JPH0996995A - Lubricant supply device for image carrier in electrophotographic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Object] An object of the present invention is to provide a lubricant supply device for an image carrier in an electrophotographic apparatus, which is capable of uniformly supplying a lubricant for an image carrier over time. [Structure] A solid lubricant, a rotary roller that elastically presses the lubricant and carries a fixed amount of the lubricant on the peripheral surface as it rotates, and contacts the rotary roller and the image carrier, respectively. And a rotating brush that turns the lubricant on the rotating roller into the image bearing member, and a lubricant supplying device for the image bearing member in an electrophotographic apparatus, wherein the solid lubricant is rotated. It is configured to swing in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the roller.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention forms an image by using a toner on an image bearing member such as a photoconductor or a transfer belt, such as a copying machine, a laser printer or a laser facsimile, and prints the image on a paper. It can be applied to the electrophotographic apparatus for recording in. More specifically, the present invention relates to a lubricant supply device for an image carrier, which supplies a lubricant to the surface of the image carrier in such an electrophotographic apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 3, a solid lubricant 1, a lubricant 1 and a photosensitive member 2 are provided in a lubricant supplying device for a photosensitive member in a laser copying machine, for example. There is a configuration in which the rotary brushes 3 that come into contact with each other and rotate are provided (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 56-142567).

However, in such a conventional lubricant supplying apparatus, since the solid lubricant 1 is directly scraped off by the rotating brush 3, for example, the supply amount to the photosensitive member 2 is increased at the initial stage, but it is used over time. As a result, the amount of the lubricant 1 is reduced, and there is a problem that an appropriate amount of the lubricant 1 cannot be constantly supplied.

Therefore, in order to constantly supply an appropriate amount of lubricant, a solid lubricant and a rotary roller which elastically presses the lubricant and carries a fixed amount of lubricant on the peripheral surface as the lubricant rotates. And a rotating brush that rotates in contact with the rotating roller and the image bearing member to transfer the lubricant on the rotating roller to the image bearing member. A lubricant supply device has been proposed (see Japanese Patent Application No. 6-250204).

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned apparatus, since the solid lubricant is scraped by the rotary roller, the solid lubricant is rotated with the passage of time.
It will be cut into a shape that follows the shape of the la. That is, the solid lubricant has a shape in which only the central portion is recessed according to the shape of the rotary roller, and both end portions are thin. As a result, the strength of both ends of the solid lubricant becomes extremely weak, and in the extreme case, both ends are chipped, which makes it impossible to uniformly apply the lubricant to the image carrier, which adversely affects image formation. The problem arises.

Therefore, the present invention solves the above problems,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a lubricant supply device for an image carrier in an electrophotographic apparatus, which is capable of uniformly supplying a lubricant for an image carrier even over time.

[0007]

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, a solid lubricant is elastically pressed against the lubricant, and a fixed amount of the lubricant is carried on the peripheral surface as the lubricant rotates. In an electrophotographic apparatus having a rotating roller that rotates, and a rotating brush that rotates by contacting the rotating roller and the image carrier, respectively, and uses the lubricant on the rotating roller as the image carrier. In the lubricant supply device for the image carrier, the solid lubricant is formed so as to oscillate in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the rotary roller.

[0008]

In the lubricant supplying device for the image bearing member of the electrophotographic apparatus having the above-mentioned structure, the application surface of the solid lubricant to the rotary roller can be always maintained in a constant shape. Is.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a schematic structure of a laser copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, around the photosensitive member.

Reference numeral 11 in the figure denotes a drum-shaped photosensitive member which is an image bearing member. An arrow A in the figure indicates around the photoconductor 11.
The charging device 12, the developing device 13, the transfer device 14, the separating device 15, the cleaning device 16, and the static eliminator 17 are arranged in the driving direction indicated by. An optical writing device 18 is provided above the charging device 12. Then, at the time of recording, the paper is fed from the paper feeding unit and is conveyed to the lower side of the photoconductor 11 at a timing by a pair of registration rollers.

