JP4779840B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents
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- JP4779840B2 JP4779840B2 JP2006189211A JP2006189211A JP4779840B2 JP 4779840 B2 JP4779840 B2 JP 4779840B2 JP 2006189211 A JP2006189211 A JP 2006189211A JP 2006189211 A JP2006189211 A JP 2006189211A JP 4779840 B2 JP4779840 B2 JP 4779840B2
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Description
本発明は画像形成装置に関する。 The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.
従来、電子写真方式の画像形成装置は、図９に示すように、感光体（像担持体）１０１と、感光体１０１を帯電させる帯電手段１０２と、感光体を選択的に露光して静電製造を形成する露光手段１０３と、静電潜像にトナーＴを供給する現像手段１０４と、感光体１０１上に残留するトナーＴを除去する清掃手段１０５とを有する。 Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 9, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus has a photosensitive member (image carrier) 101, a charging unit 102 for charging the photosensitive member 101, and a photosensitive member by selectively exposing the photosensitive member to electrostatic. The image forming apparatus includes an exposure unit 103 for manufacturing, a developing unit 104 for supplying toner T to the electrostatic latent image, and a cleaning unit 105 for removing the toner T remaining on the photosensitive member 101.
清掃手段１０５は、感光体１０１の表面にウレタンゴム等からなる板状の清掃部材１０６を当接させて、感光体１０１上に残留しているトナーＴを掻き落とし、ケーシング１０７内に回収するものが一般的である。また、清掃手段１０５は、感光体１０１とケーシング１０７との隙間を封止して掻き落としたトナーＴが外部に飛散しないようにする封止部材１０８を有する。清掃部材１０６は、感光体１０１の略接線方向から回転方向に対向するように、その先端面１０９のエッジ（縁部）を当接させる（リーディング方式）。 The cleaning means 105 abuts a plate-like cleaning member 106 made of urethane rubber or the like on the surface of the photoconductor 101, scrapes off the toner T remaining on the photoconductor 101, and collects it in the casing 107. Is common. In addition, the cleaning unit 105 includes a sealing member 108 that seals a gap between the photoconductor 101 and the casing 107 and prevents the toner T scraped off from being scattered outside. The cleaning member 106 abuts the edge (edge) of the front end surface 109 so as to face the rotation direction from the substantially tangential direction of the photoconductor 101 (leading method).
このような清掃手段１０５では、清掃部材１０６の先端面１０９上に掻き落とされたトナーＴが滞留し、感光体１０１と清掃部材１０６との摩擦を低減するとともに、トナーＴの掻き落としを補助することが知られている。 In such a cleaning unit 105, the toner T scraped off on the front end surface 109 of the cleaning member 106 stays, reducing friction between the photosensitive member 101 and the cleaning member 106 and assisting in scraping off the toner T. It is known.
感光体１０１は、回転に際して、周囲の空気を随伴するので、ケーシング１０７の内部空間に空気の流れを形成する。図１０に、ケーシング１０７の内部の気流のシミュレーション結果を示す。図中の矢印は、空気の流れる向きを示し、その色が濃いほど流速が高いことを示す。 Since the photosensitive member 101 is accompanied by ambient air during rotation, a flow of air is formed in the internal space of the casing 107. In FIG. 10, the simulation result of the airflow inside the casing 107 is shown. The arrows in the figure indicate the direction of air flow, and the darker the color, the higher the flow velocity.
図示するように、感光体１０１の回転により発生した気流は、清掃部材１０６の先端面１０９に沿って方向転換し、ケーシング１０７の内側に噴出し、先端面１０９の延長線の上下に分かれて、それぞれ渦流を形成している。 As shown in the figure, the air flow generated by the rotation of the photosensitive member 101 is changed in direction along the front end surface 109 of the cleaning member 106, is ejected to the inside of the casing 107, and is divided above and below the extension line of the front end surface 109. Each forms a vortex.
