JP2000206798A - Transporting transfer medium and its production, and image forming device using then - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a transporting transfer medium which is capable of effectively averting a cleaning defect and blade peeling, without impairing productivity and a process for producing the same as well as an image forming device using the same. SOLUTION: This transporting transfer medium 2 transfers and holds the toner image T formed on an transporting transfer medium 2 directly or via a transfer material 3. The neighborhood of the surface existing on at least the side carrying the image of the transporting transfer medium 2 is formed of a high-polymer composition into which fillers are incorporated. The surface existing on at least the side carrying the image of the transporting transfer medium 2 is interspersed with projections 4 by the fillers. The production of the transporting transfer medium 2 is executed by adding beforehand the fillers regulated in particle diameter and dispersion at a prescribed amount to a binder resin as the whole of at least the transporting transfer medium or the layer near its surface. Further, the image forming device is constituted by using the transporting transfer medium 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a transfer transfer member for transferring and holding a toner image formed on an image bearing member such as a photoreceptor or a dielectric directly or via a transfer material, a method of manufacturing the same, and a method for using the same. To image forming apparatuses such as copying machines and printers.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an example of a conventional image forming apparatus, for example, an intermediate transfer type image forming apparatus employing an electrophotographic method, an image forming apparatus comprising a photoconductive photosensitive member made of an inorganic or organic material is used. After forming a uniform charge, forming an electrostatic latent image with a laser beam or the like that modulates an image signal, and then developing the electrostatic latent image with a charged toner to obtain a visualized toner image, and then, There is already known a method in which a toner image is primary-transferred to an intermediate transfer body, and further, a required reproduced image is obtained by secondary-transferring the toner image on the intermediate transfer body to a transfer material such as paper (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) no. 62-206567
No.).

In this type of intermediate transfer type image forming apparatus, there is toner remaining without being transferred on the intermediate transfer body after the secondary transfer. A cleaning step for removing residual toner on the surface of the intermediate transfer member is required. In this cleaning step, a blade cleaning method using a cleaning blade usually made of polyurethane or the like is often used, and the cleaning blade is attached at an acute angle to the rotation direction of the intermediate transfer member in order to improve the cleaning performance.

It is known that when an intermediate transfer member cleaning system as described above is employed, the performance of the system largely depends on the surface shape of the intermediate transfer member. Specifically, in order to surely remove the residual toner on the intermediate transfer member, as shown in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-77879, the surface of the intermediate transfer member must have a certain level of smoothness or more. Is done. This is because if the irregularities on the surface of the intermediate transfer member are too large, the cleaning blade cannot follow the irregularities, and the residual toner in the concave portions cannot be sufficiently cleaned.

On the other hand, as shown in Japanese Patent Publication No. 3-77514 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 10-39647, the surface of the intermediate transfer member is required to have a certain level of roughness or more. This is because if the surface of the intermediate transfer member is too smooth, problems such as fusion of the toner and a decrease in transfer efficiency occur, and at the same time,
This is because the coefficient of friction between the intermediate transfer member and another smooth member in contact with the intermediate transfer member increases. In particular, when the coefficient of friction with the blade for cleaning the intermediate transfer member increases, the blade attached at an acute angle is pulled in the opposite direction by the intermediate transfer member, causing a phenomenon called blade turning.

Therefore, in order for the above-mentioned intermediate transfer member cleaning system to operate normally, the surface of the intermediate transfer member is smooth to such an extent that the cleaning is surely performed, and the coefficient of friction is kept below a certain level. It is required that the surface is rough enough to suppress it.

[0007]

However, it is extremely difficult to simultaneously satisfy the requirements of both smoothness and roughness at the same time with any of the surface shapes of the above-mentioned prior arts, resulting in poor cleaning or blade turning. There are concerns. Even if a blade cleaning type cleaner is attached to the transfer material transporter, floating toner adheres to the transfer material transporter, or the toner image is directly transferred onto the transfer material transporter when the transfer material jams. The same technical problem as that of the intermediate transfer body occurs in the transfer material transport body.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned technical problems, and a transport transfer member capable of effectively avoiding poor cleaning and blade turning without impairing the productivity, and a method of manufacturing the same. A method and an image forming apparatus using the same are provided.

[0009]

That is, according to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, a toner image T formed on an image carrier 1 is provided.
Is transferred and held directly or via a transfer material 3, and at least the surface of the surface of the transfer transfer body 2 located on the image-bearing side is coated with a polymer composition containing a filler. And the projections 4 made of filler are scattered on at least the surface of the transfer member 2 which is located on the side carrying the image.

In such technical means, as the image carrier 1, any material capable of carrying a toner image T formed by an electrophotographic system, an electrostatic recording system, or the like can be used, for example, a photoconductor, a dielectric, or the like. It can be selected appropriately. Regarding the mode of the image carrier 1, regardless of the drum shape or the belt shape,
The number of the image carriers 1 may be singular or plural. Further, the transfer member 2 may be an intermediate transfer member that temporarily transfers and holds the toner image T formed on the image carrier 1 before transferring it to the transfer material 3, or may be a transfer material. 3
The transfer material may be a transfer material carrier that carries and conveys the toner image T formed on the image carrier 1 onto the transfer material 3 (indicated by a virtual line in FIG. 1). The form of the transfer member 2 may be a drum or a belt.

