JP2003156862A - Electrophotographic photoreceptor, manufacture of the same, image forming device and image forming device process cartridge using the photoreceptor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electrophotographic photoreceptor manufacturing method having the improved film formation of a photoreceptive layer, etc. SOLUTION: In the electrophotographic photoreceptor manufacturing method wherein a cylindrical or endless belt type conductive supporting body is rotated in a spray booth and a photoreceptor forming layer is formed on the conductive supporting body by spray-coating, air or inactive gas having a wind velocity of 0.1 to 1.0 m/sec near the conductive supporting body is made to flow in, and the spray-coating is performed in such a state where an air pressure in the spray booth is made lower than an air pressure outside the spray booth by 0.0 to 3.0 mmH2 O.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a method for manufacturing the same, an image forming apparatus using the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a process cartridge for the image forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, inorganic photoconductive substances such as selenium, cadmium sulfide and zinc sulfide have been widely used in the photosensitive layer of electrophotographic photoreceptors. Recently, an organic compound (charge generating substance) that absorbs light and generates charge carriers,
A single-layer type organic photoreceptor containing an organic compound (charge-transporting substance) that transports the generated charge carriers, and a two-layer structure including a charge-generating layer containing a charge-generating substance and a charge-transporting layer containing a charge-transporting substance. Laminated type (function-separated type) organic photoconductors are often used.

A method for producing an organic electrophotographic photosensitive member by applying a coating solution for an electrophotographic photosensitive layer on the outer surface of a cylindrical or belt-shaped substrate and drying it to form a photosensitive layer coating film is as follows: The dip coating method and spray coating method are known.

In the dip coating method, the substrate is applied by immersing the substrate in the coating solution in the longitudinal direction and pulling it up, so that a photosensitive layer coating film having excellent surface smoothness can be obtained, but a large amount of coating solution is required. It has drawbacks. Furthermore, since the uniformity of the coating film is largely governed by two factors, the physical properties of the coating liquid and the coating speed, it is easily affected by changes in the physical properties of the coating liquid over time, and the coating film with a uniform film thickness on the production line. It has a drawback that the control of the physical properties of the coating liquid to obtain the composition becomes complicated.

On the other hand, the spray coating method can form a photosensitive layer coating film on various substrates with a small amount of coating liquid, and it is relatively easy to control the physical properties of the coating liquid and maintain the precision of the coating device. It has the advantage that As described above, the spray coating method has some advantages as compared with the dip coating. However, the spray coating method is not adopted in all the actual methods for producing an electrophotographic photosensitive member. The reason why this spray coating method was not completely replaced by the dip coating method was that the surface quality and uniformity of the coating film formed by the spray coating were inferior to those of the dip coating method. There is a reason.

By the way, in recent years, colorization of electrophotographic devices has progressed, and higher image quality, lower cost, higher speed, etc. have been demanded. As a means for improving image quality, a method of forming an electrostatic latent image with high resolution by using laser light exposure with a shorter wavelength and a smaller beam spot has been put into practical use.

600d with laser writing optics
In an electrophotographic apparatus of pi or higher, when a halftone image is output using a function-separated type organic electrophotographic photosensitive member, uneven density may occur. The grayscale unevenness of the halftone image is caused by a slight difference in the thickness of the charge generation layer and the charge transport layer due to a slight difference in thickness between the thick and thin portions of the charge generation layer. It is considered that this occurs because the dots are thick, and conversely, the dots are thin at the portion where the film thickness is thin and the sensitivity is slow. In addition, a slight film thickness distribution of the surface protective layer or the undercoat layer may cause unevenness in density of the halftone image.

Considering the method of forming the photosensitive layer,
The photosensitive layer produced by the spray coating method is likely to cause a film thickness difference such as a waviness with a period of about 5 to 30 mm (actually 5-7
364 discloses an example of the film thickness distribution). An electrophotographic photoreceptor having a photosensitive layer formed by a spray coating method on a conductive support is likely to have uneven density in a halftone image due to the nonuniformity of the film thickness as described above. Also, unlike waviness with a period of about 5 to 30 mm, the maximum surface roughness in a region with a smaller period tends to be larger in the spray coating method than in the dip coating method, and the reproducibility of 1 dot due to the minute unevenness Image quality is reduced and the image is grainy,
This causes deterioration of image quality.

The uneven density and the image roughness in the above-mentioned halftone image are caused by the higher image quality of the latent image formed by the exposure optical system.
The laser light has a shorter wavelength, and the beam diameter and the dot diameter become smaller, so that the image appears more remarkably.

Further, as compared with the dip coating method, air bubbles and foreign matters are more likely to occur on the photosensitive layer produced by the spray coating method. Bubbles and foreign matters cause image defects such as white spots and black spots, but particularly in a color image forming apparatus, a color superimposing process is performed a plurality of times, resulting in more emphasized image defects.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is intended to solve the above problems. That is, the present invention aims to improve the film forming property of an electrophotographic photosensitive member formed by a spray coating method, and particularly to suppress uneven coating of the photosensitive layer, surface roughness, generation of bubbles in the film, and adhesion of foreign matter. One object is to provide an electrophotographic photosensitive member having a uniform film-forming property, which is produced by a spray coating method, and an image exposure resolution of 600 dpi using the electrophotographic photosensitive member.
It is an object of the present invention to provide the above high quality image forming and process cartridge.

[0012]

As a result of intensive studies to solve the above problems, the present inventors circulate a cylindrical or endless belt-shaped conductive support, and form a photoreceptor on the support. At least one layer (undercoating layer, single-layer photosensitive layer, charge generation layer, charge transport layer, protective layer, etc.) is formed by spray coating to obtain an electrophotographic photoreceptor, which is a conductive support. Wind velocity in the vicinity is 0.1 to 1.0 m / se
If it is c, a photoreceptor having no coating defects and small coating unevenness and surface roughness can be obtained, and further, the atmospheric pressure in the spray coating apparatus should be lower by 0.0 to 3.0 mmH ₂ O than the outside. This prevents foreign substances, dust, etc. from entering the spray coating device, without leaking coating solvent vapor or spray mist to the outside, and it is possible to obtain a photoreceptor without coating film defects due to foreign substance adhesion. They have found the present invention and completed the present invention. That is, according to the present invention, the following (1) to (6) are provided.

(1) Manufacture of an electrophotographic photoreceptor in which a cylindrical or endless belt-shaped conductive support is circulated in a spray coating booth, and a photoreceptor forming layer is formed on the conductive support by spray coating. In the method, air or an inert gas having a wind velocity in the vicinity of the conductive support of 0.1 to 1.0 m / sec is introduced, and the pressure inside the spray coating booth is outside the spray coating booth. 0.0 more than atmospheric pressure
A method for producing an electrophotographic photosensitive member, characterized in that the spray coating is carried out in a low level of about 3.0 mmH ₂ O. (2) In a photoreceptor for electrophotography having one or more photoreceptor forming layers on a cylindrical or endless belt-like conductive support, at least one or more layers of the photoreceptor forming layers are the above (1) or (2) An electrophotographic photoreceptor manufactured by the manufacturing method described in (2). (3) An image forming apparatus in which the electrophotographic photosensitive member described in (2) above is provided in an image forming apparatus in which the electrophotographic photosensitive member is repeatedly charged, exposed with coherent light, developed, and transferred. (4) The image forming apparatus according to (3), wherein the image forming apparatus is a color image forming apparatus that sequentially forms toner images of a plurality of colors to form a color image. (5) Intermediate transfer in which the image forming apparatus primarily transfers the toner image developed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member to the intermediate transfer member, and then secondarily transfers the toner image on the intermediate transfer member to the recording material. An image forming apparatus having means for forming a color image by sequentially superposing toner images of a plurality of colors on an intermediate transfer member, and secondarily transferring the color image onto a recording material at once. The image forming apparatus according to (3) or (4). (6) A process cartridge for an image forming apparatus, comprising the electrophotographic photosensitive member according to (2) above.

In the manufacturing method of the present invention, air or an inert gas is introduced so that the wind velocity in the vicinity of the conductive support becomes 0.1 to 1.0 m / sec. As shown in FIG. 5, the "vicinity of the support" is the closest position to the coating booth when viewed from a position perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and is 10 to 30 mm away from the surface of the conductive support. It is the position.

The "conductive support" in the vicinity of the conductive support here is the article to be coated immediately before being coated with a spray gun, and specifically, other than the conductive support itself. In the case where, for example, an undercoat layer has already been formed on the conductive support, and then the photosensitive layer coating liquid is applied to the undercoat layer by a spray gun, the above-mentioned conductive support is applied. Is formed with an undercoat layer, and, for example, a photosensitive layer is already formed on a conductive support, and then,
When the protective layer coating liquid is applied onto the photosensitive layer with a spray gun, the photosensitive layer is formed on the conductive support. Further, the “photoreceptor-forming layer” in the present invention includes a photosensitive layer for forming an electrophotographic photoreceptor, an undercoat layer, a protective layer, and the like.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention will be described in more detail below. First, of the photosensitive member forming layers, the photosensitive layer will be described as an example to describe the manufacturing method thereof. The method of forming the photosensitive layer by spray coating on the conductive support is common to other undercoat layers and protective layers. A spray coating method is used as a method for producing the photosensitive layer.
The spray gun used in the present invention may be any of an air spray, an airless spray and an electrostatic spray.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the entire spray coating apparatus. In FIG. 5, 1 is a high-performance filter for clean air, 2 is an air conditioner, 3 is a spray gun, 4 is a conductive support, 5 is a coating booth, 6 is a spray mist collecting filter, 7 is an exhaust device, 8 Is the wind speed measurement position. If necessary, a spray gun, an air damper, a dust removing or ozone filter, an air blowing and exhausting device, and a solvent vapor processing device may be added. A part of the spray coating device is installed in a clean room as needed.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged schematic view of the peripheral portion of the spray gun of FIG. In FIG. 6, the conductive support 902 is attached to the support 901. The conductive support may have a cylindrical shape or an endless belt shape. The support 902 is mounted horizontally and has a central shaft 903.
The belt 905 wound around the pulley 904 is rotated to rotate in a fixed direction at a constant speed, and the spray gun 906 is installed close to such a support 902.

