JP2002105810A - Plush fabric for cleaning of electrophotographic applied equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a plush fabric for cleaning of electrophotographic applied equipment, in which the plush part is excellent in fatigue resistance and scarcely influenced by the change of environment such as temperature and humidity, capable of a keeping good cleaning performance for a long period, and a method for producing the plush fabric and provide a cleaning brush by using the above plush fabric. SOLUTION: In this plush fabric for cleaning of electrophotographic applied equipment, (i) plush yarn of plush fabric for cleaning is composed of flat cross- section fibers having bulky twist crimp structure and (ii) plushing length (L) of plush yarn is 2 to 20 mm and (iii) compressibility (C) of plush part is 10 to 15%. This cleaning brush is obtained by using the plush fabric.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a napped fabric used for cleaning electrophotographic equipment and a method for producing the same, and a cleaning brush for the electrophotographic equipment using the napped fabric. More specifically, the present invention provides a napped fabric for cleaning electrophotographic application equipment, a method of manufacturing the napped fabric, and the napped portion, wherein the napped portion is made of a flat cross-section fiber having a bulky torsion crimp structure. It relates to a cleaning brush. The napping cloth for cleaning of the present invention has excellent set resistance, and is not easily affected by environmental changes such as temperature and humidity, and has excellent stability. It can be used repeatedly while maintaining the cleaning performance.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Copiers, printers, facsimile machines, and the like are typical examples of electrophotographic application equipment. In recent years, technological innovations such as high performance, high speed, downsizing, and compounding have been remarkable. In these electrophotographic applied devices, there is a step of removing the toner remaining on the photoreceptor after the transfer step as a cleaning step. If cleaning is insufficient, the toner remaining on the photoreceptor has a photosensitive characteristic. And the recording quality deteriorates as a result. Known methods for cleaning the toner remaining on the photoreceptor include a method using a contact-type brush, a method using a rubber blade, a method using a winding web, and a method using an elastic roller. . Among those methods, among the methods using a contact type brush, there is a method using a brush manufactured by using a napping cloth.

[0003] Conventionally, as a napped fabric for a cleaning brush, rayon containing conductive carbon black,
Napped fabrics manufactured using nylon fibers and polyester fibers are often used. However, rayon and nylon fibers are susceptible to environmental changes in temperature and humidity, and there is a problem that the cleaning performance of a cleaning brush using the same is affected by temperature and humidity and is not constant. In addition, polyester fibers are less affected by environmental changes such as temperature and humidity, but have too high convergence, and the porosity increases when brushed. There is a problem in the stability and the like.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems in a cleaning brush manufactured using a napped fabric, to provide a napped part with excellent sag resistance, temperature and humidity. Electrophotography that is not easily affected by environmental changes and has excellent stability during repeated use, and can maintain good cleaning performance stably for a long time without being affected by environmental changes such as temperature and humidity. An object of the present invention is to provide a napping cloth for cleaning of applied equipment and a cleaning brush made of the napping cloth.

[0005]

As a result of repeated studies by the present inventors to achieve the above-mentioned object, in a napped fabric for cleaning of electrophotographic application equipment, the napped portion is formed with a predetermined flatness and a predetermined twist. Having a pitch, a flat cross-section fiber having a bulky twisted crimp structure, and having the nap length and the nap portion compression ratio in a specific numerical range, have excellent sag resistance and are subject to environmental changes such as temperature and humidity. Less susceptible, and has excellent stability when used repeatedly.
It has been found that a cleaning cloth and a cleaning brush for electrophotographic application equipment can be obtained. Further, the present inventors have found that the flat cross-section fiber having a bulky twist crimp structure constituting the nap of the napping cloth for cleaning is manufactured smoothly by using a bonding type conjugate fiber,
When conductive fibers are used as part of the nap portion and / or ground structure in the nap fabric, static electricity can be removed at the time of cleaning, so that the cleaning performance is further improved, and the nap fabric for cleaning having the above-mentioned excellent characteristics. Is manufactured by using a flat cross-section fiber having a specific torsional shrinkage factor as a napping fiber, producing a napping fabric, and heat-treating the napping fabric to develop a bulky torsional crimp structure in the nap portion. The inventors have found that the present invention has been completed based on those findings.

That is, the present invention provides: (1) a raised napping cloth for electrophotographic application equipment, wherein the napping in the cleaning napping cloth has a bulky twist crimp. The flat cross-section fiber having the bulky torsion crimp structure, which is composed of the flat cross-section fiber having a structure, and which constitutes the nap, has a flatness (w / d) [where w
Indicates the maximum width (μm) in the fiber cross section, and d indicates the maximum thickness (μm) in the fiber cross section.
5, and the twist pitch (P) (mm) is:
L / 10 ≦ P (mm) ≦ L [where L is the nap length (mm)
(Ii) The nap length (L) of the nap in the nap cloth is 2 to 2.
And (iii) the compression ratio (C) of the raised portion obtained from the following formula (I) is 10 to 15%;

[0007]

[Expression 4] Compressibility (%) = {(D ₁ −D ₂ ) / D ₁ } × 100 (I) [where D ₁ is a raised fabric under the conditions of a temperature of 20 ° C. and a humidity of 65% RH] Indicates the thickness (mm) of the nap portion of the nap cloth when a load of 10 g / cm ² is left from the upper part of the napkin for 1 minute, and D ₂ removes the load and replaces it with a load of 200 g / cm ² . Indicates the thickness (mm) of the nap portion when left for 1 minute under the conditions of a temperature of 20 ° C. and a humidity of 65% RH from the top of the nap cloth. ] The cleaning upholstery cloth for electrophotographic application equipment characterized by satisfying the following.

