JP2014071236A - Cleaning device, process cartridge, and electro-photographic image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cleaning device capable of suppressing deformation of an apparatus even when a cartridge is dropped.
SOLUTION: A frame body 27 having a cleaning member 6 for removing toner remaining on a photosensitive drum 1 and a lid member 29 attached to the frame body 27 are provided. The unit 26 is characterized by having a rib 29d and the frame body 27 having a rib contact portion 27g capable of contacting the rib 29d.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a cleaning device including a cleaning member that removes toner remaining on a photosensitive drum, a process cartridge including the cleaning device, and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus in which the process cartridge is detachable.

  The electrophotographic image forming apparatus (hereinafter referred to as an image forming apparatus) forms an image on a recording material (recording medium) using an electrophotographic image forming process. Examples of the image forming apparatus include a printer (laser beam printer, LED printer, etc.), a copying machine, a facsimile machine, a word processor, and a complex machine (multifunction printer) thereof.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image forming apparatus employs a cartridge system in which process means are integrated into a cartridge and the cartridge is detachable from the image forming apparatus main body. The invention described in Patent Document 1 is disclosed as an invention related to this cartridge system. Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which a rib that is in contact with or close to a sheet metal portion of a cleaning blade is provided in the central portion of the cleaning frame in the longitudinal direction in order to maintain the rigidity of the waste toner storage chamber.

JP 2005-43537 A

  However, further reinforcement of rigidity is desired.

  In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning device that can suppress deformation of a process cartridge even when the cartridge falls.

  In order to achieve the above object, a cleaning device of the present invention comprises a cleaning frame body that supports a cleaning member that removes toner remaining on a photoconductor, and a lid member that is attached to the cleaning frame body. The member has a protruding portion, and the cleaning frame has a protruding contact portion capable of contacting the protruding portion.

  Another cleaning apparatus of the present invention includes a cleaning frame body that supports a cleaning member that removes toner remaining on the photosensitive member, and a lid member that is attached to the cleaning frame body. The lid member includes a protrusion. The cleaning frame body has a protrusion abutting portion capable of abutting on the protrusion portion, and the protrusion portion is arranged in the orthogonal direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the lid member. The deformation of the lid member is suppressed.

  According to the present invention, even when the process cartridge falls, the deformation of the process cartridge can be suppressed.

It is sectional drawing which shows the structure by which the cover member was attached to the cleaning frame. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus including a cleaning device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of a cartridge. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of a cartridge. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of a developing unit. It is a perspective view which shows the back surface and surface of a cover member. It is a perspective view which shows the back surface and surface of a frame. It is sectional drawing which shows the positional relationship of a frame and a cover member. It is a perspective view which shows a frame, a cover member, a receiving stand, and a horn. It is sectional drawing when welding a cover member to a frame. It is a side view which shows a frame. It is sectional drawing which shows the positional relationship of the rib of the cover member with which the cleaning apparatus which concerns on Example 2 is equipped, the 1st welding part, and the 2nd welding part. It is sectional drawing which shows the positional relationship of the frame with which the cleaning apparatus which concerns on Example 3 is provided, a cover member, a receiving stand, and a horn.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be exemplarily described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, since the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative positions, etc. of the components described in this embodiment are appropriately changed depending on the configuration of the apparatus to which the invention is applied and various conditions, there is no specific description. As long as the scope of the invention is not limited to these, it is not intended.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus 100 including the unit 4 according to the first embodiment of the invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 100 includes an image forming apparatus main body (hereinafter, simply referred to as “apparatus main body”) 100A, and a process cartridge (hereinafter referred to as “cartridge 70”) is provided inside the apparatus main body 100A. Is provided with a mounting member so as to be detachable. The image forming unit includes a photosensitive drum 1, a charging roller 2, a scanner unit 3 (exposure device), a unit 4 (developing unit), a primary transfer roller 58, a cleaning member 6 and the like which will be described later. To do.

  The four cartridges 70 are inclined and arranged inside the apparatus main body 100A. In FIG. 2, the subscripts a, b, c, and d are attached to the cartridge 70, the photosensitive drum 1, the charging roller 2, the unit 4, the next transfer roller 58, and the cleaning member 6. The configuration is the same except that the colors are different. a is yellow, b is magenta, c is cyan, and d is black.

  Inside the cartridge 70, the charging roller 2, the unit 4, the primary transfer roller 58, and the cleaning member 6 are disposed around the photosensitive drum 1. A scanner unit 3 that irradiates the photosensitive drum 1 with laser light from between the charging roller 2 and the unit 4 is disposed below the photosensitive drum 1. The surface of the photosensitive drum 1 is uniformly charged by the charging roller 2, an electrostatic image is formed by the scanner unit 3, and a developer image is formed by the developer by the unit 4. This developer image is the primary image The image is transferred to the transfer belt 9 that passes through the transfer roller 58.

