JP2000035685A - Cylindrical light transmissive base substance for electrophotographic photoreceptor, electrophotographic photoreceptor and image forming method and device using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a light transmissive base substance for an electrophotographic photoreceptor capable of housing an exposure device excellent in optical uniformity, causing no image blurring, having high resolution and good durability inside, and to provide an electrophotographic photoreceptor and an image forming method and a device using the same where the deformation of the base substance is restrained to be extremely small and the image blurring or the like does not occur even in the case of performing heating for drying at the time of applying a photoreceptive layer and even in the case of consecutively forming an image for a long time. SOLUTION: This cylindrical light transmissive base substance for the electrophotographic photoreceptor is made of polymer resin, and set so that thermal deformation start temperature is >=100 deg.C, a double refraction value is <=40 nm and its dispersion is within 5 nm.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrophotographic photosensitive member used for forming an image in a copying machine, a printer or the like, a cylindrical translucent substrate for the electrophotographic photosensitive member, an image forming method using the same, and an image forming apparatus. It is about.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a substrate of an electrophotographic photosensitive member,
Metals such as aluminum, steel, copper, nickel,
Nonmetals such as paper and plastic are used, and at present, aluminum is mainly used as the base material in terms of dimensional stability as a cylindrical base material and easy grounding. However, aluminum has the disadvantages of high distribution costs, cutting and surface polishing costs, and poor workability.

On the other hand, in an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic method, a type in which light is exposed from the inner surface of a photosensitive body via a cylindrical light-transmitting substrate has attracted attention. This is because it is currently considered to be the most excellent configuration in order to obtain a high-quality color image at high speed and to meet the recent user needs of compactness in order to save office space.

However, in the case of exposing from the inner side of the photoreceptor, a light-transmissive photoreceptor base having a large diameter capable of accommodating the exposure apparatus therein is required. As a typical example of a translucent material, for example, when glass is used as the material of the base,
There are problems with its productivity, accuracy, lightness, cost, and impact resistance, and it seems difficult to put it to practical use.

[0005] Therefore, the applicant of the present invention first disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.
In Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 220567, a method for producing a light-transmitting and high-precision base using a polymer resin that is lightweight, has excellent impact resistance, and is low in cost has been proposed.

However, the resin used in the above-mentioned JP-A-Hei has a problem in heat resistance, and may be deformed due to heat applied by drying after coating the intermediate layer or the photosensitive layer, and the dimensional accuracy may be reduced. I understood. In particular, in the case of using the non-contact developing method, it is found that it is difficult to employ a resin-based substrate because the accuracy of the deflection and straightness of the substrate is required.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical system having good optical uniformity, no image blur, high resolution,
To provide a durable, light-transmitting substrate for an electrophotographic photosensitive member capable of housing an exposure apparatus therein,
Electrophotographic photoreceptor with minimal deformation of the substrate and no occurrence of image blurring even when heating during application of the photosensitive layer or continuous image formation for a long time, and image forming method and apparatus using the same Is to provide.

[0008]

The object of the present invention is attained by adopting one of the following constitutions.

[1] It is made of a polymer resin,
The heat deformation starting temperature is 100 ° C. or more and the birefringence value is 40
A cylindrical light-transmitting substrate for an electrophotographic photoreceptor, wherein the thickness is not more than 5 nm and the variation is within 5 nm.

[2] The cylindrical translucent substrate for an electrophotographic photosensitive member according to [1], which is produced by injection molding or extrusion molding.

[3] The cylindrical translucent substrate for an electrophotographic photosensitive member according to [1] or [2], which is surface-treated.

[4] In an electrophotographic photoreceptor having a photosensitive layer provided on a cylindrical light-transmitting substrate, the light-transmitting substrate has a thermal deformation initiation temperature of 100 ° C. or higher and a birefringence value of 40 nm.
An electrophotographic photoreceptor, wherein the variation in birefringence in the substrate is within 5 nm.

