JP2008096727A - Method for applying protecting agent on image carrier, protective layer forming device, image forming method, image forming apparatus, and process cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for applying a protecting agent on an image carrier by which a sufficient protecting effect on an image carrier surface is obtained, degradation of a cleaning member is prevented, degradation in a charging member is prevented and favorable image quality is maintained. <P>SOLUTION: A protecting agent 51 (hydrophobic organic compound) for an image carrier having a high effect of preventing toner slipping is supplied from a first protective layer forming device 5 disposed in an upstream side along the rotation direction of a photoreceptor drum 1, and the agent is formed into a thin layer by a cleaning device 4. An image carrier protecting agent 21 (substance having self-lubricating property) having a high effect of preventing wear of a photoreceptor is supplied from a second protective layer forming device 2, and is formed into a thin layer by a protective layer forming mechanism 24. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, a plotter, and a multifunction machine provided with at least one of these, a method for applying an image carrier protecting agent used in the image forming apparatus, and an image carrier surface The present invention relates to a protective layer forming apparatus for forming a protective layer, an image forming method using the image carrier protective agent, and a process cartridge.

Conventionally, in electrophotographic image formation, a latent image by an electrostatic charge is formed on an image carrier such as a photoconductive substance, and charged toner particles are attached to the electrostatic latent image to form a visible image. Forming. The visible image formed by the toner is finally transferred to a transfer medium such as paper, and then fixed to the transfer medium by heat, pressure, solvent gas, or the like, and becomes an output image.
These image forming methods include a so-called two-component development method that uses friction charging by stirring and mixing toner particles and carrier particles by a method of charging toner particles for visualization, and without using carrier particles. In other words, the toner particles are roughly classified into so-called one-component development systems in which charge is imparted to toner particles.
The one-component development method is classified into a magnetic one-component development method and a non-magnetic one-component development method depending on whether or not a magnetic force is used to hold toner particles on the developing roller.

Up to now, in copiers that require high speed and image reproducibility, and multi-function machines based on these, two components are required due to demands such as toner particle charging stability, start-up stability, and long-term image quality stability. One-component development methods have been often employed in small printers, facsimiles, and the like that require many development methods and have great demands for space saving and cost reduction.
Particularly in recent years, colorization of output images has progressed, and the demand for higher image quality and stabilization of image quality has become stronger than ever.
In order to improve the image quality, the average particle diameter of the toner is reduced, and the shape of the particles is not rounded and becomes more round.
In these electrophotographic image forming apparatuses, a drum-shaped or belt-shaped image carrier (generally a photosensitive member) is uniformly charged while rotating regardless of the development method, and laser light, etc. To form a latent image pattern on the image bearing member, which is visualized by a developing device, and further transferred onto a transfer medium.

The toner component that has not been transferred remains on the image carrier after the toner image is transferred to the transfer medium. When these residues are conveyed to the charging process as they are, there is often a case where the uniform charging of the image carrier is hindered. The components and the like are removed in a cleaning process to make the surface of the image carrier sufficiently clean, and then charging is performed.
As described above, the surface of the image carrier is subjected to various physical stresses and electrical stresses in various processes such as charging, development, transfer, and cleaning, and the surface state changes as the usage time elapses.
Of these stresses, it is known that the stress due to friction in the cleaning process causes the image carrier to wear and causes scratches.

In order to solve this problem, many proposals have been made so far regarding various lubricants and methods for supplying lubricant components and forming films in order to reduce the frictional force between the image carrier and the cleaning member.
For example, Patent Document 1 proposes to supply a solid lubricant mainly composed of zinc stearate to the surface of the photoconductor to form a lubricating film on the surface of the photoconductor in order to extend the life of the photoconductor and the cleaning blade. Yes.
In Patent Document 2, by using a lubricant supply device that supplies a lubricant mainly composed of a higher alcohol having 20 to 70 carbon atoms, the higher alcohol stays as irregular particles at the tip of the blade nip, Since it has an appropriate wettability to the surface of the image bearing member, it is said that the durability of the lubricating performance is expressed.
In Patent Document 3, by using a powder of a specific alkylene bisalkyl acid amide compound as a lubricating component, powder fine particles exist at the interface where the cleaning blade and the image carrier are pressed against each other, so that smooth lubrication is possible. The action can be maintained for a long time.

On the other hand, in recent years, a toner using a polymerization method has been commercialized in order to improve image quality and reduce manufacturing energy. These polymerized toners have excellent characteristics such as fewer angular portions and smaller average particle diameters than toners produced by a pulverization method.
However, these features are affected by the shape and particle size of a method for cleaning the surface of the image carrier by pressing the edge of a cleaning member represented by rubber blade cleaning against the surface of the image carrier. As a result, it is difficult for the edge portion to be dammed, and the residual toner component tends to be poorly cleaned.

Several proposals have been made so far for a cleaning device corresponding to such a toner cleaning failure.
For example, Patent Document 5 discloses an image forming apparatus that sets a pressing force that satisfies a predetermined condition using an average volume diameter D and an average circularity S of toner.
According to Patent Document 4, when the pressure contact force f is increased in counter-type blade cleaning, problems such as squeal of the cleaning blade and creaking occur. Therefore, it is necessary to set an upper limit as an empirical value. It is said that there is.
Further, for example, in order to clean toner having a smaller toner average particle diameter and closer to a spherical shape, Patent Document 4 discloses a friction coefficient between a toner and an image carrier, a friction coefficient between a toner and a blade, and a toner and an image. A cleaning device is disclosed that defines the relationship between the adhesion force of the carrier, the force that the toner receives from the blade, and the angle formed between the blade and the image carrier (cleaning angle).

Japanese Patent Publication No.51-22380 JP 2005-274737 A JP 2002-97483 A JP 2000-330441 A JP 2005-99125 A

However, as described above, the stress on the image carrier is not only received from the cleaning process, but the electrical stress particularly in the charging process greatly changes the state of the surface of the image carrier. Further, this electrical stress is conspicuous in the contact charging method and the proximity charging method that involve a discharge phenomenon near the surface of the image carrier.
In these charging methods, many active species and reaction products are generated on the surface of the image carrier, and many active species and reactive organisms generated in the atmosphere in the discharge region are adsorbed on the surface of the image carrier. .
The lubricant using zinc stearate as in Patent Document 1 covers the surface of the image carrier relatively evenly and gives good lubricity and protection. Therefore, in order to prevent photoconductor wear, which is a problem in the image forming process in which an AC voltage is applied when charging the image carrier, it can be easily solved by using zinc stearate.

