JP2001282008A - Method for manufacturing intermediate transferring belt and intermediate transferring belt, method for manufacturing intermediate transferring drum and intermediate transferring drum and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for manufacturing an intermediate transferring belt which has high surface smoothness and by which excellent transfer character can be obtained and the intermediate transferring belt and further to provide a method for manufacturing an intermediate transferring drum, the intermediate transferring drum as well as an image forming device giving stable image quality. SOLUTION: A base layer 102 is formed by injecting a thermosetting urethane resin into an inner surface of a cylindrical mold 117 of a centrifugal molding machine 110 and curing the resin while rotating the cylindrical mold 117. Successively a thermosetting urethane rubber is injected and cured to form a surface layer 101. After releasing the layer from the mold, a front surface and a back surface of the molding are turned over by inverting an air face at an inner surface side of the surface layer 101 to a surface side and inverting a contacting surface being in contact with the inner surface of the cylindrical mold 117 on an outer surface side of the base layer 102 to a rear surface side. Thus, the air face of excellent smoothness is made to be the surface of the intermediate transferring belt 100.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing an intermediate transfer belt, an intermediate transfer belt, and a method of manufacturing an intermediate transfer drum used in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile, and a printer for forming an image by an electrophotographic method. And an intermediate transfer drum, and an image forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, there have been known four-color full-color image forming apparatuses such as an electrophotographic copying machine and a laser beam printer using an intermediate transfer member.

This image forming apparatus includes a step of transferring (primary transfer) a toner image formed on a photosensitive member to an intermediate transfer member.
The operation is performed four times for the color toners, that is, yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, and the four color toner images are superimposed on the intermediate transfer member. Thereafter, the four color toner images are collectively placed on a transfer material such as paper. The secondary transfer is performed.

On the other hand, there is also known an image forming apparatus which does not use an intermediate transfer member. This image forming apparatus sequentially forms an electrostatic latent image of each color of a plurality of color-separated original images on a photoconductor by a latent image forming unit, and individually stores toners of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, respectively. The developing device sequentially develops the electrostatic latent image for each color, and in a state where the transfer material is held on a transfer material carrier such as a transfer drum, the developed yellow, magenta, cyan, After transferring the black toner image of each color onto the transfer material by the transfer means while superimposing the toner images sequentially, the transfer material is separated from the transfer material carrier, and the toner image transferred onto the transfer material is fixed by a fixing device. To obtain a full-color image.

Since the image forming apparatus using the intermediate transfer member can collectively transfer the image from the intermediate transfer member to the transfer material, the transfer material is transferred to the transfer material carrier as in the image forming apparatus not using the intermediate transfer member. There is no need to hold, such as envelopes and cardboard,
Various types of transfer materials can be used, and there is an advantage that the versatility of the transfer material is high. In addition, since the color registration does not change depending on the thickness of the transfer material, there is an advantage that high image quality can be obtained.

However, when plain paper having low smoothness is used as the transfer material, the surface of the plain paper P is not completely smooth as shown in FIG. Existing. The concave portion of the plain paper P has, for example, a maximum of about 3
Therefore, if the hardness of the surface of the intermediate transfer member 100 is large, it is difficult for the surface of the intermediate transfer member 100 to follow the concave portion as shown in FIG. 5B. And
As shown in FIG. 5C, the toner T only adheres to the convex portions of the paper fibers of the plain paper P but does not enter the concave portions. As a result, there is a problem that density unevenness or the like due to transfer failure occurs. Since the surface of the intermediate transfer body made of a thermoplastic material or a resin material that is usually used has a high hardness and is hard, it becomes difficult for the surface of the intermediate transfer body to follow the concave portion formed on the surface of the plain paper. And secondary transfer failure occurs. Therefore, a method using an elastic body on the surface as an intermediate transfer body has also been proposed.However, when a rubber belt is used as the intermediate transfer body, the image on the intermediate transfer body expands and contracts due to a change in belt tension, In particular, there has been a problem that color shift occurs in a color image.

[0007]

Therefore, the present applicant has
Japanese Patent Application No. 11-146302 proposes an image forming apparatus provided with an intermediate transfer member formed of a member which does not expand and contract in a belt circumferential direction but has elasticity in a surface vertical direction.
However, it is difficult to form an intermediate transfer belt having high surface smoothness, and it is particularly difficult to obtain such characteristics in a so-called seamless (endless) intermediate transfer belt in which a seam that causes image defects is eliminated. There was a risk of becoming.

The present invention has been made in view of the above background, and a first object of the present invention is to provide a method of manufacturing an intermediate transfer belt having high surface smoothness and good transferability, and an intermediate transfer belt. An object of the present invention is to provide a belt, a method of manufacturing an intermediate transfer drum, and an intermediate transfer drum. A second object is to provide an image forming apparatus with stable image quality.

[0009]

In order to achieve the first object, according to the present invention, there is provided an image carrier for forming an electrostatic latent image on a surface thereof, and an electrostatic latent image on the image carrier. A developing device for developing an image with a developer; and an intermediate transfer belt to which a toner image on the image carrier developed by the developing device is transferred, wherein the toner image on the image carrier is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt. Transcribe 1
In a method of manufacturing an intermediate transfer belt used in an image forming apparatus for performing a secondary transfer and a secondary transfer for transferring a toner image on the intermediate transfer belt onto a transfer material, a cylindrical mold of a centrifugal molding machine is rotated. While injecting the liquid raw material into its inner surface,
Curing the liquid material to form an endless belt member,
After removal from the mold, the air surface on the inner surface side of the belt member is turned to the front surface side, and the contact surface contacting the inner surface of the mold on the outer surface side is turned over to the back surface side, and the air surface is used as the intermediate transfer belt surface. It is characterized by the following.

In the method of manufacturing the intermediate transfer belt, the intermediate transfer belt is formed by a centrifugal molding method in which a liquid material is injected onto the inner peripheral surface of a rotating cylindrical mold to form an endless belt member. The inner surface side of the liquid material injected into the mold is an air surface that contacts only air,
The smoothness is high. Then, after the belt member is removed from the mold, the belt member is turned upside down to make the air surface the intermediate transfer belt surface. Thus, the air surface having high smoothness is on the surface side of the intermediate transfer belt and comes into contact with the image carrier and the transfer material. Thereby, the adhesion between the intermediate transfer belt and the image carrier or the transfer material is improved, and for example, a toner having a small particle diameter (for example, an average particle diameter of 6 which is formed by a pulverizing method or a polymerization method).
The primary transfer and the secondary transfer can be satisfactorily performed even with a dry toner having a size of not more than μm or a toner having an average particle size of not more than 6 μm used in a liquid developer. Further, since the surface of the intermediate transfer belt has high smoothness, the surface can be cleaned well.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image carrier for forming an electrostatic latent image on a surface thereof, and the electrostatic latent image on the image carrier is developed with a developer. Developing device,
An intermediate transfer belt to which a toner image on the image carrier developed by the developing device is transferred, and a primary transfer for transferring the toner image on the image carrier onto the intermediate transfer belt; In a method for manufacturing an intermediate transfer belt used in an image forming apparatus for performing a secondary transfer of transferring a toner image on a transfer belt onto a transfer material, a cylindrical mold of a centrifugal molding machine is rotated while rotating a cylindrical mold. The first liquid material is injected, the first liquid material is cured to form an endless first belt layer on the inner surface of the mold, and the inner surface of the first belt layer is formed while rotating the mold. The second liquid material is injected, and the second liquid material is cured to form a second belt layer, so that the first belt layer and the second belt layer have different materials. After the member is molded and removed from the mold, air on the inner surface side of the belt member On the surface side, also by reversing the contact surface in contact with the inner surface of the mold surface of the outer surface on the back side, and is characterized in that the air side with the intermediate transfer belt surface.

In this method of manufacturing an intermediate transfer belt, a first liquid material is injected into an inner peripheral surface of a rotating cylindrical mold, and after the first liquid material is cured, a second liquid material is injected. The cured endless belt member is formed by a centrifugal molding method. The inner surface side of the second liquid material injected into the mold is an air surface that comes into contact only with air, and has high smoothness. Then, the belt member is removed from the mold and then turned over to make the air surface the intermediate transfer belt surface.
Thereby, an intermediate transfer belt having a two-layer structure with high surface smoothness can be formed.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image carrier for forming an electrostatic latent image on a surface thereof, and the electrostatic latent image on the image carrier is developed with a developer. Developing device,
An intermediate transfer belt to which a toner image on the image carrier developed by the developing device is transferred, and a primary transfer for transferring the toner image on the image carrier onto the intermediate transfer belt; In a method for manufacturing an intermediate transfer belt used in an image forming apparatus for performing a secondary transfer of transferring a toner image on a transfer belt onto a transfer material, a cylindrical mold of a centrifugal molding machine is rotated while rotating a cylindrical mold. The liquid raw material of No. 1 is injected, an endless first film is formed on the inner surface of the mold, and the first film is formed while rotating the mold.
The second liquid material is injected into the inner surface of the film to form a second film, and then the liquid material forming the first film and the second film is cured, whereby the first liquid is cured. A belt member having a different structure is formed from a first belt layer formed by curing a film and a second belt layer formed by curing a second film. The air surface on the inner surface side of the member is turned over to the front side, and the contact surface that contacts the inner surface of the mold on the outer surface side is turned over to the back side, so that the air surface is the intermediate transfer belt surface. It is.

