JP5573564B2 - Cleaning device, image forming apparatus, and cartridge - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a cleaning device, an image forming apparatus, and a cartridge.

  In the case of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, a configuration is adopted in which a developed image is formed on an image carrier, the developed image is transferred, and the developer remaining on the image carrier after transfer is removed by a cleaning device. . A configuration in which the image carrier and the cleaning device are integrated as a cartridge so that the cartridge can be exchanged is often employed.

  Here, in Patent Document 1, a removing member that contacts the image carrier and removes the developer, a developer container that accepts and removes the developer removed by the removing member, and a contained developer are conveyed. A cleaning device is disclosed that includes a conveying member and a damming member that dams a part of the developer that moves from the removing member toward the conveying member.

  Patent Document 2 discloses a cleaner having a vibration imparting member that imparts vibration in contact with the damming member in addition to the removing member, the storage container, the conveying member, and the damming member.

JP 2010-72538 A JP 2010-78718 A

  The dam member needs to be dammed by a “moderate” amount so as not to dam the developer too much, and needs to be constantly updated with a new developer.

  An object of the present invention is to stably dam a developer and update to a new developer.

The cleaning device of claim 1 comprises:
A removing member that contacts the post-transfer portion of the surface of the image carrier that holds the developed image while rotating and transfers the developed image to the transfer target, and removes the developer remaining on the image carrier;
A storage container for storing the developer removed from the image carrier by the removal member;
A conveying member that is disposed in the container and rotates around a rotation axis parallel to the rotation axis of the image carrier, and conveys the developer in the container in the direction of the rotation axis;
One end of the upper and lower ends is supported and the other end is a free end. The developer spreads in the vertical direction and the rotation axis direction between the removal member and the transport member, and temporarily removes the developer removed from the image carrier by the removal member. And a damming member for damming
The damming member includes a plurality of slits arranged in the direction of the rotation axis, which are inclined in the direction of the rotation axis from the other end toward the one end and further bent in the direction of the rotation axis.

  The cleaning device according to claim 2 is the cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the slit extends toward the downstream side in the developer transport direction by the transport member as it goes from the other end to the one end side, and further downstream in the transport direction. It is characterized by being a slit with a bent shape.

  The cleaning device according to claim 3 is the cleaning device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the damming member includes a non-holding portion that does not hold the developed image at both ends of the image holding body in the rotation axis direction, and both the end portions. The first slit formed in the region facing the non-holding portion of the plurality of slits is a member that extends between the non-holding portion and the holding portion that holds the developed image. It is a slit longer than the 2nd slit formed in the area | region which faced the holding | maintenance part, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

An image forming apparatus according to claim 4 is provided.
An image holding body on which an electrostatic latent image is formed and further developing and holding the developed image;
A developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier;
A transfer device for transferring the developed image on the image carrier to a recording medium;
A fixing device for fixing the developed image transferred to the recording medium to the recording medium;
A cleaning device for cleaning the image carrier by removing the developer remaining in the portion of the image carrier after the development image transfer,
The cleaner is
A removing member that contacts the transferred portion of the surface of the image carrier and removes the developer remaining on the image carrier;
A storage container for storing the developer removed from the image carrier by the removal member;
A conveying member that is disposed in the container and rotates around a rotation axis parallel to the rotation axis of the image carrier, and conveys the developer in the container in the direction of the rotation axis;
One end of the upper and lower ends is supported and the other end is a free end. The developer spreads in the vertical direction and the rotation axis direction between the removing member and the conveying member, and removed from the image carrier by the removing member. A damming member for temporarily damming,
The damming member has a plurality of slits arranged in the direction of the rotation axis that are inclined in the direction of the rotation axis from the other end toward the one end and further bent in the direction of the rotation axis.

  The image forming apparatus according to claim 5 is the image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the slit extends toward the downstream side in the developer conveying direction by the conveying member as it goes from the other end to the one end side, and further in the conveying direction. It is a slit having a shape bent to the downstream side.