However, when zinc stearate is used, there is a problem that the charging member is contaminated. In particular, in the case where the charging roller is charged by being in contact with or in close proximity to the photosensitive member, the contamination of the charging member increases. When the charging member is contaminated, an abnormal image such as density unevenness occurs.
Furthermore, zinc stearate has a major problem in terms of cleaning properties. In a normal image forming process, a blade cleaning system is adopted as a means for removing the residual toner after transfer from the photoreceptor. However, zinc stearate has a property that the toner easily slips through the blade.
If the toner slips through the cleaning blade, the toner directly appears on the image, or the contamination of the charging member is further accelerated. The toner slipping becomes more noticeable as the toner becomes spherical with a small particle diameter. In addition, since a material using zinc stearate often slips out of toner or the like, the cleaning blade is worn and the image forming apparatus has a short life.

The lubricant with a higher alcohol disclosed in Patent Document 2 easily wets the surface of the image carrier and can be expected to be effective as a lubricant. However, the higher alcohol molecules adsorbed on the image carrier, the adsorption occupation area per molecule is Since the density of molecules adsorbed per unit area of the image carrier (adsorbed molecule weight) is small, the above-described electrical stress easily penetrates the protective layer, and the image carrier It is difficult to obtain an effect that sufficiently protects.
In the lubricant having a nitrogen atom in the molecule disclosed in Patent Document 3, when the lubricant itself is subjected to the electrical stress described above, ion dissociation similar to a nitrogen oxide or an ammonium-containing compound as a decomposition product May be incorporated into the lubricating layer, causing the lubricating layer to have a low resistance under high humidity, resulting in image blurring.
In the cleaning of spherical toners represented by polymerized toners described in Patent Documents 4 and 5, proposals have been made to improve toner cleaning while reducing stress on the image carrier by the cleaning mechanism. However, it has not been improved at all in terms of extending the life considering the electrical stress on the image carrier.

The present applicant has proposed in Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-081126 to use hydrophobic and amphiphilic organic compounds as the image carrier protecting agent. As a result, the cleaning properties of the toner are dramatically improved, and it is possible to clean a toner having a small particle diameter and a high circularity in recent years.
Further, the cleaning property has been improved, so that contamination of the charging member is reduced, and the life of the charging member can be extended. Furthermore, since there is no toner slipping, there is little blade wear, and the life of the cleaning blade can be extended.
However, it has been found that the above-mentioned protective agent does not have sufficient protection from electrification and the photoreceptor wear is severe. This wear rate may be 10 times or more that when zinc stearate is used as in Patent Document 1. This wear rate can be reduced to some extent by increasing the amount of application to the photoreceptor, but cannot be completely eliminated.
Further, it has been found that when the supply amount is increased in this way, the lubricant adheres to the photoreceptor and an abnormal image is generated.

In view of the above-described current problems, the present invention can provide a sufficient protection effect for the surface of the image carrier, and can also prevent the deterioration of the cleaning member and the charging member. It is an object to provide a method for applying an agent.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a protective layer forming apparatus for forming a good image carrier protective layer.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an image forming method and an image forming apparatus capable of stably obtaining an image of good quality over a long period of time.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a process cartridge capable of stably obtaining a good quality image.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, in the image carrier protective agent coating method in which an image carrier protective agent is applied or adhered to the surface of the image carrier, the hydrophobic organic compound (A) is applied or The step of adhering and the step of applying or adhering the self-lubricating substance (B) are performed at least once.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image carrier protective agent coating method according to the first aspect, the hydrophobic organic compound (A) is a hydrocarbon wax containing at least one of normal paraffin, isoparaffin and cycloparaffin. It is characterized by being.
According to a third aspect of the invention, in the image carrier protective agent coating method according to the first or second aspect, the hydrophobic organic compound (A) has a weight average molecular weight Mw of 350 to 850.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image carrier protective agent coating method according to any one of the first to third aspects, the self-lubricating substance (B) is a substance having lamellar crystals. Features.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image carrier protective agent coating method according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the substance (B) having self-lubricating property is a metal salt of a fatty acid. Features.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the protective layer forming apparatus for applying or adhering the image carrier protective agent to the surface of the image carrier, the image carrier protective agent application according to any one of claims 1 to 5 is applied. It has the structure which can implement a method, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the protective layer forming apparatus according to the sixth aspect, the image carrier protective agent is supplied to the surface of the image carrier through a supply member.
The invention according to claim 8 is the protective layer forming apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, further comprising a layer forming member that presses the image carrier protective agent supplied to the surface of the image carrier to form a film. And
According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the toner image on the image carrier charged by the charging member and passed through the step of carrying the toner image is transferred to a transfer medium, and the image after the toner image is transferred to the transfer medium. In the image forming method of applying or adhering an image carrier protective agent to the surface of the carrier, the image forming method is disposed downstream of the toner image transferred to the transfer medium and upstream of the charging member. It has the structure which can implement the image carrier protection agent application | coating method as described in any one.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the protective layer forming apparatus according to the ninth aspect, after the hydrophobic organic compound (A) is applied or adhered, the self-lubricating substance (B) is applied or adhered. It is characterized by that.
According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the protective layer forming apparatus according to the tenth aspect, the hydrophobic organic compound (A) is applied or adhered upstream of a cleaning device for cleaning the toner on the image carrier after transfer. The substance (B) having the self-lubricating property is applied or adhered downstream of the cleaning device.
In invention of Claim 12, in the protective layer formation apparatus as described in any one of Claims 9-11, the said hydrophobic organic compound (A) and the substance (B) which has the said self-lubricating property are included. A layer forming member that presses the image carrier protecting agent supplied to the surface of the image carrier and forms a film on the downstream side of application or adhesion is provided.

According to the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the toner image on the image carrier that is charged by the charging member and undergoes the step of carrying the toner image is transferred to the transfer medium, and the image after the toner image is transferred to the transfer medium. 6. The image forming method of applying or adhering an image carrier protecting agent to the surface of the carrier, wherein the toner image is transferred to the transfer medium downstream and upstream of the charging member. The image carrier protective agent coating method described in 1 is carried out.
According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image carrier that is charged by a charging member and undergoes a step of carrying a toner image, a transfer unit that transfers a toner image on the image carrier to a transfer medium, and a surface of the image carrier. An image forming apparatus having a protective layer forming apparatus for applying or adhering an image carrier protective agent to the protective film forming apparatus, wherein the protective layer forming apparatus is the one according to any one of claims 6 to 12. .
According to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the fourteenth aspect, the toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier is disposed downstream of the transfer device and upstream of the protective layer forming device. It is characterized by comprising a cleaning device that removes from the surface by rubbing against the body.

