JP2008134467A - Protective layer forming method, protective layer forming device, image forming apparatus and process cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a protective layer forming method and device by which a sufficient image carrier surface protecting effect is produced and deterioration of a cleaning member, toner slipping and image blurring due to foreign matter deposition on an image carrier can be prevented. <P>SOLUTION: The protective layer forming device for forming at least a protective layer on a surface of an image carrier 1 subjected to a cleaning step has a means 52 to apply or stick a hydrophobic organic compound 51 used for a protective layer to the image carrier and a means 22 to apply or stick an inorganic lubricant 21 used for a protective layer to the image carrier 1, and the inorganic lubricant 21 is applied or stuck before the cleaning step. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a protective layer forming method, a protective layer forming apparatus, an image forming apparatus and a process cartridge using the protective layer forming apparatus, and more particularly to a technique for forming a protective layer on the surface of an image carrier.

  As is well known, in electrophotographic image formation, an electrostatic latent image is formed by an electrostatic charge on an image carrier having a photosensitive layer containing a photoconductive substance and the like, and the electrostatic toner is charged on the electrostatic latent image. Is attached to form a visible image. This visible image is transferred to a recording medium such as paper and then fixed on the recording medium by heat, pressure, solvent gas, etc., and an output image is obtained.

  In such image formation, a two-component development method using frictional charging by stirring and mixing the toner and the carrier and a method of charging the toner without using a carrier by a method of charging the toner for visualization. It is roughly divided into a one-component development system. This one-component development method is further 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 on the developing roller.

  Conventionally, in a copying machine or a multi-function machine based on a copying machine that requires high speed and image reproducibility, the requirements for charging stability of the toner, start-up property, long-term stability of image quality, etc. Many component development methods are employed. On the other hand, one-component development systems are often used in small printers, facsimiles, and the like, which have great demands for space saving and cost reduction.

  In recent years, in any of the development methods, the 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 achieve such high image quality, the average particle size of the toner is reduced, the particle shape has no angular portion, and the toner has a more round shape.

In addition, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus generally charges a drum-shaped or belt-shaped image carrier uniformly while rotating the image carrier, regardless of the development method, and the image carrier by laser light or the like. A latent image pattern is formed thereon, the latent image pattern is visualized with toner (toner image), and transferred onto a recording medium. Then, the toner component that has not been transferred remains on the image carrier after the toner image is transferred to the recording medium. When these residuals are conveyed to the charging process as they are, the charging of the image carrier is prevented from being uniformly charged. Usually, after the transfer process, the toner remaining on the image carrier is removed by a cleaning blade or the like. Is removed by the cleaning means, and the surface of the image carrier is sufficiently cleaned, and then charging is performed.
As described above, the surface of the image carrier is subjected to various physical stresses and electrical stresses in each process such as charging, development, transfer, and cleaning, and the surface state changes as the usage time elapses. Of these stresses, stress due to friction in the cleaning process wears the image carrier and causes scratches. In order to solve this problem, in order to reduce the frictional force between the image carrier and the cleaning blade, many proposals have been made on various lubricants, supply of lubricating components, and a method of forming a lubricating film. ing.

  For example, as one of the above proposals, it has been proposed to form a lubricating film by supplying a solid lubricant mainly composed of zinc stearate to the surface of the photoreceptor in order to extend the life of the photoreceptor and the cleaning blade. (For example, patent document 1).

  Further, by using a lubricant supply device that supplies a lubricant containing a higher alcohol having 20 to 70 carbon atoms, the higher alcohol stays as irregular particles at the tip of the blade nip, and an appropriate image carrier surface It is also known that the lubrication performance is sustained due to its wettability (for example, Patent Document 2).

  Furthermore, by using a powder of a specific alkylene bisalkyl acid amide compound as a lubricating component, the powder is present at the interface where the cleaning blade contacts the surface of the image carrier, so that a smooth lubricating action is maintained over a long period of time. It has also been proposed to make it possible (for example, Patent Document 3).

  On the other hand, apart from the viewpoint of mechanical stress on the cleaning blade on the photosensitive member side described above, on the toner side used for image formation, recently, a polymerization method is used to improve image quality and reduce manufacturing energy. Toner is on the market. 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, a configuration in which the contact pressure of the cleaning member is defined so as to satisfy a predetermined condition using the average volume diameter D and the average circularity S of the toner (for example, Patent Document 4), and further, the contact angle and contact A configuration that defines the pressure (for example, Patent Document 5) has been proposed. In particular, in Patent Document 5, the coefficient of friction between the toner and the image carrier and the coefficient of friction between the toner and the blade are set so that cleaning can be performed for a toner having a small toner average particle size and a nearly spherical shape. Further, it is disclosed that the relationship between the adhesion force between the toner and the image carrier, the force that the toner receives from the blade, and the contact angle (cleaning angle) between the blade and the image carrier is disclosed.

  Further, in order to reduce the occurrence of abrasion and scratches on the surface of the image carrier during cleaning, for example, a configuration using amorphous silicon for the image carrier has been proposed (for example, Patent Document 6).