The spray gun 906 has a base 907 as a support 9
02 is installed in a scanning device 908 such as a screw installed parallel to the longitudinal direction of 02, and a pipe 910 that guides a carrier gas to a jet nozzle 909 at the tip is piped and a coating liquid pipe 912 from a coating liquid tank 911 is piped. The carrier gas is jetted from the jet nozzle 909 so that the coating liquid is sucked and jetted together. A gas pressure adjusting valve 913 is attached to the pipe 910. A pump for feeding the coating liquid may be attached between the coating liquid tank and the spray gun.

The photosensitive layer is formed by rotating the support 902 in a mounted state, scanning the spray gun 906 with the scanning device 908, and the carrier gas adjusted by the gas pressure adjusting valve 913 in the coating solution tank 911. This is performed by ejecting the coating liquid and spraying it onto the support 902.

Factors for controlling the film thickness of the photosensitive layer and its uniformity include the spray gun type, atomizing air pressure, atomizing air flow rate, nozzle opening of the outlet, scanning speed,
The number of scans, the control value of the coating liquid delivery pump, the solid concentration of the coating liquid, the vapor pressure and the boiling point of the coating liquid solvent, etc. may be mentioned. In the present invention, the wind speed in the vicinity of the conductive support due to air supply and exhaust in the coating booth is 0.1 to 1.0 m / sec.
Even if the pressure inside the coating booth is set to be 0.0 to 3.0 mmH ₂ O lower than the pressure outside the coating booth, and a known technique relating to the above-mentioned control factors is selected and combined, a good result is obtained. An electrophotographic photoreceptor having a film property can be obtained.

In the present invention, the wind speed in the vicinity of the support due to air supply and exhaust in the coating booth is important for the uniformity of the coating film,
Moreover, regarding foreign matter, it has been found that the wind speed and internal pressure in the coating booth are important.

By performing the coating operation with the wind speed in the vicinity of the support in the spray coating booth set to 0.1 to 1.0 m / sec, a photosensitive layer having small coating film unevenness, bubbles and surface roughness is formed. it can. The fine particles of the coating liquid ejected from the spray gun adhere to the support and are leveled to form a wet film. In this process, 100% of the liquid fine particles do not adhere to the support, but bounce off the support or get on the air stream of spray air and diffuse around the support. The diffused liquid fine particles stay in the coating booth, lose the solvent, and become semisolid fine particles. If these semi-solid fine particles are re-adhered during spray coating, a coating film defect occurs. Therefore, during spray coating, it is necessary to create an air flow to effectively remove liquid fine particles that do not contribute to film formation.

According to the present invention, by setting the wind speed in the vicinity of the support in the coating booth at 0.1 m / sec or more, re-adhesion of the liquid particles not contributing to film formation to the support can be prevented. On the other hand, when the wind speed near the support due to air supply / exhaust in the coating booth is set to be higher than 1.0 m / sec, the coating solvent fine particles are sprayed from the spray gun until they adhere to the support. The amount of evaporation increases, the solid content concentration of the formed wet film increases, and as a result, the liquid viscosity increases and it becomes difficult to perform leveling, resulting in uneven coating. In severe cases, air bubbles are trapped in the coating film, and further, the coating film becomes frosted glass.
In addition, when the wind velocity near the support is high in the state where the fluidity of the film immediately after the wet film formation is high, the drying of the outermost surface of the film proceeds rapidly, and the solvent tends to remain inside the photosensitive layer film, and bubbles due to solvent evaporation during the main drying. May occur. From the above, the wind speed in the vicinity of the support due to air supply and exhaust in the coating booth is more preferably 0.2 to 0.8 m / sec.

However, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-75454 discloses an example in which gas is blown into and exhausted from the coating booth after the spray coating is completed. In the examples of the publication,
Although there is a statement that air supply / exhaust is performed after spray coating to remove accumulated spray liquid particles, liquid particles accumulate during spray coating and re-adhesion of liquid particles occurs and sufficient coating quality is obtained. There are problems such as the absence of liquid particles, and the accumulated liquid particles weakly adhere to and accumulate in the coating booth, resulting in frequent maintenance of the apparatus.

During the spray coating, in order to prevent contamination of the coating booth and reattachment of the coating film due to fine particles of the spray liquid, it is necessary to supply and exhaust air inside the coating booth during the spray coating.
In the present invention, the vicinity of the conductive support in the coating booth is set to 0.1
Air supply / exhaust is performed from spray coating to touch drying at a very gentle wind speed of up to 1.0 m / sec.

Further, by making the atmospheric pressure in the spray coating booth slightly lower than the outside by 0.0 to 3.0 mmH ₂ O, the coating solvent vapor and the spray liquid particles are not leaked to the outside, and the inside of the coating booth is not leaked. It is possible to prevent foreign matter, dust, and the like from entering the photosensitive body, and to obtain a photoconductor free from coating film defects due to foreign matter.
If it is more than 3.0 mmH ₂ O, foreign matter and dust will invade from the outside and accumulate, and eventually become a coating film defect of the photoreceptor. More preferable range is 0.1 to 2.0 mm
Is a H ₂ O.

Next, the electrophotographic photosensitive member of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of an electrophotographic photoreceptor of the present invention, which has a structure in which a photosensitive layer is provided on a conductive support. 2 to 4 show other examples of the constitution of the electrophotographic photosensitive member according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows a function in which the photosensitive layer is composed of a charge generation layer (CGL) and a charge transport layer (CTL). The separation type, FIG. 3 shows an undercoat layer provided between the conductive substrate and the CGL and CTL of the function separation type photosensitive layer, and FIG. 4 shows the protection layer provided on the outermost layer. In addition, as long as it has at least a photosensitive layer on the conductive support, the other layers and the types of the photosensitive layer may be arbitrarily combined.

In the present invention, the conductive support used for the electrophotographic photoreceptor is a conductor or an insulator subjected to a conductive treatment, for example, a metal such as Al, Ni, Fe, Cu or Au, or an alloy thereof. In addition to metal such as Al, Ag, Au or In on an insulating substrate such as polyester, polycarbonate, polyimide, PET or glass
A thin film formed of a conductive material such as ₂ O ₃ or SnO ₂ or a conductive-treated paper can be used.

The shape of the conductive support is not particularly limited, and any one of plate shape, drum shape and belt shape can be used. Among them, a seamless nickel belt, a metal-deposited endless belt, and a bonded aluminum-deposited PET film, which do not require a surface-treating process by surface treatment and have a high degree of freedom in layout in the image forming apparatus, are joined. An endless belt using is preferable.

An undercoat layer may be provided between the conductive support and the photosensitive layer, if desired. The undercoat layer provided is provided for the purpose of improving the adhesiveness, preventing interference fringes, improving the coatability of the upper layer, and reducing the residual potential. The undercoat layer generally contains a resin as a main component, but considering that the resin is applied to the photosensitive layer on the undercoat layer, the resin is a resin having a high solubility in general organic solvents. Is desirable.

Examples of such resins include water-soluble resins such as polyvinyl alcohol, casein and sodium polyacrylate, alcohol-soluble resins such as copolymerized nylon and methoxymethylated nylon, polyurethane, melamine resin, alkyd-melamine resin and epoxy. Examples of the resin include curable resins that form a three-dimensional network structure. Further, fine powders of metal oxides such as titanium oxide, silica, alumina, zirconium oxide, tin oxide, indium oxide, or the like, or metal sulfides, metal nitrides, and the like may be dispersed and contained. These undercoat layers can be formed using a suitable solvent and coating method, but are preferably formed by the spray coating method of the present invention.

The undercoat layer may be made conductive by adding a conductive polymer or an ionic resin to the above resin, or by adding an acceptor resin or the like, the charge from the substrate may be added. It may well have functions such as suppressing injection. Further, as the undercoat layer of the present invention, a metal oxide layer formed by a sol-gel method or the like using a silane coupling agent, a titanium coupling agent, a chromium coupling agent, etc. is also useful.

In addition to this, the undercoat layer of the present invention is made of Al.₂O₃
Anodized, or polyparaxylylene (par
Organic compounds such as rylene) and SnO₂, TiO₂, ITO, C
eO ₂It is also possible to use an inorganic material such as a vacuum thin film manufacturing method.
It can be used well. The appropriate thickness of the undercoat layer is 1-20 μm
And preferably 2 to 10 μm.

Next, the photosensitive layer provided on the conductive support directly or through the undercoat layer will be briefly described below. First, the charge generation layer will be described. The charge generation layer is a layer containing a charge generation substance as a main component, and a binder resin may be used as necessary.

A known material can be used as the charge generating substance. For example, phthalocyanine-based pigments such as metal phthalocyanine and metal-free phthalocyanine, azurenium salt pigment, squaric acid methine pigment, azo pigment having a carbazole skeleton, azo pigment having a triphenylamine skeleton, azo pigment having a diphenylamine skeleton, dibenzothiophene skeleton Having azo pigment, azo pigment having fluorenone skeleton, azo pigment having oxadiazole skeleton, azo pigment having bisstilbene skeleton, azo pigment having distyryl oxadiazole skeleton, azo pigment having distyryl carbazole skeleton, perylene Series pigments, anthraquinone series or polycyclic quinone series pigments, quinone imine series pigments, diphenylmethane and triphenylmethane series pigments, benzoquinone and naphthoquinone series pigments, cyanine and azomethine series pigments, Jigoido based pigments, and bisbenzimidazole pigments. These charge generating substances can be used alone or as a mixture of two or more kinds.

