JP2007279281A - Developer quantity regulating blade and manufacturing method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a developer quantity regulating blade designed such that when an outer shape is formed by press working, the surfaceness of a blade member is retained and, at the same time, the outer shape is decreased in dimension difference between a blade member, adhesive member and support member. <P>SOLUTION: The laminated sheet formed from the support member 51, adhesive member 52, blade member 53 and a face transfer sheet 54 laminated together in that order is set between a press type die 55 and a pusher 57 such that the face of the support member 51 comes into contact with the die 55. Then, the laminated sheet is pressed against the die 55 with predetermined pressure F2 by the pusher 57. Subsequently, the laminated sheet is cut into a predetermined outer shape with a press type punch 56. In this press cutting process, the pressure F2 is ≤0.08 kg/mm<SP>2</SP>but ≤3.00 kg/mm<SP>2</SP>. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a developer amount regulating blade for regulating the amount of developer used for developing and visualizing an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier such as an electrophotographic apparatus, or the amount of developer. The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a regulation blade.

  FIG. 4 shows a schematic configuration of a conventional developing device. For example, a one-component developer 46 (also referred to as toner) in the developer container 42 is pressed against a developer carrier 43 (also referred to as a developing sleeve or a developing roller) by an elastic roller 45 that rotates in the c direction. Thereafter, the developer carrying member 43 is rotated in the b direction, whereby the developer is carried out to the electrophotographic photosensitive member 41 which is an image carrying member rotating in the a direction. In such a mechanism, the developer carrier 43 is in contact with a blade member 47 of a developer amount regulating blade 44 whose tip is directed in a direction against the rotation of the developer carrier 43. As a result, the amount of developer carried out is regulated to form a thin film of developer, and at the same time, a predetermined triboelectric charge (also referred to as tribo) is applied to the developer at the contact portion.

  The developer amount regulating blade is generally formed from a rubber plate, a metallic thin plate, a resin plate, and a laminate thereof. The developer amount regulating blade is manufactured from a blade member that is pressed against the developer carrying member and a support member that supports the blade member at a predetermined position. The surface of the blade member that is in pressure contact with the developer carrier has a function of controlling the triboelectric charge of the developer, and is also referred to as a charge control surface. Further, the surface layer near the charge control surface may be referred to as a charge control layer.

  Examples of the blade member used for the negative toner include a blade member made of urethane rubber, urethane resin, polyamide elastomer, or the like. Further, as the developer amount regulating blade used for the positive toner, a blade obtained by laminating a charge imparting layer such as silicone rubber with charge control on a thin metal plate is used.

  Furthermore, for the non-magnetic toner used for forming a color image, since the toner itself does not have magnetism, a high triboelectric charge must be given to the toner to form a thin film on the developing sleeve or developing roller. In this case, examples of the material used for the charge control layer of the blade member include urethane rubber, polyamide resin, polyamide elastomer, silicone rubber, and silicone resin, and the charge control surface is finished with high surface accuracy.

  In recent years, in high-quality and full-color developing devices using an electrophotographic process, since fine toner is used, it has been required to more uniformly press the toner to the developing sleeve and the developing roller.

  Patent Document 1 proposes a configuration in which a blade member, an adhesive, and a support member are laminated in the same shape as the configuration of the developer amount regulating blade.

  Such a blade configuration has a problem such that color toner particles are fused to the charge imparting surface (charge control surface) of the developer amount regulating blade in high speed and high durability of color copiers and color laser beam printers. It was effective against.

  Further, as a blade member tip shape in the developer amount regulating blade, a first inclined surface is formed at an edge portion formed by the sliding surface and the end surface with respect to the developing roller, and a second edge portion is formed at the edge portion formed by the adhesive surface and the end surface with respect to the support member. A blade having a slope is introduced (for example, Patent Documents 2 and 3).

  However, when adopting the blade tip shape disclosed here, secondary processing such as cutting and heat treatment was required after forming the outer shape by press working. Therefore, since the number of processing steps increases, quality variation occurs and the manufacturing cost also increases.