In the method of manufacturing the intermediate transfer belt, the first liquid material is injected into the inner peripheral surface of the rotating cylindrical mold, and the second liquid material is injected before the first liquid material is cured. Then, both liquid materials are cured to form an endless belt member by a centrifugal molding method. The inner surface side of the second liquid material injected into the mold is an air surface that comes into contact only with air, and has high smoothness. Then, the belt member is removed from the mold and then turned over to make the air surface the intermediate transfer belt surface. This makes it possible to form an intermediate transfer belt having a two-layer structure with high surface smoothness, and to shorten the manufacturing time to improve the production efficiency.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing an intermediate transfer belt according to the second or third aspect, wherein the first belt layer comprises:
A pre-process of forming a belt layer different from the material of the second belt layer before forming the first belt layer; and forming a belt layer different from the materials of the first belt layer and the second belt layer. The method is characterized in that at least one of a post-process formed on the inner surface of the second belt layer is performed to form a belt member having a plurality of layers made of different materials.

In the method of manufacturing an intermediate transfer belt, the first belt layer and the second belt layer are provided on at least one of the outer surface of the first belt layer and the inner surface of the second belt layer. Belt layers of different materials are formed by centrifugal molding. For example, a rubber layer having good grip characteristics is formed on the outer surface of the first belt layer by performing the above-described pre-process, and the rubber layer having good grip characteristics is formed on the inner surface side of the intermediate transfer belt by turning over after removing the mold. A layer is provided, and it is possible to improve the frictional force with a stretching roller (a driving roller or a driven roller) for stretching and rotating the intermediate transfer belt.
Thus, an intermediate transfer belt having a multilayer structure having desired characteristics can be formed.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the method for manufacturing an intermediate transfer belt according to the second, third or fourth aspect, the second belt layer has elasticity and the first belt layer has a hardness. The hardness of the second belt layer is higher than that of the second belt layer.

In this method of manufacturing an intermediate transfer belt, since the second belt layer on the surface side of the intermediate transfer belt has elasticity, it is possible to follow the surface of the transfer material and perform good secondary transfer. A possible intermediate transfer belt is obtained. Further, the first transfer belt on the inner surface side of the intermediate transfer belt may be used.
Since the hardness of the second belt layer is higher than the hardness of the second belt layer, an intermediate transfer belt can be obtained in which the first belt layer has non-stretchability and can be prevented from elongating in the circumferential direction. .

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the method for manufacturing an intermediate transfer belt according to the second, third, fourth or fifth aspect, the first belt layer and the second belt layer are different from each other only in hardness, and are mainly used. It is characterized in that the components are the same.

In this method of manufacturing an intermediate transfer belt, the first belt layer and the second belt layer are different only in hardness, and the main components are the same. By increasing the adhesiveness with the belt layer of No. 2, one can be brought into close contact with the other without lifting. On the other hand, if the main constituent components of the first belt layer and the second belt layer are largely different, there is a possibility that poor adhesion may occur between the two belt members.

The invention of claim 7 is the invention of claims 2, 3, 4, 5
Or 6) the method of manufacturing an intermediate transfer belt according to
The hardness of the belt layer is 30 degrees or more and 70 degrees or less (JIS
-A).

If the hardness of the second belt layer on the surface side of the intermediate transfer belt is too soft than 30 degrees (JIS-A), stickiness called tack occurs on the surface, and toner particles are formed due to the stickiness. It tends to remain on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt, deteriorating transferability to the transfer material, and making cleaning of the intermediate transfer belt difficult. In addition, manufacturing becomes technically difficult. On the other hand, if the hardness of the second belt layer is too hard than 70 degrees (JIS-A), the adhesion to the transfer material at the time of the secondary transfer is deteriorated, and transfer failure tends to occur. In this method of manufacturing an intermediate transfer belt, the hardness of the second belt layer on the surface side of the intermediate transfer belt is 30 degrees or more and 70 degrees or less (JI
SA), it is possible to prevent transfer failure and cleaning failure of the intermediate transfer belt due to occurrence of tack on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt and deterioration of adhesion to the transfer material, and to provide an intermediate transfer belt that can be easily manufactured. can get.

The invention according to claim 8 is the invention according to claims 2, 3, 4,
In the method of manufacturing an intermediate transfer belt according to 5, 6, or 7, the thickness of the second belt layer is set to 50 μm or more and 2000 μm or more.
m or less.

If the thickness of the second belt layer on the surface side of the intermediate transfer belt is smaller than 50 μm, the effect of adhesion to the transfer material due to elasticity cannot be sufficiently obtained, and transferability is poor. Become. On the other hand, when the thickness of the second belt layer is 2
When the thickness of the intermediate transfer belt is larger than 000 μm, the thickness of the intermediate transfer belt itself increases, and when the intermediate transfer belt is wound around a stretching roller (a driving roller or a driven roller) for stretching and rotating the intermediate transfer belt, The expansion and contraction of the surface of the second belt layer increases. When the surface of the second belt layer expands and contracts greatly, the surface may be broken and damaged, or the toner image may be distorted and the image quality may be deteriorated. In addition, the second
In order to make the thickness of the belt layer thicker than 2000 μm, it is necessary to inject a larger amount of liquid raw material, and it takes time to inject and cure the liquid raw material. In this method of manufacturing an intermediate transfer belt, the thickness of the second belt layer is 50 μm or more,
Since the thickness is 000 μm or less, the above-mentioned adhesive effect can be sufficiently obtained. Further, by preventing expansion and contraction of the surface of the second belt layer, damage to the surface and distortion of the toner image can be prevented, and a low-cost intermediate transfer belt can be obtained.

The ninth aspect of the present invention provides the second aspect of the present invention.
5. The method for producing an intermediate transfer belt according to 5, 6, 7, or 8, wherein the second liquid raw material is a thermosetting polyurethane rubber.

In the thermosetting polyurethane, the degree of bonding of urethane molecules can be freely changed, and if a material is added so as to increase the number of bonding points called hard segments, it becomes hard after molding and exhibits a resin form. . On the other hand, if a material is blended so as to reduce the above-mentioned bonding point, it will show a rubber form after molding. Therefore, thermosetting polyurethane is an ideal raw material whose hardness can be changed from a rubber-like region to a resin-like region by a compounding method. The difference between the thermosetting polyurethane resin and the thermosetting polyurethane rubber is that the thermosetting polyurethane is defined as a thermosetting polyurethane rubber when it shows elasticity after molding, and when the thermosetting polyurethane does not show elasticity, it is classified as a thermosetting polyurethane resin. I'm different. In the method of manufacturing the intermediate transfer belt, since the second liquid material is a thermosetting polyurethane rubber, the second belt layer may have any desired hardness from a low hardness to a high hardness close to a resin. It becomes possible to form a urethane rubber layer having hardness.

[0027] The invention of claim 10 is the invention of claims 2, 3, 4,
5, 6, 7, 8 or 9, wherein the hardness of the first belt layer is 75 degrees or more (JI
SA).

If the hardness of the first belt layer on the inner surface side of the intermediate transfer belt is too softer than 75 degrees (JIS-A), the intermediate transfer belt expands and contracts. An error occurs in the length of the toner image in the direction, and distortion occurs in the transferred image. In the method of manufacturing the intermediate transfer belt, the hardness of the first belt layer is 75 degrees (JIS-A) or more, so that the first belt layer has non-stretchability, An intermediate transfer belt that can prevent expansion and contraction and prevent distortion of the toner image can be obtained.

The invention of claim 11 provides claims 2, 3, 4,
In the method for producing an intermediate transfer belt of 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9, the Young's modulus of the first belt layer is set to 200 MPa.
As described above, the pressure is set to 3000 MPa or less.

The Young's modulus of the first belt layer is 200
If the pressure is lower than MPa, the intermediate transfer belt expands and contracts, so that an error occurs in the length of the toner image in the rotation direction of the intermediate transfer belt, and the toner image is distorted. On the other hand, if the Young's modulus of the first belt layer is greater than 3000 MPa, the first belt layer becomes brittle and easily breaks and is damaged. In this method of manufacturing an intermediate transfer belt, the first belt layer has a Young's modulus of 200 MPa or more and 300 MPa or more.
Since it is within the range of 0 MPa or less, an intermediate transfer belt can be obtained which can prevent expansion and contraction and breakage of the intermediate transfer belt, thereby preventing distortion and damage of the toner image.

According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention,
In the method of manufacturing an intermediate transfer belt according to any one of 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11, the thickness of the first belt layer is set to 30.
It is characterized in that it is not less than μm and not more than 1000 μm.

When the thickness of the first belt layer on the inner surface side of the intermediate transfer belt is less than 30 μm, the thickness (uniformity and the like) of the inner surface of the cylindrical mold is affected, so that the intermediate transfer belt can be formed to a uniform thickness. It becomes difficult. If the processing accuracy of the inner surface of the mold is improved, it is possible to form the mold uniformly, but the cost increases. On the other hand, when the thickness of the first belt layer exceeds 1000 μm, the thickness of the intermediate transfer belt itself increases, and a stretching roller (a driving roller or a driven roller) for stretching and rotating the intermediate transfer belt is used. When the intermediate transfer belt is looped around, the expansion and contraction of the surface of the second belt layer increases. When the surface of the second belt layer expands and contracts greatly, the surface may be broken and damaged, or the toner image may be distorted and the image quality may be deteriorated. In the method of manufacturing the intermediate transfer belt, the thickness of the first belt layer is 30 μm or more and 1000 μm or less, so that the first belt layer can be formed with a uniform thickness and the second belt layer can be formed with a uniform thickness. Thus, an intermediate transfer belt can be obtained which can prevent the surface of the belt layer from expanding and contracting, thereby preventing damage to the surface and distortion of the toner image.