The binder resin used in the charge generation layer as required includes polyamide, polyurethane, epoxy resin, polyketone, polycarbonate, silicone resin, acrylic resin, polyvinyl butyral, polyvinyl formal, polyvinyl ketone, polystyrene, poly-N-. Vinylcarbazole, polyacrylamide, etc. are used. These binder resins may be used alone or 2
It can be used as a mixture of two or more species.

A charge transport material may be added to the charge generation layer, if necessary. Further, as the binder resin for the charge generation layer, a polymer charge transport material is favorably used in addition to the above-mentioned binder resin.

If necessary, these organic charge generating substances are dispersed with a binder resin in a ball mill, attritor, sand mill or the like using a solvent such as tetrahydrofuran, cyclohexanone, dioxane, dichloroethane or butanone, and the dispersion is appropriately diluted. A charge generation layer forming coating liquid is prepared.

The charge generating layer can be formed by a dip coating method using this coating solution, but is preferably formed by the spray coating method of the present invention. The film thickness of the charge generation layer thus provided is suitably about 0.01 to 5 μm, preferably 0.05 to 2 μm.

The charge transport layer is a layer intended to retain a charged charge, and to move the charge generated and separated in the charge generation layer by exposure to combine with the retained charge. A high electric resistance is required to achieve the purpose of retaining the charged electric charge, and a low dielectric constant and good charge mobility are required to achieve the objective of obtaining a high surface potential with the retained charged electric charge. Is required.

The charge transport layer for satisfying these requirements is composed of a charge transport material and a binder resin used as necessary. These charge-transporting substance and binder resin may be dissolved or dispersed in an appropriate solvent and formed by a dip coating method or the like, preferably by the spray coating method of the present invention. If necessary, an appropriate amount of a plasticizer, an antioxidant, a leveling agent, etc. can be added in addition to the charge transport material and the binder resin.

The charge transport material includes a hole transport material and an electron transport material. Examples of the electron transport material include chloranil, bromanil, tetracyanoethylene,
Tetracyanoquinodimethane, 2,4,7-trinitro-
9-fluorenone, 2,4,5,7-tetranitro-9
-Fluorenone, 2,4,5,7-tetranitroxanthone, 2,4,8-trinitrothioxanthone, 2,
Examples thereof include electron accepting substances such as 6,8-trinitro-4H-indeno [1,2-b] thiophen-4one and 1,3,7-trinitrodibenzothiophene-5,5-dioxide. These electron transport materials may be used alone or
It can be used as a mixture of two or more species.

Examples of the hole-transporting substance include the electron-donating substances shown below, which are preferably used. For example, oxazole derivative, oxadiazole derivative, imidazole derivative, triphenylamine derivative, 9-
(P-diethylaminostyrylanthracene), 1,1
-Bis- (4-dibenzylaminophenyl) propane,
Styrylanthracene, styrylpyrazoline, phenylhydrazones, α-phenylstilbene derivatives, thiazole derivatives, triazole derivatives, phenazine derivatives,
Examples include acridine derivatives, benzofuran derivatives, benzimidazole derivatives, thiophene derivatives and the like. These hole transport materials can be used alone or as a mixture of two or more kinds.

The polymer charge transport material has the following structure.

(A) Carbazole ring-containing polymer, for example, poly-N-vinylcarbazole, JP-A-50-
82056, JP 54-9632, JP 54-11737, JP 4-175337, JP 4-183719, JP 6-23.
Examples thereof include the compounds described in Japanese Patent No. 4841.

(B) Polymer having hydrazone structure For example, JP-A-57-78402 and JP-A-61-
20953, JP-A-61-296358,
JP-A-1-134456, JP-A-1-17916
4, JP-A-3-180851, and JP-A-3-180851.
180852, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-50555, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-310904, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-234840.
Examples thereof include the compounds described in JP-A No.

(C) Polysilylene polymer For example, JP-A-63-285552 and JP-A-1-
88461, JP 4-264130 A, JP 4-264131 A, JP 4-264132 A.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-264133 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-2.
Examples thereof include the compounds described in 89867.

(D) Polymer having a triarylamine structure, for example, N, N-bis (4-methylphenyl) -4-aminopolystyrene, JP-A-1-134457, JP-A-2-182264, Kaihei 2-304456
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-133065, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-1304
Examples thereof include compounds described in JP-A-33066, JP-A-5-40350, and JP-A-5-202135.

(E) Other polymers, for example, formaldehyde condensation polymer of nitropyrene, JP-A-51-73888, JP-A-56-15074.
No. 9, JP-A-6-234836, JP-A-6-
Examples thereof include the compounds described in Japanese Patent No. 234837.

The polymer having an electron-donating group used in the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned polymers, but copolymers of known monomers, block polymers, graft polymers, star polymers, and Further, for example, a cross-linked polymer having an electron donating group as disclosed in JP-A-3-109406 can be used.

Further, as the polycarbonate, polyurethane, polyester and polyether having a triarylamine structure, which are more useful as the polymer charge transporting material used in the present invention, the following compounds are exemplified. JP-A-64-1728, JP-A-64-13061, JP-A-64-19049, JP-A-4-11
627, JP-A-4-225014, JP-A-4-230767, JP-A-4-320420, JP-A-5-232727, and JP-A-7-563.
74, JP-A-9-127713, JP-A-9-
-222740, 9-265197, 9-121877, 9-304.
956, etc.

A binder that can be used in combination with the charge transport layer.
As the resin, polycarbonate, polyester, methacrylic resin, acrylic resin, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate, polystyrene, phenol resin, epoxy resin, polyurethane, polyvinylidene chloride, alkyd resin, silicone resin, polyvinylcarbazole, polyvinyl butyral, Polyvinyl formal, polyacrylate, polyacrylamide, phenoxy resin and the like are used. These binders can be used alone or as a mixture of two or more kinds.

In the charge transport layer of the present invention, rubber,
Other antioxidants and plasticizers used for plastics, fats and oils may be added.

A leveling agent may be added to the charge transport layer. As the leveling agent, silicone oils such as dimethyl silicone oil and methylphenyl silicone oil, and polymers or oligomers having a perfluoroalkyl group in the side chain are used, and the amount thereof is 100 parts by weight of the binder resin. 0.
002 to 0.01 part by weight is suitable.

The thickness of the charge transport layer provided as described above is appropriately about 5 to 100 μm, preferably 20 to 30 μm.

In the photoreceptor of the present invention, a protective layer may be provided on the photosensitive layer. Materials used for the protective layer include ABS resin, ACS resin, olefin-vinyl monomer copolymer, chlorinated polyether, aryl resin, phenol resin, polyacetal, polyamide, polyamideimide, polyacrylate, polyallylsulfone, polybutylene, Polybutylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, polyether sulfone, polyethylene,
Resins such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyimide, acrylic resin, polymethyl bentene, polypropylene, polyphenylene oxide, polysulfone, polystyrene, polyarylate, AS resin, butadiene-styrene copolymer, polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, epoxy resin Can be mentioned.

When a protective layer is used, a filler material may be added to the protective layer. The filler material includes an organic filler material and an inorganic filler material. Examples of the organic filler material include fluororesin powder such as polytetrafluoroethylene, silicone resin powder, and a-carbon powder. As the inorganic filler material, metal powder such as copper, tin, aluminum and indium, silica, tin oxide, zinc oxide, titanium oxide, alumina, indium oxide, antimony oxide, bismuth oxide, calcium oxide, tin oxide doped with antimony , Metal oxides such as tin-doped indium oxide,
Examples thereof include metal fluorides such as tin fluoride, calcium fluoride, and aluminum fluoride, and inorganic materials such as potassium titanate and boron nitride.

Among these fillers, it is advantageous to use an inorganic material from the viewpoint of the hardness of the filler to improve wear resistance. In particular, silica, titanium oxide and alumina can be effectively used. These filler materials may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

These filler materials can be dispersed together with the charge transport substance, the binder resin, the solvent and the like by using an appropriate dispersing machine. The average primary particle size of the filler is
0.01-1.0 μm, preferably 0.05-0.5 μm
From the viewpoint of the transmittance and wear resistance of the charge transport layer, m is preferable. Further, addition of the charge-transporting substances mentioned in the charge-transporting layer to the protective layer is an effective means for improving image quality. This protective layer is formed by a dip coating method or the like, but is preferably formed by the spray coating method of the present invention. A suitable thickness of the protective layer is about 0.1 to 10 μm.

In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the electrophotographic photosensitive member formed by the above spray coating method is exposed at least by charging and coherent light (exposure resolution is preferably 6).
Image formation is performed by repeating development and transfer. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram for explaining the image forming apparatus of the present invention, and the following modified examples also belong to the category of the present invention.

In FIG. 7, a photoconductor 921 is provided with the electrophotographic photoconductor manufactured by the present invention. Photoconductor 9
Reference numeral 21 indicates a drum shape, but it may be an endless belt shape. As the charging charger 923, the pre-transfer charger 927, the transfer charger 930, the separation charger 931 and the pre-cleaning charger 933, known means such as a corona charger such as a corotron and a scorotron, and a charging roller are used. Among them, a non-contact corona charging method or a charging method (NC roller charging) in which at least an image area portion is provided with a spatial minute gap between the charging roller and the photoconductor to make the photoconductor non-contact is Is significantly reduced, and it is effective in extending the life of the photoconductor. Further, the NC roller charging is preferable because the generation of an oxidizing gas such as ozone is significantly reduced as compared with the corona charging. An injection charging method in which a magnetic brush is used to directly inject charges into the surface of the photoconductor is also a preferable charging means in that the amount of oxidizing gas such as ozone generated can be suppressed.

