JP2003295481A - Image carrying member and method for manufacturing the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To manufacture an image carrying member exposed with a number of independent electrodes on the surface of a dielectric layer and to obtain stable images by improving charge implantation efficiency and preventing the occurrence of image drop-outs and density unevenness. <P>SOLUTION: The image carrying member is provided with a conductive substrate 2a, a conductive particulate-dispersed resin layer 2e formed on the conductive substrate and the independent electrodes 2d<SB>1</SB>exposed on the surface of the resin layer and the surface of the image carrying member has polishing seams in the circumferential direction of the image carrying member. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus for forming an image by forming an electrostatic latent image on an image carrier by a write electrode of a write head.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as an electrostatic copying machine or a printer, the surface of a photosensitive member is generally charged uniformly by a charging device, and a laser beam is applied to the surface of the uniformly charged photosensitive member. Alternatively, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photoconductor by exposing light from an exposure device such as LED lamp light. Then, the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoconductor is developed by a developing device to form a toner image on the surface of the photoconductor, and the toner image is transferred to a transfer material such as paper by a transfer device to form an image. There is.

In such a conventional general image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus is large in size because the exposure device, which is a device for writing an electrostatic latent image, is composed of a laser light or LED lamp light generator. It has a complicated structure.

Therefore, as an electrostatic latent image writing device, an image forming apparatus for writing an electrostatic latent image on the surface of an image carrier by a writing electrode without using laser light or LED lamp light is disclosed.
01-287396, and the present applicant has filed a patent application in Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-227630.

FIG. 1 shows the Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-227630.
It is a figure which shows typically the basic composition. This image forming apparatus 1 is an image carrier having a charging body layer 2b which is provided on the outer periphery of a base material 2a which is made of a conductive material and which is grounded, and which has an insulating property, and on which an electrostatic latent image is formed. 2 and a flexible base material 3a having a high insulating property and being relatively soft and elastic
Written for writing an electrostatic latent image on the charged body layer 2b, which is supported on the charged body layer 2b and is brought into surface contact with the charged body layer 2b of the image carrier 2 by being lightly pressed by the weak elastic restoring force due to the bending of the base material 3a. At least a writing head 3 having an electrode 3b, a developing device 4 having a developing roller 4a which is a developer carrier, and a transfer device 6 having a transfer roller 6a which is a transfer member are provided.

In the image forming apparatus 1 thus constructed, after the charged layer 2b of the image carrier 2 is brought into a uniform charge state, the write voltage is applied to the write electrode 3b by the IC of the write electrode 3b.
An electrostatic latent image is generated by the charge transfer (for example, charge injection) between the image carrier 2 and the write electrode 3b of the write head 3 which are applied via the driver 11 and are in surface contact with each other. Writing is performed on the image carrier 2 in a uniform charge state. Then, the electrostatic latent image on the image carrier 2 becomes the charged body layer 2 of the image carrier 2.
written on b. Then, the electrostatic latent image on the charged body layer 2b is developed by the developer conveyed by the developing roller 4a of the developing device 4, and the developer image is transferred onto paper or the like by the transfer roller 6a to which a transfer voltage is applied. It is transferred to the material 5.

[0007]

By the way, the write electrode 3 is used.
The electric charges injected from the b into the charged body layer 2b are
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, the charging layer 2b is separated from the dielectric layer 2c and the independent floating electrode 2d ₁ exposed on the surface of the dielectric layer is formed. It can be considered to be composed of the electrode layer 2d. In this case, at the time of image writing, for example, a positive writing voltage is applied to the independent electrode 2d ₁ from the writing electrode 3b to perform the image writing, and the image writing with the writing voltage to the independent electrode 2d ₁ is performed. From the time immediately after the charging to the development, a predetermined charge can be retained, and the electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing device.

However, if the independent electrode is exposed on the surface of the image bearing member, the write electrode may be touched by the independent electrode, the charge injection efficiency is lowered, and image loss and uneven density occur. There is a problem that a stable image cannot be obtained.

The present invention solves the above problems and problems, and in an image carrier having a large number of independent electrodes exposed on the surface of a dielectric layer, the charge injection efficiency is improved to reduce image loss and density. An object of the present invention is to provide an image carrier capable of preventing nonuniformity and obtaining a stable image, and a method for producing the same.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, the image carrier according to claim 1 of the present invention comprises a conductive substrate and a conductive fine particle dispersed resin layer formed on the conductive substrate. And an independent electrode exposed on the surface of the resin layer, wherein the surface of the image carrier has abrasive grains in the circumferential direction of the image carrier. According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the polishing stitches have an angle of 0 ° to 45 ° with respect to the circumferential direction of the image carrier, and the third aspect of the invention is the first aspect. Or 2
In the above-mentioned polishing, a sharp slope and a gentle slope are formed in the polishing eye, and the image carrier is arranged so that the write electrode climbs the gentle slope in the moving direction of the image carrier. In the method for producing an image carrier according to item 4, the conductive fine particle-dispersed resin solution is applied on a conductive substrate, the surface of the formed conductive fine particle-dispersed resin layer is polished, and the independent electrode is formed on the surface of the resin layer. 6. The method for producing an image carrier according to claim 5, wherein the dielectric substrate is formed on the conductive substrate, and then the conductive fine particle-dispersed resin solution is applied onto the dielectric layer. The method for producing an image bearing member according to claim 6, wherein the surface of the formed conductive fine particle-dispersed resin layer is abraded after being applied thereon to expose the independent electrode on the surface of the resin layer. Inject the conductive fine particle-dispersed resin solution into the cylindrical rotating mold and After molding, a conductive resin is injected into the inner surface of the formed conductive fine particle-dispersed resin layer to centrifugally mold the conductive substrate, and then the surface of the conductive fine particle-dispersed resin layer is polished to form the resin layer. The method for producing an image carrier according to claim 7, characterized in that the independent electrode is exposed on the surface.
After applying the conductive fine particle dispersed resin solution on the film,
The conductive fine particles are arranged on the surface of the conductive fine particle dispersed resin layer by buoyancy, and then the surface of the conductive fine particle dispersed resin layer is polished to expose the independent electrode on the surface,
The method for producing an image bearing member according to claim 8, wherein the conductive fine particle-dispersed resin solution is applied onto the film, the conductive fine particles are disposed on the surface of the film by gravity, and then the surface opposite to the film is applied. After forming the conductive substrate, the surface of the conductive fine particle-dispersed resin layer is polished to expose the independent electrode on the surface, and the invention according to claim 7 or 8 provides the film as the film. The invention according to claim 10, wherein an image carrier sheet is prepared by using a metal foil or a conductive resin film, and the sheet is adhered in a belt shape to manufacture an image carrier belt. 7 or 8, an image carrier sheet is prepared by using an insulating material as the film, and the sheet is wound around and adhered to a conductive drum to manufacture the image carrier drum.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 2A and 2B show an embodiment of an image forming apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 2A is a diagram schematically showing a basic configuration, FIG. 2B is a perspective view showing a specific configuration of FIG. 3 is an enlarged view partially and schematically showing the image carrier of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 1 is provided with an insulating property on the outer periphery of a base material 2a which is made of a conductive material such as aluminum and is grounded. Image carrier 2 having a charged body layer 2b formed
And FPC (Flexible Print Circuit) or PE
The charged body layer 2b of the image carrier 2 is supported by a flexible base material 3a having a high insulating property such as T (polyethylene terephthalate) and is relatively soft and elastic, and is weakly elastically restored by the bending of the base material 3a. A writing head 3 having a writing electrode 3b for writing an electrostatic latent image on the charged body layer 2b, which is lightly pressed upward to make surface contact, and a developing roller (developer carrying body) 4a which is a developer carrying body. And a transfer device 6 having a transfer roller 6a as a transfer member.

