JP2003122228A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device where a cleaning means and an image carrier are prevented from flawing and the image carrier is prevented from loosening, etc., by abutting and separating the cleaning means on and from a direction nearly orthogonal to the surface of the image carrier when attaching and detaching the cleaning means. SOLUTION: After a toner image is formed on a belt-like intermediate transfer belt (image carrier) 18 stretched by a plurality rollers (tension rollers) 16 and toner on the toner image is transferred to a transferring material, the belt-like intermediate transfer belt 18 is removed by a cleaning blade (cleaning means) 24, and a cleaner unit 23 for holding the cleaning blade 24 is detachably fixed to a positioning member provided at an intermediate transferring body unit 13 holding the belt-like intermediate transfer belt 18 by a fixing means. In the image forming device like this, a cleaning blade 24 is separated from the belt-like intermediate transfer belt 18 by a separation arm (separation means) 35 linked with the fixing means (rotary shaft 33) in the case of attaching and detaching the cleaning blade 24.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer which employs an electrophotographic system or an electrostatic recording system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Intermediate transfer members are often used in image forming apparatuses having full-color or multiple image forming functions. An image forming apparatus provided with such an intermediate transfer member has a plurality of color components of a desired full-color image or multiple images on a first image carrier such as an electrophotographic photosensitive member or an electrostatic recording dielectric member by an appropriate image forming process means. Component color toner images corresponding to the image are sequentially formed, and those component color toner images are sequentially superimposed and transferred to the intermediate transfer member as the second image carrier, which is generally a rotating belt type, at the primary transfer portion. By doing so, a full-color toner image or a multiple-toner image corresponding to the target full-color image or multiplex image is composite-formed on the intermediate transfer member, and the toner image composite-formed on the intermediate transfer member is introduced from the secondary transfer unit to the fixing unit unit. By fixing it, a full-color image-formed product is obtained.

The structure of an image forming apparatus that uses an intermediate transfer belt as the second image carrier will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of a main part of a conventional image forming apparatus. In the image forming apparatus, the component color toner images corresponding to a plurality of color component images formed on the image carrier 101 are image carrier. 1 sandwiched between 101 and primary transfer roller 102
In the next transfer portion T1, the images are sequentially transferred and superposed on the intermediate transfer belt 103, and a desired full-color image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 103. The full-color image on the intermediate transfer belt 103 is transferred onto the transfer material 1 at the secondary transfer portion T2 sandwiched between the secondary transfer roller 115 and the secondary transfer counter roller 105.
The transfer material 116, which is collectively transferred to 16, and onto which the full-color image has been transferred, is subjected to fixing of the full-color image by a fixing unit (not shown) (not shown), whereby a full-color formed product is obtained.

The intermediate transfer belt 103 is wound around a driving roller 104, a secondary transfer counter roller 105 and a tension roller 106, and a bearing 107 of the swingable tension roller 106 is pressed by a compression spring 108. The tension of the intermediate transfer belt 103 is kept constant.

In addition, the intermediate transfer belt 103 is surrounded by 2
A cleaning unit for cleaning the toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 103 without being transferred to the transfer material 116 at the next transfer portion T2 is arranged. The cleaning means includes a cleaning blade 111, and the cleaning blade 111 is in contact with the intermediate transfer belt 103 at a predetermined angle. The tension roller 106 is arranged as a backup roller on the opposite side of the cleaning blade 111.

By the way, the cleaning blade 111 is held in the cleaner container 110, and the cleaner container 1
Reference numeral 10 is configured to be detachable, and is fitted into a positioning portion provided on the intermediate transfer belt unit and positioned. Since the cleaner container 110 is configured to be detachable in this way, the cleaning blade 111 and the intermediate transfer belt 103 can be replaced when they reach the end of their lives, without being affected by their respective lives. Target.

A waste toner conveying screw 112 for conveying the waste toner collected by the cleaning means to a waste toner box 114 arranged separately from the cleaner container 110 is disposed in the cleaner container 110, and the waste toner is disposed. Does not overflow from the inside of the cleaner container 110.

