DE102005006246A1 - Printer or copier - Google Patents

Abstract

Of the Printer (10) or copier has a cleaning device (30) on, the optical devices (15) in the printer (10) during the Operating from time to time cleans. Advantageously, a cleaning brush (31) which is fixed to a pivot arm (32). By a driver (35) forming part of a threading device (36) the cleaning device (30) when threading new paper forcibly activated.

Description

The The invention relates to a printer or copier, wherein a recording medium with a desired one Printed image is provided.

Such printers or copiers are well known. For transporting individual sheets or a tape-shaped recording medium in a printer or copier, the recording medium must be accurately guided, so that the printed image is printed as desired on the recording medium. For this purpose, it is known to detect the edge position of the recording medium and to control the paper transport as a result ( DE 101 46 377 A1 or DE 103 07 381 B3 ).

To the Recognition of the edge position of the recording medium are optical devices like camera or photocell used. These optical devices have optical outer surfaces, through the light enters and / or exits. During the operation of the printer or copier will contaminate this outer surface. This worsens the Recognition of the edge position or even prevents it.

at The previous printers or copiers, the optical outer surface of the Service cleaned by the printer or copier was opened consuming and the corresponding outer surface was accessible. Subsequently was this area with a detergent, compressed air or cleaning brush manually cleaned. There have also been proposed cleaning devices with which the service staff the areas manually from the outside by introducing clean the cleaning elements in the printer. As a result, was an extra opening in the printer case and a separate tool necessary to be manually inserted into the printer got to.

task The invention is to provide a printer or copier at from time to time the optical devices are easily cleaned.

These The object is achieved by a Printer or copier according to the features of Patent claim 1 or by a method having the features of Claim 11 solved.

there is a cleaning device for the optical device is provided, the at least the optical Outside surface during the Operating the printer or copier from time to time cleans.

This has the advantage that the device no longer open by the service must be to clean the optical equipment. From time at time automatically occurs as a result of a triggering event Cleaning the optical device instead without an operator must clean manually. Thus, the cleaning takes place during the Operation of the printer instead, advantageously at times in which the optical devices are not needed right now.

advantageous Embodiments of the invention are described in the subclaims. So the cleaning device can by a anyway in the printer available while the printing process in the idle state befindliches element controlled so be that while there the operating state of the element, i. not at times of printing, the optical outer surface automatically and forced cleans.

If the already existing element an automatic threading device for the record carrier is, the optical device is cleaned each time the record carrier. there It can be assumed that cleaning the exterior optical surfaces in a timely manner cleans up before the pollution gets too big. If constantly printed all the same cleaning, then takes place at regular intervals, namely when a new record carrier is inserted.

The Optical device may include light sources, optical detectors and / or Have reflectors. The optical device can also be an image pickup element, like a camera.

The Cleaning device can as a cleaning element cleaning brush have over the optical outer surface of the paint and thus clean this optical device. As well can compressed air or a cleaning fluid be used, which act on the optical outer surface and thus the clean optical device.

The Cleaning can be dependent triggered by paper usage assuming that with the same paper consumption the pollution is the same. The cleaning may also be dependent on the toner consumption, so depending on actual Printing is cleaned.

The optical device may include a sensor that measures the degree of contamination. Depending on this, a warning signal can be generated by which an operator is made aware of the contamination. The operator may then initiate a cleaning process by activating the cleaning process. The cleaning may also be performed automatically depending on the occurrence of the notification signal.

The Cleaning device may be an electromagnetic actuator through which the cleaning device for cleaning the outer optical surface electromagnetic, preferably moved by an electric motor. Again, it is beneficial then trigger the actuator, when a certain amount of pollution is reached, a certain amount printed on paper or consumes a certain amount of toner is, it can be assumed that it is only as a result of printing to a contamination inside the device and thus to contamination the optical devices comes. Likewise, the adjusting device can be time-controlled be and the outer optical surfaces of Time to time outside the printing operation (i.e., in the printing pauses).

embodiments The invention will be described below with reference to the schematic drawings explained in more detail. It demonstrate:

1 a section through a printer or copier with an optical device cleaning device,

2 a perspective view of a cleaning device in the region of an optical device for detecting the edge position of a recording medium tape,

3 a side view of the cleaning device according to 2 and

4 a perspective view of another embodiment of a cleaning element with electromotive actuator.