Further, as a configuration of the transfer member 2, for example, in the case of a belt-like form, the entire transfer member 2 is made of a polymer composition having a substantially uniform composition, and has a single-layer endless structure as a whole. It may be a belt-shaped formed body, or a multi-layer endless belt-shaped formed as a whole a polymer composition having a substantially uniform composition at least in the vicinity of the image-bearing surface of the transfer transfer body 2. It may be a body.
In the case where the transfer transfer member 2 is in a drum-like mode, at least the vicinity of the surface carrying the image on the drum-like substrate may be configured to be a polymer composition having a substantially uniform composition. .

Further, in the embodiment in which the transport transfer member 2 is an intermediate transfer member, the protrusions 4 made of the filler are formed by a filler whose particle diameter and dispersion are specified in advance. The specific conditions are as follows.
Is preferably formed of a filler having a dispersed particle diameter of not less than the diameter of the cleaning aid and not more than the average particle diameter of the toner. The “dispersion particle size” here means that after the transfer transfer body 2 is formed, the SEM (Scanning Electron Micros
cope) or TEM (Transmission Electron Microscop)
e) is the diameter of the filler mass measured by e.g.
If the filler is dispersed as primary particles, the dispersed particle diameter is equal to the primary particle diameter, and if the fillers or the filler and the binder resin are dispersed in a state of forming secondary particles, the dispersed particle diameter is equal to the secondary particle diameter. Is the secondary particle size.

The projections 4 formed by the filler are formed so as to have a surface coverage of 0.5% or more and less than 13%, which is defined as a projected area of a portion projecting from the average surface of the transfer body 2. Is preferred. The term “surface coverage of the transfer body 2” as used herein means the ratio of the projections (convex portions) 4 formed on the surface of the transfer body 2 by the filler to the entire surface, and the average surface of the transfer body 2 This is the horizontal projection area ratio of the more protruding part.

On the other hand, even in the embodiment in which the transfer member 2 is a transfer material transfer member, the protrusions 4 formed by the filler are formed by the filler whose particle diameter and dispersion are specified in advance. However, as a specific condition, unlike the case of the intermediate transfer member, it is preferable that the protrusions 4 made of the filler be formed of a filler having a dispersed particle diameter equal to or larger than the diameter of the cleaning aid.

The method of manufacturing the transfer transfer member 2 is as follows.
For example, in the case of a belt-shaped embodiment, in the embodiment in which the transport transfer body 2 is a single layer, a binder resin (constituting the entirety of the transport transfer body 2) to which a filler having a predetermined particle diameter and dispersion is added is endless. It may be formed into a belt shape, or may be formed into an endless belt shape by a joining unit after being formed into a film shape. In an embodiment in which the transfer transfer body 2 has a plurality of layers, at least the transfer transfer body 2 As a layer that forms a surface located on the side that carries an image, a binder resin to which a filler having a predetermined particle diameter and dispersion is added is formed on a base material shaped like an endless belt, or a film. After being formed on the base material formed into a shape, it may be processed into an endless belt shape by a joining means. When the transfer member 2 is in the form of a drum, the particle size and dispersion are defined in advance as a layer that forms at least a surface of the transfer member 2 on the drum-supporting side on the drum-shaped substrate. What is necessary is just to apply the binder resin to which the added filler was added.

Further, as an image forming apparatus using a transfer member 2 composed of an intermediate transfer member, as shown in FIG. 1, an image carrier 1 on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, and an image carrier 1 on the image carrier 1 A latent image forming device 5 for forming an electrostatic latent image on the image carrier 1, a developing device 6 for visualizing the electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier 1 as a toner image T with toner, Conveyance transfer body 2 composed of an intermediate transfer body that is disposed to face and temporarily transfers and holds the toner image formed on image carrier 1 before transferring it to transfer material 3
A primary transfer device 7 for transferring the toner image T on the image carrier 1 to the transfer member 2, a secondary transfer device 8 for transferring the toner image T on the transfer member 2 to the transfer material 3, and transfer transfer And a cleaner 9 for removing residual toner on the transfer member 2 with a blade 9a in contact with the member 2. In the image forming apparatus, at least the surface of the transfer member 2 that is located on the image bearing side The vicinity thereof is formed of a polymer composition containing a filler, and projections 4 of the filler are scattered on at least the surface of the transfer transfer member 2 which is located on the side carrying the image.

Further, a transfer transfer member 2 comprising a transfer material transfer member
As shown in FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus using an image carrier 1 on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, a latent image forming apparatus 5 for forming an electrostatic latent image on the image carrier 1, A developing device 6 that visualizes the electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier 1 with toner as a toner image T, and a toner that is disposed to face the image carrier 1 and is formed on the image carrier 1 A transfer transfer member 2 composed of a transfer material transfer member for transferring and holding the image T on a transfer material 3 (indicated by a virtual line in FIG. 1), and a transfer transfer member 2 transferring the toner image T on the image carrier 1
An image forming apparatus including a transfer device (not shown) for transferring the image onto the transfer material 3 above, and a cleaner 9 for removing residual toner on the transfer member 2 by a blade 9a arranged in contact with the transfer member 2 In the above, at least the surface of the surface of the transfer member 2 that is located on the image bearing side is formed of a polymer composition containing a filler, and the surface of the transfer member 2 that is located on at least the image bearing side In which projections 4 made of filler are dispersed.