Generally, the above-mentioned charger can be used as the transfer means, but as shown in FIG. 7, the transfer charger 93 is used.
A combination of 0 and the separation charger 931 is effective.

As the light source of the image exposure unit 925,
As described above, a semiconductor laser (LD) is used, and a light source such as the static elimination lamp 922 includes a fluorescent lamp, a tungsten lamp,
It is possible to use general light emitting materials such as a halogen lamp, a mercury lamp, a sodium lamp, a light emitting diode (LED), a semiconductor laser (LD), and an electroluminescence (EL). Further, various filters such as a sharp cut filter, a bandpass filter, a near infrared cut filter, a dichroic filter, an interference filter, and a color temperature conversion filter can be used to irradiate only light in a desired wavelength range.

Such a light source and the like are provided with a process such as a transfer process using light irradiation, a discharging process, a cleaning process, or a pre-exposure process in addition to the process shown in FIG.
The photoconductor is irradiated with light.

By the developing unit 926, the photosensitive member 9 is
The toner developed on No. 21 is transferred to the transfer paper 929, but not all of it is transferred, and some toner remains on the photoconductor 921. Such transfer residual toner is removed from the photoconductor by the cleaning brush 934 and the cleaning blade 935. Cleaning may be performed only with the cleaning brush 934, and the cleaning brush 934 has a fur brush,
Known ones such as a magfer brush are used.

A known method is applied to the developing means, and a known method is used for the charge eliminating means.

FIG. 8 shows an example of another process of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. The photosensitive member 941 has the flexible endless belt-shaped electrophotographic photosensitive member manufactured according to the present invention, is driven by the driving roller 942, and is free from slack and slippage by the tension roller 943 and the driven roller 944. It rotates smoothly. This photoconductor 941
Is charged by the charging charger 945, image exposure by the light source 946, development (not shown), transfer using the charging charger 947, cleaning by the brush 948, light source 94
The charge removal by 9 is repeated.

The image forming apparatus shown in these figures exemplifies the embodiment of the present invention, and of course other embodiments are possible. For example, in FIG. 8, pre-cleaning exposure may be performed between the transfer step and the cleaning step. On the other hand, in the light irradiation step, although image exposure and charge removal exposure are shown, other than pre-transfer exposure, image exposure pre-exposure,
Alternatively, a known light irradiation step may be provided to irradiate the photoreceptor with light.

16 and 17 show a tandem type color image forming apparatus. Color electrophotographic devices include
A plurality of color developing devices are provided around one photoconductor, toner is attached by these developing devices to form a synthetic toner image on the photoconductor, and the toner image is transferred to record a color image on a sheet. , A so-called 1-drum type and a plurality of photoconductors are arranged, each of these photoconductors is provided with a developing device, a monochromatic toner image is formed on each photoconductor, and the monochromatic toner images are sequentially transferred. Then, there is a so-called tandem type in which a composite color image is recorded on a sheet.

Comparing the 1-drum type and the tandem type,
The former has the advantage that it can be relatively downsized and the cost can be reduced because it has only one photoconductor, but a single photoconductor is used to repeat image formation a plurality of times (usually four times) to form a full-color image. Since it is formed, there is a drawback that it is difficult to speed up image formation, and the latter has the advantage that it is easy to speed up image formation, although it has the drawback of being large and conversely costly. Recently, the tandem type is attracting attention because the full color is required to have a speed equivalent to that of monochrome.

However, in the tandem type, because a full-color image is formed by a plurality of photoconductors, if unevenness in light and shade occurs in each photoconductor, it causes unevenness in color tone. The photoreceptor of the present invention, which is suppressed and has reduced unevenness in light and shade, can be preferably used. In particular, the type having a protective layer is particularly preferable because unevenness due to a partial difference in the amount of wear hardly occurs.

As shown in FIG. 17, the tandem type electrophotographic apparatus is of a direct transfer type in which an image on each photoconductor 40 is sequentially transferred to a sheet s conveyed by the sheet conveying belt 11 by a transfer device 62. Then, as shown in FIG. 16, the image on each photoconductor 40 is sequentially transferred to the intermediate transfer body 10 by the primary transfer device 62, and then the intermediate transfer body 10 is transferred.
There is an indirect transfer system in which the above image is collectively transferred onto the sheet s by the secondary transfer device 22. The secondary transfer device 22 is a transfer / transport belt, but there are also roller shapes and systems.

Comparing the direct transfer type and the indirect transfer type, the former shows that the paper feed path 48 is provided upstream of the tandem type image forming apparatus T in which the photoconductors 40 are arranged, and the fixing device is provided downstream thereof. 25 must be arranged, and there is a drawback that the size becomes large in the sheet conveying direction. On the other hand, in the latter, the secondary transfer position can be set relatively freely. Further, the paper feed path 48 and the fixing device 25 can be arranged so as to overlap with the tandem image forming apparatus T, and there is an advantage that the size can be reduced.

Further, in the former case, the fixing device 25 is arranged close to the tandem type image forming apparatus T in order not to increase the size in the sheet conveying direction. Therefore, the fixing device 2 has a sufficient margin to allow the sheet s to bend.
5 cannot be arranged, the impact when the front end of the sheet s enters the fixing device 25 (especially noticeable for a thick sheet), the sheet conveying speed when passing through the fixing device 25, and the transfer conveying belt. Due to the speed difference from the sheet conveying speed due to the above, there is a drawback that the fixing device 25 tends to affect the image formation on the upstream side. On the other hand, in the latter case, since the fixing device 25 can be arranged with a sufficient margin that the sheet s can be flexed, it is possible to prevent the fixing device 25 from affecting the image formation.

From the above, recently, the tandem type electrophotographic apparatus, in particular, the indirect transfer type has attracted attention. In this type of color electrophotographic apparatus, as shown in FIG. 16, the transfer residual toner remaining on the photoconductor 40 after the primary transfer is removed by the photoconductor cleaning device 1.
Then, the surface of the photoconductor 40 was cleaned in order to prepare for another image formation. Further, the transfer residual toner remaining on the intermediate transfer body 10 after the secondary transfer is removed by the intermediate transfer body cleaning device 17 to clean the surface of the intermediate transfer body 10 to prepare for the image formation again.

FIG. 9 shows a tandem indirect transfer type color image forming apparatus. In the drawing, reference numeral 100 is a copying apparatus main body, 200 is a paper feeding table on which the copying apparatus is placed, 300 is a scanner mounted on the copying apparatus main body 100, and 400 is an automatic document feeder (ADF) further mounted thereon. An endless belt-shaped intermediate transfer member 10 is provided in the center of the copying apparatus main body 100. And, as shown in FIG.
In the illustrated example, it is wound around the three support rollers 14, 15 and 16 and can be rotated and conveyed clockwise in the drawing. In this illustrated example, an intermediate transfer member cleaning device 17 that removes residual toner remaining on the intermediate transfer member 10 after image transfer is provided to the left of the second support roller 15 among the three. Also, 3
First support roller 14 and second support roller 1
On the intermediary transfer member 10 stretched between the five, black, yellow, magenta, and cyan 4 are arranged along the conveyance direction.
A tandem image forming apparatus 20 is configured by arranging one image forming unit 18 side by side. Above the tandem image forming apparatus 20, as shown in FIG.
To provide.

On the other hand, a secondary transfer device 22 is provided on the side opposite to the tandem image forming device 20 with the intermediate transfer member 10 interposed therebetween. In the illustrated example, the secondary transfer device 22 is configured by spanning a secondary transfer belt 24, which is an endless belt, between two rollers 23 and pressed against the third support roller 16 via the intermediate transfer body 10. The image on the intermediate transfer body 10 is transferred to a sheet.

A fixing device 25 for fixing the transferred image on the sheet is provided beside the secondary transfer device 22. Fixing device 25
Is a fixing belt 26, which is an endless belt, and a pressure roller 27.
Press to configure.

The above-mentioned secondary transfer device 22 is also provided with a sheet carrying function for carrying the sheet after the image transfer to the fixing device 25. Of course, a transfer roller or a non-contact charger may be arranged as the secondary transfer device 22, and in such a case, it is difficult to provide this sheet conveying function together. In the illustrated example, a sheet reversing device 28 for reversing the sheet so as to record images on both sides of the sheet in parallel with the above-described tandem image forming apparatus 20 under the secondary transfer device 22 and the fixing device 25. Equipped with.

Now, when making a copy using this color electrophotographic apparatus, a document is set on the document table 30 of the automatic document feeder 400. Alternatively, the automatic document feeder 400 is opened and the contact glass 3 of the scanner 300 is opened.
The original is set on the sheet 2, and the automatic document feeder 400 is closed and pressed by it.

When a start switch (not shown) is pressed, when the original is set on the automatic document feeder 400, the original is conveyed and moved onto the contact glass 32, and then the original is set on the other contact glass 32. At this time, the scanner 300 is immediately driven to travel the first traveling body 33 and the second traveling body 34. Then, the first traveling body 33 emits light from the light source, and the light reflected from the document surface is further reflected and directed toward the second traveling body 34, reflected by the mirror of the second traveling body 34, and passed through the imaging lens 35. Reading sensor 3
Then, put the contents in 6 and read the contents of the document.

When a start switch (not shown) is pressed, the supporting rollers 14, 15, 16 are driven by a drive motor (not shown).
One of them is driven to rotate and the other two support rollers are driven to rotate, and the intermediate transfer member 10 is rotatably conveyed. At the same time, the photoconductor 40 is rotated by each of the image forming means 18 to rotate the photoconductor 40.
0, black, yellow, magenta, and cyan single-color images are formed on the respective image display devices. Then, as the intermediate transfer body 10 is conveyed, the single color images are sequentially transferred to form a composite color image on the intermediate transfer body 10.