図１１に、図１０の気流によるトナーＴの移動をシミュレートし、得られたトナーＴの軌跡を示す。清掃部材１０６によって感光体１０１から掻き落とされたトナーＴは、煙状に浮遊し、先端面１０９に沿う強い気流に乗ってケーシング１０７の内側に噴出する。トナーＴは、清掃部材１０６から離れて下支えを失うと、重力によって下降して下側の渦流に捉えられる。やがて、トナーＴは、この渦流から脱離して重力に従ってケーシング１０７の底に向かって落下してゆく。 FIG. 11 shows the locus of the toner T obtained by simulating the movement of the toner T due to the airflow of FIG. The toner T scraped off from the photosensitive member 101 by the cleaning member 106 floats like smoke, and is ejected inside the casing 107 along a strong air current along the front end surface 109. When the toner T moves away from the cleaning member 106 and loses its support, the toner T descends due to gravity and is captured by the lower vortex. Eventually, the toner T is detached from the vortex and falls toward the bottom of the casing 107 according to gravity.
このように、従来の画像形成装置においては、感光体１０１の回転により発生する気流が、掻き落とされたトナーＴを運び去るので、清掃部材１０６の先端面１０９上にトナーＴが滞留せず、感光体１０１と清掃部材１０６との摩擦を十分に低減できないという問題があった。 As described above, in the conventional image forming apparatus, the airflow generated by the rotation of the photosensitive member 101 carries away the scraped toner T, so that the toner T does not stay on the front end surface 109 of the cleaning member 106. There is a problem that the friction between the photosensitive member 101 and the cleaning member 106 cannot be sufficiently reduced.
図１２は、使用後の清掃部材１０６の先端部の拡大写真である。図において、上側が先端面１０９であり、下側が清掃部材１０６の側面であるが、その角にあたるエッジが感光体１０１との摩擦によって摩耗してしまっている様子が確認できる。 FIG. 12 is an enlarged photograph of the tip of the cleaning member 106 after use. In the figure, the upper side is the front end surface 109 and the lower side is the side surface of the cleaning member 106. It can be seen that the edge corresponding to the corner is worn by friction with the photosensitive member 101.
このような、清掃部材１０６の摩耗を低減するために、特許文献１では、図１３に示すように、感光体１０１の表面に潤滑剤を塗布する潤滑手段１１０を設けている。 In order to reduce such wear of the cleaning member 106, in Patent Document 1, as shown in FIG. 13, a lubricating means 110 for applying a lubricant to the surface of the photoreceptor 101 is provided.
また、特許文献２では、清掃部材が掻き落としたトナーを、清掃部材の先端部に滞留させるために可撓性のシートを配置して、トナーの散逸を抑制している。
前記問題点に鑑みて、本発明は、像担持体と清掃部材との摩擦を低減できる画像形成装置を提供することを課題とする。 In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of reducing friction between an image carrier and a cleaning member.
前記課題を解決するために、本発明による画像形成装置は、トナー画像を担持する像担持体と、前記像担持体が下方に移動する位置において、先端面を上にして、前記像担持体に前記先端面のエッジを当接させ、前記像担持体上のトナーを掻き落とす清掃部材と、前記清掃部材により掻き落とされたトナーを収容するケーシングとを備え、前記先端面の略延長線上に、前記ケーシングの上部に前記像担持体が露出する気流形成空間を形成し、前記像担持体の回転によって発生し、前記清掃部材の先端面に沿って流れる気流を、上方に流れるように案内して、前記像担持体に向かって環流する循環気流を形成するような傾斜を有する整流面を設けたものとする。 In order to solve the above-described problems, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes an image carrier that carries a toner image, and a front end surface of the image carrier that moves the image carrier downward. A cleaning member that abuts the edge of the tip surface and scrapes off the toner on the image carrier, and a casing that stores toner scraped off by the cleaning member, on a substantially extension line of the tip surface, An airflow forming space is formed in the upper part of the casing to expose the image carrier, and the airflow generated by the rotation of the image carrier and flowing along the front end surface of the cleaning member is guided to flow upward. It is assumed that a rectifying surface having an inclination is formed so as to form a circulating airflow that circulates toward the image carrier .