[5] The electrophotographic photoreceptor according to [4], which is used for internal exposure for exposing from inside the cylindrical translucent substrate.

[6] The surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member is uniformly charged,
In a method of forming a multicolor image by repeating the steps of image exposure, development, transfer, separation, fixing and cleaning, using the electrophotographic photoreceptor according to [4], exposing the image from the inner surface of the photoreceptor, An image forming method, wherein an image is formed by non-contact development.

[7] The image forming apparatus according to [4], wherein in the image forming apparatus for forming a multicolor image having an electrophotographic photoreceptor, uniform charging, image exposure, development, transfer, separation, fixing and cleaning mechanisms. An image forming apparatus using a photographic photoreceptor, exposing the image from the inner side of the photoreceptor, and forming an image by non-contact development.

As described above, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-2020067
In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. H11-264, a method is proposed in which a transparent and high-precision base is manufactured using a synthetic resin that is lightweight, has excellent impact resistance, and is low in cost.

As the resin, a methacrylic acid ester resin or the like is used. However, according to the study of the present inventors, when an organic photosensitive layer or the like is applied during the production of a photoreceptor, heat must be applied for drying, and the base itself is not used. Deforms slightly and reduces dimensional accuracy.
This causes image blurring and density unevenness during image formation. In particular, when a non-contact development method is used, the accuracy of the deflection and straightness of the substrate is required, but the requirements cannot be satisfied. did.

The thermal deformation starting temperature in the present invention is AS
In the TM standard (or JIS standard based on this),
It refers to the deflection temperature under load (HDT) when a load of 18.6 kgf / cm ² is applied. This is an industrial index based on physical heat resistance. As shown in FIG. 1, a load of 18.6 kgf / cm ² is applied to a test piece by a three-point load in a heating bath, and the temperature is set at 2 ° C./min. Up. When the temperature rises, the mechanical strength decreases, so the test piece gradually bends, but the temperature at which this displacement reaches 0.254 mm,
It is sometimes called heat deformation temperature or heat deformation temperature.

1 is a weight, 2 is a dial gauge, 3 is a load bar, 4 is a test piece, 5 is a metal frame, 6 is a thermometer, 7 is a stirrer, and 8 is an electrothermal oil tank. The unit of the entered numbers is mm.

In the examination of the present invention, if the thermal deformation starting temperature is 100 ° C. or more, the substrate is heated when the intermediate layer or the photosensitive layer is coated on the surface of the photoreceptor substrate, or the internal temperature rises during continuous printing for a long time. Also found no practical problems. The higher one is good for practical use as many times as possible, and the higher the better, the better. However, the thermal deformation onset temperature of many resins is 200 ° C or less, and consideration is given to matters other than the present invention such as easiness of molding of materials. Then, the higher the temperature, the better, and the temperature should not exceed 200 ° C. Compositionally, for example, polyolefin, polycarbonate, polyacrylate, non-quality polyamide, polysulfone, polyethersulfone, heat-resistant polymethylpentene, polynorbornene, cross-linked acrylic resin and the like can be mentioned.

In particular, in the case of a substrate for internal exposure, since the exposure light passes through the polymer resin of the substrate and undergoes image exposure, the optical uniformity of the substrate itself is important. As a result of intensive studies, the present inventors have found that it is necessary to have low birefringence and a small difference in birefringence depending on the location (position) in the substrate. If the birefringence value is larger than 40 nm, or if the difference depending on the place is larger than 5 nm, the optical uniformity is insufficient, and the exposure light fluctuates, scattering occurs on the image, blurring or the like occurs, and the resolution is reduced.

The birefringence value can be measured by an Abbe refractometer, a strain meter (for example, a precision strain meter SVP-30 manufactured by Toshiba Corporation) ellipsometer, or the like. Further, in order to obtain the magnitude of the variation depending on the location, the center and both ends of the image forming width of the cylindrical body for the photoreceptor are measured.