On the other hand, when a start switch (not shown) is pressed, one of the paper feed rollers 42 of the paper feed table 200 is selectively rotated, and a sheet is fed from one of the paper feed cassettes 44 provided in the paper bank 43 in multiple stages. The sheets are separated one by one by the separating roller 45 and placed in the paper feed path 46, conveyed by the conveying roller 47, guided to the paper feed path 48 in the copying machine main body 100, and abutted against the registration rollers 49 to be stopped. Alternatively, the paper feed roller 50 is rotated to feed out the sheets on the manual feed tray 51, and the separation roller 52 separates the sheets one by one to manually feed the paper.
Then, it is put in 3 and similarly hits the registration roller 49 to stop.

Then, the registration roller 49 is rotated in synchronism with the composite color image on the intermediate transfer member 10, the sheet is fed between the intermediate transfer member 10 and the secondary transfer device 22, and the secondary transfer device 22 is operated. Transfer to record a color image on the sheet.

The sheet after the image transfer is the secondary transfer device 22.
After that, the fixing device 25 applies heat and pressure to fix the transferred image, and then the switching claw 55
And the paper is discharged by the discharge roller 56, and the discharge tray 57
Stock on top. Alternatively, the sheet is switched to the sheet reversing device 28 by switching with the switching claw 55, reversed there and guided to the transfer position again, and after the image is recorded on the back surface, the discharge roller 56.
The sheet is discharged onto the sheet discharge tray 57.

On the other hand, for the intermediate transfer body 10 after the image transfer, the intermediate transfer body cleaning device 17 removes the residual toner remaining on the intermediate transfer body 10 after the image transfer, and the tandem image forming apparatus 20 again forms the image. Prepare for

Here, the registration roller 49 is generally grounded and used in many cases, but it is also possible to apply a bias for removing paper dust from the sheet. Generally, in the intermediate transfer method, the paper dust does not easily move to the photoconductor, so it is not necessary to consider the paper dust transfer, and it may be grounded. Although a DC bias is applied as the applied voltage, this may be an AC voltage having a DC offset component in order to charge the sheet more uniformly.

The surface of the paper after passing the resist roller 49 thus biased is slightly charged to the negative side. Therefore, in the transfer from the intermediate transfer body 10 to the sheet, the transfer condition may be changed and the transfer condition may be changed as compared with the case where the voltage is not applied to the registration roller 49.

Now, the tandem image forming apparatus 20 described above.
In detail, each of the image forming means 18 includes, in detail, for example, as shown in FIG.
A photoconductor cleaning device 63, a charge removing device 64, etc. are provided.

The intermediate transfer belt has conventionally been made of a fluorine resin,
Polycarbonate resin, polyimide resin, etc. have been used, but it is preferable to use an elastic belt in which all layers of the belt or a part of the belt is an elastic member.

The transfer of a color image using a resin belt has the following problems. Color images are usually formed with four color toners. One to four toner layers are formed on one color image. The toner layer receives pressure by passing through the primary transfer (transfer from the photoconductor to the intermediate transfer belt) and the secondary transfer (transfer from the intermediate transfer belt to the sheet), and the cohesive force between the toners becomes high. If the cohesive force between the toners becomes high, the phenomenon of hollow characters or missing edges of solid images is likely to occur. Since the resin belt has a high hardness and is not deformed according to the toner layer, the toner layer is likely to be compressed and the hollow character of the character is likely to occur. Also,
Recently, there is an increasing demand for forming full-color images on various types of paper, for example, Japanese paper, or by intentionally forming unevenness on the paper or forming an image on the paper. However, paper with poor smoothness is likely to cause voids with the toner during transfer, which easily causes transfer omission. If the transfer pressure of the secondary transfer portion is increased in order to improve the adhesiveness, the condensing force of the toner layer is increased, which causes the hollow character as described above.

Therefore, the elastic belt is used for the following purposes. Since the elastic belt has a hardness lower than that of the resin belt, the elastic belt is deformed in the transfer portion in accordance with the toner layer and the paper having poor smoothness. In other words, the elastic belt is deformed following local unevenness, so that good adhesiveness can be obtained without excessively increasing the transfer pressure to the toner layer, and there is no void in characters, and the paper has poor flatness. It is possible to obtain a transferred image with excellent uniformity.

The resin of the elastic belt is polycarbonate, fluororesin (ETFE, PVDF), polystyrene, chloropolystyrene, poly-α-methylstyrene, styrene-butadiene copolymer, styrene-vinyl chloride copolymer, styrene-vinyl acetate. Copolymer, styrene-maleic acid copolymer, styrene-acrylic acid ester copolymer (styrene-methyl acrylate copolymer, styrene-ethyl acrylate copolymer, styrene-butyl acrylate copolymer, styrene- Octyl acrylate copolymer and styrene-phenyl acrylate copolymer), styrene-methacrylic acid ester copolymer (styrene-methyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene-ethyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene-phenyl methacrylate) Copolymer, etc.), styrene-α-qua Styrene resins such as methyl chloroacrylate copolymer, styrene-acrylonitrile-acrylic acid ester copolymer (styrene or styrene-substituted homopolymer or copolymer), methyl methacrylate resin, butyl methacrylate resin, acrylic Ethyl acid resin, butyl acrylate resin, modified acrylic resin (silicone modified acrylic resin, vinyl chloride resin modified acrylic resin, acrylic urethane resin, etc.), vinyl chloride resin, styrene-vinyl acetate copolymer, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer Polymer, rosin-modified maleic acid resin, phenol resin, epoxy resin, polyester resin, polyester polyurethane resin, polyethylene, polypropylene,
Polybutadiene, polyvinylidene chloride, ionomer resin, polyurethane resin, silicone resin, ketone resin,
One kind or two or more kinds selected from the group consisting of ethylene-ethyl acrylate copolymer, xylene resin, polyvinyl butyral resin, polyamide resin, modified polyphenylene oxide resin and the like can be used.
However, it goes without saying that the material is not limited to the above materials.

As the elastic rubber and elastomer of the elastic belt, butyl rubber, fluorine rubber, acrylic rubber, EPDM, NBR, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene rubber natural rubber, isoprene rubber, styrene-
Butadiene rubber, butadiene rubber, ethylene-propylene rubber, ethylene-propylene terpolymer, chloroprene rubber, chlorosulfonated polyethylene, chlorinated polyethylene, urethane rubber, syndiotactic 1,2-
Polybutadiene, epichlorohydrin type rubber, recone rubber, fluororubber, polysulfide rubber, polynorbornene rubber, hydrogenated nitrile rubber, thermoplastic elastomer (for example, polystyrene type, polyolefin type, polyvinyl chloride type, polyurethane type, polyamide type, polyurea) , Polyester-based, fluororesin-based) and the like. However, it goes without saying that the material is not limited to the above materials.

If necessary, a conductive agent for resistance value adjustment is added to the resin, rubber or elastomer of these elastic belts. The resistance adjusting conductive agent is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include carbon black, graphite, metal powder such as aluminum and nickel, tin oxide, titanium oxide, antimony oxide, indium oxide, potassium titanate, antimony oxide-tin oxide composite. Examples of the conductive metal oxide include conductive metal oxides such as oxide (ATO) and indium oxide-tin oxide composite oxide (ITO). The conductive metal oxide includes insulating fine particles such as barium sulfate, magnesium silicate, and calcium carbonate. It may be coated. Of course, the conductive agent is not limited to the above.

There is no limitation on the surface layer material, but it is required to reduce the adhesion of the toner to the surface of the transfer belt to enhance the secondary transfer property. For example, one or more kinds of polyurethane, polyester, epoxy resin and the like are used to reduce surface energy and improve lubricity, for example, fluorine resin, fluorine compound, fluorocarbon, titanium dioxide, silicon carbide, etc. One kind or two or more kinds of powders or particles or particles having different particle sizes can be dispersed and used. Further, it is also possible to use a material such as a fluorine-based rubber material having a fluorine-rich layer formed on the surface by heat treatment to reduce the surface energy.

The method for manufacturing the belt is not limited. For example, (1) a centrifugal molding method in which a material is poured into a rotating cylindrical mold to form a belt, (2) a spray coating method for forming a thin film on the surface layer, (3) a cylindrical mold in a material solution. The dipping method is to immerse into the mold, (4) casting method to inject into the inner and outer dies, and (5) vulcanizing and polishing the compound by winding the compound around a cylindrical die. There is no limitation, and it is natural that a plurality of manufacturing methods can be combined to manufacture a belt.

As a method of preventing elongation of the elastic belt, there are a method of forming a rubber layer on a core resin layer having a small elongation as in the above example, and a method of adding a material for preventing elongation to the core layer. , Not particularly related to the manufacturing method.

The material constituting the core layer for preventing elongation is
For example, natural fibers such as cotton and silk, polyester fibers, nylon fibers, acrylic fibers, polyolefin fibers, polyvinyl alcohol fibers, polyvinyl chloride fibers, polyvinylidene chloride fibers, polyurethane fibers, polyacetal fibers, polyfluoroethylene fibers, phenol fibers, etc. A woven fabric or a thread can be obtained by using one kind or two or more kinds selected from the group consisting of inorganic fibers such as synthetic fibers, carbon fibers, glass fibers and boron fibers, and metal fibers such as iron fibers and copper fibers. Of course, the material is not limited to the above.

The yarn may be any twisted yarn such as one or a plurality of filaments twisted, one-twisted yarn, ply-twisted yarn, twin yarn and the like. Further, for example, fibers of a material selected from the above material group may be mixed and spun. Of course, the thread may be used after being subjected to an appropriate conductive treatment. On the other hand, as the woven fabric, any woven fabric such as a knitted fabric can be used, and of course, a mixed woven fabric can also be used and naturally a conductive treatment can also be applied.

