JP2000039728A - Electrically conductive supporting body for electrophographic photoreceptor and manufacture of electrophotographic photoreceptor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an electrophotographic photoreceptor constituted so that a clear image can be obtained by preventing an image defect caused by the particulates of vapor-deposited metal from occurring by distinctly forming the side edge of a vapor-deposited metallic layer in a straight line and to obtain the manufacturing method of an electrically conductive supporting body for this electrophotographic photoreceptor. SOLUTION: In this manufacturing method of the conductive supporting body for an electrophotographic photoreceptor by forming the metallic layer by vapor-depositing metal on a flexible synthetic resin film 2, a masking plate 20 is disposed in front of the film 2. Besides, the metal is vapor-deposited while regulating vapor-deposited width so that a non-vapor-deposited part being >=1 mm is formed at least one side of the film 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a conductive support for an electrophotographic photoreceptor, a method for producing an electrophotographic photoreceptor using the same, and more particularly, to an electrophotographic photoreceptor capable of obtaining a clear image without image defects. The present invention relates to a method for producing a conductive support therefor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, electrophotographic image forming methods have been widely used in copiers, printers and the like, since high quality images can be obtained immediately. As the core photoreceptor, an endless belt-shaped electrophotographic photoreceptor is widely used because it has a flexible property and a high degree of freedom in arrangement in an apparatus. As shown in FIG. 1, an endless belt-shaped photoconductor 1 has a metal deposition layer 3 laminated on a synthetic resin film 2 and a photoconductor layer 5 such as a charge generation layer and a charge transport layer formed thereon. 6 is cut into a predetermined size, and both ends thereof are fused using an ultrasonic fusing machine or the like, and used as an image forming mechanism as shown in FIG.

[0003] 21 is a charger, 22 is an optical system for exposure, 23
Is a developing device, 24 is a cleaner, 25 is a transfer charger, 2
Reference numeral 6 denotes a transfer sheet. Thus, the electrophotographic photoreceptor 1
As the conductive support 4 for forming the substrate, a material obtained by vapor-depositing a metal such as aluminum on the entire surface of the synthetic resin film 2 is used. However, as a result of a detailed study performed by the present inventors, it was found that when a conductive support having a metal layer formed on the entire surface is used, minute image defects, particularly image defects that become black spots when subjected to reversal development, are likely to occur. did.

[0004] As a result of further study of the cause, it has been clarified that minute particles of the deposited metal adhere to the portion where the photosensitive layer is to be formed. The reason why the fine particles of the vapor-deposited metal are often adhered when vapor-deposited on the entire surface of the synthetic resin film is considered as follows.

[0005] When metal deposition is performed on the entire surface of the synthetic resin film, the metal for vapor deposition forms a vapor deposition layer not only on the synthetic resin film surface but also on the surface of the cooling can that backs up the synthetic resin film. When the synthetic resin film is peeled off from the cooling can in a state where the metal vapor deposition layer is formed over the surface of the synthetic resin film and the surface of the cooling can, the metal vapor deposition layer on the side edge of the synthetic resin film has a linear edge. Small projections are generated, and these small projections are cut off by a feed roll or the like and generate dust,
It is considered that the vapor-deposited film formed on the surface of the cooling can rubs against the synthetic resin film, and as a result, fine particles are generated and adhere to the photosensitive member.

When the fine particles of the deposited metal adhere, it is considered difficult to remove the fine particles due to static electricity of the synthetic resin film.
In recent years, it has become necessary to provide a non-evaporated portion in a product form. For example, when a sheet-shaped photoconductor is used by winding it around a conductive drum, in order to prevent leakage from the end surface,
A wide non-deposited portion is formed on one side, but in this case also, the side edges of the metal deposited layer need to be formed in a straight line and sharply.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, the side edges of the metallized layer are defined in a straight line and clearly, thereby preventing image defects due to fine particles of the metallized metal and thereby obtaining a clear image. An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing an electrophotographic photosensitive member and a conductive support therefor.

[0008]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made as a result of intensive studies to achieve the above object, and has been developed in consideration of a conductive material obtained by depositing a metal on a flexible synthetic resin film to form a metal layer. The method of manufacturing a support is characterized in that a masking plate is disposed on the front surface of the synthetic resin film, and metal vapor deposition is performed while regulating a vapor deposition width so as to form a non-deposited portion of 1 mm or more on at least one side of the synthetic resin film. A method for producing a conductive support for an electrophotographic photoreceptor, and a method for producing an electrophotographic photoreceptor, comprising forming a photosensitive layer on the conductive support obtained as described above. .