For this reason, in recent color copiers using fine particle toner, the tip of the blade for more uniformly pressing the toner to the developing roller without fusing the color toner particles to the charging surface of the blade While the shape is required, further technical studies have been desired. That is, in order to suppress the manufacturing cost, there is a demand for a method for manufacturing a developer amount regulating blade capable of forming the blade tip shape by press working to form the outer shape.
JP 2002-372858 A JP 2002-372854 A JP 2002-372855 A

  As a result of intensive studies in view of the actual state of the prior art, the present inventors have found that the dimensional difference among the blade member, the adhesive member, and the support member is zero with respect to the blade outer shape of the developer amount regulating blade disclosed in Patent Document 1. It was found that it would be good to be able to press-cut so that it was 0.03 mm or less. In particular, a blade whose press dimensional control is controlled so that the dimensional difference between the laminated members is 0.03 mm or less can uniformly regulate the developer amount without causing streaks or unevenness on the developer carrier. I found.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, when the outer shape of the developer amount regulating blade is formed by press working, the outer shape becomes an outer shape with a small dimensional difference among the blade member, the adhesive member, and the support member. It aims at providing the manufacturing method of a regulation blade. Another object of the present invention is to provide a developer amount regulating blade capable of uniformly regulating the developer amount.

  The present invention proposes a method of manufacturing a developer amount regulating blade that regulates the amount of developer carried out of a developer container by a developer carrier.

  In order to achieve the above object, the developer amount regulating blade according to the present invention is manufactured by a press cutting process for a laminated sheet formed by laminating a support member, an adhesive member, a blade member and a surface transfer sheet in this order. To form.

And in this press cutting process, by setting the pressing pressure of the laminated sheet to 0.08 kg / mm ² or more and 3.00 kg / mm ² or less, between each member in the laminated sheet after being formed into a predetermined outer shape The external dimension difference is set to 0.03 mm or less.

  According to the present invention, in manufacturing the developer amount regulating blade found by the present inventors as described above, if the processing is performed by the method for producing a developer amount regulating blade of the present invention, the outer shape thereof, The difference in outer dimensions of the blade member, the adhesive member, and the support member can be reduced to 0.03 mm or less. As a result, it is possible to provide a blade capable of uniformly regulating the developer amount without causing streaks or unevenness on the developer carrier.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows an example of an embodiment of a developer amount regulating blade of the present invention. The developer amount regulating blade 13 shown in FIG. 1 is obtained by laminating a support member 12, an adhesive member 11, and a blade member 10 in this order in the same shape. Such a developer amount regulating blade 13 is fixed to the wall surface of the developer container 14 at a fixing point 16 in a state where the tip of the blade 13 is directed in the direction opposite to the rotation direction of the developer carrier 15. The blade member 10 of the blade 13 is in contact with the surface (contact point 17) of the developer carrier 15 at a predetermined pressure F.

  The developer amount regulating blade 13 has a shape that is in contact with the developing roller or the developing sleeve as the developer carrying member 15 in the entire longitudinal direction.

  The blade member 10 is formed from a material having good toner chargeability. Examples of the material for forming the blade member include polyamide, polyamide elastomer, polyester, polyester elastomer, polyester terephthalate, and the like. These can be used alone or in combination of two or more. In order to realize predetermined charging performance or the like, an additive such as a conductive material can be added to the material forming the blade member.

  The thickness of the blade member 10 is preferably 0.01 mm or more and 0.3 mm or less. If the thickness of the blade member 10 is less than 0.01 mm, the durability against wear due to friction with the developer carrier 15 is lowered. On the other hand, when the thickness of the blade member is greater than 0.3 mm, it is difficult to obtain a stable contact pressure.