[0009]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional image forming apparatus, the cleaner unit can be attached to and detached from the intermediate transfer unit, and the cleaner unit can be replaced from the front surface of the main body so that the cleaner unit can be replaced in the paper conveyance direction. It is necessary to adopt a configuration in which the cleaner unit is attached to and detached from the main body in the orthogonal direction, and the cleaner unit must be attached and detached in a state of being separated from the surface of the intermediate transfer belt.

Further, the cleaner unit is provided with a waste toner carrying screw, and since this waste toner carrying screw obtains a driving force from the main body, the cleaner unit is rotated around the waste toner carrying screw shaft. There is no choice but to adopt a configuration in which this is separated from the intermediate transfer belt, which causes the following problems.

That is, since the cleaner unit rotates about the waste toner conveying screw shaft and is positioned in the intermediate transfer unit, when the cleaning blade 111 comes into contact with the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 103 as shown in FIG. The cleaning blade 111 is turned over, the cleaning blade 111 or the intermediate transfer belt 103 is subjected to excessive stress, is scratched, or has an intermediate transfer belt 1
There was a problem that 03 was bent.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to bring the cleaning means into contact with or separate from the surface of the image carrier in a direction substantially orthogonal to the surface of the image carrier when the cleaning means is attached or detached. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of preventing the cleaning unit and the image bearing member from being scratched and the image bearing member from being loosened.

[0013]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 forms a toner image on a belt-shaped image carrier stretched by a plurality of rollers and transfers the toner image. After transferring to the material, the toner on the image carrier is removed by the cleaning means, and the cleaner unit holding the cleaning means is detachably fixed to the positioning member provided in the unit holding the image carrier by the fixing means. In the image forming apparatus, the cleaning unit is separated from the image carrier by the separating unit that interlocks with the fixing unit when the cleaning unit is attached or detached.

According to a second aspect of the invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the image carrier is an intermediate transfer belt.

According to a third aspect of the invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the cleaning means is a cleaning blade.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the positioning member is formed integrally with a bearing member of a roller that stretches the image carrier.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the roller is a tension roller.

A sixth aspect of the invention is characterized in that, in the first aspect of the invention, the fixing means includes a fitting groove and a latch.

[0019]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First, the overall structure of the color image forming apparatus will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a color laser printer as one form of a color image forming apparatus. The color laser printer has each color of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C) and black (K). Image carrier 1Y, 1M, 1C, 1K that rotates at a constant speed for each and color developing device 4
An image forming unit having Y, 4M, 4C, and 4K, and an intermediate transfer for holding a color image developed and multiply-transferred by the image forming unit and further transferring the color image onto a transfer material 2 fed from a feeding unit. It has a body.

Thus, the transfer material 2 on which the color image is transferred
Is conveyed to the fixing section 38 to be fixed with a color image, and by the discharge roller pairs 41 to 43, the discharge tray 4 on the upper surface of the apparatus
It is discharged to 4. The four color developing devices 4Y, 4
The M, 4C, and 4K are configured to be individually removable from the printer body.

Next, the structure of each part of the image forming apparatus will be sequentially described in detail.

[Image bearing member] Image bearing member (photosensitive drum) 1
Y, 1M, 1C and 1K are developing units 4Y, 4M, 4C and 4K
Of the holders 3Y, 3M, 3C and 3K are integrally formed, and these are detachably supported as a unit with respect to the printer body, and the image carriers 1Y, 1M, 1C and 1K.
It is designed to be easily replaced according to the service life of the. In the present embodiment, the image carriers (photosensitive drums) 1Y, 1M, 1C and 1K are formed by coating an organic photoconductor layer on the outside of an aluminum cylinder, and these are containers 3Y, 3M of the holder, It is rotatably supported by 3C and 3K. Further, the image carriers (photosensitive drums) 1Y, 1M,
1C and 1K are rotationally driven in the direction of the arrow (counterclockwise direction) in the figure according to the image forming operation by receiving the driving force transmitted from a drive motor (not shown) at one end thereof.

