JPH089728Y2 - Corona discharger - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial application] The present invention relates to a corona discharger used in an electrophotographic apparatus such as an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to a cleaning device for a corona discharger. .

[Prior Art] Generally, in an electrophotographic apparatus such as an image forming apparatus,
Contaminants such as toner and dust are constantly floating in the device. Then, as the image formation and the printing are performed for a long time, these contaminants adhere to the discharge lines of the corona discharger. As described above, contaminants are deposited and accumulated on each part of the corona discharger each time image formation or printing is repeated. When images are formed or printed on about several thousand sheets, the adhered contaminants cause a decrease in discharge efficiency and uneven discharge, which results in a decrease in image formation and print quality. Therefore, cleaning is always required after the image formation and printing of thousands of sheets. However, the discharge wire has a diameter of about 60 ~
Since it is a fine metal wire of 90 μm (micrometer),
If a person other than an expert performs the cleaning work of the discharge line, there is a problem that the discharge line is often cut or damaged.

In order to solve this problem, conventionally, a special cleaning tool is inserted from the outside to clean the discharge line (Japanese Patent Publication No. 2-1115).
No. 7) or a cleaning member provided inside the shield member, and the cleaning member is slid with a finger for cleaning (Japanese Patent Publication No. 61-45).
No. 829) has been devised.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the former method of inserting the dedicated cleaning tool, as shown in FIG. 4, the dedicated cleaning tool 39 is inserted from outside the cartridge 30 and slides along the discharge line 31. Therefore, the discharge wire 31 is cleaned, but only the surface of the outer peripheral surface of the discharge wire 31 with which the cleaning portion 40 of the dedicated cleaning tool 39 abuts can be cleaned, and the portion a in FIG. There was a problem that the surfaces that were not in contact with each other could not be cleaned.

Further, there is a problem that a storage place for the dedicated cleaning tool 39 must be provided.

Further, in the latter method of providing the cleaning member in the shield member, although various proposals have been made, there is a problem that the user has to slide the cleaning member with a finger, which is very troublesome.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object thereof is to provide a corona discharger that allows a user to easily clean a discharge line.

[Means for Solving the Problem] In order to achieve this object, the corona discharger of the present invention has a discharge line for corona discharge and a box shape surrounding the discharge line, and the upper part thereof is for discharge. A shield member that is open and that cleans the discharge wire by rubbing it; and a shaft of the discharge wire that supports the slide member and engages with the shield member. The cleaning member includes a guide member movable in a direction and a load member provided on the guide member.

[Operation] According to the present invention having the above configuration, the user takes out the corona discharger from the electrophotographic apparatus such as the image forming apparatus,
After that, the corona discharger is tilted or shaken lightly to rub the discharge line for cleaning.The guide member that supports the rubbing member moves along the shield member in the discharge line axial direction by its own weight to clean the discharge line. To do.

[Embodiment] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First, the configuration of the corona discharger according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The corona discharger is detachably mounted inside the image forming apparatus.

The corona discharger is composed of thin metal wires made of tungsten, platinum, etc., and has a high voltage of 4 kV (kilo-volt) to 7 kV applied to it to perform corona discharge, and discharge line 1 to stabilize the corona discharge. A shield member 2 made of a thin metal plate arranged so as to surround the electric wire 1, insulating blocks 3 and 7 arranged at both ends of the shield member 2 to stretch and support the discharge wire 1, and an insulating block 3, The cleaning member 9 is slidably disposed along the shield member 2 between the cleaning members 7.

The lip of the opening provided above the shield member 2
2a is bent inward and serves to guide the cleaning member 9. On the surfaces of the insulating blocks 3 and 7 located inside the shield member 2, cushioning members 20 and 21 made of urethane foam, felt or the like are provided to absorb the impact when the cleaning member 9 moves and collides. ing. A hook 22 is provided above the cleaning member 9, and an opening 22a provided in the hook 22 is fixed to the fixing pin 2 provided above the insulating block 3.
The cleaning member 9 can be fixed by inserting the cleaning member 9. In this state, the corona discharger will be used. Further, on the outer surface of the insulating block 7, when the corona discharger is attached to the image forming apparatus, the terminal 4 for applying a high voltage from the power source to the discharge line 1 and the corona discharger are attached to the image forming apparatus. Fixed claw 5 for detachable attachment to the
And are provided.

