JP3924464B2 - Brush processing apparatus and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic apparatus on which a color image is formed, such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, or a printer, and more particularly, to image forming rotation of a photoreceptor or an intermediate transfer body on which a toner image is formed. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a lubricant applying means for applying a lubricant to a body.
[0002]
[Prior art]
An image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic apparatus is used on a recording sheet after transfer due to uneven driving of a driving system such as a photoreceptor or an intermediate transfer body on which a toner image is formed, a transfer apparatus, and a developing apparatus, or mechanical vibration. A kind of image unevenness in the sub-scanning direction called “banding” occurs in the image. Such banding is particularly likely to occur in a halftone image, causing a reduction in image quality.
[0003]
In recent years, for example, as in a color image forming apparatus, there has been a demand for higher quality images, and at the same time, vibration and rotation unevenness have been reversed due to cost reduction, weight reduction, size reduction, etc. of the machine itself. Therefore, the above-described measures for preventing banding are also a very big problem.
[0004]
Further, in the conventional image forming apparatus, the friction coefficient on the surface of the image forming rotating body is reduced by applying a lubricant to the image forming rotating body of the photosensitive member or intermediate transfer member on which the toner image is formed. There is. This reduces the wear of the cleaning blade when cleaning the surface of the image forming rotating body after transfer, improves the cleaning performance, and improves the transfer performance of the toner image onto the recording paper by the transfer roller. Yes. As such a lubricant application means, for example, when a solid lubricant is used and the lubricant is applied by bringing the lubricant into direct contact with the surface of the image forming rotating body, application unevenness occurs. This tends to cause image unevenness and poor cleaning.
[0005]
Accordingly, in order to solve such a problem, a configuration like an image forming apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a prior art example) disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-305567 previously filed and published by the present applicant is disclosed. There is something to have. In this prior example, as shown in FIG. 14, for example, a brush-like member that comes into contact with the intermediate transfer member 5 as a lubricant application means 10 on the surface of the intermediate transfer member 5 formed of an endless belt that is stretched around the rotating roller 1. The solid lubricant 14 held by the bracket 13 that slides in the holder case 12 in the contact / separation direction is elastically applied to the brush roller 11 by the urging force of the pressure spring 19. It is in contact. Accordingly, the lubricant is uniformly applied to the brush roller 11 and indirectly applied to the surface of the intermediate transfer body 5, thereby preventing image unevenness and poor cleaning.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the image forming apparatus disclosed in the above-described prior example, the brush in the portion of the brush roller 11 to which the solid lubricant 14 is pressed is likely to be pressed and the rotation unevenness of the brush roller 11 is caused by the pressure of the brush. And often causes torque irregularities. In particular, when the solid lubricant 14 is kept in pressure contact with the brush roller 11 and is stored for a long time after delivery to the user of the apparatus or left for a long time after delivery, the image forming operation is not performed for a long time. Further, the brush wrinkles of the brush roller 11 are also increased, and when image output is performed in this state, large banding occurs.
[0007]
Such problems such as banding caused by the pressure contact of the brush roller are not limited to the brush roller to which the lubricant is applied, for example, a brush-like member such as a fur brush is used as a cleaning member, or the photosensitive member is made uniform. It can also occur when a brush-like member such as a charging brush is used as the charging member to be charged. That is, since the fur brush is in contact with a contact member such as flicker for removing toner adhering to the fur brush, the fur brush is likely to be pressed against the fur brush, resulting in cleaning unevenness. Reduce image quality. In addition, since the charging brush is often brought into contact with a contact member for removing dirt adhered to the charging brush, the charging brush tends to cause pressure contact with the charging brush, resulting in uneven charging and lowering the image quality. Let
[0008]
The present invention has been made under the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a brush processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus capable of preventing the occurrence of problems such as banding caused by pressure contact of a brush-like member. To do.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, the invention described in claim 1 Image forming rotating body By rotating while touching Image forming rotating body A brush-like member that performs processing on the brush-like member Image forming rotating body A contact member that contacts a different part from the contact part with For image forming equipment In the brush processing apparatus, contact member support means for supporting at least one member of the brush-like member and the contact member so as to be able to come into contact with and separate from the other member, and attaching at least one member to the other member. Biasing means for biasing, and a release member that holds the at least one member at a separation position where the brush-like member and the contact member are separated to release the contact of these members, It is characterized in that the release state can be opened by removing the release member.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the brush processing apparatus of the first aspect, the at least one member is the contact member.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the brush processing apparatus of the first or second aspect, the contact member is a lubricant applied to the image forming rotating body that is the processing target, and the brush-shaped member is The image forming rotating body is subjected to a process of applying the lubricant.
