CN1938652A - Image forming apparatus, lubricant applying device, transfer device, process cartridge, and toner - Google Patents
Image forming apparatus, lubricant applying device, transfer device, process cartridge, and toner Download PDFInfo
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- CN1938652A CN1938652A CN 200580010188 CN200580010188A CN1938652A CN 1938652 A CN1938652 A CN 1938652A CN 200580010188 CN200580010188 CN 200580010188 CN 200580010188 A CN200580010188 A CN 200580010188A CN 1938652 A CN1938652 A CN 1938652A
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Abstract
In an image forming apparatus, an ''area applied with a lubricant'', i.e., an area of a lubricant layer having a uniform thickness is obtained by spreading the lubricant by a lubricant smoothing blade. The ''area applied with a lubricant'' covers an ''area cleaned by a cleaning blade'', i.e., a contact portion of the cleaning blade with a photoconductor.
Description
Technical field
The present invention relates to imaging device, and lubricant applying device, transfer device, process cartridge and the ink powder that is used for the image-carrier of imaging device.
Background technology
In recent years, more and more need to form high-quality image.In order to obtain this image, need to use meticulousr and highly spherical ink powder.Can use the condensate ink powder as meticulousr and highly spherical ink powder suitably.
In imaging device, the remaining toner that is retained in after image forms on the photoconductor surface utilizes the cleaning device cleaning usually.Yet, because ink powder becomes meticulousr and spheroidizing more, so the cleaning of being difficult to.For example, the cleaning blade that is used as cleaning device usually can not clean remaining ink powder fully.A kind of method is that cleaning blade is pressed in photoconductor surface more at full tilt, yet photoconductor may be damaged.Another kind method is to apply lubricant at photoconductor surface.Yet, if lubricant can not evenly apply, the quality possible deviation of ink powder image.
Sometimes above-mentioned two kinds of methods all adopt.In this case, two kinds of selections are arranged: at first apply lubricant and clean remaining toner then, perhaps at first clean remaining toner and apply lubricant then.In open (JP-A) No.2001-305907 of Japanese patent application pending trial, the applicant of this application has proposed a kind of method that remaining toner applies lubricant then that at first cleans.Yet this technology is not considered meticulous beadlike polymer ink powder.
Known multiple lubricant.Wherein a kind of is zinc stearate.Usually the solid bar of using zinc stearate to make, and use brush roll is pulverized zinc stearate and it is applied to photoconductor from rod.Can use Powdered lubricant to replace solid bar.Yet Powdered lubricant has some shortcomings.For example, general, powder is difficult to make and packing.In addition, Powdered lubricant may contaminated environment.
The amounts of lubrication that applies also plays an important role.If the lubricant that applies very little, then lubricant can not evenly apply, and this can cause being not suitable for cleaning and wearing and tearing cleaning blade.On the other hand, if the lubricant that applies is too many, the surface that then remaining ink powder may be made charging roller dirty, perhaps even may absorb moisture, this can cause electrostatic latent image to flow.JP-A No.H10-260614 and JP-A No.2003-57996 disclose a kind of technology of determining optimum amounts of lubrication.
JP-A No.2002-244485 has described a kind of based on the method for image data information control lubricant applied amount with improvement cleaning condensate ink powder ability.This method is " applying after cleaning ", still with the different applied amounts that are smoothly lubricant of the present invention.
JP-A No.2000-330443 has described a kind of lubricant that evenly applies to improve the method for ink powder cleaning capacity.This method is " applying after cleaning ", still with the different applied amounts that are smoothly lubricant of the present invention.
JP-A No.2000-172138 has proposed a kind of invention, it is characterized in that the zone that axially is applied with lubricant along photoconductor almost contacts the regional consistent of photoconductor with cleaning blade.Yet how this invention and different one side of the present invention be lubricant configuration and cleaning blade to be whether to provide lubricant level and smooth blade on the other hand.
Summary of the invention
The problem that the present invention solves
According to an aspect of the present invention, a kind of imaging device comprises: rotatable and configuration is used for carrying the latent image carrier of sub-image; Clean the cleaning blade of the ink powder on the cleaning area of staying latent image carrier; Apply element with lubricant, this lubricant applies element and is arranged in the downstream of cleaning blade with respect to the sense of rotation of latent image carrier, and the lubricant that lubricant is applied on the latent image carrier applies the zone, and wherein cleaning area and lubricant apply region overlapping.
According to a further aspect of the invention, a kind of imaging device comprises: remove the cleaning blade of staying the ink powder on the image carrier surface after ink powder image is transferred; Lubricant applying device, described lubricant applying device comprises lubricant; In discontiguous mode the contactless type lubricant that the lubricant composition is applied to image-carrier is applied element; With the level and smooth blade of lubricant, the level and smooth blade of described lubricant is distributed to image-carrier to form thin layer with the lubricant that applies, wherein utilize the lubricant apply, only be higher than the moment of torsion of the image-carrier that contacts by the level and smooth blade of cleaning blade and lubricant by the moment of torsion of the image-carrier of cleaning blade contact.
According to another aspect of the invention, a kind of imaging device comprises: the image-carrier that forms ink powder image thereon; After being transferred to transfer materials, ink powder image cleans the cleaning blade of image-carrier; The tip holder of blade keeps clean; With the lubricant applying device that lubricant is applied to image-carrier.Lubricant applying device comprises: kollag, lubricant applies element, guiding piece, described guiding piece direct solid lubricant so that kollag can be basically only move and make kollag press the unit of pushing that lubricant applies element along being toward or away from direction that lubricant applies element.The position of pushing unit and cleaning blade is provided with so that pushes the unit respectively and kollag pressed to lubricant to apply the direction and the cleaning blade of element almost parallel to each other towards the outstanding direction of image carrier surface, and tip holder directly or by another element is fixed to guiding piece.
According to another aspect of the invention, a kind of lubricant applying device comprises: be contained in the lubricant in the lubricant applying device; Lubricant is applied to the roller that applies that image-carrier promptly applies the surface; Be applied to the lubricant of image-carrier to form the level and smooth element of thin layer with disperseing.Lubricant applies after being eliminated applying lip-deep adhesion, and the lubricant that applies is by further level and smooth.
The means of dealing with problems
According to another aspect of the invention, a kind of lubricant applying device comprises: be contained in the kollag in the lubricant applying device; Apply roller, the described roller contact kollag that applies being attached to its surface and lubricant be applied to image-carrier as the lubricant of kollag composition; Press element, described press element are pressed to kollag and are applied the contact of roller so that kollag and apply roller; With level and smooth element, described level and smooth element disperses to be applied to lubricant on the image-carrier to form thin layer.Kollag is arranged on downside along gravity direction with respect to applying roller, and press element is arranged on downside along gravity direction with respect to kollag, and lubricant applies after being eliminated applying lip-deep adhesion, and the lubricant that applies is by further level and smooth.
According to another aspect of the invention, a kind of lubricant applying device comprises: be contained in the kollag in the lubricant applying device; Apply roller, the described roller contact kollag that applies being attached to its surface and lubricant be applied to image-carrier as the lubricant of kollag composition; Press element, described press element are pressed to kollag and are applied the contact of roller so that kollag and apply roller; With level and smooth element, described level and smooth element disperses to be applied to lubricant on the image-carrier to form thin layer.Kollag is along moving perpendicular to the direction that applies the roller sense of rotation.
According to another aspect of the invention, a kind of lubricant applying device comprises: be contained in the kollag in the lubricant applying device; Apply roller, the described roller contact kollag that applies being attached to its surface and lubricant be applied to image-carrier as the lubricant of kollag composition; Press element, described press element are pressed to kollag and are applied the contact of roller so that kollag and apply roller; With level and smooth element, described level and smooth element disperses to be applied to lubricant on the image-carrier to form thin layer.Apply roller along moving perpendicular to the direction that applies the roller sense of rotation.
According to another aspect of the invention, a kind of lubricant applying device comprises: be contained in the lubricant in the lubricant applying device; Lubricant is applied to the roller that applies of image-carrier; With level and smooth element, thereby it is formed with the elastomeric marginal portion of sheet and is pressed towards image carrier surface extruding with its hangover attitude and disperses to be applied to lubricant on it.Level and smooth element is 10 degree or more with respect to the contact angle of image-carrier.
According to another aspect of the invention, a kind of lubricant applying device comprises: be contained in the lubricant in the lubricant applying device; Lubricant is applied to the roller that applies of image-carrier; Level and smooth element, thereby it is formed with the elastomeric marginal portion of sheet and is pressed towards image carrier surface extruding with its hangover attitude and disperses to be applied to lubricant on it, and cleaning element, thereby it is formed with the elastomeric marginal portion of sheet and is pressed towards image carrier surface from its surface removal foreign object with its relative attitude.Cleaning element, apply roller and level and smooth element along image-carrier direction of motion with a kind of from being disposed in order that upstream side begins, and level and smooth element is 10 degree or more with respect to the contact angle of image-carrier.
According to another aspect of the invention, a kind of lubricant applying device comprises: be contained in the lubricant in the lubricant applying device; Lubricant is applied to the roller that applies of image-carrier; Level and smooth element, thereby it is formed with the elastomeric marginal portion of sheet and is pressed towards image carrier surface extruding with its hangover attitude and disperses to be applied to lubricant on it, and cleaning element, thereby it is formed with the elastomeric marginal portion of sheet and is pressed towards image carrier surface from its surface removal foreign object with its relative attitude.Cleaning element, apply roller and level and smooth element along image-carrier direction of motion with a kind of from being disposed in order that upstream side begins, and the contact line pressure of level and smooth element is 0.01N/cm or more.
According to another aspect of the invention, a kind of transfer device comprises: transferring member, and it is an image-carrier; With the lubricant applying device according to above-mentioned aspect, described lubricant applying device is removably disposed in the transfer device.
According to another aspect of the invention, a kind of process cartridge comprises: sub-image forms image-carrier thereon; And processing unit, described processing unit comprises and being selected from in the lower device at least one: the charging device of uniform charging image carrier surface, ink powder is supplied to sub-image and make the visible developing apparatus of sub-image, the cleaning image carrier surface cleaning device and with lubricant be applied to apply the surface lubricant applying device.Process cartridge integrated support image-carrier and processing unit, and can disassemble from imaging device, and lubricant applying device, it is the lubricant applying device of the above-mentioned aspect according to the present invention.
According to another aspect of the invention, a kind of imaging device comprises: sub-image forms image-carrier thereon; The charging device of uniform charging image carrier surface; The image carrier surface of charging is exposed to light to write the exposure device of sub-image thereon based on view data; Ink powder is supplied to sub-image and make the visible developing apparatus of sub-image; The cleaning device of cleaning image carrier surface; The image that transfer device, described transfer device will be visualized as the ink powder image on the image carrier surface directly is transferred to recording medium or is transferred to recording medium after this image is transferred to the intermediate transfer element; With the fixing device of ink powder image photographic fixing on recording medium; Lubricant applying device with above-mentioned aspect according to the present invention.
According to another aspect of the invention, in a kind of ink powder, the volume averaging particle size is 10 microns or littler, and the ratio between volume averaging particle size and the quantity average particle size particle size, i.e. dispersion degree is in the scope of 1.00-1.40.
The invention effect
According to an aspect of the present invention, the friction factor of photoconductor surface can contact stable reducing on the whole zone of photoconductor at cleaning unit.Therefore, by keeping satisfied clean-up performance can carry out high-resolution imaging.
According to a further aspect of the invention,, can reduce the moment of torsion of image-carrier, thereby the machine of saving energy is provided by lubricant is applied to image-carrier.In addition, CD-ROM drive motor can be minimized, and saves space and the low machine of cost thereby provide.
According to another aspect of the invention, though be provided with cleaning blade, tip holder and lubricant applying device, the size of the whole configuration of imaging device can be reduced.
According to another aspect of the invention, lubricant can effectively be applied to photoconductor surface for a long time.In addition, the friction factor of photoconductor surface being maintained to the required lubricant consumption of fixing low value can be reduced.
In addition, lubricant is arranged on the downside of brush roll, causes kollag or brush roll to be waved.Therefore, even the contact pressure that increases kollag and brush roll is to obtain required lubricant applied amount, the surface of the kollag of contact hairbrush can be owing to becoming irregular with inhomogeneous contact of hairbrush.This has suppressed the fluctuation of the lubricant applied amount from the initial time to the elapsed time.
According to another aspect of the invention, can be arranged on the starting stage blade can indrawn transfer device.Treatment in accordance with the present invention tube and imaging device can provide fabulous image, and can not produce abnormal image owing to the cleaning fault of photoconductor.
Description of drawings
Fig. 1 is the synoptic diagram according to the imaging device of the embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 2 is according to the lubricant applying device of first embodiment of the invention and the synoptic diagram of cleaning device;
Fig. 3 is the synoptic diagram of cleaning device lateral seal part;
Fig. 4 is a synoptic diagram, how to have explained the friction factor of measuring light electric conductor;
Fig. 5 A is the synoptic diagram of ink powder shape (1), is used for explaining shape factor S F-1;
Fig. 5 B is the synoptic diagram of ink powder shape (2), is used for explaining shape factor S F-2;
Fig. 6 A is the synoptic diagram according to ink powder shape of the present invention;
Fig. 6 B is the synoptic diagram according to ink powder shape of the present invention;
Fig. 6 C is the synoptic diagram according to ink powder shape of the present invention;
Fig. 7 is the synoptic diagram of kollag when vertically the conduct front portion is observed from it that is used for lubricant applying device;
Fig. 8 A is the synoptic diagram how blade contacts photoconductor (in the opposition mode);
Fig. 8 B is the synoptic diagram how blade contacts photoconductor (in the hangover mode) and contact angle;
Fig. 9 is according to the lubricant applying device of third embodiment of the invention and the synoptic diagram of cleaning device;
Figure 10 is the cut-open view of an example of imaging device;
Figure 11 is the amplification view of one of them process cartridge of Figure 10;
Figure 12 is used for the figure of arrangement relation among brush roll, kollag and the compression disc spring of key drawing 1;
Figure 13 is the cut-open view with another kind of process cartridge of disposing different with Figure 10 example;
Figure 14 A is the figure that is used for explaining the defective example (1) when the kollag guiding piece is not set;
Figure 14 B is the figure that is used for explaining another the defective example (2) when the kollag guiding piece is not set;
Figure 15 is the figure that is used for explaining the fault when the projected direction of the compressing direction of compression disc spring and cleaning blade is not parallel each other;
How Figure 16 uses the figure that makes the low-friction coefficient image-carrier according to lubricant applying device of the present invention;
Figure 17 is the figure that how to be extruded and to disperse according to the angle between lubricant applying device of the present invention and the flaky smooth element and lubricant, and wherein level and smooth element is the major part of lubricant applying device; And
Figure 18 is the synoptic diagram of lubricant applying device and cleaning device.
Description of reference numerals:
1 photoconductor
2 charging devices
The 2a charging roller
2b electric charge cleaning element
3 lubricant applying devices
The 3a brush roll
The 3b kollag
The 3c extrusion element
3d lubricant holding element
The level and smooth blade of 3e lubricant
The 3f housing
4 developing apparatuss
8 cleaning devices
The 8a cleaning blade
The 8c support component
9 exposure devices
11 lateral seal parts
51 primary transfer rollers
56 intermediate transfer belts
61 transfer rolls
102Y, 102C, 102M, 102BK image-carrier
128 cleaning blades
129 tip holders
131 lubricant applying devices
132 level and smooth blades
134 kollags
136 guiding pieces
The C direction of extrusion
F, the G rotation center
H, the I line
Embodiment
Describe one exemplary embodiment of the present invention below with reference to the accompanying drawings in detail.Should be noted that the present invention is not limited by these embodiment.
Fig. 1 is the synoptic diagram according to imaging device of the present invention.
Imaging device comprises the intermediate transfer belt 56 that almost is positioned at its center.Intermediate transfer belt 56 is a kind of endless belts, its by heat proof material for example polyimide and polyamide make and comprise matrix, the resistance of this matrix is adjusted to medium resistance.Intermediate transfer belt 56 by four rollers 52,53,54 and 55 by on these rollers and supported, and rotation in the direction of arrow A.Four image-generating units corresponding to yellow (Y), pinkish red (M), blue or green (C) and black (K) color toner align along its belt surface under intermediate transfer belt 56.
Figure 18 is the enlarged drawing of four image-generating units one of them and traditional bringing device, but its structure is identical with structure according to the present invention basically, so the schematic structure of explained later Figure 18.Because traditional image-generating unit and according to image-generating unit of the present invention the two all in the same manner the configuration, so though in Fig. 1 image-generating unit comprise photoconductor 1Y, 1M, 1C and 1K, in Figure 18, saved symbol Y, the M, C and the K that indicate colouring discrimination.Around photoconductor 1 arrange be for the surface charging of photoconductor 1 charging device 2, utilize color toner to develop to be formed on photoconductor (image-carrier) 1 lip-deep latent image with the developing apparatus 4 that forms ink powder image, be that photoconductor 1 surface applies the lubricant applying device 3 of lubricant and at the transfer printing ink powder image cleaning device 8 on clear light electric conductor 1 surface afterwards.
With reference to figure 1, under four image-generating units, be provided with exposure device 9.Exposure device 9 is based on the surface and the formation sub-image of the photoconductor 1 of versicolor view data exposure charging.
Primary transfer roller 51 is arranged in and passes intermediate transfer belt 56 and each photoconductor 1 aspectant position, and each ink powder image that mainly will be formed on the photoconductor 1 is transferred on the intermediate transfer belt 56.Primary transfer roller 51 is connected to the power supplier (not shown) and is applied in predetermined voltage.
Inferior transfer roll 61 is arranged on the outside of the part that is supported by roller 52 of intermediate transfer belt 56 to press roller 52.Inferior transfer roll 61 is connected to the powder feeding device (not shown) and is applied with predetermined voltage.Contact portion between inferior transfer roll 61 and the intermediate transfer belt 56 is a time transfer section, and the ink powder image on the intermediate transfer belt 56 here is transferred on the transfer paper.
Intermediate transfer belt cleaning device 57 is arranged on the part outside by roller 55 supports of intermediate transfer belt 56.Intermediate transfer belt cleaning device 57 cleans the surface of intermediate transfer belt 56 after carrying out time transfer printing.
Fixing device 70 be arranged on time transfer section and semipermanent ground with the ink powder image photographic fixing on transfer paper.Fixing device 70 comprises around the annular photographic fixing band 71 between warm-up mill 72 and the fixing roller 73 and arranges in the face of passing the fixing roller 73 of photographic fixing band 71 and pressing the compression roller 74 of fixing roller 73.Warm-up mill 72 comprises halogen heater.
The paper-advance unit 20 that stores many transfer papers is arranged on the imaging device downside, and a transfer paper is fed to time transfer section.
Explain the feature of imaging device in detail below with reference to Figure 18.
