JP2008299101A - Method for manufacturing elastic roller - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for manufacturing an elastic roller, which is less in machine difference caused by coating devices and is satisfactory in dimensional accuracy, especially in dispersion (precision in thickness of an elastic layer) by correcting running error possessed by each individual coating device. <P>SOLUTION: The method for manufacturing the elastic roller includes; a holding process of holding a shaft core body in a vertical axis direction; a coating process of forming a liquid material layer by while relatively moving an annular coating head with an annular slit opened inside to the shaft core body, coating liquid material by ejecting the liquid material from the annular slit onto an outer periphery surface of the shaft axis body; a curing process of forming the elastic layer by curing the liquid material layer; a running error measuring process of measuring before hand the running error in the mechanism relatively moving the annular coating head in a vertical direction to the shaft core body; and a running error canceling process of relatively moving the annular coating head in a horizontal direction to the shaft core body so that the running error is canceled simultaneously at the coating. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a printer or a copying machine, and a method for manufacturing an elastic roller used in an electrophotographic process cartridge.

  In the electrophotographic apparatus, in the case of the developing roller, the developer roller is in pressure contact with the photosensitive drum and the developer regulating member. When developing, the developer is placed between the developing roller and the photosensitive drum, and between the developing roller and the developer regulating member. They are in pressure contact with each other. The developer that is not transferred to the photosensitive drum is peeled off by the developer application roller, returned to the developing container again, stirred in the container, and conveyed again onto the developing roller by the developer application roller. As a result of repeating these steps, the developer is subjected to great stress. Therefore, the developing roller is formed of a material having appropriate elasticity for the purpose of reducing stress on the developer. In addition, since the developing roller and the charging roller always rotate in contact with other members, it is necessary to keep the contact state stable, and thus high dimensional accuracy is required for the roller. If the contact state cannot be maintained stably, the supply amount of the developer varies, the pressure distribution on the photosensitive drum varies, and the image is affected.

  In recent years, the need for colorization and high image quality of electrophotography has increased, and there has been a strict demand for high precision outer dimensions and deflection (thickness accuracy) of the electrophotographic elastic roller. For example, in the contact development system, the developing roller presses the surface of the photosensitive drum through the developer as described above. For this reason, if the external dimensions and runout (thickness accuracy) are not accurate, the nip width and nip force between the photosensitive drum and the roller may fluctuate and image defects such as density unevenness may occur.

A developing roller used in such a contact developing method generally has a configuration in which a conductive elastic layer is provided around a shaft core body.
As a method of manufacturing such a roller having an elastic layer on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft core (hereinafter also referred to as “elastic roller”), a high-viscosity liquid material is annularly formed on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft core gripped vertically. A method is known in which an elastic layer is formed by coating using a coating head (see Patent Document 1). According to this method, even when the thickness of the coating film is increased, a coating film formed with good dimensional accuracy can be obtained.
JP 2006-293015 A

  However, as a result of the study by the present inventors, even when the method according to the invention described in Patent Document 1 is used, the accuracy of the thickness of the elastic layer may not always be sufficiently obtained. This is due to the accuracy of the mechanism for moving the vertically held shaft core and the annular coating head in the vertical direction. That is, in the process of applying a high-viscosity elastic layer material to the shaft core using the annular coating head, it is difficult to avoid running errors of the coating apparatus in terms of apparatus performance. Here, the running error is a mechanical error that occurs when the apparatus is moved up and down, and can be cited as a cause of bending of the shape of the apparatus itself. Usually, even if the machine accuracy is good, a running error of about 1 μm to 10 μm occurs. However, when a running error of the coating apparatus occurs, the elastic layer on the shaft core body is biased and adversely affects the deflection of the elastic layer (thickness accuracy of the elastic layer). For this reason, in order to manufacture an elastic roller with good runout, it is desired to perform correction that cancels the running error of the coating apparatus. In addition, the magnitude of this running error varies depending on the individual device, and machine differences may occur.

  An object of the present invention is to correct a running error of each coating apparatus, thereby reducing the machine difference due to the coating apparatus, and producing an elastic roller having good dimensional accuracy, in particular, deflection (thickness accuracy of the elastic layer). Is to provide.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention has the following configuration.
That is, the manufacturing method of the elastic roller according to the present invention includes:
An annular coating head having an annular slit opened on the inner side and a vertically held shaft core body are moved relatively in the vertical direction, and the liquid material is discharged from the annular slit to the outer peripheral surface of the shaft core body. And applying a liquid material to form a liquid material layer; and
A method for producing an elastic roller having an elastic layer on an outer peripheral surface of a shaft core body, comprising a curing step of curing the liquid material layer to form an elastic layer,
Prior to the coating step, it further includes a running error measurement step for measuring in advance a running error of a mechanism for moving the annular coating head and the vertically held shaft core relative to each other in the vertical direction,
The liquid material is applied while moving the annular coating head in a horizontal direction relative to the shaft core so that the coating step cancels the running error measured in the running error measuring step. Including the step of:

  According to the present invention, by correcting the running error of each coating device, there is little machine difference due to the coating device, and the manufacturing method of an elastic roller with good dimensional accuracy, particularly deflection (thickness accuracy of the elastic layer). Is provided.

  Hereinafter, although the form of the manufacturing method of the elastic roller by this invention is demonstrated in detail, this invention is not limited by this.

The elastic roller manufacturing method according to the present invention includes the following steps.
(1) An annular coating head having an annular slit opened on the inside and a vertically held shaft core body are moved relative to each other in the vertical direction, so that the outer peripheral surface of the shaft core body is liquidized from the annular slit. A coating process in which a material is discharged to apply a liquid material to form a liquid material layer.
(2) A curing step of curing the liquid material layer to form an elastic layer.
(3) A running error measurement step of measuring in advance a running error of a mechanism that moves the annular coating head and the vertically held shaft core relative to each other in the vertical direction prior to the step (1).

  Then, in the step (1), the liquid material is moved while moving the annular coating head relative to the shaft core in the horizontal direction so as to cancel the running error measured in the running error measuring step. Including the step of coating.

(Shaft core)
The shaft core body can function as an electrode and a support member. For the shaft core, iron, aluminum, copper alloy or stainless steel metal (including alloy) may be used, and may be plated with chromium or nickel as necessary. Moreover, you may comprise with materials, such as a synthetic resin. The shape is preferably a columnar shape or a cylindrical shape with a hollow center. The outer diameter of the shaft core can be determined as appropriate, but is usually in the range of 4.0 mm to 20.0 mm in diameter.

[Coating machine]
FIG. 1 shows a schematic explanatory diagram of a coating machine having an annular coating head that can be suitably used in the method for producing an elastic roller of the present invention. Hereinafter, this coating machine is called a ring coating machine.

  In this ring coat machine, a column 32 is attached substantially vertically on a gantry 31, and a precision ball screw 33 is attached substantially vertically on the gantry 31 and the column 32. Reference numeral 44 denotes a linear guide, and two linear guides 44 are attached to the column 32 in parallel with the precision ball screw 33. A linear motion guide (hereinafter referred to as LM guide) 34 connects a linear guide 44 and a precision ball screw 33, and a rotary motion is transmitted from a servo motor 35 via a pulley 36 so that the linear motion guide 34 can be moved up and down. An annular coating head fixing table 45 is attached to the column 32. An annular coating head position correction XY stage 46 is attached to the annular coating head fixing table 45, and an annular coating head 38 is attached on the annular coating head position correction XY stage 46.