[Charging Means] Charging Means 5Y, 5M, 5C,
5K uses an injection charging method, in which the voltage applied to the charging sleeve is applied to the image carrier 1Y, 1M, 1 through a charging agent.
The surface of C and 1K is uniformly charged.

[Exposure means] Image carriers 1Y, 1M, 1C,
The exposure to 1K is performed by the scanner units 6Y, 6M, 6C and 6K. That is, when the image signal is given to the laser diode, the laser diode outputs the image light corresponding to the image signal to the polygon mirrors 6Ya, 6Ma, 6C.
Irradiate a, 6Ka. Then, each polygon mirror 6Y
a, 6Ma, 6Ca, 6Ka are rotated at high speed by a scanner motor, and polygon mirrors 6Ya, 6Ma, 6C are used.
The image light reflected by a and 6Ka forms an image forming lens 6Yb and 6M.
The surface of the image carrier 1Y, 1M, 1C, 1K rotating at a constant speed is selectively exposed through b, 6Cb, 6Kb, and as a result, electrostatic charges are applied to each image carrier 1Y, 1M, 1C, 1K. A latent image is formed.

[Developing Means] The developing means are the image carriers 1Y, 1
It is composed of four developing units 4Y, 4M, 4C and 4K for yellow, magenta, cyan and black for visualizing the electrostatic latent image formed on M, 1C and 1K. In each of the four color developing devices 4Y, 4M, 4C, and 4K, the sleeves 3YS, 3MS, 3CS, and 3KS are arranged at a minute interval with respect to the image carriers 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K. 4Y, 4M, 4C and 4K form a visible image by toner of each color on the image carriers 1Y, 1M, 1C and 1K.

The developing devices 4Y, 4M, 4C and 4K for the respective colors are
The toner in the container is fed by the feeding mechanism, and the powder formed by mixing the non-magnetic toner and the magnetic developer on the outer circumference of the sleeves 3YS, 3MS, 3CS, 3KS is rotated clockwise in FIG. 1, and the sleeves 3YS, 3MS, 3CS, The toner in the powder is coated on the outer periphery of 3 KS and the image carrier 1Y, 1M,
The electrostatic latent images on 1C and 1K are attached to visualize the electrostatic latent images as toner images.

[Intermediate Transfer Member] The intermediate transfer belt 18 as an intermediate transfer member is provided with each developing device 4 during a color image forming operation.
Image carrier 1 visualized by Y, 4M, 4C and 4K
In order to multiple-transfer the toner images on Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K, the images are rotated clockwise in the figure in synchronization with the outer peripheral speed of the image carriers 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K, and the intermediate transfer that has undergone the multiple transfer is performed. The belt 18 is a secondary transfer roller 2 to which a voltage is applied.
The transfer material 2 is sandwiched by 2 and conveyed, whereby the toner images of the respective colors on the intermediate transfer belt 18 are simultaneously and multiple-transferred onto the transfer material 2.

Intermediate transfer belt 18 according to the present embodiment
Is composed of a resin belt having a circumference of about 1000 mm, and is stretched by three axes of a driving roller 14, a secondary transfer counter roller 15 and a tension roller 16, and a load is applied to both ends of the tension roller 16 by springs 19. As a result, even if the circumferential length of the intermediate transfer belt 18 changes due to temperature and humidity in the main body or changes with time, this change amount is absorbed. The intermediate transfer belt 18 includes a drive roller 1 on the main body.
4 is supported as a fulcrum, and one end of the driving roller 14 receives a driving force of a driving motor (not shown) to be rotationally driven clockwise in FIG. 1 in accordance with an image forming operation.
The intermediate transfer belt 18 can be easily attached and detached in the right direction in FIG.

