JP2009063748A - Cleaning device for detector and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To use a detector which is clean all the time. <P>SOLUTION: Cleaning device 100 includes: a detector 104 having a detecting face 104F disposed opposite the surface of an intermediate transfer belt 32; a cleaning member 118 which wipes the detecting face 104F; and a reciprocating mechanism 120 which wipes the detecting face 104F by reciprocating the cleaning member 118. The reciprocating mechanism 120 reciprocates the cleaning member 118 according to rotation drive and stop of the intermediate transfer belt 32. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a detector cleaning device for cleaning a detection surface of a detector and an image forming apparatus (for example, a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine) provided with the detector cleaning device.

In a color printer having a plurality of image forming apparatuses, the state (density and position) of a toner image superposed and transferred onto an intermediate transfer belt, which is a rotating member, is controlled in order to appropriately control the supply of toners of different colors. A detector to detect is provided. In general, a light reflection type optical sensor composed of a combination of a light emitting element and a light receiving element is used for this detector. Since the detection surface of the detector is disposed so as to face the surface of the intermediate transfer belt, the scattered toner is adsorbed and easily contaminated. As the contamination on the detection surface increases, the sensitivity of the detector decreases and the state of the toner image cannot be accurately detected.

In order to solve such a problem, a cleaning device including a cleaning member for cleaning the detection surface of the detector is provided. Patent Document 1 discloses a cleaning device configured to move a cleaning member relative to a detection surface in conjunction with an opening / closing operation of a door provided in the image forming apparatus to clean the detection surface of the detector. ing. Patent Document 2 discloses a cleaning device configured to clean a detection surface of a detector by moving a cleaning member relative to a detection surface by an electromagnetic solenoid.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-043468 JP 61-073174

Among the cleaning devices described above, in a cleaning device in which the cleaning member is moved relative to the detection surface in conjunction with the opening / closing operation of the door, the opening / closing operation of the door is performed, for example, at the time of toner container replacement, jam processing, etc. The door opening / closing operation may not be performed for a considerably long period of time. For this reason, there is a possibility that the detection surface of the detector is contaminated with toner during a long period when the door opening / closing operation is not performed, and the state of the toner image cannot be accurately detected. On the other hand, in the cleaning device in which the cleaning member is moved relative to the detection surface by the electromagnetic solenoid, it is necessary to newly install a special drive source called an electromagnetic solenoid, which causes an increase in cost (in the electromagnetic solenoid). The same can be said for a cleaning device that uses an electric motor instead).

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel detector cleaning device and a detector cleaning device that allows the detector to be used with a relatively low cost and with the detection surface always cleaned. An image forming apparatus is provided.

