JP3672539B2 - Transfer medium cleaning apparatus and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that forms a developed image using a liquid developer, and in particular, a transfer medium cleaning apparatus and an image forming apparatus for cleaning a transfer medium for transferring a developed image on a photoreceptor onto a recording paper or the like. Relates to the device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Among image forming apparatuses that obtain a visible image using a liquid developer, an apparatus that secondarily transfers a developed image formed on a photosensitive member to a recording sheet via a transfer medium is free of deposits such as toner stains. A transfer medium cleaning mechanism is provided to obtain a satisfactory transfer image. Examples of the dirt that adheres to the transfer medium and causes a decrease in the transferred image include dust such as paper dust and dust caused by the recording paper and residual toner residue generated in the transfer process. As a cleaning mechanism for removing these dusts and toner residues from a transfer medium, conventionally, as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-2937, a roller resin is made of a binder resin used for toner particles. There has been proposed a cleaning mechanism using an adhesive roller that forms an adhesive surface layer and uses the adhesive property to remove deposits on the surface of the transfer medium.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above conventional adhesive roller, good cleaning performance can be obtained in the initial stage, but dust and toner residues accumulate on the surface layer of the adhesive roller during repeated use, so the surface layer has good adhesion for a long time. It is difficult to maintain the service life of the adhesive roller, and the service life is hindered due to a decrease in the adhesive layer of the adhesive roller surface layer. Was inferior to the problem.
[0004]
Therefore, the present invention solves the above-mentioned problem, and can maintain the adhesiveness of the apparatus for removing the adhesion on the surface of the transfer medium for a long period of time, thereby extending its life and cleaning the transfer medium well for a long time. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a transfer medium cleaning device and an image forming apparatus that can obtain a high-quality transfer image free from image contamination over a long period of time and are excellent in maintainability and economy.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
As a means for solving the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is in contact with a transfer medium having an elastic surface for secondary transfer of a developed image primarily transferred from an image carrier to a recording medium, and adheres to a deposit on the surface of the transfer medium. An adhesive cleaning agent, a supply means for supplying the adhesive cleaning agent to the transfer medium, and a recovery means for recovering the adhesive cleaning agent supplied to the transfer medium from the transfer medium together with the adhered matter And a dispersion means for mixing and dispersing the deposit in the adhesive cleaning agent while supplying the cleaning agent recovered by the recovery means to the supply means again.
[0006]
The present invention also provides a means for solving the above-mentioned problems by contacting a transfer medium having an elastic surface for secondary transfer of a developed image primarily transferred from an image carrier to a recording medium, and adhering to the deposit on the surface of the transfer medium. And the adhesive cleaning agent that travels while holding the adhesive cleaning agent and travels through the contact position of the transfer medium with the holding member that makes the held adhesive cleaning agent contact the transfer medium. A peeling member that peels the adhesive cleaning agent from the holding member, and supplies the adhesive cleaning agent to the surface of the holding member and drives the surface from the holding member surface while driving the holding member. The peeling of the adhesive cleaning agent is repeated.
[0007]
As a means for solving the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is in contact with a transfer medium having an elastic surface for secondary transfer of a developed image primarily transferred from an image carrier to a recording medium, and adheres to the deposit on the surface of the transfer medium. An adhesive cleaning agent that adheres, an application member that applies the adhesive cleaning agent to the transfer medium, and a recovery that collects the adhesive cleaning agent applied to the transfer medium together with the adhered matter that is collected from the transfer medium. The adhesive cleaning agent recovered from the transfer medium by the recovery member is supplied to the application member, and the adhesive cleaning agent is circulated for use.
[0008]
In addition, as a means for solving the above-mentioned problems, the present invention forms an image bearing member that holds an electrostatic latent image on the surface and a developer supplied to the electrostatic latent image to form a developer image on the image bearing member. A developing means, a transfer means provided with a transfer medium having an elastic surface for primary transfer of the developed image on the image carrier and then secondary transfer of the developed image to a recording medium, and a contact with the transfer medium. An adhesive cleaning agent that adheres to a deposit on the surface of the transfer medium, a supply unit that supplies the adhesive cleaning agent to the transfer medium, and the attachment that adheres the adhesive cleaning agent supplied to the transfer medium. Recovery means for recovering from the transfer medium together with the deposit, and dispersion for mixing and dispersing the deposit in the adhesive cleaning agent while supplying the cleaning agent recovered by the recovery means to the supply means again. It is intended to provide a stage.