According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in the brush processing apparatus of the third aspect, solidified zinc stearate is used as the lubricant.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the brush processing apparatus of the first, second, third, or fourth aspect, the contact member support means includes a holding member that detachably holds the contact member, and the contact member The contact member can be removed from and attached to the holding member at a separation position where the member and the brush-like member are separated from each other.
The invention according to claim 6 Image forming rotator and image forming rotator In the brush-like member that rotates while contacting Image forming rotating body The contact member is in contact with a portion different from the contact portion with the brush-shaped member. Image forming rotating body Brush processing means for processing And In the provided image forming apparatus, the brush processing device according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 is used as the brush processing means.
In the brush processing apparatus according to the first aspect, it is possible to prevent the pressure contact of the brush at the portion of the brush-like member where the contact member such as a lubricant is pressed.
Further, in the image forming apparatus according to claim 6, a brush-like member that rotates while contacting a processing target such as an image forming rotating body of a photosensitive member or an intermediate transfer member, and a contact of a lubricant or the like that contacts the brush-like member. Since the brush processing device according to the first, second, third, fourth, or fifth aspect is used as a brush processing means having a member, image formation is performed in a state in which the rotation unevenness and torque unevenness of the brush-like member are prevented. Can do.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiment 1
Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a color copying machine as an example of an image forming apparatus (hereinafter, this embodiment is referred to as “embodiment 1”) will be described.
In the present embodiment, an embodiment when applied to a so-called tandem type color copier provided with a photosensitive drum as a plurality of image carriers as an example of an image forming apparatus will be described. Of course, it is not limited to. This color copying machine mainly comprises a color image reading device and an image recording device (hereinafter referred to as “color printer unit”). Since a commonly used color image reading apparatus can be used, the color printer unit will be described below.
[0011]
FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged view of the color printer unit. The color printer unit receives image data as image information from a color image reading device (not shown) and performs image forming processing. As shown in the figure, the color printer unit is abbreviated as magenta (hereinafter abbreviated as “M”), cyan (hereinafter abbreviated as “C”), yellow (hereinafter abbreviated as “Y”). ), Black (hereinafter abbreviated as “Bk”), photosensitive drums 1M, 1C, 1Y, and 1Bk, which are image carriers as four image forming rotators for each color, are arranged in parallel. The photosensitive drums 1M, 1C, 1Y, and 1Bk are moved so that they contact an intermediate transfer belt 5 that is an intermediate transfer member as an endless moving member supported by a plurality of rotatable rollers including a driving roller. They are arranged side by side along the direction. Further, around the photosensitive drums 1M, 1C, 1Y, and 1Bk, chargers 2M, 2C, 2Y, and 2Bk, developing devices 9M, 9C, 9Y, and 9Bk corresponding to the respective colors, and photosensitive member cleaning devices 4M, 4C, and Electrophotographic process members such as 4Y and 4Bk are arranged in the process order.
[0012]
When a full-color image is formed by the color copying machine according to this embodiment, first, as shown in FIG. 6, a charger is driven while rotating the photosensitive drum 1M in the direction of the arrow in the drawing by a photosensitive member driving device (not shown). After uniform charging at 2M, a light beam L from an optical writing device (not shown) is irradiated to form an M electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 1M. The M electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing device 9M with M toner in the developer. During development, a predetermined developing bias is applied between the developing roller and the photosensitive drum 1M, and the M toner on the developing roller is electrostatically attracted to the M electrostatic latent image portion on the photosensitive drum 1M.
