JPH0519671A - Blade cleaning device - Google Patents
Blade cleaning deviceInfo
- Publication number
- JPH0519671A JPH0519671A JP19580991A JP19580991A JPH0519671A JP H0519671 A JPH0519671 A JP H0519671A JP 19580991 A JP19580991 A JP 19580991A JP 19580991 A JP19580991 A JP 19580991A JP H0519671 A JPH0519671 A JP H0519671A
- Authority
- JP
- Japan
- Prior art keywords
- photoconductor
- latent image
- cleaning blade
- blade
- cleaning
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status 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 status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Landscapes
- Cleaning In Electrography (AREA)
Abstract
(57)【要約】
【目的】 クリーニングブレードの感光体表層研磨能力
を大きくして感光体フィルミングによる画質劣化と感光
体表層の摩耗による寿命とのバランスを取った感光体耐
用寿命の最長化を可能にする。
【構成】 クリーニングブレード９１はゴム硬度６０乃
至７５度のポリウレタンゴムかななり、厚さ２〜３mmの
板状で、且つ、有機感光体１表面との当接部である先端
稜線部９１ａの角度Ａが鈍角、好ましくは９５乃至１１
０度になるように形成し、通常の大きさ、例えば２０乃
至３０ｇ／cm程度の荷重で該感光体１表面に当接させ
る。このクリーニングブレード先端面９１ａと該感光体
１表面との間で該感光体よりも高硬度のトナーをせき止
めて感光体表層を研磨する。
(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To maximize the life of the photoconductor by increasing the cleaning ability of the photoconductor surface layer of the cleaning blade to balance the image quality deterioration due to photoconductor filming and the life due to wear of the photoconductor surface layer. to enable. [Structure] The cleaning blade 91 is made of polyurethane rubber having a rubber hardness of 60 to 75 degrees, has a plate shape with a thickness of 2 to 3 mm, and has an angle A of a tip ridge line portion 91a which is a contact portion with the surface of the organic photoconductor 1. Is obtuse, preferably 95 to 11
It is formed so as to be 0 degree, and is brought into contact with the surface of the photoconductor 1 with a normal size, for example, a load of about 20 to 30 g / cm. A toner having a hardness higher than that of the photoconductor is blocked between the cleaning blade tip surface 91a and the surface of the photoconductor 1 to polish the surface layer of the photoconductor.
Description
【０００１】[0001]
【産業上の利用分野】複写機、ファクシミリ、プリンタ
ー等の画像形成装置におけるクリーニング装置に係り、
詳しくは、有機感光体からなる潜像担持体の表面にクリ
ーニングブレードの先端稜線部を圧接させて、該潜像担
持体表面に残留する、該有機感光体よりも硬度が高い乾
式トナーを掻き落として除去するブレードクリーニング
装置に関するものである。[Industrial field of application] The present invention relates to a cleaning device in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile, and a printer.
Specifically, the tip ridge of the cleaning blade is pressed against the surface of the latent image carrier made of an organic photoconductor to scrape off the dry toner remaining on the surface of the latent image carrier, which has a higher hardness than the organic photoconductor. The present invention relates to a blade cleaning device that is removed by removing.
【０００２】[0002]
【従来の技術】従来この種のブレードクリーニング装置
においては、クリーニングブレードで、感光体上の残留
トナーを除去すると共に、感光体表面に紙粉成分等のト
ナーよりも微粒子が付着して形成された感光体フィルミ
ングを除去し、感光体を長期に亘って繰返し使用するも
のが知られている。このような感光体フィルミングは感
光体上での潜像形成のための一様帯電のむらを発生さ
せ、引いては画像品質を低下させるためである。そし
て、このような微粒子はゴムブレードのトナーせき止め
原理では除去することが出来ず、通常、特に有機感光体
（ＯＰＣ）ではその表層を微笑量ずつ研磨して表面のフ
ィルミングを除去している。ところが、近年の有機感光
体の耐摩耗性向上により、通常のクリーニングブレード
では感光体表層の研磨が困難になってきており、このた
め感光体表面の付着物による画質劣化が、感光摩耗によ
る特性劣化の観点からの耐用寿命になる前から生じてし
まう事態が発生するに至っている。2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in this type of blade cleaning device, a cleaning blade is used to remove residual toner on a photosensitive member and to form particles such as paper dust components or the like on the surface of the photosensitive member. It is known that the photoreceptor filming is removed and the photoreceptor is repeatedly used for a long period of time. This is because such photoconductor filming causes uneven charging due to formation of a latent image on the photoconductor, and thus deteriorates image quality. Such fine particles cannot be removed by the toner damming principle of the rubber blade, and in general, the surface layer of the organic photoconductor (OPC) is polished by a smile amount to remove the filming on the surface. However, due to the recent improvement in wear resistance of organic photoconductors, it has become difficult to polish the surface layer of the photoconductor with an ordinary cleaning blade. From the point of view of the above, a situation occurs that occurs before the useful life.