Further, the present invention provides (2) a cleaning method for electrophotographic application equipment according to the above (1), wherein the flat cross-section fiber having a bulky torsion crimp structure constituting the nap in the napping cloth is a laminated composite fiber. (3) The nap in the nap cloth has a flatness (w / d) of 2.5 to 1.
5 and the following formula (II):

[0009]

## EQU5 ## Twist shrinkage (%) = {(L ₂ −L ₁ ) / L ₂ } × 100 (II) (where L ₁ is 90 in a state where a load of 1 mg / dtex is hung on one end of the fiber. After immersion in hot water of ℃ for 30 minutes,
Remove from hot water and keep the same load at 20 ℃
Indicates the length of the fiber after drying at 20 ° C. and 65% RH, and L ₂ is 1 m suspended from the dried fiber.
Remove the g / dtex load and replace with 50 mg / d
It shows the fiber length when measured at 20 ° C. and 65% RH in air with a tex load suspended. The flat cross-section fiber having a torsional shrinkage ratio of 3 to 40% determined from the above) is used as a napping fiber, and the flat cross-section fiber is formed by expressing a bulky twist crimp structure by heat treatment. (4) The napping cloth for cleaning electrophotographic application equipment according to the above (1) or (2); (4) The napping cloth and / or (1) to () wherein conductive fibers are used as at least part of the ground structure in the napping cloth. 3) The napping cloth for cleaning electrophotographic application equipment according to any one of the above, and (5) the napping section, or the napping section and the napping section and the ground structure formed of polyester fibers.
(4) A brushed cloth for cleaning electrophotographic application equipment according to any of (4);

The present invention provides (6) flatness (w /
d) [where w indicates the maximum width (μm) in the fiber cross section and d indicates the maximum thickness (μm) in the fiber cross section]
Is in the range of 2.5 to 15, and the following formula (II);

[0011]

[Equation 6] Twist shrinkage (%) = {(L ₂ −L ₁ ) / L ₂ } × 100 (II) (where L ₁ is 90 with a load of 1 mg / dtex suspended on one end of the fiber) After immersion in hot water of ℃ for 30 minutes,
Remove from hot water and keep the same load at 20 ℃
Indicates the length of the fiber after drying at 20 ° C. and 65% RH, and L ₂ is 1 m suspended from the dried fiber.
Remove the g / dtex load and replace with 50 mg / d
It shows the fiber length when measured at 20 ° C. and 65% RH in air with a tex load suspended. ), Using a flat cross-section fiber having a torsional shrinkage ratio in the range of 3 to 40% as a fiber for the napping portion, producing a napping fabric, and then heating the napping fabric to give the nap a bulky twist crimp structure. A method for producing a napping cloth for cleaning an electrophotographic application device having naps comprising flat cross-sectional fibers having a bulky twisted crimp structure, characterized in that the napping cloth is expressed.

Further, the present invention provides (7) the above (1) to
(5) A cleaning brush for an electrophotographic application device, wherein the cleaning brush is used.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail. The napped fabric for cleaning of the present invention is an napped fabric used as a cleaning brush for removing toner and the like remaining on a photoreceptor in an electrophotographic application device such as a copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile.

In the napped fabric for cleaning (pile cloth for cleaning) of the present invention, the napped portions constituting the napped portions are:
It is necessary to be formed from a fiber having a flat cross section having a flatness (w / d) in the range of 2.5 to 15 (flat cross section fiber), and the flatness is 3.5 to 8 It is preferably formed from fibers having a flat cross-section of 0.02. If the flatness of the flat cross-section fiber constituting the nap is less than 2.5, the cross-section of the fiber becomes close to a circle, the twist crimp structure becomes difficult to develop, and the sag resistance becomes poor, Cleaning performance decreases. On the other hand, when the flatness of the flat cross-sectional fibers constituting the nap is more than 15, the twisted crimp structure is hardly developed, and the rigidity of the fibers themselves is lost, resulting in poor sag resistance. Performance decreases. Here, “the flatness (w / d) of the flat cross-section fiber constituting the nap” in the present specification.
The term “flatness” refers to the flatness of a flat cross-section fiber exhibiting a bulky torsion crimp structure. Referring to FIG. 1 showing the cross-sectional shape of the fiber, the maximum width w (μm ) Is divided by the maximum fiber thickness d (μm). In the napped fabric for cleaning of the present invention, the flat cross-sectional fibers constituting the napped portions have almost no difference in the flatness between before and after the appearance of the bulky torsion crimp structure, and generally, the appearance of the bulky torsion crimp structure. The flatness of the subsequent flat cross-section fiber is approximately 0.95 to 1.0 times the flatness of the flat cross-section fiber before the appearance of the bulky torsion crimp structure.

In the napping fabric for cleaning of the present invention, the cross-sectional shape of the flat cross-section fiber constituting the nap is not particularly limited as long as its flatness is in the range of 2.5 to 15 described above. A substantially rectangular shape as shown in FIG.
An array type (dog bone type) as shown in FIG. 1 (b), an array type with a convex portion at the center as shown in FIG. 1 (c), and a length as shown in FIG. 1 (d) Elliptical shapes and the like can be mentioned. Among them, the cross-sectional shape of the flat cross-sectional fiber constituting the nap is an array type having a convex portion at the center as shown in (c) of FIG. 1, (a) of FIG.
In (b), (d), etc., the cross-sectional shape is such that many protrusions are provided on the fiber surface to prevent the fibers from adhering to each other (point contact type). , Bulkiness and the like are preferred.