  FIG. 2 is a view of the mechanism around the annular coating head position correcting XY stage 46 as viewed from directly above, and the upper side in FIG. 2 is the LM guide 34 side in FIG. Here, the X direction is the left-right direction in FIG. 2, and the Y direction is the vertical direction in FIG. The annular coating head position correcting XY stage 46 is provided with a driving mechanism in both XY directions (horizontal directions) and is driven by a stepping motor. In addition, in the annular coating head fixing table 45, in order to detect the position of the shaft core and the position of the coating head, two sets (48-1) of LED position detectors 48 each in the XY direction are set. And 48-2) are attached. A laser may be used as a light source for optical position detection. Thus, in order to improve the accuracy of position detection of the measurement object, it is preferable that two or more sets of LED position detectors 48 are attached. The LED position detector 48 includes a pair of a light projecting unit and a light receiving unit, and detects the position of the measurement object from the difference in luminance of the received light.

  A bracket 37 is attached to the LM guide 34. A shaft core body position correction XY stage 47 is attached to the bracket 37, and a shaft core body lower holding shaft 39 that holds and fixes the shaft core body 101 on the shaft core body position correction XY stage 47 is substantially vertical. It is attached. Also, the central axis of the shaft core upper holding shaft 40 that holds the opposite side of the roller shaft core body 101 is attached to the upper portion of the bracket 37, and the shaft core upper holding shaft 40 faces the shaft core lower holding shaft 39. And it arrange | positions so that it may become substantially concentric, and the shaft core body is hold | maintained.

  The center axis of the annular coating head 38 is supported so as to be parallel to the moving direction of the shaft core lower holding shaft 39 and the shaft core upper holding shaft 40. Further, when the shaft core lower holding shaft 39 and the shaft core upper holding shaft 40 are moved up and down, the central axis of the discharge port formed as an annular slit opened inside the annular coating head 38 and the shaft core lower shaft The center axis of the holding shaft 39 and the shaft core holding shaft 40 is adjusted so as to be substantially concentric.

  The liquid material supply port 41 is connected to a supply valve 43 via a pipe 42. The material supply valve 43 includes a mixing mixer, a material supply pump, a material fixed amount discharge device, and a material tank (all not shown) in front of the material supply valve 43 so that a fixed amount (a constant amount per unit time) can be discharged. . The liquid material is weighed from a material tank by a material dispensing device and mixed by a mixing mixer. Thereafter, the liquid material mixed by the material supply pump is sent from the material supply valve 43 to the supply port 41 via the pipe 42.

  The liquid material fed from the supply port 41 passes through the flow path in the annular coating head 38 and is discharged from the nozzle of the annular coating head 38 (FIG. 3).

  3A and 3B are schematic cross-sectional views showing a general aspect of the annular coating head 38. FIG.

  3A and 3B, the annular coating head has an upper part 52 and a lower part 53. A liquid material is introduced into the space formed by the upper part 52 and the lower part 53 from the material injection port 54. In addition, the liquid material introduced into the space is introduced into the annular slit 51 from the material inlet 55 and discharged from the material outlet 56.

  In order to make the layer thickness of the liquid material constant, the discharge amount from the annular coating head nozzle and the supply amount from the material supply pump are made constant, and the shaft core body 101 held in the vertical direction (the shaft core body Move upward in the direction of the central axis). By doing so, the shaft core body 101 moves in the axial direction relative to the annular coating head 38, and a cylindrical (roll-shaped) layer 102 made of a liquid material is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft core body 101. Is done.

[Manufacture of elastic rollers]
An elastic roller can be manufactured according to the present invention using a ring coater having the annular coating head.

<The process of calculating | requiring the center position coordinate of the cyclic | annular coating head with respect to an axial core holding shaft>
In manufacturing the elastic roller, first, the center position of the coating head is adjusted so that the holding shaft on the shaft core is at the center of the coating head. The LM guide shown in FIG. 1 is moved in the vertical direction and adjusted so that the tip of the shaft core holding shaft 40 is within the measurement range of the LED position detector. Read the X and Y coordinates in the horizontal plane). Subsequently, the position of the annular coating head 38 is corrected. As a method for correcting the position of the coating head, for example, a method of obtaining and adjusting the position coordinates of the annular coating head by a contact method, or a reference pin is set on the annular coating head, and the position coordinates of the annular coating head The method of obtaining | requiring these by non-contact with an LED position detector etc. is mentioned.

  As an example, FIG. 4 shows a schematic explanatory diagram of a method for setting a reference pin on the annular coating head and obtaining the position coordinates of the annular coating head by an LED position detector. As shown in FIG. 4, a total of four pins 49 are erected on the annular coating head 38, two each for the X axis and the Y axis so as to be equidistant from the central axis of the annular coating head 38. . First, the LED position detector 48 measures the distance between the shaft core holding shaft 40 and the pin standing on the annular coating head. At that time, as shown in FIG. 4, the annular coating head position correcting XY stage 46 is driven so that the distances X1, X2, Y1, and Y2 are X1 = X2 and Y1 = Y2. By passing through this step, the center position coordinates of the annular coating head relative to the shaft core holding shaft are obtained relatively.

<Coordinate adjustment process of center position of holding shaft below shaft core with respect to holding shaft on shaft core>
Here, correction is performed so that the center position coordinates of the shaft core upper holding shaft and the shaft core lower holding shaft for gripping the shaft core coincide with each other. First, in the state where the upper end of the shaft core lower holding shaft 39 is positioned above the annular coating head through the annular coating head 38, the LED position detector 48 (48-1 and 48-2). ) To detect the center position coordinates (X and Y) of the shaft core lower holding shaft 39 (FIG. 8A). Next, the center position of the lower shaft core holding shaft 39 is aligned with the center position coordinates of the lower shaft core holding shaft 39 in the horizontal direction with respect to the center position coordinates of the upper shaft core holding shaft 40 determined in advance. Adjust the coordinates. By aligning the center position coordinates of the shaft core body upper and lower holding shafts in this way, it is possible to suppress the tilting of the shaft core body when the shaft core body is gripped.

<Measurement of running error and position correction to cancel it>
In manufacturing the elastic roller, prior to the application of the liquid material to the outer peripheral surface of the shaft core body, the running error (X and Y) of the mechanism that moves the annular coating head relative to the shaft core body in the vertical direction. (Direction) is calculated in advance. Hereinafter, this running error is described as “running error of the device” or simply “running error”. When applying the liquid material, the position of the annular coating head is corrected by moving the annular coating head in a direction that cancels out the uneven thickness of the liquid material in synchronization with the running error of the apparatus, that is, in the horizontal direction. Thereby, the liquid material can be applied while canceling out the running error of the apparatus, and an elastic roller with good runout accuracy can be manufactured without any difference regardless of the machine accuracy of each coating apparatus. . When applying the liquid material, the position of the annular coating head may be fixed, and the position correction of moving the shaft core in the horizontal direction in synchronization with the running error of the apparatus may be performed.

