JP2005309311A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus which is excellent in saturation, roughness and OHP transmissibility, achieve an oilless fixing system, is durable, obviates the occurrence of image defects, such as voids, on a halftone image, and is high in durability and sharpness by using a photoreceptor having a surface layer formed by curing a compound containing two or more chain polymerizable functional groups by irradiation with electron beam and a toner containing hydrocarbon-based wax. <P>SOLUTION: A cleaning device 6 having a brush member 63 which rubs the surface of the photoreceptor 1 after transfer of a toner image and a cleaning blade 6 for removing the stuck material on the surface of the photoreceptor 1 rubbed by the brush member 63 are used in the image forming apparatus using the photoreceptor 1 and the toner containing a hydrocarbon-based wax. The brush member 63 is 4 to 30 D/F in the size of fibers and 10,000 to 400,000 pieces/square inch in brush density. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image of an electrophotographic apparatus or the like having an image carrier such as an electrophotographic photosensitive member and a cleaning means for removing deposits on the surface of the image carrier after transfer of a toner image formed on the image carrier. The present invention relates to a forming apparatus.

  Generally, in an image forming apparatus that records an image on a transfer material such as paper, such as a copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile machine, an electrophotographic system is employed as a system that records an image on the transfer material.

  In an electrophotographic system, a photosensitive drum (photosensitive member) having a surface coated with a photosensitive material is used as an image carrier. First, the surface of the photosensitive drum is uniformly charged, the surface of the charged photosensitive drum is irradiated with laser light, and a potential difference is given between the irradiated portion and the unirradiated portion. Next, the charged toner contained in the developer adheres to the surface of the photosensitive drum, whereby a toner image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum. Thereafter, the toner image is transferred to a transfer material, and an image is formed on the transfer material.

  Recently, the demand for higher image quality and lower running cost of output devices has been increasing, and as a photosensitive drum that is an image carrier used in the electrophotographic system, the photosensitive layer thickness has been increased due to the necessity of high resolution. In addition, since it is necessary to extend the life of the photosensitive drum itself in order to reduce the running cost, it is possible to improve the electrical and mechanical strength of the surface of the photosensitive member and wear resistance. It is illustrated.

  Several proposals using a curable resin for the surface layer have been made in order to increase the durability of the photoreceptor (see, for example, Patent Documents 1, 2, and 3). When a curable resin is used for the surface layer, the mechanical strength is increased, the chip becomes difficult to be scraped, and scratches are less likely to enter, as compared with the thermoplastic resin. In addition, as a surface layer technology that can achieve both a high hardness function and a sufficient charge transport capability, a technology for curing a compound having two or more chain-polymerizable functional groups by radiation is known. A photoconductor having high durability and excellent potential characteristics, which could not be obtained by plasticization or thermosetting, can be obtained. (For example, refer to Patent Document 4). In particular, it is known that using an electron beam as the radiation is effective.

  On the other hand, in the electrophotographic system, the surface of the photosensitive drum is repeatedly used for forming a toner image. Therefore, after the toner image is transferred to the transfer material, the residual toner remains on the surface of the photosensitive drum without being transferred to the transfer material. It is necessary to remove the toner sufficiently.

  Various methods for removing residual toner have been proposed. Of these proposals, a method of scraping off residual toner by bringing a counter blade (cleaning blade) made of an elastic material into contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum has been widely put into practical use. This method is low in cost, can make the entire electrophotographic system simple and compact, and has excellent toner removal efficiency.

  As a material for the cleaning blade, urethane rubber is generally used which has high hardness and high elasticity and is excellent in wear resistance, mechanical strength, oil resistance, ozone resistance and the like.

The physical properties of the cleaning blade and the method of contacting the image carrier greatly depend on the ease of cleaning depending on the degree of adhesion of the transfer residual toner to the image carrier and the surface property of the image carrier. Also, the cleaning performance is greatly affected by the physical properties such as toner shape, particle size, and material, so it is necessary to select a suitable blade and set it to the proper angle and proper contact load with respect to the image carrier. There is. Therefore, in the actual selection and setting of the cleaning blade, the optimum condition is found by repeating trial and error.

  Cleaning performance and surface layer wear of the image carrier differ depending on the actual operating environment, particularly temperature and humidity. Therefore, it is difficult to clean only the cleaning blade throughout the life of the image carrier. Therefore, an apparatus provided with a cleaning auxiliary member has been proposed.

  For example, a configuration is known in which a magnetic developer is collected on a magnet roller and the surface of the image carrier is rubbed with the magnetic developer, or a surface of the image carrier is rubbed with an elastic roller. (For example, refer to Patent Documents 5 and 6).

  Further, a configuration in which the surface of the image carrier is rubbed with a brush member is also known (see, for example, Patent Document 7).

  In order to achieve high image quality in an electrophotographic system, it has been described that it is effective to reduce the film thickness of the photosensitive layer. However, approaches from toner are also being actively performed. For example, in addition to the approach from the shape of the toner, such as reducing the diameter of the toner, the toner binder resin, the colorant material and configuration, and the external additive material and configuration have been actively improved.

  As one of the improvement techniques, there is a technique that contains a wax in the toner. As a result, it is possible to obtain an image with good saturation and excellent suppression of roughness (graininess) in a low density range, and in a contact type fixing system such as a roller and a belt, oil is not applied at all. It is possible to realize a fixing device that applies a very small amount. In particular, when a hydrocarbon wax is contained in the toner, a finely dispersed form of the colorant is obtained, and the affinity between the colorant and the wax is good, so that the transparency of the OHP sheet is good in the low image density range. It is known to be.

However, as described above, a toner prepared by curing with an electron beam, having excellent wear resistance, being hard to be scratched, having a surface layer, and containing the hydrocarbon wax described above is used. When the image forming apparatus is used for durability, the wax contained in the toner is fused to the surface of the photoconductor, and this may accumulate, resulting in white-out image defects on the halftone image. is there.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 02-127652 JP 05-216249 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 07-72640 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-265085 JP-A-2-91675 JP 60-107076 A Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 07-302029

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to use a photoreceptor having a surface layer formed by electron beam curing of a compound containing two or more chain polymerizable functional groups, which can achieve high durability with a thin film. In image forming apparatus using hydrocarbon wax-containing toner, which can achieve oil-less fixing system, with excellent roughness and OHP permeability, durable and does not cause image defects such as white spots on halftone images, high durability An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of forming a high-quality image.

The above object is achieved by using the image forming apparatus of the present invention. That is, an image carrier that carries a toner image transferred to a transfer material, and a cleaning unit that removes deposits on the surface of the image carrier after the toner image is transferred from the surface of the image carrier, In an image forming apparatus in which a toner containing at least a hydrocarbon wax is used as a toner for forming a toner image, the image carrier has a conductive support and a photosensitive layer formed on the conductive support. The surface layer that forms the surface of the image carrier is formed by curing a composition containing at least two chain-polymerizable functional groups by irradiation with an electron beam. A brush member that rubs the surface of the body and a cleaning member that contacts the surface of the image carrier rubbed by the brush member. The brush member has a fiber thickness of 4 to 30 D / F (denier / A Iramento), brush density is achieved by the image forming apparatus is 10,000 to 400,000 lines / square inch ^{(1.5 × 10 3 ~6.2 × 10} 4 pieces / cm).

  The present inventors consider the reason why a white-out image defect occurs on a halftone image when the above-described photoreceptor and toner are used.

  As described above, the surface layer obtained by curing a compound having a chain polymerizable functional group by electron beam irradiation has high strength, extremely high wear resistance, and highly durable surface characteristics. It becomes difficult to refresh the surface. That is, electrical damage caused by charging or the like, or surface deterioration due to adhesion of discharge products, etc. accumulates over the long term.

  Similarly, when the toner or the like is subjected to mechanical pressure between the photosensitive drum and a contact member such as a cleaning blade, the hydrocarbon wax contained in the toner is fused to the surface of the image carrier. Long-term accumulation on the surface of the carrier. This is considered to indicate that a malleable material such as wax cannot be removed unless the surface layer of the image carrier is worn.

  The wax deposited on the surface of the image carrier is also subjected to electrochemical damage due to discharge and discharge products, and the altered one is deposited on the surface of the image carrier. The present inventors consider that this is a causative substance that disturbs the electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier and generates a blank image on the halftone image.

  The present inventors consider a mechanism capable of solving the above-described prevention of white spot image defects on the halftone image by the present invention as follows.

  An image carrier having a fiber thickness of 4 to 30 D / F (denier / filament) and a brush density of 10,000 to 400,000 per square inch on the upstream side of a cleaning member such as a cleaning blade used in the present invention. It is considered that the brush member that rubs the surface of the surface worked effectively as a means for removing the deteriorated wax.

  At this time, the brush member needs to be upstream of the cleaning blade. If the brush member is downstream, the wax is not completely removed, and the number of the brush members is small, but white spots occur in some places on the halftone image. There is. The difference between the case where the brush member is upstream of the cleaning blade is that the surface of the image carrier is rubbed uniformly together with the toner and toner external additives adhering to the brush member in addition to the brush member. It is considered that there is an effect that can be done.

  It is not clear why the electrochemically altered wax that adheres firmly to the surface layer can be removed with a weak rubbing force like the brush member described above.

  However, one of the reasons may be that the surface layer cured by the electron beam has the following unique properties. When the charged product generated in the electrophotographic system is adsorbed to the surface layer formed by electron beam irradiation used in the present invention, the adhesion strength between the product and the surface layer is increased with time. Will increase. Conversely, immediately after adsorption, the adhesion is relatively small and can be easily removed. Therefore, it is possible to use a system that can be rubbed immediately after charging in a short time of one cycle in electrophotography, such as the brush member used in the present invention, and the modified wax with the weak rubbing force of this system. I think that was also the reason why it was removed.

  According to the present invention, after the toner image is transferred, before the surface of the image carrier is cleaned by the cleaning member, the surface of the image carrier is rubbed with the brush member. Among these, two or more chain-polymerizable functional groups can be removed in one image formation cycle because the deposits derived from hydrocarbon wax in the toner, which are considered to cause white-out image defects on halftone images, can be almost removed. Image formation using a hydrocarbon wax-containing toner that uses a photoconductor with a surface layer formed by electron beam curing of a group-containing compound, has excellent saturation, roughness, and OHP transparency and can achieve an oil-less fixing system In the apparatus, it is possible to form a durable and high-quality image that is durable and does not cause image defects such as white spots on a halftone image.

  In the present invention, when the maximum value of the maximum endothermic peak is 60 to 120 ° C. in the endothermic curve at the time of temperature rise measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) of the hydrocarbon wax, the hydrocarbon system in the toner particles. This is even more effective from the viewpoint of preventing the segregation of wax and preventing the occurrence of image defects such as white spots.

  Further, in the present invention, when a means for applying a lubricant to the brush member is further provided, the lubricant is applied to the surface of the brush member and the image carrier, which is more effective from the viewpoint of enhancing the effect of removing the deposits. .

  In the present invention, it is more effective to use a rubber blade having elasticity for the cleaning member from the viewpoint of removing the deposit with a simple configuration.

  According to the present invention, the brush member further includes a scraping member that contacts the brush member, and the brush member is not removed by the scraping member when the amount of penetration of the brush member into the image carrier is equal to or larger than the amount of penetration of the scraping member into the brush member. In addition to the remaining toner and the toner external additives, the surface of the image carrier can be uniformly rubbed with a brush member, which is more effective from the viewpoint of enhancing the effect of removing the deposits.

  In the present invention, at the contact portion between the brush member and the image carrier, the brush member is moved in the direction opposite to the moving direction of the image carrier, and the moving speed of the brush member relative to the moving speed of the image carrier is changed. When the ratio is 120 to 300%, it is more effective from the viewpoint of enhancing the effect of removing the deposits.

Further, in the present invention, when the brush member is formed of conductive fibers having a specific resistivity of 10 ³ to 10 ⁸ Ω · cm, recharging of the attached matter accompanying the rubbing of the surface of the image carrier by the brush member is prevented. In the case where the deposit is neutralized by the rubbing and the rubber blade is used as a cleaning member, it is more effective from the viewpoint of enhancing the effect of removing the deposit.

The image forming apparatus of the present invention includes an image carrier that carries a toner image transferred to a transfer material, and a cleaning that removes deposits on the surface of the image carrier after the toner image is transferred from the surface of the image carrier. Means. In addition to these, the image forming apparatus of the present invention transfers means for forming a toner image on an image carrier, means for transferring the toner image to a transfer material, and transferring the toner image transferred to the transfer material. Various means such as a means for fixing to the material may be provided, and these means are not particularly limited.

<Image carrier used in the present invention>
The image carrier is a member that carries a toner image transferred to a transfer material, and is not particularly limited as long as it is a member having a conductive support and a photosensitive layer formed on the conductive support. The photosensitive layer is not particularly limited as long as it is a layer that generates and transports a charge for forming a desired electrostatic latent image. As the image carrier, an electrophotographic photosensitive member can be usually used. The electrophotographic photosensitive member will be described below.

In general, the electrophotographic photosensitive member has a structure in which charge generation and charge transport functions are assigned to separate layers (1) a laminated type, and a single photosensitive layer is provided on a conductive support (2 ) Single layer type.
(1) Layer containing a charge transport material / Layer containing a charge generation material (2) Layer containing a charge generation material and a charge transport material

  The surface layer in the present invention is a layer that forms the surface of the image carrier, and the function of the layer is not particularly limited. In the present invention, the surface layer is formed by irradiating a composition having at least two chain polymerizable functional groups with an electron beam and curing the composition. The surface layer corresponds to, for example, a layer containing a charge transport material in (1), and a layer containing a charge generation material and a charge transport material corresponds to the single layer type in (2). In addition, each layer configuration of (1) may be a reverse layer, and in this case, a layer containing a charge generating substance is a surface layer. Furthermore, it can also be made into a surface layer by providing a protective layer further on these layers with respect to the reverse layer constitution of (1), (2) and (1).