[0013]
The M toner image developed and formed in this way is conveyed to the primary transfer portion where the photosensitive drum 1M and the intermediate transfer belt 5 come into contact with the rotation of the photosensitive drum 1M. In the primary transfer portion, a predetermined bias voltage is applied to the back surface of the intermediate transfer belt 5 by a primary transfer roller 51M as a primary transfer unit. The M toner image on the photosensitive drum 1M is drawn toward the intermediate transfer belt 5 by the primary transfer electric field generated by the bias application, and is primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 5. The M toner image primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 5 in this way is conveyed to the primary transfer portions of the photosensitive drums 1C, 1Y, 1Bk on the downstream side along the surface movement direction of the intermediate transfer belt 5. Then, the C toner image, the Y toner image, and the Bk toner image are sequentially primary-transferred so as to similarly overlap the M toner image.
[0014]
As described above, the toner images having the four colors superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 5 are conveyed to the secondary transfer portion facing the secondary transfer roller 71 as the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 5 moves. Further, the transfer paper P is conveyed to the secondary transfer portion by the registration roller 11 at a predetermined timing. In this secondary transfer portion, a predetermined bias voltage is applied to the back surface of the transfer paper P by the secondary transfer roller 71, and the secondary transfer electric field generated by the bias application and the contact pressure at the secondary transfer portion. The toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 5 is secondarily transferred onto the transfer paper P at once. Thereafter, the transfer paper P onto which the toner image has been secondarily transferred is transported to the fixing device 8 by the transfer paper transport belt 72, subjected to fixing processing by the fixing roller pair 81 of the fixing device 8, and then discharged outside the device. The
[0015]
On the other hand, the untransferred toner remaining on the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 1M, 1C, 1Y, and 1Bk after the primary transfer is a brush-like member that is driven to rotate by receiving a driving force from a driving device (not shown) as a surface moving unit. The cleaning brushes 41M, 41C, 41Y, 41Bk and the cleaning blades 42M, 42C, 42Y, 42Bk are scraped off and cleaned by the photoconductor cleaning devices 4M, 4C, 4Y, 4Bk. The transfer residual toner scraped off by the cleaning brushes 41M, 41C, 41Y, and 41Bk and adhered to the brush portion is removed by the flickers 43M, 43C, 43Y, and 43Bk as contact members. Further, the transfer residual toner remaining on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 5 after the toner image is transferred to the transfer paper P is cleaned by a belt cleaning device 6 that is pressed against the intermediate transfer belt 5 by a not-shown separation / contact mechanism. . That is, the transfer residual toner on the intermediate transfer belt 5 is scraped off by the cleaning brush 61 and the cleaning blade 62 as brush-like members, and the transfer residual toner adhering to the cleaning brush 61 is dropped by the flicker 63 as a contact member. Then, the cleaned surface of the intermediate transfer belt 5 is subjected to a process of applying a lubricant and a process of eliminating the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 5 by a lubricant application device 10 as a brush processing device. The toner adhering to the surface of the transfer paper transport belt 72 after transporting the transfer paper P onto which the toner image has been transferred to the fixing device 8 is cleaned by a transport belt cleaning device 73 as a brush processing device. That is, the toner adhering to the transfer paper transport belt 72 is scraped off by the cleaning brush 74 as a brush-like member, and the toner adhering to the cleaning brush 74 is removed by a flicker 75 as a contact member.
[0016]
In the color copying machine, when image forming operation is not performed for a long period of time, the brush roller 11 of the lubricant application device 10, the cleaning brushes 41M, 41C, 41Y, 41Bk of the photoconductor cleaning devices 4M, 4C, 4Y, 4Bk, the belt Since the brush-like member such as the cleaning brush 61 of the cleaning device 6 does not rotate, the contact with the lubricant 14 and the flickers 43 and 63 which are in contact with them respectively causes pressure contact. When such pressure contact is applied, uneven rotation and torque of the brush roller 11 and the cleaning brushes 41 and 61 occur, and problems such as banding occur as described above.
[0017]
Therefore, in the present embodiment, as an example in which the image forming operation is not performed for a long period of time, a case where the apparatus that is considered to be most susceptible to pressure welding is stored before delivery to the user or left for a long time after delivery is exemplified. In the following, the case where no pressure welding is attached between them will be described. In the following description, the brush roller 11 of the lubricant application device 10 will be described as an example.