According to the present invention,
A detector comprising a detector having a detection surface arranged to face the surface of the rotating member, a cleaning member for wiping the detection surface, and a reciprocating mechanism for wiping the detection surface by reciprocating the cleaning member. In the cleaning device of
The reciprocating mechanism causes the cleaning member to reciprocate according to the rotational drive and rotation stop of the rotating member.
A cleaning device for a detector is provided.
The reciprocating mechanism preferably moves the cleaning member in one of the reciprocating directions in accordance with the rotational drive of the rotating member, and moves the cleaning member in the other of the reciprocating directions in response to the rotation stop of the rotating member.
The reciprocating mechanism moves the cleaning member a predetermined distance along the detection surface in one of the reciprocating directions from the closed position covering the detection surface to the open position separated from the detection surface in accordance with the rotational drive of the rotation member, It is preferable to move the cleaning member to the other in the reciprocating direction from the open position to the closed position in accordance with the rotation stop.
The reciprocating mechanism is provided with a cleaning member and a movable body that can reciprocate in the reciprocating direction, and is arranged on an axis parallel to the reciprocating direction and rotates according to the rotation / stop of the rotating member. The drive shaft is stopped and the movement in the axial direction is restricted, and is disposed so as to be able to reciprocate in the axial direction on the axial line, and the one end side region is driven to the one end side region of the drive shaft And a driven shaft coupled so as to be relatively movable in the axial direction by the predetermined distance, and the movable body is biased to one of the axial directions toward the driving shaft so as to be relatively rotatable with respect to the other end of the driven shaft. And an urging means.
When the drive shaft rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the rotating member, the driven shaft and the moving body are moved by the predetermined distance to the other in the axial direction against the urging force of the urging means, and the cleaning member is moved. When it is moved from the closed position to the open position and the rotation of the drive shaft is stopped by stopping the rotating member, the movable body and the driven shaft are moved by the predetermined distance in one of the axial directions by the biasing force of the biasing means. Preferably, the cleaning member is moved from the open position to the closed position.
A drive inclined surface extending in the radial direction and extending in the axial direction is inclined in the one end side region of the drive shaft, and is extended in the radial direction in the one end side region of the driven shaft. A driven inclined surface extending obliquely with respect to the axis is formed in the axial direction, and the driving inclined surface and the driven inclined surface are positioned facing each other in the circumferential direction, and in conjunction with the rotation of the rotating member. When the drive shaft rotates, the drive inclined surface of the drive shaft comes into contact with the driven inclined surface of the driven shaft, so that the driven shaft is driven to rotate and the driven inclined surface extends along the drive inclined surface in the axial direction. The driven shaft and the moving body are moved by the predetermined distance to the other in the axial direction against the urging force of the urging means, and the cleaning member moves from the closed position to the open position. If the rotation of the drive shaft stops due to the stop of the rotating member, Due to the biasing force of the means, the movable body is moved to one of the axial directions by the predetermined distance, and the driven inclined surface is moved relative to one of the axial directions along the driving inclined surface, so that the driven shaft is It is preferable that the cleaning member is moved to one side in the axial direction by a predetermined distance, and the cleaning member is moved from the open position to the closed position.
The one end side region of the drive shaft has a small diameter portion and a position where the small diameter portion is retreated to one side in the axial direction with respect to the other end surface in the axial direction as a tip surface on the other side in the axial direction. A large-diameter portion extending toward one side in the axial direction; and at least one notch extending from the front end surface of the large-diameter portion toward one side in the axial direction. Is a pair of arc-shaped bottom surfaces that are part of the outer peripheral surface of the small-diameter portion, and are opposed to each other at intervals in the circumferential direction and extend from the tip surface of the large-diameter portion toward one of the axial directions. An inner side surface and an inner end surface extending in a circumferential direction between one end in the axial direction of each of the inner side surfaces, and the pair of inner side surface and inner end surface are an outer peripheral surface of a small diameter portion and a large diameter portion, respectively. One end of the inner surface is formed from the driving inclined surface and the one end side of the driven shaft The region is a cylindrical portion that is open on one side in the axial direction, and has a cylindrical portion having an inner peripheral surface that can be fitted to the small diameter portion of the drive shaft so as to be relatively movable, and one of the cylindrical portions in the axial direction. And at least one protrusion having an arcuate cross section extending from the tip surface on the side toward the one side in the axial direction, and the at least one projection is spaced from the tip surface of the cylindrical portion at intervals in the circumferential direction. A pair of outer surfaces extending toward one side in the axial direction; and a tip surface extending in the circumferential direction between one end in the axial direction of each of the outer surfaces; It is formed of a driving inclined surface, and the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion of the driven shaft is fitted to the small diameter portion of the driving shaft so as to be relatively movable, and the projection of the cylindrical portion is the other in the axial direction with respect to the notch of the driving shaft The driven inclined surface of the driven shaft projection is notched to the notch of the driving shaft. Positioned opposite the circumferential direction to the driving inclined surface, it is preferable.
The other of the inner side surfaces of the notch of the drive shaft is formed from a linear surface extending straight in the axial direction, and the other of the outer surfaces of the projections of the cylindrical portion of the driven shaft is a straight shape extending straight in the axial direction. A cylindrical portion of the driven shaft is fitted to the small diameter portion of the drive shaft so as to be relatively movable, and the protrusion of the cylindrical portion is relative to the other of the drive shaft relative to the notch of the drive shaft. When fitted so as to be movable, it is preferable that the linear surface of the protrusion of the driven shaft is positioned to face the linear surface of the notch of the driving shaft.
It is preferable that two notches of the drive shaft are provided at symmetrical positions with the axis center therebetween, and two protrusions of the driven shaft are provided at symmetrical positions with the axis center of each other.
The driven shaft includes the cylindrical portion, and a real shaft portion having a circular outer peripheral surface extending from the other axial side of the cylindrical portion toward the other axial direction, and the diameter of the cylindrical portion is It is formed larger than the diameter of the actual shaft portion and the same diameter as the diameter of the large-diameter portion of the drive shaft, and an annular step portion perpendicular to the axis is formed at the boundary between the cylindrical portion and the actual shaft portion. A cylinder formed with a through hole extending on an axis parallel to the reciprocating direction, the through hole including a large-diameter hole extending on one side region in the axial direction and the axis The one end side region of the drive shaft, comprising a small diameter hole extending in the other side region in the direction, and an annular step portion formed at the boundary between the large diameter hole and the small diameter hole and orthogonal to the axis Is fitted and supported so that it can rotate from one side of the cylinder in the axial direction to a large-diameter hole and cannot move in the axial direction. The cylindrical portion is fitted and supported in a large-diameter hole of the cylinder so as to be rotatable and relatively movable in the axial direction, and the actual shaft portion of the driven shaft extends from the large-diameter hole to the small-diameter hole. Extending and supported in a small-diameter hole so as to be rotatable and relatively movable in the axial direction, and extended outward from the other side of the cylinder in the axial direction, in conjunction with the rotation of the rotating member When the drive shaft rotates, the driven shaft is rotated and moved relative to the other in the axial direction so that the stepped portion of the driven shaft comes into contact with the stepped portion of the through hole of the cylinder for the predetermined distance. It is preferable that it is moved to the other of the axial directions.
When the rotating member stops, the rotation of the drive shaft stops, and when the moving body and the driven shaft are urged by the urging means and moved in one of the axial directions, the tip surface of the protrusion of the driven shaft is driven. By hitting the inner end surface of the shaft notch, or by the tip surface of the cylindrical portion of the driven shaft hitting the tip surface of the large-diameter portion of the drive shaft, or the cylindrical portion and the real shaft portion of the driven shaft When the front end surface in one of the axial directions of the real shaft portion existing at the boundary portion of the drive shaft abuts on the front end surface of the small-diameter portion of the drive shaft, or the moving body moves in one of the axial directions It is preferable that it is moved to one side in the axial direction by the predetermined distance and positioned at the home position by hitting a stationary stopper provided on the locus.
According to the invention,
A plurality of image forming apparatuses, an intermediate transfer belt that is a rotating member formed on an image carrier in each of the image forming apparatuses and that sequentially rotates and transfers toner images of different colors, and the intermediate transfer belt In an image forming apparatus comprising a detector cleaning device for detecting a state of a toner image superposed and transferred on
The detector cleaning device includes any one of the detector cleaning devices described above.
An image forming apparatus is provided.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a detector cleaning device configured according to the present invention and an embodiment of an image forming apparatus including the detector cleaning device will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

With reference to FIG. 1, a tandem color printer 2 (hereinafter simply referred to as “printer 2”), which is an image forming apparatus provided with a detector cleaning device constructed according to the present invention, will be described.

The printer 2 includes a printer main body 4 that is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped image forming apparatus main body. The printer main body 4 has a side surface 4a that extends substantially vertically, another side surface 4b that faces the one side surface 4a at an interval in the horizontal direction (horizontal left-right direction in FIG. 1), and in the front and back direction of the paper surface in FIG. Still another pair of side surfaces (not shown) that are opposed to each other are provided. In the printer main body 4, a plurality of image forming devices (four image forming devices in the embodiment), that is, a yellow image forming device 6, a magenta image forming device 8, a cyan image forming device 10, and a black image forming device. The image forming devices 12 are arranged in this order from left to right in FIG. These image forming devices 6, 8, 10, and 12 are respectively image forming devices such as a photosensitive drum 14 that is an image carrier, a charger 16, an exposure device 18, a developing device 20, a primary transfer roller 22, and a cleaning device 24. It has an element. The transfer device (not shown) including the primary transfer roller 22 includes a transfer bias power supply device (not shown) that applies a transfer bias to the primary transfer roller 22. The cleaning device 24 is a cleaning device for collecting non-transferred toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 14.