  In order to measure the running error of the device, a master whose shape is known can be used. The example will be specifically described. In order to measure the running error of the apparatus, a cylindrical stainless steel master shaft core 50 having two-step outer diameters as shown in FIG. 5 can be used. In this master shaft core, a cylindrical body (small diameter portion) having a diameter of 6.0 mm and a length of 10.0 mm is concentric at both ends of a cylindrical body (large diameter portion) having a diameter of 12.0 mm and a length of 240.0 mm. It is connected to the form. In order to measure the running error of the apparatus using the master, it is necessary that the cylindricity of the master shaft core is sufficiently smaller than the running error of the apparatus. Therefore, first, the cylindricity of the master shaft core is measured. Two points at both ends (an arbitrary point in the small diameter portion) of the master shaft core were held, and when the cylindricity of the master shaft core was measured with a roundness meter, it was 0.2 μm. As a result, it was confirmed that the cylindricity of the master shaft core was sufficiently small and suitable as a reference for measuring the running error of the apparatus.

  Next, tilt correction of the master shaft core is performed. The master shaft core is held and lowered in the vertical axis direction by the shaft core upper holding shaft 40 and the shaft core lower holding shaft 39. At this time, the position coordinates (distance from the edge of the master to the LED position detector) of the two ends of the master shaft core (any point in the small diameter portion) are detected by the LED position detector. Thereafter, the position of the upper end of the master shaft core is set as the reference position, and the position of the lower end of the master shaft core is corrected to correct the tilt of the master shaft core.

  Next, the master shaft core is raised, and the position coordinates (X and Y) of the surface in the longitudinal direction of the master shaft core are detected by the LED position detector 48 as needed (FIGS. 6A and 6B). ). That is, FIG. 6 shows the position coordinates of the master shaft core.

  The interval for detecting the position coordinates of the master shaft core body may be determined as appropriate, but is preferably 1 mm or less. The cylindricity of the master shaft core in the longitudinal direction is 0.2 μm, which is sufficiently small compared with the running error of 1 μm to 10 μm of the apparatus and can be ignored. Therefore, the deviation between the reference position obtained in advance and the master position coordinates (X (FIG. 6- (A) and Y (FIG. 6- (B))) detected by the LED position detector 48 is the cause of the vertical movement of the apparatus. It shows the magnitude of the running error of the device that occurs at the time.

  In the present invention, when the liquid material is applied, as illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the apparatus is synchronized with the running error of this apparatus (shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B). The annular coating head is moved in the horizontal direction by the same amount as the amount of the running error, and the position of the annular coating head is corrected. That is, FIG. 7 shows the amount of movement of the annular coating head. Here, as an easy method, an example in which the movable range of the apparatus is divided into three parts and correction is performed at each point is shown. However, this correction may be performed by taking a larger number of points, or based on more points. It is also possible to correct it so that it becomes almost a curve. For example, in the case of FIG. 7A, in the section A, the liquid material is applied while moving the annular coating head horizontally by 10 μm in the + X direction. Thereafter, in the section B, the head is not moved horizontally, and in the section C, the head is moved by 10 μm in the −X direction. In the case shown in FIG. 7B, the opposite is true. In the section A, the annular coating head is moved horizontally by 10 μm in the −Y direction, not moved horizontally in the section B, and in the section C, 10 μm in the −Y direction. Just move. If the position of the master shaft core is measured while performing such correction, the distance between the annular coating head and the master shaft core is kept constant in the X direction, for example, as shown in FIG. 7C. It can be seen that the running error of the device can be canceled. Although not shown, the same applies to the Y direction.

  The above-described step of obtaining the center position coordinate of the annular coating head with respect to the center position coordinate of the holding shaft on the shaft core and the step of measuring the running error are preparations for manufacturing individual elastic rollers. . Hereinafter, a method for manufacturing each elastic roller will be described.

<Gripping process>
The shaft core body 101 is gripped in the vertical axis direction by the shaft core upper holding shaft 40 and the shaft core lower holding shaft 39.

  In the present invention, gripping the shaft core in the vertical axis direction means gripping the end of the shaft core so that the shaft core is in the vertical direction as shown in FIG.

<Step of detecting the center position coordinate of the shaft core and correcting the tilt of the shaft core>
Next, the LM guide (not shown in FIG. 8) is lowered while holding the shaft core 101 in the vertical axis direction. At this time, as shown in FIGS. 8B and 8C, for example, the LED position detector 48 uses, for example, two center position coordinates of the axial direction (longitudinal direction) positions 101-1 and 101-2 of the shaft core body. (X and Y coordinates in the horizontal plane) are detected. Although the longitudinal position of the shaft core body for detecting the horizontal position coordinates depends on the length of the shaft core body, it is usually selected from two points within 80 mm, more preferably within 50 mm, respectively from both ends of the shaft core body. The one closer to the end is preferable in terms of accuracy.

  Next, the shaft core position correction XY stage 47 is set so that the center position of the measurement spot 101-1 is directly below the center of the axis core measurement spot 101-2 with reference to the center position coordinate of the measurement spot 101-2. Is moved (FIG. 8D). Thereby, the fall of the shaft core body can be corrected.

<Step of correcting the position of the annular coating head so that the position coordinates of the annular coating head coincide with the center position coordinates of the shaft core in the horizontal direction>
Further, the center of the measurement location 101-2 is made to coincide with the center of the annular coating head in the horizontal direction from the center position coordinates of the annular coating head determined in advance (FIG. 8D). Thereby, the bias of the elastic layer when the liquid material is applied can be corrected.

<Formation of liquid material layer>
Next, a liquid material layer is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft core while using the position correction mechanism. While discharging the liquid material from the annular coating head 38, the held shaft core body 101 is moved upward in the vertical direction relative to the annular coating head, and the liquid material is applied to the outer peripheral surface of the shaft core body. Apply. During this time, the annular coating head position during the discharge of the liquid material is synchronized (X and Y) by the annular coating head position correction XY stage 46 with respect to the running error (X and Y directions) of the apparatus determined in advance. Direction) (FIG. 9A). As described above, the running error of the apparatus is calculated from the master position coordinates (X and Y) detected in advance by the LED position detector 48, and the annular coating head 38 is driven and moved in the horizontal direction in synchronization therewith. Thus, a liquid material layer having a uniform thickness can be provided. At this time, the axial core may be moved in the horizontal direction in synchronization with the running error of the apparatus with the annular coating head fixed (in the horizontal direction). Through the above steps, a cylindrical (roller-shaped) layer 102 made of a liquid material is formed on the outer periphery of the shaft core body 101 (FIG. 9B). Then, the holding shaft on the shaft core body is raised, the shaft core body is removed from the ring coat machine (FIG. 9C), and the elastic roller is manufactured by heating and curing.

  As a result, the running error of the coating apparatus can be corrected, whereby machine differences due to the individual coating apparatuses can be suppressed, and an elastic roller with small deflection can be manufactured.

  The thickness of the elastic layer is usually preferably in the range of 0.5 mm to 10.0 mm. More preferably, it is 2.0 mm or more and 6.0 mm or less. When the thickness of the elastic layer is 2.0 mm or less, it is also useful for a horizontal ring coater. However, an elastic roller used in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus often requires an elastic layer thickness of 2.0 mm or more. This is because an elastic roller such as a charging roller or a developing roller rotates while being in contact with the photoreceptor, and it is necessary to keep the contact state stable. When applied using a horizontal ring coater so that the thickness of the elastic layer is 2.0 mm or more, dripping occurs in the direction of gravity due to the weight of the liquid material, resulting in a large variation in the thickness of the elastic layer and an increase in vibration. It is considered. Therefore, in order to manufacture an elastic roller used in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, it is preferable to use a vertical ring coater as described above.