Charging device 2 comprises charging roller 2a, and it is a kind of charge member that is coated with the elastic layer of medium resistance, and is set at the conductive cores metal outer of charging roller 2a.Charging roller 2a is connected to the power supplier (not shown) and is applied in predetermined voltage.Charging roller 2a is arranged on the photoconductor 1, has little space between them.This little space can be for example by around charging roller 2a two ends-it has the isolated component of fixed thickness for non-imaging moiety-coilings and makes each surperficial contact with the surface of photoconductor 1 of isolated component be provided with.Electric charge cleaning element 2b is arranged among the charging roller 2a, and the surface of contact charging roller 2a is to clean its surface.
Developing apparatus 4 comprises development sleeve 4a, and this development sleeve is arranged in the face of the position of photoconductor 1 and has magnetic field generator.That be arranged on development sleeve 4a downside is two screw rod 4b, is used for the ink powder that the developer bottle (not shown) is supplied with being mixed with developer and when mixing them it being drawn to development sleeve 4a.The developer of being drawn by development sleeve 4a that comprises ink powder and magnetic carrier forms developer layer, and its thickness is restricted to predetermined value by doctor blade 4c, and developer is carried on the development sleeve 4a.Development sleeve 4a in the position carrying relative with photoconductor and transport developer, and supplies to sub-image surface on the photoconductor 1 with ink powder along the direction rotation identical with photoconductor 1 time.
Should be noted that the configuration of the developing apparatus 4 that two parts toning systems have been shown among Fig. 1, but described configuration is not limited thereto.Therefore, the present invention also can be applied to or even based on the developing apparatus of a parts toning system.
In the present invention, lubricant applying device 3 is arranged on the outside in cleaning device 8 downstreams, as following explain with reference to figure 2.
Below, will be with reference to the configuration of figure 2 explanations according to the cleaning device 8 of first embodiment of the invention.
In addition, lubricant applying device 3 not only is applied to lubricant photoconductor 1 surface but also is used as the device that lubricant is applied to intermediate transfer belt 56 surfaces of Fig. 1.In this case, lubricant applying device 3 can be close to intermediate transfer belt cleaning device 57 and arrange, perhaps can be included in the intermediate transfer belt cleaning device 57.Lubricant applying device 3 is arranged on the upstream side of intermediate transfer belt cleaning device 57 along the direction of motion of intermediate transfer belt 56, and lubricant is applied to the surface of intermediate transfer belt 56.The cleaning blade that is included in the intermediate transfer belt cleaning device 57 scatter the lubricant that applies, thereby forms the lubricant of thin layer.Therefore, can clean for example adhesion of ink powder satisfactorily.More specifically, ink powder is retained on the surface of intermediate transfer belt 56, need not time strategic point and is transferred to clamp part between time transfer roll 61 and the intermediate transfer belt 56.
In addition, process cartridge integrated support lubricant applying device 3, photoconductor 1 and be selected from any unit of charging device 2, developing apparatus 4 and cleaning device 8.Process cartridge is removably mounted on the master unit of imaging device.If lubricant applying device 3 is integrated with cleaning device 8 in process cartridge, as top explained, lubricant applying device 3 is installed in the downstream of cleaning blade 8a along the direction of motion of photoconductor 1.Process cartridge makes the clean-up performance on photoconductor 1 surface can keep the long time cycle and prevents the picture quality variation.
More specifically explain lubricant applying device 3 below.Fig. 2 is according near the partial enlarged drawing the lubricant applying device 3 of first embodiment.Lubricant applying device 3 is arranged on the outside in photoconductor cleaning device 8 downstreams, and comprises that kollag 3b and brush roll 3a, brush roll are a kind of hairbrush linear elements that is used for kollag 3b is applied to photoconductor 1.Kollag 3b will be by comprising that then thereby its cooling and curing being molded as rod as the dissolving of the zinc stearate oil dope of major component obtains.Kollag 3b is kept by lubricant holding element 3d and presses brush roll 3a by extrusion spring, and described extrusion spring is fixed to the housing 3f of lubricant applying device 3 by lubricant holding element 3d.Thereby brush roll 3a is provided with to such an extent that contact with photoconductor 1 and be attached to brush roll 3a by the rotation scraping kollag 3b of brush roll 3a.The lubricant of being attached to brush roll 3a is applied to the surface of photoconductor 1 from the contact portion of brush roll 3a and photoconductor 1.Then, lubricant is level and smooth by the level and smooth blade 3e of lubricant.
As kollag 3b, can use the dry solid lubricant agent, and can use zinc stearate and other compositions that comprise following stearic acid group, that is, barium stearate, lead stearate, ferric stearate, nickel stearate, cobaltous octadecanate, copper stearate, strontium stearate, calcium stearate, cadmium stearate and dolomol.The dry solid lubricant agent also can comprise zinc oleate, manganese oleate, iron oleate, cobalt oleate, plumbi oleas, magnesium oleate and copper oleate, and it is included in the identical fatty acid group; With zinc palmitate, palmitic acid cobalt, palmitic acid copper, palmitic acid magnesium, palmitic acid aluminum salt and palmitic acid calcium.Except these, the dry solid lubricant agent also comprises fatty acid and fatty acid metal salts, for example lead octoate, caproic acid lead, zinc linoleate, cobaltous linoleate, calcium linoleate and linoleic acid cadmium (ricolinoleate cadmium).In addition, can use cured, for example candelilla wax, Carnauba wax, rice cured (rice wax), Japanese butter, jojoba oil, honeybee is cured and sheep oil.
The feature of explained later first embodiment.In this embodiment, with respect to the zone that applies lubricant by brush roll 3a, be made with the surface of the photoconductor 1 of photoconductor 1 direction of motion upstream side as the cleaning blade 8a of cleaning unit and contact.And, be made with the surface of the photoconductor 1 in photoconductor 1 direction of motion downstream as the level and smooth blade 3e of lubricant of lubricant smooth unit and contact with respect to the zone that applies lubricant.In addition, in first embodiment, as shown in Figure 2, cleaning blade 8a is made in opposite direction and contacts with the surface of photoconductor 1, and the level and smooth blade 3e of lubricant be made along the hangover direction contact with the surface of photoconductor 1.The level and smooth blade 3e of these cleaning blades 8a and lubricant is made by rubber, and wherein rubber is a kind of elastic body.
Be carried on photoconductor 1 lip-deep ink powder image and be transferred to transfer materials, the ink powder that keeps is then thereon at first removed by cleaning blade 8a.Thereby the surface of photoconductor 1 becomes totally, and is contacted by brush roll 3a, thereby lubricant has been applied to its surface.The surface that applies lubricant is smoothed with even dispersion during with the contacted zone of the level and smooth blade 3e of lubricant that is arranged on the photoconductor 1 apparent motion direction downstream by lubricant, thereby forms the lubricant that one deck has uniform thickness.
In imaging device according to the present invention, " being applied with the zone of lubricant " means the zone that lubricated dose of level and smooth blade 3e of lubricant disperses and form the lubricant layer of uniform thickness.Be applied with the zone " covering " " by the zone of cleaning blade cleaning " of lubricant or the contact portion of cleaning blade 8a and photoconductor 1.Therefore, the friction factor of photoconductor 1 can be on the whole zone of cleaning blade 8a contact photoconductor 1 stable reducing.Even such as the condensate ink powder and the ink powder that is difficult to by the blade cleaning of its circularity height (0.95 or higher), performance satisfactorily also can keep clean.
In imaging device according to the present invention, " be applied with the zone of lubricant ", that is, lubricant is identical with " by the zone of cleaning blade cleaning " or the contact portion of cleaning blade 8a and photoconductor 1 basically by the zone of the lubricant layer of level and smooth blade 3e dispersion of lubricant and formation uniform thickness.Therefore, the friction factor of photoconductor 1 can be stablized the clean-up performance that reduces and can keep satisfaction on the whole zone of cleaning blade 8a contact photoconductor 1.
In imaging device according to the present invention, cleaning blade 8a is arranged on the upstream side of lubricant applying device 3 along photoconductor 1 sense of rotation, and the level and smooth blade 3e of lubricant is arranged on the downstream along above-mentioned equidirectional.Vertical width of these blades that contact with photoconductor 1 has the relation of " width that applies brush roll "≤" width of the level and smooth blade of lubricant ".More specifically, when the width of the level and smooth blade 3e of lubricant was equal to or greater than the width of brush roll 3a of Fig. 2, the whole lubricant that vertically applies along photoconductor 1 by brush roll 3a can disperse have with formation the lubricant layer of uniform thickness by the level and smooth blade 3e of lubricant.Therefore, can prevent owing to lubricant pollutes charging device 2.
In imaging device according to the present invention, the following vertical width that contacts with photoconductor 1 has the relation of " lubricant width "≤" applying the width of brush roll ".More specifically, when the width of brush roll 3a is equal to or greater than the width of kollag 3b of Fig. 2, can obtain following effect.
If hairbrush is shorter than lubricant, then lubricant is spread to U-shaped, two edge contact brush axles of lubricant.Therefore, lubricant can not use last part, and this has caused wastage to increase or has caused the bristle length of hairbrush to be limited.In this case, if the bristle length of hairbrush is shorter, then lubricant is more lavishly.
Therefore, the configuration of the present invention has a kind of like this " width of lubricant "≤" applying the width of brush roll ", thus do not make with lubricator lavishly, and therefore, do not need to limit the bristle length of hairbrush.
Imaging device according to the present invention is along the relation that vertically has " width in charging zone "≤" width of the lubricant that applies " of photoconductor 1.More specifically, when the width of the level and smooth blade 3e of lubricant (Fig. 2) is equal to or greater than the width of charging roller 2a (Figure 18), photoconductor 1 all evenly is applied with lubricant with the gamut of the contact area of charging roller 2a, and on all contact areas, can both stably reduce the friction factor of photoconductor 1, thereby obtain following effect.
The very small amount of lubricant of wanting to be applied to photoconductor is transferred on the surface of charging roller when charging roller contact photoconductor.Even charging roller does not contact photoconductor, also can transfer on it by effect of electric field.If the amounts of lubrication of being attached to the charging roller surface is inhomogeneous on the surface of charging roller owing to shifting, then the quantity of electric charge on the photoconductor (current potential) also becomes inhomogeneous.By adopting according to configuration of the present invention, lubricant is applied on the gamut of photoconductor 1 and the contact area of charging roller 2a equably, and the amounts of lubrication of transferring to the charging roller surface axially can not become inhomogeneous along charging roller, and this allows stably to charge.
In first embodiment, cleaning blade 8a is used to the surface of clear light electric conductor 1, but replaces cleaning blade 8a, can use cleaning brush.Can obtain cleaning brush by applying bias voltage in medium resistance to the conduction brush between the low resistance to resistance.
Yet the present invention is not limited by first embodiment, and can be applicable to use all devices of the technology of the present invention principle.Photoconductor or intermediate transfer element can be belt like or the cylinder shape.
In imaging device according to the present invention, the coefficientoffriction on the image-carrier 1 is set as 0.4 or littler.If μ greater than 0.4, then can not fully prevent the generation of film.
The friction factor of photoconductor 1 is with method to measure in the following manner by utilizing Euler.How Fig. 4 is used for explaining the figure of measuring light electric conductor 1 friction factor.In this case, use the measured paper of matter of intermediate gauge as band.This paper hangs around 1/4 drum circumference of photoconductor 1, and like this along vertical paper of having set of paper, and for example the weight of 0.98N (100gr) is suspended on an end of paper tape, and dynamometer (digital push-and-pull meter) is arranged on its other end.Dynamometer is pulled when paper tape moves, and reads weight, calculates friction factor by the following equation of weight substitution that will read: coefficientoffriction=2/ π * ln (F/0.98) (μ wherein: coefficient of static friction, F: measured value).The friction factor of photoconductor 1 is the value when photoconductor 1 enters steady state (SS) after image forms.This is that therefore except other values, back to back friction co-efficient value at first changes after image forms because other devices that the friction factor of photoconductor 1 also is set in the imaging device influence.Yet after about 1000 A4 recording charts formed image, the value of friction factor had almost become fixed value.Therefore, the friction factor of mentioning here is the friction factor when friction factor has become fixed value under this steady state (SS).
In imaging device according to the present invention, cleaning blade has and is used for preventing the lateral seal part that ink powder scatters, and this lateral seal part allows to regulate the zone that is applied with lubricant.In Fig. 3, lateral seal part 11 is arranged on cleaning blade 8a two ends with contact photoconductor 1 along its Width, and the contact position of lateral seal part 11 is along vertical adjusting of photoconductor 1, thereby has regulated the zone that is applied with lubricant.Therefore, if lubricant applies to such an extent that surpass the cleaning area, the zone that then is applied with lubricant can only be regulated by the position of regulating lateral seal part 11.This allows purpose of the present invention to be achieved so that the friction factor of photoconductor stably reduces on the whole zone of the photoconductor of cleaning blade 8a contact.
Even use following ink powder, also can obtain satisfied cleaning capacity.Ink powder has little particle size, the volume averaging particle size of toner particles is the 3-8 micron like this, and the ratio (Dv/Dn) between volume averaging particle size (Dv) and the quantity average particle size particle size (Dn) is in the scope of 1.00-1.40, and has narrow particle size distribution.By making the particle size distribution of toner particles narrow down, charge amount distribution becomes evenly, thereby has obtained the littler high quality graphic of background atomizing, and has increased transferring rate.The ink powder of this low particle size is difficult to traditional blade method cleaning, because cleaning power can not surpass the adhesion of ink powder to photoconductor 1.In addition, if toner particles is undersized, then the number percent of the external additive particle in the toner particles is tending towards higher relatively, so the external additive particle breaks away from toner particles easily, and this makes and produce film on photoconductor 1.Yet, the cleaning device 8 of the application of the invention, brush roll 3a is applied to photoconductor 1 surface reducing the friction factor of photoconductor 1 with lubricant, and cleaning blade 8a has blocked toner particles, preventing that them from passing through cleaning blade 8a and sliding, thereby improved clean-up performance.
In addition, the present invention is applicable to the spherical ink powder of cleaning.Spherical toner particles can limit by the numerical value of following shape factor S F-1 and shape factor S F-2.The toner particles of using in the imaging device of the present invention is such, and shape factor S F-1 from 100 to 180, and shape factor S F-2 from 100 to 180.
Fig. 5 A and Fig. 5 B are the synoptic diagram that is used for explaining the ink powder of shape factor S F-1 and shape factor S F-2.Shape factor S F-1 represents the spherical degree of ink powder shape, and by following formula (1) expression.Shape factor S F-1 be by with the maximum length MXLNG of shape square-obtain by toner particles is projected on the two dimensional surface-divided by its graphics area AREA and multiply by the value that the merchant of 100 π/4 obtains.
SF-1＝{(MXLNG)
2/AREA×(100π/4)} (1)
If the value of SF-1 is 100, the ink powder shape becomes perfectly spherical, and when the value of SF-1 raise, it is more and more irregular that shape becomes.
Shape factor S F-2 represents the degree of irregularity of ink powder shape, and by following formula (2) expression.Shape factor S F-2 be by with the girth PERI of shape square-obtain by toner particles is projected on the two dimensional surface-divided by its graphics area AREA and multiply by the value that the merchant of 100 π/4 obtains.
SF-2＝{(PERI)
2/AREA×(100π/4)} (2)
If the value of SF-2 is 100, then toner surface does not have irregularly, and when the value of SF-2 raise, it is more and more irregular that the surface becomes.
Form factor is taken toner particles by scanning electron microscope (S-800 that Hitachi Ltd makes) and is analyzed and calculate and measure specially with photo input picture analyzer (LUSEX3 that NIRECO CORPORATION makes) and to it.
If ink powder has high sphericity, then between toner particles and the toner particles or the contact between toner particles and the photoconductor 1 become a contact, this makes the attractive force between the toner particles die down.Therefore, flowability uprises when attractive force dies down.Attractive force between toner particles and the photoconductor 1 also dies down, the result, and transferring rate uprises.As mentioned above, spherical ink powder causes the cleaning failure easily when utilizing blade method cleaning, but utilizes cleaning device 8 according to the present invention can realize satisfied cleaning.If SF-1 and SF-2 are too big, then ink powder is scattered on the image, and therefore picture quality may reduce, and therefore preferably, SF-1 and SF-2 are no more than 180.
Ink powder shape according to the present invention is spherical basically, can express by following shape definition.
Fig. 6 A, Fig. 6 B and Fig. 6 C are the synoptic diagram according to ink powder shape of the present invention.Shown in Fig. 6 A-6C, suppose that (wherein r1 〉=r2 〉=r3) limits spherical substantially ink powder by major axis r1, minor axis r2 and thickness r3.Scope according to toner particles of the present invention is preferably as follows: the scope of the ratio between minor axis and the major axis (r2/r1) (seeing Fig. 6 B) is from 0.5-1.0, and the scope of the ratio between thickness and the minor axis (r3/r2) (seeing Fig. 6 C) is from 0.7-1.0.If the ratio between minor axis and the major axis (r2/r1) is less than 0.5, then the ink powder shape is kept off perfectly spherically, so the repeatability of round dot and transfer efficiency be lowered, and can not obtain high-quality image.If the ratio between thickness and the minor axis (r3/r2) is less than 0.7, then therefore the ink powder shape can not obtain the high transferring rate as spherical ink powder near flat pattern.Especially, if the ratio between thickness and the minor axis (r3/r2) is 1.0, then ink powder has become with " rotary body " of its major axis as turning axle, thereby has improved the flowability of ink powder.
R1, r2 and r3 utilize scanning electron microscope (SEM) but measure by the observation and the toner particles of taking pictures when changing field of view angle.
Be enough to be used in according to the ink powder of imaging device of the present invention by the ink powder material solution is obtained through cross-linking reaction and/or lengthening reaction in aqueous medium.More specifically, by being dissolved or be dispersed in, at least a polyester prepolymer, polyester, colorant and release agent with the function group that comprises nitrogen-atoms obtain the ink powder material solution in the organic solvent.Ink powder material and ink powder manufacture method will be explained hereinafter.
Modified poly ester:
Toner of the present invention contains modified poly ester (i) as adhesive resin.Modified poly ester (i) is meant the binding groups that has except ester bond in vibrin, perhaps the resin Composition that wherein structure is different is by covalent bond or ionic link bonding.In particular, modified poly ester (i) is for example to introduce the end of polyester with the isocyanate function base of carboxylic acid group and hydroxyl reaction, and makes itself and the compound that contains activity hydroxy react this polyester end of modification.
The example of modified poly ester (i) comprises the urea modified poly ester of the acquisition by containing reaction between isocyanate group polyester prepolyer (A) and the amido (B) etc.The example that contains isocyanate group polyester prepolyer (A) comprises reaction product of polyester and polyisocyanate compound (PIC) etc.More particularly, polyester is the polycondensation product between polyvalent alcohol (PO) and the polycarboxylic acid (PC), and has active hydrogen group.The example of the active hydrogen group of polyester is hydroxyl (for example alcoholic extract hydroxyl group and a phenolic hydroxyl group), amino, carboxyl, sulfydryl etc.Wherein alcoholic extract hydroxyl group is preferred.
The urea modified poly ester is produced by the following method.