The charging body layer 2b is a dielectric layer 2 which is an insulating layer.
c and an independent floating electrode layer 2d which is an image writing portion provided on the surface of the dielectric layer 2c. As shown in FIG. 3, the independent floating electrode layer 2d is composed of a large number of independent electrodes 2d ₁ arranged so as to be exposed on the surface of the dielectric layer 2c. These independent electrodes 2d ₁ are electrically independent from each other, and the dielectric layer 2c
It is formed in a sea-island structure exposed from the surface. In addition,
FIG. 2 shows the dielectric layer 2c and the independent floating electrode layer 2d.
Are shown as partitioned, but this is only partitioned for convenience of explanation, and as clearly shown in FIG. 3, the dielectric layer 2c and the independent floating electrode layer 2d are clearly partitioned. The floating electrode layer 2d is not a part of the surface of the dielectric layer 2c where many independent electrodes 2d ₁ are present.

Then, at the time of image writing, for example, a positive voltage applied via the IC driver 11 is applied from the write electrode 3b to the independent floating electrode layer 2d as the write voltage V ₁ , and this independent floating electrode layer is applied. Image writing is performed on the independent floating electrode layer 2d by charging positive charges to the image writing portion 2d.

In the image forming apparatus 1 thus constructed, after the charge layer 2b of the image carrier 2 is brought into a uniform charge state, the write voltage is applied to the write electrode 3b by the IC of the write electrode 3b.
An electrostatic latent image is generated by the charge transfer (for example, charge injection) between the image carrier 2 and the write electrode 3b of the write head 3 which are applied via the driver 11 and are in surface contact with each other. Writing is performed on the independent floating electrode layer 2d having a uniform charge state. Then, the independent floating electrode layer 2d
The upper electrostatic latent image is developed by the developer conveyed by the developing roller 4a of the developing device 4, and the developer image is transferred to the transfer material 5 such as paper by the transfer roller 6a to which the transfer voltage is applied. .

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a basic process of image formation in the image forming apparatus 1 of FIG. As the basic process of image formation in the image forming apparatus 1 of the present invention, (1)
Uniform charge removal-contact charge writing-regular development, (2) Uniform charge removal-contact charging write-reverse development, (3) Uniform charge-contact charge writing-
There are four image forming processes of normal development and (4) uniform charge removal-contact charge removal writing-reversal development. Hereinafter, these image forming processes will be described. (1) Uniform charge removal-contact charging writing-normal development As an example of this image forming process, as shown in FIG.
Is used, and a charge eliminating roller 7b is used as the image carrier uniform charge control device 7. The charge of the independent floating electrode layer 2d is removed by the charge removing roller 7b, and the charge on the dielectric 2b is brought to a uniform charge state close to 0V. Writing electrode 3 of writing head 3
b is configured to write an electrostatic latent image on the independent floating electrode layer 2d by contacting the independent floating electrode layer 2d and (+) charging the image portion of the independent floating electrode layer 2d. A (−) DC bias voltage, for example, is applied to the developing roller 4a of the developing device 4 as in the conventional case. It is also possible to apply a bias voltage in which AC is superimposed on (-) DC to the developing roller 4a. Further, an AC bias voltage is applied to the charge eliminating roller 7b. (2) Uniform charge removal-contact charging writing-reversal development As an example of this image forming process, there is a process shown in FIG. In this image forming process, the independent floating electrode layer 2d is used as the image carrier 2 as in the example shown in FIG. 7A, and the charge eliminating roller 7b is used as the image carrier uniform charge control device 7. There is. Further, the write electrode 3b of the write head 3 comes into contact with the dielectric 2b to charge the non-image portion of the dielectric 2b (-). The other configuration of the image forming process of this example is the same as the example shown in FIG.

In the image forming process of this example, the charge eliminating roller 7b is in contact with the independent floating electrode layer 2d, and the charge of the independent floating electrode layer 2d is eliminated by this charge eliminating roller 7b so that the upper surface of the independent floating electrode layer 2d is removed. , A uniform charge state close to 0 V with the charge removed. The subsequent image forming operation is the same as the example shown in FIG. (3) Uniform charging-contact charge elimination writing-normal development As an example of this image forming process, there is a process shown in FIG. In this image forming process, the independent floating electrode layer 2d is used as the image carrier 2 and the charging corona discharger 7d is used as the image carrier uniform charge control device 7. Although not shown, the charging corona discharger 7d is applied with a (−) DC bias voltage or a (−) DC direct current with an alternating current superimposed thereon as in the conventional case. In addition, the write electrode 3b of the write head 3 comes into contact with the independent floating electrode layer 2d to eliminate the (−) charge in the non-image portion of the independent floating electrode layer 2d. Further, a (+) DC bias voltage is applied to the developing roller 4a, so that the developing roller 4a conveys the developer 8 charged to (+) to the independent floating electrode layer 2d. There is.

In the image forming process of this example, the independent floating electrode layer 2d is negatively charged by the charging corona discharger 7d to a uniform charge state of a predetermined voltage, and then the writing head 3 writes. The negative electrode 3b removes the (-) charges in the non-image portion on the independent floating electrode layer 2d, and an electrostatic latent image is written on the independent floating electrode layer 2d. Then, the (+) charged developer 8 conveyed by the developing roller 4a of the developing device 4 adheres to the (-) charged image portion of the independent floating electrode layer 2d to normally develop the electrostatic latent image. . (4) Uniform charging-contact charge elimination writing-reverse development As an example of this image forming process, there is a process shown in FIG. In this image forming process, the independent floating electrode layer 2d is used as the image carrier 2, and the charging corona discharger 7d is used as the image carrier uniform charge control device 7. Although not shown, a bias voltage of (+) DC or a bias voltage in which AC is superimposed on (+) DC is applied to the charging corona discharger 7d as in the conventional case.