In the following, the invention will be described with reference to an embodiment of a printer 10 ( 1 ), which works on the principle of electrophotography. Also, other digital printing methods such as electrography, magnetography, thermal printing, ionography, etc., as well as mechanical printing methods such as offset printing may be used. The invention may equally refer to copiers operating according to the same methods.

In the preferred embodiments described herein, the printer is 10 an endless belt printer comprising a ribbon-shaped recording medium of paper (hereinafter referred to as paper web 11 designated) printed. It is also possible to use a zelblätter. The record carrier can be made of paper, plastic, metal or several different components.

In the figures have elements of the same construction and function the same Reference numerals.

In a first embodiment according to 1 becomes a printer 10 used, according to the electrophotographic principle, an endless paper web 11 printed. This is the paper web 11 from a roll-shaped or fanfold storage area to the printer 10 at a paper feed area 12 fed. Subsequently, the paper web 11 by means of a rotating frame 13 accurately aligned so that the paper web 11 along a predefined path exactly through the printer 10 to be led. As a result, it ensures that the paper web 11 can be printed at the desired locations largely without positional deviation.

To the edge position of the paper web 11 to capture and the rotating frame 13 to control accordingly, here is a light barrier 15 provided as an optical device, the at least one edge region of the paper web 11 assigned. The photocell 15 here consists of a light source 16 , a reflector 17 and a detector 18 ,

About pulleys 20 and paper transport drives 21 becomes the paper web 11 to a transfer office 22 directed at the one or both sides a toner image on the paper web 11 is printed.

The toner image is in an electrophotographic core 23 having, for example, a character generator, a photoconductor, a development station with toner containers, a cleaning device, loading and unloading stations, etc. This latent toner image is transferred to a transfer belt 24 transfer-printed. The toner image of the transfer ribbon 24 is then at a transfer point on the paper web 11 transfer.

In the case of double-sided printing operation, the upper and lower printing sides are simultaneously transferred by upper and lower transfer belts 24 each with associated upper and lower electrophotographic cores 23 , For duplex printing (two-sided printing) is the electrophotographic core 23 So twice.

For multi-color printing, the color separations are first on each transfer ribbon 24 collected and then together on the paper web 11 transfer. During the paint pickup on the transfer ribbon 24 stands the paper web 11 quiet.

Subsequently, the paper web 11 by a fuser 25 transported where the fixation of the toner image on the paper web 11 he follows. Again, the fuser unit 25 for double-sided duplex printing, wherein at the same time for one-sided and double-sided printing operation of the toner by means of, for example, an infrared radiation fixation on the paper web 11 is fixed.

After the fuser unit 25 becomes the paper web 11 in a cooling section of a cooling device 26 so far cooled that post-processing in external, not shown, paper post-processing equipment in direct connection to the printing process is possible. These paper processing equipment, such as stackers, staplers, punches, cutters, binders, folders, etc. are not shown here. You can contact a paper extractor 27 at the end of the device.

So the paper web 11 always aligned according to the desired print image and also fits exactly through the printer 10 is transported, the location of the two edges of the paper web 11 in the present embodiment by a light barrier 15 detected. The photocell 15 then controls the rotating frame 13 , the paper web 11 can be aligned by turning.

The photocell 15 has a light source for this purpose 16 (or optical transmitter), a reflector 17 (or mirror) and / or a detector 18 (or light receiver) on. light source 16 and detector 18 preferably have matrix-shaped optically active regions, which are arranged here immediately adjacent to a greater range of the possible position of the edge of the paper web 11 to be able to capture. Thus, even smaller variations of the edge position or different paper widths can be detected clean and readjust the correct position. The reflector 17 is set up that by the light source 16 incoming light back to the detector 18 is blasted.

In order to be able to detect the edge position at any time, the optical device has to be cleaned from time to time. Dirt particles, such as paper or toner dust, over time settle on the surfaces through which light enters or exits or is reflected by the light (these surfaces are referred to as optical outer surfaces in the following) 28 designated). Due to dirt on the optical outer surfaces 28 the light passage or the reflection is partially considerably attenuated, whereby the edge detection can not be optimally possible.

