Cleaning device and image forming apparatus

Abstract

A cleaning device includes a cleaning roll and an intervening member. The cleaning roll contacts the surface of a charge roll that charges a photoconductor, rotates, and cleans the surface of the charge roll. The intervening member is intervened between the charge roll and the cleaning roll and causes the charge roll and the cleaning roll to separate from each other. The intervening member may be spacers that are intervened at both end portions of the charge roll and the cleaning roll and form a gap between the charge roll and the cleaning roll. The intervening member may also be a lubricant.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

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

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an image forming apparatus disposed with a cleaning device pertaining to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view where the cleaning device is seen from an axial direction;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are enlarged views where a nip portion between a charge roll and a cleaning roll is seen from the axial direction;

FIG. 4A is a perspective view showing a cleaning device pertaining to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4B is a side view showing the cleaning device pertaining to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are side views where a cleaning device pertaining to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention is seen from the axial direction;

FIG. 6A is a diagram showing the state of the cleaning device prior to the shipment or transportation of an image forming apparatus; and

FIG. 6B is a diagram showing the state of the cleaning device when the image forming apparatus is operated.

Claims

1. A cleaning device comprising: a cleaning roll that contacts a surface of a charge roll that charges a surface of an image carrier, the cleaning roll rotating and cleaning the surface of the charge roll; andan intervening member that is positioned between the charge roll and the cleaning roll and causes the charge roll and the cleaning roll to separate from each other.

2. The cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the intervening member comprises spacers that are positioned at both end portions of the charge roll and the cleaning roll and form a gap between the charge roll and the cleaning roll.

3. The cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the intervening member comprises a lubricant.

4. The cleaning device of claim 3, wherein the lubricant comprises at least one of a toner and an external additive.

5. The cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the intervening member comprises a sheet material.

6. The cleaning device of claim 5, wherein the sheet material is biased downward in a rotating direction of the charge roll and the cleaning roll at a contact portion thereof.

7. The cleaning device of claim 3, wherein at least one of the charge roll and the cleaning roll is coated with the lubricant.

8. The cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the intervening member is conductive.

9. The cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the intervening member has a hardness that is lower than the hardness of the surface of the cleaning roll.

10. The cleaning device of claim 5, wherein the sheet material comprises two layers, one of which contacts the charge roll and is formed by a conductive member and the other of which contacts the cleaning roll and is formed by an elastic member.

11. The cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the charge roll and the cleaning roll idle prior to image formation.

12. A cleaning device comprising: rotatable cleaning means for cleaning a surface of a charging member that charges a member to be charged; andintervening means positioned between the charge member and the cleaning means for causing the charging member and the cleaning means to separate from each other.

13. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is to be formed;a charge roll that charges a surface of the image carrier;a cleaning roll that contacts a surface of the charge roll, the cleaning roll rotating and cleaning the surface of the charge roll;an intervening member that is positioned between the charge roll and the cleaning roll and causes the charge roll and the cleaning roll to separate from each other;an exposure member that forms the electrostatic latent image on the image carrier; anda developing member that develops the electrostatic latent image with a toner to form a toner image.