  In the present invention, in the above configuration, the stacked type of (1), in which at least the charge generation layer and the charge transport layer are stacked in this order on the conductive support, is particularly preferable in terms of sensitivity and durability, Furthermore, it is equally preferable to provide a protective layer thereon.

  The surface layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member in the present invention contains a compound having at least one (more preferably two or more) chain-polymerizable functional group, and by curing the composition containing the compound. The surface layer is formed. The composition is cured by electron beam irradiation. The compound having a chain polymerizable functional group forming the surface layer in the present invention will be described below.

The chain polymerization in the present invention refers to the former polymerization reaction mode in which the formation reaction of a polymer substance is largely divided into chain polymerization and sequential polymerization. (New Edition) ”July 25, 1995 (1 edition, 8 prints) As described in FIG. 24, the form mainly refers to unsaturated polymerization, ring-opening polymerization, isomerization polymerization, etc. in which the reaction proceeds via an intermediate such as a radical or ion.

  The chain polymerizable functional group in the present invention means a functional group capable of unsaturated polymerization among the above-mentioned reaction forms, and specific examples of the unsaturated polymerizable functional group are shown below. Unsaturated polymerization is a reaction in which unsaturated groups such as C═C, C≡C, C═O, C═N, and C≡N are polymerized by radicals, ions, etc., but mainly C═C. The majority is due to.

In the present invention, the chain polymerizable functional group is preferably an unsaturated polymerizable functional group represented by the following general formula (1), and more preferably the compound to be cured has two or more of these functional groups. The chain polymerizable functional group is more preferably any one of the following structural formulas (2) and (3), or the chain polymerizable functional group is more preferably the following structural formula (4).

  E in the general formula (1) is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, or a monovalent organic group, preferably a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, or a butyl group that may have a substituent. An alkyl group such as a group. In the general formula (1), f is 0 or 1. W in the structural formula (1) is an arylene group, and preferably two hydrogens are removed from aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene, naphthalene, anthracene, and pyrene, which may have a substituent. An arylene group.

  Specific examples of the unsaturated polymerizable functional group are shown in Table 1, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

  Further, in Table 1, (6) acryloyloxy group and (7) methacryloyloxy group are preferable from the viewpoint of polymerization characteristics and the like.

In the present invention, the compound having a chain polymerizable functional group represented by the general formula (1) is roughly classified into a monomer and an oligomer based on the repetition of the structural unit. Monomer is a monomer having a relatively low molecular weight without repeating a structural unit having a chain polymerizable functional group represented by the general formula (1), and an oligomer is a chain polymerizable functional group represented by the general formula (1). It is a polymer having about 2 to 20 repeating units. Further, a macromer having a chain polymerizable functional group represented by the general formula (1) only at the terminal of the polymer or oligomer can also be used as the curable compound for the surface layer used in the present invention.

  In the present invention, it is preferable to use a monomer from the viewpoint of achieving both durability and electrical characteristics of the image carrier. The monomer having a chain-polymerizable functional group represented by the general formula (1) can be further classified by the number of functional groups in one molecule, and one having one functional group per molecule is a monofunctional monomer. In the case of two or more, it is called a polyfunctional monomer. In the present invention, it is preferable to use a polyfunctional monomer in order to sufficiently ensure the hardness of the surface layer of the electrophotographic photoreceptor, and more preferably a polyfunctional monomer having three or more chain polymerizable functional groups in one molecule. Is preferably used.

  As an oligomer having a chain polymerizable functional group represented by the general formula (1), the repeating structural unit has a chain polymerizable functional group represented by the general formula (1) as shown in the compound examples in Table 2. It ’s fine. However, in the present invention, the oligomer is preferably used by mixing with a monomer in order to achieve both the hardness of the photosensitive layer and the characteristics of the electrophotographic photosensitive member.

  In the case of using a compound having a chain polymerizable functional group in a solution state, the solvent is not particularly limited as long as it is a solvent capable of dissolving the compound. For example, in addition to aromatic solvents such as toluene, xylene and monochlorobenzene Ethers such as dioxane, tetrahydrofuran and tetrahydropyran, and ketones and saturated hydrocarbons depending on the solute can also be used.

  In addition, the compound having an unsaturated polymerizable functional group in the present invention is preferably a compound having a charge transporting function from the viewpoint of achieving both durability and electrical characteristics of the electrophotographic photosensitive member. Among these, a hole transporting compound is preferable.

  As the hole transportable compound having an unsaturated polymerizable functional group, a known hole transportable compound having an unsaturated polymerizable functional group or an unsaturated polymerizable functional group in a part of the known hole transportable compound Any compound or the like to which is added may be used. Examples of the charge transport material include hydrazone compounds, pyrazoline compounds, triphenylamine compounds and the like as described in the detailed description of the charge transport layer hereinafter, but are not particularly limited to these. Any compound can be used as long as it has a transport function.

  Further, as described above, in order to sufficiently secure the hardness of the surface layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, even in a compound having a charge transport function and having an unsaturated polymerizable functional group, It is preferable to use a compound having a plurality of unsaturated polymerizable functional groups.

  Of the compounds that can be used in the present invention and can be polymerized or crosslinked and cured by electron beam irradiation, examples of compounds having a charge transport function and having an unsaturated polymerizable functional group are shown in Tables 2 and 3. However, the present invention is not limited to these.

The method for producing the surface layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member used in the present invention will be described below.
In the present invention, the surface layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member having a conductive support and a photosensitive layer formed on the conductive support is dispersed or dissolved in a compound having at least one chain polymerizable functional group. In general, the applied liquid (paint) is applied onto a conductive support, a charge generation layer or a charge transport layer, dried, irradiated with an electron beam, and polymerized / cured to form. It is also possible to apply and form using a solution obtained by reacting a solution in advance to obtain a cured product and then dispersing or dissolving in a solvent again.

  Known methods for applying the paint include, for example, a dip coating method, a spray coating method, a curtain coating method, and a spin coating method.

  In the present invention, when the electron beam is applied to the image carrier (hereinafter also referred to as “pre-irradiation image carrier”) after applying the paint (before irradiation with the electron beam), the accelerator is a scanning type, Any type such as an electro curtain type, a broad beam type, a pulse type, and a laminar type can be used.

  Since the electrophotographic photosensitive member produced by electron beam irradiation is sensitive to electrical characteristics such as sensitivity and residual potential, and the surface hardness varies greatly depending on the electron dose, the electron beam irradiation conditions on the electrophotographic photosensitive member are This is very important in developing the electrical characteristics and durability of a photographic photoreceptor. The electron beam irradiation conditions will be described below.

In the present invention, the electron beam absorbed dose rate of the pre-irradiation image carrier is in the range of 1.0 × 10 ^{3 to} 2.0 × 10 ⁷ Gy / s, more preferably 1.0 × 10 ⁴ to 2. 0 × 10 ⁶ Gy / s. If the electron beam absorbed dose rate is too low, the degree of cure of the surface layer is lowered, and if it is too high, the hardness of the surface layer tends to be uneven. In the present invention, the absorbed dose rate is expressed as (total absorbed dose received by the sample at the completion of electron beam irradiation) / (any one point on the sample surface by the time the electron beam irradiation is completed) In the linear density distribution, it can be determined by the time) in the effective electron beam irradiation region that is 1 / e or more of the peak position.

In the present invention, the dose of the electron beam applied to the pre-irradiation image carrier is preferably 1.0 × 10 ^{3 to} 2.0 × 10 ⁶ Gy, more preferably 1.0 × 10 ^{3 to} 5.0 × 10. ⁵ Gy is preferred. When the electron beam dose is too low, the degree of curing of the surface layer is not sufficient, and when it is too high, the sensitivity and residual potential of the electrophotographic photosensitive member may deteriorate. In the present invention, the absorbed dose can be measured with a general-purpose film dosimeter.

  In the present invention, the acceleration voltage of the electron beam is preferably 300 kV or less, more preferably 50 to 200 kV. When the voltage is 300 kV or more, the electrophotographic photosensitive member is significantly deteriorated, and when the acceleration voltage is too low, the surface layer may be unevenly cured in the film thickness direction. The acceleration voltage shown here refers to a DC voltage value applied between a filament that is an electron beam generation source and an electron beam exit window foil that is an anode.

  By suitably setting the above conditions, it is possible to produce an electrophotographic photosensitive member that is favorable with respect to electrical characteristics such as sensitivity and residual potential, surface hardness, and wear resistance.

In the present invention, the surface layer can contain conductive particles.
Examples of the conductive particles used for the surface layer include metals, metal oxides, and carbon black. Examples of the metal include aluminum, zinc, copper, nickel, silver and stainless steel, or those obtained by depositing these metals on the surface of plastic particles. Examples of the metal oxide include zinc oxide, titanium oxide, tin oxide, antimony oxide, indium oxide, bismuth oxide, indium oxide doped with tin, tin oxide doped with antimony and tantalum, and zirconium oxide doped with antimony. . These can be used alone or in combination of two or more. When two or more types are used in combination, they may be simply mixed or formed into a solid solution or a fused form.

  The average particle size of the conductive particles used in the present invention is preferably 0.3 μm or less, particularly preferably 0.1 μm or less, from the viewpoint of the transparency of the surface layer.

  In the present invention, among the conductive particles described above, it is particularly preferable to use the metal oxide as described above in terms of transparency.

  The conductive particles need to be uniformly dispersed in the film, and the mixing ratio of the conductive particles and the compound having the chain polymerizable functional group varies greatly depending on the particle size and resistivity of the conductive particles. , Which is appropriately selected depending on the combination.

  Furthermore, fluorine atom-containing resin particles can be dispersed in the surface layer in order to improve the slipping property of the surface of the image carrier. Fluorine atom-containing resin particles include tetrafluoroethylene resin, trifluoroethylene chloride resin, hexafluoroethylene propylene resin, vinyl fluoride resin, vinylidene fluoride resin, ethylene difluoride dichloride resin, and their co-polymers. It is preferable to select one or two or more fluorine atom-containing resin particles containing a coal, but tetrafluoroethylene resin and vinylidene fluoride resin are particularly preferable. The molecular weight of the resin particles and the particle size of the particles can be appropriately selected and are not particularly limited.

  The fluorine atom-containing resin is dispersed in the solution so that the particles are not aggregated in the solution containing the chain polymerizable compound together with the conductive particles. In this dispersion, in the present invention, it is possible to use a dispersant that disperses the particles.

  Further, the surface of the conductive particles may be surface-treated with a fluorine atom-containing compound. By performing the surface treatment, it is possible to improve the dispersibility of the conductive particles and fluorine atom-containing resin particles in the resin solution, and there is no formation of secondary particles generated over time, and dispersion stability is improved. This can be further improved.

  Moreover, in this invention, additives, such as antioxidant, a ultraviolet absorber, a plasticizer, can also be added in a surface layer as needed.

  Details of the function-separated electrophotographic photosensitive member in which a charge generation layer and a charge transport layer are laminated will be described below.

  When the electrophotographic photosensitive member used in the present invention is produced, a metal or alloy such as aluminum or stainless steel, paper, plastic or the like is used as the conductive support, and the shape is applied to a cylindrical cylinder or a film. It can be arbitrary depending on the electrophotographic apparatus. Moreover, you may use as a conductive support body by providing a conductive layer separately by a vapor deposition method or another method on a nonelectroconductive support body.

  In the present invention, an undercoat layer having a barrier function and an adhesive function can be provided on the conductive support. The undercoat layer improves the adhesion of the photosensitive layer, improves the coating properties, protects the conductive support, covers defects on the conductive support, improves the charge injection from the conductive support, It is formed for protection against destruction.

  Materials for the undercoat layer include polyvinyl alcohol, poly-N-vinylimidazole, polyethylene oxide, ethyl cellulose, ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer, casein, polyamide, N-methoxymethylated 6 nylon, copolymer nylon, glue, gelatin Etc. are known. These are dissolved in a solvent suitable for each and coated on a conductive support. The film thickness at that time is preferably about 0.1 to 2 μm.

Examples of the charge generation material used in the charge generation layer in the present invention include selenium-tellurium, pyrylium, thiapyrylium dyes, various central metals and crystal systems, specifically, for example, α, β, γ, ε, X type, etc. Crystalline phthalocyanine compounds, anthanthrone pigments, dibenzpyrenequinone pigments, pyranthrone pigments, trisazo pigments, disazo pigments, monoazo pigments, indigo pigments, quinacridone pigments, asymmetrical quinocyanine pigments, quinocyanines and JP-A 54-143645 Examples include the amorphous silicon described.

  For example, the charge generation layer may be dispersed by a method such as homogenizer, ultrasonic dispersion, ball mill, vibration ball mill, sand mill, attritor and roll mill together with the above-mentioned charge generation material together with 0.3 to 4 times the amount of binder resin and solvent. Then, the dispersion is applied and dried, or formed as a single composition film such as a vapor deposition film of the charge generation material. The film thickness is preferably 5 μm or less, particularly preferably in the range of 0.1 to 2 μm.

Examples of the charge transport material used in the charge transport layer in the present invention include the following.
Charge transport materials are roughly classified into electron transport materials and hole transport materials. Examples of electron transport materials include electron withdrawing materials such as 2,4,7-trinitrofluorenone, 2,4,5,7-tetranitrofluorenone, chloranil and tetracyanoquinodimethane, and these electron withdrawing materials. Polymerized ones can be mentioned.

  Hole transport materials include polycyclic aromatic compounds such as pyrene and anthracene; carbazole, indole, imidazole, oxazole, thiazole, oxadiazole, pyrazole, pyrazoline, thiadiazole, and triazole compounds Hydrazone compounds such as p-diethylaminobenzaldehyde-N, N-diphenylhydrazone and N, N-diphenylhydrazino-3-methylidene-9-ethylcarbazole; α-phenyl-4′-N, N— Styryl compounds such as diphenylaminostilbene and 5- [4- (di-p-tolylamino) benzylidene] -5H-dibenzo [a, b] cycloheptene; benzidine compounds; triarylmethane compounds; triphenylamine compounds; And their conversion Polymers (e.g., poly -N- vinylcarbazole and polyvinyl anthracene) or the like having a group derived from an object in the main chain or side chain.