Japanese Patent Publication No.51-22380 JP 2005-274737 A JP 2002-97483 A JP 2000-330441 A JP 2005-99125 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-49017

  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. Such an electrical stress is conspicuous in the contact charging method and the proximity charging method accompanied by 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. .

  For this reason, a lubricant using zinc stearate as described in Patent Document 1 covers the surface of the image carrier relatively evenly and gives good lubricity. However, when this lubricating layer repeatedly passes through the charging step, The acid decomposes and may eventually remain on the surface of the image carrier or the charging member as zinc oxide. Residual zinc oxide has hygroscopicity, and the resistance decreases due to moisture adsorption in the atmosphere, so in a high humidity environment, the electrostatic charge on the image carrier cannot be retained, and the electrostatic latent image is obscured, A so-called blurred image, in which an image defect occurs, may occur.

Moreover, zinc stearate has a major problem in terms of cleaning properties. In other words, in a normal image forming process, a cleaning method using a blade is adopted as a means for removing untransferred toner after transfer from the photosensitive member. However, zinc stearate causes the toner to slip through this blade. There is.
If the toner passes through the cleaning blade, the toner appears directly in 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 has a large amount of toner passing through, the cleaning blade is worn and the image forming apparatus has a short life.

  Further, the higher alcohol lubricant of Patent Document 2 is easily wetted on 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 occupied per molecule, Since the density of molecules adsorbed per unit area of the image carrier (adsorbed molecular weight per unit area) is small, the above-mentioned electrical stress easily penetrates the protective layer, and the image carrier It is difficult to obtain an effect that sufficiently protects the body.

  In addition, the lubricant having a nitrogen atom in the molecule as in Patent Document 3 is similar to a nitrogen oxide or an ammonium-containing compound as a decomposition product when the lubricant itself is subjected to the electrical stress described above. An ion dissociable compound is generated and taken into the lubricating layer, and the lubricating layer may have a low resistance under high humidity, causing image blurring.

  On the other hand, in the cleaning of spherical toner represented by polymerized toner as in Patent Document 4 and Patent Document 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 regard to extending the life in consideration of electrical stress on the image carrier.

  Further, when an amorphous silicon image carrier as described in Patent Document 6 is used, the friction force between the cleaning blade and the image carrier is small, so that toner cleaning is good and the image carrier is good. Because the body has high mechanical strength, it has a long life. As a countermeasure, it is necessary to polish the surface of the photoconductor, and it is impossible to avoid shortening the service life.

An object of the present invention is to provide a sufficient protection effect on the surface of an image carrier, prevention of deterioration of a cleaning member, prevention of slipping of toner, and prevention of image blur due to adhesion of foreign matter to the image carrier in view of the above-described problems related to cleaning characteristics. It is in providing the protective layer formation method which implement | achieves.
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 apparatus capable of stably obtaining an image of good quality over a long period of time.
An object of the present invention is to provide a process cartridge capable of stably obtaining a good quality image.

  The present invention has the following configuration as means for solving the above problems.

(1) A protective layer forming method for forming a protective layer on the surface of the image carrier, at least for the image carrier to be subjected to the cleaning step of the image carrier,
Means for applying or adhering a hydrophobic organic compound used in a protective layer to the image carrier;
Means for applying or adhering an inorganic lubricant used in a protective layer to the image carrier,
The method for forming a protective layer, wherein the inorganic lubricant is applied or adhered before the cleaning step.

  (2) The method for forming a protective layer according to (1), wherein the hydrophobic organic compound is applied or adhered after the cleaning step.

  (3) The method for forming a protective layer according to (1) or (2), wherein the inorganic lubricant and the hydrophobic organic compound are applied or adhered in the order of the hydrophobic organic compound next to the inorganic lubricant. .

(4) The method for forming a protective layer according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein a substance having a lamellar crystal is used as the hydrophobic organic compound (A).
(5) The image forming method according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein the hydrophobic organic compound (A) is a metal salt of a fatty acid.
(6) The method for forming a protective layer according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein the inorganic lubricant (B) is a two-dimensional layer structure.

  (7) The inorganic lubricant (B) contains at least one of mica, boron nitride, molybdenum disulfide, tungsten disulfide, kaolin, montmorillonite, calcium fluoride, and graphite. (4) The protective layer forming method according to any one of (4).

(8) A protective layer forming apparatus using the protective layer forming method according to any one of (1) to (5).
(9) The protective layer forming apparatus according to (8), wherein the hydrophobic organic compound and the inorganic lubricant used for forming the protective layer are supplied to the image carrier through a supply member. .

  (10) The hydrophobic organic compound and inorganic lubricant used for forming the protective layer are formed into a thin film by a layer forming member after being applied or attached to the image carrier. (8) The protective layer forming apparatus according to (9).

  (11) An image forming apparatus using the image forming apparatus according to any one of (8) to (10).

  (12) The image carrier is provided with a cleaning mechanism and a transfer device for performing a cleaning process of residual toner on the image carrier along the moving direction thereof, and the transfer device in the moving direction of the image carrier. Means for applying or adhering the inorganic lubricant to the downstream side of the installation position of the cleaning mechanism, and means for applying or attaching the hydrophobic organic compound to the downstream side of the installation position of the cleaning mechanism. The image forming apparatus according to (11).

