Cleaning device and image forming apparatus using same

A cleaning device that cleans a surface of an image holding unit capable of holding an image formed using an image forming material includes: a cleaning tool that is movable along an intersecting direction intersecting with a moving direction of the image holding unit and cleans the surface of the image holding unit when placed in a contact position where the cleaning tool is in contact with the surface of the image holding unit; and a guiding unit that guides the cleaning tool so that the cleaning tool moves from a non-contact position where the cleaning tool is not in contact with the image holding unit to the contact position for cleaning the surface of the image holding unit, wherein when the image holding unit is moved, the cleaning tool placed in the contact position cleans the surface of the image holding unit.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-059552 filed Mar. 27, 2019.

BACKGROUND

(i) Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a cleaning device and an image forming apparatus using the same.

(ii) Related Art

As an image forming apparatus of the related art, for example, an apparatus described in JP-A-2002-351279 is already known.

JP-A-2002-351279 (exemplary embodiments and examples of the invention,FIG. 2) discloses an image forming apparatus including a cleaning device that includes a fur brush formed of a conductive fiber member in order to remove a residual toner from a photosensitive drum, includes a recovery roller to which a voltage can be applied with conductivity to be in contact with the fur brush, first captures the residual toner on the photosensitive drum sent to a part of the fur brush by rotational rubbing of the fur brush, guides the residual toner to the recovery roller along with the rotation of the fur brush, and performs electrostatic recovery on the recovery roller by a voltage applied to the recovery roller.

SUMMARY

Aspects of non-limiting embodiments of the present disclosure relate to making an image holding unit less likely to be damaged when a cleaning tool for removing deposits from the surface of the image holding unit moves.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a cleaning device that cleans a surface of an image holding unit capable of holding an image formed using an image forming material, the device including: a cleaning tool that is movable along an intersecting direction intersecting with a moving direction of the image holding unit and cleans the surface of the image holding unit when placed in a contact position where the cleaning tool is in contact with the surface of the image holding unit; and a guiding unit that guides the cleaning tool so that the cleaning tool moves from a non-contact position where the cleaning tool is not in contact with the image holding unit to the contact position for cleaning the surface of the image holding unit, wherein when the image holding unit is moved, the cleaning tool placed in the contact position cleans the surface of the image holding unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Outline of Exemplary EmbodimentFIG. 1Aillustrates an outline of an exemplary embodiment of a cleaning device to which the present disclosure is applied and an image forming apparatus using the same, andFIGS. 1B and 1Cillustrate explanatory view illustrating a main part of the cleaning device illustrated inFIG. 1A.

Referring to the drawing, a cleaning device5is a device that cleans the surface of an image holding unit1capable of holding an image foil led using an image forming material, the device including: a cleaning tool11that is movable along an intersecting direction intersecting with the moving direction of the image holding unit1and cleans the surface of the image holding unit1when placed in a contact position where the cleaning tool is in contact with the surface of the image holding unit1; and a guiding unit12that guides the cleaning tool11so that the cleaning tool11moves from a non-contact position where the cleaning tool11is not in contact with the image holding unit1to the contact position for cleaning the surface of the image holding unit1, in which when the image holding unit1is moved, the cleaning tool11placed in the contact position cleans the surface of the image holding unit1.

In such technical means, the exemplary embodiment is premised on an aspect in which an image is formed using an image forming material (representatively, toner) and held on the surface of the image holding unit1.

Here, the image holding unit1includes not only a member that forms and holds the image, such as a photosensitive body and a dielectric, but also a member that holds the formed image, such as an intermediate transfer body.

Furthermore, the cleaning device5cleans the surface of the image holding unit1, and as illustrated inFIGS. 1B and 1C, may include the cleaning tool11and the guiding unit12that moves the cleaning tool11between a contact position and a non-contact position.

An example of a representative aspect of the cleaning tool11includes a member that is attachable to and detachable from the guiding unit12. In this case, when the cleaning tool11is not used, the cleaning tool11may be stored in a place different from the guiding unit12. In another aspect, the guiding unit12may hold the cleaning tool11in the non-contact position when the cleaning tool11is not used.

Next, a representative or preferred aspect of the cleaning device will be described.

First, an example of a representative aspect of the cleaning tool11includes an aspect in which a cleaning member Ha that is in contact with the surface of the image holding unit1, and a support member11bthat supports the cleaning member11a, are provided, and the support member11bhas a grip portion (not illustrated inFIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C) for gripping by a user at a position that projects from a region of the cleaning member11a. In the example, it is possible for the user to easily perform in the operation of setting the cleaning tool11in the contact position by gripping the grip portion of the support member11b.