  The support member 12 is preferably made of a material such as a metal flat plate or a resin flat plate. Specific examples include metal flat plates such as stainless steel plates, phosphor bronze plates, and aluminum plates, and resin flat plates such as polyethylene terephthalate, acrylic, polyethylene, and polyester. The thickness of the support member 12 is preferably 0.05 mm or greater and 0.15 mm or less. If the thickness of the support member 12 is less than 0.05 mm, an appropriate contact pressure cannot be obtained, and a necessary pressure cannot be applied to the developer particles. On the other hand, if the thickness of the support member 12 is thicker than 0.15 mm, the developer amount regulating blade becomes difficult to follow the developer carrier due to the spring property of the support member, and the necessary pressure is applied to the developer particles. become unable.

  The adhesive member 11 has a function of joining the support member 12 and the blade member 10 together. Examples of the adhesive material for forming the adhesive member 11 include adhesive materials such as polyurethane hot melt, polyester hot melt, ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVA) hot melt, and polyamide hot melt. Can do.

  The outer shape of the developer amount regulating blade is preferably such that the dimensional difference among the blade member 10, the adhesive member 11, and the support member 12 is 0.03 mm or less.

  If the outer dimensions of the blade member 10 and the adhesive member 11 are larger than the outer dimension of the support member 12 by 0.03 mm, streaks or unevenness occurs on the developer carrier 15 and the amount of developer cannot be uniformly regulated. Further, when the outer dimension of the support member 12 is larger than the outer dimension of the blade member 10 and the adhesive member 11 by 0.03 mm, streaks or unevenness similarly occurs on the developer carrier 15, and the developer amount is reduced. It cannot be regulated uniformly.

Further, when the outer shape of the developer amount regulating blade 13 is formed by press working, it is preferable that the press pressure of the laminated sheet for press working is 0.08 kg / mm ² or more and 3.00 kg / mm ² or less. In this press working, the developer amount blade 13 made of a laminate in which the support member 12, the adhesive member 11, and the blade member 10 are laminated in the same shape in this order is cut into a desired outer shape. In the cutting process, the desired outer region of the laminate is sandwiched by the die with the hydrostatic pressure in the above range with the support member 12 of the laminate facing down, and the outer portion not sandwiched by the die is cut and removed with a blade. (See FIGS. 5 and 6).

When the pressing pressure of the press-processed laminated sheet is smaller than 0.08 kg / mm ² , the flexible blade member 10 and the adhesive member 11 are pulled by the cutting blade and are shifted laterally during cutting. As a result, the outer dimensions of the blade member 10 and the adhesive member 11 are larger than the outer dimension of the support member 12 by 0.03 mm. On the other hand, when the pressing pressure of the laminated sheet is made larger than 3.00 kg / mm ² , the flexible blade member 10 and the adhesive member 11 are cut in a crushed state, and are spring-backed after the pressure is released and contract in the horizontal direction. . As a result, the outer dimension of the support member 12 is larger than the outer dimension of the blade member 10 and the adhesive member 11 by 0.03 mm. Hereinafter, the developer amount regulating blade of the present invention will be described in accordance with the manufacturing process.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a sheet to be coated 24 (which functions as a surface transfer sheet and a protective sheet) is placed on a roll coater. Then, a blade member composition 25 prepared from a predetermined material as a blade member material is melted in the extruder and extruded through the mold 21 on the coated sheet 24. The material for the blade member composition 25 was prepared from any of polyamide, polyamide elastomer, polyester, polyester elastomer, polyester terephthalate, and the like. Further, the coated sheet 24 combined with the blade member composition 25 is passed through a gap between the roll 22 and the roll 23 arranged close to each other with a predetermined gap, and is cooled and solidified to form a blade member sheet. .

  The blade member sheet formed as described above is wound so that the coated sheet 24 (surface transfer sheet) is on the outside. Further, in this blade member sheet, the surface of the solidified film (blade member material film) in contact with the coated sheet 24 becomes a contact surface with the developing sleeve (developer carrying member), and this solidified film is used as a later step. After that, the blade member is configured.