The example of polyol compound (PO) comprises dibasic alcohol (DIO) and ternary or polyvalent alcohol (TO), and the potpourri of preferred independent dibasic alcohol (DIO) or dibasic alcohol (DIO) and small quantity of trihydric (TO).The example of dibasic alcohol (DIO) comprises aklylene glycol (ethylene glycol for example, 1,2-propylene glycol, 1, ammediol, 1,4-butylene glycol and 1,6-hexanediol); Alkylene ether ethylene glycol (for example diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, polyglycol, polypropylene glycol and polytetramethylene ether ethylene glycol); Alicyclic diol (for example 1,4 cyclohexane dimethanol and hydrogenated bisphenol A); Bisphenols (for example bisphenol-A, Bisphenol F and bisphenols S); The adduct of the epoxyalkane of alicyclic diol (for example oxirane, epoxypropane and epoxy butane); With the adduct of bisphenols epoxyalkane (for example oxirane, epoxypropane and epoxy butane).Wherein, carbon number is that 2～12 the aklylene glycol and the adduct of bisphenols epoxyalkane are preferred.Especially preferred is that the adduct of bisphenols epoxyalkane and bisphenols oxyalkylene addition compound and carbon number are the combination of 1～12 aklylene glycol.Ternary or polyvalent alcohol (TO) comprise that trihydroxy is to the pure and mild more aliphatic alcohols of eight hydroxyls (for example glycerine, trimethylolethane, trimethylolpropane, pentaerythrite and D-sorbite); Ternary or multi-phenol (for example trisphenol PA, phenol novolac and cresols novolac); Adduct with ternary or more polyhydric phenol epoxyalkane.
That the example of polybasic carboxylic acid (PC) comprises dicarboxylic acids (DIC) and ternary or polybasic carboxylic acid (TC).Independent dicarboxylic acids (DIC) and dicarboxylic acids (DIC) are preferred with the potpourri of a small amount of ternary or polybasic carboxylic acid (TC).The example of dicarboxylic acids (DIC) comprises alkylene dicarboxylic acids (for example succinic acid, hexane diacid and decanedioic acid); Alkylene group dicarboxylic acid (for example maleic acid and fumaric acid); And aromatic dicarboxylic acid (for example phthalic acid, m-phthalic acid, terephthalic acid (TPA), and naphthalenedicarboxylic acid).Wherein, the aromatic dicarboxylic acid of the alkylene group dicarboxylic acid of carbon number 4～20 and carbon number 8～20 is preferred.The example of ternary or polybasic carboxylic acid (TC) comprises the aromatic polycarboxylic acid (for example trimellitic acid and pyromellitic acid) of carbon number 9～20.Polybasic carboxylic acid (PC) can use its acid anhydrides or lower alkyl esters (for example methyl esters, ethyl ester and isopropyl ester) and polyvalent alcohol (PO) reaction.
As equivalent proportion [OH]/[COOH] between hydroxyl [OH] and the carboxyl [COOH], the ratio between polyvalent alcohol (PO) and the polybasic carboxylic acid (PC) is generally 2/1～1/1, and is preferred 1.5/1～1/1, and more preferably 1.3/1～1.02/1.
The example of multicomponent isocyanate compound (PIC) is aliphatics multicomponent isocyanate (for example tetramethylene diisocyanate, hexamethylene diisocyanate and 2,6-diisocyanate methyl caproate); Alicyclic polyisocyanates (for example isophorone diisocyanate and cyclohexyl-methane diisocyanate); Aromatic diisocyanates (for example toluylene group diisocyanate and cyclohexyl-methane diisocyanate); Aromatics aliphatic diisocyanate (for example α, α, α ', α '-tetramethylxylylene diisocyanate); Isocyanates; By phenol derivatives, the compound that these polyisocyanates of oxime and caprolactam protection form; And wherein at least two kinds combination.
As equivalent proportion [NCO]/[OH] between the hydroxyl [OH] of isocyanate group [NCO] and hydroxyl polyester, the ratio of multicomponent isocyanate compound (PIC) is generally 5/1～1/1, and preferred 4/1～1.2/1 and more preferably 2.5/1～1.5/1.When [NCO]/[OH] greater than 5 the time, the low temperature solidifiability degenerates.Using under the unmodified polyester situation, as [NCO] when mol ratio is lower than 1, urea content is low in the ester, and heat resistanceheat resistant skew property (hot offset resistance) worsens.
The content of multicomponent isocyanate compound (PIC) is generally 0.5wt.%～40wt.% in containing the polyester prepolyer of isocyanate group (A), preferred 1wt.%～30wt.%, more preferably 2wt.%～20wt.%.If the multicomponent isocyanate compounds content is lower than 0.5wt.%, the deterioration of heat resistanceheat resistant skew property considers that from the compatibility of heat-resisting storage characteristics and low temperature solidifiability this is disadvantageous.On the contrary, if the multicomponent isocyanate compounds content surpasses 40wt.%, the low temperature solidifiability degenerates.
Contain isocyanate groups number contained in the polyester prepolyer (A) of isocyanate group usually at least 1 at a part, preferred average out to 1.5～3, more preferably 1.8～2.5.If the isocyanate groups number of per molecule is lower than 1, then the molecular weight of polyesters of urea modification reduces and the deterioration of heat resistanceheat resistant skew property.
In addition, the amine (B) with polyester prepolyer (A) reaction comprises diamine compound (B1), tertiary amine or polyamine compound (B2); amino alcohol (B3); amineothiot (B4), amino acid (B5) and wherein their amino protected B1 to the compound (B6) of B5.
The example of diamine compound (B1) comprises aromatic diamine (for example phenylenediamine, diethyl toluene diamine and 4,4 '-benzidine methane); Alicyclic diamine (for example 4,4 '-diamido-3,3 '-dimethyl dicyclohexyl methyl hydride, your ketone diamines of diamines cyclohexane and different fluorine); And aliphatic diamine (for example hexane diamine, tetra-methylenedimine and hexamethylene diamine).Ternary or more the example of polyamine compound (B2) comprise diethylenetriamine and triethylene tetramine.The example of amino alcohol (B3) comprises monoethanolamine and ethoxylaniline.The example of amineothiot (B4) comprises aminoethyl mercaptan and mercaptan.The example of amino acid (B5) comprises alanine and aminocaproic acid.Wherein B1 comprises that to the example of the amino protected compound (B6) of B5 the ketimine compound that is obtained to the amine of B5 and ketone (for example acetone, methyl ethyl ketone and methyl isobutyl ketone) by B1 is with the oxazolidine compound.Preferred amine is the potpourri of B1 and B1 and a small amount of B2 in the amine (B).
As containing equivalent proportion [NCO]/[NHx] between the amido [NHx] in middle isocyanate group [NCO] of isocyanate group polyester prepolyer (A) and the amine (B), the ratio of amine (B) is generally 1/2～2/1, and preferred 1.5/1～1/1.5 and more preferably 1.2/1～1/1.2.When [NCO]/[NHx] greater than 2 or when being lower than 1/2, the molecular weight of polyesters of urea modification diminishes, and causes the deterioration of heat resistanceheat resistant skew property.
In addition, urethane bonds can be contained in the urea modified poly ester with the urea key.The molar ratio range of urea linkage content and urethane bonds content is generally 100/0～10/90, and preferred 80/20～20/80 and more preferably 60/40～30/70.The molar ratio of urea key is lower than at 10% o'clock, the deterioration of heat resistanceheat resistant skew property.
Be used for modified poly ester of the present invention (i) by one pot of method and prepolymer process manufacturing.The weight-average molecular weight of modified poly ester (i) is no less than 10,000 usually, and preferred 20,000～10,000,000 and more preferably 30,000～1,000,000.At this moment peak molecular weight is preferably 1,000～10, and 000, when it is lower than at 1,000 o'clock, modified poly ester (i) is not easy elongation, and toner elasticity is low, causes the deterioration of heat resistanceheat resistant skew property.When it greater than 10,000 o'clock, the problem of generation is to reduce as solidifiability, particle is less, and difficult the pulverizing.When the natural polyester of using the back to explain (ii) the time, the number-average molecular weight of modified poly ester (i) is not particularly limited, and this number-average molecular weight is obtain weight-average molecular weight easily the sort of.When modified poly ester (i) when using separately, number-average molecular weight is generally 20,000 or less, and preferred 1,000～10,000 and more preferably 2,000～8,000.When number-average molecular weight greater than 20,000 o'clock, the low temperature solidifiability worsens, and glossiness also worsens when being used for panchromatic device.
As required, the cross-linking reaction that reaction suppressor is used between polyester prepolyer (A) and the amine (B) obtains modified poly ester (i) and/or lengthening reaction, regulates the urea modified poly ester molecular weight of gained thus.The example of reaction suppressor comprises monoamine (for example diethylamine, dibutylamine, butylamine and lauryl amine) and the protected compound of monoamine (ketimine compound) wherein.
Natural polyester:
In the present invention, can use modified poly ester (i) separately, and also can contain natural polyester (ii) as binder resin component with (i).By (i) and natural polyester (ii) and usefulness, improve the low temperature solidifiability, also improved glossiness when being used for panchromatic device, this than independent use (i) more preferably.Natural polyester example (ii) comprises the condensed polymer of polyvalent alcohol (PO) and polybasic carboxylic acid (PC), is similar to the polyester components of (i), and preferred compound is also identical with (i).Natural polyester (ii) not only can be natural polyester but also can be a kind of polyester by the chemical bond modification except that the urea key, for example, (ii) can use the urethane bonds modification.Preferably (i) and (ii) in to have part at least be compatible with each other, from the consideration of low temperature solidifiability and heat resistanceheat resistant skew property.Therefore, (i) preferably has similar composition with (ii) polyester components.When containing (ii), (i) and the weight ratio (ii) be generally 5/95～80/20, preferred 5/95～30/70, more preferably 5/95～25/75 and preferred especially 7/93～20/80.When (i) and weight ratio (ii) are lower than 5%, the deterioration of heat resistanceheat resistant skew property, this is disadvantageous to the compatibility between heat-resisting storage characteristics and the low temperature solidifiability.
Peak molecular weight (ii) is generally 1,000～10, and 000, preferred 2,000～8,000 and more preferably 2,000～5,000.When it is lower than at 1,000 o'clock, heat-resisting storage characteristics worsen and when it greater than 10,000 o'clock, the low temperature solidifiability worsens.(ii) hydroxyl value preferably 5 or bigger, and more preferably 10～120 and preferred especially 20～80.When it is lower than 5, be disadvantageous to the compatibility between heat-resisting storage characteristics and the low temperature solidifiability.Acid number (ii) is preferably 1～5 and more preferably 2～4.Because use the wax with high acid value, bonding agent is low acid value binder, causes anti-charging and anti-high power capacity.Therefore, this bonding agent is suitable for the toner of two-component developing agent.
The glass transition point of adhesive resin (Tg) is set to 35 ℃～70 ℃ usually, preferred 55 ℃～65 ℃.If Tg is lower than 35 ℃, the heat-resisting keeping quality of toner worsens.On the contrary, if Tg surpasses 70 ℃, low temperature solidifiability deficiency.The urea modified poly ester is probably on the toner basal granule surface of gained.Therefore, also often have better heat-resisting storage characteristics than known polyester toner even toner glass transition point of the present invention is low.
Colorant:
Dyestuff that all are known and pigment can be effective to colorant, can use following kind and composition thereof: for example, and carbon black, aniline black byestuffs, the iron oxide black, naphthol yellow S, Hansa Huang (10G, 5G, G), cadmium yellow, yellow iron oxide, sil, chrome yellow, titanium yellow, polyazo Huang, oil yellow, Hansa Huang (GR, A, RN, R), pigment yellow L, benzidine yellow (G, GR), permanent yellow (NCG), the solid Huang of sulfuration (5G, R), the tartrazines dyestuff, the quinoline yellow dyestuff, the yellow BGL of anthrazane, iso-dihydro-indole Huang, iron oxide red, red lead, red lead, cadmium red, cadmium mercury is red, crimson antimony, permanent red 4R, Ba Lahong, red as fire, red to the chloro-ortho-nitraniline, upright plain solid scarlet G is bright solid scarlet, bright carmine BS, permanent red (F2R, F4R, FRL, FRLL, F4RH), Gu scarlet VD, the solid pinkish red B of sulfuration, brilliant scarlet G G, upright plain pinkish red GX, permanent red F5R, bright fuchsin 6B, pigment scarlet 3B, the red 5B of wine, toluidine hestnut color, the permanent red F2K of wine, the red BL of sun wine, the red 101B of wine, the chestnut color light of BON, the chestnut color medium of BON, eosine lake dyestuff, rhodamine lake colours B, rhodamine lake colours Y, alizarine lake dyestuff, thioindigo red B, thioindigo hestnut color, oil red, quinacridine is red, pyrazolone red, and polyazo is red, chrome vermilion, benzidine orange ， perylene ketone orange, the oil orange, cobalt blue, cerulean blue, the alkali blue lake dyestuff, peacock blue lake dyestuff, Victoria blue lake colours, metal-free phthalocyanine blue, Gu phthalocyanine blue is sky blue, indanthrene blue (RS, BC), indigo-blue, ultramarine, Prussian blue, anthraquinone blue, Gu purple B, methyl violet lake colours, cobalt violet, manganese violet ， diox purple, the anthraquinone purple, chrome green, zinc green, chromium oxide, pyridian, emerald green, pigment green B, naphthol green B, green gold, sour green dye, the peacock green dyestuff, phthalocyanine green, anthraquinone green, titanium white, zinc white, and lithopone.Colorant content is generally 1wt.%～15wt.% in the toner-particle, preferred 3wt.%～10wt.%.
Colorant can also be used as the masterbatch with mixed with resin.The example of the adhesive resin that is used to make this type of masterbatch or mediates with this masterbatch comprises styrene such as polystyrene, and is poly--right-chlorostyrene, the polymkeric substance of polyvinyl toluene and its replacement, or the multipolymer of these compounds and vinyl compound, polymethylmethacrylate, poly-n-butyl methacrylate, Polyvinylchloride, polyvinyl acetate, tygon, polypropylene, polyester, epoxy resin, epoxy polyol resin, polyurethane, polyamide, polyvinyl butyral, polyacrylate resin, rosin, modified rosin, terpene resin, aliphatics or alicyclic hydrocarbon resin, aromatic petroleum resin, chlorinated paraffin and paraffin.These materials can use separately or use as potpourri.
Charge control agent:
Known charge control agent can be used as charge control agent, for example comprises aniline black byestuffs, kiton colors, contain the chromium premetallized dye, chelate molybdate pigment, rose-red dyestuff, alkoxyamine, quaternary ammonium salt (comprising the fluorine modified quaternary ammonium salt), alkylamide, independent phosphorus or its compound, independent tungsten or its compound, fluorine-based activator, the slaine of salicylic acid metal salt and salicyclic acid derivatives.The more specifically example of charge control agent is the Bontron 03 as aniline black byestuffs, BontronP-51 as quaternary ammonium salt, Bontron S-34 as the containing metal azo dyes, E-82 as carbonaphthoic acid type metal complex, E-84 as salicylic acid metal complex, (these are by Orient Chemical Industries as the E-89 of phenol type condensation product, Ltd. make), as the TP-302 of quaternary ammonium salt molybdenum complex and TP-415 (by Hodogaya Chemical Industries, Ltd. make), (these are by HoechstCo. as the CopyCharge PSY VP2038 of quaternary ammonium salt with as the Copy Charge NX VP434 of quaternary ammonium salt, Ltd. make), as the LRA-901 and the LR-147 (by Japan Carlit Co., Ltd. makes) of boron complex, copper phthalocyanine perylene, quinacridone, azo type pigment and having as sulfonic group, carboxyl and quaternary ammonium salt group are as the polymkeric substance of functional group.Wherein, the preferred material that uses the control toner to have negative polarity.
The use amount of charge control agent determines according to the type of adhesive resin, uses as required or do not use adjuvant, and therefore, comprise the restriction especially of method of the manufacturing toner of dispersion method.Yet the use amount of charge control agent is that the adhesive resin of every 100wt. part preferably uses 0.1～10 weight portion (wt. part) and more preferably 0.2～5wt. part.If surpass 10wt. part, toner is charged too high, causes the charge control agent effect to reduce, and with the electrostatic attraction increase of developer roll, mobile reduction of developer and image density reduce.
Release agent:
In having the dispersion liquid of adhesive resin, 50 ℃～120 ℃ low-melting waxes are effectively as the release agent that solidifies between roller and the toner border.Because the effective efficiency of wax, thus needn't apply release agent oil to solidifying on the roller, and improved elevated temperature excursions.This type of wax component comprises following.The example of wax comprises vegetable wax, as Brazil wax, and cotton wax, haze tallow and rice wax; Animal wax is as beeswax and lanocerin; Mineral matter wax is as ceresine and cercine; With pertroleum wax such as hard paraffin, microcrystalline wax and soft wax.Except these natural waxs, the example of wax comprises synthetic chloroflo, as Fischer-Tropsch wax and Tissuemat E; With synthetic paraffin, as ester, ketone and ether.Except these, the crystalline polymer that side chain has long alkyl also can use.Crystalline polymer comprises polyacrylic acid ester homopolymer or multipolymer, as the positive stearyl of polymethylacrylic acid and the positive Lauryl Ester of polymethylacrylic acid (for example, positive stearyl-the ethyl methacrylate copolymers of acrylic acid), they are aliphatic amides, as 12-hydroxyl stearmide, stearic amide, phthalic anhydride acid imide, and chlorinated hydrocabon; And has a low-molecular-weight crystalline polymer resin.
Charge control agent and release agent can merge with masterbatch and adhesive resin and mix, and can join in the organic solvent when each dissolving and dispersion.
External additive:
Fine inorganic particle is preferably used as external additive to promote the chargeability of flowability, developing property and toner-particle.It is 5 * 10-3～2 micron that this type of fine inorganic particle preferably has initial particle., the especially preferred 5 * 10-3 of this initial particle～0.5 micron.Preferred 20～the 500m2/g of specific surface that the BTE method is measured.In the toner-particle, the preferred 0.01wt.%～5wt.% of the usage ratio of fine inorganic particle, more preferably 0.01wt.%～2.0wt.%.
The particular instance of inorganic particle comprises silica, aluminium oxide, titanium white, barium titanate, magnesium titanate, calcium titanate, strontium titanates, zinc paste, tin oxide, silica sand, clay, mica, wollastonite, zeyssatite, chromium oxide, ceria, iron oxide red, antimony trioxide, magnesium oxide, zirconia, barium sulphate, barium carbonate, lime carbonate, silit and silicon nitride.In these materials, hydrophobicity silica microparticle and hydrophobicity titanium white particle are preferred and be used as fluidizing agent.Especially, when mean diameter is 5 * 10-2 micron or littler two kinds of particles when mixing, significantly improve with the electrostatic force and the Van der Waals force of toner-particle.The result; even this type of external additive mixes the charged level of wanting that reaches with toner-particle in the developing device; also can obtain to wish the picture quality of the nothing " firefly (firefly) " (point) wanted; and do not have fluidizing agent, and can reduce the amount of the toner that keeps after the toner image transfer printing from the toner-particle desorb.
