US 8,135,318 B2Granted

Image forming apparatus, image forming method, and secondary transfer unit

AssigneesKabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha

InventorHidetoshi Murao

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Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes an image transfer section configured to transfer a reversed image based on a read original image onto an image carrier as a toner image, a secondary transfer roller configured to come into contact with the image carrier and transfer the toner image onto a recording medium, a secondary transfer roller housing section configured to house the secondary transfer roller, a lubricant coating brush configured to come into contact with the secondary transfer roller and coat lubricant on the secondary transfer roller, a lubricant coating brush housing section configured to house the lubricant coating brush and be movable along a groove formed on the secondary transfer roller housing section, a solid lubricant configured to be housed in the lubricant coating brush housing section and supply lubricant to the lubricant coating brush, and a lubricant holding member configured to elastically hold the solid lubricant.

Claims16

Dependent claims

An image forming apparatus comprising:

an image transfer section configured to transfer a reversed image based on a read original image onto an image carrier as a toner image;
a secondary transfer roller configured to come into contact with the image carrier and transfer the toner image onto a recording medium;
a contact separation section configured to contact or separate the secondary transfer roller to or from the image carrier;
a secondary transfer roller housing section configured to house the secondary transfer roller;
a cleaning blade configured to clean the secondary transfer roller by scraping off toner remaining thereon;
a blade supporting plate configured to support the cleaning blade and press the cleaning blade against the secondary transfer roller;
a rotation shaft formed on a rear side of the blade supporting plate, and configured to rotatably support the blade supporting plate on the secondary transfer roller housing section;
a spring washer into which the rotation shaft is inserted, the spring washer configured to press the blade supporting plate;
a lubricant coating brush configured to come into contact with the secondary transfer roller at a position after the cleaning blade and before the image carrier, relative to a rotating direction of the secondary transfer roller, and to coat lubricant on the secondary transfer roller;
a lubricant coating brush housing section configured to house the lubricant coating brush and be movable along a groove formed on the secondary transfer roller housing section;
a solid lubricant configured to be housed in the lubricant coating brush housing section and supply lubricant to the lubricant coating brush;
a lubricant holding member configured to elastically hold the solid lubricant;
and
an elevating member formed on a member not interlocking with the secondary transfer roller housing section and configured to elevate the lubricant coating brush housing section.

11 more elements

An image forming method of an image forming apparatus including an image transfer section configured to transfer a reversed image based on a read original image onto an image carrier as a toner image, a secondary transfer roller configured to come into contact with the image carrier and transfer the toner image onto a recording medium and housed in a secondary transfer roller housing section, and a contact separation section configured to contact or separate the secondary transfer roller to or from the image carrier, the method comprising:

pressing a cleaning blade against the secondary transfer roller with a plate that supports the cleaning blade, the plate being rotatably supported on the secondary transfer housing section with a rotation shaft and pressed with a spring washer mounted on the rotation shaft;
cleaning the secondary transfer roller by scraping off toner remaining thereon with the cleaning blade;
contacting the secondary transfer roller with a lubricant coating brush at a position after the cleaning blade and before the image carrier, relative to a rotating direction of the secondary transfer roller;
coating a solid lubricant on the secondary transfer roller with the lubricant coating brush housed in a lubricant coating brush housing section, the lubricant coating brush housing section housing the solid lubricant and being movable along a groove formed on the secondary transfer roller housing section;
elevating the lubricant coating brush housing section with an elevating member formed on a member not interlocked with the secondary transfer roller housing section;
and
supplying the solid lubricant to the lubricant coating brush by contacting the solid lubricant thereto.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/208,153Filed 10 Sep 2008 · us provisional application
Priority: 11 Sep 2007
Published: US 2009/0067897 A112 Mar 2009
Granted: 13 Mar 2012
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

G03G 15/161
Using at least one intermediate support: with means for handling the intermediate support, e.g. heating, cleaning, coating with a transfer agent
G03G 15/1605
Of a toner pattern, e.g. a powder pattern , e.g. magnetic transfer: using at least one intermediate support
G03G 15/168
At least one of the recording member or the transfer member being rotatable during the transfer: with means for conditioning the transfer element,…
G03G
Electrography