この構成によれば、像担持体の回転によって発生し、清掃部材の先端面に沿って流れる気流は、整流面に当たって、上方に流れるように案内され、像担持体及および先端面に向かって環流する循環気流となる。この循環気流によって先端面上から運び去られたトナーを像担持体および清掃部材に送り返して、再度、先端面上に滞留させ、像担持体と清掃部材との摩擦を低減することができる。 According to this configuration, the air flow generated by the rotation of the image carrier and flowing along the front end surface of the cleaning member hits the rectifying surface and is guided so as to flow upward, and flows toward the image carrier and the front end surface. It becomes a circulating airflow. The toner carried away from the front end surface by the circulating airflow is sent back to the image carrier and the cleaning member, and again stays on the front end surface, so that friction between the image carrier and the cleaning member can be reduced.
また、本発明の画像形成装置において、前記整流面は、湾曲していてもよい。 In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the rectifying surface may be curved.
この構成によれば、清掃部材の先端面に沿って流れる気流を、無理なく像担持体方向に折り返すことができる。 According to this configuration, the airflow flowing along the front end surface of the cleaning member can be folded back toward the image carrier without difficulty.
また、本発明の画像形成装置において、前記整流面と前記像担持体との間隔を３ｍｍ以上にすれば、過剰なトナーがケーシングの底部に落下するのに十分な隙間を形成でき、トナーのブロックが起きない。また、前記整流面と前記像担持体との間隔を１２ｍｍ以下にすれば、整流面のから吹き出した気流から、重力によってトナーが脱落する前に、トナーを含んだままの気流を上方に折り返すことができる。 In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, if the distance between the rectifying surface and the image carrier is 3 mm or more, a sufficient gap can be formed so that excess toner falls to the bottom of the casing, and the toner block Does not happen. Further, if the distance between the rectifying surface and the image carrier is set to 12 mm or less, the air flow containing the toner is folded upward from the air flow blown from the rectifying surface before the toner falls off due to gravity. Can do.
また、本発明の画像形成装置において、前記先端面と、前記先端面の延長線上における前記整流面との傾斜角度の差が、５°以上、９０°以下であれば、気流を上方に折り返すことができる。 In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, if the difference in inclination angle between the tip surface and the rectifying surface on the extension line of the tip surface is 5 ° or more and 90 ° or less, the air flow is folded upward. Can do.
また、本発明の画像形成装置において、前記先端面と前記ケーシングの天井との間隔が３ｍｍ以上あれば、空気を像担持体に向かって折り返して循環させることができる。 In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, if the distance between the front end surface and the ceiling of the casing is 3 mm or more, the air can be folded back and circulated toward the image carrier.
また、本発明の画像形成装置において、前記整流面は、前記ケーシングと一体に形成されていてもよい。 In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the rectifying surface may be formed integrally with the casing.
本発明によれば、清掃部材の先端面に沿って流れ出た気流を整流面に当てて上方に折り返し、像担持体に向かって循環させるので、トナーが清掃部材の先端面上で長く滞留し、像担持体と清掃部材との摩擦を低減する。 According to the present invention, the airflow flowing along the front end surface of the cleaning member is applied to the rectifying surface and folded upward and circulated toward the image carrier, so that the toner stays long on the front end surface of the cleaning member, Friction between the image carrier and the cleaning member is reduced.