  In addition to these organic charge transport materials, inorganic materials such as selenium, selenium-tellurium, amorphous silicon and cadmium sulfide can also be used. In addition, these charge transport materials may be used alone or in combination of two or more, and the present invention is not limited to the above compounds, and compounds other than those described above can also be used.

  When the charge transport layer is a surface layer and is composed of a charge transport material and a resin having a chain polymerizable functional group, the blending ratio is 10 to 500 parts by weight of the charge transport material per 100 parts by weight of the resin. It is preferable to do.

  As described above, it is also possible to use a chain polymerizable compound having a charge transport function for the surface layer. The surface layer is composed of a charge transport material, a resin having a chain polymerizable functional group, a conductive material. Particles, fluorine atom-containing resins, and general film-forming resins such as polycarbonate resins, polyarylate resins, polystyrene resins, polymethyl methacrylate resins, etc. A compound containing at least one chain polymerizable functional group may be contained as a constituent material of the surface layer.

  Since this surface layer has a limit capable of transporting a charge carrier, the film thickness cannot be increased more than necessary, but a range of 1 μm to 40 μm, particularly 2 μm to 30 μm is preferable.

  When the surface layer is a protective layer, the charge transport layer formed on the charge generation layer is formed by applying and drying a solution obtained by dissolving the charge transport material and the appropriate resin in a solvent. Is preferred.

  Next, the mixing ratio of the charge transport material and the binder resin in the charge transport layer formed on the charge generation layer, the solvent, the method of applying this solution, and the like will be described.

  The mixing ratio of the charge transport material and the binder resin is preferably about 2: 1 to 1: 4. As the solvent, aromatic solvents such as toluene, xylene and monochlorobenzene, dioxane, tetrahydrofuran and tetrahydropyran are used. Depending on the solute, ketones and saturated hydrocarbons can be used.

  As a method for applying the solution, for example, a dip coating method, a spray coating method, a curtain coating method, a spin coating method, and the like are known. The dip coating method is the best for efficient mass production of electrophotographic photoreceptors, and such dip coating is also possible in the present invention.

  In the case where the surface layer is a protective layer, as in the case where the charge transport layer is a surface layer, a chain polymerizable compound having a charge transport function, a charge transport material, a resin having a chain polymerizable functional group, conductive particles, fluorine It may be formed by any combination including atom-containing resin and general film-forming resin such as polycarbonate resin, polyarylate resin, polystyrene resin, polymethyl methacrylate resin, etc. The compound containing the above chain polymerizable functional group should just be contained as a constituent material of a surface layer.

  The protective layer must have some charge transport function in terms of electrophotographic characteristics. For example, when the charge transport material as described above is included in the protective layer, the charge transport material included in the charge transport layer. The charge transport material contained in the protective layer need not be the same material.

<Toner used in the present invention>
Next, the toner in the present invention will be described. The toner used in the present invention contains at least a hydrocarbon wax. The toner used in the present invention appropriately contains known toner materials such as a binder resin, a colorant and other waxes in addition to the hydrocarbon wax.

  Examples of the hydrocarbon wax contained in the toner used in the present invention include the following. Low molecular weight polyethylene, low molecular weight polypropylene, low molecular weight copolymer, aliphatic hydrocarbon wax such as microcrystalline wax, paraffin wax, Fischer-Tropsch wax, and oxide of aliphatic hydrocarbon wax such as oxidized polyethylene wax, or Examples thereof include a block copolymer.

  Examples of waxes that are particularly preferably used in the present invention include aliphatic hydrocarbon waxes. For example, low molecular weight paraffin olefin polymer wax obtained by radical polymerization of alkylene olefin under high pressure or Ziegler catalyst or metallocene catalyst under low pressure; Fischer-Tropsch wax synthesized from coal or natural gas; heat treatment of high molecular weight alkylene olefin polymer An alkylene olefin polymer obtained by cracking; a synthetic hydrocarbon wax obtained from a distillation residue of hydrocarbons obtained by an age method from a synthesis gas containing carbon monoxide and hydrogen, or obtained by hydrogenating them. Further, those obtained by fractionating hydrocarbon wax by press sweating, solvent method, vacuum distillation or fractional crystallization are more preferably used.

Hydrocarbon as a matrix as a constituent material of hydrocarbon wax is synthesized by reaction of carbon monoxide and hydrogen using a metal oxide catalyst (mostly two or more multi-component systems) (for example, gintor Compounds, synthesized by hydro-coal method (using fluidized catalyst bed); carbonization up to several hundred carbon atoms obtained by the age method (using identified catalyst bed), which produces many waxy hydrocarbons Hydrogen; a hydrocarbon obtained by polymerizing an alkylene such as ethylene with a Ziegler catalyst; and paraffin wax are preferred because they are linear hydrocarbons with little branching, small and long saturation. In particular, a wax synthesized by a method that does not rely on polymerization of alkylene is also preferred from its molecular weight distribution.

  In the molecular weight distribution of the hydrocarbon wax, the main peak is preferably in the region of molecular weight 350-2,400, and more preferably in the region of 400-2,000. By giving such a molecular weight distribution, preferable thermal characteristics can be imparted to the toner. The molecular weight distribution of the hydrocarbon wax can be adjusted depending on the type of wax used and the wax production conditions.

  The molecular weight distribution of the hydrocarbon wax used in the present invention can be determined from the measured count number and a calibration curve of an appropriate standard substance, for example, by measuring the molecular weight distribution by chromatography using GPC.

  As a more specific measuring method, the column is stabilized in a heat chamber at 40 ° C., and tetrahydrofuran (THF) as a solvent is allowed to flow through the column at this temperature at a flow rate of 1 ml per minute. As a sample for measurement, a filtrate obtained by dissolving a binder resin in THF and filtering with a 0.2 μm filter is used. Measurement is carried out by injecting 50 to 200 μl of a THF sample solution of a resin with the sample concentration adjusted to 0.05 to 0.6% by weight.

  An RI (refractive index) detector is used as the detector. As the column, a combination of a plurality of commercially available polystyrene gel columns is used. For example, a combination of μ-styragels 500, 103, 104, and 105 manufactured by Waters and a combination of shodex KA-801, 802, 803, 804, 805, 806, and 807 manufactured by Showa Denko are preferable.

The weight average molecular weight of the binder resin is determined from the relationship between the logarithmic value of a calibration curve prepared from several types of monodisperse polystyrene standard samples and the count number obtained by the measurement. Examples of the monodisperse polystyrene standard sample include Pressure Chemical Co. Manufactured by Tosoh Corporation or having a molecular weight of 6 × 10 ² , 2.1 × 10 ³ , 4 × 10 ³ , 1.75 × 10 ⁴ , 5.1 × 10 ⁴ , 1.1 × 10 ⁵ , Those of 3.9 × 10 ⁵ , 8.6 × 10 ⁵ , 2 × 10 ⁶ , 4.48 × 10 ⁶ are used. It is appropriate to use a monodisperse polystyrene standard sample of at least about 10 points.

  The hydrocarbon wax used in the present invention preferably has a maximum endothermic peak maximum value of 60 to 120 ° C. in the endothermic curve at the time of temperature rise measured by DSC.

  When the maximum value of the maximum endothermic peak of the hydrocarbon wax is less than 60 ° C. or exceeds 120 ° C., the hydrocarbon wax is not finely dispersed and segregation of the hydrocarbon wax occurs when the toner is formed. As a result, image defects such as white spots may occur.

  The maximum endothermic peak of the hydrocarbon wax is in accordance with ASTM D3418-82 using, for example, a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC measuring device), DCS-7 (manufactured by PerkinElmer) or DSC2920 (manufactured by TA Instruments Japan). Can be measured.

  In the present invention, the colorant particles in the toner preferably contain 70% by number or more of particles having a particle diameter of 0.05 to 0.5 μm.

Colorant particles having a fine particle size of less than 0.05 μm are considered not to adversely affect the light reflection and absorption characteristics, and contribute to good transparency in a good OHP sheet, but have a small dispersion diameter. Therefore, it may lack coloring power and contribute to a decrease in saturation. On the other hand, if there are many colorant particles having a particle size larger than 0.5 μm, the brightness and vividness of the projected image may inevitably decrease. Therefore, in the present invention, it is preferable to contain 70% by number or more, preferably 75% by number or more, more preferably 80% by number or more of colorant particles having a particle diameter of 0.05 to 0.5 μm. The number% of the colorant can be adjusted by classification, mixing of classified products, or a first kneading step (so-called master batch treatment).

  The colorant is selected from the viewpoints of hue angle, saturation, brightness, weather resistance, OHP transparency, and dispersibility in toner particles. The preferred addition amount of the colorant in the present invention is 0.2 to 1.2 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the resin, but it is not necessarily within this range. The reason for this is that the optimal number of added parts for exhibiting the effects of the present invention varies depending on the type of colorant used.

  As the binder resin used in the present invention, various resins conventionally known as binder resins for electrophotography are used. Among them, (a) a polyester resin, or (b) a polyester unit and a vinyl copolymer. A hybrid resin having a unit, or (c) a mixture of a hybrid resin and a vinyl copolymer, (d) a mixture of a hybrid resin and a polyester resin, and (e) a polyester resin and a vinyl copolymer. The main component is a resin selected from a mixture, and (f) a polyester resin, a hybrid resin having a polyester unit and a vinyl copolymer unit, and a mixture of a vinyl copolymer. Preferably there is.

  When a polyester-based resin is used as the binder resin, a polyhydric alcohol and a polyvalent carboxylic acid, a polyvalent carboxylic acid anhydride, a polyvalent carboxylic acid ester, or the like can be used as a raw material monomer. Specifically, for example, as the dihydric alcohol component, polyoxypropylene (2.2) -2,2-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) propane, polyoxypropylene (3.3) -2,2-bis ( 4-hydroxyphenyl) propane, polyoxyethylene (2.0) -2,2-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) propane, polyoxypropylene (2.0) -polyoxyethylene (2.0) -2,2 -Alkylene oxide adducts of bisphenol A such as bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) propane, polyoxypropylene (6) -2,2-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) propane; ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, 1, 2-propylene glycol, 1,3-propylene glycol, 1,4-butanediol, Opentyl glycol, 1,4-butenediol, 1,5-pentanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol, dipropylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, polytetramethylene glycol, bisphenol A And hydrogenated bisphenol A.

  Examples of the trivalent or higher alcohol component include sorbitol, 1,2,3,6-hexanetetrol, 1,4-sorbitan, pentaerythritol, dipentaerythritol, tripentaerythritol, 1,2,4-butanetriol, 1,2,5-pentanetriol, glycerol, 2-methylpropanetriol, 2-methyl-1,2,4-butanetriol, trimethylolethane, trimethylolpropane, 1,3,5-trihydroxymethylbenzene, etc. Can be mentioned.

Examples of the polyvalent carboxylic acid component include aromatic dicarboxylic acids such as phthalic acid, isophthalic acid and terephthalic acid or anhydrides thereof; alkyl dicarboxylic acids such as oxalic acid, adipic acid, sebacic acid and azelaic acid or anhydrides thereof; carbon And succinic acid or its anhydride substituted with an alkyl group of several 6 to 12; unsaturated dicarboxylic acids such as fumaric acid, maleic acid and citraconic acid or their anhydrides.

  Among them, in particular, a bisphenol derivative represented by the following general formula (1) is used as a diol component, and a carboxylic acid component composed of a divalent or higher carboxylic acid or an acid anhydride thereof or a lower alkyl ester thereof (for example, fumar A polyester resin obtained by polycondensation using acid, maleic acid, maleic anhydride, phthalic acid, terephthalic acid, trimellitic acid, pyromellitic acid, etc.) as an acid component is preferable because it has good charging characteristics as a color toner. .

  In the general formula (1), R represents an ethylene group or a propylene group, x and y are each an integer of 1 or more, and the average value of x + y is 2 to 10.

  Furthermore, as a binder resin, a vinyl polymer which is a polymer having an ester bond in the main chain, a polyester unit which is a polycondensate of a polyhydric alcohol and a polybasic acid, and an unsaturated hydrocarbon group In the case of using a hybrid resin having a unit, further improved wax dispersibility, low-temperature fixability, and offset resistance can be expected.

  The hybrid resin used in the present invention means a resin in which a vinyl polymer unit and a polyester unit are chemically bonded. Specifically, it is a resin formed by a transesterification reaction between a polyester unit and a vinyl polymer unit obtained by polymerizing a monomer having a carboxylic acid ester group such as (meth) acrylic acid ester, preferably a vinyl polymer. Is a graft copolymer (or block copolymer) having a trunk polymer and a polyester unit as a branch polymer.

Examples of the vinyl monomer for producing the vinyl polymer include styrene; o-methyl styrene, m-methyl styrene, p-methyl styrene, α-methyl styrene, p-phenyl styrene, p-ethyl styrene, 2, 4-dimethylstyrene, pn-butylstyrene, p-tert-butylstyrene, pn-hexylstyrene, pn-octylstyrene, pn-nonylstyrene, pn-decylstyrene, pn Styrene and its derivatives such as dodecyl styrene, p-methoxy styrene, p-chloro styrene, 3,4-dichloro styrene, m-nitro styrene, o-nitro styrene, p-nitro styrene; ethylene, propylene, butylene, isobutylene Styrene unsaturated monoolefins such as butadiene and isoprene Saturated polyenes; vinyl halides such as vinyl chloride, vinylidene chloride, vinyl bromide, vinyl fluoride; vinyl esters such as vinyl acetate, vinyl propionate, vinyl benzoate; methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, methacrylic acid Propyl, n-butyl methacrylate, isobutyl methacrylate, n-octyl methacrylate, dodecyl methacrylate, 2-ethylhexyl methacrylate, stearyl methacrylate, phenyl methacrylate, dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate, diethylaminoethyl methacrylate Α-methylene aliphatic monocarboxylic acid esters such as methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, propyl acrylate, acrylic acid-n-butyl, acrylic acid isobutyl, acrylic acid-n-octyl, acrylic acid dodecy Acrylates such as 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, stearyl acrylate, 2-chloroethyl acrylate, phenyl acrylate; vinyl ethers such as vinyl methyl ether, vinyl ethyl ether, vinyl isobutyl ether; vinyl methyl ketone, vinyl Vinyl ketones such as hexyl ketone and methyl isopropenyl ketone; N-vinyl compounds such as N-vinyl pyrrole, N-vinyl carbazole, N-vinyl indole and N-vinyl pyrrolidone; vinyl naphthalenes; acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, acrylamide Examples thereof include acrylic acid or methacrylic acid derivatives.

