JP2002361557A - Method and device for surface treating metal work, and aluminum tube for electrophotographic photo-sensitive body substrate - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To rapidly treat a metal work without causing directivity in surface patterns in a wet honing treatment for the metal work. SOLUTION: Honing liquid F is sprayed on the surface of the metal work W from a plurality of different directions. Also, an angle θformed by two different spraying directions is desirably 30 to 120 deg.. In the wet honing, the surface patterns in which a large number of dimple shapes are arranged are formed by the collision of abrasive grains. The ten point average surface roughness (RZ) is finely formed in the range of 1.0 2.0 μm, and an excellent adhesiveness of a photo-sensitive layer can be provided.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a surface treatment method and a surface treatment apparatus for roughening the surface of a metal work by wet honing, and an aluminum tube for a roughened electrophotographic photosensitive member substrate.

[0002] In this specification, the term "aluminum" is used to include both aluminum and its alloys.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an aluminum substrate for a photoreceptor in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus is required to have high dimensional accuracy and a uniform surface state in order to obtain high image quality.

The aluminum substrate for the photoreceptor includes:
In addition to cutting pipes that provide high mirror surface properties, non-cutting pipes such as DI pipes, EI pipes, and ED pipes obtained by ironing or drawing out drawn or extruded pipes are used. These non-cutting tubes are advantageous in that a relatively good surface condition can be obtained, and that they are lower in cost and superior in mass productivity than cutting tubes.

[0005] However, the surface of the non-cutting tube has a large number of line-like and hole-like surface defects due to processing, and these surface defects may impair the uniformity of the coating film of the photoreceptor, thereby deteriorating the image quality. . Therefore, it is known to perform a wet honing process in which a honing liquid in which abrasive grains are dispersed is sprayed on the non-cutting tube (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-67441). According to this wet honing treatment, the pipe surface is finely plastically deformed by the collision of the abrasive grains, so that the above-mentioned surface defects are removed and the entire treated surface is uniformly and finely roughened.

[0006] Also, in the case of a cutting tube, the surface of the tube may be finely roughened for the purpose of improving the adhesion to the photosensitive layer and the like. In this case, wet honing is also performed.

In the conventional wet honing process shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, one or two nozzles (1) for discharging the honing liquid (F) are used to treat the entire outer peripheral surface of the pipe (W). Is arranged toward the pipe (W), the pipe (W) is rotated around the pipe axis (P), and the nozzle (1) is moved up and down along the pipe axis (P).
The honing liquid (F) is sprayed while relatively moving (1). In these wet honing processes, in the case of the single nozzle method shown in FIG. 5, the nozzle (1) is inclined from the reference line (Q) orthogonal to the surface of the work (W) by an inclination angle (θ).
₁ ) It is arranged at an angle of 0 to 60 °. 6 of FIG.
In the case of the present nozzle system, the nozzles (1) and (1) are arranged to be inclined at the same angle. FIG. 6 shows an arrangement example in which the inclination angle (θ ₁ ) from the reference line (Q) is 0 °.

[0008]

However, in the case of the single nozzle system shown in FIG.
With the relative movement between (1) and the work (W), directionality appears in the deformed shape of the plastic deformation due to the abrasive grains, and a directional surface pattern is generated on the entire surface as shown in FIG. 6 in FIG.
In the case of this nozzle system, the processing speed is improved because the honing liquid (F) is sprayed on a large area at the same time, but the direction of the surface pattern is still generated.

When a surface pattern having such a directivity is formed on a work, the uniformity of the surface state is impaired, and the photosensitive layer to be subsequently coated also has directionality and unevenness, thereby deteriorating the image quality.

[0010] The directionality of the surface pattern can be reduced by slowing down the relative moving speed between the work and the nozzle to lengthen the spraying time per unit area. However, when the moving speed is reduced, another problem occurs that processing takes time.

In view of the above-mentioned technical background, the present invention provides a surface treatment method and a surface treatment apparatus for a metal work, which can rapidly treat the work without producing a directional surface pattern in the wet honing treatment, and a surface treatment. The purpose of the present invention is to provide an aluminum tube for an electrophotographic photosensitive member substrate on which a non-directional pattern is formed.

[0012]

According to the present invention, there is provided a surface treatment method for a metal work, wherein the surface of the metal work is wet-honed to achieve the above object. The basic point is to spray a honing liquid from a plurality of different directions onto a surface.

In the above surface treatment method, since the honing liquid is sprayed from a plurality of different directions, the deviation of the collision angle of the abrasive grains on the work surface is eliminated or reduced. As a result, the surface pattern formed by plastic deformation due to the collision of the abrasive grains has no directionality or has reduced directionality.