  An image forming apparatus according to a sixth aspect is the image forming apparatus according to the fourth or fifth aspect, wherein the damming member includes a non-holding portion that does not hold the developed image at both ends of the image holding body in the rotation axis direction. A first slit formed in a region facing the non-holding portion of the plurality of slits, the member extending between the non-holding portions at both ends and holding the developed image. Is a slit longer than the second slit formed in the region facing the holding portion.

The cartridge according to claim 7 comprises:
An image holding body that is charged while rotating and is irradiated with exposure light to form an electrostatic latent image, holds the developed image by development, and transfers the developed image to the transfer target;
A charger for charging the image carrier;
A cleaning device for cleaning the image carrier by removing the developer remaining in the portion of the image carrier after the development image transfer;
The cleaner is
A removing member that contacts the transferred portion of the surface of the image carrier and removes the developer remaining on the image carrier;
A storage container for storing the developer removed from the image carrier by the removal member;
A conveying member that is disposed in the container and rotates around a rotation axis parallel to the rotation axis of the image carrier, and conveys the developer in the container in the direction of the rotation axis;
One end of the upper and lower ends is supported and the other end is a free end. The developer spreads in the vertical direction and the rotation axis direction between the removal member and the transport member, and temporarily removes the developer removed from the image carrier by the removal member. And a damming member for damming
The damming member is a cleaner having a plurality of slits arranged in the direction of the rotation axis, which is inclined in the direction of the rotation axis from the other end toward the one end and further bent in the direction of the rotation axis. The cartridge is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus.

  According to the first, fourth, and seventh aspects of the present invention, the developer is stably dammed and the damped developer is updated to a new developer as compared with the case without this configuration. .

  According to the second and fifth aspects of the present invention, the developer can be dammed more stably as compared with the case where this configuration is not provided.

  According to the third and sixth aspects of the present invention, the developer can be more stably dammed in each of the non-holding portion and the holding portion as compared with the case where this configuration is not provided.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is an external perspective view of a cartridge in which a photoreceptor, a charger, and a cleaner are incorporated. FIG. It is a schematic block diagram of a cleaner. 2 is an external perspective view of a developing device. FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the developing device shown in FIG. 4 taken along a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis of the developing roll. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing one end of the developing device shown in FIG. 4. It is the figure which showed the dam seal which comprises the cleaner shown in FIG. It is action | operation explanatory drawing of the damming seal | sticker in which the slit was formed. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a developer that is blocked by a blocking seal. It is the figure which showed the change of the length S shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing of the cleaner of 2nd Embodiment.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 is equipped with a cleaner 15 that is an embodiment of the cleaning device of the present invention.

  The image forming apparatus 1 includes a photoreceptor 11. The photoreceptor 11 is a drum-shaped photoreceptor having a rotation axis perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 1 and rotating in the direction of arrow A around the rotation axis.

  Around the photoconductor 11, a charger 12, a developing device 13, a transfer device 14, and a cleaner 15 are arranged. An exposure device 16 is disposed above the photoconductor 11, and the photoconductor 11 is charged by the charger 12 and then irradiated with exposure light 161 emitted from the exposure device 16.

  Here, the photosensitive member 11, the charger 12, and the cleaner 15 are configured as a cartridge that is detachable integrally with the main body of the image forming apparatus 1. Further, the configuration including the developing device 13 may be formed into a cartridge.

  Further, two sheet storage portions 21 are disposed below the image forming apparatus 1, and the sheets P are stored in a stacked state in each sheet storage portion 21. One sheet P is taken out from one of these sheet storage portions 21, conveyed in the directions of arrows B and C by the conveyance roller 22, and finally discharged onto the sheet discharge tray 24.

  In forming an image, the surface of the photoconductor 11 rotating in the direction of arrow A is charged by the charger 12, and an electrostatic latent image is formed by exposure to exposure light 161 representing an image from the exposure device 16. The electrostatic latent image is developed by the device 13 to form a developed image on the photoreceptor 11.