In addition, an example of the representative aspect of the cleaning member11aincludes an aspect formed of a material that is elastically deformably in contact with the surface of the image holding unit1when being placed in the contact position. In the example, even when the contact position of the cleaning tool11is not set with extremely high accuracy, the contact state between the cleaning tool11set in the contact position and the surface of the image holding unit1is excellently maintained.

In addition, a typical mode of the guiding unit12has a holding portion12aon which the cleaning tool11is detachably held. The holding portion12aguides the cleaning tool11so that the cleaning tool11can be inserted to and drawn from one end of the image holding unit1in the intersecting direction. The holding portion12ais configured to hold the cleaning tool11in the non-contact position during a period from an insertion start position in which the cleaning tool11starts to face a peripheral surface of the image holding unit1to immediately before the cleaning tool11reaches an insertion completion position in which the cleaning tool11is completely inserted to face the peripheral surface of the image holding unit1and to hold the cleaning tool11in the contact position at a stage when the cleaning tool11reaches the insertion completion position. In the example, the attachable and detachable type cleaning tool11may be stably guided, and the cleaning tool11may be held in the non-contact position with respect to the image holding unit1in the middle of the attaching and detaching operation, and the cleaning tool11may be held in the contact position when the mounting is completed.

Here, an example of a preferred aspect of the guiding unit12includes an aspect in which the cleaning tool11is guided to a step portion12bformed at a terminal end of the holding portion12aat the stage when the cleaning tool11has reached the insertion completion position and is held in the contact position. The example is an aspect in which the step portion12bwhich can guide the cleaning tool11to the contact position when mounting of the attachable and detachable cleaning tool11is completed is provided. Furthermore, in order to hold the cleaning tool11in the contact position across the entire region in the intersecting direction of the image holding unit1, for example, it is preferable that a projecting portion12cthat is in contact with the holding portion12aof the guiding unit12is provided at a part opposite to the cleaning tool11in an insertion direction, and that a part opposite to a tip end side that is in contact with the step portion12bin the cleaning tool11is held in the contact position by the projecting portion12c.

In addition, the guiding unit12may be configured such that when the cleaning tool11is pulled out from the insertion completion position to the insertion start position, the cleaning tool11can be held in the non-contact position, similar to the operation of inserting the cleaning tool11. Alternatively, in order to reduce the drop of any deposit from the cleaning tool11as much as possible, the guiding unit12may be configured such that the cleaning tool11can be pulled out while being in contact with the peripheral surface of the image holding unit12.

In addition, in the exemplary embodiment, an image forming apparatus incorporating the above-described cleaning device5can be constructed. Specifically, as illustrated inFIG. 1A, the image forming apparatus includes: the image holding unit1that is capable of holding an image formed using an image forming material; a transfer unit3that transfers the image held by the image holding unit1to a transfer medium2; a first cleaning unit4that removes a residue on the image holding unit1; and a second cleaning unit5(that corresponds to the above-described cleaning device5) that cleans the surface of the image holding unit1after cleaning by the first cleaning unit4, in which the second cleaning unit5includes: the cleaning tool11that is movable along the intersecting direction intersecting with the moving direction of the image holding unit1and cleans the surface of the image holding unit1when placed in the contact position where the cleaning tool11is in contact with the surface of the image holding unit1; and the guiding unit12that guides the cleaning tool11so that the cleaning tool11moves from the non-contact position where it is not in contact with the image holding unit1to the contact position for cleaning the surface of the image holding unit1, in which when the image holding unit1is moved, the cleaning tool11placed in the contact position cleans the surface of the image holding unit1.

In this case, the second cleaning unit5is installed taking into account possible deposition of deposits, which may fail to be removed by the first cleaning unit4, on the image holding unit1over time.

Furthermore, inFIG. 1A, reference numeral6indicates a charging unit that charges the surface of the image holding unit1, reference numeral7indicates a latent image writing unit that writes an electrostatic latent image on the charged surface of the image holding unit1, and reference numeral8indicates a developing unit that develops the electrostatic latent image written on the surface of the image holding unit1with the image forming material (that corresponds to a developer).

Representative or preferred aspects of the image forming apparatus are as follows.

First, an example of a preferred aspect of the image forming apparatus having plural image holding units1, includes an aspect in which the second cleaning unit5shares the cleaning tool11. Although the second cleaning unit5may be placed on each of the plural image holding units1, from the viewpoint of reducing the number of components, as the second cleaning unit5, fewer (preferably one) cleaning tools11than the number of the image holding units1may be prepared and the cleaning tools11may be shared.

In addition, the second cleaning unit5may preferably be disposed upstream of the first cleaning unit4in the moving direction of the image holding unit1. The second cleaning unit5may be disposed at any position of the image holding unit1. The second cleaning unit5may preferably be disposed upstream of the first cleaning unit4in the moving direction of the image holding unit1, so that even if any deposit is left unremoved after the cleaning by the second cleaning unit5, such a deposit is more likely to be captured by the first cleaning unit4located downstream of the second cleaning unit5in the moving direction of the image holding unit1, which improves the cleanness of the surface of the image holding unit1.