[0018]
[Configuration example 1]
FIGS. 1 to 5 are explanatory views showing a configuration example of the lubricant application device 10 (hereinafter, this configuration example is referred to as “configuration example 1”). As in the conventional structure shown in FIG. 14, the lubricant application device 10 makes a brush roller 11 abut on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 5, and the brush case 11 contacts and separates the inside of a holder case 12 as an accommodation holding member. The lubricant 14 as the contact member held by the bracket 13 as the holding member that slides in the direction is elastically brought into contact with the urging force of the pressure spring 19 as the pressure means. In this case, solidified zinc stearate is suitably used as the lubricant 14.
[0019]
The lubricant application device 10 is provided with contact member support means for supporting at least one of the lubricant 14 and the brush roller 11 so as to be able to contact and separate from each other. It functions as a means for supporting the brush-like member in a releasable manner. The contact member support means in the present embodiment includes a release member 20, which will be described later, a bracket 13 having an insertion port 16, and a holder case 12 having a guide groove 15. The release member 20 can be inserted into the insertion port 16 from the outside through the guide groove 15.
[0020]
As shown in FIG. 2, the above-described release member 20 has a form including a knob portion 21 and long and short protrusions 22 and 23 extending from the knob portion 21. That is, in order to release the lubricant 14 of the lubricant application device 10 from the brush roller 11 by using the release member 20, as shown in FIG. Then, it is inserted into the insertion port 16 provided in the bracket 13 of the lubricant 14 through the guide groove 15 of the holder case 12. In this state, the release member 20 moves the lubricant 14 in the separation direction X shown in the drawing, and as shown in FIG. 4, the release member 20 has a short length at a separation position where the lubricant 14 and the brush roller 11 are separated from each other. The side protrusions 23 are fixed by being hooked and locked in locking holes 17 provided in the holder case 12. Thereby, the release state of the lubricant 14 with respect to the brush roller 11 can be maintained. Further, the release state of the lubricant 14 can be easily released by pulling the release member 20 out of the holder case 12 and removing it.
[0021]
[Configuration example 2]
Next, another configuration example (hereinafter referred to as “configuration example 2”) of the lubricant application device 10 will be described.
7 to 9 are explanatory views showing a lubricant application device 10 according to Configuration Example 2. FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, the lubricant applying device 10 includes a release member 120 on a knob 121, two long and short protrusions 122 and 123 extending from the knob 121, and one side base of the long protrusion 122. The engagement groove 124 is formed. On the other hand, on the holder case 112 side, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the upper end of the guide groove 115 (the separation position of the lubricant 14) extending in the separation direction X (vertical direction in the drawing) of the lubricant 14, In the drawing, a guide groove 118 extending in the left direction Y is continuously formed in an L shape, and the locking hole 117 is also formed in a long hole shape extending in the horizontal direction Y toward the rear side of the apparatus body. ing.
[0022]
In order to release the lubricant 14 of the lubricant application device 10 from the brush roller 11 using the release member 120 described above, the long-side protrusion 122 of the release member 120 is externally attached to the holder case as in the first configuration example. The lubricant 14 is inserted into the insertion opening 116 provided in the bracket 13 of the lubricant 14 through the guide groove 115 of 112, and the lubricant 14 is moved in the release direction X by the release member 120 as shown in FIG. 9. At the release position of the lubricant 14, the short projection 123 of the release member 120 is hooked and locked into a long hole-like engagement hole 117 provided in the holder case 112, and at the release position of the lubricant 14, the release member 120. Is moved in the horizontal direction Y toward the rear side (left side in the figure) of the apparatus main body (not shown), and the engagement groove 124 formed on the one side base of the long projection 122 is lightly press-fitted into the terminal portion of the guide groove 118. Fix it by holding it. Thereby, the release state of the lubricant 14 with respect to the brush roller 11 can be maintained more stably. The release state of the lubricant 14 can be easily released by moving the release member 120 in the horizontal direction Y toward the front (right side in the drawing) of the apparatus main body (not shown), and then pulling it out and removing it.