In the napping cloth for cleaning of the present invention, the flat cross-section fibers constituting the napping are not linear,
It has a bulky twist crimp structure. Here, the “bulky twist crimp structure” in the present invention means that, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, a flat cross-section fiber constituting a nap is crimped (curled) while being twisted in the length direction of the fiber. It means that it has a bulky structure. In a flat cross-section fiber having a bulky twist crimp structure constituting a nap, its twist pitch (P) (mm), that is, as shown in FIG. 2, the distance between adjacent valleys of the crimp structure (peaks and peaks) (P) is in the range of L / 10 ≦ P (mm) ≦ L [where L indicates the nap length (mm)], and the twist pitch (P) is 0.2 to 12 mm. Is preferably within the range. When the twist pitch (P) in the flat cross-section fiber constituting the nap is shorter than one-tenth of the nap length (L), the nap is hardly provided with bulkiness, sag resistance, and elasticity. On the other hand, even if the nap length is longer than the nap length (L), it is difficult for the nap portion to have bulkiness, sag resistance and elasticity, and the cleaning performance is reduced. In the napping cloth for cleaning of the present invention in which the nap length (L) of the nap portion is 2 to 20 mm, by having the above-mentioned twist pitch (P), the number of twists (K) obtained by the formula: K = 1 / P Is usually about 1 to 10 per 1 mm of the nap.

The twist pitch (P) constituting the nap is L
The flat cross-section fiber having a bulky twist crimp structure in the range of / 10 to L has a flatness (w / d) in the range of 2.5 to 15 and a twist shrinkage ratio determined from the above formula (II). After the nap fabric is manufactured using the flat cross-section fiber in the range of 3 to 40% as the napping fiber, the nap fabric is subjected to a heat treatment to allow the nap portion to exhibit a bulky twist crimp structure, thereby obtaining a smooth. be able to. In the case of using a fiber having a flat cross-sectional fiber having a twist shrinkage of less than 3% as a fiber for raising the nap during the production of the nap, when the nap is subjected to a heat treatment, the twist is small and the nap is kept straight. And it is difficult to form a nap portion having excellent sag resistance. On the other hand, when the napping fiber used in the production of the napping fabric has a twisted contraction rate of the flat cross-section fiber of more than 40%, the nap portion becomes a strongly crimped state during the heat treatment and is cleaned. The function is lost, and the ability to remove toner and the like remaining on the photoreceptor tends to be poor.

The napped hair in the napped cloth for cleaning of the present invention has a flatness (w / d) in the range of 2.5 to 15 and a twist pitch (P) in the range of L / 10 to L10.
As long as it is formed of a flat cross-section fiber having a bulky torsion crimp structure in the range of L, it may be formed from any fiber. However, the flat cross-section fiber having a bulky torsion crimp structure is shown in FIG. As illustrated in (a) to (d), two types of A component and B component having different shrinkage performances, and preferably A component and B component having a difference in shrinkage ratio of 2% or more, were bonded to the left and right. It is formed smoothly from a laminated conjugate fiber having a flat cross-sectional shape. The A component and the B component constituting the bonded composite fiber may be any of polyester, polyolefin, polyamide, and other polymers capable of forming a fiber, and a mixture thereof.
It may be a composite or contain up to 20% by weight of additives. The bonded conjugate fiber used for forming the nap portion is hardly affected by environmental changes such as temperature and humidity, and is preferably formed of a polyester having excellent handleability. The bonded composite fiber used as the component B is more preferably used.

Although not limited, preferred examples of the laminated conjugate fiber constituting the nap in the nap cloth of the present invention include the following. A bonded conjugate fiber in which the A component is polyethylene terephthalate (PET) having an intrinsic viscosity [η] ≧ 0.6, and the B component is a PET having an intrinsic viscosity [η] smaller than the A component by 0.1 or more. A bonded conjugate fiber in which the component A is a polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) having an intrinsic viscosity [η] ≧ 0.75, and the component B is a PBT having an intrinsic viscosity [η] smaller than the component A by 0.1 or more. PET in which the component A is substantially composed of ethylene terephthalic acid units and the proportion of other copolymerized units is less than 3 mol%
Wherein the B component has 3 to 15 mol% of other copolymerized units.
Laminated conjugate fiber that is ET. PBT in which the component A is substantially composed of butylene terephthalic acid units and the proportion of other copolymerized units is less than 3 mol%
Wherein the B component has 3 to 15 mol% of other copolymerized units.
Laminated conjugate fiber which is BT. A laminated conjugate fiber in which component A is PET and component B is PBT. A bonded conjugate fiber in which component A is PET and component B is a mixture of PET and PBT.

In the bonded conjugate fiber described in the above (3) and (4), other copolymerized units which can be contained in PET or PBT include, for example, isophthalic acid,
Examples include units derived from adipic acid, sebacic acid, diethylene glycol, propylene molecular weight, neopentyl glycol, sulfoisophthalic acid, 1,4-butanediol, and the like, and one or more of these copolymer units may be used. Can have. In addition, the above (1) to
The PET and / or PBT listed in (6) may be used, if necessary, in a small amount (preferably 5% by mass), for example, by filling one or more of matting agents, heat stabilizers, pigments, carbon black, silica and the like. %).

The ratio of the A component and the B component in the bonded conjugate fiber as exemplified in FIG. 1 depends on the cross-sectional shape, flatness, types of the A component and the B component constituting the bonded conjugate fiber, and the like. In general, when the A component and the B component are bonded at a mass ratio of 1: 1 to 1: 2, the expression of the bulky torsion crimp structure becomes good, and the spinnability is good. Preferred from the point.

The method of producing the laminated conjugate fiber having a flat cross-sectional shape in which the component A and the component B are laminated is not particularly limited, and can be produced according to a conventionally known method. For example, a fiber-forming polymer stream comprising the A component,
The fiber-forming polymer stream constituting the component B is combined into a composite stream on the left and right sides, for example, by spinning from a nozzle as shown in FIGS. At that time, the composite stream of the component A and the component B may be formed before discharging from the nozzle, or may be formed immediately after discharging from the nozzle. The flat cross-section fiber spun from the nozzle is preferably stretched after or during drawing, and the drawing ratio is 1.1 to 1.1.
A magnification of 5.0 is preferably employed.