As described above, the polymer resin generally has problems in heat resistance and durability for the light-transmitting substrate of the present invention. However, these properties are improved by increasing the thermal deformation starting temperature. Then, the difference (variation) in the birefringence value inside the substrate, particularly the value depending on the location, often increases. The method of reducing the difference between the birefringence value and its location is not particularly limited, but in addition to the constituent monomers of the base resin, for example, polymerization conditions, polymerization time, molding pressure, molding temperature, annealing conditions And so on. Thereby, the objective can be sometimes achieved by reducing the residual stress due to the molecular orientation.

Incidentally, in the present invention, translucency means that 50% or more, preferably 80% or more of the image exposure light of the photosensitive member is transmitted.

As the method for producing the translucent polymer resin substrate used in the present invention, commonly used methods such as injection molding, extrusion molding, gas injection, and blow molding can be used. In addition, a method described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-234664 is used.

The surface of a substrate made from these materials usually requires fine processing due to fine scratches, large surface roughness, and nicks caused by operational mistakes. The surface processing includes cutting, buffing, sponge polishing, sand blasting, and the like, and one or a combination of these is used, but cutting and / or buffing is preferable. The finished surface roughness is preferably from 0.03 to 2.0 as an Rz value obtained by a measurement method according to JIS B 610.

Next, a photoreceptor using a light-transmitting cylindrical substrate will be described.

A typical example is an electrophotographic photosensitive member having a conductive layer and a photoconductor photosensitive layer provided on the surface of a cylindrical substrate. Conventionally, an electrophotographic photosensitive member has been used to provide a conductive layer and a photoconductor photosensitive layer. The method can be widely used.

That is, the light-transmitting conductive layer is formed by vapor deposition or sputtering of a metal or metal oxide such as aluminum or ITO (indium tin oxide), or by using ITO or alumina conductive fine particles and a resin. A typical example is the formation of a coating film of a conductive resin by a mixture.

When an intermediate layer is provided, a resin-based intermediate layer using a polyamide-based compound such as nylon, or a so-called ceramic-based intermediate layer using an organometallic compound and / or a silane coupling agent (also referred to as a curable intermediate layer). Say)
Is preferably used.

For the formation of the photosensitive layer, an inorganic photoconductor layer may be formed by vapor deposition or the like, but an organic photoconductor layer, particularly a function-separated type containing both a charge transport material and a charge generation material, It is desirable to form by applying an organic photoreceptor of a type in which are separately layered.

The charge generation layer (CGL) is formed by dispersing a charge generation material (CGM) in a binder resin as required. Examples of CGM include metal or metal-free phthalocyanine compounds, azo compounds such as bisazo compounds and trisazo compounds, squarium compounds, azurenium compounds, perylene compounds, indico compounds, quinacridone compounds, polycyclic quinone compounds, cyanine dyes, xanthene dyes, Examples include, but are not limited to, charge transfer complexes comprising poly-N-vinylcarbazole and trinitrofluorenone. These may be used as a mixture of two or more as necessary. However, in order to achieve the object of the present invention at the highest level, titanyl phthalocyanine (TiOPc), a kind of perylene compound, an imidazole perylene compound or a kind of metal phthalocyanine compound, is preferable.

As the binder resin usable for the charge generation layer, for example, polystyrene resin, polyethylene resin, polypropylene resin, polyacryl resin, polymethacryl resin, polyvinyl chloride resin, polyvinyl acetate resin, polyvinyl butyral resin, Epoxy resins, polyurethane resins, polyphenol resins, polyester resins, polyalkyd resins, polycarbonate resins, polysilicone resins, polymelamine resins, and copolymer resins containing two or more of the repeating units of these resins, for example, vinyl chloride-acetic acid Vinyl copolymer resin, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate-maleic anhydride copolymer resin, and high-molecular organic semiconductor such as poly-N-vinyl carbazole,
And the like, but are not limited thereto. Among the above, as a preferred binder when an imidazole perylene compound is used as CGM, a polyvinyl butyral resin is used. As a preferred binder when using TiOPc, a polysilicone resin and a polyvinyl butyral resin, or a mixture of both are used. No.