In addition, an example of another preferred aspect of the second cleaning unit5is an aspect in which a notification unit (not illustrated inFIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C) for notifying the cleaning time is provided. The notification unit in the example may make notification periodically or through detecting the cause of generation of the image quality defect.

In addition, for example, the notification unit may include a detection unit (not illustrated inFIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C) that detects the state of any deposit on the surface of the image holding unit1, and the notification unit may notifies the cleaning unit of the cleaning time based on the result of detection by the detection unit. In the example, the state of any deposit on the surface of the image holding unit1is monitored, and the cleaning time is notified when an allowable level is exceeded.

Furthermore, an example of another preferred aspect of the second cleaning unit5includes an aspect in which a position detection unit (not illustrated inFIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C) that determines whether or not the cleaning tool11is placed in the contact position is provided, and cleaning is performed when the position detection unit detects that the cleaning tool11is placed in the contact position. The example is an aspect in which it is detected that the cleaning tool11of the second cleaning unit5is placed in the contact position, and implementation of the cleaning is confirmed.

In addition, an example of another preferred aspect of the second cleaning unit5includes an aspect in which the position detection unit (not illustrated inFIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C) that determines whether the cleaning tool11is placed in the contact position is provided, and regular image forming processing is performed when the position detection unit detects that the cleaning tool11is not placed in the contact position. In the example, an aspect in which it is detected that the cleaning tool11of the second cleaning unit5is not placed in the contact position, and implementation of the regular image forming processing is confirmed, is employed.

Hereinafter, the present disclosure will be described in more detail based on the exemplary embodiment illustrated in the attached drawings.

Entire Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus

FIG. 2illustrates the entire configuration of the image forming apparatus according to Exemplary Embodiment 1.

Referring to the drawing, an image forming apparatus20includes: for example, an image forming engine22for producing plural color component images, which is installed in an image forming apparatus housing21; and a paper supply container23(in the example, two-step paper supply containers23aand23b) for supplying the paper, which is provided below the image forming engine22, in which the paper supplied from the paper supply container23is transported through a sheet transporting path24that extends along a substantially vertical direction, the image formed by the image forming engine22is transferred by a batch transfer device25, the image transferred onto the paper is then fixed by a fixing device26, and for example, the paper onto which the image is already fixed is output to a paper output receiver27provided at an upper portion of the image forming apparatus housing21.

Image Forming Engine

In the example, the image forming engine22has plural image forming sections30(specifically,30ato30d) using plural color components (in the example, Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan), and K (black)) toners to which an electrophotographic process is adopted, and batch-transfers (secondary transfer) the images on an intermediate transfer body40onto the paper by the batch transfer device25after primarily transferring each color component image produced by each image forming section30to the intermediate transfer body40.

In the example, the image forming section30(30ato30d) has, for example, a drum-shaped photosensitive body31, and around the photosensitive body31, a charging device32that charges the photosensitive body31; a latent image writing device33that forms an electrostatic latent image on the charged photosensitive body31; a developing device34that develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive body31by each color component toner; a primary transfer device35that is provided on a rear surface of the intermediate transfer body40that faces the photosensitive body31and primarily transfers the image on the photosensitive body31to the intermediate transfer body40; and a regular cleaning device36as the first cleaning unit that cleans the toner that remains on the photosensitive body31after the primary transfer, are sequentially disposed.

Furthermore, in the example, as the latent image writing device33, for example, a device in which writing is separately performed by an LED array, for example, with respect to each of the image forming sections30, but not being limited thereto, a common laser scanning device may be provided to write the electrostatic latent images of each color component by a laser beam with respect to each of the image forming sections30, and laser scanning devices may be respectively provided. In addition, reference numeral38(specifically,38ato38d) indicates a toner cartridge for replenishing each color component toner to each developing device34of each image forming section30(30ato30d).

Further, in the example, the intermediate transfer body40is formed of, for example, a belt-shaped member that stretches over plural tension rolls41to44, and for example, the tension roll41is driven to be capable of circulating and rotating in a predetermined direction as a driving roll, and the tension roll43functions as a tension applying roll for applying a desired tension to the intermediate transfer body40.

Furthermore, reference numeral45indicates an intermediate transfer body cleaning device for removing the residue (toner, paper dust, and the like) from the intermediate transfer body40.

In the example, the batch transfer device25includes a transfer roll25athat is rotatably in contact with the surface of the intermediate transfer body40, and the tension roll42of the intermediate transfer body40is used as a counter electrode, and by forming a desired transfer electric field between the transfer roll25aand the counter electrode, the image held on the intermediate transfer body40is batch-transferred onto the paper.