[0023]
As a method for releasing the release state in this configuration example, for example, one end side of a wire (not shown) is connected to the knob 121 of the release member 120 and the other end of this wire is made to face the front part of the apparatus main body (not shown). The other end of the wire is pulled to the near side by a handle (not shown). According to this method, it is possible to release the release state by remote operation from the outside of the apparatus main body. Therefore, the release state of the lubricant 14 can be easily released by the release member 120 without removing the lubricant application device 10 from the apparatus main body, and workability at the time of delivery to the user can be further improved.
[0024]
[Embodiment 2]
Hereinafter, another embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a color copying machine as an example of an image forming apparatus (hereinafter, this embodiment will be referred to as “second embodiment”) will be described. In this embodiment, a so-called revolver-type developing device that includes a photosensitive drum as an image carrier, which is an example of an image forming apparatus, and can form toner images of a plurality of colors on the photosensitive drum. An embodiment when applied to a color copier provided will be described.
[0025]
FIG. 12 is a schematic configuration diagram of a color printer unit which is a main part of the color copying machine. This color printer unit is provided with one photosensitive drum 201 as an image carrier. Around the photosensitive drum 201, as in the first embodiment, the charger 202, the revolver developing device 209 including the four developing devices 291, 292, 293, and 294 corresponding to the respective colors, and the photosensitive member cleaning device 204, respectively. And the like are arranged in the order of processes.
[0026]
In this color copying machine, the photosensitive drum 201 is rotated, the surface of the photosensitive drum is uniformly charged by the charger 202, and then the laser beam L is irradiated from the writing optical unit. M electrostatic latent images corresponding to are formed. Thereafter, the M electrostatic latent image is developed by the M developing device 291 of the revolver developing device 209, and an M toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 201. The M toner image is primarily transferred onto the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 205. Thereafter, similarly, C, Y, Bk toner images are sequentially formed on the photosensitive drum 201, and the respective color toner images are primarily transferred so as to overlap the toner images already transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 5. Is done. Thereafter, as in the first embodiment, secondary transfer is performed on the transfer paper P, fixing processing is performed, and then the sheet is discharged outside the apparatus.
[0027]
As in the first embodiment, the color copying machine according to the present embodiment is provided with a lubricant application device 210, a photoreceptor cleaning device 204, a belt cleaning device 206, and a conveyor belt cleaning device 273 as brush processing devices. Yes. Here, in the color copying machine according to the present embodiment, the intermediate transfer belt 205 is rotated a plurality of times in order to superimpose a plurality of color toner images on the intermediate transfer belt 205. Therefore, it is necessary to separate the lubricant applying device 210 and the belt cleaning device 206 from the intermediate transfer belt 205 so as not to destroy the toner image primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 205. In the following description, the brush roller 211 of the lubricant application device 210 will be described as an example.
[0028]
11 and 12 are explanatory views showing the lubricant application device 210 in the present embodiment. In this lubricant application device 210, the brush roller 211 and the holder case 212 are integrated, and the holder case 212 is rotated about the fulcrum O as shown in FIGS. The brush roller 211 can be brought into and out of contact with the surface. The rotation of the holder case 212 is performed by a brush-like member contact controlled by a swing lever 230 and a half-rotation cam 231 that pushes and swings the swing lever 230 in the rotation direction Z of the holder case 212. This is performed by a contact / separation control mechanism as a separation means. On the other hand, an insertion port 216 provided in the bracket 213 of the lubricant 214 is formed in the shape of a long hole-like notch, and a fixed arm 232 fixed to the apparatus main body side is provided in the insertion port 216. It is inserted through the guide groove 215 obliquely from the outside and above. The fixed arm 232 is disposed so as to be slidably elastically contacted with the insertion port 216 by the urging force of the pressure spring 19 at all times. As shown in FIG. It is made to move in the release direction X.
[0029]
That is, the contact / separation control mechanism that functions as the brush-shaped member contact / separation means in this embodiment also functions as the contact member contact / separation means. Specifically, the half-rotation cam 231 is half-rotated at a timing by a half-rotation clutch (not shown), and the holder case 212 is rotated via the swing lever 230 so that the half-rotation cam 231 is removed from the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 205. The separation state of the brush roller 211 is controlled. A bracket 213 that holds the lubricant 214 in contact with the brush roller 211 by the urging force of the pressure spring 219 at the same time as the brush roller 211 is separated from the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 205 by the rotation of the holder case 212. The sliding movement of the holder case 212 between the insertion port 216 and the fixed arm 232 is pushed and moved in the release direction X of the lubricant 214. As a result, the brush roller 211 is separated from the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 205, and at the same time, the lubricant 214 is separated from the brush roller 211 so that the release state can be maintained. Further, when the half-rotating cam 231 is further rotated half a turn, the holder case 212 rotates so as to return to the original position, and the brush roller 211 comes into contact with the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 205. At the same time, the bracket 213 holding the lubricant 214 is also moved to the original position by the urging force of the pressure spring 219, and the lubricant 214 comes into contact with the brush roller 211.