  A cassette 17 for storing the recording medium S is attached to the lower part of the apparatus main body 100A. Then, the recording medium S passes through the feed roller 54, the transport roller pair 76, and the registration roller pair 55, and is transported to the secondary transfer nip formed between the transfer belt 9 and the secondary transfer roller 69. . The transfer belt 9 is suspended from a counter roller 59, a driving roller 56, and a driven roller 57. In the secondary transfer nip, the developer image formed on the surface of the transfer belt 9 is transferred to the recording medium S. Thereafter, the recording medium S to which the developer image has been transferred is subjected to fixing processing by the fixing device 74, passes through the discharge roller pair 72, and is discharged to the discharge portion 75.

  FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the cartridge 70. Here, the cartridge 70a that stores yellow toner will be described as an example. The cartridge 70 includes a unit 26 (cleaning unit) as a “cleaning device” and a unit 4 (developing unit) as a developing device. The unit 26 includes the photosensitive drum 1, the charging roller 2, and the cleaning member 6. The unit 4 has a developing roller 25.

  As described above, the cleaning member 6 is disposed around the photosensitive drum 1. The cleaning member 6 includes a blade 7 that comes into contact with the photosensitive drum 1 and a support member 8 that supports the blade 7. The support member 8 is fixed to the frame body 27 (cleaning frame body). The tip 7 a of the blade 7 abuts in the counter direction with respect to the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 1. The residual toner removed from the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 by the cleaning member 6 falls into a removal toner chamber 27 a configured by the frame body 27 and the lid member 29. In addition, the squeeze sheet 21 that prevents the removed toner in the removed toner chamber 27 a from leaking comes into contact with the photosensitive drum 1.

  A driving force of a motor, which is a driving source provided in the apparatus main body 100A, is transmitted to the unit 26, and the photosensitive drum 1 rotates according to an image forming operation. The charging roller 2 is rotatably attached to the unit 26 via a bearing 28a. The conductive member 46 is pressurized toward the photosensitive drum 1, and is driven to rotate by the photosensitive drum 1. Detailed configurations of the frame body 27 and the lid member 29 will be described later.

  The unit 4 has a developing roller 25 that contacts the photosensitive drum 1 and rotates in the direction of arrow B, and a frame 31 that supports the developing roller 25. The developing roller 25 is rotatably supported by the frame 31 via a front bearing 12 and a back bearing 13 that are respectively attached to both sides in the longitudinal direction of the frame 31 (developing frame) (see FIG. 5). .

  Around the developing roller 25, a supply roller 34 that contacts the developing roller 25 and rotates in the direction of arrow C, and a regulating blade 35 that regulates the thickness of the toner layer on the surface of the developing roller 25 are disposed. . Further, in order to prevent toner from leaking from the gap between the developing roller 25 and the frame 31, a blowout prevention sheet 20 as a contact sheet is disposed. Further, in the toner storage chamber 31 a of the frame 31, a transport member 36 that stirs the stored toner and transports the toner to the supply roller 34 is disposed.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the cartridge 70. The unit 4 is swingably attached to the unit 26 by the front support pin 14 and the back support pin 15 press-fitted into the unit 26. The frame body 27 is provided with a drum front bearing 10 and a drum back bearing 11 that rotatably support the photosensitive drum 1. The drum back bearing 11 supports a drum coupling 16 coupled to the photosensitive drum 1. The drum front bearing 10 supports a flange 85. The drum front bearing 10 and the drum back bearing 11 are collectively referred to as a drum bearing.

  FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the unit 4. As shown in FIG. 5, the unit 4 includes a front bearing 12 and a back bearing 13 that rotatably support a frame 31, a developing roller 25, and a supply roller 34 (not shown in FIG. 5).

  The unit 4 has a pressure spring 38 as a pressure member that is provided on the frame 31 and applies pressure to the developing roller 25 in order to bring the developing roller 25 into contact with the photosensitive drum 1 during image formation. The unit 4 has a tension spring 39 provided on the front bearing 12, and is configured to be urged toward the unit 26 by the tension spring 39. The pressure spring 38 is disposed as a compression spring between the frame body 27 (not shown) and the frame body 31. The tension spring 39 is hung at both ends as tension springs on the front bearing 12 and the drum front bearing 10 (not shown).