A component and B in producing flat cross section fiber
By selecting and adjusting the combination with the components, the nozzle shape, the spinning conditions, the drawing conditions, the stretching conditions, etc., the torsional shrinkage represented by the above formula (II) is in the range of 3 to 40% and is flat. Flat cross-section fibers (raw yarns) for naps having a degree in the range of 2.5 to 15 can be produced. After using this flat cross-section fiber as a napping fiber to produce a napping fabric, by heating the napping fabric, a bulky twist crimp structure is developed in the nap portion, and the flatness is 2.5 to 15. Within the range and twist pitch (P)
(Mm) is the same value as 1/10 to the nap length (L) of the nap length (L), and the compression ratio (C) of the nap portion is 3 to 40%.
Of the present invention can be produced smoothly. The temperature of the heat treatment for developing the bulky torsion crimp structure in the nap portion of the nap fabric is generally from the glass transition point (Tg) of the low-melting polymer component of the flat cross-section fiber constituting the nap to the glass transition point. A temperature in the range of the point (Tg) + 80 ° C. is preferably employed.

In the napping cloth for cleaning of the present invention, the thickness of the flat cross-section fiber constituting the napping is not particularly limited. However, in general, the single fiber fineness of 1 to 6 dtex indicates that the sag resistance, It is preferable from the viewpoint of cleaning properties and the like, and more preferably 2 to 4 dtex.

In the napping cloth for cleaning of the present invention, the nap length (ie, the distance from the root of the nap to the tip of the nap) (L) of the nap made of a flat cross-section fiber having a bulky torsion crimp structure is 2 to 20 mm. It is preferably from 3 to 10 mm. If the nap length (L) is less than 2 mm, the cleaning performance is reduced. On the other hand, if the nap length is more than 20 mm, the nap is easily collapsed, the sag resistance is lowered, and the cleaning performance is also lowered.

In the napping fabric for cleaning of the present invention, the napping may be in the form of a cut pile having a cut end or a loop pile having a looped end. From the viewpoint of cleaning performance, elasticity, and the like, it is preferable to use a cut pile form.

In the napped fabric, as the compression ratio of the napped portion is small, the napped portion is not deformed (decreased in thickness) due to compression, and is excellent in sag resistance and durability. If it is too much, the rigidity of the fibers constituting the nap becomes too high, and the photoreceptor is easily damaged during cleaning. From this point, in the napping fabric for cleaning of the present invention, the compression ratio (C) of the nap portion obtained from the above formula (I) is 1
It needs to be 0 to 15%, and preferably 10 to 13%. When the compression ratio (C) of the nap is less than 10%, the rigidity of the flat cross-section fiber constituting the nap becomes too high, and the photoreceptor is easily damaged. And the cleaning performance is reduced.

In a conventional napped fabric for cleaning having a napped portion made of a polyester fiber having a round cross section, the compression ratio (C) measured in the same manner as described above is generally 30% or more. In the conventional napped fabric for cleaning having the napped portions, the compression ratio (C) measured in the same manner as described above is generally about 28%. Therefore, when compared with such a conventional napped cloth for cleaning, the napped cloth for cleaning of the present invention in which the compression ratio (C) of the napped part is 10 to 15% is much smaller than that of the conventional napped cloth for cleaning. The nap portion is less deformed and sagged due to excellent sag resistance, and the nap portion is not too hard and has moderate flexibility, without damaging the photoreceptor,
It can be cleaned well.

In the napping cloth for cleaning of the present invention, the napping density in the nap portion is not particularly limited, and can be selected according to the single fiber fineness, cross-sectional shape, shrinkage ratio, etc. of the flat cross-sectional fibers constituting the nap. When the single fiber fineness of the flat cross-sectional fibers constituting the nap is in the range of 1 to 6 dtex, the nap density in the nap is about 8000 to 23,000 fibers / cm ² , and the compression ratio (C ) Is preferably adjusted in the above range of 10 to 15%, and more preferably 15,000 to 2,000 lines / cm ² .

The napping cloth for cleaning according to the present invention may be either a woven or knitted fabric, and may be a woven or knitted fabric, as long as the above requirements (i) to (iii) are satisfied. The type of tissue is not particularly limited, but is preferably a double woven fabric or a warp-knitted fabric from the viewpoints of, for example, the resistance of the raised hair to pull-out, the ease of manufacturing the raised fabric, and the quality of the raised hair. In the napped fabric for cleaning of the present invention, the type of the fiber forming the ground structure is not particularly limited, and may be the same as or different from the fiber constituting the napped. In general, the nap portion is composed of the above-described flat cross-section fiber,
The formation of the ground structure from ordinary synthetic fibers having a round cross section (for example, polyester fibers, polyamide fibers, and polyolefin fibers having a round cross section) and the like is advantageous in terms of the ease, cost, and quality of the napped fabric. Is preferred.

In the napping cloth for cleaning of the present invention, if conductive fibers are used as at least a part of one or both of the flat cross-section fibers constituting the nap and the fibers constituting the ground structure, the photoreceptor can be cleaned at the time of cleaning. Static electricity can be removed at the same time, and cleaning performance is further improved. Examples of the conductive fiber include a fiber to which conductive carbon black particles are added, a fiber to which metal powder is added, and the like. In addition, when an antistatic agent is contained (kneaded) or adhered to the fiber surface in the flat cross-section fiber constituting the nap, static electricity can be removed at the same time during cleaning.

Roller brushes and flat brushes are generally known as cleaning brushes for removing toner and the like remaining on a photoreceptor of an electrophotographic application device.
The roller brush is produced by winding a nap cloth around a roller in a biased manner and fixing it with a binder.
Further, the flat brush is manufactured by fixing a raised fabric to a plate-like base material with a binder or the like. The napping cloth for cleaning of the present invention can be used for both a roller brush and a flat brush. Therefore, the present invention includes a cleaning brush using the napping cloth for cleaning of the present invention within the scope of the present invention.

