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JP4516771B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Image forming apparatus Download PDF

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JP4516771B2
JP4516771B2 JP2004077945A JP2004077945A JP4516771B2 JP 4516771 B2 JP4516771 B2 JP 4516771B2 JP 2004077945 A JP2004077945 A JP 2004077945A JP 2004077945 A JP2004077945 A JP 2004077945A JP 4516771 B2 JP4516771 B2 JP 4516771B2
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lubricant
toner
image
image carrier
cleaning
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JP2005266248A (en
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英治 下條
裕次 鈴木
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Ricoh Co Ltd
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Ricoh Co Ltd
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Description

本発明は、複写機、ファクシミリ、プリンタ等の電子写真式画像形成装置、特に当該画像形成装置に用いられるクリーニング装置の構成に関する。 The present invention relates to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, and a printer, and more particularly to a configuration of a cleaning device used in the image forming apparatus.

電子写真式画像形成装置は、露光手段(例えばレーザ)で像担持体上に静電潜像を形成し、これをトナーによって可視像化し、そのトナー像を転写材(用紙)に転写して画像形成プロセスを実行するものであり、当該プロセスの繰返し実行によって、像担持体を含む画像形成部材が経時的に劣化する。   An electrophotographic image forming apparatus forms an electrostatic latent image on an image carrier with an exposure means (for example, a laser), visualizes it with toner, and transfers the toner image onto a transfer material (paper). The image forming process is performed, and the image forming member including the image carrier deteriorates with time by repeatedly executing the process.

通常、トナー像を転写材に転写しても全てのトナーが転写材に転写されず、トナーの何%かはそのまま像担持体上に残ってしまい(残ったトナーを「転写残トナー」と称する)、クリーニング機構によってクリーニングされなければならない。画像面積率が大きい原稿をコピーした場合、転写材に移らない転写残トナーも多くなる。例えば転写率90%の場合、原稿の画像面積率が50%であれば転写残トナーは5%であり、原稿の画像面積率が10%であれば転写残トナーは1%となる。転写残トナーはクリーニング部のブラシやブレードによってクリーニングされる。ここで、トナーは像担持体とクリーニングブラシ、ブレードの接触部において研磨剤のように作用することは周知である。そのため、クリーニング部へ侵入するトナーが多ければ多いほど、経時的に像担持体の表面削れ量は多くなる。また、この像担持体表面削れ量と像担持体表面摩擦係数には相関関係がある。当然、像担持体表面摩擦係数が小さいほどクリーニングブラシやブレードと像担持体との摩擦が少なくなり、削れ量は小さくなる。   Normally, even when a toner image is transferred to a transfer material, not all of the toner is transferred to the transfer material, and some percent of the toner remains on the image carrier (the remaining toner is referred to as “transfer residual toner”). ) Must be cleaned by a cleaning mechanism. When a document having a large image area ratio is copied, a large amount of toner remains that is not transferred to the transfer material. For example, when the transfer rate is 90%, the transfer residual toner is 5% when the image area ratio of the original is 50%, and the transfer residual toner is 1% when the image area ratio of the original is 10%. The transfer residual toner is cleaned by a brush or blade of a cleaning unit. Here, it is well known that the toner acts like an abrasive at the contact portion between the image carrier, the cleaning brush, and the blade. Therefore, the more toner that enters the cleaning unit, the greater the amount of surface abrasion of the image carrier over time. Further, there is a correlation between the image carrier surface scraping amount and the image carrier surface friction coefficient. Naturally, the smaller the image carrier surface friction coefficient, the less the friction between the cleaning brush or blade and the image carrier, and the smaller the scraping amount.

以上のことから、画像形成装置で高画像面積率の原稿を大量に出力する場合と低画像面積率の現像を大量に出力する場合とでは、経時的に像担持体表面削れ量にはっきりとした差が生じてくる。   From the above, when the image forming apparatus outputs a large amount of a document with a high image area ratio and when a large amount of development with a low image area ratio is output, the image carrier surface scraping amount becomes clear over time. There will be a difference.