【０００３】[0003]
【発明が解決しようとする課題】そこで、残留トナー除
去用のポリウレタンゴムの硬度を高めて感光体の表層の
研磨能力を大きくすることが考えられるが、これによれ
ば、クリーニングブレードの感光体表面当接部である先
端稜線部の真直度（寸法）のむらによって、感光体表面
との当接圧のむらが生じて均一な研磨が出来ないという
問題点が生じてくる。硬度を比較的低くすると圧接力の
むらは減少するが、研磨能力も低下してたものになり、
特に、クリーニングブレードの硬度が感光体の硬度より
も低いと、研磨量が低下して狙いの画像品質が維持出来
ない。尚、感光体残留トナー除去用のクリーニングブレ
ードとは別に、感光体よりも硬度の高い部材を感光体表
面に当接そせ、これにより感光体表面面を研磨して感光
体フィルミングを除去するものも知られているが、これ
によれば、感光体残留トナー除去用のクリーニングブレ
ードとは別に専用の研磨部材を設ける必要があるので、
装置が複雑になるという問題点があった。Therefore, it is conceivable to increase the hardness of the polyurethane rubber for removing the residual toner to increase the polishing ability of the surface layer of the photoconductor. According to this, the surface of the photoconductor of the cleaning blade is Due to the unevenness of the straightness (dimension) of the tip ridge line portion, which is the contact portion, the contact pressure with the surface of the photoconductor becomes uneven, and uniform polishing cannot be performed. When the hardness is relatively low, the unevenness of the pressure contact force is reduced, but the polishing ability is also reduced,
In particular, when the hardness of the cleaning blade is lower than the hardness of the photoconductor, the amount of polishing is reduced and the desired image quality cannot be maintained. In addition to the cleaning blade for removing the residual toner on the photoconductor, a member having a hardness higher than that of the photoconductor is brought into contact with the surface of the photoconductor, thereby polishing the surface of the photoconductor to remove the filming of the photoconductor. However, according to this, since it is necessary to provide a dedicated polishing member separately from the cleaning blade for removing the residual toner on the photoconductor,
There is a problem that the device becomes complicated.
【０００４】本発明は以上の問題点に鑑みなされたもの
であり、その目的とするところは、クリーニングブレー
ドの感光体表層研磨能力を大きくして感光体フィルミン
グによる画質劣化と感光体表層の摩耗による寿命とのバ
ランスを取った感光体耐用寿命の最長化を可能にするブ
レードクリーニング装置を提供することである。The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to increase the polishing ability of the cleaning blade on the surface layer of the photoconductor to deteriorate image quality due to filming of the photoconductor and wear of the surface layer of the photoconductor. It is an object of the present invention to provide a blade cleaning device capable of maximizing the useful life of the photoconductor in balance with the life of the blade.
【０００５】[0005]
【課題を解決するための手段】上記の目的を達成するた
めに、請求項１の発明は、有機感光体からなる潜像担持
体の表面にクリーニングブレードの先端稜線部を圧接さ
せて、該潜像担持体表面に残留する、該有機感光体より
も硬度が高い乾式トナーを掻き落として除去するブレー
ドクリーニング装置において、該クリーニングブレード
として、該潜像担持体表面に圧接させる先端稜線部が鈍
角に形成され、且つ、ゴム硬度６０乃至７５度のポリウ
レタンゴムからなるブレードを用いることを特徴とする
ものであり、請求項３の発明は、有機感光体からなる潜
像担持体の表面にクリーニングブレードの先端稜線部を
圧接させて、該潜像担持体表面に残留する、該有機感光
体よりも硬度が高い乾式トナーを掻き落として除去する
ブレードクリーニング装置において、該クリーニングブ
レードとして、該潜像担持体表面に圧接させる先端稜線
部がほぼ９０度に形成され、且つ、弾性材料からなるブ
レードを用い、該潜像担持体の表面との摩擦力で該先端
稜線部の下部が変形する程度の圧接力で、該ブレードを
該潜像担持体の表面に圧接させて配置したことを特徴と
するものである。In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention of claim 1 makes the surface of a latent image carrier made of an organic photosensitive member press the ridge line portion of the cleaning blade into contact with the surface of the latent image carrier. In a blade cleaning device that scrapes off and removes dry toner having a hardness higher than that of the organic photoconductor, which remains on the surface of the image carrier, as a cleaning blade, the ridge line portion of the tip that is brought into pressure contact with the surface of the latent image carrier has an obtuse angle. A blade formed of polyurethane rubber having a rubber hardness of 60 to 75 degrees is used, and the invention of claim 3 uses a cleaning blade on the surface of a latent image carrier made of an organic photoconductor. A blade cleaner for scraping off and removing dry toner having a hardness higher than that of the organic photoconductor, which remains on the surface of the latent image bearing member, by pressing the tip ridgeline portion into pressure contact. In a cleaning device, a blade made of an elastic material is used as the cleaning blade, the tip ridge line portion of which is brought into pressure contact with the surface of the latent image carrier is formed, and a frictional force with the surface of the latent image carrier is used. Then, the blade is arranged in pressure contact with the surface of the latent image bearing member with a pressure contact force such that the lower part of the tip ridge portion is deformed.