  (13) The image forming apparatus according to (11) or (12), wherein the cleaning mechanism includes a cleaning member that can be removed by rubbing the toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier.

  (14) The image forming apparatus according to any one of (11) to (13), wherein the image carrier includes a thermosetting resin in at least a layer formed on the outermost surface.

  (15) The image forming apparatus according to any one of (11) to (14), wherein the image carrier is a photoconductor.

  (16) The image forming apparatus according to (15), wherein the image carrier is an intermediate transfer member to which an image from the photosensitive member is transferred.

  (17) The image forming apparatus according to (15) or (16), wherein the image carrier is provided with a charging device adjacent to the surface thereof.

  (18) The image forming apparatus according to (17), wherein the charging device includes a voltage applying device that applies a voltage having an AC component to the image carrier.

  (19) The toner is represented by the following formula 1

The image forming apparatus according to any one of (15) to (17), wherein the circularity SR indicated by is 0.93 to 1.00.

  (20) The ratio (D4 / D1) of the weight average diameter (D4) to the number average diameter (D1) of the toner is 1.00 to 1.40. (15) to (18) The image forming apparatus according to any one of the above.

  (21) A process cartridge used in the image forming apparatus according to any one of (11) to (20).

  (22) The process cartridge according to (21), wherein the image carrier and a cleaning mechanism for removing untransferred toner remaining on the image carrier after the transfer process using the image carrier are collectively stored. .

  (23) The process according to (21) or (22), wherein the image carrier and means for applying or adhering the hydrophobic organic compound and the inorganic lubricant to the image carrier are collectively stored. cartridge.

  Examples of the hydrophobic organic compound (A) in the present invention are classified into aliphatic saturated hydrocarbons, aliphatic unsaturated hydrocarbons, alicyclic saturated hydrocarbons, alicyclic unsaturated hydrocarbons and aromatic hydrocarbons. In addition to hydrocarbons, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyperfluoroalkyl ether (PFA), perfluoroethylene-perfluoropropylene copolymer (FEP), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVdF), ethylene- Examples thereof include fluorine resins such as tetrafluoroethylene copolymer (ETFE) and fluorine waxes, silicone resins such as polymethyl silicone and polymethyl phenyl silicone, and silicone waxes. Typical fatty acids from which the above fatty acid metal salts and stable hydrophobic metal salts are taken out include caproic acid, caprylic acid, enanthylic acid, pelargonic acid, undecylic acid, lauric acid, tridecoic acid, mytilic acid, Palmitic acid, margaric acid, stearic acid, non-cyclic acid, arachidic acid, behenic acid, styringic acid, palmitoleic acid, oleic acid, petricerinic acid, vaccenic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, eleostearic acid, ricanin There are acids, valinal acid, gadoleic acid, arachidonic acid, 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. Moreover, you may mix and use these.

  Examples of the inorganic lubricant (B) include, but are not limited to, mica, boron nitride, molybdenum disulfide, tungsten disulfide, kaolin, montmorillonite, calcium fluoride, and graphite.

According to the present invention, by applying or adhering a hydrophobic organic compound and an inorganic lubricant to an image carrier, the image carrier can be protected from electrical stress due to charged ads, and the protection deteriorated due to electrical stress. Since the material can hardly affect the quality of the image and the cleaning member, it is possible to stably obtain a good image quality.
In particular, in the first to third aspects of the invention, the inorganic lubricant is applied before the cleaning step, and the hydrophobic organic compound is sequentially applied or adhered after the cleaning step, thereby reducing the frictional force in the cleaning step and wearing the cleaning member. It is possible to reduce toner filming, which is difficult to prevent with a lubricant alone.
In the inventions according to claims 4 and 5, the 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.

  In the inventions according to claims 6 and 7, since the solid lubricant of the two-dimensional layer structure has a very low frictional force between the image carrier and the blade, toner cleaning and cleaning blade protection can be facilitated. Here, the two-dimensional layer structure refers to a substance having a layered structure bonded by a metal bond, a covalent bond, or an ionic bond, and the layers are bonded only by van der Waals force.

According to the eighth to tenth aspects of the present invention, since the inorganic lubricant and the hydrophobic organic compound are supplied to the image carrier through the supply member and the layer forming member, a soft image carrier protective agent is used. However, it can be evenly supplied to the surface of the image carrier.
In other words, the image carrier protecting agent 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 bearing generated by applying an excessive amount of solid lubricant can be improved by applying a solid lubricant for improving the cleaning property upstream of the cleaning mechanism to improve the cleaning property and consume less. The body filming can be prevented, and the coating material can be saved.

  In addition, by applying a hydrophobic organic compound excellent in the effect of protecting the image carrier downstream of the cleaning member and upstream of the charging member, the protective effect from the charging hazard can be improved and the consumption can be reduced. The contamination of the charging member due to excessive application of the conductive organic compound can be reduced. In addition, when a hydrophobic organic compound is applied, an effect of facilitating toner slipping through the cleaning member is obtained. Accordingly, in claim 9, the cleaning property can be improved by not applying the hydrophobic organic compound upstream of the cleaning member.