基本的に像担持体は、基体上にUL、電荷発生層(CGL)、電荷輸送層(CTL)という3層が存在して、計4層で構成されている。像担持体表面には、帯電工程において帯電することにより、例えばマイナス電荷が一様に乗る。それに対するプラス電荷が、基体から注入され、UL表面近傍付近まであがってきているものと考えられる。しかし、ULでのホールのブロッキング能は一様でなく、不均一な部分が存在するものと考えられている。このような局所的な不均一な部分から、上層へホールが注入され、そのことにより、上層のマイナス電荷を打ち消すことになる。その結果、CTL表面での帯電電位の不均一性が生まれるものと考えられる。CTL表面で帯電が局所的に落ちた部分の電位が、現像バイアス以下になった場合、その部分にトナーが現像され、地肌汚れになるものと考えられる。像担持体の膜厚が減少すると、即ち、CTL層が減少すると、ULでのホールが更に上層へ注入され易くなり、地肌汚れが増加してしまうことになる。以上のことから、像担持体の膜厚は経時的に極力減少させないことが望ましい。逆に像担持体の膜厚減少を防止することで、像担持体の高寿命化を実現することができることになる。 Basically, the image carrier is composed of a total of four layers, with three layers of UL, charge generation layer (CGL), and charge transport layer (CTL) present on the substrate. The surface of the image carrier is uniformly charged with negative charges, for example, by being charged in the charging step. It is considered that a positive charge for this is injected from the substrate and has been increased to the vicinity of the UL surface. However, it is considered that the hole blocking ability in the UL is not uniform and there is a non-uniform portion. Holes are injected into the upper layer from such local non-uniform portions, thereby canceling the negative charges in the upper layer. As a result, it is considered that nonuniformity of the charged potential on the CTL surface is generated. When the potential of the portion where the charge is locally dropped on the CTL surface becomes equal to or lower than the developing bias, it is considered that the toner is developed in that portion and the background becomes dirty. When the film thickness of the image carrier is reduced, that is, when the CTL layer is reduced, holes in the UL are more easily injected into the upper layer, and the background contamination increases. From the above, it is desirable that the film thickness of the image carrier is not reduced as much as possible over time. Conversely, by preventing the image carrier from being reduced in film thickness, the life of the image carrier can be increased.

また、潤滑剤を所定の位置に固定してブラシ等で像担持体に塗布しながら転写残トナーをリサイクルする場合、潤滑剤がリサイクルトナー中に混入する。つまり現像装置内に潤滑材が混入してしまう。すると潤滑剤の量が多い場合、例えば2成分現像剤においてトナー帯電能力が低下してしまうという副作用が生じる。すると現像能力が低下し、IDの低下、地肌汚れ等の問題が発生してしまう。そこで、固定潤滑剤を像担持体に塗布する機構を備えている場合、リサイクルトナーに混入する潤滑剤の量を抑える必要がある。   Also, when the transfer residual toner is recycled while fixing the lubricant at a predetermined position and applying it to the image carrier with a brush or the like, the lubricant is mixed into the recycled toner. That is, the lubricant is mixed in the developing device. Then, when the amount of the lubricant is large, for example, a two-component developer has a side effect that the toner charging ability is lowered. As a result, the developing ability decreases, and problems such as a decrease in ID and background contamination occur. Therefore, when a mechanism for applying the fixed lubricant to the image carrier is provided, it is necessary to suppress the amount of the lubricant mixed in the recycled toner.

本発明は、無駄な潤滑剤の消費を防止しつつ、像担持体表面の摩擦係数を抑えて無駄な像担持体表面の削れ量を減少することにより、像担持体の高寿命化を実現することを課題とする。   The present invention realizes a long life of an image carrier by reducing the amount of scraping on the surface of the image carrier by reducing the friction coefficient of the surface of the image carrier while preventing the consumption of the wasteful lubricant. This is the issue.