[Paper Feeding Unit] The paper feeding unit feeds the transfer material 2 to the image forming unit, which is a cassette 7 containing a plurality of transfer materials 2, a paper feeding roller 8, and a feeding roller 9. A retard roller 10 for preventing double feeding, a paper feed guide 11 and a registration roller 12 are mainly used. At the time of image formation, the paper feed roller 8 is rotationally driven according to the image forming operation, and the paper feed roller 8 separates and feeds the transfer materials 2 in the cassette 7 one by one. Then, the transfer material 2 is conveyed to the registration roller 12 along the paper feed guide 11 by the feeding roller 9 and the retard roller 10. During the image forming operation, the registration roller 12 performs a non-rotational operation in which the transfer material 2 stands by and a rotation operation in which the transfer material 2 is conveyed toward the intermediate transfer belt 18 in a predetermined sequence. The image and the transfer material 2 are aligned during the process.

[Transfer Section] The transfer section is composed of a swingable transfer roller 22. The transfer roller 22 is composed of a metal shaft wound with a medium resistance foamed elastic body, and is movable up and down.

While the toner images of four colors are formed on the intermediate transfer belt 18 (that is, until the toner image on the intermediate transfer member 18 reaches the secondary transfer portion T2), the transfer roller is not disturbed. 22 is located below and separated from the intermediate transfer belt 18 as shown by the chain line in FIG.

After that, the transfer roller 22 is moved to an upper position shown by a solid line in FIG. 1 by a cam member (not shown) at the timing when the color image is transferred onto the transfer material 2, and the intermediate transfer is performed via the transfer material 2. The belt 18 is pressed with a predetermined pressure. At this time, a bias is simultaneously applied to the transfer roller 22, and the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 18 is transferred to the transfer material 2. Here, since the intermediate transfer belt 18 and the transfer roller 22 are respectively driven, the transfer process is performed on the transfer material 2 sandwiched between them, and at the same time, the transfer material 2 is moved to the left in FIG. To the fixing unit 38 at a predetermined speed.

[Intermediate Transfer Body Cleaning Section] The intermediate transfer body cleaning unit 23 includes a cleaning blade 2.
4 and the cleaning blade 24 to the intermediate transfer belt 18
It is composed of a pressure spring 29 for pressing against and a cleaner container 27 holding them.

The cleaning blade 24 is made of urethane rubber, and the cleaning blade 24 is made of the metal plate 2.
Shaft 2 attached to 6 and held in cleaner container 27
Since the pressure spring 5 presses the intermediate transfer belt 18 at a predetermined angle around the rotation center 5,
It can evenly contact the intermediate transfer belt 18. A tension roller 16 is arranged as a backup roller at a portion facing the cleaning blade 24, and the cleaning blade 24 is configured to contact the intermediate transfer belt 18 with a predetermined contact pressure. The toner is scraped off from the intermediate transfer belt 18 at the point where the cleaning blade 24 comes into contact with the intermediate transfer belt 18.
Is cleaned.

Thus, the waste toner scraped off by the cleaning blade 24 is collected in the cleaner container 27, and the waste toner separately arranged in the main body by the conveying screw 28 arranged at the bottom of the cleaner container 27. It is sent to the box 37 and collected. The conveying screw 28 is rotationally driven by receiving a driving force from a driving motor (not shown) at one end thereof.

[Fixing Section] The fixing section 38 is for fixing the toner image formed by the developing means on the transfer material 2 via the intermediate transfer belt 18, and as shown in FIG. A fixing roller 39 for applying heat to the transfer material 2 and a pressure roller 40 for pressing the transfer material 2 against the fixing roller 39. Fixing roller 3
9 and the pressure roller 40 are hollow rollers, and a heater (not shown) is built therein, and the fixing material 39 and the pressure roller 40 are rotationally driven to convey the transfer material 2. . That is, the transfer material 2 carrying a toner image is transported by the fixing roller 39 and the pressure roller 40 and is subjected to heat and pressure to be fixed by the toner.

[Image Forming Operation] Next, the image forming operation of the color laser printer configured as described above will be described.

First, the paper feed roller 8 shown in FIG. 1 is rotationally driven to separate the transfer materials 2 in the cassette 7 one by one, and the separated transfer materials 2 are conveyed to the registration rollers 12.