これより、本発明の実施形態について、図面を参照しながら説明する。
図１は、本発明の第１実施形態である画像形成装置１を示す。画像形成装置１は、それぞれイエロー、マゼンタ、シアン、ブラックのトナーによって画像を形成する４つの現像ユニット２と、転写ベルト３と、各現像ユニット２が形成したトナー画像を静電力で転写ベルト３にそれぞれ転写する１次転写ローラ４と、転写ベルト３に転写されたトナー画像を記録紙Ｓに静電力で転写する２次転写ローラ５と、加熱することで記録紙Ｓにトナー画像を定着させる定着器６と、各現像ユニット２にそれぞれイエロー、マゼンタ、シアン、ブラックのトナーを供給する４つのトナーカートリッジ７とを有している。
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows an image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus 1 includes four developing units 2 that form images with yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toners, a transfer belt 3, and toner images formed by the developing units 2 on the transfer belt 3 by electrostatic force. A primary transfer roller 4 for transferring the toner image, a secondary transfer roller 5 for transferring the toner image transferred to the transfer belt 3 to the recording paper S by electrostatic force, and a fixing for fixing the toner image on the recording paper S by heating. And a toner cartridge 7 for supplying yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toners to the developing units 2, respectively.
各現像ユニット２は、それぞれ、回転するドラム状の感光体（像担持体）８と、感光体８を帯電させる帯電器９と、帯電した感光体８を露光して静電潜像を形成する露光器１０と、静電潜像にトナーＴを付着させてトナー画像を形成する現像器１１と、感光体９の表面のトナーＴを掻き落とすクリーナ１２とを有している。 Each developing unit 2 exposes the rotating drum-shaped photoconductor (image carrier) 8, a charger 9 for charging the photoconductor 8, and the charged photoconductor 8 to form an electrostatic latent image. An exposure unit 10, a developing unit 11 that forms a toner image by attaching toner T to an electrostatic latent image, and a cleaner 12 that scrapes off the toner T on the surface of the photoreceptor 9 are provided.
転写ベルト３は、駆動される駆動ローラ１３と、自由ローラ１４と、張力を与えるテンションローラ１５とに掛け渡されて、駆動ローラ１３によって矢印方向に回動する。また、画像形成装置１は、転写ベルト３の表面に残留するトナーを除去するクリーナユニット１６を有する。 The transfer belt 3 is stretched around a driving roller 13 to be driven, a free roller 14, and a tension roller 15 that applies tension, and is rotated in the direction of the arrow by the driving roller 13. The image forming apparatus 1 also includes a cleaner unit 16 that removes toner remaining on the surface of the transfer belt 3.
記録紙Ｓは、給紙部１７に供給され、供給ローラ１８で１枚ずつ送り出され、搬送ローラ１９で２次転写ローラ５に搬送され、定着器６を通って排紙部２０に排出される。 The recording paper S is supplied to the paper supply unit 17, fed one by one by the supply roller 18, transported to the secondary transfer roller 5 by the transport roller 19, and discharged to the paper discharge unit 20 through the fixing device 6. .
図２に、現像ユニット２の詳細を示す。クリーナ１２は、ケーシング２１に清掃部材２２と、封止部材２３と、整流部材２４とが支持されている。 FIG. 2 shows details of the developing unit 2. In the cleaner 12, a cleaning member 22, a sealing member 23, and a rectifying member 24 are supported by a casing 21.
清掃部材２２は、例えば、ウレタンゴムからなる板状のクリーニングブレードであり、感光体８の略接線方向から感光体８の回転に対向するように、その先端面２５を上にして、先端面２５の縁部であり、板面２６との角であるエッジ２７を感光体８に当接させている。 The cleaning member 22 is, for example, a plate-like cleaning blade made of urethane rubber. The front end surface 25 faces upward with the front end surface 25 facing the rotation of the photoconductor 8 from a substantially tangential direction of the photoconductor 8. The edge 27, which is the edge of the plate surface 26, is in contact with the photosensitive member 8.