In FIG. 1, the primary transfer roller 22 is disposed on the upper side, the charger 16 is disposed on the lower side, the developing device 20 is disposed on the left side, the cleaning device 24 is disposed on the right side, and the exposure device 18 is charged. Disposed below the container 16 and the developing device 20. In FIG. 1, for simplification of illustration, the reference numerals of the image forming elements are attached only to the yellow image forming device 6. These image forming apparatuses 6, 8, 10, and 12 are arranged in parallel in the above order in the horizontal direction, in the embodiment, linearly from left to right in FIG. 1.

An intermediate transfer belt mechanism 26 is disposed above the image forming apparatuses 6, 8, 10 and 12. The intermediate transfer belt mechanism 26 includes a driving roller 28, a driven roller 30, an endless intermediate transfer belt 32 wound around these rollers, and a cleaning device 33. The cleaning device 33 is a cleaning device for collecting non-transfer toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 32. In addition, on the upper side of the intermediate transfer belt mechanism 26, toner replenishing containers 6TC, 8TC, 10TC for replenishing the corresponding color toner to the developing devices 20 of the image forming devices 6, 8, 10 and 12, respectively. 12TC is provided.

In each of the image forming devices 6, 8, 10, and 12, the primary transfer roller 22 has a lower end traveling region of the intermediate transfer belt 32 with respect to the photosensitive drum 14 (extending linearly in the horizontal and horizontal directions in FIG. 1). And is pressed from above. A secondary transfer roller 34 is disposed on the drive roller 28 diagonally to the right in FIG. The secondary transfer roller 34 is brought into pressure contact with the drive roller 28 via a plurality of spring members (not shown) from the lower right side via the intermediate transfer belt 32. Since the driving roller 28 is driven to rotate counterclockwise in FIG. 1 by a driving source, in the embodiment, the electric motor M, the intermediate transfer belt 32, the driven roller 30 and the primary transfer roller 22 are also rotated counterclockwise. It is done.

A paper feed cassette 36 is disposed below the image forming apparatuses 6, 8, 10 and 12 and at the lower end of the printer body 4. In the paper feed cassette 36, there are disposed a bottom plate 40 which is a paper placement plate supported at one end so as to be rotatable around a shaft 38, a compression coil spring 42 which pushes the other end of the bottom plate 40 upward. . The upper surface of the front end portion of the paper P that is a recording medium stacked and accommodated on the bottom plate 40 is pressed against a pickup roller 44 disposed in the printer main body 4. A separation roller pair 46 is disposed on the downstream side of the pickup roller 44.

At a position close to one side surface 4a of the printer body 4 (right end position in FIG. 1), a conveyance path 50 for conveying the paper P to form a toner image on one side of the paper P and a toner image on one side are formed. A refeed conveyance path 52 is provided for reversing the front and back of the sheet P and refeeding it to the conveyance path 50 to form a toner image on the other side. A partial region of the conveyance path 50 extends in the vertical direction along one side surface 4 a of the printer body 4. In addition, a partial area of the refeed conveyance path 52 is disposed so as to extend vertically between the one side surface 4a of the printer body 4 and the partial area of the conveyance path 50 along the one side surface 4a. ing.

A paper discharge tray 54 is disposed in a partial area on the upper surface of the printer body 4. The paper discharge tray 54 extends horizontally from the other side surface 4b of the printer main body 4 toward the one side surface 4a to the vicinity of the center, and then inclines downward toward the upper position of the image forming device 12. The printer body 4 is further provided with a step portion 56 extending vertically upward from the inclined lower end of the paper discharge tray 54 toward the upper surface. A discharge roller pair 58 is disposed at the upper end of the step portion 56. The upper end region of one side surface 4a of the printer main body 4 curves upward in the direction of the other side surface 4b and continues to a partial region of the upper surface. A partial region of the upper surface extends horizontally to a position above the stepped portion 56. The lower end region of the one side surface 4a is inclined downward toward the other side surface 4b, and the intermediate region extends substantially vertically.

The conveyance path 50 extends in the vertical direction between the downstream side of the separation roller pair 46 and the upstream side of the discharge roller pair 58. A lower end region and an upper end region of the conveyance path 50 are curved so as to swell in the direction of the one side surface 4a of the printer body 4, and an intermediate region thereof extends substantially in the vertical direction along the one side surface 4a. A nip portion between the secondary transfer roller 34 and the driving roller 28 (a nip portion sandwiching the intermediate transfer belt 32) is disposed in a substantially central region of the conveyance path 50. Between the separation roller pair 46 and the nip portion between the secondary transfer roller 34 and the drive roller 28 in the conveyance path 50, a conveyance roller pair 60 and a registration roller pair 62 are disposed from upstream to downstream. ing. A fixing roller pair 64 and a conveying roller pair 66 are provided between the nip portion of the conveying path 50 between the secondary transfer roller 34 and the driving roller 28 and the discharge roller pair 58 from upstream to downstream. They are arranged in order. The fixing roller pair 64 includes a heat roller (fixing roller) 11 that is heated by a heating element such as a halogen lamp, and a pressure roller 13 that is in pressure contact with the heat roller 11.

The re-feed conveyance path 52 is curved after extending downward from the upper side of the discharge roller pair 58 of the stepped portion 56 disposed at the upper end of the printer body 4 toward the one side surface 4 a of the printer body 4. , Extending downward substantially along one side surface 4 a, inverted upward at the lower end, and merged between the conveying roller pair 60 and the registration roller pair 62 in the conveying path 50. A pair of switchback rollers 70 capable of rotating in the forward and reverse directions is disposed in the vicinity of the stepped portion 56, which is the most upstream area of the refeed conveyance path 52. Between the pair of switchback rollers 70 and the entrance of the reversal area at the lower end of the sheet refeed conveyance path 52, sheet refeed conveyance roller pairs 71, 72, 73 and 74 are arranged.