The method for producing the napped fabric for cleaning of the present invention is not particularly limited, and it may be produced by any method capable of producing the napped fabric satisfying the requirements (i) to (iii) described above. Furthermore, the method of manufacturing the cleaning brush of the present invention is not particularly limited, and if a cleaning brush is manufactured using the cleaning napped fabric of the present invention,
It may be produced by any method. Although not limited, the napped fabric for cleaning and the cleaning brush of the present invention can be manufactured, for example, as follows.

That is, a flat cross-section fiber having a flatness of 2.5 to 15, preferably a flat cross-section fiber having a flatness of 2.5 to 15 and a torsional shrinkage ratio of 3 to 40% as described above. A flat cross-section fiber (preferably a filament yarn) before the twisted bulky twist crimp structure is developed is used as a napping fiber, and a yarn made of a normal fiber (eg, a polyester round cross-section fiber or the like) is used as a ground tissue fiber. After fabricating a double-woven fabric or a double-Russell-structured fabric, the fabric is cut (sliced) at the center in the thickness direction to produce a napped fabric, or a napped fabric is implanted in a single woven or knitted fabric. After directly manufacturing the napped cloth, the back of the napping is treated with a backing material such as rubber latex to prevent the napping of the nap, and if necessary, at an appropriate temperature (for example, 100 to 140). ) In the dry. Next, the napped fabric obtained above is heated to a temperature equal to or higher than the glass transition point (Tg) of the flat cross-section fiber constituting the napped, preferably from Tg to Tg + 8.
By performing a heat treatment at a temperature in the range of 0 ° C. to develop a bulky twisted crimp structure in the raised portion, the cleaning brushed fabric of the present invention having a brush formed of flat cross-sectional fibers having a bulky twisted crimp structure is manufactured. You. At this time, when the flat cross-sectional fiber constituting the nap is a polyester fiber, especially when the two types of polyester are the laminated conjugate fibers described above in which the two components are the A component and the B component, the bulkiness is high. When the heat treatment for developing the twist crimp structure is generally performed at 100 to 180 ° C.,
A bulky torsion crimp structure can be favorably expressed. The heat treatment for exhibiting the bulky torsion crimp structure can be performed using heated steam, hot air, radiant heat, or the like, but is preferable in terms of uniformity of the heated treatment with the heated steam.

The heat treatment for exhibiting the bulky twist crimp structure in the flat cross-section fibers constituting the nap is performed before or after the nap cloth is attached to the roller or plate-like substrate for the cleaning brush. May go. From the viewpoint of workability at the time of manufacturing the cleaning brush, for example, the latter method of performing heat treatment after winding or attaching to a roller for a cleaning brush or a plate-like substrate is preferably adopted. The heat treatment causes the nap to develop a twisted crimp structure. When napping cloth before or after the expression of the bulky torsion crimp structure is wound around a roller, the napping cloth is cut into a biased narrow band, and then it is wound around the roller in a biased manner. In addition, the napped fabric can be uniformly and firmly wound around the roller.

When the raised portion is sheared during and / or after the heat treatment for exhibiting the bulky torsion crimp structure, the raised hair is evenly aligned, and the napted fabric or the nap fabric which is more excellent in the cleaning performance is attached. A cleaning brush can be obtained. Further, when at least a part of the napped fabric and / or the ground structure of the napped fabric is formed using conductive fibers, a backing agent for the napped fabric, a binder for fixing the napped fabric to a roller or a plate-like base, It is preferable to use a conductive material as a roller or a plate-like substrate on which the cloth is adhered, so that the static electricity charged on the photoreceptor or the like can be removed more favorably.

[0037]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be specifically described below with reference to examples and the like, but the present invention is not limited to the following examples.
In the following examples, the torsional shrinkage of the fibers used to form the naps in the napping fabric (the fibers before the bulky torsion crimp structure is developed), and the napping fabric (the napping fabric after the bulky torsion crimp structure is developed) ( The compression ratio (C) of the nap portion of the cleaning brush) was measured by the method described above. Further, the intrinsic viscosity [η] of the polyester used in the production of the napping fiber, the napping fiber (the fiber before the bulky torsion crimp structure is developed) and the flatness (w) of the fiber after the bulky torsion crimp structure is developed. / D), the length of the nap (L), the measurement (calculation) of the twist pitch (P) (mm) of the nap, and the evaluation of the set resistance and cleaning performance of the nap in the finally obtained cleaning brush are as follows. I went as follows.

(1) Intrinsic viscosity [η] of polyester: Measured by using a Ubbelohde viscometer in a thermostat at 30 ° C. using a mixed solvent of equal weights of phenol and tetrachloroethane.

(2) Flatness (w /
d): In Examples 1 to 3 and Comparative Examples 1 and 2 below, a nap cloth (a nap cloth before a bulky torsion crimp structure is developed) before being wound on a stainless steel round bar and a nap cloth manufactured using the nap cloth. For each of the cleaning brushes (the napping fabric expressing the bulky torsion crimp structure), an arbitrary cross section of the fiber constituting the nap is photographed using an optical electron microscope, and the maximum width (w) and the maximum width are obtained. The thickness (d) was measured to calculate the flatness (w / d). The flatness was calculated by repeating the same operation as described above for 20 arbitrary cross-sections of the fibers constituting the nap, and the average value of the 20 fibers was taken as the flatness.

(3) Napped length: In the following Examples 1 to 3 and Comparative Examples 1 and 2, the napped fabric before being wound around a stainless steel round bar (the napped fabric before a bulky torsion crimp structure is developed) and the napped fabric An enlarged photograph was taken with an electron microscope of each of the cleaning brushes (the nappied cloths after developing the bulky torsion crimp structure) manufactured using the cloth, and the nap length (L) was measured using a ruler. As shown in Table 2, measurements were made at random 20 points, and the average value was taken as the nap length (L).