  By these pressure spring 38 and tension spring 39, the holes 12 a and 13 a of the front bearing 12 and the back bearing 13 become the center of rotation, and a pressure is applied for the developing roller 25 to contact the photosensitive drum 1. In the contact development method in which development is performed with the photosensitive drum 1 and the developing roller 25 in contact with each other, it is preferable that the photosensitive drum 1 is a rigid body and the developing roller 25 is a roller having an elastic body. As this elastic body, a solid rubber single layer or a solid rubber layer coated with a resin coating in consideration of charge imparting property to toner is used.

  FIG. 6A is a perspective view showing the back surface of the lid member 29. FIG. 6B is a perspective view showing the surface of the lid member 29. The removal toner chamber 27 a is configured by being attached to the lid member 29 and the frame body 27. As shown in FIG. 6A, the lid member 29 has positioning bosses 29 a and 29 b for positioning with the frame body 27 at both ends in the longitudinal direction M on the back surface. The lid member 29 has a welded portion 29c attached to the frame body 27 and welded along the outer periphery of the back surface on the back surface side. The lid member 29 has a rib 29d as a “projection” on the center side in the longitudinal direction M (the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 1) on the back surface side. The rib 29d is a plate-like portion extending in the orthogonal direction N orthogonal to the longitudinal direction M. The rib 29d suppresses deformation of the frame 27 or the mounting member of the apparatus main body A in the orthogonal direction N orthogonal to the longitudinal direction M of the lid member 29.

  The rib 29d is disposed on the toner collection port side (reference symbol Z is a toner collection port) formed by the lid member 29 and the frame 27 (see FIG. 3). Further, the lid member 29 has a vibration-receiving portion 29e that comes into contact with the horn 91 that transmits vibration to the opposite side of the welded portion 29c on the front surface side.

  Here, one rib 29d is configured to be arranged at the center in the longitudinal direction M of the lid member 29. However, the rib 29d is not limited to this configuration, and at least one rib may be formed. A configuration may be adopted in which a plurality are arranged. Further, the rib 29d is formed to have a thickness substantially the same as the thickness of the frame of the lid member 29, but this thickness may be smaller. Further, the rib 29d may have a convex surface on the upstream side in the toner collecting direction. That is, the upper side portion of the rib 29d is formed in a linear shape extending in the horizontal direction in FIG. 6 (a), but as shown in FIG. 6 (c), a mountain-shaped ridge line portion 29d1 is formed on the upper side. It may be a shape. This is because, for example, even if the collected toner falls from above, it is not stored in the upper side of the rib 29d. With these configurations, it is possible to further improve the recoverability of the removed toner.

  FIG. 7A is a perspective view showing the back surface of the frame 27. FIG. 7B is a perspective view showing the surface of the frame body 27. As described above, the frame 27 as the “cleaning frame” is a member that supports the cleaning member 6 that removes the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 1. As shown in FIG. 7B, positioning holes 27e and 27f are provided on the surface of the frame 27 at positions corresponding to the positioning bosses 29a and 29b of the lid member 29 at both ends in the longitudinal direction M. ing. Further, the frame body 27 has a welding contact portion 27h (shaded portion in the drawing) at a position where the frame member 27 contacts the welding portion 29c when the lid member 29 is positioned. Further, the frame body 27 has a rib contact portion as a “projection contact portion” that can contact the rib 29d at a position facing the rib 29d (see FIG. 6A) of the lid member 29 on the surface side. 27g (shaded portion in the figure).

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7A, the frame 27 comes into contact with a receiving base 90 disposed on the opposite side of the welding contact portion 27h when ultrasonic welding is performed on the back surface side. A first received portion 27j as a “part”.

  FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the positional relationship between the frame body 27 and the lid member 29. FIG. 11 is a side view showing the configuration of the frame body 27. When the positioning bosses 29 a and 29 b of the lid member 29 are engaged with the positioning holes 27 e and 27 f of the frame body 27 shown in FIG. 11, the lid member 29 is positioned with respect to the frame body 27.

  At this time, the welded portion 29c (see FIG. 6A) of the lid member 29 and the welded contact portion 27h (see FIG. 7B) of the frame 27 are in contact, and the rib 29d and the rib contacted portion 27g are The gap W (see FIG. 8) is set slightly open.

  FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the frame 27, the lid member 29, the cradle 90, and the horn 91. When the frame body 27 and the lid member 29 are ultrasonically welded, the arrangement shown in FIG. 9 is adopted. In the description here, FIG. 7A may be referred to. As shown in FIG. 7A, the frame body 27 has a first receiving portion 27j (shaded portion in the drawing) that contacts the receiving base 90 on the surface opposite to the welding contact portion 27h (FIG. 7). (B) in the shaded area).