  In the invention described in claims 11 to 20, the image carrier is kept in use for a very long time without being replaced by constituting an image forming apparatus using a protective layer forming apparatus having the image carrier protective agent. be able to.

  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.

  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.

  In the invention described in claims 21 to 23, since the process cartridge is constituted by 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. Running costs are reduced, and the amount of waste 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.

Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
The protective agent for an image carrier of the present invention is used independently or as a mixture of a hydrophobic organic compound and an inorganic lubricant.
(Hydrophobic organic compounds)
Examples of the hydrophobic organic compound (A) used in the present invention include aliphatic saturated hydrocarbons, aliphatic unsaturated hydrocarbons, alicyclic saturated hydrocarbons, alicyclic unsaturated hydrocarbons and aromatic hydrocarbons. In addition to the classified hydrocarbons, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyperfluoroalkyl ether (PFA), perfluoroethylene-perfluoropropylene copolymer (FEP), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVdF), ethylene -Fluorine resins such as tetrafluoroethylene copolymer (ETFE), fluorine waxes, silicone resins such as polymethyl silicone and polymethyl phenyl silicone, and silicone waxes. Typical fatty acids from which the above fatty acid metal salts and stable hydrophobic metal salts are taken out include caproic acid, caprylic acid, enanthylic acid, pelargonic acid, undecylic acid, lauric acid, tridecoic acid, mytilic acid, Palmitic acid, margaric acid, stearic acid, non-cyclic acid, arachidic acid, behenic acid, styringic acid, palmitoleic acid, oleic acid, petricerinic acid, vaccenic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, eleostearic acid, ricanin There are acids, valinal acid, gadoleic acid, arachidonic acid, 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. Moreover, you may mix and use these.
(Inorganic lubricant)
Examples of the inorganic lubricant (B) include, but are not limited to, mica, boron nitride, molybdenum disulfide, tungsten disulfide, kaolin, montmorillonite, calcium fluoride, and graphite.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an example of a protective layer forming apparatus of the present invention.
Protective layer forming devices 2, 4, and 5 disposed opposite to the photosensitive drum 1 that is an image carrier include a hydrophobic organic compound (A) 21 and a protective material supply member for the hydrophobic organic compound. 22, pressing force applying mechanism 23, protective layer forming mechanism 24, inorganic lubricant (B) 51, protective agent supply member 52 for inorganic lubricant, pressing force applying mechanism 53, protective layer forming mechanism 41, etc. Composed.

  In the configuration shown in FIG. 1, the protective layer forming device 4 also serves as a cleaning mechanism. That is, when the protective agent for the image carrier applied or attached to the photosensitive drum 1 as the image carrier is deteriorated, the cleaning mechanism together with the components such as the toner remaining on the image carrier by the normal cleaning mechanism. Such a cleaning mechanism may be used also as the protective layer forming member described above, but the function of removing the image carrier surface residue and the function of forming the protective layer are appropriate. Since the rubbing state of the members may be different, the functions are separated, and as shown in FIG. 1, the cleaning mechanism 4 including the cleaning member 41, the cleaning pressing mechanism 42, and the like on the upstream side of the image carrier protective agent supply unit. Is preferably provided.

  The arrangement of the hydrophobic organic compound (A) 21 and the inorganic lubricant (B) 51 is an example and is not limited thereto. For example, the hydrophobic organic compound (A) 21 is an inorganic lubricant (B ) 51 may be mixed, and another hydrophobic organic compound may be further mixed. Similarly, the inorganic lubricant (B) 51 may be a mixture of a plurality of hydrophobic organic compounds or inorganic lubricants.

In FIG. 1, the inorganic lubricant (B) 51 comes into 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 is arranged on the upstream side of the protective layer forming apparatus 4 that also serves as a cleaning mechanism in a rotational direction corresponding to the moving direction of the photosensitive drum 1 that is an image carrier, and is connected to the photosensitive drum 1. At this time, an inorganic lubricant (B) 51 used as an image carrier protecting agent held on the surface of the protective agent supplying member 52 is supplied to the surface of the photosensitive drum 1. To do.

  In the present embodiment, the inorganic lubricant (B) 51 uses mica. The mica has a function of greatly reducing the coefficient of friction with the cleaning blade 41 provided in the protective layer forming apparatus 4 that is also used as a cleaning mechanism when applied to the photosensitive drum 1, thereby improving the toner cleaning performance. . Further, since the inorganic lubricant (B) 51 can be present at the blade edge even if a small amount is disposed immediately before the cleaning blade 41, the friction coefficient reduction efficiency between the cleaning blade 41 and the photosensitive drum 1 can be improved. Convenient to increase.

  Next, in FIG. 1, the hydrophobic organic compound 21 is brought into contact with, for example, a brush-like protective agent supply member 22 by the pressing force from the pressing force applying mechanism 23.