The photosensitive member 11 is rotationally driven in the clockwise direction indicated by the arrow A, at which time the surface is uniformly charged by the charging device 12, and the surface from the optical writing device 18 is charged on the surface.
The work L is irradiated to form an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor 11.

Next, after the unnecessary charges in the non-image area on the photoconductor 11 are removed by the eraser 19, the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor 11 is continuously passed by the toner when passing through the position of the developing device 13. Make the image visible. Then, this visible image is transferred by the transfer device 14 onto the upper surface of the sheet conveyed below the photoconductor 11. After the transfer, the charge is removed by the separating device 15 and the photoconductor 1
Separate the paper from 1. After the separation, the sheet is conveyed to a fixing device, where the transferred image is fixed and then discharged to the outside of the copying machine main body.

On the other hand, the photosensitive drum 11 after the image transfer is cleaned by the cleaning blade 2 of the cleaning device 16 for the residual toner.
After removing with 0, the charge removal charger 2 of the charge removal device 17
The static electricity is removed by 1 and the static electricity is radiated by the static elimination lamp 22 to be electrostatically initialized to prepare for the next use.

By the way, in the above-mentioned laser copying machine, for example, the surface of the photoconductor 11 and the cleaner pressed against it.
In order to prevent the wearing blade 20 from being worn, a lubricant applying means 25 for applying a lubricant to the peripheral surface of the photoconductor 11 is arranged between the cleaning device 16 and the charge eliminating device 17.

The lubricant applying means 25 is provided with a rotating brush 26. The rotary brush 26 is formed by arranging a loop-shaped polyester fiber having a bristle length of 6 mm in a plurality of brush shapes on the outer periphery of a cylindrical member made of aluminum having a diameter of 13 mm, and having a diameter of 25 mm. As Then, both ends are appropriately rotatably supported and arranged parallel to the photoconductor 11, and the surface of the photoconductor 11 is rotatably provided with the tip of the polyester fiber in contact with the surface of the photoconductor 11.

In the vicinity of the rotating brush 26, the rotating body 2
7 is provided. The rotating body 27 is a roller made of stainless steel having a diameter of 16 mm, and is processed by, for example, a sand blast method or the like to have a surface roughness of about 5 μm. Then, both ends are appropriately rotatably supported and arranged parallel to the rotating brush 26, and the polyester fibers are rotatably provided in a state of being in contact with the peripheral surface of the rotating body 27.

On the outer circumference of the rotating body 27, the solid lubricant 2
8 is provided. As the solid lubricant 28, one having zinc stearate as a main component, which is melted and then cooled and solidified to be formed into a horizontally long plate shape, is used.
It is provided movably between a pressing position for pressing against 7 and a retracted position for releasing the pressing. In addition, the solid lubricant 28
Is provided so as to swing in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the rotating body 27.

Then, one end of the elastic member 29 is pressed against the base end side of the solid lubricant 28. The elastic member 2
9 is provided by pressing the other end against one end of the lever 30. The lever 30 is rotatably supported by a support shaft 31 at a substantially middle length, and the other end is connected to the tip of a plunger 33 of a solenoid 32. A compression coil spring 34 is wound around the plunger 33. The compression coil spring 34 has one end pressed against the other end of the lever 30 and the other end pressed against the main body of the solenoid 32. Then, the lever 30, the solenoid 32, the plunger 33, the compression spring 34, etc. are used to drive the drive means 3.
5 is constituted.

When copying, the drive means 25 is used.
Is turned on and the lever 30 is centered around the support shaft 31.
Is rotated counterclockwise, the lever 30 moves the solid lubricant 28 to the pressing position, and the solid lubricant 28 is pressed against the rotating body 27 by using the elastic member 29. .

In this embodiment, as means for swinging the solid lubricant 28 in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the rotating body 27, for example, as shown in FIG. A support member 50 that connects 28 is swingably disposed, a rod 51 and a solenoid 52 are connected to the member 50, and the solenoid 52 is driven, so that the solid lubricant 28 is perpendicular to the axial direction of the rotating body 27. A method of swinging in the direction can be considered. The means for rocking the solid lubricant 28 is not limited to that shown in this embodiment.