  The paper P taken out from the paper storage unit 21 and conveyed in the directions indicated by the arrows B and C is synchronized with the development image formed on the photoconductor 11 reaching the transfer position where the transfer unit 14 is disposed. The developed image on the photoconductor 11 is transferred onto the paper P by the action of the transfer device 14.

  The sheet on which the developed image has been transferred is further conveyed, heated and pressurized by the fixing device 23 to fix the developed image, and an image composed of the developed image fixed on the sheet is formed. The sheet on which this image is formed is further conveyed and discharged onto the discharge table 24.

  Further, after the developed image is transferred onto the sheet by the action of the transfer unit 14, the photoconductor 11 is subjected to the removal of the developer remaining on the photoconductor 11 by the cleaner 15 and is charged again by the charger 12.

  FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of a cartridge in which a photoreceptor, a charger, and a cleaner are incorporated.

  The cartridge 30 includes the photosensitive member 11, the exposure device 12, and the cleaner 15 that are also shown in FIG. When the photoconductor 11 is worn, the cartridge 30 is replaced as a unit. The photoconductor 11 rotates in the direction of arrow A. The charger 12 includes a charging roll 121 that contacts the photoreceptor 11 and charges the photoreceptor 11, and a cleaning roll 122 that removes developer and the like attached to the charging roll 121. The cleaner 15 is in a position hidden behind the photoconductor 11 in FIG. 2 and extends parallel to the longitudinal direction of the photoconductor 11.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of the cleaner. FIG. 3 shows a schematic shape when sectioned on a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis of the photoconductor 11.

  The cleaner 15 includes a housing 150, a blade 151, a storage container 152 formed by the housing 150, a conveying member 153, a damming seal 154, and a lower seal 155.

  The blade 151 corresponds to an example of a removing member according to the present invention. The upper portion of the blade 151 is fixed to the casing 150, the lower edge is in contact with the photoconductor 11, and the photoconductor 11 rotates in the direction of arrow A. The developer 80 carried by the body 11 is scraped off and removed from the photoreceptor 11. The lower seal 155 has a lower end supported by the casing 150 and an upper end in contact with the photoconductor 11 and plays a role of preventing the developer 80 scraped off from the photoconductor 11 from spilling down. Yes.

  The developer scraped off from the photoconductor 11 is once dammed by the damming seal 154 and then accommodated in the accommodating container 152. Details of the dam seal 154 will be described later.

  The developer stored in the storage container 152 is transported by the transport member 153 in the direction of the rotation axis of the photoconductor 11 (a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 3), and a tank (not shown) placed outside the cleaner 15. N).

  The description of the damming seal 154 will be further given later, and then the developing device 13 (see FIG. 1) will be described.

  FIG. 4 is an external perspective view of the developing device.

  The developing device 13 includes a housing 131 containing a developer, a developing roll 132 partially exposed from the housing 131, and a layer thickness regulating member that regulates the layer thickness of the developer on the developing roll 132. 133.

  The developing roll 132 rotates in the direction of arrow D, holds the developer built in the housing 131 on its surface, and carries it to the exposed portion. At that time, the layer thickness by the layer thickness regulating member 133 is increased. In response to the regulation, the developer layer having the regulated layer thickness is held on the surface.

  The developing unit 13 is arranged in a posture in which a portion of the developing roll 132 exposed to the outside of the housing 131 faces the photoconductor 11, and receives a developing bias applied to the developing roll 132, and is exposed to the developing roll 132. The developer carried to the area facing the body 11 flies to the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor 11, and the electrostatic latent image is developed with the developer.

  The developer in the casing 131 circulates along the rotation axis of the developing roll 132 by a conveying member such as an auger provided in the casing 131 so as to prevent solidification and generate frictional charging. So that it is conveyed.

  FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the developing device shown in FIG. 4 taken along a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis of the developing roll.

  FIG. 6 is a view showing one end of the developing device shown in FIG.

  The casing 131 has a fixing portion 131 a for fixing the layer thickness regulating member 133. The fixing portions 131a are provided at both ends of the developing roller 132 in the rotation axis direction, and the developer is accommodated in a region 131b sandwiched between the fixing portions 131a.