In the image forming process of this example, the independent floating electrode layer 2d is (+) charged by the charging corona discharger 7d to a uniform charge state of a predetermined voltage, and then the writing head 3 writes. The (+) charges in the image portion on the independent floating electrode layer 2d are removed by the built-in electrode 3b, and an electrostatic latent image is written on the independent floating electrode layer 2d. Then, the (+) charged developer 8 conveyed by the developing roller 4a of the developing device 4 becomes the dielectric 2b.
The electrostatic latent image is reversely developed by adhering to the (+) non-charged image area.

FIG. 5 illustrates the principle of writing an electrostatic latent image by charging or discharging the writing electrode 3b of the writing device 3, and FIG. 5A shows the writing electrode 3b and the image carrier 2. An enlarged view of the contact portion, FIG. 6B is an electrical equivalent circuit diagram of the contact portion, and FIGS. 6C to 6F are diagrams showing the relationship between each parameter and the surface potential of the image carrier 2. FIG. 6 illustrates charging or discharging of the image carrier, and FIG. 6A is an explanatory view of charging or discharging of the image carrier by charge injection, and FIG.
Is an explanatory diagram of charging or discharging of an image carrier by electric discharge, and FIG. 7C is a diagram illustrating Paschen's law.

As shown in FIG. 5A, the image carrier 2 is made of a conductive material such as aluminum and is grounded, and has an insulating property formed on the outer periphery of the base 2a. It is composed of a charged body layer 2b. FP of writing device 3
The writing electrode 3b supported by the base material 3a made of C or the like is in contact with the charging body layer 2b with a predetermined small pressing force as described above, and the image carrier 2 moves at a predetermined speed V ( It is rotating). This small pressing force has a width of 300 mm
A pressing force of 10 N or less, that is, a linear pressure of 0.03 N / mm or less is preferable for stabilizing the contact between the writing electrode 3b and the image carrier 2 and stabilizing the charge injection or the discharge. It is desirable to reduce the linear pressure as much as possible while maintaining a stable state.

A predetermined high voltage V ₀ or a predetermined low voltage V ₁ is selectively switched and applied to the write electrode 3b via the base material 3a (± as described above).
High voltage means a voltage with a high absolute value,
In addition, the low voltage refers to a voltage having a low absolute value or 0 V with the same polarity as the high voltage. In the description of the present invention in this specification, all of the low voltage is the ground voltage. Therefore, in the following description, the high voltage V _{0 is referred} to as the predetermined voltage V ₀ ,
The low voltage V _{1 is referred} to as the ground voltage V ₁ . It goes without saying that the ground voltage V ₁ is 0V).

That is, the write electrode 3b and the image carrier 2
At the contact portion (nip portion), the electrical shown in FIG.
Equivalent circuit is configured. In FIG. 5B, R
Is a write electrode 3b and an independent electrode (including contact resistance of both)
, And C represents the capacity of the charging body layer 2b.
The resistance R of the write electrode 3b is equal to the (−) predetermined voltage V on the A side. ₀
Or ground voltage V on the B side₁Is selectively switched to
Growling.

In the equivalent circuit, the resistance R of the write electrode 3b and the resistance of the image carrier 2 when the write electrode 3b is connected to the A side and a predetermined voltage V ₀ of (-) is applied to the write electrode 3b. As for the relationship with the surface potential, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 5C, in the region where the resistance R of the writing electrode 3b is small, the surface potential of the image carrier 2 becomes a constant predetermined voltage V ₀ , and the writing electrode 3b has a constant voltage. If the resistance R is in a region larger than a predetermined value, the absolute value of the surface potential of the image carrier 2 decreases. On the other hand, the relationship between the resistance R of the write electrode 3b and the surface potential of the image carrier 2 when the write electrode 3b is connected to the B side and the write electrode 3b is grounded is shown in FIG.
In the region where the resistance R of the write electrode 3b is small as indicated by the dotted line, the surface potential of the image carrier 2 becomes a constant ground voltage V ₁ , and the resistance R of the write electrode 3b is larger than a predetermined value. The absolute value of the surface potential of the image carrier 2 increases.

Then, in a region where the resistance R of the write electrode 3b is small and the surface potential of the image carrier 2 is a predetermined voltage V ₀ or a constant ground voltage V ₁ , the image as shown in FIG. Between the write electrode 3b in contact with the carrier 2 and the charged body layer 2b of the image carrier 2, direct (-) charge injection from low voltage to high voltage is performed. That is, the image carrier 2 is charged or discharged by the charge injection. Further, in a region where the resistance R of the writing electrode 3b is large and the surface potential of the image carrier 2 starts to change, the charging or discharging of the image carrier 2 due to the charge injection gradually decreases, and the resistance of the writing electrode 3b decreases. As R becomes large, as shown in FIG. 6B, electric discharge is generated between the later-described conductive pattern of the base material 3a and the image carrier 2.

The conductive pattern of the base material 3a and the image carrier 2
The discharge generated between the base material 2a and the base material 2a of the image carrier 2
This occurs when the absolute value of the voltage (predetermined voltage V ₀ ) between the discharge start voltage V _{th and the} discharge start voltage V _th becomes larger than the discharge start voltage V _th. Is as shown in FIG. 6C according to Paschen's law. That is, the discharge start voltage V _th is smallest when the gap is about 30 μm, and the discharge start voltage V _th is large when the gap is smaller or larger than about 30 μm.
Discharge is less likely to occur. The image carrier 2 is also generated by this discharge.
The surface of will be charged or discharged. However, when the resistance R of the writing electrode 3 is in this region, the charging or discharging of the image carrier 2 due to the charge injection is large, and the charging or discharging of the image carrier 2 due to the discharge is small, and the charging or discharging of the image carrier 2 occurs. The charge elimination or charge elimination by charge injection is dominant. In the charging or discharging by the charge injection, the surface potential of the image carrier 2 becomes the predetermined voltage V ₀ or the ground voltage V ₁ applied to the writing electrode 3b. In the case of charging by charge injection, the predetermined voltage V ₀ supplied to the write electrode 3b is set to be equal to or lower than the discharge start voltage V _th at which discharge is generated between the write electrode 3b and the substrate 2a of the image carrier 2. Is desirable.

