JPS61114269A - cleaning equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To press a rubbing roller against an image carrier with invariably constant pressure and obtain excellent cleaning performance by pressing the rubbing roller against the image carrier with a spring or weight load. CONSTITUTION:The rubbing roller 7-1 is pressed against the image carrier 1 by the elastic cam of a spring 7-7 through a bearing 7-6 around the center 7-5 of rotation as a fulcrum. The rubbing roller 7-1 has a clearance (arrow (a)) of about 1mm in a direction B, so the roller is pressed against the image carrier with invariably constant pressure over the entire area. Namely, the support shaft 7-1a of the rubbing roller 7-1 have both ends held rotatably on bearings 7-6. Sliding parts 7-6a between the bearings 7-6 sand support shaft 7-1a may be formed of light friction materials or constituted through rotary members such as bearings, etc. Further, the frame 7-8 of a cleaning device 7 is provided with an opening 7-8a which has a diameter a little bit larger than that of the support shaft 7-1a, and the shaft 7-1a is free to a frame body 7-8.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Scope of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a cleaning device for an image forming apparatus that utilizes an electrostatic photographic process, such as an electrophotographic copying machine or a printer.

[Problems to be solved by conventional technology and invention]

Such an image forming apparatus using an electrostatic photographic process charges the surface of the image carrier with a plurality of corona chargers for the purpose of charging the image carrier, transferring a toner image to a transfer member, etc. is common.

Therefore, molecules in the air change due to corona discharge,
Substances such as nitrogen oxides may be produced. These corona products adhere to the surface of the image carrier and have negative effects such as lowering the resistance of the surface of the image carrier and blurring the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the image carrier in a high-temperature environment. There are times when this happens.

Conventionally, in order to eliminate the above-mentioned adverse effects, the image carrier is heated,
Proposed methods include a method of drying the image carrier, and a method of rubbing the surface of the image carrier by pressing it against the surface of the image carrier such as silicone rubber and rotating it to remove corona products.

In particular, the latter method has a stable effect even when the image bearing member is used for a long period of time, and is also effective in preventing substances in transfer materials such as paper from adhering to the surface of the image bearing member, or when toner is fused to the surface of the image bearing member. It is also effective and an excellent method for removal. FIG. 1 shows the configuration of one embodiment of this method. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a cylindrical photoreceptor, which rotates in the direction of arrow A in the figure. After the photoreceptor l is uniformly charged by a corona discharger 2, it is irradiated with image exposure light 3 to form an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the original, which is developed by a developing means 4. The developed toner image is transferred from the back surface of the transfer member 9 onto the transfer member 9 supplied from the transfer member feeder 5 by being given a charge of opposite polarity to that of the toner by the transfer corona discharger 6. Thereafter, the transfer member 9 is separated, transported, and fixed by a fixing means (not shown). Thereafter, the photoreceptor l is rubbed by a sliding roller 7-1 with a fixed bearing in the cleaning device 7 to remove substances that cause image blurring on the surface, and then residual toner is removed by a cleaning blade 7-2. and by pre-exposure 8,
The remaining charge is removed and the next cycle begins. At this time, the rotational direction and speed of the rubbing roller 7-1 may be any with respect to the rotational direction and speed of the photoreceptor 1. In the figure, 7-3 is a scraper for removing toner and the like adhering to the surface of the rubbing roller 7-1.

Reference numeral 7-4 is a feed screw for discharging residual toner, paper powder, etc. accumulated in the cleaning device to the outside.

Here, the above-mentioned sliding roller with a fixed bearing may not always press against the image carrier with a constant pressure.

The reason for this is thought to be as follows.

■Due to the backlash of the cleaner device, the rubbing roller shaft and image carrier shaft cannot be set completely parallel.

■Since the surface of the rubbing roller is not round, the pressure on the image carrier changes as the rubbing roller rotates.