  In addition, unsaturated dibasic acids such as maleic acid, citraconic acid, itaconic acid, alkenyl succinic acid, fumaric acid, mesaconic acid; maleic anhydride, citraconic anhydride, itaconic anhydride, alkenyl succinic anhydride Unsaturated dibasic acid anhydride; maleic acid methyl half ester, maleic acid ethyl half ester, maleic acid butyl half ester, citraconic acid methyl half ester, citraconic acid ethyl half ester, citraconic acid butyl half ester, itaconic acid methyl half ester, Alkenyl succinic acid half ester, fumaric acid methyl half ester, mesaconic acid methyl half ester unsaturated dibasic acid half ester; dimethylmaleic acid, dimethyl fumaric acid unsaturated dibasic acid ester; acrylic acid, meta Α, β-unsaturated acids such as rillic acid, crotonic acid and cinnamic acid; α, β-unsaturated acid anhydrides such as crotonic acid anhydride and cinnamic anhydride, the α, β-unsaturated acid and lower fatty acids And monomers having a carboxyl group such as alkenylmalonic acid, alkenylglutaric acid, alkenyladipic acid, acid anhydrides and monoesters thereof.

  Furthermore, acrylic acid or methacrylic acid esters such as 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, 2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate; 4- (1-hydroxy-1-methylbutyl) styrene, 4- (1-hydroxy-1) -Methylhexyl) Monomers having a hydroxy group such as styrene.

  In the toner used in the present invention, the vinyl polymer unit of the binder resin may have a crosslinked structure crosslinked with a crosslinking agent having two or more vinyl groups. Examples of the crosslinking agent used in this case include divinylbenzene and divinylnaphthalene as aromatic divinyl compounds; examples of diacrylate compounds linked by an alkyl chain include ethylene glycol diacrylate and 1,3-butylene glycol diene. Acrylates, 1,4-butanediol diacrylate, 1,5-pentanediol diacrylate, 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate, neopentyl glycol diacrylate, and those obtained by replacing acrylates of the above compounds with methacrylates; Examples of diacrylate compounds linked by an alkyl chain containing an ether bond include diethylene glycol diacrylate, triethylene glycol diacrylate, tetraethylene glycol diacrylate, and polyethylene. Examples include lenglycol # 400 diacrylate, polyethylene glycol # 600 diacrylate, dipropylene glycol diacrylate, and acrylates of the above compounds replaced with methacrylate; di-linked by a chain containing an aromatic group and an ether bond. Examples of acrylate compounds include polyoxyethylene (2) -2,2-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) propane diacrylate, polyoxyethylene (4) -2,2-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) propane diacrylate and What replaced the acrylate of the above compound with the methacrylate is mentioned.

  Polyfunctional cross-linking agents include pentaerythritol triacrylate, trimethylol ethane triacrylate, trimethylol propane triacrylate, tetramethylol methane tetraacrylate, oligoester acrylate, and acrylates of the above compounds replaced with methacrylate; triallylcia Examples include nurate and triallyl trimellitate.

The hybrid resin used in the present invention preferably contains a monomer component capable of reacting with both resin components in one or both of the vinyl polymer unit component and the polyester unit. Examples of monomers that can react with the vinyl polymer unit among the monomers constituting the polyester unit include unsaturated dicarboxylic acids such as phthalic acid, maleic acid, citraconic acid, and itaconic acid, or anhydrides thereof. Among the monomers constituting the vinyl polymer unit component, those capable of reacting with the polyester unit include those having a carboxyl group or a hydroxy group, and acrylic acid or methacrylic acid esters.

  As a method for obtaining a reaction product of a vinyl polymer unit and a polyester unit, a polymer containing a monomer component capable of reacting with each unit is present, and a polymerization reaction of one or both resins is performed. The method obtained by

  Examples of the polymerization initiator used in producing the vinyl polymer used in the present invention include 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile and 2,2′-azobis (4-methoxy-2,4). -Dimethylvaleronitrile), 2,2'-azobis (2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile), 2,2'-azobis (2-methylbutyronitrile), dimethyl-2,2'-azobisisobutyrate, 1,1′-azobis (1-cyclohexanecarbonitrile), 2- (carbamoylazo) -isobutyronitrile, 2,2′-azobis (2,4,4-trimethylpentane), 2-phenylazo-2,4- Dimethyl-4-methoxyvaleronitrile, 2,2'-azobis (2-methyl-propane), methyl ethyl ketone peroxide, acetylacetone peroxide Ketone peroxides such as cyclohexanone peroxide, 2,2-bis (t-butylperoxy) butane, t-butyl hydroperoxide, cumene hydroperoxide, 1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl hydroperoxide , Di-t-butyl peroxide, t-butyl cumyl peroxide, di-cumyl peroxide, α, α'-bis (t-butylperoxyisopropyl) benzene, isobutyl peroxide, octanoyl peroxide, decanoyl peroxide Oxide, lauroyl peroxide, 3,5,5-trimethylhexanoyl peroxide, benzoyl peroxide, m-trioyl peroxide, di-isopropyl peroxydicarbonate, di-2-ethylhexyl peroxydicar Nate, di-n-propyl peroxydicarbonate, di-2-ethoxyethyl peroxycarbonate, di-methoxyisopropyl peroxydicarbonate, di (3-methyl-3-methoxybutyl) peroxycarbonate, acetylcyclohexylsulfonyl per Oxide, t-butyl peroxyacetate, t-butyl peroxyisobutyrate, t-butyl peroxyneodecanoate, t-butyl peroxy 2-ethylhexanoate, t-butyl peroxylaurate, t- Butyl peroxybenzoate, t-butyl peroxyisopropyl carbonate, di-t-butyl peroxyisophthalate, t-butyl peroxyallyl carbonate, t-amyl peroxy 2-ethylhexanoate, di-t-butyl pero Shi hexahydro terephthalate, di -t- butyl peroxy azelate and the like.

  As a manufacturing method which can prepare the hybrid resin used for the toner used for this invention, the manufacturing method shown to the following (1)-(6) can be mentioned, for example.

(1) A method in which a vinyl polymer unit, a polyester unit resin and a hybrid resin component are blended after production, and the blended product is produced by dissolving and swelling in an organic solvent (for example, xylene) and then distilling off the organic solvent. Is done. For the hybrid resin component, a vinyl polymer and a polyester resin are separately manufactured, dissolved and swollen in a small amount of an organic solvent, an esterification catalyst and an alcohol are added, and the ester exchange reaction is performed by heating. Synthesized ester compounds can be used.

(2) A method of producing a polyester unit and a hybrid resin component in the presence of a vinyl polymer unit in the presence of the vinyl polymer unit. The hybrid resin component is produced by a reaction between a vinyl polymer unit (a vinyl monomer can be added if necessary), a polyester monomer (alcohol, carboxylic acid), a polyester, or both. The Also in this case, an organic solvent can be appropriately used.

(3) A method for producing a vinyl polymer unit and a hybrid resin component in the presence of the polyester unit unit after the production. The hybrid resin component is produced by a reaction between one or both of a polyester unit (a polyester monomer can be added if necessary) and a vinyl monomer.

(4) After producing the vinyl polymer unit and the polyester unit, a hybrid resin is prepared by adding one or both of a vinyl monomer and / or a polyester monomer (alcohol, carboxylic acid) in the presence of these polymer units. Ingredients are manufactured. Also in this case, an organic solvent can be appropriately used.

(5) After producing the hybrid resin component, one or both of a vinyl monomer and a polyester monomer (alcohol, carboxylic acid) are added, and at least one of addition polymerization and polycondensation reaction is performed, thereby producing a vinyl resin. Polymer units and polyester units are produced. In this case, as the hybrid resin component, those produced by the production methods (2) to (4) can be used, and those produced by a known production method can be used as necessary. Furthermore, an organic solvent can be used as appropriate.

(6) A vinyl polymer unit, a polyester unit, and a hybrid resin component are produced by mixing a vinyl monomer and a polyester monomer (alcohol, carboxylic acid, etc.) and continuously performing addition polymerization and condensation polymerization reaction. Furthermore, an organic solvent can be used as appropriate.

  In the production methods (1) to (6) above, a polymer unit having a plurality of different molecular weights and crosslinking degrees can be used for the vinyl polymer unit and the polyester unit.

  The binder resin contained in the toner used in the present invention includes a mixture of the polyester resin and a vinyl polymer, a mixture of the hybrid resin and a vinyl polymer, and the polyester resin and the hybrid resin. In addition, a mixture of vinyl polymers may be used.

  As the charge control agent contained in the toner used in the present invention, known ones can be used. In particular, the aromatic carboxyl is colorless, has a high toner charging speed, and can stably maintain a constant charge amount. Acid metal compounds are preferred.

  Negative charge control agents include salicylic acid metal compounds, naphthoic acid metal compounds, dicarboxylic acid metal compounds, polymer compounds having sulfonic acid or carboxylic acid in the side chain, boron compounds, urea compounds, silicon compounds, calixarene, etc. Is available. As the positive charge control agent, a quaternary ammonium salt, a polymer compound having the quaternary ammonium salt in the side chain, a guanidine compound, an imidazole compound, or the like can be used.

  The charge control agent may be added internally or externally to the toner particles. The total amount of the charge control agent added is preferably 0.5 to 10 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the binder resin.

As the fluidizing agent externally added to the toner particles used in the present invention, a known fluidizing agent can be used. In particular, the external addition of the fluidity improver to the toner particles improves the image quality. It is preferable in terms of storage stability under high temperature environment. As the fluidity improver, inorganic fine powders such as silica, titanium oxide, and aluminum oxide are preferable. The inorganic fine powder is preferably hydrophobized with a hydrophobizing agent such as a silane compound, silicone oil or a mixture thereof.

  Examples of the hydrophobizing agent include coupling agents such as silane compounds, titanate coupling agents, aluminum coupling agents, and zircoaluminate coupling agents.

  Specifically, for example, a silane compound represented by the following general formula (2) is preferable. For example, hexamethyldisilazane, vinyltrimethoxysilane, vinyltriethoxysilane, γ-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane, methyltrimethoxysilane, methyltriethoxysilane, isobutyltrimethoxysilane, dimethyldimethoxysilane, dimethyldiethoxysilane, Examples thereof include trimethylmethoxysilane, hydroxypropyltrimethoxysilane, phenyltrimethoxysilane, n-hexadecyltrimethoxysilane, and n-octadecyltrimethoxysilane. The processing amount is preferably 1 to 60 parts by mass, more preferably 3 to 50 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the inorganic fine powder.

[Chemical 2]
R _m SiY _n (2)
(In the formula, R represents an alkoxyl group, m represents an integer of 1 to 3, Y represents an alkyl group, vinyl group, phenyl group, methacryl group, amino group, epoxy group, mercapto group, or derivatives thereof. N represents an integer of 1 to 3.)

  In the present invention, alkylalkoxysilane represented by the following general formula (3) is particularly suitable for the hydrophobization treatment of the surface of the fluidizing agent. In the alkylalkoxysilane, when n is less than 4, the treatment is easy, but the degree of hydrophobicity is low, which is not preferable. When n is larger than 12, hydrophobicity is sufficient, but coalescence of titanium oxide fine particles increases, and fluidity imparting ability tends to decrease. When m is larger than 3, the reactivity of the alkylalkoxysilane is lowered and it becomes difficult to perform hydrophobicity well. More preferably, in the alkylalkoxysilane, n is 4 to 8, and m is 1 to 2. The treatment amount of the alkylalkoxysilane is preferably 1 to 60 parts by mass, more preferably 3 to 50 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the inorganic fine powder.

[Chemical formula 3]
_{C n H 2n + 1 -Si- (} OCmH 2n + 1) 3 (3)
(In the formula, n represents an integer of 4 to 12, and m represents an integer of 1 to 3.)

  The hydrophobizing treatment of the fluidizing agent may be performed alone or in combination of two or more. For example, one type of hydrophobizing agent may be hydrophobized alone, or two hydrophobizing agents at the same time, or one hydrophobizing agent and another hydrophobizing agent. Further, a hydrophobizing treatment may be performed.

  The fluidizing agent is preferably added in an amount of 0.01 to 5 parts by mass and more preferably 0.05 to 3 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the toner particles.

The following are used as the colorant of the toner in the present invention.
Examples of the black colorant include carbon black, magnetic material, magnetite, and those that are toned in black using yellow, magenta, and cyan colorants shown below.

  Examples of the yellow colorant include compounds typified by condensed azo compounds, isoindolinone compounds, anthraquinone compounds, azo metal complexes, methine compounds, and allylamide compounds. Specifically, C.I. I. Pigment Yellow 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 62, 74, 83, 93, 94, 95, 97, 109, 110, 111, 120, 127, 128, 129, 147, 155, 168, 174, 176, 180, 181, 185 and 191 are preferably used.

  Examples of the magenta colorant include condensed azo compounds, diketopyrrolopyrrole compounds, anthraquinones, quinacridone compounds, basic dye lake compounds, naphthol compounds, benzimidazolone compounds, thioindigo compounds, and perylene compounds. Specifically, C.I. I. Pigment Red 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 23, 48; 2, 48; 3, 48; 4, 57; 1, 81; 1, 122, 144, 146, 150, 166, 169, 177, 184, 185, 202, 206, 220, 221, 254, C.I. I. Pigment violet 19 is particularly preferred.