The charge transport layer (CTL) is composed of a charge transport material (CTM) alone or together with a binder resin. Examples of the CTM include carbazole derivatives, oxazole derivatives, oxadiazole derivatives, thiazole derivatives, thiadiazole derivatives, triazole derivatives, imidazole derivatives, imidazolone derivatives, imidazolidine derivatives, bisimidazolidine derivatives, styryl compounds, hydrazone compounds, pyrazoline derivatives, oxazolone. Derivatives, benzimidazole derivatives, quinazoline derivatives, benzofuran derivatives, acridine derivatives,
Phenazine derivatives, aminostilbene derivatives, triarylamine derivatives, phenylenediamine derivatives, stilbene derivatives, benzidine derivatives, poly-N-vinylcarbazole, poly-1-vinylpyrene, poly-9-vinylanthracene, and the like, but are not limited thereto. Not necessarily. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

As the binder resin usable for the charge transport layer, for example, a polycarbonate resin, a polyacrylate resin, a polyester resin, a polystyrene resin,
Examples thereof include, but are not limited to, styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer resin, polymethacrylate resin, and styrene-methacrylate copolymer resin.

Further, in order to reduce fatigue deterioration upon repeated use or to improve durability, each of the layers of the photoreceptor is provided with a conventionally known antioxidant, ultraviolet absorber, electron-accepting substance and surface. An environment-dependent reducing agent such as a modifier and a plasticizer can be added in an appropriate amount as needed.

In order to improve the durability, a non-photosensitive layer such as a protective layer may be provided in addition to the photosensitive layer, if necessary.

As the substrate, more preferable physical properties can be realized by mixing a polymerizable liquid material with a crosslinking agent, a conductivity-imparting agent, a colorant, and the like for the photoreceptor substrate. For example, the addition of a cross-linking agent improves heat resistance, solvent resistance, and strength, and the conductivity-imparting agent can prevent electrostatic contamination such as dust and replace the conductive layer. These are effective for a photoreceptor to which an external force or heat is applied during use or a solution is coated on a substrate.

Next, an embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described.
This will be described using the color image forming apparatus shown in FIG. FIG.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram of a color image forming apparatus showing an example of an image forming apparatus to which the electrophotographic photosensitive member manufactured using the above-described cylindrical substrate of the present invention is applied.

In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, non-contact development (the latent image formed on the photoreceptor surface and the developer layer on the developing sleeve do not contact each other in the development area) (Development method performed under conditions). In this case, it is necessary to accurately set the conditions so that the two do not come into contact with each other but do not separate too much, and the dimensional accuracy of the substrate of the photoreceptor is more strictly required.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a drum-shaped photoreceptor, and a functional separation comprising a light-transmitting conductive layer, a charge generation layer, and a charge transfer layer on the outer periphery of a cylindrical base formed of a polymer resin having high light transmission. On which a type organic photosensitive layer is formed. 110Y, 1
Reference numerals 10M, 110C, and 110K denote scorotron corona charging devices used in image forming processes for yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K), respectively. In order to hold a charge of a predetermined potential, a charging action is performed by corona discharge to give a uniform potential to the photoconductor 10.

