Cleaning device and image forming apparatus

Abstract

To provide a storage member that stores an attachment removed from a surface of an image carrier, and improve its performance to seal the attachment.SOLUTION: A cleaning device 108 has: a storage member 186 that stores an attachment removed by a cleaning scraper 185, and includes an inclined part 186h that crosses a boundary part 181c in the longitudinal direction and is inclined in the vertical direction toward a center part in the longitudinal direction, and guides the attachment removed by the cleaning scraper 185 toward the center part in the longitudinal direction; and scraper sealing seals 189a, 189b that seal a gap between the storage member 186 and the cleaning scraper 185 at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the cleaning scraper 185.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cleaning device that removes and collects deposits on the surface of a rotatable image carrier, and to an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine, printer, or facsimile equipped with the cleaning device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventional electrophotographic image forming apparatuses are equipped with a cleaning device that removes (cleans) residual toner adhering to the surface of an image carrier such as a photoconductor or intermediate transfer belt after a toner image on the image carrier is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt or a recording sheet, etc. Such a cleaning device has a cleaning member that comes into contact with the surface of the image carrier to remove the residual toner, and cleans not only the residual toner but also external additives that are added to the toner adhering to the surface of the image carrier and paper powder that has peeled off from the recording sheet.

[0003] However, if the cleaning device cannot sufficiently remove the external additives and paper dust, the charged potential on the surface of the image carrier will decrease, causing transfer failures and other problems, which will lead to image defects. Also, if paper dust gets into the contact area between the cleaning member and the image carrier, the paper dust will get caught in the contact area between the cleaning member and the image carrier, causing cleaning failures in which toner passes through the part where the paper dust is caught.

[0004] In response to this, Patent Document 1 discloses an image forming apparatus that removes paper dust on an image carrier by a sheet-like cleaning member that contacts the image carrier, and collects the removed paper dust in a collection section.

[0005] Further, conventional cleaning devices generally have a configuration including a seal member for preventing leakage of removed matter, such as residual toner, from a container that contains the removed matter removed from the image carrier. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] JP 2008-089770 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] However, in the conventional cleaning device, the storage section does not have a function of discharging the removed matter to the outside of the storage section, and therefore, in the conventional cleaning device, depending on the storage amount or storage state of the removed matter in the storage section, the removed matter may accumulate in the storage section beyond the sealing capacity of the seal member, and the removed matter may easily leak from the storage section.

[0008] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT An object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning device and an image forming apparatus capable of improving the sealing performance of a storage member that stores the deposits removed from the surface of an image carrier. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The cleaning device of the present invention is a cleaning device that removes adhesions on the surface of a rotatable image carrier from the image carrier and stores them therein, and is characterized in that it has a first cleaning member that removes the adhesions from the image carrier, a second cleaning member that is provided downstream of the first cleaning member in the rotation direction of the image carrier and removes the adhesions from the image carrier, a storage member that stores the adhesions removed by the second cleaning member, and a sealing member that seals a gap between the storage member and the second cleaning member at both longitudinal end portions of the second cleaning member that are parallel to the axial direction of the image carrier, wherein the first cleaning member has a first region on both longitudinal end sides and a second region closer to the longitudinal center than the first region, and has a step at the boundary between the first region and the second region, and the storage member has an inclined portion that crosses the boundary portion in the longitudinal direction and is inclined vertically toward the longitudinal center portion, and guides the adhesions removed by the second cleaning member toward the longitudinal center portion. Effect of the Invention

[0010] According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the sealing performance of the container that contains the deposits removed from the surface of the image carrier. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] 1 is a side view of a portion of a cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 6 is a diagram showing the frictional force between a cleaning blade and an intermediate transfer belt of a conventional cleaning device for comparison with the cleaning device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Diagram 5]5 is a diagram showing the frictional force between the cleaning blade of the cleaning device and the intermediate transfer belt according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 1 is a schematic diagram showing a state of accumulated collected matter in a conventional cleaning device as a comparison with the cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 7] 2 is an enlarged side view of a part of the cleaning device according to the embodiment of the present invention; FIG. [Figure 8] 5A and 5B are diagrams showing a piled up state of collected matter collected by the cleaning device according to the embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 9] 11 is a diagram showing the amount of collected matter accumulated until the collected matter reaches a scraper sealing seal after being collected by the cleaning device according to the embodiment of the present invention; FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0013] <Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus> The configuration of an image forming apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

[0014] The image forming apparatus 1 is exemplified here as a multifunction machine having the functions of a tandem type copier, printer, and facsimile machine that employs an intermediate transfer method capable of forming a full-color image using an electrophotographic method. The image forming apparatus 1 forms an image on a recording material P in response to an image signal sent from an external device such as a personal computer (not shown). Here, the recording material P is a sheet, a transfer material, or a recording medium.