Next, the cleaning member 9 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

The cleaning member 9 has a supporting member 8 which has an insulating property and which is an elastic body and which is a guide member, and sliding members 10 and 11 which are supported by the supporting member 8 so as to sandwich the discharge line 1. . The rubbing members 10 and 11 are supported by the elasticity of the supporting member 8 so as to press each other, and the discharge line 1 between them is supported.
It is pressed with a constant pressure. Incidentally, as the material of the support member 8, ABS resin, polyamide resin, polyacetal resin, modified polyphenylene oxide, etc. are suitable in that they have insulating properties and elasticity. Further, it is particularly preferable that the slidability with the metallic shield member 2 is good. Inside the support member 8, a metallic weight 13 having a high specific gravity such as lead, which is a load member, is used.
Is enclosed. Further, as the material of the rubbing members 10 and 11, an insulating material having elasticity to the extent that dust can be captured is suitable such as urethane foam, non-woven fabric, and felt. The support member 8 supports the rubbing members 10 and 11, is guided by the edge 2a, and moves in the extending direction of the discharge wire 1.

Next, the cleaning operation of the corona discharger of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

The corona discharger of this embodiment is in the third state when in use.
As shown in the figure, the hook 22 is attached to the fixing pin 23.
In this state, the support member 8 is in the non-image area and is not moved to the image area by the vibration of the shield member 2 or the like.

When cleaning the discharge wire 1 of the corona discharger of this embodiment,
First, remove the corona discharger from the image forming device and hook
Remove 22 from fixing pin 23. As described above, since the support member 8 is filled with the lead weight 13 and has an appropriate weight, when the corona discharger is tilted in the extending direction of the discharge wire 1, the discharge wire 1 and the rubbing member 10 are rubbed. The support member 8 tries to move along the edge 2a against the frictional resistance between them. When the support member 8 is inclined to an angle determined by the balance between the weight of the support member 8 and the frictional resistance between the discharge line 1 and the rubbing member 10, the support member 8 slides out and bumps into the cushioning material 21 provided on the insulating block 7. Here, when the corona discharger is tilted in the opposite direction, the support member also slides out at a certain angle, and the same operation as described above is performed, so that the cushioning material 20 provided on the insulating block 3
Bump into. While the support member 8 is thus moving in the corona discharger, the rubbing member is naturally in contact with the discharge wire 1. Therefore, by tilting the corona discharger alternately left and right, the support member 8 reciprocates and is released. The electric wire 1 can be cleaned.

As described above, even if the corona charger is not tilted, the support member 8 can be reciprocated in the corona charger by the inertial force even if it is lightly shaken in the discharge wire tension direction to perform cleaning.

In this embodiment, the corona discharger which can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus has been described as an example, but the present invention can be applied to a corona discharger in an integrated process unit, for example. In this case, the entire process unit may be tilted or lightly shaken in the direction in which the discharge wire is stretched.

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, cleaning can be performed without cutting the discharge wire by a simple operation such as alternately tilting the corona discharger to the left or right or shaking it lightly. Further, it is possible to provide a corona discharger capable of cleaning the entire circumferential surface of the discharge line without providing a storage space for the cleaning tool, which is a significant industrial advantage.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 to 3 show an embodiment embodying the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a corona discharger, FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a cleaning member, and FIG. 3 is a corona. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the position of the supporting member when the discharger is used, and FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional cleaning method. In the figure, 1 is a discharge line, 2 is a shield member, 3 and 7 are insulating blocks, 4 are terminals, 5 are fixed claws, 8 is a support member, 9 is a cleaning member, 10 and 11 are rubbing members, and 13 is Weights, 20 and 21 are cushioning materials, 22 is a hook, and 23 is a fixed pin.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A corona discharger comprising a discharge line for corona discharge and a shield member having a box shape surrounding the discharge line and having an opening above the shield member for discharge. A rubbing member for rubbing and cleaning the rubbing member, a guide member that supports the rubbing member and engages with the shield member, and is movable in the axial direction of the discharge line, and provided on the guide member. A corona discharger comprising a cleaning member including a load member.