Since the solid lubricant 28 is made to oscillate in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the rotating body 27, the end portion of the solid lubricant 28 on the contact surface side with the rotating roller 27 is also the same as the central portion. It will be scraped by the rotating roller 27 like this,
It is possible to prevent the convex portions from being formed at both ends of the solid lubricant 28. As a result, a stable supply of the lubricant to the image carrier can be achieved.

In the range in which the solid lubricant 28 is swung, as shown in FIG.
The diameter is set to be equal to or larger than the diameter a of 7. By setting the swing width of the solid lubricant 28 in such a range, the contact surface of the solid lubricant 28 on the rotating roller side can contact the rotating roller 27 without excess or deficiency. 28 It is possible to reliably prevent unevenness from occurring on the surface. The swing width is determined by adjusting the solenoid 52 and the like.

Further, the solid lubricant 28 may be oscillated only when the rotary roller 27 is being driven.

The driving means 25 described above is electrically connected to the control means 38 for controlling it. Toner density detecting means 40 for detecting toner density adhering to the outside of the image forming area on the photoconductor 11 is connected to the control means 38.

As the solid lubricant 28, besides barium stearate, barium stearate, lead stearate, nickel stearate, cobalt stearate, iron stearate, copper stearate, strontium stearate, calcium stearate, Cadmium stearate, magnesium stearate, manganese oleate, iron oleate, cobalt oleate, lead oleate, magnesium oleate, copper oleate, palmitic acid, zinc cobalt palmitate, copper palmitate,
Relatively higher fatty acids such as magnesium palmitate, aluminum palmitate, calcium palmitate, lead cabriolate, lead cabronate, zinc linolenate, cobalt linolenate, and cadmium linolenate can be used. Further, colloidal high temperature silica powder can be used, and further, natural wax such as carnauba wax can be used.

Further, in the illustrated laser copying machine, an example is shown in which the photoconductor 11 for transferring an image onto a sheet is used as an image carrier. However, although not shown, the images formed on the photoconductor are sequentially transferred to the intermediate transfer belt to form a color image on the intermediate transfer belt, and the color images are transferred at one time to form the image on the paper. In a color laser copying machine to be formed, it may be used as an intermediate transfer member such as an intermediate transfer belt.

[0027]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the invention, a solid lubricant and the lubricant are elastically pressed against each other, and a fixed amount of the lubricant is carried on the peripheral surface as the lubricant rotates. An image in an electrophotographic apparatus having a rotating roller, and a rotating brush that contacts and rotates with the rotating roller and the image carrier, respectively, and uses a lubricant on the rotating roller as the image carrier. In the lubricant supply device for the carrier, since the solid lubricant is formed so as to oscillate in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the rotary roller, the rotary roller contact surface of the solid lubricant is Since the shape can be kept constant, it is possible to constantly supply a uniform amount of lubricant to the image carrier. According to the invention of claim 2, claim 1
In the lubricant supply device for the image carrier in the electrophotographic apparatus described above, the range in which the solid lubricant is oscillated is set to be equal to or larger than the diameter of the rotary roller, so that the solid is surely solid. The shape of the contact surface of the lubricant with the rotating roller can be kept constant.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram around a photosensitive member in a laser copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an example of a lubricant oscillating means used in the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a relative relationship between a swinging width of a lubricant and a diameter of a rotary roller.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of a part around a photoconductor in a conventional laser copying machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Photoreceptor (Image Bearing Body) 25 Lubricant Applying Means 27 Rotating Body 28 Solid Lubricant 29 Elastic Member

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A solid lubricant, a rotary roller that elastically presses the lubricant and carries a fixed amount of the lubricant on the circumferential surface as it rotates, and a rotary roller and an image carrier. In a lubricant supply device for an image carrier in an electrophotographic apparatus, comprising: a rotating brush that makes contact with and rotates the lubricant on the rotating roller to make the image carrier, A lubricant supply device for an image carrier in an electrophotographic apparatus, characterized in that it is formed so as to swing in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the rotary roller. 2. The image carrier in an electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the range in which the solid lubricant is swung is set to be equal to or larger than the diameter of the rotary roller. Lubricant supply device to the body.