The protective agent supply member 22 is disposed on the downstream side of the protective layer forming apparatus 4 that also serves as a cleaning mechanism in the rotational direction corresponding to the moving direction of the photosensitive drum 1 that is an image carrier, and is linearly connected to the photosensitive drum 1. At this time, the hydrophobic organic compound (A) 21 used as a protective agent for the image carrier held on the surface of the protective agent supply member 22 is supplied to the surface of the image carrier. .
The protective layer made of the protective material for the image carrier supplied to the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 by the protective material supply member 22 is thinned by the protective layer forming mechanism 24.

  In the present invention, zinc stearate is used as the hydrophobic organic compound 21. 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. In the case of this embodiment, the mica coating mechanism and the cleaning mechanism (protective layer forming apparatus) provided in the upstream protective layer forming apparatuses 4 and 5 are provided. According to 4), since the slip of toner or the like is extremely less than a conventional product using only zinc stearate, charging member contamination can be reduced. Further, the generation of powder is suppressed by the protective layer forming mechanism 24, and contamination of the charging member can be reduced. In addition, since the coefficient of friction between the photoconductor and the blade is too small only with mica, the surface of the photoconductor cannot be polished and filming occurs. However, in the present invention, occurrence of such a problem is suppressed.

  The material of the blade used for 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 combination. 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 blade thickness cannot be uniquely defined in consideration of the force applied by pressing, but can be preferably used if it is about 0.5 to 5 mm, and more preferably about 1 to 3 mm.

  Further, the length of the cleaning blade that protrudes from the support and can be deflected, that is, the so-called free length, is similarly applied by pressing, and cannot be uniquely defined in terms of the force, but is generally 1 to 15 mm. If it is a grade, it can use preferably, and if it is about 2-10 mm, it can use still more preferably.

As another configuration of the blade member used in the protective layer forming mechanism 24, the surface of the elastic metal blade such as a spring plate is coated with a layer of resin, rubber, elastomer or the like through a coupling agent or a primer component if necessary. The film may be formed by a method such as dipping, heat-cured if necessary, and further subjected to surface polishing if necessary.
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 of the blade member, fluorine resin such as PFA, PTFE, FEP, PVdF, or silicone elastomer such as fluorine rubber or methylphenyl silicone elastomer may be used together with a filler if necessary. Yes, but not limited to this.

  Further, the force that presses the photosensitive drum 1 that is the image carrier by the protective layer forming mechanism 24 is sufficient as the force that the image carrier protective agent spreads to form a protective layer or a protective film, and the linear pressure is 5 gf. / Cm or more and 80 gf / cm or less is preferable, and 10 gf / cm or more and 60 gf / cm or less is more preferable.

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 a very high brush density in terms of supply uniformity and stability, and one fiber is made of several to several hundred 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 reester 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.

An example of an image forming apparatus provided with the above-described protective layer forming apparatus is shown in FIG.
An image forming apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 2 is a tandem type color printer in which a plurality of image forming stations capable of forming different color images are juxtaposed along the extended surface of an intermediate transfer body 60 used in the transfer apparatus.

  The image forming apparatus 100 includes a protective layer forming device 2, a charging device 3, a latent image forming device 8, a developing device 50, a transfer device 6, and a cleaning device around drum-shaped image carriers 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K, respectively. The apparatus 4 is arranged, and image formation is performed by the following operation.

Hereinafter, a series of processes for image formation will be described with a negative-positive process.
An image carrier represented by a photoconductor (OPC) having an organic photoconductive layer is neutralized by a neutralizing lamp (not shown) or the like, and is uniformly negatively charged by a charging device 3 having a charging member.

The photoreceptor used in the present invention is provided with an outermost surface layer, and improves the mechanical strength, abrasion resistance, gas resistance, cleaning property and the like of the photoreceptor. As the outermost surface layer, a polymer having a mechanical strength higher than that of the photosensitive layer and a material in which an inorganic filler is dispersed in the polymer are suitable. The resin used for the outermost surface layer may be either a thermoplastic resin or a thermosetting resin, but the thermosetting resin has high mechanical strength and suppresses abrasion due to friction with the cleaning blade. This is particularly preferable because of its extremely high capacity. If the surface layer is thin, there is no problem even if it does not have the charge transport capability, but if the surface layer without the charge transport capability is formed thick, the sensitivity of the photoreceptor decreases, the potential increases after exposure, and the residual layer Since the potential rise is likely to occur, it is preferable to include the above-described charge transport material in the surface layer or to use a polymer having charge transport ability as the polymer used in the surface layer.
When the image carrier is charged by the charging device, an appropriate voltage suitable for charging the image carriers 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K to a desired potential from a voltage application mechanism (not shown) to the charging member. A large voltage or a charging voltage obtained by superimposing an AC voltage thereon is applied.

The charged image carriers 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K form a latent image with a laser beam irradiated by a latent image forming device 8 such as a laser optical system (the absolute value of the exposed portion potential is the absolute value of the non-exposed portion potential). Is lower than the value).
Laser light is emitted from a semiconductor laser, and the surfaces of the image carriers 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K are scanned in the direction of the rotation axis of the image carrier by a polygonal polygonal mirror (polygon) that rotates at high speed.