In such an image forming apparatus, as the latent image forming apparatus 5, if it is an embodiment for forming an electrostatic latent image,
It may be a mode in which a charging device and an exposure device are combined, a mode in which a charging device and an ion irradiation device are combined, or a mode in which only an ion irradiation device is used. You can do it. The developing device 6 may be configured to form a single-color toner image, or may be configured to form a plurality of color toner images. Further, in the embodiment in which the transport transfer member 2 is an intermediate transfer member, the primary transfer device 7 and the secondary transfer device 8 transfer from the image carrier 1 to the transport transfer member 2 or from the transport transfer member 2. As long as the transfer image transfer member 2 is a transfer material transfer member, a transfer device (not shown) may be used to transfer the toner image T to the transfer material 3. Any material that transfers the toner image T to the upper transfer material 3 may be used, and a contact method, a non-contact method, or the like may be appropriately selected. However, in the present invention, the secondary transfer device 8 for transferring the toner image T to the transfer material 3 and the transfer device (not shown) have not only the function of transferring the toner image T to the transfer material 3 but also the function of fixing simultaneously. Includes those provided. Furthermore, the cleaner 9 only needs to have at least the blade 9a, and includes a mode in which another cleaning member (for example, a fur brush or the like) is added to the blade 9a.

The transfer member 2 according to the present invention is effective for an image forming apparatus provided with a blade-cleaning type cleaner 9, but the image forming device employing another method as the cleaner for the transfer member 2 is effective. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to a device.

As a prior art similar to the present invention, there is already known a technique in which convex portions are scatterably scattered on a smooth surface of an intermediate transfer member (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 10-186892). . However, this prior art presupposes an image forming apparatus that transfers and fixes a toner image from a photoreceptor to a transfer material using an intermediate transfer body having a surface of silicone rubber or the like, and the image gloss has a desirable high value for a color image. In addition, the present invention provides an intermediate transfer member that can reduce the frictional resistance with the photoreceptor, facilitate driving and traveling control of the intermediate transfer member, and reduce the transfer rate of fog toner to prevent image quality deterioration. It should be a technical issue to be done. On the other hand, the present invention is a technical problem to be solved to provide a transfer transfer body capable of effectively avoiding poor cleaning and blade turning without impairing manufacturability. It is completely different from the task. Furthermore, the present invention is also characterized in that the present invention is characterized in that projections 4 made of fillers are scattered at least on the surface of the transfer member 2 that is located on the side carrying the image. Although it may be said that the projections are scattered on the surface of the intermediate transfer member 2 (including the intermediate transfer member), it is common to the prior art that the surface of the intermediate transfer member has the final surface. Prior to curing, it merely describes that the surface is formed by pressing a mold corresponding to the desired surface shape.From the description of the prior art "convex", the description of the invention " It is substantially impossible to assume the projections 4 "by the filler. Actually, even in view of the technical effect, the “projections 4 by the filler” of the present invention are used as a layer forming at least a surface of the transport transfer body 2 which is located on the image bearing side, and the particle diameter and the dispersion By simply adding a predetermined amount of the prescribed filler, it is easily manufactured, whereas the prior art "convex" adds an additional mold processing step to the intermediate transfer body manufacturing step, It is obvious that the process becomes complicated, the yield decreases, the productivity decreases, and this leads to an increase in the cost of the intermediate transfer member, thereby impairing the manufacturability. Therefore, the present invention is completely different from the prior art in the technical problem and the solution, and both are irrelevant.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail based on an embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings. First Embodiment FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a main part of a first embodiment of an intermediate transfer type image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes a photosensitive drum as an image carrier, 12 denotes a charging device for charging the photosensitive drum 11, and 13 denotes laser scanning for writing an electrostatic latent image on the charged photosensitive drum 11. Exposure devices such as devices (only beams are shown in the figure), and reference numerals 14 to 17 denote developing devices that store toner of each color of black (Bk), yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C). Reference numeral 20 denotes an intermediate transfer belt that is disposed to face the photosensitive drum 11 and 21 to 24.
Is a belt roll that stretches the intermediate transfer belt 20, and 25 is disposed at a portion where the photosensitive drum 11 and the intermediate transfer belt 20 are opposed to each other, and primarily transfers the toner image T on the photosensitive drum 11 to the intermediate transfer belt 20. A primary transfer device (in this example, a conductive bias roll is used as a transfer electrode), and a secondary transfer device 26 secondary-transfers the primary transfer toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 20 to paper P as a transfer material. For example, a conductive bias roll 27 is disposed opposite to the belt roll 24 as a backup roll, a transfer bias is applied to the backup roll 24 via a power supply roll 28 which rotates by pressing, and the bias roll 27 is grounded. It was done. Reference numeral 29 denotes a cleaning blade for cleaning the bias roll 27.

Further, on the downstream side of the secondary transfer portion of the intermediate transfer belt 20, a belt cleaner 30 for cleaning the toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 20 after the secondary transfer is provided. The cleaner 30 includes a blade 31 made of polyurethane or the like that comes into contact with the intermediate transfer belt 20, and a disturber brush 32 that is provided upstream of the blade 31 and that evens out residual toner on the intermediate transfer belt 20. It has. Further, reference numeral 40 denotes a paper tray for storing paper P as a transfer material, 41 denotes a feed roll for feeding out the paper P in the paper tray 40, 4
Reference numeral 2 denotes a registration roll that positions the sheet P sent from the feed roll 41 and supplies the sheet P to the secondary transfer unit at a predetermined timing.