In addition, on an inlet side of the batch transfer device25in the sheet transporting path24, a positioning roll28is provided which positions the paper to be sent to the batch transfer device25, and an output roll29is provided immediately in front of the paper output receiver27of the sheet transporting path24.

Process Cartridge

In the exemplary embodiment, as illustrated inFIG. 3, each image forming section30is configured as a process cartridge100in which the photosensitive body31, the charging device32, the developing device34, and the cleaning device36are integrated and which is detachably mounted to the cartridge receiving section (not illustrated) of the image forming apparatus housing21.

In particular, in the example, the process cartridge100includes: a photosensitive cartridge101in which the photosensitive body31is incorporated; and a developing cartridge102which is provided to face the photosensitive cartridge101, and in which the developing device34is incorporated, and the photosensitive cartridge101and the developing cartridge102are deposited on and detached from the corresponding part of the cartridge receiving section of the image forming apparatus housing21.

Photosensitive Cartridge

In the example, as illustrated inFIG. 3, the photosensitive cartridge101has a storage container110in which the photosensitive body31is stored, and the charging device32and the cleaning device36are disposed around the photosensitive body31in the storage container110.

Here, both end portions of a rotating shaft of the photosensitive body31are supported to be rotatable at both ends of the storage container110, and one end of the rotating shaft of the photosensitive body31is driven and connected to a driving mechanism (not illustrated) when mounting the photosensitive cartridge101.

In addition, the charging device32includes: a charging container section111provided at a part of the storage container110; a charging roll112that is in contact with or in the vicinity of the surface of the photosensitive body31in the charging container section111; and a cleaning roll113that cleans the charging roll112.

Furthermore, the cleaning device36includes: a cleaning container section114at a part of the storage container110; a plate-shaped cleaning member115that scrapes off the residual toner on the surface of the photosensitive body31, at an opening edge of the cleaning container section114; and a recovery transport member (for example, an aspect in which a spiral blade is attached around the rotating shaft)116by which the residual toner scraped off by the cleaning member115is transported toward a recovery container (not illustrated), in the cleaning container section114.

Developing Cartridge

As illustrated inFIG. 3, the developing cartridge102includes a developing container120which is open toward the photosensitive body31and in which a two-component developer containing toner and carrier is stored, a developing roll121that holds and transports the developer is disposed at the part that faces the opening of the developing container120, one pair of developer stirring members (for example, an aspect in which the spiral blade is attached around the rotating shaft)122and123are disposed on a rear surface side of the developing roll121in the developing container120, and further, a layer thickness regulating member (for example, layer thickness regulating roll)124that regulates a developer layer thickness held by the developing roll121is provided upstream of the development part in a rotational direction of the developing roll121.

In addition, in the example, a pivot shaft (not illustrated) is provided on a far side of the cartridge receiving section of the image forming apparatus housing21, and a bearing section (not illustrated) into which the pivot shaft is inserted is provided on the far side of the developing container120. Therefore, the developing cartridge102can swing around the pivot shaft of the developing container120as a rotation fulcrum.

Furthermore, in the example, tracking rollers (not illustrated) for position adjustment slightly larger than the diameter of the developing roll121are provided at both ends of the developing roll121, the tracking roller comes into contact with the surface of the photosensitive body31, and accordingly, a gap between the developing roll121and the photosensitive body31is adjusted to a predetermined amount.

Furthermore, the developing cartridge102is biased to the photosensitive cartridge101side by respective biasing springs (not illustrated) in the vicinity of both ends in the longitudinal direction, and a positional relationship with the photosensitive cartridge101is maintained in a state where the tracking roller is in contact with the photosensitive body31.

Necessity of Cleaning Device for Maintenance

In the exemplary embodiment, the residue (residual toner, dust, and the like) deposited on the surface of the photosensitive body31is removed by the regular cleaning device36. During long time service of the photosensitive body31, the deposit on the surface of the photosensitive body31, specifically, an external additive in the toner may be deposited to form a film, which is so-called filming, and this may reduce image quality.

In general, the toner is mostly made of a binder resin, and the necessary function is imparted by dispersing a colorant, a charge control agent, a release agent, an external additive and the like in the resin. In particular, the external additive is to add fine powder, such as colloidal silica, titanium oxide, alumina, and fatty acid metal salt, to the toner surface for the purpose of improving the toner fluidity, adjusting the triboelectric charge amount, and improving the cleaning properties, and the particle size of the external additive is approximately from submicron to 10 nm and is smaller than that of toner particles. Therefore, although the residual toner can be removed by the plate-shaped cleaning member115in the regular cleaning device36, the external additive having a smaller diameter than that of the toner easily slips through the plate-shaped cleaning member115, and when the photosensitive body31is used over time, this leads to a phenomenon in which filming caused by the external additive is easily formed on the surface of the photosensitive body31.