整流部材２４は、先端面２５の延長線上に、先端面２５よりも急な傾斜を有する整流面２８を有している。本実施形態において、先端面２５と整流面２８との傾斜角度の差θは約６０°である。また、整流部材２４は、ケーシング２１の内部空間の上部を狭窄して、感光体８が露出する狭小な気流形成空間２９を形成している。 The rectifying member 24 has a rectifying surface 28 having a steeper slope than the front end surface 25 on an extension line of the front end surface 25. In the present embodiment, the difference in inclination angle θ between the tip surface 25 and the rectifying surface 28 is about 60 °. The rectifying member 24 narrows the upper part of the internal space of the casing 21 to form a narrow airflow forming space 29 in which the photoconductor 8 is exposed.
続いて、気流形成空間２９の作用効果を説明する。
図３は、本発明のクリーナ１２のケーシング２１の内部での空気の流れをシミュレートした結果を示す。図において、矢印は空気の流れる方向を示し、矢印の色が濃いほどその流速が大きいことを示す。
Then, the effect of the airflow formation space 29 is demonstrated.
FIG. 3 shows the result of simulating the flow of air inside the casing 21 of the cleaner 12 of the present invention. In the figure, arrows indicate the direction of air flow, and the darker the color of the arrows, the greater the flow velocity.
感光体８は、ケーシング２１内で接触している空気を随伴しながら回転し、その表面近傍の空気に下向きの気流を生じさせる。この下降気流は、清掃部材２２の先端面２５に突き当たり、先端面２５に沿って感光体８から遠ざかり、ケーシング２１の内部に向かって流れ出るように方向転換させられる。さらに、ケーシング２１の内部に吹き出した気流の大半は、整流部材２４の整流面２８に当たって、整流面２８に沿って上向きに方向転換させられ、感光体８に向かって折り返される。また、先端面２５に沿ってケーシング２１の内部に吹き出した気流の一部は、整流面２８に突き当たることなく下方に分岐し、気流形成空間２９の下のケーシング２１の内部空間に渦流を形成している。 The photoconductor 8 rotates while accompanying the air in contact with the casing 21 to generate a downward airflow in the air near the surface. The descending airflow strikes the front end surface 25 of the cleaning member 22, moves away from the photoconductor 8 along the front end surface 25, and is turned so as to flow out toward the inside of the casing 21. Further, most of the airflow blown into the casing 21 strikes the rectifying surface 28 of the rectifying member 24, is turned upward along the rectifying surface 28, and is turned back toward the photoconductor 8. A part of the air flow blown into the casing 21 along the tip surface 25 branches downward without hitting the rectifying surface 28, and forms a vortex in the internal space of the casing 21 below the air flow forming space 29. ing.
さらに、図４に、本実施形態におけるトナーＴと、トナーＴに添加した外添剤Ａとの動きをシミュレートした結果を示す。トナーＴは、清掃部材２２の先端面２５の上に滞留しており移動していない。一方、外添剤Ａは、先端面２５に沿う気流に乗ってケーシング２１の内部空間に移動して、気流形成空間２９の下に形成された渦流に捉えられ、しばらく滞留した後に渦流から脱離して、重力によってケーシング２１の底部に落下している。 Further, FIG. 4 shows the result of simulating the movement of the toner T and the external additive A added to the toner T in this embodiment. The toner T stays on the front end surface 25 of the cleaning member 22 and does not move. On the other hand, the external additive A rides on the air flow along the tip surface 25 and moves to the internal space of the casing 21, is captured by the vortex formed under the air flow formation space 29, stays for a while and then desorbs from the vortex. Thus, it falls to the bottom of the casing 21 due to gravity.
シミュレーションでは考慮されていないが、清掃部材２２が感光体８から掻き落としたトナーＴは先端面２５の上に蓄積してゆくので、先端面２５の上に載りきらないトナーＴは、先端面２５から溢れて、ケーシング２１の底部に落下していくことになる。 Although not considered in the simulation, the toner T scraped off from the photosensitive member 8 by the cleaning member 22 accumulates on the front end surface 25, and therefore, the toner T that does not completely fit on the front end surface 25 Overflows from the bottom and falls to the bottom of the casing 21.
