US 7,609,990 B2
Image forming apparatus that prevents toner from being jetted when cleaner blade or sealing member is separated from image carrier
Masahiro Maeda, Shiojiri (Japan); Yoichi Yamada, Shiojiri (Japan); and Takatomo Fukumoto, Shiojiri (Japan)
Assigned to Seiko Epson Corporation, Tokyo (Japan)
Filed on Oct. 05, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/539,097.
Claims priority of application No. 2005-293328 (JP), filed on Oct. 06, 2005; application No. 2005-293329 (JP), filed on Oct. 06, 2005; application No. 2005-293330 (JP), filed on Oct. 06, 2005; application No. 2005-293331 (JP), filed on Oct. 06, 2005; and application No. 2005-293332 (JP), filed on Oct. 06, 2005.
Prior Publication US 2007/0230989 A1, Oct. 04, 2007
Int. Cl. G03G 21/20 (2006.01); G03G 15/16 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 399—92  [399/101] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An image forming apparatus, comprising:
a first rotary image carrier, adapted to support a toner image obtained by developing an electrostatic latent image formed thereon;
a second rotary image carrier, adapted to support, on a toner supporting face thereof, the toner image which has been primarily transferred from the first rotary image carrier and is to be secondarily transferred onto a recording medium;
a cleaner housing, having wall members defining a housing space, a first one of which is formed with a first ventilation hole;
a blade member, disposed in the housing space and configured to separatably come in contact with the second rotary image carrier to scrape off toner remaining thereon;
a sealing member, disposed in the housing space and configured to separatably come in contact with the second rotary image carrier to form a closed space together with the blade member; and
an air duct, a part of which is formed by an outer face of at least one of the wall members of the cleaner housing, and communicating with the housing space through the first ventilation hole, wherein:
the first ventilation hole is provided at a position opposing a tip end of the blade member when the blade member comes in contact with the second rotary image carrier;
a cleaner angle is defined as an angle between an extending direction of a tip end portion of the blade member when the blade member comes in contact with the second rotary image carrier and a tangential line of the second rotary image carrier at the position that the blade member comes in contact with the second rotary image carrier; and
the first ventilation hole intersects the tangential line and a line extending in a direction angled from the tangential line by at least the cleaner angle.