JP2001215813A - Intermediate transfer belt and method of its manufacture - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an intermediate transfer belt where a toner image formed on a face of photoreceptor drum can be accurately received, the received toner image can be accurately transferred to a secondary transfer body and no transfer failure is generated in a formed image and a method of its manufacture. SOLUTION: In the intermediate transfer belt that is applied in an electrophotographic process, a base material layer 10, an intermediate layer 20 and a releasing layer 30 are laminated and the intermediate layer 20 comprises a sponge-like elastic body. In the method of manufacture, a forming process of material layer for formation of the releasing layer, a forming process of the material layer for formation of the intermediate layer, a vulcanizing process of the material layer for formation of the releasing layer and the material layer for formation of the intermediate layer (a forming process for the releasing layer and the intermediate layer), a forming process of the base material layer and a detaching process of a cylindrical laminate are included.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an intermediate transfer belt and a method for manufacturing the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an electrophotographic process such as a color copying machine or a facsimile, an intermediate transfer system using an intermediate transfer belt has been adopted because of a wide range of usable transfer papers.

However, in a color image formed by an electrophotographic process, from the viewpoint of preventing color misregistration and improving sharpness, elongation, particularly, elongation in the belt moving direction is small, and a material having a high elastic modulus is used. Intermediate transfer belt is preferred. As such an intermediate transfer belt, a belt made of an elastomer or a resin film having a high elastic modulus is used.

[0004]

However, an intermediate transfer belt made of a material having a high elastic modulus has a hard surface,
When the intermediate transfer belt is used, a nip having a sufficient width cannot be formed between the photosensitive drum and the secondary transfer roller, and a uniform pressing force can be applied in the nip area. There is a problem that can not be. For this reason, the toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum cannot be accurately received, or the received toner image cannot be accurately transferred to a secondary transfer body such as transfer paper. If the accurate reception of the toner image and the accurate transfer to the secondary transfer member are not performed, a transfer failure such as a so-called hollow phenomenon occurs in the formed image.

The present invention has been made based on the above circumstances. It is a first object of the present invention to accurately receive a toner image formed on the surface of a photoreceptor drum and to accurately transfer the received toner image to a secondary transfer body. An object of the present invention is to provide an intermediate transfer belt that does not cause transfer failure and a method for manufacturing the same. A second object of the present invention is to provide an intermediate transfer belt capable of forming a clear image without color shift for a long period of time, and a method of manufacturing the same.

[0006]

An intermediate transfer belt according to the present invention is an intermediate transfer belt applied to an electrophotographic process, wherein a base layer, an intermediate layer, and a release layer are laminated. The intermediate layer is made of a sponge-like elastic body.

In the intermediate transfer belt of the present invention, when a stress of 50 μm is applied in the compression direction, the stress is 0.1 to
It is preferably 0.5 MPa. The following (1)
It is preferable to satisfy the physical property conditions shown in (3) to (3).

(1) Tensile strength in the belt moving direction:
10 MPa or more (2) Tensile stress in the belt moving direction (3% modulus): 2 MPa or more (3) Elongation in the belt moving direction: 400% or less

The manufacturing method of the present invention is a method of manufacturing the intermediate transfer belt having the above-mentioned structure, comprising the steps of forming a release layer forming material layer made of unvulcanized rubber on the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve. Laminating an intermediate layer-forming material layer made of an unvulcanized rubber containing a foaming agent on the surface of the release layer-forming material layer; and forming the release layer-forming material layer and the intermediate layer. A step of forming a release layer and an intermediate layer by vulcanizing a material layer for use, a step of laminating and forming a base material layer on the surface of the intermediate layer, and the release layer, the intermediate layer, and the base material While removing the cylindrical laminate composed of the layers from the sleeve, by reversing the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical laminate are reversed, the surface of the base material layer to the inner peripheral surface, Forming a cylindrical laminate having the surface of the release layer as an outer peripheral surface. And wherein the Mukoto.

In the manufacturing method of the present invention, it is preferable that after the material layer for forming an intermediate layer is vulcanized, the surface thereof is polished.