[0015] Specifically, the image forming apparatus 1 has a first image forming section SY, a second image forming section SM, a third image forming section SC, a fourth image forming section SK, an exposure device 13, a secondary transfer outer roller 16, a recording material cassette 21, and a feed roller 22. The image forming apparatus 1 also has a conveying roller pair 24, a registration roller pair 25, a fixing device 30, a discharge roller pair 41, a discharge tray 42, an intermediate transfer belt 101, and a secondary transfer inner roller 102. The image forming apparatus 1 further has a first auxiliary roller 103, a second auxiliary roller 104, a tension roller 105, and a cleaning device 108.

[0016] The first image forming unit SY executes an image forming process to form a yellow (Y) toner image. The first image forming unit SY includes a photosensitive drum 11Y, a charging roller 12Y, a developing device 14Y, a drum cleaning device 15Y, and a primary transfer roller 106Y. The photosensitive drum 11Y, the charging roller 12Y, the developing device 14Y, and the drum cleaning device 15Y integrally constitute a process cartridge 10Y that is detachably attached to the apparatus main body 2.

[0017] The second image forming unit SM executes an image forming process to form a magenta (M) toner image. The second image forming unit SM executes the image forming process at a timing when the toner image generated by the second image forming unit SM is superimposed on the toner image primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 101 by the first image forming unit SY. The second image forming unit SM includes a photosensitive drum 11M, a charging roller 12M, a developing device 14M, a drum cleaning device 15M, and a primary transfer roller 106M. The photosensitive drum 11M, the charging roller 12M, the developing device 14M, and the drum cleaning device 15M integrally constitute a process cartridge 10M that is detachable from the apparatus main body 2.

[0018] The third image forming unit SC executes an image forming process to form a cyan (C) toner image. The third image forming unit SC executes the image forming process at a timing when the toner image generated is superimposed on the toner image primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 101 by the second image forming unit SM. The third image forming unit SC includes a photosensitive drum 11C, a charging roller 12C, a developing device 14C, a drum cleaning device 15C, and a primary transfer roller 106C. The photosensitive drum 11C, the charging roller 12C, the developing device 14C, and the drum cleaning device 15C integrally constitute a process cartridge 10C that is detachable from the apparatus main body 2.

[0019] The fourth image forming unit SK executes an image forming process to form a black (K) toner image. The fourth image forming unit SK executes the image forming process at a timing when the toner image generated is superimposed on the toner image primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 101 by the third image forming unit SC. The fourth image forming unit SK includes a photosensitive drum 11K, a charging roller 12K, a developing device 14K, a drum cleaning device 15K, and a primary transfer roller 106K. The photosensitive drum 11K, the charging roller 12K, the developing device 14K, and the drum cleaning device 15K integrally constitute a process cartridge 10K that is detachable from the apparatus main body 2.

[0020] The photosensitive drums 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11K are drum-type (cylindrical) photosensitive members (electrophotographic photosensitive members) and are driven to rotate at a predetermined peripheral speed (process speed) in the direction of arrow R1 in FIG. 1 (clockwise direction in FIG. 1).

[0021] The charging rollers 12Y, 12M, 12C, and 12K perform a charging process for uniformly charging the surfaces of the rotating photosensitive drums 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11K to a predetermined potential of a predetermined polarity. Here, the predetermined polarity is exemplified as negative polarity.

[0022] The developing devices 14Y, 14M, 14C, and 14K supply toner as a developer to the electrostatic latent images formed on the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11K, and develop (visualize) the images by adhering the toner to the electrostatic latent images (inversion phenomenon). The developing devices 14Y, 14M, 14C, and 14K form toner images on the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11K by developing the images. The toner supplied from the developing devices 14Y, 14M, 14C, and 14K to the photosensitive drums 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11K is toner charged to the same polarity as the charge polarity of the photosensitive drums 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11K. The normal charge polarity of the toner, which is the charge polarity of the toner during development, is exemplified here as negative polarity.

[0023] The drum cleaning devices 15Y, 15M, 15C, and 15K remove and collect toner (primary transfer residual toner) remaining on the photosensitive drums 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11K. Here, the primary transfer residual toner refers to toner that is not transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 101 at the primary transfer portions T1Y, T1M, T1C, and T1K and remains on the photosensitive drums 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11K.