  When the thickness of the elastic layer is 0.5 mm or more, for example, in the case of a developing roller, the elasticity of the elastic layer becomes excellent, and it is easy to reduce stress on the developer. In addition, when the thickness of the elastic layer is 10.0 mm or less, it is easy to prevent dripping in the gravity direction due to the weight of the liquid material in the vertical ring coater, realizing excellent outer diameter and deflection. Easy to do.

  The shake value can be obtained as follows. As shown in FIG. 11, the shaft core body supporting member 202 vertically mounted on the reference surface plate 201 is made to grip the exposed portion of the shaft core body 101 of the elastic roller, and the roller is rotated using the gripping portion as a fulcrum. Let The fluctuation of the distance between the roller and the surface plate at this time was measured with a non-contact position detector (manufactured by Keyence Corporation, product name: LS-5000) arranged perpendicular to the shaft core, and the distance between the elastic layer and the surface plate was measured. The difference between the maximum value and the minimum value is obtained as a value. The difference between the maximum value and the minimum value of the distance between the elastic layer and the surface plate is obtained at a pitch of 1 cm in the axial direction of the elastic layer, and the maximum value among the difference values is set as the value of the elastic layer deflection.

  The deflection that can be preferably used as the elastic roller is preferably 60 μm or less, more preferably 50 μm or less, and even more preferably 30 μm or less, although it depends on the grade and durability of the apparatus to which the elastic roller is applied. By setting the runout within the above range, particularly 30 μm or less, it is possible to prevent the stress applied to the other member from being biased and causing the wear and deterioration of the stressed portion to be accelerated. Further, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of image adverse effects, particularly density unevenness, due to the loss of the charge and developer supply balance.

  The yield stress of the liquid material applied to the outer periphery of the shaft core with the annular coating head is preferably 20 Pa or more and 600 Pa or less.

  Yield stress (often called the yield point) is the critical stress below which a sample behaves as a solid. When the yield stress is exceeded, structural destruction of the three-dimensional network structure formed by the agglomerated filler occurs, and the sample starts to flow. Deformation continues indefinitely due to the applied stress, and even if the stress is removed, it does not return to its original shape. That is, since the mass of the material increases as the thickness of the coating film increases, the material easily flows in the direction of gravity. In order not to cause a flow, it is desirable to have a sufficient yield stress to counteract its own weight. By having a sufficient yield stress with respect to the thickness of the coating film, a molded product having a stable shape and good dimensional accuracy can be obtained.

  A more preferable range of the yield stress is 100 Pa or more and 400 Pa or less. When the yield stress is in the range of 20 Pa or more and 600 Pa or less, the dimensional accuracy with respect to the coating thickness can be maintained and the balance with the smoothness of the coating surface can be achieved.

  When the yield stress is 600 Pa or less, the leveling effect of the material during coating is excellent, and it is easy to prevent streaks or irregularities from being formed on the surface after coating. In the case of 20 Pa or more, excellent yield stress is obtained with respect to gravity, it is easy to maintain the shape after the coating is formed, deformation can be easily prevented, and the outer diameter dimensional difference with respect to the coating thickness of the elastic roll Is easily prevented from increasing.

  The liquid material used in the present invention is a polymer that has fluidity for at least a certain period of time at room temperature, and is cured by heating or aging. Specific examples include liquid diene rubber (butadiene rubber, isoprene rubber, nitrile rubber, chloroprene rubber, ethylene-propylene rubber, etc.), liquid silicone rubber, and liquid urethane rubber. Such rubber | gum may be used independently or may be used in mixture of 2 or more types. Among these, since it is desired that the elastic layer has a good deformation recovery force, it is preferable to use liquid silicone rubber or liquid urethane rubber as the liquid material. In particular, it is more preferable to use an addition reaction cross-linkable liquid silicone rubber because it has good processability, high dimensional accuracy stability, and excellent productivity such that no reaction by-product is generated during the curing reaction.

  The liquid silicone rubber is a composition containing, for example, an organopolysiloxane (A liquid) and an organohydrogenpolysiloxane (B liquid), and further containing a catalyst and other additives as appropriate.

<Curing of liquid material layer and elastic roller>
The liquid material layer 102 applied to the outer periphery of the shaft core is cured by heat treatment by infrared heating or the like to obtain an elastic roller. The surface of the layer of liquid material has adhesiveness. For this reason, infrared heating is preferred as a heat treatment method, which is non-contact, simple in apparatus, and capable of uniformly heat-treating the liquid material layer on the outer periphery of the shaft core in the longitudinal direction. At this time, the infrared heating device is fixed, and the shaft core body provided with a cylindrical (roller-shaped) uncured material layer made of a liquid material is rotated in the circumferential direction to uniformly perform heat treatment in the circumferential direction. it can. The heat treatment temperature on the surface of the coating solution depends on the liquid material to be used. For example, in the case of an addition reaction cross-linkable liquid silicone rubber, it is preferably 100 ° C. or higher and 250 ° C. or lower at which silicone rubber curing reaction starts.

  Here, for the purpose of stabilizing physical properties of the elastic layer obtained by curing the liquid material layer, removing reaction residues and unreacted low molecular components in the elastic layer, the elastic layer after infrared heating is further subjected to heat treatment. Secondary curing may be performed. Then, both ends of the elastic layer are pierced to make the elastic layer as long as necessary, and the starting end and the terminal end when the liquid material is formed on the shaft core, which is likely to be abnormal when forming the elastic layer, are removed in advance. It is also preferable.

  A surface layer can be further provided on the outer peripheral side of the elastic layer formed as described above from the viewpoints of wear resistance, toner triboelectric chargeability and releasability. Examples of the material forming the surface layer include various polyamides, fluororesins, hydrogenated styrene-butylene resins, urethane resins, silicone resins, polyester resins, phenol resins, imide resins, and olefin resins. These materials may be used alone or in combination of two or more. Various additives are added to these materials as necessary.

  For example, the materials constituting these surface layers are dispersed using a conventionally known dispersion apparatus using beads such as a sand mill, a paint shaker, a dyno mill, and a ball mill. The obtained dispersion for forming the surface layer is applied to the surface of the elastic layer by a spray coating method or a dipping method. The thickness of the surface layer is preferably 5 μm to 50 μm. 5 μm or more is preferable from the viewpoint of preventing the low molecular weight component from seeping out and contaminating the photosensitive drum, and 50 μm or less is preferable from the viewpoint of preventing the roller from becoming hard and causing fusion. More preferably, it is 10-30 micrometers.

  The elastic roller manufactured by the method of the present invention has good dimensional accuracy, in particular, good deflection (thickness accuracy of the elastic layer) and low cost. In addition, the running error of the coating device includes machine differences depending on the individual coating device, but the running error of the device is calculated in advance as in the present invention, and when the liquid material is applied, By performing the position correction of the annular coating head in synchronization, machine differences due to the coating apparatus can be eliminated.

  The elastic roller obtained by the present invention can be used as a developing roller. The developing roller carries a developer (toner) in a state of being in contact with or pressed against a photosensitive drum as a latent image carrier that carries a latent image. The developing roller has a function of visualizing the latent image as a toner image by applying toner as a developer to the photosensitive drum. Such a developing roller can be used by being incorporated in an electrophotographic process cartridge or an image forming apparatus.

[Electrophotographic process cartridge and image forming apparatus]
An example of a process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus in which the elastic roller obtained by the present invention can be mounted as a developing roller is shown as a schematic diagram in FIG. This will be described below with reference to this figure.