In FIG. 1, the photosensitive drum 11 has an arrow A
And the surface thereof is uniformly charged by the charging device 12. An electrostatic latent image of a first color (for example, Bk) is formed on the charged photosensitive drum 11 by an exposure device 13 such as a laser scanning device. This electrostatic latent image is developed with toner by the developing device 14 to form a visualized toner image T. The toner image T reaches the primary transfer section where the bias roll 25 as the primary transfer device is arranged by rotation of the photosensitive drum 11, and the toner image T is applied from the bias roll 25 to the toner image T by applying an electric field of reverse polarity to the toner image. T is primarily transferred by rotation of the intermediate transfer belt 20 in the direction of arrow B while being electrostatically attracted to the intermediate transfer belt 20. Hereinafter, similarly, the second color toner image, the third color toner image, and the fourth color toner image are sequentially formed, and are superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 20 to form a multiple toner image.

The multi-toner image transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 20 reaches the secondary transfer section where the bias roll 27 is installed by rotation of the intermediate transfer belt 20. On the other hand, paper P
Is fed from the bundle of sheets stored in the sheet tray 40 by the feed roll 41 between the intermediate transfer belt 20 of the secondary transfer portion and the bias roll 27 at a predetermined timing. The toner image carried on the intermediate transfer belt 20 is transferred to the fed sheet P by the press-contact conveyance by the bias roll 27 and the backup roll 24 and the rotation of the intermediate transfer belt 20. The sheet P to which the toner image has been transferred is the intermediate transfer belt 2
Then, the toner image is peeled off from the fixing roller and conveyed to a fixing device (not shown), and the toner image is fixed by a pressure / heat treatment to form a permanent image.

Further, the intermediate transfer belt 20 after the transfer of the multi-toner image onto the sheet P reaches a belt cleaner 30 provided downstream of the secondary transfer section. After the residual toner on the belt cleaner 30 is made uniform by the disturb bar brush 32, it is cleaned by the blade 31 attached at an acute angle to the rotation direction of the intermediate transfer belt 20. Further, a cleaning blade 29 made of polyurethane or the like is also attached to the bias roll 27 so as to be always in contact therewith, and foreign matters such as toner particles and paper powder adhered by transfer are removed.

As the intermediate transfer belt 20 used in the present embodiment, a single layer or a layer having two or more layers is used. The resistance of any of the intermediate transfer belts 20 is not particularly limited, and any of a dielectric material and a semiconductive material can be used. In the case of a dielectric, the following non-conductive binder is mainly used, and in the case of using a semi-conductor as the intermediate transfer belt 20, resistance adjustment is separately performed.

When a semiconductor is used as the intermediate transfer belt 20, resistance adjustment is generally performed by adding a conductive filler to a nonconductive binder. Non-conductive binders include PI (polyimide), PAI (polyamideimide),
PC (polycarbonate), PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride), PAT (polyalkylene terephthalate),
ETFE (ethylene tetrafluoroethylene copolymer) and a resin blended with them, or a general elastomer such as EPDM (ethylene-propylene-diene rubber) and urethane rubber, and a foam thereof are mainly used. Examples of the filler that imparts conductivity include carbon and graphite powders, semiconductive metal oxides such as titanium oxide, zinc oxide, and tin oxide; metal powders such as Cu, Ni, and Ag; and conductive resins such as polyacetylene and polypyrrole. A material in which a filler such as glass beads or the like is coated with a metal plating or a conductive resin to impart conductivity, or a mixture thereof is used. Polyacetylene, polyparaphenylene, polypyrrole, polythiophene, polyaniline, polyphenylene vinylene or the like itself in place of the non-conductive binder resin, or a resin obtained by doping them with conductivity, or polyethylene oxide, polyether amide imide, etc. It is also possible to use resins and elastomers having ionic conductivity per se. Furthermore, NaS
Resins and elastomers that have ion conductivity due to the addition of an ion conductive material, such as a monovalent metal salt such as CN, a quaternary ammonium salt such as tetramethylammonium hydroxide, and a perchlorate such as LiClO _4. Can be used alone or with the above-mentioned conductive filler further added.

Next, a method of manufacturing the intermediate transfer belt 20 according to the present embodiment will be described. For example, if the intermediate transfer belt 20 has a single-layer configuration, the dielectric or semiconductive intermediate transfer belt 20 obtained by the above method is added with a filler whose particle size and dispersion are specified in advance, so that the protrusion by the filler can be obtained. May be formed. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, a binder resin 50 to which a filler having a predetermined particle size and dispersion is added.
Into an endless belt 51 or a film 5
After being formed into the shape 2, it is processed into an endless belt shape by the joining means 53.

In the embodiment in which the intermediate transfer belt 20 has two or more layers, by adding a filler whose particle size and dispersion are specified in advance to the surface layer, projections due to the filler are formed. do it. In particular,
As shown in FIG. 4, as a surface layer located on the side of the intermediate transfer belt 20 that carries an image, a binder resin 60 to which a filler having a prescribed particle diameter and dispersion is added is formed into an endless belt-like base layer. After being formed on the material 61, or after being formed on the substrate 62 formed into a film,
What is necessary is just to process it into an endless belt shape by the joining means 63.