When the resistance R of the write electrode 3b is in a region having a higher resistance, the charge or charge removal of the image carrier 2 due to the charge injection is small, and the charge or charge removal of the image carrier 2 due to the discharge is more than the charge or charge removal due to the charge injection. Image carrier 2
As for the charging or discharging, the charging or discharging due to discharge gradually becomes dominant. That is, the resistance R of the write electrode 3b
Becomes larger, the surface of the image carrier 2 is mainly charged or discharged by discharge, and the image carrier 2 is hardly charged or discharged by charge injection. In the charging or discharging by this discharge, the surface potential of the image carrier 2 is changed to the writing electrode 3
It is a voltage obtained by subtracting the discharge start voltage V _th from the predetermined voltage V ₀ or the ground voltage V ₁ applied to b. The same applies when the predetermined voltage V ₀ is a (+) voltage.

Therefore, the resistance R of the electrode 3b is set to a predetermined voltage | V ₀ | (there is an absolute value because there is a voltage of ± because the surface potential of the image carrier 2 is constant) or a constant ground voltage V.
_The write electrode 3b is set to a small area of ₁
By controlling the voltage applied to the image carrier between the predetermined voltage V ₀ and the ground voltage V ₁ , the image carrier 2 can be charged or discharged by injecting charges.

The capacitance C of the image carrier 2 and the surface potential of the image carrier 2 when the write electrode 3b is connected to the A side and a predetermined voltage V ₀ of (-) is applied to the write electrode 3b. The relationship with the capacitance C of the dielectric 2b is as shown by the solid line in FIG.
The surface potential of the image carrier 2 becomes a constant predetermined voltage V _{0 in a} small area, and the absolute value of the surface potential of the image carrier 2 decreases in a area where the capacitance C of the dielectric 2b is larger than a predetermined value.
On the other hand, by connecting the write electrode 3b to the B side,
The relationship between the capacitance C of the image bearing member 2 and the surface potential of the image bearing member 2 when the image bearing member 2 is grounded is that in the region where the capacitance C of the image bearing member 2 is small as shown by the dotted line in FIG. The surface potential of 2 becomes a constant ground voltage V _{1 and} the capacitance C of the image carrier 2
In a region where is larger than a predetermined value, the absolute value of the surface potential of the image carrier 2 increases.

Then, in a region where the capacitance C of the image carrier 2 is small and the surface potential of the image carrier 2 is a constant voltage V ₀ or a constant ground voltage V ₁ , the write electrode contacting the image carrier 2 is formed. Direct (-) charge injection is performed between 3b and the charged body layer 2b of the image carrier 2. That is, the image carrier 2 is charged or discharged by the charge injection. Further, in a region where the capacity C of the image carrier 2 is large and the surface potential of the image carrier 2 starts to change, the charge or charge elimination of the image carrier 2 due to the charge injection becomes gradually smaller, and the capacity of the image carrier 2 becomes smaller. When C becomes large, discharge is generated between the base material 3a and the image carrier 2 as shown in FIG. 6 (b). The surface of the image carrier 2 is also charged or discharged by this discharge. However, when the image carrier capacity C is in this region, the charge or charge removal of the image carrier 2 due to the charge injection is large and the charge or charge removal of the image carrier 2 due to the discharge is small, so that the charge or charge removal of the image carrier 2 is prevented. Charging or charge elimination by charge injection is dominant. In the charging or discharging by the charge injection, the surface potential of the image carrier 2 is the predetermined voltage V applied to the writing electrode 3b.
It becomes ₀ or the ground voltage V ₁ .

In a region where the capacitance C of the image carrier 2 is further large, this charge injection is hardly performed between the write electrode 3b and the charged body layer 2b of the image carrier 2. That is, the image carrier 2 is not charged or discharged by the charge injection. The same applies when the predetermined voltage V ₀ is a (+) voltage.

Therefore, the capacitance C of the image carrier 2 is set to a predetermined voltage | V ₀ | (there is an absolute value because there is a voltage of ±) where the surface potential of the image carrier 2 is constant or a constant ground voltage V.
_The write electrode 3b is set to a small area of ₁
By controlling the voltage applied to the image carrier between the predetermined voltage V ₀ and the ground voltage V ₁ , the image carrier 2 can be charged or discharged by injecting charges.

Further, the speed (peripheral speed) v of the image carrier 2 and the image carrier when the write electrode 3b is connected to the A side and a predetermined voltage V ₀ of (-) is applied to the write electrode 3b. 2 has a relationship with the surface potential as shown by the solid line in FIG.
In a region in which the speed v is relatively small, the surface potential of the image carrier 2 increases as the speed v increases, and when the speed v of the image carrier 2 exceeds a predetermined value, the surface potential of the image carrier 2 increases. The absolute value is a constant voltage. The surface potential of the image carrier 2 increases as the speed v of the image carrier 2 increases. It is easy to inject charges into the image carrier 2 due to friction between the writing electrode 3b and the image carrier 2. It is thought that this is due to This facilitation of charge injection due to friction does not change when the speed v of the image carrier 2 increases to some extent, and remains almost constant. On the other hand, when the write electrode 3b is connected to the B side and the write electrode 3b is grounded, the speed v of the dielectric 2b and the dielectric 2
The relationship between the surface potential of b and the surface potential is a constant ground voltage V ₁ irrespective of the speed v of the dielectric 2b as shown by the dotted line in FIG. 5 (e). The same applies when the predetermined voltage V ₀ is a (+) voltage.

Further, when the writing electrode 3b is connected to the A side and a predetermined voltage V ₀ of (-) is applied to the writing electrode 3b, the pressing force of the writing electrode 3b on the image carrier 2 (hereinafter The pressure of the writing electrode 3b) and the surface potential of the image carrier 2 are as follows. In the region where the pressure of the writing electrode 3b is extremely small as shown by the solid line in FIG. The surface potential of (1) rises relatively rapidly as the pressure of the write electrode 3b increases, and when the pressure of the write electrode 3b exceeds a predetermined value, the absolute value of the surface potential of the image carrier 2 becomes a constant voltage. The surface potential of the image carrier 2 suddenly rises in accordance with the increase in the pressure of the write electrode 3b, so that the contact between the write electrode 3b and the image carrier 2 is more surely performed as the pressure of the write electrode 3b increases. It is believed that this is due to The certainty of the contact between the writing electrode 3b and the image carrier 2 is determined by the writing electrode 3
When the pressure of b is increased to some extent, it does not change and remains almost constant. On the other hand, the relationship between the pressure of the write electrode 3b and the surface potential of the image carrier 2 when the write electrode 3b is connected to the B side and the write electrode 3b is grounded is shown by the dotted line in FIG. As shown, a constant ground voltage V ₁ irrespective of the pressure of the write electrode 3b.
Becomes The same applies when the predetermined voltage V ₀ is a (+) voltage.