  Examples of cyan colorants include C.I. I. Pigment blue 2, 3, 15: 1, 15: 2, 15: 3, 16, 17; I. Acid Blue 6; I. Examples thereof include Acid Blue 45 or a copper phthalocyanine pigment in which 1 to 5 phthalimidomethyl groups are substituted on the phthalocyanine skeleton.

Examples of the magnetic material include metal oxides containing elements such as iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, magnesium, manganese, aluminum, and silicon. Of these, those containing iron oxide as a main component such as triiron tetroxide and γ-iron oxide are preferable. From the viewpoint of controlling the chargeability of the toner, a metal element such as silicon element or aluminum element may be contained. Particles of these magnetic, BET specific surface area by nitrogen adsorption method, preferably 2~30m ² / g, particularly preferably 3~28m ² / g, it is preferable Mohs hardness of 5-7.

  Examples of the shape of the magnetic body include octahedron, hexahedron, sphere, needle shape, scale shape, and the like. As the shape of the magnetic material, a material having a small anisotropy such as an octahedron, a hexahedron, or a sphere is preferable for increasing the image density. The average particle size of the magnetic material is preferably 0.05 to 1.0 μm, more preferably 0.1 to 0.6 μm, and further preferably 0.1 to 0.4 μm.

  The content of the magnetic material is 30 to 200 parts by mass, preferably 40 to 200 parts by mass, and more preferably 50 to 150 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the binder resin. If it is less than 30 parts by mass, in the developing device using magnetic force for toner conveyance, the conveyance property is lowered, the developer layer on the developer carrying member tends to be uneven, and the image is uneven. The image density tends to decrease due to the increase. On the other hand, when the amount exceeds 200 parts by mass, there is a tendency that a problem occurs in fixability.

Known inorganic fine powders to be mixed with toner particles are used. In order to improve charging stability, developability, fluidity, and storage stability, it is preferably selected from among silica fine powder, alumina fine powder, titania fine powder, and fine powders of double oxides thereof. In particular, silica fine powder is preferable. As the silica, dry silica produced by vapor phase oxidation of silicon halide or alkoxide, and wet silica produced from alkoxide, water glass or the like can be used. Dry silica is preferred because it has few silanol groups on the surface and inside of the silica fine powder, and few production residues such as Na ₂ O and SO ₃ ²⁻ .

  In dry silica, it is possible to obtain a composite fine powder of silica and other metal oxides by using a metal halogen compound such as aluminum chloride or titanium chloride together with a silicon halogen compound in the production process. May be used.

  The toner used in the present invention can be used as it is as a one-component developer, but when the toner used in the present invention is used in a two-component developer, the toner is used by mixing with a magnetic carrier. As the magnetic carrier, known magnetic carriers such as magnetic particles themselves, coated carriers in which magnetic particles are coated with a resin, and magnetic material-dispersed resin carriers in which magnetic particles are dispersed in resin particles can be used. Examples of magnetic particles include surface oxidized or unoxidized iron, lithium, calcium, magnesium, nickel, copper, zinc, cobalt, manganese, chromium, rare earth metal particles, alloy particles thereof, oxide particles, ferrite, etc. Can be used.

  The coated carrier obtained by coating the surface of the magnetic carrier particles with a resin is particularly preferable in a developing method in which an AC bias is applied to the developing sleeve. As a coating method, a method in which a coating solution prepared by dissolving or suspending a coating material such as a resin in a solvent is adhered to the surface of the magnetic carrier core particle, and a method in which the magnetic carrier core particle and the coating material are mixed with powder. A conventionally known method can be applied.

  Examples of the coating material on the surface of the magnetic carrier core particle include silicone resin, polyester resin, styrene resin, acrylic resin, polyamide, polyvinyl butyral, and aminoacrylate resin. These are used alone or in plural.

  The treatment amount of the coating material is preferably 0.1 to 30% by mass (preferably 0.5 to 20% by mass) with respect to the carrier core particles. These magnetic carrier core particles have an average particle size of 10 to 100 μm, preferably 20 to 70 μm.

  When a two-component developer is prepared by mixing the toner used in the present invention and a magnetic carrier, the mixing ratio is 2 to 15% by mass, preferably 4 to 13% by mass, as the toner concentration in the developer. Then usually good results are obtained. If the toner concentration is less than 2% by mass, the image density tends to decrease, and if it exceeds 15% by mass, fogging or in-machine scattering tends to occur.

  Next, a procedure for manufacturing toner will be described. The toner used in the present invention is obtained by melting and kneading a binder resin, a colorant, a hydrocarbon wax, and an arbitrary material, cooling and pulverizing the pulverized product, and spheroidizing and classifying treatment as necessary. It is possible to manufacture by mixing the fluidizing agent as necessary.

  First, in the raw material mixing step, at least a resin, a colorant, and a hydrocarbon wax are weighed and mixed as toner internal additives, and mixed. Examples of the mixing apparatus include a double-con mixer, a V-type mixer, a drum-type mixer, a super mixer, a Henschel mixer, and a Nauter mixer.

  Further, the toner raw materials blended and mixed as described above are melt-kneaded to melt the resins and disperse the colorant and the like therein. In the melt-kneading step, for example, a batch kneader such as a pressure kneader or a Banbury mixer, or a continuous kneader can be used. In recent years, single-screw or twin-screw extruders have become mainstream due to the advantage of being capable of continuous production, for example, KTK type twin screw extruder manufactured by Kobe Steel, TEM type twin screw extruder manufactured by Toshiba Machine Co., Ltd. A twin screw extruder manufactured by Kay Sea Kay, a co-kneader manufactured by Buss, etc. are generally used. Furthermore, the colored resin composition obtained by melt-kneading the toner raw material is rolled by a two-roll or the like after being melt-kneaded, and then cooled through a cooling step of cooling by water cooling or the like.

In general, the cooled colored resin composition obtained above is then pulverized to a desired particle size in a pulverization step. In the pulverization step, first, coarse pulverization is performed with a crusher, a hammer mill, a feather mill or the like, and further, pulverization is performed with a kryptron system manufactured by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd., a super rotor manufactured by Nisshin Engineering Co., Ltd. or the like. After that, if necessary, classification is performed using a classifier such as an inertia class elbow jet (manufactured by Nippon Steel & Mining Co., Ltd.) or a centrifugal class turbo turbo (manufactured by Hosokawa Micron Co., Ltd.), and the weight average particle diameter A classified product of 3 to 11 μm is obtained.

  If necessary, surface modification and spheronization are performed in a surface modification step using a surface modification device such as a hybridization system manufactured by Nara Machinery Co., Ltd., a mechano-fusion system manufactured by Hosokawa Micron Corporation, or the like.

  In the present invention, without using mechanical pulverization in the pulverization step, after pulverizing with an air jet pulverizer, a weight average particle diameter of 3 using an apparatus that performs classification and surface modification treatment using mechanical impact force. It is preferable to obtain a classified product having a thickness of 11 μm. The surface modification and classification may be performed separately. In such a case, a sieving machine such as a wind-type sieving high voltor (manufactured by Shin Tokyo Kikai Co., Ltd.) may be used as necessary.

  Furthermore, as a method of externally adding the external additive, a predetermined amount of classified toner and various known external additives are blended, and a high-speed stirrer that gives a shearing force to the powder such as a Henschel mixer or a super mixer is removed. A method of stirring and mixing can be used as an accessory.

<Cleaning means used in the present invention>
The cleaning means used in the present invention includes a brush member that rubs the surface of the image carrier, and a cleaning member that contacts the surface of the image carrier rubbed by the brush member.

  The brush member has a fiber thickness of 4 to 30 D / F (denier / filament) and a brush density of 10,000 to 400,000 per square inch. When fibers having a thickness within the above range are used, rubbing effective for preventing white-out image defects on a halftone image is realized. In addition, when a brush member having a brush density within the above range is used, similarly, effective rubbing can be realized in preventing white spot image defects on a halftone image. The fiber thickness and brush density may be set larger than the above range, but even if larger than the above range, the improvement of the peeling effect on the surface of the image carrier is not so much seen.

  In the brush member, the thickness of the fiber can be calculated from the number of fibers per bundle and the specific gravity of the fiber, for example, assuming that the cross section of the fiber is circular.

  The brush member can be composed of a support and fibers that stand on the support. The form of the brush member is not particularly limited. However, the brush member includes a rotatable support and fibers that stand on the peripheral surface of the support. It is preferable that the brush member is configured to be rotatable.

The brush member preferably has conductivity. When such a brush member is used, the brush member is grounded, so that the deposits on the surface of the image carrier are removed or further charging is prevented, and the cleaning member is more easily removed. From such a viewpoint, the fibers of the brush member are preferably conductive fibers having a specific resistivity of 10 ³ to 10 ⁸ Ω · cm, for example. The specific resistivity of the fiber can be obtained from the following equation, for example, by applying a voltage to the fiber and measuring the current flowing at that time.

[Equation 1]
Specific resistivity ρ (Ω · cm) = S × V / l × I
(Wherein S is the cross-sectional area of the fiber (cm ² ), l is the length of the fiber (cm), V is the applied voltage (V), and I is the current (A).)

  The cleaning member is not particularly limited as long as it is a member that removes residual toner on the surface of the image carrier, a part of toner material, and adhering substances such as paper dust from the surface of the image carrier. As such a cleaning member, various types of known cleaning members can be used, but a rubber blade having elasticity is preferable.

  The cleaning means may further include means for applying a lubricant to the brush member. By having such an application means, the lubricant applied to the brush member is applied to the surface of the image carrier, reducing the frictional force between the brush member and the image carrier, and floating due to the rubbing of the brush member. In addition, it is possible to further suppress the reattachment of the attached matter. As such an application means, for example, a massive lubricant provided by being urged against the brush member can be used. The lubricant is not particularly limited as long as it is a composition that improves lubricity. For example, particles of inorganic compounds such as metal oxide particles that may have conductivity, so-called metal soaps, etc. Organic compounds and the like can be used.

  The cleaning means may include a scraping member that contacts the brush member. A scrape member will not be specifically limited if it is a member which scrapes off the collection thing taken in by the brush member from a brush member. Having such a scrape member is effective in preventing clogging of the brush member. Examples of the collected material include the deposit and the lubricant. The penetration amount (β) of the scrape member with respect to the brush member is not particularly limited. However, from the viewpoints of preventing clogging of the brush member and preventing the shortening of the life of these members due to friction between the scrape member and the brush member, etc. It is preferably 3 to 2.0 mm. The penetration amount β is the penetration depth of the scrape member entering the brush member from the fiber tip in the brush member.

  The cleaning means may be provided at a position where both the brush member and the cleaning member are in contact with the surface of the image carrier. For example, the cleaning means may be fixed at a predetermined position where these members abut against the image carrier. For example, an elastic member such as a spring is interposed between the cleaning member and the image carrier to support the image carrier. It may be provided so as to be relatively energized, or may be provided so as to advance and be fixed to the image carrier when desired.

  The penetration amount (α) of the brush member with respect to the image carrier during cleaning is not particularly limited, but is preferably 0.3 to 2.0 mm from the viewpoint of effective rubbing against the deposit. . When the brush member is brought into contact with the image carrier, the brush member is assumed to enter the inside of the image carrier without being deformed when the brush member is brought into contact with the image carrier. It is the depth that penetrated the body.

  Further, the amount of penetration (λ) of the cleaning member into the image carrier at the time of cleaning is not particularly limited, but it is possible to remove the attached matter and prevent the shortening of the life due to the friction between the image carrier and the cleaning member. Therefore, it is preferably 0.5 to 2.5 mm. When the cleaning member is brought into contact with the image carrier, the cleaning member assumes that the portion of the cleaning member that is in contact with the image member enters the inside of the image carrier without being deformed. It is the depth that penetrated the body.

  In the cleaning means, the relationship between the amount of penetration α of the brush member with respect to the image carrier and the amount of penetration β of the scrape member with respect to the brush member is α ≧ β. It is preferable from the viewpoint that the surface of the image carrier can be rubbed uniformly together with the toner remaining on the member and the external additive of the toner.

  The brush member may be fixed at a predetermined position that contacts the surface of the image carrier and slides on the surface of the image carrier, or is in contact with the image carrier at the contact portion with the image carrier. You may move. In the present invention, it is preferable that the brush member is moved with respect to the image carrier at the contact portion between the image carrier and the brush member from the viewpoint of effective rubbing against the attached matter.

  The movement of the brush member relative to the image carrier may be, for example, a linear reciprocation in a direction perpendicular to the rotation direction of the image carrier, but may move in the direction opposite to the movement direction of the image carrier. From the viewpoint of energy saving for effective rubbing against the deposit, the viewpoint of suppressing the vibration of the brush member by suppressing the moving speed of the brush member, and the short life of these members due to the friction between the scrape member and the brush member It is more preferable from the viewpoint of suppressing the conversion. From such a viewpoint, when the brush member moves in the direction opposite to the moving direction of the image carrier, specifically, the ratio of the moving speed of the brush member to the moving speed of the image carrier is 120 to 300%. Is preferred.

  The brush member may be moved by an appropriate driving means, or may be connected to the image carrier by a gear, for example, and moved in a predetermined direction and speed in conjunction with the movement of the image carrier.

  In addition to the above-described members, the cleaning means may have other members and the like as long as the effects of the present invention are not impaired. Examples of such other members include a container-like casing that contains the deposit removed by the cleaning member, a member that prevents leakage of the deposit from the opening of the casing, and a casing. And means for discharging the deposits and the like to the outside.

  Next, an embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described. First, the configuration of an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus includes a printer unit A and an image reading unit (image scanner) B mounted on the printer unit A.