According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the fourteenth aspect, the hydrophobic organic compound (A) is applied or attached downstream from the transfer device, and downstream of the application or attachment site. A cleaning device that removes toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier from the surface by rubbing with the image carrier, and the self-lubricating substance (B) is applied downstream of the cleaning device; Or it is made to adhere, and the said layer formation member is provided downstream from this application | coating or adhesion site | part.
According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the fourteenth to sixteenth aspects, the image carrier includes a thermosetting resin in at least a layer formed on the outermost surface. To do.
According to an eighteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the fourteenth to seventeenth aspects, the image carrier is a photoconductor.

According to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the fourteenth to eighteenth aspects, the charging member is disposed in contact with or close to the surface of the image carrier. To do.
According to a twentieth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the nineteenth aspect, the charging member is provided with a voltage applying device that applies a voltage having an AC component.
According to a twenty-first aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the fourteenth to seventeenth aspects, the image carrier is an intermediate transfer medium.

According to a twenty-second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the fourteenth to twenty-first aspects, the circularity SR represented by the formula 1 of the toner is 0.93 to 1.00. It is characterized by.
Circularity SR = perimeter of a circle having the same area as the particle projection area / perimeter of the particle projection image (Formula 1)
According to a twenty-third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the fourteenth to twenty-second aspects, a ratio (D4 / D1) of the weight average diameter (D4) to the number average diameter (D1) of the toner is set. It is 1.00-1.40.
According to the twenty-fourth aspect of the present invention, the image carrier that has undergone the step of carrying the toner image, and the protection for applying or adhering the image carrier protective agent to the surface of the image carrier after the toner image is transferred to the transfer medium. A process cartridge that is integrally provided with a layer forming apparatus, wherein the protective layer forming apparatus is any one of claims 6 to 12.

According to a twenty-fifth aspect of the present invention, in the process cartridge according to the twenty-fourth aspect, the toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier on the upstream side of the protective layer forming apparatus is rubbed with the surface of the image carrier. It is characterized by comprising a cleaning device that removes from the surface.
According to a twenty-sixth aspect of the present invention, in the process cartridge according to the twenty-fourth or twenty-fifth aspect, the hydrophobic organic compound (A) is applied or attached downstream from a portion where the toner image on the image carrier is transferred to a transfer medium. A cleaning device that removes the toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier from the surface by rubbing with the image carrier downstream of the application or adhesion site, and downstream of the cleaning device, The self-lubricating substance (B) is applied or attached, and the layer forming member is provided downstream of the application or attachment site.
In a twenty-seventh aspect of the present invention, in the process cartridge according to any one of the twenty-fourth to twenty-sixth aspects, the image carrier includes a thermosetting resin in at least a layer formed on the outermost surface. .

In a twenty-eighth aspect of the present invention, in the process cartridge according to any one of the twenty-fourth to twenty-seventh aspects, the charging member is disposed in contact with or close to the surface of the image carrier. .
In a twenty-ninth aspect of the present invention, the process cartridge according to any one of the twenty-fourth to twenty-eighth aspects, further comprising a container for storing toner, wherein the circularity SR of the toner expressed by Formula 1 is 0.93. It is -1.00.
Circularity SR = perimeter of a circle having the same area as the particle projection area / perimeter of the particle projection image
According to a thirty-third aspect of the present invention, in the process cartridge according to any one of the twenty-fourth to twenty-ninth aspects, a ratio (D4 / D1) of the weight average diameter (D4) to the number average diameter (D1) of the toner is 1. .00 to 1.40.
According to a thirty-first aspect of the present invention, an image forming apparatus includes the process cartridge according to any one of the twenty-fourth to thirty-third aspects.

According to the present invention, the method includes the step of applying or attaching the hydrophobic organic compound (A) to the surface of the image carrier and the step of applying or attaching the self-lubricating substance (B). The cleaning performance can be greatly improved, and the function of protecting the image carrier from charging hazard (prolonging the life of the image carrier) can be improved.
Further, the cleaning member and the charging member in the cleaning device can be prevented from being deteriorated, and the life of the member for image formation can be extended.
Further, it is possible to suppress deterioration in image quality due to toner slipping and contamination of the charging member, and it is possible to stably maintain good image quality over a long period of time.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a protective layer forming apparatus according to this embodiment. The protective layer forming apparatus according to this embodiment includes a first protective layer forming apparatus 5 disposed on the upstream side in the drum rotation direction facing the photosensitive drum 1 having an organic photoconductive layer as an image carrier. The second protective layer forming device 2 is disposed on the downstream side in the drum rotation direction so as to face the photosensitive drum 1 having an organic photoconductive layer as an image carrier.
The first protective layer forming apparatus 5 includes an image carrier protective agent 51 made of a hydrophobic organic compound (A) formed in a columnar shape or a bar shape, a protective agent supply member 52 as a supply member, and a pressing force application mechanism. Mainly formed from 53 etc.
The second protective layer forming apparatus 2 includes an image carrier protective agent 21 made of a self-lubricating substance (B) formed in a columnar shape or a bar shape, a protective agent supply member 22 as a supply member, and a pressing force. It is mainly composed of an applying mechanism 23 and a protective layer forming mechanism 24 as a layer forming member.

The protective layer forming mechanism 24 includes a blade 24a that contacts the photosensitive drum 1 in a non-counter direction, a blade support 24b that supports the blade 24a, and the blade 24a together with the blade support 24b toward the photosensitive drum 1 side. It has a biasing means 24b for biasing.
Here, a coil spring is illustrated as an urging means of the pressing force applying mechanisms 23 and 53 and the protective layer forming mechanism 24. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a rubber elastic member, a leaf spring, and the like An elastic member may be used.
Between the first protective layer forming device 5 and the second protective layer forming device 2, a cleaning device 4 including a cleaning blade 41 as a cleaning member, a cleaning pressing mechanism 42, and the like is disposed.
The cleaning device 4 also serves as a protective layer forming mechanism as a layer forming member in the first protective layer forming device 5. In contrast to the second protective layer forming device 2, the cleaning device 4 is the first protective layer. As part of the forming apparatus 5.

In the first protective layer forming apparatus 5, the image carrier protective agent 51 made of the hydrophobic organic compound (A) is in contact with, for example, a brush-like protective agent supply member 52 by the pressing force from the pressing force applying mechanism 53. The protective agent supply member 52 rotates and rubs with the image carrier 1 with a linear velocity difference. At this time, the image carrier protective agent held on the surface of the protective agent supply member 52 is applied to the surface of the image carrier. Supply.
As the hydrophobic organic compound (A), in this embodiment, “FT115” = manufactured by Nippon Seiki, synthetic wax is used. FT115 has very good cleaning properties, and even if it is a toner having a small particle diameter and a high degree of circularity, almost no slipping occurs in the cleaning blade.
This exhibits high cleaning properties even with hydrophobic organic compounds other than FT115, but FT115 has an advantage that it has a high melting point of 114 ° C. and is not easily affected by the use environment. Moreover, since it can exist in a blade edge even if it is small quantity by arrange | positioning in front of the cleaning blade 41, it is efficient.