In this way, the resistance R of the write electrode 3b and the capacitance C of the image carrier 2 are set so that the surface potential of the image carrier 2 becomes a constant predetermined voltage, and the image carrier 2 is also formed.
Of the write electrode 3b and the pressure of the write electrode 3b are controlled so that the surface potential of the image carrier 2 becomes a constant predetermined voltage.
By switching control of the voltage applied to b between the predetermined voltage V ₀ and the ground voltage V ₁ , it becomes possible to reliably and easily charge or remove the image carrier 2 by charge injection.

In the above example, the predetermined voltage V ₀ applied to the write electrode 3b is a DC voltage, but an AC voltage can be superimposed on the DC voltage. When superimposing an AC voltage, a DC component is used as a voltage applied to the image carrier 2, and
It is preferable that the amplitude of the AC component is set to twice or more the discharge start voltage V _th , and the frequency of the AC component is about 500 to 1000 times the frequency of the rotation of the image carrier 2 (for example, the diameter of the image carrier 2 is If the peripheral speed of the image carrier 2 is 30 mm and the peripheral speed of the image carrier 2 is 180 mm / sec, the frequency of the rotation of the image carrier 2 is 2 Hz, and the frequency of the AC component is 1000 to 2000 Hz.

By superimposing the AC voltage on the DC voltage in this way, the charging or discharging by the discharge of the write electrode 3b becomes more stable, and the write electrode 3 is made by the AC voltage.
By vibrating b, the foreign matter adhering to the write electrode 3b can be removed, and the write electrode 3b can be prevented from being contaminated.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a switching circuit for switching and connecting the predetermined voltage V ₀ and the ground voltage V ₁ to the write electrode 3b. For example, the write electrodes 3b arranged in four columns
Are the corresponding high voltage switches (High Voltage
Switch; HVSW) 15, and these high voltage switches 15 switch and connect the corresponding electrodes 3b to a predetermined voltage V ₀ and a ground voltage V ₁ , respectively. An image writing control signal from a shift register (SR) 16 is input to each high voltage switch 15, and an image signal stored in a buffer 17 and a clock 18 are input to the shift register 16. Clock signals are input respectively. Then, the image writing control signal from the shift register 16 is input to each high voltage switch 15 by the AND circuit 19 based on the writing timing signal from the encoder 20. Each high voltage switch 15 and AND circuit 19 causes each write electrode 3
The above-mentioned driver 11 that controls switching of the supply voltage to b is configured.

FIG. 8 shows each high voltage switch 1 of each electrode 3b.
5 shows a state in which 5 is selectively switched to a predetermined voltage V ₀ or a ground voltage V ₁ , respectively, (a) is a diagram showing a voltage state of each electrode, and (b) is a normal state in the voltage state of (a). FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a developer image when developed, and FIG. 6C is a diagram showing a developer image when reverse development is performed in the voltage state of FIG.

In FIG. 8, for example, n-2, n-1
The 3rd, nth, n + 1th, and n + 2th electrodes 3b
However, it is assumed that the respective high voltage switches 15 are switching-controlled to be in the voltage state shown in (a). Therefore, when the electrostatic latent image is written on the image carrier 2 by each electrode in such a voltage state and the electrostatic latent image is developed by the regular development, the developer 8 causes the developer 8 to have a predetermined voltage. A developer image is obtained which adheres to the V ₀ portion and is hatched in (b). Further, when the electrostatic latent image is written in the same manner and the electrostatic latent image is developed by the reversal development, the developer 8 adheres to the ground voltage V ₁ portion of the image carrier 2 and is shown in (c). A developer image as shown by hatching is obtained.

According to the image forming apparatus 1 using the writing head 3 constructed as described above, the writing electrode 3b is brought into contact with the image carrier 2 with a light pressing force by the small elastic restoring force of the substrate 3a. Therefore, the writing electrode 3b can be brought into stable contact with the image carrier 2. Therefore, it is possible to more stably and highly accurately charge the image carrier 2 with the write electrode 3b. Thereby, the electrostatic latent image can be written more stably, so that a good image can be reliably obtained with high accuracy.

Further, since the writing electrode 3b is only brought into contact with the image carrier 2 with a light pressing force, the image carrier 2 can be prevented from being damaged by the writing electrode 3b and the durability of the image carrier 2 can be prevented. Can be improved. Furthermore, since only the writing electrode 3b is used as the writing device 3, a large-sized laser light generator, LED lamp light generator, and the like as in the related art are not provided, so that the device can be further downsized. In addition, the number of parts can be further reduced, and a simpler and cheaper image forming apparatus can be obtained. Further, the write electrode 3b can further suppress the generation of ozone.

FIG. 9 is a plan view schematically showing a specific example of the write head of FIG. Each driver 11 is electrically connected to each other by a conductive pattern 9 formed on the base material 3a and having a rectangular flat cross section and made of, for example, a copper foil. Similarly, each driver 11 and a plurality of write electrodes 3b are connected. And are electrically connected by a conductive pattern 9 formed on the base material 3a. These conductive patterns 9 can be formed by a conventional thin film pattern forming method such as etching. And the conductive pattern 9 on the upper side in the drawing
To supply the line data, the write timing signal, and the high voltage power supply to the respective drivers 11.

10 to 12 show examples of the arrangement pattern of the write electrodes 3b. FIG. 10A is a plan view and FIG. 12B is a sectional view.

In the example shown in FIG. 10, a plurality of rectangular write electrodes 3b are arranged in a line in the axial direction of the image carrier 2, and a predetermined number (eight in the illustrated example) of the plurality of write electrodes 3b. Of the write electrodes 3b for controlling the write electrodes 3b by switching them to a predetermined voltage or a ground voltage.
They are connected to each other and are combined into one set, and a plurality of sets are arranged in a line in the axial direction of the image carrier 2.

However, when the simple rectangular write electrodes 3b are simply arranged in a line in the axial direction of the image carrier 2, a gap is formed between the adjacent write electrodes 3b. Therefore, the surface of the image carrier 2 facing the gap becomes a non-charged portion that is not charged or a non-charged portion that is not discharged. Therefore, in the example shown in FIG. 11, the write electrode 3b is
Are formed in a triangle, and the write electrodes 3b of adjacent triangles are alternately arranged so that the directions thereof are opposite to each other. As a result, the entire surface of the image carrier 2 can be charged without forming the above-mentioned non-charged part or charge removal part. The shape of the write electrodes 3b is not limited to a triangle, but may be a trapezoid, a parallelogram, or a shape in which concavities and convexities are formed on the opposite sides of the adjacent write electrodes 3b. Any shape can be used as long as it overlaps in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the carrier 2.