  The printer unit A forms an electrostatic latent image by irradiating light on the photosensitive member 1 as an image carrier, a primary charger 2 for charging the photosensitive member 1, and light on the charged photosensitive member 1 according to image information. An exposure device 3, a developing device 4 that develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive member 1 with toner to form a toner image, and a transfer member 5 that transfers the toner image carried on the photosensitive member 1 to a transfer material P. And a cleaning device 6 that removes deposits on the surface of the photosensitive member 1 to which the toner image has been transferred from the surface of the photosensitive member 1; A pre-exposure lamp 7 for erasing, a conveyance belt 8 that conveys the transfer material P onto which the toner image has been transferred from the transfer body 5, and a fixing that fixes the toner image of the transfer material P conveyed by the conveyance belt 8 to the transfer material P. Device 9.

  The photoreceptor 1 has a conductive support and a photosensitive layer formed on the conductive support, and the composition containing at least two or more chain polymerizable functional groups is irradiated with an electron beam, and The composition is formed by curing, for example, the above-described electrophotographic photosensitive member.

  The primary charger 2 is a corona charger that charges the photoreceptor 1 in a non-contact manner. As the primary charger 2, a contact charger such as a conductive charging roller or a charging brush provided in contact with the photosensitive member 1 can be used.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the exposure apparatus 3 includes a light emission signal generator 24 that generates a light emission signal of light to be irradiated based on an image signal read by the image reading unit B, and a light emission signal generator 24. A solid-state laser element 25 that generates laser light in response to a light emission signal, a collimator lens system 26 that defines an optical path width of the generated laser light, a rotary polygon mirror 22 that reflects the laser light having a defined optical path width, And an fθ lens group 23 that causes the photosensitive member 1 to scan the laser beam reflected by the rotary polygon mirror 22.

  The developing device 4 is composed of, for example, a plurality of developing devices and a rotor portion having these in the circumferential portion, and includes a developer having cyan toner, a developer having magenta toner, a developer having yellow toner, and Each developing device that accommodates each developer having black toner is transported to the developing position by the rotation of the rotor portion.

  The developing device is, for example, a two-component developing device as shown in FIG. 5. The developing device 32 stores a developer T composed of toner t and a carrier, and a developing device that is rotatably provided at an opening of the developing container 32. The developing sleeve 30 that carries the developer T contained in the container 32, the magnet roller 31 that is fixed inside the developing sleeve 30 and forms a plurality of magnetic poles at a plurality of predetermined positions, and the developing sleeve 30. A regulating blade 33 that regulates the layer thickness of the developer T (for example, a non-magnetic metal plate provided apart from the surface of the developing sleeve 30), a developing chamber R1 on the opening side in the developing container 32, and development A partition wall 36 partitioned into a stirring chamber R2 deeper than the chamber R2, transport screws 37 and 38 for transporting and stirring the developer T in each chamber, and a toner hopper containing toner to be supplied to the stirring chamber R2. A 4, and a supply port 35 of the hopper 34 to open and close toward the stirring chamber R2.

  The developing sleeve 30 is made of a nonmagnetic material such as aluminum or nonmagnetic stainless copper. The toner t is a color toner containing, for example, a hydrocarbon wax.

  The developing device can be appropriately selected according to the type of developer used.

  The transfer body 5 includes, for example, a roller-shaped transfer sheet 5c that carries the transfer material P, a transfer charger 5a that applies a voltage from the back surface of the transfer material P at the nip portion between the transfer sheet 5c and the photoreceptor 1, and a toner image. And a separation charger 5b for applying a voltage for separating the transfer material P onto which the toner is transferred from the transfer sheet 5c.

  The transfer sheet 5c is made of, for example, a polyethylene terephthalate resin film, and is stretched on the surface of the rotating drum, for example. The transfer body 5 is disposed so as to be in contact with and separated from the photoreceptor 1. The transfer body 5 is rotationally driven in the arrow direction (clockwise direction). In the present invention, general materials can be used as the transfer means such as the transfer body 5 and the charger.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the cleaning device 6 adheres to a container-like casing 61 provided so as to open toward the photoreceptor 1 and an outer surface near the upper portion of the opening of the casing 61. A cleaning blade 62 made of urethane rubber or the like provided so as to contact the surface, a brush member 63 provided at a position where the opening of the casing 61 can rotate and slidably rub against the surface of the photoreceptor 1, A scraper 67 that abuts against the brush member 63 and collects the collected matter collected by the brush member 63 from the brush member 63, and a photosensitive member by a cleaning blade 62 provided at the lower end edge of the opening of the casing 61 from the casing 61. The squeeze sheet 64 for preventing the deposits removed from the surface of 1 and the collected matter from falling, and the deposits accommodated in the casing 61 The or collection, etc., and a screw 65 for conveying to the outside of the casing 61.

The cleaning blade 62 is attached to the opening of the casing 61 by a support member. The cleaning blade 62 is in contact with the edge of one side in the counter direction with respect to the rotational driving direction (A direction in the figure) of the image carrier 1. Further, the brush member 63 is in contact with the surface of the photoconductor 1 on the upstream side of the cleaning blade 62 in the rotation direction of the photoconductor 1.

  The brush member 63 includes, for example, a rotating shaft and a brush 66 that stands on the surface of the rotating shaft. The rotating shaft is made of metal and is grounded. The brush 66 is formed of conductive fibers. The thickness of the fiber of the brush member 63 is 4 to 30 D / F, and is 10,000 to 400,000 per square inch for each brush.

  The fixing device 9 includes, for example, a fixing roller 9a with a built-in heater, a pressure roller 9b provided to be biased relative to the fixing roller 9a, and a releasability such as silicone oil on the fixing roller 9a. Oil application means for applying oil. The amount of oil applied by the oil applying means is set to a smaller amount than when ordinary toner is used. In the present invention, the oil applying means may not be provided.

  In addition to these, the printer unit A includes a paper feed cassette 10 that accommodates the transfer material P, paper feed rollers 11 and 12 that transport the transfer material P from the paper feed cassette 10 one by one, and toner image transfer. A registration roller 13 that conveys the transfer material P toward the transfer sheet 5 c in accordance with the timing, an adsorption roller 14 that attracts the transfer material P conveyed by the registration roller 13 to the transfer sheet 5 c, and the fixing device 9. A sheet discharge roller 15 for discharging the transfer material P to the outside of the apparatus and a tray 16 for storing the transfer material P discharged to the outside of the apparatus are provided.

  The image reading unit B includes a document table glass 20 on which the document G is placed, and an image reading unit 21 that reads an image of the document G placed on the document table glass 20. The image reading unit 21 includes a document irradiation lamp 21a that illuminates the document G with the document table glass 20 interposed therebetween, a short-focus lens array 21b that collects an image of the document G illuminated by the document irradiation lamp 21a, and a light collecting unit. And a CCD sensor 21c that reads the image of the original G and converts it into an image signal. The CCD sensor 21c is a full color sensor.

  Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the image forming apparatus of the present invention can appropriately use known means and apparatuses related to image formation, and is not limited to this embodiment.

  The photosensitive member 1 is driven to rotate in the direction of arrow a (counterclockwise) at a predetermined peripheral speed (process speed) around the central support shaft, and in the rotation process, the photosensitive member 1 is negatively charged in the present embodiment by the primary charger 2. A uniform corona charging process.

  Then, a laser beam modulated in response to an image signal output from the image reading unit B to the printer unit A side, which is output from the exposure device (laser scanning device) 3 to the uniformly charged surface of the photoreceptor 1. As a result of scanning exposure L, an electrostatic latent image of each color corresponding to the image information of the document G photoelectrically read by the image reading unit B is sequentially formed on the photoreceptor 1.

  The formation of the electrostatic latent image will be described. In the image reading unit B, the original G is placed on the upper surface of the original platen glass 20 with the surface to be copied facing down, and a not-shown original plate is placed thereon. Set. When the copy button (not shown) is pressed, the image reading unit 21 is located below the original table glass 20 in FIG. 2 from the home position on the left side with respect to the paper surface in FIG. Driven forward along the lower surface of the glass, when it reaches a predetermined reciprocating end point, it is driven backward and returned to the initial home position.

In the forward driving process of the image reading unit 21, the downward image surface of the set original G on the platen glass 20 is sequentially illuminated and scanned from the left side to the right side by the document irradiation lamp 21a. The document surface reflected light is CCed by the short focus lens array 21b.
Imaging is incident on the D sensor 21c.

  The CCD sensor 21c includes a light receiving unit, a transfer unit, and an output unit (not shown). In the light receiving unit, an optical signal is changed to a charge signal and is sequentially transferred to the output unit in synchronization with a clock pulse. In the output section, the charge signal is converted into a voltage signal, amplified and reduced in impedance, and output. The analog signal thus obtained is converted into a digital signal by well-known image processing and output to the printer unit A. That is, the image information of the original G is photoelectrically read as a time-series electric digital pixel signal (image signal) by the image reading unit B.

  FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of an example of image processing. In the figure, the image signal output from the full color sensor 21c is input to the analog signal processing unit 71 and the gain and offset are adjusted, and then, for example, 8 bits ( 0 to 255 levels (256 gradations) of RGB digital signals, and the shading correction unit 73 uses a signal obtained by reading a reference white plate (not shown) for each color, and the sensor cell group of CCDs arranged in a line. In order to eliminate each sensitivity variation, a known shading correction is performed by optimizing the gain corresponding to each CCD sensor cell.

  The line delay unit 74 corrects a spatial shift included in the image signal output from the shading correction unit 73. This spatial shift is caused by the line sensors of the full color sensor 21c being arranged at a predetermined distance from each other in the sub-scanning direction. Specifically, the R (red) and G (green) color component signals are line-delayed in the sub-scanning direction with the B (blue) color component signal as a reference, and the phases of the three color component signals are synchronized.

  The input masking unit 75 converts the color space of the image signal output from the line delay unit 74 into an NTSC standard color space by matrix calculation. In other words, the color space of each color component signal output from the full color sensor 21c is determined by the spectral characteristics of the filter of each color component, but this is converted into the NTSC standard color space.

  The LOG conversion unit 76 is configured by a look-up table (LUT) including, for example, a ROM, and converts the RGB luminance signal output from the input masking unit 75 into a CMY density signal.

  The line delay memory 77 receives the image signal output from the LOG conversion unit 76 for a period (line delay) in which a black character determination unit (not shown) generates the control signals UCR, FILTER, SEN, and the like from the output of the input masking unit 75. Delay.

  The masking / UCR unit 78 extracts the black component signal K from the image signal output from the line delay memory 77, and further, YMCK performs a matrix operation for correcting the color turbidity of the recording color material of the printer unit on the signal. For example, an 8-bit color component image signal is output in the order of M, C, Y, and K for each reading operation of the reader unit. The matrix count used for matrix calculation is set by a CPU (not shown).

  Next, based on the obtained 8-bit color component image signal Data, processing for determining the recording rates Rn and Rt of dark dots and light dots is performed. For example, if the input gradation data Data is 100/255, the light dot recording rate Rt is determined to be 250/255, and the dark dot recording rate Rn is determined to be 40/255. The recording rate is shown as an absolute value with 255 being 100 percent.

The γ correction unit 79 performs density correction on the image signal output from the masking / UCR unit 78 in order to match the image signal with the ideal gradation characteristics of the printer unit.

  The output filter (spatial filter processing unit) 86 performs edge enhancement or smoothing processing on the image signal output from the γ correction unit 79 in accordance with a control signal from the CPU.

  The LUT 81 is used to match the density of the original image and the density of the output image, and is composed of, for example, a RAM or the like, and its conversion table is set by the CPU.

  The pulse width modulator (PWM) 82 outputs a pulse signal having a pulse width corresponding to the level of the input image signal, and the pulse signal is input to a laser driver 83 that drives a semiconductor laser (laser light source).

  This image forming apparatus is provided with a pattern generator (not shown) so that gradation patterns are registered so that a signal can be directly passed to the pulse width modulator 82.

  The exposure device 3 performs laser scanning exposure L on the surface of the photoreceptor 1 based on the image signal input from the image reading unit 21 to form an electrostatic latent image.

  When the exposure device 3 performs laser scanning exposure L on the surface of the photoreceptor 1, first, based on the image signal input from the image reading unit 21, the solid-state laser element 25 is lightened and darkened at a predetermined timing by the light emission signal generator 24 ( ON / OFF). The laser light, which is an optical signal emitted from the solid-state laser element 25, is converted into a substantially parallel light beam by the collimator lens system 26, and the photoreceptor 1 is further rotated by the rotating polygon mirror 22 that rotates at high speed in the direction of arrow c. By scanning in the direction of arrow d (longitudinal direction), a laser spot is imaged on the surface of the photoreceptor 1 by the fθ lens group 23 and the reflection mirror.

  By such laser scanning, an exposure distribution corresponding to the scan is formed on the surface of the photoconductor 1, and further, by scrolling a predetermined amount perpendicular to the surface of the photoconductor 1 for each scan, the surface of the photoconductor 1 is obtained. An exposure distribution according to the image signal is obtained.

  That is, the uniformly charged surface (for example, charged to −700 V) of the photosensitive member 1 is scanned by the rotating polygon mirror 22 that rotates at a high speed the light of the solid-state laser element 25 that emits ON / OFF light corresponding to the image signal. Thus, electrostatic latent images of respective colors corresponding to the scanning exposure pattern are sequentially formed on the surface of the photoreceptor 1.

  The electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor 1 is reversely developed by the developing device by the developing device 4 by the two-component magnetic brush method to be visualized as a first color toner image.

  In each developing device, the developer T in which the toner particles and the magnetic carrier particles are mixed is accommodated in the developing chamber R1 and the stirring chamber R2. Further, the developer T in the developing chamber R <b> 1 is transported in the longitudinal direction of the developing sleeve 30 by the rotational driving of the transport screw 37. The developer T in the stirring chamber R <b> 2 is transported in the longitudinal direction of the developing sleeve 30 by the rotational driving of the transport screw 38. The developer conveying direction by the conveying screw 38 is opposite to that by the conveying screw 37.

The partition wall 36 is provided with openings (not shown) on the front side and the back side that are perpendicular to the paper surface, and the developer T transported by the transport screw 37 is fed from one of the openings to the transport screw. The developer T that has been transferred to the transfer screw 38 and transferred by the transfer screw 38 is transferred to the transfer screw 37 from the other one of the openings. The toner is charged to a polarity for developing the latent image by friction with the magnetic particles.