12Y, 12M, 12C and 12K are
FL (phosphor emission), EL (electroluminescence), PL (plasma discharge), LED (light emitting diode), and lamp and light shutter function in which light emitting elements arranged in the axial direction of the photoconductor 10 are arranged in a line. (Magneto-optical effect optical shutter array) in which elements with
PLZT (Transmissive piezoelectric element shutter array), LCS
An image of each color read by a separate image reading device using an exposure optical system that is an image exposure device configured as a unit including an exposure element such as a (liquid crystal shutter) and a selfoc lens as an equal-magnification image forming element. The signals are sequentially taken out of the memory and the exposure optical systems 12Y, 12M, 1
2C and 12K are respectively input as electric signals. The above-mentioned exposure optical systems 12Y, 12M, 12C and 1
Each 2K is attached to a cylindrical holding member 20 and housed inside the substrate of the photoreceptor 10.

13Y, 13M, 13C and 13K are developing devices which use a non-contact developing method for accommodating yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C) and black (K) developers. The developing sleeves 1 rotate in the same direction while maintaining a predetermined gap with respect to the peripheral surface of the photoconductor 10.
30Y, 130M, 130C and 130K.

The developing units 13Y, 13M, 13C and 13K are provided with the above-described corona charging devices 110Y, 110Y.
M, 110C and 110K charging, exposure optical system 1
The electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor 10 formed by the image exposure by 2Y, 12M, 12C and 12K is reversely developed in a non-contact state by applying a developing bias voltage.

An original image is read out by an image reading device separate from the present device, and an image read by an image sensor or an image edited by a computer is once converted into image signals for respective colors of Y, M, C and K. Stored and stored in memory.

At the start of image recording, the photosensitive member 10 is rotated clockwise by the start of the photosensitive member drive motor, and at the same time, the photosensitive member 10 is rotated by the charging action of the corona charging device 110Y.
Is started.

After the photosensitive member 10 is applied with a potential, the exposure optical system 12Y starts exposure with an electric signal corresponding to a first color signal, that is, an image signal of yellow (Y), and the rotation is performed by rotating and scanning the drum. An electrostatic latent image corresponding to the yellow (Y) image of the original image is formed on the photosensitive layer on the surface.

The latent image is reversal-developed by the developing device 13Y in a state where the developer on the developing sleeve is not in contact with the developer, and a yellow (Y) toner image is formed in accordance with the rotation of the photosensitive drum 10.

Next, the photosensitive drum 10 is further provided with a corona charger 110M on the yellow (Y) toner image.
The exposure is performed by an electric signal corresponding to the second color signal of the exposure optical system 12M, that is, the image signal of magenta (M), and the non-contact reversal development is performed by the developing unit 13M. A magenta (M) toner image is sequentially superimposed on the yellow (Y) toner image.

The corona charging device 11 is formed by the same process.
0C, a cyan (C) toner image corresponding to the third color signal by the exposure optical system 12C and the developing device 13C, and a fourth color signal by the corona charging device 110K, the exposure optical system 12K and the developing device 13K. Corresponding black (K) toner images are sequentially superposed, and a color toner image is formed on the peripheral surface within one rotation of the photosensitive drum 10.

These exposure optical systems 12Y, 12M, 12C
Exposure to the organic photosensitive layer of the photoreceptor drum 10 at 12K and 12K is performed from the inside of the substrate through the above-mentioned translucent substrate. Therefore, the exposure of the image corresponding to the second, third, and fourth color signals is performed without any influence from the previously formed toner image, and the same exposure as the image corresponding to the first color signal is performed. It is possible to form an electrostatic latent image.
In order to stabilize the temperature inside the photosensitive drum and prevent the temperature from rising due to the heat generated by the exposure optical systems 12Y, 12M, 12C and 12K, a material having good heat conductivity is used for the holding member 20. When the temperature is high, measures such as radiating heat to the outside through a heat pipe can be taken to a level where no problem is caused. When the developing operation is performed by the developing units 13Y, 13M, 13C, and 13K, the developing sleeves 130Y, 130
A developing bias to which DC or AC is applied is applied to M, 130C, and 130K, and jumping development is performed by a one-component or two-component developer accommodated in the developing device to ground the translucent conductive layer. A non-contact reversal development is performed in which a DC bias having the same polarity as that of the toner is applied to the photoconductor 10 so that the toner adheres to the exposed portion.