  For this reason, as shown in FIG. 6, the developing roll 132 has a holding portion 132a corresponding to the region 131b in which the developer is accommodated, holding the developer on the surface, and developing at both ends of the holding portion 132a. A non-holding portion 132b that does not hold the agent is formed. The holding unit 132a holds the developer and contributes to the development of the electrostatic latent image, and the non-holding unit 132b does not hold the developer and does not contribute to the development of the electrostatic latent image. Therefore, the system is configured so that an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive member 11 only in an area corresponding to the holding portion 132a of the developing roll 132.

  FIG. 7 is a view showing a damming seal constituting the cleaner shown in FIG.

  The dam seal 154 is formed of a sheet material such as a PET film that is long in the direction of the rotation axis of the photoconductor 11 (see FIG. 3) (direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 3). As shown in FIG. 3, the dam seal 154 has a lower end 154 c fixed to the housing 150 and an upper end 154 d that is a free end. The dam seal 154 has a plurality of slits 1541 and 1542 arranged in the longitudinal direction. The slits 1541 and 1542 include first portions 1541a and 1542a that are inclined from the upper end 154d, which is a free end, toward the rotation axis direction of the photoconductor 11 (longitudinal direction of the damming seal 154) and toward the lower end portion 154c, and the first portion thereof. Second portions 1541b and 1542b are bent and extended in the direction of the rotation axis from the ends of 1541a and 1542a. Here, the dam seal 154 is provided in the housing of the cleaner 13 so that the developer stored in the storage container 152 (see FIG. 3) is transported by the transport member 153 in the direction of arrow E shown in FIG. It is fixed to 131. That is, the first portions 1541a and 1542a of the slits 1541 and 1542 provided in the blocking member 154 are conveyed by the developer by the conveying member 153 (see FIG. 3) from the upper end 154d which is a free end toward the lower end 154c. Direction (the direction indicated by arrow E in FIG. 7) extends downstream (left side in FIG. 7), and the second portions 1541b and 1542b are further downstream in the transport direction (indicated by arrow E) from the tips of the first portions 1541a and 1542a. It is bent and extends in the direction shown). Here, when the slit 1541 of the central portion 154a in the longitudinal direction of the damming seal 154 is compared with the slit 1542 at both ends (only one end 154b is shown in FIG. 7), the slit 1542 of the end 154b is compared. The length of the second portion 1542b is longer than the length of the second portion 1541b of the slit 1541 in the central portion 154a.

  This damming member 154 includes a holding portion 132a that holds the developer and a non-holding portion 132b that does not hold the developer of the developing roll 132 (see FIGS. 4 to 6) in the rotation axis direction of the photoconductor 11. It is a roll that spreads across. Here, the central portion 154 a of the damming member 154 is located at a position corresponding to the holding portion 132 a (see FIG. 6) of the developing roll 132 in the rotation axis direction of the photoconductor 11, and the end 154 b is the position of the developing roll 132. In the position corresponding to the non-holding portion 132b (see FIG. 6) that does not hold the developer. The holding unit 132a corresponds to an image unit used for forming an electrostatic latent image and a developed image with respect to the photosensitive member 11, and the non-holding unit 132b includes an electrostatic latent image and a developed image with respect to the photosensitive member 11. This corresponds to a non-image portion that is not used for formation. The image portion on the photoconductor 11 corresponding to the holding portion 132a on the developing roll 132 is a portion where a developed image is formed and a part of the developer remains after the transfer, and the image portion on the non-holding portion 132b on the developing roll 132. The corresponding non-image portion on the photoconductor 11 is a portion where a developed image is not formed, and thus the remaining developer is small. The difference in the shapes of the slits 1541 and 1542 in the central portion 154a and the end portion 154b of the damming member 154 is a difference depending on the amount of remaining developer. The slit 1542 of the end portion 154b is longer than the slit 1541 of the central portion 154a, and the second portion 1542b is longer, so that the developer can easily move into the storage container 152 (see FIG. 3). The developer that has been transferred is easily transferred to the end 154b.