In the arrangement pattern of the write electrodes 3b in the example shown in FIG. 12, the plurality of write electrodes 3b are arranged in two rows and in a staggered pattern in the direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the image carrier 2. . In that case, the write electrodes 3b adjacent to each other in the first column and the second column are arranged such that a part of each write electrode 3b overlaps with each other in the direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the image carrier 2. Even with the arrangement pattern of the write electrodes 3b in this example, the above-described non-charged portion or charge elimination portion is not formed on the surface of the latent image carrier 2 and the entire surface of the latent image carrier 2 can be charged. .

Next, the image carrier and the manufacturing method thereof, which are the features of the present invention, will be described. 13 to 17
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining one embodiment of an image carrier and a method for manufacturing the same of the present invention. In the following description, the same components in the drawings may be assigned the same reference numerals and the description thereof may be omitted.

First, as shown in FIG. 13A, a resin material for forming a dielectric is mixed in a solvent, and the conductive fine particles Eb are dispersed in this solution to prepare a conductive fine particle dispersed resin solution. Then, this is applied onto a base material 2a made of a conductive material such as aluminum to form a conductive fine particle dispersed resin layer 2e. It is preferable that the conductive fine particles Eb are uniformly dispersed with a small particle size for the purpose of improving the image quality. Therefore, as the material of the dielectric material, the wettability with respect to the material of the conductive fine particles Eb is good (the contact angle is small). )) Or add a dispersant to improve wettability. At the end of coating, as shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 13B, the conductive fine particles Eb on the surface of the conductive fine particle dispersed resin layer 2e are covered with a dielectric material.

As a coating method, a dip method, a spray coating method, a blade coating method, a rod coating method, a squeeze coating method, a roller coating method, a web coating method, an electrostatic coating method, an extrusion coating method or the like is used.

As the resin material for the dielectric, polycarbonate, polyamide, polyimide, polyetherimide,
Polyamideimide, polyetherimide, polystyrene, styrene copolymer, ABS resin, ACS resin, AE
S resin, ASA resin, chlorinated polyether, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl chloride, acrylic modified polyvinyl chloride,
Ethylene-vinyl acetate-vinyl chloride copolymer, alkyd resin, PTFE resin, PFA resin, FEP resin, PCT
FE resin, ETFE resin, ECTFE resin, PVDF resin, PVF resin, methacrylic resin, methacrylic-styrene copolymer, petroleum resin, PBT, PET, unsaturated polyester resin, polyether ketone, polyphenylene ether, polyphenylene sulfide, silicone resin, Any one of xylene resin, polyvinyl acetal, melamine resin, urea resin, benzoguanamine resin, phenol resin, etc., or two or more kinds of materials are used, but not limited thereto as long as they have similar electric characteristics.

As the solvent, CH ₂ Cl ₂ , aromatics, esters, ketones, ethers, methanol, ethanol, phenols, hydrocarbons, water and the like are used.

The material of the conductive fine particles Eb is Mo,
W, Al, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Zr,
Metals such as Nb, Ru, Rh, Ta, Ra, Os, and Ir,
Alternatively, metal oxides such as Al ₂ O ₃ (aluminum oxide), TiO ₂ (titanium oxide) and SnO ₂ (tin oxide) doped with boron or the like, or carbon black, carbon nanotubes, fullerenes, iodine-doped polyacetylene A conductive polymer such as is used.

Next, as shown in FIG. 14, the surface of the conductive fine particle dispersed resin layer 2e is polished to expose the independent electrode 2d ₁ on the surface of the resin layer 2e. The polishing method is shown in FIG.
, The drum-shaped image carrier 2 is rotated in the R direction, and the drum-shaped grindstone 21 is formed on the surface of the image carrier 2.
Are brought into contact with each other, and the grindstone 21 is horizontally moved in the X direction while rotating in the same direction R as the image carrier 2 to polish the surface of the image carrier 2. In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the polishing is performed with the grindstone, but mechanical polishing such as puff polishing and sandblast polishing may be adopted. Further, a belt-shaped image carrier can be manufactured in the same manner.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 15B, polishing marks P are formed on the surface of the image carrier 2 in the circumferential direction Y of the image carrier 2. FIG. 15C shows the image carrier 2.
The state where the write electrode 3b of the write head 3 is brought into contact with
When the polishing eye P is formed in the circumferential direction Y of the image carrier 2, the end of the writing electrode 3b abuts on the boundary convex portion P1 of the polishing eye P, so that the writing electrode 3b and the polishing eye P are formed. The coefficient of dynamic friction becomes large, and the write electrode 3b does not shake in the axial direction of the image carrier 2.

FIG. 16 is a view for explaining the angle between the polishing eye P and the circumferential direction Y of the image carrier 2. FIG.
As shown in (A), the polishing eye P preferably has an angle of 0 ° to 45 ° with respect to the circumferential direction Y of the image carrier 2. Beyond this range, the write electrode 3b slips in the axial direction of the image carrier 2 and the black band-shaped image to be drawn shown in FIG. 16 (B) is blurred as shown in FIG. 16 (C). This causes image distortion.

FIG. 17 is a view for explaining the relationship between the direction of the polishing eye P and the moving direction of the image carrier 2. Figure 15
As shown in FIG. 17A, when the image carrier 2 is rotated in the R direction and the grindstone 21 is horizontally moved in the X direction while rotating in the same direction R as the image carrier 2, FIG. As shown, a sharp slope P2 and a gentle slope P3 are formed on the polishing eye P. At this time, the image carrier 2 is arranged so that the write electrode 3b climbs the gentle slope P3 with respect to the moving direction Y of the image carrier 2.

When the image carrier 2 is arranged so that the write electrode 3b descends on the gentle slope P3 with respect to the moving direction Y of the image carrier 2, as shown in FIG. 17B, the write electrode 3b is formed. Collides with the steep slope P2, and the write electrode 3b vibrates in the vertical direction U. As a result, the charge injection efficiency decreases and pixel loss occurs. That is, as shown in FIG. 17D, the black band-shaped image to be drawn shown in FIG.
Pixel loss occurs.

FIG. 18 is a schematic sectional view for explaining another embodiment of the method for manufacturing an image carrier according to the present invention. In this embodiment, first, as shown in FIG. 1A, the dielectric layer 2c is formed on the conductive substrate 2a, and then, as shown in FIG. 2B, the conductive fine particles are formed on the dielectric layer 2c. E
A conductive fine particle dispersed resin layer 2e in which b is dispersed is applied. Then, similarly to the above-described embodiment, the surface of the conductive fine particle-dispersed resin layer 2e is polished to obtain the conductive fine particle-dispersed resin layer 2
The independent electrode is exposed on the surface of e. In the present embodiment, when the particle diameter of the conductive fine particles Eb is D _p and the thickness of the conductive fine particle dispersed resin layer 2e is d _d , D _p > d _d is satisfied and the conductive fine particle dispersed resin is satisfied. By adjusting the viscosity of the solution, the drying rate, and the coating amount, the conductive fine particle-dispersed resin layer 2e to the conductive fine particles Eb is adjusted as shown in FIG.
To have a protruding shape.