For cleaning the outer optical surface 28 is a cleaning device according to the invention 30 ( 2 ), which in a first embodiment, two cleaning brush 31 each at one end of a pivoting arm 32 are fixed and stand outward. The swivel arms 32 are arranged and coupled together so that the cleaning brush 31 in a pivoting movement over the optical outer surfaces 28 the photocell 15 ie over the outer surface of light source 16 and detector 18 on the one hand and the person of the reflector 17 on the other hand, while brushing the dirt from the optical outer surfaces 28 at least largely remove.

The cleaning device 30 is in the first embodiment as positively driven cleaning device 30 trained from time to time by a taker 35 is forced so that the cleaning brush 31 over the optical outer surface 28 Paint and clean it.

The driver 35 Here is part of a paper threading device, which is intended for the collection of a new paper web 11 the beginning of the paper web 11 with a paperclip 36 to grab. The driver 35 is the part of the bracket 36 , in the axial extension to the side of the paper web 11 stands away to the cleaning device 30 during a movement of the clip 36 to press. The clip 36 is anyway in the printer anyway 10 present and is due to their geometric dimensions and arrangement as a driver 35 exploited.

The clip 36 is fed by ropes along the paper transport path through the printer 10 pulled through. If the threading device is not needed (the idle state of the threading device is taken during the printing operation), this is outside the transport path at the end of the paper withdrawal area 27 of the printer 10 arranged at rest and thus does not disturb the paper transport and the pressure. For threading a new paper web 11 becomes the clip 36 with the driver 35 forward to the paper feed area 12 guided, the paper is in the clip 36 trapped and the paper web 11 is then through the printer 10 through to the paper extraction area 27 drawn.

When moving the clamp 36 from behind to front and back comes the driver 35 twice at the cleaning device 30 over and causes them at least once to perform a cleaning process. In the present embodiment, a pivotal movement is performed in each case. With each swivel movement, the cleaning brushes stroke 31 forcibly over the optical outer surfaces 28 the photocell 15 , In this case, the beam path between the light source 16 and reflector 17 interrupted. However, this plays no role in the current operating state, since the paper web 11 just threaded becomes. Only when paper web transport for the purpose of printing the rotating frame 13 active, then the location and the transport of the paper web 11 controls.

The swivel arms 32 are pivotally arranged between two end positions. The end positions are formed by stops, which further movement of the pivot arms 32 no longer allow. With a forward movement of the clip 36 with the driver 35 become the swivel arms 32 pivoted in one direction and in the reverse direction in the opposite direction. Or the swivel arms 32 be through the driver 35 taken along in the forward movement and automatically swing back due to gravity. So find two cleaning operations in one pass of the driver 35 through the swivel arms 32 instead of.

If the swivel arms 32 can be pivoted in the vertical direction, so move the pivot arms 32 automatically due to gravity back to its starting position, if previously through the driver 35 were pulled up.

Are the swivel arms 32 In the horizontal direction pivotally mounted, so a holding device may be provided which the pivot arms 32 easily holds in the end positions, so that the pivot arms 32 in the printing operation, not in the beam path of the light barrier 15 can move and thereby disturb the edge detection. Such a holding device can be realized for example by small magnets, which are the pivot arms 32 while resting, but in the forced operation by the driver 35 allow a pivoting movement.

Such a holding device is only necessary if the pivot arms 32 are horizontally pivotable. Are the swivel arms 32 Vertically pivoted so gravity keeps the pivot arms 32 out of the optical path of the optical device out.

So the driver 35 the swivel arms 32 can put in a pivoting movement, the cleaning device 30 on the one hand as a pivot point on a pivot axis to which the pivot arms 32 be panned. On the other hand, the swivel arms 32 Attacking elements on which a force acts to pivot the pivot arms. As attack elements are between the swing arms 32 Mitnehmerbürsten 37 arranged, which are formed so stiff that the driver 35 the swivel arms 32 can put in a pivoting movement. This is the driver 35 between the swivel arms 32 at the height of the driving brushes 37 through the swivel arms 32 drawn. Since the driving brushes are formed rigid, the pivot arms 32 first taken, until they strike against the respective attack ( 3 ). The driving brushes 37 However, they are also so flexible that they are the driver 35 then let pass, if the swivel arms 32 to strike the respective stop and the pivot arms 32 are prevented from further movement.

The force to the driver of the pivot arms 32 must be greater than the braking force due to the cleaning as well as the movement friction in the fulcrum. If the pivot arms are moved against gravity, then the driving force must also overcome the gravity.