  As shown in FIG. 9, the receiving base 90 is provided with a first receiving portion 90 a (shaded portion in the drawing), and the frame 27 is provided with a first received portion 27 j (see FIG. 7A). It is done. And the 1st to-be-received part 27j contact | abuts with respect to the 1st receiving part 90a. As shown in FIG. 9, the lid member 29 is provided with a vibrating portion 29e that comes into contact with the horn 91 that performs ultrasonic welding on the opposite surface of the welding portion 29c (see FIG. 6). As shown in FIG. 9, the horn 91 is provided with a vibrating portion 91 a that comes into contact with the vibrating portion 29 e of the lid member 29. The positional relationship between the horn 91 and the cradle 90 is such that the first receiving portion 90 a of the cradle 90 and the vibrating portion 91 a of the horn 91 are opposed to each other.

  FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view when the lid member 29 is welded to the frame body 27. As shown in FIG. 10, the first receiving portion 27j of the frame 27 is brought into contact with the first receiving portion 90a of the receiving base 90 (shaded portion in the drawing). Further, the lid member 29 is positioned on the frame body 27 as described above. Then, the vibrating portion 29e of the lid member 29 and the vibrating portion 91a of the horn 91 are brought into contact with each other.

  Next, the horn 91 (shaded portion in the figure) is pressed in the direction of the cradle 90 (X direction in the figure). Thereafter, ultrasonic vibration from the horn 91 is transmitted from the vibration portion 91 a of the horn 91 to the vibration-receiving portion 29 e and the welding portion 29 c of the lid member 29, and the welding contact portion 29 c of the lid member 29 and the welding contact portion of the frame body 27. 27h is vibrated and ultrasonically welded. At this time, the slight gap W disappears, and ultrasonic welding is performed in a state where the rib 29d of the lid member 29 and the rib contact portion 27g of the frame body 27 are in contact.

  As a result, vibration is transmitted from the vibration portion 91a of the horn 91 to the rib 29d of the lid member 29 and the rib contact portion 27g of the frame body 27 and welded. As a result, the frame 27 and the lid member 29 are welded together, and a removed toner chamber 27a for accommodating the removed toner is formed. The material used for ultrasonic welding is preferably the same material, and high impact polystyrene (HIPS) is used in this embodiment.

  FIG. 11 is a side view showing the frame body 27. A situation where the lid member 29 is attached to the frame body 27 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 11, the frame 27 has restriction bosses 27 b and 27 c for restricting the orthogonal direction N orthogonal to the longitudinal direction M and positioning bosses 27 d for restricting the longitudinal direction M at both ends in the longitudinal direction M. And are provided. Further, the support member 8 is positioned at both ends in the longitudinal direction M at positions facing the restriction bosses 27b and 27c of the frame body 27 and at positions facing the restriction holes 8a and 8b and the positioning boss 27d of the frame body 27. A hole 8c is provided.

  The restriction holes 8a and 8b of the support member 28 are engaged with the restriction bosses 27b and 27c of the cleaning frame body. Thus, the cleaning member 6 is positioned with respect to the frame body 27 in the orthogonal direction N orthogonal to the longitudinal direction M.

  Further, the positioning hole 8 c of the support member 8 is engaged with the positioning boss 27 d of the frame body 27. As a result, the cleaning member 6 is positioned in the longitudinal direction M with respect to the frame body 27.

  The positioning hole 8c and the positioning boss 27d are disposed only on one end side in the longitudinal direction M. The support member 8 is fastened to the frame body 27 by a fastening member such as a screw 30.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration in which a lid member 29 is attached to the frame body 27. As shown in FIG. 1, when the photosensitive drum 1 and the charging roller 2 are attached to the frame 27 to which the lid member 29 is welded, the unit 26 is completed.

  FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a positional relationship among the rib 29d, the first welding portion 29f, and the second welding portion 29g of the lid member 29 provided in the cleaning device according to the second embodiment. In the second embodiment, only the configuration of the lid member 29 is different from that of the first embodiment, but the configuration of the image forming apparatus, the developing unit, and the cartridge is not changed. Therefore, the description in Example 1 shall be used and the overlapping description will be omitted as appropriate.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the welded portion 29c is formed on the back surface of the lid member 29, and in the orthogonal direction N orthogonal to the longitudinal direction M, the first welded portion 29f is formed downstream of the rib 29d in the toner collecting direction. And a second welded portion 29g formed on the upstream side in the toner collecting direction from the rib 29d. The downward direction of the orthogonal direction N is substantially the same as the toner recovery direction.