Though the titanium white particulate is being excellent aspect environmental stability and the image density stability, the titanium white particulate has often reduced charging performance (charge rising property).As a result, if titanium white particulate addition greater than the silica particulate, this spinoff becomes more influential.Yet, if being added in 0.3wt.%～1.5wt.% of hydrophobicity silica microparticle and hydrophobicity titanium white particle, the charging performance that can obtain to want and this charging performance of not obvious infringement.In other words, even image repeats to duplicate, still can obtain stable picture quality.
Below explain method for preparing toner.Herein, the exemplary embodiment of method for preparing toner is explained below, but the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.
Method for preparing toner:
1) in organic solvent, be scattered here and there toner, natural polyester, contain isocyanate group polyester prepolyer and release agent, generate toner material solution.
Remove organic solvent easily and consider after the toner basal granule forms, preferably organic solvent is volatile and has and be lower than 100 ℃ boiling point.More particularly, following solvent can use separately or two or more and usefulness, as toluene, and dimethylbenzene, benzene, phenixin, methylene chloride, 1,2-ethylene dichloride, 1,1,2-trichloroethanes, triclene, chloroform, monochloro-benzene, dichloroacetal, methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, methyl ethyl ketone and methyl isobutyl ketone.Especially preferred is aromatic solvent such as toluene and dimethylbenzene and halogenated hydrocarbons such as methylene chloride, 1, and 2-ethylene dichloride, chloroform, and phenixin.The use amount of organic solvent for 100wt. part polyester prepolyer, is generally 0～300wt. part, preferred 0～100wt. part and further preferred 25～70wt. part.
2) toner material solution emulsification in water-bearing media, in the presence of surfactant and the resin particulate.
This type of water-bearing media can singly be water or comprise organic solvent as alcohol (for example methyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol and ethylene glycol), dimethyl formamide, tetrahydrofuran, ethylene glycol ethyl ether (for example Propylene Glycol ether), and lower ketones (for example acetone, methyl ethyl ketone).
The use amount of water-bearing media for 100wt. part toner material solution, is generally 50～2, and 000wt. part is preferred 100～1,000wt. part.If this amount is lower than 50wt. part, the toner material solution poor dispersion can not obtain to have the toner-particle of prescribed particle size thus.On the contrary, if should amount surpass 20,000wt. part is uneconomic.
In addition, for improving the dispersiveness of water-bearing media, add spreading agent such as surfactant and resin particulate as required.
The example of surfactant is anionic surfactant such as alkyl benzene sulfonate, alpha-olefin sulphonic acid ester, and phosphate; Amine salt such as alkylamine salt, amino alcohol fatty acid derivatives, polyamines derivative of fatty acid, and imidazoline; Quaternary ammonium salt cationic surfactant such as alkyl trimethyl ammonium salt, dialkyl dimethyl ammonium salt, alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium salt, pyridiniujm, alkyl isoquinolinium salt and benzethonium chloride; Non-ionics such as fatty acid amide derivant and polyol derivative; With amphoteric surfactant such as alanine, dodecyl two (amino-ethyl) glycocoll, two (octyl group amino-ethyl) glycocoll, N-alkyl-N and N-dimethylammonio betaine.
In addition, use the surfactant that has fluoroalkyl on a small quantity to obtain Expected Results.The anionic surfactant example that preferably has fluoroalkyl is the fluoroalkyl carboxylic acid and the slaine thereof of carbon number 2～10; PFO sulfonyl disodium glutamate salt, 3-[ω-fluoroalkyl (the oxygen base of C6～C11)]-(sulfonic acid of C3～C4) is received salt to the 1-alkyl, 3-[ω-Fluoroalkyloxy (C6～C8)-N-ethylamino]-1-propane sulfonic acid sodium salt, fluoroalkyl (C11～C20) carboxylic acid and slaine thereof; Perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acid (C7～C13) and slaine thereof; Perfluoroalkyl (C4～C12) sulfonic acid and slaine thereof; the Perfluorooctane sulfonates diethanolamine; N-propyl group-N-(2-hydroxyethyl) PFO sulfonamide; perfluoroalkyl (the sulfonamide oxypropyl trimethyl ammonium salt of C6～C10); perfluoroalkyl (C6～C10)-N-ethylsulfonyl glycinate, single perfluoroalkyl (ethyl phosphoric acid ester of C6～C16).
The example of trade name is SURFLON S-111, S-112 and S-113 (being made by Asahi Class Co.Ltd.), FLUORAD FC-93, FC-95, FC-98 and FC-129 (by Sumitomo 3M Co., Ltd. makes), UNIDINE DS-101 and DS-102 are (by Daikin Industries, Ltd makes), MECAFACE F-110, F-120, F-113, F-191, F-812 and F-833 are (by Dainippon Ink ﹠amp; Cbemicals, Inc. makes), EKTOP EF-102,103,104,105,112,123A, 123B, 306A, 501,201 and 204 (by Tochem Products Co., Ltd. makes), FTERCENT F-100 and F150 (by Neos Co., Ltd. makes).
The example of cationic surfactant is aliphatics primary, the second month in a season or the tertiary amine that contains fluoroalkyl, the ammonium salt of aliphatic quaternary ammonium salt such as perfluoroalkyl (C6-C10) sulfonamide oxypropyl trimethyl; Phenylmethane ammonium salt, benzethonium chloride, pyridiniujm and imidazole salts.Its trade name is that SURFLON S-121 is (by Asahi Class Co., Ltd. make), FLUORAD FC-135 is (by Sumitomo 3M Co., Ltd. make), UNIDYNEDS-202 is (by Daikin Industries, Ltd. make), MEGAFACE F-150 and F-824 are (by Dainippon Ink ﹠amp; Chemicals, Inc. makes), EKTOP EF-132 (by Tochem ProductsCo., Ltd. makes) and FTERCENT F-300 (by Neos Co., Ltd. makes) etc.
The resin particulate can be any resin that is selected from thermoplastic resin and thermoset resin, if aqueous dispersion can be become by the resin thin particle shape.The example of resin comprises vinylite, urethane resin, epoxy resin, vibrin, polyamide, polyimide resin, silicon resin, phenol resin, melamine resin, urea resin, anline resin, ionomer resin and polycarbonate resin.Two or more combinations of this resin can be used for the resin particulate.
Wherein, vinylite, urethane resin, epoxy resin, vibrin or its combination are preferred, because these resins obtain the aqueous dispersions of resin ball-shaped particulate easily.The example of vinylite comprises the fluoropolymer resin of independent polymerization of therein ethylene base monomer or copolymerization, as styrene-methacrylate copolymer, Styrene-Butadiene, methacrylic acid-acrylate copolymer, styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer, styrene-maleic acid acid anhydride copolymer, and styrene-methacrylic acid copolymer.The particle mean size of resin particulate is 5～200 nanometers, preferred 200～300 nanometers.
In addition, inorganic dispersant such as calcium phosphate, lime carbonate, titania, colloidal silica and hydroxylapatite also can use.
Dispersant liquid drop can be stable by the superpolymer protecting colloid, and this colloid is as the spreading agent that can be used in combination with resin particulate and inorganic dispersant.Example is sour as acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, alpha-cyanoacrylate, alpha-cyano methacrylic acid, itaconic acid, crotonic acid, fumaric acid, maleic acid, or maleic anhydride; Or methacrylic acid monomer contains hydroxyl such as beta-hydroxyethyl acrylate, the beta-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, β-hydroxypropyl acrylate, β-hydroxypropyl methyl acrylate, γ-hydroxypropyl acrylate, γ-hydroxypropyl methyl acrylate, 3-chlorine 2-hydroxypropyl acrylate, 3-chlorine 2-hydroxypropyl methyl acrylate, diglycol monotertiary acrylate, diglycol monotertiary methacrylate, the glycerine mono acrylic ester, glycerin monomethyl acrylic ester, N hydroxymethyl acrylamide, N-methylol methacrylamide; Vinyl alcohol or ethene alcohol ether, as vinyl methyl ether, ethyl vinyl ether, vinyl propyl ether; Or contain the ester of vinyl alcohol and carboxyl, and as vinyl acetate, vinyl propionic ester, vinyl butyrate; Acrylamide, Methacrylamide, diacetone acrylamide or their methylol compound; Acyl chlorides is as acryloyl chloride and methacrylic chloride; The homopolymer of nitrogen-containing compound or multipolymer, this nitrogen-containing compound such as vinylpyridine, vinyl pyrrolidone, vinyl imidazole and aziridine or its heterocycle; The polyoxyethylene ene compound, as polyoxyethylene, PPOX, polyoxyethylene alkyl amine, PPOX alkyl amine, polyoxyethylene alkylamide, the PPOX alkylamide, polyoxyethylene nonylplenyl ether, polyoxyethylene lauryl phenyl ether, polyoxyethylene stearyl phenyl ester and polyoxyethylene nonyl phenyl ester; With the cellulose group, as methylcellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose and hydroxypropyl cellulose.
Process for dispersing is not particularly limited, and can use the equipment of known low velocity shear type, high speed shear type, friction-type, high-pressure spray type and ultrasonic-type.Wherein, the high speed shear type is that acquisition 2～20 micron granularity discrete particles are preferred.When using the high speed shear type to disperse machine, revolution is not particularly limited, and is generally 1,000 rev/min of (rpm)～30, and 000rpm is preferred 5,000rpm～20,000rpm.Jitter time is not particularly limited, in batch systems normally 0.1～5 minute.Dispersion temperature is generally 0 ℃～150 ℃ (under the pressure), preferred 40 ℃～98 ℃.
3) when the preparation emulsion, add amine (B) and make itself and polyester prepolyer (A) reaction that contains isocyanate group.
After this reaction, carry out crosslinked and/or the strand elongation.Reaction time is selected according to the isocyanates based structures and the reactivity between the amine (B) of polyester prepolyer (A), is generally 10 minutes～40 hours, preferred 2 hours～24 hours.Range of reaction temperature is generally 0 ℃～150 ℃, preferred 40 ℃～98 ℃.In addition, if necessary, can use known catalyzer.The particular instance of catalyzer is dibutyl tin laurate and dioctyltin laurate.
4) after reaction was finished, organic solvent was removed from emulsified dispersed liquid (compound of reaction), and washing and dry obtains the toner basal granule.
In order to remove wherein organic solvent, heat whole system gradually, the while stirring laminar flow, and in the fixed temperature scope, stir powerfully.Solvent is removed from dispersion liquid, prepared fusiformis toner base particle then.In addition, if use the compound to be dissolved in acid or alkali such as synthos, then after synthos are dissolved in sour example hydrochloric acid, synthos are removed in toner base particle by the method for washing as the dispersion stable agent.In addition, synthos can be removed by the enzyme decomposition.
5) charge control agent is implanted in the thus obtained toner base particle, the outside adds fine inorganic particle such as silica and titania, to obtain toner.
Implanting charge control agent and outside, to add fine inorganic particle be to use mixer etc. to carry out by known method.
Therefore, the toner with small grain size and narrow size-grade distribution can easily obtain.In addition, by powerful ground agitation of toner, particle shape can be controlled at full spherical in the fusiformis scope in removing the organic solvent process.In addition, configuration of surface can also be controlled at level and smooth shape in coarse shape scope.
Identical according to the configuration of imaging device, image-generating unit and the cleaning device of second embodiment of the invention with embodiment among Fig. 1, Fig. 2 and Figure 18, therefore omitted its explanation.
In the present invention, lubricant applying device 3 is arranged on cleaning device 8 inside, as described with reference to figure 2.As shown in Figure 2, kollag 3b (from the hairbrush downside) upwards press and when contacting brush roll 3a, when its (from brush side) side direction presses and contact brush roll 3a or when its (from hairbrush upside) presses and contact brush roll 3a (not shown) downwards, produce pressing force.Each pressing force and initial time and the pressing force deviation between the elapsed time (life-span) (initial press power-elapsed time pressing force) have been obtained.
Table 1
| Model G (A4 machine) | Model J (A3 machine) | ||
| Initial time | Spring pressing force (mN) | 1480 | 1800 |
| Lubricant deadweight (mN) | 167 | 363 | |
| Elapsed time | Spring pressing force (mN) | 1140 | 900 |
| Lubricant deadweight (mN) | 108 | 274 | |
| The direction of pushing towards kollag | Downside from hairbrush | Side from hairbrush | Upside from hairbrush | ||
| Pressing force deviation (initial time-elapsed time) towards lubricant | Model G (A4 machine) | (mN) | 281 | 340 | 399 |
| (％) | 100 | 121 | 142 | ||
| Model J (A3 machine) | (mN) | 812 | 900 | 988 | |
| (％) | 100 | 111 | 122 | ||
As can be understood from Table 1, depend on the direction of pushing kollag 3b, it is different being applied to the pressing force of brush roll 3a and the deviation of pressing force.
Hereinafter will be explained in pressing force and pressing force deviation in the actual lubricant applying device.Use following two kinds of machines as a comparison.When kollag 3b is pushed downwards, to compare with the situation that kollag 2b is upwards pushed, the deviation of pressing force increases by 43% in model G, increase by 22% in model J.
Table 2
| Initial time | The spring pressing force | A |
| The lubricant deadweight | B | |
| Elapsed time | The spring pressing force | C |
| The lubricant deadweight | D |
| The direction of pushing towards kollag | Downside from hairbrush | Side from hairbrush | Upside from hairbrush | |
| The direction of pushing towards lubricant | Initial time | A-B | A | A+B |
| Elapsed time | C-B | C | C+D | |
| Pressing force deviation (initial time-elapsed time) towards lubricant | A-B-C+D | A-C | A+B-C-D | |
As can be understood from Table 2, when the pressing force deviation is big, the applied amount fluctuation of lubricant is bigger, because required lubricant applied amount depends on that model is different, and because the restriction pressure spring multiplier to be used of layout also is different, although the magnitude of deviation can not compare between each model in simple mode.Therefore, big fluctuation may cause applying excessively and applying deficiency during in time lapse in the starting stage.Therefore, littler pressing force deviation allows more stable applying.
Correspondingly, as shown in Figure 2, compare with the layout that push the side from brush roll 3a upside with kollag, the layout that kollag 3b pushes from brush roll 3a downside can more stably apply lubricant.
Fig. 7 be used for lubricant applying device 3 kollag 3b in the front side synoptic diagram during from its longitudinal 2 observation.
The kollag 3b that is molded as rectangular solid is fixed on the lubricant holding element 3d.A plurality of press element 3c-1 and 3c-2 are arranged among the lubricant holding element 3d with along its vertical alignment.Press element 3c-1 and 3c-2 are towards the side biasing kollag 3b of brush roll 3a.Compare with the press element 3c-1 that longitudinally is arranged on end regions, the pressing force of press element 3c is conditioned to such an extent that can reduce the pressing force of the press element 3c-2 that is arranged on the central area.When compression spring was used as press element 3c, as shown in Figure 7, spring pressure changed between press element 3c-1 and press element 3c-2.
It is as follows that press element 3c is set to reason a plurality of and that be provided with the pressing force between press element 3c-1 and the press element 3c-2 different in the above described manner.At first, if a press element 3c is only arranged, then lubricant can not longitudinally evenly apply.If the pressing force of press element 3c is mutually the same, the pressing force that then longitudinally is positioned at the press element 3c-1 of end regions is gone to the outside easily.Therefore, kollag 3b longitudinally therein heart zone bear bigger pressure, this has caused, and lubricant is uneven to be applied.Therefore, the pressing force Be Controlled of press element 3c-2 must be less than press element 3c-1, with the longitudinal balance pressure along kollag 3b, and kollag 3b contacts with brush roll 3a with uniform pressure, thus the surface of having realized lubricant is applied to equably photoconductor 1.
The example of Fig. 7 shows four press element 3c, but two or more three or more press element 3c that are preferably can be set in the present invention.If two press element 3c are set, then two longitudinally are arranged in two ends, therefore, press element 3c are not set in the central area.This has lost pressure equilibrium longitudinally, can cause vertically uneven the applying of generation in the central area along photoconductor 1.Therefore, longitudinally with three or more press element 3c alignment in a row realizing balance on the whole zone longitudinally, thereby further make lubricant evenly to apply.
The thickness of each hairbrush fiber of brush roll 3a is preferably the red nile (denial) of 3-8, and the density of hairbrush fiber is preferably 20,000-100,000/inch
2If the thickness of hairbrush fiber is too thin, then when brush roll 3a contact photoconductor 1 surface, it is crooked easily that bristle becomes.On the contrary, if the hairbrush fiber is too thick, then the density of hairbrush fiber can not be increased.If the density of hairbrush fiber is lower, then the quantity of the hairbrush fiber that contacts with its surface is less, so lubricant can not be uniformly applied to the surface of photoconductor 1.On the contrary, if the density of hairbrush fiber is too high, then the gap between fiber and the fiber becomes narrower, and the amount of sticking of the lubricant powder that scrapes is reduced, and has caused the deficiency of applied amount.
The thickness that produces brush roll 3a so that hairbrush fiber in scope is set is provided with to such an extent that can not be bent and the density of hairbrush fiber is provided with to such an extent that can carry out evenly applying of lubricant effectively.
As shown in Figure 2, the sense of rotation of brush roll 3a be preferably with respect to the direction of motion of photoconductor 1 for forwards to.If the sense of rotation of brush roll 3a is opposite with the direction of motion of photoconductor 1, then be attached to lubricant powder on the hairbrush fiber of brush roll 3a and when brush roll 3a contact photoconductor 1 surface, can be impacted and scatter, can not realize like this applying uniformly and effectively.As a result, the sense of rotation of brush roll 3a preferably with respect to photoconductor 1 direction of motion for forwards to.
The feature of explained later second embodiment.It is that cleaning unit-be made is with respect to the surface of the zone that applies lubricant by brush roll 3a at the upstream side contact photoconductor 1 of photoconductor 1 direction of motion for cleaning blade 8a-.Then the level and smooth blade 8b-of lubricant its be that lubricant smooth unit-be made is with respect to the surface of the zone that applies lubricant at the downstream of photoconductor 1 direction of motion contact photoconductor 1.In a second embodiment, shown in Fig. 8 A and Fig. 8 B, cleaning blade 8a is made from the surface of relative direction contact photoconductor 1, and the level and smooth blade 8b of lubricant is made from the hangover direction and contacts its surface.The level and smooth blade 8b of cleaning blade 8a and lubricant is made by rubber, and wherein rubber is a kind of elastic body.
Based on above-mentioned configuration, be carried on photoconductor 1 lip-deep ink powder image and be transferred to transfer materials, and stay its lip-deep ink powder after the ink powder image transfer printing and at first remove by cleaning blade 8a.By removing ink powder, the surface of photoconductor 1 cleaning that becomes, and brush roll 3a contacts clean Surface and lubricant is applied on it.The surface that applies lubricant in its zone by contact lubricated dose of the level and smooth blade 8b of lubricant-it is positioned at 1 direction of motion downstream-time of photoconductor and is evenly scattered and have the lubricant layer of uniform thickness with formation.