The manufacturing method for providing the core layer is not particularly limited. For example, a method in which a woven fabric woven in a tubular shape is covered with a mold and a coating layer is provided thereon, or a woven fabric woven in a tubular shape is used. A coating layer is provided on one or both sides of the core layer by immersing the core in a liquid rubber or the like, a method in which a thread is spirally wound around a mold or the like at an arbitrary pitch, and the coating layer is provided thereon. it can.

The thickness of the elastic layer depends on the hardness of the elastic layer, but if it is too thick, the expansion and contraction of the surface becomes large and cracks are likely to occur in the surface layer. Further, it is not preferable that the thickness is too thick because the amount of expansion and contraction becomes large and the image becomes more spread and fringing (about 0.05 to 1.00 mm is suitable).

The proper range of the hardness of the elastic layer is 10 ≦ HS ≦ 6.
It is 5 ° (JIS-A). It is necessary to adjust the optimum hardness depending on the layer thickness of the belt. If the hardness is less than 10 ° (JIS-A), it is very difficult to mold with high dimensional accuracy. This is because it is easily contracted and expanded during molding. Further, in the case of softening, it is a general method to add an oil component to the base material, but there is a drawback that the oil component exudes when continuously operated in a pressurized state. As a result, it was found that the photoconductor that contacts the surface of the intermediate transfer member was contaminated and horizontal stripe unevenness was generated.

Generally, a surface layer is provided to improve releasability, but in order to give a complete exudation preventing effect, the surface layer has a high required quality such as durability quality.
It becomes difficult to secure the characteristics. On the other hand, hardness 6
Since those having a hardness of 5 ° (JIS-A) or more can be molded accurately due to the increased hardness, and the oil content can be suppressed or reduced, the contamination of the photoconductor can be reduced. However, it becomes difficult to obtain the effect of improving transferability such as missing characters, and it becomes difficult to stretch the roller.

Although not shown, at least the photoconductor 40
And a process cartridge is formed by all or part of the portion forming the image forming unit 18, and the copying machine main body 10
It is also possible to collectively attach and detach to and from 0 to improve maintainability.

Of the parts constituting the image forming means 18,
The charging device 60 is formed in a roller shape in the illustrated example, and is brought into contact with the photoconductor 40 to apply a voltage to the photoconductor 4.
Charge 0. Of course, charging can also be performed with a non-contact scorotron charger.

The developing device 61 may use a one-component developer, but in the illustrated example, a two-component developer comprising a magnetic carrier and a non-magnetic toner is used. Then, the agitating portion 66 that conveys the two-component developer while stirring and supplies and attaches the two-component developer to the developing sleeve 65, and the toner of the two-component developer that adheres to the developing sleeve 65 to the photoconductor 40. And a developing unit 67 that transfers to
The stirrer 66 is set to a position lower than 7

The stirring section 66 includes two parallel screws 6
8 is provided. The space between the two screws 68 is divided by a partition plate 69 except for both ends (see FIG. 13). Further, a toner concentration sensor 71 is attached to the developing case 70.

On the other hand, in the developing section 67, a developing sleeve 65 is provided facing the photoconductor 40 through the opening of the developing case 70, and a magnet 72 is fixedly provided in the developing sleeve 65. Further, a doctor blade 73 is provided so that its tip approaches the developing sleeve 65.

Then, the two-component developer is replaced by two screws 6
It is conveyed and circulated while being stirred at 8, and supplied to the developing sleeve 65. The developer supplied to the developing sleeve 65 is drawn up and held by the magnet 72, and
Form a magnetic brush on top. The magnetic brush is cut into an appropriate amount by the doctor blade 73 as the developing sleeve 65 rotates. The developer that has been cut off is returned to the stirring unit 66.

On the other hand, the toner of the developer on the developing sleeve 65 is transferred to the photoconductor 40 by the developing bias voltage applied to the developing sleeve 65, and the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor 40 is visualized. . After the visible image is formed, the developer remaining on the developing sleeve 65 is separated from the developing sleeve 65 and returns to the stirring unit 66 in the absence of the magnetic force of the magnet 72. When the toner concentration in the stirring unit 66 becomes low by repeating this, the toner concentration sensor 71 detects it and the stirring unit 66 detects it.
Is replenished with toner.

Next, the primary transfer device 62 has a roller shape and is provided by pressing the intermediate transfer member 10 against the photosensitive member 40. Separately, it is not limited to a roller shape, but a conductive brush shape,
It may be a non-contact corona charger or the like.

The photoconductor cleaning device 63 is provided with a cleaning blade 75 whose tip is pressed against the photoconductor 40 and is made of polyurethane rubber, for example. A contact brush is also used on the outer periphery of the photoconductor 40 in order to improve the cleaning property.
In this explanatory view, a fur brush 76 having a conductive outer periphery is provided in contact with the photoconductor 40 so as to be rotatable in the arrow direction. Further, a metal electric field roller 77 for applying a bias to the fur brush 76.
Is rotatably provided in the direction of the arrow, and the tip of the scraper 78 is pressed against the electric field roller 77. Further, a recovery screw 79 for recovering the removed toner is provided.

Then, the fur brush 76 rotating in the counter direction with respect to the photoconductor 40 removes the residual toner on the photoconductor 40. The toner attached to the fur brush 76 is removed by the electric field roller 77 to which a bias is applied, which contacts the fur brush 76 in the counter direction and rotates. The toner attached to the electric field roller 77 is cleaned by the scraper 78. The toner collected by the photoconductor cleaning device 63 is brought to one side of the photoconductor cleaning device 63 by the collection screw 79, and is returned to the developing device 61 by the toner recycling device 80 described later for reuse.

The static eliminator 64 is, for example, a lamp and irradiates light to initialize the surface potential of the photoconductor 40. Then, as the photoconductor 40 rotates, first, the charging device 60 uniformly charges the surface of the photoconductor 40, and then the scanner 300.
In accordance with the content of the reading, the exposure device 21 irradiates the writing light L such as a laser or LED to form an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor 40. After that, toner is attached by the developing device 61 to visualize the electrostatic latent image, and the visible image is transferred onto the intermediate transfer body 10 by the primary transfer device 62. The surface of the photoconductor 40 after the image transfer is the photoconductor cleaning device 63.
Then, the residual toner is removed and cleaned, and the charge is removed by the charge removing device 64 to prepare for another image formation.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of a main part of the color copying machine shown in FIG. In the figure, each image forming unit 18 of the tandem image forming apparatus 20, each photoconductor 40 of the image forming unit 18, each developing device 61, each photoconductor cleaning device 63, and the photoconductor 40 of each image forming unit 18. After the reference numerals of the respective primary transfer devices 62 provided facing each other, BK is attached to black, Y is attached to yellow, M is attached to magenta, and C is attached to cyan. .

Although not shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the reference numeral 74 in FIG. 11 is a conductive roller provided between the primary transfer devices 62 in contact with the base layer side of the intermediate transfer member 10. . This conductive roller 74 prevents the bias applied by each primary transfer device 62 at the time of transfer from flowing into each adjacent image forming unit 18 via the medium resistance base layer.

Next, FIGS. 12 and 13 show a toner recycling device 80. As shown in FIG. 10, the recovery screw 79 of the photoconductor cleaning device 63 is provided with a roller portion 82 having a pin 81 at one end. And
One side of the belt-shaped collected toner conveying member 83 of the toner recycling device 80 is hooked on the roller portion 82, and the pin 81 is inserted into the elongated hole 84 of the collected toner conveying member 83. Blades 85 are arranged at regular intervals on the outer circumference of the collected toner conveying member 83.
On the other side, the roller portion 87 of the rotary shaft 86 is provided.
Hang on.

The collected toner conveying member 83 is put in the conveying path case 88 shown in FIG. 13 together with the rotating shaft 86. The transport path case 88 is formed integrally with the cartridge case 89, and one of the above-described two screws 68 of the developing device 61 is inserted into the end portion on the developing device 61 side thereof.

Then, a driving force is transmitted from the outside to rotate the recovery screw 79, and at the same time, the recovered toner conveying member 8
3 is rotatably conveyed, the toner collected by the photoconductor cleaning device 63 is conveyed to the developing device 61 through the inside of the conveying path case 88, and is put into the developing device 61 by the rotation of the screw 68. After that, as described above, the two screws 68 carry and circulate while stirring with the developer already in the developing device 61, supply it to the developing sleeve 65 and cut off the ears with the doctor blade 73, and then the photoconductor 40. To develop the latent image on the photoconductor 40.

The developing sleeve 65 has a non-magnetic rotatable sleeve-like shape, and has a plurality of magnets 7 inside.
2 are arranged. Since the magnet 72 is fixed, a magnetic force can be applied when the developer passes through a predetermined place. In the illustrated example, the developing sleeve 65 has a diameter of φ18, and the surface is formed by sandblasting or a process of forming a plurality of grooves having a depth of 1 to several mm so that RZ falls within the range of 10 to 30 μm. . The magnet 72 is, for example, a doctor blade 7
From the position 3 to N ₁ , S ₁ , in the rotation direction of the developing sleeve 65,
It has five magnetic poles of N ₂ , S ₂ , and S ₃ . The developer forms a magnetic brush with the magnet 72, and the developing sleeve 65
Carried on top. The developing sleeve 65 is arranged facing the photoconductor 40 in the area on the S1 side of the magnet 72 in which a magnetic brush of developer is formed.

In the illustrated example, as shown in FIG. 11, the cleaning device 17 is provided with two fur brushes 90 and 91 as cleaning members. A bias having a different polarity is applied to each of the fur brushes 90 and 91 from a power source (not shown). The fur brushes 90 and 91 are provided with metal rollers 92 and 93, respectively, which are in contact with each other and rotate in forward or reverse directions. And
In this example, a (−) voltage is applied to the metal roller 92 on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the intermediate transfer member 10 from a power source 94, and a (+) voltage is applied to the metal roller 93 on the downstream side from a power source 95.
The tips of the blades 96 and 97 are pressed against the metal rollers 92 and 93, respectively.