19 to 21 are views for explaining another embodiment of the method for manufacturing an image carrier according to the present invention, and FIG. 19 (A) is a schematic perspective view of a manufacturing apparatus.
20B is a schematic sectional view, FIG. 20 is a diagram showing numerical examples of FIG. 19, and FIG. 21 is a schematic sectional view showing a manufacturing process.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 19A, a resin injection nozzle 23 is provided in a cylindrical rotary mold 22.
Then, the conductive fine particle-dispersed resin solution is injected from the above to perform centrifugal molding. As a result, as shown in FIG. 19B, the conductive fine particles Eb are arranged on the surface of the conductive fine particle dispersed resin layer 2e in the outer peripheral direction R.

In this embodiment, the following relationships are satisfied.

D _d > D _p , and ρ _p > ρ _f V _th = (ρ _p −ρ _f ) D _p ² rω ² / (18μ) (1). Here, d _d : thickness of the conductive fine particle dispersed resin layer (m) D _p : particle diameter of the conductive fine particles (m) V _th : velocity of the conductive fine particles due to centrifugal force (m / sec) ρ _p : conductivity Fine particle density (kg / m ³ ) ρ _f : Density of conductive fine particle dispersed resin solution (kg / m ³ ) r: Radius of cylindrical conductive substrate ω: Angular velocity of cylindrical conductive substrate (rad / sec) μ ₀ : Viscosity of conductive fine particle-dispersed resin solution (N · s / m ² ) μk: Solid-liquid boundary viscosity (N · s / m ² ) Curing and drying time of the conductive fine-particle-dispersed resin solution is t _d (se
c) and the dielectric layer film thickness is d _i (m), μ = (μk−μ ₀ ) · ((1-exp (−4.6t /
t _d )) + μ _{0 The} linear approximation formula is μ = (μk−μ ₀ ) · (4.6t / t _d )) + μ ₀ (2) Substituting the formula (2) into the formula (1), t = 0 integrating with ~t _d, conductive particles moving distance l _p (m) _{is, l p = (ρ p -ρ} f) D p 2 rω 2 t d /((82.8(μk
-Μ ₀ )) × log (4.6 μk / μ ₀ -3.6) l _p ≧ d _i , the conductive fine particles are arranged near the surface of the resin layer by centrifugal force. FIG. 20 shows a numerical example.

Next, as shown in FIG. 21A, when a conductive resin is injected into the inner surface of the conductive fine particle dispersed resin layer 2e to form the conductive substrate 2a by a centrifugal molding method, a seamless belt is formed. To be done. It is possible to form the conductive substrate 2a by plating or vapor deposition, but it is necessary to provide a protective film on the inner peripheral surface to prevent the conductive fine particles from adhering. Next, as shown in FIG. 21 (B), the surface of the conductive fine particle dispersed resin layer 2e is polished to expose the independent electrode 2d ₁ on the surface.

FIG. 22 is a schematic sectional view showing another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the independent electrode 2d ₁ is exposed on the surface of the conductive fine particle dispersed resin layer 2e by etching instead of mechanical polishing.

FIG. 23 is a diagram for explaining another embodiment of the method for producing an image carrier according to the present invention, wherein FIG. 23A is a schematic diagram of the production apparatus, FIG. )
[Fig. 3] is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining a manufacturing method.

In this embodiment, the following relationships are satisfied.

D _d > D _p and ρ _p <ρ _{f In the} figure (A), the film 24 has rollers 25 and 26.
After that, the sheet is conveyed to the conveyance table 27. The supplied conductive fine particle-dispersed resin solution 2e is coated with a coating knife (rod,
Film 2 with a certain layer thickness by blade or roller)
4 is applied. Since the density of the conductive fine particles Eb is lower than the density of the conductive fine particle-dispersed resin solution 2e, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, the conductive fine particles Eb are arranged on the surface of the conductive fine particle dispersed resin layer 2e by buoyancy, and then, as shown in FIG. The independent electrode 2d ₁ is exposed.

In this embodiment, if a metal foil or a conductive resin film is used as the film 24, an image carrier sheet can be manufactured. If this sheet is adhered in a belt shape, an image carrier belt is manufactured. can do. When the film 24 is an insulating material, an image bearing drum can be manufactured by winding and adhering it on a conductive drum. Incidentally, by the same etching as in the above embodiment,
The independent electrode 2d ₁ may be exposed on the surface of the conductive fine particle dispersed resin layer 2e.

FIG. 24 is a diagram for explaining another embodiment of the method for producing an image carrier in the present invention, and FIGS. 24A and 24B are schematic cross sections for explaining the production method. The figure and figure (C) are figures which show a numerical example.

In this embodiment, the following relationships are satisfied.

The manufacturing apparatus for d _d > D _p and ρ _p > ρ _f is the same as that shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, the density of the conductive fine particles Eb is higher than the density of the conductive fine particle-dispersed resin solution 2e, so that the conductive fine particles Eb are arranged on the surface of the film 24 by gravity as shown in FIG. Then, as shown in FIG.
The conductive substrate 2 a is formed on the surface opposite to the surface 4. afterwards,
Similar to the above embodiment, the surface of the conductive fine particle dispersed resin layer 2e is polished to expose the independent electrode 2d ₁ on the surface.

The conditions of this embodiment will be described. Figure 1
In equations (1) and (2) of the ninth embodiment, when rω ² is replaced by gravitational acceleration g (9.8 m / sec ² ), the sedimentation distance l _pg (m) of the conductive fine particles due to gravity is l _pg = (ρ _p −ρ _f ) D _p ² g ² t _d /((82.8(μk−
μ ₀ )) × log (4.6 μk / μ ₀ -3.6) l _p ≧ d _i , the conductive fine particles Eb are gravitated to form the film 24.
Placed on the surface. The figure (C) has shown the numerical example.

In this embodiment, an image carrier sheet can be manufactured by using a metal foil or a conductive resin film as the film 24. If this sheet is adhered in a belt shape, an image carrier belt is manufactured. can do. When the film 24 is an insulating material, an image bearing drum can be manufactured by winding and adhering it on a conductive drum. Incidentally, by the same etching as in the above embodiment,
The independent electrode 2d ₁ may be exposed on the surface of the conductive fine particle dispersed resin layer 2e.