Thus, the color toner image formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum is sent out from the paper feed cassette 15 by the feed roller 15a in the transfer unit 14a, and is sent to the timing roller 16 by the pair of feed rollers 15b and 15c. The sheet is conveyed, and is transferred onto a transfer sheet P, which is a transfer material fed in synchronization with the toner image on the photoconductor 10, by driving the timing roller 16.

The transfer paper P to which the toner image has been transferred is separated from the peripheral surface of the drum by the removal of the charge in the charge eliminator 14b, and thereafter, the transport driving roller 14c and the driven roller 14d.
The fixing device 17 is moved by the conveying belt 14e stretched between the fixing belts.
The fixing roller 17 in the fixing device 17
a, the toner is heated and pressed between the pressure rollers 17b to fuse and fix the toner on the transfer paper P, and then a pair of fixing exit rollers 17d
Is discharged from the fixing device 17 by the
The photosensitive drum 10 provided with the photosensitive layer on the cylindrical substrate of the present invention described above is conveyed by the discharge roller 8a and discharged onto the discharge tray 200 at the upper portion of the apparatus via the discharge roller 18. A clear and very good image was obtained.

On the other hand, the photosensitive member 10 from which the transfer paper has been separated is cleaned by a cleaning blade 19a in a cleaning device 19.
The surface of the photoreceptor 10 is rubbed to remove the residual toner and is cleaned, and the formation of the toner image of the original image is continued or temporarily stopped to start the formation of a new toner image of the original image. The waste toner scraped off by the cleaning blade 19a is removed by the toner conveying screw 19b.
It is discharged to a waste toner container (not shown).

The photoreceptor 10 has a relatively small drum diameter because the exposure optical system is housed in the photoreceptor 10.
The plurality of corona charging devices 110 described above are provided on the outer peripheral surface thereof.
Y, 110M, 110C and 110K, developing unit 13
Y, 13M, 13C and 13K can be provided, and the volume of the apparatus can be made compact by using a small-diameter drum having an outer diameter of 30 mm to 150 mm.

The substrate of the present invention is disclosed in JP-A-6-23063.
It is easily understood that the present invention is also applied to a system which does not require corona charging as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4 (1994) -208.

[0057]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to examples, but embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto.

Example 1 1. Preparation of cylindrical substrate Polycarbonate was heated at 330 ° C and injection pressure was 1
Under the conditions of 100 kg / cm ² and mold temperature of 120 ° C., the material is injected into the mold and has an outer diameter of 100 mm, an inner diameter of 96 mm, and a length of 8
A cylindrical substrate of 00 mm was obtained. The obtained substrate was 0.05
After performing annealing treatment at room temperature at a rate of ° C / min, the mold was taken out of the mold. The obtained substrate was subjected to edge cutting, and further buffing was performed to obtain an outer diameter of Rz 0.8 μm 10
A cylindrical substrate having a diameter of 0 mm, an inner diameter of 96 mm, and a length of 360 mm was obtained. Substrate No. Let it be 1.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 1 Comparative Example As a substrate of a photosensitive member, a cylinder temperature was set at 300.degree.
A substrate was produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the annealing rate was changed to 0.1 ° C./min. Rz was 0.8. This comparative example substrate was designated No. 1S.

Each of the above-mentioned cylindrical substrates was coated with a coating solution composition for a conductive layer as described below to a dry film thickness of 0.5 μm, and heat-treated at 80 ° C. for 30 minutes.

[0061] 2. Conductive layer coating solution composition Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd. conductive coating material X-101H 1000 g Toluene 1000 ml On the above substrate, the coating solution composition UCL-1 of the intermediate layer (UCL) is dried to a thickness of 0.5 μm as follows. Was applied.

