Cleaning device, and image forming apparatus and process unit incorporating same
A cleaning device includes a cleaning blade disposed in contact with a rotator, a toner collecting section disposed along the rotator and the cleaning blade and includes a groove extending in an axial direction of the rotator, a conveyor disposed in the groove, and an agitator disposed on a side of a rim of the groove. The conveyor rotates to convey the toner in a longitudinal direction of the groove. The agitator vibrates through contact with the conveyor and includes comb-tooth portions lined in a comb shape in the longitudinal direction of the groove, and bent portions, each of which is bent from an end of one of the comb-tooth portions. The comb-tooth portions contact a circumference of the conveyor to vibrate. The bent portions are lined at intervals smaller than intervals on a base side of the comb-tooth portions.
1. A cleaning device comprising:
a cleaning blade disposed in contact with a rotator, the cleaning blade to remove toner from the rotator,
a toner collecting section disposed along the rotator and the cleaning blade, the toner collecting section including a groove extending in an axial direction of the rotator;
a conveyor disposed in the groove, the conveyor to rotate to convey the toner in a longitudinal direction of the groove; and
an agitator disposed on a side of a rim of the groove, the agitator to vibrate through contact with the conveyor, the agitator including:
a plurality of comb-tooth portions lined in a comb shape in the longitudinal direction of the groove, the plurality of comb-tooth portions to contact a circumference of the conveyor to vibrate; and
a plurality of bent portions, each of which is bent from an end of one of the plurality of comb-tooth portions, the plurality of bent portions lined at arrangement intervals smaller than arrangement intervals on a base side of the plurality of comb-tooth portions,
wherein each of the plurality of comb-tooth portions of the agitator includes at least one curved portion, and
wherein a bend angle of the plurality of bent portions is greater than a curve angle of the at least one curved portion.
2. The cleaning device according to claim 1 , wherein the agitator further includes a connecter connecting adjacent two of the plurality of bent portions.
3. The cleaning device according to claim 1 , wherein the conveyor includes a conveying screw, and
wherein of the plurality of comb-tooth portions is arranged at intervals not greater than a screw pitch of the conveying screw.
4. The cleaning device according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of comb-tooth portions is arranged at intervals not smaller than 5 mm, and
wherein the plurality of bent portions is arranged at intervals not greater than 2.5 mm.
5. A process unit comprising:
an image bearer being the rotator, on which a toner image is formed;
the cleaning device according to claim 1 , to remove residual toner from the image bearer; and
at least one of a charging device to charge the image bearer, a developing device to form a toner image on the image bearer, and a toner container to contain toner supplied to the developing device.
6. An image forming apparatus comprising:
the process unit according to claim 5 ; and
a transfer device to transfer a toner image from the image bearer onto a recording medium.
7. A cleaning device comprising:
a cleaning blade disposed in contact with a rotator, the cleaning blade to remove toner from the rotator;
a toner collecting section disposed along the rotator and the cleaning blade, the toner collecting section including a groove extending in an axial direction of the rotator;
a conveyor disposed in the groove, the conveyor to rotate to convey the toner in a longitudinal direction of the groove; and
an agitator disposed on a side of a rim of the groove, the agitator to vibrate through contact with the conveyor, the agitator including:
a plurality of comb-tooth portions lined in a comb shape in the longitudinal direction of the groove, the plurality of comb-tooth portions to contact a circumference of the conveyor to vibrate; and
a plurality of bent portions, each of which is bent from an end of one of the plurality of comb-tooth portions, the plurality of bent portions lined at arrangement intervals smaller than arrangement intervals on a base side of the plurality of comb-tooth portions,
wherein the agitator satisfies a relation defined as C<A<B,
where A represents arrangement intervals on the base side of the plurality of comb-tooth portions, B represents arrangement intervals on an end side of the plurality of comb-tooth portions, and C represents arrangement intervals of the plurality of bent portions.
8. The cleaning device according to claim 7 , wherein the agitator further includes a connecter connecting adjacent two of the plurality of bent portions.
9. The cleaning device according to claim 7 , wherein the conveyor includes a conveying screw, and
wherein of the plurality of comb-tooth portions is arranged at intervals not greater than a screw pitch of the conveying screw.
10. The cleaning device according to claim 7 , wherein the plurality of comb-tooth portions is arranged at intervals not smaller than 5 mm, and
wherein the plurality of bent portions is arranged at intervals not greater than 2.5 mm.
11. A process unit comprising:
an image bearer being the rotator, on which a toner image is formed;
the cleaning device according to claim 10 , to remove residual toner from the image bearer; and
at least one of a charging device to charge the image bearer, a developing device to form a toner image on the image bearer, and a toner container to contain toner supplied to the developing device.
12. An image forming apparatus comprising:
the process unit according to claim 11 ; and
a transfer device to transfer a toner image from the image bearer onto a recording medium.
13. A cleaning device comprising:
a cleaning blade disposed in contact with a rotator, the cleaning blade to remove toner from the rotator;
a toner collecting section disposed along the rotator and the cleaning blade, the toner collecting section including a groove extending in an axial direction of the rotator;
a conveyor disposed in the groove, the conveyor to rotate to convey the toner in a longitudinal direction of the groove; and
an agitator disposed on a side of a rim of the groove, the agitator to vibrate through contact with the conveyor, the agitator including:
a plurality of comb-tooth portions lined in a comb shape in the longitudinal direction of the groove, the plurality of comb-tooth portions to contact a circumference of the conveyor to vibrate; and
a plurality of bent portions, each of which is bent from an end of one of the plurality of comb-tooth portions, the plurality of bent portions lined at arrangement intervals smaller than arrangement intervals on a base side of the plurality of comb-tooth portions,
wherein a bend angle of the plurality of bent portions is an acute angle.
14. The cleaning device according to claim 13 , wherein the agitator further includes a connecter connecting adjacent two of the plurality of bent portions.
15. The cleaning device according to claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of comb-tooth portions of the agitator includes at least one curved portion.
16. The cleaning device according to claim 13 , wherein the agitator satisfies a relation defined as C<A<B,
where A represents arrangement intervals on the base side of the plurality of comb-tooth portions, B represents arrangement intervals on an end side of the plurality of comb-tooth portions, and C represents arrangement intervals of the plurality of bent portions.
17. The cleaning device according to claim 13 , wherein the conveyor includes a conveying screw, and
wherein of the plurality of comb-tooth portions is arranged at intervals not greater than a screw pitch of the conveying screw.
18. The cleaning device according to claim 13 , wherein the plurality of comb-tooth portions is arranged at intervals not smaller than 5 mm, and
wherein the plurality of bent portions is arranged at intervals not greater than 2.5 mm.
19. A process unit comprising:
an image bearer being the rotator, on which a toner image is formed;
the cleaning device according to claim 13 , to remove residual toner from the image bearer; and
at least one of a charging device to charge the image bearer, a developing device to form a toner image on the image bearer, and a toner container to contain toner supplied to the developing device.
20. An image forming apparatus comprising:
the process unit according to claim 19 ; and
a transfer device to transfer a toner image from the image bearer onto a recording medium.