前記の課題は、像担持体表面をクリーニングするためのクリーニングブラシと、当該ブラシに接離可能な潤滑剤機構とを備えたクリーニング装置を備えた画像形成装置において、上記クリーニング装置を、所定のコピー枚数における像担持体に対する上記クリーニングブラシの起動電流値に応じて、上記潤滑剤機構のクリーニングブラシへの接離を制御するように構成することにより解決される。 The problem is, in an image forming apparatus having a cleaning brush for cleaning the surface of the image bearing member, a cleaning device having a separable therefrom lubricant mechanism to the brush, the cleaning device, the predetermined copying This can be solved by controlling the contact and separation of the lubricant mechanism with respect to the cleaning brush in accordance with the starting current value of the cleaning brush with respect to the image carrier in the number of sheets .

ナーリサイクル機構と、トナーリサイクルのオン/オフ切換を可能とする手段を備え、潤滑剤機構の接離と共にトナーリサイクルのオン/オフ制御を行うようになっていれば、一層効果的である。 And preparative toner recycling mechanism, comprising means for enabling the on / off switching of the toner recycling, if made with separable lubricants mechanism to perform an on / off control of the toner recycling is more effective.

本発明によれば、所定のコピー枚数における像担持体に対するクリーニングブラシの起動電流値に応じて、潤滑剤機構のクリーニングブラシへの接離を制御するように構成されているので、経時的なクリーニングブラシの毛倒れ分を補正した上で、無駄な潤滑剤消費を防止できつつ、像担持体の表面削れ量も低減でき、像担持体の高寿命化をもたらす。 According to the present invention, in response to the activation current value of the cleaning brush to the image bearing member at a given number of copies, which is configured to control the contact and separation of the cleaning brush of the lubricant mechanism, over time cleaning While correcting the amount of brush fall, it is possible to prevent unnecessary consumption of the lubricant and also reduce the amount of surface abrasion of the image carrier, thereby extending the life of the image carrier.

ナーリサイクル機構を備えることで、トナーイールドの低下防止を実現できる。そしてトナーリサイクルのオン/オフ切換を可能とする手段を備え、潤滑剤機構の接離と共にトナーリサイクルのオン/オフ制御を行うことで、潤滑剤が過剰に混入したトナーをリサイクルすることによるトナー飛散、トナー濃度の低下等の不具合を防止できる。 By providing bets toner recycling mechanism can be realized of preventing deterioration in toner yield. A means for enabling on / off switching of toner recycling is provided. Toner scattering by recycling toner containing excessive lubricant by performing on / off control of toner recycling together with contact and separation of the lubricant mechanism. In addition, problems such as a decrease in toner concentration can be prevented.

図1に示す画像形成装置において、像担持体である感光体ドラム3の周囲には、感光体ドラムの表面を帯電する帯電装置4、レーザー光線等で感光体ドラム3の一様帯電処理面に潜像を形成する光書き込み系2、感光体ドラム3上において潜像に対し帯電トナーを付着させてトナー像を形成させる現像装置1、チャージャー等を用いて感光体ドラム3上に形成されたトナー像を記録紙に転写する転写ベルト5、転写後に感光体ドラム3上に残ったトナーを除去するクリーニング装置6、感光体ドラム3上の残留電位を除去する除電装置7が順に配列されている。なお、符号8はクリーニングブラシである。   In the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1, there are a charging device 4 for charging the surface of the photosensitive drum around the photosensitive drum 3 serving as an image carrier, a latent beam on the uniformly charged surface of the photosensitive drum 3 with a laser beam or the like. Toner image formed on the photoconductive drum 3 using the photo-writing system 2 that forms an image, the developing device 1 that forms a toner image by attaching charged toner to the latent image on the photoconductive drum 3, and the charger. Are arranged in this order: a transfer belt 5 for transferring the toner onto the recording paper; a cleaning device 6 for removing the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 3 after the transfer; and a neutralizing device 7 for removing the residual potential on the photosensitive drum 3. Reference numeral 8 denotes a cleaning brush.