So the cleaning device 8 and the lubricant applying device 3 of configuration are arranged in the imaging device, and proper amount of lubricating agent is applied to the surface of photoconductor 1, and this allows to form uniform lubricant film, and can apply equably.
After cleaning remaining toner in the above described manner, apply lubricant, and smoothly apply lubricant forming conforming layer, thereby prevent the fault that under " cleaning applying after " and " clean and apply afterwards " situation, takes place.More specifically, the deviation of the lubricant applied amount that produces owing to " apply after cleaning " and the deviation of surface friction factor have been prevented.Also prevented the undesired image that produces by the inhomogeneous lubricant layer that " cleaning after apply " causes.Undesired image comprises worm channel, image blurring and coarse image.Simultaneously, brush roll 3a's applies function and also can keep for a long time.Because use rubber as the level and smooth blade 8b of lubricant, though at the level and smooth blade 8b of lubricant when its contact condition lower edge photoconductor 1 moves, also can not destroy the surface of photoconductor 1.
In the present invention, can prevent the wearing and tearing on cleaning blade 8a and photoconductor 1 surface, and stay its lip-deep ink powder and also can clean satisfactorily after the ink powder image transfer printing, also be like this even used spherical during with undersized toner particles.In addition, can prevent image blurring.On the surface of photoconductor 1 because the influence of moisture that the lubricant that is subjected to excessively to apply produces may take place image blurring.
In a second embodiment, the surface of photoconductor 1 still replaces cleaning blade 8a can use cleaning brush by cleaning blade 8a cleaning.Can obtain cleaning brush by applying bias voltage to the conduction brush of resistance between medium resistance and low resistance.
The present invention is not limited by described embodiment, and can be applicable to use any device of the technology of the present invention principle.Photoconductor or intermediate transfer element can be belt shape or cylinder shape.
In table 3, illustrated according to the relation between moment of torsion of the present invention and the clean-up performance.
When only cleaning blade contacted photoconductor surface, moment of torsion was 10, but when applying lubricant, even when the level and smooth blade 8b of lubricant contacts its surface, moment of torsion also is reduced to 8.Not not with lubricator, clean-up performance is not very enough with the execution cleaning, but utilizes lubricant can improve it, and then, effective cleaning becomes possibility.
Table 3
| Torque level | Moment of torsion | Clean-up performance | |
| Only cleaning blade contact | 10 | Difference | Difference |
| Cleaning blade, lubricant, level and smooth blade, lubricant apply element and all |
8 | Good | Good |
Moment of torsion reduces has saved energy, and motor can be minimized to reduce cost and to save the space.
Fig. 9 is the synoptic diagram that is used for explaining third embodiment of the invention.Different according to the lubricant applying device of the 3rd embodiment and Fig. 2.More specifically, in the lubricant applying device of Fig. 2, the brush that applies of contact-type is used as and applies element.Yet, in the 3rd embodiment, used and the discontiguous brush 3a ' that applies in photoconductor 1 surface.In this device, do not use kollag and be to use powder lubricant 3b '.The rotation that applies brush 3a ' makes that the lubricant composition is floating, and this composition is attached to photoconductor 1 surface.
Because so the lubricant applying device of configuration applies lubricant in discontiguous mode,, can keep the clean-up performance identical simultaneously with second embodiment so moment of torsion can fall lowlyer than second embodiment.Therefore, realized the further saving of energy, and motor can be minimized to reduce cost and to save the space.
In the 3rd embodiment,, the method according to this invention tests by being compared with classic method.The method according to this invention is such, and promptly the level and smooth blade 8b of lubricant is made in the hangover mode and contacts the surface of photoconductor 1 and the lubricant that smoothly applies.As test result, verified effect of the present invention.
The effect of demonstration test of the present invention:
The present invention:
First blade (cleaning blade) (upstream side: relative mode, blade type: T7240, thickness: 1.3mm)
Bringing device (the hairbrush type: insulation polyethylene terephthalate (PET), to the pressure of lubricant: 1250mN * 4)
Second blade (the level and smooth blade of lubricant) (downstream: hangover mode, blade type: T7240, thickness: 1.3mm)
Classic method:
First blade (upstream side: do not provide)
Bringing device (the hairbrush type: insulation PET, to the pressure of lubricant: 1250mN * 4)
Second blade (cleaning blade) (downstream: relative mode, blade type: T7240, thickness: 1.3mm)
Lubricant applies under these conditions, makes the contrast that keeps the required lubricant applied amount of photoconductor surface friction factor: be μ=0.2 under 50% the image-forming condition at the ratio of the image-region of condensate ink powder.
The result is as follows:
0.04g/km of the present invention
Classic method 0.35g/km
Can confirm from described result, compare that the method for ' " cleaning after-applied "+level and smooth blade ' that the present invention adopts has further reduced the friction factor of photoconductor surface efficiently with the classic method of " applying the back cleaning ".
Carry out following test to obtain second blade with respect to the contact angle of photoconductor surface and the optimum value of contact pressure, wherein second blade is the level and smooth blade of lubricant according to the present invention.As test result, obtained suitable enforcement following condition of the present invention.
Test condition:
Second blade (the level and smooth blade of lubricant) (blade type: T7050, thickness 1.3mm)
Fur hairbrush (hairbrush type: SA7 does not have hairbrush to flutter)
Charging roller (no roller, cleaner-less)
Pressure (deadweight: 36g) to lubricant
The contact angle of second blade and contact pressure
Contact angle: 9 degree (contact pressure 1400mN, 2800mN)
Contact angle: 19.7 degree (contact pressure 2200mN)
Contact angle: 22.7 degree (contact pressure 1400mN, 2800mN)
Make photoconductor element dally under these conditions, and measure the μ of photoconductor surface with predetermined time interval.As a result, when contact angle is 22.7 degree and contact pressure when being 2800mN, friction factor minimum (minimum value 0.12, maximal value 0.21), the vibration of unit is less than other conditions, so these conditions become most preferably.From described result, in order to reduce the friction factor of photoconductor surface effectively, according to test specification, bigger blade angle is better, and higher contact pressure is better.
In imaging device according to the present invention, the ink powder that is used for developing apparatus 4 preferably has the volume averaging particle size of from 3 to 8 microns of scopes, and has the ratio (Dv/Dn) of volume averaging particle size (Dv) Yu the quantity average particle size particle size (Dn) of scope from 1.00 to 1.40.
By using the toner particles of low particle size, toner particles can be attached to sub-image densely.Yet, if the volume averaging particle size is less than scope of the present invention, if and use the developer of two compositions, then at developer in developing apparatus during the mobile long period, toner particles is melted on the surface of magnetic carrier to reduce the charging ability of magnetic carrier.And if used oligomict developer, toner particles takes place easily on developer roll, form film, and toner particles would be melted to easily such as making on the thinner elements such as blade of ink powder.On the contrary, if the volume averaging particle size greater than scope of the present invention, then is difficult to obtain high resolving power and high-quality image.When the toner particles in the developer is consumed, the big sometimes great fluctuation process of the balance of toner particles size.
By making particle size distribution narrow down, the charge amount distribution of ink powder becomes evenly, thereby has obtained background atomizing high quality graphic still less, and has increased transferring rate.Yet when Dv/Dn surpassed 1.40, charge amount distribution broadened and resolution reduces, and this is not preferred.
The average particle size particle size of toner particles and particle size distribution can utilize Coulter Counter TA-II and Coulter Multisizer II (all being made by Coulter Electronics Limited) to measure.In the present invention, interface by Coulter Counter TA-II being connected to output (particle) distributed number and volume distributed median (being made by Nikkaki Bios Co.) and be connected to PC (PC9801: made by NEC Corp.), Coulter Counter TA-II is used for measuring average particle size particle size and Size Distribution.
In this ink powder, to compare with traditional toner particles, the ratio of the cured and inorganic particles in the toner particles is increased by reducing the toner particles size.Internally cured or outside is added toner particles to improving release characteristics, and inorganic particles is used to improve liquidity.These adjuvants have become the factor of sticking material (adhesion) that produces on the photoconductor 1.Therefore, lubricant applying device 3 according to the present invention is installed into the uniform lubricant film of formation on the whole zone on photoconductor 1 surface, thereby reduces to stick the adhesion on material and photoconductor 1 surface.In addition, the friction force between the level and smooth blade 8b of the cleaning blade 8a of photoconductor 1 surface and cleaning device 8 or lubricant is reduced to realize satisfied cleaning.
Toner particles in being used in developing apparatus 4 has high circularity for example 0.93 or during higher average roundness, the effect that cleaning device 8 of the present invention is provided is significant in imaging device.The toner particles of high circularity enters the space between photoconductor 1 and the cleaning blade easily during using the blade system cleaning, and slips over this space easily.If the contact pressure of cleaning blade and photoconductor 1 increases, then photoconductor 1 is greatly damaged.In addition, even will be applied to the bias voltage of toner charge polarity opposite polarity in the method for brush roll and static focus ink powder, also be difficult to remove ink powder from brush roll.Therefore, the removal ability of electrophotographic toner is tending towards reducing gradually.
Yet, cleaning device 8 of the present invention can be in the following manner the surface of clear light electric conductor 1 effectively, even toner particles also is like this when having high average roundness.More specifically, the ink powder of staying on the photoconductor 1 passes through static cleaning element static focus, and then, remaining toner is finally wiped off and removed by cleaning blade 8a.Thereby, the surface of photoconductor 1 need not be damaged and also effective cleaning can be carried out.
The average roundness of ink powder is by the optical detection particle, particle projection is equaled value that the perimeter length of the circle of projection particle area be divided by obtain with the area that obtains the projection particle and with this area with area to the plane.Average roundness is in fact by using flow particles image dissector (FPIA-2000:SysmexCorp. manufacturing) to measure.The water of removing the 100-150 milliliter of impurity solid in advance is put in the predetermined container, the surfactant of 0.1-0.5 milliliter-be spreading agent-be added in the water, and approximately the testing sample of 0.1-9.5 gram further adds to wherein.The suspending liquid that wherein has dispersed sample disperseed about 1-3 minute with ultrasonic disperser, and the concentration of dispersion soln is controlled at 3000-10000 grain/μ L, measured the shape and the distribution of toner particles.
Be used for according to the shape factor S F-1 scope of the ink powder of imaging device of the present invention preferably from 100 to 180 scope of shape factor S F-2 also preferably from 100 to 180.Shape factor S F-1 and shape factor S F-2 with explain with reference to figure 5 identical.
In addition, that explains among the constituent material of ink powder and manufacture method and first embodiment is identical, has omitted its explanation.
Can use tetrahydrofuran (THF) to measure by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) with the polymeric molecular weight of improved production of polyester as solvent.The glassy phase height (Tg) of natural polyester can be measured by differential scanning calorimeter (DSC).
In the ink powder manufacture method, added the ink powder basal granule of resin particle to form in the stabilize water medium.Therefore, preferably, added resin particle to cover the 10%-90% on ink powder basal granule surface.The example of resin particle is that particle size is the polymethylmethacrylate particulate of 1 micron and 3 microns; Particle size is the ps particle of 0.5 micron and 2 microns; Particle size is 1 micron dacron (styrene-acrylonitrile) particulate.The example of brand name is PB-200H (being made by Kao Corp.), SGP is (by Soken Co., Ltd. make), TECHNOPOLYMER-SB is (by Sekisui Plastics Co., Ltd. make), SGP-3G (by Soken Co., Ltd. makes) and MICROPEARL (by SekisuiFine Chemical Co., Ltd. makes).
Ink powder shape according to the 3rd embodiment almost is spherical as first embodiment.The ink powder of making can be used as the magnetic ink powder of the single component developer that is used for not using magnetic carrier or as no magnetic ink powder.
When ink powder was used as two component developers, ink powder can mix with magnetic carrier.Magnetic carrier is a ferrite, and this ferrite comprises divalent metal for example iron, magnetic iron ore, Mn, Zn and Cu, and its volume averaging particle size is preferably the 20-100 micron.If average particle size particle size is less than 20 microns, then carrier is attached to photoconductor 1 easily when developing.If it surpasses 100 microns, then carrier is not easy to mix with ink powder, and the quantity of electric charge of ink powder is not enough.Therefore, charge fault is taking place between the operating period continuously easily.The Zn ferrite that contains Cu is preferred, because its saturation magnetization height, but it can be selected as required according to the processing of imaging device.The resin that covers magnetic carrier is not particularly limited, but can comprise such as the resin that comprises silicones, styrene-propene acid resin, fluororesin and olefin resin etc.The manufacture method of resin can be following any method: coated with resins is dissolved in the solvent and solvent is sprayed onto that fluidized bed is attached to slug particle with the method for coated carrier core with resin particle static and with the resin particle heat fusing to cover the another kind of method of slug particle.The thickness that is coated with the slug particle of resin is the 0.05-10 micron, is preferably the 0.3-4 micron.
Figure 10 is the vertical sectional view of an example that can form the imaging device of full-color image.Imaging device comprise be wound between a plurality of backing rolls 104,105 and 106 and along the annular intermediate transfer belt 103 of arrow A direction rotation, arrange first to four process cartridge 107Y, 107C, 107M and the 107BK relative with intermediate transfer belt 103. Process cartridge 107Y, 107C, 107M and 107BK comprise image- carrier 102Y, 102C, 102M and 102BK respectively, and described image-carrier is configured to form the drum type photoconductor of each ink powder image of different colours.The ink powder image of different colours is formed on each image-carrier and stack is transferred on the intermediate transfer belt 103.Intermediate transfer belt 103 is examples that the ink powder image on each image-carrier is transferred to the transfer materials on it.Reference numeral 100 among Figure 10 is master units of imaging device.
In each configuration, be mutually the same basically how, though ink powder image forms different colors forming ink powder image on image- carrier 102Y, 102C, 102M and the 102BK of first to the 4th process cartridge 107Y, 107C, 107M and 107BK and how ink powder image being transferred to intermediate transfer belt 103.Therefore, will only explain that below ink powder image is formed on ink powder image that the image-carrier 102Y of the first process cartridge 107Y goes up and form and is transferred to configuration on the intermediate transfer belt 103.
Figure 11 is the amplification view of the first process cartridge 107Y.The image-carrier 102Y of process cartridge 107Y supports by cell enclosure 108 rotations, and turns clockwise by the driver element (not shown).When it rotated, charging voltage was applied to by on the cell enclosure 108 rotatably supported charging rollers 109, so the surface of image-carrier 102Y is charged to predetermined polarity.Send and the laser L of optical modulation shines on the image-carrier 102Y after the charging from optical writing unit shown in Figure 10 110, thereby on image-carrier 102Y, form electrostatic latent image.Electrostatic latent image is visible when applying Yellow ink powder by developing apparatus 111.
Developing apparatus 111 comprises the development shell 112 that is formed with a part of cell enclosure 108, and development shell 112 has held the two composition dry process development agent D that contain ink powder and carrier.In development shell 112, be provided with two screw rods 113 that stir developer D and 114 and along the developer roll 123 of the counter clockwise direction rotation of Figure 11.The developer D that is drawn onto developer roll 123 outer surfaces is carried on its outer surface and along the sense of rotation of developer roll 123 and transmits.Then, the developer D by doctor blade 124 is transferred to the development district between developer roll 123 and the image-carrier 102Y.At this moment, the ink powder electrostatic displacement in the developer is to the electrostatic latent image that is formed on the image-carrier 102Y, and electrostatic latent image is shown as ink powder image.The developer D by the district of developing stirs from developer roll 123 separation and by screw rod 113 and 114.Ink powder image is formed on the image-carrier 102Y by the way.Also can adopt use not with the developing apparatus of single component developer of carrier.
On the other hand, primary transfer roller 125 strides across the opposite side that intermediate transfer belt 103 is arranged in process cartridge 107Y.Transfer voltage is applied to primary transfer roller 125, thereby the ink powder image on the image-carrier 102Y at first is transferred to along on the intermediate transfer belt 103 of arrow A direction rotation.The remaining toner of being attached to after the ink powder image transfer printing on the image-carrier 102Y is removed by cleaning device 126.Cleaning device 126 according to the 3rd embodiment comprises that cleaning shell 127, its leading edge of forming a part of cell enclosure 108 press the tip holder 129 of the cleaning blade 128 on image-carrier 102Y surface, the blade 128 that keeps clean and be arranged on the ink powder transmission screw rod 130 that cleans in the shell 127.Cleaning blade 128 is arranged with relative direction with respect to the apparent motion direction of image-carrier 102Y.This cleaning blade 128 by elastic body for example rubber make, and the base portion side of cleaning blade 128 for example is fixed to tip holder 129 by cementing agent.By the leading edge of cleaning blade 128 being pressed to the surface of image-carrier 102Y, the remaining toner on the image-carrier 102Y is wiped off and is removed.The ink powder of removing is transferred to the outside of cleaning shell 127 by the ink powder transmission screw rod 130 of rotation.Cleaning blade 128 is transferred to transfer materials (it is corresponding to the intermediate transfer belt 103 of Figure 10) at ink powder image and cleans image-carrier afterwards.
In the same manner as described above, cyan ink powder image, pinkish red ink powder image and powdered black ink image are respectively formed at second to the 4th image- carrier 102C, 102M and the 102BK of Figure 10.These ink powder images are with on the mode of the order stack intermediate transfer belt 103 of Yellow ink powder image that at first has been transferred to thereon transfer printing, to form compound ink powder image on intermediate transfer belt 103.Method how to remove the remaining toner on image- carrier 102C, 102M and the 102BK after each ink powder image of transfer printing is identical with the method for the first image-carrier 102Y.
As shown in figure 10, paper-advance unit 116 is arranged on the downside in the master unit 100 of imaging device.Paper-advance unit 116 comprises store recording medium the P for example input tray 114 and the intake roller 115 of transfer paper.Send the recording medium P at top in the direction of arrow B by the rotation of intake roller 115.The recording medium that sends by tube roll to 117 with preset time be fed to intermediate transfer belt 103 be wound on the backing roll 104 part and in the face of in the space between the inferior transfer roll 118 of backing roll 104.At this moment, predetermined transfer voltage is applied to time transfer roll 118, thereby secondly the compound ink powder image on the intermediate transfer belt 103 is transferred on the recording medium P.
Secondly compound ink powder image is transferred to recording medium P on it, and further upwards transmission is by fixing device 119, and at this place, the effect photographic fixing of the ink powder image on the recording medium P by heat and pressure thereon.Recording medium P by fixing device 119 is discharged to the word bomb that is arranged on imaging device master unit 100 upsides and goes out part 122.The remaining toner of being attached to after the ink powder image transfer printing on the intermediate transfer belt 103 is removed by cleaning device 120.
Imaging device according to the 3rd embodiment comprises lubricant applying device 131, cleaning blade 128 among Figure 11 and the wearing and tearing of image-carrier 102Y have been suppressed like this, even and when using the spherical ink powder of low particle size, also can keep high clean-up performance by cleaning blade 128.Lubricant applying device 131 also is separately positioned among second to the 4th process cartridge 107C, 107M and the 107BK, and its configuration and performance complete with process cartridge 107Y in identical.Therefore, the lubricant applying device 131 of process cartridge 107Y shown in Figure 11 will only be described below.