Known countermeasures to prevent such filming include, for example, a cleaning brush, called a disturber brush, which is provided separately from the plate-shaped cleaning member115in the regular cleaning device36and comes into contact with the photosensitive body to mechanically scrape off the filming from the surface of the photosensitive body; and a cleaning brush to which a voltage is applied to electrically remove the film from the surface of the photosensitive body (refer to JP2002-351279A).

However, since providing this type of the cleaning brush causes the cost increase as the cleaning device36, the cleaning brush is mounted on a high-speed machine, but an aspect in which this type of cleaning brush is not provided in a low-speed or middle-speed machine and is provided only in the plate-shaped cleaning member115is adapted in many cases.

In such an aspect, in addition to cleaning of the residual toner which is the principal purpose, the plate-shaped cleaning member115also has a function of partially scraping off the filming deposited on the surface of the photosensitive body31, but when the contact pressure of the plate-shaped cleaning member115against the surface of the photosensitive body31is set to be high, the contact resistance against the photosensitive body31in an image forming cycle becomes extremely large, and thus, when setting the contact pressure of the plate-shaped cleaning member115, it is difficult to set the necessary contact pressure to be sufficient for scraping off the filming. Therefore, in particular, for many users who perform printing with high image density, the amount of external additive deposited on the surface of the photosensitive body31also increases, and it is difficult to completely remove the filming only by the plate-shaped cleaning member115, and when the image is held on the remaining portion of the filming of the photosensitive body31, there is a concern that this causes the image quality defect (white spots).

Therefore, in the exemplary embodiment, as illustrated inFIG. 5, a method in which a cleaning device200for maintenance is detachably mounted on the process cartridge100(in the example, photosensitive cartridge101) as the second cleaning unit, and the surface of the photosensitive body31is maintained by mounting the cleaning device200for maintenance when it is necessary to clean the filming deposited on the surface of the photosensitive body31over time, is adapted.

Configuration Example of Cleaning Device for Maintenance

In the exemplary embodiment, as illustrated inFIGS. 3 to 5, the cleaning device200for maintenance is disposed downstream of the charging device32in the moving direction of the photosensitive body31and upstream of the developing device34in the moving direction of the photosensitive body31, around the photosensitive body31of each image forming section30(30ato30d).

In addition, the cleaning device200includes: a cleaning rod210as a cleaning tool that can be inserted and extracted from the outside of the image forming apparatus housing21when it is necessary to clean filming deposited on the surface of the photosensitive body31over time; and a guide mechanism230which is provided at a part of the storage container110of the photosensitive cartridge101of the process cartridge100, and serves as a guiding unit that guides the cleaning rod210to be insertable and extractable.

In the example, the cleaning rod210is not provided exclusively for each of the image forming sections30(30ato30d), and for example, one cleaning rod is provided and shared in the cleaning device200of the plural image forming sections30.

Cleaning Rod

In the example, as illustrated inFIGS. 5 and 6A, the cleaning rod210includes: a support plate211as a long plate-shaped support member made of synthetic resin, such as polypropylene resin, or metal, such as aluminum; and a cleaning pad220as a cleaning member that forms a grip portion212for gripping by the user on one end side of the support plate211in the longitudinal direction, and extends along the longitudinal direction in the plate main body section213excluding the grip portion212of the support plate211.

In the example, when the cleaning by the cleaning device200for maintenance is not performed, the cleaning rod210may be removed from the guide mechanism230and may be stored in any place, such as a storage place provided in an inner part of the image forming apparatus housing21.

Support Plate

In the example, as illustrated inFIGS. 6A and 6B, the support plate211has a long flat plate-shaped plate main body section213with a width dimension w1. A long flat plate-shaped cleaning pad220with a width dimension w2(w2<w1) is attached to the surface of the plate main body section213so that both transverse sides of the plate main body section214protrude from the both transverse sides of the cleaning pad220by w3(equal to (w1−w2)/2 in the example) to form protruding sections214.

Furthermore, one pair of projections215that extends along the longitudinal direction of the plate main body section213is provided on the rear surface side of the plate main body section213, and the projections215are respectively formed such that the width dimension between the outer side surfaces to be substantially approximately the same as the width dimension w2of the cleaning pad220, and have a rectangular sectional shape that projects from the rear surface of the plate main body section213by a dimension h1.