(4) Twist pitch (P) in piloerection:
In the following Examples 1 to 3 and Comparative Examples 1 and 2, taking an electron micrograph of the length direction of the nap in the finally obtained cleaning brush (the nap cloth after expressing the bulky torsion crimp structure), As shown in FIG. 2, the distance (P) between the valleys of the crimp was measured, and the same measurement was performed randomly at 20 places, and the average was taken as the twist pitch (P).

(5) Set resistance of nap on cleaning brush: The nap on the cleaning brush was compressed 500 times under a load of 75 g / cm ² , and the thickness reduction rate after 2 minutes of deloading was examined. When the reduction rate is 0 to 1%, the set resistance is extremely good (（). When the reduction rate is more than 1% and less than 3%, the set resistance is good (○).
%, The set resistance is slightly poor (を), 5%
The case where it was above was evaluated that the sag resistance was poor (x).

(6) Cleaning performance of the cleaning brush: The cleaning performance of the cleaning brush was examined by the toner removal rate. When the toner removal rate was 95% or more, the cleaning performance was extremely good (◎), 90%
The cleaning performance is good (○) when the cleaning performance is not less than 95% and slightly poor (△) when the cleaning performance is 85% or more and less than 90%, and poor (x) when the cleaning performance is less than 85% and less than 85%. Assessed that there is.

Example 1 (1) Polyethylene terephthalate (Intrinsic viscosity [η]
= 0.65) as the component A and isophthalic acid in 8
Using polyethylene terephthalate copolymerized by mol% (intrinsic viscosity [η] = 0.66) as the component B, the component A and the component B are shown in FIG. 3 at a composite ratio (mass ratio) of 1: 1. Melt-spinning while bonding at a temperature of 260 ° C. from the nozzle, and winding at a speed of 1000 m / min.
After producing a flat cross-sectional fiber (multifilament) having a flatness (w / d) of 3.8 having a cross-sectional shape shown in FIG.
The flat cross-section fiber is stretched in two steps under the following conditions to obtain 83d
A multifilament yarn consisting of flat fibers of tex / 24 filaments was produced. When the torsional shrinkage of this multifilament yarn was measured by the method described above,
It was 20% as shown in Table 1 below. [Stretching conditions] Using a first roller at a temperature of 77 ° C., a second roller at a temperature of 90 ° C., and a third roller at a room temperature,
Two-stage stretching was performed under the conditions of a stage stretching ratio of 1.9 times and a second stage stretching ratio of 1.6 times. (2) Using the multifilament yarn obtained in the above (1) as a napping yarn, and using a yarn made of regular polyester fiber as a ground tissue yarn, a double raschel fabric (a fabric weight of 0.1 g / m2) ² ) After the production, the fabric was cut (sliced) at the center in the thickness direction to produce a napped fabric, and a rubber latex was applied to the back surface of the napped portion to prevent the napping of the nap portion, and a backing treatment was performed. After drying, a backing-treated napping fabric was produced. When the nap length of this nap cloth was measured by the method described above, it was 4.5 mm as shown in Table 1 below.

(3) The napped fabric obtained in the above (2) is cut into a 1.5-cm-wide band shape in a biased manner, and a conductive hot-melt adhesive is applied to the back side thereof, and the diameter is 4 mm.
After being wound in a biased manner around a stainless steel rod (for roller brush), heat treatment is performed using heated steam at a temperature of 100 to 105 ° C. to make the raised hair exhibit a bulky torsion crimp structure and to attach the raised fabric to the stainless steel rod. Thus, a roller-shaped cleaning brush was manufactured. The flatness (w /
When the d) and the nap length (L) of the nap portion were measured by the above-described method, they were 3.8 and 4.1 mm, respectively, as shown in Table 1 below. Next, the roller-shaped cleaning brush obtained as described above was subjected to a shearing treatment, so that the raised hairs were evenly arranged. (4) With respect to the cleaning brush after the shearing treatment obtained in the above (3), the compression ratio (C) of the raised portion of the cleaning brush
Was measured by the method described above, and its sag resistance and cleaning performance were evaluated by the method described above.
It was as shown in Table 1 below.

Example 2 (1) Polyethylene terephthalate (Intrinsic viscosity [η]
= 0.55) as the component A and isophthalic acid in 8
Using polyethylene terephthalate (intrinsic viscosity [η] = 0.55) copolymerized with 2 mol% and 2 mol% as the B component, the A component and the B component were mixed at a composite ratio (mass ratio) of 1: 1 in FIG. Melt spinning from the nozzle shown in (c) while bonding at a temperature of 260 ° C., winding at a speed of 1000 m / min, and flatness having a cross-sectional shape shown in (c) in FIG.
After producing the flat cross-section fiber (multifilament) of No. 5, the flat cross-section fiber was drawn in two steps under the same drawing conditions as in Example 1 to produce a multifilament yarn of 83 dtex / 24 filaments. The torsional shrinkage of the multifilament yarn was measured by the method described above, and was 3% as shown in Table 1 below. (2) After using the multifilament yarn obtained in the above (1) as a napping yarn and otherwise producing a napping fabric in the same manner as in (2) of Example 1, a backing treatment was performed using rubber latex. Then, a backing-treated napping fabric was manufactured. When the nap length of this nap cloth was measured by the method described above, it was 4.5 mm as shown in Table 1 below.
Met.

(3) A roller-shaped cleaning brush was manufactured in the same manner as in (3) of Example 1 using the napping cloth obtained in (2).
The flatness (w / d) of the nap and the nap length (C) of the nap in the cleaning brush thus obtained were measured by the above-described method. As shown in Table 1 below, 2.5 and 4. 3 mm. The roller-shaped cleaning brush obtained in this manner was used in Example 1 (3).
In the same manner as in the above, shirring treatment was carried out to uniformly arrange the pilo-erected hair. (4) With respect to the cleaning brush after the shearing treatment obtained in the above (3), the compression ratio (C) of the raised portion of the cleaning brush
Was measured by the method described above, and its sag resistance and cleaning performance were evaluated by the method described above.
It was as shown in Table 1 below.