The invention of claim 13 is the invention of claims 2, 3, 4,
The method for producing an intermediate transfer belt according to 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12, wherein the first liquid material is a thermosetting polyurethane resin.

As described above, the thermosetting polyurethane is a raw material whose hardness can be changed from a rubber-like region to a resin-like region by a compounding method. In the method of manufacturing the intermediate transfer belt,
By making the first liquid raw material a thermosetting polyurethane resin, the first belt layer is formed of a urethane resin layer having a desired hardness from a low hardness close to rubber to a high hardness. Becomes possible. In particular, by using the thermosetting polyurethane rubber as the second liquid material, the adhesion between the first belt layer and the second belt layer can be further improved.

In order to achieve the first object, the invention of claim 14 provides an image carrier for forming an electrostatic latent image on a surface thereof,
A developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image on the image carrier with a developer; and an intermediate transfer drum to which a toner image on the image carrier developed by the developing device is transferred. Manufacture of an intermediate transfer drum used in an image forming apparatus that performs primary transfer for transferring the upper toner image onto the intermediate transfer drum and secondary transfer for transferring the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt onto a transfer material In the method, the intermediate transfer belt manufactured by the method for manufacturing an intermediate transfer belt according to any one of claims 1 to 13 is fixed to a cylindrical mandrel.

In the method of manufacturing the intermediate transfer drum, the belt member formed by the centrifugal molding method is removed from the mold and then turned over to make the air surface the surface of the belt member. The belt member is fitted into a cylindrical mandrel and fixed to form an intermediate transfer drum. As a result, an intermediate transfer drum having a smoother surface can be obtained at a lower cost than an intermediate transfer drum formed through a conventional surface polishing step or coating step.

In order to achieve the first object, the invention according to claim 15 provides an image carrier for forming an electrostatic latent image on a surface thereof,
A developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image on the image carrier with a developer; and an intermediate transfer belt to which a toner image on the image carrier developed by the developing device is transferred. An intermediate transfer belt used in an image forming apparatus that performs primary transfer for transferring the upper toner image onto the intermediate transfer belt and secondary transfer for transferring the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt onto a transfer material; While rotating the cylindrical mold of the centrifugal molding machine,
A liquid raw material is injected into the inner surface of the belt member, and the liquid raw material is cured to form an endless belt member. After demolding, the air surface on the inner surface side of the belt member is on the front surface side, and the outer surface side of the mold is formed. The air bearing surface is obtained as the surface of the intermediate transfer belt by reversing the contact surface contacting the inner surface to the back surface.

In the intermediate transfer belt, an endless belt member is formed by the above-mentioned centrifugal molding method, and after removing the belt member, it is turned upside down so that the air surface is used as the surface of the intermediate transfer belt. As described in claim 1, since the air surface with high smoothness is on the surface side of the intermediate transfer belt, the adhesion to the image carrier and the transfer material is improved, and the primary transfer and the secondary transfer are performed well. Can be. Further, the intermediate transfer belt can be cleaned well.

In order to achieve the first object, the invention of claim 16 provides an image carrier for forming an electrostatic latent image on a surface thereof,
A developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image on the image carrier with a developer; and an intermediate transfer belt to which a toner image on the image carrier developed by the developing device is transferred. An intermediate transfer belt used in an image forming apparatus that performs primary transfer for transferring the upper toner image onto the intermediate transfer belt and secondary transfer for transferring the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt onto a transfer material; While rotating the cylindrical mold of the centrifugal molding machine,
A first liquid material is injected into the inner surface thereof, and the first liquid material is cured to form an endless first belt layer on the inner surface of the mold, and the first belt layer is formed while rotating the mold. Injecting a second liquid material into the inner surface of the material and curing the second liquid material to form a second belt layer, the material of the first belt layer and the material of the second belt layer are different. A belt member having a structure is formed, and after demolding, the air surface on the inner surface side of the belt member is turned to the front side, and the contact surface that contacts the inner surface of the die on the outer surface side is turned upside down to the back side. The air surface is obtained as an intermediate transfer belt surface.

This intermediate transfer belt is formed by forming an endless belt member having a two-layer structure by the centrifugal molding method, removing the belt member from the mold, and inverting the belt member to make the air surface the surface of the intermediate transfer belt. It is. As described in the second aspect, the intermediate transfer belt has a two-layer structure with high surface smoothness.

In order to achieve the first object, the invention of claim 17 provides an image carrier for forming an electrostatic latent image on a surface thereof,
A developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image on the image carrier with a developer; and an intermediate transfer belt to which a toner image on the image carrier developed by the developing device is transferred. An intermediate transfer belt used in an image forming apparatus that performs primary transfer for transferring the upper toner image onto the intermediate transfer belt and secondary transfer for transferring the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt onto a transfer material; While rotating the cylindrical mold of the centrifugal molding machine,
A first liquid material is injected into the inner surface, an endless first film is formed on the inner surface of the mold, and a second liquid material is injected into the inner surface of the first film while rotating the mold. A first belt layer and a first belt layer formed by curing the first film by curing the liquid material forming the first film and the second film. A second belt layer formed by curing the film 2 is used to form a belt member having a different structure from the material, and after demolding, the inner air side of the belt member is turned to the front side, and the outer side is turned to the outer side. The contact surface contacting the inner surface of the mold is turned upside down to the back side, and the air surface is obtained as the surface of the intermediate transfer belt.

In the intermediate transfer belt, when the belt member is formed by the centrifugal molding method, the second liquid material is injected before the first liquid material is hardened. As described in claim 3, an intermediate transfer belt having a two-layer structure with high surface smoothness can be formed, and the production time can be shortened to improve the production efficiency.

The invention of claim 18 is the invention of claim 16 or 17
The first belt layer, the second belt,
A step of forming a belt layer different from the material of the first belt layer before forming the first belt layer; and forming a belt layer different from the material of the first belt layer and the second belt layer into the second belt layer. 2
And forming a belt member having a plurality of layers made of different materials by performing at least one of the following steps of forming on the inner surface of the belt layer.

In the intermediate transfer belt, a belt member having a multilayer structure is formed by the above-mentioned centrifugal molding method, and after removing the belt member, the belt member is turned upside down and the air surface is used as the surface of the intermediate transfer belt. As described in the fourth aspect, the intermediate transfer belt has a multilayer structure with high surface smoothness.

According to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention, in the intermediate transfer belt of the sixteenth, seventeenth, or eighteenth aspect, the second belt layer has elasticity, and the hardness of the first belt layer is the second belt layer. It is characterized in that the hardness is higher than the hardness of the belt layer.

In this intermediate transfer belt, the second belt layer on the surface side of the intermediate transfer belt has elasticity, and
6. The hardness of the first belt layer on the inner surface side of the intermediate transfer belt is higher than the hardness of the second belt layer.
As described above, good secondary transfer can be performed, and the first belt layer can be made non-stretchable, thereby suppressing the circumferential extension of the intermediate transfer belt. .

According to the twentieth aspect of the present invention,
In the intermediate transfer belt of Nos. 18 and 19, the first belt layer and the second belt layer are different from each other only in hardness, and the main constituent components are the same.

In the intermediate transfer belt, the first belt layer and the second belt layer are different only in hardness, and the main constituent components are the same. The adhesion between the belt layer and the second belt layer can be increased, and one can be brought into close contact with the other without lifting.

According to the twenty-first aspect of the present invention,
18, 19 or 20, the hardness of the second belt layer is 30 degrees or more and 70 degrees or less (JI
SA).

In this intermediate transfer belt, the hardness of the second belt layer is 30 to 70 degrees (JIS-A). In addition, it is possible to prevent transfer failure and cleaning failure of the intermediate transfer belt due to the occurrence of image formation and deterioration in adhesion to the transfer material, and to facilitate manufacture.

The invention of claim 22 is the invention of claims 16, 17,
In the intermediate transfer belt of 18, 19, 20 or 21,
The thickness of the second belt layer is 50 μm or more and 2000
μm or less.

In the intermediate transfer belt, since the thickness of the second belt layer is not less than 50 μm and not more than 2000 μm, the effect of the elasticity can be sufficiently obtained. Further, by preventing expansion and contraction of the surface of the second belt layer, damage to the surface and distortion of the toner image are prevented, and a low-cost intermediate transfer belt is obtained.

According to the twenty-third aspect of the present invention,
The intermediate transfer belt of any one of 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22, wherein the second liquid material is a thermosetting polyurethane rubber.

In the intermediate transfer belt, the second belt layer is formed of a urethane rubber layer having a desired hardness from a low hardness to a high hardness close to a resin. Becomes possible.

According to a twenty-fourth aspect of the present invention,
18, 19, 20, 21, 22, or 23, wherein the hardness of the first belt layer is 75 degrees or more (JIS-A).

In the intermediate transfer belt, since the hardness of the first belt layer is 75 degrees (JIS-A) or more, the first belt layer is non-stretchable. To prevent expansion and contraction of the intermediate transfer belt, thereby preventing distortion of the toner image.

According to a twenty-fifth aspect of the present invention,
18, 19, 20, 21, 22 or 23, the first belt layer has a Young's modulus of 200
The pressure is not less than MPa and not more than 3000 MPa.

In the intermediate transfer belt, since the Young's modulus of the first belt layer is in the range of 200 MPa or more and 3000 MPa or less, the intermediate transfer belt is prevented from being expanded, contracted, or bent. Thus, distortion and damage of the toner image can be prevented.