The latent image formed in this way is developed with a developer composed of toner particles or a mixture of toner particles and carrier particles supplied onto a developing sleeve 50A which is a developer carrying member in the developing device 50, and the toner A visible image is formed. In the figure, reference numerals 50B and 50C denote stirring and conveying members.
At the time of developing the latent image, a voltage of an appropriate magnitude or a voltage between the exposed portion and the non-exposed portion of the image carrier 1Y, 1M, 1C, 1K is applied to the developing sleeve from a voltage application mechanism (not shown). A developing bias superimposed with an AC voltage is applied.

In the present invention, the toner used for development has the following characteristics.
The toner preferably has an average circularity of 0.93 to 1.00, and more preferably 0.95 to 0.99, which is an average value of the circularity SR represented by the following formula 1. This average circularity is an index of the degree of unevenness of toner particles, and indicates 1.00 when the toner is a perfect sphere, and the average circularity becomes smaller as the surface shape becomes more complex.

  When the average circularity is in the range of 0.93 to 1.00, the surface of the toner particles is smooth, and the toner particles and the contact area between the toner particles and the photosensitive member are small, so that the transferability is excellent. Further, since the toner particles have no corners, the developer agitation torque in the developing device is small, and the agitation drive is stabilized, so that no abnormal image is generated. In addition, since there are no angular toner particles in the toner that forms the dots, the pressure is uniformly applied to the entire toner that forms the dots when pressed against the recording medium during transfer, and the transfer is not easily lost. Further, since the toner particles are not angular, the abrasive power of the toner particles themselves is small, and the surface of the image carrier is not damaged or worn.

  The circularity SR can be measured using, for example, a flow particle image analyzer (manufactured by Toa Medical Electronics Co., Ltd., FPIA-1000).

  First, 0.1 to 0.5 ml of a surfactant (preferably alkylbenzene sulfonate) is added as a dispersant to 100 to 150 ml of water from which impure solids have been removed in advance. Add ~ 0.5g. The suspension in which the sample is dispersed is subjected to dispersion treatment with an ultrasonic disperser for about 1 to 3 minutes, and the shape and particle size of the toner are measured by the above apparatus with the dispersion concentration being 3000 to 10000 / μl.

  The toner has a mass average particle diameter (D4) of preferably 3 to 10 μm, and more preferably 4 to 8 μm. In this range, since the toner particles have a sufficiently small particle size with respect to the minute latent image dots, the dot reproducibility is excellent. When the mass average particle diameter (D4) is less than 3 μm, phenomena such as a decrease in transfer efficiency and a decrease in blade cleaning properties may occur, and when it exceeds 10 μm, it is difficult to suppress scattering of characters and lines. is there.

  The toner has a mass average particle diameter (D4) to number average particle diameter (D1) ratio (D4 / D1) of preferably 1.00 to 1.40, and more preferably 1.00 to 1.30. The closer the ratio (D4 / D1) is to 1, the sharper the particle size distribution of the toner. In the range of (D4 / D1) from 1.00 to 1.40, selective development depending on the toner particle size. Since image quality does not occur, the image quality is excellent. In addition, since the toner particle size distribution is sharp, the triboelectric charge amount distribution is also sharp and the occurrence of fog is suppressed. Further, when the toner particle diameter is uniform, the latent image dots are developed so as to be arranged densely and orderly, so that the dot reproducibility is excellent.

  Here, the mass average particle diameter (D4) and the particle size distribution of the toner are measured by, for example, a Coulter counter method. Examples of the measuring device for the particle size distribution of toner particles by the Coulter counter method include Coulter Counter TA-II and Coulter Multisizer II (both manufactured by Coulter).

  First, 0.1 to 5 ml of a surfactant (preferably alkyl benzene sulfonate) is added as a dispersant to 100 to 150 ml of the electrolytic aqueous solution. Here, the electrolytic solution is a solution prepared by preparing a 1% NaCl aqueous solution using primary sodium chloride. For example, ISOTON-II (manufactured by Coulter) can be used. Here, 2 to 20 mg of a measurement sample is further added. The electrolytic solution in which the sample is suspended is subjected to a dispersion treatment with an ultrasonic disperser for about 1 to 3 minutes, and the measurement device is used to measure the volume and number of toner particles or toner using a 100 μm aperture as the aperture. Volume distribution and number distribution are calculated. From the obtained distribution, the mass average particle diameter (D4) and the number average particle diameter (D1) of the toner can be obtained.

  As channels, 2.00 to less than 2.52 μm; 2.52 to less than 3.17 μm; 3.17 to less than 4.00 μm; 4.00 to less than 5.04 μm; 5.04 to less than 6.35 μm; 6 Less than 35 to 8.00 μm; less than 8.00 to less than 10.08 μm; less than 10.08 to less than 12.70 μm; less than 12.70 to less than 16.00 μm; less than 16.00 to less than 20.20 μm; Uses 13 channels of less than 40 μm; 25.40 to less than 32.00 μm; 32.00 to less than 40.30 μm, and targets particles having a particle size of 2.00 μm to less than 40.30 μm.