[0009]
With the above configuration, the present invention can maintain the adhesiveness of the adhesive cleaning agent that removes the deposits on the surface of the transfer medium well for a long time, and improve the image quality during transfer by cleaning the transfer medium satisfactorily. Thus, a transfer medium cleaning apparatus and an image forming apparatus excellent in maintainability and economical efficiency are obtained.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the first embodiment shown in FIGS. FIG. 1 shows an image forming unit 10 of an electrophotographic apparatus which is an image forming apparatus. An organic or amorphous silicon photosensitive layer is formed on a conductive substrate such as an aluminum base tube which is an image carrier. Further, a well-known corona charger is sequentially formed around the photosensitive drum 11 formed with a protective layer made of fluorine resin, silicone resin or the like on the photosensitive drum 11 along the rotation of the photosensitive drum 11 in the direction of arrow q. A charging device 13 composed of a scorotron charger or the like, an exposure device (not shown) that selectively irradiates the exposure unit 16 of the photosensitive drum 11 with a laser beam 14 or the like corresponding to an optical signal modulated according to image information, for example, black ( A developing roller 18 that contains a liquid developer 17 composed of toner particles of BK) and a carrier liquid, and supplies the liquid developer 17 to the surface of the photosensitive drum 11; The developing device 21 is disposed with a head-up roller 20 for thinning the excess liquid developer 17 of the toner layer on a developing after the developed image. The developing roller 18 is made of metal, maintains a gap of 150 μm with the photosensitive drum 11, is applied with a developing bias of +400 V, and rotates at 300 mm / s in the same direction as the photosensitive drum 11. The subsequent fog removal roller 20 is made of metal and applied with a bias of +300 V, the photosensitive member and the ram 11 maintain a gap of 100 μm, and rotate in the opposite direction to the photosensitive drum 11 at 250 mm / s.
[0011]
A carrier liquid recovery device 22 for removing excess carrier liquid from the toner layer on the photosensitive drum 11 is provided downstream of the developing device 21 around the photosensitive drum 11.
[0012]
At the downstream of the carrier liquid recovery device 22 around the photosensitive drum 11, the transfer device 23 that pressure-transfers the developed image on the photosensitive drum 11 to the recording paper P that is a recording medium, and remains on the photosensitive drum 11 after transfer. A photoconductor cleaner 24 that removes the liquid developer 17 and a static elimination lamp 26 that includes an LED that erases residual charges on the photoconductor drum 11 are provided.
[0013]
Next, the transfer device 23 will be described in detail. The transfer device 23 has a heater 27 inside, an intermediate transfer roller 23a that is a transfer medium that rotates in the direction of arrow r, and a heater 28 inside, and rotates in the direction of arrow s, around the intermediate transfer roller 23a. It comprises a pressure roller 23b that presses the secondary transfer position to press-contact the intermediate transfer roller 23a to the photosensitive drum 11, and the toner layer formed on the photosensitive drum 11 is primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer roller 23a by pressure transfer. After the transfer, the recording sheet P is secondarily transferred by pressure transfer. The intermediate transfer roller 23a is separable from the photosensitive drum 11, is formed by winding a rubber layer around the metal roller surface, and has an elastic force. As a result, the thickness of the toner layer formed on the photosensitive drum 11 is about 0.4 μm at the maximum, and the elasticity of the intermediate transfer roller 23a is very thin in the low density image region, which is 0.1 μm or less. By deforming the surface under high pressure, the toner can be brought into contact with the concave portion of the recording paper P having irregularities of several tens of μm on the surface.
[0014]
At the downstream side of the secondary transfer position around the intermediate transfer roller 23a, the transfer of the toner layer onto the recording paper P and the adhering material such as dust and toner residue adhering to the surface of the intermediate transfer roller 23a is removed. An intermediate transfer roller cleaner 30 which is a medium cleaning device is provided. The intermediate transfer roller cleaner 30 is a supply device that removes adhesions on the surface of the intermediate transfer roller 23a at an opening position facing the intermediate transfer roller 23a in the container 31 with the adhesive cleaning agent 34 held around the intermediate transfer roller 23a. It has a holding roller 32 that also serves as a collection device. At the downstream position after the holding roller 32 has passed the position facing the intermediate transfer roller 23a, a peeling blade 35, which is a dispersing device that once peels off the adhesive cleaning agent 34 held on the surface of the holding roller 32, is in contact. .