In the second protective layer forming apparatus 2, the image carrier protective agent 21 made of the self-lubricating substance (B) is applied to, for example, the brush-like protective agent supply member 22 by the pressing force from the pressing force applying mechanism 23. Touch. The protective agent supply member 22 rotates and rubs with the image carrier 1 with a linear velocity difference. At this time, the image carrier protective agent held on the surface of the protective agent supply member is supplied to the surface of the image carrier. To do.
Since the image carrier protective agent supplied to the surface of the image carrier may not be a sufficient protective layer upon supply depending on the selection of the material type, for example, a blade-like member is used to form a more uniform protective layer. Is formed into a thin layer (film) by the protective layer forming mechanism 24 having the above structure to form an image carrier protective layer.

In the present embodiment, “zinc stearate” is used as the substance (B) having self-lubricating properties. Zinc stearate is highly effective in protecting the image carrier from the hazards caused by charging, and even if deteriorated materials are generated by charging, it can be easily removed from the image carrier, and a new film can be quickly formed on the image carrier. Is possible. Moreover, since it coats in front of the charging member, a small amount is sufficient.
When zinc stearate is used, the deterioration of the charging member becomes a problem, but in the case of this embodiment, the conventional FT115 coating mechanism and the cleaning mechanism (cleaning device 4) of the first protective layer forming device 5 upstream are used. Since the amount of toner passing through is extremely less than that using only zinc stearate, charging member contamination can be reduced.
Further, the film formation by the protective layer forming mechanism 24 suppresses the generation of the powder of the image carrier protective agent, thereby reducing the contamination of the charging member. Further, since FT115 is applied on the image carrier by the first protective layer forming device 5 and the cleaning device 4, the surface energy on the photoconductor is increased, and zinc stearate is held on the image carrier. Being easy also has the effect of reducing charging member contamination.

  The prescription / arrangement of the image carrier protecting agent 51 in the first protective layer forming apparatus 5 and the image carrier protecting agent 21 in the second protective layer forming apparatus 2 is merely an example, and is not limited thereto. For example, the image carrier protecting agent 21 may be mixed with a plurality of self-lubricating substances, or may be mixed with a hydrophobic organic compound. The image carrier protecting agent 51 may be a mixture of a plurality of hydrophobic organic compounds or a substance having self-lubricating properties.

As described above, in the present invention, it is essential to perform the step of applying or adhering the hydrophobic organic compound (A) and the step of applying or adhering the self-lubricating substance (B).
Examples of the hydrophobic organic compound (A) include aliphatic saturated hydrocarbons, aliphatic unsaturated hydrocarbons, alicyclic saturated hydrocarbons, alicyclic unsaturated hydrocarbons and aromatic hydrocarbons as described above. In addition to the classified hydrocarbons, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyperfluoroalkyl ether (PFA), perfluoroethylene-perfluoropropylene copolymer (FEP), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVdF), ethylene -Examples include, but are not limited to, fluorine resins such as tetrafluoroethylene copolymer (ETFE) and fluorine waxes, silicone resins such as polymethyl silicone and polymethyl phenyl silicone, and silicone waxes. . Moreover, you may mix and use these.

As an example of the substance (B) having a self-lubricating property, a stable metal salt of a fatty acid such as the following can be given as an organic substance.
Typical fatty acids from which stable hydrophobic metal salts are removed include caproic acid, caprylic acid, enanthylic acid, pelargonic acid, undecylic acid, lauric acid, tridecoic acid, myristylic acid, palmitic acid, margaric acid, stearic acid, Non-cyclic acid, arachidic acid, behenic acid, styringinic acid, palmitoleic acid, oleic acid, ricinoleic acid, petellocerinic acid, vaccenic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, eleostearic acid, ricinic acid, valinalic acid, gardoleic acid, arachidone There are acids, whale oil and mixtures thereof.
Typical stable metal salts of fatty acids include barium stearate, lead stearate, iron stearate, nickel stearate, cobalt stearate, copper stearate, strontium stearate, calcium stearate, cadmium stearate, magnesium stearate , Zinc stearate, zinc oleate, magnesium oleate, iron oleate, cobalt oleate, copper oleate, lead oleate, manganese oleate, zinc palmitate, cobalt palmitate, lead palmitate, magnesium palmitate, palmitate Aluminum oxide, calcium palmitate, lead caprylate, lead caprate, zinc linolenate, cobalt linolenate, calcium linolenate, zinc ricinoleate, cadmium ricinoleate and mixtures thereof There is a thing, but is not limited to this.
Examples of the self-lubricating substance (B) include the following for inorganic substances.
Examples include, but are not limited to, boron nitride, graphite, boron carbide, molybdenum disulfide, lead oxide, calcium fluoride, and ceramics.
In the present embodiment, the self-lubricating substance (B) mainly has a layered crystal structure, and mentions a self-lubricating substance.

Charging as a charging member in which a DC voltage or a voltage obtained by superimposing an AC voltage is applied to an image carrier (photosensitive drum 1) on which a protective layer is formed, for example, by a high voltage power source as a voltage application device (not shown). The roller 3 is brought into contact with or in close proximity, and the image carrier is charged by discharge in a minute gap.
At this time, a part of the protective layer is decomposed or oxidized due to electrical stress, and air discharge products adhere to the surface of the protective layer. The above-mentioned decomposition products, oxides, and air discharge products are generally hydrophilic or contain a hydrophilic group.

The image carrier protecting agent according to the present embodiment is a self-lubricating organic compound as a composition immediately before the charging roller 3, and includes a hydrophilic portion and a hydrophobic portion in one molecule. It has an amphiphilic organic compound (B). Moreover, the hydrophobic organic compound (A) is also included as one composition.
Therefore, the surface of the image bearing member becomes hydrophilic due to electrical stress, whereby the amphiphilic organic compound (B) is adsorbed to make the surface hydrophobic and the surrounding hydrophobic organic compound (A ) Prevents an electrical stress from being directly applied to the surface of the image carrier.
Instead, a part of the image carrier protecting agent is deteriorated by exposure to electrical stress and becomes partially hydrophilic, but is present in excess, an amphiphilic organic compound having an appropriate HLB value ( B) together with the reverse micelle and dispersed in the hydrophobic organic compound (A), so that both the image carrier protective effect by the image carrier protective layer and the removability of the deteriorated image carrier protective agent are compatible. It becomes possible.