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An electrophotographic photoreceptor 1 of the present invention comprises a photoreceptor sheet 6 in which a photoreceptor layer 5 is formed on a conductive support 4 in which a metal deposition layer 3 is laminated on a synthetic resin film 2. It is used after being cut to a predetermined size, and is usually coated on a core body or joined at both ends to form an endless belt as shown in FIG. In the present invention, a film and a sheet are used as synonyms, and identification based on a difference in film thickness is not performed.

Examples of the material of the synthetic resin film 2 include linear polyester resins such as polyethylene terephthalate and polybutylene terephthalate; polyolefin resins such as polyethylene and polypropylene; and polyvinyl chloride resins. In view of the above, a linear polyester resin, in particular, polyethylene terephthalate is preferred. The synthetic resin film 2 is usually used after being biaxially stretched. The stretching method is not particularly limited, and may be a sequential two-stage stretching method in which the film is stretched horizontally after the longitudinal stretching, or a simultaneous biaxial stretching method in which the film is vertically and horizontally stretched simultaneously. The thickness of the synthetic resin film 2 is usually 50 to 150.
It is about μm.

The metal of the metal deposition layer 3 constituting the conductive support includes copper, nickel, zinc, chromium, tin, and the like.
Gold, aluminum and the like can be mentioned, and among them, aluminum is preferable. The thickness of the metal deposition layer 3 is usually
It is about 400-1000 °. There is no particular limitation on the method of metal vapor deposition on the synthetic resin film 2, and a known vapor deposition method such as an electrothermal vapor deposition method, an ion beam vapor deposition method, an ion plate method, or a sputtering method can be used. One example, Figure 2 shows a vacuum evaporation apparatus, a vacuum vapor deposition apparatus 10 is disposed in a vacuum chamber (not shown), 10 ^-1 to 10
Place under a vacuum of about ^-5 torr. The synthetic resin film 2 is taken up by a delivery roll 11, sent from the delivery roll 11 to a cooling can 12, metal-deposited, and taken up by a take-up roll 13.

The cooling can 12 functions as a backup roll for positioning the synthetic resin film 2 at a fixed position when metal is deposited on the synthetic resin film 2 and as a cooling device for the synthetic resin film. Reference numerals 14 and 15 are guide rolls for the synthetic resin film 2. A metal 16 for vapor deposition is provided on the front side of the cooling can 12, in the figure, below.
Is arranged. The metal 16 receives energy and evaporates. The method of applying energy is not particularly limited, and electric resistance heating, high-frequency heating, electron beam irradiation, laser beam irradiation, or the like can be used.

In the present invention, the metal 16 for vapor deposition and the synthetic resin film 2 attached to the peripheral surface of the cooling can 12 are used.
The masking plate 20 is disposed between the two. The masking plate 20 has an opening 21 through which the vapor-deposited metal passes in the center, and has side masking portions 22a, 2a, 2b, 2c that regulate the vapor-deposition width at positions corresponding to both side edges of the synthetic resin film 2.
2b is formed. The masking plate 20 regulates the metal deposition width. The width of the metal deposition layer 3 is smaller than the width of the synthetic resin film 2, and a non-deposition portion 2 a is formed on at least one side of the synthetic resin film 2. You.

The masking plate 20 is a cooling can 12
Within 20 mm from the bottom of the
m, particularly preferably in the range of 0.5 to 10 mm.
The width of the non-evaporated portion 2a formed on the synthetic resin film 2 is 1
mm or more, preferably 5 mm or more, particularly preferably 5 to 5 mm.
The range is 30 mm. When used as a roller wound around a drum, a non-deposited film of 1 to 200 mm, preferably 30 to 80 mm, is formed on one side of the synthetic resin film 2 in order to correspond to a photoreceptor of a type that needs to prevent leakage at an end portion. A part is formed.

FIG. 3 (A) shows a non-evaporated portion 2a formed on both sides, and FIG. 3 (B) shows a method corresponding to a case where a non-evaporated portion is required as a product form of an electrophotographic photoreceptor. A wide non-deposited portion 2b is formed, and the other side edge is formed by vapor deposition up to the end of the synthetic resin film 2 surface. However, it is desirable to form the non-deposited portions 2a on both side edges for the purpose of the present invention, and FIG. 3C shows the method. FIG.
(C) shows a case where a non-deposited portion 2b having a large width is formed on one side of the synthetic resin film 2 and a non-deposited portion 2a having a small width is formed on the other side. The conductive support 4 having the same structure as that of FIG. 3B can be formed.