[0015]
The holding roller 32 can be made of a metal such as aluminum or SUS, or a resin such as PEEK. In this embodiment, the holding roller 32 is formed by mirror-finishing a SUS hollow roller having a diameter of 30φ and containing a halogen lamp heater 33. The intermediate transfer roller 23a is brought into contact with a pressure of about 500 g / cm and is rotated in the direction of arrow t.
[0016]
As the adhesive cleaning agent 34, rubber, resin, wax, or the like can be used. For example, alicyclic saturated hydrocarbons, rosin esters, alkylphenols, phenols, urethanes, silicones, butadienes, polypropylenes, polyethylenes, acrylics, rubbers, resins, and waxes can be used. . Moreover, you may mix and use these. Further, general resins such as carbon black, silica, calcium carbonate, plasticizer, oil, and various stabilizers and additives for rubber may be added. Its adhesiveness is Mooney viscosity 20ML _{1 + 4} (100 ° C) to 150ML _{1 + 4} What becomes about (100 degreeC) is desirable.
[0017]
In this embodiment, the adhesive cleaning agent 34 is obtained by crosslinking 20% of an alicyclic saturated hydrocarbon resin Alcon P-90 manufactured by Arakawa Chemical Co., Ltd., with a Mooney viscosity of 88 ML. _{1 + 4} 500 g of (100 ° C.) was used. By increasing the internal cohesive force of the adhesive cleaning agent 34 by crosslinking and making it difficult to be sheared, the adhesive cleaning agent 34 is prevented from shifting to the intermediate transfer roller 23a, and the adhesive cleaning agent 34 is peeled off from the application roller 32. By making it difficult, the supply and recovery of the adhesive cleaning agent 34 to the intermediate transfer roller 23a by the single holding roller 32 can be performed simultaneously.
[0018]
As long as the peeling blade 35 does not impair the surface property of the holding roller 32, it is possible to use heat-resistant resin, rubber, etc., for example, fluorine-based, urethane-based, nylon-based, silicone-based, aramid-based, Etc. are listed. In this embodiment, fluorine rubber (JIS standard hardness 70 °) was used as the peeling blade 35.
[0019]
Next, the operation will be described. When the image forming process is started, the photosensitive drum 11 rotates at a speed of 80 mm / s in the direction of the arrow s, is uniformly charged to +600 V by the charging device 13, and then from an exposure device (not shown) corresponding to the image information. A laser beam 14 corresponding to the image information to be irradiated is selectively irradiated to form an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image information in which the exposure area is neutralized to + 130V.
[0020]
Subsequently, the electrostatic latent image is developed using the liquid developer 17 by the developing roller 18 to which a developing bias of +400 is applied, the excess liquid developer is removed by the fog removing roller 20, and the photosensitive drum 11 is placed on the photosensitive drum 11. A thinned toner layer is obtained. Thereafter, the toner layer on the photosensitive drum 11 passes through the carrier liquid recovery device 22 to remove and dry the excess carrier liquid and reaches the transfer device 23.
[0021]
In the transfer device 23, the surface of the intermediate transfer roller 23 a is maintained at 80 ° C. by the heater 27, and the surface of the pressure roller 23 b is maintained at 120 ° C. by the heater 28. When the transfer is started, the intermediate transfer roller 23a presses and contacts the photosensitive drum 11 and rotates in the direction of the arrow r, and the toner layer on the photosensitive drum 11 is primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer roller 23a due to the difference in surface energy. Next, the toner layer transferred to the intermediate transfer roller 23a is secondarily transferred to the recording paper P passing between the intermediate transfer roller 23a and the pressure roller 23b due to the difference in surface energy, and an image is completed on the recording paper P. The
[0022]
During this transfer process, in the intermediate transfer roller cleaner 30, the holding roller 32 heated to a surface temperature of 120 ° C. by the halogen lamp heater 33 holds about 500 g / h with the adhesive cleaning agent 34 held around it. The intermediate transfer roller 23a is contacted and driven by the pressure of cm. As a result, while the adhesive cleaning agent 34 held on the holding roller 32 is pressed against the intermediate transfer roller 23a, the sticking on the surface of the intermediate transfer roller 23a is removed by its viscosity, and thereafter the intermediate transfer roller 23a. , Is held by the holding roller 32 and collected in the container 31.
