JPH04243290A - electrophotographic recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrophotographic recording apparatus for once transferring a toner image to an intermediate transfer member. As is well known, electrophotographic recording methods include an electrostatic latent image formation process,
Includes electrostatic latent image development processes, transfer processes and fusing processes. In an electrostatic latent image formation process, an electrostatic latent image is formed by optically projecting an image onto a photoreceptor drum or belt. In the electrostatic latent image development process, the electrostatic latent image thus formed is visualized by electrostatically attaching toner to the electrostatic latent image. Thereafter, the toner image on the photoreceptor drum is transferred to recording paper in a transfer process, and then the transferred toner image is fixed to the recording paper in a fixing process.

0002

[Prior Art] By the way, in devices such as color printers and color copying machines that print different colors on a single sheet of paper, toner images of different colors formed on photoreceptors are used to print different colors. After overlapping and transferring onto the sequential transfer body,
Some printers transfer a color toner image completed by these several transfers onto recording paper.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic configuration of this type of color electrophotographic recording apparatus. In the color electrophotographic recording apparatus shown in FIG. 5, a photosensitive belt 4 is wrapped around driving rollers 5 arranged above and below, and is rotated clockwise by driving one of the driving rollers 5. A charger 1 that charges the photosensitive belt 4 along one side of the photosensitive belt (photosensitive member) 4, an exposure section 2 that exposes the photosensitive belt 4 to form a latent image, and a toner that adheres to the latent image. Four developing units 3a to 3d are arranged respectively to develop the photoreceptor belt 4.
On the opposite side, a static eliminator 7 for removing static electricity and a cleaner 6 for removing toner remaining on the photosensitive belt 4 are arranged.

[0004] The intermediate transfer body 8 is placed over a drive roller 10, and its upper surface is in contact with the photosensitive belt 4. Further, a transfer charger 9 is arranged inside the intermediate transfer body 8 at the contact portion. In the color electrophotographic recording apparatus, when the intermediate transfer body 8 rotates counterclockwise in synchronization with the clockwise rotation of the photosensitive belt 4, the toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive belt 4 is transferred to the transfer charger 9. The image is transferred to the intermediate transfer body 8. In the case of color, this transfer is done multiple times in different colors (yellow, magenta, cyan,
The process is repeated until the toner images (black) are superimposed, and then the color toner image formed on the intermediate transfer member 8 presses the transfer roller 12 to which a voltage of opposite polarity to the toner is applied from the back side of the recording paper 14a. By this, recording paper 14
a, and is fixed in the fixing section 15 to output a color image.

As described above, in the color electrophotographic recording apparatus, toner images of different colors are once superimposed on the intermediate transfer member 8 to form a color toner image, and then this toner image is transferred to the recording paper 14a. This outputs a color image. Here, after being transferred to the recording paper 14a, the intermediate transfer body 8
The remaining toner 16 is cleaned by an intermediate transfer member cleaner 11. In addition, 13 is a pickup roller,
14b is a paper feed cassette.

[0006]

However, in such conventional color electronic recording apparatuses, the intermediate transfer member has elasticity, so that the toner has a strong adhesive force. Therefore, it is difficult to clean the toner remaining on the intermediate transfer member after transfer. For example, in a blade cleaner (intermediate transfer body cleaner) as shown in FIG. 5, toner tends to stick to the surface of the intermediate transfer body and vibration of the blade itself tends to occur, making cleaning leakage more likely. Further, fur brush cleaners have weak scraping power, resulting in cleaning defects such as uneven brushing. Therefore, toner remains on the intermediate transfer member, resulting in color mixing. Furthermore, when the toner sticks, the voltage applied from the transfer charger to the toner on the photoreceptor decreases due to voltage division of the stuck toner, resulting in instability and poor transfer efficiency.

The present invention has been made in view of these conventional problems, and can improve cleaning efficiency, prevent color mixing due to insufficient cleaning, and maintain stable transfer efficiency. The purpose is to provide an electrophotographic recording device.

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the principle of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 8 denotes an intermediate transfer member that once transfers the toner image formed on the photoreceptor 4, 11 an intermediate transfer member cleaner that cleans the toner 16 after being transferred to the recording paper 14a, and 24 and 35 the intermediate transfer member cleaner 11. This is a cleaning means that performs cleaning by making the toner 16 that cannot be removed stick.

[0009]

[Function] In the present invention, a cleaning means is provided alongside the intermediate transfer body cleaner for cleaning by adhering the toner that has not been removed by the intermediate transfer body cleaner. As a result, toner (fixed toner, etc.) and paper dust that could not be completely removed by the intermediate transfer body cleaner can be adhered to the intermediate transfer body for cleaning. Since this cleaning means uses adhesive force to remove toner, it does not generate vibrations unlike blade cleaners, can reliably clean, and can improve cleaning efficiency. As a result, color mixing due to insufficient cleaning can be prevented, and stable transfer efficiency can be maintained.

0010

Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be explained based on the drawings. 2 and 3 are diagrams showing an embodiment of the present invention. Note that the same components as in the conventional example are given the same reference numerals and detailed explanations are omitted.

In FIG. 2, 17 is an adhesive roller;
The adhesive roller 17 is provided in contact with the intermediate transfer member 8, and performs cleaning by adhering the remaining toner 16 to the intermediate transfer member 8. As shown in FIG. 3, the adhesive roller 17 has a structure in which a metal roller 17b is lined with a highly adhesive rubber 17a such as natural rubber. 18 is a fleece roller unit that cleans the adhesive roller 17, and the fleece roller unit 18 includes a feed roller 19 that feeds out a cleaning cloth 22, and a pressing roller 2 that presses the cloth 22 against each other.
0, a winding roller 21 that winds up the cloth 22, and the cloth 22
It is composed of a container 23b containing water or a solvent 23a to moisten the liquid.