  The image forming apparatus is provided with tandem image forming units 10a to 10d (four in total) that respectively form yellow, cyan, magenta, and black toner images. The specifications of the four image forming units 10a to 10d are slightly adjusted in accordance with the characteristics of each color toner, with respect to the characteristics of the photoconductor (photosensitive drum) 11, the charging device 12, the image exposure device, the developing device 14, the cleaning device 15, and the image transfer device 16. Although there are differences, the basic configuration is the same. In the figure, a transfer roller is shown as an image transfer device, and a writing beam 13 from the image exposure device is shown. The photosensitive member 11, the charging device 12, the developing device 14, and the cleaning device 15 are integrated to form a detachable process cartridge. The process cartridge includes a developing cartridge type including the developing device 14.

  The developing device 14 includes a developing container 6 that contains the one-component toner 5 and a developing roller 1 that is located in an opening extending in the longitudinal direction in the developing container 6 and that is opposed to the photosensitive drum 11. The electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 11 is developed and visualized. Further, a toner supply roller 7 for supplying the one-component toner 5 to the developing roller 1 and scraping the one-component toner 5 carried on the developing roller 1 without being used for development from the developing roller 1 is provided. A developing blade 8 that regulates the amount of the one-component toner 5 carried on the developing roller 1 and is frictionally charged is provided.

  The surface of the photosensitive drum 11 is uniformly charged to a predetermined polarity and potential by the charging device 12, and image information is irradiated as a beam 13 from the additional exposure device to the surface of the charged photosensitive drum 11, and an electrostatic latent image is formed. It is formed. Next, a one-component toner is supplied from the developing device 14 using the elastic roller obtained by the present invention as the developing roller 1 on the formed electrostatic latent image, and a toner image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 11. As the photosensitive drum 11 rotates, the toner image is transferred to a transfer material 25 such as paper that is supplied in synchronization with the rotation when the toner image comes to a position facing the image transfer device 16.

  Here, four image forming units 10 a to 10 d are formed in a series of interlocking manner so that predetermined color images are superimposed on one transfer material 25. Therefore, the transfer material 25 is synchronized with the image formation of each image forming unit, that is, the image formation is synchronized with the insertion of the transfer material 25. For this purpose, the transfer roller 17 for transporting the transfer material 25 is sandwiched between the photosensitive drum 11 and the image transfer device 16 so that the drive roller 18, the tension roller 19, and the driven roller 20 of the transfer conveyor belt 17. It is laid around. The transfer material 25 is conveyed to the transfer conveyance belt 17 in a form that is electrostatically adsorbed by the action of the adsorption roller 21. Reference numeral 22 denotes a supply roller for supplying the transfer material 25.

  The transfer material 25 on which the image has been formed is peeled off from the transfer conveyance belt 17 by the action of the peeling device 23 and sent to the fixing device 24, and the toner image is fixed on the transfer material 25 to complete the printing. On the other hand, the photosensitive drum 11 after the transfer of the toner image to the transfer material 25 is further rotated, the surface is cleaned by the cleaning device 15, and is neutralized by a neutralization device (not shown) if necessary. Thereafter, the photosensitive drum 11 is used for the next image formation. Reference numerals 26 and 27 denote bias power sources for the image transfer device 16 and the suction roller 21, respectively.

  Here, the description has been given of the apparatus that directly transfers the toner images of the respective colors onto the tandem type transfer material. However, the apparatus which can use the elastic roller obtained by this invention as a developing roller is not this limitation. For example, a monochrome single-color image forming apparatus, an image forming apparatus that forms a color image by temporarily superimposing toner images of respective colors on a transfer roller or a transfer belt, and collectively transferring the image onto a transfer member. Further, an image forming apparatus in which each color developing unit is arranged on a rotor or arranged in parallel with a photosensitive drum may be used. Further, instead of the process cartridge, a photosensitive drum, a charging device, a developing device, and the like may be directly incorporated in the image forming apparatus.

  The elastic roller obtained by the present invention can be used not only as the developing roller described above, but also for applications such as a charging roller or a transfer roller such as a transfer roller because of the good uniformity of the elastic layer. It is.

  EXAMPLES Hereinafter, although an Example demonstrates this invention further in detail, these do not limit this invention at all.

(Measurement of elastic layer thickness)
A sample that can be observed in a cross section is prepared by putting a sharp blade perpendicular to the side of the roller into the elastic layer to reach the axial center. As shown in FIG. 10, sharp blades were inserted into three locations 1101, 1102, and 1103 that equally divide the rubber portion in the longitudinal direction of the roller, and three cross-section observation materials were cut out. Next, the thickness of these three elastic layers was measured using Video Micro (trade name: VHX100, manufactured by Keyence Corporation), and the average value of the three data was used as the thickness of the elastic layer.

[Runout: Measurement of thickness irregularity of elastic layer]
As shown in FIG. 11, the shake is caused by causing the shaft core body supporting member 202 vertically mounted on the reference surface plate 201 to grip the exposed portion of the shaft core body 101 of the elastic roller, and using the gripped portion as a fulcrum. The roller is rotated at 8 rpm. The change in the distance between the elastic layer 102 of the roller and the surface plate at this time is measured with a non-contact position detector (manufactured by Keyence Corporation, trade name: LS-5000) arranged perpendicular to the shaft core. The difference between the maximum value and the minimum value of the distance between the elastic layer and the surface plate is obtained as a value. The difference between the maximum value and the minimum value of the distance between the elastic layer and the surface plate is obtained at a pitch of 1 cm in the axial direction of the elastic layer, and the maximum value among the difference values is taken as the value of deflection of the elastic layer.

  In the figure, reference numeral 102 denotes both an uncured elastic layer (liquid material layer) and an elastic layer (the liquid material layer is cured).

[Measurement of yield stress of liquid materials]
The yield stress measurement method for liquid rubber materials using a viscoelasticity measuring device is described below.

  As a viscoelasticity measuring apparatus, Rheo Stress 600 (trade name) manufactured by Haake was used.

  About 1 g of liquid material was sampled and placed on the sample stage, the cone plate was gradually approached, and a measurement gap was set at a position of about 50 μm from the sample stage (a cone plate with a diameter of 35 mm and an inclination angle of 1 °). Using). At that time, the material pushed around was removed cleanly so that the measurement was not affected.

  The temperature of the platen was set so that the material temperature was 25 ° C., and the sample was left for 10 minutes after setting the sample, and then the measurement was started.

  The stress applied to the sample is varied from 180 Pa to 50000 Pa (frequency is 1 Hz) over 180 seconds, and the changes in storage elastic modulus G ′, loss elastic modulus G ″, and phase difference tan δ at that time are changed. 32 points were measured, G ′ was a constant value in the linear viscoelastic region at first, and then the stress value at the point where the storage elastic modulus G ′ and the loss elastic modulus G ″ intersected was read and used as the yield stress.

[Example 1]
<Preparation of liquid material (silicone rubber material) for forming elastic layer>
Liquid addition reaction cross-linked molecular chain both ends vinyl-blocked dimethylpolysiloxane (molecular weight Mw = 100,000): 80 parts by mass.
Carbon black (trade name: Denka Black powder form, manufactured by Denki Kagaku Kogyo): 7 parts by mass.
Silica (manufactured by Nippon Aerosil Co., Ltd., trade name: AEROSIL50): 13 parts by mass.