The lubricant applying device 131 of Figure 11 comprises the lubricant retainer 135 of the brush roll 133 on contact image carrier 102Y surface, the kollag 134 of facing brush roll 133, firm support solid lubricant 134, the compression disc spring 137 that direct solid lubricant 134 is pushed the example in unit by the guiding piece 136 and the conduct of lubricant retainer 135.
The disc spring 137 of compression is arranged between web joint 142 and the lubricant retainer 135 with a plurality of numbers as shown in figure 12.The disc spring 137 of compression is pressed to brush roll 133 by lubricant retainer 135 with kollag 134.The direction of pushing is by the indication of the arrow C among Figure 11.Replace the disc spring of compression, also can use such as reversing disc spring and leaf spring etc. and push the unit.
Because the surface of image-carrier 102Y is applied with lubricant in the above described manner, so its surperficial friction factor can be suppressed lowlyer.Thereby the wearing and tearing of image-carrier 102Y and cleaning blade 128 can be minimized, and its life-span can be extended.In addition, even used the spherical ink powder of low particle size, also can prevent the reduction greatly of image-carrier 102Y clean-up performance by cleaning blade 128.
In addition, according to the 3rd embodiment, guiding piece 136 is arranged in the lubricant applying device 131.Guiding piece 136 guide lubricant retainers 135 and kollag 134, thus they two can be basically only along with brush roll 133 near or the directions of separating move, that is, and pushing direction C and move along compression disc spring 137 along the direction opposite with it.Therefore, kollag 134 can be along waving greatly perpendicular to the direction E that pushes direction C.The result, kollag 134 is edge zone contact brush roll 133 much at one at any time, and almost the lubricant of fixed amount can be fed to the surface of image-carrier by brush roll 133, thereby has prevented that lubricant is applied to the surface of image-carrier unevenly.
If guiding piece 136 is not set, shown in Figure 14 A and Figure 14 B, kollag 134 waves greatly along the direction E that pushes direction C perpendicular to compression disc spring.Therefore, only kollag 134 is in the face of the part 143 or the part 144 contact brush roll 133 of brush roll 133, perhaps whole surface contact brush roll 133.Thereby lubricant can not be uniformly applied to image-carrier 102Y, the picture quality variation that has caused being transferred to the ink powder image variation of intermediate transfer belt 103 and be formed on the final image on the recording medium P.Imaging device according to the 3rd embodiment can prevent this fault.
In imaging device shown in Figure 10, lubricant retainer 135 contacts this to guided plate 140 and 141, and kollag 134 passes lubricant retainer 135 by guiding piece 136 guiding.But kollag 134 also can dispose directly by guiding piece 136 guiding.Kollag 134 is by guiding piece 136 guiding, and the kollag 134 direction C that can be basically only be toward or away from brush roll 133 along kollag 134 moves like this.Yet this shows that kollag 134 can wave with a spot of tolerance along the direction E perpendicular to direction C.
As mentioned above, lubricant applying device 131 according to the 3rd embodiment comprises that lubricant applies element, it is the brush roll 133 of contact image carrier 102Y when rotated, and be arranged in the face of lubricant apply the kollag 134, direct solid lubricant 134 of the position of element so that kollag 134 can be basically only along the guiding piece 136 of the direction guiding that is toward or away from brush roll 133 and comprise be used for kollag 134 press to lubricant apply element compression disc spring 137 push the unit.
In addition, as shown in figure 11, the position of compression disc spring 137 and cleaning blade 128 be provided with respectively so that compression disc spring 137 direction C that kollag 134 is pressed to brush roll 133 almost be parallel to cleaning blade 128 towards the outstanding direction in the surface of image-carrier 102Y.Therefore, can reduce the space that occupies by cleaning blade 128, tip holder 129 and lubricant applying device 131 in the master unit of imaging device, thereby reduce the size of imaging device.As shown in figure 15, be not parallel to cleaning blade 128 towards the outstanding direction in image-carrier 102Y surface if push direction C, then whole cleaning blade 128, tip holder 129 and lubricant applying device 131 occupied around the image-carrier 102Y than large space, and should make the size of imaging device increase inevitably than large space.Imaging device according to the 3rd embodiment has been avoided this shortcoming with simple configuration.
In addition, as shown in figure 11, in the imaging device according to the 3rd embodiment, tip holder 129 utilizes screw (not shown) for example directly to be fixed to the guided plate 140 of guiding piece 136.In other words, tip holder 129 is fixed on the guiding piece 136 of direct solid lubricant 134.As a result, cleaning blade 128 is towards the outstanding direction and parallel can easily and securely enhancing of pushing between the direction C in image-carrier 102Y surface.Tip holder 129 can be fixed to guiding piece 136 by some other intermediary element.
By this way, the position of pushing unit and cleaning blade so is provided with so that pushes the unit respectively and kollag pressed to lubricant to apply the direction of element almost identical towards the outstanding direction of image carrier surface with cleaning blade.And tip holder directly or by another element is fixed to the guiding piece of direct solid lubricant, thereby has reduced the size of imaging device.
In imaging device as shown in figure 13, image-carrier 102Y, lubricant apply that element and the position of pushing the unit so are provided with respectively so that line H with push direction C and be located substantially on the identical line I.More specifically, line H contact is connected the rotation center F of image-carrier 102Y and lubricant and applies element for example between the rotation center G of brush roll 133, and to push direction C be the push direction of compression disc spring 137 towards kollag 134.As shown in the figure, in the imaging device of Figure 11, if line H and push direction C not on the same line, then be compressed that disc spring 137 pushes vertically on, the core of brush roll 133 may be out of shape, and shown in the dot-and-dash line of Figure 12, wherein is out of shape and has been exaggerated a little.If brush roll 133 so is out of shape, the amounts of lubrication that then is applied to image-carrier 102Y becomes inhomogeneous, and this may cause being transferred to the ink powder image variation of intermediate transfer belt 103 and be formed on image quality in images variation on the recording medium.
On the other hand, in process cartridge 107Y as shown in figure 13 because line H with push direction C and almost be positioned on the identical line I, so the contact image carrier vertically on, the core of brush roll 133 is grasped on the surface of image-carrier 102Y firmly.The distortion of the dot-and-dash line indication that therefore, brush roll 133 can not image pattern 12 is out of shape like that.This permission is uniformly applied to lubricant on the image-carrier 102Y, and has increased the picture quality that is formed on the ink powder image on the recording medium P.The miscellaneous part of the imaging device of Figure 13 is identical with the parts shown in Figure 10-12, and the Reference numeral identical with Figure 11 is assigned to and the identical or corresponding parts of the parts of Figure 11.
The imaging device of Figure 11 comprises the lubricant smooth unit as level and smooth blade 132.Level and smooth blade 132 by elastic body for example rubber make.The surface of the leading edge contact image carrier 102Y of level and smooth blade 132, and its base portion side is fixed to retainer 145.Level and smooth blade 132 is arranged along the hangover direction with respect to the direction of motion of image carrier surface.Shown in Figure 11 is clear, comprise that the lubricant of brush roll 133 applies element is arranged in cleaning blade 128 along the direction of motion of image carrier surface downstream.
In this configuration, the remaining toner of being attached to image carrier surface the transfer printing ink powder image after is by cleaning blade 128 removals, and applies lubricant to the surface of the image-carrier 102Y of cleaning like this.The lubricant that applies disperses when the level and smooth blade 132 by contact with image-carrier 102Y surface and equably smoothly on the surface of image-carrier 102Y.This allows to form the lubricant layer of uniform thickness on image-carrier 102Y.By this way, lubricant applies after image-carrier 102Y cleaning at once, and the lubricant that applies is smoothed, thereby prevented to be applied to amounts of lubrication generation deviation and its surperficial friction factor generation deviation on image-carrier 102Y surface, and increased the picture quality that is formed on the recording medium.In addition, because smoothly blade 132 is arranged with the hangover direction with respect to the direction of motion on image-carrier 102Y surface, so can prevent that the driving torque of image-carrier 102Y is too high.
The thickness of the hairbrush fiber of the brush roll 133 in the lubricant applying device 131 is preferably the red nile of 3-8, and the density of hairbrush fiber 139 is preferably 20,000-100,000 line/square inch.If the thickness of hairbrush fiber is too thin, then bristle becomes crooked easily when brush roll 3a contact image carrier 102Y surface.On the contrary, if the hairbrush fiber is too thick, then the density of fiber can not increase.If the density of hairbrush fiber is lower, then lubricant can not be applied to the surface of image-carrier 102Y equably, because the quantity that contacts its surperficial hairbrush fiber very little.On the contrary, if the density of hairbrush fiber is too high, then the gap between fiber and the fiber becomes narrower, and is reduced by the amount of sticking of the powder lubricant that scraped, and this has caused the applied amount deficiency.
In the 3rd embodiment, used the kollag identical with the kollag 134 of first embodiment.
Preferably, the ink powder that uses in the developing apparatus 111 is such, be that the volume averaging particle size is 10 microns or littler, the scope from 1.00 to 1.40 of the ratio (Dv/Dn) between volume averaging particle size (Dv) and the quantity average particle size particle size (Dn), and the volume averaging particle size wishes especially to be in 3 to 8 microns the scope.
By using the toner particles of low particle size, toner particles can be attached on the electrostatic latent image densely.Yet if the volume averaging particle size of ink powder is too little, the toner particles in two component developers can be melted on the surface of magnetic carrier during long-time the stirring in developing apparatus at developer, thereby has reduced the charging ability of magnetic carrier.If use oligomict developer, toner particles takes place easily in the developer roll upper filmization, and toner particles is melted to easily such as making on the thinner elements such as blade of ink powder as developer.On the contrary, if the volume averaging particle size is too big, be difficult to obtain high resolving power and high-quality image.When the toner particles in the developer is consumed, the big sometimes great fluctuation process of the balance of toner particles size.
In addition, by making particle size distribution narrow down, the charge amount distribution of ink powder becomes evenly, thereby has obtained having the still less high quality graphic of background atomizing, and has increased transferring rate.Yet when Dv/Dn surpassed 1.40, charge amount distribution was broadened and the resolution reduction, and this is not preferred.
The average particle size particle size of toner particles and particle size distribution can utilize Coulter Counter TA-II and Coulter Multisizer II (all being made by Coulter Electronics Limited) to measure.In the present invention, the interface by Coulter Counter TA-II being connected to output (particle) distributed number and volume distributed median (making) and be connected to PC (PC9801: make) and measure average particle size particle size and Size Distribution by NEC Corp. by Nikkaki Bios Co..
In this ink powder, the ratio of the cured and inorganic particles in the toner particles is increased by reducing the toner particles size.Internally cured or outside is added toner particles to improving release characteristics, and inorganic particles is used to improve liquidity.These adjuvants have become the factor of sticking material that produces on the image-carrier.Yet, lubricant applying device 131 has been installed with the uniform lubricant film of formation on the whole zone on the image carrier surface, thereby has been reduced to stick the adhesion on material and image-carrier 102Y surface.In addition, the installation of lubricant applying device 131 makes the cleaning blade 128 of image carrier surface and cleaning device 126 or the friction force between the level and smooth blade 132 of lubricant reduce, and has realized satisfied clean-up performance.
When the ink powder in being used in developing apparatus 111 had the average roundness of 0.93-1.00, the result as apply lubricant to image-carrier can obtain significant effect.By lubricant is applied to image-carrier,, also can effectively suppresses the scraping of this ink powder and pass defective under the cleaning blade 128 even use the ink powder of high circularity.
The average roundness of ink powder is by the optical detection particle, particle projection is equaled value that the perimeter length of the circle of projection particle area be divided by obtain with the area that obtains the projection particle and with this area with area to the plane.Average roundness is in fact by using flow particles image dissector (FPIA-2000:SysmexCorp. manufacturing) to measure.The water of removing the 100-150 milliliter of impurity solid in advance is put in the predetermined container, the surfactant of 0.1-0.5 milliliter, and promptly spreading agent is added in the water, and approximately the testing sample of 0.1-9.5 gram further adds to wherein.The suspending liquid that wherein has dispersed sample disperseed about 1-3 minute with ultrasonic disperser, and the concentration of dispersion soln is controlled at 3000-10000 grain/μ L, measured the shape and the distribution of toner particles.
The scope preferably from 100 to 180 of shape factor S F-1 that is used for the ink powder of developing apparatus 111, the scope of shape factor S F-2 also preferably from 100 to 180.Shape factor S F-1 represents the spherical degree of ink powder shape.When the value of SF-1 was 100, the shape of ink powder became splendid spheroid, and when the value of SF-1 was big, the ink powder shape became more irregular.Shape factor S F-2 represents the irregular degree in the ink powder shape.When the value of SF-2 is 100, do not find irregularly at toner surface, when the value of SF-2 was big, the irregular of toner surface became more remarkable.Detail as per JP-ANo.2002-244485.
If the ink powder shape is near spherical, then between toner particles and the toner particles or more points of proximity contact of the contact between toner particles and the image-carrier.Therefore, when the attractive force between toner particles died down, flowability uprised.Attractive force between toner particles and the image-carrier also dies down, the result, and transferring rate uprises.Because spherical ink powder enters in the space between cleaning blade 128 and the image-carrier 102Y, so the shape factor S F-1 of ink powder or shape factor S F-2 should be greatly to a certain degree easily.Yet too big if SF-1 and SF-2 become, toner particles can be dispersed on the image, thus the picture quality variation.Therefore, preferably, SF-1 and SF-2 are no more than 180.Form factor is taken ink powder by scanning electron microscope (S-800: Hitachi Ltd makes) and is analyzed and calculate and measure specially with photo input picture analyzer (LUSEX3:NIRECO CORPORATION manufacturing) and to it.
Be enough to be used in ink powder according to the imaging device of the 3rd embodiment by the ink powder material solution is obtained through cross-linking reaction and/or lengthening reaction in having the aqueous medium of resin particle.The ink powder material solution is by at least a polyester prepolymer, polyester, colorant and release agent with the functional group that comprises nitrogen-atoms is dispersed in the ink powder complex that obtains in the organic solvent.The constituent material and the manufacture method of ink powder are basically the same as those in the first embodiment, and have therefore omitted its explanation.
The glassy phase height (Tg) of natural polyester can be measured by differential scanning calorimeter (DSC).By using the ink powder manufacture method, can obtain the ink powder of low particle size and sharp-pointed particle size distribution easily.In addition, by the strong agitation organic solvent, shape can be controlled in from splendid spherical in the scope of " rugby " shape in removing its process, and in addition, and configuration of surface also can be controlled in the scope from the smooth form to the rough form.
Outside ink powder shape is preferably almost spherical, and this is identical with each embodiment.
In above-mentioned imaging device, image-carrier forms drum type, and the intermediate transfer element is formed with intermediate transfer belt, even but when image-carrier is formed with endless belt and intermediate transfer element and forms drum type, also can adopt according to configuration of the present invention.Even carry the image-carrier of ink powder image thereon when being formed with ink powder image on intermediate transfer element and the image-carrier and being transferred to transfer materials on it and being recording medium, also can use according to configuration of the present invention.In this case, imaging device is provided with after the transfer printing ink powder image cleaning blade of removing the remaining toner of being attached to the intermediate transfer element and is used for lubricant is applied to the lubricant applying device of intermediate transfer element, and adopts described configuration for these parts.In addition, the present invention also can be applied to without difficulty to be formed on as the ink powder image on the image-carrier of photoconductor and directly is transferred in the imaging device as the transfer materials of recording medium.
Configuration according to imaging device, image-generating unit and the cleaning device of fourth embodiment of the invention is identical with the configuration of Fig. 1, Fig. 2 and Figure 18, has therefore omitted its explanation.
When kollag 3b upwards presses as shown in Figure 2 and contacts brush roll 3a, produce pressing force when side direction presses and contact brush roll 3a as shown in figure 18 or when its downward (not shown) presses and contact brush roll 3a when it.Table 4 shows the result who obtains pressing force and initial time and the pressing force deviation between the elapsed time (life-span) (initial press power-elapsed time pressing force).
Table 4
| Initial time | The spring pressing force | A |
| The lubricant deadweight | B | |
| Elapsed time | The spring pressing force | C |
| The lubricant deadweight | D |
| The direction of pushing towards kollag | Downside from hairbrush | Side from hairbrush | Upside from hairbrush | |
| The direction of pushing towards lubricant | Initial time | A-B | A | A+B |
| Elapsed time | C-D | C | C+D | |
| Pressing force deviation (initial time-elapsed time) towards lubricant | A-B-C+D | A-C | A+B-C-D | |
Arrive as can be understood from Table 4, the pressing force that is applied to brush roll 3a is different with the pressing force deviation, and it depends on the direction of pushing towards kollag 3b.
Hereinafter explain pressing force and pressing force deviation in the lubricant applying device of reality.Use two models, promptly model G and model J as a comparison, and comparing result is as shown in table 5.When kollag 3b is pushed downwards, to compare with the situation that kollag 3b is upwards pushed, the deviation of pressing force increases by 42% in model G, increase by 22% in model J.
Table 5
| Model G (A4 machine) | Model J (A3 machine) | ||
| Initial time | Spring pressing force (mN) | 1480 | 1800 |
| Lubricant deadweight (mN) | 167 | 363 | |
| Elapsed time | Spring pressing force (mN) | 1140 | 900 |
| Lubricant deadweight (mN) | 108 | 274 | |
| The direction of pushing towards kollag | Downside from hairbrush | Side from hairbrush | Upside from hairbrush | ||
| Pressing force deviation (initial time-elapsed time) towards lubricant | Model G (A4 machine) | (mN) | 281 | 340 | 399 |
| (％) | 100 | 121 | 142 | ||
| Model J (A3 machine) | (mN) | 812 | 900 | 988 | |
| (％) | 100 | 111 | 122 | ||
Should be appreciated that, when the pressing force deviation is big, the applied amount fluctuation of lubricant is bigger, because required lubricant applied amount depends on that model is different, and because the restriction pressure spring multiplier to be used of layout also is different, although the magnitude of deviation can not compare between each model in simple mode.Big fluctuation may cause applying excessively and applying deficiency during in time lapse in the starting stage.Therefore, in the pressing force deviation hour, can realize more stable applying.
Correspondingly, as shown in Figure 2, apply with the layout that applies downwards with side direction and to compare, kollag 3b upwards pushes, and promptly the layout of pushing from brush roll 3a downside can more stably apply lubricant.
The configuration of the kollag 3b of lubricant applying device 3 is identical with Fig. 7's.
By the kollag 3b and the cleaning device 8 of configuration in the above described manner are provided in imaging device, the lubricant of appropriate amount can be applied to the surface of photoconductor 1, thereby forms smooth lubricant film, and can apply equably.