Example 3 (1) Polyethylene terephthalate (Intrinsic viscosity [η]
= 0.65) as the component A, polyethylene terephthalate copolymerized with 8 mol% of isophthal and 2 mol% of sulfoisophthalic acid (intrinsic viscosity [η] =
Using 0.55) as the B component, the component A and the component B are melt-spun while being bonded at a temperature of 260 ° C. from the nozzle shown in FIG. 3C at a composite ratio (mass ratio) of 1: 1. 1
After winding at a speed of 000 m / min to produce a flat cross-sectional fiber (multifilament) having a flatness of 14.3 and a cross-sectional shape shown in FIG. Stretching in two steps under the same stretching conditions as in
A 3dtex / 24 filament multifilament yarn was produced. The torsional shrinkage of this multifilament yarn was measured by the method described above, and was found to be 39% as shown in Table 1 below. (2) Using the multifilament yarn obtained in the above (1) as a napping yarn, otherwise producing a napping fabric in the same manner as in (2) of Example 1, performing a backing treatment, and performing a backing treatment napping fabric. Was manufactured. When the nap length (C) of the nap in this nap cloth was measured by the above-described method, it was 4.5 mm as shown in Table 1 below.

(3) A roller-shaped cleaning brush was manufactured in the same manner as in (3) of Example 1, using the backing-treated napping cloth obtained in (2) above.
The flatness (w / d) of the nap and the nap length (L) of the nap in the cleaning brush thus obtained were measured by the above-mentioned method, and as shown in Table 1 below, 14.3 and 3. 9 mm. The roller-shaped cleaning brush thus obtained was subjected to a shearing treatment in the same manner as in (1) of Example 1 to evenly arrange the raised hairs. (4) With respect to the cleaning brush after the shearing treatment obtained in the above (3), the compression ratio (C) of the raised portion of the cleaning brush
Was measured by the method described above, and its sag resistance and cleaning performance were evaluated by the method described above.
It was as shown in Table 1 below.

<< Comparative Example 1 >> (1) Polyethylene terephthalate (Intrinsic viscosity [η]
= 0.65) by melt spinning and stretching in the usual manner,
A multifilament yarn (83 dtex / 24 filament) having a round cross-sectional shape (flatness 1) was produced. When the torsional shrinkage of this multifilament yarn was measured by the method described above, it was 2% as shown in Table 1 below.
Met. (2) Using the multifilament yarn obtained in (1) above as a napping yarn, otherwise producing a napping fabric in the same manner as in (2) of Example 1, and then backing the napping fabric. Was manufactured. When the nap length (L) of this nap cloth was measured by the above-described method, it was 3.9 mm as shown in Table 1 below.

(3) A roller-shaped cleaning brush was manufactured in the same manner as in (3) of Example 1, using the backing-treated napping cloth obtained in (2) above.
When the nap length (L) of the nap portion of the cleaning brush thus obtained was measured by the above-described method, it was 3.9 mm as shown in Table 1 below. The roller-shaped cleaning brush thus obtained was subjected to a shearing treatment in the same manner as in (1) of Example 1 to evenly arrange the raised hairs. (4) With respect to the cleaning brush after the shearing treatment obtained in the above (3), the compression ratio (C) of the raised portion of the cleaning brush
Was measured by the method described above, and its sag resistance and cleaning performance were evaluated by the method described above.
It was as shown in Table 1 below.

Comparative Example 2 (1) Rayon fiber (multifilament yarn; 83 dtex / 24 filament) having a round cross-sectional shape was produced according to a conventional method. The torsional shrinkage of the multifilament yarn was measured by the method described above, and was found to be 1.5% as shown in Table 1 below. (2) Using the multifilament yarn obtained in (1) above as a napping yarn, otherwise producing a napping fabric in the same manner as in (2) of Example 1, and then backing the napping fabric. Was manufactured. When the nap length (L) of this nap cloth was measured by the above-described method, it was 3.2 mm as shown in Table 1 below.

(3) A roller-shaped cleaning brush was manufactured in the same manner as in (3) of Example 1, using the backing-treated napping cloth obtained in (2) above.
The nap length (L) of the nap portion of the cleaning brush thus obtained was measured by the method described above, and was 2.5 mm as shown in Table 1 below. The roller-shaped cleaning brush thus obtained was subjected to a shearing treatment in the same manner as in (1) of Example 1 to evenly arrange the raised hairs. (4) With respect to the cleaning brush after the shearing treatment obtained in the above (3), the compression ratio of the raised portion was measured by the above-mentioned method, and the set resistance and the cleaning performance were evaluated by the above-mentioned method. And as shown in Table 1 below.

[0054]

[Table 1]

From the results shown in Table 1 above, in the raised cloth (cleaning brush) in Examples 1 to 3, the flatness of the fibers constituting the raised hair in the raised cloth is in the range of 2.5 to 15, And the twist pitch (P) is the nap length (L)
Is composed of a flat cross-section fiber having a bulky twist crimp structure in the range of 1/10 to the same length as the nap length, so that the nap fabric and the cleaning brush using the same can be compressed. Rate (C) is 10-15
%, Excellent in sag resistance and cleaning performance, whereas the nap portion is formed from a general-purpose round cross-section polyester fiber or rayon which does not have a bulky twist crimp structure and a flat cross section. Comparative Example 1
It can be seen that the conventional brushed fabric for cleaning of Nos. 2 and 3 and the cleaning brush using the same have a large compression ratio (C) of the brushed portion and are inferior in sag resistance and cleaning performance.