  The above materials were mixed and defoamed for 30 minutes using a planetary mixer to obtain a silicone rubber base material. Furthermore, 0.02 parts by mass of an isopropyl alcohol solution of chloroplatinic acid (platinum content: 3% by mass) was added to and mixed with 100 parts by mass of the base material to obtain a mixture A. Further, to the mixture A, an organohydrogenpolysiloxane having a viscosity of 10 cps (0.01 Pa · s) and having a viscosity of 10 cps (0.01 Pa · s) with respect to 100 parts by mass of the base material in the mixture A is added. To mix B. Each of the mixture A and the mixture B was set in a raw material tank, sent to a static mixer using a pressure feed pump, and the mixture A and the mixture B were mixed at a mass ratio of 1: 1. The silicone rubber material thus obtained was used as a liquid material for forming an elastic layer. The yield stress of the liquid material for forming the elastic layer was 210 Pa.

<Preparation for creating elastic rollers>
A vertical ring coater having an annular coating head having the configuration shown in FIG. 1 was used. In manufacturing the elastic roller, the reference pin 49 is set on the annular coating head, and the center position coordinate of the annular coating head is detected by an LED position detector (trade name: LS-7000, manufactured by Keyence Corporation). 4 as already explained). First, the shaft core holding shaft 40 is fixed inside the annular coating head 38. Thereafter, the LED position detector 48 (one set for each of the X and Y directions) is used to measure the distance between the shaft on the shaft core and the pin placed on the annular coating head, and the center position coordinates of the annular coating head. (X and Y) were calculated.

  In manufacturing the elastic roller, the running error of the apparatus was calculated in advance as already described with reference to FIGS. As a result, the running error of the apparatus was 10 μm in both the X and Y directions. Furthermore, a two-point correction control program that moves the annular coating head in the horizontal direction in synchronization with the running error of the apparatus was created.

<Creation of elastic roller>
The upper end of the shaft core lower holding shaft 39 was positioned above the annular coating head through the annular coating head 38. In this state, the iron shaft core body having a length of 280.0 mm and an outer diameter of 6.0 mm set on the shaft core lower holding shaft 39 is lowered in a substantially vertical direction by lowering the shaft core upper holding shaft 40. Grasped.

  The position coordinates (X and Y) of the shaft core lower holding shaft 39 at this time were detected by an LED position detector 48 (trade name: LS-7000, manufactured by Keyence).

  Thereafter, when the shaft core gripped by the LM guide 34 is lowered, the LED position detector 48 causes the two coordinates (X and X) of the longitudinal distances 14.0 mm and 266.0 mm from the end of the shaft core body to be lowered. Y) was detected. The center axis position coordinates of the shaft core were calculated from the coordinates of these two points.

  Then, the position coordinate (X and Y) of the lower end of the shaft core holding shaft 40 was detected by the LED position detector 48, and the LM guide was stopped.

  The position coordinates of the shaft core lower holding shaft 39 were corrected by the shaft core position correction XY stage 47 so that the central axis of the shaft core body was vertical with the position coordinates of the shaft core upper holding shaft 40 as a reference. As a result, the tilting of the shaft core can be corrected.

  Further, an annular coating head position correcting XY stage 46 is used to make an annular coating head position correction XY stage 46 so that the previously obtained center position coordinate on the axial core 101-2 coincides with the coating coordinate position obtained in advance in the horizontal direction. The position of the coating head 38 was corrected. At this time, the position correction of the shaft core lower holding shaft 39 and the position correction of the annular coating head 38 with respect to the shaft core holding shaft were performed by parallel processing and performed simultaneously.

  Then, the shaft core body was moved by raising the shaft core upper holding shaft and the lower holding shaft in the vertical direction at a speed of 60 mm / s. At that time, the annular coating head position correction XY stage 46 was used, and the annular coating head 38 was simultaneously moved in the horizontal direction by the same distance as the running error amount of the coating apparatus obtained in advance (FIG. 7A). And (B) as already explained). While correcting the position of the annular coating head in this way, the silicone rubber material is discharged at 5.04 ml / sec from the annular slit opened inside the annular coating head, and the silicone rubber is applied to the outer peripheral surface of the shaft core body. A liquid material layer was formed in a cylindrical shape (roll shape) made of a material.

  The shaft core was removed from the ring coater, and a roller having an uncured molded product layer (liquid material layer) (hereinafter referred to as an uncured roller) was produced.

  This uncured roller is rotated at 60 rpm around the shaft core body, and infrared light (output 1000 W) is applied to the surface of the uncured molded product layer using an infrared heating lamp “HYL25” (trade name) manufactured by Hibeck Co., Ltd. Irradiate for 4 minutes to cure. Note that the distance between the surface of the molded product layer and the lamp during infrared irradiation was 60 mm, and the temperature of the molded product layer surface was 200 ° C. Thereafter, secondary curing at 200 ° C. for 4 hours in an electric furnace is performed for the purpose of stabilizing the physical properties of the cured silicone rubber elastic layer and removing reaction residues and unreacted low molecular components in the elastic layer of silicone rubber. Went. Thus, an elastic roller having a silicone layer (elastic layer) having an outer diameter of 12.0 mm, a layer thickness of 3.0 mm, and a longitudinal length of 240.0 mm on the outer periphery of the shaft core was obtained.

  In this way, 300 elastic rollers were similarly produced. Table 2 shows the distribution of the shake of the 300 elastic rollers. Table 2 shows the number of elastic rollers corresponding to each deflection range shown in Table 2. The elastic roller runout of 30 μm or less was 100% and 20 μm or less was 85%, eliminating the running error of the apparatus and repeatedly producing an elastic roller with good runout.

[Example 2]
When applying the liquid material, the shaft core holding shaft was raised in the vertical direction at a speed of 60 mm / s, and at the same time, the annular coating head was lowered in the vertical direction. At that time, the annular coating head and the shaft core were simultaneously moved in the horizontal direction in synchronism with the running error of the coating apparatus determined in advance (FIGS. 7A and 7B). In this way, when coating the liquid material, both the shaft core body and the annular coating head move in the vertical direction, while simultaneously correcting the position of the annular coating head, the shaft core body is also moved in the horizontal direction. An elastic roller was manufactured in the same manner as in Example 1 except that position correction was performed.

  In this way, 300 elastic rollers were similarly produced. Table 2 shows the distribution of the shake of the 300 elastic rollers. The elastic roller runout of 30 μm or less was 100% and 20 μm or less was 80%, and the reproducibility was good and the elastic roller could be manufactured stably.

Example 3
From the annular slit opened inside the annular coating head, the silicone rubber material is discharged at 2.98 ml / sec, and the discharged coated silicone rubber material is cured in the same manner as in Example 1, and the outer periphery of the shaft core body is cured. An elastic roller having a silicone layer with a layer thickness of 2.0 mm was obtained. Except for this, an elastic roller was produced in the same manner as in Example 1. In this way, 300 elastic rollers were similarly produced. Table 2 shows the distribution of the shake of the 300 elastic rollers. The elastic roller runout of 30 μm or less was 100% and 20 μm or less was 65%. The reproducibility was good and the elastic roller could be manufactured stably.