Further, by applying such a surface treatment method to an aluminum tube for an electrophotographic photosensitive member substrate, particularly to a cutting tube or a non-cutting tube, a surface pattern having no or little directivity is formed on the tube surface. Thus, the surface can be uniformly and finely roughened.

When the opening angle (θ) between the two different spraying directions is 30 to 120 °, the effect of reducing the directivity of the surface pattern is great.

A surface treatment apparatus for a metal work according to the present invention is a surface treatment apparatus for performing a wet honing treatment by spraying a honing liquid on a surface of a metal work, the apparatus having a plurality of nozzles for discharging the honing liquid, and The basic gist is that these nozzles are arranged at different angles with respect to the surface of the metal work.

The metal workpiece surface treatment apparatus can spray a honing liquid on the metal workpiece from a plurality of different directions, and can implement the metal workpiece surface treatment method of the present invention.

In the above surface treatment apparatus, when the two nozzles are arranged at an opening angle (θ) of 30 to 120 °, the honing liquid can be sprayed on the metal work at the above angle.

The aluminum tube for an electrophotographic photosensitive member substrate of the present invention has been subjected to surface treatment by wet honing, has a surface in which a large number of non-directional dimples are arranged, and has a ten-point average of the surface. Roughness (Rz) is 1.0 to
The gist is to be 2.0 μm.

In the wet honing, a surface pattern in which a large number of dimples are arranged due to the collision of abrasive grains is formed. However, since the surface pattern is non-directional, the photosensitive layer to be subsequently coated also has directionality and unevenness. Do not cause. Moreover, since the ten-point average roughness (Rz) is finely roughened in the range of 1.0 to 2.0 μm, the adhesion of the photosensitive layer is good.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows an example of a surface treatment apparatus for carrying out a surface treatment method for a metal work according to the present invention.

The metal work (W) in this embodiment
As an example, a cylindrical non-cutting aluminum tube used for a substrate for an electrophotographic photosensitive member is exemplified. Of course, the material and the shape of the metal workpiece to which the surface treatment method of the present invention can be applied are not limited as long as it is suitable for wet honing.

In FIG. 1, the work (W) is held in a vertical position, and is driven to rotate around its pipe axis (P) by a drive device (not shown).

Outside the work (W) in the radial direction of the pipe, two honing gun nozzles (1) and (1) for discharging a honing liquid (F) are provided facing the work (W). I have. These nozzles (1) and (1) are supported by a liquid honing machine main body (not shown) at a predetermined opening angle (θ) along the pipe axis (P) so as to be able to move up and down.

The honing liquid (F) is obtained by dispersing fine abrasive grains in a liquid such as water. The honing liquid (F) is pressure-fed from a honing liquid container (not shown) to two honing guns, and the nozzles (1) (1)
From the workpiece (W). Then, a portion of the surface of the work (W) where the abrasive grains collide is plastically deformed into a dent, whereby the region of the surface of the work (W) to which the honing liquid (F) has been sprayed has a finely pear-shaped rough surface. Be transformed into

A large number of fine dimple shapes are formed on the surface of the work (W) by plastic deformation. However, as shown in FIG. A wave-like pattern flowing in the direction is formed. In the present invention,
Such a wavy pattern is referred to as a directional surface pattern,
As shown in FIG. 2, a surface pattern in which high portions of the dimple shape are not connected and individual dimple shapes are arranged without indicating a specific direction is referred to as a non-directional surface pattern or a non-directional pattern.

In the surface treatment apparatus having the above structure, the wet honing treatment of the work surface is performed as follows.

The two nozzles (1a) and (1b) are pointed downward (1
a) and upward (1b), these nozzles (1a) and (1b) are arranged at a predetermined opening angle (θ) at the processing start position on the surface of the work (W), for example, at the upper end of the work (W). Then, the work (W) is rotated around the pipe axis (P), and the nozzles (1a) and (1b) are lowered while maintaining a predetermined opening angle (θ), during which both nozzles (1a) ( The honing liquid (F) is sprayed on the surface of the work (W) from 1b). Thereby, the wet honing process is performed over the entire length in the pipe axis (P) direction while the surface of the work (W) draws a spiral processing locus. In the processing area, since the honing liquid is sprayed from two different directions, the deviation of the collision angle of the abrasive grains on the surface of the work (W) is eliminated or reduced. Does not occur or the directionality is reduced (FIG. 2).