  In the above-described process, the blade member composition 25 is extruded onto the coating sheet 24 in a molten state, applied, and solidified. As a result, the surface of the coating solidified film that is formed is in contact with the coating sheet 24. A very smooth surface of the coated sheet (surface transfer sheet) is transferred. The surface of the coated sheet (surface transfer sheet) is very smooth, but the appropriate value of the surface roughness is appropriately determined in relation to the developer particle diameter.

  The surface transfer sheet member used here is preferably a material containing at least one selected from the group consisting of polyester, polyamide, polyolefin, polypropylene, and polyethylene terephthalate.

  In FIG. 3, the schematic diagram for demonstrating an example of the lamination sheet formation process which bonds together the said blade member sheet | seat and a support member, and forms a lamination sheet is shown.

  The blade member sheet and the supporting member can be continuously bonded by the apparatus shown in FIG. That is, a blade member sheet composed of the blade member layer 31 and the surface transfer sheet 32 is supplied to the roll 35 through the roll 36, and an adhesive is applied to the blade member layer 31 side surface using the spray 34. Thereafter, while supplying the support member 33 from the roll 37, the blade member sheet and the support member 33 are pressed and bonded between the roller 35 and the roller 37 to form a laminate sheet, and the obtained laminate sheet is obtained. It is wound on a roll 38. By bonding the blade member sheet and the support member 33 to each other and performing heating or the like, stronger adhesiveness can be realized.

  Furthermore, in order to obtain a predetermined blade outer shape, the outer shape of the laminated sheet is formed into a predetermined shape by press cutting.

  FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are schematic views for explaining an example of a press cutting step for forming the laminated sheet into a developer amount regulating blade outer shape.

  The laminated sheet can be formed into a developer amount regulating blade outer shape by using the press die shown in FIGS. That is, the laminated sheet formed by laminating the support member 51, the adhesive member 52, the blade member 53, and the surface transfer sheet 54 in this order is in contact with the die 55 between the press die 55 and the presser 57. Is set as Then, the laminated sheet is pressed against the die 55 by the presser 57 with the pressing pressure F2 of the laminated sheet. In this state, the laminated sheet can be cut with a press-type punch 56 to form a predetermined developer amount regulating blade outer shape. At this time, since the punch 56 is moved from the top to the bottom of the surface transfer sheet 54, the surface property of the blade member 53 can be maintained in forming the blade outer shape.

In the press cutting step, the pressing pressure F2 of the laminated sheet is 0.08 kg / mm ² or more and 3.00 kg / mm ² or less. When the presser pressure F2 of the laminated sheet is larger than 3.00 kg / mm ² , the outer dimensions of the blade member 73 and the adhesive member 72 are shorter by L ₁ than the outer dimensions of the support member 71 as shown in FIG. Conversely, if the presser pressure F2 of the laminated sheet is smaller than 0.08 kg / mm ² , the outer dimensions of the blade member 83 and the adhesive member 82 are longer by L ₂ than the outer dimensions of the support member 81 as shown in FIG. turn into.

  Examples of the electrophotographic apparatus that can use the developing device of the present invention include a copying machine, a laser beam printer, an EL printer (LED printer), and an electrophotographic application apparatus such as an electrophotographic plate making system.

  EXAMPLES Hereinafter, although an Example and a comparative example demonstrate this invention concretely, this invention is not limited to a following example.

(Examples 1-7)
As a material for forming the blade member, a polyamide elastomer having a Shore D hardness of 40 ° (trade name: Daiamide E40, manufactured by Daicel Degussa) specified in JIS D 6253 was selected.

  First, in order to form a blade member, the material was melted at 200 ° C., and on a surface transfer sheet (manufactured by Toyobo Co., Ltd., trade name: ester film), a T-die extrusion molding machine (manufactured by Pla Giken) was used. Extrude into a sheet. Then, the surface transfer sheet and the sheet-like blade material were nipped at a pressure of 0.4 MPa with a pair of rolls heated at 40 ° C. and solidified while adhering to a sheet to form a blade member sheet.