The material of the blade 24a used in the protective layer forming mechanism 24 is not particularly limited. For example, elastic materials such as urethane rubber, hydrin rubber, silicone rubber, and fluorine rubber, which are generally known as cleaning blade materials, may be used alone or in a blend. Can be used.
Further, these rubber blades may be coated or impregnated with a low friction coefficient material at the contact portion with the image carrier. Further, in order to adjust the hardness of the elastic body, fillers represented by other organic fillers and inorganic fillers may be dispersed.
These blades are fixed to the blade support by an arbitrary method such as adhesion or fusion so that the tip can be pressed against the surface of the image carrier.
The thickness of the blade 24a is not uniquely defined in consideration of the force applied by pressing, but is preferably about 0.5 to 5 mm, more preferably about 1 to 3 mm. .
Also, the length of the blade that protrudes from the support and can bend, that is, the so-called free length, is applied by pressing in the same manner, but it cannot be uniquely defined in terms of force, but is approximately 1 to 15 mm. If it is about 2-10 mm, it can be used more preferably.

As another configuration of the protective layer forming blade member, a layer of resin, rubber, elastomer or the like is coated on the surface of an elastic metal blade such as a spring plate, if necessary, via a coupling agent, a primer component, etc. It may be formed by a method, and if necessary, heat curing or the like, and if necessary, surface polishing or the like may be applied.
The thickness of the elastic metal blade is preferably about 0.05 to 3 mm, and more preferably about 0.1 to 1 mm.
Moreover, in an elastic metal blade, in order to suppress the twist of a braid | blade, you may perform processes, such as a bending process, in the direction substantially parallel to a spindle after attachment.
As a material for forming the surface layer, fluorine resin such as PFA, PTFE, FEP, PVdF, silicone elastomer such as fluorine rubber, methylphenyl silicone elastomer, and the like can be used together with a filler, if necessary. It is not limited to this.

Further, the force that presses the image carrier with the protective layer forming mechanism 24 and the cleaning device 4 as the protective layer forming mechanism is sufficient as the force that the image carrier protective agent 21 extends to become a protective layer or a protective film. The linear pressure is preferably 5 gf / cm or more and 80 gf / cm or less, and more preferably 10 gf / cm or more and 60 gf / cm or less.
A brush-like member is preferably used as the protective agent supply member 22, 52. In this case, the brush fiber is preferably flexible in order to suppress mechanical stress on the surface of the image carrier.

As a specific material of the flexible brush fiber, one or more kinds can be selected and used from generally known materials. Specifically, polyolefin resins (eg, polyethylene, polypropylene); polyvinyl and polyvinylidene resins (eg, polystyrene, acrylic resin, polyacrylonitrile, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl butyral, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl carbazole, polyvinyl ether, and Polyvinyl chloride); vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer; styrene-acrylic acid copolymer; styrene-butadiene resin; fluorine resin (for example, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyvinyl fluoride, polyvinylidene fluoride, polychlorotrifluoroethylene); Polyester; Nylon; Acrylic; Rayon; Polyurethane; Polycarbonate; Phenol resin; Amino resin (eg urea-formaldehyde resin, melamine) Fat, benzoguanamine resins, urea resins, polyamide resins); Among such, may be a resin having flexibility.
Also, in order to adjust the degree of bending, diene rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), ethylene propylene rubber, isoprene rubber, nitrile rubber, urethane rubber, silicone rubber, hydrin rubber, norbornene rubber, etc. are used in combination. Also good.

The support for the protective agent supply members 22 and 52 includes a fixed mold and a rotatable roll. As the roll-shaped supply member, for example, there is a roll brush in which a tape having brush fibers piled is wound around a metal core in a spiral shape.
The brush fiber has a fiber diameter of about 10 to 500 μm, the length of the brush fiber is 1 to 15 mm, and the brush density is 10,000 to 300,000 per square inch (1.5 × 10 ^{7 to} 4.5 × 10 per square meter). ⁸ ) are preferably used.
For the protective agent supply members 22 and 52, it is preferable to use a material having as high a brush density as possible from the viewpoint of the uniformity of supply and its stability, and one fiber is made of several to several hundreds of fine fibers. It is also preferable to make it.

For example, bundling 50 fine fibers of 6.7 decitex (6 denier), such as 333 decitex = 6.7 decitex × 50 filament (300 denier = 6 denier × 50 filament), and implanting as one fiber Is also possible.
Moreover, you may provide a coating layer in the brush surface for the purpose of stabilizing the surface shape of a brush, environmental stability, etc. as needed. As a component constituting the coating layer, it is preferable to use a coating layer component that can be deformed according to the bending of the brush fiber, and these are not limited as long as the material can maintain flexibility. Polyolefin resins such as polyethylene, polypropylene, chlorinated polyethylene, chlorosulfonated polyethylene, etc .; polystyrene, acrylic (for example, polymethyl methacrylate), polyacrylonitrile, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl butyral, polyvinyl chloride, Polyvinyl and polyvinylidene resins such as polyvinyl carbazole, polyvinyl ether and polybiliketones; vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymers; silicone resins composed of organosiloxane bonds or modified products thereof (for example, alkyd resins) Modified products by polyester resin, epoxy resin, polyurethane, etc.); Fluororesin such as perfluoroalkyl ether, polyfluorovinyl, polyfluorovinylidene, polychlorotrifluoroethylene; polyamide; polyester; polyurethane; polycarbonate; urea-formaldehyde resin, etc. Amino resins; epoxy resins, composite resins of these, and the like.