[0023]
The adhesive cleaning agent 34 collected in the container 31 is peeled off from the holding roller 32 by the peeling blade 35 and sequentially pushed up in the direction of the arrow u along the shape of the container 31. During this time, the deposits removed from the intermediate transfer roller 23a are kneaded into the adhesive cleaning agent 34 and mixed and dispersed. After the adhesive cleaning agent 34 has been once peeled off, the adhesive cleaning agent 34 that has passed through the peeling blade 35 and has been mixed and dispersed with deposits is supplied again, and the intermediate transfer roller 23a can be cleaned. Thereafter, the cleaning process of the intermediate transfer roller cleaner 30 is ended with the end of the transfer process.
[0024]
On the other hand, after the primary transfer of the toner layer to the intermediate transfer roller 23a is completed, the photosensitive drum 11 has the residual toner layer removed by the photosensitive cleaner 24, the residual charge is erased by the charge eliminating lamp 26, and the series of image forming processes is completed. Prepare for the next image forming process.
[0025]
In this embodiment, the intermediate transfer roller cleaner during the transfer in which the pressure on the recording paper P is intentionally weakened by the transfer device and the pressure of the pressure roller 23b is set as low as 50 g / cm. As a result of the cleaning test of No. 30, the initial cleaning performance can be maintained even after outputting 50,000 images, the background dirt does not contaminate the recording paper P, and the transfer performance due to foreign matters such as paper dust. No deterioration was observed, and a high-quality transfer image was obtained. When the same cleaning test was performed using a conventional adhesive roller as a cleaning device, the recording paper P was contaminated by scumming at the time when 10,000 images were output, and the transfer performance by foreign matters such as paper dust was observed. It has deteriorated.
[0026]
With this configuration, after the adhesive cleaning agent 34 for removing the deposit on the surface of the intermediate transfer roller 23a is supplied to the holding roller 32 in the container 31, the deposit on the surface of the intermediate transfer roller 23a is removed. The adhesive material is dispersed in the adhesive cleaning agent 34 while the adhesive cleaning agent 34 is circulated in the container 31 such that the adhesive cleaning agent 34 is once peeled off from the holding roller 32 and supplied to the holding roller 32 again. By mixing, the characteristics of the adhesive cleaning agent 34 can be maintained satisfactorily regardless of the collection of deposits. Therefore, compared to conventional adhesive rollers, the service life can be dramatically extended, and good quality images can be obtained without requiring replacement or maintenance of the intermediate transfer roller cleaner 30 over a long period of time, improving maintenance and economy. I can plan.
[0027]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment described above in the structure of the intermediate transfer roller cleaner, and the other parts are the same as those in the first embodiment. The same components as those described in the embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.
[0028]
The intermediate transfer roller cleaner 36 of this embodiment is a supply device that is an application roller 38 that applies an adhesive cleaning agent 37 to the surface of the intermediate transfer roller 23a at an opening position facing the intermediate transfer roller 23a in the container 36a. In addition, a recovery device 40 that is a recovery device and recovers the adhesive cleaning agent 37 applied to the surface of the intermediate transfer roller 23a by the application roller 38 in the container 36a is provided. Further, at the bottom of the container 36a, there is provided a stirring auger 41, which is a dispersion device made of SECC that stirs the adhesive cleaning agent 37 recovered by the recovery blade 40 and performs a fluororesin coating to be supplied to the application roller 38 side. .
[0029]
The coating roller 38 is made of SUS with a diameter of 30φ and has a halogen roller heater 38a built in a hollow roller having a surface roughness Ra of 20 μm. It is rotating.
[0030]
The adhesive cleaning agent 37 has a Mooney viscosity of 40 ML. _{1 + 4} 500 g of alicyclic saturated hydrocarbon resin Alcon P-90 manufactured by Arakawa Chemical Co., which is (100 ° C.) was used.
[0031]
The recovery blade 40 can be made of elastic material such as SUS, phosphor bronze, beryllium copper, etc., processed into a plate shape or a substantially plate shape having an appropriate cross-sectional structure. Further, it is possible to use heat-resistant resin, rubber, and the like, and examples thereof include fluorine-based, urethane-based, nylon-based, silicone-based, and aramid-based. In this embodiment, it is made of a fluorine-based heat-resistant rubber, and is pressed against the rotation with respect to the rotation direction of the intermediate transfer roller 23a.