  And the contact surface 29h, the 1st welding part 29f, and the 2nd welding part 29g are all extended in the direction in alignment with the up-down direction of FIG. That is, the contact surface 29h where the rib 29d contacts the rib contact portion 27g, the first welded portion 29f, and the second welded portion 29g are arranged in parallel to each other. The rib 29d is disposed between a virtual surface formed by the first welded portion 29f and a virtual surface formed by the second welded portion 29g. For this reason, the rib contact portion 27g (not shown in FIG. 12) is also disposed substantially parallel to the first weld portion 29f and the second weld portion 29g.

  According to such a configuration, at the time of welding, the rib 29d, the first welded portion 29f, and the second welded portion 29g all receive a load from the right side in FIG. Pressed. By applying such a uniform welding force, the rib 29d and the rib contact portion 27g can be stably welded, and the first welded portion 29f and the second welded portion 29g and the frame 27 can be stabilized. Can be welded.

  FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the second receiving portion 27k, the horn 91, and the receiving base 90 of the frame 27 provided in the cleaning device according to the third embodiment. In the third embodiment, only the configuration of the lid member 29 is different from that of the first and second embodiments, but the configuration of the image forming apparatus, the developing unit, and the cartridge is not changed. Therefore, the description in Example 1 and Example 2 shall be used, and the overlapping description will be omitted as appropriate.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the frame body 27 has a second received portion 27 k as a “contacted portion” that receives contact from the receiving base 90 at a position facing the rib 29 d of the lid member 29. . On the other hand, the cradle 90 includes a second receiving portion 90b that comes into contact with the second received portion 27k of the frame 27. Therefore, at the time of welding, a backup that suppresses the floating of the rib 29d and the rib contact portion 27g can be performed, and welding can be performed more reliably and firmly.

  According to the configurations of the first to third embodiments, even when the user squeezes the cartridge 70 or the cartridge 70 falls, the rib 29d and the rib contact portion 27g are welded to suppress deformation of the cartridge 70. The leakage of the removed toner from the removed toner chamber 27a can be suppressed.

1 Photosensitive drum 6 Cleaning member 26 Cleaning unit (cleaning device)
27 Frame (cleaning frame)
27g Rib contact part (protrusion contact part)
29 Lid member 29d Rib (projection)

Claims (11)

A cleaning frame that supports a cleaning member that removes toner remaining on the photoreceptor;
A lid member attached to the cleaning frame,
The lid member has a protrusion,
The cleaning frame has a protrusion contact portion that can contact the protrusion portion,
The cleaning device, wherein the protrusion is a plate-like portion extending along an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the lid member. A cleaning frame that supports a cleaning member that removes toner remaining on the photoreceptor;
A lid member attached to the cleaning frame,
The lid member has a protrusion,
The cleaning frame has a protrusion contact portion that can contact the protrusion portion,
The said protrusion part suppresses a deformation | transformation of the said cleaning frame or the said cover member in the orthogonal direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the said cover member, The cleaning apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned.   The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion is disposed on a toner collection port side formed by the lid member and the frame.   4. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein at least one protrusion is formed on a center side in a longitudinal direction of the lid member. 5. The lid member is
On the back side, it has a welding part attached to the cleaning frame,
On the surface side, it has a portion to be vibrated that comes into contact with a horn that transmits vibration to the opposite side of the welded portion,
The cleaning frame is
On the surface side, it has a welding contact portion at a position where it comes into contact with the welding portion,
On the back surface side, when ultrasonic welding, has a receiving portion that comes into contact with a receiving base disposed on the opposite side of the welding contact portion,
The welding portion of the lid member and the welding contact portion of the cleaning frame body are ultrasonically welded, and the projection portion of the lid member and the projection contact portion of the cleaning frame body are ultrasonically welded. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein The welded portion is formed on the back surface of the lid member, and is formed in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction and on the downstream side of the protrusion in the toner collecting direction. A second weld formed on the upstream side in the recovery direction,
The cleaning device according to claim 5, wherein the contact surface on which the protruding portion contacts the protruding contact portion, the first welding portion, and the second welding portion are arranged in parallel to each other.   The cleaning device according to claim 6, wherein the protrusion is disposed between a virtual surface formed by the first welded portion and a virtual surface formed by the second welded portion. . The cleaning frame is
The cleaning device according to claim 1, further comprising a contacted portion that receives contact from a cradle at a position facing the protrusion of the lid member.   9. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion has a convex surface on the upstream side in the toner collection direction. 10. A photoconductor for forming an image;
A process cartridge comprising: the cleaning device according to claim 1. A process cartridge according to claim 10,
An image forming apparatus comprising: a mounting member that mounts the process cartridge.

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