[0024] The primary transfer rollers 106Y, 106M, 106C, and 106K are disposed between the first auxiliary roller 103 and the second auxiliary roller 104 on the inner circumferential surface side of the intermediate transfer belt 101, facing the respective photosensitive drums 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11K. The primary transfer rollers 106Y, 106M, 106C, and 106K press the inner circumferential surface of the intermediate transfer belt 101 toward the photosensitive drums 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11K, thereby bringing the photosensitive drums 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11K into contact with the intermediate transfer belt 101.

[0025] The primary transfer rollers 106Y, 106M, 106C, and 106K bring the photosensitive drums 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11K into contact with the intermediate transfer belt 101 to form primary transfer portions (primary transfer nip portions) T1Y, T1M, T1C, and T1K.

[0026] A primary transfer voltage (primary transfer bias), which is a DC voltage of a polarity opposite to the normal charging polarity of the toner, is applied to the primary transfer rollers 106Y, 106M, 106C, and 106K from a primary transfer power source (not shown). The polarity of the primary transfer voltage is exemplified as positive here. The primary transfer rollers 106Y, 106M, 106C, and 106K transfer (primary transfer) the toner images formed on the photosensitive drums 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11K onto the rotating intermediate transfer belt 101 by applying a predetermined pressure force and an electrostatic load bias.

[0027] When a full-color image is formed, the primary transfer rollers 106Y, 106M, 106C, and 106K sequentially transfer the toner images of the respective colors formed on the photosensitive drums 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11K onto the intermediate transfer belt 101 so as to be superimposed on each other.

[0028] The exposure device 13 is configured as one unit capable of exposing each of the photosensitive drums 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11K. The exposure device 13 is a laser scanner that irradiates the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11K with laser light to scan and expose them in accordance with input image signals of each color of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, thereby forming electrostatic latent images by neutralizing electric charges. The exposure device 13 exposes the uniformly charged photosensitive drums 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11K, thereby reducing the absolute value of the electric potential of the photosensitive drums 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11K.

[0029] The secondary transfer outer roller 16 is provided at a position facing the secondary transfer inner roller 102 on the outer peripheral surface side of the intermediate transfer belt 101, and is pressed toward the secondary transfer inner roller 102. The secondary transfer outer roller 16 applies an external force to the secondary transfer inner roller 102 via the intermediate transfer belt 101, thereby coming into contact with the intermediate transfer belt 101 to form a secondary transfer portion (secondary transfer nip portion) T2. The secondary transfer outer roller 16 is rotated in accordance with the rotation of the intermediate transfer belt 101.

[0030] A secondary transfer voltage (secondary transfer bias), which is a DC voltage of the opposite polarity to the normal charging polarity of the toner, is applied to the secondary transfer outer roller 16 from a secondary transfer power source (not shown). The polarity of the secondary transfer voltage is exemplified as positive here. By applying a predetermined pressure force and electrostatic load bias, the secondary transfer outer roller 16 transfers (secondarily transfers) the toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 101 at the secondary transfer portion T2 onto the recording material P that is sandwiched and transported together with the intermediate transfer belt 101. The secondary transfer outer roller 16 transports the recording material P with the transferred toner image to the fixing device 30.

[0031] The recording material cassette 21 stores a stack of recording materials S.

[0032] The feeding roller 22 feeds out the recording materials P contained in the recording material cassette 21 one by one.

[0033] The conveying roller pair 24 conveys the recording material P sent out by the feeding roller 22 to the registration roller pair 25 via a conveying path 23 .

[0034] The pair of registration rollers 25 performs skew correction on the recording material P conveyed by the pair of conveying rollers 24, and then conveys the recording material P to the secondary transfer portion T2 in accordance with the conveyance timing of the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 101.

[0035] The fixing device 30 includes a fixing roller 31 equipped with a heat source, and a pressure roller 32 that is in pressure contact with the fixing roller 31. The fixing device 30 applies a predetermined pressure force and heat to the recording material P between the fixing roller 31 and the pressure roller 32. The fixing device 30 pressurizes and heats the recording material P carrying an unfixed toner image transported from the secondary transfer portion T2 using the fixing roller 31 and the pressure roller 32 to melt the toner image and fix it to the recording material P, thereby fixing the toner image to the recording material P. The fixing device 30 transports the recording material P with the fixed toner image to a pair of discharge rollers 41.

[0036] The pair of discharge rollers 41 discharges the recording material P conveyed by the fixing device 30 onto a discharge tray 42 .