[0075]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the conductive substrate, the conductive fine particle-dispersed resin layer formed on the conductive substrate, and the surface of the resin layer are exposed. In the image carrier provided with the independent electrode, it is possible to obtain a stable image by improving the charge injection efficiency, preventing image loss and non-uniformity of density and obtaining a stable image. Further, it is possible to manufacture an image carrier in which a large number of independent electrodes are exposed on the surface.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a basic configuration of Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-227630.

2A and 2B show an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2A is an overall configuration diagram, and FIG. 2B is a partial perspective view of the image carrier and the charging / writing device of FIG. 2A. .

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view partially and schematically showing the image carrier of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a basic process of image formation in the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates the principle of writing an electrostatic latent image by charging or discharging a writing electrode of a writing device, FIG. 5A is an enlarged view of a contact portion between the writing electrode and an image carrier, and FIG. 8C is an electrical equivalent circuit diagram of this contact portion, and FIGS. 9C to 9F are diagrams showing the relationship between each parameter and the surface potential of the image carrier.

FIG. 6 illustrates charging or discharging of an image carrier,
(A) is an explanatory view of charging or discharging of an image carrier by electric charge injection, (b) is an explanatory view of charging or discharging of an image carrier by discharging, and (c) is a diagram explaining Paschen's law.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a switching circuit for switching and connecting a predetermined voltage V ₀ and a ground voltage V ₁ to a write electrode.

FIG. 8 shows a state when each high voltage switch of each electrode is selectively switched to a predetermined voltage V0 or a ground voltage V1, and FIG. 8A is a diagram showing a voltage state of each electrode,
(B) is a figure which shows the developer image at the time of normal development in the voltage state of (a), (c) is a figure which shows the developer image at the time of reversal development in the voltage state of (a).

FIG. 9 is a plan view schematically showing a specific example of the write head of FIG.

10A and 10B show an example of an array pattern of write electrodes, FIG. 10A is a plan view and FIG. 10B is a sectional view.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing another example of an array pattern of write electrodes.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing another example of an array pattern of write electrodes.

13A and 13B are views for explaining one embodiment of the image carrier and the method for manufacturing the same according to the present invention, FIG. 13A is a schematic sectional view, and FIG. 13B is an enlarged view of FIG. is there.

FIG. 14 is a diagram following the manufacturing process in FIG.
Is a schematic sectional view, and FIG. 6B is an enlarged view of FIG.

15A and 15B are views for explaining the polishing method in FIG. 13, where FIG. 15A is a perspective view, FIG. 15B is an enlarged view of portion B in FIG. 15A, and FIG. FIG.

FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining the angle between the polishing eye and the circumferential direction of the image carrier.

FIG. 17 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between the direction of the polishing eye and the moving direction of the image carrier.

FIG. 18 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining another embodiment of the method for manufacturing an image carrier according to the present invention.

19A and 19B are views for explaining another embodiment of the method for manufacturing an image carrier according to the present invention, in which FIG. 19A is a schematic perspective view of a manufacturing apparatus, and FIG. is there.

20 is a diagram showing a numerical example of the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 21 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining the manufacturing process continued from FIG.

FIG. 22 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a diagram for explaining another embodiment of the method for producing an image carrier according to the present invention, in which the diagram is a schematic view of a production apparatus, and FIGS. (B) and (C) illustrate the production method. It is a schematic cross-sectional view for doing.

FIG. 24 is a diagram for explaining another embodiment of the method for producing an image carrier according to the present invention, and FIGS. 24A and 24B are schematic cross-sectional views for explaining the production method. (C) is a figure which shows a numerical example.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 ... image bearing member 2a ... substrate 2b ... charging layer 2c ... dielectric layer 2d ... independent floating electrode layer 2d ₁ ... independent electrode 2e ... conductive fine particle dispersed resin layer 3 ... write head 3a ... substrate 3b ... writing Embedded electrode P ... Polishing eye

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Atsushi Kitazawa             Seiko, 3-3-3 Yamato, Suwa City, Nagano Prefecture             -In Epson Corporation F-term (reference) 2C162 AE09 AE21 AE31 AE47 AE62                       EA10                 2H029 AA06 AB03 AD03                 2H068 AA54 AA55 CA31 CA60 EA07                       EA12 EA18 EA40 EA43 FA11                       GA02 GA04 GA09

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An image carrier comprising a conductive substrate, a conductive fine particle dispersed resin layer formed on the conductive substrate, and an independent electrode exposed on the surface of the resin layer. An image carrier, wherein the surface of the image carrier has a grind in the circumferential direction of the image carrier. 2. The method of manufacturing an image carrier according to claim 1, wherein the polishing stitch has an angle with respect to the circumferential direction of the image carrier of 0 ° to 45 °. 3. A sharp slope and a gentle slope are formed in the polishing eye, and the image carrier is arranged so that the write electrode climbs the gentle slope with respect to the moving direction of the image carrier. The method for producing an image carrier according to claim 1 or 2. 4. A method of coating a conductive fine particle-dispersed resin solution on a conductive substrate and polishing the surface of the formed conductive fine particle-dispersed resin layer to expose the independent electrode on the surface of the resin layer. And a method for manufacturing an image carrier. 5. A method for forming a conductive fine particle-dispersed resin layer after forming a dielectric layer on the conductive substrate and applying a conductive fine particle-dispersed resin solution on the dielectric layer. A method for manufacturing an image carrier, comprising polishing the surface to expose the independent electrode on the surface of the resin layer. 6. A conductive substrate is prepared by injecting a conductive fine particle-dispersed resin solution into a cylindrical rotary mold and performing centrifugal molding, and then injecting a conductive resin into the inner surface of the formed conductive fine particle-dispersed resin layer. Is subjected to centrifugal molding, and then the surface of the conductive fine particle-dispersed resin layer is polished to expose the independent electrode on the surface of the resin layer. 7. A conductive fine particle-dispersed resin solution is applied onto a film, conductive fine particles are placed on the surface of the conductive fine particle-dispersed resin layer by buoyancy, and then the surface of the conductive fine particle-dispersed resin layer is polished. And a method for manufacturing an image carrier, which comprises exposing an independent electrode on the surface. 8. A conductive fine particle-dispersed resin solution is applied onto a film, conductive fine particles are placed on the surface of the film by gravity, and then a conductive substrate is formed on the surface opposite to the film, A method for producing an image carrier, comprising polishing the surface of a conductive fine particle dispersed resin layer to expose an independent electrode on the surface. 9. An image carrier sheet is produced by using a metal foil or a conductive resin film as the film, and the sheet is adhered in a belt shape to manufacture an image carrier belt. 7. The method for producing an image bearing member according to 7 or 8. 10. An image carrier drum is produced by forming an image carrier sheet by using an insulating material as the film, and winding and adhering the sheet on a conductive drum. Of the image carrier according to claim 1.