JPH0635254Y2 - Photoconductor drum unit - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <Industrial Application Field> The present invention relates to a photoconductor drum unit, and more specifically, a cleaning unit for collecting residual toner on the photoconductor drum is integrally formed with the photoconductor drum. With
The present invention relates to a photoconductor drum unit in which an exposed portion of the photoconductor surface is covered with a protective cover that is provided so as to be pulled out in the axial direction of the photoconductor drum.

<Prior Art> Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus, after the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum is transferred onto a sheet on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum, the toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum is removed. There is provided a cleaning means for cleaning the residual toner on the surface of the photoconductor by scraping it off with a cleaning blade brought into contact with the surface of the photoconductor.

Then, in order to facilitate maintenance of the image forming apparatus, the photosensitive drum and the cleaning unit are formed as a unit so that at least the photosensitive member and the cleaning unit can be simultaneously replaced at the end of the life of the photosensitive drum. An integrated structure is provided.

After mounting such a photosensitive drum unit on the image forming apparatus, the cleaning blade and the photosensitive drum are
If they are rubbed against each other without toner, the cleaning blade may roll up or vibrate, resulting in poor cleaning or squealing of the blade.
The surface of the photoconductor drum may be scratched.

Therefore, in order to reduce the frictional resistance between the cleaning blade and the surface of the photoconductor drum, the fine spherical particles such as fluororesin are generally applied.

<Problems to be solved by the invention> However, since the particles are only applied to the cleaning blade, the particles may come off during transportation, and the lubricating effect may not be sufficiently exhibited. ing.

Therefore, it is conceivable to attach the particles between the cleaning blade and the photoconductor drum immediately before using a new photoconductor drum unit that has been replaced. However, since it is generally difficult to perform such work on the user side, the maintenance worker must go out and perform it one by one.

<Purpose> The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a photosensitive drum unit capable of adhering the particles to the surface of the photosensitive drum by a simple operation that can be performed by a user. .

<Means for Solving Problems> A photosensitive drum unit of the present invention for achieving the above object is provided with a particle carrying member made of a flexible material on a predetermined portion of an inner surface of a protective cover, and the particle carrying member While being in contact with the surface of the photoconductor, fine particles that reduce the frictional resistance between the photoconductor drum and the cleaning blade are interposed between the particle carrying member and the photoconductor.

<Operation> According to the photosensitive drum unit having the above-described configuration, by relatively moving the photosensitive drum and the particle carrying member,
Since the surface of the photoconductor drum and the particle carrying member rub against each other, the particles interposed between the photoconductor drum and the particle carrying member can be applied to the surface of the photoconductor drum.

<Examples> Detailed description will be given below with reference to the accompanying drawings showing examples.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a photosensitive drum unit of the present invention. The photoconductor drum unit integrally includes, around the photoconductor drum (1), a cleaning unit (2) for collecting residual toner on the surface of the photoconductor drum (1) and a charger (3). , Photoconductor (1)
The exposed portion of is covered with a protective cover (4) provided so as to be pulled out in the axial direction of the photosensitive drum (1).

The photosensitive drum unit is detachably attached to a predetermined portion of the image forming apparatus, and a flange portion (5) engageable with a guide rail provided on the image forming apparatus side is provided on an upper portion thereof. Is provided.

The cleaning means (2) includes a cleaning blade (21) for scraping residual toner from the surface of the photosensitive drum (1), a seal blade (22) for receiving the scraped toner, and a seal inside the toner recovery case (20). Toner that falls below the blade (22) is collected by the toner collection unit (20
The sponge roller (25) for feeding to (a) is arranged. The cleaning blade (21) is rotatably supported around a shaft (21a), and is in a state of being separated from the photoconductor drum (1) before being attached to the image forming apparatus. After being mounted on the forming device, it is rotated and brought into contact with the photosensitive drum (1).

The protective cover (4) covers approximately half of the surface of the photosensitive drum (1), the upper end of which is engaged with the flange (5), and the other end of which is the toner collecting case ( 2
0) is engaged.

Further, the toner collecting case (2) of the protective cover (4) is
A strip-shaped particle carrying member (6) is attached to the inner surface near 0) along the axial direction (see FIGS. 1 and 3). The particle carrying member (6) is made of a flexible porous material such as sponge and felt, and the surface on the side of the photoconductor drum (1) has the photoconductor drum (1).
Is in contact with. Further, between the particle carrying member (6) and the photosensitive drum (1), a fine agent made of fluororesin or the like is used as a lubricant for reducing the frictional resistance between the photosensitive drum (1) and the cleaning blade (21). Spherical particles are interposed. The fine spherical particles are preferably impregnated inside the particle supporting member (6).