このような構成において、帯電装置4によって表面を一様に帯電された感光体3は、光書き込み系2によって静電潜像を形成され、現像装置1によってトナー像を形成される。当該トナー像は転写ベルト5上で感光体ドラム3表面から、不図示の給紙トレイから搬送された記録紙へ転写される。その後、記録紙上のトナー像は不図示の定着装置によって記録紙に定着される。一方、転写されずに感光体ドラム上に残ったトナーはクリーニングブラシ6、クリーニングブレード9(図)によって回収される。残留トナーを除去された感光体ドラム3は除電装置7で初期化され、次回の画像形成プロセスに供される。 In such a configuration, the photosensitive member 3 whose surface is uniformly charged by the charging device 4 forms an electrostatic latent image by the optical writing system 2 and forms a toner image by the developing device 1. The toner image is transferred on the transfer belt 5 from the surface of the photosensitive drum 3 to a recording sheet conveyed from a paper supply tray (not shown). Thereafter, the toner image on the recording paper is fixed on the recording paper by a fixing device (not shown). On the other hand, the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum without being transferred is collected by the cleaning brush 6 and the cleaning blade 9 (FIG. 3 ). The photosensitive drum 3 from which the residual toner has been removed is initialized by the static eliminator 7 and used for the next image forming process.

本例で用いたクリーニングブラシの詳細を表1に示す(これに対する感光体は直径100mmである)。潤滑剤が塗布されている像担持体は潤滑剤が塗布されていない像担持体と比べ像担持体表面摩擦係数は小さい。像担持体の摩擦係数が低下すると像担持体に対するクリーニングブラシのトルク値も低下する。例えば表1のクリーニングブラシを使用した時、スタート時における静トルク値は、潤滑剤が塗布されていない場合は0.408kgf・cmであるのに対し、潤滑剤塗布時では0.323kgf・cmと、0.085kgf・cmも低下する。ここで、電流値と静トルク値は図2の関係にあるので、静トルク値の変化量によって、固定潤滑剤を像担持体表面に塗布するか塗布しないかを制御する際、クリーニングブラシの駆動電流値の変化で捉えることができる。   Details of the cleaning brush used in this example are shown in Table 1 (the photoconductor for this has a diameter of 100 mm). The image carrier to which the lubricant is applied has a smaller coefficient of surface friction of the image carrier than the image carrier to which the lubricant is not applied. When the coefficient of friction of the image carrier decreases, the torque value of the cleaning brush with respect to the image carrier also decreases. For example, when the cleaning brush of Table 1 is used, the static torque value at the start is 0.408 kgf · cm when the lubricant is not applied, whereas it is 0.323 kgf · cm when the lubricant is applied. 0.085 kgf · cm is also reduced. Here, since the current value and the static torque value have the relationship shown in FIG. 2, the driving of the cleaning brush is performed when controlling whether or not the fixed lubricant is applied to the surface of the image carrier according to the amount of change in the static torque value. It can be captured by changes in the current value.