As fillers added to form protrusions on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 20, alumina, mica,
In addition to insulators such as silica, calcium carbonate, talc, and glass beads, as well as semiconductive metal oxides such as titanium oxide, zinc oxide, and tin oxide, as long as the resistance of the intermediate transfer belt falls within a usable range. , CB, etc., of course. When a protrusion is formed on the surface with the conductive filler such as CB or metal oxide described above,
The layer for forming the protrusions (the belt itself in the case of a single-layer belt, the surface layer of the belt having two or more layers) and the formation of the protrusions can be sufficiently combined. Further, it is possible to use the filler at the same time.

The above-mentioned filler allows the intermediate transfer belt 20
When protrusions are formed on the surface, a surface layer of a non-conductive binder may be formed on the filler, or the filler itself is exposed, or some of the filler is exposed and the rest is the surface of the binder It is also possible that it is covered by layers. In any case, it functions as a projection by the filler. Further, depending on the method of manufacturing the layer for forming the projections by the filler, the dispersion state of the filler may be somewhat uneven. The term “substantially uniform composition” as used in the present invention also includes a composition variation in a layer resulting from such a manufacturing process. For example, when a single-layer belt is formed by centrifugal molding, the approximate composition can be said to be uniform, but a slight gradient is formed in the filler concentration from the inside of the belt to the outside as the surface layer due to the centrifugal force during molding. However, even in such a case, if the predetermined protrusion described in the present invention is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 20, it is apparent that the effect of the present invention is not affected at all.

Further, the function of the projection by the filler according to the present embodiment will be described. Now, taking a comparative example without protrusions due to the filler as an example, as shown in FIG. 5B, the blade 31 used in the cleaner 30 of the intermediate transfer belt 20 is in operation, after assembly is completed, or when the blade 31 is used. A cleaning aid applied to the blade 31 or the intermediate transfer belt 20 or both immediately after the replacement, a fine powder toner crushed to the diameter of the aid, or a toner for improving the lubricity and chargeability of the toner. It is in contact with the intermediate transfer belt 20 via an external additive (hereinafter, these are collectively referred to as a cleaning aid 70) that is spread outside. In normal cleaning, the blade 31 does not completely scrape off the cleaning aid 70 from above the intermediate transfer belt 20, and the cleaning aid 70 always exists between the blade 31 and the intermediate transfer belt 20, and serves as a lubricant. Fulfill. However, when the intermediate transfer belt 20 is extremely smooth, as shown in FIG. 5C, the blade 31 scrapes off the cleaning assistant 70 together with the transfer residual toner from the intermediate transfer belt 20. . In such a state, when no lubricant is present on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 20, the blade 31 comes into close contact with the intermediate transfer belt 20 itself. Blade 31 made of rubber and intermediate transfer belt 20 made of a smooth resin film
When they are in direct contact, the coefficient of friction between them is large and therefore the frictional force is also very large. The blade 31 cannot withstand the frictional force, and is taken up by the intermediate transfer belt 20 in the rotation direction, causing so-called blade turning.

On the other hand, as shown in this embodiment, if there is a projection 80 formed by a filler on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 20, preferably a projection 80 having a size equal to or greater than the diameter of the cleaning aid 70, As shown in FIG. 5A, the blade 31 can be in close contact with the intermediate transfer belt 20 to the extent that the toner is cleaned, but the blade 31 is in close contact with the intermediate transfer belt 20 as the smaller cleaning aid 70 is scraped off. Can not do. For this reason, since the cleaning assistant 70 is always present on the intermediate transfer belt 20 and plays a role of a lubricant, the frictional force between the blade 31 and the intermediate transfer belt 20 is appropriately maintained, and so-called blade turning does not occur.

Further, if the size of the protrusion 80 due to the filler is smaller than the average toner diameter, the image is disturbed due to the protrusion 80 due to the filler existing on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 20, and in particular, an image having a low density such as a halftone. Can be completely avoided. This is because, in the case of a halftone in which only one layer of toner is carried on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 20, toner may be deposited on the flat portion of the intermediate transfer belt 20, but not on the protrusion 80. is assumed. However, if the size of the protrusion 80 is equal to or smaller than the average toner diameter, the effect is that only one toner particle is missing from the image. This level of toner disturbance does not lead to actual image disturbance. When the projections 80 are present on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 20, for example, if the projections 80 due to the filler are larger than the average toner diameter, only the projections 80 are directly interposed without the toner layer 81 during the primary transfer.
1 (FIG. 6A). In this case, the current is more likely to flow in the protrusion 80 than in the other flat portions because the protrusion 80 does not interpose the toner layer 81. When the current flowing through the protrusion 80 flows into the surrounding toner layer, the toner layer loses its charge. As a result, the toner layer 81 around the protrusion 80 is not transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 20 and causes an image defect such as a missing white spot. However, if the size of the protrusion 80 is equal to or smaller than the average toner diameter, the protrusion 80
1 and does not directly contact the photosensitive drum 11 (FIG. 6B). Therefore, white spots do not occur due to the inflow current.