According to a twenty-sixth aspect of the present invention,
18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 or 25, wherein the thickness of the first belt layer is 30 μm or more and 1000 μm or less.

In the intermediate transfer belt, since the thickness of the first belt layer is 30 μm or more and 1000 μm or less, the first belt layer is formed with a uniform thickness. In addition to this, it is possible to prevent expansion and contraction of the surface of the second belt layer, thereby preventing damage to the surface and distortion of the toner image.

According to the twenty-seventh aspect of the present invention,
18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, or 26, wherein the first liquid raw material is a thermosetting polyurethane resin.

In the intermediate transfer belt, the first belt layer is formed of a urethane resin layer having a desired hardness from a low hardness close to rubber to a high hardness. Becomes possible. In particular, the second
By using the thermosetting polyurethane rubber described in claim 23 as the liquid raw material, the adhesion between the first belt layer and the second belt layer can be further improved.

According to a twenty-eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image carrier for forming an electrostatic latent image on a surface thereof,
A developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image on the image carrier with a developer; and an intermediate transfer drum to which a toner image on the image carrier developed by the developing device is transferred. An intermediate transfer drum used in an image forming apparatus that performs primary transfer for transferring the upper toner image onto the intermediate transfer drum and secondary transfer for transferring the toner image on the intermediate transfer body onto a transfer material; The intermediate transfer belt according to any one of claims 15 to 27 is obtained by fitting the intermediate transfer belt into a cylindrical mandrel.

This intermediate transfer drum is formed by fixing the intermediate transfer belt according to any one of claims 15 to 27 in a cylindrical mandrel and fixing it. Claim 14
As described above, an intermediate transfer drum having a smoother surface can be obtained at lower cost than a conventional intermediate transfer drum.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image carrier for forming an electrostatic latent image on a surface thereof,
A developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image on the image carrier with a developer; and an intermediate transfer member to which a toner image on the image carrier developed by the developing device is transferred. In an image forming apparatus for performing primary transfer for transferring the toner image on the intermediate transfer member onto the intermediate transfer member and secondary transfer for transferring the toner image on the intermediate transfer member onto a transfer material, the intermediate transfer member may be used as the intermediate transfer member. Item 1
35. An intermediate transfer belt or an intermediate transfer drum according to any one of Items 5 to 28.

In this image forming apparatus, the intermediate transfer belt or the intermediate transfer drum having the air surface of the belt member formed by the centrifugal molding method on the front side is used as the intermediate transfer body, so that the surface of the intermediate transfer body is smoothed. Nature,
Good adhesion to the image carrier and transfer material.

[0067]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a wet electrophotographic copying machine (hereinafter referred to as "copier") as an image forming apparatus will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a main part of a copying machine according to the present embodiment. This copying machine includes four image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1B, an intermediate transfer unit 70, a transfer device 80, a fixing device 90, an image reading unit (not shown), a paper feeding unit, a control unit, and the like. . The four image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, 1
B denotes the photosensitive drums 10Y, 10M, 10C, 10B,
The image forming unit 1Y includes a developing device 40Y, a developing device 40Y of the image forming unit 1Y, a yellow toner, a developing device 40M of the image forming unit 1M, a magenta toner, and an image forming unit 1C. Device 40
A full-color image is formed by performing corresponding image exposure on each of the photosensitive drums 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10B, using the C toner as a cyan toner and the developing device 40B of the image forming unit 1B as a black toner. can do. The four image forming units 1Y, 1
Since M, 1C, and 1B have the same configuration,
The image forming unit 1B using black toner will be described.

The image forming section 1B includes a photosensitive drum 10B as an image carrier and a uniform charger 2 as a charging means.
0B, a laser writing device 30 for irradiating a laser beam LB, a wet developing unit 40B as a wet developing device, a static eliminator 50B as a static eliminator, a photoconductor cleaning device 60B having a cleaning blade, and the like are provided.

The wet developing unit 40B includes a developing roller 41B as a developer carrier, a developing tank 42B for storing a liquid developer, and a pumping device disposed so as to be immersed in the liquid developer in the developing tank 42B. Roller 43B
And a measuring roller 44B for thinning the liquid developer pumped from the pumping roller 43B and applying it to the developing roller 41B. The liquid developer is a high-viscosity liquid developer in which toner particles as visualized particles are dispersed at a high concentration in a carrier liquid as an insulating solvent.

The intermediate transfer unit 70 includes six suspension rollers 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, and an intermediate transfer member stretched around these suspension rollers 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76. And a cleaning device 79 having four primary transfer bias rollers 77B, 77Y, 77M, and 77C, and a cleaning blade.

The paper transfer unit 80 includes a secondary transfer bias roller 81 as a secondary transfer charge applying unit and the secondary transfer bias roller 81.
The secondary transfer bias roller 81 includes a secondary transfer power supply (not shown) and the like.

Next, the intermediate transfer belt, the primary transfer bias roller, the secondary transfer bias roller and the like will be described more specifically. The intermediate transfer belt 100 has six suspension rollers 71, 72, 73, 7 as suspension members.
4, 75, 76, and photosensitive drums 10B, 10Y, 1
It is stretched so as to have a predetermined tension at 0M and 10C, and is rotatable in a counterclockwise direction indicated by an arrow. Further, as a primary transfer charge applying means, for example, a primary transfer bias roller 77B is opposed to the photosensitive drum 10B, and the intermediate transfer belt 100 is sandwiched between the primary transfer bias roller 77B and the photosensitive drum 10B. Arrangement. The primary transfer bias roller 77B also serves as an electrode for applying a primary transfer bias, and a predetermined transfer bias is applied to the primary transfer bias roller 77B from a primary transfer power source (not shown). A secondary transfer bias roller 81 as a secondary transfer charge applying means is disposed opposite to the suspension roller 73, and the secondary transfer bias roller 81 also serves as an electrode for applying a secondary transfer bias. A predetermined transfer bias is applied to the secondary transfer bias roller 81 from a secondary transfer power source (not shown).

Next, the operation of the wet electrophotographic copying machine according to this embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the photosensitive drum 10B is uniformly charged by the uniform charger 20B while being driven to rotate in the direction of the arrow, and is then irradiated with laser light LB from the laser writing device 30 so as to be on the photosensitive drum 10B. To form an electrostatic latent image. On the other hand, the liquid developer adhering to the pumping roller 43B immersed in the high-viscosity liquid developer in the developing tank 42B is transferred to the developing roller 41 via the measuring roller 44B.
B is uniformly applied, for example, to a thickness of about 0.5 to 20 μm. Then, the developing roller 41B is brought into contact with the photosensitive drum 10B, and the toner in the liquid developer is transferred to the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 10B by the force of an electric field to develop the toner. To form

Next, the photosensitive drum 10B on which the toner image is formed is rotated, and moves to a primary transfer portion where the photosensitive drum 10B and the intermediate transfer belt 100 are in contact. Then, in the primary transfer portion, a negative bias voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the positive toner, for example, −3 is applied to the back surface of the intermediate transfer belt 100 via the primary transfer bias roller 77B.
00 to -500 V is applied, and the toner of the toner image on the photosensitive drum 10B is attracted to the intermediate transfer belt 100 by an electric field generated by the applied voltage, and is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 100 (primary transfer). ). Similarly,
The yellow toner, magenta toner, and cyan toner are transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 100 to form a full-color image.

Then, the intermediate transfer belt 100 on which the full-color toner image has been transferred is rotated, and the intermediate transfer belt 1 is rotated.
00 moves to the secondary transfer portion where the plain paper P conveyed in the direction of the arrow from the paper supply unit (not shown) abuts. In the secondary transfer portion, a negative bias voltage, for example, − is applied to the back surface of the plain paper P via a secondary transfer bias roller 81.
800 to -2000 V, for example, 50N
/ Cm ² . The toner on the intermediate transfer belt 100 is attracted to the plain paper P by the electric field and pressure generated by the applied voltage, and is collectively transferred to the plain paper P (secondary transfer).

Thereafter, the plain paper P on which the toner image has been transferred
Is separated from the intermediate transfer belt 100 by the separation device 85, and is discharged from the apparatus main body after the fixing process is performed by the fixing device 90. On the other hand, the photosensitive drum 10 after the secondary transfer
For B, the residual charges are removed by the charge removing device 50B, the surface thereof is cleaned by the cleaning device 60B, and the untransferred toner is collected and removed, and is prepared for the next image formation.

Conventionally, the intermediate transfer belt 100 is an endless belt made of a low-resistance conductive member having a predetermined thickness.
For example, when the thickness is 30 to 150 μm, polyimide or PE
T (polyethylene terephthalate), PVDF (vinyldene fluoride) resin, and the like, in which a conductive substance (carbon, metal powder, or the like) is mixed at a certain ratio have been used.
However, when the intermediate transfer belt made of the above-described conventional material is secondarily transferred to the plain paper P having a concave portion on the surface thereof as described above, as described above, since the surface of the intermediate transfer belt is hard, And the like, cannot follow the surface concave portion, and causes a problem such as uneven density due to poor transfer.

