Image-forming device having cleaning unit opposing belt

• US 8,311,443 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2010
• Issued: 11/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Sato, Shougo, Sakuma, Susumu
• Primary Examiner(s): WALSH, RYAN D
• Application Number:
  US12/702,675
• Publication Number:
  US 20100209157A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,008 Days
• Field of Search: 399/101, 399/120, 399/123, 399/343, 399/358, 399/359
• US Class Current: 399/101
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/0058 using a roller or a polygonal rotating cleaning member; Details thereof, e.g. surface structure G03G21/0064 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1623 Means to access the interior of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1647 Mechanical connection means
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/0141 the linear arrangement being horizontal
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/1684 using extractable subframes, e.g. on rails or hinges

Abstract

An image-forming device includes a plurality of developing units, an endless belt, and a cleaning unit. The cleaning unit includes a cleaning member and a conveying unit. The cleaning member contacts the endless belt to clean toner remaining on the endless belt. The conveying unit includes a first conveying unit, a second conveying unit, and a first relaying member. The first relaying member relays the remaining toner conveyed by the first conveying unit to the second conveying unit, and has a relay-axis. The cleaning member pivots about the relay axis to move between a contacting position for contacting the endless belt and a separating position for separating from the endless belt.

Claims

1. An image-forming device comprising:

a holding member configured to hold a plurality of photosensitive members arranged in a first direction, each photosensitive member being apart from an adjacent photosensitive member and extending in a second direction;

a plurality of developing units corresponding to the plurality of photosensitive members respectively, each developing unit configured to supply developer to the corresponding photosensitive member;

an endless belt having a first straight section extending in the first direction, the first straight section configured to oppose the plurality of photosensitive members in a third direction; and

a cleaning unit configured to oppose the first straight section to clean toner remaining on the endless belt, the cleaning unit comprising;

a cleaning member configured to contact the endless belt to clean the remaining toner;

an accommodating unit configured to accommodate the remaining toner cleaned by the cleaning member; and

a conveying unit held by the holding member, the conveying unit configured to convey the remaining toner from the cleaning member to the accommodating unit, the conveying unit comprising;

a first conveying unit having a first end and a second end in the second direction, the first conveying unit configured to convey the remaining toner cleaned by the cleaning member from the first end to the second end;

a first casing accommodating the cleaning member and the first conveying unit;

a second conveying unit disposed at the second end to convey the remaining toner conveyed by the first conveying unit in the third direction;

a lift configured to accommodate the second conveying unit;

a cleaner side connecting part disposed on the first casing and disposed at the second end to relay the remaining toner conveyed by the first conveying unit to the second conveying unit, the cleaner side connecting part having a relay-axis extending in the second direction; and

a lift side connecting part disposed on the lift, the cleaner side connecting part and the lift side connecting part being rotatable connected with each other,

wherein the cleaning member is configured to pivot about the relay axis to move between a contacting position for contacting the endless belt and a separating position for separating from the endless belt.

2. The image-forming device according to claim 1, wherein the first conveying unit has a convey-axis coincident with the relay-axis.

3. The image-forming device according to claim 1, further comprising a seal member disposed between the cleaner side connecting part and the second conveying unit to seal a space between the cleaner side connecting part and the second conveying unit.

4. The image-forming device according to claim 1, wherein both the first conveying unit and the second conveying unit are held to the holding member.

5. The image-forming device according to claim 1, wherein the second conveying unit further comprises:

a plurality of retaining members arranged in the third direction, each retaining member being coupled with an adjacent retaining member in the third direction and configured to retain the remaining toner conveyed from the first conveying unit; and

a plurality of conveying members corresponding to the plurality of retaining members respectively, each conveying member being disposed inside the corresponding first retaining member and configured to convey the remaining toner in the third direction.

6. The image-forming device according to claim 5, wherein each retaining member has a cylindrical shape having a retain-axis extending in the second direction, the plurality of retaining members being arranged in a zigzag pattern in the third direction and overlapping an adjacent retaining member in the third direction when viewed from the first direction, and

wherein each conveying member has a rotational axis coincident with the retain-axis and rotates about the rotational axis to convey the remaining toner in the third direction.

7. The image-forming device according to claim 1, wherein the conveying unit further comprises a third conveying unit disposed inside the accommodating unit and configured to convey the remaining toner accommodated in the accommodating unit in a fourth direction opposite to the second direction.

8. The image-forming device according to claim 7, wherein the conveying unit further comprises:

a relaying member disposed between the second conveying unit and the third conveying unit and configured to relay the remaining toner conveyed by the second conveying unit to the third conveying unit;

a shutter unit openably disposed between the relaying unit and the second conveying unit; and

an operational unit configured to receive a user input to open and close the shutter unit.

9. The image-forming device according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning unit further comprises a casing that accommodates the cleaning member and the first conveying unit, and is configured to temporarily store the remaining toner cleaned by the cleaning member.

10. The image-forming device according to claim 9, wherein the casing pivots together with the cleaning member.

11. The image-forming device according to claim 1, wherein the holding member is configured to slide in the first direction.

12. The image-forming device according to claim 1, wherein the holding member further comprises:

a guide unit configured to guide the pivoting of the cleaning member;

a pressing member configured to push the cleaning member toward the third direction to separate the cleaning member from the endless belt; and

a transmitting member configured to transmit a pushing force to the pressing member.