  As the toner having such a substantially spherical shape, a toner composition containing a polyester prepolymer having a functional group containing a nitrogen atom, a polyester, a colorant, and a release agent is crosslinked in the presence of resin fine particles in an aqueous medium. It can be prepared by an extension reaction. The toner produced by this reaction can reduce the hot offset by curing the toner surface, and can prevent the fixing device from becoming dirty and appearing on the image.

  The toner images formed on the image carriers 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K corresponding to the respective colors are transferred onto the intermediate transfer body 60 by the transfer device 6 and fed from the paper feed mechanism 200, such as paper. A toner image is transferred onto the recording medium.

  At this time, it is preferable that a potential having a polarity opposite to the polarity of toner charging is applied to the transfer device 6 as a transfer bias. Thereafter, the intermediate transfer member 60 is separated from the image carrier to obtain a transfer image.

  Further, the toner particles remaining on the image carrier are collected by the cleaning member into the toner collecting chamber in the cleaning device 4.

  As the image forming apparatus, an apparatus in which a plurality of the developing devices described above are arranged is used, and a plurality of toner images, which are sequentially produced by the plurality of developing devices, are sequentially transferred onto a transfer material, and then sent to a fixing mechanism to be heated. Even after a plurality of toner images prepared in the same manner are sequentially sequentially transferred onto an intermediate transfer member and then transferred to a recording medium such as paper, Similarly, a fixing device may be used.

The charging device 3 is preferably a charging device disposed in contact with or close to the surface of the image carrier, and a discharge wire is used. This makes it possible to significantly suppress the amount of ozone generated during charging as compared with a corona discharger called a so-called corotron or scorotron.
In a charging device that charges such a charging member in contact with or close to the surface of the image carrier, as described above, the discharge is performed in a region near the surface of the image carrier, so that electrical stress is applied to the image carrier. Tends to grow. However, by using the protective layer forming apparatus using the protective agent for an image carrier of the present invention, the image carrier can be maintained for a long time without deterioration. Fluctuations can be greatly suppressed, and stable image quality can be ensured.

  As described above, the image forming apparatus of the present invention has an excellent tolerance for fluctuations in the surface state of the image carrier, particularly the presence of a low resistance portion, and highly suppresses fluctuations in the charging performance of the image carrier. Therefore, when used in combination with the toner having the above structure, an extremely high quality image can be stably formed over a long period of time.

On the other hand, each image forming station is equipped with a process cartridge described later.
(Process cartridge)
The process cartridge of the present invention comprises at least an image carrier and the protective layer forming means of the present invention, and further, charging means, exposure means, developing means, transfer means, cleaning means, charge eliminating means as necessary. It has other means such as.

  The process cartridge of the present invention can be detachably provided in various electrophotographic apparatuses, and is preferably provided detachably in the above-described image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining an outline of a configuration example of a process cartridge using the protective layer forming apparatus of the present invention.
The process cartridge is provided with a protective layer forming device 2 disposed opposite to the photosensitive drum 1 which is an image carrier, and includes an image carrier protective agent 21, a protective agent supply member 22, a pressing force applying member 23, a protective member. It is comprised from the layer formation member 24 grade | etc.,.

  Further, the image carrier 1 has a surface on which the image carrier protective agent or toner component partially deteriorated after the transfer process remains, but the surface residue is cleaned and cleaned by the cleaning member 41. .

  In FIG. 3, the cleaning member is abutted at an angle similar to a so-called counter type (leading type).

  From the protective agent supply member 22 for the inorganic lubricant (B) 21 to the surface of the image carrier from which the residual toner and the deteriorated protective agent for the image carrier have been removed by the cleaning mechanism, the image carrier The protective agent 21 is supplied, and the protective layer forming member 24 forms a film-like protective layer. At this time, the protective agent for the image carrier used in the present invention has a better adsorptivity to the portion of the surface of the image carrier that is highly hydrophilic due to electrical stress. Even if a large electrical stress is applied and the surface of the image carrier starts to deteriorate partially, the progress of the deterioration of the image carrier itself can be prevented by adsorption of the protective agent.

  On the other hand, a protective layer forming device 5 for the hydrophobic organic compound (A) 51 is provided on the downstream side of the protective layer forming device 4 also used as a cleaning mechanism in the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 1. .

  The image bearing member thus formed with the protective layer is charged, and then an electrostatic ray image is formed by exposure L such as a laser, developed by the developing device 5 to be visualized, and a transfer roller outside the process cartridge. 6 or the like.

  As described above, the process cartridge of the present invention has an excellent tolerance for fluctuations in the surface state of the image carrier, particularly the presence of a low-resistance portion, and has a configuration in which fluctuations in charging performance to the image carrier are highly suppressed. Therefore, when used in combination with the toner having the above structure, an extremely high quality image can be stably formed over a long period of time.

  The present inventor changed the application ratio of the hydrophobic organic compound (A) and the inorganic lubricant (B) used in the protective layer forming apparatus of the present invention having the above-described configuration to variously pass the toner and to form a charging member. As a result of experiments on the occurrence of soiling, the results shown in Table 1 were obtained. In Table 1, numbers given in the columns of mica, boron nitride, and zinc stearate indicate application ratios as examples.