The upper end region of the refeed conveyance path 52 is juxtaposed above the upper end area of the conveyance path 50, and the switchback roller pair 70 is disposed in the refeed conveyance path 52 at a position immediately upstream of the discharge roller pair 58. Has been. A conveyance path switching guide member 75 is provided at a position immediately upstream of the discharge roller pair 58 and between the conveyance path 50 and the refeed conveyance path 52. The transport path switching guide member 75 is a first guide position (shown by a solid line in FIG. 1) that guides the paper P transported by the transport roller pair 66 of the transport path 50 toward the discharge roller pair 58 by an actuator (not shown). Or a second guide position (a position indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 1) for guiding toward the switchback roller pair 70. In a state where the transport path switching guide member 75 is switched to the first guide position (the position indicated by the solid line in FIG. 1), the switchback roller pair 70 with the rear end portion of the paper P being nipped as described later. Is reversed, the paper P is guided toward the refeed conveyance roller pair 71 in the refeed conveyance path 52.

Since the printing operation itself is performed in the printer 2 as is well known, a brief description will be given below with reference to FIG. When single-sided printing is performed, the transport path switching guide member 75 is switched in advance to a first guide position (a position indicated by a solid line in FIG. 1).

In the image forming means 6, 8, 10, and 12, the surface of the photosensitive drum 14 that is uniformly charged by the charger 16 is exposed to light by an exposure device 18 (a laser scanning unit in the embodiment). An electrostatic latent image is formed, and the electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing device 20 to become a toner image. The toner images are transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 32 of the intermediate transfer belt mechanism 26 by the primary transfer roller 22 in such a manner that the toner images formed by the upstream image forming means 6 are sequentially superimposed and transferred. The color toner image transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 32 is transferred to the sheet P while the sheet P sent from the sheet feeding cassette 36 through the conveyance path 50 passes through the nip portion between the driving roller 28 and the secondary transfer roller 34. Transferred to one side of P. The toner image transferred to one side of the paper P is thermally fixed while passing through the fixing roller pair 64.

The sheet P having the toner image fixed on one side is conveyed in the downstream direction by the conveying roller pair 66. The paper P transported by the transport roller pair 66 is guided toward the discharge roller pair 50 by the transport path switching guide member 75, and the discharge roller pair 58 faces down the one surface on which the toner image is fixed on the paper discharge tray 54. It is discharged in a so-called face-down state.

On the other hand, when double-sided printing is performed, the conveyance path switching guide member 75 is switched in advance to a second guide position (a position indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 1). First, the toner image is fixed on one side of the paper P as described above. The sheet P having a toner image fixed on one side is conveyed by a conveying roller pair 66. The sheet P transported by the transport roller pair 66 is guided to the switchback roller pair 70 disposed in the refeed transport path 52 by the transport path switching guide member 75, and refeed transport by the switchback roller pair 70. The paper is conveyed from the upstream end, which is the upper end of the path 52, toward the paper discharge tray 54. The switchback roller pair 70 is temporarily stopped in a state where the rear end portion of the paper P (the rear end portion in the transport direction in the transport path 50) is nipped. While the switchback roller pair 70 is temporarily stopped, the conveyance path switching guide member 75 starts again from the second guide position (the position indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1) to the first guide position (FIG. 1 (position indicated by a solid line).

Subsequently, the switchback roller pair 70 is rotated in the reverse direction with the rear end portion of the paper P being nipped. The paper P is guided by the transport path switching guide member 75 with the rear end including the rear end portion at the top by the switchback roller pair 70, and is fed to the refeed transport roller pair 71 of the refeed transport path 52. Then, it is conveyed in the opposite direction to that in the conveyance path 50. The sheet P is conveyed downward in the refeed conveyance path 52 by the refeed conveyance roller pairs 71, 72, and 73, and then is re-registered in the conveyance path 50 through the reversal area by the refeed conveyance roller pair 74. It is conveyed to the upstream side of the roller pair 62. The sheet P conveyed to the upstream side of the registration roller pair 62 is conveyed by the registration roller pair 62 at a predetermined timing, and while passing through the nip portion between the drive roller 28 and the secondary transfer roller 34, A toner image is transferred to the surface. The toner image transferred to the other surface of the paper P is thermally fixed while passing through the fixing roller pair 64. The sheet P with the toner images fixed on both sides is discharged onto the sheet discharge tray 54 by the discharge roller pair 58 with the other side with the toner images fixed downward as described above.

Next, a detector cleaning device 100 (hereinafter simply referred to as “cleaning device 100”) provided in the printer 2 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, the cleaning device 100 is located below the region of the intermediate transfer belt 32 that is substantially wound around the drive roller 28 and downstream of the black image forming device 12. It is arranged.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the cleaning device 100 is disposed on a support frame 102. The support frame 102 formed using a plate-shaped synthetic resin or a plate-shaped metal as a base moves the lower surface of the intermediate transfer belt 32 below the region of the intermediate transfer belt 32 that is substantially wound around the drive roller 28. It is disposed between both side walls (not shown) in the printer main body 4 so as to extend upright in a horizontal lateral direction (a direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 1) orthogonal to (rightward direction in FIG. 1).

2 and 3, at least one detector 104 in the embodiment is disposed at the upper end portion of the support frame 102 at intervals in the horizontal and horizontal directions. Each of the detectors 104 having substantially the same configuration is composed of a light reflection type optical sensor composed of a combination of a light emitting element and a light receiving element, as shown in FIG. 12, FIG. 14 and FIG. The mounting plate 106, which is substantially rectangular in the horizontal horizontal direction, is integrally disposed on the center of one side. Each of the mounting plates 106 is fastened to the upper end portion of the support frame 102 by two male screw members 108. At each upper end of the detector 104, a detection surface 104F through which irradiation light and reflected light pass is disposed. Each of the detection surfaces 104F is positioned so as to face the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 32 at an interval. In FIG. 7, two units of the detector 104 and the mounting plate 106 are shown as exploded views.