In summary, if the protrusions 80 formed by the filler present on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 20 are present, and the size of the protrusions 80 is not less than the diameter of the cleaning assistant and not more than the average toner diameter, It can be seen that no blade turning occurs and no image defects occur.
Further, the surface coverage of the projection 80 formed by the filler needs to be 0.5% or more and less than 13%. The surface coverage is closely related to the toner cleaning property of the intermediate transfer belt 20. The important point of the intermediate transfer belt according to the present embodiment is that only the protrusions 80 due to the filler are present on the surface (FIG. 7A). That is, as one comparative example, when the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 20 is mechanically roughened, such as by polishing, to prevent the blade from turning over, the surface is mainly treated as shown in FIG. 7B. A recess 90 is formed. The toner is stuck in or stuck in such a concave portion 90, resulting in a cleaning failure. If the surface coverage of the protrusion 80 increases, the flat portion other than the protrusion 80 works in the same manner as the concave portion,
Although toner begins to be trapped, our investigation shows that keeping the surface coverage below 13% does not cause such problems. Further, it has been found that the surface coverage must be 0.5% or more in order for the protrusion 80 to effectively work to prevent blade turning.

Second Embodiment FIG. 8 shows an outline of an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment.
In the present embodiment, unlike the first embodiment, the present invention is applied to a tandem-type image forming apparatus using a transport belt that transports a sheet as a transfer material. In FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of image forming units 100 (specifically, 100K, 100Y, 1
00M, 100C) are arranged in parallel, and each color component toner image formed by each image forming unit 100 is conveyed to the transport belt 120.
The image is sequentially transferred to an upper sheet (not shown).

The image forming unit 100 used in the present embodiment includes a photosensitive drum 101, a charging device 102, an exposure device 103 such as a laser scanning device (only a beam is shown in the drawing), a developing device 104, a transfer roll, and the like. And an electrophotographic device such as a transfer charging device 105 and a cleaner 106. In addition, the transport belt 120 includes
A belt cleaner 110 that removes stains such as paper dust and floating toner is provided. In the present embodiment, the belt cleaner 110 includes a blade 111 that comes into contact with the transport belt 120. In the drawing, reference numeral 130 denotes a fixing device for fixing an unfixed toner image transferred onto a sheet.

Particularly, in the present embodiment, the transport belt 12
As 0, a layer composed of a single layer or two or more layers is used. For example, if the transport belt 120 has a single-layer configuration, by adding a filler whose particle size and dispersion are specified in advance to the dielectric or semiconductive transport belt 120 itself, it is possible to form protrusions by the filler. Good. Further, in a mode in which the transport belt 120 has two or more layers, a filler having a predetermined particle size and dispersion may be added to the surface layer to form protrusions by the filler.

In this case, the protrusion formed on the surface of the conveyor belt 120 by the filler is preferably a protrusion having a size larger than the diameter of the cleaning aid.
At this time, similar to the first embodiment, the belt cleaner 1
The ten blades 111 can adhere to the transport belt 120 to the extent that they clean the toner, but cannot adhere to the transport belt 120 enough to scrape a smaller cleaning aid. For this reason, the cleaning aid always exists on the transport belt 120 and plays a role of a lubricant.
The frictional force with the blade is kept moderate, and so-called blade turning does not occur. Further, when used as the transport belt 120, there is no need to consider image defects, so that the protrusions due to the filler need not be smaller than the average toner diameter. However, it is preferable to optimize the size of the protrusion by the filler in consideration of the elasticity of the cleaning blade 111, the process speed, and the transportability of the type of paper to be transported (plain paper, OHP, etc.).

[0040]

EXAMPLES Hereinafter, examples of the present invention will be described for the case where a single layer of thermosetting polyimide is used as an intermediate transfer belt, but the present invention is not limited to the following examples.

Example 1 Upilex-R manufactured by Ube Industries, Ltd. was used as a thermosetting polyimide, granular acetylene black manufactured by Electrochemical Co., Ltd. was used for resistance adjustment, and Mitsui Kinzoku Co., Ltd. was used as a filler for forming protrusions. ) -Based tin oxide composite oxide. The addition amount of the filler was changed stepwise, thereby changing the surface coverage of the projections formed by the filler. These were sufficiently mixed by a mixer, and the obtained membrane-forming stock solution was uniformly cast on a stainless steel sheet to a thickness of 200 μm. Thereafter, the substrate is dried in an atmosphere at 120 ° C. for 120 minutes, and further dried at 150 ° C. for 30 minutes, 200 ° C. for 30 minutes, and 250 ° C. for 6 minutes.
The temperature was gradually increased to 0 minutes, 350 ° C. for 30 minutes, and 420 ° C. for 30 minutes to obtain a polyimide film having a thickness of 50 μm.
This was cut into a length of 530 mm and a width of 320 mm, and then a special modified silicone (Silex 100; manufactured by Konishi Co., Ltd.) as a one-component elastic adhesive was applied to one end of the film 20 mm, and both ends were overlapped. . Then put a 1kg weight on the joint and cure for 1 hour at room temperature,
An intermediate transfer belt was manufactured.