Instead of the driving brushes 37 It is also possible to use other mechanical elements, which are used as entrainment elements for the movement of the pivoting arms 32 are suitable. Thus, for example, not shown locking elements may be used, which only from a predetermined, on the locking elements by the driver 35 acting force the driver 35 let pass.

As in this embodiment, the cleaning device 30 is activated only during the paper threading operation, the printing operation and the alignment of the edge position is not affected. Because the light barrier described in the embodiment 15 is only needed during printing, and only during paper web transport.

Only when the paper web 11 (entire paper roll or fanfold stack) is printed to the end and a new paper web 11 is needed, ie as soon as paper is re-threaded, the threading device with the paper clip 36 and the driver 35 again led to the beginning and a new paper web 11 threaded. In this way, the frequency is the cleaning of the outer optical surface 28 depending on the actual print volume.

In 3 is the driver 35 exactly as in the area of the driving brushes 37 positioned shown. In this case, the paper was already taken and with the clip 36 moved in. The beginning of the paper web 11 is currently in the area of the light barrier 15 and the cleaning device 30 , The driver 35 has the swivel arms 32 - in the 3 - swung down and just leaves the driver brushes 37 , The driving brushes 37 are so stiff that the swing arms 32 can be entrained and are so elastic that they can "slip through" the driver when the pivotal movement of the pivot arms is inhibited by the stop.

The advantage of this embodiment is that a anyway in the printer 10 or copier used element (namely the threading device) is used to the cleaning device 30 forcibly activate. This forced operation takes place from time to time (intermittently), whenever a new paper web 11 in the printer 10 is threaded again. Thus, the cleaning is dependent on the pressure and it is always cleaned when experience shows that not too much dust or dirt are deposited on the optical surfaces.

In 4 is shown part of a further embodiment of the invention. The cleaning device 30 is the same as in the embodiment previously constructed, with the two pivot arms 32 , at whose respective one end the cleaning brush 31 are arranged to the outside.

Instead of the driver 35 now operates an electromechanical adjusting device (for example, an electric motor 29 ) the cleaning device 30 , Upon activation of the actuator, the cleaning device 30 operated, so that the two pivot arms 32 with their cleaning brushes one or more times over the optical outer surfaces 28 stroke (pivoting movement and rotation of the motor 29 are by semicircular double arrows in 4 illustrated).

When using an electromagnetically controlled cleaning device 30 may be activating the cleaning device 30 advantageous from time to time automatically or manually triggered by an operator. It is also possible for the degree of contamination of the optical device to be measured indirectly via the intensity of the detected optical power and its attenuation with time due to the contamination by means of a sensor, not shown. If the light beam is excessively optically attenuated, a warning signal is generated, which activates either an optical and / or an acoustic display device, by which the operator is instructed to use the cleaning device 30 to activate.

Of the Sensor can be mechanical and electrical in the optical device be integrated. But it can also be the optical device, such as Detector or image pickup element can be used as a sensor by the present light intensity compared with previous intensities becomes. With strong deviation, in particular damping can then be on a pollution getting closed.

The Hint can also activate the cleaning automatically, once a certain degree of pollution has been reached. Likewise is it is possible to perform the cleaning automatically from time to time or automatically during certain operating conditions. The Cleaning must not disturb the printing operation and must therefore at times be performed, in which the optical device is not necessarily needed.

The optical devices can be light barriers or cameras (generally image pickup elements) that are in the interior of the printer anyway 10 or copier are arranged and required for error-free operation.

The cleaning device 30 can mechanical cleaning elements, such as the cleaning brush 31 or functionally equivalent mechanical cleaning elements. It is not absolutely necessary that the cleaning device 30 swing arms 32 having. The swivel arms 32 However, provide a particularly simple and inexpensive variant of a mechanical cleaning device 30 represents.

For cleaning can also be operated with air / gas or liquid cleaning devices 30 be used, in which the air or the liquid targeted to the respective optical outer surface 28 acts. If air on the optical outer surface 28 It must be ensured that the resulting dust clouds are sucked out via filters. For liquid cleaning, the dirty liquid must be removed from the optical outer surface 28 be removed by means of compressed air or wiper, so that the function of the optical device is not affected by additional deposits.

Mechanical cleaning can also be combined with wet cleaning by placing a wet or wet wiper over the outer optical surface 28 sweeps.

One Cleaning with air has the advantage that even during the printing operation, i. when transporting paper, a cleaning can be done there the blowing air hardly or not the function of the optical device disturbs.