2, 3, and 12 to 14, the uppermost end portion of the support frame 102 is bent horizontally in the right direction in FIG. 1 and linearly with a predetermined width in the horizontal lateral direction. An extending guide rail plate 110 (FIG. 2) is formed. A movable body 112 is supported on the guide rail plate portion 110 so as to reciprocate (slide) in the horizontal horizontal direction. The movable body 112 formed integrally from a synthetic resin includes a base frame 114 and an elongated guided body 116 formed integrally with the upper end of the base frame 114. The guided 116 includes a strip-shaped shutter plate portion 116A extending linearly with a predetermined width, and an engagement channel portion 116B formed on one lower surface side of the shutter plate portion 116A. The engaging channel portion 116B is formed so as to extend from one side of the shutter plate portion 116A to the lower surface side at a right angle, and then extend in parallel to the other side at a distance from the lower surface of the shutter plate portion 116A. A substantially rectangular notch 117 is formed from the other side to one side in the other end portion in the longitudinal direction both ends of the shutter plate portion 116A.

A cleaning member 118 is disposed on the lower surface of the shutter plate portion 116A on one side in the longitudinal direction of each of the notches 117 (the right side in FIG. 2 and the left side in FIG. 3). The cleaning member 118 for wiping each detection surface 104 of the detector 104 can be configured by an elastic member such as urethane elastomer, sponge, nonwoven fabric, brush, etc., but in the embodiment, it has a predetermined thickness. It is comprised from the rectangular-shaped sponge which has.

The base frame 114 of the moving body 112 includes a drooping portion 114A that extends downward from a lower surface in the longitudinal center portion of the engagement channel portion 116B, and a box-shaped portion 114B formed at the lower end of the drooping portion 114A. The box-shaped portion 114B has a rectangular shape that is long in the longitudinal direction of the guided member 116, and an upright wall 115 that is perpendicular to the lower surface of the shutter plate portion 116A and is directed in the longitudinal direction of the guided member 116 at one end in the longitudinal direction. Is formed. FIG. 7 shows the moving body 112 as an exploded view.

In the movable body 112, the engagement channel portion 116B of the shutter plate portion 116A is slidably fitted to one side portion (one side portion on the front side in FIG. 2) of the guide rail plate portion 110 of the support frame 102. Thus, the shutter plate portion 116A is slidably mounted on the upper surface of the guide rail plate portion 110, so that the shutter plate portion 116A is supported so as to reciprocate along the guide rail plate portion 110.

The cleaning device 100 includes a reciprocating mechanism 120 that reciprocates each of the cleaning members 118 and wipes the detection surface 104 </ b> F of the corresponding detector 104. The reciprocating mechanism 120 reciprocates the cleaning member 118 according to the rotation driving and the rotation stop of the intermediate transfer belt 32 that is a rotating member. More specifically, the reciprocating mechanism 120 moves the cleaning member 118 in one of the reciprocating directions according to the rotational drive of the intermediate transfer belt 32 that is a rotating member, and cleans according to the rotation stop of the intermediate transfer belt 32. The member 118 is moved in the other direction of reciprocation. In the embodiment, the reciprocating mechanism 120 is configured to close each of the cleaning members 118 according to the rotational drive of the intermediate transfer belt 32 so as to cover the detection surface 104F of the corresponding detector 104 (the position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3). ) From the detection surface 104F to the open position (the position shown in FIGS. 5 and 6), a predetermined distance is moved along the detection surface 104F in one of the reciprocating directions. The reciprocating mechanism 120 also moves each of the cleaning members 118 from the open position to the closed position in the reciprocating direction in response to the rotation stop of the intermediate transfer belt 32. Cleaning is performed by wiping each detection surface 104F of the detector 104 by the reciprocating movement of each cleaning member 118.

As will be easily understood from the following description, the reciprocating mechanism 120 includes a moving body 112 provided with a cleaning member 118 and capable of reciprocating in the reciprocating direction, and an axis parallel to the reciprocating direction. A drive shaft 140 that is arranged and interlocked with the rotation / stopping operation of the intermediate transfer belt 32 (FIG. 1), which is a rotating member, and whose movement in the axial direction is restricted, and can be reciprocated in the axial direction on the axial line. And a driven shaft 142 connected to the one end side region of the drive shaft 140 so as to be driven and relatively movable by the predetermined distance in the axial direction, and a movable body 112. A tension coil spring 146 is provided as an urging means that urges one end of the axial direction toward the drive shaft 140 (the other in the reciprocating direction) to be rotatable relative to the other end of the drive shaft 142.

More specifically, referring to FIG. 2 to FIG. 4 and FIG. 7, a driving force transmission unit 122 extending vertically is provided at one end of the support frame 102 (left end in FIG. 2 and right end in FIG. 3). A cylinder unit 124 that is mounted and extends from one end to the other end is mounted. The driving force transmission unit 122 includes a housing 126 extending in the vertical direction. The housing 126 rotatably supports four gears 128, 130, and 132 that are arranged from the top to the bottom and meshed with each other. Has been. Although other gears are also arranged in the housing 126, the description thereof is omitted because it is a configuration not related to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 9, the uppermost gear 128 is meshed with a gear 134 that is arranged to rotate integrally with one end of the driving roller 28 of the intermediate transfer belt 32.

The cylinder unit 124 includes an elongated housing 136. The housing 136 has one end portion in the longitudinal direction (right end portion in FIG. 3) adjacent to the side portion (left side portion in FIG. 4) of the housing 126 of the driving force transmission unit 122. It is disposed on the support frame 102 (see also FIGS. 9 to 11). A cylinder 138 is disposed in the housing 136 of the cylinder unit 124, and the drive shaft 140 rotates between one end (right end in FIG. 3) of the cylinder 138 and one end (right end in FIG. 3) in the housing 136. It is supported so that movement in the axial direction is freely controlled. In the cylinder 138, a driven shaft 142 is rotatably supported by the driving shaft 140 so as to be driven and movable in the axial direction. A gear 144 is integrally disposed on the drive shaft 140, and the gear 144 is meshed with the gear 132 of the drive force transmission unit 122. As will be described in detail later, the one end side region (the right end side region in FIG. 3) of the driven shaft 142 is driven to the one end side region (the left end side region in FIG. 3) of the drive shaft 140 so as to be driven in the axial direction. A predetermined distance is coupled so as to be relatively movable.