Then, as the intermediate transfer member 10 rotates in the direction of the arrow, first, the fur brush 90 on the upstream side is applied with, for example, a bias of (-) to clean the surface of the intermediate transfer member 10. If the metal roller 92 is -70
When 0V is applied, the fur brush 90 becomes −400V, and the (+) toner on the intermediate transfer member 10 is transferred to the fur brush 9
Transfers to the 0 side. The removed toner is further transferred from the fur brush 90 to the metal roller 92 due to the potential difference, and scraped off by the blade 96.

Now, the fur brush 90 is used to form the intermediate transfer member 10.
Although the upper toner is removed, a large amount of toner still remains on the intermediate transfer body 10. Those toners are (-) by the (-) bias applied to the fur brush 90.
Be charged to. It is considered that this is charged by charge injection or discharge. However, the toner can be removed by subsequently applying the (+) bias with the fur brush 91 on the downstream side to perform cleaning. The removed toner transfers from the fur brush 91 to the metal roller 93 due to the potential difference and is scraped off by the blade 97. The toner scraped off by the blades 96 and 97 is collected in a tank (not shown).

The order of colors forming an image is not limited, and varies depending on the aim and characteristics of the image forming apparatus.

The image forming apparatus as described above may be fixedly incorporated in a copying machine, a facsimile or a printer, but may be incorporated in these apparatuses in the form of a process cartridge. The process cartridge is one device (component) that contains a photoconductor and that also includes a charging unit, an exposure unit, a developing unit, a transfer unit, a cleaning unit, and a charge eliminating unit. Although there are many shapes of process cartridges and the like, a general example is shown in FIG. The photoconductor 941 has an electrophotographic photoconductor manufactured by the present invention on a conductive support. A good image can be provided by using the image forming apparatus according to the present invention described above.

[0128]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to examples, but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereby.

(Examples 1 to 5 and Comparative Examples 1 to 5) 15 parts by weight of alkyd resin (Beckosol 1307-60-EL (manufactured by Dainippon Ink and Chemicals, Inc.)), melamine resin (Super Beckamine G-821-60). (Manufactured by Dainippon Ink and Chemicals, Inc.) 10 parts by weight are dissolved in 150 parts by weight of methyl ethyl ketone, and titanium oxide powder (Taiper CR
90 parts by weight of -EL (manufactured by Ishihara Sangyo Co., Ltd.) was added and dispersed by a ball mill for 12 hours to prepare a coating liquid for undercoat layer. This was applied to a nickel seamless belt having a length of 92 mm, a length of 410 mm and a thickness of 30 μm by a dip coating method. Then, it was dried at 130 ° C. for 20 minutes to form an undercoat layer having a film thickness of 6.5 μm.

Next, 4 parts by weight of a polyvinyl butyral resin (S-REC HL-S (manufactured by Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.)) was dissolved in 150 parts by weight of cyclohexanone, and 10 parts by weight of the trisazo pigment represented by the following structural formula (1) was dissolved. In addition, after dispersing for 48 hours with a ball mill, further cyclohexanone 210
Parts by weight were added and dispersion was carried out for 3 hours. This was taken out into a container and diluted with cyclohexanone so that the solid content became 1.5% by weight. The charge generation layer coating solution thus obtained is applied onto the intermediate layer by a dip coating method, followed by heating at 130 ° C. 2
It was dried for 0 minutes to form a charge generation layer having a thickness of 0.2 μm.

[Chemical 1]

Next, in 83 parts by weight of tetrahydrofuran,
Bisphenol A type polycarbonate resin 10 parts, silicone oil (KF-50 (Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.)) 0.0
Dissolve 02 parts by weight, add 8 parts by weight of the charge-transporting substance represented by the structural formula (2) to the solution, dissolve it, and dilute it with cyclohexanone to a solid content of 8% by weight to prepare a coating solution for charge-transporting layer. did. The charge transport layer coating liquid thus obtained is applied onto the charge generation layer by a spray coating method, followed by heating at 130 ° C. 2
After drying for 0 minutes, a charge transport layer having a film thickness of 25 μm was formed.

[Chemical 2]

At this time, the air supply and exhaust amount were adjusted, and the wind speed near the support and the pressure difference in the coating booth were set as shown in Table 1. Wind speed is ANEMOCHECK MODEL
The position shown in FIG. 5 was measured at a position of about 2 cm from the surface to be coated (the surface of the charge generation layer formed on the conductive support) using 6413 (manufactured by Kanomax Japan). As the spray gun, ARS-P06 (nozzle diameter of liquid ejection port: 0.6 mm) manufactured by Meiji Machine Mfg. Co., Ltd. was used. After that, both ends were cut so that the length of the endless belt-shaped photoreceptor was 367 mm.

The maximum surface roughness of the charge transport layer of the photoreceptors of Examples 1 to 5 and Comparative Examples 1 to 5 thus obtained was the same as that of Examples 1 to 5 and Comparative Examples 1 to 5 on the support. The film provided with a single film was measured using a surface roughness measuring device Surfcom (manufactured by Tokyo Seimitsu Co., Ltd.) under the measurement conditions of a scan speed of 0.3 mm / sec and a scan width of 5 mm. Further, the film thickness difference of the charge transport layer is determined by an eddy current film thickness meter (manufactured by Fischer Co.) provided with a single film on the support as in Examples 1 to 5 and Comparative Examples 1 to 5. The film thickness at 80 measurement points was measured and defined as the difference between the maximum value and the minimum value. Further, the film-forming property of the coating film was visually confirmed. The results are summarized in Table 1.

The photoconductors of Examples 1 to 5 and Comparative Examples 1 to 5 were replaced with full color laser printers IPSIO Co.
lor 5000 (manufactured by Ricoh (λ = 780 nm, 600
An image forming test was conducted using a modified machine having a dpi and a beam spot of 4.5 × 10 ⁻³ mm ² ). The defects in the halftone image were visually identified. The results are also summarized in Table 1.

(Examples 6 to 8 and Comparative Examples 6 to 7) 15 parts by weight of alkyd resin (Beckosol 1307-60-EL (manufactured by Dainippon Ink and Chemicals)), melamine resin (Super Beckamine G-821-60). (Manufactured by Dainippon Ink and Chemicals, Inc.) 10 parts by weight are dissolved in 150 parts by weight of methyl ethyl ketone, and titanium oxide powder (Taiper CR
90 parts by weight of -EL (manufactured by Ishihara Sangyo Co., Ltd.) was added and dispersed by a ball mill for 12 hours. This is taken out into a container and the solid content is 2
It was diluted with cyclohexanone to 5% by weight to prepare an undercoat layer coating liquid. This is φ92mm, length 41
A nickel seamless belt having a thickness of 0 mm, a thickness of 30 μm and a maximum surface roughness of 0.05 μm was applied by a spray coating method and dried at 130 ° C. for 20 minutes to form an undercoat layer having a thickness of 6.5 μm. At this time, the air supply and exhaust amount were adjusted, and the wind speed near the support and the pressure difference in the coating booth were set as shown in Table 2. The spray gun is A manufactured by Meiji Kikai Seisakusho.
RS-P06 (nozzle diameter of liquid outlet of 0.6 mm) was used.

Next, 4 parts by weight of polyvinyl butyral resin (S-REC HL-S (manufactured by Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.)) was dissolved in 150 parts by weight of cyclohexanone, and 10 parts by weight of the bisazo pigment represented by the following structural formula (3) was added. In addition, after dispersing with a ball mill for 48 hours, 210 parts by weight of cyclohexanone was further added and dispersed for 3 hours. This was taken out into a container and diluted with cyclohexanone so that the solid content became 1.5% by weight. The charge generation layer coating liquid thus obtained is applied onto the intermediate layer by a dip coating method, and then the temperature is increased to 130 ° C.
After drying for a minute, a charge generation layer having a thickness of 0.2 μm was formed.

[Chemical 3]

Next, 10 parts by weight of a bisphenol A type polycarbonate resin and 0.002 parts by weight of silicon oil (KF-50 (manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.)) were dissolved in 100 parts by weight of tetrahydrofuran, and the above structural formula ( 8 parts by weight of the charge transport material of 2) was added and dissolved to prepare a charge transport layer coating liquid. The charge transport layer coating liquid thus obtained was applied onto the charge generating layer by a dip coating method, and then dried at 130 ° C. for 20 minutes to form a charge transport layer having a film thickness of 25 μm. After that, both ends were cut so that the length of the endless belt-shaped photoreceptor was 367 mm.

The maximum surface roughnesses of the undercoat layers of the photoreceptors of Examples 6 to 8 and Comparative Examples 6 to 7 thus obtained are shown in Example 6.
8 to 8 and Comparative Examples 6 to 7 with a single film provided on a support, a surface roughness measuring device Surfcom (manufactured by Tokyo Seimitsu Co., Ltd.) under the measurement conditions of a scan speed of 0.3 mm / sec and a scan width of 5 mm. It was measured using. The film thickness difference of the undercoat layer is arbitrary by using an eddy current film thickness meter (manufactured by Fisher) by providing a single film on the support as in Examples 6 to 8 and Comparative Examples 6 to 7. The film thickness at 80 measurement points was measured and defined as the difference between the maximum value and the minimum value. Further, the film-forming property of the coating film was visually confirmed. The results are summarized in Table 2. Also,
The photoreceptors of Examples 6 to 8 and Comparative Examples 6 to 7 were converted into full color laser printer IPSIO Color 5000 by a modified machine (manufactured by Ricoh Co., Ltd. (λ = 655 nm, 1200 dp.
i, beam spot 2.7 × 10 ⁻³ mm ² ))) was used to perform an image forming test. The results are also summarized in Table 2.

