 4D are diagrams explaining the manufacturing order of the collection box. 2...photoreceptor, 3...removal means, 20...recovery box.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] A removing means for removing the developer still remaining on the image carrier after the transfer process; and a developer conveyance system for sequentially carrying out the developer removed by the removing means from the vicinity of the removing means. A conveyance means provided along the path; a guide hole provided at an end of the conveyance means for discharging the developer carried out; and a developer conveyed by the conveyance means and discharged from the guide hole. The device collects the agent, and has a collection port provided at a position opposite to the guide hole, and a seal member for sealing the collection port,
a bendable developer collection box having a fold formed in a direction perpendicular to the bending direction so as to form a flat plate shape when not in use; A cleaning device for an electronic copying machine, comprising: a shutter means that can be opened and closed to open the guide hole when the developer collection box is not in a predetermined position, and to close the guide hole when the developer recovery box is not in a predetermined position.