JPH07210053A - Cleaning device for electrophotographic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To clean residual toner on a photoreceptor well without remaining even though small particle size toner and polymerized toner are used by constituting a cleaning blade of a conductive material and making the cleaning blade grounded. CONSTITUTION:This cleaning device 15 is obtained by constituting the cleaning blade 24 of the conductive material and making the cleaning blade grounded. When the photoreceptor 11 is cleaned, charges on the photoreceptor 11 and the residual toner (t) are grounded and destaticized by the cleaning blade 24. The attracting force of the photoreceptor 11 and the residual toner are weakened, and the residual toner (t) is scraped by the cleaning blade 24 so as to clean the surface of the photoreceptor 11. The scraped residual toner (t) is led on a carrying screw side by a sealing member and the residual toner (t) is discharged outside a cleaning case by the rotation of the carrying screw.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrophotographic apparatus such as a laser copying machine, a laser printer or a laser facsimile which records on a sheet by using an electrophotographic process such as charging, optical writing, development, transfer and cleaning. Can be applied to. More specifically, the present invention relates to a cleaning device in such an electrophotographic apparatus, which cleans the surface of the photoconductor by scraping off residual toner on the photoconductor after transfer with a cleaning blade.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a cleaning device of a laser printer, for example, as shown in FIG. 18, a cleaning blade 1 is made of urethane rubber, and the tip of the cleaning blade 1 is pressed against the surface of a photosensitive member 2. There is a structure.

At the time of recording, as shown in FIG. 19, the residual toner t on the photoconductor 2 after transfer is scraped off by the cleaning blade 1 to clean the surface of the photoconductor 2.

By the way, in order to obtain a high quality image with such a laser printer, a toner having a small particle size is used,
It is desirable to use a polymerized toner in which the particles are uniformly spherical.

[0005]

However, in the conventional cleaning device, when a high-quality image is obtained by using the toner having a small particle diameter or the polymerized toner, the attraction force between the photoconductor 2 and the residual toner t is increased. Since it is strong, it is difficult to cleanly scrape off the residual toner t with the cleaning blade 1 made of urethane rubber, and there is a problem that the residual toner t is left behind and cleaning failure occurs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to make it possible to clean the residual toner on the photoconductor in a cleaning device for an electrophotographic apparatus using a cleaning blade without leaving it even if small-sized toner or polymerized toner is used. To do.

[0007]

Therefore, what is stated in claim 1 is, for example, as shown in the following illustrated embodiment,
In the cleaning device 15 of the electrophotographic apparatus for cleaning the surface of the photoconductor 11 by scraping off the residual toner t on the photoconductor 11 after the transfer by the cleaning blade 24, the cleaning blade 24 is made of a conductive material and is grounded. It is characterized by being done.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, for example, as shown in the following illustrated embodiment, an electron for cleaning the surface of the photoconductor 11 by scraping off the residual toner t on the photoconductor 11 after transfer by the cleaning blade 24. In the cleaning device 15 of the photographic device, the cleaning blade 24 is made of a conductive material, and a DC voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the residual toner t is applied to the cleaning blade 24.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, for example, as shown in the following illustrated embodiment, an electron for cleaning the surface of the photoconductor 11 by scraping off the residual toner t on the photoconductor 11 after transfer by the cleaning blade 24. In the cleaning device 15 of the photographic device, the cleaning blade 24 is made of a conductive material, and a DC voltage having the same polarity as the residual toner t is applied thereto.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, for example, as shown in the following illustrated embodiment, an electron for cleaning the surface of the photoconductor 11 by scraping off the residual toner t on the photoconductor 11 after transfer by the cleaning blade 24. The cleaning device 15 of the photographic apparatus is characterized in that the cleaning blade 24 is made of a conductive material and an AC voltage is applied thereto.

[0011]

According to the first aspect of the invention, the photosensitive member 1
During the cleaning of No. 1, the cleaning blade 24 removes the electric charges of the photoconductor 11 and the residual toner t to weaken the adsorption force, and the cleaning blade 24 scrapes off the residual toner t to clean the surface of the photoconductor 11.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, at the time of cleaning, the cleaning blade 24 electrostatically attracts the residual toner t and the cleaning blade 24
Then, the residual toner t is scraped off to clean the surface of the photoconductor 11.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, at the time of cleaning, the cleaning blade 24 electrostatically repels the residual toner t to facilitate movement, and the cleaning blade 24 scrapes off the residual toner t to scrape the residual toner t.
Clean the surface of 1.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, during cleaning, the cleaning blade 24 electrostatically attracts and repels the residual toner t to give it vibration, and the cleaning blade 24 scrapes off the residual toner t to scrape the residual toner t. Clean the surface of 11.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3 is a laser printer including a cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and shows a schematic configuration of a recording unit thereof.