As a method for molding the image carrier protecting agents 21 and 51 into a fixed shape, for example, a prismatic shape or a cylindrical shape, a method known as a solid material molding method can be used.
Examples include, but are not limited to, melt molding, powder molding, hot press molding, cold isostatic pressing (CIP), hot isostatic pressing (HIP), etc. Absent.
Taking a melt molding method as an example, as a specific molding method of an image carrier protecting agent, a glyceryl alkylcarboxylate heated and melted in a mold having a predetermined shape that has been heated to a temperature higher than the melting temperature of the image carrier protecting agent in advance. A predetermined amount can be poured and, if necessary, maintained at a temperature equal to or higher than the melting point for a certain period of time, and then cooled by standing or cooling to obtain a molded body. In order to remove the internal distortion of the molded body, the cooling proceeds to a temperature lower than the phase transition temperature of the image carrier protective agent component during the cooling, and then slowly re-restarts to a temperature equal to or higher than the phase transition temperature. You may heat.
After cooling to a temperature close to room temperature, the molded body is removed from the mold to obtain a molded body of the image carrier protecting agent.
Thereafter, the shape of the image carrier protecting agent may be further adjusted by cutting or the like.
As the above-mentioned formwork, metal formwork such as steel, stainless steel, and aluminum is preferable because of good thermal conductivity and good dimensional accuracy. The inner wall surface of the mold is preferably coated with a release agent such as a fluororesin or a silicone resin in order to improve the releasability.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an outline of a configuration example of a process cartridge using the protective layer forming apparatuses 2 and 5.
In the process cartridge 12, the photosensitive drum 1, the protective layer forming device 2, the charging roller 3, the developing device 7, the cleaning device 4, and the like are integrally accommodated. The developing device 7 includes a developing roller 71, conveying screws 72 and 73 for circulating the developer while stirring and conveying, a preset case 74 as a container for storing toner, and the like.
The photosensitive drum 1 having a protective layer formed on the surface thereof by the protective layer forming device 2 is charged with an electrostatic latent image by exposure light L such as a laser. The latent image is visualized as a toner image by the developing device 7 and transferred to an intermediate transfer belt 105 as a transfer medium by a transfer roller 6 as a transfer device outside the process cartridge 12. In the case of the direct transfer method, the transfer medium is a sheet-like recording medium.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a color copying machine 100 of a tandem type intermediate transfer system as an image forming apparatus having protective layer forming apparatuses 2 and 5.
The color copying machine 100 includes an apparatus main body 101, a scanner 102 provided on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 101, and an automatic document feeder (ADF) 103 provided on the scanner 102.
A paper feed unit 104 including a plurality of paper feed cassettes 104 a, 104 b, 104 c, and 104 d is provided at the lower part of the apparatus main body 101.
An endless intermediate transfer belt 105 as an intermediate transfer member is disposed at a substantially central portion of the apparatus main body 101. The intermediate transfer belt 105 is supported by being wound around a plurality of support rollers 106, 107, 108 and the like, and is rotated in the clockwise direction in the drawing by a drive source (not shown).
In the vicinity of the support roller 108, an intermediate transfer member cleaning device 109 is provided for removing residual toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 105 after the secondary transfer.
On the intermediate transfer belt 105 stretched between the support roller 106 and the support roller 107, four colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) are arranged along the conveyance direction. Process cartridges 12Y, 12M, 12C, and 12K as image forming means are arranged side by side to constitute a tandem image forming unit 10. However, these four color orders are examples, and are not limited to this.

An exposure device 8 is disposed above the tandem image forming unit 10. A secondary transfer roller 110 as a transfer device is disposed on the opposite side of the intermediate transfer belt 105 from the support roller 108. The image on the intermediate transfer belt 105 is transferred to a sheet (paper) fed from the paper feeding unit 104 by the secondary transfer roller 110.
On the left side of the secondary transfer roller 110, a fixing device 111 for fixing the transferred image on the sheet is provided. The fixing device 111 has a configuration in which a pressure roller 111b is pressed against an endless belt-like fixing belt 111a.
Below the fixing device 111, there is provided a sheet reversing device 112 for reversing the sheet when recording images on both sides of the sheet, substantially parallel to the tandem image forming unit 10 described above.

Image formation in the image forming apparatus is performed by a known process.
That is, first, the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K are uniformly charged by the charging rollers 3Y, 3M, 3C, and 3K, and then, from the exposure device 8 according to reading information of the scanner 102, lasers, LEDs, and the like. The electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drums 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K by irradiating the writing light. Thereafter, the toner is adhered by developing devices 7Y, 7M, 7C, and 7K containing a developer composed of toner particles or a mixture of toner particles and carrier particles, and the electrostatic latent images are visualized to make each photoconductor. Monochromatic images of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black are formed on the drums 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K, respectively.

Along with the conveyance of the intermediate transfer belt 105, these single color images are sequentially transferred by applying a transfer bias by the respective transfer rollers 6 Y, 6 M, 6 C, and 62 K as primary transfer means, and a superimposed image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 105. To do.
The toner remaining on the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K after the image is transferred is cleaned by the cleaning devices 4Y, 4M, 4C, and 4K. Thereafter, the surface potentials of the photoconductive drums 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K are initialized by a static eliminator (not shown) to prepare for image formation again.

On the other hand, the selected one of the sheet feeding cassettes of the sheet feeding unit 104 or the sheet fed from the manual feed tray 113 is temporarily stopped by the registration roller pair 114, and the skew is corrected.
The registration roller pair 114 is rotationally driven in synchronization with the composite color image on the intermediate transfer belt 105, and the sheet is fed between the intermediate transfer belt 105 and the secondary transfer roller 110. A color image is transferred to
The sheet after the image transfer is sent to the fixing device 111 where heat and pressure are applied to fix the transferred image, and the sheet is stacked on the paper discharge tray 116 by the paper discharge roller pair 115.
Alternatively, the conveying path is switched by a switching claw (not shown), and the sheet is put into the sheet reversing device 112, where it is reversed and guided again to the transfer position, and an image is recorded on the back side. The paper is discharged onto the paper tray 116.
After the image transfer, the intermediate transfer belt 105 has the residual toner removed by the intermediate transfer member cleaning device 109, and prepares for another image formation by the tandem image forming unit 10.

(Example)
As described above, by applying or adhering the hydrophobic organic compound (A) to the surface of the image carrier, the cleaning performance of the toner in the cleaning member is greatly improved. Table 1 shows the amount of toner that passes through the cleaning blade for each type of coating agent.
In addition, by applying or adhering the self-lubricating substance (B) to the surface of the image carrier, the effect of protecting the image carrier from a charging hazard is improved. Table 1 shows the amount of photoconductor abrasion (photoconductor wear amount) for each type of coating agent.

Here, the evaluation method of the toner slippage and the photoconductor abrasion amount shown in Table 1 is shown. At the imaging unit (Fig. 2) of Ricoh's imgio MP C3000, a white felt member is mounted on the photoreceptor immediately after the cleaning member, the toner slipping through the blade is collected, and the amount of toner slipping is measured by taking it in with a scanner. .
At this time, the amount of wear on the photosensitive member is measured by a film pressure gauge.
From the results shown in Table 1, the hydrophobic organic compound (A) has good wear through the toner, but much wear on the photoreceptor. Conversely, it can be seen that the self-lubricating substance (B) has a high effect of protecting the photoconductor, although the toner does not slip through.