【０００６】[0006]
【作用】請求項１の発明は、クリーニングブレードの先
端面と潜像担持体表面で形成する楔部分にトナーをせき
止め、このせき止めた潜像担持体よりも高硬度のトナー
を該先端面で潜像担持体表面に押しつけて潜像担持体表
面層を研磨する。そして、クリーニングブレードの潜像
担持体表面と当接する先端稜線部の角度を鈍角にするこ
とによって、クリーニングブレードのクリーニング済み
の潜像担持体表面側の側面と当接部における潜像担持体
表面接線とのなす角である接触角が比較的小さくなるよ
うにクリーニングブレードを潜像担持体表面に当接させ
ても、クリーニングブレードの先端面と同接線とのなす
角であるクリーニング角を比較的小さく出来るので、該
先端面が潜像担持体表面との間にせき止めたトナーを潜
像担持体表面に垂直に押し付ける力を比較的大きくし
て、潜像担持体表層研磨能力を大きくすることが出来
る。請求項３の発明は、クリーニングブレードの先端面
下部の変形部と潜像担持体表面で形成する楔部分にトナ
ーをせき止め、このせき止めた潜像担持体よりも高硬度
のトナーを該先端面下部の変形部で潜像担持体表面に押
しつけて潜像担持体表面層を研磨する。そして、該潜像
担持体の表面との摩擦力で先端稜線部の下部が変形する
程度の圧接力で、該ブレードを該潜像担持体の表面に圧
接させて配置し、これにより、該先端面下部を変形させ
ることによって、接触角が比較的小さくなるようにクリ
ーニングブレードを潜像担持体表面に当接させても、実
質的なクリーニング角を比較的小さく出来るので、該先
端面下部の変形部が潜像担持体表面との間にせき止めた
トナーを潜像担持体表面に垂直に押し付ける力を比較的
大きくして、潜像担持体表層研磨能力を大きくすること
が出来る。According to the first aspect of the present invention, the toner is dammed on the wedge portion formed between the tip surface of the cleaning blade and the latent image carrier, and the toner having a hardness higher than that of the dammed latent image carrier is latent on the tip surface. The latent image carrier surface layer is polished by pressing it against the surface of the image carrier. Then, by making the angle of the tip ridge line portion of the cleaning blade that abuts the latent image carrier surface to an obtuse angle, the side surface of the cleaning blade on the cleaned latent image carrier surface side and the tangent line to the latent image carrier surface at the abutting portion Even if the cleaning blade is brought into contact with the surface of the latent image carrier so that the contact angle formed by the cleaning blade is relatively small, the cleaning angle formed by the tip surface of the cleaning blade and the tangent line is relatively small. Therefore, it is possible to increase the force of pressing the toner, which is held between the front end surface and the surface of the latent image carrier, perpendicularly to the surface of the latent image carrier, thereby increasing the surface layer polishing ability of the latent image carrier. . According to a third aspect of the present invention, the toner is dammed to the wedge portion formed by the deformed portion of the lower end surface of the cleaning blade and the surface of the latent image carrier, and the toner having a higher hardness than the dammed latent image carrier is applied to the lower part of the tip surface. The surface layer of the latent image bearing member is polished by pressing it against the surface of the latent image bearing member at the deformed portion. Then, the blade is placed in pressure contact with the surface of the latent image bearing member by a pressure contact force such that the lower part of the tip ridge is deformed by the frictional force with the surface of the latent image bearing member. Even if the cleaning blade is brought into contact with the latent image carrier surface so that the contact angle becomes relatively small by deforming the lower part of the surface, the substantial cleaning angle can be made relatively small. It is possible to increase the surface layer polishing ability of the latent image bearing member by relatively increasing the force for pressing the toner, which is held between the surface and the latent image bearing member surface, perpendicularly to the latent image bearing member surface.
【０００７】[0007]
【実施例】以下、本発明を画像形成装置である電子写真
複写機に適用した一実施例について説明する。図２は本
実施例にかかる電子写真複写機（以下、複写機という）
の概略構成図である。先ず、複写機全体の概略について
説明する。有機感光体からなる感光体ドラム１は画像形
成プロセスを行なうとき、時計方向に回転駆動されるよ
うになっている。先ず、感光体ドラム１の表面が帯電チ
ャージャ２により一様に例えば正極性に帯電され、次い
で、図示しない光学系による原稿からの反射光３で露光
が行なわれて、感光体ドラム１の表面に静電潜像が形成
される。この静電潜像は例えば正規現像を行なう現像装
置４で負極性に帯電したトナーが付着してトナー像とし
て可視像化される。ここで、本実施例においては現像装
置４で有機感光体よりも硬度が高い乾式トナーを使用し
ている。該トナー像は、レジストローラ５から送られた
転写紙に転写チャージャ６により転写される。トナー像
が転写された転写紙は、分離チャージャ７により感光体
ドラム１の表面から分離された後、ベルト搬送手段８で
図示しない定着装置に搬送され、該定着装置でトナー像
が定着された後に機外に排出される。一方、このような
トナー像の転写を終えた後の感光体ドラム１の表面には
残留トナーが付着しているので、これがクリーニング装
置９により除去回収される。すなわち、感光体ドラム１
上に残ったトナーは、感光体表面に当接しているクリー
ニングブレード９１によりせき止められて感光体表面か
ら除去される。クリーニングのあと、クエンチング手段
１０で感光体ドラム１の表面の電位を除電し、次の一様
帯電に備える。DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to an electrophotographic copying machine which is an image forming apparatus will be described below. FIG. 2 shows an electrophotographic copying machine according to this embodiment (hereinafter referred to as a copying machine).