Example 4
From the annular slit opened inside the annular coating head, the silicone rubber material is discharged at 13.44 ml / sec, the discharged coated silicone rubber material is cured in the same manner as in Example 1, and the outer periphery of the shaft core body is cured. An elastic roller having a silicone layer with a layer thickness of 6.0 mm was obtained. Except for this, an elastic roller was produced in the same manner as in Example 1. In this way, 300 elastic rollers were similarly produced. Table 2 shows the distribution of the shake of the 300 elastic rollers. The elastic roller runout of 30 μm or less was 100% and 20 μm or less was 59%. The repeatability was good and the elastic roller could be manufactured stably.

Example 5
Liquid addition reaction cross-linked molecular chain both ends vinyl-blocked dimethylpolysiloxane (molecular weight Mw = 100,000): 80 parts by mass.
Carbon black (trade name: Denka black powder form, manufactured by Denki Kagaku Kogyo): 5 parts by mass.
Quartz (manufactured by Pennsylvania Glass Sand, trade name: Min-Usil): 15 parts by mass.

  The above material was mixed and defoamed for 30 minutes using a planetary mixer to obtain a silicone rubber base material. Furthermore, 0.02 parts by mass of an isopropyl alcohol solution of chloroplatinic acid (platinum content: 3% by mass) was added to and mixed with 100 parts by mass of the base material to obtain a mixture A. Further, to the mixture A, an organohydrogenpolysiloxane having a viscosity of 10 cps (0.01 Pa · s) and having a viscosity of 10 cps (0.01 Pa · s) with respect to 100 parts by mass of the base material in the mixture A is added. To mix B. Each of the mixture A and the mixture B was set in a raw material tank, sent to a static mixer using a pressure feed pump, and the mixture A and the mixture B were mixed at a mass ratio of 1: 1. The silicone rubber material thus obtained was used as a liquid material for forming an elastic layer. The yield stress of the liquid material for forming the elastic layer was 20 [Pa].

  From the annular slit opened inside the annular coating head, the silicone rubber material is discharged at 0.60 ml / sec, the discharged coated silicone rubber material is cured in the same manner as in Example 1, and the outer periphery of the shaft core body is cured. An elastic roller having a silicone layer with a layer thickness of 0.5 mm was obtained. Except for this, an elastic roller was produced in the same manner as in Example 1. In this way, 300 elastic rollers were similarly produced. Table 2 shows the distribution of the shake of the 300 elastic rollers. The elastic roller runout of 30 μm or less was 100% and 20 μm or less was 58%. The reproducibility was good and the elastic roller could be manufactured stably.

Example 6
Liquid addition reaction cross-linked molecular chain both ends vinyl-blocked dimethylpolysiloxane (molecular weight Mw = 100,000): 60 parts by mass.
Liquid molecular chain vinyl terminal-blocked dimethylpolysiloxane (molecular weight Mw = 500,000): 30 parts by mass.
Carbon black (manufactured by Mitsubishi Chemical, trade name: MA11): 5 parts by mass.
Silica (manufactured by Nippon Aerosil Co., Ltd., trade name: AEROSIL 380): 5 parts by mass.

  The above materials were mixed and defoamed for 30 minutes using a planetary mixer to obtain a liquid silicone rubber base material. Furthermore, 0.02 parts by mass of an isopropyl alcohol solution of chloroplatinic acid (platinum content: 3% by mass) was added to and mixed with 100 parts by mass of the base material to obtain a mixture A. Further, to the mixture A, an organohydrogenpolysiloxane having a viscosity of 10 cps (0.01 Pa · s) and having a viscosity of 10 cps (0.01 Pa · s) with respect to 100 parts by mass of the base material in the mixture A is added. To mix B. Each of the mixture A and the mixture B was set in a raw material tank, sent to a static mixer using a pressure feed pump, and the mixture A and the mixture B were mixed at a mass ratio of 1: 1. The silicone rubber material thus obtained was used as a liquid material for forming an elastic layer. The yield stress of the liquid material for forming the elastic layer was 600 Pa.

  The silicone rubber material is discharged at 29.86 ml / sec from an annular slit opened on the inner side of the annular coating head, and the discharged and coated silicone rubber material is cured in the same manner as in Example 1 so that the outer periphery of the shaft core body is cured. An elastic roller having a silicone layer with a layer thickness of 10.0 mm was obtained. Except for this, an elastic roller was produced in the same manner as in Example 1. In this way, 300 elastic rollers were similarly produced. Table 2 shows the distribution of the shake of the 300 elastic rollers. The elastic roller runout of 30 μm or less was 100%, and the runout of 20 μm or less was 48%.

Example 7
An elastic roller was produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the following steps were omitted.
-Shaft core tilt correction (shaft core position correction XY stage 47 position correction of shaft core lower holding shaft 39); and-Step of aligning the position of the annular coating head with the center of the shaft core body in the horizontal direction. (Center position correction of the annular coating head 38 by the annular coating head position correction XY stage 46).
In creating 300 elastic rollers, the first one is that the center position coordinate of the lower shaft core holding shaft 39 is in the horizontal direction with respect to the center position coordinate of the upper shaft core holding shaft 40. The position is corrected so as to match. Table 2 shows the distribution of the shake of the 300 elastic rollers. The elastic roller runout of 30 μm or less was 100% and 20 μm or less was 59%.

Example 8
An elastic roller was produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that another ring coater having exactly the same specifications as the vertical ring coater having the annular coating head used in Examples 1 to 7 was prepared and used. In this way, 300 elastic rollers were similarly produced. Table 2 shows the distribution of the shake of the 300 elastic rollers. The elastic roller runout of 30 μm or less was 100% and 20 μm or less was 84%, and a runout yield almost the same as in Example 1 was obtained.

Example 9
From the annular slit opened inside the annular coating head, the silicone rubber material is discharged at 0.18 ml / sec, the discharged coated silicone rubber material is cured in the same manner as in Example 1, and the outer periphery of the shaft core body is cured. An elastic roller having a silicone layer with a layer thickness of 0.3 mm was obtained. Except for this, an elastic roller was produced in the same manner as in Example 1. In this way, 300 elastic rollers were similarly produced. Table 2 shows the distribution of the shake of the 300 elastic rollers. The elastic roller runout of 30 μm or less was 100%, and the runout of 20 μm or less was 48%.

Example 10
<Preparation of mixture A>
Liquid addition reaction cross-linked molecular chain both ends vinyl-blocked dimethylpolysiloxane (molecular weight Mw = 500,000): 60 parts by mass.
Carbon black (trade name: Ketjen EC, manufactured by Ketjen International): 20 parts by mass.
Silica (manufactured by Nippon Aerosil Co., Ltd., trade name: AEROSIL 380): 20 parts by mass.

  The above materials were mixed and defoamed for 30 minutes using a planetary mixer to obtain a liquid silicone rubber base material.

To 100 parts by mass of the silicone rubber base material, 0.02 parts by mass of an isopropyl alcohol solution of chloroplatinic acid (platinum content 3% by mass) was added and mixed to prepare a mixture A.

<Preparation of mixture B>
A mixture B was prepared by adding the following materials to 100 parts by mass of the silicone rubber base material.
-0.02 parts by mass of an isopropyl alcohol solution of chloroplatinic acid (platinum content 3% by mass);
-Viscosity 10 cps (0.01 Pa.s) organohydrogenpolysiloxane (SiH content 1 mass%) 1.5 mass parts.

  The mixture A and the mixture B were respectively set in a raw material tank, sent to a static mixer using a pressure feed pump, and the mixture A and the mixture B were mixed at a mass ratio of 1: 1.

  Thus, a liquid material for forming an elastic layer having a yield stress of 800 Pa was obtained.