Therefore, the intermediate transfer belt 100 according to the present embodiment has a structure in which the surface layer has elasticity in order to improve the adhesion to an image surface such as plain paper having low smoothness. Thereby, at the time of the secondary transfer, the surface layer is elastically deformed by the pressure of the secondary transfer roller, and follows the depression formed in the eyes of the fiber of the paper, thereby improving the adhesion. 2 (a) to 2 (c)
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state of transfer from the intermediate transfer belt to plain paper having low smoothness. Since the surface layer 101 having elasticity is provided on the surface portion of the intermediate transfer belt 100, if a pressing force acts between the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 100 and the plain paper P during the secondary transfer, as shown in FIG. As shown,
The surface layer 101 elastically deforms and follows the irregularities on the surface of the plain paper P, and the toner T enters the concave portions. As a result, FIG.
As shown in (c), the toner T can be satisfactorily transferred to plain paper P having a low surface smoothness, and a high-quality image can be obtained.

The intermediate transfer belt 1 having such characteristics
A method for producing the OO by centrifugal molding using a centrifugal molding apparatus will be described below. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of the centrifugal molding device 110.

The centrifugal molding apparatus 110 has a heat insulating tank 11 on the outside.
3 and a heating fluid passage 112 therein.
Box-shaped heating jacket 1 with opening closed at 14
One end of a rotating shaft 116 provided so as to be rotated by a motor 115 penetrates a side surface of the heating jacket 111 opposite to the opening of the heating jacket 111, and one end of a cylindrical mold 117 is fixed to one end of the rotating shaft 116. It is configured.

The surface of the belt formed on the innermost layer side of the cylindrical mold 117 is referred to as an air surface as a side that comes into contact with air only. It is formed as smooth as the water surface.
Therefore, in the present embodiment, the inner air surface of the belt taken out from the cylindrical mold 117 of the centrifugal molding device 110 having a high surface smoothness is used on the front side of the intermediate transfer belt 100. FIG. 4A is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which the intermediate transfer belt 100 according to the present embodiment is manufactured by a centrifugal molding method.

First, while rotating the cylindrical mold 117 of the centrifugal molding device 110 at about 1000 rpm, a thermosetting urethane resin and a cross-linking accelerator are injected into the inner surface thereof as a liquid material of the base layer 102 of the intermediate transfer belt 100, and centrifugal force is applied. A film is uniformly formed inside the cylindrical mold 117, and the rotation is continued for about 10 minutes. Subsequently, the temperature of the cylindrical mold 117 is raised to around 140 ° C., which is the temperature at which the thermosetting urethane resin undergoes a crosslinking reaction, and the temperature is maintained for about one hour to cure the thermosetting urethane resin. Thereafter, the temperature of the cylindrical mold 117 is reduced to a temperature at which the raw material does not cause a crosslinking reaction (around room temperature). Then, without removing the previously cross-linked molded belt from the cylindrical mold 117, while rotating the cylindrical mold 117, a thermosetting urethane rubber and a cross-linking accelerator are injected into the inside of the belt as a liquid material for the surface layer 101 of the intermediate transfer belt 100. I do. 1 after injection
After continuing the rotation for about 0 minutes, the temperature of the cylindrical mold 117 is raised to about 140 ° C., which is the temperature at which the injected raw material causes a crosslinking reaction, and held for about 1 hour. After the urethane rubber layer is completely cured, the temperature is lowered and the centrifugal molding device 110
Is stopped and the belt is removed from the cylindrical mold 117 to obtain a desired belt made of two layers of materials having different properties.

Finally, the air surface 100a of the surface layer 101 on the inner surface side of this belt member is set to the front side, and the contact surface of the base layer 102 on the outer surface side which contacts the inner surface of the cylindrical mold 117 is set to the back surface side. When the sheet is turned upside down and used as the intermediate transfer belt 100, the air surface 100 a is in contact with the photoconductor and the transfer material P.

In the present embodiment, the outer surface layer 101 (urethane rubber layer) after the belt molding has a rubber hardness of 50 degrees (JIS-A), a thickness of 400 μm, and an inner base layer 102 (urethane resin layer) after the crosslinking reaction. Young's modulus about 750MP
a, the thickness was 100 μm, and a belt having a total thickness of 500 μm was obtained. The surface layer 101 and the base layer 102 are controlled by controlling the amount of the raw material charged into the cylindrical mold 117.
Thickness can be adjusted.

The base layer 101 and the surface layer 101 of the intermediate transfer belt 100 are desirably of the same type of material in order to increase the adhesiveness and to form the layer uniformly. This is because if the material of the base layer 102 and the material of the surface layer 101 are largely different, there is a possibility that poor adhesion between the layers occurs. Further, a material whose material hardness changes from a region like rubber to a region like resin according to the method of compounding the liquid raw material is desirable. In order to satisfy such a condition, the intermediate transfer belt 100 according to the present embodiment forms a urethane resin layer using a thermosetting polyurethane resin as a liquid raw material of the base layer 102 as described above, and forms the surface layer 10.
A urethane rubber layer was formed using a thermosetting polyurethane rubber as a liquid material of 1.

It is also possible to continuously form the surface layer 101 without completely curing the base layer 102. While rotating the cylindrical mold 117, the liquid material of the base layer 102 is injected into the inner surface thereof, and a film is uniformly formed by centrifugal force. Then, the liquid material of the surface layer 101 is injected into the inside in a semi-cured state without causing a crosslinking reaction completely, and finally both liquid materials are completely cured at once. As a result, the manufacturing time can be reduced, and the production efficiency of the intermediate transfer belt 100 can be increased.

When the intermediate transfer belt 100 is desired to have a multilayer structure, for example, when a rubber layer having a good grip characteristic is formed before the base layer 102 is formed to increase the frictional force with the belt driving roller, Intermediate transfer belt 1
For example, when a fluorine-based resin layer or the like for improving the releasability of the toner is provided on the surface of No. 00, the above-described steps can be repeated to form a more multilayered intermediate transfer belt 100.

The liquid raw material used in the present embodiment is not limited to the above-mentioned examples, and other materials such as thermosetting resin and rubber, thermoplastic resin and rubber, solvent-soluble resin and rubber, etc. Can be. Representative resins include polycarbonate, polyester, polyamide, polyimide, polyamideimide, polyalkylene terephthalate (polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate), polyolefin, polysulfone, and the like. Typical rubbers include nitrile rubber, butyl rubber, polyurethane, polyurea,
Examples include acrylic rubber, hydrin rubber, chloroprene rubber, fluorine rubber, ethylene propylene rubber, isoprene rubber, silicone rubber (polydimethylsilicone rubber, fluorosilicone rubber, etc.), and thermoplastic elastomers. By combining the above main ingredients,
It can be used as a raw material for a wide variety of applications. In addition,
Since the intermediate transfer belt is required to have predetermined electrical characteristics, the material contains a mixture of powders such as carbon black, Ketjen black, acetylene black, zinc oxide, aluminum oxide, tin oxide, and titanium oxide. Has been adjusted.

The surface layer 1 of the intermediate transfer belt 100
It is important that the material of No. 01 is formed of an elastic material having good adhesion following the irregularities on the surface of the plain paper P, and the preferable hardness of the surface layer 101 is 30 degrees or more. , 70 degrees or less, more preferably 40 degrees or more and 60 degrees or less (both are JIS-A). When the surface layer 101 is softer, the adhesion to the plain paper P is improved even under a low pressure during the secondary transfer. However, when low hardness rubber is used as the material of the surface layer 101, if the rubber hardness is lower than the above range, stickiness called tack is generated on the surface, and the toner particles are adhered to the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 100 due to its adhesiveness. , The transferability to plain paper P is degraded, or the intermediate transfer belt 10
0 makes cleaning difficult. Also,
It is technically difficult to produce a low hardness surface layer. In particular, when the hardness is in the range of 40 degrees or more and 60 degrees or less (JIS-A), the production becomes the easiest and the surface stickiness can be suppressed low, while the hardness of the surface layer 101 is more than the above range. When the secondary transfer becomes large, the adhesion to the plain paper P is deteriorated at the time of the secondary transfer, and the transfer failure is likely to occur.

For the purpose of understanding the present invention, an image was formed on plain paper using the intermediate transfer belt 100, and digital photograph data obtained by photographing the surface of the plain paper with a micro digital scope was output by a color printer. A copy of Reference Photo 1 and Reference Photo 2 shall be attached and submitted to the property submission form.
Reference Photo 1 shows that the surface layer 101 has a rubber hardness of 75 degrees (J
2 is a photograph (magnification: about 30 times) of the surface of plain paper when the material is transferred to plain paper using the material of IS-A). Reference Photo 2 shows that the surface layer 101 has a rubber hardness of 50 degrees (JI
4 is a photograph (magnification: about 30 times) of the surface of the plain paper when the material of (SA) is transferred to plain paper. In Reference Photo 1 and Reference Photo 2, the red-purple portion indicates the toner transferred to plain paper. From the reference photograph 1, it can be seen that in the case of the surface layer 101 having a rubber hardness of 75 degrees, the adhesion to plain paper is poor, the toner does not enter the recesses of the plain paper, and the transferability is poor. On the other hand, from Reference Photo 2 above, in the case of the surface layer 101 having a rubber hardness of 50 degrees, the adhesion to plain paper is good, and the toner enters the recesses of the plain paper, and the toner is transferred well. I understand.