[0056]

The napping cloth for cleaning according to the present invention is excellent in sag resistance of the nap section, hardly affected by environmental changes such as temperature and humidity, and excellent in stability when used repeatedly. Cleaning performance can be stably maintained over a long period of time. Therefore, the cleaning brush of the present invention and the cleaning brush prepared using the cleaning brush, a good cleaning performance without being affected by environmental changes such as temperature and humidity.
It can be stably maintained for a long time. The napped fabric of the present invention can be effectively used for a cleaning brush of an electrophotographic application device such as a copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile by utilizing the above-mentioned excellent characteristics.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an example of a cross-sectional shape of a flat cross-section fiber having a bulky twist crimp structure constituting a nap in a napping cloth for cleaning of the present invention, and a method of measuring the maximum width (w) and the maximum thickness (d) thereof. FIG.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a longitudinal direction of fibers of a flat cross-section fiber having a bulky torsion crimp structure constituting a nap in the napping cloth for cleaning of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a nozzle shape of a spinneret used for producing the flat cross-section fiber shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a method of measuring the nap length (L) of the nap cloth.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A A component (fiber-forming polymer) B B component (fiber-forming polymer different from A component) L Fiber length of napping P Torsion pitch of crimp in napping (P)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) // D01F 8/14 D04B 21/14 Z D04B 21/14 G03G 21/00 314 (72) Inventor: Miyoko Takebe 1621 Sazu, Kurashiki-shi, Okayama F-term in Kuraray Co., Ltd. (Reference) 2H034 BD01 BD03 4L002 AA07 AB02 AB05 CA01 CB01 DA01 DA02 FA06 4L041 BA02 BA05 BA09 BA34 BC05 BD14 CA06 CA11 DD01 4L045 AA05 BA03 BA21 CB02 4L048 AA20A DA21 DA24

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A napping cloth for cleaning of electrophotographic application equipment, wherein the napping in the napping cloth for cleaning has a flat cross-section fiber having a bulky twist crimp structure. And the flat cross-section fiber having the bulky torsion crimp structure that constitutes the napped hair has a flatness (w / d) [where w
Indicates the maximum width (μm) in the fiber cross section and d indicates the maximum thickness (μm) in the fiber cross section] is 2.5 to 15
And the twist pitch (P) (mm) is L
/ 10 ≦ P (mm) ≦ L [where L represents the nap length (mm)]; (ii) The nap length (L) of the nap in the nap cloth is 2-2.
0 mm; and (iii) the compression ratio (C) of the nap portion obtained from the following formula (I) is 10 to 15%; (1) compression ratio (%) = ｛(D ₁ -D ₂ ) / D ₁ ｝ × 100 (I) [in the formula, D ₁ was left for 1 minute under a condition of a temperature of 20 ° C. and a humidity of 65% RH under a load of 10 g / cm ² from the upper part of the napped fabric. Indicates the thickness (mm) of the nap portion of the nap fabric at that time, and D ₂ is a temperature of 20 ° C. and a humidity of 65% RH when the load is removed and a load of 200 g / cm ² is applied from the top of the nap fabric. Shows the thickness (mm) of the napped part when left for 1 minute under the condition of (1). ], A napped fabric for cleaning electrophotographic application equipment. 2. The napping fabric for cleaning electrophotographic application equipment according to claim 1, wherein the flat cross-section fibers having a bulky twist crimp structure constituting the napping in the napping fabric are laminating composite fibers. 3. The standing hair of the standing fabric has a flatness (w /
d) is in the range of 2.5 to 15, and the following formula (I
I); ## EQU2 ## torsional shrinkage (%) = {(L ₂ −L ₁ ) / L ₂ } × 100 (II) (where L ₁ is a 1 mg / dtex load suspended at one end of the fiber. After immersion in hot water of 90 ° C for 30 minutes in the state,
Remove from hot water and keep the same load at 20 ℃
Indicates the length of the fiber after drying at 20 ° C. and 65% RH, and L ₂ is 1 m suspended from the dried fiber.
Remove the g / dtex load and replace with 50 mg / d
It shows the fiber length when measured at 20 ° C. and 65% RH in air with a tex load suspended. The flat cross-section fiber having a torsional shrinkage ratio of 3 to 40% determined from the above) is used as a napping fiber, and the flat cross-section fiber is formed by expressing a bulky twist crimp structure by heat treatment. 3. A napped fabric for cleaning an electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. 4. The napped fabric for cleaning electrophotographic application equipment according to claim 1, wherein conductive fibers are used as at least part of the napped and / or ground structure in the napped fabric. 5. The napped fabric for cleaning electrophotographic application equipment according to claim 1, wherein the napped portion or the napped portion and the ground structure are formed from polyester fibers. 6. A flatness (w / d) [where w indicates a maximum width (μm) in a fiber cross section and d indicates a maximum thickness (μm) in a fiber cross section] in a range of 2.5 to 15. And the following formula (II): ## EQU3 ## Twist shrinkage (%) = {(L ₂ −L ₁ ) / L ₂ } × 100 (II) (where L ₁ is 1 mg at one end of the fiber) After immersing in a hot water of 90 ° C. for 30 minutes while suspending a load of / dtex,
Remove from hot water and keep the same load at 20 ℃
Indicates the length of the fiber after drying at 20 ° C. and 65% RH, and L ₂ is 1 m suspended from the dried fiber.
Remove the g / dtex load and replace with 50 mg / d
It shows the fiber length when measured at 20 ° C. and 65% RH in air with a tex load suspended. ), Using a flat cross-section fiber having a torsional shrinkage ratio in the range of 3 to 40% as a fiber for the napping portion, producing a napping fabric, and then heating the napping fabric to give the nap a bulky twist crimp structure. A method for producing a napping cloth for cleaning electrophotographic application equipment having naps made of flat cross-section fibers having a bulky torsion crimp structure, characterized in that: 7. A cleaning brush for electrophotographic application equipment, wherein the brushed cleaning cloth according to any one of claims 1 to 5 is used.