  Next, a support member was bonded to the side surface of the blade member sheet opposite to the surface on which the surface transfer sheet was bonded, to form a laminated sheet. At this time, a phosphor bronze sheet (Harada Shindoh Co., Ltd.) was used as the support member, and an adhesive material made of Toyo Morton Adcoat AD-76P1 (trade name) was used as the adhesive member. Further, the blade member sheet and the support member were nipped and bonded together with a roll pair heated to 80 ° C. at a pressure of 0.2 MPa using a laminating machine (manufactured by Okazaki Machinery Co., Ltd.) to form a laminated sheet.

  When the obtained laminated sheet was press-cut into a predetermined blade outer dimension, samples (Examples 1 to 7) were produced with the pressing pressure of the laminated sheet as shown in Table 1. Finally, the surface transfer sheet was peeled off to produce a developer amount regulating blade.

  The dimensions of the developer amount regulating blade are A4 size, the length in the longitudinal direction is 200 mm, the width is 23 mm, the size is A3 size, the length in the longitudinal direction is 330 mm, and the width is 23 mm.

  Further, the thickness of the support member and the thickness of the blade member used in the sample of the developer amount regulating blade produced this time are as shown in Table 1. The thickness of the adhesive member is 0.01 mm. The ten-point average roughness (Rzjis) of the surface of the blade member layer was 0.3 μm.

  Using the ultra-deep shape measuring microscope (manufactured by Keyence), measure the shape of the press cut surface of the sample of the developer amount regulating blade produced as described above, and determine the dimensional difference between the blade member, the adhesive member and the support member. It was measured.

At this time, when the outer dimension of the blade member and the adhesive member is larger than the outer dimension of the support member, when the outer dimension of the blade member> the support member blade member and the adhesive member is smaller than the outer dimension of the support member,
It was expressed as blade member <support member.

  The differences in the external dimensions of the respective member layers of the developer amount regulating blades of Examples 1 to 7 produced as described above were evaluated, and the results are shown in Table 1.

(Comparative Examples 1-2)
As a material for forming the blade member, a polyamide elastomer having a Shore D hardness of 40 ° (trade name: Daiamide E40, manufactured by Daicel Degussa) specified in JIS D 6253 was selected.

  First, in order to form a blade member, the material was melted at 200 ° C., and on a surface transfer sheet (manufactured by Toyobo Co., Ltd., trade name: ester film), a T-die extrusion molding machine (manufactured by Pla Giken) was used. Extrude into a sheet. Then, the surface transfer sheet and the sheet-like blade material were nipped at a pressure of 0.4 MPa with a pair of rolls heated at 40 ° C. and solidified while adhering to a sheet to form a blade member sheet.

  Next, a support member was bonded to the side surface of the blade member sheet opposite to the surface on which the surface transfer sheet was bonded, to form a laminated sheet. At this time, a phosphor bronze sheet (Harada Shindoh Co., Ltd.) was used as the support member, and an adhesive material made of Toyo Morton Adcoat AD-76P1 (trade name) was used as the adhesive member. Further, the blade member sheet and the support member were nipped and bonded together with a roll pair heated to 80 ° C. at a pressure of 0.2 MPa using a laminating machine (manufactured by Okazaki Machinery Co., Ltd.) to form a laminated sheet.

  When the obtained laminated sheet was press-cut to a predetermined blade outer dimension, samples (Comparative Examples 1 and 2) were produced with the pressing pressure of the laminated sheet as shown in Table 1. Finally, the surface transfer sheet was peeled off to produce a developer amount regulating blade.

  The dimensions of the developer amount regulating blade are A3 size, the length in the longitudinal direction is 330 mm, and the width is 23 mm.

  Further, the thickness of the support member and the thickness of the blade member used in the sample of the developer amount regulating blade produced this time are as shown in Table 1. The thickness of the adhesive member is 0.01 mm. The ten-point average roughness (Rzjis) of the surface of the blade member layer was 0.3 μm.