The opening angle (θ) of the nozzles (1a) and (1b), that is, the opening angle (θ) formed by the two spraying directions is 30 to
120 °. If the angle is less than 30 ° or more than 120 °, the effect of reducing the directivity of the surface pattern is small, and 30 °
If it is less than 1, processing unevenness is liable to occur, and if it exceeds 120 °, sufficient roughness is obtained, so that there is a disadvantage that a long time is required for the treatment. A particularly preferred lower limit of the opening angle (θ) is 70 °, a particularly preferred upper limit of 100 °, and the most recommended opening angle (θ) is 90 °. The two spraying directions are preferably opened along the moving direction of the work (W) and the nozzles (1a) (1b), and are equally divided with respect to a reference line (Q) orthogonal to the surface of the work (W). It is preferable to open it. Therefore, in the present embodiment, it is preferable to open θ / 2 at a time above and below the reference line (Q) along the direction of the tube axis (P).

In the method and apparatus for treating the surface of a metal work according to the present invention, the direction of spraying the honing liquid is not limited to the two directions illustrated in FIG. 1 but may be sprayed from three directions, four directions or more. Is also good.
In the case of three or more directions, the opening angle in the spraying direction is preferably set so that the opening angle formed by two of these directions is 30 to 120 °. Further, the plurality of nozzles do not necessarily need to be arranged along the moving direction as in FIG. 1, and FIGS. 3A and 3B and FIGS. 4A and 4B
As shown in (1), the nozzles (1a) and (1b) can be arranged to be inclined with respect to the movement axis. FIGS. 3A and 3B show an example in which two nozzles (1a) and (b) are arranged in a twisted position with respect to the surface of the work (W), and FIG. 4 shows two nozzles (1a) and (b). ) Are radially arranged with respect to the tube axis (P). However, in these cases, it is preferable to adjust the discharge pressure of the honing liquid with a plurality of nozzles in order to maintain the finished quality of the processing surface.

The metal workpiece surface-treated by the method of the present invention has a random surface texture with a non-directional surface pattern formed thereon, thereby reducing the anisotropy of various characteristics.

Examples of the metal work required to have anisotropic surface properties include an aluminum tube used as an electrophotographic photosensitive member substrate. The above-mentioned surface treatment is applied to the aluminum tube for the electrophotographic photoreceptor substrate to impart a uniform and finely roughened surface without directionality, so that the photosensitive layer to be subsequently coated is also directional. Excellent image quality can be obtained without causing any unevenness. In addition, the adhesiveness of the photosensitive layer is good due to appropriate roughening.

The surface treatment for the aluminum tube for the electrophotographic photosensitive member substrate can be applied to either a cutting tube or a non-cutting tube, and obtains excellent image quality by forming a non-directional pattern and finely roughening the surface. Can be. The cutting tube is an aluminum tube whose surface has been cut into a mirror surface or a non-mirror surface, and in particular, the adhesion of the photosensitive layer can be secured to the mirror surface tube by finely roughening the surface. A non-cutting tube is a tube manufactured without cutting, and specifically, an ED tube manufactured by performing a drawing process after an extrusion process, an EI tube manufactured by performing an ironing process after an extrusion process, It is a DI tube or the like manufactured by performing ironing after drawing. When the surface treatment method of the present invention is applied to these non-cutting tubes,
Streak-like and hole-like surface defects caused by the fabrication of the tube are removed.

The aluminum tube used as the electrophotographic photosensitive member substrate has the above-described non-directional pattern formed thereon and has a ten-point average roughness (Rz) of 1.0 to 2.0 μm.
When it is formed in the range of m, a finely roughened state can be formed in which a photosensitive layer having uniform and good adhesion can be formed. If the ten-point average roughness (Rz) is less than 1.0 μm, the surface is insufficiently roughened, and if it exceeds 2.0 μm, the uniformity of the coating layer may be impaired. A preferred lower limit of the ten-point average roughness (Rz) is 1.3 μm, and a preferred upper limit is 1.
7 μm. In addition, the pipe surface has a predetermined ten-point average roughness (R
In order to form z), in the above-described surface treatment method, the particle size, dispersion amount, discharge pressure and the like of the abrasive grains are appropriately adjusted.

The material of the aluminum tube is a JIS 1000 type aluminum alloy, 3000, in that it has strength as an electrophotographic photoreceptor substrate and good workability.
Aluminum alloy, 5000 aluminum alloy, 6
000 series aluminum alloy is preferred.

Examples of other metal workpieces include structural members that need to apply a compressive residual stress, such as suspension arms.

The other conditions of the wet honing treatment are not limited. Depending on the material of the metal work and the required surface condition, the type, particle size or dispersion amount of the abrasive, the discharge pressure of the honing liquid, the work The processing is performed by appropriately selecting the relative moving speed of the nozzle and the like.