[0062] 3. UCL-1 coating solution composition Copolymer nylon resin (CM-8000, manufactured by Toray Industries, Inc.) 3 g Methanol / n-butanol = 10/1 (vol ratio) 1000 ml Coating solution composition for CGL layer as described below on UCL coated above CGL-1 was applied to a dry film thickness of 0.25 μm.

[0063] 4. CGL-1 coating liquid composition Y-type titanyl phthalocyanine (CGM-1) 20 g Silicone resin (KR-5240 manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) 40 g 2-butanone 1000 ml (The above coating liquid composition is dispersed for 10 hours using a sand mill) A coating solution composition CTL-1 of a CTL layer as described below was applied to the applied CGL so as to have a dry film thickness of 25 μm, and was subjected to a heat treatment at 90 ° C. for 1 hour. 1 and Comparative Example Photosensitive Drum No. 1S was obtained.

[0065] 5. CTL-1 coating liquid composition CTM-1 80 g Polycarbonate (Z-200 manufactured by Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company) 120 g 1,2-dichloroethane 1000 ml

[0065]

Embedded image

Embodiment 2 1. Preparation of Cylindrical Substrate Modified PPO resin (composition, polyphenylene oxide trade name, nonyl) was prepared at a cylinder temperature of 310 ° C. and an injection pressure of 110.
0 kg / cm ² , mold temperature 30 ° C., outer diameter 10
A cylindrical substrate having a diameter of 0 mm, an inner diameter of 96 mm, and a length of 800 mm was obtained. The obtained substrate was annealed to room temperature at a rate of 0.05 ° C./min, and then removed from the mold.
The obtained substrate was subjected to edge cutting and cutting, followed by buffing to obtain a cylindrical substrate having an Rz of 0.5 μm, an outer diameter of 100 mm, an inner diameter of 96 mm, and a length of 360 mm. Substrate N
o. Let it be 2.

Comparative Example 2 Comparative Example As a substrate of a photosensitive member, a cylinder temperature was set at 300 ° C.
A substrate was produced in the same manner as in Example 2, except that the annealing rate was changed to 0.1 ° C./min. Rz is 0.6μ
m. This comparative example substrate was designated No. 2S.

Comparative Example 3 Polymethyl methacrylate was obtained under the conditions of a cylinder temperature of 200 ° C., an injection pressure of 1000 kg / cm ² and a mold temperature of 70 ° C. to obtain a cylindrical substrate having an outer diameter of 100 mm, an inner diameter of 96 mm, and a length of 800 mm. . The obtained substrate was annealed to room temperature at a rate of 0.1 ° C./min, and then removed from the mold. The obtained substrate is subjected to an edge cutting process and a cutting process, and is further subjected to a buffing to obtain an outer diameter of Rz 0.8 μm of 100 mm.
mm, a cylindrical substrate having a length of 360 mm was obtained. Substrate No.
3S.

A coating solution composition for a conductive layer as described below was applied to each of the above-mentioned cylindrical substrates so as to have a dry film thickness of 0.5 μm, and heat-treated at 80 ° C. for 30 minutes.

2. Conductive layer coating solution composition Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd. conductive coating material X-101H 1000 g Toluene 1000 ml The coating solution composition UCL-2 of the intermediate layer (UCL) on the above-mentioned substrate has a dry film thickness of 1.0 μm as follows. Was applied.

3. UCL-2 coating liquid composition Titanium chelate compound TC-750 (manufactured by Matsumoto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.) 200 g Silane coupling agent KBM-503 (manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) 130 g 2-propanol 1000 ml The coating liquid composition CGL-1 was applied to a dry film thickness of 0.25 μm.

[0072] 4. CGL-1 coating liquid composition Y-type titanyl phthalocyanine (CGM-1) 20 g Silicone resin (KR-5240 manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) 40 g 2-butanone 1000 ml (The above coating liquid composition is dispersed for 10 hours using a sand mill) A coating solution composition CTL-1 of a CTL layer as described below was applied to the applied CGL so as to have a dry film thickness of 25 μm, and was subjected to a heat treatment at 90 ° C. for 1 hour. 2. Comparative example photosensitive drum No. 2S and N
o. 3S was obtained. Table 1 shows the physical properties of the substrate.