[0032]
In the present embodiment, during the transfer process in the image forming process, the intermediate transfer roller cleaner 36 is heated to a surface temperature of 120 ° C. by the halogen lamp heater 38 a and the adhesive cleaning agent 37 is supplied from the stirring auger 41. The application roller 38 is in contact with and driven by the intermediate transfer roller 23a with a pressure of about 500 g / cm. As a result, the adhesive cleaning agent 37 is applied to the intermediate transfer roller 23a due to the difference in surface energy between the application roller 38 having a surface temperature of 120 ° C. and the intermediate transfer roller 23a having a surface temperature of 80 ° C. The adhesive cleaning agent 37 applied to the intermediate transfer roller 23a reaches the collection blade 40 as the intermediate transfer roller 23a rotates, and is peeled off from the intermediate transfer roller 23a by the collection blade 40 and collected in the container 36a. At this time, the adhesive cleaning agent 37 sticks and removes the deposits on the surface of the intermediate transfer roller 23a due to its viscosity.
[0033]
The adhesive cleaning agent 37 collected in the container 36a is stirred by the stirring auger 41, kneaded into the other adhesive cleaning agent 37 in the container 36a, and the deposit removed from the intermediate transfer roller 23a is adhesive. It is mixed and dispersed in the cleaning agent 37. The adhesive cleaning agent 37 that has undergone the mixing and dispersion of the adhering matter is conveyed to the application roller 38 side by the stirring auger 41, and is supplied again to the application roller 38, so that it can be applied to the intermediate transfer roller 23a. Thereafter, the cleaning process of the intermediate transfer roller cleaner 36 is ended with the end of the transfer process.
[0034]
In this embodiment, when the cleaning test using the intermediate transfer roller cleaner 36 is performed under the same conditions as in the first embodiment, the initial cleaning performance can be maintained even after outputting 50,000 images. In addition, the ground stain did not contaminate the recording paper P, and the transfer performance due to foreign matters such as paper dust was not deteriorated, and a high-quality transfer image was obtained.
[0035]
If comprised in this way, the adhesive cleaning agent 37 is apply | coated to the intermediate transfer roller 23a with the application | coating roller 38, and after that, the adhesive cleaning agent 37 is peeled and collect | recovered with the collection blade 40 with the deposit | attachment on the surface of the intermediate transfer roller 23a. The properties of the adhesive cleaning agent 37 can be satisfactorily maintained by dispersing and mixing the adhering material in the adhesive cleaning agent 37 before being supplied to the application roller 38 again. Therefore, as in the first embodiment, a high-quality image can be obtained without requiring replacement or maintenance of the intermediate transfer roller cleaner 36 for a long time, and maintenance and economy can be improved.
[0036]
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The third embodiment is different from the first embodiment described above in the structure of the intermediate transfer roller cleaner, and the other parts are the same as those in the first embodiment. The same components as those described in the embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.
[0037]
The intermediate transfer roller cleaner 43 of this embodiment is a supply device that is an application device that applies an adhesive cleaning agent 44 to the surface of the intermediate transfer roller 23a at an opening position facing the intermediate transfer roller 23a in the container 43a. It is a collection device and has a collection roller 47 that collects the adhesive cleaning agent 44 applied to the surface of the intermediate transfer roller 23a by the application roller 46 in the container 43a. Further, at the downstream position after the recovery roller 47 has passed through the position facing the intermediate transfer roller 23a, there is a dispersing device made of fluorine-based rubber (JISA hardness 70 °) for once removing the adhesive cleaning agent 44 on the surface of the recovery roller 47. The peeling blade 48 is abutted. The other end of the peeling blade extends to the application roller 46 to prevent the adhesive cleaning agent from accumulating in the gap between the application roller 46 and the collection roller 47.
[0038]
The application roller 46 has a halogen lamp heater 46a built in a hollow roller made of SUS having a diameter of 30φ and a surface roughness Ra of 20μ. The application roller 46 contacts the intermediate transfer roller 23a with a pressure of about 400 g / cm and is driven in the direction of arrow w. It is rotating.