2 is a schematic configuration diagram of FIG. First, an outline of the entire copying machine will be described. The photoconductor drum 1 made of an organic photoconductor is rotationally driven in a clockwise direction when performing an image forming process. First, the surface of the photoconductor drum 1 is uniformly charged with, for example, a positive polarity by the charging charger 2, and then the surface of the photoconductor drum 1 is exposed by the reflected light 3 from the document by an optical system (not shown). An electrostatic latent image is formed. For example, the electrostatic latent image is visualized as a toner image by the negatively charged toner adhering to the electrostatic latent image in the developing device 4 that performs regular development. Here, in this embodiment, the developing device 4 uses a dry toner having a hardness higher than that of the organic photoconductor. The toner image is transferred to the transfer paper sent from the registration roller 5 by the transfer charger 6. The transfer paper onto which the toner image has been transferred is separated from the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 by the separation charger 7, and then conveyed to a fixing device (not shown) by the belt conveying means 8 and after the toner image is fixed by the fixing device. It is discharged outside the aircraft. On the other hand, since residual toner adheres to the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 after the transfer of such a toner image is completed, the residual toner is removed and collected by the cleaning device 9. That is, the photosensitive drum 1
The toner remaining on the surface is blocked by the cleaning blade 91 that is in contact with the surface of the photoconductor and is removed from the surface of the photoconductor. After cleaning, the quenching means 10 removes the potential on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 to prepare for the next uniform charging.
【０００８】次に、上記クリーニングブレード９１につ
いて詳述する。この例のクリーニングブレード９１はゴ
ム硬度６０乃至７５度のポリウレタンゴムかななり、厚
さ２〜３mmの板状で、且つ、感光体ドラム表面との当接
部である先端稜線部９１ａの角度Ａが鈍角、好ましくは
９５乃至１１０度になるように形成されている。このク
リーニングブレード９１を図１に示すように角度Ａの先
端稜線部９１ａが感光体表面に当接するように配置す
る。この当接の為の荷重は通常の大きさ、例えば２０乃
至３０ｇ／cm程度である。このとき、先端稜線部９１ａ
の角度Ａが鈍角であることから、図１に示す、クリーニ
ングブレード９１のクリーニング済みの感光体表面側の
側面９１ｂと当接部における感光体表面接線とのなす角
である接触角α、及び、クリーニングブレード９１の先
端面９１ｃと同接線とのなす角であるクリーニング角θ
は共に鋭角になる。Next, the cleaning blade 91 will be described in detail. The cleaning blade 91 of this example is made of polyurethane rubber having a rubber hardness of 60 to 75 degrees, has a plate shape with a thickness of 2 to 3 mm, and has an angle A of a tip ridge line portion 91a which is a contact portion with the surface of the photosensitive drum. It is formed to have an obtuse angle, preferably 95 to 110 degrees. As shown in FIG. 1, the cleaning blade 91 is arranged so that the tip ridgeline portion 91a at the angle A contacts the surface of the photoconductor. The load for this contact is a normal magnitude, for example, about 20 to 30 g / cm. At this time, the tip ridge line portion 91a
1 is an obtuse angle, the contact angle α, which is the angle between the side surface 91b of the cleaning blade 91 on the surface of the cleaned photoreceptor surface and the tangent to the photoreceptor surface at the contact portion, as shown in FIG. Cleaning angle θ, which is the angle formed by the tangent line to the tip surface 91c of the cleaning blade 91
Are both sharp angles.
【０００９】以上の構成より、従来の感光体表面と当接
する先端稜線部の角度がほぼ９０度である従来のクリー
ニングブレードに比し、本実施例のクリーニングブレー
ド９１の方が感光体表層の研磨能力が大きくなる。その
理由について説明する。図３（ａ）は本実施例のクリー
ニングブレード９１の感光体表面当接部を示す摸式図で
あり、図３（ｂ）は上記先端部稜線部の角度がほぼ９０
度である従来のクリーニングブレードの感光体表面当接
部を示す摸式図である。両図において、感光体表面は図
面右側に移動しており、クリーニングブレード９１の先
端面９１ｃと感光体表面との間にトナー１２が挾まった
状態でせき止められている。感光体表面に付着している
トナー１２には、感光体表面との間で付着力Ｎtpが働い
ている。両図のようにトナー１２がせき止められた状態
では、上記クリーニング角θ（θ1，θ0）により各部に
作用する力の大きさが変わってくる。即ち、クリーニン
グブレードの先端面９１ｃをトナー１２が押すことによ
り該先端面９１ｃに垂直に力ＦB（ＦB1，ＦB0）が生
じ、この力の同接線に垂直な方向、つまりほぼ感光体表
面に垂直な方向の分力がＦB・Cosθとなるので、該分力
ＦB・Cosθはクリーニング角θが小さいほど大きくな
る。又、トナー１２と感光体表面との摩擦力ＦTP（Ｆ
TP1，ＦTP0）はトナー１２と感光体表面との間の摩擦係
数をμとすると、該摩擦係数μと感光体表面に垂直な力
を掛けたものであり、且つ、該垂直な力が上記付着力Ｎ
tp及び上記分力ＦB・Cosθであるので、この摩擦力ＦTP
もクリーニング角θが小さいほど大きくなる。そして、
感光体表層の研磨は、このトナー１２の硬さによりトナ
ー１２と感光体表層間の圧力（付着力Ｎtp、分力ＦB・Co
sθ）で行われ、該圧力が高いほど研磨能力が大きくな
るので、このクリーニング角θが従来のクリーニングブ
レードに比して小さい（θ1＜θ0）、本実施例のクリー
ニングブレード９１の方が比較的大きな研磨能力を発揮
出来るのである。尚、該圧力を大きくすると上述のよう
にトナー１２と感光体表面との摩擦力ＦTPも大きくな
り、クリーニングブレードを押し退けようとする力が大
きくなる為、トナー除去性との関係で限界は存在する。With the above-described structure, the cleaning blade 91 of this embodiment polishes the surface layer of the photosensitive member as compared with the conventional cleaning blade in which the angle of the tip ridgeline contacting the surface of the photosensitive member is approximately 90 degrees. Ability becomes large. The reason will be described. FIG. 3A is a schematic view showing the photosensitive member surface contact portion of the cleaning blade 91 of the present embodiment, and FIG. 3B shows an angle of the tip ridge line portion of about 90.
FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing a contact portion of a conventional cleaning blade with respect to a surface of a photoreceptor, which is a degree. In both figures, the surface of the photoconductor has moved to the right side of the drawing, and the toner 12 is held between the tip surface 91c of the cleaning blade 91 and the surface of the photoconductor in a state of being sandwiched. The toner 12 adhering to the surface of the photoconductor has an adhesive force N tp acting on the surface of the photoconductor. In the state where the toner 12 is dammed as shown in both figures, the magnitude of the force acting on each part changes depending on the cleaning angle θ (θ 1 , θ 0 ). That is, when the toner 12 pushes the front end surface 91c of the cleaning blade, a force F B (F B1 , F B0 ) is generated perpendicularly to the front end surface 91c, and the force is perpendicular to the tangent line of the force, that is, almost the surface of the photoconductor. Since the component force in the direction perpendicular to is F B · Cos θ, the component force F B · Cos θ becomes larger as the cleaning angle θ becomes smaller. In addition, the frictional force F TP (F T
TP1 and F TP0 ) is a product of a friction coefficient μ between the toner 12 and the surface of the photoconductor and a force perpendicular to the photoconductor surface, and the normal force is Adhesion N
tp and the above component force F B · Cos θ, this friction force F TP
Also, the smaller the cleaning angle θ, the larger. And
The surface layer of the photoconductor is polished by the hardness (toner force) between the toner 12 and the surface layer of the photoconductor (adhesive force N tp , component force F B · Co).
sθ), and the higher the pressure is, the larger the polishing ability is. Therefore, the cleaning angle θ is smaller than that of the conventional cleaning blade (θ 1 <θ 0 ), and the cleaning blade 91 of the present embodiment is more preferable. It can exhibit a relatively large polishing ability. As the pressure is increased, the frictional force F TP between the toner 12 and the surface of the photosensitive member is also increased as described above, and the force for pushing the cleaning blade away is increased. Therefore, there is a limit in relation to the toner removability. To do.
【００１０】ここで、上記クリーニング角θを小さくす
るためには、従来の先端稜線部の角度がほぼ９０度であ
る従来のクリーニングブレードを用いる場合にも、感光
体表面に対するクリーニングブレード先端の当接位置の
設定を代えて接触角αを大きくすることでも実現出来
る。しかしながら、これによれば、接触角αが大きく成
ったことでクリーニングブレード先端部の巻き込みや振
動等の、ゴム等からなるクリーニングブレードと感光体
表面との摩擦、摺動に伴う不具合に対しての余裕度が小
さくなって、安定状態が得にくくなる。本実施例には、
クリーニングブレード９１の先端稜線部の角度Ａを鈍角
にすることによって、接触角αを比較的小さく設定して
も、クリーニング角θを比較的小さくすることによっ
て、上記不具合を発生させること無く、感光体表層の研
磨能力を大きく出来るのである。Here, in order to reduce the cleaning angle θ, even when a conventional cleaning blade having a conventional tip ridge line angle of about 90 degrees is used, the tip of the cleaning blade contacts the surface of the photosensitive member. It can also be realized by changing the position setting and increasing the contact angle α. However, according to this, since the contact angle α is increased, it is possible to prevent troubles caused by friction and sliding between the cleaning blade made of rubber or the like and the surface of the photosensitive member, such as entanglement and vibration of the cleaning blade tip. The margin becomes small and it becomes difficult to obtain a stable state. In this example,
Even if the contact angle α is set to a relatively small value by making the angle A of the ridge line portion of the cleaning blade 91 to be an obtuse angle, the cleaning angle θ is set to a relatively small value to prevent the above-mentioned problems from occurring. The polishing ability of the surface layer can be increased.