[0011]

The intermediate transfer belt of the present invention having the sponge-like elastic intermediate layer has sufficient flexibility (compression deformation) in the thickness direction. This allows
A nip having a sufficient width is formed between the intermediate transfer belt and the photosensitive drum so that a uniform pressing force acts.
As a result, the toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum can be accurately received. In addition, a nip having a sufficient width for forming a uniform pressing force is formed between the intermediate transfer belt and the secondary transfer roller. As a result,
The toner image received on the intermediate transfer belt can be accurately transferred to the secondary transfer member.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail. FIG. 1 is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing an example of the layer structure of the intermediate transfer belt of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a base material layer, reference numeral 20 denotes an intermediate layer, and reference numeral 30 denotes a release layer.

<Base Layer> The base layer 10 is made of vulcanized rubber reinforced by a core 11. The volume resistivity of the base material layer 10 is 10 ⁹ to 10 ¹¹ Ω-cm from the viewpoint of imparting suitable electrical characteristics (10 ⁹ to 10 ¹² Ω-cm in volume resistivity) to the intermediate transfer belt. Is preferred.

The type of the rubber constituting the base material layer 10 is not particularly limited. For example, natural rubber, isoprene rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, butadiene rubber,
Butyl rubber, ethylene propylene rubber, ethylene propylene terpolymer rubber, chloroprene rubber, chlorosulfonated polyethylene rubber, chlorinated polyethylene rubber, acrylonitrile butadiene rubber, urethane rubber, syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene rubber, epichlorohydrin rubber, acrylic rubber , Silicone rubber, fluorine rubber, polysulfide rubber, polynorbornene rubber, hydrogenated nitrile rubber and the like, and these can be used alone or as a blend of two or more. Of these, hydrogenated nitrile rubber and fluoro rubber are preferred.

As the core 11 constituting the base material layer 10,
It consists of fibers such as woven fabric. In the present invention, the core 11 is an optional component, and the base layer may be composed of only vulcanized rubber.

The thickness of the substrate layer 10 is preferably from 0.1 to 0.6 mm, more preferably from 0.15 to 0.4 mm.
mm.

<Intermediate Layer> The intermediate layer 20 is made of a sponge-like vulcanized rubber (hereinafter simply referred to as “sponge rubber”). By providing sponge rubber as the intermediate layer 20, the obtained intermediate transfer belt has sufficient flexibility (compression deformation) in the thickness direction, and the intermediate transfer belt between the photosensitive drum and the secondary transfer roller A nip having a sufficient width can be formed.

The sponge rubber constituting the intermediate layer 20 may be of an open-cell type or a closed-cell type. The porosity of the sponge rubber is, for example, 7 to 30%.

The type of rubber in the sponge rubber is not particularly limited, and the rubbers exemplified as those constituting the base material layer 10 can be mentioned. Among them, hydrogenated nitrile rubber and fluorine rubber are preferable. .
It is preferable to use the same rubber material as the rubber forming the base layer 10 as the sponge rubber forming the middle layer 20 from the viewpoint of improving the adhesion between the base layer 10 and the middle layer 20.

Examples of the foaming agent used for obtaining the sponge rubber include ammonium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, ammonium bicarbonate, diazoaminobenzene, dinitrosopentamethylenetetramine, p, p'-oxybis (benzenesulfonylhydrazide) and the like. Can be mentioned. The amount of the foaming agent is usually 5 to 30 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of rubber. The amount of the foaming agent is 5
If the amount is less than the weight part, the foaming becomes insufficient, and the obtained intermediate transfer belt cannot exhibit sufficient flexibility in the thickness direction. On the other hand, if the amount is more than 30 parts by weight, the porosity becomes excessively large and the transfer pressure becomes insufficient.

The thickness of the intermediate layer 20 is preferably 0.1 to 0.3 mm, more preferably 0.2 to 0.3 m
m. If the thickness is less than 0.1 mm, the resulting intermediate transfer belt cannot exhibit sufficient flexibility in the thickness direction. On the other hand, if the thickness exceeds 0.3 mm, the transfer pressure is insufficient, causing a slight positional shift in the release layer 30, and the formed image is disturbed.

<Release Layer> As a material for forming the release layer 30, there may be mentioned a conventionally known material for forming a surface layer of the intermediate transfer belt. Specifically, fluoro rubber, fluoro resin, silicone rubber, silicone resin and the like can be exemplified. Also, general-purpose rubber or the like to which a resin powder that gives a releasing effect (effect of lowering surface energy) is added can be used.

