Toner conveyance device and image forming apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9733607-B2
Application number	US-201615158025-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 18, 2016
Priority date	May 18, 2015
Publication date	Aug 15, 2017
Grant date	Aug 15, 2017

Abstract

A cleaning device in accordance with the present disclosure includes a cleaning member to clean toner on an image bearer, a toner conveyor that rotates to convey toner cleaned by the cleaning member, and an agitator that includes a bent portion that is in contact with the toner conveyor, and the agitator vibrates due to the rotation of the toner conveyor. The agitator includes a plurality of arm members, and a first end of a first arm member of the plurality of arm members is attached to a second end of a second arm member of the plurality of arm members.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A cleaning device comprising:
a cleaning member to clean toner on an image bearer;
a toner conveyor that rotates to convey toner cleaned by the cleaning member; and
an agitator that includes an arm member, the arm member including at least a first surface and a second surface that intersect at a bent portion, wherein
the bent portion is in contact with the toner conveyor, and
the agitator vibrates due to the rotation of the toner conveyor.

2. The cleaning device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a seal member disposed between the cleaning member and the image bearer, wherein
an end of the agitator is disposed below an upper end of the seal member.

3. The cleaning device according to claim 1 , wherein
the agitator includes a plurality of arm members, and
a first end of a first arm member of the plurality of arm members is attached to a second end of a second arm member of the plurality of arm members.

4. The cleaning device according to claim 3 , wherein
when the toner conveyor rotates in a first direction, the toner conveyor contacts an inclined portion of a first arm member, and
when the toner conveyor rotates in a second direction opposite of the first direction, the toner conveyor contacts a vertical portion of the first arm member.

5. The cleaning device according to claim 1 , wherein
the agitator includes a plurality of arm members, and
each arm member includes a first surface and a second surface that intersect at a bent portion.

6. The cleaning device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a restrictor to restrict a position of the agitator.

7. The cleaning device according to claim 1 , wherein
the agitator includes an end side arm member including first and second surfaces intersecting at an end side bent portion, and
an end of the agitator faces the toner conveyor from the end side bent portion.

8. The cleaning device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a weight that is attached to the agitator.

9. The cleaning device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a reinforcing member that is attached to the bent portion of the arm member.

10. The cleaning device according to claim 1 , wherein
the arm member that includes a inclined portion inclined along an axis direction of the conveyor, and
the inclined portion contacts the conveyor.

11. The cleaning device according to claim 10 , wherein
the agitator includes a plurality of arm members, and
each arm member of the plurality of arm members includes an inclined portion.

12. The cleaning device according to claim 10 , wherein
the agitator includes a plurality of arm members,
a first end of a first arm member of the plurality of arm members is attached to a second end of a second arm member of the plurality of arm members, and
the first arm member has two inclined portions and the second arm member has one inclined portion and one straight portion which is orthogonal to the axis direction.

13. The cleaning device according to claim 10 , wherein the bent portion is at the inclined portion.

14. The cleaning device according to claim 1 , wherein the conveyor rotates when interlocking with the image bearer.

15. A process cartridge that is detachably coupled to an image forming apparatus, the process cartridge comprising:
a photoconductor to form an image on a surface thereof;
a charger to charge the photoconductor;
a developing device to develop the image on the photoconductor charged by the charger; and
the cleaning device according to claim 1 .

16. The process cartridge according to claim 15 , wherein the photoconductor rotates so that a surface of the photoconductor is made to be closer to the cleaning device.

17. An image forming apparatus comprising:
an image bearer; and
the cleaning device according to claim 1 .

18. The cleaning device according to claim 1 , wherein the cleaning member is a blade that cleans the toner on the image bearer.

19. A cleaning device comprising:
a toner conveyor that rotates to convey toner cleaned by a cleaning member; and
an agitator that includes an arm member, the arm member including at least a first surface and a second surface that intersect at a bent portion, wherein
the bent portion is in contact with the toner conveyor, and
the agitator vibrates due to the rotation of the toner conveyor.

20. A cleaning device comprising:
a cleaning member to clean toner on an image bearer;
a toner conveyor that rotates to convey toner cleaned by the cleaning member; and
an agitator that includes an arm member, the arm member including a first surface and an inclined portion that contacts the conveyor and is inclined along an axis direction of the conveyor, the first surface and the inclined portion intersecting at a bent portion, wherein
the bent portion is in contact with the toner conveyer, and
the agitator vibrates due to the rotation of the toner conveyor.

Assignees

• Matsumoto Kazuki
• Nakatake Naoki
• Kita Emi
• Kichise Mitsutoshi
• Ricoh Co Ltd

Inventors

• Matsumoto Kazuki
• Nakatake Naoki
• Kita Emi
• Kichise Mitsutoshi

Classifications

• G03G21/0011 Primary

  using a blade; Details of cleaning blades, e.g. blade shape, layer forming · CPC title

• G03G2215/0132

  vertical medium transport path at the secondary transfer · CPC title

• G03G21/105

  Arrangements for conveying toner waste · CPC title

• G03G2221/001

  Plural sequential cleaning devices · CPC title