【００１１】次に、本発明の他の実施例について説明す
る。本実施例は、従来と同様に、感光体表面と当接する
先端稜線部の角度がほぼ９０度であるクリーニングブレ
ードを用いて充分な感光体表層の研磨能力を得るもので
ある。その為に、本実施例のクリーニングブレード９１
は、先端稜線部９１ａを従来の通常の荷重に比して大き
めの荷重、例えば、４０ｇ／cm程度の荷重で感光体表面
に当接させて該先端稜線部９１ａの下部を変形させてク
リーニング及び研磨を行わせるものである。このクリー
ニングブレード９１の材質としては上記実施例と同様の
硬度６０乃至７５度のポリウレタンゴムを用いることが
出来、クリーニングブレード９１の厚さも２乃至３mm程
度に形成したものを用いることが出来る。図４は本実施
例のクリーニングブレード９１の感光体表面当接部を示
す摸式図であり、上記のように通常の荷重よりも大きな
荷重がかかることにより先端稜線部９１ａの下部が大き
く変形している。そして、この変形によって生じた感光
体表面とのクリーニングブレード先端面下部の変形部と
の間にトナー１２が取り込まれ、この取り込まれた変形
部のトナー１２当接部における実質的なクリーニング角
θ（θ2）を、上記図３（ｂ）における従来のクリーニ
ングブレードにおけるクリーニング角接θ（θ0）より
も小さくすることが出来る。これにより、上記実施例の
クリーニングブレード９１と同様に接触角αを比較的小
さく設定しても、クリーニング角θを比較的小さくする
ことによって、上記不具合を発生させること無く、感光
体表層の研磨能力を大きく出来るのである。尚、このよ
うに荷重を大きくしてクリーニングブレード９１の先端
稜線部下部を変形させる場合には、感光体表面との摩擦
力が大きくなる傾向があるので、近時の低摩擦係数化が
図られた感光体に用いるのが特に有効である。Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. In this embodiment, as in the conventional case, a sufficient cleaning ability of the surface layer of the photoconductor is obtained by using a cleaning blade in which the angle of the ridgeline of the tip contacting the photoconductor surface is approximately 90 degrees. Therefore, the cleaning blade 91 of this embodiment is
Is to bring the tip ridgeline portion 91a into contact with the surface of the photoconductor with a load larger than a conventional normal load, for example, a load of about 40 g / cm to deform the lower portion of the tip ridgeline portion 91a for cleaning and cleaning. It is for polishing. As the material of the cleaning blade 91, polyurethane rubber having a hardness of 60 to 75 degrees similar to that of the above-described embodiment can be used, and the cleaning blade 91 having a thickness of about 2 to 3 mm can be used. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the photoconductor surface abutting portion of the cleaning blade 91 of the present embodiment. As described above, when a load larger than the normal load is applied, the lower portion of the tip ridge line portion 91a is largely deformed. ing. Then, the toner 12 is taken in between the surface of the photosensitive member caused by this deformation and the deformed portion under the cleaning blade tip surface, and the substantial cleaning angle θ ( θ 2 ) can be made smaller than the cleaning angle θ (θ 0 ) in the conventional cleaning blade shown in FIG. As a result, even if the contact angle α is set to be relatively small like the cleaning blade 91 of the above-described embodiment, the cleaning angle θ is set to be relatively small so that the polishing ability of the surface layer of the photoconductor can be achieved without causing the above-mentioned problems. Can be increased. When the load is increased in this way to deform the lower portion of the ridge line portion of the cleaning blade 91, the frictional force with the surface of the photoconductor tends to increase, so that a low friction coefficient can be achieved recently. It is particularly effective when used for a photoreceptor.
【００１２】[0012]
【発明の効果】請求項１、２又３の発明によれば、クリ
ーニングブレードの接触角が比較的小さくなるようにク
リーニングブレードを潜像担持体表面に当接させても、
クリーニング角を比較的小さく出来、これにより、クリ
ーニングブレード先端面が潜像担持体表面との間にせき
止めたトナーを潜像担持体表面に垂直に押し付ける力を
比較的大きくして、潜像担持体表層研磨能力を大きくす
ることが出来るので、クリーニングブレード先端部の巻
き込みや振動を発生させること無く、良好にクリーニン
グ及び感光体表面層の研磨を行なうことが出来る。従っ
て、高耐摩耗性の感光体を用いる場合にも、感光体フィ
ルミングによる画質劣化と感光体表層の摩耗による寿命
とのバランスを取った感光体耐用寿命の最長化を可能に
するという優れた効果がある。又、クリーニングブレー
ドの先端稜線部を鈍角にすることにより、又は、クリー
ニングブレードの先端面下部を変形させることにより、
クリーニング角を小さくして上記研磨能力を高めるの
で、比較的低硬度の弾性ブレードを使用することが出来
る。特に、請求項３の発明によれば、クリーニングブレ
ードとして、該潜像担持体表面に圧接させる先端稜線部
がほぼ９０度に形成された、製造容易なクリーニングブ
レードを用いることが出来る。According to the first, second and third aspects of the invention, even if the cleaning blade is brought into contact with the surface of the latent image carrier so that the contact angle of the cleaning blade becomes relatively small,
The cleaning angle can be made relatively small, whereby the force of vertically pressing the toner, which is blocked by the tip of the cleaning blade from the surface of the latent image bearing member, to the surface of the latent image bearing member is made relatively large, and the latent image bearing member is Since the surface layer polishing ability can be increased, the cleaning and the surface layer of the photoconductor can be satisfactorily performed without causing the tip of the cleaning blade to be entrained or vibrating. Therefore, even when a photoconductor with high abrasion resistance is used, it is possible to maximize the useful life of the photoconductor by balancing the image quality deterioration due to photoconductor filming and the life due to abrasion of the photoconductor surface layer. effective. Also, by making the tip ridge of the cleaning blade an obtuse angle, or by deforming the lower end surface of the cleaning blade,
Since the cleaning angle is reduced to enhance the polishing ability, an elastic blade having a relatively low hardness can be used. Particularly, according to the third aspect of the invention, as the cleaning blade, a cleaning blade having a tip ridge line portion which is brought into pressure contact with the surface of the latent image bearing member is formed at about 90 degrees can be used, which is easy to manufacture.