Of the Cleaning process can by anyway in the printer or copier triggered existing elements become. cleanings can also dependent from the amount of printed paper, from the amount of used Toner, from the operating condition of the printer, from the time since last cleaning process or from contamination automatically or manual.

For each optical device of the printer or copier can have its own Reinigungsvorrich tung 30 to be available. It is also possible to use a plurality of optical devices arranged close to one another by means of a common cleaning device 30 getting cleaned.

The optical device is preferably cleaned when the optical device is not necessarily required for the printing operation or the paper web alignment device (rotating frame 13 ) is not in operation. The rotating frame 13 does not have to be constantly active, it can also intermittently with short breaks (eg while the paper web 11 stands) between active times are operated so that in the breaks, a cleaning of the optical device is possible.

10

printer or copier

11

Record carrier (paper web)

12

Paper Feed Area

13

rotating frame

15

photocell

16

light source

17

reflector

18

detector

20

guide rollers

21

Paper transport drives

22

transfer Agent

23

Electric Photographic core

24

transfer tape

25

fuser

26

cooling device

27

Paper print area

28

optical outer surface

30

cleaning device

31

cleaning brush

32

swivel arm

35

takeaway

36

clip

37

Mitnehmerbürste

Claims (12)

Printer or copier in which a record carrier ( 11 ) is taken from a storage area, fed via a printing unit and after printing a storage area, wherein an optical device ( 15 ), in particular for aligning the record carrier ( 11 ) with respect to the printing unit or to the aligned guiding of the recording medium ( 11 ), is provided, the at least one optical outer surface ( 28 ) through which light enters and / or leaves or is reflected by the light, characterized in that a cleaning device ( 30 ) for the optical device ( 15 ) is provided which at least the outer optical surface ( 28 ) during operation of the printer ( 10 ) or the copier cleans. Printer or copier according to claim 1, characterized in that the cleaning device ( 30 ) by a anyway in the printer ( 10 ) or copier, while idle (printing) element ( 35 . 36 ) is controlled such that the cleaning device ( 30 ) the optical outer surface ( 28 ) cleans automatically. Printer or copier according to claim 1, characterized in that the printer ( 10 ) or copier endless or sheet-shaped record carrier ( 11 ) printed. Printer or copier according to claim 2, characterized in that the already existing element ( 35 . 36 ) an automatic feeder for the record carrier ( 11 ), with which an endless, band-shaped record carrier ( 11 ) in the printer ( 10 ) or copier is threaded. Printer or copier according to claim 1, characterized in that the optical device at least one light source ( 16 ), an optical detector ( 18 ), a reflector ( 17 ) and / or has an image pickup element. Printer or copier according to claim 1, characterized in that the cleaning device ( 30 ) a cleaning element in the form of a cleaning brush ( 31 ), through which the optical outer surface ( 28 ) by sweeping the outer surface ( 28 ) is mechanically cleaned. Printer or copier according to claim 1, characterized in that the cleaning device ( 30 ) the optical outer surface ( 28 ) is cleaned by means of air and / or cleaning fluid. Printer or copier according to claim 1, characterized in that the optical device ( 15 ) has a sensor, the pollution degree of the outer surface ( 28 ), whereby depending on the degree of pollution a warning signal is generated. Printer or copier according to claim 1, characterized in that the cleaning device ( 30 ) an electromotive actuating device ( 29 ), by which the cleaning device ( 30 ) for cleaning the outer optical surfaces ( 28 ) is moved by an electric motor. Method for cleaning an optical device of a printer ( 10 ) or copier, in which a record carrier ( 11 ) taken from a storage area, via a printing unit ( 22 - 26 ) and after printing a storage area is supplied, wherein the optical device in particular for aligning the recording medium ( 11 ) with respect to the printing unit or for directed guidance the record carrier ( 11 ) is provided, the at least one optical outer surface ( 28 ) through which light enters and / or leaves or is reflected by the light, characterized in that the optical device during the operation of the printer ( 10 ) or the copier from time to time from a cleaning device ( 30 ) is cleaned automatically. Method according to claim 10, characterized in that the optical device ( 15 ) is cleaned at a time depending on the previous operating time or depending on the pressure. Method according to claim 10, characterized in that the optical device ( 15 ) is cleaned at times when the optical device is not needed for printing or recording media transport.