This laser printer is provided with a recording section R in the center of the apparatus main body. In the recording unit R, a charging device 12, a developing device 13, a transfer device 14, and a cleaning device 15 according to the present invention are arranged around a drum-shaped photoconductor 11 in a driving direction indicated by an arrow in the figure. Although not shown, an optical writing device is provided above the photoconductor 11.

Then, at the time of recording, the paper P is sent out from a paper supply unit (not shown), and is conveyed to the lower side of the photoconductor 11 at a timing by a registration roller.

The photosensitive member 11 is rotationally driven in the clockwise direction shown by the arrow, and at that time, the surface is uniformly charged by the charging device 12, and the surface is irradiated with the laser beam L from the optical writing device. An electrostatic latent image is formed on the body 11. Then, subsequently, when passing through the position of the developing device 13, the electrostatic latent image is visualized by the toner. Then, this visible image is transferred to the photoreceptor 1
The transfer device 14 transfers the image onto the upper surface of the sheet P conveyed to the lower side of the sheet 1.

After the transfer, the paper P is conveyed to a fixing device (not shown), where the transferred image is fixed and then discharged to the outside.

On the other hand, after the image transfer, the residual toner on the photoconductor 11 is removed by the cleaning device 15.

By the way, the cleaning device 15 is
As shown, a cleaning case 20 is provided. The cleaning case 20 is formed in a horizontally long box shape,
A toner recovery port 20a is opened on one side facing the photoconductor 11, and a conveying screw 21 is rotatably provided inside and arranged parallel to the photoconductor 11.

A film-like sealing member 22 is provided below the peripheral edge of the toner recovery port 20a. The seal member 22 has a base end attached to the cleaning case 20, a front end protruding obliquely upward from the toner recovery port 20a, and is provided close to the peripheral surface of the photoconductor 11. Further, the blade holder 23 is provided above the peripheral edge of the toner recovery port 20a.
Attach the base end of. And the blade holder 2
An elongated plate-shaped cleaning blade 24 is attached to the tip of the cleaning blade 3, and the tip of the cleaning blade 24 is pressed against the surface of the photoconductor 11.

Now, as shown in FIG. 1, the cleaning device 15 according to the first aspect has a cleaning blade 24.
Is made of a conductive material and is grounded.

When cleaning the photoconductor 11,
As shown in FIG. 2, the cleaning blade 24 grounds the charges of the photoconductor 11 and the residual toner t to remove them.
Then, the attraction force between the photoconductor 11 and the residual toner t is weakened, and the residual toner t is cleaned by the cleaning blade 24.
And the surface of the photoconductor 11 is cleaned. In addition, the residual toner t scraped off is removed from the seal member 22 shown in FIG.
It is guided to the conveying screw 21 side by, and is conveyed to the back or front side in the drawing by the rotation of the conveying screw 21 and discharged to the outside of the cleaning case 20.

Next, in the cleaning device 15 according to the second aspect, as shown in FIG.
Is made of a conductive material, and a DC voltage of a polarity (minus) opposite to that of the residual toner t (plus) is applied to it by a DC power supply 33.

Therefore, at the time of cleaning the photoconductor 11,
As shown in FIG. 5, the cleaning blade 24 electrostatically attracts the residual toner t, and the cleaning blade 24 scrapes off the residual toner t to remove the residual toner t.
Clean the surface of the.

Next, the cleaning device 15 according to a third aspect of the present invention, as shown in FIG.
Is made of a conductive material, and a DC voltage having the same polarity (plus) as the residual toner t (plus) is applied thereto by a DC power supply 33.

Therefore, when cleaning the photoconductor 11,
As shown in FIG. 7, the cleaning blade 24 electrostatically repels the residual toner t to facilitate movement, and the cleaning blade 24 scrapes off the residual toner t to clean the surface of the photoconductor 11.

Next, the cleaning device 15 according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, as shown in FIG.
Is made of a conductive material, and an AC voltage is applied thereto by an AC power supply 34.