図５に、本実施形態において使用した後の清掃部材２２の拡大写真を示す。写真上部は先端面２５、写真下部は板面２６であり、エッジ２７は写真中央に線状に確認できる。本発明により、先端面２５の上に滞留したトナーＴが感光体８と清掃部材２２との摩擦を低減するので、図示するように、清掃部材２２のエッジ２７には摩耗が殆ど見当たらない。 In FIG. 5, the enlarged photograph of the cleaning member 22 after using in this embodiment is shown. The upper part of the photograph is the tip surface 25, the lower part of the photograph is the plate surface 26, and the edge 27 can be confirmed in a linear form in the center of the photograph. According to the present invention, the toner T staying on the front end face 25 reduces the friction between the photosensitive member 8 and the cleaning member 22, so that almost no wear is found on the edge 27 of the cleaning member 22 as shown in the figure.
以上のように、本発明によれば、整流部材２４によってケーシング２１の上部に気流形成空間２９を設けることで、清掃部材２２の上方を循環する強い渦流を形成し、この渦流に乗せて清掃部材２２が掻き落としたトナーＴを清掃部材２２のエッジ２７に再供給する。これによって、先端面２５のエッジ２７にトナーＴを滞留させて、清掃部材２２の摩耗を低減することが可能になった。 As described above, according to the present invention, the airflow forming space 29 is provided on the upper portion of the casing 21 by the rectifying member 24, thereby forming a strong vortex that circulates above the cleaning member 22. The toner T scraped off by the toner 22 is supplied again to the edge 27 of the cleaning member 22. As a result, it is possible to retain the toner T at the edge 27 of the front end surface 25 and reduce the wear of the cleaning member 22.
本発明において、整流面２８は、図６に示す第２実施形態のように、湾曲してもよい。このように、整流面２８を上側ほど先端面２５との角度差が大きくなるようにすれば、気流をスムーズに折り返すことができる。 In the present invention, the rectifying surface 28 may be curved as in the second embodiment shown in FIG. As described above, if the angle difference between the rectifying surface 28 and the front end surface 25 is increased toward the upper side, the airflow can be smoothly folded.
また、先端面２５の延長線と整流面２８とがなす角度θ、つまり、先端面２５に沿って吹き出した気流が整流面２８に当たる角度は、５°以上９０°とすることが好ましい。角度θが５°未満では、気流を上向きに折り曲げる効果が低く、また、角度θが９０°を超えると気流を下方に折り曲げることになり、気流形成空間２９内の渦流が弱くなるからである。 Moreover, it is preferable that the angle θ formed by the extension line of the tip surface 25 and the rectifying surface 28, that is, the angle at which the airflow blown along the tip surface 25 hits the rectifying surface 28 is 5 ° or more and 90 °. This is because if the angle θ is less than 5 °, the effect of bending the airflow upward is low, and if the angle θ exceeds 90 °, the airflow is bent downward, and the vortex in the airflow formation space 29 becomes weak.
また、感光体８と整流面２８との間隔Ｄは、３ｍｍ以上、１２ｍｍ以下にすることが好ましい。間隔Ｄが３ｍｍ未満であると、先端面２５に蓄積したトナーＴが溢れ出したとき、清掃部材２２と整流部材２４との間でブロックを起こし、トナーＴが詰まってしまう危険性があるからであり、間隔Ｄが１２ｍｍを超えると、気流形成空間２９内の渦流の速度が低くなり、図７にシミュレーション結果を示すように、整流面２８に沿って折り返される気流からトナーＴが重力の作用で脱落してしまうからである。 The distance D between the photoconductor 8 and the rectifying surface 28 is preferably 3 mm or more and 12 mm or less. If the distance D is less than 3 mm, when the toner T accumulated on the front end surface 25 overflows, there is a risk that the toner T will be clogged by causing a block between the cleaning member 22 and the rectifying member 24. If the distance D exceeds 12 mm, the speed of the vortex flow in the airflow formation space 29 becomes low, and the toner T is caused by the action of gravity from the airflow folded along the rectifying surface 28 as shown in the simulation result in FIG. Because it will fall off.