The cylinder 138, the driven shaft 142, and the drive shaft 140 are disposed on a common axis, and the axis is positioned in parallel with the reciprocating direction of the moving body 112. The other end portion (left end portion in FIG. 3) of the driven shaft 142 extends outward from the other side (left side in FIG. 3) of the cylinder 138 in the axial direction. Between the box-shaped part 114B of the base frame 114 of the moving body 112 and the other axial side of the housing 136 of the cylinder unit 124 (left side in FIG. 3), the moving body 112 is connected to the other side of the driven shaft 142. A tension coil spring 146 is provided as a biasing means that biases one end in the axial direction toward the drive shaft 140 so as to be rotatable relative to the end (left end in FIG. 3) (see also FIGS. 9 and 11). 9 and 11, one end of the tension coil spring 146 is shown in a state in which the engagement with the box-shaped portion 114B is released.

Referring to FIG. 17, one end side region (left end side region in FIG. 17) of drive shaft 140 is a small-diameter portion 150, and the distal end surface of the small-diameter portion 150 on the other axial side (left side in FIG. 17). A large diameter portion 152 extending toward one side in the axial direction, with a position retreated to one side in the axial direction (rightward in FIG. 17) with respect to 150A as the tip surface 152A on the other side in the axial direction, At least one, in the embodiment, two notches 154 extending from one end surface 152A of the 152 toward the one axial direction. The two notches 154 are provided at symmetrical positions with the axis center therebetween (only one notch 154 can be seen in FIG. 17). Each of the cutouts 154 is opposed to the bottom surface 155 having a circular cross-section formed by a part of the outer peripheral surface of the small-diameter portion 150 with a space in the circumferential direction and from the front end surface 152A of the large-diameter portion 152 in one axial direction. And a pair of inner side surfaces 156 and 157 and inner end surfaces 158 extending in the circumferential direction between one end in the axial direction of each of the inner side surfaces 156 and 157. The pair of inner side surfaces 156 and 157 and the inner end surface 158 extend in the radial direction between the outer peripheral surface of the small diameter portion 150 and the outer peripheral surface of the large diameter portion 152. In each of the cutouts 154, one of the inner side surfaces 156 is formed from a drive inclined surface 156 that extends while being inclined with respect to the axis line in the axial direction, and the other inner surface 157 is a linear surface that extends straight in the axial direction. 157.

Referring to FIG. 18, one end side region (right end side region in FIG. 18) of driven shaft 142 is a cylindrical portion 160 that is open on one side (right side in FIG. 18) in the axial direction. A cylindrical portion 160 having an inner peripheral surface that can be fitted to the small-diameter portion 150 of the shaft 140 so as to be relatively movable, and at least the cylindrical portion 160 extends from one end surface 160A in the axial direction toward one side in the axial direction. One protrusion, in the embodiment, has two protrusions 162 having a circular cross section. The two protrusions 162 are provided at symmetrical positions with the axis center therebetween. The arc-shaped inner surface of each protrusion 162 is concentric with the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 160 and has the same inner diameter, and the arc-shaped outer surface is concentric with the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 160 and has the same outer diameter. is doing. Each of the protrusions 162 has an axis of each of a pair of outer surfaces 163 and 164 extending from the front end surface 160A of the cylindrical portion 160 toward one side in the axial direction, and an outer surface 163 and 164 spaced apart in the circumferential direction. And a distal end surface 165 extending in the circumferential direction between one end in the direction. The outer side surfaces 163 and 164 and the front end surface 165 extend in the radial direction. In each of the protrusions 162, one of the outer surfaces 163 is formed of a driven inclined surface 163 that is inclined with respect to the axis in the axial direction, and the other 164 of the outer surface is a linear surface that extends straight in the axial direction. 164.

The driven shaft 142 includes the cylindrical portion 160 and a real shaft portion 166 having a circular outer peripheral surface extending from the other axial side of the cylindrical portion 160 (left side in FIG. 18) toward the other axial direction. And. The cylindrical portion 160 and the real shaft portion 166 have a common axis. The diameter of the cylindrical portion 160 is formed to be larger than the diameter of the actual shaft portion 166 and the same diameter as that of the large diameter portion 152 of the drive shaft 140 (FIG. 17). An annular step 167 perpendicular to the axis is formed at the boundary between the cylindrical portion 160 and the real shaft portion 166.

With reference to FIGS. 16 to 18, the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 160 of the driven shaft 142 is fitted to the small diameter portion 150 of the driving shaft 140 so as to be relatively movable, and each of the protrusions 162 of the cylindrical portion 160 is When the corresponding notch 154 of the drive shaft 140 is fitted so as to be relatively movable in the other axial direction (left side in FIG. 16), each driven inclined surface 163 of the protrusion 162 of the driven shaft 142 is formed. The drive shaft 140 is positioned to face the drive inclined surface 156 of the corresponding notch 154 in the circumferential direction. Further, each linear surface 164 of the protrusion 162 of the driven shaft 142 is positioned so as to face the linear surface 157 of the corresponding notch 154 of the driving shaft 140.

With reference to FIG. 3, the cylinder 138 is formed with a through hole extending on an axis parallel to the reciprocating direction. The through-hole extends a large-diameter hole 170 extending in one axial region (right side region in FIG. 3) and the other axial region (left side region in FIG. 3). A small-diameter hole 172 and an annular step 174 formed at the boundary between the large-diameter hole 170 and the small-diameter hole 172 and perpendicular to the axis. The one end side region of the drive shaft 140 is fitted and supported so as to be rotatable and cannot move in the axial direction from one side of the cylinder 138 in the axial direction (right side in FIG. 3) to the large-diameter hole 170. The The cylindrical portion 160 (FIG. 16) and the protrusion 162 of the driven shaft 142 are fitted and supported in a large-diameter hole 170 of the cylinder 138 so as to be rotatable and relatively movable in the axial direction. The real shaft portion 166 of the driven shaft 142 extends from the large-diameter hole 170 to the small-diameter hole 172 and is fitted and supported in the small-diameter hole 172 so as to be rotatable and relatively movable in the axial direction. At the same time, the cylinder 138 extends outward from the other axial side (left side in FIG. 3).