[0030]
The lubricant application device 10 according to the second embodiment can be applied to the color copying machine according to the first embodiment. In the color copying machine of Embodiment 1, it is not necessary to separate the brush roller 11 from the intermediate transfer belt 5 as in the color copying machine of Embodiment 2, but the intermediate transfer belt 5 and the brush roller 11 are in contact with each other for a long time. In this case, the contact portion of the brush roller 11 may be pressed in the same manner as described above. Therefore, when the image forming operation is not performed for a long time, it is preferable to keep them apart. In this case, the half-rotation clutch of the half-rotation cam 23 is driven by a control unit (not shown) at a timing according to the timing chart shown in FIG. Specifically, when receiving the print instruction, the control unit drives the half-rotation clutch to bring the brush roller 11 into contact with the intermediate transfer belt 5 as shown in FIG. At this time, the lubricant 14 is also in contact with the brush roller 11. Thereafter, the intermediate transfer belt 5 is driven and the brush roller 11 is also driven. On the other hand, after the image forming operation is completed and the driving of the intermediate transfer belt 5 is stopped, and the driving of the brush roller 11 is also stopped, the control unit drives the half-rotation clutch, as shown in FIG. Similarly, the brush roller 11 is separated from the intermediate transfer belt 5, and the lubricant 14 is also separated from the brush roller 11.
[0031]
As described above, according to the first and second embodiments, the intermediate transfer belt 5, 205, the photosensitive drums 1, 201, and the transfer paper transport belt 72 are rotated while being in contact with the intermediate transfer belt 5, 205 as a processing target. Brush rollers 11, 211 and cleaning brushes 41, 241, 61, 261, 74, 274 as brush-like members for performing a lubricant application process, a cleaning process, and the like, and the intermediate transfer belt 5 in the brush roller 11, etc. Lubricant application devices 10 and 210 as brush processing devices, including a lubricant 14 and flickers 43, 243, 63, 263, 75, and 275 as contact members that are in contact with portions different from the contact portions with the photosensitive member, etc. Body cleaning devices 4, 204, belt cleaning devices 6, 206 and conveyor belt cleaning device 73, 73, as contact member support means for supporting at least one of the brush roller 11 and the like and the lubricant 14 so as to be able to contact and separate from each other, the release members 20 and 120, the fixed arm 232, and the insertion ports 16, 116 and 216. Brackets 13 and 213 and holder cases 12, 112, and 212 having guide grooves 15, 115, 215, and 118. It is possible to prevent the pressure welding of the brush. Thereby, rotation unevenness and torque unevenness of the brush roller 11 and the like can be prevented, so that occurrence of banding can be prevented.
Further, according to the first embodiment, the contact member support means supports the lubricant 14 so as to be releasable from the brush roller 11, so that the airframe is mounted with the release members 20 and 120 constituting the contact member support means attached. By shipping, it is possible to prevent the deformation of the brush due to the pressure contact state between the brush roller 11 and the lubricant 14 for a long time from the assembly of the machine body to the delivery of the user as in the past. Therefore, banding can be prevented. In addition, by removing the release members 20 and 120 at the time of delivery to the user, the release state of the lubricant 14 can be easily released, so that workability can be further improved.
Further, according to the first and second embodiments, the contact member is the lubricant 14 applied to the intermediate transfer belt 5, 205 as the image forming rotating body, and the brush-like member is attached to the intermediate transfer belt 5, 205. On the other hand, since the process of applying the lubricant 14 is performed, the rotation unevenness and torque unevenness of the brush rollers 11 and 211 that easily affect the occurrence of banding can be prevented, and the occurrence of banding can be effectively prevented.