[0039]
The adhesive cleaning agent 37 has a Mooney viscosity of 40 ML. _{1 + 4} 500 g of alicyclic saturated hydrocarbon resin Alcon P-90 manufactured by Arakawa Chemical Co., which is (100 ° C.) was used.
[0040]
The recovery roller 47 can be a metal roller having a mirror-finished surface. In this embodiment, a halogen lamp heater 47a is built in a hollow interior made of SUS having a diameter of 50φ and mirror-finished. It contacts the transfer roller 23a with a pressure of about 800 g / cm and follows the direction of the arrow x. In this embodiment, during the transfer process in the image forming process, the intermediate transfer roller cleaner 43 is heated to a surface temperature of 120 ° C. by the halogen lamp heater 46a and pushed up from the direction of the collection roller 47 along the shape of the container 43a. The application roller 46 supplied with the adhesive cleaning agent 44 is in contact with the intermediate transfer roller 23a with a pressure of about 400 g / cm and is driven. As a result, the adhesive cleaning agent 44 is applied to the intermediate transfer roller 23a due to the difference in surface energy between the application roller 46 having a surface temperature of 120 ° C. and the intermediate transfer roller 23a having a surface temperature of 80 ° C. The adhesive cleaning agent 44 applied to the intermediate transfer roller 23a reaches the collection roller 47 as the intermediate transfer roller 23a rotates. At the position where the intermediate transfer roller 23a and the recovery roller 47 face each other, the adhesive cleaning agent is caused by the difference in surface energy between the intermediate transfer roller 23a having a surface temperature of 80 ° C. and the recovery roller 47 heated by the halogen lamp heater 47a. 44 is peeled and collected on the collecting roller 47 side. At this time, the adhesive cleaning agent 44 sticks and removes deposits on the surface of the intermediate transfer roller 23a due to its viscosity.
[0041]
The adhesive cleaning agent 44 collected on the collection roller 47 is peeled off from the collection roller 47 by the peeling blade 48 and sequentially pushed up in the direction of the application roller 46 along the shape of the container 43a, and removed from the intermediate transfer roller 23a during this time. The deposit is kneaded into the adhesive cleaning agent 44 and mixed and dispersed. The adhesive cleaning agent 44 that has undergone mixing and dispersion of the adhering matter is supplied again to the application roller 46, and can be applied to the intermediate transfer roller 23a. Thereafter, the cleaning process of the intermediate transfer roller cleaner 48 is ended with the end of the transfer process.
[0042]
In this embodiment, when the cleaning test using the intermediate transfer roller cleaner 48 is performed under the same conditions as in the first embodiment, the initial cleaning performance can be maintained even after outputting 50,000 images. In addition, the ground stain did not contaminate the recording paper P, and the transfer performance due to foreign matters such as paper dust was not deteriorated, and a high-quality transfer image was obtained.
[0043]
If comprised in this way, the adhesive cleaning agent 44 is apply | coated to the intermediate transfer roller 23a with the application | coating roller 46, and after that, the adhesive cleaning agent 44 is peeled and collected with the collection | recovery roller 47 with the deposit | attachment on the surface of the intermediate transfer roller 23a. The properties of the adhesive cleaning agent 44 can be maintained well by dispersing and mixing the deposits in the adhesive cleaning agent 44 before being supplied to the coating roller 46 again. Accordingly, as in the first embodiment, a high-quality image can be obtained without requiring replacement or maintenance of the intermediate transfer roller cleaner 43 over a long period of time, and maintenance and economy can be improved.
[0044]
Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The fourth embodiment is different from the first embodiment described above in the configuration of the intermediate transfer roller cleaner, and the other parts are the same as those in the first embodiment. The same components as those described in the embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.
[0045]
The intermediate transfer roller cleaner 50 according to this embodiment is a supply device that is an application device 52 that applies an adhesive cleaning agent 51 to the surface of the intermediate transfer roller 23a at an opening position facing the intermediate transfer roller 23a in the container 50a. It is a recovery device, and has a recovery blade 53 that recovers the adhesive cleaning agent 51 applied to the surface of the intermediate transfer roller 23a by the application blade 52 into the container 50a. Further, in the container 50a of the intermediate transfer roller cleaner 50, the adhesive cleaning agent 51 recovered by the recovery blade 53 is stirred and supplied to the coating blade 52 side. The stirring is a dispersing device having a heater 54a at the center of the shaft. An auger 54 is provided.