Among hydrophobic organic compounds, normal paraffins, isoparaffins and cycloparaffins are preferably used in terms of stability over time because they do not easily undergo an addition reaction and are chemically stable, and hardly cause an oxidation reaction in actual air. it can.
As described above, the protective agent layer formed on the surface of the image carrier is exposed to electrical stress and deteriorates. Therefore, if the molecular weight of the hydrophobic organic compound (A) is too small, a sufficient protective effect cannot be exhibited. There is.
On the other hand, if the molecular weight of the hydrophobic organic compound (A) is too large, sufficient spreadability cannot be obtained at the time of forming the protective layer, and the protective agent component adheres as a powder on the image carrier. May not form.
The molecular weight of the hydrophobic organic compound (A) is preferably 350 to 850, more preferably 400 to 800, based on the weight average molecular weight Mw.

A substance having a lamellar crystal has a layered structure in which amphiphilic molecules are self-organized, and when a shearing force is applied, the crystal breaks along the layers and is slippery. Therefore, the lubricity is excellent. Among them, fatty acid metal salts, particularly zinc stearate, are used in many electrophotographic apparatuses.
The image carrier protecting agent of the present invention exhibits a protective effect by adhering to the surface of the image carrier and forming a film, and thus is relatively easily plastically deformed. Accordingly, when an attempt is made to form a protective layer by directly pressing the bulky image carrier protective agent component onto the surface of the image carrier, not only the supply becomes excessive and the protective layer formation efficiency is not good, but also the protective layer becomes multilayered and static. Since it may become a factor that impedes light transmission in an exposure process such as when forming an electrostatic latent image, the types of image carrier protecting agents that can be used are limited.
On the other hand, the protective layer forming apparatus is configured as described above, and by using a supply member between the image carrier protecting agent and the image carrier, even when a soft image carrier protecting agent is used, It can be evenly supplied to the surface of the image carrier.

Further, when the protective layer forming apparatus is provided with a layer forming member that presses the image carrier protective agent to form a film, the layer forming member may also serve as a cleaning member, but in order to form the protective layer more reliably, It is preferable to remove in advance a residue mainly composed of toner on the image carrier with a cleaning member so that the residue does not enter the protective layer.
In particular, an image generated by applying an excessive amount of the hydrophobic organic compound because the cleaning property is improved and the amount of consumption may be reduced by applying a hydrophobic organic compound that improves the cleaning property upstream of the cleaning mechanism. Filming on the carrier can be prevented, and the coating material can be saved.
In addition, by applying a self-lubricating material excellent in the effect of protecting the image carrier downstream of the cleaning member and upstream of the charging member, the protection effect from the charging hazard can be improved and the consumption amount can be reduced. Further, contamination of the charging member due to excessive application of a self-lubricating substance can be reduced.
In addition, when a substance having self-lubricating properties is applied, an effect of facilitating the toner to pass through the cleaning member is obtained. By not applying a self-lubricating substance upstream of the cleaning member, it is possible to improve the cleaning property.

  Here, the difference in effect due to the order of the coating agents in the arrangement of the image carrier protecting agent 51 and the image carrier protecting agent 21 in FIG. 1 was evaluated. The image forming part of Ricoh's imgio MP C3000 is remodeled as shown in Fig. 1, and the image carrier protective agent 51 and the coating agent placed on the image carrier protective agent 21 are wiped to continuously output images with an image area ratio of 5%. Then, charging roller contamination, cleaning blade wear and photoreceptor wear over time were evaluated. The results are shown in Table 2.

From the results in Table 2, by applying both the hydrophobic organic compound (A) and the self-lubricating substance (B), a certain effect can be obtained as compared with Examples 11 and 12 in which only one of them is applied. ing.
However, as in Examples 1 to 5, the hydrophobic organic compound (A) is applied just before the cleaning blade, and the self-lubricating substance (B) is further applied upstream of the charging member. Good results have been obtained for contamination, blade wear, and photoreceptor wear.

By constructing an image forming apparatus using a protective layer forming apparatus having the image carrier protecting agent, the image carrier can be used for a very long time without being replaced.
In particular, when the image carrier includes a thermosetting resin in at least the layer formed on the outermost surface, the image carrier is prevented from being deteriorated by an electrical stress, and the thermosetting property is prevented. The durability of the image bearing member including the resin against mechanical stress can be continuously expressed over a long period of time. As a result, the durability of the image carrier can be increased to a level where it can be used substantially without replacement.
Further, in the charging device disposed in contact with or close to the surface of the image carrier, the electrical stress tends to be large because the discharge region exists in the very vicinity of the image carrier. If the image forming apparatus of the present invention in which is formed, the image carrier can be used without being exposed to electrical stress.
Furthermore, since the image carrier protecting component of the present invention is less likely to be powdered, the charging device disposed in contact or close to the charging device is not contaminated with commonly used metal soap powder or the like. Durability can also be improved.

In addition, the surface of the image carrier can be made to have a very small change in surface state due to the effect of the protective layer formed, so that the quality of the cleaning changes sensitively to the state change of the image carrier. Even a toner having a large degree or a toner having a small average particle diameter can be stably cleaned over a long period of time.
Here, “toner having a high degree of circularity” means a toner having a circularity SR expressed by the following formula 1 of 0.93 to 1.00.
Circularity SR = perimeter of a circle having the same area as the particle projection area / perimeter of the particle projection image (Formula 1)
“Toner with a small average particle diameter” means a toner having a ratio (D4 / D1) of the weight average diameter (D4) to the number average diameter (D1) (D4 / D1) of 1.00 to 1.40.

By configuring the process cartridge using the protective layer forming apparatus having the image carrier protecting agent, it becomes possible to set the replacement interval of the process cartridge extremely long, so that the running cost is reduced and the amount of waste is also reduced. It can be greatly reduced.
In particular, when the image carrier includes a thermosetting resin in at least the layer formed on the outermost surface, the image carrier is prevented from being deteriorated by an electrical stress, and the thermosetting property is prevented. The durability of the image bearing member including the resin against mechanical stress can be continuously expressed over a long period of time.
Further, as described above, since the image carrier protecting component of the present invention does not substantially contain a metal component, the charging member disposed in contact or close to the charging member is not contaminated with a metal oxide or the like. The change with time of the charging device can be reduced.
For this reason, it becomes easy to reuse process cartridge components such as an image carrier and a charging member, and the amount of waste can be further reduced.