(Examples 9 to 11, Comparative Examples 8 to 9) 15 parts by weight of alkyd resin (Beckolite M6401-50 (manufactured by Dainippon Ink and Chemicals, Inc.)), melamine resin (Super Beckamine G-821-60 ( (Manufactured by Dainippon Ink and Chemicals, Inc.)) 10 parts by weight was dissolved in 150 parts by weight of methyl ethyl ketone, and 80 parts by weight of rutile type titanium oxide powder (Taipaque CR-EL (manufactured by Ishihara Sangyo Co., Ltd.)) was surface-treated with alumina. Ten parts by weight of titanium oxide (Taipaque CR-67 (manufactured by Ishihara Sangyo Co., Ltd.)) was added and dispersed by a ball mill for 24 hours to prepare an undercoat layer coating liquid. This is φ30m
13 m of aluminum substrate by dip coating
It was dried at 0 ° C. for 20 minutes to form an undercoat layer having a thickness of 2 μm.

Next, 4 parts by weight of a polyvinyl butyral resin (S-REC HL-S (manufactured by Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.)) was dissolved in 150 parts by weight of cyclohexanone, and this was added to 10 parts by weight of the bisazo pigment represented by the structural formula (3). In addition, after dispersing with a ball mill for 48 hours, 210 parts by weight of cyclohexanone was further added and dispersed for 3 hours. This was taken out into a container and diluted with cyclohexanone so that the solid content became 1.5% by weight. The charge generation layer coating solution thus obtained is applied onto the undercoat layer by a dip coating method at 130 ° C.
After drying for a minute, a charge generation layer having a thickness of 0.2 μm was formed.

Next, 10 parts by weight of a bisphenol Z type polycarbonate resin and 0.002 parts by weight of α- (3-methacryloxypropyl) polydimethylsiloxane (Cilaplane FM0725 (manufactured by Chisso Corporation)) were dissolved in 100 parts by weight of tetrahydrofuran. Then, 8 parts by weight of the charge transporting substance represented by the following structural formula (4) was added to prepare a charge transporting layer coating liquid. The charge-transporting layer coating liquid thus obtained is applied onto the charge-generating layer by a dip coating method, and then 1
It was dried at 10 ° C. for 20 minutes to form a charge transport layer having a thickness of 20 μm.

[Chemical 4]

Next, 4 parts by weight of a bisphenol Z type polycarbonate resin and 3 parts by weight of the charge transporting substance of the above structural formula (4) were dissolved in a mixed solvent of 80 parts by weight of tetrahydrofuran and 280 parts by weight of cyclohexanone, and α-alumina ( Sumiko Random AA-03: Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.)
7 parts by weight and 0.002 parts by weight of dimethylpolysiloxane (SH200 (manufactured by Toray Dow Corning Silicone Co.)) were added and dispersed by a ball mill for 2 hours to prepare a coating liquid for protective layer. The protective layer coating solution thus obtained was applied onto the charge transport layer by a spray coating method, and then 11
After drying at 0 ° C. for 20 minutes, a protective layer having a thickness of 5 μm was formed to prepare an electrophotographic photosensitive member. At this time, by adjusting the air supply and exhaust amount, the wind speed near the support and the pressure difference in the coating booth are shown in Table 3.
It was set as shown in. Further, the spray gun is ARS-P06 manufactured by Meiji Machine Mfg. Co., Ltd. (nozzle diameter 0.
6 mm) was used.

Four electrophotographic photoconductors were prepared in the same manner and mounted on the image forming apparatus of FIG. 9 (a PVDF resin belt having carbon dispersed therein was used as an intermediate transfer member) to prepare 6
Black monochromatic halftone image equivalent to 00 dpi, 60
A full-color halftone image equivalent to 0 dpi was output on the entire surface of A3 size paper and image evaluation was performed. The results are summarized in Table 3.

The maximum surface roughnesses of the undercoat layers of the photoreceptors of Examples 9 to 11 and Comparative Examples 8 to 9 thus obtained are as shown in Example 9.
-11, a surface roughness measuring device Surfcom (manufactured by Tokyo Seimitsu Co., Ltd.) under the measurement conditions of a scan speed of 0.3 mm / sec and a scan width of 5 mm, provided with a single film on a support as in Comparative Examples 8 to 9. It was measured using. In addition, the film thickness difference of the protective layer is arbitrarily measured with an eddy current film thickness meter (manufactured by Fisher) by providing a single film on the support as in Examples 9 to 11 and Comparative Examples 8 to 9. The film thickness at 80 points was measured and defined as the difference between the maximum value and the minimum value. Further, the film-forming property of the coating film was visually confirmed. The results are also summarized in Table 3.

[0145]

[Table 1]

[0146]

[Table 2]

[0147]

[Table 3]

[0148]

As is apparent from the description of the embodiments, the electrophotographic photosensitive member and the image forming apparatus manufactured by using the electrophotographic photosensitive member manufacturing method satisfying the claims of the present invention,
The coating layer unevenness and maximum surface roughness of the photosensitive layer are small, there are no coating layer defects such as foreign matter, dust, and bubbles, and a good image without unevenness in density and roughness can be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the layer structure of an electrophotographic photoreceptor of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating another layer structure of the electrophotographic photosensitive member of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating another layer structure of the electrophotographic photosensitive member of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating another layer structure of the electrophotographic photosensitive member of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing an example of an apparatus for coating and forming the electrophotographic photosensitive member of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view around the spray gun of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view illustrating an image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view illustrating another process of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic view illustrating a color image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of the periphery of the photoconductor of FIG.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of the image forming unit in FIG.

FIG. 12 is a schematic view of a toner recycling device used in the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of a developing device used in the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a schematic view illustrating cleaning of an intermediate transfer belt used in the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a schematic view illustrating cleaning of the intermediate transfer belt used in the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram illustrating the intermediate tandem process of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram illustrating the direct transfer tandem process of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a schematic view illustrating a process cartridge of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Clean air high-performance filter 2 air conditioners 3 spray guns 4 Conductive support 5 coating booth 6 Spray mist collection filter 7 exhaust system 8 Wind speed measurement position 10 Intermediate transfer body 11 Sheet conveyor belt 14, 15, 16 Support roller 17 Intermediate transfer member cleaning device 18 Image forming means 19 Photoconductor cleaning device 20 Tandem image forming device 21 Exposure equipment 22 Secondary transfer device 23 Laura 24 Secondary transfer belt 25 Fixing device 26 fixing belt 27 Pressure roller 28 Sheet reflector 30 platen 32 Contite glass 33 First running body 34 Second traveling body 35 Imaging lens 36 reading sensor 40 photoconductor 42 paper feed roller 43 Paper Bank 44 paper feed cassette 45 Separation roller 46 paper feed path 47 Conveyor roller 48 paper feed path 49 Registration roller 50 paper feed rollers 51 bypass tray 52 Separation roller 53 Manual feed path 55 Switching claw 56 discharge roller 57 Output tray 60 charging device 61 Imaging device 62 Primary transfer device 63 Photoconductor cleaning device 64 Static eliminator 65 Development sleep 66 Stirrer 67 Development Department 68 screw 69 Partition board 70 Development case 71 sensor 72 magnet 73 Doctor Blade 74 Conductive roller 75 cleaning blade 76 fur brush 77 Metal electric field roller 78 scraper 79 Recovery screw 80 Toner recycling device 81 pin 82 Roller part 83 Collected toner conveying member 84 long hole 85 feathers 86 rotation axis 87 Roller part 88 Transport path case 89 cartridge case 90 fur brush 91 fur brush 92 Metal roller 93 Metal roller 94 power supply 95 power supply 96 blade 97 blade 100 Copying machine body 200 paper feed table 300 scanner 400 Automatic document feeder 901 Support 902 support 903 central axis 904 pulley 905 belt 906 spray gun 907 units 908 scanning device 909 jet nozzle 910 pipe 911 coating liquid tank 912 pipe 913 Gas pressure control valve

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Toshiyuki Kabata             1-3-3 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Stocks             Company Ricoh F term (reference) 2H068 AA32 AA55 EA17 FA27 FB13                       FC08 FC11

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A method for producing an electrophotographic photosensitive member, comprising rotating a cylindrical or endless belt-shaped conductive support in a spray coating booth, and forming a photoreceptor forming layer on the conductive support by spray coating. In, air or an inert gas having a wind velocity near the conductive support of 0.1 to 1.0 m / sec is introduced, and the pressure inside the spray coating booth is the pressure outside the spray coating booth. Than 0.0
A method for producing an electrophotographic photosensitive member, characterized in that the spray coating is carried out at a low level of 3.0 mmH ₂ O. 2. An electrophotographic photoreceptor having one or more photoreceptor forming layers on a cylindrical or endless belt-like conductive support, wherein at least one or more of the photoreceptor forming layers is provided. Alternatively, an electrophotographic photosensitive member manufactured by the manufacturing method described in 2. 3. An image forming apparatus, wherein the electrophotographic photosensitive member is repeatedly charged, exposed with coherent light, developed, and transferred, and is provided with the electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 2. . 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the image forming apparatus is a color image forming apparatus that forms a color image by sequentially superposing toner images of a plurality of colors. 5. The image forming apparatus primarily transfers the toner image developed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member onto an intermediate transfer member, and then secondarily transfers the toner image on the intermediate transfer member onto a recording material. An image forming apparatus having an intermediate transfer means, wherein a plurality of color toner images are sequentially superposed on an intermediate transfer member to form a color image, and the color image is secondarily transferred onto a recording material all together. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3 or 4. 6. A process cartridge for an image forming apparatus, comprising the electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 2.