Therefore, when cleaning the photoconductor 11,
As shown in FIG. 9, the cleaning blade 24 electrostatically attracts and repels the residual toner t to vibrate it, and the cleaning blade 24 scrapes off the residual toner t to clean the surface of the photoconductor 11.

In all the illustrated embodiments described above,
The entire cleaning blade 24 is made of a conductive material. However, the cleaning blade 24 may be formed by attaching the conductive member 29 to the blade body 28 as in the illustrated embodiment described later.

Then, as shown in FIG. 10, the conductive member 29 may be grounded. Then, as shown in FIG. 11, at the time of cleaning, the charges of the photoconductor 11 and the residual toner t are removed by the conductive member 29.

Further, as shown in FIG. 12, the conductive member 2
Alternatively, the DC power source 33 may apply a DC voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the residual toner t 9 to the battery 9. Then, as shown in FIG. 13, during cleaning, the conductive member 29 electrostatically attracts the residual toner t, and the blade body 28 scrapes off the residual toner t to clean the surface of the photoconductor 11.

Further, as shown in FIG. 14, a DC power source 33 may apply a DC voltage having the same polarity as the residual toner t to the conductive member 29. Then, as shown in FIG. 15, during cleaning, the conductive member 29 electrostatically repels the residual toner t to facilitate movement, and
The residual toner t is scraped off by the blade main body 28 to remove the photosensitive member 1.
Clean the surface of 1.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 16, an AC voltage may be applied to the conductive member 29 by an AC power source 34. Then, as shown in FIG. 17, at the time of cleaning, the conductive member 29 electrostatically attracts and repels the residual toner t to give vibration thereto, and the blade body 28 scrapes off the residual toner t to scrape off the residual toner t. To clean.

[0036]

As described above, not only the residual toner is scraped off by the cleaning blade at the time of cleaning, but also according to the first aspect of the present invention, the charge of the photoconductor and the residual toner is eliminated to increase the adsorption force. Because it weakens, and according to the second aspect, the residual toner is electrostatically attracted, and further according to the third aspect, the residual toner is electrostatically repulsed to facilitate the movement. According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the residual toner is electrostatically attracted and repulsed to give vibration to the residual toner. It can be easily removed and the surface of the photoconductor can be cleaned cleanly.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a cleaning device that is an embodiment of the invention described in claim 1.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a cleaning state thereof.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a recording unit in a laser printer including the cleaning device.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of a cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the cleaning state.

FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of a cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the cleaning state.

FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram of a cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of the cleaning state.

FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram of a cleaning device according to another embodiment of the invention described in claim 1.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of the cleaning state.

FIG. 12 is a schematic configuration diagram of a cleaning device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of the cleaning state.

FIG. 14 is a schematic configuration diagram of a cleaning device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of the cleaning state.

FIG. 16 is a schematic configuration diagram of a cleaning device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram of the cleaning state.

FIG. 18 is a schematic configuration diagram of a conventional cleaning device.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram of the cleaning state.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Photoreceptor 15 Cleaning Device 24 Cleaning Blade t Residual Toner

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A cleaning device for an electrophotographic apparatus, comprising a cleaning blade for scraping off residual toner on a photosensitive member after transfer to clean the surface of the photosensitive member, wherein the cleaning blade is made of a conductive material and grounded. A cleaning device for an electrophotographic device. 2. In a cleaning device of an electrophotographic apparatus for cleaning the surface of the photoconductor by scraping off the residual toner on the photoconductor after the transfer by a cleaning blade, the cleaning blade is made of a conductive material, and the residual toner is added to the cleaning blade. A cleaning device for an electrophotographic apparatus, which is formed by applying a DC voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the above. 3. A cleaning device of an electrophotographic apparatus, comprising a cleaning blade for scraping off a residual toner on a photosensitive body after transfer to clean the surface of the photosensitive body, wherein the cleaning blade is made of a conductive material, and the residual toner is applied to the cleaning blade. A cleaning device for an electrophotographic apparatus, which is formed by applying a DC voltage having the same polarity as that of 4. In a cleaning device of an electrophotographic apparatus for cleaning the surface of a photoconductor by scraping off the residual toner on the photoconductor after transfer by a cleaning blade, the cleaning blade is made of a conductive material, and an AC voltage is applied thereto. A cleaning device for an electrophotographic apparatus, which is formed by applying a voltage.