Here, “resin powder that gives a releasing effect”
As the “general-purpose rubber”, the rubber constituting the base material layer 10 includes the rubber exemplified together with the fluororubber and the silicone rubber. it can. It is preferable to use the same rubber material as the rubber forming the intermediate layer 20 as the material forming the release layer 30 from the viewpoint of improving the adhesion between the intermediate layer 20 and the release layer 30.

The dynamic frictional resistance of the surface of the release layer 30 is preferably 0.7 or less, more preferably 0.5 or less. Thereby, the intermediate transfer belt is provided with a good cleaning property and an effect of preventing toner filming.

The thickness of the release layer 30 is preferably 5 to 50 μm, and more preferably 20 to 50 μm.

The base layer 10, the intermediate layer 20, and the release layer 30
Examples of suitable combinations of the materials constituting are: [1] base layer 10: fluoro rubber, intermediate layer 20: fluoro sponge rubber, release layer 30: fluoro rubber, [2] base layer 10: hydrogenated NBR , Middle layer 20: sponge rubber made of hydrogenated NBR, release layer 30: hydrogenated N to which PTFE powder is added
BR can be mentioned.

The thickness of the intermediate transfer belt composed of the base material layer 10, the intermediate layer 20, and the release layer 30 is 0.4 to 0.5.
It is preferably 8 mm, more preferably 0.5 to
0.7 mm.

<Physical Properties of Intermediate Transfer Belt> The intermediate transfer belt of the present invention preferably satisfies the physical property conditions described in (1) to (3) above. Thereby, the effect of suppressing the elongation in the moving direction of the belt can be reliably exhibited, and a clear image without color shift can be formed for a long period of time. The above physical property values are based on JIS
It refers to a value measured according to K6301.

<Preferred Compression Characteristics of Intermediate Transfer Belt> The intermediate transfer belt of the present invention has sufficient flexibility in the thickness direction. Specifically, 50 μm in the compression direction
Is preferably 0.1 to 0.5 MPa. When the compressive stress is 0.5 MPa or less, a sufficient width (for example, 5 mm) is formed between the photosensitive drum and the secondary transfer roller due to the contact pressure with the photosensitive drum and the secondary transfer roller.
mm).

<Production Method of the Present Invention> The method of producing the intermediate transfer belt of the present invention is not particularly limited, but it can be suitably produced by the following method (the production method of the present invention). .

The production method of the present invention comprises the steps of forming a release layer forming material layer, forming an intermediate layer forming material layer, and vulcanizing the release layer forming material layer and the intermediate layer forming material layer. The method includes a step (a step of forming a release layer and an intermediate layer), a step of forming a base material layer, and a step of removing a cylindrical laminate.

(1) Step of forming material layer for forming release layer: As shown in FIG. 2A, a material layer 30A for forming a release layer made of unvulcanized rubber is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve 50. I do.
The method of forming the release layer forming material layer 30A is to wind an unvulcanized rubber sheet around the sleeve 50 (sheet winding method), or to apply a rubber paste prepared from unvulcanized rubber to the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve 50 according to a conventional method. After coating, the coating film may be dried to remove the solvent (coating method), but in order to obtain a seamless intermediate transfer belt, the coating method must be used. Is preferred.

When a coating method is employed as a method for forming the release layer forming material layer 30A, a doctor knife type gluing device can be used as a rubber glue coating device. As the drying device, for example, a hot-air dryer can be used. The drying conditions of the coating film vary depending on the content of the organic solvent in the coating film and the like.
130 ° C. for 5-30 minutes.

(2) Step of forming intermediate layer forming material layer: As shown in FIG. 2 (2), an intermediate layer made of an unvulcanized rubber containing a foaming agent is formed on the surface of the release layer forming material layer 30A. The layer forming material layer 20A is formed by lamination. Intermediate layer forming material layer 2
As a method of forming 0A, any of the sheet winding method and the coating method may be adopted, but it is preferable to adopt the coating method. Intermediate layer forming material layer 2
As a method for incorporating a foaming agent into 0A (unvulcanized rubber), a method of adding and kneading a foaming agent at the time of preparing the unvulcanized rubber, a method of adding a foaming agent to a rubber paste prepared from the unvulcanized rubber, and dissolving the same. Can be mentioned.