[0037] The discharge tray 42 is provided outside the apparatus body 2 of the image forming apparatus 1. The recording material P is discharged onto the discharge tray 42 by a pair of discharge rollers 41.

[0038] The intermediate transfer belt 101 as an image carrier is a rotatable endless belt facing the photosensitive drums 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11K. The intermediate transfer belt 101 is driven by a driving force input from a secondary transfer inner roller 102, and rotates (moves in a circular motion) in the direction of arrow R2 in FIG. 1 (counterclockwise in FIG. 1). The intermediate transfer belt 101 rotates at a peripheral speed (process speed) set to be substantially the same as the peripheral speed of the photosensitive drums 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11K.

[0039] The secondary transfer inner roller 102 stretches the intermediate transfer belt 101 together with a first auxiliary roller 103, a second auxiliary roller 104, and a tension roller 105. The secondary transfer inner roller 102 has a function as a drive roller that drives the intermediate transfer belt 101.

[0040] The first auxiliary roller 103, together with the secondary transfer inner roller 102, the second auxiliary roller 104, and the tension roller 105, tensions the intermediate transfer belt 101. The first auxiliary roller 103, together with the second auxiliary roller 104, forms a substantially flat image transfer surface on the intermediate transfer belt 101. The first auxiliary roller 103 is rotated in accordance with the rotation of the intermediate transfer belt 101.

[0041] The second auxiliary roller 104 stretches the intermediate transfer belt 101 together with the secondary transfer inner roller 102, the first auxiliary roller 103, and the tension roller 105. The second auxiliary roller 104, together with the first auxiliary roller 103, forms a substantially flat image transfer surface on the intermediate transfer belt 101. The second auxiliary roller 104 is rotated in accordance with the rotation of the intermediate transfer belt 101.

[0042] The tension roller 105 stretches the intermediate transfer belt 101 together with the secondary transfer inner roller 102, the first auxiliary roller 103, and the second auxiliary roller 104. The tension roller 105 applies a predetermined tension to the intermediate transfer belt 101. The tension roller 105 is rotated in accordance with the rotation of the intermediate transfer belt 101.

[0043] The cleaning device 108 removes and collects deposits adhering to the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 101, and stores the collected deposits. Here, the collected deposits refer to deposits that were adhering to the intermediate transfer belt 101 and that have been removed and collected from the intermediate transfer belt 101 by the cleaning device 108. The deposits refer to residual toner (secondary transfer residual toner) that is not transferred to the recording material P at the secondary transfer portion T2 and remains on the intermediate transfer belt 101, external additives that are externally added to the residual toner, paper powder that has peeled off from the recording material P, and the like. The configuration of the cleaning device 108 will be described in detail later.

[0044] The intermediate transfer belt 101, the secondary transfer inner roller 102, the first auxiliary roller 103, the second auxiliary roller 104, the tension roller 105, the primary transfer rollers 106Y to 106K, and the cleaning device 108 constitute an intermediate transfer belt unit 100. The intermediate transfer belt unit 100 is integrally and detachably mounted on the apparatus main body 2.

[0045] In addition, the cleaning device 108 is detachable from the intermediate transfer belt unit 100. When the intermediate transfer belt unit 100 is attached to the apparatus main body 2, the cleaning device 108 is connected to a waste toner transport path (not shown) provided in the apparatus main body 2.

[0046] Furthermore, the four process cartridges 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K are disposed below the intermediate transfer belt unit 100, from the upstream side to the downstream side along the moving direction of the image transfer surface of the intermediate transfer belt 101.

[0047] Here, with respect to the image forming device 1 and its elements, the up and down directions refer to the up and down directions in the direction of gravity (vertical direction), but do not mean only directly above and directly below, respectively, but also include above and below the horizontal plane passing through the element or position of interest.

[0048] <Cleaning device configuration> The configuration of the cleaning device 108 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2, 3, 5 and 7. FIG.

[0049] The cleaning device 108 has a cleaning blade 181, a fixed metal plate 182, a conveying screw 183, a cleaning container 184, a cleaning scraper 185, and a storage member 186. The cleaning device 108 also has a shatterproof sheet 187, a sealing seal 188, a scraper sealing seal 189a, a scraper sealing seal 189b, an end seal 190a, and an end seal 190b. For the sake of convenience, the cleaning scraper 185 is not shown in FIG. 3.