The fleece roller unit 18 and the adhesive roller 17 collectively constitute an adhesive roller cleaner unit 24 as a cleaning means. Recording paper 14a
After the toner 16 is transferred to the intermediate transfer member 8, the toner 16 remaining on the intermediate transfer member 8 is first scraped off by the intermediate transfer member cleaner 11. Further, the remaining toner 16 is cleaned by an adhesive roller 17 having a structure in which a metal roller 17b is lined with highly adhesive rubber 17a such as natural rubber. At this time, it is assumed that the adhesive roller 17 rotates in the width direction so as not to interfere with the rotation of the intermediate transfer belt 8.

[0013] Thereafter, this adhesive roller 17 is cleaned by a fleece roller unit 18 and prepared for the next step. This fleece roller unit 18 is for cleaning the adhesive roller 17. The feed roller 19, on which the cleaning cloth 22 is wrapped, picks up the cloth 2.
2 is sent out, the cloth 22 is pressed against the adhesive roller 17 by the pressing roller 20, cleans the adhesive roller 17, and finally is wound up by the take-up roller 21. At this time, the cloth 22 is moistened with water or a solvent 23a so that the adhesive roller 17 can be easily cleaned. This operation is continued until the cloth 22 is wound up, and when it is wound up to the end, the entire unit is replaced.

The above-described adhesive roller cleaner unit 24 and intermediate transfer body cleaner 11 can be moved up and down by a support mechanism (not shown), and when toner is being transferred from the photosensitive belt 4 to the intermediate transfer body 8. ,
The recording paper 14a is separated from the intermediate transfer body 8 and is pressed against the intermediate transfer body 8 after the toner is transferred from the intermediate transfer body 8 to the recording paper 14a.

As described above, the intermediate transfer member 8 can be efficiently cleaned, color mixing due to insufficient cleaning can be prevented, and stable transfer can be performed. Next, FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the present invention. In Figure 4,
31 is an adhesive tape, 32 is a tape feeding roller that sends out the adhesive tape 31, 33 is a pressing roller that presses the adhesive tape 31, and 34 is a tape winding roller that winds up the adhesive tape 31. These are the remaining parts as a whole. A fleece roller unit 35 is configured as a cleaning means for cleaning the toner 16.

After being transferred to the recording paper 14a, the toner 16 remaining on the intermediate transfer body 8 is first cleaned by the intermediate transfer body cleaner 11.
It is wiped out by this. Further, the toner 16 that remains stuck is cleaned by moving the fleece roller unit 35 wrapped with the adhesive tape 31. A tape feeding roller 32 around which an adhesive tape 31 is wound feeds out the adhesive tape 31, and the adhesive tape 31 is transferred to an intermediate transfer body 8 by a pressing roller 33.
The intermediate transfer member 8 is cleaned by being pressed against the intermediate transfer member 8, and finally the tape is taken up by the tape winding roller 34. At this time, the fleece roller unit 35 is assumed to move in the width direction so as not to interfere with the rotation of the intermediate transfer body 8. This operation is continued until the adhesive tape 31 is wound up, and when it is wound up to the end, it is assumed that each unit is replaced.

[0017] In this embodiment as well, the same effects as in the previous embodiment can be obtained.

[0018]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the cleaning means cleans the toner and paper dust that could not be removed by the intermediate transfer member cleaner, cleaning efficiency can be improved. It is possible to prevent color mixing due to insufficient cleaning and maintain stable transfer efficiency.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

[Figure 1] Diagram explaining the principle of the present invention

[Fig. 2] A diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

[Figure 3] Partial cross-sectional view of adhesive roller

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention.

[Figure 5] Diagram showing a conventional example

[Description of symbols] 1: Charger 2: Exposure sections 3a to 3d: Developing device 4: Photosensitive belt (photosensitive member) 5: Drive roller 6: Cleaner 7: Static eliminator 8: Intermediate transfer body 9: Transfer charger 10: Drive Roller 11: Intermediate transfer body cleaner 12: Transfer roller 13: Pick-up roller 14a: Recording paper 14b: Paper feed cassette 15: Fixing section 16: Toner 17: Adhesive roller 17a: Adhesive rubber 17b: Metal roller 18: Fleece roller unit 19: Feeding roller 20: Pressing roller 21: Winding roller 22: Cloth 23a: Water or solvent 23b: Container 24: Adhesive roller cleaner unit (cleaning means) 31: Adhesive tape 32: Tape feeding roller 33: Pressing roller 34: Tape take-up roller

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A toner image formed on a photoreceptor (4) is transferred onto an intermediate transfer member (8) and then onto a recording paper (14a), and the toner image (16) after the transfer is transferred to an intermediate transfer member cleaner ( 11), the electrophotographic recording device is characterized by being provided with cleaning means (24) and (35) for cleaning by adhering the toner (16) that was not removed by the intermediate transfer body cleaner (11). An electrophotographic recording device. 2. The electrophotographic recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an adhesive roller cleaner unit having an adhesive roller (17) is used as the cleaning means (24). 3. The electrophotographic recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a fleece roller unit having an adhesive tape (31) is used as the cleaning means (35).