Cleaning device, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus

• US 20060099016A1
• Filed: 10/31/2005
• Published: 05/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Shakuto, Masahiko, Watanabe, Kazuhiko, Naruse, Osamu, Yano, Hidetosi
• Granted Patent: US 7,415,238 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 399/351
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/0017 Details relating to the internal structure or chemical composition of the blades

Abstract

A cleaning device cleans off a toner from a surface of a member rotating in a first direction. The cleaning device includes a blade made of an elastic material including a tip portion with a slanting portion that is pressed against the surface in a second direction counter to the first direction. A supporter supports the blade. An angle between the slanting portion and a longitudinal direction of the blade is obtuse. The slanting portion is pressed against the surface at a surface pressure of 2.0 MPa or more.

Claims

1. A cleaning device for cleaning off a toner from a surface of a member rotating in a first direction, comprising:

a blade made of an elastic material including a tip portion that is pressed against the surface in a second direction counter to the first direction, the tip portion including a slanting portion; and

a supporter that supports the blade, wherein

an angle between the slanting portion and a longitudinal direction of the blade is obtuse, and

the slanting portion is pressed against the surface at a surface pressure of 2.0 MPa or more.

2. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein

the member is an image carrier, and

the toner is a residual toner remaining on the surface after image transfer is performed.

3. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein

the angle is 95 degrees or more and 140 degrees or less.

4. The cleaning device according to claim 3, wherein

the slanting portion is formed by obliquely cutting the tip portion.

5. The cleaning device according to claim 4, wherein

the tip portion has a width of 200 micrometers in a thickness direction of the blade and a length of 100 micrometers in the longitudinal direction of the blade.

6. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein

the surface pressure is 3.0 MPa or more.

7. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein

a width of the slanting portion that contacts the surface is 10 micrometers or more.

8. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein

a width of the slanting portion that contacts the surface is 40 micrometers or less.

9. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein

the slanting portion is pressed against the surface at a linear pressure of 0.2 N/cm or more and 1.2 N/cm or less.

10. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein

the blade includes a projection that abuts against the supporter, and

the slanting portion is rigidly pressed against the surface.

11. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein

when a thickness of the blade is t1 and a free length of the blade projecting from the support member is t3, t1 and t3 satisfy 1.75≦

t3/t1≦

3.

12. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein

a free length portion of the blade is backed by a reinforcing member, and

the slanting portion is rigidly pressed against the surface.

13. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein

the elastic material is rubber with JISA hardness of 60 degrees or more and 80 degrees or less.

14. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein

the blade has rebound resilience of 30 percent or less at 23 degrees centigrade.

15. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein

a coefficient of friction of the tip portion is lower than a coefficient of friction of a conventional cleaning blade.

16. The cleaning device according to claim 15, wherein

the tip portion is impregnated with fluorine resin.

17. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein

the toner has a circularity of 0.95 or more.

18. A process cartridge that is detachably attachable to an image forming apparatus, comprising:

a cleaning device for cleaning off a residual toner remaining on a surface of an image carrier rotating in a first direction after image transfer is performed, including

a blade made of an elastic material including a tip portion that is pressed against the surface in a second direction counter to the first direction, the tip portion including a slanting portion, and

a supporter that supports the blade, wherein

an angle between the slanting portion and a longitudinal direction of the blade is obtuse, and

the slanting portion is pressed against the surface at a surface pressure of 2.0 MPa or more, wherein

the cleaning device and the image carrier are combined.

19. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a cleaning device for cleaning off a residual toner remaining on a surface of an image carrier rotating in a first direction after image transfer is performed, including

an blade made of an elastic material including a tip portion that is pressed against the surface in a second direction counter to the first direction, the tip portion including a slanting portion, and

a supporter that supports the blade, wherein

an angle between the slanting portion and a longitudinal direction of the blade is obtuse, and

the slanting portion is pressed against the surface at a surface pressure of 2.0 MPa or more.