It is a schematic block diagram of the protective layer forming apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a process cartridge having the protective layer forming apparatus of FIG. 1. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a color copying machine as an image forming apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Photosensitive drum as an image carrier 2, 5 Protective layer formation apparatus 3 Charging roller as a charging member 4 Cleaning device also serving as a layer formation member 6 Transfer roller as a transfer apparatus 12 Process cartridge 21, 51 Image carrier protective agent 22 , 52 Protective agent supply member as supply member 24 Protective layer formation mechanism as layer formation member 54 Preset case as container for storing toner 105 Intermediate transfer belt as intermediate transfer medium

Claims (31)

In the image carrier protective agent coating method of applying or adhering the image carrier protective agent to the surface of the image carrier,
An image carrier protective agent coating method, wherein the step of applying or attaching the hydrophobic organic compound (A) and the step of applying or attaching the self-lubricating substance (B) are performed at least once. In the image carrier protective agent coating method according to claim 1,
The method for applying an image carrier protective agent, wherein the hydrophobic organic compound (A) is a hydrocarbon wax containing at least one of normal paraffin, isoparaffin, and cycloparaffin. In the image carrier protective agent coating method according to claim 1 or 2,
The method for applying a protective agent for an image carrier, wherein the hydrophobic organic compound (A) has a weight average molecular weight Mw of 350 to 850. In the image carrier protective agent coating method according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
An image carrier protective agent coating method, wherein the self-lubricating substance (B) is a substance having lamellar crystals. In the image carrier protective agent coating method according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
An image carrier protective agent coating method, wherein the self-lubricating substance (B) is a fatty acid metal salt. In a protective layer forming apparatus for applying or adhering an image carrier protective agent to the surface of an image carrier,
A protective layer forming apparatus having a configuration capable of implementing the image carrier protective agent coating method according to claim 1. The protective layer forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein
A protective layer forming apparatus, wherein the image carrier protective agent is supplied to the surface of the image carrier through a supply member. The protective layer forming apparatus according to claim 6 or 7,
A protective layer forming apparatus comprising: a layer forming member that presses the image carrier protective agent supplied to the surface of the image carrier to form a film. The toner image on the image carrier that is charged by the charging member and passes through the step of carrying the toner image is transferred to the transfer medium, and the image carrier is transferred to the surface of the image carrier after the toner image is transferred to the transfer medium. In an image forming method in which a protective agent is applied or adhered,
It has a configuration that is disposed downstream of the transfer of the toner image to the transfer medium and upstream of the charging member and capable of performing the image carrier protective agent coating method according to any one of claims 1 to 5. An apparatus for forming a protective layer. The protective layer forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein
The protective layer forming apparatus, wherein after applying or adhering the hydrophobic organic compound (A), the self-lubricating substance (B) is applied or adhered. The protective layer forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein
The hydrophobic organic compound (A) is applied or adhered upstream of the cleaning device for cleaning the toner on the image carrier after the transfer, and the self-lubricating substance (B) is applied downstream of the cleaning device. Alternatively, a protective layer forming apparatus characterized by being attached. In the protective layer formation apparatus as described in any one of Claims 9-11,
In the downstream where the hydrophobic organic compound (A) and the self-lubricating substance (B) are applied or adhered, the image carrier protecting agent supplied to the surface of the image carrier is pressed to form a film. A protective layer forming apparatus comprising a layer forming member. The toner image on the image carrier that is charged by the charging member and passes through the step of carrying the toner image is transferred to the transfer medium, and the image carrier is transferred to the surface of the image carrier after the toner image is transferred to the transfer medium. In an image forming method in which a protective agent is applied or adhered,
The image carrying out the image carrier protective agent coating method according to claim 1, downstream of the toner image transferred to the transfer medium and upstream of the charging member. Forming method. An image carrier charged by a charging member and subjected to a step of carrying a toner image, a transfer means for transferring the toner image on the image carrier to a transfer medium, and an image carrier protective agent applied to the surface of the image carrier Or an image forming apparatus having a protective layer forming apparatus to be attached.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the protective layer forming apparatus is the one according to claim 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14.
A cleaning device is provided downstream of the transfer device and upstream of the protective layer forming device to remove toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier from the surface by rubbing against the image carrier. An image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14.
The hydrophobic organic compound (A) is applied or attached downstream from the transfer device, and the toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier downstream of the application or attachment site is slid with the image carrier. A cleaning device that removes the surface from the surface by rubbing; and the self-lubricating substance (B) is applied or adhered downstream of the cleaning device, and the layer forming member is disposed downstream of the application or adhesion site. An image forming apparatus comprising the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein
An image forming apparatus, wherein the image carrier includes a thermosetting resin in at least a layer formed on the outermost surface. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 14 to 17,
An image forming apparatus, wherein the image carrier is a photoconductor. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 14 to 18, wherein:
An image forming apparatus, wherein the charging member is disposed in contact with or close to the surface of the image carrier. The image forming apparatus according to claim 19.
An image forming apparatus comprising: a voltage applying device that applies a voltage having an AC component to the charging member. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 14 to 17,
An image forming apparatus, wherein the image carrier is an intermediate transfer medium. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 14 to 21, wherein
2. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the toner has a circularity SR of 0.93 to 1.00 shown in Formula 1.
Circularity SR = perimeter of a circle having the same area as the particle projection area / perimeter of the particle projection image (Formula 1) The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 14 to 22,
An image forming apparatus, wherein a ratio (D4 / D1) of a weight average diameter (D4) and a number average diameter (D1) of the toner is 1.00 to 1.40. An image carrier that has undergone a step of carrying a toner image, and a protective layer forming device that applies or adheres an image carrier protective agent to the surface of the image carrier after the toner image is transferred to a transfer medium are integrally provided. In the process cartridge,
The process cartridge according to any one of claims 6 to 12, wherein the protective layer forming apparatus is one. The process cartridge according to claim 24, wherein
A process cartridge comprising a cleaning device for removing toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier from the surface upstream of the protective layer forming device by rubbing against the image carrier. The process cartridge according to claim 24 or 25.
The hydrophobic organic compound (A) is applied or attached downstream from the portion where the toner image on the image carrier is transferred to a transfer medium, and is applied to the surface of the image carrier downstream from the applied or attached portion. A cleaning device that removes residual toner from the surface by rubbing with the image carrier is provided, and the substance (B) having self-lubricating properties is applied or adhered downstream of the cleaning device. A process cartridge comprising the layer forming member downstream of an attachment site. In the process cartridge according to any one of claims 24 to 26,
A process cartridge, wherein the image carrier includes a thermosetting resin in at least a layer formed on the outermost surface. The process cartridge according to any one of claims 24 to 27,
A process cartridge, wherein the charging member is disposed in contact with or close to the surface of the image carrier. The process cartridge according to any one of claims 24 to 28,
A process cartridge comprising a container for storing toner, wherein the toner has a circularity SR of 0.93 to 1.00 shown in Formula 1.
Circularity SR = perimeter of a circle having the same area as the particle projection area / perimeter of the particle projection image The process cartridge according to any one of claims 24 to 29,
A process cartridge having a ratio (D4 / D1) of a weight average diameter (D4) to a number average diameter (D1) of the toner of 1.00 to 1.40.   An image forming apparatus comprising the process cartridge according to any one of claims 24 to 30.

Images