Further, according to the first embodiment and the second embodiment, since solidified zinc stearate is used as the lubricant 14, it is possible to improve the cleaning property of the processing target and lubricate the brush roller 11 and the like. The agent can be applied uniformly.
Moreover, in the said Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2, it has the brackets 13 and 213 as a holding member which hold | maintains the lubricant 14 so that attachment or detachment is possible, and the lubricant 14 and the brush rollers 11 and 211 are spaced apart, The lubricant 14 can be removed and attached to the brackets 13 and 213. Therefore, replacement of consumables such as the lubricant 14 is facilitated.
Further, according to the second embodiment, the contact / separation control mechanism is provided as a brush-like member contact / separation means for contacting / separating at least one of the brush roller 211 and the intermediate transfer belt 205 with respect to the other at a predetermined timing. When the brush roller 211 and the intermediate transfer belt 205 are contacted by the contact / separation control mechanism, the lubricant 214 and the brush roller 211 are contacted, and when the brush roller 211 and the intermediate transfer belt 205 are separated by the contact / separation control mechanism. Since the contact / separation control mechanism as the contact member contact / separation means for separating the lubricant 214 and the brush roller 211 is provided, the occurrence of banding can be more effectively prevented with a simple configuration. Then, when applying the lubricant 214 to the image forming rotating body to be processed in the color image forming apparatus, particularly when overlapping colors, the brush roller 211 can be easily separated from the image forming rotating body. .
Further, according to the second embodiment, as the contact member supporting means, at least a part of the lubricants 14 and 214 can be accommodated inside, and at least a part of the lubricants 14 and 214 is exposed to the outside. The contact case / separation control mechanism has at least a part of the lubricants 14, 214 when the brush rollers 11, 211 and the intermediate transfer belts 5, 205 come into contact with each other. When the lubricants 14 and 214 and the brush rollers 11 and 211 are brought into contact with each other and exposed to the outside of 12, 12, and 212, and the brush rollers 11 and 211 and the intermediate transfer belts 5 and 205 are separated by the contact / separation control mechanism. At least a part of the lubricants 14, 214 is accommodated in the holder cases 12, 112, 212 so that the lubricants 14, 214 and the brush rollers 11, 2 Since separating the 1 and can prevent the occurrence of banding by a simple configuration.
Moreover, in the said Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2, the contact member is contacting in the part different from the contact part with this process target in the brush-shaped member rotated while contacting the process target, From this brush-shaped member As the brush processing means of a color copying machine as an image forming apparatus provided with a brush processing means for performing processing on the processing target and a processing target member to be processed, the above-described lubricant applying devices 10, 210, Since the photoconductor cleaning devices 4 and 204, the belt cleaning devices 6 and 206, and the conveyor belt cleaning devices 73 and 273 are used, a high-quality image with less banding can be formed.
In the first and second embodiments, the intermediate transfer belts 5 and 205 as the image forming rotator and the lubricant application devices 10 and 210 as the lubricant application means for applying the lubricants 14 and 214 to the intermediate transfer belts 5 and 205 are provided. The lubricant application devices 10 and 210 include brush rollers 11 and 211 with which the lubricants 14 and 214 abut, and the brush rollers 11 and 211 abut against the intermediate transfer belt 5 and 205. The color copier as described above has a release member 20 as a lubricant release means capable of releasing the lubricants 14 and 214 from the brush rollers 11 and 211, so that the brush at the portion of the brush roller where the lubricant is in pressure contact as in the past is used. Can be prevented. Thereby, since the rotation nonuniformity and torque nonuniformity of a brush roller can be prevented, generation | occurrence | production of banding can be prevented.
[0032]
In each of the above-described embodiments, the lubricant application device 10 that applies the lubricant 14 to the intermediate transfer belts 5 and 205 in the color copying machine has been described as an example, but the photoconductor cleaning devices 4M, 4C, 4Y, The same applies to 4Bk, 204, belt cleaning devices 6, 206, and conveyor belt cleaning devices 73, 273. Further, the present invention can be processed by rotating and driving the photosensitive drums 1M, 1C, 1Y, 1Bk, 201, the intermediate transfer belts 5, 205, the transfer paper transport belts 72, 272, and the like. The brush-like member to be treated and the lubricant 14 in contact with a portion of the brush-like member that is different from the portion to be treated, flicker 43M, 43C, 43Y, 43Bk, 63, 75, 243, 263, 275 Any brush processing apparatus provided with a contact member such as can be applied in the same manner. In addition to the examples described above, the present invention is also applied to, for example, a charging unit including a charging brush that uniformly charges the photosensitive drum, and a discharging unit including a discharging brush that neutralizes the surface of the photosensitive drum and the intermediate transfer belt. It is possible.