また、気流形成空間２９の高さ、つまり、清掃部材２２の先端面２５とケーシング２１の天井との間隔は、３ｍｍ以上であることが好ましい。気流形成空間２９が十分な高さを有していないと、整流面２８に沿って折り返した気流が気流形成空間２９の天井に突き当たって清掃部材２２の方向に折り返すことができないからである。 Moreover, it is preferable that the height of the airflow formation space 29, that is, the distance between the front end surface 25 of the cleaning member 22 and the ceiling of the casing 21 is 3 mm or more. This is because if the airflow forming space 29 does not have a sufficient height, the airflow folded along the rectifying surface 28 hits the ceiling of the airflow forming space 29 and cannot be folded back toward the cleaning member 22.
また、本発明の整流部材２４は、両面テープや接着剤などでケーシング２１に接着できる外、図８に示す第３実施形態のように、ケーシング２１と一体に形成してもよい。 Further, the flow regulating member 24 of the present invention can be formed integrally with the casing 21 as in the third embodiment shown in FIG. 8 in addition to being able to adhere to the casing 21 with a double-sided tape or an adhesive.
また、本発明は、中間転写ベルト３のクリーナユニット１６などに適用することもできる。さらに、本発明は、前記実施形態に限定されず、モノクロ、カラーを問わず、プリンタ、ファクシミリ、複写機、および複合機など、多様な画像形成装置に適用可能である。 The present invention can also be applied to the cleaner unit 16 of the intermediate transfer belt 3 and the like. Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be applied to various image forming apparatuses such as printers, facsimiles, copiers, and multifunction peripherals, regardless of monochrome or color.
１ 画像形成装置
８ 感光体（像担持体）
１２ クリーナ
２１ ケーシング
２２ 清掃部材
２３ 封止部材
２４ 整流部材
２５ 先端面
２６ 板面
２７ エッジ
２８ 整流面
２９ 気流形成空間
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 8 Photosensitive body (image carrier)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 Cleaner 21 Casing 22 Cleaning member 23 Sealing member 24 Rectification member 25 Front end surface 26 Plate surface 27 Edge 28 Rectification surface 29 Airflow formation space
Claims (6)
前記像担持体が下方に移動する位置において、先端面を上にして、前記像担持体に前記先端面のエッジを当接させ、前記像担持体上のトナーを掻き落とす清掃部材と、
前記清掃部材により掻き落とされたトナーを収容するケーシングとを備え、
前記先端面の略延長線上に、前記ケーシングの上部に前記像担持体が露出する気流形成空間を形成し、前記像担持体の回転によって発生し、前記清掃部材の先端面に沿って流れる気流を、上方に流れるように案内して、前記像担持体に向かって環流する循環気流を形成するような傾斜を有する整流面を設けたことを特徴とする画像形成装置。 An image carrier for carrying a toner image;
A cleaning member that scrapes off the toner on the image carrier by bringing the front end surface up and abutting the edge of the front end surface on the image carrier at a position where the image carrier moves downward;
A casing containing the toner scraped off by the cleaning member,
An airflow forming space in which the image carrier is exposed is formed on the upper portion of the casing on a substantially extension line of the tip surface, and an airflow generated along the tip surface of the cleaning member is generated by the rotation of the image carrier. An image forming apparatus provided with a rectifying surface having an inclination that forms a circulating airflow that is guided to flow upward and circulates toward the image carrier .
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| JP2006189211A JP4779840B2 (en) | 2006-07-10 | 2006-07-10 | Image forming apparatus |
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Family Cites Families (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPH056131A (en) * | 1991-06-27 | 1993-01-14 | Ricoh Co Ltd | Cleaner for electrophotographic device |
| JP4638177B2 (en) * | 2003-06-06 | 2011-02-23 | 株式会社リコー | Image forming apparatus and process cartridge |
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