In this experiment, in the imaging unit (Fig. 2) of Ricoh's imgio MP C3000, a lubricant application mechanism corresponding to 5 in Fig. 1 was installed upstream of the cleaning member, and a solid lubricant was supplied from there. Zinc stearate was supplied from the portion corresponding to the protective layer forming apparatus 5 shown in the same manner as imagio MP C3000, and the ratio of the coating amount at this time was changed for evaluation.
A continuous paper passing test was conducted on an A4 size, 100,000 original document with an image area ratio of 6%, and the charging member contamination and toner slippage were evaluated.

  For evaluation of toner slipping, a white felt member is attached on the photosensitive member immediately after the cleaning member, the toner slipping through the blade is collected, and taken in by a scanner, and the amount of toner slipping is measured. At this time, the amount of wear of the blade is measured.

It is the schematic which shows an example of the protective layer formation apparatus of this invention. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of an image forming apparatus of the present invention. It is the schematic which shows an example of the process cartridge of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Image carrier (photosensitive drum)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 Protective layer formation apparatus 3 Charging roller 4 Cleaning mechanism 5 Development apparatus 6 Transfer roller 8 Latent image formation apparatus 21 Inorganic lubricant used as one of the protection materials for image carriers 22 Protection agent supply member 23 Pressing force provision member 24 Protection Layer forming member 41 Cleaning member 42 Cleaning pressing member 51 Hydrophobic organic compound which is another one of the protective material for the image carrier 52 Protective material supply member 60 Intermediate transfer member 100 Image forming apparatus 200 Paper feed mechanism L Exposure

Claims (23)

At least a protective layer forming method for forming a protective layer on the surface of the external image carrier with respect to the image carrier to be subjected to the cleaning process of the image carrier,
Means for applying or adhering a hydrophobic organic compound used in a protective layer to the image carrier;
Means for applying or adhering an inorganic lubricant used in a protective layer to the image carrier,
The method for forming a protective layer, wherein the inorganic lubricant is applied or adhered before the cleaning step.   The method for forming a protective layer according to claim 1, wherein the hydrophobic organic compound is applied or adhered after the cleaning step. The method for forming a protective layer according to claim 1, wherein the inorganic lubricant and the hydrophobic organic compound are applied or adhered in the order of the hydrophobic organic compound next to the inorganic lubricant. The method for forming a protective layer according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a substance having a lamellar crystal is used as the hydrophobic organic compound (A). The image forming method according to claim 1, wherein the hydrophobic organic compound (A) is a metal salt of a fatty acid. The method for forming a protective layer according to claim 1, wherein the inorganic lubricant (B) is a two-dimensional layer structure. The inorganic lubricant (B) contains at least one of mica, boron nitride, molybdenum disulfide, tungsten disulfide, kaolin, montmorillonite, calcium fluoride, and graphite. The method for forming a protective layer according to claim 1. A protective layer forming apparatus using the protective layer forming method according to claim 1. 9. The protective layer forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the hydrophobic organic compound and the inorganic lubricant used for forming the protective layer are supplied to the image carrier through a supply member. 9. The hydrophobic organic compound and inorganic lubricant used for forming the protective layer are applied to or adhered to the image carrier, and then thinned by a layer forming member to form a film. Or the protective layer forming apparatus according to 9.   An image forming apparatus using the image forming apparatus according to claim 8.   The image carrier is provided with a cleaning mechanism and a transfer device for performing a cleaning process of residual toner on the image carrier along the moving direction thereof, and the installation position of the transfer device in the moving direction of the image carrier. 12. A means for applying or adhering the inorganic lubricant to the downstream side is provided, and a means for applying or adhering the hydrophobic organic compound to the downstream side of the installation position of the cleaning mechanism is provided. The image forming apparatus described in 1.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the cleaning mechanism includes a cleaning member that can remove the toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier by rubbing.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the image carrier includes a thermosetting resin in at least a layer formed on the outermost surface.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the image carrier is a photoconductor.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the image carrier is an intermediate transfer member to which an image from the photosensitive member is transferred.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 15, wherein a charging device is disposed on the image carrier in the vicinity of the surface thereof.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the charging device includes a voltage applying device that applies a voltage having an AC component to the image carrier. The toner is represented by the following formula 1

18. The image forming apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the circularity SR indicated by the formula is 0.93 to 1.00.   The ratio (D4 / D1) of the weight average diameter (D4) and the number average diameter (D1) of the toner is 1.00 to 1.40. Image forming apparatus.   21. A process cartridge used in the image forming apparatus according to claim 11.   The process cartridge according to claim 21, wherein a cleaning mechanism for removing the image carrier and untransferred toner remaining on the image carrier after the transfer process using the image carrier is collectively stored.   23. The process cartridge according to claim 21, wherein the image bearing member and means for applying or adhering the hydrophobic organic compound and the inorganic lubricant to the image carrier are collectively stored.

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