[0073] 5. CTL-1 coating liquid composition CTM-1 80 g Polycarbonate (Z-200 manufactured by Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company) 120 g 1,2-dichloroethane 1000 ml Evaluation and results (1) Thermal deformation onset temperature (load deflection temperature HDT) It was measured by the method.

(2) Birefringence value The birefringence value was measured using an Abbe refractometer. The variation in the birefringence value was determined by measuring the center and both ends of the image forming width of the substrate described in the text.

[0075]

[Table 1]

(3) Electrophotographic Characteristics An actual photographing test was performed on an electrophotographic internal exposure type image forming apparatus having the structure shown in FIG. 1,
No. 1S, No. 2, No. 2S and No. 100,000 sheets of images were output with 3S attached, and the image quality, resolution, etc. after 100,000 prints were observed. The resolution was evaluated based on the number of fine lines that could be identified per mm. Five or more are practically used without any problem.

Table 2 shows the results.

[0078]

[Table 2]

According to the present invention, good images can be obtained without blurring of image characteristics, particularly blurring and sharpness.

[0080]

According to the present invention, there is provided a light-transmitting substrate for an electrophotographic photoreceptor which can house a durable exposure apparatus having high image uniformity, no image blur, high resolution and high durability. Electrophotographic photoreceptors that do not deform the substrate and do not cause image blurring, even when heating for drying during application of the photosensitive layer or performing image formation continuously for a long period of time, can be provided. And an image forming method and apparatus using the same.

[Brief description of the drawings]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front view (a) and a side view (b) for explaining a device for measuring a thermal deformation starting temperature according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 10 photoconductor (photoconductor drum) 12Y, 12M, 12C, 12K yellow, magenta, cyan, black exposure optical system (exposure device) 13Y, 13M, 13C, 13K yellow, magenta, cyan, black developing device 110Y, 110M , 110C, 110K yellow,
Magenta, cyan, and black corona charging device 15 Paper cassette 16 Timing roller 17 Fixing device 19 Cleaning device P Transfer paper

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2H035 CA07 CB02 2H068 AA21 AA52 AA54 AA58 BB25 BB40 EA04 EA07 FB11 FC06 FC08 2H071 DA02 EA18

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An electrophotographic photoreceptor made of a polymer resin, having a heat deformation initiation temperature of 100 ° C. or more, a birefringence value of 40 nm or less, and a variation of 5 nm or less. Cylindrical translucent substrate. 2. The cylindrical translucent substrate for an electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 1, wherein the substrate is formed by injection molding or extrusion molding. 3. The cylindrical translucent substrate for an electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 1, wherein the surface is processed. 4. An electrophotographic photoreceptor comprising a photosensitive layer provided on a cylindrical translucent substrate, wherein the translucent substrate has a thermal deformation initiation temperature of 100 ° C. or more, a birefringence value of 40 nm or less, and An electrophotographic photoreceptor, wherein the variation in the birefringence value in the substrate is within 5 nm. 5. The electrophotographic photoreceptor according to claim 4, wherein the photoreceptor is used for internal exposure for exposing from inside the cylindrical translucent substrate. 6. The method according to claim 4, wherein a surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member is uniformly charged, and a process of image exposure, development, transfer, separation, fixing and cleaning is repeated to form a multicolor image. An image forming method comprising: using a photoreceptor, exposing an image from the inner side of the photoreceptor, and forming an image by non-contact development. 7. An electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said electrophotographic photoreceptor has a uniform charging, image exposing, developing, transferring, separating, fixing and cleaning mechanism. An image forming apparatus using a photoreceptor, exposing the image from the inner side of the photoreceptor, and forming an image by non-contact development.