On the conductive support 4 thus obtained, a photosensitive layer 5 is formed according to a conventional method.
A known barrier layer, which is generally used, can be provided between the photoconductor layer 5 and the photoconductor layer 5. As the barrier layer, for example, polyvinyl alcohol, casein, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyacrylic acid, celluloses, gelatin,
An organic layer of starch, polyurethane, polyimide, polyamide or the like is used, and if necessary, inorganic particles such as titanium oxide or aluminum oxide may be added.

The photoreceptor layer 5 may be a single layer containing a charge generating substance and a charge transporting substance, or may be a function separating type in which a charge generating layer and a charge transporting layer are laminated. Describing the function-separated type photoreceptor, as the charge generation material used in the charge generation layer, any of known charge generation materials can be used, and phthalocyanine, azo dye, quinacridone,
Polycyclic quinone, pyrylium salt, thiapyrylium salt, indigo, thioindigo, anthantrone, pyranthrone,
Examples include various organic pigments such as cyanine, dyes, and the like. Among them, metals such as metal-free phthalocyanine, copper indium chloride, gallium chloride, tin, oxytitanium, zinc, and vanadium, oxides thereof, and phthalocyanines to which a chloride is coordinated are preferable.

As the binder for the charge generating layer, resins such as polyacetal such as polyvinyl butyral, polyvinyl acetate, and phenoxy resin can be used. The thickness of the charge generation layer is usually 0.1 μm to 1 μm, preferably 0.15 μm to 0.6 μm. The content of the charge generating substance used here is in the range of 20 to 300 parts by weight, preferably 50 to 200 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of the binder resin.

As the charge transporting material in the charge transporting layer, various low molecular weight compounds such as pyrazoline derivatives, oxazole derivatives, hydrazone derivatives, stilbene derivatives, and arylamines can be used. A binder resin is blended with these charge transport materials. Preferred binder resins include, for example, polymethyl methacrylate, polystyrene, vinyl polymers such as polyvinyl chloride, and copolymers thereof, polycarbonate, polyester, polysulfone, polyether, polyketone, phenoxy, epoxy, silicone resin, and the like. These partially crosslinked cured products are also used.

Further, the charge transport layer may contain various additives such as an antioxidant and a sensitizer. The thickness of the charge transport layer is 10 to 40 μm, preferably 10 to 30 μm. The photoreceptor sheet 6 thus obtained is usually in the form of a sheet cut to a predetermined size, or the end portions 6a and 6b are joined to form an endless belt.
Alternatively, it is used as a roller in which a predetermined length is wound around a core material. When joining both ends, there is no particular limitation on the joining method, and adhesion by an adhesive, heat fusion by a heat bar, or the like can be used, but ultrasonic fusion is preferable.

[0021]

According to the present invention, since the metal deposition is performed while the masking plate is disposed and the deposition width is regulated, the side edges of the metal deposition film are formed in a straight line and clear, and no small projections are generated. Therefore, no dust is generated due to the cutting of the small projections, and since deposition on the cooling can is prevented, no dust is generated due to rubbing with the synthetic resin film. Therefore, a uniform photoreceptor layer can be formed and clear An electrophotographic photoreceptor capable of obtaining an image can be manufactured.

[0022]

EXAMPLES Hereinafter, the present invention will be described more specifically with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited to the following examples unless it exceeds the gist of the invention. Example 1 Using a biaxially stretched polyethylene terephthalate resin film (thickness: 75 μm, width: 570 mm), a masking plate (opening length: 550 mm, synthetic resin) so that a non-evaporated portion of 10 mm was formed on both sides by a winding evaporator. A distance of 3 mm from the film was provided, and the aluminum in the crucible was heated to 1300 ° C. by high-frequency induction heating at 1 × 10 ⁻⁴ torr, and aluminum was deposited at a rate of 100 m / min.
The aluminum film thickness was 720 °. The coating liquid for a charge generation layer and the coating liquid for a charge transport layer shown below are sequentially applied to the aluminum-deposited surface of the obtained conductive support, and
After drying at 25 ° C., a charge generating layer having a thickness of 0.5 μm and a charge transporting layer having a thickness of 18 μm were formed to prepare a sheet-shaped electrophotographic photosensitive member.

The coating liquid for the charge generating layer has a maximum diffraction peak at 27.3 ° at a Bragg angle (2θ ± 0.2 °) of X-ray diffraction spectrum at 7.4 ° and 24.2 °. Using a crystalline oxytitanium phthalocyanine having a diffraction peak, 10 parts by weight of the oxytitanium phthalocyanine was added to 200 parts by weight of 4-methoxy-4-methyl-2-pentanone, and the dispersion was obtained by pulverizing and dispersing with a sand grind mill. 100 parts by weight of a 5% by weight dimethoxyethane solution of a polyvinyl butyral resin (“# 6000C”, manufactured by Denka) and 100 parts by weight of a 5% by weight dimethoxyethane solution of a phenoxy resin (“PHKK”, manufactured by Union Carbide) A coating solution having a solid content concentration of 4% by weight in addition to the above mixed solution.