The hardness of the surface layer 101 is important as described above, but the thickness is also important. Surface layer 10
The preferred thickness range of 1 is 50 μm or more and 20 μm or more.
00 μm or less, more preferably 200 μm or more, 600
μm or less. That is, if the thickness of the surface layer 101 is smaller than the above range, a sufficient effect of adhesion to the plain paper P cannot be obtained. On the other hand, if the surface layer 101 is thicker than the above range, the thickness of the intermediate transfer belt 100 itself increases, and the six stretching rollers 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76
When the intermediate transfer belt 100 is stretched around, the expansion and contraction of the surface of the surface layer 101 increases. If the expansion and contraction of the surface of the surface layer 101 increases, the surface may be cracked and damaged, or the toner image may be distorted to deteriorate the image quality. In addition, in order to increase the thickness of the surface layer 101, it is necessary to inject a larger amount of liquid material, and it takes time to inject and crosslink the liquid material, which increases the manufacturing cost and is not a good measure. Table 1 below shows the experimental results of the relationship between the thickness of the surface layer 101 and the transfer characteristics when the surface layer 101 is a rubber layer. As can be seen from the experimental results, the usable range of the thickness of the surface layer 101 is 50 μm.
Or more, 2000 μm or less, preferably 200 μm or more,
It is 600 μm or less. The thickness of the surface layer 101 is 20
At 00 μm, the image is noticeably stretched, but it can be handled by image processing or the like and can be used.

[0092]

[Table 1]

It is important that the material of the intermediate transfer belt 100 does not extend in the circumferential direction, so that the base layer 102 needs to have non-stretchability. Therefore, the hardness of the base layer 102 is set higher than the hardness of the surface layer 101. The base layer 102 has a hardness of at least 75 degrees (JIS-A) or more and a certain thickness (500 μm
) Suppresses the elongation in the circumferential direction.

When the base layer 102 is made of a resin-based material, the strength can be increased even if the base layer 102 is made thin because the Young's modulus is high. The Young's modulus of fluorine resin, such as ETFE (ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer), which is generally used as an intermediate transfer belt, is about 450 MPa, and these resins have a thickness of about 100 to 150 μm. On the other hand, in order to provide the intermediate transfer belt 100 of the present embodiment with the same strength, for example,
When the thickness is about 0 μm, a material having a Young's modulus of about 200 MPa may be used. Actually, since the intermediate transfer belt 100 is desired to be formed as thin as possible, in order to suppress the thickness of the resin layer of the base layer 102 to about 50 μm, a resin having a Young's modulus of 1000 MPa or more may be selected. However, if the Young's modulus is greater than 3000 MPa, the material becomes brittle and breaks easily. Therefore, it is desirable that the Young's modulus of the base layer 102 be 200 Mpa or more and 3000 Mpa or less.

The thickness of the base layer 102 is preferably 30 μm or more and 1000 μm or less, and more preferably 50 μm or more and 150 μm or less. Since the limit for forming a thin and uniform layer by the centrifugal molding method is about 30 μm,
If the thickness of 2 is thinner than the above range, it is affected by the processing accuracy of the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical mold 117, and it is difficult to make the same uniformly. It is possible to improve the processing accuracy of the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical mold 117, but it is not advisable because the cost increases. If the base layer 102 is formed as thin as possible, problems such as curl of the intermediate transfer belt 100 are less likely to occur, but the lower limit for stable production is about 50 μm.
If the thickness is about 100 to 150 μm, it can be manufactured more stably. Although it is desired to secure the strength of the intermediate transfer belt 100, if the material of the base layer 102 can be selected only from a material having a low Young's modulus, the only way to increase the overall strength is to increase the thickness. However, if the thickness range of the base layer 102 exceeds the above range, it is difficult to handle the intermediate transfer belt 100 mechanically (the driving speed of the roller that drives the intermediate transfer belt 100 from the inside and the speed of the surface of the intermediate transfer belt are one Is not a good idea. When the thickness range of the base layer 102 exceeds the above range,
There is a possibility that the surface of the surface layer 101 expands and contracts to a large extent, causing the surface to be cracked and damaged, or the toner image to be distorted to deteriorate the image quality.

Further, the centrifugal molding method according to the present embodiment can be applied as a method for manufacturing an intermediate transfer drum having a smooth surface. For example, by using the centrifugal molding method, a rubber belt or a resin belt having a smooth surface is created, and the belt is fixed to the drum, so that the intermediate transfer drum is manufactured through a conventional polishing process or a surface coating process. Thus, an intermediate transfer drum having a very smooth surface can be produced at low cost.

In particular, the intermediate transfer belt and the intermediate transfer drum of the present embodiment are suitable for use in a liquid electrophotographic apparatus using a liquid toner as a toner that is difficult to transfer due to the surface roughness and unevenness of plain paper. It is effective for improvement.

[Comparative Example 1] Here, FIG.
As shown in (b), after forming the surface layer 121 first and then forming the base layer 122, that is, after forming the belt member through the process of surface layer forming → base layer forming → demolding, the front and back are not reversed. The intermediate transfer belt 120 was manufactured with the surface layer 121 facing the front side as it was, and compared with the intermediate transfer belt 100 according to the above embodiment.

When the surface roughness of each intermediate transfer belt surface was measured, the intermediate transfer belt 100 manufactured by the method of the above embodiment had Rz = 3 μm and Ra = 0.1 μm. In the transfer belt 120, Rz =
10 μm and Ra = 1.2 μm. This is because, in the intermediate transfer belt 100 of the above embodiment, the air surface 100a is on the front side, so that the surface has high smoothness,
In the intermediate transfer belt 120 of this comparative example, the centrifugal molding device 1
This is because the surface roughness of the inner surface of the ten cylindrical mold 117 is directly reflected as the smoothness of the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 120.

[0100]

According to the first to thirteenth aspects of the present invention, a belt member is formed by the centrifugal molding method, and after the belt member is removed from the mold, the belt member is turned upside down to make the air surface the intermediate transfer belt surface. The air surface with high smoothness is on the surface side of the intermediate transfer belt. Thereby, the adhesion to the image carrier and the transfer material is improved, and for example, an intermediate transfer belt that can favorably perform the primary transfer and the secondary transfer even with a toner having a small particle diameter is obtained. Further, the intermediate transfer belt can be cleaned well.

In particular, according to the invention of claim 2, an endless belt member having a two-layer structure is formed by the centrifugal molding method.
Since the belt member is removed from the mold and turned over to make the air surface the intermediate transfer belt surface, the air surface with high smoothness is on the front surface side of the intermediate transfer belt. Thereby, an intermediate transfer belt having a two-layer structure with high surface smoothness can be obtained.

In particular, according to the third aspect of the present invention, before the first liquid material is cured by the centrifugal molding method, the second liquid material is injected, and both liquid materials are cured to form a two-layered material. An endless belt member having a structure is formed, and after removing the belt member, it is turned upside down to make the air surface the intermediate transfer belt surface, so that the air surface with high smoothness is the surface side of the intermediate transfer belt. . Thereby, an intermediate transfer belt having a two-layer structure with high surface smoothness can be obtained. Further, the production time can be shortened and the production efficiency can be improved.

In particular, according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, a belt member having a multilayer structure is formed by the centrifugal molding method, and an intermediate transfer belt having a multilayer structure having desired characteristics can be obtained.

In particular, according to the invention of claim 5, the second
Since the belt layer has elasticity, an intermediate transfer belt that can follow the surface of the transfer material and perform excellent secondary transfer can be obtained. Further, since the hardness of the first belt layer is higher than the hardness of the second belt layer, an intermediate transfer belt capable of preventing circumferential elongation can be obtained.

In particular, according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the first
Only the hardness of the second belt layer is different from that of the first belt layer, and the main constituent components are the same, so that the first belt layer and the second belt layer are in close contact with each other without lifting. Thus, an intermediate transfer belt having a uniform thickness can be obtained.

In particular, according to the invention of claim 7, the hardness of the second belt layer on the surface side of the intermediate transfer belt is 30 or less.
As described above, since the angle is 70 degrees or less (JIS-A), it is possible to prevent transfer failure and cleaning failure of the intermediate transfer belt due to occurrence of tack on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt and deterioration of adhesion to a transfer material, and to manufacture. An easy intermediate transfer belt can be obtained.

In particular, according to the invention of claim 8, the second
Since the thickness of the belt layer is 50 μm or more and 2000 μm or less, the effect of elasticity can be sufficiently obtained. Further, by preventing expansion and contraction of the surface of the second belt layer, damage to the surface and distortion of the toner image can be prevented, and a low-cost intermediate transfer belt can be obtained.

In particular, according to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the second
By using a thermosetting polyurethane rubber as the liquid raw material, the second belt layer can be a urethane rubber layer having a desired hardness from a material having a low hardness to a material having a hardness close to a resin. An intermediate transfer belt is obtained. By setting the hardness of the second belt layer to a hardness that follows the surface of the transfer material, it is possible to perform excellent secondary transfer.

In particular, according to the tenth aspect of the present invention, since the hardness of the first belt layer is 75 degrees (JIS-A) or more, the first belt layer has a non-stretch property, An intermediate transfer belt can be obtained which prevents expansion and contraction of the transfer belt and prevents distortion of the toner image.

In particular, according to the eleventh aspect, the first belt layer has a Young's modulus of 200 MPa or more and 300 MPa or more.
Since it is within the range of 0 MPa or less, an intermediate transfer belt that can prevent the intermediate transfer belt from breaking or expanding and contracting and preventing damage and distortion of the toner image can be obtained.

In particular, according to the invention of claim 12, since the thickness of the first belt layer is 30 μm or more and 1000 μm or less, the first belt layer can be formed with a uniform thickness. Thus, an intermediate transfer belt can be obtained which prevents expansion and contraction of the surface of the second belt layer and prevents damage to the surface and distortion of the toner image.