  The developing sleeve 30 is rotationally driven in the direction of arrow e (counterclockwise), and carries and conveys the developer T mixed with toner and carrier to the developing unit C. The magnetic brush of the developer T carried on the developing sleeve 30 contacts the photosensitive member 1 that rotates in the direction of arrow a (clockwise) at the developing portion C, and the electrostatic latent image is developed at the developing portion C.

  A vibration bias voltage obtained by superimposing a DC voltage on an AC voltage is applied to the developing sleeve 30 by a power source (not shown). The dark portion potential (non-exposed portion potential) and the bright portion potential (exposed portion potential) of the electrostatic latent image are located between the maximum value and the minimum value of the vibration bias potential. As a result, an alternating electric field whose direction changes alternately is formed in the developing portion C. In this alternating electric field, the toner and the carrier vibrate vigorously, and the toner adheres to the bright portion of the surface of the photoreceptor 1 corresponding to the electrostatic latent image by shaking off the electrostatic restraint on the developing sleeve 30 and the carrier.

  The difference (maximum peak voltage) between the maximum value and the minimum value of the vibration bias voltage is preferably 1 to 5 kV (for example, a rectangular wave of 2 kV), and the frequency is preferably 1 to 10 kHz. The waveform of the vibration bias voltage is not limited to a rectangular wave, and may be a sine wave, a triangular wave, or the like.

  The DC voltage component is a value between the dark part potential and the bright part potential of the electrostatic latent image, but is an absolute value and closer to the dark part potential than the minimum bright part potential. However, it is preferable for preventing fog toner from adhering to the dark potential region. For example, with respect to the dark portion potential of −700 V, it is preferable that the light portion potential is −200 V and the DC component of the developing bias is −500 V. The minimum gap between the developing sleeve 30 and the photosensitive member 1 (the minimum gap position is in the developing portion C) is preferably 0.2 to 1 mm, for example, 0.5 mm.

  Further, the amount of the developer T that is regulated by the regulation blade 33 and conveyed to the developing unit C is developed by the magnetic brush of the developer T formed by the magnetic field in the developing unit C by the developing magnetic pole S1 of the magnet roller 31. It is preferable that the height on the surface of the sleeve 30 is 1.2 to 3 times the minimum gap value between the developing sleeve 30 and the photoconductor 1 with the photoconductor 1 removed. . For example, if the minimum gap value is 500 μm (0.5 mm), it may be set to 700 μm.

  The developing magnetic pole S1 of the magnet roller 31 is disposed at a position facing the developing portion C, and a magnetic brush of developer T is formed by the developing magnetic field formed by the developing magnetic pole S1 on the developing portion C, and this magnetic brush is photosensitive. The dot distribution electrostatic latent image is developed in contact with the body 1. At this time, the toner adhering to the ears (brushes) of the magnetic carrier and the toner adhering to the sleeve surface instead of the ears are transferred to the exposed portion of the electrostatic latent image and developed.

The peak value of the strength (magnetic flux density in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the developing sleeve 30) of the developing magnetic field by the developing magnetic pole S1 on the surface of the developing sleeve 30 is 5 × 10 ⁻² T to ² × 10 ⁻¹ T. Is preferred. Further, the magnet roller 31 has N1, N2, N3, and S2 poles in addition to the developing magnetic pole S1.

  Here, a developing process for visualizing an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoreceptor 1 by a two-component magnetic brush method using a developing device and a circulation system of the developer T will be described.

The developer T pumped up at the N2 pole by the rotation of the developing sleeve 30 is transported from the S2 pole to the N1 pole, and the layer thickness is regulated by the regulating blade 33 in the middle thereof to form a developer thin layer. Then, the developer T spiked in the magnetic field of the developing magnetic pole S1 develops the electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor 1. Thereafter, the developer T on the developing sleeve 30 is developed in the developing chamber R by a repulsive magnetic field between the N3 pole and the N2 pole.
Falls into 1. The developer T that has fallen into the developing chamber R <b> 1 is stirred and conveyed by the conveying screw 37. Further, in such a circulation system, a new toner t corresponding to the consumed toner is dropped into the stirring chamber R2 through the supply port 35 and supplied.

  On the other hand, in synchronization with the formation of the toner image on the photosensitive member 1, a transfer material P such as paper stored in the paper feed cassette 10 is fed one by one by the paper feed roller 11 or 12, and the registration roller 13 is fed to the transfer body 5 at a predetermined timing, and the transfer material P is electrostatically attracted onto the transfer body 5 by the suction roller 14.

  The transfer material P electrostatically adsorbed on the transfer body 5 moves to a position facing the photoconductor 1 by the rotation of the transfer body 5 in the arrow direction (clockwise direction), and is transferred to the back side of the transfer material P by the transfer charger 5a. A charge having a reverse polarity to that of the toner is applied, and the toner image on the photoreceptor 1 is transferred to the surface side.

  After this transfer, residual toner remaining on the photoreceptor 1 is removed by the cleaning device 6.

  Residual toner that could not be transferred to the transfer body 5, paper dust adhering to the surface of the photoreceptor 1 from the transfer material P, and deposits such as wax components contained in the residual toner (hereinafter also referred to as “residual toner etc.”) The brush member 63 or the cleaning blade 62 is scraped off. A squeeze sheet 64 is attached to the lower part of the casing 61, and adhered matter such as toner scraped off is dropped into the casing 61 to prevent the residual toner and the like from being scattered outside the cleaning device 6.

  A screw 65 is disposed in the casing 61 as a conveying means for discharging residual toner and the like. The residual toner and the like that have fallen into the casing 61 are conveyed in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of the figure and discharged from the cleaning device 6. doing. With this configuration, the casing 61 is not clogged with residual toner or the like.

  A scraper 67 is brought into contact with the brush member 63. As a result, much of the residual toner held by the brush member 63 is scraped off, and the brush 66 is prevented from being clogged with the residual toner. Residual toner or the like that has been swung around the brush 66 without being scraped off by the scraper 67, or residual toner that has passed through the brush 66 and remains attached to the photoreceptor 1 reaches the cleaning blade 12 and is removed.

  Here, the setting of the cleaning blade 62 with respect to the photoreceptor 1 is a major factor that determines the cleaning performance. Examples of the setting of the brush member 63 include a rotational speed, a virtual penetration amount α of the brush 66 with respect to the photosensitive member 1, a brush fiber thickness, and a density, which are greatly involved in the rubbing on the surface of the photosensitive member 1.

  In general, it is considered that as the thickness (hardness) and density of the brush fiber are increased, the rubbing property of the brush fiber with respect to the photoreceptor 1 is improved. Further, the rotational speed of the brush member 63 is also important, and the rubbing property is improved as the peripheral speed difference is given to the photoreceptor 1. In the present embodiment, since the rotating brush is used, the circumferential speed difference can be given in the rotating direction and the rotating speed.

  As for the rotation direction of the brush member 63, the rubbing effect can be expected by making it the same direction (forward direction) as the moving direction of the photosensitive member 1 at the contact portion with the photosensitive member 1, but for that purpose, a considerable amount of friction is expected. Peripheral speed (number of rotations) is required, and problems such as increased drive torque or vibration can be considered. If the point movement direction is set so as to be reversed at the contact portion with respect to the photosensitive member, the relative speed difference can be greatly increased while the rotation speed of the brush is kept small, and an effective rubbing effect can be obtained.

  In the present invention, when the rubbing effect was confirmed, it was confirmed that it was effective when the peripheral speed ratio with respect to the photoreceptor at the contact portion was 120% or more. Although the rubbing effect can be obtained even below, it is effective that the peripheral speed ratio with respect to the photosensitive member at the contact portion is 120% or more in order to sufficiently prevent the white spot image defect on the halftone image. Conversely, if the peripheral speed ratio with respect to the photosensitive member at the contact portion is set to 300% or more, the scraper 67 may deteriorate, the brush fibers may deteriorate, or the level of hair loss may deteriorate. On the other hand, when it is set to 300% or more, adverse effects such as defective cleaning caused by vibration may occur.

Although it is the rubbing property with respect to the thickness (hardness) and density of the brush fiber, as described above, the rubbing property is improved as these values are increased. As a result, it was confirmed at which level effective rubbing property was obtained. Effective rubbing property was confirmed at a thickness of 4D / F (denier / filament) or more and a density of 10,000 pieces / inch ² or more. It was. On the other hand, even when the thickness was set to be greater than 30 D / F or the density was set to be greater than 400,000 / inch ² , the peelability was hardly improved as in the case of the rotational speed.

In the present embodiment, it is preferable that the brush fiber material is a material having a certain degree of conductivity and the brush member 63 is grounded. As a result, it is possible to make the toner conditions easy to perform the blade cleaning in the sense that the charge of the transfer residual toner peeled off by the brush is neutralized or is not recharged by friction with the brush fiber. The specific resistivity of the brush fiber is preferably in the range of 10 ³ to 10 ⁸ Ωcm.

  As described above, the surface of the photoreceptor 1 from which the transfer residual toner or the like has been removed by the cleaning device 6 is further discharged by the pre-exposure lamp 7 and used for the formation of the next toner image.

  Thereafter, the electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor 1 is developed in the same manner, and the cyan toner a image, cyan toner b image, magenta toner image, yellow toner image, and black toner image formed on the photoreceptor 1 are transferred. A full color image is formed by being transferred onto the transfer material P on the transfer body 5 by the charger 5a.

  Then, the transfer material P is separated from the transfer body 5 by the separation charger 5 b, and the separated transfer material P is conveyed to the fixing device 9 through the conveyance belt 8. The transfer material P transported to the fixing device 9 is heated and pressed between the fixing roller 9a and the pressure roller 9b, to which a small amount of oil is applied by the oil applying unit or to which no oil is applied, A full color image is fixed on the surface of the transfer material P. Thereafter, the transfer material P is discharged onto the tray 16 by the paper discharge roller 15.

  According to the image forming apparatus in the present embodiment, a surface formed by irradiating a composition having a chain polymerizable functional group with an electron beam and curing it when forming an image using a toner containing a hydrocarbon wax. The photosensitive member 1 having a layer, the brush member 63 that rubs the surface of the photosensitive member 1 after the toner image is transferred, and the cleaning that removes deposits on the surface of the photosensitive member 1 after the brush member 63 rubs. The blade 62 prevents the toner material such as hydrocarbon wax from adhering to the surface of the photosensitive member 1 as well as the residual toner and paper dust, and causes white spots on the halftone image due to these. Image defects can be prevented, and high-quality images can be stably formed over a long period of time.

Further, in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, the brush member 63 is a rotating brush member and rotates so as to move in a direction opposite to the moving direction of the photosensitive member 1. It is possible to achieve a sufficient rubbing effect on the surface of the photosensitive member 1, which is more effective from the viewpoint of removing residual toner and the like. Further, since the rotation speed of the brush member 63 can be reduced, it is further effective from the viewpoint of suppressing the cleaning failure due to the vibration of the brush member 63. It is also effective from the viewpoint of power saving when the brush member 63 is driven by a dedicated driving means.

  In the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, the metal rotating shaft of the brush member 63 is grounded, and the conductive fibers are forested on the rotating shaft to form the brush 66. Prevention and static elimination are performed, and these can be more easily removed by the cleaning blade 62.

  Although not shown, for example, an image carrier, a charging unit for charging the image carrier, an exposure device, a developing device, a transfer unit provided corresponding to the image carrier, and a plurality of cleaning devices (as many as the number of types of toner). ) And an image forming apparatus (a so-called tandem type image forming apparatus) having a conveying unit that sequentially conveys a single transfer material to a transfer position of the transfer unit and a fixing device, a toner image of each color is transferred. It is possible to transfer directly to the material, and it is possible to form an image using two or more kinds of toners without using the transfer member 5 (intermediate transfer member) described above.

  In the present invention, as the image forming apparatus, a plurality of constituent elements such as the above-described photosensitive member, developing means, and cleaning means are integrally combined as an apparatus unit, and this unit is connected to the apparatus main body. You may comprise in a detachable cartridge. For example, the photosensitive member 1 and the cleaning device 6 may be integrated into one device unit, and may be detachable using a guide member such as a rail of the device body. At this time, the apparatus unit may be configured with a charging unit and / or a developing unit.

  The means necessary for performing a normal electrophotographic process, such as the exposure means, the developing means, and the transfer means in the present invention, are not limited at all, and the electrophotography in the cleaner-less system excluding the cleaning means due to the apparatus configuration. It is also possible to use components of the apparatus.

  The present invention comprises an image carrier and cleaning means, and is configured as an electrophotographic apparatus using toner containing the hydrocarbon wax described above, and is used not only for an electrophotographic copying machine but also for a laser beam printer and a CRT printer. It can also be widely used in electrophotographic application fields such as LED printers, liquid crystal printers, and laser plate making.

  The present invention can also be configured by a facsimile having a receiving means for receiving image information from an electrophotographic apparatus and a remote terminal.

  EXAMPLES Hereinafter, although a manufacture example and an Example demonstrate this invention concretely, these do not limit this invention at all.

<Example 1>
(Photoconductor)
The photoconductor as an image carrier in the present invention will be described below.

  A paint for the conductive layer was prepared by the following procedure. 50 parts of conductive titanium oxide powder coated with tin oxide containing 10% antimony oxide (mass parts, hereinafter the same), phenol resin 25 parts, methyl cellosolve 20 parts, methanol 5 parts and silicone oil (polydimethylsiloxane poly) 0.002 part of an oxyalkylene copolymer (average molecular weight 3,000) was dispersed for 2 hours in a sand mill apparatus using glass beads having a diameter of 1 mm to prepare a coating material for a conductive layer. This paint was applied to the surface of an aluminum cylinder having a diameter of 80 mm and a length of 360 mm by a dip coating method and dried at 140 ° C. for 30 minutes to form a conductive layer having a thickness of 15 μm.