[0050] The cleaning blade 181 as a first cleaning member is attached to and supported by a cleaning container 184. The cleaning blade 181 has a predetermined length in both a longitudinal direction (left-right direction in FIG. 3(b)) substantially parallel to an axial direction perpendicular to the rotation direction R2 of the intermediate transfer belt 101, and a lateral direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and also has a predetermined thickness. The cleaning blade 181 is a plate-shaped elastic member made of a material having elasticity. Here, urethane rubber is exemplified as the material forming the cleaning blade 181.

[0051] The cleaning blade 181 is in contact with the intermediate transfer belt 101 at a predetermined angle from the opposite direction (counter direction) to the rotation direction R2 of the intermediate transfer belt 101, and is disposed facing the tension roller 105 via the intermediate transfer belt 101. The cleaning blade 181 is disposed so that its free end in the short side direction faces the upstream side in the rotation direction R2 of the intermediate transfer belt 101. The edge portion of the free end in the short side direction of the cleaning blade 181 is in contact with the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 101. The cleaning blade 181 applies an external force to the tension roller 105 via the intermediate transfer belt 101.

[0052] The cleaning blade 181 includes a hardening portion 181a, a non-hardening portion 181b, and a boundary portion 181c.

[0053] The hardening treatment portion 181a as the first region is provided at both longitudinal end portions of the cleaning blade 181, and has a surface that is hardened by hardening treatment. The hardening treatment portion 181a contacts a region of the intermediate transfer belt 101 where toner and external additives are not supplied from the photosensitive drums 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11K.

[0054] The non-curing processed portion 181b as the second region is provided closer to the center than the curing processed portion 181a in the longitudinal direction of the cleaning blade 181. The non-curing processed portion 181b abuts against a region of the intermediate transfer belt 101 to which toner and external additives are supplied from the photosensitive drums 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11K.

[0055] The boundary portion 181c has a step at the boundary between the hardened portion 181a and the non-hardened portion 181b. The step at the boundary portion 181c is exemplified here as being 70 to 160 μm.

[0056] A fixed end portion of the cleaning blade 181 opposite to a free end portion in the short side direction is adhered and fixed to a fixed metal plate 182 serving as a support plate. The fixed metal plate 182 is fixed and held to a cleaning container 184 by screws or the like (not shown).

[0057] The conveying screw 183 is provided in the collected toner storage unit 184a. The conveying screw 183 conveys the collected toner in the collected toner storage unit 184a toward one end of the collected toner storage unit 184a in the longitudinal direction and discharges the collected toner from a discharge port (not shown).

[0058] The cleaning container 184 includes a collected toner storage section 184 a that stores the collected toner that has been collected from the intermediate transfer belt 101 by the cleaning blade 181 .

[0059] The cleaning scraper 185 as the second cleaning member is attached to the housing member 186 by double-sided tape or the like. The cleaning scraper 185 is provided on the downstream side of the cleaning blade 181 in the rotation direction R2 of the intermediate transfer belt 101. The cleaning scraper 185 abuts against the intermediate transfer belt 101 at a predetermined angle from the opposite direction (counter direction) to the rotation direction R2 of the intermediate transfer belt 101. The cleaning scraper 185 is formed of, for example, a resin material or a metal material that is harder than the cleaning blade 181. Here, examples of the resin material forming the cleaning scraper 185 include polyester, ABS, and PET.

[0060] The accommodating member 186 is held by the fixed metal plate 182. The accommodating member 186 includes an accommodating portion 186a and an inclined portion 186h.

[0061] The storage section 186a is covered by the cleaning blade 181, the cleaning scraper 185, a scraper sealing seal 189a, and a scraper sealing seal 189b. The storage section 186a stores the deposits scraped off from the intermediate transfer belt 101 by the cleaning scraper 185. The storage section 186a does not have a function of discharging toner, and therefore has a space capable of storing the collected materials that are collected within the replacement life of the intermediate transfer belt unit 100.

[0062] The inclined portion 186h is provided across the boundary portion 181c in the longitudinal direction, and is inclined vertically (downward in FIG. 7) from both longitudinal ends of the storage member 186 toward the center. The inclined portion 186h protrudes in the opposite vertical direction (upward in FIG. 7) from the storage portion 186a. The inclined portion 186h guides the deposits removed from the intermediate transfer belt 101 by the cleaning scraper 185 toward the longitudinal center of the storage member 186. The inclination angle of the inclined portion 186h is an angle at which the collected material T can slide down, and is preferably 40 degrees or more.