In particular, according to the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the first liquid material is made of a thermosetting polyurethane resin, so that the first belt layer is made of a material having a low hardness close to that of rubber and having a high hardness. It is possible to obtain an intermediate transfer belt capable of forming a urethane resin layer having a desired hardness up to a high hardness. In particular,
By using the thermosetting polyurethane rubber as the second liquid material, an intermediate transfer belt having good adhesion between the first belt layer and the second belt layer can be obtained.

According to the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, the belt member formed by the centrifugal molding method is removed from the mold and then turned over, so that the air surface is used as the surface of the belt member, and the belt member is mounted on a cylindrical mandrel. Insert and fix. As a result, an intermediate transfer drum having a smoother surface can be obtained at a lower cost than an intermediate transfer drum formed through a conventional surface polishing step or coating step.

According to the inventions of claims 15 to 27, an endless belt member is formed by the centrifugal molding method, and after removing the belt member, the belt member is turned upside down to make the air surface the intermediate transfer belt surface. As described in claim 1, since the air surface with high smoothness is on the surface side of the intermediate transfer belt, the adhesion to the image carrier and the transfer material is improved, and the primary transfer and the secondary transfer are performed well. Can be. Further, the intermediate transfer belt can be cleaned well.

In particular, according to the invention of claim 16, an endless belt member having a two-layer structure is formed by the centrifugal molding method, and after removing the belt member, the belt member is turned upside down and the air surface is changed to the intermediate transfer belt. As described above, the intermediate transfer belt has a two-layer structure having a high surface smoothness.

In particular, according to the invention of claim 17, when the belt member is formed by the centrifugal molding method, the second liquid material is injected before the first liquid material is cured.
As described in claim 3, an intermediate transfer belt having a two-layer structure with high surface smoothness can be formed, and the production time can be shortened to improve the production efficiency.

In particular, according to the eighteenth aspect of the present invention, a belt member having a multilayer structure is formed by the centrifugal molding method, and after removing the belt member, the belt member is turned upside down to make the air surface the intermediate transfer belt surface. , As stated in claim 4,
An intermediate transfer belt having a multilayer structure with high surface smoothness is obtained.

In particular, according to the nineteenth aspect of the present invention, the second belt layer on the surface side of the intermediate transfer belt has elasticity and the first belt layer on the inner surface side of the intermediate transfer belt. Since the hardness of the intermediate transfer belt is higher than the hardness of the second belt layer, good secondary transfer can be performed and the elongation of the intermediate transfer belt in the circumferential direction is suppressed. It becomes possible.

In particular, according to the invention of claim 20, only the hardness of the first belt layer and the hardness of the second belt layer are different.
Since the main components are the same, the first belt layer and the second belt layer can be brought into close contact with each other without lifting, as described in claim 6, and the intermediate transfer belt Can be made uniform in thickness.

In particular, according to the twenty-first aspect, the hardness of the second belt layer is not less than 30 degrees and not more than 70 degrees (JI
Since the ratio is in the range of S-A), as described in claim 7, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of tack on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt and the poor transfer due to the poor adhesion to the transfer material and the poor cleaning of the intermediate transfer belt. As well as ease of manufacture.

In particular, according to the invention of claim 22, since the thickness of the second belt layer is not less than 50 μm and not more than 2000 μm, the effect of elasticity can be sufficiently obtained as described in claim 8. Further, by preventing expansion and contraction of the surface of the second belt layer, damage to the surface and distortion of the toner image are prevented, and a low-cost intermediate transfer belt is obtained.

In particular, according to the invention of claim 23, since the second liquid raw material is a thermosetting polyurethane rubber,
As described with respect to claim 9, the second belt layer is formed from a material having a low hardness to a material having a high hardness close to a resin.
An intermediate transfer belt capable of forming a urethane rubber layer having a desired hardness is obtained. By setting the hardness of the second belt layer to a hardness that follows the surface of the transfer material, it is possible to perform excellent secondary transfer.

In particular, according to the invention of claim 24, the hardness of the first belt layer is at least 75 degrees (JIS-A). The layer has non-stretchability, and can prevent the intermediate transfer belt from expanding and contracting, thereby preventing toner image distortion.

In particular, according to the twenty-fifth aspect, the first belt layer has a Young's modulus of 200 MPa or more and 300 MPa or more.
Since it is in the range of 0 MPa or less, as described with respect to claim 11, the intermediate transfer belt is prevented from being bent or stretched,
Damage and distortion of the toner image can be prevented.

In particular, according to the twenty-sixth aspect of the present invention, the thickness of the first belt layer is 30 μm or more and 1000 μm or less.
Can be formed with a uniform thickness, and the surface of the second belt layer can be prevented from expanding and contracting to prevent damage to the surface and distortion of the toner image.

In particular, according to the twenty-seventh aspect of the present invention, as described in the thirteenth aspect, the first belt layer is formed of a urethane having a desired hardness from a low hardness close to rubber to a high hardness. An intermediate transfer belt that can be used as a resin layer is obtained. Particularly, when the second liquid material is a thermosetting polyurethane rubber, the first belt layer and the second
And an intermediate transfer belt having good adhesion to the belt layer.

According to the twenty-eighth aspect, the first aspect is provided.
Any of the intermediate transfer belts described in Nos. 5 to 27 is fitted into a cylindrical mandrel and fixed to form an intermediate transfer drum. As described above, an intermediate transfer drum having a smoother surface can be obtained at lower cost than a conventional intermediate transfer drum.

According to the twenty-ninth aspect, it is possible to use an intermediate transfer member having high surface smoothness and good adhesion to the image carrier and the transfer material, so that an image can be formed with stable image quality. Can be.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a main part of a wet electrophotographic copying machine according to an embodiment.

FIGS. 2A to 2C are explanatory diagrams showing a state of transfer from an intermediate transfer belt 100 to plain paper P having low smoothness.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a centrifugal molding device.

FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating a state in which the intermediate transfer belt according to the embodiment is manufactured by a centrifugal molding method. (B)
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a state in which an intermediate transfer belt according to a comparative example is manufactured.

FIGS. 5A to 5C are explanatory diagrams showing a state of transfer from a conventional intermediate transfer belt to plain paper P having low smoothness.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10B, Y, M, C Photoconductor drums 20B, Y, M, C Uniform charger 30 Laser writing device 40B, Y, M, C Wet developing unit 50 Static eliminator 60 Cleaning device 70 Intermediate transfer unit 77B, Y, M, C Primary transfer bias roller 80 Paper transfer unit 81 Secondary transfer bias roller 90 Paper fixing device 100 Intermediate transfer belt 101 Surface layer 102 Base layer 110 Centrifugal molding device 117 Cylindrical P Plain paper

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat II (Reference) B29K 101: 10 B29K 101: 10 B29L 29:00 B29L 29:00 F term (Reference) 2H032 BA09 BA18 3J103 AA02 AA14 FA15 FA30 GA02 GA03 GA52 GA57 GA58 HA03 HA41 HA53 4F205 AA42 AA45 AC05 AG03 AG16 AR12 GA02 GB01 GC04 GE02 GF01 GF23 GF27 GF46 GN01 GN29 GW21

Claims (29)