Figure 0004516771
Figure 0004516771

クリーニング装置6の詳細を図3に示す。感光体ドラム3に対向して、クリーニングブラシ8とクリーニングブレード9が配されている。クリーニングブラシ8に潤滑剤を塗布するための塗布ローラ11があり、この塗布ローラ11へ潤滑剤を供給すべく、ステアリン酸亜鉛からなる固定潤滑剤10が不図示のソレノイド(潤滑剤用ソレノイド)のON/OFFに応じて塗布ローラ11に接離するようになっている。ONのとき、固定潤滑剤10が塗布ローラ11に対して所定の当接圧になるように当接する。図3は潤滑剤用ソレノイドがONの状態である。すると塗布ローラ11が固定潤滑剤10を研磨し、塗布ローラ上に潤滑剤被膜を形成し、それをクリーニングブラシ8が感光体ドラム3に塗布する。ソレノイドOFFのときは塗布ローラ11と固定潤滑剤8が完全に離れるようになっており、感光体ドラムに潤滑剤は塗布されない。   Details of the cleaning device 6 are shown in FIG. A cleaning brush 8 and a cleaning blade 9 are disposed facing the photosensitive drum 3. There is an application roller 11 for applying a lubricant to the cleaning brush 8, and a fixed lubricant 10 made of zinc stearate is a solenoid (lubricant solenoid) (not shown) to supply the lubricant to the application roller 11. It contacts and separates from the application roller 11 according to ON / OFF. When ON, the fixed lubricant 10 comes into contact with the application roller 11 so as to have a predetermined contact pressure. FIG. 3 shows a state where the lubricant solenoid is ON. Then, the application roller 11 polishes the fixed lubricant 10 to form a lubricant film on the application roller, and the cleaning brush 8 applies it to the photosensitive drum 3. When the solenoid is OFF, the application roller 11 and the fixed lubricant 8 are completely separated from each other, and no lubricant is applied to the photosensitive drum.

本発明の前提構成として、クリーニングブラシ8を単独で駆動するブラシ駆動モータ(図示せず)の電流値に応じ、潤滑剤を感光体ドラム表面に塗布するか塗布しないかを制御するが、これを潤滑剤用ソレノイドのON/OFFで行うのである。具体的には感光体に対するクリーニングブラシの電流値が潤滑剤を塗布した場合と潤滑剤を塗布しない場合の中間の値(以後「基準値」と呼ぶ)になったときに、潤滑剤が感光体表面で不充分な量であると判断し、ジョブ中、ジョブ開始直前、ジョブ終了後などに感光体表面に潤滑剤を塗布する。具体的な動作としては、ジョブ開始時における起動時のブラシ駆動モータの電流値を検知し、検知した値が基準値と比較して大きい場合はソレノイドをONとし、小さい場合はOFFとする。 As a precondition of the present invention, whether or not to apply the lubricant to the surface of the photosensitive drum is controlled according to the current value of a brush drive motor (not shown) that drives the cleaning brush 8 alone. This is done by turning the lubricant solenoid on / off. Specifically, when the current value of the cleaning brush with respect to the photoreceptor becomes an intermediate value between when the lubricant is applied and when the lubricant is not applied (hereinafter referred to as “reference value”), the lubricant is detected on the photoreceptor. It is determined that the amount is insufficient on the surface, and a lubricant is applied to the surface of the photosensitive member during the job, immediately before the start of the job, after the end of the job, or the like. As a specific operation, the current value of the brush drive motor at the start at the start of the job is detected. If the detected value is larger than the reference value, the solenoid is turned on, and if it is smaller, the current is turned off.

ジョブ開始時の感光体に対する潤滑剤を塗布した場合と潤滑剤を塗布しない場合の電流値と基準値を例示すると図4のようになる。この時、電流値が基準値0.36Aになった時にソレノイドをONとすることによって、感光体表面に潤滑剤が塗布され摩擦係数が低下し、感光体の削れ量も低下するため、感光体を高寿命化できる。本前提構成では、起動電流検知・ソレノイドON/OFFの動作は、毎コピー出力時に行う。 FIG. 4 illustrates current values and reference values when the lubricant is applied to the photosensitive member at the start of the job and when the lubricant is not applied. At this time, when the current value reaches the reference value of 0.36 A, the solenoid is turned on, so that the lubricant is applied to the surface of the photoconductor, the friction coefficient is lowered, and the amount of abrasion of the photoconductor is also reduced. Can extend the service life. In this premise configuration , the startup current detection and solenoid ON / OFF operations are performed at the time of each copy output.