[0063] The inclined portion 186h has a gap between it and the inner bottom surface 186i onto which the deposits in the storage portion 186a fall and accumulate. When viewed vertically (upward in FIG. 7), the inclined portion 186h is provided over a length of 8 mm or more from the end portion on the central side of the longitudinal direction of the storage member 186 of the hardening processing portion 181a toward the central portion of the longitudinal direction of the storage member 186. Here, the length of the inclined portion 186h from the end portion on the central side of the longitudinal direction of the storage member 186 of the hardening processing portion 181a toward the central portion when viewed vertically is exemplified as 8 mm.

[0064] The shatterproof sheet 187 seals the entire longitudinal area of ​​the gap between the cleaning container 184 and the intermediate transfer belt 101 to prevent the collected matter stored in the collected toner storage unit 184a from flowing back. The shatterproof sheet 187 is a sheet member made of a resin such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and presses the tension roller 105 via the intermediate transfer belt 101 with a predetermined contact pressure.

[0065] The sealing seals 188 are provided at both longitudinal ends of the cleaning blade 181. The sealing seals 188 seal the gap between the cleaning container 184 and the cleaning blade 181, and the gap between the cleaning container 184 and the housing member 186. The sealing seals 188 are made of an elastic material such as urethane foam.

[0066] The scraper sealing seal 189a and scraper sealing seal 189b as sealing members are disposed outside the cleaning blade 181 in the longitudinal direction. The scraper sealing seal 189a and scraper sealing seal 189b are provided at both longitudinal ends of the storage member 186. The scraper sealing seal 189a and scraper sealing seal 189b seal the gap between the cleaning scraper 185 and the storage member 186, and the gap between the storage member 186 and the intermediate transfer belt 101. Each of the scraper sealing seal 189a and scraper sealing seal 189b is formed of an elastic material such as urethane foam.

[0067] The end seal 190a is made of an elastic material such as urethane foam, and is provided across the cleaning container 184, the scraper sealing seal 189a, and the storage member 186.

[0068] The end seal 190b is made of an elastic material such as urethane foam, and is provided across the cleaning container 184, the scraper sealing seal 189b, and the storage member 186.

[0069] The end seals 190a and 190b are fixed to the storage member 186 and are in contact with the intermediate transfer belt 101. The end seals 190a and 190b seal the gap between the shatterproof sheet 187 and the cleaning container 184, the gap between the tension roller 105 and the cleaning container 184, and the gap between the storage member 186 and the intermediate transfer belt 101. For ease of explanation, part of the end seals 190a and 190b are omitted in FIG. 7.

[0070] By providing a sealing seal 188, a scraper sealing seal 189a, a scraper sealing seal 189b, an end seal 190a and an end seal 190b, the inside of the cleaning device is sealed to prevent toner from leaking out of the cleaning device .

[0071] The cleaning device 108 having the above-mentioned configuration scrapes off the deposits adhering to the intermediate transfer belt 101 with the cleaning blade 181. At this time, the deposits adhering to the intermediate transfer belt 101 slip past the cleaning blade 181 due to minute vibrations of the intermediate transfer belt 101 or the cleaning blade 181, or due to a gap between the intermediate transfer belt 101 and the cleaning blade 181. The deposits that slip past the cleaning blade 181 are then supplied to a cleaning scraper 185. The cleaning scraper 185 collects the deposits that have slipped past the cleaning blade 181 of the intermediate transfer belt 101, and causes the collected deposits to be stored in a storage member 186.

[0072] Moreover, the collected matter discharged from the discharge port of the collected toner storage unit 184a by the conveying screw 183 is sent to a waste toner conveying path (not shown) provided in the device main body 2. Then, the collected matter sent to the waste toner conveying path is conveyed to a waste toner container (not shown) that is detachably attached to the device main body 2. The waste toner container is replaced when it becomes full with collected matter, etc.

[0073] <Mechanism of toner passing through the cleaning blade> The mechanism by which the toner passes through the cleaning blade 181 of the cleaning device 108 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

[0074] Toner and external additives are supplied from the photosensitive drums 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11K to the toner image forming area of ​​the intermediate transfer belt 101. Toner and external additives are also coated on areas of the developing device 14 facing the areas outside the toner image forming areas of the photosensitive drums 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11K. For this reason, fog toner adheres to the photosensitive drums 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11K. Here, fog toner is a general term for toner that adheres to the areas outside the toner image forming areas of the photosensitive drums 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11K.

[0075] As a result, a small amount of fog toner is supplied from the photosensitive drums 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11K to the area of ​​the intermediate transfer belt 101 outside the toner image forming area and facing the area where the fog toner adheres to the photosensitive drums 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11K.