On the other hand, the image carriers 1Y, 1M, 1C and 1K and the intermediate transfer belt 18 are rotationally driven in the directions of the arrows in the figure at predetermined peripheral speeds (process speeds).

When an arbitrary point on the outer circumference of the intermediate transfer belt 18 reaches the position S in the figure, the charging means 5Y, 5M, 5C, 5
Image carrier 1Y, 1 whose surface is uniformly charged by K
M, 1C, and 1K receive laser exposure at positions EY, EM, EC, and EK shown in the drawing to form images. Here, the exposure positions EY, EM, E of the image carriers 1Y, 1M, 1C, 1K
From C, EK in the counterclockwise direction, the contact portion T from the point a shown in FIG.
1Y, T1M, T1C, and the distance b to T1K are equal to each other.
EM, EC, EK and point S on the intermediate transfer belt 18 coincide at the positions of contact points T1Y, T1M, T1C, T1K.
That is, an image is formed counterclockwise on the intermediate transfer belt 18 with the point S as the leading end.

1) Formation of yellow image: scanner unit 6
Laser irradiation of a yellow image is performed by Y to form a yellow latent image on the image carrier 1Y. At the same time when the yellow latent image is formed, the yellow developing device 4Y is driven to drive the image carrier 1
A yellow voltage is applied by applying a voltage having substantially the same potential as the charging polarity of the image carrier 1Y so that the yellow toner adheres to the latent image on Y. At the same time, the yellow toner image on the image carrier 1Y is primarily transferred to the outer periphery of the intermediate transfer belt 18 at the primary transfer portion T1Y slightly downstream of the developing portion. At this time, a voltage having a characteristic opposite to that of the yellow toner toner is applied to the intermediate transfer belt 18 to perform the primary transfer.

2) Formation of magenta image: Then, when one point S on the outer periphery of the intermediate transfer belt 18 (the tip of the yellow image) reaches the position S'in the figure, the laser irradiation of the magenta image is similarly performed by the scanner section 6M. Starting, the latent image on the image carrier 1M is developed as a magenta toner image in the same manner as yellow, and the magenta toner image on the image carrier 1M becomes 1
The image is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 18 at the next transfer portion T1M.

3) Cyan image formation: Next, when one point S (the tip of the yellow and magenta images) on the outer periphery of the intermediate transfer belt 18 comes to the position S ″ shown in the figure, the cyan image laser is similarly emitted by the scanner unit 6C. Irradiation is started, the latent image on the image carrier 1C is developed as a cyan toner image in the same manner as magenta, and the cyan toner image on the image carrier 1C is yellowed on the intermediate transfer belt 18 at the primary transfer portion T1C. It is transferred so as to be superimposed on each magenta toner image.

4) Formation of black image: Next, when one point S (the tip of the yellow / magenta / cyan image) on the outer periphery of the intermediate transfer belt 18 comes to the position S ″ ′ in the figure, the scanner section 6K similarly Laser irradiation of the black image is started, the latent image on the image carrier 1K is developed as a black toner image in the same manner as cyan, and the black toner image on the image carrier 1K is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 1 at the primary transfer portion T1K.
8 is further overlaid and transferred.

As described above, latent image formation, development, and toner image transfer to the intermediate transfer belt 18 are performed in the order of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black in the respective primary transfer portions T1Y, T1Y.
Performed by T1M, T1C, and T1K, a full-color image including four types of toners of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black is formed on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 18.

Before the transfer of the black toner image to the intermediate transfer belt 18 is completed (that is, after the primary transfer of the black toner image of the fourth color is completed, the image front end S of the intermediate transfer belt 18 on which the full color image is formed is 2). Before the transfer material 2 reaches the next transfer portion T2), the transfer of the transfer material 2 which has been waiting by the registration roller 12 is started at the same timing.