上記のようにクリーニングブラシを用いる場合、経時的にブラシが毛倒れすることがある。このような場合、経時でブラシの毛倒れのために起動電流値が下がったときにも潤滑剤が感光体表面に存在していると検知することになってしまうため、実際には感光体表面に潤滑剤が不足していても潤滑剤を塗布せず、感光体表面が必要以上に削れてしまうという問題が発生し得る。 When using a cleaning brush as described above, the brush may fall over time. In such a case, the lubricant becomes possible to detect that present on the photosensitive member surface even when the activation current value for the inclination bristles drops over time, the actual surface of the photosensitive member Even if the lubricant is insufficient, the lubricant may not be applied and the surface of the photoreceptor may be scraped more than necessary.

図5に0〜300K枚(1K=1000枚相当)までの潤滑剤を塗布した場合、塗布していない場合の起動電流値を示す。ブラシの毛倒れを考慮しない場合は上記の前提構成例のように基準値だけをもとに、その基準値を境に潤滑剤の感光体表面への塗布・不塗布を決定していたが、本発明に係るブラシの毛倒れを考慮する場合、図5より枚数における起動電流の値(以後「閾値」と呼ぶ)に応じて、潤滑剤を感光体表面に塗布するか塗布しないかを決定する。そこで、通紙枚数と電流値によって塗布するか塗布しないかの関係を表2のように決定する。表2で示したソレノイドON/OFFは、電流値が各閾値になった時点で行う。 FIG. 5 shows the starting current value when 0 to 300K sheets (1K = 1000 sheets) of lubricant is applied and not applied. When brush fall is not considered, based on only the reference value as in the above premise configuration example , the application / non-application of the lubricant to the photoreceptor surface was determined based on the reference value. When considering the falling of the brush according to the present invention, whether to apply the lubricant to the surface of the photoreceptor is determined according to the value of the starting current in the number of sheets (hereinafter referred to as “threshold”) from FIG. . Therefore, the relationship between application and non-application is determined as shown in Table 2 depending on the number of sheets to be passed and the current value. The solenoid ON / OFF shown in Table 2 is performed when the current value reaches each threshold value.

Figure 0004516771
Figure 0004516771

上記のような構成で、仮にトナーリサイクルせずに画像形成処理を繰り返すとトナーイールドが低下し、廃トナーが多くなってしまう。そこで、図6に示すように、クリーニング装置6から現像装置1にかけてトナーリサイクル装置13が設けられて、トナー消費量の低減が図られる。この場合、塗布ローラ11の表面粗さが小さい場合、例えばRz=0〜1μmの場合には、塗布ローラ11によって固定潤滑剤10が削り取られる量が少なく、感光体3に潤滑剤を塗布しながらもリサイクルトナー中に混入してしまう潤滑剤の量が少なく、現像装置内の現像剤に対する潤滑剤の影響が少ないので、トナーの帯電量等に目立った影響を及ぼさずにすむ。しかしながら、塗布ローラの表面粗さRzが例えば1μm以上と大きくなると、塗布ローラ11により固定潤滑剤10が削り取られる量が増加し、リサイクルトナー中に混入される潤滑剤の量も多くなるために、現像装置内の現像剤帯電量を低下させてしまうことがある(トナーの帯電が+、−にかかわらず帯電量を下げてしまう)。そこで、トナーリサイクル装置13(リサイクルトナー搬送経路)にシャッター14を設け、リサイクルトナーの一部(潤滑剤が多く混入するトナー)を廃棄することにより、現像装置のトナー帯電能力を下げることなくトナーをリサイクルできるようにする。このシャッター14は不図示のソレノイド(リサイクルソレノイド)によりON/OFF制御される(ソレノイドONの時リサイクルしない)。   With the above configuration, if the image forming process is repeated without recycling the toner, the toner yield decreases and the amount of waste toner increases. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, a toner recycling device 13 is provided from the cleaning device 6 to the developing device 1 to reduce the toner consumption. In this case, when the surface roughness of the application roller 11 is small, for example, when Rz = 0 to 1 μm, the amount of the fixed lubricant 10 scraped off by the application roller 11 is small, and the lubricant is applied to the photoreceptor 3. However, since the amount of the lubricant mixed in the recycled toner is small and the influence of the lubricant on the developer in the developing device is small, it is not necessary to have a noticeable influence on the charge amount of the toner. However, when the surface roughness Rz of the application roller increases to, for example, 1 μm or more, the amount of the fixed lubricant 10 scraped off by the application roller 11 increases, and the amount of lubricant mixed in the recycled toner increases. In some cases, the charge amount of the developer in the developing device is lowered (the charge amount is lowered regardless of whether the toner is charged + or-). Therefore, a shutter 14 is provided in the toner recycling device 13 (recycled toner transport path), and a part of the recycled toner (toner in which a lot of lubricant is mixed) is discarded, so that the toner can be removed without lowering the toner charging capability of the developing device. Make it recyclable. The shutter 14 is ON / OFF controlled by a solenoid (recycle solenoid) (not shown) (not recycled when the solenoid is ON).