[0076] The coefficient of friction between the cleaning blade 181 and the toner image forming area of ​​the intermediate transfer belt 101 and the area where the fog toner is supplied is small. On the other hand, the coefficient of friction between the cleaning blade 181 and the high μ area, which is the outer area of ​​the intermediate transfer belt 101 where the toner and external additives are not supplied, is large. As a result, the frictional force between the intermediate transfer belt 101 and the cleaning blade 181 has a profile as shown in Fig. 4. Here, the longitudinal length of the cleaning blade 181 in the high μ area is exemplified as 100 mm.

[0077] When the frictional force between the intermediate transfer belt 101 and the cleaning blade 181 exceeds the threshold a, the cleaning blade 181 will turn over. Therefore, a hardened portion 181a is formed in the high μ region of the cleaning blade 181 by hardening the surface through hardening treatment. By forming the hardened portion 181a in the high μ region, the frictional force between the intermediate transfer belt 101 and the cleaning blade 181 in the high μ region is reduced to below the threshold a, thereby preventing the cleaning blade 181 from turning over.

[0078] However, by providing the hardening processing portion 181a, a step occurs at the boundary portion 181c between the hardening processing portion 181a and the non-hardening processing portion 181b of the cleaning blade 181. This causes a gap between the boundary portion 181c of the cleaning blade 181 and the intermediate transfer belt 101, which makes it easier for attached matter to slip through. Note that attached matter that slips through the gap between the intermediate transfer belt 101 and the cleaning blade 181 is collected by the cleaning scraper 185 and stored in the storage portion 186a.

[0079] <Cleaning device operation> The operation of the cleaning device 108 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to Figures 2, 3, and 6 to 9. Note that in Figures 6 and 8, the collected material T is removed from the intermediate transfer belt 101 by the cleaning scraper 185 and stored and accumulated in the storage section 186a, and therefore is actually shown by a dashed line, but is shown by a solid line for convenience of explanation.

[0080] FIG. 6 shows the configuration of a conventional cleaning device for comparison with the present embodiment. In the conventional cleaning device shown in FIG. 6, scraper seal 189a and scraper seal 189b are provided on the inside of cleaning blade 181 in the longitudinal direction. In the case of FIG. 6, collected material T collected by cleaning scraper 185 accumulates early at both ends of storage section 186a in the longitudinal direction. In addition, in the case of FIG. 6, collected material T accumulated in storage section 186a accumulates at an angle of repose θ with the drop position as the apex. In the case of FIG. 6, collected material T may leak early from minute gaps generated in scraper seal 189a and scraper seal 189b.

[0081] 7, in the present embodiment, by providing the inclined portion 186h, the collected material T collected by the cleaning scraper 185 slides down from the inclined portion 186h to the inner bottom surface 186i. In particular, the collected material T that has slipped through the cleaning blade 181 due to the step at the boundary portion 181c and been removed by the cleaning scraper 185 falls onto the inclined portion 186h from the position of the boundary portion 181c in the longitudinal direction.

[0082] At this time, the collected material T collected by the cleaning scraper 185 slides down from the inclined portion 186h to the inner bottom surface 186i. As a result, the collected material T collected by the cleaning scraper 185 is dispersed toward the center side in the longitudinal direction of the storage portion 186a and is sequentially accumulated from the center side in the longitudinal direction of the storage portion 186a.

[0083] Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 9, the amount of collected material T accumulated in the storage section 186a until it reaches the scraper seal 189a and the scraper seal 189b can be made larger than in the case of Fig. 6. As a result, in this embodiment, leakage of collected material T from minute gaps generated in the scraper seal 189a and the scraper seal 189b can be suppressed compared to the case of Fig. 6.

[0084] 7, the scraper sealing seal 189a and the scraper sealing seal 189b are provided on the outer side in the longitudinal direction of the cleaning blade 181. This makes it possible to increase the longitudinal distance between the position where the collected material T, which has slipped through the cleaning blade 181 and been removed by the cleaning scraper 185 due to the step at the boundary portion 181c, falls and the scraper sealing seals 189a and 189b.

[0085] Furthermore, the collected material T accumulated on the inner bottom surface 186i is pushed out toward both ends of the longitudinal direction of the storage section 186a or moved by the vibration of the cleaning device 108. In this case, by providing a space between the inclined portion 186h and the inner bottom surface 186i, the collected material T accumulated on the inner bottom surface 186i is stored in the space between the inclined portion 186h and the inner bottom surface 186i of the storage section 186a, as shown in FIG.