In addition, near the grip portion212in the plate main body section213, as illustrated inFIGS. 6A and 6C, the plate main body section213is formed as narrow width section216having a width dimension w4(in the example, w4=w2) from which the protruding section214is removed, further, one pair of projections215is formed as a stepped section217of which a projection dimension is changed to112(in the example, h2>h1), and an inclined portion218of which a projection dimension gradually increases toward the grip portion212side is formed at a boundary part between the stepped section217and the projection215.

Furthermore, the grip portion212is formed in a flat plate shape that extends along a direction substantially orthogonally intersecting with the plate main body section213, and has groove sections219arranged in a ladder shape, for example, for easy gripping near the tip end thereof.

Cleaning Pad

In this example, as illustrated inFIGS. 6A to 6C, the cleaning pad220may be formed of a material that can be elastically deformed in the thickness direction, and for example, may use a sponge material221obtained by foam molding a rigid resin, such as polyurethane.

Furthermore, the cleaning pad220is not limited to the sponge material221as long as the cleaning pad can be elastically deformed when coming into contact with the surface of the photosensitive body31and can clean the surface of the photosensitive body31, and for example, as illustrated inFIG. 8B, elastic rubber222may be used, or as illustrated inFIG. 8C, a brush material223in which a large number of conductive brush fibers are disposed may be used, or as illustrated inFIG. 8D, plural divided elastic rubbers224arranged at appropriate intervals along the moving direction of the photosensitive body31may be used. In particular, as illustrated inFIG. 8D, when the plural divided elastic rubbers224are used, the number of times of substantial contact between the photosensitive body31and the cleaning pad220can be increased compared to a single configuration, and accordingly, it is effective in improving the cleaning performance by the cleaning pad220.

Guide Mechanism

In the exemplary embodiment, as illustrated inFIGS. 3 to 5, 7, and 9, the guide mechanism230includes: a regulation frame240that regulates an insertion trajectory of the cleaning rod210while maintaining the non-contact position P1(refer toFIG. 9A) that is in non-contact with the surface of the photosensitive body31when the cleaning rod210is set to be in the contact position; and a guide rail250that guides the cleaning rod210of which the insertion trajectory is regulated by the regulation frame240and sets the cleaning rod210to be in a contact position P2(refer toFIG. 9B) that is in contact with the surface of the photosensitive body31when the insertion of the cleaning rod210is completed.

Regulation Frame

In the example, in the regulation frame240, as illustrated inFIGS. 4, 5, and 7A, a guide hole241through which the cleaning rod210can be inserted and extracted is open in an end portion container section117that rotatably holds the end portion of the photosensitive body31in the storage container110of the photosensitive cartridge101of the process cartridge100. In the example, the guide hole241includes: an insertion path242having a substantially rectangular section and having a width dimension slightly larger than the width dimension w2of the cleaning pad220and a height dimension larger than the maximum thickness dimension of the cleaning rod210in the cleaning rod210; and regulation grooves243provided on both side surfaces in the width direction of the inner surface of the insertion path242, and formed to be cut so as to make the protruding section214of the cleaning rod.210be capable of passing therethrough in a state where a projecting end of the projection215of the cleaning rod210is in contact with the bottom surface of the insertion path242as illustrated inFIGS. 7A and 7B.

In the example, as illustrated inFIG. 7A, when the cleaning rod210is inserted into the guide hole241of the regulation frame240, since the cleaning rod210is, as illustrated inFIG. 7B, inserted in a state where the protruding section214of the cleaning rod210is regulated by the regulation groove243of the guide hole241, the cleaning rod210is inserted while maintaining a substantially parallel posture along an axial direction of the photosensitive body31.

In addition, the narrow width section216and the stepped section217of the cleaning rod210are inserted into the guide holes241of the regulation frame240. At this stage, as illustrated inFIG. 7C, the protruding section214of the cleaning rod210is removed from the regulation groove243of the guide hole241, and as a result, the stepped section217of the cleaning rod210is lifted up so that a grip portion212-side part of the cleaning pad220is lifted up.

Guide Rail

In the exemplary embodiment, as illustrated inFIGS. 3 to 5andFIGS. 9A and 9B, the guide rail250has a long rail member251provided at a part of the storage container110of the photosensitive cartridge101, and the rail member251is molded by a rigid resin material having a relatively high flexural rigidity, such as, for example, ABS resin, and extends along the axial direction of the photosensitive body31and is disposed at a position separated from the surface of the photosensitive body31.

In addition, a holding portion252that embraces and holds the support plate211of the cleaning rod210to be guidable is provided along the longitudinal direction on the surface of the rail member251that faces the photosensitive body31, a step portion253that projects toward the surface side of the photosensitive body31is provided at a part positioned to be opposite to the regulation frame240of the holding portion252, and an inclined portion254inclined in a direction of approaching the photosensitive body31toward the step portion253is provided at a boundary part with the step portion253of the holding portion252.