  300 elastic rollers were produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the liquid material for forming the elastic layer was used. Table 2 shows the distribution of the shake of the 300 elastic rollers. The elastic roller runout of 30 μm or less was 100%, and the runout of 20 μm or less was 47%.

[Comparative Example 1]
Liquid addition reaction cross-linked molecular chain both ends vinyl-blocked dimethylpolysiloxane (molecular weight Mw = 100,000): 80 parts by mass.
Carbon black (trade name: Denka black powder form, manufactured by Denki Kagaku Kogyo): 5 parts by mass.
Quartz (manufactured by Pennsylvania Glass Sand, trade name: Min-Usil): 15 parts by mass.

  The above materials were mixed and defoamed for 30 minutes using a planetary mixer to obtain a liquid silicone rubber base material. Furthermore, 0.02 parts by mass of an isopropyl alcohol solution of chloroplatinic acid (platinum content: 3% by mass) was added to and mixed with 100 parts by mass of the base material to obtain a mixture A. Further, to the mixture A, an organohydrogenpolysiloxane having a viscosity of 10 cps (0.01 Pa · s) and having a viscosity of 10 cps (0.01 Pa · s) with respect to 100 parts by mass of the base material in the mixture A is added. To mix B. Each of the mixture A and the mixture B was set in a raw material tank, sent to a static mixer using a pressure feed pump, and the mixture A and the mixture B were mixed at a mass ratio of 1: 1. The silicone rubber material thus obtained was used as a liquid material for forming an elastic layer. The yield stress of the liquid material for forming the elastic layer was 20 [Pa].

  From the annular slit opened inside the annular coating head, the silicone rubber material is discharged at 2.98 ml / sec, the discharged coated silicone rubber material is cured in the same manner as in Example 1, and the outer periphery of the shaft core body is cured. An elastic roller having a silicone layer with a layer thickness of 2.0 mm was obtained. Measurement of the running error of the coating apparatus, creation of a position control program for driving the annular coating head so as to cancel the running error of the apparatus, and position correction of the annular coating head 38 synchronized with the liquid material coating An elastic roller was produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that No was performed. In this way, 300 elastic rollers were similarly produced. Table 2 shows the distribution of the shake of the 300 elastic rollers. The elastic roller runout of 30 μm or less was 100%, but the runout of 20 μm or less was 45%. Compared with Example 1, the yield of elastic roller runout of 20 μm or less was low.

[Comparative Example 2]
An elastic roller was produced in the same manner as in Comparative Example 1 except that the vertical ring coater having the annular coating head used in Example 8 was used. In this way, 300 elastic rollers were similarly produced. Table 2 shows the distribution of the shake of the 300 elastic rollers. The elastic roller runout of 30 μm or less was 100%, but the runout of 20 μm or less was 40%. Compared with the result of Comparative Example 1, the yield of runout of 20 μm or less was about 5% lower. This is thought to be due to machine differences in the coating apparatus.

  Table 1 summarizes the conditions of the above Examples and Comparative Examples. In Table 1, “◯” means that each position correction is performed, and “−” means that each position correction is not performed.

It is a schematic diagram showing the outline of the ring coater which can be used by this invention. It is a schematic explanatory drawing of the optical position detector which can be used by this invention. It is a schematic diagram showing the ring coating head which can be used by this invention, (a) is sectional drawing, (b) is the perspective view which notched one part. It is a schematic explanatory drawing of an example of how to obtain | require the cyclic | annular coating head position coordinate with respect to a reference | standard. It is a schematic diagram showing the outline of a master shaft core. It is a graph for demonstrating the run error correction method of a coating device, The run error of the X direction measured using the master shaft core is shown to (A), and the run error of the Y direction is shown to (B). It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the run error correction method of a coating device, and the movement amount of the coating head of a X direction and a Y direction is shown to (A) and (B), respectively, and a master axis | shaft is shown when it correct | amends The running error measured using the core is shown in (C). It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the example of the manufacturing method of the elastic roller of this invention, (A)-(D) shows the process of performing various position measurement and correction | amendment before forming a liquid material layer, respectively. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the example of the manufacturing method of the elastic roller of this invention, (A)-(C) respectively show the process of removing the roller in the middle of liquid material layer formation, and completion | finish time. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the thickness measuring method of an elastic layer, (A) is a side view, (B) shows the cut surface of the cut-out sample. It is a schematic explanatory drawing of a shake measuring device. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an outline of an image forming apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

5 Non-magnetic one-component toner 6 Developing container 7 Toner supply roller 8 Developing blades 10a to 10d Image forming unit 11 Photosensitive drum 12 Charging device (charging roller)
13 Writing beam from image exposure device 14 Developing device 15 Cleaning device 16 Image transfer device (transfer roller)
17 Transfer Material Conveying Belt 18 Drive Roller 19 Tension Roller 20 Driven Roller 21 Adsorption Roller 22 Supply Roller 23 Peeling Device 24 Fixing Device 25 Transfer Material 26 Bias Power Supply (for Image Transfer Device (Transfer Roller) 16)
27 Bias power supply (for suction roller 21)
31 Mounting base 32 Column 33 Ball screw 34 LM guide 35 Servo motor 36 Pulley 37 Bracket 38 Coating head 39 Axle core lower holding shaft 40 Axle core upper holding shaft 41 Supply port 42 Pipe 43 Material supply valve 44 Linear guide 45 Annular coating Head fixing table 46 Annular coating head position correction XY stage 47 Axis core position correction XY stage 48 Position detector 48-1 X direction position detector 48-2 Y direction position detector 49 Pin 50 Master shaft core 51 Annular slit 52 Upper part 53 Lower part 54 Material inlet 55 Material inlet part 56 Material outlet part 101 Shaft core 102 Elastic layer 201 Surface plate 202 Shaft core support member 1101, 1102, 1103 Elastic layer thickness measurement location

Claims (4)

An annular coating head having an annular slit opened on the inside and a vertically held shaft core body are moved relative to each other in the vertical direction, and the liquid material is discharged from the annular slit to the outer peripheral surface of the shaft core body. And applying a liquid material to form a liquid material layer; and
A method for producing an elastic roller having an elastic layer on an outer peripheral surface of a shaft core body, comprising a curing step of curing the liquid material layer to form an elastic layer,
Prior to the coating step, it further includes a running error measurement step for measuring in advance a running error of a mechanism for moving the annular coating head and the vertically held shaft core relative to each other in the vertical direction,
The liquid material is applied while moving the annular coating head in a horizontal direction relative to the shaft core so that the coating step cancels the running error measured in the running error measuring step. The manufacturing method of the elastic roller characterized by including the process to do.   The method for manufacturing an elastic roller according to claim 1, wherein the coating step includes a step of coating the liquid material while raising the shaft core body in a vertical direction with respect to the annular coating head. The step of applying the liquid material while moving the annular coating head relative to the shaft core in the horizontal direction so as to cancel the running error in the coating step,
The position of the shaft core body vertically held and the position of the annular coating head are detected, and the center of the annular coating head and the center of the shaft core body are aligned in the horizontal direction. The method for producing an elastic roller according to claim 1, further comprising a step of adjusting a relative position between the coating head and the shaft core body. The yield stress of the liquid material is 20 Pa or more and 600 Pa or less,
The method for producing an elastic roller according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the elastic layer has a thickness of 0.5 mm or greater and 10.0 mm or less.

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