  Next, 5 parts of N-methoxymethylated nylon was dissolved in 95 parts of methanol to prepare an intermediate layer coating material. This paint was applied on the conductive layer in the same manner as the conductive layer, and dried at 100 ° C. for 10 minutes to form a 0.6 μm intermediate layer.

  Next, the black angle (2Θ ± 0.2 degrees) in X-ray diffraction of CuKα is 7.5 degrees, 9.9 degrees, 16.3 degrees, 18.6 degrees, 25.1 degrees, and 28.3 degrees. Disperse 10 parts of crystalline-type hydroxygallium phthalocyanine having a strong peak, 5 parts of polyvinyl butyral (trade name S REC BX-1, manufactured by Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.) and 250 parts of cyclohexanone for 3 hours in a sand mill using 1 mm diameter glass beads. Thereafter, 250 parts of ethyl acetate was added to prepare a charge generation layer coating material. This paint was applied on the intermediate layer in the same manner as the intermediate layer, and dried at 100 ° C. for 15 minutes to form a charge generation layer having a thickness of 0.15 μm.

  Next, 10 parts of a polycarbonate (weight average molecular weight 46,000) having a structure represented by the following structural formula (30), 7 parts of a charge transport material which is a styryl compound of the following structural formula (31), 28 parts of methylal and 65 parts of monochlorobenzene A charge transport layer coating liquid was prepared by dissolving in a part of the mixed solvent. This paint was applied to the surface of the charge generation layer and dried at a temperature of 120 ° C. for 60 minutes to form a charge transport layer having a thickness of 10 μm.

Next, no. 40 parts of 12 compounds were dissolved in a solvent of 60 parts of n-propanol to prepare a coating material for the surface layer. This paint is applied onto the charge transport layer and irradiated with an electron beam under the conditions of an acceleration voltage of 160 kV and an electron beam absorbed dose (total absorbed dose received by the sample in the electron beam irradiation process) of 5 × 10 ⁴ Gy. By curing the compound in the coating film, an electrophotographic photosensitive member having a surface layer with a thickness of 5 μm was obtained.

(Developer)
First, 70 parts of a polyester resin and 14 parts by mass of 100 parts of a paste-like colorant are charged into a kneader-type mixer, and the temperature is raised under no pressure while mixing. When the maximum temperature is reached (necessarily determined by the boiling point of the solvent in the paste. For example, in the case of an aqueous solvent containing water as a main component, about 90 to 100 ° C.), the pigment in the aqueous phase becomes the molten resin phase. Distribute or migrate to After confirming this, the mixture is further melted and kneaded for 30 minutes to sufficiently transfer the colorant in the paste to the molten resin phase. Thereafter, the mixer is once stopped, and hot water is discharged. Then, the temperature is further raised to 130 ° C., and heat melting and kneading is performed for about 30 minutes to disperse the colorant and distill off the water. After completion of the step, the mixture was cooled and the first kneaded product (I) was taken out. In addition, the said paste-form colorant is a paste-form colorant mixture obtained without drying a colorant from the colorant slurry containing a 2 or more types of colorant and manufactured by the well-known manufacturing method.

・ 100 parts of vinyl copolymer ・ 12.5 parts of first kneaded product ・ 4 parts of purified normal paraffin (maximum endothermic peak 78 ° C.) 4 parts ・ aluminum compound of salicylic acid 2 parts The mixture was melt-kneaded at an arbitrary barrel temperature using a shaft extruder, cooled, roughly pulverized to about 1 to 2 mm using a hammer mill, and then finely pulverized using an air jet type pulverizer. The obtained finely pulverized product was classified, further pulverized, and classified to obtain a classified product having an average circularity of 0.950 in particles having an equivalent circle diameter of 3 μm or more. The classified product was externally mixed with 1.5% by mass of titanium oxide fine particles having a primary particle size of 50 nm and surface-treated with isobutyltrimethoxysilane to obtain a toner having a mass average particle size of 6.5 μm.

  Next, a toner and a ferrite carrier surface-coated with a silicone resin (average particle size 42 μm) were mixed so that the toner concentration was 6% by weight, respectively, to prepare a developer.

(Cleaning device)
The cleaning device having the configuration shown in FIG. 1 is installed in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.
The setting conditions for bringing the cleaning blade 62 into contact with the photosensitive member (image carrier) 1 include the penetration amount λ as the depth at which the cleaning blade 62 virtually penetrates the photosensitive member 1, the vertical line, and the surface of the cleaning blade 62. Is a set angle γ of the cleaning blade 62, a free length L of the cleaning blade 62 that is the length of the cleaning blade 62 protruding from the upper edge of the opening of the casing 61 that supports the cleaning blade 62, and the cleaning blade 62. The plate thickness t is given.

  In this example, the penetration amount λ was 1.0 mm, the set angle was 25 °, the plate thickness was 2 mm, and the free length was 7 mm. The cleaning blade 62 was made of polyurethane rubber, and its physical properties were measured according to a JIS vulcanized rubber test method. As a result, the A hardness was 70 ° and the rebound resilience was 7%.

In this embodiment, the fiber thickness of the brush member 63 is 6 D / F, the density is 100,000 (lines / square inch), and the rotation direction of the brush member 63 is moved opposite to the photosensitive member at the contact portion with the photosensitive member. Direction, and the peripheral speed of the brush member 63 is set so that the peripheral speed ratio with respect to the peripheral speed of the photoreceptor is 130%. α and the amount of penetration β of the scraper 67 into the brush member 63 were α = 1.2 mm and β = 1.0 mm, respectively. Further, a nylon conductive yarn having a resistivity of 1 × 10 ⁵ Ω · cm was used for the brush member 63.

  Using the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 2 provided with the photosensitive member, the toner, and the cleaning device shown above, a document having an image density ratio of 7% is used in a high temperature and high humidity environment (30 ° C., 80%). In addition, 50,000 sheets were passed through under the conditions shown in Table 4.

In this paper passing durability, the formed image was visually observed, and the occurrence of a so-called white streak in which a missing portion of the image was formed in a streak shape was evaluated. Evaluation regarding the occurrence of white streaks was performed based on the following criteria.
<Evaluation criteria>
A: No white streaks B: White streaks are slightly generated, but there is no practical problem C: White streaks are generated, but the edges are blurred, and the color density contrast between the paper and the image Since the difference is small, there is no practical problem.
D: Level at which it is determined that the image is defective due to the occurrence of white stripes

  The results are shown in Table 4. As shown in Table 4, during the endurance, it was possible to continue to take an image having no defect such as a blank image on the halftone image. In other words, a brush member that rubs the surface of the photoreceptor is brought into contact with the upstream side of the cleaning blade, which is the cleaning member of the present embodiment, under certain conditions, so that there is no image defect and the height of the photoreceptor is high. Durability and high image quality can be achieved by using a toner containing a thin film photoreceptor and a hydrocarbon wax.

<Examples 2 to 11>
The brush member 63 used in Example 1 was prepared under the same conditions as in Example 1 except that the brush member 63 was changed to the conditions described in Table 4. The toner and the brush member were incorporated into the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 2 and the same durability as in Example 1 was performed. The results are shown in Table 4. As in Example 1, during the endurance of passing through 50,000 sheets, there were almost no white spots on the halftone image, and an image having no practical problem could be taken.

<Example 12>
For the surface layer of the photoconductor used in Example 1, a photoconductor, a toner and a brush member were prepared under the same conditions as in Example 1 except that 8 parts of a fluororesin was added to the surface layer. It was incorporated in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. The results are shown in Table 4. As in Example 1, during the endurance of passing through 50,000 sheets, it was possible to continue to take an image having no practical defect on the halftone image with almost no white spot defect.

<Example 13>
For the surface layer of the photoconductor used in Example 1, the photoconductor and toner were used under the same conditions as in Example 1 except that the irradiation dose of the electron beam for curing the surface layer was changed to 1 × 10 ⁴ Gy. And a brush member were prepared and incorporated in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 2, and the same durability as in Example 1 was performed. The results are shown in Table 4. As in Example 1, during the endurance of passing through 50,000 sheets, it was possible to continue to take an image having no practical problem with almost no white spot defect on the halftone image.

<Example 14>
Regarding the wax of the toner used in Example 1, a photoconductor, a toner and a brush member were prepared under the same conditions as in Example 1 except that the wax was changed to polypropylene wax (maximum endothermic peak 135 ° C.). It was incorporated in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. The results are shown in Table 4. As in Example 1, during the endurance of passing through 50,000 sheets, it was possible to continue to take images having no defects such as blank images on halftone images.

<Comparative Example 1>
A toner and a photoconductor are prepared under the same conditions as in Example 1 except that the brush member used in Example 1 is excluded, and this is incorporated into the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. Durability was done. The results are shown in Table 4. While 50,000 sheets were passed through, 5,000 blank images were generated on the halftone image.

<Comparative example 2>
A toner, a photoconductor, and a brush member were prepared under the same conditions as in Example 1 except that the fiber thickness of the brush member used in Example 1 was changed to 2D / F. The same durability as that of Example 1 was carried out in the image forming apparatus shown. The results are shown in Table 4. During the endurance of passing 50,000 sheets, a blank image occurred on 10,000 halftone images.

<Comparative Example 3>
A toner, a photoconductor, and a brush member were prepared under the same conditions as in Example 1 except that the fiber thickness of the brush member used in Example 1 was changed to 40 D / F. The same durability as that of Example 1 was carried out in the image forming apparatus shown. The results are shown in Table 4. While the endurance of 50,000 sheets passed, no white spot image was generated on the halftone image, but the toner slipped through the blade at the time of 30,000 sheets and a CLN defect occurred, and the white spot at the time of 50,000 sheets. Image evaluation was not possible.

<Comparative example 4>
A toner, a photoreceptor, and a brush member were prepared under the same conditions as in Example 1 except that the density of the fibers of the brush member used in Example 1 was changed to 5,000 fibers / square inch. It was incorporated in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. The results are shown in Table 4. While 50,000 sheets were passed through, 2,000 blank images were generated on the halftone image.

<Comparative Example 5>
A toner, a photoreceptor, and a brush member were prepared under the same conditions as in Example 1 except that the density of the fibers of the brush member used in Example 1 was changed to 500,000 / square inch. In the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 2, the same durability as in Example 1 was performed. The results are shown in Table 4. During the endurance of 50,000 sheets, no blank image was generated on the halftone image, but a CLN defect occurred at the time of 20,000 sheets as in Comparative Example 3, and a blank image at the time of 50,000 sheets. Evaluation was not possible.

It is a figure which shows roughly an example of a structure of the cleaning means used together with the brush member used for this invention. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of the structure of a full-color image forming apparatus including a cleaning unit, which is an example of an image forming apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of image processing performed by the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration of an exposure apparatus of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a configuration of a developing device included in the developing device illustrated in FIG. 2.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Photoconductor 2 Primary charger 3 Exposure apparatus 4 Developing apparatus 5 Transfer body 5a Transfer charger 5b Separation charger 5c Transfer sheet 6 Cleaning device 7 Pre-exposure lamp 8 Conveying belt 9 Fixing device 9a Fixing roller 9b Pressure roller 10 Paper feed Cassette 11, 12 Paper feed roller 13 Registration roller 14 Adsorption roller 15 Paper discharge roller 16 Tray 20 Original plate glass 21 Image reading unit 21a Original illumination lamp 21b Short focus lens array 21c CCD sensor (full color sensor)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 22 Rotating polygon mirror 23 f (theta) lens group 24 Light emission signal generator 25 Solid state laser element 26 Collimator lens system 30 Developing sleeve 31 Magnet roller 32 Developer container 33 Regulation blade 34 Toner hopper 35 Supply port 36 Bulkhead 37, 38 Conveying screw 61 Casing 62 Cleaning Blade 63 Brush member 64 Squee sheet 65 Screw 66 Brush 71 Analog signal processing unit 72 A / D conversion unit 73 Shading correction unit 74 Line delay unit 75 Input masking unit 76 LOG conversion unit 77 Line delay memory 78 Masking / UCR unit 79 γ correction unit 80 Output filter 81 LUT
82 PWM
83 Laser driver A Printer unit a Arrow indicating the rotation direction of the photoreceptor 1 B Image reading unit c Arrow indicating the rotation direction of the rotating polygon mirror d Arrow indicating the scanning direction of the laser beam L Scan exposure P Transfer material R1 Developing chamber R2 Stirring chamber t Toner T Developer

Claims (7)

An image carrier that carries a toner image to be transferred to a transfer material, and a cleaning unit that removes deposits on the surface of the image carrier after the toner image is transferred from the surface of the image carrier, In an image forming apparatus in which a toner containing at least a hydrocarbon wax is used as a toner for forming the toner image,
The image carrier has a conductive support and a photosensitive layer formed on the conductive support,
The surface layer forming the surface of the image carrier is formed by curing a composition containing at least two chain polymerizable functional groups by irradiation with an electron beam,
The cleaning means includes a brush member that rubs the surface of the image carrier, and a cleaning member that contacts the surface of the image carrier rubbed by the brush member,
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the brush member has a fiber thickness of 4 to 30 D / F (denier / filament) and a brush density of 10,000 to 400,000 per square inch.   2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a maximum value of a maximum endothermic peak is 60 to 120 ° C. in an endothermic curve at the time of temperature rise measured by differential scanning calorimetry of the hydrocarbon wax.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for applying a lubricant to the brush member.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning member is a rubber blade having elasticity and provided in contact with the image carrier. A scrape member that contacts the brush member;
5. The relationship between the amount of penetration α of the brush member with respect to the image carrier and the amount of penetration β of the scrape member with respect to the brush member satisfies α ≧ β. The image forming apparatus described.   At the contact portion between the image carrier and the brush member, the brush member moves in a direction opposite to the moving direction of the image carrier, and a ratio of the moving speed of the brush member to the moving speed of the image carrier. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ratio is 120 to 300%. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the brush member is formed of a conductive fiber having a specific resistivity of 10 ³ to 10 ⁸ Ω · cm.

Images