  As described above, the slits 1541 and 1542 of the dam seal 154 are designed to dam the appropriate amount of developer in the image area and the non-image area on the photoconductor 11, and the damped developer has an appropriate speed. Now, it is devised to move into the storage container 152.

  In FIG. 7, by changing the lengths of the second portions 1541b and 1542b of the slits 1541 and 1542 between the central portion 154a and the end portion 154b, the difference in the remaining amount of developer between the image portion and the non-image portion is shown. A blocking seal 154 that absorbs both the image portion and the non-image portion is formed, but the length of the first portions 1541a and 1542a of the slits 1541 and 1542 is changed (the first portion 1542a of the slit 1542). ) Is made longer than the first portion 1541a of the slit 1541), a damming seal adapted to both the image portion and the non-image portion may be formed. Alternatively, by adjusting the lengths of the first portions 1541a and 1542a and the second portions 1541b and 1542b of the slits 1541 and 1542, a damming seal adapted to both the image portion and the non-image portion is formed. Also good.

  FIG. 8 is an operation explanatory view of the damming seal in which the slit is formed. FIG. 8A shows a comparative example, and FIG. 8B shows a damming member employed in the present embodiment in which a slit having the shape shown in FIG. 7 is formed.

  The dam seal 1541 ′ of the comparative example shown in FIG. 8A is formed with slits 1541 ′ that obliquely extend only in a straight line. That is, the slit 1541 'corresponds to the first portions 1541a and 1542a of the slits 1541 and 1542 of the damming seal 154 shown in FIG. 7, and the portions corresponding to the second portions 1541b and 1542b are not formed.

  When the damming seal 154 ′ of FIG. 8A is adopted, when the amount of developer blocked by the damming seal 154 ′ increases, the upper side d, which is a free end, becomes almost uniform as indicated by the arrow X1. The developer that has been tilted and blocked in the region D is sent into the storage container 152 all at once.

  On the other hand, in the case of the dam seal 154 employed in the present embodiment shown in FIG. 8B, the slit 1541 is formed with the second portion 1541b in addition to the first portion 1541a. When the amount of developer blocked by the blocking seal 154 increases, the developer that is tilted obliquely as indicated by the arrow X2 from the acute angle side a on the upper side, which is the free end, is blocked in the region D1. It is sent out to the storage container 152. On the other hand, the developer blocked in the region D2 remains in the blocked state. In addition, the developer that has been dammed in the region D1 is sent out first, and the developer that has been dammed to the corner a of the upper side d is sent out first, and the developer sent out first is fed by the conveying member 153 by the arrow E. The developer in the region D1 is gradually sent out while being conveyed in the direction. Since the developer on the corner a sent out earlier is being conveyed in the direction of arrow E while being gradually fed out, the conveyed developer becomes resistance and is sent out later from among the developers in the region D1. The developer to be discharged is prevented from being sent out vigorously, and the speed at which the developer is sent out becomes slow. Further, after the developer in the region D1 is sent out, the inclined region D1 jumps to return to the original state, and at that time, there is also an action of breaking up the lump of developer that is blocked by the region D2.

  In this way, in the case of the dam seal 154 formed with the slit in the shape of FIG. 8B, the developer dammed there compared with the dam seal 154 ′ of the slit in the shape of FIG. 8A. Is gradually fed out little by little, and the change in the amount of the developer retained there can be kept small.

  Here, experimental data indicating that the developer that has been dammed can be easily sent out by forming the second portions 1541b and 1542b in the slits 1541 and 1542 of the damming seal 154 will be described.

  FIG. 9 is a schematic view of the developer that is blocked by the blocking seal. The lower side in FIG. 9 is the photoconductor 11 side, and the upper side is the damming seal 154 side. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a change in the length S shown in FIG.