After cleaning remaining toner in the above described manner, apply lubricant, and the lubricant that further smoothly applies to be forming film, thus prevented cleaning after " applying the back cleaning "-photoconductor is only applying lubricant-and " cleaning after-applied "-lubricant clean the defective that produces under after-applied-the two situation at photoconductor.More specifically, can prevent because the deviation of the lubricant applied amount that " applying the back cleaning " causes and the deviation of surface friction factor, and prevented the unsmooth inhomogeneous lubricant layer that it causes and the undesired image that produces, for example worm channel, image blurring and coarse image by " cleaning after-applied ".The function that applies that can keep simultaneously, brush roll 3a in the cycle at long time.Because rubber is used as the level and smooth blade 8b of lubricant, so even photoconductor 1 moves to such an extent that contact with the level and smooth blade 8b of lubricant, the surface of photoconductor 1 also can not be damaged.
In the present invention, can prevent the wearing and tearing on cleaning blade 8a and photoconductor 1 surface, even and used the ink powder of low particle size, also can clean the transfer printing ink powder image satisfactorily after its surface go up remaining ink powder.In addition, can prevent image blurring.On the surface of photoconductor 1 owing to excessively apply can take place under the moisture influence that lubricant produces image blurring.
In the 4th embodiment, cleaning blade 8a is used for the surface of clear light electric conductor 1, but also can use cleaning brush to replace cleaning blade 8a.Can obtain cleaning brush by applying bias voltage in medium resistance to the conduction brush between the low resistance to resistance.
The present invention is not limited by described embodiment, but may be used on using any device of the technology of the present invention principle.Photoconductor or intermediate transfer element can be any one in belt shape and the cylinder shape.
In the 4th embodiment,, the method according to this invention tests by being compared with classic method.The method according to this invention is such, and promptly the level and smooth blade 8b of lubricant is with hangover mode and the photoconductor 1 surperficial lubricant that contacts smoothly to apply.As test result, effect of the present invention is verified in the mode identical with second embodiment.
Explained later processing instance of the present invention.
How Figure 16 utilizes the synoptic diagram of making the image-carrier of low-friction coefficient according to lubricant applying device of the present invention.Figure 17 is the synoptic diagram that how to be extruded and to scatter according to lubricant applying device of the present invention with for the image on " angle θ " between the flaky smooth element of its major part and lubricant.
First processing instance:
Prepare lubricant applying device in the following manner.As the flaky smooth element, use is by BandoChemical Industries, Ltd. the thickness of Zhi Zaoing is 2 millimeters urethane rubber sheet, and be arranged to the attitude of trailing, contact pressure can change in the scope of 25 ± 10 (g/cm) like this, and contact angle can change in the scope that is set in the 0-90 degree according to photoconductor.And, as applying brush, used Co. by Toeisangyo, the bristle length that Ltd makes is 3 millimeters conduction nylon bruss, and so to be provided with so that to apply the amount that brush is forced in the photoconductor be 1 millimeter.Use the lubricant applying device idle running (roughly 5-10 minute) of so preparing, fully be applied to photoconductor, and use the photoconductor that has sufficient lubricant to prepare process cartridge up to lubricant.
Process cartridge is set among the imagio NeoC325 that Ricoh Co.Ltd. makes, and under 35 ℃, 80% environment, makes 1000 paper continuously by this tube with horizontal direction under by condition wherein at the image on the blank sheet of paper that is formed at the A4 size.The result is as follows.When contact angle was spent less than 10, cleaning foil was involved in (in table 6 with " fork: * " expression), but in other cases, sheet does not take place be involved in (in table 6 with " circle: zero " expression).
Table 6
| Angle (degree) | 5 | 8 | 10 | 20 | 30 | 40 | 50 | 60 | 70 | 80 |
| Sheet is involved in | × | × | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ |
Second processing instance:
Prepare lubricant applying device in the following manner.As the flaky smooth element, having used the thickness of being made by Hokushin Corp. is 1.6 millimeters urethane rubber sheet, and be arranged to the attitude of trailing, contact pressure can change in the scope of 55 ± 10 (g/cm) like this, and contact angle can change in the scope that is set in the 0-90 degree according to photoconductor.And, as applying brush, to have used by TsuchiyaCo., the bristle length that Ltd. makes is 2.5 millimeters conduction nylon bruss, and so to be provided with so that to apply the amount that brush is forced in the photoconductor be 0.5 millimeter.Use the lubricant applying device idle running (roughly 5-10 minute) of so preparing fully to be applied to photoconductor, and use the photoconductor that has sufficient lubricant to prepare process cartridge up to lubricant.
Process cartridge is set among the imagio NeoC325 that Ricoh Co.Ltd. makes, and the image that is being formed under 35 ℃, 80% environment on the blank sheet of paper of A4 size makes 1000 paper continuously by this tube with horizontal direction under by condition wherein.The result is as follows.When contact angle was spent less than 10, cleaning foil was involved in (in table 7 with " fork: * " expression), but in other cases, sheet does not take place be involved in (in table 7 with " circle: zero " expression).
Table 7
| Angle (degree) | 5 | 8 | 10 | 20 | 30 | 40 | 50 | 60 | 70 | 80 |
| Sheet is involved in | × | × | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ |
The 3rd processing instance:
Prepare lubricant applying device in the following manner.As the flaky smooth element, used Co. by ToyoTire and Rubber, Ltd. the thickness of Zhi Zaoing is 1.5 millimeters urethane rubber sheet, and be arranged to the attitude of trailing, contact pressure can change in the scope of 20 ± 10 (g/cm) like this, and contact angle can change in the scope that is set in the 0-90 degree according to photoconductor.And, as applying brush, used Co. by Tsuchiya, the bristle length that Ltd. makes is 3 millimeters conduction nylon bruss, and so to be provided with so that to apply the amount that brush is forced in the photoconductor be 1 millimeter.Use the lubricant applying device idle running (roughly 5-10 minute) of so preparing fully to be applied to photoconductor, and use the photoconductor that has sufficient lubricant to prepare process cartridge up to lubricant.
Process cartridge is set among the imagio NeoC325 that Ricoh Co.Ltd. makes, and the image that is being formed under 35 ℃, 80% environment on the blank sheet of paper of A4 size makes 1000 paper continuously by this tube with horizontal direction under by condition wherein.The result is as follows.When contact angle was spent less than 10, cleaning foil was involved in (in table 8 with " fork: * " expression), but in other cases, sheet does not take place be involved in (in table 8 with " circle: zero " expression).
Table 8
| Angle (degree) | 5 | 8 | 10 | 20 | 30 | 40 | 50 | 60 | 70 | 80 |
| Sheet is involved in | × | × | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ |
The 4th processing instance:
Prepare process cartridge in the following manner.As cleaning foil, used ChemicalIndustries by Bando, Ltd. the thickness of Zhi Zaoing is 2 millimeters urethane rubber sheet, and so be provided with so that contact pressure in the scope of 20 ± 10 (g/cm), with respect to the contact angle of photoconductor in the scopes of 75 ± 10 degree.As applying brush, used Co. by Toeisangyo, the bristle length that Ltd. makes is 3 millimeters conduction nylon bruss, and so to be provided with so that to apply the amount that brush is forced in the photoconductor be 1 millimeter.As the flaky smooth element, used Toyo Tire and Rubber Co., the thickness that Ltd. makes is 1.5 millimeters urethane rubber, and so be provided with so that contact angle in the scopes of 15 ± 5 degree, the contact line pressure is carried out various variations.
Process cartridge is set among the imagio NeoC325 that Ricoh Co.Ltd. makes, and under laboratory environment, be formed at image on the blank sheet of paper of A4 size with horizontal direction by making 1000 paper whether contaminated by this tube continuously under the condition wherein with inspection machine inside.The result is as follows.When contact line pressure during less than 0.01 (N/cm), confirmed machine intimate contaminated (in table 9 with " fork: * " expression), but in other cases, this problem (in table 9 with " circle: zero " expression) does not take place.
Table 9
| Pressure (N/cm) | 0.001 | 0.005 | 0.01 | 0.05 | 0.1 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 5.0 |
| Pollute | × | × | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ |
Slender acanthopanax worker example:
Prepare process cartridge in the following manner.As cleaning foil, having used the thickness of being made by Hokushin Corp. is 2 millimeters urethane rubber sheet, and so be provided with so that contact pressure in the scope of 25 ± 10 (g/cm), with respect to the contact angle of photoconductor in the scopes of 70 ± 10 degree.As applying brush, used Co. by Tsuchiya, the bristle length that Ltd. makes is 3 millimeters insulation polyester brush, and so to be provided with so that to apply the amount that brush is forced in the photoconductor be 1 millimeter.As the flaky smooth element, used Toyo Tire and Rubber Co., the thickness that Ltd. makes is 1 millimeter urethane rubber, and so be provided with so that contact angle in the scopes of 25 ± 5 degree, the contact line pressure is carried out various variations.
Process cartridge is set among the imagio NeoC325 that Ricoh Co.Ltd. makes, and under laboratory environment, be formed at image on the blank sheet of paper of A4 size with horizontal direction by making 1000 paper whether contaminated by this tube continuously under the condition wherein with inspection machine inside.The result is as follows.When contact line pressure during less than 0.01 (N/cm), confirmed machine intimate contaminated (in table 10 with " fork: * " expression), but in other cases, this problem (in table 10 with " circle: zero " expression) does not take place.
Table 10
| Pressure (N/cm) | 0.001 | 0.005 | 0.0 1 | 0.05 | 0.1 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 5.0 |
| Pollute | × | × | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ |
The 6th processing instance:
Prepare process cartridge in the following manner.As cleaning foil, used RubberCo. by Toyo Tire and, Ltd. the thickness of Zhi Zaoing is 1.6 millimeters urethane rubber sheet, and so be provided with so that contact pressure in the scope of 55 ± 10 (g/cm), with respect to the contact angle of photoconductor in the scopes of 70 ± 10 degree.As applying brush, used Co. by Tsuchiya, the bristle length that Ltd. makes is 2.5 millimeters insulation polyester brush, and so to be provided with so that to apply the amount that brush is forced in the photoconductor be 0.5 millimeter.As the flaky smooth element, the thickness that has used Bando Chemical Industries Ltd. to make is 1.3 millimeters urethane rubber, and so be provided with so that contact angle in the scopes of 22 ± 5 degree, the contact line pressure is carried out various variations.
Process cartridge is set among the imagio NeoC325 that Ricoh Co.Ltd. makes, and under laboratory environment, be formed at image on the blank sheet of paper of A4 size with horizontal direction by making 1000 paper whether contaminated by this tube continuously under the condition wherein with inspection machine inside.The result is as follows.When contact line pressure during less than 0.01 (N/cm), confirmed machine intimate contaminated (in table 11 with " fork: * " expression), but in other cases, this problem (in table 11 with " circle: zero " expression) does not take place.
Table 11
| Pressure (N/cm) | 0.001 | 0.005 | 0.01 | 0.05 | 0.1 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 5.0 |
| Pollute | × | × | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ |
In imaging device according to the present invention, the ink powder that is used for developing apparatus 4 preferably has the volume averaging particle size of from 3 to 8 microns of scopes, and has the ratio (Dv/Dn) of volume averaging particle size (Dv) Yu the quantity average particle size particle size (Dn) of scope from 1.00 to 1.40.
By using the toner particles of low particle size, toner particles can be attached to sub-image densely.Yet, if the volume averaging particle size less than scope of the present invention, the toner particles in two component developers can be melted to the magnetic carrier surface during it is stirred for a long time in developing apparatus, reduced the charging ability of magnetic carrier.If use single component developer, the filming of toner particles on developer roll then takes place easily, and toner particles is melted to easily and for example is used for making on the thinner elements such as blade of ink powder as developer.On the contrary, if the volume averaging particle size greater than scope of the present invention, then is difficult to obtain high resolving power and high-quality image.When the toner particles in the developer consumes, the big sometimes great fluctuation process of the balance of toner particles size.
In addition, by making particle size distribution narrow down, the charge amount distribution of ink powder becomes evenly, thereby has obtained the littler high quality graphic of background atomizing, and has increased transferring rate.Yet when Dv/Dn surpassed 1.40, charge amount distribution was broadened, and resolution reduces, and this is not preferred.
The average particle size particle size of toner particles and particle size distribution can utilize Coulter Counter TA-II and Coulter Multisizer II (all being made by Coulter Electronics Limited) to measure.In the present invention, interface by Coulter Counter TA-II being connected to output (particle) distributed number and volume distributed median (making) and be connected to PC (PC9801: make) and measure average particle size particle size and Size Distribution by NEC Corp. by Nikkaki Bios Co..
In this ink powder, to compare with traditional toner particles, the ratio of the cured and inorganic particles in the toner particles is increased by reducing the toner particles size.Internally cured or outside is added toner particles to improving release characteristics, and inorganic particles is used to improve liquidity.These adjuvants have become the factor of sticking material that produces on the photoconductor 1.Therefore, lubricant applying device 3 according to the present invention has been installed with the uniform lubricant film of formation on the whole zone on photoconductor 1 surface, thereby has been reduced to stick the adhesion on material and photoconductor 1 surface.In addition, the friction force between the level and smooth blade 8b of the cleaning blade 8a of photoconductor 1 surface and cleaning device 8 or lubricant is reduced to realize satisfied cleaning.
Toner particles in being used in developing apparatus 4 has high circularity for example 0.93 or during higher average roundness, the effect that cleaning device 8 of the present invention is provided is significant in imaging device.The toner particles of high circularity enters the space between photoconductor 1 and the cleaning blade easily during using the blade system cleaning, and slips over this space easily.If the contact pressure of cleaning blade and photoconductor 1 increases, then photoconductor 1 is greatly damaged.In addition, will be applied to the bias voltage of toner charge polarity opposite polarity in the method for brush roll and static focus ink powder, and also be difficult to remove ink powder from brush roll.Therefore, the removal ability of electrophotographic toner is tending towards reducing gradually.
Yet cleaning device 8 of the present invention is the surface of effective cleaning photoconductor 1 in the following manner, even toner particles also is like this when having high average roundness.More specifically, at first, the ink powder of staying on the photoconductor 1 passes through static cleaning element static focus, and then, remaining toner is finally wiped off and removed by cleaning blade 8a.Thereby, the surface of photoconductor 1 need not be damaged and also effective cleaning can be carried out.
The average roundness of ink powder is by the optical detection particle, particle projection is equaled value that the perimeter length of the circle of projection particle area be divided by obtain with the area that obtains the projection particle and with this area with area to the plane.In fact, average roundness is measured by using flow particles image dissector (FPIA-2000:SysmexCorp. manufacturing).The water of removing the 100-150 milliliter of impurity solid in advance is put in the predetermined container, the surfactant of 0.1-0.5 milliliter, and promptly spreading agent is added in the water, and approximately the testing sample of 0.1-9.5 gram further adds to wherein.The suspending liquid that wherein has the sample of dispersion disperseed about 1-3 minute with ultrasonic disperser, and the concentration of dispersion soln is controlled at 3000-10000 grain/μ L, measured the shape and the distribution of toner particles.
Be used for according to the shape factor S F-1 scope of the ink powder of imaging device of the present invention preferably from 100 to 180 scope of shape factor S F-2 also preferably from 100 to 180.
Be enough to be used in obtaining through cross-linking reaction and/or lengthening reaction in aqueous medium by the ink powder material is held liquid according to the ink powder of imaging device of the present invention.The ink powder material solution is to obtain by at least a polyester prepolymer, polyester, colorant and release agent with the functional group that comprises nitrogen-atoms is dispersed in the organic solvent.
The constituent material of ink powder and ink powder manufacture method are basically the same as those in the first embodiment, and have therefore omitted its explanation.
Polymeric molecular weight with improved production of polyester can utilize gel permeation chromatography (GPC) to measure as solvent by THF.
Ink powder shape according to the 4th embodiment almost is spherical, and this is as above-mentioned.
More specifically, the ink powder of manufacturing can be used as the single composition magnetic ink powder that does not use magnetic carrier or is used as no magnetic ink powder.
When ink powder was used as two component developers, ink powder can mix with magnetic carrier.Magnetic carrier is a ferrite, and this ferrite comprises divalent metal, for example iron, magnetic iron ore, Mn, Zn and Cu, and its volume averaging particle size is preferably the 20-100 micron.If average particle size particle size is less than 20 microns, then carrier is attached to photoconductor 1 easily when developing.If it surpasses 100 microns, then carrier is not easy to mix with ink powder, and the quantity of electric charge of ink powder is not enough.Therefore, charge fault is taking place between the operating period continuously easily.The Zn ferrite that contains Cu is preferred, because its saturation magnetization height, but it can be selected as required according to the processing of imaging device 100.The resin that covers magnetic carrier is not particularly limited, but can comprise resins such as for example comprising silicones, styrene-propene acid resin, fluororesin and olefin resin.The manufacture method of resin can be following any method: coated with resins is dissolved in the solvent and solvent is sprayed onto that fluidized bed is attached to slug particle with the method for coated carrier core with resin particle static and with the resin particle heat fusing to cover the another kind of method of slug particle.The thickness that is coated with the slug particle of resin is the 0.05-10 micron, is preferably the 0.3-4 micron.
Industrial usability
As mentioned above, all be useful according to imaging device of the present invention, lubricant applying device, transfer device, process cartridge and the ink powder that is used for the image-carrier of imaging device to imaging device such as the duplicator that uses electronic camera technology, printer, facsimile machine etc., particularly, they are useful to keeping photoconductor surface and transfer device to have suitable coefficient of friction, and also are useful for obtaining stable picture quality.
Claims (71)
1, a kind of imaging device comprises:
Rotatable and configuration is used for carrying the latent image carrier of sub-image;
Clean the cleaning blade of the ink powder on the cleaning area of staying on the latent image carrier; With
Lubricant applies element, and this lubricant applies element and is arranged in the downstream of cleaning blade with respect to the sense of rotation of latent image carrier, and the lubricant that lubricant is applied on the latent image carrier applies the zone, and wherein cleaning area and lubricant apply region overlapping.
2, imaging device according to claim 1, wherein to apply the zone be same area on the latent image carrier basically for cleaning area and lubricant.
3, imaging device according to claim 1, wherein to apply element be brush roll to lubricant, lubricant is bar-shaped lubricant, and
Imaging device comprises that being used for rotating brushes roller so that brush roll can wipe lubricant stick off and the lubricant that scrapes is applied to the mechanism of latent image carrier.
4, imaging device according to claim 3 further comprises level and smooth blade, wherein
Cleaning blade is arranged on the upstream side of latent image carrier sense of rotation, and level and smooth blade is arranged on the downstream, and
The width of brush roll and level and smooth blade and latent image carrier have following relation on it is vertical: the width of the width of brush roll≤level and smooth blade.
5, imaging device according to claim 4, wherein
The width of brush roll and cleaning blade and latent image carrier have following relation on it is vertical: the width of the width≤cleaning blade of brush roll.
6, imaging device according to claim 3, wherein
The width of lubricant stick and brush roll and latent image carrier have following relation on it is vertical: the width of the width≤brush roll of lubricant.
7, imaging device according to claim 1, wherein
The width of the lubricant that applies on live part and the latent image carrier has following relation on vertically at it: the lubricant width of electric charge width≤apply.
8, imaging device according to claim 1, wherein latent image carrier has 0.4 or lower friction factor.