  Using the ultra-deep shape measuring microscope (manufactured by Keyence), measure the shape of the press cut surface of the sample of the developer amount regulating blade produced as described above, and determine the dimensional difference between the blade member, the adhesive member and the support member. It was measured.

At this time, when the outer dimensions of the blade member and the adhesive member are larger than the outer dimensions of the support member, when the blade member> the support member blade member and the adhesive member are smaller than the support member,
It was expressed as blade member <support member.

  The dimensional differences of the respective member layers of the developer amount regulating blades of Comparative Examples 1 and 2 produced as described above were evaluated, and the results are shown in Table 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of a developer amount regulating blade manufactured by the manufacturing method of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining an embodiment of a method for producing a developer amount regulating blade of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining an embodiment of a method for producing a developer amount regulating blade of the present invention. It is typical sectional drawing for demonstrating the developing device to which the developer amount regulation blade manufactured by the prior art and the manufacturing method of this invention was applied. FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining an embodiment of a method for producing a developer amount regulating blade of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining an embodiment of a method for producing a developer amount regulating blade of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an example of a cross-sectional shape of a developer amount regulating blade of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an example of a cross-sectional shape of a developer amount regulating blade of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

F pressure contact force 10 blade member 11 adhesive member 12 support member 13 developer amount regulating blade 14 developer container 15 developer carrier 16 fixed point 21 nozzle 22 roll 23 roll 24 surface transfer sheet 25 raw material 31 blade member 32 for surface transfer Sheet 33 Support member 34 Spray 35 Roll 36 Roll 37 Roll 38 Roll 41 Electrophotographic photosensitive member (image carrier)
42 Developer container 43 Developer carrier (developing sleeve, developing roller)
44 Developer amount regulating blade 45 Elastic roller 46 Developer (toner)
47 Blade member 48 Developer amount regulating blade 51 Support member 52 Adhesive member 53 Blade member 54 Surface transfer sheet 55 Press die (die)
56 Press Die (Punch)
57 Press mold (presser foot)
61 support member 62 adhesive member 63 blade member 64 surface transfer sheet 65 press die (die)
66 Press Die (Punch)
67 Press mold (presser foot)
F2 Pressing pressure of laminated sheet 71 Support member 72 Adhesive member 73 Blade member L1 Dimensional difference between blade member and adhesive member and support member 81 Support member 82 Adhesive member 83 Blade member
L2 Dimensional difference between blade member, adhesive member and support member

Claims (5)

When manufacturing a developer amount regulating blade that regulates the amount of developer carried out of the developer container from the developer container, a laminated sheet formed by laminating a support member, an adhesive member, a blade member, and a surface transfer sheet in this order. In the manufacturing method of the developer amount regulating blade to be formed into a predetermined outer shape by press cutting,
The laminated sheet after being formed into a predetermined outer shape by performing the press cutting process with the press pressure of the laminated sheet of the press cutting process set to 0.08 kg / mm ² or more and 3.00 kg / mm ² or less. A method for producing a developer amount regulating blade, characterized in that a difference in outer dimension between members is 0.03 mm or less.   The method for producing a developer amount regulating blade according to claim 1, wherein in the press cutting process, the laminated sheet is cut with a cutting blade from the surface transfer sheet side.   The method for producing a developer amount regulating blade according to claim 1, wherein the blade member is a material comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of polyamide, polyamide elastomer, polyester, polyester elastomer, and polyester terephthalate. .   4. The developer amount regulating blade according to claim 1, wherein the surface transfer sheet is a material comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of polyester, polyamide, polyolefin, polypropylene, and polyethylene terephthalate. 5. Production method. In the developer amount regulating blade formed by laminating at least a blade member, an adhesive member, and a support member, which regulates the amount of the developer carried out from the developer container by the development carrier,
The developer amount regulating blade, wherein a difference in outer dimension between each member in the developer amount regulating blade is 0.03 mm or less.

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