At the time of image formation of each color image on the intermediate transfer belt 18, the transfer roller 22 which is not in contact with the intermediate transfer belt 18 is waited downward and simultaneously moved upward by a cam (not shown) to transfer the transfer material. 2 is the intermediate transfer belt 18
By applying pressure at the secondary transfer portion T2 and applying a bias having a characteristic opposite to that of the toner to the transfer roller 22 at the same time, the full-color image on the intermediate transfer belt 18 is transferred onto the transfer material 2 at the same time. Then, the transfer material 2 that has passed through the secondary transfer portion T2 is separated from the intermediate transfer belt 18 and conveyed to the fixing portion 38. The transfer material 2 undergoes fixing of a full-color image in the fixing portion 38, and then, a pair of discharge rollers 41, After passing through 42 and 43, the image is discharged onto the discharge tray 44 at the upper part of the main body with the image surface facing downward, thereby completing a series of image forming operations.

Next, the characteristic configuration of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
A description will be given based on 0.

As shown in FIG. 2, the intermediate transfer belt 18 is stretched by three axes of a drive roller 14, a secondary transfer counter roller 15 and a tension roller 16, and the bearing members 17, 17 'of the tension roller 16 are compressed. The pressure applied by the spring 19 absorbs temperature and humidity in the main body of the intermediate transfer belt 18 and changes in the circumferential length due to changes over time.

By transmitting the driving force of the driving motor (not shown) to one end of the driving roller 14, the intermediate transfer belt 18 rotates in the clockwise direction in FIG. 2 at a predetermined peripheral speed according to the image forming operation. Driven.

A cleaning blade 24 for cleaning the intermediate transfer belt 18 is arranged at a portion of the cleaner container 27 facing the tension roller 16, and the cleaning blade 24 has a swing shaft 25 as a rotation center. It is held so as to contact the intermediate transfer belt 18 at a predetermined angle. The cleaning blade 24 is fixed to the blade holding plate 26, and the compression spring 29
Is brought into contact with the intermediate transfer belt 18 with a predetermined contact pressure.

As shown in the perspective view of FIG. 3, the intermediate transfer body unit 13 has two bosses 20 and 20 'for positioning the cleaner unit 23. These bosses 20 and 21 'are formed integrally with the bearing members 17 and 17' at both ends of the tension roller 16, and even if the tension roller 16 moves, the bosses 20 and 21 'at the both ends of the tension roller shaft O are moved. The line O'that connects the axes of is always kept parallel.

Further, the bearing member 17 'is formed with a round elongated hole 21 into which the screw drive input portion 34 of the cleaner unit 23 is fitted, and the screw drive input portion 34 is fitted into this round elongated hole 21. This prevents the cleaner unit 23 from rotating when it is set. The cleaner unit 23 is provided with a detent member 30. The detent member 30 serves as the bearing member 17
Be positioned at.

Further, the cleaner unit 23 can be positioned on the intermediate transfer body unit 13 by fitting the bosses 20 and 20 'into the positioning grooves 31 and 31' formed in the cleaner unit 23 and the latches 32 and 32 '. it can.

As a method of setting the cleaner unit 23, as shown in the front views of FIGS. 4 to 6 and the top view of FIG. 7, the cleaner unit 23 is separated from the main body in a direction orthogonal to the paper conveying direction. Is inserted from the front side in the figure, and is pushed in until it hits an abutting portion (not shown) provided on the rear side in the figure of the intermediate transfer body unit 13. With the cleaner unit 23 pushed in, the cleaner unit 23
The cleaner unit 23 is rotated around the shaft center of the conveying screw 28 by holding the lever 36 provided in the above, and pushed up until the latches 32, 32 'are caught by the bosses 20, 20'. On the contrary, when the cleaner unit 23 is taken out, the latch 32, which also serves as a latch release lever, releases the engagement of the latches 32 and 32 'with the bosses 20 and 20', and brings the cleaner unit 23 into a separated state to pull it forward in the drawing. .

By the way, the cleaner unit 23 is fixed to the intermediate transfer body unit 13 by the latches 32 and 32 'during the detaching operation thereof, and the rotary shaft 33 of the latches 32 and 32' penetrates the cleaner unit 23 in the longitudinal direction. is doing.

As shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, the rotary shaft 3
3, a separating arm 35 is fixed to the latch 3,
The separating arm 35 pushes down the blade holding plate 26 in the direction of separating from the intermediate transfer belt 18 in conjunction with the rotating operation of 32 ′. With this configuration, the cleaner unit 23
Latch 3 when is set or removed
The cleaning blade 24 is separated from the intermediate transfer belt 18 in conjunction with the rotating operation of the cleaning blades 2 and 32 ′, so that the cleaning blade 2 is detached when the cleaner unit 23 is attached or detached.
4 or the intermediate transfer belt 18 can be prevented from being damaged. Also, when the cleaner unit 23 is set, the cleaning blade 24 is not forcibly abutted against the intermediate transfer belt 18 and turned over, stress is applied to both, and the intermediate transfer belt 18 does not loosen. .

The waste toner collected by the cleaning blade 24 is conveyed forward in the figure by the conveying screw 28 arranged at the bottom of the cleaner container 27, and the connecting portion between the cleaner container 27 and the waste toner bottle 37. Is dropped and collected into the waste toner bottle 37. At this time, the conveying screw 28 is rotated by transmitting a driving force from a driving motor (not shown) to the screw driving input portion 34 at one end at the rear of the drawing. In the present embodiment, the fixing drive source is also used as the drive source of the waste toner conveying screw 28, and the number of motors can be reduced and the structure can be simplified.

[0061]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, a toner image is formed on a belt-shaped image bearing member stretched by a plurality of rollers, and the toner image is transferred onto a transfer material. After that, the toner on the image bearing member is removed by the cleaning unit, and the cleaner unit holding the cleaning unit is detachably fixed to the positioning member provided in the unit holding the image bearing member by the fixing unit. In the apparatus, when the cleaning means is attached and detached, the cleaning means is separated from the image bearing member by the spacing means that is interlocked with the fixing means. It is possible to prevent scratches on the cleaning means and the image carrier, loosening of the image carrier, etc. The effect of wear can be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a color laser printer as one form of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an intermediate transfer body unit and a cleaner unit of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of an intermediate transfer body unit and a cleaner unit of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing an attachment / detachment position of a cleaner unit of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a front view showing a state where the cleaner unit of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is being set.

FIG. 6 is a front view showing a state after setting the cleaner unit of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a top view of a cleaner unit of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing a state of setting a cleaner unit of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing a state of setting a cleaner unit of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing a state of setting a cleaner unit of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of an intermediate transfer body unit and a cleaner unit of a conventional image forming apparatus.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing the turning of the cleaning blade and the looseness of the intermediate transfer belt in the conventional image forming apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 transfer material 13 intermediate transfer body unit 14 drive roller (roller) 15 secondary transfer counter roller (roller) 16 tension roller (roller) 17, 17 'bearing member 18 intermediate transfer belt (image carrier) 20, 20' boss ( Positioning member 23 Cleaner unit 24 Cleaning blade (cleaning means) 31, 31 'Positioning groove (fitting groove) 32, 32' Latch (fixing means) 35 Separation arm (separation means)

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F-term (reference) 2H071 BA03 BA13 BA16 BA29 DA09                       DA13                 2H134 GA06 GB02 HD00 HD06 JA04                       JB01 KF02 KG04 KH16                 2H200 GA12 GA16 GA23 GA34 JC03                       JC09 JC12 JC15 LB02 LB09                       LB13 LB17 MA02

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A toner image is formed on a belt-shaped image carrier stretched by a plurality of rollers, the toner image is transferred to a transfer material, and then the toner on the image carrier is removed by a cleaning unit. An image forming apparatus in which a cleaner unit holding the cleaning means is detachably fixed to a positioning member provided in a unit holding an image carrier by fixing means, and interlocks with the fixing means when the cleaning means is attached and detached. An image forming apparatus characterized in that a cleaning means is separated from an image carrier by a separating means. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image carrier is an intermediate transfer belt. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning unit is a cleaning blade. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the positioning member is formed integrally with a bearing member of a roller that stretches the image carrier. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the roller is a tension roller. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fixing means includes a fitting groove and a latch.