Operation Example of Cleaning Device for Maintenance

Next, an operation example of the cleaning device for maintenance according to the exemplary embodiment will be described.

Now, assuming that cleaning is not necessary for the filming state caused by the external additive on the surface of the photosensitive body31, the cleaning rod210is not inserted into the guide mechanism230, and thus, there is no concern that the cleaning pad220of the cleaning rod210comes into contact with the surface of the photosensitive body31. Therefore, when the cleaning device200for maintenance is not used, there is no concern that the contact resistance by the cleaning device200against the photosensitive body31increases.

Meanwhile, in a case where it is necessary to clean the filming state caused by the external additive on the surface of the photosensitive body31, the cleaning device200for maintenance of the corresponding image forming section30(any of30ato30d) may be used, and the surface of the photosensitive body31may be cleaned.

Setting Work of Cleaning Rod

First, the user may grip the grip portion212of the cleaning rod210and insert the tip end portion opposite to the grip portion212of the cleaning rod210into the guide hole241of the regulation frame240of the guide mechanism230.

At this time, as illustrated inFIGS. 7A and 7B, since the cleaning rod210is inserted in a state where the protruding section214of the cleaning rod210is regulated by the regulation groove243of the guide hole241, the cleaning rod210is inserted while maintaining a substantially parallel posture along the axial direction of the photosensitive body31. In addition, the inserted cleaning rod210is guided while being held by the holding portion252of the guide rail250as illustrated inFIG. 9A, but the insertion posture of the cleaning rod210is regulated by the regulation frame240, and thus, when the cleaning rod210is inserted, the cleaning rod210is guided along the non-contact position P1which is not in contact with the surface of the photosensitive body31, and there is no concern that the cleaning pad220of the cleaning rod210comes into contact with the surface of the photosensitive body31.

As the user further inserts the cleaning rod210, as illustrated inFIGS. 7A and 7C, the protruding section214of the cleaning rod210is removed from the regulation groove243of the guide hole241, and the narrow width section216and the stepped section217of the cleaning rod210are inserted into the guide holes241of the regulation frame240. As a result, the stepped section217of the cleaning rod210is lifted up so that a grip portion212-side part of the cleaning pad220is lifted up.

Meanwhile, as illustrated inFIGS. 9A and 9B, after the tip end portion of the cleaning rod210in the longitudinal direction is guided along the holding portion252of the guide rail250, when the cleaning rod210reaches the insertion completion position, the tip end portion of the cleaning rod210in the longitudinal direction is guided to the step portion253along the inclined portion254and lifted upward so as to approach the photosensitive body31side. In addition, the stepped section217near the rear end of the cleaning rod210in the longitudinal direction also rides over the holding portion252of the guide rail250, and the cleaning rod210is placed in the contact position P2which comes into contact with the surface of the photosensitive body31.

At this time, by selecting an optimal position as the contact position P2of the cleaning rod210, the contact pressure of the cleaning rod210with respect to the surface of the photosensitive body31is optimally selected.

In this state, as illustrated inFIG. 8A, when the user selects a cleaning mode Mc at a timing different from a regular image forming mode, a drive motor151of the photosensitive body31rotates based on a control signal from the control device150, and accordingly, the cleaning pad220of the cleaning rod210cleans the surface of the photosensitive body31, and filming caused by the external additive deposited on the surface of the photosensitive body31is removed.

In the example, as the cleaning mode Mc, the photosensitive body31may rotate in a forward or reverse direction for a predetermined time, or may rotate intermittently at predetermined time intervals.

Furthermore, when necessary, at least the cleaning pad220of the cleaning rod210is configured of a conductive member, and a cleaning bias Vc (positive or negative polarity) from a cleaning power supply160is applied to the cleaning pad220, and an electrical scraping action by a cleaning electric field may be applied in addition to the mechanical scraping action by the cleaning pad220.

Removing Work of Cleaning Rod

When the cleaning is completed by the cleaning rod210, the user may grip the grip portion212of the cleaning rod210and pull out the cleaning rod210from the guide hole241of the regulation frame240of the guide mechanism230.

At this time, when the cleaning rod210positioned in the contact position P2is pulled out, substantially similar to the setting work of the cleaning rod210, the cleaning rod210is held by the holding portion252at the stage when the tip end portion of the cleaning rod210is removed from the step portion253of the guide rail250, and after this, the cleaning rod210may be pulled out along the holding portion252in a state of being held in the non-contact position P1. In addition, after removing dirt (a deposit such as an external additive) deposited on the cleaning pad220of the pulled-out cleaning rod210, the cleaning rod210may be stored in a predetermined storage place.