(3) Vulcanization step: release layer forming material layer 30
A and the intermediate layer forming material layer 20A are vulcanized. As a result, the unvulcanized rubber constituting the release layer forming material layer 30A is vulcanized (crosslinked). The intermediate layer forming material layer 2
The unvulcanized rubber constituting 0A is in a foamed state and vulcanized (crosslinked). As a result, as shown in FIG.
A release layer 30 made of vulcanized rubber is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve 50.
Then, a laminate with the intermediate layer 20 made of sponge rubber is formed. Here, examples of the vulcanization method include a hot air vulcanization method (a normal pressure vulcanization method using a hot chamber). The vulcanization conditions are, for example, 150
At 180 ° C. for 5 to 30 minutes.

In the manufacturing method of the present invention, it is preferable that the surface of the intermediate layer 20 formed as described above is polished. Thereby, the thickness of the intermediate layer 20 can be made uniform. According to the intermediate transfer belt provided with such an intermediate layer 20, the nip formed between the photosensitive drum and the secondary transfer roller is formed. In the region, a uniform pressing force can be reliably applied.

(4) Step of forming base material layer: As shown in FIG. 3A, a base material layer 10 made of vulcanized rubber is formed on the surface of the intermediate layer 20 by lamination. Here, as a method for forming the base material layer 10, a material layer for forming a base material layer made of unvulcanized rubber is formed by a sheet winding method or a coating method.
And vulcanizing this material layer. When reinforcing the base material layer 10 with a core (not shown), a first material layer made of unvulcanized rubber is formed on the surface of the intermediate layer 20 and the surface of the first material layer is formed. A core material made of a woven cloth or the like is wound thereon, and a second material layer made of unvulcanized rubber is formed on the surface of the core material;
A method of vulcanizing a laminate of the first material layer, the core, and the second material layer can be given.

(5) Removal step of the tubular laminate: The tubular laminate formed in the above step (4), that is, the release layer 30 (inner layer), the intermediate layer 20, and the base layer 10 The tubular laminate with the (outer layer) is removed from the sleeve 50. At this time, as shown in FIG. 3 (2), the tubular laminate is removed while being inverted so that the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface are reversed. As a result, as shown in FIG.
A cylindrical laminate of the (inner layer), the intermediate layer 20, and the release layer 30 (outer layer) is obtained. The above-described reversing operation may be performed after the cylindrical laminate of the release layer 30 (the inner layer), the intermediate layer 20, and the base layer 10 (the outer layer) is removed from the sleeve 50.

The thus obtained cylindrical laminate is cut in such a manner as to be divided in the axial direction, thereby obtaining a seamless intermediate transfer belt having a layer structure as shown in FIG. 1 (the intermediate transfer belt of the present invention). Transfer belt) is obtained. here,
The surface of the release layer 30 of the obtained intermediate transfer belt is formed by transferring the surface state of the sleeve 50,
Small surface roughness and excellent smoothness.

[0040]

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.
The present invention is not limited to these. In the following, “parts” means “parts by weight”.

<Example 1> (1) Preparation of rubber paste for forming release layer: 80 parts of hydrogenated NBR "Zetpol 2030L" (manufactured by Nippon Zeon Co., Ltd.), and hydrogenated NBR-zinc polymethacrylate Dispersion "ZS
C2295 "(manufactured by Zeon Corporation), 20 parts, zinc oxide 5 parts, sedimentable sulfur 2 parts, FEF carbon 20 parts, and PTFE resin powder" TLP-10F-1 "(Mitsui DuPont Fluorochemical Co., Ltd.) 30 parts) and plasticizer 20
Of a mixture, 1 part of an antioxidant and 1 part of a vulcanization accelerator were kneaded using a rubber roll. Next, the kneaded dough obtained as described above was dissolved in methyl ethyl ketone (solvent) to prepare a rubber paste (hereinafter, referred to as "rubber paste [1a]"). Here, the solid content of the rubber paste [1a] was 10% by weight, and the viscosity (25 ° C.) was 50 poise.

(2) Preparation of rubber paste for forming intermediate layer: 100 parts of hydrogenated NBR “Zetpol 2030L” (manufactured by Nippon Zeon Co., Ltd.), 5 parts of zinc oxide, and sedimentable sulfur 2
, 20 parts of FEF carbon, 15 parts of a plasticizer, 1 part of an antioxidant, and 1 part of a vulcanization accelerator were kneaded using a rubber roll. Next, 144 parts of the kneaded dough obtained as described above and p, p'-oxybis (benzenesulfonyl hydrazide) "Neoservon N # 1"
000 "(a foaming agent manufactured by Eiwa Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.) in 7 parts of methyl ethyl ketone (solvent) and a rubber paste
It is called "rubber glue [1b]". ) Was prepared. Here, the solid content of the rubber paste [1b] was 20% by weight, and the viscosity (25 ° C.) was 150 poise.