[0046]
The coating blade 52 can be made of elastic material such as SUS, phosphor bronze, beryllium copper, and the like, processed into a plate shape or a substantially plate shape having an appropriate cross-sectional structure. Further, it is possible to use heat-resistant resin, rubber, and the like, and examples thereof include fluorine-based, urethane-based, nylon-based, silicone-based, and aramid-based. The coating blade 52 may be heated by putting a heater inside. In this embodiment, it is formed of a phosphor bronze plate having a thickness of 70 μm, and has an end portion in a direction along the rotation direction of the intermediate transfer roller 23a, and is pressed against the intermediate transfer roller 23a by about 200 g / cm. In contact.
[0047]
The adhesive cleaning agent 51 has a Mooney viscosity of 40 ML. _{1 + 4} 500 g of alicyclic saturated hydrocarbon resin Alcon P-90 manufactured by Arakawa Chemical Co., which is (100 ° C.) was used.
[0048]
The collection blade 53 is made of a fluorine-based heat-resistant rubber and is pressed against the rotation with respect to the rotation direction of the intermediate transfer roller 23a.
[0049]
In the present embodiment, during the transfer process in the image forming process, the intermediate transfer roller cleaner 50 is intermediated by the coating blade 52 supplied with the adhesive cleaning agent 51 conveyed by the stirring auger 54 heated to 130 ° C. An adhesive cleaning agent 51 is applied to the transfer roller 23a. The adhesive cleaning agent 51 applied to the intermediate transfer roller 23a reaches the collection blade 53 according to the rotation of the intermediate transfer roller 23a, is peeled off from the intermediate transfer roller 23a by the collection blade 53, and is collected in the container 50a. At this time, the adhesive cleaning agent 51 sticks and removes deposits on the surface of the intermediate transfer roller 23a due to its viscosity.
[0050]
The adhesive cleaning agent 51 collected in the container 50a is stirred by the stirring auger 54, kneaded into the other adhesive cleaning agent 51 in the container 50a, and the deposit removed from the intermediate transfer roller 23a is adhesive. It is mixed and dispersed in the cleaning agent 51. The adhesive cleaning agent 51 that has undergone mixing and dispersion of the adhering matter is transported to the application blade 52 side by the stirring auger 54 and is supplied again to the application blade 52 so that it can be applied to the intermediate transfer roller 23a. Thereafter, the cleaning process of the intermediate transfer roller cleaner 50 is ended with the end of the transfer process.
[0051]
In this embodiment, when the cleaning test using the intermediate transfer roller cleaner 50 is performed under the same conditions as in the first embodiment, the initial cleaning performance can be maintained even after outputting 50,000 images. In addition, the ground stain did not contaminate the recording paper P, and the transfer performance due to foreign matters such as paper dust was not deteriorated, and a high-quality transfer image was obtained.
[0052]
If comprised in this way, the adhesive cleaning agent 51 is apply | coated to the intermediate transfer roller 23a with the application | coating blade 52, and after that, the adhesive cleaning agent 51 is peeled and collect | recovered with the collection blade 53 with the deposit | attachment on the surface of the intermediate transfer roller 23a. The properties of the adhesive cleaning agent 51 can be maintained satisfactorily by dispersing and mixing the adhering substance in the adhesive cleaning agent 51 and then supplying it again to the coating blade 52. Accordingly, as in the first embodiment, a high-quality image can be obtained without requiring replacement or maintenance of the intermediate transfer roller cleaner 50 for a long time, and maintenance and economy can be improved.
[0053]
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various design changes can be made. For example, the contact pressure of the supply device against the transfer medium when the adhesive cleaning agent is pressed against or applied to the transfer medium is arbitrary. However, if it is 20 g / cm or less, the uniformity of pressing of the supply device against the transfer medium cannot be obtained, and the adhesive cleaning agent cannot be uniformly applied, which causes cleaning failure. In this case, an excessive torque is generated and a load is applied to the transfer medium, which adversely affects driving and lowers the image quality. Therefore, it is desirably 20 g / cm to 5000 g / cm.
[0054]
In addition, the intermediate transfer roller, the pressure roller, and the transfer medium can be cleaned as long as the developed image can be satisfactorily transferred and the adhesive cleaning agent can be applied to the transfer medium or peeled off from the transfer medium. The set temperature of the supply device or recovery device of the device is arbitrary.