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, in a state where rotation of intermediate transfer belt 32 that is a rotating member is stopped, moving body 112 is urged to the right in FIG. 3 by the spring force of tension coil spring 146. . The driven shaft 142 is urged to one side (right side in FIG. 3) in the axial direction via the upright wall 115 of the box-shaped portion 114B of the moving body 112. When the movable body 112 and the driven shaft 142 are urged by the spring force of the tension coil spring 146 and moved to one of the axial directions, the axial direction is moved by the predetermined distance by one of the following stopper means. It is moved to one side and positioned at the home position (position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3).
(1) With reference to FIGS. 17 and 18, the tip end surface 165 of the protrusion 162 of the driven shaft 142 abuts against the inner end surface 158 of the notch 154 of the driving shaft 140.
(2) With reference to FIGS. 17 and 18, the tip surface 160 </ b> A of the cylindrical portion 160 of the driven shaft 142 hits the tip surface 152 </ b> A of the large-diameter portion 152 of the drive shaft 140.
(3) Referring to FIGS. 17 and 18, the front end surface (not shown) of the real shaft portion 166 existing on the inner side of the boundary portion between the cylindrical portion 160 and the real shaft portion 166 of the driven shaft 142 in the axial direction. ) Abuts against the distal end surface 150 </ b> A of the small diameter portion 150 of the drive shaft 140.
(4) Referring to FIG. 3, the moving body 112 hits a stationary stopper (not shown) provided on the movement locus of the moving body 112 in one axial direction. The stationary stopper is disposed on the support frame 102 (FIG. 2).

In a state where the moving body 112 and the driven shaft 142 are positioned at the home position, each of the cleaning members 118 provided on the shutter plate portion 116A of the moving body 112 is detected by the detection surface 104F (FIG. 15) of the corresponding detector 104. (See also FIGS. 12 and 14). Since each detection surface 104F of the detector 104 is covered with the cleaning member 118, the problem that the scattered toner adheres and is contaminated is surely prevented.

Referring to FIG. 1, when drive roller 28 is driven to rotate by electric motor M, intermediate transfer belt 32 that is a rotating member is driven to rotate. 4 and 9, the rotation of the drive roller 28 is transmitted to the gear 144 of the drive shaft 140 via the gear 134, the gears 128, 130 and 132, and the drive shaft 140 is interlocked. 2 and 3, when the drive shaft 140 rotates, the drive inclined surface 156 of the drive shaft 140 contacts the driven inclined surface 163 of the driven shaft 142, so that the driven shaft 142 rotates. And the driven inclined surface 163 is relatively moved along the driving inclined surface 156 to the other of the axial directions (leftward in FIG. 3) so that the driven shaft 142 resists the spring force of the tension coil spring 146. It is moved to the other in the axial direction. While the driven shaft 142 is rotationally driven, the driven shaft 142 is moved relative to the other in the axial direction, and the stepped portion 167 of the driven shaft 142 is brought into contact with the stepped portion 174 of the through hole of the cylinder 138 so that the predetermined distance is reached. Only to the other of the axial direction.

Since the movable body 112 has its distal end in the other axial direction of the driven shaft 142 biased to the other in the axial direction while relatively rotating the upright wall 115 of the movable body 112, the movable body 112 resists the spring force of the tension coil spring 146. Then, it is moved by the predetermined distance to the other in the axial direction. As a result, each of the cleaning members 118 is separated from the detection surface 104F from the closed position (the position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) covering the detection surface 104F (FIG. 15) of the corresponding detector 104 (FIG. 15). 5 and the position shown in FIG. 6) along the detection surface 104F. As the cleaning member 118 moves from the closed position to the open position, the detection surface 104F of the corresponding detector 104 is wiped off. As a result, since the detector 118 is used with the detection surface 104F being cleaned, the state of the toner image formed on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 32 is accurately detected. With each of the cleaning members 118 positioned at the open position, each of the notches 117 formed in the shutter plate portion 116A of the moving body 112 is positioned to face the detection surface 104F of the corresponding detector 104.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, when the predetermined printing operation by printer 2 (FIG. 1) is completed, the rotation drive of electric motor M is stopped, and the rotation drive of intermediate transfer belt 32 is stopped. By stopping the rotation of the intermediate transfer belt 32, the rotation of the drive shaft 140 is also stopped. Due to the spring force of the tension coil spring 146, the movable body 112 is moved to one side in the axial direction by the predetermined distance. Due to the movement of the moving body 112, the upright wall 115 pushes the tip of the driven shaft 142 in the other axial direction into one of the axial directions, so that the driven inclined surface 163 of the driven shaft 142 is connected to the driving shaft 140. The driven shaft 142 is moved along the drive inclined surface 156 while rotating relative to one of the axial directions by the predetermined distance. As a result, each of the cleaning members 118 covers the detection surface 104F (FIG. 15) from the open position (the position shown in FIGS. 5 and 6) separated from the detection surface 104F of the corresponding detector 104 (FIG. 15). 2 and the position shown in FIG. 3) along the detection surface 104F. As the cleaning member 118 moves from the open position to the closed position, the detection surface 104F of the corresponding detector 104 is covered while being wiped off. Since the closed state is maintained while the printing operation in the printer 2 is stopped, the detection surface 104F of 104 is not contaminated by the scattered toner.

According to the present invention, the reciprocating mechanism 120 reciprocates the cleaning member 118 according to the rotation driving and rotation stop of the intermediate transfer belt 32 that is a rotating member. More specifically, the reciprocating mechanism 120 moves the cleaning member 118 in one of the reciprocating directions in accordance with the rotational drive of the intermediate transfer belt 32, and reciprocates the cleaning member 118 in accordance with the rotation stop of the intermediate transfer belt 32. Move in the other direction of movement. In the above-described embodiment, the reciprocating mechanism 120 opens each of the cleaning members 118 away from the detection surface 104F from the closed position that covers the detection surface 104F of the corresponding detector 104 in accordance with the rotational drive of the intermediate transfer belt 32. A predetermined distance is moved to one position in the reciprocating direction along the detection surface 104F to the position, and each of the cleaning members 118 is moved from the open position to the closed position in the reciprocating direction in response to the rotation stop of the intermediate transfer belt 32. Let

That is, according to the present invention, the detection surface 104F of the detector 104 is automatically wiped by the cleaning member 118 every time a printing operation is performed, so the detector 104 is used with the detection surface 104F being always cleaned. Allows to be done. Further, since the operation of the cleaning member 118 is performed in conjunction with the rotational drive of the intermediate transfer belt 32, it is not necessary to newly install a special drive source such as an electromagnetic solenoid or an electric motor, and the cost can be reduced. .