A hydrazone compound (A) or (B) having the following structure was used as a charge transport material for a coating solution for a charge transport layer .

Embedded image

A coating prepared by dissolving 56 parts by weight of the compound (A), 14 parts by weight of (B), and 100 parts by weight of a polycarbonate resin ("NOVAREX 7030A" manufactured by Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation) in 1,000 parts by weight of 1,4-dioxane. liquid.

After the sheet-like photoreceptor thus obtained is cut, a meandering prevention rib is attached, and a ground layer is formed, the both ends are fused together to form an endless belt-like photoreceptor having a circumference of 696 mm and a width of 245 mm. Created body. Using a commercially available full-color printer, a solid white image was copied. When a test was conducted on 30 photoconductors, no image defect was caused by the photoconductors.

Comparative Example 1 An endless belt-like photosensitive member was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1, except that metal deposition was performed on the front surface of the synthetic resin film without using a masking plate. When a test was conducted on 30 photoconductors, image defects (spots) occurred on 7 photoconductors,
When the photoreceptors were observed with an electron microscope, it was found that fine particles of aluminum were mixed in the photoreceptor layers.

Example 2 Using a biaxially stretched polyethylene terephthalate resin film (thickness: 75 μm, width: 650 mm), a masking plate was arranged so that a non-evaporated portion having a width of 60 mm was formed on one side by a winding evaporator. Then, aluminum was deposited under the same conditions as in Example 1. The aluminum film thickness was 720 °.
On the aluminum-evaporated surface of the obtained conductive support, the same charge generation layer coating solution as in the example was applied, and dried at 125 ° C. to form a charge generation layer having a thickness of 0.5 μm. A charge transport layer having a thickness of 18 μm was formed on the side where the non-evaporated portion was not formed, leaving a width of 60 mm, to prepare a sheet-shaped electrophotographic photosensitive member.

After the both sides of the thus obtained sheet-shaped photoreceptor are cut off by 20 mm to give a size of 410 × 610 mm, the portion of the charge generation layer where the charge transport layer is not applied is peeled off to form the ground layer and the backside. A paper was pasted as a cushion material on each side, and both end portions were joined to form an endless belt-shaped photoconductor. The image was copied on a commercially available electrophotographic light printing machine. Due to the formation of the non-evaporated portion, there was no exposure by aluminum at the mounting portion at the end of the drum, and a clear image was obtained. In addition, the number of steps for peeling the aluminum layer was reduced, and the production efficiency was dramatically improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial longitudinal sectional view showing an endless belt-shaped electrophotographic photosensitive member.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing one example of a metal vapor deposition method of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an example of metal deposition.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing an example of use of an endless belt-shaped electrophotographic photosensitive member.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1. 1. Electrophotographic photoreceptor 2. Synthetic resin film Metal deposition layer 4. Conductive support 5. Photoconductor layer 6. Photoreceptor sheet 10. Vacuum evaporation device 11. Delivery roll 12. Cooling can 13. Winding rolls 14, 15. Guide roll 20. Masking plate 21. Openings 22a, 22b. Side masking section

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A method of manufacturing a conductive support, comprising forming a metal layer by depositing a metal on a flexible synthetic resin film, wherein a masking plate is disposed on a front surface of the synthetic resin film to form at least the synthetic resin film. A method for producing a conductive support for an electrophotographic photoreceptor, wherein metal deposition is performed while regulating a deposition width so as to form a non-deposited portion of 1 mm or more on one side. 2. The method for producing a conductive support for electrophotography according to claim 1, wherein the metal deposition is performed while regulating the deposition width so as to form a non-deposited portion of 1 mm or more on both sides of the synthetic resin film. 3. The method for producing a conductive support for electrophotography according to claim 1, wherein the masking plate is disposed within 20 mm of the front surface of the synthetic resin film. 4. The method for producing a conductive support for electrophotography according to claim 1, wherein the metal to be deposited is aluminum. 5. A method for producing an electrophotographic photosensitive member, comprising forming a photosensitive layer on a conductive support obtained by the method according to claim 1. 6. The method for producing an electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 5, wherein an electrophotographic photosensitive member on which reversal development is performed is obtained.