【図１】実施例に係るクリーニング装置のクリーニング
ブレードの感光体表面面への当接状態を示す正面図。FIG. 1 is a front view showing a contact state of a cleaning blade of a cleaning device according to an exemplary embodiment with a surface of a photosensitive member.
【図２】図１のクリーニング装置を備えた電子写真複写
機の概略構成を示す正面図。FIG. 2 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of an electrophotographic copying machine equipped with the cleaning device of FIG.
【図３】（ａ）は図１のクリーニングブレード９１の感
光体表面当接部を示す摸式図、（ｂ）は上記先端部稜線
部の角度がほぼ９０度である従来のクリーニングブレー
ドの感光体表面当接部を示す摸式図。3 (a) is a schematic view showing a contact portion of the cleaning blade 91 of FIG. 1 with respect to the surface of the photosensitive member, and FIG. 3 (b) is a photosensitizer of a conventional cleaning blade in which the angle of the tip ridge line is about 90 degrees. The schematic diagram which shows a body surface contact part.
【図４】変形例に係るクリーニングブレード９１の感光
体表面当接部を示す摸式図。FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a photosensitive member surface contact portion of a cleaning blade 91 according to a modification.
１ 感光体ドラム ， ９ ク
リーニング装置
９１ クリーニングブレード ， ９１ａ 先
端稜線部
Ａ 先端稜線部の角度 ， α 接
触角
θ クリーニング角1 photoconductor drum, 9 cleaning device 91 cleaning blade, 91a tip ridge line portion A tip ridge line portion angle, α contact angle θ cleaning angle
Claims (3)
リーニングブレードの先端稜線部を圧接させて、該潜像
担持体表面に残留する、該有機感光体よりも硬度が高い
乾式トナーを掻き落として除去するブレードクリーニン
グ装置において、 該クリーニングブレードとして、該潜像担持体表面に圧
接させる先端稜線部が鈍角に形成され、且つ、ゴム硬度
６０乃至７５度のポリウレタンゴムからなるブレードを
用いることを特徴とするブレードクリーニング装置。1. A dry toner having a hardness higher than that of the organic photoconductor, which remains on the surface of the latent image carrier by pressing the tip ridge of the cleaning blade against the surface of the latent image carrier made of the organic photoconductor. In a blade cleaning device for scraping and removing, a blade made of polyurethane rubber having an obtuse angle at the tip ridge line portion to be pressed against the surface of the latent image carrier and having a rubber hardness of 60 to 75 degrees is used as the cleaning blade. A blade cleaning device.
の範囲内に設定されていることを特徴とする請求項１の
ブレードクリーニング装置。2. The blade cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the angle of the tip ridge line portion is set within a range of 95 to 110 degrees.
リーニングブレードの先端稜線部を圧接させて、該潜像
担持体表面に残留する、該有機感光体よりも硬度が高い
乾式トナーを掻き落として除去するブレードクリーニン
グ装置において、 該クリーニングブレードとして、該潜像担持体表面に圧
接させる先端稜線部の角度がほぼ９０度に形成され、且
つ、弾性材料からなるブレードを用い、 該潜像担持体の表面との摩擦力で該先端稜線部の下部が
変形する程度の圧接力で、該ブレードを該潜像担持体の
表面に圧接させて配置したことを特徴とするブレードク
リーニング装置。3. A dry toner having a hardness higher than that of the organic photoconductor, which remains on the surface of the latent image carrier by pressing the tip ridge of the cleaning blade against the surface of the latent image carrier made of the organic photoconductor. In a blade cleaning device for scraping off and removing the latent image, a blade made of an elastic material is used as the cleaning blade, in which the angle of the tip ridgeline portion to be brought into pressure contact with the surface of the latent image carrier is formed to be about 90 degrees. A blade cleaning device characterized in that the blade is arranged in pressure contact with the surface of the latent image carrier with a pressure contacting force such that the lower part of the tip ridge line portion is deformed by frictional force with the surface of the carrier.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP19580991A JPH0519671A (en) | 1991-07-10 | 1991-07-10 | Blade cleaning device |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP19580991A JPH0519671A (en) | 1991-07-10 | 1991-07-10 | Blade cleaning device |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| JPH0519671A true JPH0519671A (en) | 1993-01-29 |
Family
ID=16347348
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP19580991A Withdrawn JPH0519671A (en) | 1991-07-10 | 1991-07-10 | Blade cleaning device |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPH0519671A (en) |
Cited By (16)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5769365A (en) * | 1994-03-29 | 1998-06-23 | Onishi; Yoshio | Fixture for use in electric line installation |
| JP2006154747A (en) * | 2004-11-01 | 2006-06-15 | Ricoh Co Ltd | Cleaning device, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus |
| JP2006259547A (en) * | 2005-03-18 | 2006-09-28 | Ricoh Co Ltd | Cleaning device, process unit, and image forming apparatus |
| JP2006259466A (en) * | 2005-03-18 | 2006-09-28 | Ricoh Co Ltd | Cleaning device, process unit, and image forming apparatus |
| JP2007264347A (en) * | 2006-03-29 | 2007-10-11 | Ricoh Co Ltd | Image forming apparatus and process cartridge |
| JP2008096965A (en) * | 2006-09-11 | 2008-04-24 | Ricoh Co Ltd | Cleaning device, and image forming apparatus and process cartridge equipped with the same |