Here, when the cleaning rod210is pulled out after the cleaning rod210is separated from the photosensitive body31to the non-contact position P1, the deposit on the cleaning pad220of the cleaning rod210may partially fall into the device, such as the holding portion252of the guide rail250. Taking this point into consideration, in order to minimize the fall of the deposit from the cleaning rod210, for example, as illustrated inFIGS. 6A and 6B, it is preferable that the height direction dimension of the regulation groove243of the guide hole241of the regulation frame240is set to a predetermined amount (corresponds to a gap amount between the contact position P2and the non-contact position P1in the example) to be larger than the height dimension of the protruding section214of the cleaning rod210, the insertion trajectory of the cleaning rod210is held in the non-contact position P1by bringing the protruding section214into contact with the lower side surface of the regulation groove243when performing the insertion operation of setting the cleaning rod210, and when performing the pulling-out operation of removing the cleaning rod210, the operation of pulling out the cleaning rod210is performed while holding the contact state between the peripheral surface of the photosensitive body31and the cleaning rod210by bringing the protruding section214into contact with upper side surface of the regulation groove241

Arrangement Check of Cleaning Rod

In the exemplary embodiment, as illustrated inFIGS. 10A and 10B, a position detector170that detects whether the cleaning rod210of the cleaning device200for maintenance is placed in the contact position P2(refer toFIG. 9B) is provided. This type of position detector170is configured of, for example, a photocoupler171in which a light emitting element172and a light receiving element173are disposed to face each other, and can determine whether a part (in the example, tip end portion in the longitudinal direction) of the cleaning rod210positioned in the contact position P2passes through a detection light path of the position detector170.

Therefore, as illustrated inFIG. 10C, it is determined from the output result of the position detector170whether the cleaning rod210is in the contact position P2, and when the cleaning rod210is not set to be in the contact position P2, it is possible to determine that the printing is permitted and to perform the printing mode, and on the other hand, when it is detected that the cleaning rod210is positioned in the contact position P2, it may be determined that the printing is prohibited and the cleaning mode Mc may be performed.

Notification Processing of Cleaning Time

Regarding the time of implementation of the cleaning device200for maintenance, the user may voluntarily perform the cleaning by the cleaning device200for maintenance as a result of the image quality defect being observed, but as illustrated inFIGS. 11A and 11B, it is also possible to construct a system for notifying that the cleaning time by the cleaning device200for maintenance can be grasped.

In the example, a stain detector180is provided to detect the filming state caused by the external additive on the surface of the photosensitive body31, and when the stain detector180detects a stain equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value, the control device150may notify a display152of the cleaning time of the cleaning device200, or may periodically notify in consideration of the use history of the photosensitive body31.

As the stain detector180described here, for example, an aspect in which the reflected light from the surface of the photosensitive body31is monitored at a wavelength having high sensitivity with respect to filming caused by the external additive, may be employed.

Therefore, as an example of a cleaning time notification processing system, as illustrated inFIG. 11B, the number n of printed sheets is counted, and when n reaches a predetermined threshold value nthor more, the time of the cleaning device200for maintenance is notified, and even when the number n of printed sheets does not reach the threshold value nth, the cleaning time may be notified when the output of the stain detector180is equal to or greater than a reference value.

Layout of Cleaning Device for Maintenance

In the exemplary embodiment, as illustrated inFIG. 12A, around the photosensitive body31, the cleaning device200for maintenance is disposed downstream of the charging device32in the moving direction of the photosensitive body31and upstream of the developing device34in the moving direction of the photosensitive body31, but not being limited thereto, and for example, as illustrated inFIG. 12B, the cleaning device200for maintenance may be disposed upstream of the regular cleaning device36in the moving direction of the photosensitive body31and downstream of the primary transfer device35in the moving direction of the photosensitive body31.

In particular, in the layout illustrated inFIG. 12B, when performing the cleaning by the cleaning device200for maintenance, an external additive that could not be cleaned by the cleaning device200for maintenance is temporarily generated, without coming into contact with the intermediate transfer body40, it is possible to perform the cleaning by the regular cleaning device36, and accordingly, it is possible to further improve the cleanness of the photosensitive body31.

Modification Example of Cleaning Device for Maintenance

As a method of disposing the cleaning rod210in the contact position P2which is in contact with the surface of the photosensitive body31, in the exemplary embodiment, the guide mechanism230adopts a method of disposing the cleaning rod210in the contact position P2only by the operation of inserting and extracting the cleaning rod210along the axial direction of the photosensitive body31, but not being limited thereto, for example, in addition to the insertion and extraction operation of the cleaning rod210, a method in which the cleaning rod210can rotate around an axis parallel to the axial direction of the photosensitive body31after inserting the cleaning rod210and the cleaning rod210is rotated to come into contact with the peripheral surface of the photosensitive body31, may be adapted.