(3) Preparation of rubber paste for forming base layer: 80 parts of hydrogenated NBR "Zetpol 2030L" (manufactured by Nippon Zeon Co., Ltd.) and hydrogenated NBR-zinc polymethacrylate dispersion "ZSC2395" (Manufactured by Zeon Corporation)
20 parts, zinc oxide 5 parts, precipitated sulfur 2 parts, FEF
A compound consisting of 50 parts of carbon, 10 parts of a plasticizer, 1 part of an antioxidant, and 1 part of a vulcanization accelerator was kneaded using a rubber roll. Next, the kneaded dough obtained as described above was dissolved in methyl ethyl ketone (solvent) to prepare a rubber paste (hereinafter, referred to as "rubber paste [1c]"). Here, the solid content of the rubber paste [1c] was 20% by weight and the viscosity (2
5 ° C.) was 150 poise.

(4) Formation of a release layer forming material layer: outer diameter 1
58mm, 900mm long nickel sleeve (5
The rubber paste [1a] is applied to the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve (50) using a doctor knife type paster, and the coating film is dried by a hot air drier to remove the solvent. , A release layer forming material layer made of unvulcanized rubber (30
A) was formed.

(5) Formation of intermediate layer forming material layer: Rubber paste [1b] is applied to the surface of the release layer forming material layer (30A) using a doctor knife type paster, and a hot air dryer is used. By drying the coating film and removing the solvent, an intermediate layer forming material layer (20A) made of unvulcanized rubber was formed on the surface of the release layer forming material layer (30A).

(6) Formation of release layer and intermediate layer (vulcanization and polishing treatment): Release layer forming material layer (30A) and intermediate layer forming material layer (20A) formed on the surface of sleeve (50) ) In a constant temperature chamber (hot chamber).
By performing vulcanization treatment (foaming treatment of the intermediate layer forming material layer) at 50 ° C. for 10 minutes, the release layer (30) made of vulcanized rubber and the intermediate layer (20) made of sponge rubber are formed. A laminate was formed. Next, the formed intermediate layer (2
The surface of 0) was polished using an NC polishing machine. The thickness of the release layer (30) thus formed is 50 μm,
The thickness of the intermediate layer (20) was 0.2 mm.

(7) Formation of base layer: release layer (30) and intermediate layer (20) formed on the surface of sleeve (50)
A rubber paste [1c] is applied to the surface of the sheet using a doctor knife type paster, and the formed coating film is dried at 100 ° C. for 10 minutes by a hot air drier to remove unvulcanized rubber. A first material layer was formed. Then the first
A core made of a woven fabric was wound around the surface of the material layer of (1). Then, a rubber paste [1c] is applied to the surface of the core body using a doctor knife type paster, and the formed coating film is dried at 100 ° C. for 10 minutes by a hot air drier. A second material layer made of vulcanized rubber was formed. The laminate of the first material layer, the core body, and the second material layer formed as described above is vulcanized at 150 ° C. for 10 minutes in a constant temperature oven, whereby the intermediate layer ( 20)
A substrate layer (10) having a thickness of 0.4 mm was formed on the surface of the substrate.

(8) Production of Intermediate Transfer Belt: The cylindrical laminate of the release layer (inner layer), the intermediate layer, and the base material layer (outer layer) formed as described above is By removing from the sleeve while reversing the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical laminate so that they are reversed, the cylinder of the base material layer (inner layer), the intermediate layer, and the release layer (outer layer) A laminate was obtained. By cutting the thus obtained tubular laminate so as to be divided into two in the axial direction, an intermediate transfer belt of a seamless structure having a layer configuration as shown in FIG. 1 was manufactured.