具体的な制御としては次のようなものが想定される。クリーニング装置内のトナーがリサイクル経路を通って現像装置にリサイクルされるまでに或る程度の時間(画像処理枚数)がかかる。本例ではこのリサイクル時間に対応する枚数(或る1枚を出力した際の転写残トナーがクリーニング装置内からトナーリサイクル経路を経由して現像装置にたどり着くまでに画像処理される枚数)を例えば10000枚とする。この値は当然、リサイクル経路長、リサイクル装置のコイル巻数/速度によって変わってくる値である。   The following is assumed as specific control. It takes a certain amount of time (the number of processed images) until the toner in the cleaning device is recycled to the developing device through the recycling path. In this example, the number of sheets corresponding to this recycle time (the number of images processed until the transfer residual toner when a certain sheet is output reaches the developing device from the cleaning device via the toner recycling path) is, for example, 10,000. A sheet. This value naturally depends on the length of the recycling path and the number of turns / speed of the coil of the recycling apparatus.

潤滑剤用ソレノイドがONになった時から10000枚を出力する時からリサイクルソレノイドをONにする。リサイクルソレノイドをONしている間の画像処理枚数はリサイクルソレノイドがONになった時点から100枚出力後までとする。よって潤滑剤用ソレノイドが1枚目の出力時にONであった場合で、2〜100枚目までONとOFFを繰り返すようでも、リサイクルソレノイドは10001〜10100枚出力の間はON状態である。つまり、潤滑剤用ソレノイドが1枚目でONになった場合、10001〜10100枚の出力時は、潤滑剤用ソレノイドの2〜100枚目のON/OFFに関係なくリサイクルソレノイドはONになる。2枚目以降でも同様の制御となる。また1枚目に潤滑剤ソレノイドがONで、2〜98枚目がOFF、99枚目にONで、100枚目以降はOFFの場合、10001〜10198枚目までリサイクルソレノイドはONになり、10199枚目以降はOFFになる。図7に簡単な例を示す。   The recycle solenoid is turned on when 10,000 sheets are output from when the lubricant solenoid is turned on. The number of images processed while the recycle solenoid is on is from the time when the recycle solenoid is turned on until 100 sheets are output. Accordingly, even when the lubricant solenoid is ON at the time of output of the first sheet and the ON / OFF is repeated until the 2nd to 100th sheets, the recycle solenoid is in the ON state during the output of 10001 to 10100 sheets. That is, when the solenoid for the lubricant is turned on for the first sheet, the recycle solenoid is turned on regardless of the ON / OFF of the second to 100th sheets for the lubricant solenoid when outputting 10001 to 10100 sheets. The same control is performed for the second and subsequent sheets. When the first solenoid lubricant is ON, the second to 98th sheets are OFF, the 99th sheet is ON, and the 100th and subsequent sheets are OFF, the recycle solenoid is turned ON to the 10001 to 10198th sheets. The first and subsequent sheets are turned off. FIG. 7 shows a simple example.