In the above embodiment, when the drive shaft 140 rotates in response to (in conjunction with) the rotation of the intermediate transfer belt 32, the driven shaft 142 and the moving body 112 resist against the spring force of the tension coil spring 146. When the cleaning member 118 is moved from the closed position to the open position by moving the predetermined distance in the other direction, and the rotation of the drive shaft 140 is stopped by the stop of the intermediate transfer belt 32, the movable body 112 and the driven shaft 142 are moved. However, due to the spring force of the tension coil spring 146, the cleaning member 118 is moved from the open position to the closed position by being moved in the axial direction by the predetermined distance. As described above, according to the present invention, the detection surface 104F of the detector 104 is automatically wiped by the cleaning member 118 according to the rotation and stop of the intermediate transfer belt 32, which is extremely useful in practice.

In the above embodiment, the rotating member that is rotationally driven by the drive source and forms a toner image on the surface is constituted by the intermediate transfer belt 32, but is not limited thereto, and other rotating members such as, for example, It may be a photoreceptor drum, a photoreceptor belt, or the like.

Configuration showing an embodiment of a tandem color printer (hereinafter simply referred to as “printer”) including an embodiment of a detector cleaning device (hereinafter simply referred to as “cleaning device”) constructed according to the present invention. FIG. It is a perspective view showing the state where the embodiment of the cleaning device constituted according to the present invention was attached to the support frame. It is the front view which looked at the cleaning apparatus shown in FIG. 2 from the back surface in FIG. 2, Comprising: It is the front view which shows a part in cross section. It is the side view which looked at the cleaning apparatus shown in FIG. 3 from the right side in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the other operation | movement aspect of the cleaning apparatus shown in FIG. It is a front view which shows the other operation | movement aspect of the cleaning apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the cleaning device shown in FIG. 2 (a perspective view with a support frame omitted). 2 is a perspective view of the state where the cleaning device shown in FIG. 2 is mounted on the printer main body of the printer shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from substantially lower left to upper right in FIG. 1, and is a perspective view partially showing the printer main body side. FIG. It is the perspective view which looked at the cleaning apparatus shown in FIG. 8 from the back upper right in FIG. 8, Comprising: One part is a perspective view which abbreviate | omits and shows. It is the perspective view which looked at the cleaning apparatus shown in FIG. 9 from the back lower surface in FIG. It is a perspective view which expands the cleaning apparatus shown in FIG. 2, and abbreviate | omits a support frame. It is the perspective view which looked at the cleaning apparatus shown in FIG. 11 from the back surface in FIG. 11, Comprising: It is a perspective view which abbreviate | omits and shows a part. FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a part of the cleaning device shown in FIG. It is the perspective view which looked at the cleaning apparatus shown in FIG. 12 from another angle. It is the perspective view which looked at the cleaning apparatus shown in FIG. 11 from the back surface in FIG. 11, Comprising: A part is abbreviate | omitted and it is a perspective view shown disassembled. FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing a part of the cleaning device shown in FIG. 15 with a part further omitted and enlarged. FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing a part of the cleaning device shown in FIG. 16 with a part (driven shaft) omitted. FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the driven shaft shown in FIG. 16.

Explanation of symbols

2: Printer 32: Intermediate transfer belt 100: Detector cleaning device 102: Detector 102F: Detection surface 118: Cleaning member 120: Reciprocating mechanism 112: Moving body 140: Drive shaft 142: Driven shaft 146: Tensile coil spring
M: Electric motor

Claims (6)

A detector comprising a detector having a detection surface arranged to face the surface of the rotating member, a cleaning member for wiping the detection surface, and a reciprocating mechanism for wiping the detection surface by reciprocating the cleaning member. In the cleaning device of
The reciprocating mechanism causes the cleaning member to reciprocate according to the rotational drive and rotation stop of the rotating member.
A cleaning device for a detector. 2. The reciprocating mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the reciprocating mechanism moves the cleaning member in one of the reciprocating directions in accordance with the rotational drive of the rotating member, and moves the cleaning member in the other of the reciprocating directions in response to the rotation stop of the rotating member. Detector cleaning device. The reciprocating mechanism moves the cleaning member a predetermined distance along the detection surface in one of the reciprocating directions from the closed position covering the detection surface to the open position separated from the detection surface in accordance with the rotational drive of the rotation member, The detector cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning member is moved in the reciprocating direction from the open position to the closed position in accordance with the rotation stop of the detector. The reciprocating mechanism is provided with a cleaning member and a movable body that can reciprocate in the reciprocating direction, and is arranged on an axis parallel to the reciprocating direction and rotates according to the rotation / stop of the rotating member. The drive shaft is stopped and the movement in the axial direction is restricted, and is disposed so as to be able to reciprocate in the axial direction on the axial line, and the one end side region is driven to the one end side region of the drive shaft And a driven shaft coupled so as to be relatively movable in the axial direction by the predetermined distance, and the movable body is biased to one of the axial directions toward the driving shaft so as to be relatively rotatable with respect to the other end of the driven shaft. The detector cleaning apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising an urging unit. When the drive shaft rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the rotating member, the driven shaft and the moving body are moved by the predetermined distance to the other in the axial direction against the urging force of the urging means, and the cleaning member is moved. Moved from the closed position to the open position,
When the rotation of the drive shaft is stopped by the stop of the rotating member, the movable body and the driven shaft are moved by the urging force of the urging means to the one axial direction by the predetermined distance, and the cleaning member is closed from the open position. The detector cleaning device according to claim 4, which is moved to a position. A plurality of image forming apparatuses, an intermediate transfer belt that is a rotating member formed on an image carrier in each of the image forming apparatuses and that sequentially rotates and transfers toner images of different colors, and the intermediate transfer belt In an image forming apparatus comprising a detector cleaning device for detecting a state of a toner image superposed and transferred on
The detector cleaning device includes the detector cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.
An image forming apparatus.

Images