9, imaging device according to claim 1, wherein cleaning blade comprises and is used for preventing the lateral seal part that ink powder scatters, and lubricant applies the position adjustments of zone based on the lateral seal part.
10, imaging device according to claim 1, wherein ink powder is such, and the shape factor S F-1 of spherical degree that promptly represents the ink powder shape is in the scope of 100-180, and the shape factor S F-2 of the degree of irregularity of expression ink powder shape is in the scope of 100-180.
11, imaging device according to claim 1, wherein ink powder is such, be the scope of volume averaging particle size (Dv), by the dispersion degree of the ratio (Dv/Dn) between volume averaging particle size (Dv) and the quantity average particle size particle size (Dn) definition scope at 1.00-1.40 at the 3-8 micron.
12, imaging device according to claim 1, wherein ink powder is such, be that ratio (r2/r1) between ink powder minor axis and the major axis is in the scope of 0.5-1.0, ratio between its thickness and the minor axis (r3/r2) is in the scope of 0.7-1.0, and its relation satisfies: major axis r1 〉=minor axis r2 〉=thickness r3.
13, imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the two or wherein a kind of reaction obtain ink powder through cross-linking reaction and lengthening reaction in aqueous medium by making the ink powder material solution, the ink powder material solution is by with the dissolving of at least a condensate and release agent or be dispersed in the organic solvent and obtain, wherein said condensate have can with the part of the compound reaction that contains reactive hydrogen functional group.
14, imaging device according to claim 1 further comprises:
Process cartridge, described process cartridge integrated support latent image carrier and be selected from lubricant is applied to latent image carrier lubricant applying device, charging device, developing apparatus and cleaning device at least one of them, and described process cartridge is removably to install.
15, a kind of imaging device comprises:
After being transferred, removes ink powder image the cleaning blade of the ink powder of staying image carrier surface;
Lubricant applying device, described lubricant applying device comprises:
Lubricant; And
In discontiguous mode the contactless type lubricant that the lubricant composition is applied to image-carrier is applied element; With
The level and smooth blade of lubricant, the lubricant that the level and smooth blade of described lubricant will be applied to image-carrier disperses to form thin layer, wherein utilize the lubricant apply, only be higher than the moment of torsion of the image-carrier that contacts by the level and smooth blade of cleaning blade and lubricant by the moment of torsion of the image-carrier of cleaning blade contact.
16, imaging device according to claim 15, wherein the level and smooth blade of lubricant is provided with in the hangover mode.
17, imaging device according to claim 15, ink powder wherein to be used is such, and promptly the volume averaging particle size is 10 microns or littler, and the ratio between volume averaging particle size and the quantity average particle size particle size, be dispersion degree, in the scope of 1.00-1.40.
18, imaging device according to claim 15, ink powder wherein to be used has the average roundness of 0.93-1.00.
19, imaging device according to claim 15, ink powder wherein to be used is such, the shape factor S F-1 of spherical degree that promptly represents the ink powder shape is in the scope of 100-180, and the shape factor S F-2 of the degree of irregularity of expression ink powder shape is in the scope of 100-180.
20, imaging device according to claim 15, ink powder wherein to be used is such, be that its profile almost is spherical, and the ratio between ink powder minor axis and the major axis (r2/r1) is in the scope of 0.5-1.0, ratio between its thickness and the minor axis (r3/r2) is in the scope of 0.7-1.0, and its relation satisfies: major axis r1 〉=minor axis r2 〉=thickness r3.
21, imaging device according to claim 15, wherein the two or wherein a kind of reaction obtain ink powder through cross-linking reaction and lengthening reaction in having the aqueous medium of resin particle by making the ink powder composition, and the ink powder composition comprises at least a polyester prepolymer, polyester, colorant and release agent with functional group of nitrogen atom.
22, a kind of imaging device comprises:
After being transferred, removes ink powder image the cleaning blade of the ink powder of staying image carrier surface;
Lubricant applying device, described lubricant applying device comprises:
Lubricant; With
The contact be attached on it lubricant and with the contact mode the contact lubricant that the lubricant composition is applied to image-carrier is applied element; With
The level and smooth blade of lubricant, the level and smooth blade of described lubricant disperses to be applied to the lubricant of image-carrier to form thin layer, wherein utilize the lubricant apply, only be higher than the moment of torsion that applies the image-carrier that element contacts by cleaning blade, the level and smooth blade of lubricant and contact lubricant by the moment of torsion of the image-carrier of cleaning blade contact.
23, imaging device according to claim 22, wherein the level and smooth blade of lubricant is provided with in the hangover mode.
24, imaging device according to claim 22, wherein to apply element be the roller that applies that is rotated to the contact lubricant, and apply roller and be driven with the speed that is equal to or higher than photoconductor surface speed.
25, imaging device according to claim 22, ink powder wherein to be used is such, and promptly the volume averaging particle size is 10 microns or littler, and the ratio between volume averaging particle size and the quantity average particle size particle size, be dispersion degree, in the scope of 1.00-1.40.
26, imaging device according to claim 22, ink powder wherein to be used has the average roundness of 0.93-1.00.
27, imaging device according to claim 22, ink powder wherein to be used is such, the shape factor S F-1 of spherical degree that promptly represents the ink powder shape is in the scope of 100-180, and the shape factor S F-2 of the degree of irregularity of expression ink powder shape is in the scope of 100-180.
28, imaging device according to claim 22, ink powder wherein to be used is such, be that its profile almost is spherical, and the ratio between ink powder minor axis and the major axis (r2/r1) is in the scope of 0.5-1.0, ratio between its thickness and the minor axis (r3/r2) is in the scope of 0.7-1.0, and its relation satisfies: major axis r1 〉=minor axis r2 〉=thickness r3.
29, imaging device according to claim 22, wherein the two or wherein a kind of reaction obtain ink powder through cross-linking reaction and lengthening reaction in having the aqueous medium of resin particle by making the ink powder composition, and the ink powder composition comprises at least a polyester prepolymer, polyester, colorant and release agent with functional group of nitrogen atom.
30, a kind of imaging device comprises:
Form the image-carrier of ink powder image thereon;
After being transferred to transfer materials, ink powder image cleans the cleaning blade of image-carrier;
The tip holder of blade keeps clean; With
Lubricant is applied to the lubricant applying device of image-carrier, wherein
Lubricant applying device comprises:
Kollag,
Lubricant applies element,
Guiding piece, described guiding piece direct solid lubricant so that kollag can be basically only along be toward or away from that direction that lubricant applies element moves and
Make kollag press the unit of pushing that lubricant applies element, wherein
The position of pushing unit and cleaning blade be provided with respectively so that push the unit with kollag press to lubricant apply the direction of element and cleaning blade towards the outstanding direction of image carrier surface almost parallel to each other and
Tip holder directly or by another element is fixed to guiding piece.
31, imaging device according to claim 30, wherein the line that image-carrier, lubricant apply that element and the position of pushing the unit are provided with respectively so that connection layout image carrier rotation center and lubricant apply the element rotation center with push the unit and push the direction of kollag and almost be positioned on the identical line.
32, imaging device according to claim 30 further comprises the lubricant smooth unit of the lubricant that smoothly is applied on the image-carrier, and wherein lubricant applies element is arranged in cleaning blade along the direction of motion of image carrier surface downstream.
33, imaging device according to claim 30, wherein the lubricant smooth unit comprises the level and smooth blade of contact image carrier, and level and smooth blade is provided with in the hangover mode with respect to the direction of motion of image carrier surface.
34, imaging device according to claim 30, ink powder wherein to be used is such, and promptly the volume averaging particle size is 10 microns or littler, and the ratio between volume averaging particle size and the quantity average particle size particle size, be dispersion degree, in the scope of 1.00-1.40.
35, imaging device according to claim 30, ink powder wherein to be used has the average roundness of 0.93-1.00.
36, imaging device according to claim 30, ink powder wherein to be used is such, the shape factor S F-1 of spherical degree that promptly represents the ink powder shape is in the scope of 100-180, and the shape factor S F-2 of the degree of irregularity of expression ink powder shape is in the scope of 100-180.
37, imaging device according to claim 30, ink powder wherein to be used is such, be that its profile almost is spherical, and the ratio between ink powder minor axis and the major axis (r2/r1) is in the scope of 0.5-1.0, ratio between its thickness and the minor axis (r3/r2) is in the scope of 0.7-1.0, and its relation satisfies: major axis r1 〉=minor axis r2 〉=thickness r3.
38, imaging device according to claim 30, wherein the two or wherein a kind of reaction obtain ink powder through cross-linking reaction and lengthening reaction in having the aqueous medium of resin particle by making the ink powder composition, and the ink powder composition comprises at least a polyester prepolymer, polyester, colorant and release agent with functional group of nitrogen atom.
39, a kind of lubricant applying device comprises:
Be contained in the lubricant in the lubricant applying device;
Lubricant is applied to the roller that applies that image-carrier promptly applies the surface; With
Disperse to be applied to the lubricant of image-carrier to form the level and smooth element of thin layer, wherein
Apply lubricant after being cleaned applying lip-deep adhesion, and the lubricant that applies is by further level and smooth.
40, according to the described lubricant applying device of claim 39, wherein level and smooth element is removably disposed in the lubricant applying device.
41, according to the described lubricant applying device of claim 39, wherein lubricant is removably disposed in the lubricant applying device.
42, according to the described lubricant applying device of claim 39, wherein image-carrier is a photoconductor.
43, according to the described lubricant applying device of claim 39, wherein image-carrier is a transferring member.
44, according to the described lubricant applying device of claim 39, wherein applying roller is the fiber brush, and level and smooth element is made by the elastic body with blade shapes.
45,, wherein apply roller and be formed with a plurality of films according to the described lubricant applying device of claim 39.
46, according to the described lubricant applying device of claim 39, wherein level and smooth element contacts in the hangover mode and applies the surface.
47, according to the described lubricant applying device of claim 39, wherein lubricant is a powder-type.
48, a kind of lubricant applying device comprises:
Be contained in the kollag in the lubricant applying device;
Apply roller, the described roller contact kollag that applies being attached to its surface and lubricant be applied to image-carrier as the lubricant of kollag composition;
Press element, described press element are pressed to kollag and are applied the contact of roller so that kollag and apply roller; With
Level and smooth element, described level and smooth element disperse to be applied to lubricant on the image-carrier to form thin layer, wherein
Kollag is arranged on downside along gravity direction with respect to applying roller,
Press element is arranged on downside along gravity direction with respect to kollag,
After applying lip-deep adhesion cleaning, apply lubricant and
The lubricant that applies is by further level and smooth.
49, a kind of lubricant applying device comprises:
Be contained in the kollag in the lubricant applying device;
Apply roller, the described roller contact kollag that applies being attached to its surface and lubricant be applied to image-carrier as the lubricant of kollag composition;
Press element, described press element are pressed to kollag and are applied the contact of roller so that kollag and apply roller; With
Level and smooth element, described level and smooth element disperse to be applied to lubricant on the image-carrier to form thin layer, wherein
Kollag is along moving perpendicular to the direction that applies the roller sense of rotation.
50, a kind of lubricant applying device comprises:
Be contained in the kollag in the lubricant applying device;
Apply roller, the described roller contact kollag that applies being attached to its surface and lubricant be applied to image-carrier as the lubricant of kollag composition;
Press element, described press element are pressed to kollag and are applied the sharp contact of roller so that solid lubrication and apply roller; With
Level and smooth element, described level and smooth element disperse to be applied to lubricant on the image-carrier to form thin layer, wherein
Apply roller along moving perpendicular to the direction that applies the roller sense of rotation.
51, a kind of lubricant applying device comprises:
Be contained in the lubricant in the lubricant applying device;
Lubricant is applied to the roller that applies of image-carrier; With
Level and smooth element, thus it is formed with the elastomeric marginal portion of sheet and is pressed towards the image carrier surface extruding with its hangover attitude and disperses to be applied to lubricant on it, wherein
Level and smooth element is 10 degree or more with respect to the contact angle of image-carrier.
52, a kind of lubricant applying device comprises:
Be contained in the lubricant in the lubricant applying device;
Lubricant is applied to the roller that applies of image-carrier;
Level and smooth element, thus its be formed with the elastomeric marginal portion of sheet be pressed towards the image carrier surface extruding with its hangover attitude and disperse to be applied on it lubricant and
Cleaning element, thus it is formed with the elastomeric marginal portion of sheet and is pressed towards image carrier surface from its surface removal foreign object, wherein with its relative attitude
Cleaning element, apply roller and level and smooth element along image-carrier direction of motion with a kind of from being disposed in order of beginning of upstream side and
Level and smooth element is 10 degree or more with respect to the contact angle of image-carrier.
53, a kind of lubricant applying device comprises:
Be contained in the lubricant in the lubricant applying device;
Lubricant is applied to the roller that applies of image-carrier;
Level and smooth element, thus its be formed with the elastomeric marginal portion of sheet be pressed towards the image carrier surface extruding with its hangover attitude and disperse to be applied on it lubricant and
Cleaning element, thus it is formed with the elastomeric marginal portion of sheet and is pressed towards image carrier surface from its surface removal foreign object, wherein with its relative attitude
Cleaning element, apply roller and level and smooth element along image-carrier direction of motion with a kind of from being disposed in order of beginning of upstream side and
The contact line pressure of level and smooth element is 0.01N/cm or more.
54, a kind of transfer device comprises:
Transferring member, it is an image-carrier; With
According to the described lubricant applying device of claim 39, described lubricant applying device is removably disposed in the transfer device.
55, a kind of process cartridge comprises:
Form the image-carrier of sub-image; With
Processing unit, described processing unit comprise and being selected from in the lower device at least one:
The charging device of uniform charging image carrier surface,
Ink powder is supplied to sub-image and makes the visible developing apparatus of sub-image,
The cleaning image carrier surface cleaning device and
Lubricant is applied to the lubricant applying device that applies the surface, wherein
Process cartridge integrated support image-carrier and processing unit, and can from imaging device disassemble and
Lubricant applying device, it is according to the described lubricant applying device of claim 39.
56, a kind of imaging device comprises:
Form the image-carrier of sub-image;
The charging device of uniform charging image carrier surface;
The image carrier surface of charging is exposed to light to write down the exposure device of sub-image thereon based on view data;
Ink powder is supplied to sub-image and make the visible developing apparatus of sub-image;
The cleaning device of cleaning image carrier surface;
The image that transfer device, described transfer device will be visualized as the ink powder image on the image carrier surface directly is transferred to recording medium or is transferred to recording medium after this image is transferred to the intermediate transfer element;
With the fixing device on the ink powder image photographic fixing recording medium; With
According to the described lubricant applying device of claim 39.
57, according to the described imaging device of claim 56, wherein image-carrier is photoconductor and is so-called serially connected, and a plurality of like this photoconductors align with serial arrangement.
58, according to the described imaging device of claim 56, wherein lubricant applying device is arranged on the cleaning device downstream along image-carrier direction of motion.
59, according to the described imaging device of claim 56, the lubricant that wherein is used for lubricant applying device is a powder-type, and the volume averaging particle size is 0.1 micron to 3.0 microns scope.
60, according to the described imaging device of claim 56, wherein
Lubricant is a fatty acid metal salts, and the metal of fatty acid metal salts is selected from zinc, iron, calcium, aluminium, lithium, magnesium, strontium, barium, cerium, titanium, zirconium, lead and manganese, and
The fatty acid of fatty acid metal salts is at least a fatty acid that is selected from lauric acid, stearic acid, palmitic acid, mystery acid (mystericacid) and oleic acid.
61, according to the described imaging device of claim 56, wherein the friction factor of image-carrier is set as 0.3 or lower.
62, according to the described imaging device of claim 56, ink powder wherein to be used is such, and promptly the volume averaging particle size is 10 microns or littler, and the ratio between volume averaging particle size and the quantity average particle size particle size, be dispersion degree, in the scope of 1.00-1.40.
63, according to the described imaging device of claim 56, ink powder wherein to be used has the average roundness of 0.93-1.00.
64, according to the described imaging device of claim 56, ink powder wherein to be used is such, the shape factor S F-1 of spherical degree that promptly represents the ink powder shape is in the scope of 100-180, and the shape factor S F-2 of the degree of irregularity of expression ink powder shape is in the scope of 100-180.
65, according to the described imaging device of claim 56, ink powder wherein to be used is such, be that its profile almost is spherical, and the ratio between ink powder minor axis and the major axis (r2/r1) is in the scope of 0.5-1.0, ratio between its thickness and the minor axis (r3/r2) is in the scope of 0.7-1.0, and its relation satisfies: major axis r1 〉=minor axis r2 〉=thickness r3.
66, according to the described imaging device of claim 56, the two or wherein a kind of reaction obtain ink powder wherein to be used through cross-linking reaction and lengthening reaction in having the aqueous medium of resin particle by making the ink powder composition, and the ink powder composition comprises at least a polyester prepolymer, polyester, colorant and release agent with functional group of nitrogen atom.
67, a kind of ink powder, wherein the volume averaging particle size is 10 microns or littler, and the ratio between volume averaging particle size and the quantity average particle size particle size, i.e. dispersion degree is in the scope of 1.00-1.40.
68, according to the described ink powder of claim 67, wherein the average roundness of ink powder is in the scope of 0.93-1.00.
69, according to the described ink powder of claim 67, the shape factor S F-1 of spherical degree that wherein represents the ink powder shape is in the scope of 100-180, and the shape factor S F-2 of the degree of irregularity of expression ink powder shape is in the scope of 100-180.
70, according to the described ink powder of claim 67, wherein the profile of ink powder almost is spherical, and the ratio between ink powder minor axis and the major axis (r2/r1) is in the scope of 0.5-1.0, ratio between its thickness and the minor axis (r3/r2) is in the scope of 0.7-1.0, and its relation satisfies: major axis r1 〉=minor axis r2 〉=thickness r3.
71, according to the described ink powder of claim 67, the two or wherein a kind of reaction obtain through cross-linking reaction and lengthening reaction in having the aqueous medium of resin particle by making the ink powder composition for it, and the ink powder composition comprises at least a polyester prepolymer, polyester, colorant and release agent with functional group of nitrogen atom.
Applications Claiming Priority (6)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP358884/2004 | 2004-12-10 | ||
| JP2004358884A JP2006163318A (en) | 2004-12-10 | 2004-12-10 | Image forming apparatus |
| JP012739/2005 | 2005-01-20 | ||
| JP033312/2005 | 2005-02-09 | ||
| JP047225/2005 | 2005-02-23 | ||
| JP198570/2005 | 2005-07-07 |
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| Publication Number | Publication Date |
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| CN1938652A true CN1938652A (en) | 2007-03-28 |
| CN100535794C CN100535794C (en) | 2009-09-02 |
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| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CNB2005800101887A Active CN100535794C (en) | 2004-12-10 | 2005-12-06 | Image forming apparatus, lubricant applying device, transfer device, process cartridge, and toner |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
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| JP (1) | JP2006163318A (en) |
| CN (1) | CN100535794C (en) |
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| CN100535794C (en) | 2009-09-02 |
| JP2006163318A (en) | 2006-06-22 |
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