Example 2 (1) Preparation of Rubber Glue for Forming Release Layer: Fluoro Rubber Polymer “Viton B” (manufactured by DuPont Elastomer Co.) 100
Parts, magnesium oxide 15 parts, FEF carbon 15
Parts, 20 parts of PTFE resin powder “TLP-10F-1” (manufactured by DuPont-Mitsui Fluorochemicals), and 3 parts of polyamine were kneaded using a rubber roll. Next, the kneaded dough obtained as described above is dissolved in methyl ethyl ketone (solvent) and rubber paste (hereinafter referred to as “rubber paste [2
a)]. ) Was prepared. Here, rubber glue [2a]
Had a solid content of 10% by weight and a viscosity (25 ° C.) of 50 poise.

(2) Preparation of rubber paste for forming intermediate layer: 100 parts of fluororubber polymer "Viton B" (manufactured by DuPont Elastomer), 15 parts of magnesium oxide, and FEF
A mixture comprising 15 parts of carbon and 3 parts of polyamine was kneaded using a rubber roll. Next, 130 parts of the kneaded dough obtained as described above and p, p'-oxybis (benzenesulfonyl hydrazide) "Neoservon N
7 parts of "1000" (a foaming agent manufactured by Eiwa Chemical Co., Ltd.) were dissolved in methyl ethyl ketone (solvent) to prepare a rubber paste (hereinafter referred to as "rubber paste [2b]"). Here, the solid content of the rubber paste [2b] is 20% by weight and the viscosity (25%).
° C) was 150 poise.

(3) Preparation of rubber paste for forming base material layer: 100 parts of fluororubber polymer "Viton B" (manufactured by DuPont Elastomer Co.), 15 parts of magnesium oxide, and FEF
A compound consisting of 50 parts of carbon and 3 parts of polyamine was kneaded using a rubber roll. Next, the kneaded dough obtained as described above was dissolved in methyl ethyl ketone (solvent) to prepare a rubber paste (hereinafter, referred to as "rubber paste [2c]"). Here, the solid content of the rubber paste [2c] was 20% by weight, and the viscosity (25 ° C.) was 150 poise.

(4) Production of intermediate transfer belt: rubber paste [1
a) to form a release layer using a rubber paste [2a] instead of
Example 1 except that the intermediate layer was formed using rubber paste [2b] instead of rubber paste [1b], and the base layer was formed using rubber paste [2c] instead of rubber paste [1c]. In the same manner as in the above, an intermediate transfer belt having a layer structure as shown in FIG. 1 and having a seamless structure was manufactured.

<Comparative Example 1> (1) Formation of release layer: outer diameter 158 mm, length 900 mm
By applying a rubber paste [1a] to the outer peripheral surface of the nickel sleeve using a doctor knife type paster, and drying the coating film with a hot air drier to remove the solvent, A release layer forming material layer made of unvulcanized rubber was formed. Next, the release layer having a thickness of 50 μm was formed on the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve by vulcanizing the release layer forming material layer at 150 ° C. for 10 minutes in a constant temperature oven.

(2) Formation of base layer: Rubber paste [1c] is applied to the surface of the release layer formed on the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve using a doctor knife type paster, and the formed coating is applied. The first material layer made of unvulcanized rubber was formed by subjecting the film to a drying treatment at 100 ° C. for 10 minutes using a hot air drier. Next, a core made of a woven fabric was wound around the surface of the first material layer. Then, a rubber paste [1c] is applied to the surface of the core body using a doctor knife type paster, and the formed coating film is dried at 100 ° C. for 10 minutes by a hot air drier. A second material layer made of vulcanized rubber was formed. The laminated body of the first material layer, the core body, and the second material layer formed as described above is placed in a thermostatic chamber for 1 hour.
By performing a vulcanization treatment at 50 ° C. for 10 minutes, a base layer having a thickness of 0.6 mm was formed on the surface of the release layer.

(3) Manufacture of the intermediate transfer belt: The cylindrical laminate of the release layer (inner layer) and the base material layer (outer layer) formed as described above is used. By removing the sleeve from the sleeve while reversing the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface thereof, a cylindrical laminate of a base material layer (inner layer) and a release layer (outer layer) was obtained. The tubular laminate obtained in this manner was cut so as to be divided into two in the axial direction, thereby producing a hydrogenated NBR-based intermediate transfer belt.

<Comparative Example 2> A release layer was formed using rubber paste [2a] instead of rubber paste [1a], and a base layer was formed using rubber paste [2c] instead of rubber paste [1c]. Was formed in the same manner as in Comparative Example 1 except that an intermediate transfer belt of a fluororubber type was produced.