[0038]

EXAMPLE A wet honing test was conducted using the surface treatment apparatus having the above-mentioned structure.

As the metal work (W), JIS 30
A non-cutting tube (ED tube) made of 03 aluminum alloy and manufactured by extrusion and drawing and having an outer diameter of 30 mm and a length of 260 mm was used. The non-cutting aluminum tube,
It has line-shaped and hole-shaped surface defects due to processing, and is provided to the substrate of the electrophotographic photosensitive member after this wet honing treatment.

For Examples 1 to 7 and Comparative Example 1,
As shown in FIG. 1, two nozzles (1a) and (1b) were arranged at an opening angle (θ) shown in Table 1 along the pipe axis (P) direction. The opening angle (θ) of 0 ° in Comparative Example 1 indicates that the two nozzles (1a) and (1b) are arranged in parallel at a predetermined interval, and in this example, as shown in FIG. The two nozzles (1) and (1) are both arranged along the reference line (Q). Comparative Example 2,
In No. 3, one nozzle (1) was arranged at an inclination angle (θ ₁ ) from the reference line (Q) as shown in FIG. Also,
The distance from the tip of the nozzle (1) to the work (W) is 200mm
And common.

Then, while rotating the work (W), the nozzle (1) is moved along the pipe axis (P) while maintaining the angle, and during this time, the honing liquid (F) is sprayed, and the work (W) is sprayed. ) Was subjected to a wet honing treatment on the entire outer peripheral surface. Other processing conditions were common as follows.

Nozzle diameter: 8.33 mm Honing liquid: spherical alumina abrasive grains having an average particle diameter of 30 μm dispersed in water at 10% by weight Rotation speed of work: 100 rpm Nozzle moving speed: 0.8 m / min Honing liquid Discharge pressure: 1.5 kg / cm ² The surface condition of the workpiece (W) subjected to the above-mentioned wet honing treatment was observed with a microscope, and the presence or absence of the directionality of the finely roughened surface pattern and the relative degree were examined. Was evaluated. In addition, the streak-like or hole-like surface defects were all removed. Further, the ten-point average roughness (Rz) of the work (W) surface was measured. Table 1 shows the evaluation results.

[0043]

[Table 1]

From the results shown in Table 1, by spraying the honing liquid on the metal work from a plurality of different directions,
It was confirmed that the directionality of the surface pattern was eliminated or reduced. Further, since the processing was performed at the same nozzle moving speed as the comparative example in each example, it was confirmed that the directional pattern was eliminated or reduced without extending the processing time. The ten-point average roughness (Rz) was also within the range specified in the present invention.

The above processing conditions are standard conditions when a nozzle having a diameter of 8.33 mm is used in the surface roughening processing of a non-cut aluminum pipe, and the processing method of the present invention is limited to the above conditions. is not. Further, when the nozzle diameter changes, the appropriate work rotation speed, nozzle moving speed, and discharge amount also change accordingly.

In the above processing conditions, the number of rotations of the workpiece and the moving speed of the nozzle are in a proportional relationship. When the number of rotations is increased, a high moving speed can be set, and the processing time can be reduced. However, if the number of rotations and the moving speed of the work are excessively increased, the amount of abrasive particles colliding per unit area decreases, and roughening becomes insufficient or processing unevenness tends to appear. In the case of the multi-nozzle method of the present invention, the collision amount of the abrasive grains per unit area is larger than that of the conventional single-nozzle method. Therefore, not only the directionality of the surface pattern can be eliminated, but also the effects of shortening the processing time and reducing processing unevenness can be obtained. When the nozzle moving speed is increased by the single-nozzle method, it is possible to cope with poor surface roughening and processing unevenness by increasing the discharge pressure, but it is not as effective as the multiple-nozzle method.
In addition, there is a new inconvenience that increasing the discharge pressure increases the consumption of abrasive grains. In other words, according to the multiple nozzle method of the present invention, the consumption of abrasive grains can be reduced.

In the above-described surface treatment of the non-cutting aluminum pipe, the proper work rotation speed in the one-nozzle method is 100 to 200 rpm, and the nozzle moving speed with respect to the work rotation speed is the same as the above-mentioned standard even if the discharge pressure is increased. About condition 2
The speed of 0% increase is the upper limit. For example, when the rotation speed of the work is 100 rpm, the standard nozzle moving speed is 0.8
m / min, and 1.0 m / min is the upper limit speed. On the other hand, in the case of a plurality of nozzles, 100 to 300 rpm
(Corresponding standard nozzle moving speed 0.8 to 2.4 / mi
In n), processing with almost no processing unevenness can be performed, and the upper limit speed of the nozzle moving speed is adjusted to 50% of the standard speed by adjusting the discharge pressure.
% Increase.