  Here, first, a magenta (M) developer is used to form a halftone uniform image with an area ratio of 50% over a width of 323 mm and a length of 200 mm, and damming with the photoreceptor 11. A magenta (M) color developer is accumulated between the seal 154 and the seal 154. Thereafter, a uniform image of 1% halftone is formed for A310 sheets using a cyan (C) developer. When a uniform image is formed using a cyan (C) developer, cyan (C) developer accumulates on the photoconductor 11 side between the photoconductor 11 and the dam seal 154, Accordingly, the magenta (M) color developer is sent out from the damming seal 154 into the container 152 (see FIG. 3). As a result, as shown in FIG. 9, the photosensitive member 11 side of the space between the photosensitive member 11 and the damming seal 154 is occupied by a cyan (C) developer, and the damming seal 154 side is magenta (M). It becomes the state occupied by the color developer. Here, in accordance with the above conditions, a cyan (C) developer is used to form a 1% halftone uniform image for A310 sheets, and then the cyan (C) developer from the photoconductor 11 side. The thickness S is measured.

  FIG. 10 shows the experimental results for the central portion 154a of the damming seal 154 (see FIG. 7). '0', '1', and '2' on the horizontal axis represent the length (mm) of the second portion 1541b of the slit 1541, and the vertical axis represents the thickness S (μm).

  It can be seen that by forming the second portion 1541b in the slit 1541, the developer blocked by the blocking seal 154 is easily replaced with a new developer. Although not shown here, the formation of the second portion 1541b has a smaller change in speed at which the second portion 1541b is replaced with a new developer, and is replaced smoothly.

  FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the cleaner according to the second embodiment.

  This cleaner 15A is a cleaner that can be used in place of the cleaner 15 shown in FIG. 3, and the components corresponding to the components of the cleaner 15 shown in FIG. 3 have the same reference numerals as those in FIG. Only the differences will be described.

  The cleaner 15A shown in FIG. 11 is provided with a damming seal 154A. The dam seal 154A has a thickness, a length in the vertical direction, and the like that have been changed to fit the cleaner 15A. This is the same as the damming seal 154 shown in FIG. However, the blocking seal 154A shown in FIG. 11 has an upper end fixed to the casing 150 and a lower end being a free end. That is, the dam seal 154A is fixed to the housing 150 with the lower end 154C of the dam seal 154 in FIG. 7 facing up, and the upper end 154d of the dam seal 154 in FIG. 7 has a shape in which the damming seal 154 shown in FIG.

  The cleaner 15A shown in FIG. 11 also has the same operation as that described with reference to FIG. That is, since the damming seal 154A in which the slits 1541 and 1542 having the first portions 1541a and 1542a and the second portions 1541b and 1542b are formed is adopted, an appropriate amount of developer is always supplied by the damming seal 154A. Damped and smoothly replaced with new developer.

  Here, the cleaner that removes the developer remaining on the photosensitive member 11 has been described, but the present invention does not ask where the cleaner is installed. For example, an intermediate transfer in an image forming apparatus of a so-called intermediate transfer type in which a developed image is formed on a photosensitive member, the developed image is transferred to an intermediate transfer member, and then the developed image on the intermediate transfer member is transferred onto a sheet. The present invention can also be applied to a cleaner that removes the developer remaining on the body.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 11 Photoconductor 12 Charging device 13 Developing device 14 Transfer device 15, 15A Cleaner 16 Exposure device 21 Paper storage unit 22 Conveyance roller 23 Fixing device 24 Paper discharge table 30 Cartridge 80 Developer 121 Charging roll 122 Cleaning roll 131, 150 Housing 131a Fixing part 131b, D1, D2 area 132 Developing roll 132a Holding part 132b Non-holding part 133 Layer thickness regulating member 151 Blade 152 Storage container 153 Transport member 154, 154A Damping seal 154a Central part 154b End part 154c Lower end part 154d Upper end 155 Lower seal 161 Exposure light 1541, 1542 Slits 1541a, 1542a First part 1541b, 1542b Second part

Claims (7)