本発明に係る画像形成装置の概略構成図である。1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. 像担持体とクリーニングブラシの間の起動電流値と静トルク値の関係を示すグラフである。It is a graph which shows the relationship between the starting current value and static torque value between an image carrier and a cleaning brush. 潤滑剤塗布機構を示す概略構成図である。It is a schematic block diagram which shows a lubricant application mechanism. 潤滑剤塗布の有無と起動電流値(静トルク値)の関係を示すグラフである。It is a graph which shows the relationship between the presence or absence of lubricant application and the starting current value (static torque value). 起動電流値のコピー枚数経過による変化(経時的変化)を潤滑剤塗布の有無で示すグラフである。It is a graph which shows the change (time-dependent change) by the copy number progress of a starting current value by the presence or absence of lubricant application. トナーリサイクル機構を示す概略図である。It is the schematic which shows a toner recycling mechanism. 潤滑剤用ソレノイドとリサイクルソレノイドのON/OFF制御の例を示す図である。It is a figure which shows the example of ON / OFF control of the solenoid for lubricants, and a recycle solenoid.

符号の説明Explanation of symbols

1 現像装置
2 光書き込み系
3 感光体
4 帯電装置
5 転写ベルト
6 クリーニング装置
8 クリーニングブラシ
10 固定潤滑剤
11 塗布ローラ
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Developing device 2 Optical writing system 3 Photoconductor 4 Charging device 5 Transfer belt 6 Cleaning device 8 Cleaning brush 10 Fixed lubricant 11 Application roller

Claims (3)

像担持体表面をクリーニングするためのクリーニングブラシと、当該ブラシに接離可能な潤滑剤機構とを備えたクリーニング装置を備えた画像形成装置において、
上記クリーニング装置は、所定のコピー枚数における像担持体に対する上記クリーニングブラシの起動電流値に応じて、上記潤滑剤機構のクリーニングブラシへの接離を制御するように構成されたことを特徴とする画像形成装置
In an image forming apparatus comprising a cleaning device comprising a cleaning brush for cleaning the surface of an image carrier and a lubricant mechanism capable of contacting and separating from the brush,
The cleaning apparatus, an image, characterized in that in response to the activation current value of the cleaning brush to the image bearing member, is configured to control the contact and separation of the cleaning brush of the lubricant mechanism in a predetermined number of copies Forming equipment .
トナーリサイクル機構を備えることを特徴とする請求項に記載の画像形成装置。 The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a toner recycling mechanism. トナーリサイクルのオン/オフ切換を可能とする手段を備え、潤滑剤機構の接離と共にトナーリサイクルのオン/オフ制御を行うことを特徴とする請求項に記載の画像形成装置。 The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising means for enabling on / off switching of toner recycling, and performing on / off control of toner recycling together with contact and separation of the lubricant mechanism.
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JP4963208B2 (en) * 2006-09-19 2012-06-27 株式会社リコー Image forming unit, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus
JP2008139800A (en) * 2006-12-05 2008-06-19 Ricoh Co Ltd Lubricant application device, and image forming apparatus and method
JP5455058B2 (en) * 2010-03-17 2014-03-26 株式会社リコー Image forming apparatus
JP2017146566A (en) * 2016-02-19 2017-08-24 富士ゼロックス株式会社 Image forming apparatus, program, and removable body

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JPH08254933A (en) * 1995-01-18 1996-10-01 Ricoh Co Ltd Electrophotographic device
JPH08305236A (en) * 1995-05-06 1996-11-22 Ricoh Co Ltd Lubricant application control device in image forming apparatus
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