Cleaning device and image forming apparatus

Abstract

A cleaning device includes a cleaning component that cleans the surface of a charging component that charges an image carrier that has a surface on which an electrostatic latent image is to be formed. The cleaning component is a hollow body that cleans the surface of the charging component while being rotated by rotation of the charging component.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the following drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional drawing showing a photosensitive body, a charging roll, and a cleaning component according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective drawing showing the photosensitive body, charging roll, and cleaning component according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a structural outline drawing showing an image forming apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional drawing showing a photosensitive body, a charging roll, a cleaning component, and a case according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective drawing showing the photosensitive body, charging roll, cleaning component, and case according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional drawing showing a photosensitive body, a charging roll, a cleaning component, a case, and a shaft according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective drawing showing the photosensitive body, charging roll, cleaning component, case, and shaft according to the third exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional drawing showing a photosensitive body, a charging roll, a cleaning component, a case, a first shaft, and a second shaft according to a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional drawing showing a photosensitive body, a charging roll, a cleaning component, and a nip forming component according to a fifth exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional drawing of the 10-10 shown in FIG. 9 and shows the charging roll, cleaning component, and nip forming component according to the fifth exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a perspective drawing showing the nip-forming component according to the fifth exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional drawing showing a photosensitive body, a charging roll, a cleaning component, and a nip forming component according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 13 is a perspective drawing showing the nip-forming component according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention;

Claims

1. A cleaning device comprising: a cleaning component that cleans the surface of a charging component that charges an image carrier that has a surface on which an electrostatic latent image is to be formed, the cleaning component being a hollow body that cleans the surface of the charging component while being rotated by rotation of the charging component.

2. The cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the hollow body is an elastic tube, andthe cleaning device further comprises:a pressing component that presses and deforms the elastic tube against the charging component; anda rotation position restricting component that restricts the rotation position of the elastic tube when the elastic tube is rotated by the rotation of the charging component.

3. The cleaning device of claim 2, wherein the rotation position restricting component is a material that extends outwardly from the end portion of the pressing component, and is in contact with the external peripheral surface of the elastic tube and restricts movement of the elastic tube in the direction of driving.

4. The cleaning device of claim 2, wherein the rotation position restricting component is a rotatable rod inserted into the elastic tube, and the rotation position restricting component contacts the inner peripheral surface of the elastic tube and restricts movement of the elastic tube in the driving direction.

5. The cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the hollow body is an elastic tube, andthe cleaning device further comprises a pair of rotatable shafts that are inserted into the elastic tube to deform and press the elastic tube from the interior side thereof against the charging component.

6. The cleaning device of claim 2, wherein the force of friction between the elastic tube and the pressing component is less than the force of friction between the elastic tube and the charging component.

7. A cleaning device comprising: a cleaning component that cleans a surface of a charging component that charges an image carrier that has a surface on which an electrostatic latent image is to be formed, andthe cleaning component comprises:an elastic tube that cleans the surface of the charging component while being rotated by rotation of the charging component; anda nip-forming component that is inserted into the elastic tube to press the elastic tube from the inner side thereof against the charging component, and forms a preset nip width with the charging component.

8. The cleaning device of claim 7, wherein the elastic tube is pressed to the charging component by the nip forming component, and a nip width is increased due to deformation of the surface of the charging component.

9. The cleaning device of claim 7, wherein the nip-forming unit is a curved board that curves along the surface of the charging component.

10. The cleaning device of claim 7, wherein the force of friction between the elastic tube and the nip forming component is less than the force of friction between the elastic tube and the charging component.

11. An image forming apparatus comprising: a cleaning device, whereinthe cleaning device comprises:a cleaning component that cleans the surface of a charging component that charges an image carrier that has a surface, on which an electrostatic latent image is to be formed, andthe cleaning component is a hollow body that cleans the surface of the charging component while being rotated by rotation of the charging component.

12. An image forming apparatus comprising: a cleaning device, whereinthe cleaning device comprises:a cleaning component that cleans a surface of a charging component that charges an image carrier that has a surface, on which an electrostatic latent image is to be formed and,the cleaning component comprises:an elastic tube that cleans the surface of the charging component while being rotated by rotation of the charging component; anda nip forming component that is inserted into the elastic tube to press the elastic tube from the inner side thereof against the charging component, and forms a preset nip width with the charging component.