A removal member that holds the developed image while rotating and contacts the post-transfer portion of the surface of the image carrier that transfers the developed image to the transfer member, and removes the developer remaining on the image carrier;
A storage container for storing the developer removed from the image carrier by the removal member;
A conveying member that is disposed in the container, rotates around a rotation axis parallel to the rotation axis of the image carrier, and conveys the developer in the container in the direction of the rotation axis;
One end of the upper and lower ends is supported and the other end is a free end, and extends in the vertical direction and the rotation axis direction between the removal member and the transport member, and is removed from the image carrier by the removal member. A damming member for temporarily damaging the developer,
The damming member has a plurality of slits arranged in the direction of the rotation axis that are inclined in the direction of the rotation axis from the other end toward the one end and further bent in the direction of the rotation axis. apparatus.   The slit is a slit having a shape extending toward the downstream side in the developer transport direction by the transport member and further bent toward the downstream side in the transport direction from the other end toward the one end side. 1. The cleaning device according to 1.   The damming member includes a non-holding portion that does not hold the developed image at both ends of the image holding body in the rotation axis direction, and a holding portion that holds the developed image sandwiched between the non-holding portions at the both ends. The first slit formed in the region facing the non-holding portion of the plurality of slits is more than the second slit formed in the region facing the holding portion. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the slit is a long slit. An image holding body on which an electrostatic latent image is formed and further developed to hold the developed image;
A developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier;
A transfer device for transferring the developed image on the image carrier to a recording medium;
A fixing device for fixing the developed image transferred to the recording medium to the recording medium;
A cleaning device for cleaning the image carrier by removing the developer remaining in the portion of the image carrier after the development image transfer;
The cleaner is
A removing member that contacts the transferred portion of the surface of the image carrier and removes the developer remaining on the image carrier;
A storage container for storing the developer removed from the image carrier by the removal member;
A conveying member that is disposed in the container, rotates around a rotation axis parallel to the rotation axis of the image carrier, and conveys the developer in the container in the direction of the rotation axis;
One end of the upper and lower ends is supported and the other end is a free end, and extends in the vertical direction and the rotation axis direction between the removal member and the transport member, and is removed from the image carrier by the removal member. A damming member for temporarily damaging the developer,
The damming member has a plurality of slits arranged in the direction of the rotation axis, the shape being inclined toward the rotation axis from the other end toward the one end, and further bent in the direction of the rotation axis. Forming equipment.   The slit is a slit having a shape extending toward the downstream side in the developer transport direction by the transport member and further bent toward the downstream side in the transport direction from the other end toward the one end side. 5. The image forming apparatus according to 4.   The damming member includes a non-holding portion that does not hold the developed image at both ends of the image holding body in the rotation axis direction, and a holding portion that holds the developed image sandwiched between the non-holding portions at the both ends. The first slit formed in the region facing the non-holding portion of the plurality of slits is more than the second slit formed in the region facing the holding portion. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the slit is a long slit. An image holding body that is charged while rotating and is irradiated with exposure light to form an electrostatic latent image, holds the developed image by development, and transfers the developed image to the transfer target;
A charger for charging the image carrier;
A cleaner for cleaning the image carrier by removing the developer remaining in the portion of the image carrier after development image transfer;
The cleaner is
A removing member that contacts the transferred portion of the surface of the image carrier and removes the developer remaining on the image carrier;
A storage container for storing the developer removed from the image carrier by the removal member;
A conveying member that is disposed in the container, rotates around a rotation axis parallel to the rotation axis of the image carrier, and conveys the developer in the container in the direction of the rotation axis;
One end of the upper and lower ends is supported and the other end is a free end, and extends in the vertical direction and the rotation axis direction between the removal member and the transport member, and is removed from the image carrier by the removal member. A damming member for temporarily damaging the developer,
The damming member is a cleaner having a plurality of slits arranged in the direction of the rotation axis, in a shape that is inclined in the direction of the rotation axis from the other end toward the one end and further bent in the direction of the rotation axis. A cartridge that is detachably attached to an image forming apparatus.

Images