[Claims] An image carrier for forming an electrostatic latent image on a surface thereof; a developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image on the image carrier with a developer;
An intermediate transfer belt to which a toner image on the image carrier developed by the developing device is transferred, and a primary transfer for transferring the toner image on the image carrier onto the intermediate transfer belt; In a method of manufacturing an intermediate transfer belt used in an image forming apparatus for performing a secondary transfer of transferring a toner image on a transfer belt onto a transfer material, a liquid is formed on an inner surface of a centrifugal molding machine while rotating a cylindrical mold. The raw material is injected, the liquid raw material is cured to form an endless belt member, and after demolding, the air surface on the inner surface side of the belt member contacts the inner surface of the mold on the outer surface side and the inner surface of the mold on the outer surface side. A method for manufacturing an intermediate transfer belt, wherein the contact surface is turned upside down and the air surface is used as the surface of the intermediate transfer belt. An image carrier for forming an electrostatic latent image on a surface thereof; a developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image on the image carrier with a developer;
An intermediate transfer belt to which a toner image on the image carrier developed by the developing device is transferred, and a primary transfer for transferring the toner image on the image carrier onto the intermediate transfer belt; In a method for manufacturing an intermediate transfer belt used in an image forming apparatus for performing a secondary transfer of transferring a toner image on a transfer belt onto a transfer material, a cylindrical mold of a centrifugal molding machine is rotated while rotating a cylindrical mold. The first liquid material is injected, the first liquid material is cured to form an endless first belt layer on the inner surface of the mold, and the inner surface of the first belt layer is formed while rotating the mold. The second liquid material is injected, and the second liquid material is cured to form a second belt layer, so that the first belt layer and the second belt layer have different materials. After the member is molded and removed from the mold, air on the inner surface side of the belt member On the surface side, also by reversing the contact surface in contact with the inner surface of the mold surface of the outer surface on the back side, the production method of the intermediate transfer belt, characterized in that the air side with the intermediate transfer belt surface. An image carrier for forming an electrostatic latent image on a surface thereof; a developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image on the image carrier with a developer;
An intermediate transfer belt to which a toner image on the image carrier developed by the developing device is transferred, and a primary transfer for transferring the toner image on the image carrier onto the intermediate transfer belt; In a method for manufacturing an intermediate transfer belt used in an image forming apparatus for performing a secondary transfer of transferring a toner image on a transfer belt onto a transfer material, a cylindrical mold of a centrifugal molding machine is rotated while rotating a cylindrical mold. The liquid raw material of No. 1 is injected, an endless first film is formed on the inner surface of the mold, and the first film is formed while rotating the mold.
The second liquid material is injected into the inner surface of the film to form a second film, and then the liquid material forming the first film and the second film is cured, whereby the first liquid is cured. A belt member having a different structure is formed from a first belt layer formed by curing a film and a second belt layer formed by curing a second film. An intermediate surface, wherein the air surface on the inner surface side of the member is turned over to the front surface, and the contact surface that contacts the inner surface of the mold on the outer surface is turned over to the back surface, and the air surface is used as the intermediate transfer belt surface. A method for manufacturing a transfer belt. 4. The method for manufacturing an intermediate transfer belt according to claim 2, wherein the first and second belt layers are made of different materials from each other before forming the first belt layer. By performing at least one of a pre-process of forming and a post-process of forming a belt layer different from the material of the first belt layer and the second belt layer on the inner surface of the second belt layer, a plurality of processes are performed. Forming a belt member having layers made of different materials from each other. 5. The method according to claim 2, wherein said second belt layer has elasticity, and said first belt layer has a hardness equal to said second belt layer. A method for producing an intermediate transfer belt, wherein the intermediate transfer belt has a hardness higher than the hardness of the intermediate transfer belt. 6. A method of manufacturing an intermediate transfer belt according to claim 2, wherein said first belt layer and said second belt layer are different only in hardness from each other, and have the same main components. A method for producing an intermediate transfer belt. 7. The method for manufacturing an intermediate transfer belt according to claim 2, wherein the hardness of the second belt layer is 30 degrees or more and 70 degrees or less (JIS-A). A method for producing an intermediate transfer belt. 8. The method for manufacturing an intermediate transfer belt according to claim 2, wherein the thickness of the second belt layer is 50 μm or more and 2000 μm or less. A method for manufacturing a transfer belt. 9. The method for manufacturing an intermediate transfer belt according to claim 2, wherein said second liquid material is a thermosetting polyurethane rubber. A method for manufacturing a transfer belt. 10. The method for manufacturing an intermediate transfer belt according to claim 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9, wherein the hardness of the first belt layer is 75 degrees or more (JIS-A). A method of manufacturing an intermediate transfer belt. 11. The method for manufacturing an intermediate transfer belt according to claim 2, wherein the Young's modulus of the first belt layer is 200 MPa or more and 3000 MPa or less.
a. A method for producing an intermediate transfer belt, wherein 12. The method of claim 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,
In the method for producing an intermediate transfer belt according to 9, 10, or 11, the thickness of the first belt layer is set to 30 μm or more,
A method for producing an intermediate transfer belt, characterized in that the thickness is not more than 00 μm. 13. The method of claim 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,
9. The method of manufacturing an intermediate transfer belt according to 9, 10, 11 or 12, wherein the first liquid material is a thermosetting polyurethane resin. 14. An image carrier for forming an electrostatic latent image on a surface thereof,
A developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image on the image carrier with a developer; and an intermediate transfer drum to which a toner image on the image carrier developed by the developing device is transferred. Manufacture of an intermediate transfer drum used in an image forming apparatus that performs primary transfer for transferring the upper toner image onto the intermediate transfer drum and secondary transfer for transferring the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt onto a transfer material 14. A method for manufacturing an intermediate transfer drum, comprising: fixing an intermediate transfer belt manufactured by the method for manufacturing an intermediate transfer belt according to claim 1 to a cylindrical mandrel. 15. An image carrier for forming an electrostatic latent image on a surface thereof,
A developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image on the image carrier with a developer; and an intermediate transfer belt to which a toner image on the image carrier developed by the developing device is transferred. An intermediate transfer belt used in an image forming apparatus that performs primary transfer for transferring the upper toner image onto the intermediate transfer belt and secondary transfer for transferring the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt onto a transfer material; While rotating the cylindrical mold of the centrifugal molding machine,
A liquid raw material is injected into the inner surface of the belt member, and the liquid raw material is cured to form an endless belt member. After demolding, the air surface on the inner surface side of the belt member is on the front surface side, and the outer surface side of the mold is formed. An intermediate transfer belt, characterized in that a contact surface contacting an inner surface is turned upside down to a back surface, and the air surface is obtained as an intermediate transfer belt surface. 16. An image carrier for forming an electrostatic latent image on a surface thereof,
A developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image on the image carrier with a developer; and an intermediate transfer belt to which a toner image on the image carrier developed by the developing device is transferred. An intermediate transfer belt used in an image forming apparatus that performs primary transfer for transferring the upper toner image onto the intermediate transfer belt and secondary transfer for transferring the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt onto a transfer material; While rotating the cylindrical mold of the centrifugal molding machine,
A first liquid material is injected into the inner surface thereof, and the first liquid material is cured to form an endless first belt layer on the inner surface of the mold, and the first belt layer is formed while rotating the mold. Injecting a second liquid material into the inner surface of the material and curing the second liquid material to form a second belt layer, the material of the first belt layer and the material of the second belt layer are different. A belt member having a structure is formed, and after demolding, the air surface on the inner surface side of the belt member is turned to the front side, and the contact surface that contacts the inner surface of the die on the outer surface side is turned upside down to the back side. An intermediate transfer belt characterized in that an air surface is obtained as an intermediate transfer belt surface. 17. An image carrier for forming an electrostatic latent image on a surface thereof,
A developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image on the image carrier with a developer; and an intermediate transfer belt to which a toner image on the image carrier developed by the developing device is transferred. An intermediate transfer belt used in an image forming apparatus that performs primary transfer for transferring the upper toner image onto the intermediate transfer belt and secondary transfer for transferring the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt onto a transfer material; While rotating the cylindrical mold of the centrifugal molding machine,
A first liquid material is injected into the inner surface, an endless first film is formed on the inner surface of the mold, and a second liquid material is injected into the inner surface of the first film while rotating the mold. A first belt layer and a first belt layer formed by curing the first film by curing the liquid material forming the first film and the second film. A second belt layer formed by curing the film 2 is used to form a belt member having a different structure from the material, and after demolding, the inner air side of the belt member is turned to the front side, and the outer side is turned to the outer side. An intermediate transfer belt, wherein the contact surface that contacts the inner surface of the mold is turned upside down to the back side, and the air surface is obtained as the surface of the intermediate transfer belt. 18. The intermediate transfer belt according to claim 16, wherein a belt layer different from the material of the first belt layer and the second belt layer is formed before forming the first belt layer. Performing at least one of a process and a post-process of forming a belt layer different from the material of the first belt layer and the second belt layer on the inner surface of the second belt layer, and An intermediate transfer belt, wherein a belt member having different layers is formed. 19. The intermediate transfer belt according to claim 16, 17 or 18, wherein the second belt layer has elasticity, and the hardness of the first belt layer is smaller than the hardness of the second belt layer. An intermediate transfer belt characterized in that it is also large. 20. An intermediate transfer belt according to claim 16, 17, 18 or 19, wherein said first belt layer and said second belt layer are different only in hardness from each other and have the same main components. Intermediate transfer belt featured. 21. The method of claim 16, 17, 18, 19 or 20.
The hardness of the second belt layer is 30 degrees or more and 70 degrees or less (JIS-A). 22. The intermediate transfer belt according to claim 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, or 21, wherein the thickness of the second belt layer is 50 μm or more and 2000 μm or less. 23. The method of claim 16, 17, 18, 19, 20,
21. The intermediate transfer belt according to 21 or 22, wherein the second liquid material is a thermosetting polyurethane rubber. 24. The method of claim 16, 17, 18, 19, 20,
21. The intermediate transfer belt according to 21, 22, or 23, wherein the hardness of the first belt layer is 75 degrees or more (JIS-A). 25. The method of claim 16, 17, 18, 19, 20,
In the intermediate transfer belt of No. 21, 22, or 23, the first belt layer has a Young's modulus of 200 MPa or more,
An intermediate transfer belt having a pressure of 0 MPa or less. 26. The method of claim 16, 17, 18, 19, 20,
21, 22, 23, 24, or 25, the thickness of the first belt layer is 30 μm or more,
An intermediate transfer belt having a thickness of 000 μm or less. 27. The method of claim 16, 17, 18, 19, 20,
21. The intermediate transfer belt according to 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 or 26, wherein the first liquid material is a thermosetting polyurethane resin. 28. An image carrier for forming an electrostatic latent image on a surface thereof,
A developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image on the image carrier with a developer; and an intermediate transfer drum to which a toner image on the image carrier developed by the developing device is transferred. An intermediate transfer drum used in an image forming apparatus that performs primary transfer for transferring the upper toner image onto the intermediate transfer drum and secondary transfer for transferring the toner image on the intermediate transfer body onto a transfer material; 28. An intermediate transfer drum obtained by inserting and fixing the intermediate transfer belt according to claim 15 into a cylindrical mandrel. 29. An image carrier for forming an electrostatic latent image on a surface thereof,
A developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image on the image carrier with a developer; and an intermediate transfer member to which a toner image on the image carrier developed by the developing device is transferred. In an image forming apparatus for performing primary transfer for transferring the toner image on the intermediate transfer member onto the intermediate transfer member and secondary transfer for transferring the toner image on the intermediate transfer member onto a transfer material, the intermediate transfer member may be used as the intermediate transfer member. Item 1
29. An image forming apparatus using any one of the intermediate transfer belts or the intermediate transfer drum according to any one of items 5 to 28.