[0048]

As described above, according to the surface treatment method for a metal work of the present invention, the honing liquid is sprayed from a plurality of different directions on the surface of the metal work, so that the abrasive grains impinge on the work surface. The deviation of the angle is eliminated or reduced, and the surface pattern formed by the plastic deformation due to the collision of the abrasive grains has no or reduced directionality.

Further, by applying the surface treatment method to an aluminum tube for an electrophotographic photosensitive member substrate, a surface pattern having no or little orientation is formed on the surface of the tube, and the surface is uniformly and finely roughened. Thus, excellent image quality can be obtained without causing directionality or unevenness in the photosensitive layer applied thereafter. In addition, the adhesiveness of the photosensitive layer is good due to appropriate roughening.

In particular, when the aluminum pipe is a cutting pipe, the adhesion of the photosensitive layer can be ensured even with a mirror-finished pipe by roughening the surface. In the case where the aluminum tube is a non-cutting tube, streak-like or hole-like surface defects caused by manufacturing the tube can be removed.

When the opening angle (θ) between the two different spraying directions is 30 to 120 °, the effect of reducing the directivity of the surface pattern is large.

The surface treatment apparatus for a metal work according to the present invention is a surface treatment apparatus for performing a wet honing treatment by spraying a honing liquid onto the surface of a metal work, the apparatus having a plurality of nozzles for discharging the honing liquid, Since these nozzles are arranged at different angles with respect to the surface of the metal work, the surface treatment method of the present invention in which the honing liquid is sprayed from a plurality of different directions can be carried out.

When the two nozzles are arranged at an opening angle (θ) of 30 to 120 ° in the processing apparatus, the honing liquid can be sprayed on the surface of the metal work at the angle.

The aluminum tube for an electrophotographic photosensitive member substrate of the present invention is an aluminum tube which has been surface-treated by wet honing, has a surface in which a large number of nondirectional dimples are arranged, and has ten points on the surface. Since the surface is finely roughened with an average roughness (Rz) of 1.0 to 2.0 μm, excellent image quality can be obtained without causing directionality and unevenness in the photosensitive layer to be subsequently applied. be able to. Further, the adhesiveness of the photosensitive layer is good.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing one embodiment of a surface treatment method for a metal work according to the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a partial front view of a metal work treated by the surface treatment method of the present invention, and FIG.
FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line I.

FIG. 3A is a schematic perspective view showing another arrangement of nozzles in one embodiment of the method for treating the surface of a metal work of the present invention, and FIG. 3B is a top view of FIG. .

FIG. 4A is a schematic perspective view showing still another arrangement of nozzles in the embodiment of the metal work surface treatment method of the present invention, and FIG. 4B is a top view of FIG. is there.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing one example of a conventional surface treatment method for a cylindrical metal work.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing another example of a conventional surface treatment method for a cylindrical metal work.

FIG. 7A is a partial front view of a metal work treated by the conventional surface treatment method, and FIG. 7B is a view II of FIG.
FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II.

[Explanation of symbols]

 W: Metal work 1, 1a, 1b: Nozzle

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Masaaki Oide 1-480, Inuzuka, Oyama-shi, Tochigi Prefecture Showa Denko KK Oyama Plant F-term (reference) 2H068 AA52 AA54 AA59 CA32 EA07

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A surface treatment method for performing a wet honing treatment on a surface of a metal work, wherein a honing liquid is sprayed on the surface of the metal work from a plurality of different directions. Processing method. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the metal work is an aluminum tube for an electrophotographic photosensitive member substrate. 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the aluminum pipe is a cutting pipe. 4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the aluminum tube is a non-cutting tube. 5. The surface treatment method for a metal work according to claim 1, wherein an opening angle (θ) between two different spraying directions is 30 to 120 °. 6. A surface treatment apparatus for performing a wet honing process by spraying a honing liquid onto a surface of a metal work, comprising: a plurality of nozzles for discharging the honing liquid; A metal workpiece surface treatment device, which is disposed at a different angle with respect to the metal workpiece. 7. The two nozzles have an opening angle (θ) of 30 to 1
The surface treatment apparatus for a metal work according to claim 6, wherein the apparatus is arranged at 20 degrees. 8. An aluminum tube for an electrophotographic photoreceptor substrate surface-treated by wet honing, which has a surface on which a large number of non-directional dimples are arranged, and has a ten-point average roughness (Rz) of the surface. ) Of 1.0 to 2.0 μm.