Comparative Example 3 An intermediate transfer belt made of a fluororesin was prepared.

<Physical Properties of Intermediate Transfer Belt> For each of the intermediate transfer belts according to Examples 1 and 2, the tensile strength, tensile stress (3% modulus) and elongation in the moving direction of the belt were measured in accordance with JIS K6301. It was measured. The results are shown in Table 1 below.

[0059]

[Table 1]

<Electrical Characteristics of Intermediate Transfer Belt>
2 and Comparative Examples 1 to 3, the volume resistivity was measured for each of the intermediate transfer belts. The results are shown in Table 2 below.

<Compression Characteristics During Small Deformation>
For each of the intermediate transfer belts according to Comparative Examples 1 to 2 and Comparative Examples 1 to 3, the stress when a 50 μm strain was applied in the compression direction was measured using “Autograph AG-1000D” (manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation). The results are shown in Table 2 below.

<Actual Photographic Test> A color copy image is formed with a two-component developer using a digital color copier modified machine equipped with each of the intermediate transfer belts according to Examples 1 and 2 and Comparative Examples 1 to 3. A real image test was performed, and the formed image was evaluated for transfer performance (state of occurrence of transfer failure) and sharpness (state of occurrence of color misregistration visually observed at the outline of the image) according to the following criteria. The results are shown in Table 2 below.
Shown in

(1) Evaluation Criteria for Transfer Performance (Transfer Failure Occurrence Status): A: No white spots are observed in the copied image (solid image). B: A few white spots are observed in the copied image (solid image). C: Many white spots are observed in the copied image (solid image).

(2) Evaluation criteria for sharpness (state of occurrence of color shift): A: No color shift is observed. B: Color shift is observed.

[0065]

[Table 2]

[0066]

According to the intermediate transfer belt of the present invention,
The toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum can be accurately received, and the received toner image can be accurately transferred to the secondary transfer member. Therefore, a transfer defect such as a hollow phenomenon does not occur in the formed image.
ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to the intermediate transfer belt which concerns on this invention, a clear image without a color shift can be formed over a long period.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory cross-sectional view illustrating an example of a layer configuration of an intermediate transfer belt of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a preferred example of the production method of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a preferred example of the production method of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Base material layer 11 Core 20 Intermediate layer 20A Intermediate layer forming material layer 30 Release layer 30A Release layer forming material layer 50 Sleeve

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2H032 BA09 4F100 AK17B AK52B AN00A AN00B AN00C AT00A AT00B BA03 BA10A BA10B BA13 CA01C CA17B CA23B DA16 DG11A DJ01C EJ06C EJ062 EJ273 GB90 JK07C JL14B

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An intermediate transfer belt applied to an electrophotographic process, wherein a base layer, an intermediate layer, and a release layer are laminated, and the intermediate layer is formed of a sponge-like elastic body. An intermediate transfer belt, characterized in that: 2. The intermediate transfer belt according to claim 1, wherein a stress when applying a distortion of 50 μm in a compression direction is 0.1%.
-0.5 MPa. 3. The intermediate transfer belt according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate transfer belt satisfies physical property conditions shown in the following (1) to (3). (1) Tensile strength in the belt moving direction: 10 MPa or more (2) Tensile stress in the belt moving direction (3% modulus): 2 MPa or more (3) Elongation in the belt moving direction: 400% or less 4. The method for manufacturing an intermediate transfer belt according to claim 1, wherein a material layer for forming a release layer made of unvulcanized rubber is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the sleeve. A step of laminating an intermediate layer-forming material layer made of an unvulcanized rubber containing a foaming agent on the surface of the release layer-forming material layer; and forming the release layer-forming material layer and the intermediate layer. A step of forming a release layer and an intermediate layer by vulcanizing the layer forming material layer, a step of laminating and forming a base material layer on a surface of the intermediate layer, and the release layer, the intermediate layer, and the By removing the cylindrical laminate comprising the base material layer from the sleeve, and by inverting the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical laminate so as to be reversed, the surface of the base material layer becomes the inner peripheral surface. Forming a cylindrical laminate having the surface of the release layer as an outer peripheral surface Manufacturing method of an intermediate transfer belt, which comprises a. 5. The method for manufacturing an intermediate transfer belt according to claim 4, wherein after vulcanizing the material layer for forming an intermediate layer, the surface thereof is polished. Method.