[0033]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the pressure contact of the brush can be prevented, so that the rotation unevenness and torque unevenness of the brush roller can be prevented, and the occurrence of banding can be surely prevented. .
Claims 6 According to this invention, since image formation can be performed in a state where rotation unevenness and torque unevenness of the brush-like member are prevented, there is an effect that a high-quality image with less banding can be formed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a mechanism of a lubricant application device of Configuration Example 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an example of the release member.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a preceding stage in the lubricant release state same as above.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a latter stage of the lubricant release state.
FIG. 5 is a view of a part of the release member as seen from the opening of the holder case.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a color copying machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
7 is a perspective view of another example of a release member in the lubricant application device of Configuration Example 1. FIG.
FIG. 8 is a front view showing an arrangement state with a holder case to which the release member is attached.
FIG. 9 is a view of a part of the release member as seen from the opening of the holder case.
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a mechanism of a lubricant application device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing an action state of the operation member in a release state of the lubricant application device.
FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a color copying machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a timing chart showing the operation timing when the lubricant applying apparatus according to the second embodiment is applied to the color copying machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a lubricant application unit in a conventional image forming apparatus.
[Explanation of symbols]
1,201 Photosensitive drum
4,204 Photoconductor cleaning device
41,241 Cleaning brush
43,243 Flicker
5,205 Intermediate transfer belt
6,206 Belt cleaning device
61,261 Cleaning brush
63,263 Flicker
73,273 Conveyor belt cleaning device
74,274 Cleaning brush
75,275 Flicker
10,210 Lubricant coating device
11, 211 brush roller
12, 112, 212 Holder case
13,213 Bracket
14 Lubricant
15, 115, 215 Guide groove
16, 116, 216 insertion slot
17,117 Locking hole
118 Guide groove
19,219 Pressure spring
20,120 release member
21, 121, 221 knob
22, 122, 222 Long side projection
23, 123, 223 Short side projection
124 engaging groove
230 Swing lever
231 half-turn cam
232 Fixed arm

Claims (6)

A brush-like member that performs processing on the image forming rotator by rotating the image forming rotator while being in contact with the image forming rotator;
In a brush processing apparatus for an image forming apparatus, comprising: a contact member that contacts a portion different from a contact portion with the image forming rotating body in the brush-shaped member;
Contact member support means for supporting at least one member of the brush-like member and the contact member so as to be able to contact and separate from the other member;
Biasing means for biasing the at least one member against the other member;
Holding the at least one member at a separation position where the brush-like member and the contact member are separated from each other, and releasing the contact between these members;
A brush processing apparatus, wherein the release state can be opened by removing the release member. In the brush processing apparatus of Claim 1,
The brush processing apparatus, wherein the at least one member is the contact member. In the brush processing apparatus of Claim 1 or 2,
The contact member is a lubricant applied to the image forming rotating body to be processed,
The brush processing apparatus, wherein the brush-like member performs a process of applying the lubricant to the image forming rotating body. In the brush processing apparatus of Claim 3,
A brush treatment apparatus using solidified zinc stearate as the lubricant. In the brush processing apparatus of Claim 1, 2, 3, or 4,
The contact member support means includes a holding member that detachably holds the contact member, and allows the contact member to be detached from and attached to the holding member at a separation position where the contact member and the brush-like member are separated from each other. A brush processing apparatus characterized by being made possible. An image forming rotating body;
The contact member is in contact with a portion different from the contact portion with the image forming rotator in the brush-like member that rotates while being in contact with the image forming rotator. an image forming apparatus comprising a brush processing means for performing Te processing,
An image forming apparatus using the brush processing device according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 as the brush processing means.

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