■If the cleaner device is stopped for a long period of time, the rubbing roller is deformed and becomes out of roundness, resulting in a change in the pressure on the image carrier.

etc. are possible.

As a result, poor sliding occurs in the image bearing member portion where the pressure has decreased, which then causes the electrostatic latent image to become blurred, posing a problem.

[Purpose of the invention]

The present invention provides a cleaning device that solves the problems of the prior art described above and can obtain good cleaning performance.

〔Example〕

FIGS. 2(A) and 2(B) are illustrations of embodiments of the present invention.

Description of parts that overlap with those in FIG. 1 will be omitted.

In the figure, 7-5 is the center of rotation of the bearing 7-6. 7-7 is a spring. First, the sliding roller 7-1 is brought into pressure contact with the image carrier 1 via the bearing 7-6, with the center of rotation 7-5 as a fulcrum, rather than the elastic cam of the spring 7-7.

Next, since the rubbing roller 7-1 has a play of about 1 cm in the direction of B in the figure (arrow a in the figure), it is possible to press the image carrier with a constant pressure over the entire area. There is.

That is, according to this embodiment, the support shaft 7-1a of the rubbing roller 7-1 is rotatably held at both ends by bearings 7-6 (only one end is shown in the figure). Furthermore, bearing 7
The sliding portion 7-6a between the support shaft 7-1a and the support shaft 7-1a may be formed of a light friction material as in this embodiment, or may be formed using a rotating member such as a bearing. Further, the frame 7-8 of the cleaning device 7 is provided with an open lower lower 8a having a slightly larger diameter (approximately 2 cm) than the diameter of the support shaft 7-1a. It is free for body 7-8. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the roller 7-1
Depending on the tensile force of the spring 7-7, the entire width of the roller 7-1 can be uniformly pressed against the drum 1. In addition, 7-
Reference numeral 9 denotes a set screw that restricts movement of the support shaft 7-1a in the axial direction.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment.

In the figure, 7-8 is a weight load, and 7-9 is a screw for fixing the weight load to the bearing.

FIG. 3 shows a case where a heavy load is used to bring the rubbing roller 7-1 into pressure contact with the image carrier 1. As shown in FIG. In addition, the rubbing roller 7-
The rotation direction of the image carrier 1 may be either forward or reverse to the rotation direction of the image carrier 1, and the rotation speed does not need to be particularly determined. Further, as a means for removing residual toner, not only a cleaning blade but also a means such as a fur brush may be used.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, by configuring the rubbing roller to be pressed against the image carrier by a spring or a weight load, it has become possible to always press against the image carrier with a constant pressure. As a result, sliding defects no longer occur. Furthermore, when a weight load force is used, it has become possible to easily adjust the pressure with which the rubbing roller presses against the image carrier.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of an electrophotographic copying machine, FIGS. 2A and 3 are schematic sectional views of an electrophotographic copying machine equipped with a cleaning device to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied, and (B
) is a partial sectional view of the cleaning device. In the figure, 1--one photoreceptor, 2.6--corona discharger, 3--one image exposure, 4--one developer, 5-m-transfer member conveyance path, 7--cleaning device, 7-1--One-slide roller, 7-2--Cleaning blade, 7-3-m-Scraper, 7-4--Partial toner conveyance screw, 8--First exposure, 9--Transfer Members: 7-8--one bearing, 7-hoo--spring. 7-8-11 weight load.

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) means for removing residual toner on the surface of the image carrier; The surface of the image carrier is rubbed and the surface of the image carrier is rubbed. a sliding member supported so that its relative position is movable; Slides into contact with the rubbing member and removes deposits on its surface. a scraper for removing; For pressing the above-mentioned sliding member onto the image carrier. A clamp characterized in that it has a pressure welding means. leaning equipment. (2) Claim No. 1 (2) in which the pressure contact means includes a spring.
The cleaning device according to item 1). (3) Claim No. 1 (
The cleaning device according to item 1).