[0086] Furthermore, when viewed vertically, an inclined portion 186h is provided over 8 mm or more from the end portion on the longitudinal center side of the hardening processing portion 181a toward the longitudinal center of the storage member 186. This makes it possible to ensure a sufficient distance between the drop point of the collected material T from the inclined portion 186h to the inner bottom surface 186i and the scraper sealing seals 189a, 189b.

[0087] In this way, the step at the boundary portion 181c can increase the amount of collected material T that has slipped through the cleaning blade 181 and accumulates before reaching the scraper sealing seals 189a, 189b in the storage portion 186a, compared to the conventional method. Also, in this embodiment, leakage of collected material T stored in the storage portion 186a from the storage portion 186a can be suppressed.

[0088] In the present embodiment, an inclined portion 186h is provided that crosses the boundary portion 181c in the longitudinal direction and is inclined in the vertical direction toward the longitudinal center portion, and guides the deposits removed by the cleaning scraper 185 toward the longitudinal center portion. This can improve the sealing performance of the deposits in the storage member 186 that stores the deposits removed from the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 101.

[0089] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it goes without saying that various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0090] Specifically, in the above embodiment, the cleaning device 108 removes the deposits adhering to the intermediate transfer belt 101. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the deposits adhering to the photosensitive drums 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11K serving as image carriers may be removed by a cleaning device having a similar configuration to the cleaning device 108.

[0091] In the above embodiment, a step is formed at boundary portion 181c by performing hardening treatment on cleaning blade 181. However, the present invention is not limited to this. A step may be formed at boundary portion 181c for a reason other than hardening treatment.

[0092] In the above embodiment, the intermediate transfer belt 101 is stretched over four rollers. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the intermediate transfer belt 101 may be stretched over a number of rollers other than four.

[0093] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the number of image forming units SY, SM, SC, and SK is four, but this is not limiting, and the number of image forming units may be any number other than four.

[0094] In the above embodiment, the image forming units are arranged in the order shown in FIG. 1, but the image forming units may be arranged in any order. [Explanation of symbols]

[0095] SC Image forming section SK image forming department SM image forming section SY Image forming section 1. Image forming device 11C Photosensitive drum 11K Photosensitive drum 11M Photosensitive drum 11Y Photosensitive drum 101 Intermediate transfer belt 108 Cleaning device 181 Cleaning blade 181a Hardening treatment section 181b Non-hardening processing section 181c Boundary 184 Cleaning container 184a Waste toner storage unit 185 Cleaning Scraper 186 Paper dust collection member 186a Paper dust collection section 186h Slope 186i inner bottom 187 Shatterproof sheet 188 Seal 189a Scraper Seal 189b Scraper Seal 190a End seal 190b End seal

Claims

1. A cleaning device for removing and storing deposits on a surface of a rotatable image carrier, the cleaning device comprising: a first cleaning member for removing the deposit from the image carrier; a second cleaning member that is provided downstream of the first cleaning member in a rotation direction of the image carrier and that removes the deposits from the image carrier; a storage member that stores the deposits removed by the second cleaning member; a sealing member for sealing a gap between the container member and the second cleaning member at both ends of the second cleaning member in a longitudinal direction parallel to an axial direction of the image carrier; having The first cleaning member is The insulating sheet has a first region on both end sides in the longitudinal direction and a second region on a central side in the longitudinal direction of the first region, and has a step at a boundary between the first region and the second region, The housing member is a sloped portion that crosses the boundary portion in the longitudinal direction and slopes vertically toward a center portion in the longitudinal direction, and guides the deposit removed by the second cleaning member toward the center portion in the longitudinal direction, A cleaning device comprising:

2. The sealing member is The cleaning member is provided on an outer side of the first cleaning member in the longitudinal direction.

2. The cleaning device according to claim 1.

3. The inclined portion is a gap is provided between the inner bottom surface of the storage member and an inner bottom surface on which the deposits removed by the second cleaning member accumulate; 3. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning member is a roller.

4. The first region is Hardening treatment is applied, 3. The cleaning device according to claim 1 or 2.

5. The housing member is The first cleaning member is supported by a support plate.

3. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning member is a roller.

6. The inclination angle of the inclined portion is 40 degrees or more.

3. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning member is a roller.

7. The inclined portion is When viewed from the vertical direction, the first region is provided from an end portion on a central portion side in the longitudinal direction to a central portion in the longitudinal direction by 8 mm or more.

3. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning member is a roller.

8. A cleaning device according to claim 1 or 2; an image forming unit that forms an image; An image forming apparatus comprising:

Images