JPH1091049A - Control method for making image forming device low in noise - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the occurrence of abnormal sound by reducing frictional resistance when a cleaning blade is brought into slidable contact with the surface of a photoreceptor by interposing trace amount of toner in the contact part of the cleaning blade with the surface of a photoreceptor drum. SOLUTION: The main switch of a copying machine is turned on to turn on an electrification charger 2 and simultaneously rotate the photoreceptor drum 1, so that an electrified region 10 having a fixed width is formed on the surface of the drum 1. After that, the electrified region 10 is developed with toner by a developing part 3, and when the drum 1 comes into contact with the cleaning blade 4, the toner is interposed in the contact part of the cleaning blade 4 with the drum 1 to reduce the abnormal sound caused by slidable contact.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a noise reduction control method for an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile or the like having a cleaning device using a cleaning blade.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a mechanism for cleaning residual toner (untransferred toner) on the surface of a photosensitive drum is usually provided. A blade method is used as one of such cleaning methods. In general, urethane rubber is used for the blade, but the frictional resistance of the contact part with the surface of the photoreceptor drum, especially static frictional resistance, is high, and a sliding noise such as squealing may occur during cleaning. is there. In particular, when the copier is not used for a long time, or when the viscosity of the rubber itself of the blade changes due to the installation environment, etc., and the adhesion to the surface of the photosensitive drum increases, the frictional resistance of the contact portion also increases. In addition, there has been a problem that the degree of noise generated during sliding contact during cleaning increases.

The present invention has been made in view of such a conventional problem,
A small amount of toner is interposed between the cleaning blade and the surface of the photoreceptor drum to reduce frictional resistance when the cleaning blade is slid in contact with the photoreceptor surface, such as a lubricant, and to prevent the occurrence of abnormal noise. It is an object of the present invention to provide a noise reduction control method for an image forming apparatus capable of reducing noise.

[0004]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for controlling noise reduction in an image forming apparatus, wherein toner generated when an image is developed upon contact with a photosensitive drum is transferred to a transfer sheet. A main switch for operating the image forming apparatus in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine having a blade for scraping off toner remaining on the photosensitive drum without being transferred and cleaning the surface of the photosensitive drum; Is turned on, the toner is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum in a belt shape having a certain width.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, when an image forming operation is not performed even after a predetermined time has elapsed after the main switch is turned on, the toner is transferred to the photosensitive drum in a belt shape having a predetermined width. It is characterized by forming an image on the surface.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a band-shaped image forming range of toner on the surface of the photosensitive drum is changed in accordance with an interval at which a copy switch for performing a normal image forming operation is turned on. It is characterized by the following.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram conceptually showing a typical image forming engine unit in a copying machine. In the figure, 1 is a photosensitive drum, 2 is a charger, 3 is a developing section, and a cleaning blade 4 for scraping off and cleaning residual toner on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1, and averaging the potential of the surface of the photosensitive drum 1. And a eraser 6 for erasing the potential of an unnecessary portion on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1. The cleaning blade 4 employs a counter blade system in which the edge of the blade is less worn and the cleaning effect is high. To form an image, the photosensitive drum 1 charged to a certain uniform potential by the charging charger 2 is exposed, and an image of a non-exposed portion is formed by the developing unit 3.

Therefore, in the embodiment of the present invention, when a main switch (not shown) of the copying machine is turned on, the charging charger 2 is also turned on at the same time, and the photosensitive drum 1 is rotated simultaneously with the main switch being turned on. 1 is charged in a band shape having a certain width. The time during which the charging charger 2 is turned on is controlled by software so that the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 is charged by a certain area, and is turned off after the lapse of the time. For example, when a charging area 10 having a width of 10 mm is formed at a linear velocity of 100 mm / sec as shown in FIG. 2, the ON time of the charging charger 2 is 0.1 second. Thereafter, the toner is developed on the photosensitive drum 1 by the developing unit 3, and the developing unit 3 travels to a contact portion between the photosensitive drum 1 and the cleaning blade 4. At this time, the toner is interposed in the contact portion between the cleaning blade 4 and the photosensitive drum 1, and the pear (abnormal sound) is reduced. After passing through the cleaning blade 4, charge elimination for clearing the potential of the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 is performed by the charge elimination lamp 5 and the eraser 6. No image is formed in the next rotation.

The interval at which the copy start button is pressed is stored by timer control so that when copying is not performed for a long time (the copy start button is not pressed), the above-described operation is performed before image formation of the original. be able to. That is, when the time t1 during which the copy start button is not pressed in FIG. 3 is longer than the predetermined set time, the above-described band-shaped charged area 10 and the operation of forming the toner image on the area are performed (indicated by time t0).

In accordance with the interval at which the copy start button is pressed, the ON time of the charging charger 2 for performing the above-described operation is variably controlled to widen the charging area 10 and change the development (toner transfer) area. Is also good. For example, the time during which the copy start button is not pressed is set in two stages (for example, the time t1, t2 during which the two-stage copy start button is not pressed is set as t2> t1). In other words, the image forming time of the belt-shaped toner image can be set to t0 '> t0.

[0011]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, as described above, when the main switch for operating the image forming apparatus is turned on, the toner is supplied with a predetermined width. Since the image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum in the shape of a strip having toner, the toner is interposed in the contact portion between the cleaning blade and the photosensitive drum, and it is possible to reduce the generation of noise during sliding contact. effective.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for controlling noise reduction in an image forming apparatus, as described above, in a case where an image forming operation is not performed even after a predetermined time has elapsed since a main switch was turned on. Is formed on the surface of the photoreceptor drum in a belt shape having a certain width.
Even if a transition phenomenon occurs between the cleaning blade and the surface of the photosensitive drum or the state where the transition phenomenon is likely to occur, the toner intervenes in the contact portion between the cleaning blade and the photosensitive drum, and the sliding contact occurs during the sliding contact. There is an effect that generation of sound can be further reduced.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, as described above, the band-shaped image forming range of the toner on the surface of the photosensitive drum corresponding to the interval at which the copy switch is turned on. Is changed, so that in addition to the effect common to the second aspect, there is an effect that it is possible to finely cope with a change in frictional resistance at a contact portion between the cleaning blade and the photosensitive drum.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram conceptually showing a typical image forming engine unit in a copying machine.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a belt-shaped charged portion on the surface of a photosensitive drum.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the on-off relationship of a main switch, a charger, and a copy start switch.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Photoconductor drum 2 Charger 3 Developing part 4 Cleaning blade 5 Static elimination lamp 6 Eraser 10 Band-shaped charged area t0, t0 'Image forming time of band-shaped toner image t1, t2 Time when copy start button is not pressed

Claims (3)

[Claims] A cleaning unit that cleans a surface of the photoconductive drum by scraping off toner remaining on the photoconductive drum without being transferred to a transfer sheet among toners generated when an image is developed and coming into contact with the photoconductive drum; When a main switch for operating the image forming apparatus is turned on, an image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum in a band shape having a certain width when the main switch for operating the image forming apparatus is turned on. A noise reduction control method for an image forming apparatus. 2. An image forming method for forming a toner image on the surface of the photosensitive drum in a belt shape having a predetermined width when an image forming operation is not performed even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the main switch was turned on. 2. The noise reduction control method for an image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 3. An image forming range of toner on the photosensitive drum surface is changed in accordance with an interval at which a copy switch for performing a normal image forming operation is turned on. 2. The noise reduction control method of the image forming apparatus of 2.