[0055]
Further, the structure of the image forming apparatus is not limited, and may be arbitrary, such as a color image forming apparatus that obtains a color image by superimposing a plurality of color liquid developers.
[0056]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the adhesive cleaning agent for cleaning the intermediate transfer medium is used after the deposit is collected from the intermediate transfer medium and before being used again for cleaning the intermediate transfer medium. Since the deposits are dispersed and mixed therein, the properties of the adhesive cleaning agent can be maintained well for a long time regardless of the recovery of the deposits. Therefore, the transfer medium cleaning device can be dramatically extended in service life, and a good transfer image can be obtained for a long period of time without maintenance or replacement of the transfer medium cleaning device, thereby improving maintenance and economic efficiency.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an image forming unit of an electrophotographic apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a transfer device and an intermediate transfer roller cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a transfer device and an intermediate transfer roller cleaner according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a transfer device and an intermediate transfer roller cleaner according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a transfer device and an intermediate transfer roller cleaner according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
10. Image forming unit
11 ... photosensitive drum
13 ... Charging device
14 ... Laser beam
16: Exposure part
17 ... Liquid developer
18 ... Developing roller
20 ... Cover removal roller
21. Developing device
22 ... Carrier liquid recovery device
23. Transfer device
23a ... Intermediate transfer roller
23b ... Pressure roller
24. Photoconductor cleaner
26 ... Static elimination lamp
27 ... Heater
28 ... Heater
30 ... Intermediate transfer roller cleaner
31 ... Container
32. Holding roller
33 ... Halogen lamp heater
34 ... Adhesive cleaning agent
35 ... peeling blade

Claims (4)

An adhesive cleaning agent that comes into contact with a transfer medium having an elastic surface for secondary transfer of a developed image primarily transferred from an image carrier to a recording medium, and adheres to deposits on the surface of the transfer medium;
Supply means for supplying the adhesive cleaning agent to the transfer medium;
A collecting means for collecting the adhesive cleaning agent supplied to the transfer medium from the transfer medium together with the adhered matter;
A transfer medium cleaning device comprising: a dispersion unit that mixes and disperses the deposit in the adhesive cleaning agent while the cleaning agent recovered by the recovery unit is supplied to the supply unit again. . An adhesive cleaning agent that comes into contact with a transfer medium having an elastic surface for secondary transfer of a developed image primarily transferred from an image carrier to a recording medium, and adheres to deposits on the surface of the transfer medium;
A holding member that travels while holding the adhesive cleaning agent and that makes the held adhesive cleaning agent contact the transfer medium;
A peeling member that peels the adhesive cleaning agent after passing through the contact position with the transfer medium from the holding member;
An apparatus for cleaning a transfer medium, wherein the supply of the adhesive cleaning agent to the surface of the holding member and the peeling of the adhesive cleaning agent from the surface of the holding member are repeated while driving the holding member. An adhesive cleaning agent that comes into contact with a transfer medium having an elastic surface for secondary transfer of a developed image primarily transferred from an image carrier to a recording medium, and adheres to deposits on the surface of the transfer medium;
An application member for applying the adhesive cleaning agent to the transfer medium;
A recovery member for recovering from the transfer medium together with the adhering matter adhering the adhesive cleaning agent applied to the transfer medium;
An apparatus for cleaning a transfer medium, wherein the adhesive cleaning agent recovered from the transfer medium by the recovery member is supplied to the coating member, and the adhesive cleaning agent is circulated for use. An image carrier for holding an electrostatic latent image on the surface;
Developing means for supplying a developer to the electrostatic latent image to form a developer image on the image carrier;
A transfer means comprising a transfer medium having an elastic surface for secondarily transferring the developed image to a recording medium after the developed image on the image carrier is primarily transferred;
An adhesive cleaning agent that contacts the transfer medium and adheres to deposits on the transfer medium surface;
Supply means for supplying the adhesive cleaning agent to the transfer medium;
A collecting means for collecting the adhesive cleaning agent supplied to the transfer medium from the transfer medium together with the adhered matter;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a dispersion unit configured to mix and disperse the deposit in the adhesive cleaning agent while supplying the cleaning agent collected by the collecting unit to the supply unit again.

Images