| JP2009063708A (en) * | 2007-09-05 | 2009-03-26 | Ricoh Co Ltd | CLEANING DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING DEVICE EQUIPPED WITH THE SAME, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND RECORDING BODY CONVEYING UNIT |
| JP2009069363A (en) * | 2007-09-12 | 2009-04-02 | Ricoh Co Ltd | CLEANING DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING DEVICE EQUIPPED WITH THE SAME, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND RECORDING BODY CONVEYING UNIT |
| US7551884B2 (en) | 2006-06-07 | 2009-06-23 | Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba | Cleaning apparatus and image forming apparatus |
| US7610008B2 (en) | 2005-06-20 | 2009-10-27 | Ricoh Company Limited | Cleaning device, and process unit and image forming apparatus including the cleaning device |
| US7620357B2 (en) | 2005-06-27 | 2009-11-17 | Ricoh Company, Ltd. | Image forming apparatus with obtuse-edge cleaning blade |
| US7711308B2 (en) | 2006-09-11 | 2010-05-04 | Ricoh Company, Ltd. | Cleaning device, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus |
| JP2010117583A (en) * | 2008-11-13 | 2010-05-27 | Ricoh Co Ltd | Image forming apparatus and process cartridge |
| JP2010197712A (en) * | 2009-02-25 | 2010-09-09 | Ricoh Co Ltd | Cleaning device, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus |
| US8275301B2 (en) | 2007-11-08 | 2012-09-25 | Ricoh Company, Limited | Cleaning device, method of manufacturing the cleaning device, and process unit and image forming apparatus using same |
| US8761654B2 (en) | 2010-11-30 | 2014-06-24 | Ricoh Company, Ltd. | Cleaning device, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus |
-
1991
- 1991-07-10 JP JP19580991A patent/JPH0519671A/en not_active Withdrawn
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| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5769365A (en) * | 1994-03-29 | 1998-06-23 | Onishi; Yoshio | Fixture for use in electric line installation |
| JP2006154747A (en) * | 2004-11-01 | 2006-06-15 | Ricoh Co Ltd | Cleaning device, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus |
| US8027628B2 (en) | 2004-11-01 | 2011-09-27 | Ricoh Company, Ltd. | Cleaning device, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus |
| US7415238B2 (en) | 2004-11-01 | 2008-08-19 | Ricoh Company, Ltd. | Cleaning device, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus that include a blade that is pressed against a surface of a rotating member at a surface pressure of 2.0 MPa or more |
| JP2006259547A (en) * | 2005-03-18 | 2006-09-28 | Ricoh Co Ltd | Cleaning device, process unit, and image forming apparatus |
| JP2006259466A (en) * | 2005-03-18 | 2006-09-28 | Ricoh Co Ltd | Cleaning device, process unit, and image forming apparatus |
| US7610008B2 (en) | 2005-06-20 | 2009-10-27 | Ricoh Company Limited | Cleaning device, and process unit and image forming apparatus including the cleaning device |
| US7620357B2 (en) | 2005-06-27 | 2009-11-17 | Ricoh Company, Ltd. | Image forming apparatus with obtuse-edge cleaning blade |
| JP2007264347A (en) * | 2006-03-29 | 2007-10-11 | Ricoh Co Ltd | Image forming apparatus and process cartridge |
| US7551884B2 (en) | 2006-06-07 | 2009-06-23 | Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba | Cleaning apparatus and image forming apparatus |
| US7711308B2 (en) | 2006-09-11 | 2010-05-04 | Ricoh Company, Ltd. | Cleaning device, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus |
| JP2008096965A (en) * | 2006-09-11 | 2008-04-24 | Ricoh Co Ltd | Cleaning device, and image forming apparatus and process cartridge equipped with the same |
| JP2009063708A (en) * | 2007-09-05 | 2009-03-26 | Ricoh Co Ltd | CLEANING DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING DEVICE EQUIPPED WITH THE SAME, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND RECORDING BODY CONVEYING UNIT |
| JP2009069363A (en) * | 2007-09-12 | 2009-04-02 | Ricoh Co Ltd | CLEANING DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING DEVICE EQUIPPED WITH THE SAME, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND RECORDING BODY CONVEYING UNIT |
| US8275301B2 (en) | 2007-11-08 | 2012-09-25 | Ricoh Company, Limited | Cleaning device, method of manufacturing the cleaning device, and process unit and image forming apparatus using same |
| JP2010117583A (en) * | 2008-11-13 | 2010-05-27 | Ricoh Co Ltd | Image forming apparatus and process cartridge |
| JP2010197712A (en) * | 2009-02-25 | 2010-09-09 | Ricoh Co Ltd | Cleaning device, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus |
| US8761654B2 (en) | 2010-11-30 | 2014-06-24 | Ricoh Company, Ltd. | Cleaning device, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| A300 | Withdrawal of application because of no request for examination |
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