With respect to the obtained polyimide film,
The dispersion diameter of the filler added to form the protrusions and the surface coverage of the protrusions were confirmed using SEM and TEM. The dispersion diameter of the filler in the belt and in the surface layer portion was measured by TEM observation, and at the same time, it was confirmed that the protrusion on the belt surface was formed by the filler. The measurement of the surface coverage was performed by analyzing the SEM image. When the surface of the intermediate transfer belt is observed at an SEM magnification of about 1000, the protrusion and the flat portion are observed as a black and white difference in density. This image was binarized and divided into protrusions and other portions, and the ratio of the protrusions to the belt surface, that is, the surface coverage was calculated. Surface roughness can be used as a substitute for the surface coverage of the projections, but the
An electron beam such as that used for M and a laser beam having a beam diameter equal to or smaller than the dispersion diameter of the filler must be used. For example, in the case of the surface roughness of JIS standard as described in JP-A-10-39647, the belt surface is damaged by a diamond deep needle at the time of measurement, or the tip diameter of the deep needle is formed by a filler. For reasons such as being larger than the size of the projection, it cannot be used as a substitute for the surface coverage of the projection formed by the filler of the present invention.

Using the above-described intermediate transfer belt, a cleaning test was performed. FIG. 9 shows the relationship between the surface coverage of the added filler, blade turning, occurrence of cleaning failure, and occurrence of image quality defects. The surface roughness that can be used as a substitute for the surface coverage is also described (Feinpruf Per
Then use Perthometer S3P manufactured by GmbH and optical tracer focodyn). The dispersion diameter of the added filler, the cleaning aid diameter used in the test, and the average toner diameter are 3 μm, 0.04 μm, and 6.5 μm, respectively. The blade used for the test is a urethane blade manufactured by Hokushin Kogyo.

As can be seen from FIG. 9, the intermediate transfer belt to which no filler was added caused blade turning.
When the surface coverage of the filler exceeded 0.5%, no blade turning occurred, and when the surface coverage reached 13% with the addition of the filler, cleaning failure occurred. In addition, since the dispersion diameter of the added filler was equal to or less than the average toner diameter, no image quality defect occurred even in a belt in which cleaning failure occurred. Further, some of the intermediate transfer belts obtained here had portions with no protrusions on the surface slightly resembling concave portions, but there was no particular effect on the cleaning performance and image quality.

Example 2 Upilex-R manufactured by Ube Industries, Ltd. was used as a thermosetting polyimide, granular acetylene black manufactured by Denki Kagaku Co., Ltd. was used for resistance adjustment, and the filler used to form the protrusions was manufactured as described in Example 1. The tin oxide-based composite oxide used in Example 1, alumina fine particles manufactured by Nippon Steel Corporation, or acetylene black for resistance adjustment was used in combination to form protrusions. Here, the dispersion diameter of the filler is changed by changing the kind of the filler forming the protrusion. Using these, an intermediate transfer belt was manufactured in the same procedure as in Example 1.

FIG. 10 shows the relationship between the dispersion diameter of the filler added to form projections on the surface, blade turning, occurrence of cleaning failure, and occurrence of image quality defects.
The filler having a small dispersion diameter of 0.03 μm is acetylene black, the middle filler having a dispersion diameter of 3 μm is tin oxide used in Example 1, and the filler having a large dispersion diameter of 25 μm is alumina. In the test, the same cleaning aid, toner and blade as in Example 1 were used.

As can be seen from FIG. 10, when the dispersion diameter of the filler was smaller than the cleaning aid diameter, the blade was turned up. Further, when the diameter is larger than the toner diameter, poor cleaning around the projection and image quality defects occurred.

[0048]

As described above, according to the present invention,
At least the vicinity of the surface of the transport transfer member that is located on the side carrying the image is formed of a polymer composition containing a filler, and the protrusion by the filler is provided on at least the surface of the transfer member that is located on the image bearing side. Scattered, so that the blade is not turned up due to the surface of the transfer transfer member being too smooth, and it is possible to effectively prevent the occurrence of poor cleaning and image quality defects caused by the surface being too rough. it can. In particular, according to the present invention, as a layer that forms a surface located at least on the image carrying side of the transfer transfer body, by adding a predetermined amount of a filler having a predetermined particle diameter and its dispersion to the binder resin, Since it is possible to disperse the protrusions due to the filler on at least the surface of the transport transfer member that is located on the side that carries the image, after the manufacturing process of the transport transfer member, another process such as a mold processing process for forming a convex portion is performed. A transport carrier can be easily manufactured without requiring a process. Further, by configuring an image forming apparatus using these transport transfer members, it is possible to easily realize a highly reliable image forming apparatus free from blade turning, poor cleaning and image quality defects.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of a transfer body according to the present invention and an image forming apparatus using the same.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an overall configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a production example of the intermediate transfer belt according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of manufacturing the intermediate transfer belt according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5A is an explanatory diagram showing a contact state between the surface of the intermediate transfer belt and the blade according to the embodiment, and FIG. 5B is an intermediate transfer belt according to a comparative embodiment (an embodiment without protrusions due to fillers); FIG. 7C is an explanatory diagram showing a contact state between the surface of the intermediate transfer belt and the blade, and FIG. 7C is an explanatory diagram showing a situation that occurs when the surface of the intermediate transfer belt according to the comparative embodiment is extremely smooth.

FIG. 6A is an explanatory diagram showing a situation where the protrusions due to the filler are larger than the average toner diameter, and FIG. 6B is an explanatory diagram showing a situation where the protrusions due to the filler are smaller than the average toner diameter.

FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional explanatory view of a surface portion of an intermediate transfer belt according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 7B is a surface portion of an intermediate transfer belt (a mechanically roughened surface) according to a comparative example. FIG.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the surface coverage of a filler added to form protrusions due to the filler, blade turning, occurrence of cleaning failure, and occurrence of image quality defects.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the dispersed particle diameter of a filler added to form projections due to the filler, blade turning, occurrence of cleaning failure, and occurrence of image quality defects.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image carrier, 2 ... Transfer transfer body, 3 ... Transfer material, 4 ... Projection by filler, 5 ... Latent image forming apparatus, 6 ... Developing apparatus, 7
... primary transfer device, 8 ... secondary transfer device, 9 ... cleaner,
9a: blade, 11: photosensitive drum (image carrier), 1
2 ... Charging device, 13 ... Exposure device, 14-17 ... Developing device, 20 ... Intermediate transfer belt, 25 ... Primary transfer device, 26
... secondary transfer device, 30 ... belt cleaner, 31 ... blade, 80 ... projection by filler, 100 ... image forming unit, 101 ... photosensitive drum, 102 ... charging device, 1
03: Exposure device, 104: Developing device, 105: Transfer roll, 110: Belt cleaner, 111: Blade, 1
20: conveyor belt, T: toner image

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A transport transfer member for transferring and holding a toner image formed on an image bearing member directly or via a transfer material, and a surface of at least a surface of the transport transfer member which is located on an image bearing side. A transport transfer body characterized in that the vicinity thereof is formed of a polymer composition containing a filler, and projections due to the filler are scattered on at least a surface of the transport transfer body which is located on an image bearing side. 2. The transfer member according to claim 1, wherein the transfer member is an intermediate transfer member that temporarily transfers and holds the toner image formed on the image carrier before transferring the toner image to a transfer material. Transcript. 3. The transport transfer member comprising the intermediate transfer member according to claim 2, wherein the protrusions formed by the filler are formed of a filler having a dispersed particle diameter equal to or larger than the diameter of the cleaning aid and equal to or smaller than the average particle diameter of the toner. A transfer transfer member. 4. The transport transfer member comprising the intermediate transfer member according to claim 2, wherein the projections of the filler have a surface coverage defined as a projected area of a portion projecting from an average surface of the transport transfer member,
A transport transfer member formed to have a content of 0.5% or more and less than 13%. 5. The transfer body according to claim 1, wherein the entire transfer body is formed of a polymer composition having a substantially uniform composition, and is a single-layer endless belt-shaped body as a whole. Conveyance transfer body. 6. The transport transfer member according to claim 1, wherein at least the surface of the surface of the transport transfer member located on the side carrying the image is made of a polymer composition having a substantially uniform composition, and a plurality of layers are formed as a whole. A transfer transfer body, characterized in that it is an endless belt-shaped formed body. 7. A method for producing the transfer transfer member according to claim 5, wherein the binder resin to which a filler is added in advance is formed into an endless belt, or formed into a film and then into an endless belt by a joining means. A method for producing a transfer transfer body, comprising: 8. A method of manufacturing the transfer transfer member according to claim 6, wherein a binder resin to which a filler is added in advance is formed as an endless belt as a layer forming at least a surface of the transfer transfer member which is positioned on an image bearing side. A method for producing a transfer transfer body, comprising: forming a substrate on a substrate formed into a film, or forming the substrate on a substrate formed into a film, and then processing it into an endless belt by a joining means. 9. An image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, a latent image forming device for forming an electrostatic latent image on the image carrier, and an electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier. A developing device that forms a visible image as a toner image with toner, and an intermediate transfer member that is disposed to face the image carrier and temporarily transfers and holds the toner image formed on the image carrier before transferring it to a transfer material. A transfer member, a primary transfer device for transferring the toner image on the image carrier to the transfer member, a secondary transfer device for transferring the toner image on the transfer member to a transfer material, and a contact transfer member. A cleaner which removes residual toner on the transfer member by a blade to be transferred, wherein the filler is contained at least in the vicinity of the surface of the transfer member that is located on the image bearing side. Formed with the composition, and at least Image forming apparatus characterized by interspersed projections by filler surface located on the side carrying the. 10. The transfer material according to claim 1, wherein the transfer material is a transfer material carrier that carries and conveys a transfer material and transfers a toner image formed on an image carrier to the transfer material. Transcript. 11. The transfer member comprising the transfer material transfer member according to claim 10, wherein the projections made of the filler are formed of a filler having a dispersed particle diameter equal to or larger than the diameter of the cleaning aid. Transcript. 12. An image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, a latent image forming device for forming an electrostatic latent image on the image carrier, and an electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier. A developing device that forms a visible image as a toner image with toner, and is disposed to face the image carrier,
A transfer device including a transfer material transfer member that transfers and holds a toner image formed on an image carrier to a transfer material; and a transfer device that transfers the toner image on the image support member to a transfer material on the transfer member.
An image forming apparatus including a cleaner that removes residual toner on the transport transfer body with a blade that is arranged in contact with the transport transfer body, wherein at least a surface of a surface of the transport transfer body that is located on an image bearing side is filled with a filler. An image forming apparatus formed of a polymer composition containing a polymer, wherein protrusions made of fillers are scattered on at least a surface of an image transferring side of the transfer member which bears an image.