With the above configuration, when the photoconductor drum (1) is rotated counterclockwise, for example, before the photoconductor drum unit is attached to the image forming apparatus, the surface of the photoconductor drum (1) has a protective cover ( Fine spherical particles, which are rubbed against the particle carrying member (6) mounted on the photosensitive drum (1) and are interposed between the particle carrying member (6) and the photosensitive drum (1), are transferred to the photosensitive drum (1). Is applied. The rotation angle of the photoconductor drum (1) is at least in the range from the part of the surface of the photoconductor drum (1) in contact with the particle carrying member (6) to the part in contact with the cleaning blade (21). The angle at which the fine spherical particles are applied may be sufficient.

Then, the protective cover (4) is pulled out along the axial direction of the photoconductor drum (1), the photoconductor drum unit is attached to the image forming apparatus, and then the cleaning blade (21).
When the photosensitive drum (1) is brought into contact with the photosensitive drum (1), the fine spherical particles are present in the contact portion between the cleaning blade (21) and the photosensitive drum (1). 21) It can be made to contact with smoothly.

In particular, since the particle carrying member (6) is formed of a porous material, a large amount of fine spherical particles can be impregnated on the surface thereof, and the particles are sufficiently applied to the photosensitive drum (1). be able to.

The photoconductor drum unit of this invention is not limited to the one in which the protective cover (4) is pulled out in advance as in the above embodiment and then mounted in the image forming apparatus, and the photoconductor drum unit is mounted in the image forming apparatus. After that, the protective cover (4) may be pulled out. In the latter case, the particle carrying member (6) should be provided at least near the end of the protective cover (4) on the side opposite to the extraction direction, and the surface of the cleaning blade (21) should be coated with fine spherical particles. For example, after mounting the photosensitive drum unit on the image forming apparatus, the protective cover (4)
Is pulled out along the axial direction of the photoconductor drum (1), the particle carrying member (6) attached to the protective cover (4) is rubbed against the surface of the photoconductor drum (1), and the particle carrying member is carried. The fine spherical particles interposed between the member (6) and the photosensitive drum (1) are applied to the photosensitive drum (1). Therefore, the cleaning blade (21) is brought into contact with the photosensitive drum (1), and at the same time, the photosensitive drum (1)
Is rotated in a predetermined direction, the coated fine spherical particles move together with the photosensitive drum (1) and are blocked by the cleaning blade (21). Therefore, the fine spherical particles previously coated on the cleaning blade (21) Even if they are slightly separated from each other, the contact between the surface photosensitive drum (1) and the cleaning blade (21) can be smoothly performed.

In the above embodiment, the particle carrying member (6) is provided closer to the toner collection case (20), because the fine spherical particles are quickly conveyed to the cleaning blade (21) and the lubricating action is immediately exhibited. It is preferable because it can be performed.

Further, as the above-mentioned unit, at least the photosensitive drum (1) and the cleaning means (2) may be integrated. In addition, the protective cover (4) can be removed in the radial direction of the photosensitive drum (1),
Various design changes can be made within the scope of the invention.

<Effects of the Invention> As described above, according to the photosensitive drum unit of the present invention, the relative movement of the photosensitive drum and the particle carrying member causes the particle carrying member and the photosensitive drum to rub against each other. Thus, the particles for lubrication interposed between the photoconductor drum and the particle carrying member can be attached to the surface of the photoconductor drum, so that the user can easily apply the particles to the photoconductor drum. In addition to the above, it is possible to reliably lubricate the photoconductor drum and the cleaning blade, and to bring about a unique practical effect.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a photosensitive drum unit of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a protective cover. (1) ... Photosensitive drum, (2) ... Cleaning means, (4) ... Protective cover, (6) ... Particle carrying member, (21) ... Cleaning blade,

Claims (3)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A cleaning means for scraping off and collecting the residual toner on the surface of the photoconductor drum by a cleaning blade in contact with the surface is integrally formed with the photoconductor drum, and an exposed portion of the photoconductor surface is In a photosensitive drum unit covered with a removable protective cover, a particle carrying member made of a flexible material is attached to a predetermined portion of the inner surface of the protective cover, and the particle carrying member is brought into contact with the surface of the photosensitive member. A photosensitive drum unit, characterized in that fine particles for reducing frictional resistance between the photosensitive drum and the cleaning blade are interposed between the carrying member and the photosensitive member. 2. The photosensitive drum unit according to claim 1, wherein the particle carrying member is made of a porous material. 3. The photosensitive drum unit according to claim 3, wherein the porous material is sponge or felt.