13. An image-forming device comprising:

an endless belt configured to circularly move in a rotational direction, and having a first straight section extending in a first direction;

a plurality of photosensitive members arranged in the first direction, each photosensitive member being apart from an adjacent photosensitive member, extending in a second direction, and opposing the first straight section in a third direction, the plurality of photosensitive members comprising;

a first photosensitive member; and

a plurality of second photosensitive members other than the first photosensitive member and disposed downstream of the first photosensitive member in the rotational direction on the first straight section,

a holding member configured to hold the plurality of photosensitive members;

a plurality of developing units comprising;

a first developing unit mounted on the first photosensitive member; and

a plurality of second developing units mounted on the plurality of second photosensitive members respectively,

a cleaning unit opposing the first straight section and configured to clean toner remaining on the endless belt, the cleaning unit comprising;

a cleaning member held by the holding member and disposed at an upstream of the first photosensitive member, the cleaning member configured to contact the endless belt to clean toner remaining on the endless belt;

an accommodating unit mounted on the first developing unit and configured to accommodate the remaining toner cleaned by the cleaning member; and

a conveying unit held by the holding member, the conveying unit being fixed to the holding member and the accommodating unit and configured to convey the remaining toner from the cleaning member to the accommodating unit, and

a separating unit configured to separate the plurality of second developing units from the plurality of second photosensitive members without separating the first developing unit from the first photosensitive member.

14. The image-forming device according to claim 13, wherein the first developing unit is configured to provide the first photosensitive member with a black toner.

15. The image-forming device according to claim 13, wherein the endless belt is configured to convey a recording medium to which a developed image formed on at least one of the plurality of photosensitive members is transferred.

16. The image-forming device according to claim 15, wherein the cleaning member is configured to move between a contacting position for contacting the endless belt and a separating position for separating from the endless belt.

17. The image-forming device according to claim 16, wherein the conveying unit comprises:

a first conveying unit having a first end and a second end in the second direction, the first conveying unit configured to convey the remaining toner cleaned by the cleaning member from the first end to the second end;

a second conveying unit disposed at the second end and configured to convey the remaining toner conveyed by the first conveying unit in the third direction; and

a first relaying member disposed at the second end and configured to relay the remaining toner conveyed by the first conveying unit to the second conveying unit, the first relaying member having a relay-axis extending in the second direction,

wherein the cleaning member is configured to pivot about the relay-axis to move between the contacting position and the separating position.

18. The image-forming device according to claim 17, wherein the first conveying unit has a convey-axis coincident with the relay-axis.

19. The image-forming device according to claim 17, further comprising a seal member disposed between the first relaying member and the second conveying unit to seal a space between the first relaying member and the second conveying unit.

20. The image-forming device according to claim 17, wherein both the first conveying unit and the second conveying unit are held to the holding member.

21. The image-forming device according to claim 17, wherein the second conveying unit further comprises:

a plurality of retaining members arranged in the third direction, each retaining member being coupled with an adjacent retaining member in the third direction and configured to retain the remaining toner conveyed from the first conveying unit; and

a plurality of conveying members corresponding to the plurality of retaining members respectively, each conveying member being disposed inside the corresponding first retaining member and configured to convey the remaining toner in the third direction.

22. The image-forming device according to claim 21, wherein each retaining member has a cylindrical shape having a retain-axis extending in the second direction, the plurality of retaining members being arranged in a zigzag pattern in the third direction and overlapping an adjacent retaining member in the third direction when viewed from the first direction, and

wherein each conveying member has a rotational axis coincident with the retain-axis and rotates about the rotational axis to convey the remaining toner in the third direction.

23. The image-forming device according to claim 17, wherein the conveying unit further comprises a third conveying unit disposed inside the accommodating unit and configured to convey the remaining toner accommodated in the accommodating unit in a fourth direction opposite to the second direction.

24. The image-forming device according to claim 23, wherein the conveying unit further comprises:

a second relaying member disposed between the second conveying unit and the third conveying unit and configured to relay the remaining toner conveyed by the second conveying unit to the third conveying unit;

a shutter unit openably disposed between the second relaying unit and the second conveying unit; and

an operational unit configured to receive a user input to open and close the shutter unit.

25. The image-forming device according to claim 17, wherein the cleaning unit further comprises a casing that accommodates the cleaning member and the first conveying unit, and is configured to temporarily store the remaining toner cleaned by the cleaning member.

26. The image-forming device according to claim 25, wherein the casing pivots together with the cleaning member.

27. The image-forming device according to claim 17, wherein the holding member is configured to slide in the first direction.

28. The image-forming device according to claim 17, wherein the holding member further comprises:

a guide unit configured to guide the pivoting of the cleaning member;

a pressing member configured to push the cleaning member toward the third direction to separate the cleaning member from the endless belt; and

a transmitting member configured to transmit a pushing force to the pressing member.

29. The image-forming device according to claim 17, further comprising a photosensitive member cleaning unit configured to contact the photosensitive member to clean toner remaining on the photosensitive member, temporally retain the toner, and discharge the retained toner to the endless belt via the photosensitive member.